Eramosa Public School
5757 Fifth Line ✧ R.R. 1 ✧ Rockwood, ON N0B 2K0
Telephone 519-856-9529 ✧ Fax 519-856-4239
Website: www.ugdsb.on.ca/eramosa
Newsletter
Katrina Plazek,
January 2016 - Issue 5
Principal
Sheri MacKenzie,
Office Co-Ordinator
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK…
Our January newsletter will be arriving in your homes before the holiday break and we would like to send
you our very best wishes for a festive season with family and friends. It was wonderful to see so many
families out at the EPSAC Breakfast With Santa event on December 5th, 2015. A special thanks to Chef
Dale McCarthy for cooking pancakes, sausages and bacon for a very hungry crowd! Also to Mr. Davis
for checking Santa’s schedule and making sure he was able to visit with us! This event would not be
possible without the generous donation of time advertising, organizing, shopping for food and assorted
items, and cleaning up; various donations of food as well. We were also very happy to see many
families join us for our Holiday Hoopla and 50th Anniversary school event where craft making and tasty
treats and beverages helped us get into the holiday spirit. Keep safe everyone and we will see you
when we return January 4th, well rested and ready for another for more fun and learning at school.
Happy holidays to all, from the Staff at Eramosa.
East Wellington Community Services Food Drive
A huge thank you for your generous donations to the food drive. Together our school
community has helped many people to be able to provide nutritious food for their
families. Although we live in a relatively affluent society compared to the rest of the
world, we know that there are children in our community who go to bed hungry
sometimes and who wonder where their next meal will come from. Thanks for making
a difference in the lives of our neighbours.
CSA approved Hockey Helmets for Ice Skating on Feb. 12/16 and Mar. 4/16
This is another reminder that it will be a mandatory requirement for all people skating (students, staff
and volunteers) to wear a CSA approved Hockey Helmet while skating on the ice. We have
booked our ice pads. We hope to have many parents/guardians join us, and this is a new
requirement for many of us. Please ask Santa to bring one for Christmas or borrow one from
your neighbor so we can all have fun!
Bus Cancellations – Notification
Please ensure that you register for email notification of bussing information for your child (school
closures, bus delays, etc.) at https://www.findmyschool.ca/Cancellations.aspx. Click on Delays and
Cancellations and click subscribe to enter your email.
Our AIZAN voice messaging system will be used to notify families when the Upper Grand District School
Board Transportation consortium makes the decision to cancel buses to Eramosa PS, when possible. If
the phone lines, power lines or internet system is down the system will not function. This is an additional
notification. Listening to CJOY, or checking the UGDSB website are also great ways to find out about
current bussing information.
Inclement Weather Notification
The school board has new information on its website regarding inclement weather.
This document contains important information on school bus cancellations, school closures due to
severe weather and extreme cold temperatures.
You can read the full document at www.ugdsb.on.ca/inclementweather/
The document also contains information on the risks of frostbite in extreme cold temperatures. Frostbite
can happen within minutes of skin being exposed to extreme cold temperatures.
Please ensure your children are dressed properly for frigid temperatures.
Additionally, parents and guardians should be aware that adult crossing guards are
employed by the municipality. As such, municipal crossing guards may not be
providing service during extreme weather conditions. Please refer to the document on
the board website for information about the municipality’s policy on crossing guards.
Extra Socks and Mitts and Supplies
When we return in January, we are sure to have some snow and cold weather. Children
spend a lot of time outdoors here at Eramosa. If you can pack an extra pair of socks and
mitts, it will make the day more comfortable if a change needs to be made. Our kindies
could use a full set of clothing in case of an accident. This is a great time to check school
supplies, laces and whether shoes still fit!
Kindergarten Registration
Registration for full day Kindergarten will take place on February 3rd, 2016. If your child is 4 years of age
by December 31st, 2016 (s)he is eligible to register for JK (Junior
Kindergarten). If your child is 5 years of age by December 31st, 2016 s(he)
is eligible to register for SK (Senior Kindergarten). If you have a neighbour
with children entering Kindergarten for the first time, would you please pass
this information along to them.
Recycle Your Pop Tabs and Used Batteries after the Holiday
Please remember to send in your pop tabs and old batteries to the school where we
can recycle them. The pop tabs help raise money to purchase wheelchairs. The
battery recycling program keeps toxic materials out of the regular landfill.
Food Program Changes
If you wish to make any changes to your child(ren)’s food program order, please write a note to Ms.
MacKenzie in the office advising of the changes. Changes will be effective February 1st onward.
What are the Four Categories
of Student Achievement?
What is learning?
Learning is defined as the activity or
process of gaining knowledge or a
skill through instruction and/or
experience.
Over the years, there have been many changes made to the way we
assess and evaluate student learning. Learning used to be determined by
comparing students to each other. Today, student learning is measured in a
more holistic manner using four Categories of Achievement: knowledge and
understanding, thinking, communication and application.
What is achievement?
These categories are organized in a chart, for each subject, outlining a
Achievement is something that has standard set of criteria that link learning and individual achievement. This
been done or achieved through effort achievement chart supports teachers in making consistent judgements about
- essentially, the result of hard work. student performance across all subject areas. When reporting, teachers use
the categories as well as the curriculum expectations to determine an overall
achievement level for each student.
In 2010, the Ontario
Ministry of Education released
the 1st Edition of Growing
Success: Assessment, Evaluation
and Reporting in Ontario Schools
(Grades 1-12).
The purpose of this new policy
document is to ensure valid and
reliable reporting of student
achievement across our Province. The
7 principles guiding assessment and
evaluation of student learning is that it
is:
●
fair
● equitable
● carefully planned and student
centered
● clearly communicated to
students and parents
● ongoing and varied
● specific and meaningful
feedback of the learning
● developed to promote student
self assessment
As outlined in Growing Success, a partnership among students, parents
and teachers is vital to the learning and assessment process. We can support
our students by helping them to use the categories of achievement as a
learning tool.
The questions next to each category are meant to initiate dialogue with
your child around his/her learning.
Achievement Chart Categories:
Knowledge & Understanding—
What did you learn?
relates to the grade specific subject content
Thinking— the use of critical and creative thinking skills and processes used to learn the content
How and why did you learn it?
Communication— explaining the knowledge and understanding
Explain or show me what and how you learned it?
www.edu.gov.on.ca
Application—use of knowledge and skills to make connections
When and where can you use what you learned? How does this
learning connect to what you already know?
by: Patricia Josephson (Curriculum Leader) &
Gina Betts (Instructional Coach)
January Environmental Theme- Waste Minimization
In Canada, we create a lot of garbage. We throw away too much paper, plastic bags,
food, old toys, electronics and much, much more! The good news is that at our school
we have made a really good start to reducing some of our waste. We recycle paper,
cardboard and containers made of metal, glass and plastic. We try to photocopy doublesided and use GOOS bins (bins that hold paper that is Good On One Side and can still
be used). We do waste audits to see what we are throwing away and it seems we need
to try to reduce our food waste as well as our packaging. Start thinking about bringing
uneaten food from lunch back home to eat as a snack after school because we find
perfectly good apples and other fruit, or even uneaten sandwiches, in the school garbage cans.
The best way to solve the problem of too much waste is to not create it in the first place. We have been
talking about reducing the number of things we buy and buying items that can be reused instead of
immediately being thrown away and taking up more landfill space. For example: use cloth towels instead
of paper towels, borrow most books from the library instead of buying them new, use cloth bags instead
of plastic bags, use litterless lunch containers and a metal water bottle that you can refill, and use
reusable gift bags instead of wrapping paper. The list goes on and on - there are so many ways you can
help to reduce waste!
We also need to let our government know that we don't want all that extra packaging when we buy
things. Other countries have already banned all that unnecessary plastic, cardboard and Styrofoam that
toys and cosmetics and games and food come covered with. So make a difference - write a persuasive
letter to both the Ontario and Canadian Governments to ask them to be tougher on packaging laws. Our
garbage dumps are filling up. They need to hear from you to stop all this waste!
Slogan of the month: Let's reduce our waste - our planet is worth it!
Noisy Toys
Parents may think that noise is a problem they need not worry about until their child reaches the teenage
years. Not so. Some toys are so loud that they can cause hearing damage in children. Some toy sirens
and squeaky rubber toys can emit sounds of 90 dB, as loud as a lawn mower. Workers would have to
wear ear protection for similarly noisy sounds on the job.
The danger with noisy toys is greater than the 90-dB level implies. When held directly to the ear, as
children often do, a noisy toy actually exposes the ear to as much as 120 dB of sound, the equivalent of
a jet plane taking off. Noise at this level is painful and can result in permanent hearing loss.
Toys that pose a noise danger include cap guns, talking dolls, vehicles with horns and sirens, walkietalkies, musical instruments, and toys with cranks. Parents who have normal hearing need to inspect
toys for noise danger.
Before purchasing a new toy, listen to it. If the toy sounds loud, don’t buy it.
Examine toys you already have at home. Remove the batteries or discard the toys if they are too noisy
and pose a potential danger to hearing. Some parents place heavy duct tape over the speakers on noisy
toys.
The Sight and Hearing Association publishes a list of the noisiest toys each November for your
information.
Family Literacy Day is January 27th, 2016
ABC Life Literacy Canada is encouraging Canadian families to have "15 Minutes of Fun" learning
together. Learning can happen at any time. Practicing literacy together every day has tremendous
benefits for both children and parents. Here are some great ways to get started:
Read a “wake up” story in the morning (after reading your bedtime story the night before).
Search online for fun places to go in your community. Pick out a spot for your next family day trip.
Make up a new recipe together and post it online.
Tell knock-knock jokes together while doing the dishes.
Create a story with your family: take turns writing one sentence at a time, then read the whole story
aloud when you’re done.
Write a review of a book you read together as a family. Send it to the author through email or snail mail.
Organize a book swap at your school or with your friends.
Track your trip to school, the park, and the grocery store on a map. Find a different route to take to each
place.
Learn to play a musical instrument. What about the ukulele?
Write a note to include in a grown-up’s lunch – ask them to write back!
Make a popsicle stick model with your family.
Write your names graffiti-style using chalk on your sidewalk – you may need to shovel first!
Play a board game together.
Look up the words to your favourite song online. Have a sing-off with your friends!
Count how many steps it takes to get from your bedroom to your kitchen. Find out who in your family has
the most steps to a snack!
From: http://abclifeliteracy.ca/fld/15-minutes-of-fun
We will be having a “Snuggle Up and Read” in your comfy cozy clothes Spirit Day on January
27th as well.
Special Education and Special Olympics
This is an exciting year for Special Olympics!! It is our 15th annual Special Olympics Track and Field
Day! This year our track meet will be Wednesday May 18th, raindate Thursday May 19th.
As well, Guelph is hosting the Provincial Special Olympics Spring Games with over 1000 Special
Olympic athletes will be attending.
In collaboration with Special Olympics Ontario, there will be a PepRally to celebrate the 15th year and
build momentum for the Spring Games. Please save Tuesday April 12th for the PepRally at the
University of Guelph Fieldhouse!
We are inviting all the students who participate in the track and field day and their peer coaches to come
to the interactive PepRally! There will be a 'paint the town RED' campaign by Special Olympics Ontario.
Each School in the UGDSB and the WCDSB will be given the chance to 'adopt an athlete' from the
Provincial Spring games and add to the 'RED' campaign.
Packages will be sent to each school with RED wrist bands for every student with the OPTIONAL
suggestion to donate a toonie.
Here is our Special Olympics Timeline
JANUARY: Adopt an athlete and paint the town RED packages will be sent to each school.
APRIL 12th: The interactive PepRally to promote our Track meet and build momentum for the Provincial
Spring games will be held at the U of G Fieldhouse.
(all track meet athletes and their peer coaches are invited)
MAY 18th (Raindate May 19th): Our annual Special Olympics Track and Field Day
MAY 26 to 28: Provincial Spring games in Guelph
Talking About Mental Health January 2016- Apps for Mental Health
Today it seems like there's an app for almost everything! Apps can be useful for helping us to learn and
practice new skills. Interactive apps can help children and youth learn about how to identify feelings, how
to relax, and even about navigating social situations. Check out some of the apps below and learn
together with your child.
Apps are not a substitute for talking with a professional, so be sure to contact your local mental health
agency if you or your child needs support.
Touch and Learn – Emotions (Free)
•
•
Encourages children to look at body language and facial expressions to help them identify feelings
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/touch-and-learn-emotions/id451685022?mt=8
Mind Shift (Free)
•
•
An app designed to help youth cope with anxiety
http://www.anxietybc.com/resources/mindshift-app
Smiling Mind (Free)
•
•
An app that guides children and youth through simple, calming meditations
http://smilingmind.com.au/
Relaxing Sounds of Nature (Free)
•
•
Listen to the calming sounds of nature
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/free-relaxing-sounds-nature/id345747251?mt=8
Zen Space (Free)
•
•
Relax by raking sand and creating a tranquil space
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/zen-space/id371463710?mt=8
Zen View(Free)
•
•
Relax by listening to rain and watching water swirl
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/zenview/id499881701?mt=8
3 Minute Mindfulness (One strategy is free. Full app is $4.59)
•
•
Learn simple deep breathing strategies
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/3-minute-mindfulness-breathing/id982502810?mt=8
I Know How You Feel (“Lite” version is free. Full version is $11.99)
•
•
•
Children learn how to identify feelings in specific situations
Children learn about appropriate empathic responses
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/i-know-how-you-feel/id960352272?mt=8
Kailey Thompson, MSW, Specialized Mental Health Interventionist, compiled and tested out the Apps.
Dr. Lynn Woodford, Psychologist, is the Mental Health and Addiction Lead for Upper Grand District School Board
Follow me on twitter: @drlynnwoodford
Wellington County Library – Rockwood Branch, January Programmes
Bedtime Stories (All Ages)
Wear your PJs and snuggle up to our quiet evening story time for families. Please register.
Mondays, January 11 - February 22, 6:30 pm - 7:00 pm
Page Turners Book Club (Grades K- 6)
Read together and come to discuss at this parent-child book club. Please register.
Tuesday, January 12, 6:30 pm - 7:15 pm
PA Day: Let's Talk Science! Animal Adaptations (Grades K- 6)
How do living things adapt for survival? Learn some of the ways animals survive in different climates – how they move
around, how they stay hidden and how they catch prey. Join “Let’s Talk Science” in this free, hands-on programme for
kids! Please register.
Friday, January 22, 1:30 pm
Mix It Up! Art Workshop (Grades 1 - 3)
Inspired by bestselling author and artist Hervé Tullet, this beautifully messy workshop will be active, collaborative, and
entertaining, no matter your skill level. Space is limited. Please register.
Saturday, January 23, 1:30 pm - 2:45 pm
Rockwood Branch Library
85 Christie Street Rockwood, ON
519.856.4851 • www.wellington.ca/Library
Eramosa Public School
January 2016
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
-Temple Day
*Buddhism
-New Year’s
Day
*Christianity
3
4
Welcome
back!
First day of
School for
2016
5
-Pita Day
6
7
-Gr 6 OPP Kids
-Epiphany
*Christianity
-Birth of Guru
Gobind Singh
8 -Character
Ed Assembly
-Gr 5 & 6
Curling Trip
9
-Pizza Day
*Sikhism
10
11
12
-EPSAC Mtg.
7pm Library
13
-Gr 6 OPP Kids
-Lohri
14
-River Run trip
4/5A & 5/6B
15
-Gr 5 & 6
Curling Trip
-Makar
Sankranti
-Pizza Day
21
-Author Philip
Roy Visits
22
16
*Hinduism
-Hotdog Day
-Maghi
*Sikhism
*Hinduism
17
18
-Sakyamuni
Buddha’s
Enlightenment
19
-Pita Day
20
-Gr 6 OPP Kids
*Buddhism
-Pizza Day
-World Religion
Day
23
P.A. Day
No School for
Students
*Baha’i
24
25
26
-Hotdog Day
27
-Family
Literacy Day
-“Snuggle Up
& Read” and
Comfy Cozy
Spirit Day
-Gr 6 OPP Kids
31
28
29
-Gr 5 & 6
Curling Trip
-Pizza Day
30