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,
Principal
December 2014 - Issue 4
Sheri MacKenzie,
Office Co-Ordinator
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK…
During October, Eramosa Public School underwent an audit of learning/teaching by a group of Upper
Grand District School Board administrators, principals, a School Effectiveness Lead, a curriculum leader
and our school team of teachers and myself. The team spent a full day observing the students being
taught in the classrooms and after the visit was done a list of recommendations for future school
improvement was compiled. We were thankful for the fresh set of eyes and we received
recommendations to help students go from good to great. We are always striving for continuous
improvement in our teaching effectiveness, as evidenced through our student performance for all
students. As our board is focusing on the improvement of students’ ability to think, as evidenced by their
performance in math (numeracy), we will be participating in some of the following actions:
- all staff have analyzed the 2014 EQAO data to develop school improvement goals and to see
themselves in the plan (all teachers are a part of school improvement).
- determine if there is alignment between report card grades and EQAO performance.
- use money from the District Support Visit to access additional diagnostic math tools.
- explore Leaps and Bounds (by Nelson) as an assessment tool.
- use diagnostic information to determine entry point for teaching and to identify areas of need so that
learning gaps can be closed.
- use the math curriculum to develop a general set of student friendly success criteria so that students
are able to solve problems independently.
- use classroom math games and computer games (Xtramath) to help students increase their positive
attitudes toward math at home and at school, to promote higher level thinking using mathematical skills
and to promote perseverance when faced with a mathematical challenge.
We are very much looking forward to seeing many of you at the upcoming EPSAC Breakfast with Santa
on Saturday, December 6, 2014. It will be a wonderful time to socialize with friends and neighbours, to
get a picture taken with Santa before he is called back to the North Pole, and to eat a delicious breakfast
specially prepared by Chef Dale McCarthy. This year, all breakfasts must be pre-ordered by Thursday,
December 4th. What a nice way to kick off the holiday season!
Katrina Plazek and the Staff at Eramosa
East Wellington Community Services Food Drive
In the fall the East Wellington Community Services weighed our Thanksgiving donation and we
contributed 119.6 pounds of food valued at approximately $300. Let’s see if we can match that.
Please help us to collect the following items during our school food drive running from
December 1st to December 12th:
Tuna, Cereal, Jam, Canned Fruit, Sidekicks, Toilet Paper, Hearty Soup, School Snacks for
Children, Oatmeal
CSA Approved Hockey Helmets for Ice Skating
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 during our School wide skate February 11th and March 6th, 2014, 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!
Breakfast With Santa
Be sure to mark your calendars! Breakfast with Santa is taking place Saturday,
December 6th, with seatings at 8:00 am and 9:30 am. EPSAC will share the
proceeds with the students in the social justice club. This year Mrs. Demysh, Ms.
Law and the students voted to help raise funds to build a school in Kenya. Great
food, wonderful company and a chance to visit with Santa are all included in the
admission price of $5 for adults and $3 for children. To ensure that all ticket
holders receive a great breakfast, tickets must be pre-ordered. Please send orders
to the office by Thursday, December 4th.
.
Poinsettia PickUp
Poinsettias are ready to be picked up at the Breakfast with Santa EPSAC event on
Saturday, December 6th, between 8-10 am. An EPSAC rep will fill your order.
Thanks for your support!
New Staff
We had to say goodbye to Ms. Papajanis who was with us in the temporary position of half time EA from
September – November; a warm welcome to Mrs. Pell, who will be with us in the mornings now.
Reminder
No Pizza on December 19th .
Spirit Day - Red/White/Green/Favourite Holiday Headgear
Our students are full of school spirit and they love to have fun! Students and staff will
be wearing red, green and white clothing and their favourite holiday headgear (Santa
Hats, Reindeer Antlers, etc.) on our last day before the holidays (Friday, December
19th, 2014).
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 new 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.
Jersey Day
Our ‘Wear a Sport Jersey to School Day’ will take place on January 16th, 2015, when we return in the
new year.
Open House – Second Annual “Holiday Hoopla”
On the evening of Wednesday, December 17th, the staff would like to invite you to our
Open House called the “Holiday Hoopla.” Families are invited to make 2 crafts with
their children in two rooms from 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm and then from 7:00 pm – 7:30 pm
please join us for a Christmas snack and beverage. We are asking families to share a
plate of their favourite Christmas baking that we will put on a communal table for
everyone to share and enjoy (no nuts or kiwi please). Hot chocolate and coffee will
be provided. Hope you can join us!
Talking About Mental Health –
Heading into the Holiday Season - December 2014
For many people, the holiday season is a joyous time, one that lifts, a time when we gather with family
and friends to share traditions immersed in food, music, and gift-giving. We anticipate the excitement of
children, and are often cast back into memories of childhood.
That is one version of the holidays. But it most certainly isn’t the story for most people. The holiday
season is a very difficult time for many, many people.
In the two weeks before and after the holidays, suicide rates rise by 40%, couples are more likely to
break up, depression worsens in adolescents and adults, and domestic violence rates peak. Financial
pressures are felt at the holiday season. Substance use increases. People who suffer from depression
or who are grieving the loss of a loved one often find the holiday season excruciating. Loneliness and
isolation are felt acutely during the holiday season.
A friend of mine posted this on Facebook, some of you may have seen it making the rounds. I don’t
know who the author is, so I cannot give credit, but I think it has an important message as we head into
the holiday season.
Some thoughts as we enter the holiday season. It is important to remember that not everyone is
surrounded by large wonderful families. Some of us have problems during the holidays and some
of us are overcome with great sadness when we remember the loved ones who are not with us.
And, many people have no one to spend these times with and are besieged by loneliness. We all
need caring, loving thoughts right now. May I ask my friends…to give a moment of support for all
those who have family problems, health struggles, job issues, worries of any kind and just need to
know someone cares. Do it for all of us, for nobody is immune.
For anyone, the pressure to ‘get it right’, to create a magical holiday season, and to indulge loved ones
and fulfill dreams, can make one dread the season. For those who struggle with not enough time,
energy, or money - which is most working families - the pressure can be intense. But it does not have to
be that way. You can protect yourself and your family from undue stress at the holiday season.
1. Learn to say no: The holiday season offers an open invitation to overbook and run yourself ragged.
Learn to say no to the things that you have neither the time nor energy for. Embrace those events that
feed your soul and bring you comfort and enjoyment. But say no to those that will take more physical or
emotional energy than you can spare. Learn to say, “I would enjoy this, but know I simply cannot do it at
this time. Thank you.”
If yours is a blended family and your children have multiple homes to visit, reduce the number of other
events even further; no matter how excited children and youth might be for the holiday season, they too
only have so much room for multiple commitments. They will take their cues about self-care and stress
management from you. Show them how to say no.
2. Adjust unrealistic expectations: Your children will not be scarred for life if you buy your tree from
Canadian Tire instead of hand-cutting it in the bush. A string of lights in the shape of a tree, twinkling on
a living room wall can work just fine if need be. It is not about the tree. If these things bring you great joy
and fit seamlessly into your life without adding stress, fine. But if not, don’t put pressure on yourself to do
them. Instead, focus on why you celebrate this season, on peaceful, quiet time with loved ones, and on
finding some reflective time for yourself.
3. Make a list: This is a time when a list can really help you set clear goals and limits. Make a list of all
the preparations you would like to do. Then review the list and strike out all those things that are
unrealistic, excessive, or that you probably won’t get around to. Take them off the list because leaving
them there will add stress. Leave only those that are possible and will bring you joy. Then cut that list in
half. Seriously.
Most importantly for your list, set a deadline after which your preparations are done. You might not have
found that last perfect stocking stuffer, but your loved ones will have a calmer and happier you, and that
will be the best gift of all.
4. Anticipate the hard parts. Family tensions and difficult relationships are not magically healed at the
holiday season. In fact, with all the pressure to have a good the holiday season, families are often on
edge and at their worst.
If you can’t avoid difficult relationships, get creative. Plan an activity for the family – board games, a
sport, or a long hike after dinner – to avoid the tensions that can arise sitting face-to-face. Keep the
planned visits short and limit the alcohol, which can fuel emotions otherwise kept under wraps. A short
the holiday season breakfast might work better than a dinner. Don’t be afraid to change it up.
5. Know your limits. Know your limits and ask people to respect them. You do not have to allow your
(or others’) children to run wild if it exhausts them and everyone else. The family rules still apply. You
also do not have to put up with ill-behaved relatives or friends, no matter what the season. Similarly,
don’t put pressure on people to be joyous if they are not. We are all travelling different paths; you can’t
always know what someone is dealing with.
If you have teens, be understanding. They often feel mixed feelings at this time, a combination of childlike excitement but also embarrassment about it. Protect them from the criticism of relatives, who often
feel compelled to point out teens’ flaws to parents. And avoid the urge to nag if your adolescent flops on
the couch like a boneless chicken, looking bored, disinterested in family activities. Be patient.
Adolescence is temporary.
Avoid unhealthy forms of coping. Don’t short-change your sleep or eat or drink too much; it never helps.
Exercise, rest, good nutrition, and self-acceptance do help. If you are someone who over-does it, ask
yourself why. It is probably a response to stress.
6. Don’t be a slave to tradition. This one is difficult, because we invest emotionally in our traditions.
They connect us together with our spiritual, familial, and cultural histories. They are a source of comfort
in troubled times and they can be a source of joy. But if traditions become rigid expectations, they
become a source of pressure or anxiety if something happens and the tradition cannot be upheld. So
remember that traditions are just markers of our values, our loves, and our lives, but are just markers –
they can be changed, left out, or recreated anytime and it does not diminish us or the meaning of the
holiday season.
7. Be kind to yourself and others. This is the most important of all. As you learn to set reasonable
limits for yourself, others often object. That’s okay. They are just trying to manage their own
expectations. Don’t give in, but be understanding of their confusion. And if someone disappoints you,
reach inside your loving self for compassion and understanding. Maybe that person is experimenting
with his or her own limits, or struggling to cope with too many demands, or is just another messy,
imperfect human. Like you and I.
You can avoid the stress and pressure of the holiday season and instead increase your ability to
experience some peace and enjoy your loved ones. The sites listed below provide tips and suggestions
for de-stressing the season. Take a moment and read some of them.
Have a reasonable holiday season. Peace to all.
Dr. Lynn Woodford is the Mental Health and Addiction Lead for Upper Grand District School Board
http://www.webmd.com/balance/features/keep-holiday-stress-minimum/
http://psychologytoday.com/blog/mindfulness-in-frantic-world/201112/the holiday season-stress-reliefmindful-ten-day-guide/
www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/the holiday season/the-hectic-holiday-handbook/
Neuman, F. (2013) “Haunted by the Ghost of The holiday season Past,” Psychology Today.
Breitman, P & Hatch, C. (2000) “How to say no Without Feeling Guilty”, Broadway Books.
For children, youth and families who have experienced trauma, the National Child Traumatic Stress
Network has some excellent resources on the holiday season and coping with grief, trauma and also
economic stress.
http://www.nctsn.org/resources/public-awareness/holiday-stress
NEWS
For Immediate Release
November 13, 2014
UGDSB announces winner of environmental slogan contest
GUELPH, Ontario – “Live Green. Learn Green. Go Green.” is the Upper Grand District School Board’s
new environmental slogan.
To launch its new, board-wide focus on environmental stewardship, the UGDSB held a slogan contest
for all students. The winning entry, selected as the favourite of the board’s environment committee, was
written by Centre Wellington DHS grade 9 student Hannah Litzen.
Litzen learned that her “Live Green. Learn Green. Go Green.” slogan was the board’s choice during a
surprise presentation at CWDHS on November 12. All schools were invited to submit their top two
entries.
As a prize, Centre Wellington DHS will receive funding to undertake an environmental initiative of their
choice. Litzen received a gift certificate from Janus Books in Guelph, a quality used book store, in
keeping with the theme of reuse, recycle and repurpose.
The contest was launched by the board’s Environmental Education and Management Committee to raise
awareness that the UGDSB is committed to being a community leader in environmental stewardship and
sustainability. Members of the committee include students, board staff, teachers, principals,
superintendents and trustees.
The board has a new Environmental Sustainability Action Plan that has four pillars:
•
incorporating environmental issues into class curriculum
•
increasing staff and student engagement in school-wide environmental initiatives
•
promoting increased collaboration with community partners
•
supporting leadership activities in the form of policies and procedures
Upper Grand is already well-known for a number of unique initiatives, such as full-semester
environmental programs that are offered to high school students (CELP, da Vinci and Headwaters). The
board has built eco-portable classrooms at five schools, some constructed with straw bale insulation, to
showcase environmentally friendly building practices. As well, more than 35 schools have rooftop solar
arrays, with real-time data displayed on video monitors in school foyers so students can study the effect
of sunny or cloudy days on energy conservation.
For more information about environmental initiatives at Upper Grand, visit
www.ugdsb.on.ca/environment.
For more information:
Maggie McFadzen, Communications Officer
519-822-4420 ext. 725
maggie.mcfadzen@ugdsb.on.ca
Mark Weidmark, Administrative Officer - Communications
519-822-4420 ext. 544
mark.weidmark@ugdsb.on.ca
Eramosa Public School
December 2014
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
-Fundscrip
Order Forms
sent home
2
-Fundscrip
Order Pickup
-Pita Day
-Maun Agiyaras
3
4
5
-Character Ed
Assembly
-Pizza Day
6
-EPSAC
Breakfast With
Santa &
Poinsettia
Pickup 8-11am
10
11
-Rockwood
Parade of
Lights 7pm
12
-Math Games
-Pizza Day
13
-Birthday of
Imam
*Jainism
Food Drive Begins
7
8
-Bodhi Day
*Buddhism
9
-EPSAC Mtg
7pm (Library)
-Hotdog Day
*Islam
Food Drive Ends
14
15
16
-Fundscrip
Order pickup
-Pita Day
17
-Holiday Hoopla
6-7pm Crafts
7-7:30pm
Treats
18
19
-NO Pizza
today
-Red, White &
Green & Wear
your Holiday
Headwear Day
-Character Ed
Assembly
20
24
-Christmas Eve
25
-Christmas Day
26
-Boxing Day
27
-Chanukah
begins
*Judaism
21
22
23
-Chanukah Ends
*Judaism
Christmas Holidays
28
-Birth of Guru
Gobind
29
30
31
-New Year’s Eve
*Sikhism
Christmas Holidays
See you on January 5th!