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
January 2014 - Issue 5
Sheri MacKenzie,
Office Co-Ordinator
FROM THE PRINCIPAL’S DESK…
Breakfast With Santa and Poinsettia Fundraisers
Breakfast was Santa was a great success! Over 150 students and adults showed up to enjoy a
breakfast of pancakes, sausages, bacon and fruit. Thank you to everyone for coming out and
supporting this school council event. A huge thank you to all the volunteers who worked at the
event, donated their time or talents or food or decorations. Without them these great events
simply could not happen! Congratulations go out to the Murison family, who won the ham raffle.
Santa was very happy to see such wonderful community spirit! Thank you also for supporting our
students Me to We, Buy a Brick campaign. Half of the proceeds of this event will be shared with
the Me to We student fundraising group to help build a school in Kenya. This
was a very special day and it will be a memory that the children will always
remember. Special thanks go to Mr. Davis who was able to convince Santa to
attend the event at this busy time of year and to Chef Dale McCarthy and
family for getting up at the break of dawn to cook the breakfast. Many hands
make light work and the outcome was an event to remember. Thank you!
Defibrillator Training
If you are interested in joining staff from Eramosa PS and Rockwood Centennial PS for training on
how to use the life saving defibrillator that was installed in our school, please contact Ms.
MacKenzie at the school to register. Training will take place in the gymnasium at the school on
January 8th, from 4:00-6:00 pm. This device can be seen in many public places and is used to “reboot” the heart in the event of a cardiac emergency. It is information that is valuable to all
members of the public.
Technology Workshop for Parents – January 22nd
Please join us on January 22nd, 2014 from 6:30 – 8:00pm. That night we will have a
special guest from the UGDSB, Bill Mackenzie, Information Technology &
Communications Support Teacher to answer your questions regarding the Board
initiative to welcome technology into the classroom. – Mrs. Hamilton
Antibullying Presentation for Parents – February 3rd
We are pleased to bring Steven Lister to our school on Monday, February 3rd from
7:00-8:00pm to speak to parents about bullying. Mr. Lister will speak about
types of bullying, the role of by-standers, cyberbullying, digital citizenship, how
to help your child develop cybersafety practices and many other topics. Mark
your calendars. You are welcome to bring your child(ren) to hear the messages
again. The family conversations at home are very important in our community
effort to make our schools safe and inclusive to all. Please join us!
Inclement Weather
We are part of “Division 2", which is “Centre Wellington and the Town of Erin”. This is also known
as the “Blue Card” division.
On inclement weather days, please listen to CJOY (1460 AM) or Magic FM (106.1 FM) for
information about bus cancellations or visit the Upper Grand District School Board web-site
(www.ugdsb.on.ca).
Please note that, as in the past, Eramosa Public School will be
closed to students if buses in our division are not running.
**Student Transportation now offers a Subscription Service that will notify you
via e-mail when your child(ren)'s bus has been cancelled or delayed.**
Simply visit: https://www.findmyschool.ca/Cancellations.aspx to sign up!
Extra Socks and Mitts
When we return in January, we are sure to have more 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.
Kindergarten Registration
Next year at Eramosa, Kindergarten students will attend school each day, every
day. Registration for full day Kindergarten will take place on February 5th,
2014. If your child is 4 years of age by December 31st, 2014 (s)he is eligible to
register for JK (Junior Kindergarten). If your child is 5 years of age by
December 31st, 2014 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.
Waste Audit Findings
This fall our school conducted a waste audit. A team of students looked at all the garbage our
school creates in one day and the results were astonishing! More than one third of our total waste
was food waste, including unopened food and drinks. Another category that
generated a lot of waste was food packaging. To reduce the amount of waste
Eramosa creates, the team of students suggested we try boomerang lunches.
This is where everything (food, waste, recyclables) left over from lunch
boomerangs back home. The lunches will be held on the following dates:
Tuesday, January 21st (Day 1) and Wednesday, January 29th (Day 2)
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.
Elmira Poultry (EPSAC Fundraiser) Coming Home in January
◙ January 7th
◙ January 16th
- order forms coming home
-
orders due back at the school
◙ February 6th - pick up orders at the school 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
JK Readiness Program Coming in the New Year!
Ready Set Go!!
East Wellington Community Services has successfully delivered a program which will pave the way
for your child to experience a smooth transition into Junior Kindergarten. With the co-operation
of Eramosa PS, and Ontario Early Years funding, East Wellington Community Services’ staff will be
providing a junior kindergarten readiness program in the school. To find out more information or
register your child call Jane Wahl @ 519-856-2113.
FROM THE PROGRAM DEPARTMENT…
MATHEMATICS as a way of thinking.
In the last few years, there has been some confusion around the “new” way of doing math. It is
important to note that today’s math includes all the same mathematical concepts and facts as the
“traditional” math; the only real difference is in the way students learn this information. Today’s
math focuses on understanding math ideas by encouraging discovery and exploration through
problem solving.
In our math curriculum, there are 7 mathematical processes: problem solving, selecting tools and
computational strategies, reasoning and proving, representing, communicating, reflecting and
connecting. The goal of these processes is to help students become more confident problem
solvers.
Below you will find the processes broken down into questions. These questions are meant to be
used as coaching tools to help students with their mathematical thinking. Try them at home. You
may be surprised by the answers!
Solving the Problem

What is the question and what do you need to do?
Selecting tools and strategies

Will you need to add, subtract, divide or multiply?

What tools or technology would help you?
Representing (Showing the work)

How are you going to show your ideas? (graphs, numbers, words and symbols)
Reasoning (Making sense)

Does your answer make sense? If not, do you need to fix or change something?
Communicating (Sharing it with others)

How can you explain your answer in writing?
Reflecting (Making it personal)

What worked and what did not? Why?
Connections (Seeing relationships)

Does this problem remind you of anything?
This section of the newsletter is a highlight of what LDAO includes in their “hot items” category on
the LDAO website. Check out www.ldao.ca for more interesting articles and tools.
ADD and Mastering It Now On PBS
Communique Fall/Winter 2012
Comedians Patrick McKenna and Rick Green, the duo from
the award-winning documentary ADD & Loving It?! and the
groundbreaking companion website TotallyADD.com are
back!
ADD & Mastering It! is a funny and fascinating
program that will transform your life and the world around
you. Rick and Patrick target the specific challenges of
ADHD & ADD with 36 simple tools. They share proven
strategies that will make you organized, powerful,
productive and achieving what matters to you. These are
practices they have used to become successful ADHD
adults.
These 36 tools and tips focus on organization, time
management, prioritizing, motivation and completing big
projects. Unlike so many ‘organizing programs’ these tools
are designed to work with the ADHD/ADD mindset. In
fact, the advice here is of value to anyone living in today’s
increasingly fast-paced, hyperactive world.
Throughout ADD & Mastering It!,
Rick and Patrick are joined by 20 top ADHD experts who offer clear advice so you can begin moving
forward with power and strength.
The goal for Big Brain Productions Inc. (since we began production of ADD & Loving It?! in 2008) has
been to reach as many people as possible and not only have a positive impact on their view of Attention
Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder but to empower them to educate, inform and arm themselves with the
knowledge they need to live their best life.
www.TotallyADD.com (which launched at the same time as the broadcast of ADD & Loving It?!) has
become an extremely popular resource for people living with ADHD and the people who support them. The
almost five hours of free videos on Totally ADD educate and inform using not only some of the world’s top
experts but humour and situations that many ADDers can relate to and identify with, leaving the viewer
with the sense that they are not alone. That sense of belonging is also very evident in the Totally ADD
Forums where there’s a community of almost 21,000 registered members who support and connect with
ADDers worldwide. Doctors and coaches from many countries tell us that Totally ADD, ADD Stole My Car
Keys and ADD & Loving It?! have become tools that they use to educate new patients allowing them to make
informed decisions.
Celebrities and Learning Disabilities
Exclusive Video Interview: Steven Spielberg on his Dyslexia
www.friendsofquinn.com
In this exclusive interview, Steven Spielberg discusses his dyslexia for the first time ever,
with Quinn Bradlee of Friends of Quinn.
"When I felt like an outsider, movies made me feel inside my own skill set."
Remarkably, the world famous director of E.T. - The Extra-Terrestrial, Jaws, Schindler's
List, The Color Purple, and Raiders of the Lost Ark was diagnosed with dyslexia only a few
years ago. While he wishes that there had been more awareness of LDs in the 50s, he
acknowledges the impact of his supportive parents who helped him endlessly with his
studies, making sure he did as well as he possibly could in school.
Over the years Spielberg learned to cope with his learning difference in a variety of creative
ways. He dealt with bullies by making movies. He says, "I never felt like a victim. Movies
really helped me...kind of saved me from shame, from guilt, from putting it on myself, from
making it my burden when it wasn't my burden. I think making movies was my great
escape, it was how I could get away from all that."
Nowadays, he knows it takes him twice as long to read a book or a script, but he takes his
time and finds things to appreciate in the act of reading. How's that for coping
mechanisms?
In fact, in this interview we learn how Steven's learning differences inspired the 80s cultfavorite film, The Goonies--taking inspiration from his own group of child hood friends whom
he lovingly refers to as the "goon squad." Who knew?
It's safe to say that his coping mechanisms and perseverance have lead him through a
wildly successful career.
And his advice to young adults with LDs? "It is more common than you can imagine. You
are not alone. And while you will have this the rest of your life, you can dart between the
raindrops to get where you want to go and it will not hold you back." He knows what he's
talking about.
Follow this link to see the video
interview.
http://www.friendsofquinn.com/blog/post/ex
clusive-video-interview-steven-spielberg-onhis-dyslexia/235
Overcoming Obstacles
Source: A 4th Course of Chicken Soup for the Soul, in-spite-of.org, www.disabled-world.com
Having a learning disability doesn’t have to stop you. Consider the following people who did not let
learning disabilities stop them from pursuing and achieving their dreams:
Whoopi Goldberg
Cher
General George Patton
Actress
Singer, actress
American general and tank
commander
The actress and humanitarian
suffers from dyslexia and
frequently comments about her
learning disability.
Cher is one of the most iconic
performers,
singers
and
actresses in the world. She has
a form of dyslexia that makes
it difficult to remember
numbers or to perform basic
mathematics.
One of history’s most brilliant
military minds, Patton did not
excel in school. It is widely
held that he had some form of
dyslexia or a related learning
disability.
John Lennon
Agatha Christine
Woodrow Wilson
Signer, musician, and
songwriter
British novelist
28th President of the United
States
Lennon was probably dyslexic,
as he frequently mentioned in
interviews that he was “never a
speller”
and
had
serious
problems in school. He later
showed his musical and lyrical
genius through his work with
The Beatles, and is widely
considered to be one of the
greatest pop songwriters of all
time.
Christie was the most famous
mystery novelist of her time
and developed a rich writing
style that has impacted almost
every mystery writer of the
20th and 21st centuries.
Christie had dysgraphia, a
learning
disability
that
affected
her
ability
to
understand written words.
Wilson was the 28th President
of the United States. His
struggles with the written
word
have
been
well
documented, and he is believed
to have been a dyslexic. He
aggressively
pursued
his
education. To date, Wilson is
the only U.S. President to hold
a Ph.D.
Harry Belafonte
Winston Churchill
George Burns
Singer, actor, producer, civil
rights activist
Prime Minister of Great
Britain
Actor, comedian
Day-O, Day-O is the song that
made him famous but he has
also been a civil rights activist
since the 1950s. Most notably
he sent the money to bail
Martin Luther King Jr. out of
Birmingham City Jail. He's also
been an antiapartheid activist
for many years. And in 1985,
his idea to fight famine in
Ethiopia with the song "We
Are the World" generated
more than 70 million dollars.
Harry
Belafonte
is
also
dyslexic.
A
British
politician
and
statesman. He is one of the
great wartime leaders specially
known for his leadership of the
United Kingdom during the
Second World War. He was
also a historian, a writer, and
an artist. He received the
Nobel Prize in Literature, and
he was the first person
created an honorary citizen of
the United States. Churchill
generally did poorly in school.
He had a "speech impediment",
which he worked hard to
overcome.
An Academy-Award winning
Jewish-American actor and
comedian George Burns was a
man filled with joy. He and his
wife
Gracie
Allen
would
frequently team up on radio
and television which made them
both well known. George was an
entertainer until a few years
before his 100th birthday.
Dyslexia never kept him from
being who he was, a legend who
had one of the longest
American careers in show
business history.
Tom Cruise
Leonardo da Vinci
Albert Einstein
Actor
Artist and scientist
Scientist
Cruise is among the most
recognizable actors in the
world. He has dyslexia and has
spoken publicly about his
disability.
Da Vinci was a perfectionist
who may have had Asperger’s,
as he had savant-like skills and
an enormous single-minded
dedication to art and science.
Einstein’s parents once thought
that he was mentally retarded
due to his odd habits and
difficulties in school. If he
were born today, Einstein
would probably be diagnosed
with Asperger’s Syndrome, a
mild form of autism.
Alexander Graham Bell
Richard Branson
Erin Brockovich
Inventor
Businessman
Legal Clerk
Bell invented the telephone,
but struggled with traditional
schooling. It’s believed that he
had some form of learning
disability, possibly dyslexia.
A
billionaire
businessman,
Branson credits his business
intuition
and
unique
perspectives to his early
struggles with dyslexia, which
affects the way he visualizes
words.
Brockovich is a former legal
clerk whose success in building
a
case
against
illegal
groundwater contamination led
to a major motion picture
starring
Julia
Roberts.
Brockovich is dyslexic.
Terry Bradshaw
Walt Disney
Thomas Edison
NFL Host
Artist
Inventor
The NFL host and former
player was diagnosed with
attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD).
While no hard evidence exists,
many scholars believe that
Disney suffered from dyslexia
or a related disorder due to his
difficulties in school. Disney
eventually dropped out of high
school and pursued a career as
an artist.
Edison is believed to have had
dyslexia and possibly ADHD.
His mother took him out of
school at an early age, and
Edison was home-schooled. He
developed a voracious appetite
for reading and made major
scientific breakthroughs with
his unusual methodology.
Bill Gates
Jay Leno
Suzanne Somers
Inventor
Talk Show Host
Actress
Talk show legend Jay Leno has
dyslexia, which severely
affected his education.
Somers had a learning
disability which led to poor
performance in school and an
inability to understand written
language. She’s most famous
for her role on the sitcom,
“Three’s Company”.
Sylvester Stallone
Danny Glover
Robin Williams
Actor
Actor
Actor and Comedian
Stallone is one of the highest
paid actors of all time. He
suffers from dyslexia, but has
developed an outstanding
talent for screenwriting. His
writing credits include “Rocky”
and “Over the Top”, both of
which he starred in.
Glover has starred in the
popular “Lethal Weapon”
franchise and in dozens of
other films. He is a dyslexic
and frequently discusses his
challenges in overcoming his
learning disorder.
Williams is a comedian and
actor, famous for his roles in
“Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Good Will
Hunting” and dozens of other
films. He has been diagnosed
with attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
which affected his education
and his ability to memorize
scripts.
Some autism experts have
suggested that the head of
Microsoft had Asperger’s,
although testing was never
performed.
Tech Talk – Therapist Introduces iPads as Educational Tool
for Children with Special Needs
www.accessibilitynewsinternational.com
St. Louis Children’s Hospital occupational therapist Nicole Weckherlin says the tablet devices help
special education students on multiple levels. The iPad enables Emma to complete school work more
efficiently.
The universal access to the iPads really levels the playing field for regular ed and special ed
kids. “I have that app. But I don’t use it all that frequently.” Listening to St. Louis Children’s
Hospital patient Emma Allison speak, the only giveaway to her age is the high-pitched voice of a
little girl. According to her mom, she’s 8 – going on 18. But the fact that she’s swiftly navigating
advanced technology is nothing new.
“She’s had keyboarding in
her IEP since she was three,” Ona
Allison explains.
Emma’s
Individualized
Education Plan (IEP) exists because
of limitations that don’t affect her
intellect,
but,
rather,
her
movement. Emma has cerebral palsy
(CP), a life-long condition that
impairs the communication between
the brain and the muscles, causing
a
permanent
state
of
uncoordinated movement and posturing. In Emma’s case, the disorder involves both of her legs and
one arm. She uses a walker, and requires a great deal of time to write anything by hand.
According to her occupational therapist, Nicole Weckherlin, Emma’s situation is common
among children with CP.
“Many times in school, they shorten assignments for these kids. They tell them that if this
is hard for you, you don’t have to do all ten spelling words, you can just do five of them. It helps
with timing, but these kids then lose out on part of the educational experience.”
For years, Nicole has suggested assistive technology and devices to help children with CP
better integrate with the classroom. But that technology poses a number of shortcomings, namely,
the equipment can be bulky, and the kids often don’t want to use anything that would set them
apart from the rest of the class.
With the advent of tablet devices, though, Nicole saw an opportunity. She began suggesting
families purchase iPads about three years ago, under the direction of Dr. Jan BrunstromHernandez. She started identifying applications that would help children with certain limitations,
apps that would make them more productive, and apps that could help them sharpen their hand-eye
coordination. And it didn’t take long for schools to start seeing the benefit.
To date, Nicole has presented to multiple schools on the uses and benefits of the iPad in
special education, and frequently corresponds with many more. In December 2011, she began
distributing a monthly iPad newsletter, which now boasts an audience of 500 contacts, including
patients, parents, teachers, therapists, and health care professionals.
“Now we have kids where we’ve made the recommendation for an iPad, and they’ve actually
gone out, used it at school, and come back. We’re getting a lot of feedback that it’s a game
changer in school. Kids like Emma are able to keep up with their peers and their lessons and their
assignments,” Nicole says.
Emma’s parents agree. “In the past, if she was really tired, you wouldn’t be able to read her
handwriting, so you’d have to erase everything she’s written, and she’d have to redo it or we’d have
to write it for her,” Ona says. “I’m not going to follow her to college and scribe all of her notes for
her. We want her to do the work and gain the skills to be independent. The iPad is allowing that.”
And kids are willing to use the devices when they’re with their peers.
“She likes doing what everyone else is doing,” Ona says of Emma.
Far different from the larger medical devices, other children are familiar with iPads, and
use them as well. Ona works as the director of technology in Emma’s school district, and in the last
few years has led an effort to make iPads accessible to all students – because teachers are asking
for them.
“The iPad is truly assessing what it should: math skills, spelling skills, language arts skills.
We’re able to gain a better understanding of a child’s cognition with these devices,” Nicole
explains.
That understanding expands beyond the scope of children with special needs.
“The universal access to the iPads really levels the playing field for regular ed and special ed
kids. They’re all treated the same.”
The results she’s seen in patients, combined with the promise of advancing the potential of
special education students, prompted Nicole to apply to the St. Louis Children’s Hospital
Foundation for funds to start an iPad lab at the hospital. She began the process last spring, and
was recently awarded more than $2500 to purchase numerous iPad accessories, including mounts,
cases, switches, apps and other equipment that will enhance accessibility.
Though the equipment has yet to arrive, she has already begun seeing patients specifically for iPad
use and accessibility.
She hopes the iPad lab will introduce even more families to the benefits of the tablet, and,
eventually, make the medical community more aware of the tool as a device to increase a child’s
productivity. She’s already excited about the long-term potential it has and will give one to Emma.
“I feel, vocationally, this is where jobs are going to end up. I’m going to guarantee you that
Emma is going to do something with computers when she’s an adult,” Nicole says.
For now, Emma begs to differ. She says she’s going to be a swim instructor when she grows up.
Though, at only 8, she’s reserving the right to change her mind – frequently!
Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario
.
Membership Form
Name:_______________________ _Address: _______________________________
City: ________________________ Province: _____________________________
Postal Code: _____________Tel: (H) _______________ (W) __________________
Email: __________________________________
Annual Dues: Family/individual $50; Student $20; Professional $75
I am interested in making a donation: ______________
and/or volunteering:____________________
Membership Advantages:
•
Awareness and advocacy efforts on behalf of those with learning disabilities or ADHD at
the local, provincial and national level,
•
subscription to local and provincial newsletters,
•
information on learning disabilities and ADHD
•
use of local resources and support services.
Please mail this form and cheque to: Learning Disabilities Association of Ontario
365 Evans Avenue, Suite 202, Toronto, ON M8Z 1K2
Tel: (416) 929-4311Toll free in Ontario only: 1-877-238-5322
Fax: (416) 929-3905
Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it
will spend its whole life believing that it is stupid. ~Albert Einstein.
Eramosa Public School
January 2014
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Theme this
month is
“Rights of the
Child”
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
4
9
10
Christmas Holidays
5
6
-Welcome back!
-Pita Day
7
-OPP Kids Visit
Grade 6s
-Elmira Poultry
Order Forms go
home
8
14
-EPSAC Mtg
7pm (Library)
-Gr 4-6 Music
Presentation by
Do Re Mi
-Pita Day
15
-Defibrillator
Training 4-6pm
KA
11
-Assembly 2:35
-Pizza Day
Holidays
12
13
16-River Run
trip for Gr 3& 4
-Elmira Poultry
Order Forms
Due
-Pizza Day
17
18
PA DAY
No School for
Students
19
20
-Hotdog Day
21
-Boomerang
Lunch
22
-Humane
Society Visit
-Technology
Workshop for
Parents 6:30-8
23
24
-Pizza Day
KB
26
27
-Family
Literacy Day
28
-Hotdog Day
29
-Boomerang
Lunch
30
31
KA
-Pizza Day
25