Volume 25 No. 8
2014 05 28
Together, Making A Difference…..One Student At A Time
From The Principal’s Desk
How quickly my first year at James McQueen has
gone! We have had many wonderful, fun and
enriching experiences together and look forward to
not only a fun-in-the-sun holiday, but next year’s
school year. Before we do that though, we have a very
busy and eventful month ahead with many
educational and recreational events and activities
planned. Please check our list of important dates as
well as your child’s agenda for information on
everything that is up and coming!
It is with sadness and pride that we say farewell to
many students this year. We want to wish our grades
2, 3 and 4 French Immersion students good luck as
they travel on to J.D. Hogarth P.S. in September. We
also want to wish good luck to our grade 3, 4, 5 & 6
students who will move on to John Black P.S.
Students moving on will be recognized at our final
school spirit assembly on Friday, June 27th at
9:15 a.m. Please join us if you are available.
I would like to take this time to thank our countless
volunteers, all of our families and school council for
their support throughout the year. Please come to our
Volunteer Tea on Friday, June 13th from 10:30 to
11:30 a.m. so that we can thank you in person!
May you and your children have a wonderful summer
full of family time and fun!
Sincerely,
L. Lacey,
Principal
Battery Recycling Program
Success!
Please continue to send in your used batteries for
recycling. Through this program we have already
saved an entire 5 gallon pail full of batteries from
going into our local landfill sites! THANK YOU!!
September 2014
James McQueen PS provides all the necessary
materials for children’s learning. Even so, some
families like to have a list describing items that would
be useful for children to have at school. For your
convenience, please find these lists below:
Kindergarten
1 large backpack with name
1 lunch bag
1 paint shirt
1 pair of indoor athletic shoes to stay at school
1 box of facial tissue
Grades 1-3
1 large backpack with name
1 lunch bag
1 pair of indoor athletic shoes to stay at school
1 box of facial tissue
1 pkg. of watercolour markers
l pkg. of pencil crayons
1 large glue stick
1 pencil case
pencils (standard HB with eraser)
We will also be offering, once again this year, School
Kits that you can purchase for your child if you wish.
These kits are grade appropriate and information will
be coming home shortly.
School Council Corner…
Bike Safety Rodeo
The Optimist Club is hosting a bike rodeo on June 14 from
1:00 to 3:00 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church. Come on
out and take part in an OPP instructed safety program and
try out the obstacle course. There will be a draw for a free
bike! A great opportunity to hear from the OPP about bike
safety with the kids.
Need Labels?
Summer Camp season is around the corner! Get your
students’ stuff labeled and help your school at the same time.
Two great fundraisers to choose from:
Elora Labels…..we are thrilled to offer a fundraising
opportunity with a local label company, Elora Labels, again
this year. They have fun designs, offer several great packages
and they are local! The also offer allergy labels which are a
great idea for kids or adults. A portion of all purchases is
returned to James McQueen Parent Council. It’s a win-win
situation. You support a local business, get great affordable
labels and help support your school!
https://eloralabel.com/jamesmcqueen
Mabel’s Labels….are you a die hard Mabel’s Labels
supporter? Don’t fret, we still enjoy a fundraising
partnership with them also. Visit
http://jmps.mabelslabels.com for the same great products
you’ve always enjoyed.
Give us your email address…..and we’ll keep you up to
date on everything you need to know at James McQueen. It’s
so easy – go to http://www.ugdsb.on.ca/jamesmcqueen/ and
click on the “subscribe” button. You will receive notification
every time a newsletter comes out, as well as other updates.
Help us cut our photocopy costs and save some trees along
the way!
Next School Council Meeting – Wednesday,
June 11th – 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.
School Council meetings are open to everyone – join
us the second Wednesday of the month – next meeting is
Wednesday, June 11th, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. There is free
babysitting available. With so much going on this year,
participating in school council is a great way to play an active
role in your child’s school experience within this incredible
school community.
Playing and Having Fun in
the Summer Sun
The summer holidays are almost here and children will
have more time to play inside and outside your home.
Play helps children of all ages build social skills, be more
creative, and solve problems. Children who play often are
happier and healthier.
Children need free time every day to play. It is important
for children to choose how they would like to play and
what they would like to play with. Younger children may
choose to build with blocks, play chasing or tag games,
paint, draw, make a puzzle or play with dolls, cars or
trucks. Older children might like building a fort, riding a
bike, playing ball, building with a construction set, or
playing a board game.
Encourage your child to play actively more often than they
play video games and watch T.V. Children enjoy playing
with water or sand, playing games like hide and seek, or
with bean bags, balls, skipping ropes or bikes.
Many children enjoy putting things together and taking
things apart. Children also like to play games in which they
can pretend such as dress-up, puppets and role playing.
What did you like to do when you were a child?
Play is good for adults too. Adults who take time to “play”
and relax are less stressed and happier. Have some fun this
summer!
For ideas about toys and play at different ages go to:
http://www.parents.com/baby/development/growth/howthey-play/
For information on pretend play go to:
http://www.hanen.org/Helpful-Info/Articles/The-Land-ofMake-Believe.aspx
For ideas for outdoor play go to:
http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/family/travel/playoutside-47060105#slide-29
Talking About Mental Health May 2014
The Importance of Sleep
As the days get longer and the light lingers into the night,
all of us tend to stay up later. Unfortunately, we still have
to get up at the same time to go to school or work, which
means we may not be getting enough sleep. For some of
us, this lack of sleep is an ongoing concern. Going to bed
late, not being able to fall asleep or waking up in the night
all disrupt our ability to get a good night’s sleep.
A good night’s sleep is very important for our mental and
physical well being. For children and youth, it is extremely
important to get enough sleep. Sleep is the foundation on
which we build all of our well being. Sleep allows our
bodies to rest, re-charge, consolidate learned information
and be ready to take on another day’s challenges. Good
sleep contributes to feeling well, doing well in school and
to positive mood and behavior. Getting enough sleep leads
to better concentration, less hyperactivity, less depression
or anxiety and less aggression.
Each person needs a different amount of sleep, with
children and youth needing more sleep than adults. You
know you are getting enough sleep when you don’t feel
drowsy or tired during the day. Sleep problems are very
common. You are more likely to experience sleep problems
if you are experiencing significant stress in your life.
Simple changes in your child or youth’s daily routine can
make a big difference to their ability to sleep well and feel
rested.
Do:
1. Go to bed at the same time each day.
2. Get up from bed at the same time each day.
3. Get regular exercise each day, preferably in the morning.
There is good evidence that regular exercise improves
restful sleep. This includes stretching and aerobic exercise.
4. Get regular exposure to outdoor or bright lights,
especially in the late afternoon.
5. Keep the temperature in your bedroom comfortable.
6. Keep the bedroom quiet when sleeping.
7. Keep the bedroom dark enough to facilitate sleep.
8. Use your bed only for sleeping.
9. Use a relaxation exercise just before going to sleep such
as muscle relaxation, imagery, massage, warm bath, etc.
If you lie in bed awake for more than 20-30 minutes, get
up, go to a different room (or different
part of the bedroom), participate in a quiet activity (e.g.
non-excitable reading or television),
Don't:
1. Exercise just before going to bed.
2. Engage in stimulating activity just before bed, such as
playing a competitive game,watching an exciting program
on television or movie, or having an important discussion
with a loved one.
3. Have caffeine in the evening (coffee, many teas,
chocolate, sodas, etc.) .
4. Read or watch television in bed.
5. Use alcohol to help you sleep.
6. Go to bed too hungry or too full.
7. Take daytime naps.
8.. Command yourself to go to sleep. This only makes your
mind and body more alert.
If you or your child/youth continue to have sleep problems,
talk with your doctor or mental health professional. Here
are some helpful websites with information and activities to
help with good sleep.
http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/wellness-module/wellnessmodule-6-getting-a-good-nights-sleep
http://sleepfoundation.org/
Do You Have Questions
about Hearing? Ask an
Audiologist!
Often taken for granted, the ability to hear plays a crucial
role in the way we interact with each other and our
surroundings. Yet, for more than one million Ontarians,
hearing loss can have serious consequences, negatively
affecting daily living. Untreated or mismanaged hearing
loss has a profound impact at any age. For example,
hearing loss can result in difficulty with speech, language
and social development in toddlers, poor academic
performance in children, and sometimes behavioural
issues as well. Hearing loss can lead to isolation, reduced
independence, reduced cognitive function, and depression
in adults. Knowing where to turn for help is an important
first step – your audiologist can help.
What is an Audiologist?
There are a variety of providers of hearing healthcare and
many people are unsure about their distinct roles. For
example, hearing aid dispensers (or hearing aid
practitioners/"specialists") are qualified to sell hearing
aids, but audiologists differ in many ways, including:

Audiologists hold Master's or Doctorate degrees
in audiology

Audiologists are recognized under the Regulated
Health Professions Act

Audiologists belong to a regulatory college that
protects the public interest

Audiologists are legally entitled to prescribe
hearing aids
It is important to be informed and to trust your hearing
concerns to a professional who is qualified to provide
comprehensive evaluations and treatments. This is
especially important for children. To locate an audiologist
in Ontario, call the Ontario Association of SpeechLanguage Pathologists and Audiologists (OSLA) Tel: 416920-3676 or visit their website at www.osla.on.ca
************************************************
If you have questions about Hearing or Communication,
Language and Speech Services in the Upper Grand District
School Board, please contact Trudy Counter, Coordinator
of Communication, Language and Speech Services
519-941-6191 (Toll free: 1-888-535-5528) Extension 248
Math and Reading This
Summer
This summer don’t forget about math and reading! On a
rainy, cool summer day (I know after the winter we’ve
had, hopefully they will be few and far between) check out
these websites.
Parents of Elementary Students:
Find tips on helping your child with reading, writing and
math, as well as tips on homework, talking to teachers and
more. Tips are available in multiple languages at
Ontario.ca/abc123
Parents of Secondary Students
Ontario schools are offering expanded programs to help
meet students’ individual learning styles and interests,
which will better prepare them for graduation and
beyond. Find out more about the Student Success
program at Ontario.ca/studentsuccess. Information
obtained from Parent Matters Ontario.ca/EDUparents
Jump Rope Thanks!
Thank you all so VERY
much for your support for
our JUMP ROPE FOR
HEART event! We
raised $4,411.41 for the
Heart and Stroke
Foundation…WOW!!!
What a wonderful,
supportive community we have. Congratulations and
merci beaucoup!!
Dates to Remember……
Thursday, June 5
Kindness/Compassion Assembly at 2:00 p.m. Join us if you wish.
Friday, June 6
P.A. Day THIS AFTERNOON!! Students will be dismissed at 12:05 p.m.
Monday, June 9
Track and Field Meet at Marden today for grades 3-6.
Tuesday, June 10
Kindergarten Orientation from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. We welcome NEW kindergarten students
to James McQueen!!
Parent Evening at John Black P.S. at 6:00 p.m. for those students going in September.
Grade 3’s “Swim to Survive” this afternoon at the Fergus Sportsplex.
Wednesday, June 11
Area Track and Field Meet at J.D. Hogarth P.S.
School Council Meeting at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is welcome!
Friday, June 13
Rain date for Area Track and Field Meet at J.D. Hogarth PS
Volunteer Appreciation Tea in the gym from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.
Tuesday, June 17
Ultimate Frisbee Tournament at Elora P.S.
Swim to Survive Program for grade 3’s.
Wednesday, June 18
Mrs. Mooney’s and Mrs. Wasson’s classes are off to Bingeman’s Today.
Thursday, June 19
Raindate for Ultimate Frisbee Tournament.
Grades 2-4 FI classes will visit J.D. Hogarth.
Grade 1 trip to Riverside Park.
Friday, June 20
Mr. Noble’s and Mr. Campbell’s classes go bowling today!
Comfy Cozy Games Day.
Tuesday, June 24
Last session of Swim to Survive for grade 3’s.
Friday, June 27
Farewell Assembly at 9:15 a.m. Please join us if you are available.