April 1, 2015
PRINCESS MARGARET NEWS FOR PARENTS
Principal Mr. W. VanderVaart Vice Principal: Ms. L. Kendle
Principal’s Message
It sure was great to feel the warmth of a beautiful day in April. Let’s hope that the weather continues to improve.
In February we celebrated the many accomplishments of Black people in Canada and the world.
One of the events we held was a March Around the school to remind us of the struggles that happened in Selma 50 years ago when Dr, Martin L. King marched across the bridge in Selma to fight for the rights of all people. Today we have to continue to fight for equity and inclusivity for all in our community. We also had a informative presentation by School Council and the YMCA program on equity. We had a great night and a wonderful spaghetti dinner (I didn’t have to do the dishes). One step at a time, moving forward and protecting the rights of everyone is the way to make our committee a rich and vibrant place to educate our students.
Our Live Free campaign on March 7 was a great success! Students fulfilled their promises and generously brought in a toonie and a box of crackers to ensure that our students are never
"too hungry to learn."
This year we raised $651 and collected 176 boxes of crackers. A special mention to all the student’s in Ms Mikulik's class. They brought in $204.00, a tremendous amount for one class.
And a special thank you to all the students in Mrs. Yokom and Mrs. Bradford's class who brought in 26 boxes of crackers. Thank you to Ms. Hanna for organizing this event and supporting our school committee.
Once again this year, we celebrated the Great Big Crunch.
This event is held in March, nutrition month, and encourages healthy snacking, and gives us an opportunity to celebrate the availability of local produce year round. We purchased and crunched Macintosh apples from
Glen Huron, less than 60 km from Orangeville. Ms Kendle and a small group of grade 4s, worked hard to learn facts about apple growing and then developed multiple-choice questions.
They visited several classes and students were delighted to try answering these questions before crunching an apple. Well done grade 4s! Older students were involved in a discussion with Ms. Hanna about food literacy before crunching.
I had the great pleasure of reading in kindergarten classes last month. It was wonderful to be part of the classroom and be invited into the class by the Kindergarten teachers. The students were engaged and I could tell how much they have learned in each class since September. It is amazing to see how much these 4 and 5 year old students know about letters and sight words.
One of the new programs starting at PMPS, with the help of Mrs. Heimbecker and Mrs. Mikulik, is Girls’ Government club. This club is for grade eight girls who will be visited by our MPP,
Sylvia Jones to help them understand how the Ontario government works and then help the girls advocate for a cause they passionately believe in. At the end of the program, our grade eight girls, with a group of girls from Island Lake will visit Queen’s Park to present their cause and get a tour. What a great opportunity!
Basketball season has already started. Both teams are off to a great start and look great in their new uniforms. We hope you have a great season. Thanks Mrs. Heimbecker and Mrs. Mikulik for coaching the teams.
In other sporting news, we had a very successful sideline basketball evening at Island Lake this week. We didn’t keep score on a scoreboard, however, Mrs. Cairns and Ms. Macijewych tell me we played well and had a lot of fun. More importantly, they also told me the team was respectful and responsible when visiting another school.
U p p e r G r a n d D i s t r i c t S c h o o l B o a r d Page 1

April 1, 2015
PRINCESS MARGARET NEWS FOR PARENTS
Principal Mr. W. VanderVaart Vice Principal: Ms. L. Kendle
Continuing on with the good news, Mr. Westlake and Mr. Fendley have been busy coaching the curling team on Monday nights. All of their experience coaching over the years seems to have paid off this year with a championship victory coming with the last rock of the day to win a tie breaking game against another great team. Congratulations to all team members and thank you to our wonderful coaches.
Our Bands, (junior and intermediate) have been practicing hard all year under the guidance of
Mrs. Heimbecker to get ready for our upcoming performances. They will be performing on
April 21 st at the Dufferin Festival of the Arts and for the school later this year.
Staffing News: Welcome back Mrs. Christie and all the best to Ms. Burgess at your new job in
Kindergarten. Mrs. Christie will be returning to her classroom on April 7 th
School Council
2015.
The next School Council meeting will be held on Monday, April 20, at 7:00 p.m. in the school library. Please come and join us to hear about the event that we are going to be running this spring.
We are in the process of planning for our Primary Story Telling Night being held in May.
We remind our school community that all parents and community members are invited to attend
Council meetings. New members are always welcome!
Bully Reporting Tool
The Upper Grand District School Board takes all incidents of bullying seriously. That’s why we developed an online bullying reporting tool.
This gives students and parents 24/7 access for reporting bullying. You don’t have to identify yourself – just your school – and your message gets sent directly to your school principal for follow-up. You’ll find the Stop a Bully button on our school’s website and the board’s website (www.ugdsb.opn.ca/stop-a-bully).
If your child is the victim of bullying or sees bullying behaviour at school, please encourage him/her to speak with someone at school or use the Stop a Bully tool. For more information, contact the school or visit our website.
Support our anti-Bullying messages by having your child wear Pink on April 8 2015 . If you are not part of the solution, then you might be part of the problem! Help everyone be an active bystander and protect each other from those who would repeatedly hurt us on purpose. For more information see our Princess Margaret website to view our code of conduct, which includes our definition of bullying and our Bullying prevention plan.
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April 1, 2015
PRINCESS MARGARET NEWS FOR PARENTS
Principal Mr. W. VanderVaart Vice Principal: Ms. L. Kendle
Brushing your teeth two times a day for two minutes each time helps prevent cavities.
If you don’t have dental insurance and can’t afford care, we have free dental services for your children at Public Health. At our dental clinics, we provide free cleanings for children. We can help children with cavities and other urgent problems get the treatment they need. For more information about our dental services, call our Dental Line at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 2661 or visit www.wdgpublichealth.ca
Math Ideas for Home
Dear Mom, Dad, Grandma and Grandpa and of course the dog and anyone else living at our house
I heard about these fun math games to play at home. Do you think we could try them out? I think math is really important and I just need some extra practice.
Guess My Number
Goal: Can you guess the number I’m holding?
One player takes two playing cards. The cards can be ordered any way.
Be sure no one else can see the cards!
All other players take turns guessing what the number is by asking math questions.
"Is it even?" "Is it odd?" "Is it greater than 10?" "Is it a factor of 20?" and so on.
The player holding the cards can only answer with a "Yes" or "No", until the actual number is guessed.
Let’s Get Loonie
(Materials: 2 dice, coins 8 pennies, 2 nickels, 4 dimes, 6 quarters and 1 loonie.)
Roll the two dice and add the two numbers together.
Take that amount of money from the centre.
(Try to always have the least number of coins in front of you at a time).
Object: to be the first player to get “Looney”.
On the Way Home from Soccer or Baseball
How many goals/runs were scored in the game?
How many more goals/runs did we need to get to make 10, 18, and 25?
How many players are on the team? If they each have one sibling how many children would that be? What if half of them had 2 siblings? Now how many children would that be?
It cost $50.00 to fill up the van with gas. How much would 5 tanks cost? What about 8 tanks?
And for those nights that get rained out, how about some old favourites.
Puzzles, Pay Day, Monopoly, Rummoli, Phase 10 or Payday.
U p p e r G r a n d D i s t r i c t S c h o o l B o a r d Page 3

April 1, 2015
PRINCESS MARGARET NEWS FOR PARENTS
Principal Mr. W. VanderVaart Vice Principal: Ms. L. Kendle
EQAO undertakes research for two main purposes:
1) to maintain best-of-class practices and student improvement
2) ensure high standards of education quality
Standardized tests provide different information. A standardized test is essentially a snapshot in time using one method of assessment. Teachers assess their students using a broad range of tools. A more holistic and complete picture of a student's performance can be seen from various types of assessment that the teacher does throughout the year. (tvoparents.tvo.org)
●
There is no need to study . The EQAO assessment does not count towards a child's marks in grades 3 and 6, so there is no need to increase anxiety by cramming. If you are curious about the questions your child will be asked, check out the EQAO site and run through some practice tests yourself so you have some understanding of the structure of the assessment and can better reassure your child.
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Remember this is practice. Let your child know that this is a way to show off what he or she knows and to practice test-writing skills so your child can be prepared for tests in later grades.
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Be supportive. It is normal and natural to get nervous and this is a big deal for your child. Do not downplay fears or dismiss them as silly. Instead, encourage your child to talk about these fears
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Talk to the Teacher. If your child is experiencing severe anxiety, there are things the teacher or school can do to help.
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Set the alarm. The best thing you can do for your child the day of the assessments is to make sure your child is well rested, fed and gets to school on time.
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Read more. For more on EQAO assessments and what they mean for your child, check out our Parent's
Guide to EQAO Assessments .
●
Understand the Test.
Don't use your child's EQAO test scores to measure overall achievement. You're better off relying on regular contact with the teacher who can show you your child's portfolio, which is being updated all year long. You'll have a more clear and accurate picture of your child's progress.
EQAO resources http://tvoparents.tvo.org/article/understanding-standardized-testing www.eqao.com
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April 1, 2015
PRINCESS MARGARET NEWS FOR PARENTS
Principal Mr. W. VanderVaart Vice Principal: Ms. L. Kendle
C
E
Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. Earth day was a day founded as an environmental teach-in first held on April 22,
1970. While this first Earth Day was focused on the United States, an organization took it international in 1990 and organized events in 141 nations. Earth Day activities in 1990 shone a spotlight on important environmental issues like species extinction, water and energy conservation and pollution on the worldwide stage. Earth Day is now coordinated globally by the
Earth Day Network,and is celebrated in more than 180 countries every year. Numerous communities also celebrate Earth Week, an entire week of activities focused on environmental initiatives.
Earth day is a very special day that allows us to participate with millions of other people all over the world in reflecting on the importance of protecting our planet. We can show our creativity for this event by coming up with posters to promote Earth day or by writing a reflection in our journal about what Earth day means to us personally. We can write a poem about our favourite thing in nature or we could write a letter to the government asking for better environmental laws.
We could come up with more creative ways to conserve energy, or reduce, reuse or recycle items we personally use. We can show our enthusiasm for our planet by researching topics that interest us and coming up with new ideas on how to spread the word about the environmental issues that we are passionate about.
Make Earth Day last all year! - Let’s go green, everyone!
April 2015
nd
Autism Ontario
Kerry's Place Autism Services
U p p e r G r a n d D i s t r i c t S c h o o l B o a r d Page 5

April 1, 2015
PRINCESS MARGARET NEWS FOR PARENTS
Principal Mr. W. VanderVaart Vice Principal: Ms. L. Kendle
Talking about Mental Health - May 2-9 is Child and Youth Mental Health Week!
Child and Youth Mental Health Week is about promoting mental wellness, increasing awareness of the child and youth mental health, decreasing stigma and understanding that support is available.
This year’s theme for Child and Youth Mental Health Week at the Upper Grand District School
Board is:
Have a SUPER Week! Let’s increase everyone’s mental health and well being!
S ocial Connections
U plifting Emotions
P ersonal Health
E motional Calming
R esilient Thinking
Each day of the week will focus on a different aspect of Mental Health and Well Being. The schools will be provided with resources and activities related to each day’s theme. Some schools will also have their own Mental Health Week activities that are specific to their school.
As a parent, you can increase the Mental Health and Well-being of your children and family too!
Here are some suggestions:
Monday May 4: Focus on S ocial Connection
Draw a picture or diagram of social connections.
Who does your child/youth feel close to: At home? At school? Friends? Extended family? In the community? If there are missing parts, make a effort to try and make a new connection. Connection to caring adults is the best protective factor that a child/youth can have.
Tuesday May 5 – Focus on U plifting Emotions
Focus on the positive. Smile with your children/youth. Have them smile with each other.
Read a book that makes you and your children happy. Watch a video or sing a song that focuses on being happy. Think of a positive sentence to say during your day. Put a positive note on the fridge or tweet out positive thoughts. Put a note in your child’s lunch:
Have a happy day!
Wednesday May 6 – P ersonal Health – Eating Well, Sleeping Well and Being Active
Wear green to support Mental Health Awareness today! Eat a good nutritious breakfast.
Focus on fruits and veggies for snacks. Walk with your child to school or go for walk after work/school. Go outside! Go with your child to the park or for a swim or a bike ride! An hour before bed, start winding down. No screens. Read a book or listen to calming music. Take a bath. Prepare for a good night’s sleep.
Thursday May 7 – Emotional Calming
Just breathe. Taking deep calming breaths is on the most powerful things you and your children/youth can do to be calm. Start the day with a few deep breaths at breakfast. Have you and your child/youth to take three deep breaths every time they walk through a doorway. So at the start of each class, your child/youth can start with three deep breaths.
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April 1, 2015
PRINCESS MARGARET NEWS FOR PARENTS
Principal Mr. W. VanderVaart Vice Principal: Ms. L. Kendle
Friday May 8 – Resilient Thinking
Have your child/youth talk about their strengths. What are their strengths as a brother, sister, son or daughter? What are their strengths in their relationships with their friends?
What are the strengths related to school, activities, interests? What do they enjoy doing and why? Talk about a time when they used their strengths to overcome a difficult experience.
At the end of the week, think about the things that made you or your child feel more positive, more resilient and continue to use them every day!
Our community partners will also be taking part in events around Child and Youth Mental
Health Week.
The GLOWW (Giving Light Offers Worth and Wellness) youth committee of CMHA WWD is giving bracelets to all High School students in Guelph/Wellington. The bracelets have a positive mental wellness message on the outside and contact information on the inside.
CMHA WWD and GLOWW are having a Walk for Mental Health in Exhibition Park, Guelph from 12-5 on Saturday May 2. Also, check out DCAFS http://dcafs.on.ca/ for events in
Dufferin.
Supports for Students:
Within our board we have many mental well-being and mental health supports including Social
Workers, Psych Consultants, Child and Youth Counsellors, and several specialized teams to support students. Consult your principal or vice principal if you feel one your students is struggling. Connected to our board we have Mental Health and Addiction Nurses and Mental
Health Workers who work with students who are not attending school due to Mental Health issues.
Community Supports:
DCAFS 1 519 941 1530 - Services for Children/Youth in Dufferin. Talk-in Clinic Tuesdays 1-7 pm.
CMHA WWD 1 844 HERE 247 (1 844 437 4237) - Services for Children/Youth in
Guelph/Wellington and Adults in Guelph/Wellington/Dufferin. Walk In Clinic Tuesdays 1:30-
7pm.
KidsHelpPhone.ca (1 800 668 6868) for children and teens to call anytime when they need someone to talk to. For youth there is also an online chat with a counselor on Thurs to Sun nights. The website has lots of good information about mental wellness and mental health issues.
Most of all… have a SUPER week!
Dr. Lynn Woodford is the Mental Health and Addiction Lead for Upper Grand District School
Board
Follow me on twitter: @drlynnwoodford
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2015
Learning to Live * Living to learn
Sunday
CHARACTER TRAIT:
HONESTY
Monday Tuesday
2 nd
Flouride Treatment
Wednesday
1
Thursday
Pizza Day
World Autism Awarenss day
2
Friday
Good Friday
3
Saturday
4
5
Easter Monday
6
Author Visit Shane
Peacock
7
International Pink Day
8 9
Pizza Day
10 11
18 12
19
13
School Council Mtg,
7:00 pm
20
Dufferin Festival of the
Arts
21
14 15
Danny in the Basement
Equity Play Gr. 4,5,6.
Grad Picture Re-takes
Pictures for Teams/clubs
22
ODSS teachers to visit intermediate classes.
16
Pizza Day
23
Pizza Day
17
24
PA Day
No School for students
26 27
International day of
Mourning
28 29 30
Pizza Day
25