Laurelwoods Elementary School
November Newsletter
PRINCIPAL NEWS
I hope that everyone had a chance to attend Laurelwoods’ Hallowe’en Family Fun Night on October 23rd. What
an amazing night it was for our school! In only a few short hours, our gym was transformed into a Halloween
themed event that exceeded all expectations. All of the students and parents with whom I had the
opportunity to speak that evening expressed how wonderful the night was for their families. I would like to
thank the Laurelwoods’ Parent Council for all of their hard work organizing this wonderful event. It was the
hard work of the volunteers that helped make this a memorable night for our community!
This month, we ask families to pay particular attention to November 13th as all students, in grades 1-8, will be
bringing home their Progress Report Cards on that day. The intent of the Progress Report is to inform you how
your child(ren) is(are) progressing in his/her (their) school work this term, to share learning strengths and to
identify next steps for improvement. In the coming days, you will receive some information about scheduling
interviews with your child(ren)’s teacher(s). Please note that November 20th (between 4:00pm-8:00pm) and
November 21st (between 9:00am-3:00pm) are our scheduled interview times.
During our Professional Development time this year, the teachers have been working towards our School’s
Improvement Plan of improving our math results on EQAO tests. One of the strategies we are implementing
this year is to ensure that our students are able to independently answer Thinking and Application questions.
These types of questions are similar to those that students will see on EQAO tests and can cover more than
one math strand. This strategy will help us review math concepts that are taught throughout the year.
Our cross-country team made us proud by being outstanding representatives of Laurelwoods at their annual
meet. Not only did the team have phenomenal results, it also demonstrated outstanding sportsmanship at the
event. Even though the race day was cool for our runners everyone had a positive attitude and a huge smile.
Thank you, Ms. Panter, Mrs. Rayfield, Miss. McDonald, Miss. Gibson and Mr. Johnson for coaching the team.
Sincerely,
Jonathan Walker
P.A. DAY
Just a reminder that Friday, November 21st is a P.A. Day
there will be no classes for students.
Weather:
With the unpredictability of our weather, it is
strongly recommended that students come prepared
with extra clothes. An extra pair of dry socks and
mittens are always a good thing to have tucked into the
backpack. A warm coat, hat and mitts are necessary for
outdoor recess times.
Inclement Weather:
With the colder weather coming, the snowflakes are not
too far away. Please note how school closures are
announced to the public. If buses are cancelled or
delayed in the morning due to icy roads or snowy
weather, the following radio and television stations will
be notified:
Toronto: CBC FM 99.1, CHFI FM 98.1, CFTR AM 680
Guelph: CJOY AM 1460, MAGIC FM 106.1
Kitchener: CKGL AM 570, CHYM FM 96.7
Barrie: CHAY FM 93.1 and THE New VR (TV)
Please listen for the following:
All school taxis and buses serving the Upper Grand
District School Board in Dufferin County will not be
operating today. When buses are cancelled
Laurelwoods E.S. is CLOSED. Please do not send or drop
off your child when the school is closed.
Parents can also check the Board’s website as well as
www.findmyschool.ca for any bus delays or
cancellations. The transportation website is
www.stwdsts.ca.
Remembrance Day:
We will be having our Remembrance Day
Assembly on November 11th at 9:30 a.m.
Parents are welcome to join us. This year marks the
100th anniversary of the beginning of World War I. Mrs.
Martin and Mrs. Jordan are asking for family items from
veterans, to be put on display at the school during
Veteran’s Week. These could be pictures, medals
uniforms, etc. Please send your items in the first week
of November or contact Mrs. Martin or Mrs. Jordan to
make arrangements.
Thank You!
Student Council would like to thank the Laurelwood’s
community for contributing to the FCC Drive Away
Hunger event. We managed to collect 775lbs. of food
that will be distributed to our local food banks. Once
again students participated by carrying out bags of nonperishable food items and cheering on the tractor as it
drove off. The FCC crew were amazed with our school
spirit and how they love seeing it grow every year. A big
thank you also goes to Sobey’s for letting us borrow
their grocery carts that Student Council pushed around
every morning collecting donations. Little actions make
a BIG difference!
Stop a Bully!
performing at schools trying to share his message that
no kid should have to complain about not wanting to go
to school because they are being bullied. His show
attempts to motivate as many kids as he can to chase
their dreams and never let anyone stand in their way of
success and happiness. It is interactive and up beat and
there will be a chance to purchase merchandise after
the show. Parents are welcome to attend. The show
will be starting at 9:00 a.m.! Hope to see you there.
Did you know that in the majority of cases, bullying
stops within 10 seconds when peers intervene or don’t
support the bullying behavior?
Attendance:
The Upper Grand District School Board takes all
incidents of bullying seriously. That’s why we
developed an online bullying reporting tool. Stop a
Bully 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. We will follow
up on your report.
You’ll find the Stop a Bully button on our school’s
website and the board’s website
(https://webapps.ugdsb.on.ca/reportbullying).
If your child is the victim of bullying or sees bullying
behavior 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.
Anti-Bullying Week:
November 17th is the start of anti-bullying week at
Laurelwoods. A group of students will be representing
Laurelwoods at “We Day” on November 20th. As we are
a Me to We school, we have been invited to participate
in a day that encourages youth to empower themselves
and take action as agents of social change. This can
begin by making a difference in their school, community
and then eventually around the world. The students
will listen to many speakers and performers who tell
their story and how they overcame diversity to make a
change that benefits others. For more information
about We Day you can visit www.weday.com.
Beyond the Hurt:
On November 27th Laurelwoods bullying prevention
team, Beyond the Hurt, will be hosting a concert by
country music sensation, Ryan Laird.
Ryan is a two time Canadian Country Music Awards
nominee and has toured with George Canyon, Alan
Jackson, Terri Clark and Emerson Drive! For the past
few years he has been travelling across Canada
Just a reminder that if your child will not be
attending school or will be late on any given
day, please call us at 519-940-3666 on the
attendance line. ext. 100. Please include your
child’s name, the bus number, the teacher’s name and
indicate illness or absent for any other reason. It is the
parent’s responsibility to notify the school if their
child(ren) will be absent or late. We also request that
you send a note (include the bus number and teacher’s
name) or call the school before 2:45 p.m. if you are
picking your child(ren) up during the day or at the end
of the day.
Cross Country Running:
Congratulations to all the runners who participated in
the Cross Country Run at the Orangeville Fair Grounds.
Way to Go LES!
The Atom Cross Country Team should be very proud of
the way they represented Laurelwoods at the Meet on
October 15th. Each member of the team trained and
worked hard for the event. Everyone showed great
school spirit by cheering on the LES runners.
Congratulations to Abby P, Maggi, Olivia and Atlanta for
placing in the to 50 for the girls and to Liam and Lucas
for placing in the top 20 for the boys! It was a pleasure
to coach all the Atom Cross Country Runners. – Ms.
Gibson.
Mr. Johnson would like to congratulate the
Intermediate cross country team on a great showing at
the cross country meet. Mr. Johnson is very proud of
how the team conducted themselves before and
during the race. This is what makes an athlete a
good sport and great team mate! Mr. Johnson
would also like to note that in her race, Vanessa
placed 4th and in their races, Nic and Jake placed 9th
and 10th respectively. Way to go Team!
Volleyball:
The Boys volleyball team has finished their tryouts,
and have been practicing together for four weeks.
The boys began their season with practice games
against PEPS and Primrose schools. Their record
during these matches was a victory of 4 – 0 over
PEPS and 3 – 0 over Primrose. The boys have
played 2 matches in their round robin series, and
have defeated Primrose again 3-0 and defeated
Glenbrook 3-0. We are undefeated! Volleyball
season continues until mid-November, which is
when playoffs begin. Our boys are looking to show
great team spirit and control on the court. If they
are successful with these two goals, the season
should be a positive one!
Chime Choirs:
Thank you to Mrs. Moritz for volunteering
once again every Thursday to provide many of our
students the opportunity to further develop their music
skills. We look forward to hearing the chime choirs
perform.
Get Your Flu Shot:
The flu is a respiratory illness that spreads quickly from
person to person. Common flu symptoms include fever,
cough, sore throat, muscle pain, joint pain, and
weakness.
The flu is more serious for the very young and elderly.
They can get the flu from school-aged children who
don’t seem sick but may have a mild case. Get your free
flu shot. It protects everyone. Visit
www.wdgpublichealth.ca to find a flu clinic near you.
If you don’t like needles, there is an alternative. FluMist
is a nasal spray available for children and adults ages 2
to 59. FluMist is not available at drop-in clinics. Call 1800-265-7293 to make an appointment. There is a cost
of $20 for the vaccine.
Scientist in School:
Ms. Gibson’s Grade 4/5 class learned all about the
Human Body on October 8th during a visit from
Scientists in the School. We learned about the
circulatory system, nervous system, respiratory
system and the digestive system. Each student
thoroughly enjoyed the many experiments they
were able to participate in. Thank you to LES
Parent Council for providing us with the
opportunity to participate in the Scientists in the
School Program.
Parent Council:
Halloween Fun Night was another FANG-tastic
success! The decorations were awesome, the
games/crafts/treats were amazing and the
costumes were incredibly creative. The decorated
classroom pumpkins were remarkable – very
original and artistic. Great job! The Parent Council
would like to thank you for all the donated
pumpkins, candy and bales of straw.
I would like to acknowledge and personally thank
all the committee members and the volunteers for
their time and dedication. So much effort goes into
preparing for this night, setting up, decorating the
gym during the day, volunteering at the various
stations throughout the night, and of course clean
up at the end. It’s because of so many people
getting involved and lending support that LES can
enjoy such great family events. Thank-you!
Alexandra Ince – Chair, LES Parent Council
Dental Screening:
Public Health provides dental screening for all
students in JK, SK, Grade 2, and other students as
appropriate. Screening is provided under the
Health Protection and Promotion Act and any
information is collected according to our privacy
policy. We will be visiting Laurelwoods School on
November 24th, 2014.
What is a screening?
Screening is a quick look in the mouth by the
registered dental hygienist. She uses a sterilized
dental mirror and protective vinyl gloves for each
child. You will be notified if we see an urgent
dental condition.
A screening is important. It identifies children who
have dental problems and helps them to get care.
It also gathers statistics about the dental health of
children in our community and helps us to identify
programs that may be needed.
This screening is not meant to replace a full
examination by your family dentist.
What dental programs and services are available
at Public Health?
Children aged 17 and under whose families can’t
afford dental care and have no form of dental
insurance may be eligible for one of our free
programs:
• CINOT (Children In Need Of Treatment) for
urgent needs such as large cavities, pain, or
infection.
• HSO (Healthy Smiles Ontario) for regular
dental services.
• Public Health dental clinics for preventive
care such as cleaning, fluoride and sealants.
If you don’t want your child screened at school,
please call us at 1-800-265-7293 ext. 5662 one
week before the date of our visit. Leave your
child’s full name, school, birth date, and grade.
For more information or to book a free
appointment please call the Dental Intake Line at
1-800-265-7293 ext. 2661.
Headwaters Health Care Auxiliary
Candy Cane Fair:
The Headwaters Health Care Auxiliary
Orangeville is holding their 26th Annual Candy Cane
Fair on Saturday, November 22, 2014 between 9:00
a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Fair will be held in the Upper
and Lower Headwaters Health Care Centre Hospital
Lobbies. There will be craft vendors, bake sales, a
toonie draw, kid’s gift shop, photos with Santa,
Face painting and Free Parking. All proceeds
donated to The Headwaters Hospital Auxiliary, go
towards the purchase of Hospital Equipment.
Movember:
This November, Mr. Walker and Mr. Johnson will
be growing moustaches to show support for men’s
health. We are asking for donations to help this
cause and to support men’s health. If you are able
to donate, please send your donations in with your
child, to be passed along to their teacher. We are
also looking at holding a “Movember” day for
children. For a donation of a Loonie, the students
will receive a moustache that they can wear during
school hours on November 28th. All Loonie
donations should be received by November 24th if
your child wishes to wear a moustache on the 28th.
Thank you for your generosity and support! For
more information check ca.movember.com
Win a Dairy Queen Gift Card:
After your family has read this newsletter, please sign and detach this coupon. “Our Family” must include at
least one parent/guardian who has read the newsletter. This coupon must be placed in the yellow mailbox
in the front hall of the school. A ballot will be drawn from the yellow mailbox each month. This month’s
draw will be held on Friday, November 28th, 2014.
Our Family has read the Newsletter corresponding to this draw.
Family Name: ____________________________________________
Parent’s Signature: _______________________________________
Make a difference in the lives of children and youth:
say 'yes' to participate in the
2014 Ontario Child Health Study
and School Mental Health Surveys
The 1983 Ontario Child Health Study told us that
1 in 5 children and youth experienced serious mental health challenges.
This estimate is outdated as is much of what we know about child and youth mental health in
Ontario. The 2014 Ontario Child Health Study will tell us about the mental health status and
needs of children and youth living in Ontario today.
From October 2014 to May 2015, Statistics Canada will be inviting 7,000 families with children
aged 4 -17 years to complete an interview in their home. At the same time, McMaster researchers
will be conducting School Mental Health Surveys in 240 Ontario schools to help us learn new
ways of promoting and addressing student mental health needs.
Together, these studies will be the first of their kind in Canada
to examine the influence of family, community and school environments
on child and youth mental health.
The results will be used to develop programs and services to improve the mental health of young
people in Ontario. Results from the 1983 Study were partially responsible for over 3 billion
dollars of investment in federal and provincial programs and services, resulting in the creation of
programmes such as the Ontario Early Years Centres.
Participation in the 1983 Ontario Child Health Study was over 90%. Make sure you are heard in
2014 as well. Let's make our province a better place for children and youth. If invited to
participate, please say ‘yes’ to the 2014 Ontario Child Health Study and School Mental Health
Surveys.
www.ontariochildhealthstudy.ca
November 2014
Sun
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thurs
Fri
Sat
1
Daylight
Savings Time
2
3
4
5
6
Pita Day
9
10
11
16
17
18
Anti - Bullying
Week
Smoothie Day
12
Remembrance Day
Assembly 9:30am
Grade 5
EarthKeepers
Pita Day
7
Grade 5
Earthkeepers
Gr. 4-6 Volleyball
Tournament
19
Pita Day
8
Pizza Day
13Smoothie Day 14
Grade 5
Earthkeepers
Reports Go Home
Parent Council
mtg.- 7:00 pm
20
Parent Interviews
3:30 - 8:00 pm
15
Pizza Day
21
22
P.A. DAY
Parent Interviews
We Day
Smoothie Day
23
24
Dental Screening
JK/SK & Gr. 2’s
25
26
Pita Day
27
Ryan Laird
Performance
9:00 am
Smoothie Day
28
Pizza Day
Movember
Day
29