UPPER GRAND District School Board
530 Prospect Street, Box 430, Palmerston, ON, N0G 2P0 519‐343‐3520 “Be The BEST That You Can Be” “Fais De Ton Mieux” 2014‐2015 Newsletter #2 October 1, 2014 MESSAGE FROM THE OFFICE October promises to be another exciting month here at Palmerston P.S.! As you can see from the calendar, there are many exciting and educational events to look forward to this month. Our families are busily selling QSP magazine subscriptions in support of our students’ learning needs here at Palmerston Public School. Please ensure that your child’s orders are turned in to their teacher by October 14th. P.P.S. is also offering school clothing for sale. It is great to show your school spirit by wearing the school colours and the clothing makes a wonderful Christmas gift. This is not a fundraiser; it is being offered as a service to our school community. Your child might have been asking you for toonies this month. On his own initiative, Kyle Foisy asked if he could collect funds towards the purchase of a Panda mascot costume for the school for assemblies, sports events, and spirit days. Our School Council agreed to support Kyle’s efforts to acquire this mascot costume and we truly appreciate their support. Please be generous in your support of the School Council’s Hallowe’en Dance‐a‐thon on Ocober 31st. Our school raised $1,764.07 for cancer research through the Terry Fox run. Thanks to the students, staff, and parents for their generous contributions and eager participation in this annual event. Our school has a strong commitment to helping our students develop healthy life styles. Our Primary grades are doing daily physical activity every day. Ask your younger children about “Marching Mondays” or “Walking Wednesdays.” Mrs. Goddard is coordinating a healthy meal program that all of our 425 students enjoy. We continue to help our students make good, healthy choices through the 3‐Up, 2‐Down program (more sleep, physical activity, fruits and vegetables and less screen time and sugary or junk food). We will work with Public Health nurse Joan Heath to run a “Healthy Schools” group of parents, students and staff. We have some interested volunteers, but please let us know if you are interested in joining this initiative. We also are committed to improving our students’ learning and achievement. We are helping our students to become more fluent readers and to clearly understand what they are reading. Our teachers are using levelled books that are not too easy and not too hard, but just right, to work with small groups. We purchased licenses for RAZ Kids and Reading A‐Z for junior and primary classroom teachers. Teachers have set up their students so they can practise reading and answering questions about the stories at home and school. Your support in reading with and to your children every night is very helpful and much appreciated. While we realize that families are very busy and your family time is important, our children will become better readers faster with lots of practice. Even 15 minutes a day makes such a difference in their confidence as readers. In Mathematics our students from grades one to eight completed confidence building units and a unit on mental math strategies in September. This year our classroom teachers are using JUMP Math with a problem‐
solving focus and also direct instruction. Our students work in practice books to help them learn to do mathematics independently. Our school has been supported in this pilot project by the UGDSB senior administration and the Program Department. Please remember that school begins at 8:55 a.m. It certainly helps your child to start the day more positively when he/she arrives on time. Mrs. Wainman and I wish you an enjoyable October and a joyful Thanksgiving. Please keep the lines of communication open and do not hesitate to use your child’s agenda, voice mail or arrange a meeting with your child’s teacher if you have any questions, concerns or compliments. We all like to hear some positive messages and I have heard teachers make some good news, ‘sunshine’ calls, as well as those other types of calls when your support and help are requested. Our office doors are always open if you have a concern, question or a suggestion. Wilma Shannon Principal SCHOOL PICTURES Individual and class pictures will be taken on Wednesday, October 8th. OPEN COMMUNICATION Our staff here at Palmerston feel that open communication between home and school is vital in order for all our children to be successful. Our students are expected to write information into their agendas including homework. We suggest that parents check the agenda daily in order to ensure the communication is two way. Our younger students carry a “Communication Book” and parents are encouraged to write in the book to inform the teacher of any concerns or just information to share about your child. Our staff are very busy at the beginning of the day meeting our children as they arrive at school, checking agendas, collecting money for various events and fund‐raisers and preparing for lessons that begin as soon as all the children are in their classes. In order to ensure that we can begin our teaching time immediately after entrance and that we are not overcrowding our halls we ask that all parents remain outside the school doors during this busy time. If you wish to meet with a teacher we request that you do not just drop by their classroom in the morning or during the school day but that you call to set up an appointment. We thank you for your support and understanding concerning this issue. PETS FREE ZONE Drop off and pick‐up times are busy and there are many children on the hard top at those times. For safety reasons, we ask that our parents and caretakers leave their pets at home when they drop off or pick up their children at school. Your co‐operation to ensure everyone’s safety is appreciated. P.A. DAY ON OCTOBER 24th October 24th is a PA Day. There is no school for students. OTHER »
Milk tickets can be purchased when required. Tickets are sold in sheets of 10 chocolate or 10 white for a cost of $7.00. Milk is available at both nutrition breaks. » When sending money to school with your child please try to send the correct change. »
Bicycle helmets are mandatory for children riding bikes. A potential hazards exists when students wear bicycle helmets when playing on playground equipment. Please reinforce with your children the dangers and hazards associated with bicycle helmets being worn when playing on playground equipment. »
When there is inclement weather such as fog, snow or freezing rain, buses may be cancelled in the morning. SCHOOL COUNCIL The School Council will be hosting a Halloween Dance‐a‐thon on Friday, October 31st at our school during the day. More information will be coming out soon! Our School Council executive is: Chair: Brenda Duimering Secretary: Kathy Fortier Treasurer: Karen Goddard A reminder that your School Council normally meets every last Monday of the month from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. in the School Library. The next meeting will be held on Monday, October 27th. Come out and support your child by joining the School Council. School Council will be hosting a “Movie Night” on Thursday, November 20th at 7:00 p.m. More information will follow.
BUSES AND INCLEMENT WEATHER Board Policy – Parents It is a parent’s responsibility to determine whether or not it is safe for their students to leave for school in inclement or severe weather. A parent must be aware of the following: a) When a bus does not travel a route in the morning due to fog, ice or snow conditions, it will not travel that route in the afternoon. b) If a parent elects to drive their pupils to school, they are responsible for their pupils’ pick‐up at dismissal time. Students will be dismissed at 3:00 p.m. School ends at 3:00 p.m. on a “no bus” day. c) Buses will not be delayed, buses will either run or be cancelled. Students will not be sent home early during inclement weather. IMPORTANT NOTES: 1. Each driver is ultimately responsible for deciding if it is safe to complete his or her route. If they decide to cancel or delay their route, they will ensure that every effort is made to inform parents of their decision. 2. We suggest that if you are planning a special occasion for your son/daughter and wish other classmates/friends to attend that you arrange to pick up everyone at the end of the day. Please make arrangements prior to the end of the day of the event. 3. Please let us know if your child is not going home on the bus. Notification to the office is important. If we do not have a note or call then we will send them home on the bus. BUS TRANSFER REQUESTS Our Board Transportation Policy does not permit bus students to ride a different bus at the end of the day for various reasons (sleepover, birthday parties, etc.). Non‐bus students are not permitted to ride a bus at any time. BUS LOADING AND UNLOADING As you are aware, the school zone for Palmerston P.S. is a very busy place in the morning (8:30 a.m.) and at the end of the day (3:15 p.m.). We have students crossing the street at the crossing guard, in front of the school by the baseball diamond and in good weather we have students riding their bikes to school using this crossing with the walkers. While buses are loading and unloading there is traffic in front of the school, as well as parents who are dropping off/picking up their children. To ensure the safety of the students we need your help and in order to keep this area safe for our students, we have the following requests and reminders for our students, parents and neighbours: 1. Park on the opposite side of the street across from the ball diamonds if you are dropping off or picking up students. 2. Please do not ask your child to enter the vehicle from the driver side facing oncoming traffic, and do not load the vehicle at the crosswalk. Parents set the example for road safety. 3. Please do not cross the street except at the two designated area. Students should not be called to a vehicle mid block, and we ask parents to use the crosswalk to set a positive safe example for all of our students. 4. Bikes must be walked across the street in the crossing area and along the sidewalk in front of the school. 5. Students must follow the directions of the crossing guards and the staff members on duty. We ask parents to do the same as a positive model. REMINDER: Cars need to stop when the buses are flashing their red lights. Failure to do so could result in a fine. Thank you for your support in this matter. CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION POLICY & PROGRAM The Upper Grand District School Board places a high priority on the safety of our students. The Child Abuse Prevention Policy is evidence of our commitment to this priority. The following is a quote from the policy: “Every citizen in the community shares a responsibility for our children. School officials and teachers share this collective community responsibility for creating safe and nurturing environments for children. Under the Child and Family Services Act, this responsibility includes the legal requirement to report to the local Children’s Aid Society any suspected child abuse or other situations where a child may be in need of protection. Teachers and other Board employees have a special opportunity to know and understand children during their most influential years of development. They are in a unique position to be able to see early signs of maltreatment, and to know or hear about the abuse and neglect that is often suffered by children.” As required in the Policy, we will be teaching age‐appropriate lessons to help our students identify abuse and protect themselves from abusive situations. The goal is to provide children with the tools they need to keep themselves safe. The lessons cover a broad range of safety issues including bullying, stranger danger and abuse by a known and trusted adult. These lessons will occur during the school year. For grades one, three and five, the lessons will be team taught by our Child and Youth Counselor and classroom teachers. There is no formal program in grades two, four and six, although the safety concepts are reviewed by classroom teachers informally. Students in grades 7 and 8 will also participate in a Red Cross program presented by the school’s Child & Youth Counsellor entitled “It’s Not Your Fault”. These two hour presentations will occur in homeroom classes. We encourage you to discuss with your child at home, the concepts taught in the Child Abuse Prevention Curriculum. For more information regarding the Child Abuse Prevention Policy and/or Programs please contact Jill Hope, Child and Youth Counselor. RECESS OUTDOOR TIMES The morning and afternoon recesses are an opportunity for students to “burn off” some of their energy after being in class. Often the fresh air will make a child feel better when they are “stuffed up” with a cold. If a child is sick, the best place for this child is at home. Thanks for your cooperation. TIME 2 READ Time 2 Read is a five week program that is designed to equip parents of SK, Gr. 1 and Gr. 2 with skills and strategies to support your child’s reading at home. You will discover ways to connect with the school literacy programs, tips to encourage your child’s reading comprehension and ways for you to fit learning moments into your busy schedules. This unique program, sponsored by our school board, invites you to bring your Senior Kindergarten, Grade One or Grade Two child with you. The children will have their own program including crafts, snacks, songs and stories. They will also spend part of the evening with you reading and practising the skills and strategies you will learn in our workshops. The children will receive their own Time 2 Read T‐shirt as well! Our program will run for five Tuesday evenings: ► Tuesday, October 7th to Tuesday, November 4th ► 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. ► Palmerston Public School Library You will enjoy this special time with your child, connecting with other parents and discovering ways to help your child become a fluent reader with a love of reading! Please register by returning the form sent home already or by phoning Mrs. Bastedo, 519‐343‐3520, mailbox 401. READ 4 SUCCESS We are inviting you to attend a program called Read 4 Success. Registrations are being accepted now. Read 4 Success is a four‐week program that is designed to equip you with skills and strategies to support your child’s reading at home. You will discover ways to connect with the school literacy programs, tips to encourage your child’s reading comprehension and ways for you to fit learning moments into your day, despite busy schedules. You will experience quality time with your child, and connect with other parents. This program is similar to Time 2 Read, but is geared to students in grades 4 or 5, and their parents. It will give new strategies that will help you support your child in reading in a junior classroom. This unique program, sponsored by our school board, invites you to bring your grade 4 or 5 child with you. The children have their own program with activities and snacks. They will also spend part of the evening with you reading and practising the skills and strategies you will learn in the parent workshop. Our program will run for 4 evenings (at the same time as Time2Read, but starting a week later):  Tuesday, October 14 to Tuesday, November 4th, 2014  Palmerston Public School  6:00‐7:30pm Please register by returning the form sent home already or by phoning Mrs. Haanstra, 519‐343‐3520, mailbox 405. UpperrGrandD
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On July 1, 2014, Canada’s an
nti‐spam legislation (CASSL) came into effecct. Under the
e legislation, Board stafff and Trustees must nott send comm
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e in any commercial activvity, even if it is not‐for‐‐profit, unlesss they have
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pizza or hot d
dog days, yeearbooks or fundraising for school. A message is alsso considere
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pient to a weebsite that has commerccial content (e.g. an email directing ssomeone to the fundraissing page on
n the school website). Electronic meessages thatt have no commercial conttent, but are
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If consent is not provided, you will not rreceive electtronic messaages containing commerrcial contentt and may find it more difficult to be aw
ware of the activities thaat take placee in school, aand which your child maay have an interrest in particcipating. How
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822‐442‐ x 7721. 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? MATH HELP Everyday children go about their daily lives exploring and discovering things around them, and by doing so they’re exposed to the world of mathematics. And since mathematics has become increasingly important in this technological age, it is even more important for our children to learn math at home, as well as in school. Attitude is Important How do you as a parent feel about math? Your feelings will have an impact on how your children think about math and themselves as mathematicians. Take a few minutes to reflect on these questions: Do you think everyone can learn math? Do you think of math as useful in everyday life? Do you believe that most jobs today require math skills? If you answer "yes" to most of these questions, then you are probably encouraging your child to think mathematically. Positive attitudes about math are important for your child's success. Mathematics as Problem Solving, Communication, and Reasoning Helping your child learn to solve problems, to communicate mathematically, and to demonstrate reasoning abilities are fundamental to learning mathematics. These attributes will improve your child's understanding and interest in math concepts and thinking. A problem solver is someone who questions, investigates, and explores solutions to problems. They stick with a problem to find a solution and understand that there may be different ways to arrive at an answer and attempt different ways to get there. You can encourage your child to be a good problem solver by involving him or her in family decision making using math. To communicate mathematically means to use words, numbers, or mathematical symbols to explain situations; to talk about how you arrived at an answer; to listen to others' ways of thinking and perhaps alter their thinking; to use pictures to explain something; and to write about math, not just give an answer. You can help your child learn to communicate mathematically by asking your child to explain a math problem or answer. Ask your child to write about the process she or he used, or to draw a picture of how he or she arrived at an answer to a problem. Reasoning ability means thinking logically, being able to see similarities and differences about math concepts in different domains and make choices based on those differences or similarities. You can encourage your child to explain his or her reasoning behind answers and encourage them to ask themselves, “Does this make sense?” As you listen, you will hear your child sharing his or her reasoning. Look forward to next month’s newsletter more about how you can help you child/children further develop these attributes of a strong mathmetician. TALKING ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH! One Month into School Some students love to go back to school and are happy to go every day. Other students start each fall with a positive attitude about school, but after the honeymoon period of the first few weeks are over, things begin to slide. One parent recently commented to me: “I am walking home from school with a child crying the whole way” “My kids are acting irrationally and freaking out” She wanted me to share with you that if you are in this situation, you are not alone. For some students, this is a normal pattern. For some of our children and youth, school is stressful. After relaxing, having fun or at least being school free for the summer, they had built up the energy to take on school every day, but after a few weeks back they are starting to get drained and strained. You may notice more: talk of headaches and stomach aches, tiredness, irritability, crying, and refusals. We all do the best that we can. If we are not doing well then we are lacking the skills or resources to do better. So what to do? Start with recognizing this is normal and it too will change. Just like the honeymoon phase of the first weeks, this phase will come to pass as well. Begin with the basics: good sleep, good food, outdoor activities. This is the strong base that we all need to function well. Keep a consistent routine with regular times for waking up, eating meals, school work, and bedtime routines. Put some down time into every day. Quiet time with the kids: reading a book, listening to music, going for a walk, playing a quiet game, doing relaxation activities. We all need to opportunity to de‐stress. Acknowledge that you notice how hard it is for your child and ask “What is up?”. Perhaps they can tell you what is going and perhaps they can’t. That is OK. Just acknowledging that you see it is hard for them is a good start. Talk to your child’s teacher about how they are feeling. Make a plan to make the student feels welcome in the class. Look at ways of working break times into the day at school. Set up a buddy system to pair students who are less comfortable with more comfortable students. Get your child or youth to school every day. Students who are finding school hard may want to stay home. The best way to increase anxiety related to school is to keep your child or youth at home. The more they stay away, the harder it will be for them to go to school. Make sure your child knows that you feel good about their school and classroom that you are comfortable with them being there. Talk to the teacher to discuss how to support your child at school. Set a possitive, optimistic tone ab
bout school. Find somethhing positivee that your cchild likes ab
bout school and build from there. Build o
on their stre
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nnections. N
Notice what they are doiing well and praise them
m for their coping skills. Children and youtth (and adultts) pick up on what is go
oing on in their environm
ment so if the eenvironment is stressful then we will pick up thaat stress butt if the envirronment is p
positive and o
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n they will pick that up. C
Creating a po
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ntagious! And, as aalways, don’tt forget to b
breathe. Right now, takee three deep
p breaths. In through thee nose, out through the mou
uth. With eaach out breath, release tthe tension aand tightnesss. Every tim
me you walk tthrough a doorrway take th
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day will meaan less stresss at the end of the day aand a happieer trip homee! For m
more tips ab
bout Back to School transitions: http://www.anxxietybc.com//sites/default/files/CopingwithBackttoSchool.pdf http://www.nasponline.org//resources/h
home_schoo
ol/b2shandoout.aspx MONDAY 6 Day 5 13 THANKSGIVING TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY 1 Day 2 2 Day 3 3 Day 4 Grilled Cheese Boys Intermediate Soccer Tournament 7 Day 1 8 Day 2 9 Day 3 10 Day 4 Pizza Lunch Gr. 8 to Career Pathways Time2Read 6:00 p.m. Pita Lunch Crazy Hair Day Picture Day 14 Day 5 15 Day 1
Pizza Lunch Time2Read 6:00 p.m. JK/SK trip to Herrle’s Country Market Pizza Lunch Time2Read 6:00 p.m. Panda Pride Assembly 11:30 a.m. Hot Dogs QSP magazine orders due MADD Assembly 9:30 a.m. Gr. 8 Explore Your Future 20 Day 4 21 Day 5 22 Day 1
Diabetes presentation 12:05 p.m. Girls Intermediate Soccer Tournament Junior Soccer Tournament 16 Day 2 17 Day 3
Cross Country Run 23 Day 2 24 P.A. DAY 27 Day 3 28 Day 4 29 Day 5
30 Day 1 31 Day 2
School Council Meeting 6:30 – 7:30 p.m. Fall Fright Assembly 11:30 a.m. Pizza Lunch Time2Read 6:00 p.m. Halloween Dance‐a‐thon