530 Prospect Street, Box 430, Palmerston, ON, N0G 2P0
519-343-3520
“Be The BEST That You Can Be”
“Fais De Ton Mieux”
2013-2014
Newsletter #5
January 1, 2014
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
Welcome back to Palmerston P.S. We hope that you had a wonderful holiday with family and friends
and that you are successful in making and keeping your New Year resolutions.
The New Year has brought some staff changes to P.P.S. We would like to thank Mr. Cameron, Miss
Richardson, Mr. Belair, and Mrs. Wylie for their valuable contributions to our school community. Mr. Cameron
has joined the Willow P.S. staff as the Vice-Principal and we welcome Katherine Wainman as our new V.P.
Miss Richardson will be teaching Kindergarten in Arthur P.S. and Miss Graham will fill her teaching position
until Mrs. Doig returns later in January. When Mrs. Harwood leaves for her maternity leave, Mrs. Campbell,
the former Miss Pfeffer, will take up her teaching position in Room 9. We welcome back Mrs. Robertson. Ms
Helm has joined us as an E.A.
Looking ahead to the month of January, there are many exciting upcoming events. Grade 8 students
will visit Norwell for the Tech Days program. Gr. 8 students and their parents will have the opportunity to visit
Norwell for the course information night on January 21st. Some of our students will be trained as recess
activities leaders through the DASH program. There will be a French Immersion Information night on January
30th here at the school. Parents considering the French Immersion program for their new Kindergarten
students are encouraged to attend.
School Council has had new playground equipment installed in the Kindergarten playground. They
continue to hold enjoyable family events such as movie nights at the Norgan Theatre. You are invited to
attend School Council meetings on the last Monday every month. We will have an information session from
6:00 to 6:30 about RAZ Kids and all parents are welcome to attend. This is followed by the regular School
Council meeting that begins at 6:30.
Wilma Shannon
KINDERGARTEN 2014-15
Kindergarten registration will be held from February 3 to 7, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
If you have a child, or know of someone who has a child who was born in 2009 for Senior Kindergarten or
2010 for Junior Kindergarten, please have them call the school 519-343-3520 as soon as possible. We will be
sending out registration packages.
FRENCH IMMERSION PARENT INFORMATION MEETING
If you know a parent of a child who will be starting school this September and might be interested in
enrolling their child in French Immersion, or if you are a present JK parent considering switching your child to
the FI program for Senior Kindergarten, then you are invited to a meeting Thursday, January 30th at 7:00 p.m.
in the Library.
GRADE 8 INFORMATION NIGHT AT NORWELL
There will be an Information Night at Norwell on Tuesday, January 21 st at 6:30 p.m. for all students and
their parents entering Norwell in September, 2014.
INCLEMENT WEATHER REMINDERS
1. The buses will not go home early on days when the weather deteriorates during the day.
2. When the buses do not run the students who have come to school will be dismissed at 3:00 p.m.
SNOWBALLS/SNOWFORTS
It is that time of year again when the snow covers most of our school yard and our children get the
opportunity to play in the snow. Please remind your child that our school has a No Snowball rule. Children
caught throwing snow may be asked to stand up against the wall of the school for the duration of the recess or
given a detention. It is important that we ensure the safety of all of our students. Our children also need to
know that No One Owns the Snow, But We Must Respect Other’s Work so forts, blocks etc. do not become the
focus of our students’ attention and protection. It would be appreciated if you could talk to your child about
respecting others.
P.A. DAY
There is no school for students on Friday, January 17th because it is a P.A. Day.
SCHOOL SUPPLIES
This is just a reminder to replenish your child’s school supplies - pencils, erasers, etc.
STAY WARM THIS WINTER
As the weather gets colder this month, please consider the following STAY WARM tips:
❅ send an extra pair of socks and mitts to school.
❅ indoor shoes are required for gym and to keep the feet dry (halls and classroom floors do get wet from the
snow).
❅ snowpants, scarves, boots, warm coats, etc. help keep the children warm and dry. (Students are
encouraged to wear the outdoor clothes that parents send to school.)
Each week our Lost and Found box grows with articles of clothing that seldom get claimed. Students
are encouraged to look for lost items in the box. Parents are also welcome to have a look for lost items.
NO BUS DAYS & SPECIAL LUNCH DAYS
Just a reminder that on No Bus Days the Grilled Cheese and Hot Dog Days will be cancelled and rescheduled by School Council for an alternate date. Please send your child with a lunch on Hot Dog or Grilled
Cheese Days when the buses do not run.
Sub Days will be cancelled on No Bus Days and rescheduled.
Pizza Days will continue on No Bus Days for those students who will be attending school. Pizza that
was ordered for January 7th will be provided on Thursday, January 16th.
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?
MONDAY
6
TUESDAY
Day 1
Welcome Back
13
27
Day 2
Pizza
Day 1
Pita Lunch
20
7
14
8
WEDNESDAY
Day 3
Grilled cheese
Day 2
15
Day 5
6:00 pm- Parent Education
about RAZ Kids
6:30- School Council mtg.
21
10
Day 3
16
Day 4
Day 1
22
Hot Dogs
28
29
Day 1
Day 5
17
Pizza
Pizza
Grade 8 Information Night
at Norwell 6:30 pm
Pizza
FRIDAY
Gr. 8 Tech Day at Norwell
Pizza
Day 5
9
THURSDAY
Day 4
P.A. DAY
Day 2
23
Day 3
24
Day 4
Day 2
30
Day 3
31
Day 4
Kindergarten French
Immersion information
meeting for parents 7:00
pm Library
9:00- Panda Pride
Assembly