Understanding your child’s Ontario Student Record
The Ontario Student Record (OSR) is an ongoing, confidential record of a student’s education progress.
Authorized by the Education Act and protected by the Freedom of Information Act and Protection of Privacy
Act, an OSR is established for each student enrolled in an Ontario elementary or secondary school. The
record is housed at the student’s current school and moves with the student as they transition from one school
to the next. If a student leaves Peel to attend another school in Ontario, the OSR is forwarded to the new
school upon request. If the OSR is not requested or the student leaves Ontario, the OSR is housed in the last
Peel school that the student attended.
The OSR contains familiar documents that parents can view at any given time. OSR contents include:
 biographical data
 documentation file, containing (if applicable): verification of a custody arrangement, change-of-name
order, placements decisions, suspension letters, psycho-educational assessment report, identification
and placement decision letters, and registration forms
 information concerning special health conditions
 name(s) of student’s parent(s) or guardian(s)
 Ontario Student Transcript (secondary school only) – the cumulative record of a student’s successful
completion of secondary school courses
 photographs may also be attached
 record of the student’s accumulated instruction in French as a second language, if applicable
 report cards
 school(s) attended
Every student, and parents or guardians of students under 18 years of age have the right to examine the
student’s OSR and receive a copy of its contents. Supervisory officers, school administration and teachers
may also access a student’s OSR for the purpose of improving the instruction of the student. Written
permission is requested for any outside agency or personnel to access the OSR.
Contact your school principal for details of the procedure to review your child’s OSR.
If you would like to learn more about your child’s OSR, visit the Ontario Ministry of Education web site at
www.edu.gov.on.ca.
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Getting your questions answered
If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions about your child's education, or about education in
general, anyone with the Peel board is happy to help. Here are some of the people who can help you:
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If you have specific questions or concerns
about the education of your son or daughter,
the first person to talk to is your child's
teacher. If possible, arrange a personal
interview with the teacher to discuss your
concerns and attempt to resolve the matter.
Your child's teacher or principal can also
give you more information about specific
strategies being used to monitor your child's
progress.
If you need extra help, or have more general
questions, your school principal is there to
assist. Your school principal can help if you
have been unable to resolve the issue with
your child's teacher. All curriculum material
is available in your child's school.
If you still have unanswered questions or
concerns, talk to your superintendent of
education.
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If you have general questions about
curriculum, call Curriculum and
Instruction Support Services at 905890-1010 ext. 2559.
If you have questions about special
education programs or services,
contact Special Education Support
Services at 905-890-1010 ext. 2345.
Of course, your local school trustee is
elected to represent your interests and
is always ready to hear and discuss
your suggestions or concerns. If you
don't know the name of your trustee,
check the 'Meet your Trustee' section
of the board's website at
www.peelschools.org.
If you still have questions, please email communications@peelsb.com or call
Communication & Community Relations Support Services at 905-890-1010 or 1800-668-1146 ext. 2809.
Schools use many strategies to keep children safe
Peel schools provide a safe environment for staff and students to work and learn. The board has
many procedures to ensure safety. To keep students safe, schools use many strategies including:
 requiring all parents and visitors to check in at the main office and obtain visitor passes
 the use of a "buddy system" – students can only leave the classroom if accompanied by
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another student (for example, going to the washroom)
assigning teachers to supervise inside and outside the school during recesses, before and after
school
locking all exteriors doors, including the main entrance, during school hours
encouraging staff to regularly review streetproofing skills with students
expecting staff and students to report unidentified individuals to the office immediately
holding fire drills and "lockdown" rehearsals
having evacuation plans in place
ensuring that all staff and volunteers have up-to-date criminal record checks
working with the police to provide education on street-proofing
We feel that it is important that you also take this opportunity to review safe procedures with
your child. Peel Regional Police have provided the following safety guidelines:
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Tell your children to never go anywhere with a stranger, not to talk to strangers and never
take anything from them. You also have to teach them what a "safe stranger" is in case they
need help. A safe stranger includes a police officer, a cashier, a fire fighter.
Develop a "what if" game for children to get them thinking about how they would respond if
they felt threatened or afraid.
Know who your children play with and where they go. This includes keeping a list of their
friend's addresses and phone numbers.
Do not leave your child in unsupervised locations, such as cars, parks, public washrooms,
arenas, malls and plazas, etc.
Teach your children where and how to get help. Go with them on their regularly travelled routes.
Your child's body is private. Tell your children that no one may touch the area their bathing
suit covers. If someone tries to touch them, they should tell you immediately.
Teach your children to talk to you immediately when someone does anything that makes
them feel strange or uncomfortable. Listen when your children are trying to tell you about
something that bothers them and provide them with support and understanding.
For more information about safety at your school, review your school handbook or speak to your
principal or teacher.
Subscribe to receive news from the Peel board
Take advantage of our electronic subscription service to automatically receive a list of activities
by email on a monthly basis. Subscriptions are sent the last week of the month, plus bonuses
throughout the year. Subscribing is easy  just visit our website at www.peelschools.org and
click on the subscription link under "Quick Links."
You can also subscribe to receive:
News releases
Keep up with the news at the Peel board. Subscribe to receive Peel board news releases to learn
more about board news and school events.
Board agendas
Learn more about Peel board meetings by subscribing to receive agendas. Meetings of the board
are open to the public and are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
Board highlights
Briefing is a newsletter with highlights of decisions made by trustees at board meetings. It is sent
out on the second and fourth Thursday of every month and immediately following any special
board meetings.
Job postings for non-teaching staff
Learn about each new non-teaching job that is posted on the Peel board's Job Board.
Procedures help keep students safe at school
Peel schools provide a safe environment for students and staff to learn and work. The board has
many procedures to ensure safety  including regular fire drills, evacuation plans, criminal
record checks for new staff and volunteers and lockdown drills. Together with Peel Police and
the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board, the board developed a lockdown procedure to help
keep schools safe during a potentially serious or violent incident.
Every school will review the key points of the lockdown process with students. We rehearse the
drill twice per year to make sure staff and students know what to do if we have to initiate a
lockdown.
During the rehearsal, the principal will make an announcement to "initiate lockdown procedure."
The school bell will ring continuously for a period of time.
Students and staff inside the school will:
 go to the closest room, close the door and lock it, if possible
 turn off the lights and lie down on the floor away from doors and windows
 remain on the floor quietly until further directions are given
Students and staff outside the school will:
 move as far away from the building as possible
 remain outside until further directions are given
Depending on the situation, students and staff outside the building may be directed to an
evacuation site. When the rehearsal is over, the principal will make another announcement.
During lockdown rehearsals or in a real lockdown situation, students and staff must not use
cell phones. Cell phones can create a safety hazard by attracting attention to the area of the
school where the phone is being used.
In the unlikely event of an actual lockdown, police ask that parents do not go to the school. For
safety reasons, you will not be allowed to enter a school that is in lockdown. In some cases,
police will designate a Parent Information Site for you to attend and get up-to-date, accurate
information. To find your Parent Information Site or get further details during a real lockdown,
visit www.peelschools.org or listen to local media.
If you have any questions about our lockdown drill, or any of the procedures we have in place to
keep students and staff safe, please call the school.
Peel board trustees  accountable to the community
The Peel board, like every public school board in Ontario, is governed by a board of trustees. Trustees
are elected by public school taxpayers every three years during municipal elections. The next municipal
election will be held in October 2014. Newly elected trustees and their contact information will be
distributed following the election.
The Peel board currently has 12 trustees representing three municipalities:
Stan Cameron
email: stan.cameron@peelsb.com
Caledon
905-880-1162
Beryl Ford
email: beryl.ford@peelsb.com
Brampton 7/8
905-793-0800
David Green
email: david.green@peelsb.com
Brampton 1/3
905-495-4579
Steve Kavanagh
email: steve.kavanagh@peelsb.com
Brampton 4/5
905-457-3132
Brad MacDonald
email: brad.macdonald@peelsb.com
Mississauga 2/8
905-593-3547
Janet McDougald,
Chair
email: janet.mcdougald@peelsb.com
Mississauga 1/7
905-278-1402
Suzanne Nurse,
Vice-Chair
Jagdeep Mann
email: suzanne.nurse@peelsb.com
Brampton 2/6
905-495-3423
email: jagdeep.mann@peelsb.com
Brampton 9/10
416-816-1140
Sue Lawton
email: susan.lawton@peelsb.com
Mississauga 3/4
905-625-8084
Meredith Johnson
email: meredith.johnson@peelsb.com
Mississauga 9/10
416-706-9215
Jeff White
email: jeff.white@peelsb.com
Mississauga 6/11
905-267-0764
Rick Williams
email: eric.williams@peelsb.com
Mississauga 5
905-814-6180
What do trustees do?
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advocate for the needs of the community to other members of the board
help members of the community address concerns about the school system
set policies in the areas of curriculum, facilities, human and financial resources
explain the policies and decisions of the board to the community
evaluate the board's achievement of its goals and objectives and monitor its implementation
of new policies
participate in budget development, approve budget decisions and monitor its progress
protect the future of the board by always considering the long-term effects of decisions
Visit www.peelschools.org and check out the ‘Meet Your Trustee’ section to subscribe to board meeting
agendas and minutes and read highlights from board meeting.
Protect your kids—and your finances
Each year, many of our families spend thousands of dollars when their children are injured at
school, on field trips or at home. For pennies a day, this can all be avoided.
The Peel District School Board does not provide accident insurance coverage for student injuries
that occur on school property or during school activities—this includes extracurricular sports. If
a student is injured, parents are responsible for any costs not covered by provincial health care or
their employer's health care plan. Please check with your provider regarding your coverage.
To help protect your family, the Peel board has arranged to have student accident insurance
available exclusively through Reliable Life Insurance Company. This program offers a variety of
plans and benefits at affordable prices.
The coverage can include:
 dental expenses, and future costs (resulting from an accident)
 total and permanent disability
 paralysis/loss of use of limbs
 special disability benefits
 ambulance fees
The provincial health care system does not cover costs which are commonly related to accidents
including dental work, ambulance fees, casts and crutches, and physiotherapy. All of these are
covered by Reliable Life’s student accident insurance plan.
It is strongly recommended that all families consider this coverage, especially if your child
participates in extracurricular activities. Annual plans, which provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a
year coverage, range from $13.50 to $31.00 per year. Through the application only you can be
covered for the school day only as low as $8.00 per year. Family rates for three or more children
are available.
The insurance agreement is between you and Reliable Life Insurance Company.
You can apply for coverage online at www.insuremykids.com. For more information call
Reliable Life Insurance Company toll free at 1-800-463-KIDS (5437).
Join our school council—share your ideas
Every Peel school has a school council—a group focused on helping students succeed. School
councils provide a voice for parents and the community and offer advice to the school principal
on a number of topics.
We are holding school councils elections on Monday, September 22, 2014
If you would like to know more or are interested in joining our council, please contact 905- 8123725.
How to register at a Peel school
Here’s what you need to know about registering your child for school
Who can attend?
The Peel board serves children age 4 and older.
Our schools
Peel has more than 240 elementary and secondary schools. You can find the name and location
of your local school by calling our Planning and Accommodation department at 905-890-1010 or
1-800-668-1146, extension 2212.
Where to register
If your family is new to Canada, your child may need an orientation interview to register for
school. To assist you with registration, we offer three Welcome Centres. Please call 905-3668791 to talk to our staff and book your appointment. There is no fee for registration.
Documents to bring to registration
Proof of child's age
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Canadian birth certificate
Canadian passport
citizenship card/certificate
Permanent Resident Card
Record of Landing
confirmation of permanent residence
work permit
refugee permit
Proof of address
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purchase agreement
utility bill
bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution)
credit card statement
federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada
documents)
Ontario driver's licence
Proof of custody – children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation
supports an alternate living arrangement
Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated
Missing documents?
If you are missing some documents, you can still visit the We Welcome the World Centres, and
our staff will help you with all registration requirements.
Your child’s first day of school
Once the orientation interview is complete, you will get an appointment card with the date your
child can start school. Please bring this card with you on your child’s first day, so that he or she
can receive a new school schedule to complete the registration process.
International students
International students attend the Peel Academy for International Students at Clarkson Secondary
School. The academy provides a unique, world-class program that integrates students from
around the world into the dynamic and welcoming learning environment at Clarkson.
International students interested in our program should visit www.studyincanada-peel.ca or call
1-800-668-1179 ext. 1252.
Visit Thomas Street Middle School’s website
http://schools.peelschools.org/1654/Pages/default.aspx
and follow us on Twitter @thunderwolves98
Want to keep up to date with what’s happening at Thomas Street Middle School?
Check out our school website where you'll find:
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the latest school news
contact information for school administration, superintendent and trustee
calendar
enrolment data
school hours
mission, vision and values
registration information
printable forms
frequently asked questions
volunteer information
EQAO reports
Keep up to date with our website subscription service
Our new website also features a subscription service where
you can sign up to receive email notifications for school
news, calendar events and volunteer job opportunities. You
can also choose to be notified via email and/or text message
for critical news, such as school closures due to bad weather. Click on the subscribe link on
the left-hand side of the main page of our website.
Kobo offers special rates for Peel board students, parents
and staff
Does your child need a tablet for school? The Peel District School Board and Kobo are working
together to help make the purchase of new technology more accessible for Peel students, parents
and staff. As a part of the relationship, Peel families now have access to the following exclusive
offers:
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kobo arc 7” HD - $135 with free shipping
kobo arc 10” HD - $199 with free shipping
To learn more, or to purchase a Kobo product visit www.kobo.com/peel
or www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stCentury/byod/devices and enter promo code KOBOPEEL
at checkout.
The Peel board’s initiative with Kobo is part of the ongoing effort to create greater equity of
access to technology for Peel students, parents and staff and does not represent an endorsement
of the product.
Keep students safe in school parking lots
Many elementary schools offer a Kiss N’ Ride program, where parents/guardians can drop off
and pick up their children at a designated area on school property. The program was established
to provide a convenient and safe option for our students and parents driving to school. To ensure
the safety of staff and students, we ask all parents/guardians be mindful of the following
guidelines:
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There is no parking and no waiting in the Kiss and Ride lane. Pay attention to the traffic in
front of you and pull forward as cars move forward. If you choose to park in the parking lot,
please escort your child to or from the nearest foot patroller and use the main crosswalk.
Vehicles entering the Kiss N’ Ride lane must stay in the designated lane, unless otherwise
directed by a staff member or volunteer.
The Kiss N’ Ride program is only available to students who are able to disembark
independently.
Have your child ready to exit the car when you reach the curb. Students may only exit from
the passenger (right) side of the vehicle.
After picking up or dropping off your child, leave promptly so that others can get in behind
you.
If your child is not waiting for you at the main crosswalk at the end of the day, please circle
the parking lot if permitted and rejoin the line or park in a designated parking space to wait.
Always respect traffic flow and abide all traffic laws and signs.
Ask your child’s teacher or principal to learn more about our school’s specific Kiss N’ Ride
procedures.