Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
2014
Sir John A. Macdonald
Middle School
250 Centre Street, Brampton ON, L6V 2R4
905-457-5535
Mrs. K. Flear, Office Manager Mrs. R. Manners, Principal Mrs K. Dhillon, Vice-Principal
Please find our newsletter online at our webpage
http://schools.peelschools.org/1540/Pages/default.aspx
Message from the Principal and the Vice Principal
Welcome! Bonjour! We are looking forward to a great school year and to inspire
greatness together. Please refer to your child’s school agenda for Sir John A.
policies and procedures.
Mrs. R. Manners, Principal
Mrs K. Dhillon, Vice-Principal
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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
2014
Dates to Remember
Date
Tuesday September 23
Friday September 26
Tuesday September 30
Tuesday September 30
Monday October 6
Wednesday October 8
Friday October 10
Monday October 13
Tuesday October 21
Friday November 7
Event
Re-Org Day (no school for students)
Terry Fox Run
Photo Day
School Council Meeting 6 p.m.
Babysitting Course starts (11:36-12:36)
School Open House (6 p.m.-7p.m.)
PD Day (no school)
Thanksgiving (no school)
Bhangra Dance Classes begin for students
3:15pm
Progress Reports Go Home
Dropping off lunches & school work?
Please make sure your child’s name & class are written or attached to the item. A table is located
outside the office to place your child’s lunch for pickup at lunchtime.
If Your Child Will be Absent or Late from School
A reminder to all parents to please call the school to notify us if your child will be absent or late
from school. If a child is absent or arrives late without parental notification (phone call or note),
you will receive an automated phone call from the school.
Student Information Sheets
Student Information sheets (OSOR) will be sent home in a few weeks. Please ensure all
information is accurate and updated. If there are any changes, please send the form back to your
child’s teacher with all corrected information as soon as possible.
A Warm Welcome To Our Staff of 2014-2015
Mrs. Manners, Principal
Mrs. Dhillon, Vice Principal
Mrs. Flear, Office Manager
Mrs. H. Morrison, Office Assistant
Mrs. C. Morrison, Guidance/Contact
Mrs. R. Cooper, Librarian/Contact
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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
Mrs. Pavlovic, Head Custodian
Mr. Downer, Assistant Custodian
Ms. Holmes, 6A
Mrs. Mitchell, 6B
Mr. D’Alessandro, 6C
Mrs. Borsato, 6D
Mrs. Pilania, 6E
Mrs. Henderson, 7A
Miss. Stansfield, 7B
Mr. Redmond, 7C
Mr. Metelnick/Mr. Pasqua, 7D
Mr. Lapiccirella, 7E
Mr. Nanitelamio, 7F
Ms. Lochrie, 7G
Mr. D. Cooper, 7H
Ms. Ogurian, 7X8
Ms Alexis, 8A
Mr. Marentette, 8B
Mrs. Piwowar, 8C
Ms. Rawes, 8D
Mr. Dybel, 8E
Ms. Narinesingh /Mr. Kopel 8F
Mrs. Swan, 8G
Miss.Smereczynski, 8H
Mr. N. McClung, ELC
Mr. Morgadinho, ESL
Mr. Jeffery, ASD
Mrs. Carlone, Music
Ms. Dorani, Music/Drama
Mr. Leung, Art/Computers
Mr. Lindsay, ISSP
Mrs. Ridley, ISSP
Ms. Schad, Phys.Ed
Mr. Robb, Phys. Ed.
Ms. Welsh B.T.A
Mrs. Rowsell, TA
Mr. P. McClung, T.A
Mr. Poudel, T.A
Ms. Leworthy/ Ms. Palmieri T.A
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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
2014
Consent to receive electronic communication
Dear Families:
As you may know, Canada’s new anti-spam law came into effect on July 1, 2014. This law
requires the Peel District School Board and its schools to have consent from you before we send
you any electronic communication (e.g. synrevoice texts, email) that contains commercial
information.
While the majority of Sir John A. MacDonald’s electronic communication to families is about
school and/or Peel board initiatives and activities, we may also include commercial information,
such as details about fundraisers, field trips, sale of yearbooks, student pictures, book sales, event
tickets, special offers for Peel students and families, or similar events and offers.
Although we may have previously collected your email address, in order to be compliant with
the new law, we must receive your consent (in writing) to receive electronic communication
from our school.
If you wish to receive information, including school newsletters, from our school via email
or other electronic communication, please provide your consent by providing the
information required below and returning this form to your child's teacher by October 1,
2014. If you do not provide your consent below, you will not receive any electronic
communication from Sir John A MacDonald.
You may also choose to provide your consent by filling out and submitting an online form,
which will be available as of Tuesday, Aug. 26 athttp://subscribe.peelschools.org
You may withdraw your consent and unsubscribe from our communications at any time by
clicking the unsubscribe link in any future email. If you have any questions or concerns, please
contact the school at 905-457-5535
.
**Please note this consent request is separate from our school website’s subscription service.
Even if you have already provided consent to receive emails from our school website, you must
still complete and submit this form in order to receive information updates from the school via
other electronic means.
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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
2014
CONSENT TO RECEIVE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION FROM SIR JOHN A.
MACDONALD SENIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL.
I hereby consent to receive electronic communication from Sir John A MacDonald at the email
address I have provided below. I understand this consent will be effective for the duration of my
child’s education at Sir John A. MacDonald. I understand this information may be shared with
the School Council (co-)chair(s) for the purposes of sending School Council information to me
via email.
Date:____________________ Name(s):
___________________________________________________
I am/We are the parent(s)/guardian(s) of
____________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_______
(include full names and grades of all students)
Email address(es):
______________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_______
Parent/Guardian
signature(s):______________________________________________________________
Please note: If you do not provide your express consent, you will not receive any electronic
communication from Sir John A. MacDonald.
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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
2014
Celebrating Faith and Culture
September 2014
The Peel District School Board is a mosaic of many cultures and faiths from all over the
world. To commemorate this diversity, the board recognizes the special faith and culture
days of our communities. September 2014 has several special faith and culture days to
celebrate and remember.
DATE
CELEBRATION
FAITH AND
CULTURE
September
September 1
September1
September5
September 8 to 26
September 7 or 8
September 9
September 11
September 12 to 16
September 19
September 22
September 23
Genuuqwilkw
Installation of Guru Granth Sahib
Labour Day
Farvardegan
the month of `Izzat
Anant Chaturdashi
Kshamavani
Nayrouz
Ghambar Paitishahem
Powley Day
Shuki-Sorei-Sai
Mabon /Harvestide
Rosh Hashanah
Sharad Navratri
the month of Mashi'yyat
Aboriginal Spirituality
Sunset September24 to 26
September 24
September 27 to October
14
Sikhism
Canada
Zoroastrianism
Bahá'í
Hinduism and Jainism
Jainism
Christianity
Zoroastrianism
Aboriginal Spirituality
Shinto
Wicca
Judaism
Hinduism
Bahá'í
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
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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
2014
 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.
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:
 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.
 If you have general questions about curriculum, call Curriculum and Instruction
Support Services at 905-890-1010 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.
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If you still have questions, please email communications@peelsb.com or call
Communication & Community Relations Support Services at 905-890-1010 or 1-800668-1146 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
 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 [elementary schools only]
 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:
 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.
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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
2014
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 atwww.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 ¾ 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
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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
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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
email: suzanne.nurse@peelsb.com
Brampton 2/6
905-495-3423
Jagdeep Mann
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?
 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
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 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 atwww.insuremykids.com. For more information call
Reliable Life Insurance Company toll free at1-800-463-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.
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We are holding school councils elections on October 16, 2014 at 6pm.
If you would like to know more or are interested in joining our council, please contact Mrs.
Manners at 905-457-5535.
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
 Canadian
birth certificate
 Canadian
passport
 citizenship
card/certificate
 Permanent
Resident Card
 Record
of Landing
 confirmation
 work
of permanent residence
permit
 refugee permit
Proof of address
 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
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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
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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 http://schools.peelschools.org/1540/Pages/default.aspx
Want to keep up to date with what’s happening at Sir John A MacDonald?
Check out our school website where you'll find:
 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.
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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:
 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 codeKOBOPEEL
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:
 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.
Dear Families:
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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
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Each school year, we seek parental permission for a number of school-based activities. By
signing the consent form below, you are giving permission to:
 Post your child's artwork in the school's front foyer and/or hallways. Please note that
only your child's first name will appear next to the art.
 Include your child's name on awards/trophies that will be kept in the school's front
foyer and/or hallways.
 Mention your child's achievements in our school newsletter and website. Only your
child's first name will be used. The grade level may also be mentioned.
 Post your child's schoolwork in our school's newsletter and website. Your child's first
name and grade level may be referred to.
 Include your child’sfull name in school programs or student awards (graduation
programs, school plays and musical productions, school brochures), and school
yearbook.
 Use photos of your child in our school’s newsletter, yearbook and website. Photos will
be taken of groups of students and will not identify any individual student. For
example, a photo of a group of students playing basketball in the gym.
 Have your child videotaped or photographed by a teacher, volunteer or student teacher
as part of the learning program. These photos and videotapes may be used within the
school or board, and may appear on school/board websites and/or social media
accounts, including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.
 Have your child videotaped, photographed and/or interviewed for media stories
throughout the school year. This does not include photographs taken for political
purposes. The images and/or audio may be used in local, national or international
news stories about school programs, initiatives, awards and/or events. Your child's
full name and photograph may accompany the story.
In providing this consent, I acknowledge that any photos/videos posted on the board’s website or
social media accounts may be widely circulated to the public, and may be viewed by anyone
with access to the Internet. If I provide consent, and then later revoke my consent, I acknowledge
that although the photos/videos will be removed from the board’s websites and social media
accounts, it may not be possible to remove all traces of personal information from the Internet.
If there are items you do not consent to, please cross them off. This consent will be effective
during the current school year. Consent may be revoked at any time by contacting the school
office.
Please complete and return the permission form to your child's teacher. If you have any questions
or concerns, please contact the school.
AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASE
I hereby consent to the initiatives described in the letter above. I understand this consent will be
effective during the current school year.
Date:________________________________________
I am the parent or guardian of _______________________________________________
and I consent to this authorization and release.
Parent/Guardian signature __________________________________________________
September 2014
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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter
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Dear Peel District School Board Families:
We all want our students to experience success and we do this by focussing on their well being as well as
their academics. If a student is facing challenges at home or school, it influences how they learn, grow
and interact with others. Our goal is to help our students. We have a number of resources within our
schools and within the community to help students.
One of the organizations we partner with is Peel Children’s Aid, our local Children’s Aid Society whose
role it is to support and help strengthen families so children are safe and well. Last year, Peel CAS
worked with about 10,000 Peel families who were experiencing stressors and difficulties related to their
children.
One of the functions of Peel Children’s Aid under the Child and Family Services Act is to investigate
situations where a child is or may be in need of protection. This Act has specific requirements which
school staff must follow:
 School staff do not have a choice if they suspect that a student is or may be in need of
protection. Staff must report their suspicions directly and immediately to the
Children's Aid Society.
 When staff report concerns to Children's Aid, they must also share with them any information
about the concern which might otherwise be confidential.
 It is not the school's responsibility to investigate suspicions, evaluate the situation or assign
blame.
 Staff can be fined $1,000 for failing to report that a student is or may be in need of protection.
Staff may also be subject to employment consequences and a provincial offence charge
under the Child and Family Services Act.
Our staff has a special awareness of the signs of child abuse and neglect, and as such, has a legal
responsibility to report any suspicions to Children's Aid. It is not necessary for staff to be sure that a
student is or may be in need of protection. All that is needed is "reasonable grounds to suspect" abuse or
neglect. "Reasonable grounds" is defined as being what the average person would expect given his or
her training, background and experience.
The Peel District School Board is fully committed to meeting the legal requirements of the Child and
Family Services Act. Staff has the full support of the board in meeting this obligation.
Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility – parents, schools, police, Children’s Aid and all
members of the community. At the Peel District School Board, we are committed to the welfare of our
students.
Sincerely,
Tony Pontes
Director of Education
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