NOVEMBER 2014
DAY
November 2
November 3
November 5
November 6
November 8
November 11
November 13
November 14
November 17 – 28
November 17
November 20 - 27
November 25
November 29
EVENT
 Take Two singing at Hershey Centre 2:00
 Grade 7 and 8 girls immunization
 Grade 8 to AHSS
 Reports go home
 PEO Mathletics (south gym)
 Remembrance Day assembly
 Interview night
 No school – interview morning
 Rodrigo Chaves for grade 6
 School Council meeting
 Winter Book Fair
 Anti- bullying Assembly
 FLL regionals (Fletcher’s Meadows SS)
ONGOING ACTIVITIES/CLUBS
Tomken Reads Reading Program – Sept. - November
Bridge Club – Tuesdays both lunches
Chess Club – Fridays for grade 6/7, Mondays for grade 8
Scrabble Club – Tuesdays before school 7:30
Toastmasters International Youth Leadership – Thursdays before
school 7:30
Choir (all grades) – Thursdays after school
Musical – Thursdays after school/choir
Dance Club – Wednesdays after school
Take Two – Mondays after school
Phys.Ed. – Please check Phys. Ed. My Class site for a detailed
schedule of activities
Explore program options at makingmyway.ca
Students have different needs, interests and abilities—our schools offer great educational
opportunities to help all students achieve. For students looking for a more focused, specialized
program, here are some options:
Regional programs start in grades 6, 7 and 9
Students in regional programs still complete all of the requirements of the Ontario curriculum,
but there is an increased focus on an area of interest. Programs include:
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Actively in Motion (AIM)
Advanced Placement
Arts
Arts and Technology
Graphic Design Management:
Flexography
International Baccalaureate
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International Business and Technology
International and Executive Leadership
Academy
SciTech
Sports
Strings
Truck and Coach Technology
Specialist High Skills Major programs start in grade 11
Specialist High Skills Major programs allow students to focus their learning on a specific
economic sector, while meeting the requirements to graduate from secondary school. Students
gain sector-recognized certification and career-relevant training. The programs support the
transition after graduation to apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace. Peel
board schools offer Specialist High Skills Major programs in the following area.
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Arts & Culture
Business and Entrepreneurial Studies
Construction
Environment
Health and Wellness
Hospitality and Tourism
Information and Communications Technology
Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services
Manufacturing
Non-Profit
Sports
Transportation
More options for Peel board students
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co-operative education programs provide workplace experience
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extended French starts in grade 7
dual credit programs allow student to earn college credits at the same time as secondary school
credits
alternative programs are available for students who need flexible school hours, are dealing with
unique situations, or require more support
Our guidance counsellors can help students determine which courses will best meet their needs,
interests and abilities—contact the school to make an appointment.
For more information about regional programs, Specialist High Skills Major programs and other
programs of choice available to Peel board students, visit www.makingmyway.ca.
Choose Action on Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
The Peel District School Board will recognize Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week during the week
of November 16 to 22.
Across the Peel board, schools use many programs and initiatives to prevent bullying and to intervene
when bullying happens. Though the programs vary, their messages are consistent. Students are taught
to:
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define bullying
identify forms of bullying
identify roles in bullying relationships, for example the person who bullies, the target, the
bystander or the trusted advocate
determine how to safely “choose action” to prevent and intervene in bullying & harassment
demonstrate character attributes and be a leader to help maintain positive and safe school
communities
Every school has a Climate for Learning and Working Team which is required to develop a Bullying
Prevention and Intervention Plan as part of the School Success Plan. Also, every employee who is
involved in the care and service of students is obligated to report in writing to the school
administration any action for which the principal must consider suspension or expulsion. Bullying is an
offence that must be considered for suspension.
Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is one of the key items contained in Bill 13: The Accepting
Schools Act, that came into effect on September 1, 2012. For more information, visit:
www.peelschools.org/aboutus/safeschools/bullying/ or
www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/safeschools/prevention.html
Is Extended French right for my child?
If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2015, one of the important choices you will make is
whether you want to register your child in Extended French.
What is the program like? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the program?
One way to help answer these questions is to attend the information meeting on Thursday, Nov. 20,
2014 at 7 p.m. at the Extended French school your child would attend.
To find out the Extended French school your child would attend:
 call the school in your area
 visit our website www.peelschools.org/French
 call 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146 ext. 2212
Registration
Registration for Grade 7 Extended French for the 2015-16 school year will be available online at
www.peelschools.org/French on Monday Nov. 24, 2014 at 9 a.m.
The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at 4 p.m. Registrants after that date will be put on a
waiting list.
Important dates
Information meeting
Registration opens
Registration deadline
Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 at 7 p.m.
Monday Nov. 24, 2014 at 9 a.m.
Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at 4 p.m.
For more information
 visit www.peelschools.org/French
 call your nearest Extended French school
 talk with parents who have children in the Extended French program
 visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/
Is French Immersion right for my child?
If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2015, one of the important choices you will make is
whether you want to register your child in French Immersion.
What is the program like? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the program?
One way to help answer these questions is to attend the information meeting on Thursday, Nov. 20,
2014 at 7 p.m. at the French Immersion school your child would attend.
To find out the French Immersion school your child would attend:
 call the school in your area
 visit our website www.peelschools.org/French
 call 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146 ext. 2212
Registration
Registration for Grade 1 French Immersion for the 2015-16 school year will be available online at
www.peelschools.org/French on Monday Nov. 24, 2014 at 9 a.m.
The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at 4 p.m. Registrants after that date will be put on a
waiting list.
A French Immersion enrolment cap is in place. This means that a specific number of spots are available
for students entering grade 1 French Immersion. A random selection process will be used to identify
students gaining entrance into the program. For more information about the random selection process
visit www.peelschools.org/French.
Important dates
Information meeting
Registration opens
Registration deadline
Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 at 7 p.m.
Monday Nov. 24, 2014 at 9 a.m.
Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at 4 p.m.
For more information
 visit www.peelschools.org/French
 call your nearest French Immersion school
 talk with parents who have children in the French Immersion program
 visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/
Need help in math? Free tutoring now available online
Math students in grades 7 to 10 can access live, interactive online math help by visiting
www.homeworkhelp.ilc.org. Homework Help is free, real-time math tutoring by certified Ontario
teachers.
Students can log in from Sunday to Thursday, between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. for individualized
confidential math tutoring. There are discussion rooms for each grade where students can join and see
what questions other students are asking, watch the tutors draw on the whiteboard – and ask their
own question for on-the-spot help.
Students will also find 24/7 discussion rooms, video lessons and commonly asked questions. Other
online math resources include math games and a virtual locker, where students can save their work.
Homework Help is a project funded by the Ministry of Education.
Help your child prepare for tests
Many students will become anxious at the thought of writing a test. Anxiety about an upcoming test
can affect a child's behaviour, thoughts and actions. Here are some ways you can help minimize
anxiety at test time:
Organize & Prepare
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Encourage your child not to leave assignments, studying and homework to the last minute.
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Schedule time for review and work on assignments each day.
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Establish a regular time of the day for homework, studying etc.
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Make the home a homework-friendly environment where learning is regular routine.
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Remove distractions like the television, phones, computers when studying.
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Tell your child to make sure tests and due dates are marked in their agenda.
Practice
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Encourage your child to think about ‘what, when, where and how’ when preparing/completing
assignments.
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Develop practice tests and help them anticipate questions.
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Review previous exercises.
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When appropriate, encourage your child to pair up with a friend to review information and
brainstorm.
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Build learning into family activities— suggest keeping a journal, writing a report or a news article
about family events, outings or trips and include photos.
Be in the know
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Check out the curriculum for your child’s grade level (available as PDF files at
www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum)
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Ask your child’s teacher about major topics studied and how these topics are structured—
homework, assignments, exercises
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Use your child’s agenda to communicate with their teacher—ask questions, check for homework
tips, etc.
Winter bus safety
The following winter school bus safety tips will help to keep your child safe throughout the winter
months.
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Allow extra time to get to your bus stop.
Wear bright clothing so the bus can see you in the early morning and late evening.
Stand away from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room to stop when there is snow and ice.
Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping on wet or icy steps or road
surfaces.
Dress properly—winter clothing, hats, and boots will keep you warm.
Don't throw snowballs at the bus or other children waiting for the bus.
Don't slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the street.
Don't push or shove around the bus. Someone could fall down on the ice and get hurt.
On very rare occasions, buses are late because of weather conditions or mechanical problems. Talk to
your child about what to do if the bus is late. Here are some suggestions:
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When possible, wait with your child for the bus.
Make sure your child knows a phone number where he can reach you or another trusted adult.
Teach your child how and where to get help. Talk to your child about what a "safe" stranger is.
Help your child set up a bus stop buddy system so your child has someone to wait with for the bus.
Insπre. Gr23ness. 2gether.
“Ugh. Math.” Unfortunately, this is the attitude many students (and adults) have about math. If we're
going to help our students achieve numeracy greatness, we need to turn these negative attitudes into
positive ones. So, our three-year math strategy, EngageMath, starts with something we have
enormous influence over—our attitude towards math.
Everyone is born with a math gene
According to Stanford University Professor Carol Dweck, students who believe that intelligence or math
and science ability is a fixed trait are at a significant disadvantage compared to students who believe
their abilities can be developed. Like anything else, our talents and abilities in math are nurtured only if
we have a growth mindset about them. A “Yes I can” attitude when it comes to numeracy is the first
step. A “Count on Us” attitude comes next.
To learn more about Dweck's research on student mindsets and how they help students fulfill their
potential, watch her Ridley lecture here: http://bit.ly/RidleyDweck.
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Online math parent resources
While the Peel board’s EngageMath strategy plans out certain actions, it is by no means a magic bullet
to answering the questions and challenges surrounding numeracy and student achievement. Math
success for all our students requires a strong partnership between home and school. That's why we're
committed to providing you with the parent resources you need to help us boost math achievement.
Online resources to help you support your child or teen's numeracy success are available on the Peel
board’s website at http://www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild/math. There you will find links to:
 tip sheets
 Mathies.ca
 Homework Help
 mathematics curriculum
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Hold the date: Parent Numeracy & Beyond Conference
Saturday, April 18, 2015 – 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School,
Brampton
Plan to attend our annual, free Parent Conference on Saturday, April 18, 2015. Take one day to
enjoy:
 a powerful keynote presentation focused on math success
 your choice of more than 45 practical workshops facilitated by Peel board staff
 a display area with educational exhibits from local organizations
This year, a large number of morning workshops will provide parents with strategies to help you
support math success at home. Brochures will be sent home with all Peel students in January.
Registration will open at that time and information will also be posted to www.peelschools.org.