Hawthorn Newsletter Hawthorn Public School,

2473 Rosemary Drive Mississauga Ontario , L5C 1X1

COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER #4 FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

Important Dates: Report Cards Go Home – Thursday Feb 8th PA Day - Friday Feb 9th –NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS Family Day Holiday – Monday Feb 19th March Break – Monday March 12th to Friday March 16th

Tom Lowe, Principal Jamie Robertson Superintendent Janet McDougald Trustee Visit our website at : http://hawthorn.peelschools.org Follow us on twitter @hawthornps

Dear Hawthorn Families, Hawthorn Public School has been a very busy place this month. Teachers have been working hard to write Term 1 Report Cards which will be sent home on Thursday February 8th. In addition to this many classes have been participating in Science In The Classroom Workshops. A reminder that Friday February 9th is a PD Day and there is no school for students on that day. This month we will be having a ‘Lion Dance’ Assembly on Thursday Feb 22nd and on Friday Feb 23rd at 9:00 AM we will be having a ‘Sharing Assembly’, hosted by Mr. Gooch’s grade 5 class and Mrs.Bell and Mrs. Hackenspiel’s Kindergarten class. The winter weather has been very unpredictable this year. Please remember to continue to send your children to school dressed for the winter weather with hats, gloves, coats and snow pants. Students stay inside during extreme cold conditions (-20 degrees) otherwise they should be prepared to go outside to enjoy the fresh air. I am looking forward to another busy and exciting month at Hawthorn – Tom Lowe (Principal)

BLACK HISTORY MONTH This is a time to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Black Canadians, who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous nation we know today. It is also an opportunity for the majority of Canadians to learn about the experiences of Black Canadians in our society, and the vital role this community has played throughout our shared history. On Wednesday February 28th students from Kindergarten will be participating in workshops focusing on African Drumming and Dance.

Above are freedom quilts designed by students in Mrs. Soultanidis’ class

School Council

Wednesday March 21st – 6:30 PM The next school council meeting is on Wednesday March 21st at 6:30 PM. Come join us at the next meeting on and be part of a dynamic group of parents that are working to make Hawthorn the best place for your children to learn and grow. Focus of this meeting will be the June Fun Fair.

SCHOOL MARCH BREAK HOLIDAY

Mid Winter Break begins Monday, March 12th to Friday, March 16th, 2018. School will re-open on Monday, March 19th , 2018.

Safe Arrival System

Regular attendance at school is very important to learning and the development of life habits. Please contact the safe arrival line if your child will be absent for any reason at 1-855-209-6155 or online at http://pdsb.schoolconnects.com . Please note you must report an absence before the 1st bell at 8:55am. After that point and time a call will go home.

Sharing of Food

There are several students in our school with a severe life-threatening food allergy to peanuts and tree nuts. Although this may not affect your child’s class directly, please send food with your child’s lunch that are free from nuts/nut products. Also for this reason, we ask that food treats are not to be sent to school for sharing. Students should only bring food for their own consumption. On special holiday occasions, teachers will advise students what foods they can bring. To acknowledge your child’s birthday, if you would like to send something, items such as pencils, or “dollar store treasures” that are not edible would be appropriate.

Offence Declaration required for returning volunteers Parents play an important role in the development and education of their children and in the success of the school community. At Hawthorn we welcome and encourage the participation of parents and community members, and are grateful for the countless hours our volunteers contribute throughout the school year. To volunteer at our school, you must complete a short interview and a criminal record check. A criminal record check is required for all school volunteers in Ontario. Even if you want to accompany your child on a field trip, you need this record check.

Once you have completed the process, you are on file with the Peel District School Board as being a school volunteer. All returning volunteers will be mailed an Offence Declaration Form that must be filled out and returned to the board office each year. You will not be able to volunteer with the Peel board if you do not return this form. Forms will be mailed home in February.

INDOOR SHOES

All children are asked to bring a pair of shoes/slippers/sandals to wear inside the school. Walking around the school in stocking feet poses both a health and safety concern.

Conference helps parents empower modern learners The Peel District School Board is hosting its annual parent conference, co-presented by the Peel Elementary Teachers’ Local, on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at Mississauga Secondary School in Mississauga. The conference will focus on Empowering Modern Learners. Parents will have the opportunity to attend workshops on topics, including numeracy, literacy, special education, technology and science. This free learning event is open to Peel parents of students at all grade levels. Our keynote presentation will be delivered by Dwayne Matthews, a life and education strategist, who converges and shares knowledge on modern learning, disruptive technology, and the evolution of work. Dwayne will present Learning in the 21st century: Why it's different, why it matters and how to help children thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Registration opens Feb. 5, 2018 Stay up-to-date! For more information, visit www.peelschools.org/parents/conference.

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 Encourage your child not to leave

assignments, studying and homework to the last minute.

Schedule time for review and work on assignments each day.

Establish a regular time of the day for homework, studying etc.

Make the home a homework-friendly environment where learning is regular routine.

Remove distractions like the television, stereo, telephone when studying.

Tell your child to make sure tests and due dates are marked in their agenda.

Practice Encourage your child to think about what,

when, where, why and how when preparing/completing assignments.

Develop practice tests and help them anticipate questions.

Review previous exercises. When appropriate, encourage your child to

pair up with a friend to review information and brainstorm.

Build learning into family activities— suggest keeping a journal, writing a report or a news article about family events, outings or trips.

Be in the know Check out the curriculum for your child’s

grade level (available as PDF files at www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum)

Ask your child’s teacher about major topics studied and how these topics are structured— homework, assignments, exercises

Use your child’s agenda to communicate with their teacher—ask questions, check for homework tips, etc.

Help your family stay warm this

winter Peel Public Health recommends the following cold weather guidelines for preventing cold-weather injuries:

1. Reduce amount of time children (grade 8 and under) spend outdoors when the temperature is –20 degrees Celsius or colder, with or without the wind chill. Keep children indoors when the temperature is -25 degrees Celsius or colder, with or without wind chill. Some medical conditions may increase sensitivity to cold. Parents should consult their physician (Source: Environment Canada).

2. Allow indoor breaks if children say they are feeling cold or during extreme temperatures.

3. Ensure children are dressed warmly, covering exposed skin: insulated boots, winter weight coats, mittens, hats, neck warmers.

4. Change wet clothing or footwear immediately. 5. Although these conditions are unlikely to occur

during the school day, ensure that all staff are able to recognize and treat symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia. Given plenty of warm fluids to prevent dehydration.

6. When children are outside, be watchful for shivering or signs of numbness in faces, ears, hands or feet.

7. Educate children in dealing with cold weather: drinking plenty of fluids, dressing warmly, and recognizing signs of cold injury.

Keeping students safe on the Internet If you’re like most parents, you have rules about what TV shows and movies your children are allowed to watch, how far they are able to stray from home and when they need to call you to ensure they’re safe. You should also consider setting similar rules for your children’s internet use and be aware of their online activities. Even without trying, children can come across materials on the Internet that are obscene, pornographic, violent, hate-filled, racist or offensive in other ways. In Peel schools, students learn how to use the Internet as a research and communication tool. Learning how to access information through the Internet helps students become aware of available resources that exist outside the classroom and school library. Students also benefit from learning how to competently analyze and evaluate information. In addition, students may use the Internet for communication where it is appropriate for their learning. At home, you play an important role in helping your children learn more about safe conduct on the Internet. Parents help their children make choices about what books to read, what movies to see and what field trips to take. Helping children make wise choices about Internet use is really no different than teaching children responsibility in all aspects of life. Here are some steps to help you ensure that your children use the Internet as safely as possible:

make sure your children understand what sites are appropriate for them

discuss the meaning of an ‘unsafe’ site with your children

explain to your children what they should do if they reach an unsafe site

make exploring new websites a family activity

use search engines designed for kids – ask your school for ideas

pay attention to the games your children may download or copy

look into software or online services that filter out offensive materials or sites

We always make sure we tell our children to be wary of strangers they meet. When it comes to Internet use, the same rules apply. Ensure children know they should:

never give out personal information (including name, address, phone number, age, school name or location)

never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they meet online

never use bad language or send mean messages

never respond to e-mail messages that make them feel confused or uncomfortable

It's time to register children born in 2014 for kindergarten We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2014, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2018. You can register your child at any time during regular school hours—just visit the school he/she will be attending to register. Peel schools will also hold a Kindergarten Registration Week with special registration activities during Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, 2018. Visit Hawthorn from:

Jan. 29 to 31, 2018 – from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Feb. 1, 2018 – from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 5 to 7:30 p.m.

Feb. 2, 2018 – from 9 ;30a.m. to 3:30 p.m. What you will need to bring to registration

Proof of child's age (one of the following)

Canadian birth certificate Canadian passport citizenship card/certificate Permanent Resident Card confirmation of permanent residence work permit refugee permit

Proof of address (one of the following)

Ontario driver's license utility bill bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution) credit card statement federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada documents) purchase agreement

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

http://peelschools.schoolcashonline.com