HAPPENINGS HELEN WILSON PUBLIC SCHOOL

HOME AND SCHOOL TOGETHER WE BUILD

9 Abbey Road Brampton, ON L6W 2T7 Telephone: (905) 451-1165 Principal: Ms. Kimberly May Office Manager: Debbie Wattier School Council Co-Chairs: Nicole Stockill & Jennifer Hunter Trustee: Kathy McDonald Superintendent: Michelle Stubbings

Helen Wilson STARs HONESTY, SAFETY, TEAMWORK, ATTITUDE and RESPECT

It is hard to believe that the school year is coming to an end. Staff and students have worked so hard this year to accomplish their academic, social and emotional goals. I feel so proud of each and every student and staff member in this building, I also feel lucky to have been part of the Helen Wilson Community for the last five years. You are a community of staff and parents who each day, help create magical environments that inspire self-awareness, belonging and a sense of community. Whether it’s through your time, the relationships you cultivate or simply your smile, you help students feel safe, welcomed, cared for, engaged and included. We at Helen Wilson, work each and every day to inspire success, confidence and hope in each student. It is my wish that we have accomplished this goal. We would like to extend to all of you best wishes for a safe and happy summer. For those students and staff that are returning, we look forward to seeing your smiling, eager faces on September 4th. For our students and staff that are moving on to new schools, we wish you the best of luck and hope that what you have learned and the memories you have created will always hold a special place in your heart. ~ Ms. May

A Newsletter for Students, Parents, Staff and Community June 2018

School Hours for the 2017-2018 Year Entry Bell 8:40 a.m. Classes Begin 8:45 a.m. Nutrition Break #1 10:25 a.m.—11:05 a.m. Nutrition Break #2 1:05 p.m.—1:45 p.m. Dismissal 3:05 p.m.

Absenteeism and Lates Students are expected to arrive to school on time and be present unless illness prevents attendance. Attendance is the responsibility of both the child and parents. Lost time can have a negative effect on your child’s progress.

SAFE ARRIVAL PROGRAM SchoolMessenger app (free from Apple or Google Play)

Download the SchoolMessenger app Tap Sign Up to create your account

Web and Mobile Web: go.schoolmessenger.com Go to the above website Click Sign Up to create your account

Interactive Toll-free Phone Call the toll-free number: 1-855-209-6155 Listen to and follow the instructions to report an absence

Follow us on Twitter @HelenWilsonPS

ParentConnect

Online parent portal to access important student information

The Peel District School Board is excited to announce the launch of ParentConnect, an online parent portal to access important student information. The pilot program was introduced at select schools and phased in to all Peel schools on Feb. 23, 2018. What is ParentConnect? ParentConnect is a safe and secure website, created by the Peel District School Board, that acts as a single point to stay informed and to access all electronic services provided to Peel board parents and legal guardi-ans. The parent-friendly website will allow you to:

view school-based alerts and information

access real time absence reporting

view current and historic elementary report card information

get up-to-date busing information

review secondary school credit history and diploma status

and more To learn more about the benefits of ParentConnect, visit our school website or www.peelschools.org/

A New Way to ‘Share the Smile’ In every Peel school and worksite, there are endless inspiring stories just waiting to be told. To help share the smile, the Peel board will launch a new website on April 30 to showcase these amazing #PeelFam stories, people and creations. Visit www.sharethesmile.ca to view some of the stories, people and creations we’ve featured so far. We encourage students, staff, parents and the community to share the stories happening in their school community. In the top right corner, you share by clicking ‘Share Your Story’.

Peanut Allergies Please be advised that we have a number of children attending Helen Wilson Public School who have a serious and in some cases life threatening allergy to peanuts and products that are derived from peanuts. We would ask your co-operation in not sending peanuts or peanut products to school for snacks or lunches. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Milk and Juice Sales Milk and juice are on sale in the Office for $1 every day at lunch time.

All Visitors Must Report To The Office All visitors must report to the office. We will be happy to assist you if you have to pick up your child early. This is to ensure the safety of all our students.

Medical Issues It is important for your child's teacher, and consequently the Office, to know about any medical issues that your child(ren) may have. If your child requires medication, please obtain the 'Administration of Prescribed Medication' Form A from the school office.

P.L.A.S.P. Helen Wilson has P.L.A.S.P everyday before and after school. Before school care begins at 7:30 a.m. and after school runs until 6 p.m. Children participate in recreational activities and are provided with a substantial, healthy snack daily. For more information, or to inquire about a before or after school program, please call 905-890-1711 or visit www.plasp.com

Elementary SchoolMessenger SafeArrival Attendance Program Elementary parents are reminded to sign up for a Safe Arrival account in order to report a child's absence in a quick and easy manner. Set up your account by going to: go.schoolmessenger.ca and use the same email address the school has on file for you. You can also download the blue School Messenger App to your smartphone. If parents prefer not to set up an account, the toll-free number is always available for all families: 1-855-209-6155 A few things to note with our new system: parents are encouraged to add the 1-855-209-

6155 number to their Contacts (under PDSB or School Name) so the number can easily be identified when it calls

this new system will call once per child, there-fore if you have three children absent at one time, you will receive three different phone calls

parents who set up an account can choose their preferences as to which numbers will be called

parents can report Late Arrivals by choosing the Report an Absence option first, then choosing Late Arrival in the sub-menu

As always, parents are encouraged to report absences in advance to the Safe Arrival system.

Peel Board Recognizes Crossing Guard Appreciation Day on June 12 The Peel board will recognize the contribution of school crossing guards on Crossing Guard Appreciation Day, June 12. The board encourages students, parents and staff to take a moment to thank the neighbourhood crossing guards who help to ensure a safe journey to and from school for thousands of students every day.

Peel Board Raises Pride and First Nations Flags in Schools, Sites in June In the month of June, Peel District School Board schools and sites will raise and/or display Pride and First Nations flags, in the spirit of equity, inclusion and reconciliation. The raising of flags is only one of the ways we help to create spaces that are inclusive, welcoming and safe for students, staff and fami-lies. The decision to raise these flags is about acceptance and inclusion, but it’s also about hope; it’s about understanding that everyone should feel proud of who they are and that public education plays a role in upholding the inherent dignity and worth of all persons.

Pride Flags will be raised in all schools and sites in June. The board has consulted with The Missis-saugas of the New Credit First Nation and the board’s Indigenous Education Advisory Circle (IEAC), and will raise The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation Flag, in recognizing their treaty territory. As it will take several weeks for delivery of The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation Flags, one will only be flown at the HJA Brown Education Centre (central board office) in June until the other flags arrive. This decision was made in consultation with The Mississaugas of the New Credit First Nation and the board’s IEAC. The manner in which flags may be displayed in Canada is not governed by any legislation, but by es-tablished practice. The rules applied by the federal government are not mandatory for individuals or organizations; they serve as guidelines for all persons who wish to display the Canadian flag and other flags in Canada. Other flags have been flown on the same pole as the Canadian flag in neighbouring school boards for years without issue. As a board, we are committed to achieving inclusion for all through continuous progress on equity. This is yet another step for us in our journey and aligns with our board commitment to supporting stu-dents from marginalized communities, including Indigenous students and students who identify as LGBTQ+. This work is included in the board’s strategic plan, our Plan for Student Success. Please join us in helping to ensure all our students, staff and families are welcomed and accepted, in the spirit of equity, inclusion and reconciliation.

On the road again—how to keep your cyclist safe Here are some tips you can review with your child to ensure bike season gets off to a great start: The right fit

children should be able to straddle the bike with both feet on the ground

a bike that is too big or too small can be a safety hazard

the helmet should fit—if it's too loose, it could fall off, if it's too tight, it's uncomfortable Get noticed

a young child's bike should be equipped with a bell and reflector

older riders should have a light and/or reflectors Follow the rules

no riding on busy streets

no riding at night

stop for all STOP signs Actions that cause injuries

driveway ride out—not stopping and looking both ways before entering the street

running the stop sign

turning without warning

cycling in the dark

following the leader—one child goes through a stop sign or misses a parked car but the second cyclist doesn't

Preparing for the summer sun Excessive exposure to the sun can lead to health concerns such as sunburn and skin cancer. As summer approaches and the weather gets warmer, it is necessary to apply sunscreen to protect ourselves from too much sun damage and burns. In summer, we are exposed to higher levels of ultraviolet (UV) rays. This exposure is a risk factor for developing skin cancer and cataracts later in life. The UV index is the measure commonly used in Canada to assess the strength of the sun’s UV rays risk on a given day. What is the UV Index? The index scale ranges from 0 to 10. The higher the value, the more intense ultra-violet rays. The UV index is calculated daily by Environment Canada using ozone and weath-er information. It can vary from day to day with changes in the ozone layer – the thinner the ozone layer, the higher the index reading. How to protect your family from the sun?

Wear a hat (preferably with a broad brim), sunglasses and protective clothing on sunny days.

Use sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or greater whenever you're outdoors.

Encourage your children to play in shady areas if they are outside for a long period of time.

Remember that sunburn can occur even on a cloudy day, as up to 80 per cent of UV rays can penetrate light clouds, and 40 per cent of UV rays can bounce back from sand, water or concrete.

Summer activities that boost learning

Kindergarten to grade 4

Sorting and stacking – Teach classification skills with dinnerware. Ask your child to match and stack dishes of similar sizes and shapes. Also have your child sort flatware – forks with forks, spoons with spoons. This is like recognizing the shapes of letters and numbers. Comic strip writing – Use comic strips to help with writing. Cut the segments of a comic strip apart and ask your child to arrange them in order. Then ask your child to fill in the words of the characters (orally or in writing). Float and sink – Encourage hypothesizing (guessing). Use several objects – soap, a dry sock, a bottle of shampoo, a wet sponge, an empty bottle. Ask your child which objects will float when dropped into water in a sink or bathtub. Then drop the objects in the water, one by one, to see what happens. Grade 5 Follow the news – As a family, choose an important news event to follow for a day or two. Ask each person to find as much information on the topic as possible – read newspapers, look at online news webpages, listen to the radio and watch TV news. Then talk about what everyone learned. Pro and con: what do you think? – Make a family game of discussing a special issue. For example, "Teenagers should be allowed to vote," or "There should never be any homework." Ask your children to think of all the reasons they can to support their views. Then ask them to think of reasons opposing their views. Which views are most convincing? For variety, assign family members to teams and have them prepare their arguments pro and con. Stretch, run, walk – Ask your child to do at least one kind of exercise every day. For example, run or walk briskly for 10 minutes. Walk, when possible, instead of driving, for any distance less than a mile. Have your child make a week-long exercise plan. Try to think of a modest reward for sticking to the plan and exercise with your child. Let your voice be heard – Promote good citizenship. Help your child write a letter to the editor of the local newspaper about an issue affecting children – for example, suggest that a bike path be built near the school or that a city event be planned for youngsters. Children are citizens, and their ideas are worth hearing.

Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes Do you know an adult that is interested in improving their English language skills for work, study or daily life? Through the Continuing & Adult Education department, the Peel District School Board offers a wide variety of English language classes that help parents experience success in Canadian English in both listening/speaking and reading/writing. Courses are designed for a range of basic, intermedi-ate and advanced English (Levels 1 to 8) as well as the more experienced learner needing to pre-pare for an IELTS exam. Classes are ongoing - Register anytime. All learners that complete a session will earn a certificate of learning from the Peel District School Board. Classes operate from six locations in Brampton and Mississauga with three specially designed adult centres at:

Bramalea - Adult Education Centre - 25 Kings Cross Road, Unit 3

Brampton - Adult Education Centre - #300 - 7700 Hurontario Street

Mississauga - Adult Education Centre - 100 Elm Drive West, Room 117

To learn more or to register, call 905-270-6000, then press 2 Also visit www.peelschools.org/adulteducation or follow us on Twitter: @PDSBLearnESL

We Welcome the World Centres The Peel District School Board’s We Welcome the World Centres located in Brampton, Malton and Mississauga, are the first point of contact for all newcomer families to become familiar with the edu-cational system in Peel. The centres are open all year—including the summer months— from Mon-day to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to providing literacy and numeracy assessments, the We Welcome the World Centres provide newcomers with a host of services including: reception, orientation, interpretation and refer-rals.

At each centre, parents/guardians and students will discover: settlement service information age and grade appropriate educational and related program resources information about various community supports translation of materials to support the reception and assessment process computer portals— providing information on Peel resources For more information about the We Welcome the World Centre and the services they provide, call 905-366-8791.

Summer Well-being

Summer break is around the corner! The psychological and physio-

logical benefits of summer are hard to beat. However, while summer

allows for a break from the routine and structure of the school year,

for some children and youth, it can be stressful to be away from

school. So, while the stressors change when the last school bell sig-

nals summer, they don't disappear.

Here at a few tips for summer well-being to keep everyone safe and

having fun in the sun!

Get outside. With longer and warmer days, try to spend more time outdoors which increases our vitamin

D intake and allows us more time to exercise and connect with nature. A minimum of 60 minutes of daily

physical activity is recommended for all children and youth. Healthy body = healthy mind.

Always stay hydrated. Replace sugary sports drinks & sodas with water; add slices of fresh fruit like strawberries, lemons, limes or watermelons to your water for a delicious flavor. Staying hydrated prevents heat related illness: symptoms are headache, cold sweats, exhaustion, nausea and/or vomiting, and diar-rhea. Get plenty of rest. During the hot summer heat, making sure you get plenty of rest is important to pre-vent heat exhaustion. While playing outside, take frequent shaded breaks and use sunscreen. Getting 8-10 hours of sleep every night is important for recuperation and growth. Wear safety gear. Whether you are riding your bike or swimming in a pool always wear the recommend-ed safety gear. Being safe reduces stress for everyone! A good rule is that if you are not doing an activity safely; you will not be allowed to do it.

Be safe on-line. Some students will stay in-touch over the summer primarily on-line. Remember that

some people will use electronic media to embarrass, harass, or threaten their peers. When there is cyber-

bullying occurring remember to save it, report it, and block it. If the incident is criminal call Peel Crime

Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Constant communication for the win! Using open ended questions with children and youth can help

identify fears, anxieties and concerns. Ask questions like, “How are you feeling about going to summer

camp?” In addition, communicating expectations about what is going to occur during the summer will help

to ease transitions. Saying, “I am inviting relatives to stay with us in July” or saying, “You will need to be in

bed by 9 pm on weekdays this summer” allows children and youth time to adjust to what will occur. Over summer break remember that HELP is always available:

Peel Children’s Centre maintains a Crisis Response Service (24/7/365) if your child is experiencing a serious mental health problem at 416-410-8615 Kids Help Phone is Canada's only national 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counsel-ling, web counselling and referral service for children and youth. 1-800-668-6868.

Helen Wilson P.S. Month: May 2018

Teacher

Grade

Academic Pride

Ms. Fraser / Ms. Medeiros K1 Aiden

Ms. Singhera / Ms. Simpson K2 Urosh / Malekai

Ms. Gurzanski / Ms. Dulic K3 Clare

Mrs. Ford Gr. 1 Andrew, Braeden

Ms. Valtas Gr. 1/2 Akhilesh

Mr. Perrier Gr. 2/3 L’Teah, Nate

Ms. White H2/3 Blessing

Ms. Rausch Gr. 3 Gwen S.

Ms. Berry Gr. 4 Luukai, Deevan

Ms. Hope JELC Eveneet

Mr. Hodgkinson Gr. 5 Amalia

Mrs. Piersol Gr. 4 Alyssa

Teacher

Grade

Stars of the Month

Ms. Fraser / Ms. Medeiros K1 Trinity

Ms. Singhera / Ms. Simpson K2 Khushi

Ms. Gurzanski / Ms. Dulic K3 Denish

Mrs. Ford Gr. 1 Shawna, Samahsh

Ms. Valtas Gr. 1/2 Zari

Mr. Perrier Gr. 2/3 Jamari

Ms. White H2/3 Simran

Ms. Rausch Gr. 3 Suhani

Ms. Berry Gr. 4 David

Ms. Hope JELC Shrey

Mr. Hodgkinson Gr. 5 Shea’Ana

Ms. Piersol Gr. 4 Saad

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. 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 doc-umentation supports an alternate living arrangement Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated

Upcoming Dates June 5 JELC Social Studies Fair June 7 Election June 7 Nutrition Day—Presented by the City of Brampton June 11 PA Day—No school for students June 12 Yoga Day June 14 Tour of W. G. Davis for our Grade 5 students June 15 French Presentation (Gr. 3-5) June 19 Crawford Lake Trip (Gr. 5) June 20 JELC Play June 21 Water Safety Presentation June 21 Hot Dog Day June 22 Graduation June 25—27 Jungle Sport June 25 Grade 5s visit W. G. Davis June 26 Term 2 Reports go home June 28 Last day of school (for students) June 29 P. L. Day September 4 First day of school