Here’s the Buzz From BRIARWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL DECEMBER 2016 NEWSLETTER PRINCIPAL MRS. JAGGI-VAID ACTING VICE PRINCIPAL MRS. COOK-MADGETT OFFICE MANAGER MRS. SINGH OFFICE ASSISTANT MRS. SALEMA 1065 Mississauga Valley Blvd., Mississauga, L5A 2A1 (905) 270-2597 Follow us on Twitter @Briarwood_Buzz Visit us at http://schools.peelschools.org/1356/Pages/default.aspx SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION MR. ANTHONY EDWARDS SCHOOL TRUSTEE MRS. SUE LAWTON While conducting parent interviews, Ms. Siciliano and Ms. Homel talked about how they are building community in their kindergarten classroom. They showed the parents the kindness chain that they had started with their students and then asked the parents to write the word "friend" in their native language so that it could be display in Briarwood’s hallways for all students to see. How do you say “friend” in your language?
Transcript
Here’s the Buzz From
BRIARWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL
DECEMBER 2016 NEWSLETTER
PRINCIPAL MRS. JAGGI-VAID ACTING VICE PRINCIPAL MRS. COOK-MADGETT
1065 Mississauga Valley Blvd., Mississauga, L5A 2A1 (905) 270-2597
Follow us on Twitter @Briarwood_Buzz Visit us at http://schools.peelschools.org/1356/Pages/default.aspx
SUPERINTENDENT OF EDUCATION MR. ANTHONY EDWARDS SCHOOL TRUSTEE MRS. SUE LAWTON
While conducting parent interviews, Ms. Siciliano and Ms. Homel talked about how they are building community in their kindergarten classroom. They showed the parents the kindness chain that they had started with their students and then asked the parents to write the word "friend" in their native language so that it could be display in Briarwood’s hallways for all students to see. How do you say “friend” in your language?
Celebrating Faith and Culture December 2016 December Luut'aa and Little Spirit Moon Aboriginal Spirituality December 8 Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) Buddhism December 10 Maun Agiyaras or Muanajiyaras Jainism Sunset of December 11 to 29 the month of Masa'il Bahá’í Eve of December 10 or 11 to 11 or 12
Milad-un-Nabi Islam
December 13 Birthday of Imam Agakhan Islam December 14 Sanghamitta Day Buddhism December 15 Amitabha Buddha’s Birthday Buddhism Eve of December 20 to 21 Yule Wicca December 21 Tohji-taisai Shinto Sunset of December 24 to January 1 Chanukah Judaism December 25 Christmas Christianity and Canada December 26 Boxing Day Christianity and Canada December 26 Zarathosht-no-Diso Zoroastrianism December 26 to January 1 Kwanza African-Canadian
communities December 30 to January 17 the month of Sharaf Bahá’í December 31 to January 4 Ghambar Maidyarem Zoroastrianism
STAFF CHANGES AT BRIARWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL …
WE THANK YOU AND WE WELCOME …. There will be some new faces in our main office come December 1st and upon return from our Winter Break on Monday January 9th, 2017. We would like to thank Mrs. Cook-Madgett, our Acting Vice Principal, for all of her contributions to Briarwood since the start of the new school year. She will be continuing her administrative journey at Thornwood Public School effective December 1st. All the very best Mrs. Madgett! We welcome Mr. Forgione who will be filling in for Mrs. Madgett during the month of December. Upon return from the winter break, we will welcome our new permanent Vice Principal, Ms. McTavish. Ms. McTavish comes to us from Edenrose Public School. We say good-bye and good luck to Ms. Moosa (DECE K4) as she prepares to welcome a new baby! We welcome Mrs. Adnan to the Kindergarten team for the duration of the maternity leave. We also say good bye to our core French teacher, Mrs. Janco as she too prepares for the upcoming arrival of a new baby! We are currently in the process of hiring a replacement for Mrs. Janco and will update families as soon as this information becomes available.
REMEMBERING OUR CANADIAN SOLDIERS AT BRIARWOOD
On November 11th the grade 4 and 5 students, accompanied by Mrs. Ryan, Ms. Taylor, Mrs. Tutty, Mrs. LeCompte, Mrs. Correia and Mrs. Reichenbach, used poetry and music to honour and pay tribute to those who died in service for our country. We remembered these brave men and women for their courage and their devotion to our country. We all wore red poppies as a symbol of those lives that were lost. We remembered why we must work together everyday for peace on Earth.
November’s Newcomer Tea a Great Success!
Thank you to our Settlement Worker, Ms. Mohiuddin and to our teachers, Mrs. Jolly, Ms. Nunes and Mrs. Ray for planning and hosting Briarwood’s first Newcomer Tea. Thank you to all of the parents who participated. It was a pleasure listening to your stories and learning about the identities of the families who make up our school community. We look forward to our next meeting with our newcomer families on December 6th at 10:45 a.m. in the library. December’s talk will be about getting ready for your first Canadian winter! Invitations will go home on December 1st. We hope you will be able to join us!
Mrs. Jaggi-Vaid and Mrs. Madgett joined our newcomer families to share their own identity stories.
World Speed Stacking Day at
Briarwood by Mrs. Tutty
On Thursday November 17th, 2016,
students in grade one to five
participated in World Speed Stacking
Day at Briarwood. Classes came to the
gym to participate in fifteen stations and
a chance to be crowned class or school
champion.
Congratulations to the overall grade level
and school champions!
Grade 1 – Elena, Loveia, Gregory
Grade 2 – Mohammed, Lucas, Neyla
Grade 3 – Cody, Aditya, Michelle
Grade 4 – Richard, Omar, Jenny
Grade 5 – Zein, Danilo, Sean
Overall Briarwood Champions – Richard,
Zein, Omar
Brothers! Abdul and Mohammed
I would like to thank Ms. Gidzinski, Ms. Frangos and Ms.
Kuz, for covering my class. I would also like to thank
Ms. Virk and Mrs. Ryan for helping with the day. Most
importantly, thank you to everyone who donated canned
goods to the Salvation Army food drive. Briarwood
collected 14 boxes of canned goods!
TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT BRIARWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOL
During the evening of parent teacher interviews, we invited families to participate in an online survey. This survey will be used to collect data about our families and how best Briarwood Public School can serve our you and your children. If you have not yet participated in our on-line survey, please use the following link or QR Code to access the survey. We thank you for taking a moment to share your thoughts and ideas with us. https://goo.gl/forms/Vp45vWH1MP6fWBsk2
NOVEMBER’S CHARACTER ASSEMBLY Students from Ms. Orme’s Grade ½ Class used song and poetry to teach their K-2 peers about how their own identities make them unique and special. We listened to the song, “One Big Family” and heard the class read a poem entitled, “I Like Me”. Diana and Sianna were amazing MC’s and helped to make the assembly run smooth!
Mrs. Dawson and Ms. Thomas’ Grade 3 class hosted the Grade 3-5 assembly on Exploring Our Identities. The MC’s, Aditya and Samiya, worked well together, introducing each segment of the assembly with clarity and precision. Oluebube and Suhavi presented the story of their names and students shared portions from their I AM poems. The students displayed word clouds about their themselves, and together sang the song, “Be Yourself”. The audience watched a video about an incredible young man named Ezra Frech. https://youtu.be/pC4xkRAgqVg He's defied the odds to become a talented athlete and an inspiration to many. His message that, “being different is okay” supported the work that students and teachers have been doing during the month of November on exploring our identities and celebrating our differences. On December 1st, students will be introduced to our school climate focus for the month of December: Supporting our Communities, hosted by Ms. Bokun and Ms. Kuz’s Grade 2’s.
Our school has been selected for a solar system installation as part of a Board wide initiative. The installation consists of solar panels fastened to a support system on the existing roof. The work should not interfere with facility / school programming. The main products, including 196 solar panels, will be hoisted onto the roof outside of regular school hours as per board policy. Assembling the solar system on the roof will be carried out during school hours and minor foot traffic may be noticed at the time, but excessive noise is not anticipated as any drilling work will be done when classes are not in session. The bike rack area will be cordoned off and will be used to house materials to support the project. All construction staff will have Maintenance Service ID Badges. The project will take 6-8 weeks and will begin first weekend in December. Information will also be posted on the front door of the school for visitors to our building.
Volunteering at Briarwood Volunteer forms were sent home with students in November. If you are interested in volunteering in some capacity, please fill out a form and return it to your child’s teacher. Extra copies of the form are available in the main office.
BRIARWOOD IS A CASHLESS SCHOOL Effective January 2017.
If you have not yet registered for School Cashless Online, we would ask that you follow the steps below to register. As of January 2017, we will not be accepting cash at the school.
How do I register? Register Now
Registering to use School Cash Online is simple.
1. First, visit https://peelschools.schoolcashonline.com and click "Get Started Today."
2. Next, confirm your email. Check your inbox for the email confirmation from School Cash Online and click the confirmation link inside.
3. Click "Add Student" and fill in the required fields with your child's details.
WANT TO KEEP UP-TO-DATE? Check out our school website at http://schools.peelschools.org/1356/Pages/default.aspx Where you’ll find:
School newsletters Contact information Calendar School hours Mission, Vision, Values Registration information Printable forms Frequently asked questions Volunteer information
KEEP UP TO DATE WITH OUR WEBSITE SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE Our new website also features a subscription service where you can sign up for email notifications or text messages. FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @briarwood_buzz
Bus cancellation & closing schools due to bad weather During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather. Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be announced on radio and television stations listed below and will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146. VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680 CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1 NEWSTALK1010 AM EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860 FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107 CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS CTV BREAKFAST TELEVISION
One of the following messages will be announced (highlighted text only): Peel District School Board buses are cancelled. This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require busing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual. All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed. This means that all schools and Board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits. All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled. This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed. All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled. This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.
It's time to register children born in 2013 for kindergarten We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2013, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2017. 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 Feb. 6 to 9, 2016. Visit Briarwood Public School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 6, 7, 8 and 9 and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 9. 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
Help your family stay warm this winter Canada Safety Council recommends the following tips for staying comfortable and preventing hypothermia when working or playing outdoors:
Wear a warm hat—most body heat is lost through the head. Children should keep an extra hat at school.
Wear layered clothing. Layers allow warm air to stay trapped around the body. Protect your feet and hands. Wear loose waterproof boots. If the boots have liners,
carry an extra pair to replace damp ones or take an extra pair of socks. Invest in thick socks to keep your feet warm. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Carry an extra pair of mittens to school, on outings, etc.
Prevent dehydration and exhaustion, which can lead to hypothermia. Drink plenty of fluids and pace yourself when doing vigorous activities.
Stay fit by exercising and eating well—people who are fit are less susceptible to hypothermia.
If you stay indoors, avoid moving from a hot environment to a cold one. Excessive sweating caused from an extreme change in temperature increases the risk of developing hypothermia.
Eat high-energy food such as nuts and raisins. A balanced diet will also help keep you warm and healthy in the winter.
If you are travelling (on the road or in the wilderness) carry emergency supplies.
Winter bus safety The following winter school bus safety tips will help to keep your child safe throughout the winter months. 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: 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.
Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 27, 2017 If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2017, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to consider French Immersion (FI). To find out more about the program, visit www.peelschools.org/French The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2017-18 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will not be included in the random selection process and will be placed on the school’s waitlist. The FI school for our area is Camilla Public School. The phone number is Enrolment cap and random selection process As there is a grade 1 FI enrolment cap in place, there are a limited number of spots available for students entering the program. The cap is set at 25 per cent of all Peel students enrolled in grade 1. Spots are not assigned on a first come, first served basis. A random selection process system is used to identify students gaining entrance into the grade 1 FI program. All students who apply by the deadline will be assigned a rank using a computerized random selection process. Once students have been assigned to all available spots, remaining students will be placed, again in rank order, on the school's waitlist. Each school has its own waitlist. How to get more information
Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/French.
Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.
Special technology offers for Peel board students, parents and staff Does your child need a computer or tablet for school? Equity of access to technology is a key priority for the Peel board. That's why we've worked with a number of technology companies to offer discounted devices to Peel families and staff. Renewed Computer Technology (RCT) offers low-cost, quality refurbished computers to families with a low-income. Qualified applicants can purchase: desktop for $60
laptop for $150
Prices include software, a two-year warranty and tax. For more information, contact RCT directly, call 905-795-0627 or visit their website at www.rcto.ca.
Peel families now have access to the following exclusive offers from VIG Solutions:
Intel Dual Core, 2GB, 160GB computer with a 17-inch LCD monitor -- $110 10-inch netbook with 1GB ram, 160GB hard drive, Wi-Fi capability and Windows 7 -- $60. Taxes and shipping will be applied to product costs, and all items come with a six-month warranty. To purchase products, visit www.refurbitstock.ca/peel and enter peelregion before proceeding.
Microsoft Microsoft offers reduced pricing on select products. For more information, visit http://pdsb.me/1X2RtMF.
The Peel board’s initiatives are part of the ongoing effort to create greater equity of access to technology for Peel students, parents and staff and do not represent an endorsement of any company or product. For all BYOD information, visit www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stcentury/byod.
Time for school - A parent’s guide to regular school attendance
Elementary school is a wonderful time in the life of a child, a time of great strides in learning
and in social and emotional development. Many things affect your child’s success, from the
quality of his or her teachers, to the makeup of the class. One of the most important factors is
your child’s regular and timely attendance.
Getting to class on time, and avoiding absences, are critical if your child is to get the most out of school. It seems obvious. But the fact is that elementary students tend to miss and average of eight or more school days during the year. What can you as a parent do to help ensure your child’s proper attendance?
Is your child missing more? Why does attendance matter? First, understand that getting to school–every day and on time–matters at every level, perhaps even more so in elementary school. That’s because important learning occurs daily, right from the start of class. And because you establish patterns early on. By being punctual and responsible, children are acquiring positive habits about school attendance. Some other things to consider:
By being late, children miss important social time with their peers before school begins.
Students who are late often feel embarrassed or self-conscious.
Late arrivals can disrupt the routine of the classroom.
A last-minute rush can be stressful for the child, and get her to school in the wrong frame of mind.
Missing even five or 10 minutes of the day can make it harder for the student to understand the material being taught.
Frequent absenteeism leads to gaps in a child’s skills and knowledge base, cause the child to fall behind his peers and hurt his self-esteem.
Too many missed school days can increase isolation, as the child stands out from her classmates and misses opportunities to develop socially.
Absenteeism makes it tougher for the child to develop a good rapport with the teachers.
When Time is Ticking Few homes run like clockwork. The morning routine, especially, can be a mad scramble. But there are effective strategies for getting your little one up and out the door on time.
Get your child to bed at a reasonable hour.
Set realistic and consistent schedules and rules at home. Getting ready for school should be part of the child’s overall routine, something that’s expected of him every day.
The night before school, do whatever is necessary to shave time in the morning, such as setting out clothes, packing lunch, and setting schoolbags at the door.
Have a set morning routine that the child can easily follow, i.e. washing hands and face, going to the bathroom, dressing, making the bed, brushing teeth, and eating a healthy breakfast.
Avoid any distractions that can slow the child down, like TV or games.
If you’re running late regularly, set your alarm to get up earlier.
Is it a sick day? Children do get sick sometimes – they are still developing natural resistance to certain infections, their hygiene behaviours are still developing and germs spread more easily in a classroom. So some missed school is unavoidable, for the child’s own well-being, and the protection of her classmates. But there are ways to cut down on sick days. Teach your child about proper handwashing, after going to the bathroom, playing outside or wiping
his nose.
Follow other healthy habits, from eating nutritious food to getting enough sleep.
Some symptoms make school attendance uncomfortable, like a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. But if you’re unsure whether your child is sick enough to miss school, talk to your doctor.
Some children pretend to be sick to avoid school. Ask yourself is the child’s symptoms are vague, (i.e. a headache, upset stomach, fatigue), if your child tends to miraculously recover just after school starts or ends, or if the illness is happening during stressful times at school or at home. Allowing your child to remain home when there’s no real illness sets a bad pattern.
If you decide to keep your child home, please report your child’s absence via the SafeArrival system quickly and conveniently in one of the three ways:
o Call an automated, interactive toll free number – 1-855-209-6155 o Report absences online by accessing the SafeArrival parent portal on
pdsb.schoolconnects.com o Download the SafeArrival mobile application for Apple and Android devices
Once you have reported your child’s absence, keep the child in bed or doing quiet, low-key activities. A day off from school shouldn’t be a holiday, it should be a time to recuperate from illness, so the child can return as soon as possible.
Set the right example Children follow the lead of their parents. If you place an importance on regular and prompt school attendance, so will your child.
Show interest in your child’s education by asking about the school day, celebrating school successes, attending school events and parent-teacher interviews, volunteering at school, and communicating with your child’s teacher. The more you value school, the more your child will.
Provide a home environment that encourages learning and curiosity.
Treat the school hours with respect. If you have to make an appointment for your child, arrange it before or after school or, if that’s not possible, at the very beginning or end of the day.
When it comes to planning family trips, some parents will factor in the schedule in the higher grades, but think little of pulling their child out of school. If anything, younger
students can be affected more when they miss an extended period, finding it tough to relearn classroom routines and rejoin their peer group. Learning is cumulative, building on the skills and concepts that were introduced before. And this process is ongoing. Family trips can be wonderful learning experiences themselves. But if they must occur during the school year, please save them for scheduled breaks.
If your child resists going to school, for no apparent reason, talk to him or her about any possible problems with the school, teacher or other kids. However, don’t give in to coaxing, pleading or threatening and keep the child at home. That creates a bad precedent.
Need more information?
If you have any questions regarding any of the issues raised here about lateness or attendance, or if you’re looking for other tips on getting your child to school, please talk to us. By working together, we can help support a more successful school experience for your child. Visit our website at www.peelschools.org.
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