In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month, following a motion introduced by the first black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine. During Black History Month, students, staff and parents from across Peel will participate in a number of activities that promote the understanding of the many contributions made by

black Canadians. Here is a list of events happening at Jefferson Public School:

Drum Clinic (Parents are welcome) Daily student-read announcements featuring inspirational quotes from various

heroes & leaders BHM book & poster display in the

library Spotlight on Black Heritage field trip (for 4

students representing Jefferson at the CBO) Interactive presentation on African Heritage (for

all grades) BHM assembly on Feb. 28 @ 12:20pm featuring African Heritage presenters and Jefferson students’ presentations

NOTE: Students are encouraged to dress in their own

cultural or traditional clothing or in colours representing their heritage. Please come and celebrate with us.

Jefferson puts the spotlight on Black

Heritage

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, intermediate and advanced English (Levels 1 to 7) as well as the more experienced learner needing to prepare for an IELTS exam. Winter courses begin February 5, 2018.

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. Course registrations are ongoing till the end of the semester.

Also visit www.peelschools.org/adulteducation or follow us on Twitter: @PDSBLearnESL

Our deep appreciation to all the parents who have been a part of our School Council meetings. We cordially invite all parents to join our future Council meetings. Being involved in school council is an

excellent way for you to get involved in your child’s education. Our next School Council Meeting is at Jefferson Library on

Thursday, March 29, 2018 @ 6:30pm. Please save the date. Hope to see you then.

Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes

Jefferson Black Heritage Celebration

Kicks off with the

DRUM CLINIC!

@ Jefferson Gym on February 22nd.

Time: 5:30-7:30pm.

Join us for a great Family Time to learn

rhythms and acquire some basic drumming

skills

EVERYBODY SINGS!

See You There!

Jefferson Public School February 2018 Newsletter

REMINDER - NO SCHOOL ON FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9TH

and MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

JEFFERSON T-SHIRTS LAUNCHED!

Attendance Line at Jefferson P.S. 1-855-209-6155

Superintendent of Schools: Ms. Liz Cook (905) 451-2862 Trustee: Ms. Carrie Andrews (647) 473-1858

Term One report cards for Kindergarten and grades 1-5 will be sent home on February 8th, 2018. By this point in the school year, we have found that most parents are well aware of their child's progress based on the ongoing communication from the school. Should your child’s progress be of concern, the teacher will contact you to discuss ways to work together to further support his/her learning needs by February 27, 2018. Please also feel free to contact your child’s teacher if you have any concerns or questions about your child’s progress.

Some of the ways you may keep up-to-date about your child's progress include the following:

talk to your child about school

review your child's homework and agenda

receive copies of marks your child has received on assignments and tests

ongoing communication with your child's teacher

Peel board supports student success with ongoing communication throughout the year.

If your child was born in 2014, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2018. Registration has started at our school from Jan. 29 to Feb.1 from 9-3pm and continues between 5:00 and 8:00 p.m. on Feb. 1. Please note that you can register your child at any time during regular school hours. We look forward to meeting you and teaching your adorable chil-dren.

As the need arises to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather, please pay attention to details of school bus cancellations or school closures on radio and television stations listed at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca. Information will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146. Thank you!

Sincerely, Mrs. Toyin Adekusibe.

Every student and staff member will be receiving a FREE JEFFERSON T-SHIRT!

Thanks to the School Council and the Climate for Learning and Working Committee for this generous and great initiative. Super thanks to our Office Staff Mrs. Cossu and Mrs. Kerr, who helped in making perfect distribution of the T-shirts. A big Congratulations to Tahreem Saeed on winning the T-shirt design contest! Great job! Please note that T-shirts are meant to be worn on the days and for the purposes listed below:

Monthly character assemblies

Class trips

‘Special days' as chosen or announced to show our school spirit

If your child's T-shirt goes missing or is damaged, replacements can be purchased for $5.00 at the school office. On that note, you may want to write your child's name on the label. Kindly note that, the first outing with our Jefferson T-shirt will be on February 1, 2018. This is for our Jefferson Physical and Health Education Day, and our Grades 1-5 trip to Chinguacousy Secondary School. Please remember to have your child(ren) wear their T-shirts to school on this day.

Mr. Saville For CLW Team

Parents play an important role in the development and education of their children and in the success of the school community. At Jefferson PS 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 receive an Offence Declaration form that must be filled out and returned to the board office each year. Completing the Offence Declaration will ensure that you can continue volunteering in the next school year. Expect to receive the form in mid-February.

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 Empower-ing Modern Learners. Parents will have the opportunity to attend workshops on topics, including numeracy, literacy, spe-cial 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.

Healthy Body! Healthy Mind!

When we invest in our physical health, will be able to combat stress and anxiety with greater success. This includes being:

Well-rested

Well-nourished

Well-exercised

Some Tips:

Set a Sleep Schedule – Set an alarm to go to bed! Our body likes a regular schedule. Bedtimes and wake times should not vary by more than one hour from one day to the next.

Drink plenty of water - Many of us go through life dehydrat-ed—causing tiredness, low energy, and headaches. It’s common to mistake thirst for hunger, so staying well hydrated will also help us make healthier food choices. More steps – Step side to side. Start by doing it 10 times per foot. Do this while watching TV, working on your computer or brushing your teeth. Do it with your children to make it fun.

Please print your child's name and their teacher’s name and return to the school office by February 27th. Winners will be

announced in March’s newsletter. Name______________ Teacher_______________ Name______________ Teacher_______________

The January Newsletter winners are: Audrina in Mrs. Barnes’ class Milan in Ms. LaMarca’s class

Offence Declaration required for returning volunteers

February 9th is

a Professional

Learning Day!

No school for

students.

February 19th

is

Family Day!

School is Closed.

Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp where they lay their eggs. They have three stages: the egg (nit), the nymph and the adult. Head lice do not spread diseases and cannot be spread between animals or pets and humans, only through direct contact between people.

Head lice spread easily, especially where people are in close contact. They are very common among school-aged children or children attending child care, where they spread through direct hair-to-hair contact or by sharing things like hats, combs, hair-brushes or headphones.

One of the first signs of head lice is an itchy scalp. However,

children can have head lice for several weeks with no symp-

toms. If you think your child has head lice, check their hair for

nits right away, then again after one week and after two

weeks.

What to do if your child has lice

Parents are advised to keep their child at home until they have been treated for lice. Students may only return to school if they are “nit-free.” If your child has live lice, ensure that they avoid head-to-head contact with other children until the lice are gone. Children should not share combs, hairbrushes, caps,

hats or hair ornaments. You should also check all family mem-bers for head lice. Be sensitive to your child’s feelings and let them know that having head lice does not mean they are not clean.

Head lice can be treated with the following approved insecti-cides: pyrethrin (found in R&C Shampoo + Conditioner)

permethrin (Nix Creme Rinse or Kwellada-P Creme Rinse) lindane (Hexit Shampoo or PMS-Lindane Shampoo).

Use Canada’s Food Guide to help your child get nutrients and energy needed to have a successful school day.

-Try to give your child some choice about what to take for lunch. -If possible, get your child involved in preparing meals. -Give your child a variety of healthy choices. Keeping your child interested in lunch is the first step to making sure it is eaten. -Make the food easy to eat. If it will take your child a few minutes to unwrap a sandwich, it may be skipped. -Resist the temptation to routinely send sweets, pop, chips and cookies in your child's lunch. Save treats for special occasions. -Try to avoid fast food or pre-packaged, convenience lunches, which are often high in salt and fat. -Do your best to role model healthy eating behaviours for your family.

To speak to a registered dietitian about healthy food choices, call EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-5102. For more information about the policy, visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools. If you have questions about how we are imple-menting the School Food and Beverage Policy, please call the school.

JANUARY CHARACTER AWARD RECIPENTS — responsibility

Nutritious lunches help children learn

What is head lice?

POWER OF ONE AT JEFFERSON SAY NO TO BULLYING!