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11 Coppard Avenue, Markham, ON, L3S 2J4 Phone (905) 472-4050 Fax (905) 472-4299
E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.armadale.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Principal - Jay Wolkoff
Superintendent - Erik Khilji (905) 940-7800
Vice-Principal - Fawzia Durrani
Trustee - Juanita Nathan (416)885-3479
ARMADALE November 2015
Eye on
Remember Armadale is a
uniform school. Students
are expected to follow the
uniform guidelines.
Scholastic Book
Fair
November 23-27
Courage is the
character trait for
November!
@armadaleps
Collaboration
is the learning
skill focus for
November!
Armadale Public
School… There’s an
app for that! See
details pg. 7
Secondary
Schools-
Information
Nights see
page 8
Hardcopy
of
newsletter
available
upon
request.
Message from the Administration
October was Learning Disabilities Awareness month. Like all schools, we have students who have been identified with a learning
disability. LDs (short form for learning disabilities) affect one or more of the ways that a person takes in, stores, or uses information. LDs
come in many forms and affect people with varying levels of severity. Between 5 and 10 percent of Canadians have LDs. LDs are a
life-long condition. They do not go away, but can be coped with successfully by using areas of strength to compensate and
accommodations such as technology. People with learning disabilities are intelligent and have abilities to learn despite difficulties in
processing information. If your child is experiencing challenges or is diagnosed with a learning disability, please contact your child’s
teacher to discuss ways to partner together to support your child. Imagine a world without the stigma of learning disabilities.....If we can
imagine it, we can do it!
While we have had a very warm start to November, it is approaching that time of year when snow starts to fall, gloves and hats need to
always be at hand and the days get darker quicker. Please remember that students should come to school dressed for outdoor recess.
Just a few reminders:
1. In order to excel at school, it is essential that students start their day off with a nutritious breakfast. Breakfast Club runs daily
from 7:30 am – 8:15 am in room 132. There is no cost to the program and students do not need to register in advance.
2. Our Healthy Snacks program is a huge success. If you wish for your child to be part of this program, please be sure to contact the
office.
3. Extended Library Hours take place Tuesdays & Thursdays from 4:30 -6:30 pm. Students can come to the school to access our
library resources, technology, and receive support with their homework. There is no cost to the program and students do not need
to register in advance.
We wish all our families who are celebrating Diwali, a happy Diwali with family and friends.
Jay Wolkoff Fawzia Durrani
Principal Vice Principal
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FOOD ALLERGIES and CELEBRATION TREATS In our school community, we have students with severe and life-threatening allergies. While nut/peanut allergies are the most known allergens, other common allergies are to shellfish, seeds, berries, insect bites, dairy (milk, eggs) and others. We also have numerous students with faith-based, dietary and health related food requirements. In order to keep all our students safe from allergens, as well as to accommodate for dietary needs, we strongly ask you to avoid sending any food that is not for your own child. Peanut and nut products should not be sent to school. Please ensure that you check labels carefully. When celebrating special occasions, like a birthday, please do not send food items. Stickers, pencils, and erasers are examples of acceptable alternatives. Thank you for your understanding and continued support of our students and staff who have life-threatening allergies.
Safety Week Safety Week was the first
week of October.
The students of Armadale PS
reviewed a number of policies
with regards to safety and well
being. The students learned
about bus safety, fire drills,
hold and secure drills, and
lockdown drills. By law, each school in the
province of Ontario must practice six fire drills
and two lockdown drills within a school year.
A further suggestion from the local fire
department is for families to create and practice
home safety plans with your children. Does
everyone know what to do when the fire alarm
goes off in your home? Healthy Schools—Walking to School
There are many good reasons for kids to walk to
school:
Walking keeps kids active and helps prepare
children for learning-movement gets the blood
flowing into the brain.
Walking and talking builds helps to build
friendships with a classmate or school mate.
Walking is good for the environment, less car
pollution.
Walking allows children to connect with nature
and observe changes in the environment.
Walking creates safer routes-less traffic means
safer roads.
Encourage your child(ren) walk to school and enjoy the
benefits!
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MICROSOFT OFFICE AT HOME FREE FOR
YRDSB STUDENTS IN GRADES 4-12
Microsoft Office is being offered to YRDSB
students in Grades 4-12 free of charge after a
short validation process. Visit the website
https://products.office.com/en-ca/student. Using
student [email protected] email, click
“sign up”. If you encounter any problems dur-
ing this process or have issues related to instal-
lation, please visit Microsoft’s support site at
https://support.office.com/ or call Microsoft support at (877) 568-2495.
From the Desk of the Music
Notes:
Did you know that people who ac-
tively participate in music will im-
prove their memory?
Thank you Armadale students for another
successful Terry Fox Walk. Together, our
students helped raise much needed money
towards cancer research. It was nice to see the
entire school outside and walking
for such a great cause. Once again
your continued dedication towards
such a noble cause has helped
tremendously.
Every Minute of Learning Counts!
A missed school day is a lost opportunity for students to learn. Students who attend school regularly have been shown to achieve at
higher levels than students who do not have regular attendance. This relationship between attendance and achievement may appear
early in a child's school career. A recent study looking at young children found that absenteeism in kindergarten was associated with
lower achievement in reading and math. Lateness also impacts students because they will miss chunks of lessons and the late entry
of a student can disrupt a lesson. Teaching students to be on time and at school ready to learn is a good life skill. Let’s work together
and support our students to be at school on time.
Inclement Weather
As the cold weather approaches, it is timely to start thinking about inclement weather reminders.
Being physically active during winter is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle and recess is one opportunity for students to have that
activity. Students need to come to school dressed ready to play outside during recesses. It is advisable for children to bring an extra
set of dry pants and socks to store in their back packs in case they get wet.
We keep a close eye on weather conditions, including wind chill. When conditions necessitate, we may decide that students will
remain inside for recess or sometimes go out for a shortened recess. In general, if students are well enough to attend school, they
will be expected to go outside for outdoor recesses.
We ask that parents be sensitive to the demands placed on our office staff and not call the school to inquire about indoor recess, but
rather send their children dressed appropriately for outdoor winter play. If poor driving conditions necessitate the cancellation of
school bus services, local and Toronto radio and television stations will broadcast the information.
EXTENDED HOLIDAYS Sometimes parents plan extended holidays during the school year. Parents who choose to remove a student from school for extended holidays are responsible for providing the learning experiences the student has missed while away. Teachers are often asked to provide work for the time the student will be absent. This is very difficult to do because, of course, the child will need instruction prior to being able to do the work he/she will miss. At best, teachers can assemble some work they think the child can do independently. When the child returns to school, he/she will need to catch up on the missed concepts taught. This again, is the responsibility of the parents. Please remember that each week of absence, a child would miss approximately 30 hours of instructional time.
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Extended Library Hours Have Begun! The Extended Hours Library Program is a supervised evening program. Every Tuesday, and Thursday evenings from 4:30-6:30 p.m. students and their parents will have access to the school library. The program offers the use of the library
computers and books, as well as having high school tutors available to help your child with questions related to their homework. Students must sign up before attending and kindergarten to Grade 4 must be accompanied by a parent.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 Snack starts
again for Nov.
3 4 5
Photo Retake Day
6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30
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News from the Armadale
Parenting and Family Literacy Centre
Art @ the Centre is back in the Armadale PFLC!
Professional artist, Tiziana Guido, will be coming back to the
Armadale PFLC to help you and your children create art.
She will be in the Armadale PFLC on the following days:
Monday November 9th – Watercolours
Monday December 14th – Paper Sculpture (New)
Tuesday February 16th – Pastels (New)
Monday April 11th – Clay
Monday June 6th – Environmental Art
Please come to Room 128 and speak to Inna, the Armadale Parent Worker about this exciting chance to create
your own family masterpieces!
This year, we have new hours:
Monday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday – Thursday: 8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
12:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Parent Worker: Inna Veprinska Open: Every school day
No cost or registration required Snacks are provided for the children
Positive Parenting TIP
The Power of Playfulness
The “motivation to freely and joyfully engage with, connect with, and explore the surrounding world’ is one of the keys to promot-
ing wellness and preventing obesity according to Anthony Coombs, Director of Community Playmaking, Life is Good Playmakers.
He goes on to say that most children do better when they have healthy, optimistic, joyful adults around them who create environ-
ments filled with a sense of playfulness.
Where are you most playful?
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ARMADALE Public School 11 Coppard Ave, Markham, Ontario
L3S 2J4 Tel: 905-472-4050 Fax: 905-472-4299
Website: armadale.ps.yrdsb.ca
Learning From Each Other
Armadale Public School… There’s an app for that! That’s right, you can now keep up with all of the who, what, when and where for Armadale Public School through the Armadale Public School app by SchoolInfoApp available on all mobile devices! Click here or scan the QR code below to download the Armadale Public School app by SchoolInfoApp on your iPhone, iPad, Android, Blackberry or Windows device. With our new app, you can:
• Keep up with all of our latest news, information and announcements
• Find out about events and activities
• Contact teachers, staff and administration
• Access school menus, our online gradebook system and more
• Get important documents, picture galleries & other media
• Track homework, tests and projects through a virtual assignment book
• Help promote school safety through the TipLine
Through the support of education-friendly businesses, apps by SchoolInfoApp are 100% sponsor funded for many schools & districts. To learn more about becoming a sponsor and advertising your business in the Armadale Public School app by SchoolInfoApp, visit http://www.SchoolInfoApp.com or call .
Grade 8 Information Nights
Secondary Schools - Grade 8 Information Sessions
(for September 2016 Enrolment)
School Date Time
Alexander Mackenzie HS October 29, 2015
October 21, 2015 - Arts Alexander Mackenzie @ The Richmond Hill Performing Arts Centre
7:00 pm
7:00 pm
Aurora HS January 14, 2016 6:00 pm
Bayview SS January 21, 2016 7:00 pm
Bill Crothers SS October 7, 2015 (for West & North YR)
October 13, 2015 (for East YR)
October 15, 2015 (for Central YR)
7:00 pm
7:00 pm
7:00 pm
Bur Oak SS December 10, 2015 7:00 pm
Dr. JM Denison SS November 19, 2015 6:30 pm
Dr. GW Williams SS December 1, 2015 6:30 pm
Emily Carr SS January 19, 2016 7:00 pm
Huron Heights SS November 19, 2015
November 26, 2015 - Arts Huron Heights @ Huron Heights SS
7:00 pm
7:00 pm
Keswick HS January 14, 2016 6:00 pm
King City SS January 14, 2016 7:00 pm
Langstaff SS November 19, 2015 7:00 pm
Maple HS December 10, 2015 7:00 pm
Markham DHS November 26, 2015 7:00 pm
Markville SS January 13, 2016 6:30 pm
Middlefield CI November 12, 2015 6:30 pm
Milliken Mills HS December 8, 2015 6:30 pm
Newmarket HS December 3, 2015 6:30 pm
Pierre E Trudeau HS November 19, 2015 7:00 pm
Richmond Green SS November 17, 2015 6:30 pm
Richmond Hill HS January 12, 2016 7:00 pm
Sr. William Mulock SS December 2, 2015 7:00 pm
Stephen Lewis SS December 10, 2015 7:00 pm
Stouffville DSS January 14, 2016 6:45 pm
Sutton DHS January 14, 2016 6:30 pm
Thornhill SS December 3, 2015 7:00 pm
Thornlea SS October 22, 2015 6:30 pm
Tommy Douglas SS November 25, 2015 7:00 pm
Unionville HS January 14, 2016
November 3 2015 - Arts Unionville @ Flato Markham Theatre
6:00 pm
7:00 pm
Vaughan SS January 13, 2016 7:00 pm
Westmount CI November 5, 2015 and October 14, 2015 - Arts Westmount @ City Playhouse Theatre 7:00 pm
Woodbridge College November 19, 2015 7:00 pm