In this IssuePrincipal's MessageLibrary, ArtsBusiness/Tech., EnglishMath, LanguagesHealth and Physical Ed.Science, Social Sciences Student ServicesSchool News

Important RemindersNovember 25School Council Mtg - 7:00 p.m.

November 25Charger in Charge Day – Theme: Equity and Inclusion

November 27 Principal’s Reception 8:15 a.m.

November 24 – December 5Grad Photos

December 18Holiday Concert

December 22 - January 2Winter Break

January 5School Resumes

January 14 – 16 EQAO Math Assessments

January 20 – 27Final Assessments

January 21School Council Mtg - 7:00 p.m.

January 30Exam ReviewSemester 2 begins

Greetings from the Principal, Mr. Jim Kardash

2524 Bromsgrove Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5J 1L8 November 2014 P 905-822-6700 F 905-822-6896 www.clarksonss.ca

CLARKSON S.S. TIMETABLE

Announcements 8:00 – 8:05 Period One 8:00 – 9:20Period Two 9:23 – 10:38Period Three 11:58 – 1:11Period Four 1:14 – 2:29

BE IN CLASS ON TIME!

The Clarkson Community Newsletter The Clarkson Community Newsletter

@clarksoncharger www.clarksonss.ca www.peelschools.org/international

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The Clarkson Community Newsletter The Clarkson Community Newsletter

Get Extra Help with Numeracy, Literacy and Learning Skills Counting On You (CoY) is a free,

non-credit, Peel after-school program. It is typically intended for students in grades 9 and 10 who would benefit from additional

coaching and help in the areas of numeracy, literacy and learning skills acquisition. Counting on You members meet every Monday and Wednesday from 2:45 p.m.-4:15 p.m. in rooms 132 and 133.

Students join us for a daily snack, workshops, and homework support. At our Clarkson site, students are also given the opportunity to partake in physical activity/game each time they attend. This year, we are thrilled to have had such interest in the program. We had our first meeting on October 27th and look forward to working with our wonderful students throughout the semester. New comers are still welcome! To learn more, please contact your child’s teacher or the CoY lead teacher directly at timea.szoboszlai@peelsb.com.

P.A.G.E.S. Essay Rescue

Arts Department Page 3

From the Library Learning CommonsClarkson’s Library Learning Commons continues to develop its excellent program and resources. We provide our students with a physical and virtual classroom to enable our students to work with information from many types of media.

Teachers and the teacher-librarians are working together to help students think critically and creatively as they work on their school projects. We continue to add to the collection: from Giller prize-winning books to required books reading for courses to student requests, we are happy to purchase books for the collection. We have excellent online resources and encourage students to use these digital resources from home. All grade 9 students have had two mandatory workshops: they have been introduced to the library program and have learned how to create a works cited page using MLA format to help avoid plagiarism issues. All semester 1, grade 11 English students have had a refresher workshop on the library and its resources. We have liaised with Clarkson Public Library and all students have had the opportunity to get a FREE Mississauga Public Library card in order to access the public library’s vast resources. We are all working happily and diligently to create an effective and vibrant learning environment for Clarkson Secondary School’s community.

Every Tuesday and Thursday in Room 135 from 11:20 a.m. to 11:50 a.m., Clarkson’s talented English tutors (PAGES) await to help you with editing, proofreading and organizing your writing. PAGES will help improve your writing and analytical skills.

The Clarkson Community Newsletter The Clarkson Community Newsletter

DramaIt's hard to believe that the semester is over half way

through! So far this semester ESL, grade

9 and 10 drama students have been creating and presenting performances using tableau and mime. Congratulations to all for exploring your creativity and sharing your artistry with your classmates!

The Drama Department is also very proud to announce that three of our student playwright-directors, as well as many student actors will be participating in this year’s StudentWrights Festival. This festival is intended to promote, develop and present original student drama throughout the Peel District School Board. Performances will be held mid-November in the theatre at Meadowvale Secondary School – specific performance dates will be announced soon, so stay tuned so that you can come out to support our writers, directors and actors! Their works will be professionally adjudicated as a part of an ongoing process in their creative development, and we hope that the work they create will continue to evolve and grow beyond the November performance date. Visual ArtsThe art department is busy filling Clarkson with beautiful, creative works. Thanks to the many parents who visited the art rooms on parents’ night. We have a dedicated group of students that are working on various projects to beautify the school. The new Grade 12 yearbook

course is off and running and they can’t wait for the finished product. It is still not too late to purchase a yearbook for $25.00 (art room) and hold on to the memories of high school. Current displays are in the process of being changed over. Watch our Parent Council frames and display cases for new and exciting work. The grade nines are finishing their foray into perspective with the maze assignment. Each student is seeing success and the ability to draw in perspective is an effective tool to use in life. Grade 10’s are currently working on gargoyles and illuminated letters. Developing the ability to think 3 dimensionally can be very challenging. The idea of improving our handwriting is always welcomed and the large letter allows for ink work to be grandiose! Grade 11 photography sees the building crawling with cameras looking up and looking down! Keep an eye out for these great pictures to fill our yearbook with memories of each day here at Clarkson. We are so busy creating our art that time has flown by us and we are eagerly anticipating the art work to fill our grade 12’s portfolios and prepare them for University and College. For those who like to keep their art skills honed while not in an art class, continue to check the art contest board and submit work and share your creations with others. Looking forward to keeping the art room full of activity this winter, be sure to drop by.

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The Clarkson Community Newsletter The Clarkson Community Newsletter

Business/Technology News from the Business DepartmentWe are happy to have Mr. Jagielnik join us this semester. He has been a breath of fresh air. His students have welcomed him and his unique teaching style. His experience in the field of business has been eye-opening for our students.

Mr Lethbridge’s students have enjoyed utilizing Photoshop. Their newfound skills have allowed them to create some amazing special effects!! His progamming students have started to become proficent in using code to create Artificial Intelligence and will soon be creating their own animated games.

News from the Technology DepartmentWe wish to welcome Mr. Szakacs to the Department. He has just recently joined us and is doing a wonderful job of filling in. His students had “a blast” when they launched the Rockets they had created in class.

Mr. Petsinis and Mr. Morettin continue to head up our Specialist High

Skill Manufacturing program. It is

one of the few programs of its kind and features state of the art computerized manufacturing equipment. This program can benefit students going to University (Engineering), College (technicians), Apprenticeships, or straight to the workplace.

Mr. Manny’s students are enjoying working on their Shelving Units in Woodshop. His Grade Nine students recently launched their Rockets as well. They will be designing Dragsters later in the course.

Mathematics The teachers in the mathematics department congratulate Xia Elite, Grace Fennelly, Hatun Satilmis, Sarah Bednar, Mike Albawaya, Shu Qin, Yanosca Vanegas, William Wang, Naeshna Ravikumar, Sareela Ramcharan and Katie Thompson on their outstanding performances in their respective math courses during the 2013-2014 academic year. Special mention goes to

William Wang who was a grade 11

student when he achieved the top mark in both the Grade 11 Functions and the Grade 12 Advanced Functions courses.

On November 6, eight senior students wrote The Sun Life Canadian Open Math Challenge Contest. The second round of contests will occur on November 20 when students in grades 9/10 will have the opportunity to write the University of Waterloo Canadian Intermediate Math Contest while students in grades 11/12 will write the Canadian Senior Math Contest. Additional information for the University of Waterloo contests may be found at http://cemc.uwaterloo.ca. We do encourage all students to consider writing at least one math contest during their four years at Clarkson.

All grade 9 and 10 students are reminded

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The Clarkson Community Newsletter The Clarkson Community Newsletter

that extra help is available at no cost during lunch. Students in these grades are encouraged to drop in to room 239 (Senior Scholar Math Help Room) between 11:15 a.m. and 11:50 a.m.

every Tuesdays and Thursdays day with their questions. In addition, students in a grade 9 or 10 math course may obtain homework help by visiting www.edu.gov.on.ca/elearning/

homework and following the prompts to register. Students in grades 11 and 12 are encouraged to make an appointment with their math teacher to obtain additional help.

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Modern Languages Bonjour! ¡Hola!Students studying French and Spanish this semester are busy improving their language skills but all this hard work has a big payoff!

CultureSenior students studying Spanish will enjoy cooking and especially tasting a variety of authentic Hispanic delicacies in November. ¡Olé! They will also be making piñatas and maracas just before the winter break to celebrate Hispanic culture. ¡Fabuloso!

Señora Loutrianakis has organized a fieldtrip to El Rancho. Students dined and danced! On November 5th, 2014, Mme Urbano and Mme Smiley’s gr 11 and 12 French classes will be heading to Lula Lounge in Toronto to experience a piece of Québécois culture. Students will enjoy folkloric francophone music from the talented presenters, be invited to sing and dance along, and eat delicious, authentic food with a French-inspired twist! Bon appétit!

The Languages department will be organizing a Café Français for all grade 9 students studying French this semester in December. Stay tuned for more details!

ContestsLe concours d’art oratoire is just around the corner! Please speak to your French teacher if you are interested in participating! The contest is open to all students studying French. The contest will be held in March 2015 but registration will be in January 2015.

The Ontario Secondary School Spanish Competition will take place in May 2015.

If interested please see Señora Loutrianakis for more information.

ClubsCercle d'amis members will be watching a series of French films, playing games, cooking, and organizing fundraisers, and much more during lunch. If you are interested in joining please see Mme Urbano or Mme Smiley. The club is open to all students studying French. The club meets twice a month and is open to all students. This month, Cercle d’amis, Clarkson’s French Club will be continuing their planning to revamp the Moderns Department’s Display Case. This will better highlight the top 10 reasons why students should study French and is fully student-driven. Stay tuned! Cercle d’amis will also be preparing food for Charger’s In Charge. Tasty treats in Red, White, and Blue will be for sale at lunch on November 25th in the cafeteria.

Extra HelpFrench Senior Scholars is up and running. Senior students studying French are available to tutor students who are in need of extra help. Students can focus on a variety of areas such as improving grammar, written communication skills, pronunciation and reading comprehension skills. They are available every Tuesday and Thursday in room 217,

We will be selling baked treats in the cafeteria on Chargers in Charge Day, Tuesday November 25; come out and support our clubs and department!

Health and Physical EducationIt has been a very busy start to the year in the Physical Education department. The leadership class went off to Olympia Sports Camp in early September. There they spent three days participating in leadership building activities. This experience taught them the necessary attributes of being a leader with the focus of how to use their strengths at Clarkson and in the community. They put their skills to use as they helped organize our grade 9/12 activity day on September 26.

Physical education clothing went on sale in early September. Shirts cost $10 and shorts are $17. If you are still interested in purchasing these items, please see Mr. Russell in the Phys. Ed. Office.

The girls’ physical education classes had the opportunity to work with Carol Connor of Total Defense in a self-defense workshop on October 7. Grade 9 girls participated during periods 1 and 2 while grades 10-12 participated in periods 3 and 4.

It is very encouraging to see students dedicated to improving their overall health and wellbeing. Hopefully, each individual feels better about general fitness, and realizes the correlation between health and academic success.

AthleticsClarkson competed in ROPSSAA leagues and tournaments in the following sports: senior girls' basketball, varsity girls' flag football, varsity girls' field hockey, junior boys’ volleyball, varsity boys’ football, cross country running, golf, and bocce.

Congratulations to our Varsity girls' field hockey team who captured the ROPSSAA Tier 1 championship for the second year in a row. The girls will represent ROPSSAA at the OFSAA Championship in Burlington on

November 6-8. Congratulations girls and Coach Barwell.

The girls’ flag football team finished the regular season with a 6-2 record. They start their Tier 2 play-offs on November 6 at St. Joseph in the quarter-finals.

The boys’ football team finished in first place in the south division of Tier 2 ROPSSAA with a perfect 6-0 record. They will host Port Credit on November 6 in the quarter-finals.

Teams that will be offered in the winter season will include boys’ and girls’ hockey, wrestling, junior and senior girls’ volleyball, senior and junior boys’ basketball, Nordic skiing, table tennis and swimming.

CAAThis fall, the Clarkson Athletic Association organized a successful buy-out for our football game against Port Credit on October 31. The Chargers won 21-8 on a very wet day. Intramurals occur on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at lunch in the large gym. All students are welcome. Intramural action started with floor hockey this year. Basketball, volleyball, indoor soccer and dodge ball will be occurring throughout the year. Watch out for Clarkson’s sweatshirt and sweat pant sale coming up in late November. We have new sweatshirt designs for this year and we will also be selling sweatpants. Also new this year will be baseball T’s, toques and lanyards.

Don’t forget to follow clk_athletics on Twitter!

Field HockeyCongratulations to the girls’ field hockey team who for the second year in a row won the Tier 1 ROPSSAA Field Hockey Championships beating John Fraser S.S. 3-1.

Goalie, Kyra Younan, was amazing making an incredible foot save on a tricky shot. Our

playmakers, Emma Young, Margaret Pham, and Miranda Hunter deked , dodged, ad played through the legs of the opponent. They had the crowd oohing and ahhing with their brilliant stickhandling skills. Our defense held our end, not allowing the other team past our 25-yard line. Kristen Ekels, Emily Hudson and our rookie, Yeo Myong Bang were a rock-solid wall not letting anything past them. Emma deked through the defense for our first goal and Lauren Weaver put it in the net. It was only fitting and meant to be when Lauren scored our first goal 10 minutes into the game; Lauren had to sit in the stands last year while she fought cancer. Lauren’s grit and determination brought her back to the field and a championship. The second goal was by our rookie, Emily Wassmansdorf, who shot a one-timer from a pass from Margaret, into the corner of the net. The third goal was tipped in by our grade 12 rookie, Nancy Hills, off a shot from Emma.

The team heads to OFSAA on Thursday, November 6 to Saturday, November 8 in Burlington.

Science Ms. Lye’s and Madame Heneault’s grade 9 core French and French immersion students travelled to the park behind South Common Mall as an introduction to their ecology unit. The students participated in a program that is run by the Credit Valley Conservation Youth Corps. The grade 9 students participated in a variety of activities aimed at studying and rehabilitating a local ecosystem. The students planted 150 trees and they participated in a hunt to locate and identify invasive species growing in the area. They also played a game to illustrate how invasive species can take over an ecosystem. A great time was had by all!

CSI—Clarkson Science Investigation is a club run by grade 12 students during lunch

every Monday and Wednesday. The club is aimed at helping anyone who has a question in science. The club has been a huge success and is bursting with activity. Students taking grade 9 science (French immersion or regular stream) to those taking a university grade 12 course in chemistry, physics or biology have come in to CSI for clarifications on lessons taught in their classes, to have labs or assignments proofread, or just to receive guidance with completing homework. All science students are welcome and encouraged to come by and check it out!

Social Sciences and Family Studies The Model UN club is ready for the 2014/2015 season and students are looking forward to a number of model UN meetings.

This November, the team will participate in the University of Toronto Secondary School Crisis Simulation where students will responds to crisisevents from the past and future with real time information updates. It should be an exciting experience. Registration for the U of T Model UN this February will begin in early November The Model UN Team also welcomes Mr. Prosser and Mr. Williams who bring a wealth of knowledge and experience to the team. We have some very strong students this year and are taking a record number of 20 participants downtown to the University of Toronto events!

The 2015 Europe trip is fast approaching and students are very excited about visiting the WW1 and WW2 battle sites and cemeteries in France, Belgium and England. Some highlights of the trip

include visits to Versailles and the Louvre in Paris and a trip on the Euro Star train through the channel tunnel from Lille, France to London, England.Remembrance Day this year will see the first ever live stream event in Clarkson, where the special guest speaker and various remembrance day events will be broadcast live from the Auditorium to various classrooms in the schools. Both Mr. Reed and Mr. Prosser have been working very hard on this initiative and it should prove to be a huge success, paving the way for still more interesting opportunities for 21st century learning and work.

Student Services The fall has been a whirlwind of activity in the Student Services area. Counsellors met with all Grade 9 classes to introduce themselves and also for the students to sign on to My Blueprint and set short-term goals for this school year. As all Clarkson students have a My Blueprint account, parents are encouraged to explore this wonderful resource with their child; course selections, pathway information, post-secondary resources, and resume building are just a sample of the information available. www.myblueprint.ca.

On October 3rd, we had 225 Grade 8 students from our feeder schools spend the day and experience a ‘Taste of High School’ at Clarkson. The students participated in six optional classes, listened to informative presentations from students at Clarkson, and then enjoyed a BBQ, Fall

Fair and watched a football game. It was a wonderful day and showcased our great school.

Grade 11 and 12 students participated in the Pathways Fair, the morning of October 15th , and chose to listen to three presentations from universities and colleges across Ontario. At lunch time, all Clarkson students had the opportunity to visit the tables of the 35 post-secondary institutions. Mr. Kinnie organized this very beneficial day and is to be thanked for his efforts.

Prospective graduating students will receive information about the application to both college and/or university. Students interested in applying to college can start this process now by logging onto www.ontariocolleges.ca. University applicants must wait for the arrival of the PIN (personal information number) which is sent to us by the Ontario University Application Center (www.ouac.on.ca). This usually occurs the last week of November and a lunch hour presentation will take place about the application process at this time. Guidance counsellors will meet with all potential grads throughout November and December, to discuss post-secondary plans and ensure all requirements are

being met.

On October 15th, Clarkson S.S. held a very informative and successful on-site post-secondary pathways fair. Representatives from over 30 colleges and universities were present, complete with course calendars and a multitude of informational packets, ready to answer any questions. Carleton University and Queens University conducted lunchtime presentations in the Career Centre, providing more details for students

Do you have all your volunteer hours?Don’t forget, graduates! Before you graduate, you MUST complete the Ministry

of Education’s requirements for students to complete 40 hours of community service. This is a requirement for graduation in the province of Ontario. To find out more information and great places to start looking for volunteer

opportunities visit http://peelschools.org/students/40hours/Pages/default.aspx or see our Guidance Counselling office.

Clarkson’s Dryland TrainingBack by popular demand, Clarkson’s Dryland Training team! Originally inspired by the Clarkson Swim team’s need to practice both in pool, as well as develop cardio and strength training on land, the Dryland Training team quickly became a group of motivated, dedicated, and hard-working young athletes. As word spread, more and more students (even non-athletes!) showed interest in leading a healthy/active lifestyle. This school year, since the first week in September, the Dryland Training Team has been running high-intensity boot camps lead by Mme Smiley. This team is open to all Clarkson students and is now being offered twice a week- Wednesday and Friday mornings at 7:00 a.m. Come go #beastmode to get fit and have fun!

An Update from Student CouncilClarkson’s 2014-2015 SAC has been working extremely hard since September to make this year the best for everyone at this wonderful school. Together, the entire team planned a funny and interesting video for the first assembly of the year, as well as, the fun and fantastic Grade 9/12 Activity Day, along with the Clarkson Athletic Association, which was enjoyed by all our Chargers! In October, we had the fun and fantastic Fall Fair. We also had our first BLACK and YELLOW spirit day for Friday night lights. Lastly for the month of October to celebrate Halloween, homeroom classes participated in pumpkin carving and door decorating. We had many creative submissions-- judging by SAC students was not easy! Choosing Grade Reps for our NEW SAC General Assembly was difficult because of the stellar candidates but we chose some exceptional students to assist

our SAC team in creating the best high school experience for our Chargers. We worked extremely hard for the feeder school assembly where we introduced future high school students to one of the best schools in Peel. For Charger in Charge day on November 25th we are organizing our famous “Clarkson’s Got Talent” and, this year, for the first time ever we are hosting this with a ‘Multicultural’ theme. This will be a great way to end the Fall season! Our last event of the year will be Kid Fest for Grade 1 students from our community elementary schools, Willow Glen and Elmcrest. We look forward to planning events for our Chargers to make the 2014-2015 the most memorable yet!

Peel International Academy “Goes Green” at the Meadowvale Conservation Area

In September, the Geography and Science students at Peel International Academy went on a stewardship excursion to Meadowvale Conservation Area.  The classroom was taken outdoors as students hiked along the

Credit River

Watershed, studying trees, invasive species, and its fragile ecosystem.   The second half of the day was spent planting 150 trees in an established meadow. It was rough terrain for first time planters but very rewarding knowing that we all contributed to sustainable living.  A full and fun day will be remembered by all.

Duke of Edinburgh’s AwardsOn a beautiful fall day, September 24, new registrants completed their Practice Journey Hike on the Bruce Trail.

At the Awards Ceremony on October 22, Mr. Gurpreet Singh Dipak, Field Officer, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award-Ontario Division honoured six Chargers. He presented Bronze Award certificates and pins to Michelle Cooper, Abigail Natnat, and Alyssia Robertson-Leithwood. Kaitlyn Green, Benjamin Sinek, and Kamraan Tomkiewicz received their Silver Award pins. Their certificates will be presented to them by the Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario on another occasion.

Ms. Jill Hermant, Executive-Director, will meet with members of our club on November 12.Free the Children

On October 2nd, our Chargers were invited back again to WE DAY that took

place at the Air Canada Centre. WE DAY is an event that students can only earn tickets to through service; you cannot buy your way to this show. This year, Clarkson Secondary School was the grand prize winner for the province of Ontario and three of our very own students and one of our teachers (Señora Loutrianakis) will be heading off to Ecuador this summer for two weeks. Thanks to the generosity of EF tours and Free the Children we will get to help build a school for a needy community. Needless to say, we are all very excited! Our first official campaign for the school year is also underway as students are collecting non-perishable food items for the WE SCARE HUNGER campaign which runs until Halloween. Prizes will be awarded to the top two homeform classes. Please follow @clarksoncharger to keep updated about our groups activities. We look forward to another exciting year of change. Our Chargers are no strangers to hard work and thinking of others and our students understand that “children helping children through education”, no matter how small a contribution, has a ripple effect of positive change.

Project Milk BagClarkson students and community members are asked to send clean milk bags to Room 204 and/or Room 110 to help with Project Milk Bag. Students cut up pre-used milk bags into strips that can be crocheted in to sleeping mats for children in Haiti whose homes have mud floors. It takes about 300 bags to make one mat, and it is so much better to re-use the bag than to put it in the garbage.

Mural in Student Support Room

The

Student Support room was recently updated with a beautiful mural painted by recent grad, Cynthia Brenes. It took Cynthia a week to paint the 9 x 9 foot image of a peaceful koi pond. Many students have come by to admire her work. The Contact Room is available to Special Education students who need extra help to complete assignments, or any students who need to write make-up tests.

Knitting ClubClarkson’s Knitting Club has many new participants this year. Boys and girls start by knitting a yellow and gold Charger bracelet to sell for charity. Once they have acquired the basic skills, they move on this year’s hottest fashion item: slouchy toques! Students may choose to make one for themselves or to knit toques to sell to raise money for Camp Ooch or for the Creation of Hope Orphanage. We hope to have some items to sell before the Winter Holiday. Thanks sincerely to community members who have both donated wool and contributed knitted items for our Club to sell.

Visit Clarkson Secondary School’s website www.clarksonss.ca

Check out our school website where you'll find:

the latest school news contact information for

school administration, superintendent and trustee

calendar enrolment data school hours mission, vision and

values registration

information printable forms frequently asked

questions volunteer information EQAO reports

Keep up to date with our website subscription service

Our new website also features a subscription service where you can sign up to receive email notifications for school news, calendar events and volunteer job opportunities. You can also choose to be notified via email and/or text message for critical news, such as school closures due to bad weather. Click on the subscribe link on the left-hand side of the main page of our website.

Ready? Set? High School! for parentsWhatever path your teen chooses, we want to make sure your entire family is ready to embrace the many opportunities that await your teen upon graduation. Our Ready? Set? High School! Parent Guide will provide you with a snapshot of what you need to know to help your teen be successful. You can find it online atwww.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild/parentguide.

Special technology offers for Peel board students, parents and staff

Does your child need a 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.

Kobo

Peel families now have access to the

following exclusive offers from Kobo:

kobo arc 7” HD - $135 with free shipping

kobo arc 10” HD - $199 with free shipping

To learn more, or to purchase a Kobo product visit www.kobo.com/peel or www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stCentury/byod/devices and enter promo code KOBOPEEL at checkout.

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.

Help your Child Prepare for TestsMany 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 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

Need help in math? Free tutoring now available online

Math students in grades 7 to 10 can access live, interactive online math help by visiting www.homeworkhelp.ilc.org. Homework Help is free, real-time math tutoring by certified Ontario teachers.

Students can log in from Sunday to Thursday, between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. for individualized confidential math tutoring. There are discussion rooms for each grade where students can join and see what questions other students are asking, watch the tutors draw on the whiteboard – and ask their own question for on-the-spot help.

Students will also find 24/7 discussion rooms, video lessons and commonly asked questions. Other online math resources include math games and a virtual locker, where students can save their work.

Homework Help is a project funded by the

A Message from Your School CouncilI would like to extend a warm welcome to all new Clarkson families as well as a welcome back to all returning Clarkson families. Clarkson is a wonderful and vibrant secondary school where all students are allowed to flourish and develop. We are looking forward to another fulfilling year for our children.

School Council: As the new school year is well underway with lots of things happening at our school. We were very pleased to welcome back existing and many new parents to our School Council meeting on September 17 which was very well attended. We encourage all parents/guardians to attend School Council meetings to obtain valuable curriculum information provided by departmental staff. In addition, our meetings provide a forum for parents and the community to comment and provide feedback

I am very happy to welcome our new council for the 2014-2015 school year. Thank you to everyone who volunteered to help support the administration for this school year.

Sue Piotrowski, Chair Anne Scurry, Member at LargeGuylaine Juteau, Secretary Nicky Rossi, Member at LargeVacant, Treasurer Mira Todosifovic, Member at LargeDebi Lawrence, Member at Large Vera Ndaba, Member at LargeMichael Tadgell, Member at Large and Sub-committee Volunteer

Ferzana Chaze, Member at LargeMargaret Morse, QSO Organizer

Kathy Zhao, Member at Large Anne-Marie May, Organizer, Teacher Appreciation Day

On behalf of the council, I would like to congratulate our past vice-principal, Ms. Sumble Kaukab, on her exciting new assignment at Erindale Secondary School.  I know that Erindale will greatly benefit from her leadership. Welcome to our new Vice-Principal, Ms. Kristy Zammit!

Parent Donations: Thank you to all the generous families who have participated in our donation campaign to help the school in previous years. You will find attached a new updated Donation Form with a wish list from different departments. Please continue to support our school to help make a difference. Simply complete the form and have your child drop off the envelope at the office.

QSP Magazine Fundraising Campaign: We are very thankful that Mrs. Morse has agreed to continue to coordinate our QSP campaign. You will find enclosed with your child’s report card package, a QSP information flyer to renew your magazine subscriptions, order new titles or give a gift this Christmas, while contributing funds to Clarkson S.S. The information is also available on our website under the School Council tab (click on magazine subscription fundraiser for instructions on how to subscribe to or renew your magazines). Clarkson will receive 37% of the cost of each order placed, so your subscription can make a big difference. The costs of subscriptions are comparable to newsstand prices, and some are even cheaper, so everyone wins!

Email Distribution List: Have you added your name to our email distribution list to receive our notices of meetings and information on any issues pertaining to the school? Please complete the tear out form at the bottom. You can be assured that it will be kept confidential and not distributed to any outside sources. Communications are kept to a minimum and have a frequency of no more than once every 6 weeks. Please print.

Sue Piotrowski, Chair, School Parent Council______________________________________________________________________________________________________

EMAIL DISTRIBUTION LIST SIGN-UP

Parent Name: Child(ren) Name(s):

Email address:

November 2014

Clarkson Secondary School - School Council

Are you looking for a way to make a positive impact in your child’s secondary school? The school council is giving parents the opportunity to help by making a monetary donation to the school. Typically there are not many fundraising activities at the secondary level so please help where you can and make a difference in your child’s school.

You can direct your donations directly to the wish list item that you would like to help with. Please note that if insufficient funds are directed to a certain item, the school council may decide to re-direct where most needed to ensure the funds are used within the school year. The school has identified their top priorities for 2014-2015. CALL TO ACTION: Please consider helping where you can. Complete this donation form, by checking off the appropriate option below and attaching a cheque made payable to ‘Clarkson Secondary School’. All donations of more than $25.00 will receive a tax receipt from the Peel District School Board.

<INPUT TYPE=\ Gymnasium equipment: Scorer’s table and Padded chairs for the teams are needed<INPUT TYPE=\ Support athletes from disadvantaged families to enable them to participate in school teams<INPUT TYPE=\ Athletic varsity team of your choice: _________________

<INPUT TYPE=\ Where the funds are most needed

Please make your cheque payable to: ‘Clarkson Secondary School’ and forward to Clarkson Secondary School to the attention of Fay Murray, Budget Office Assistant.

Parent Name:_______________________________ Student Name:______________________________

Phone Number:_____________________________ Student Grade:______________________________

Email address:______________________________

Donation Amount: $___________________________________

Contact Sue Protrowski at piotrowskifamily@hotmail.com with any questions.

CLARKSON S.S. BREAKFAST CAFÉ**********

When? Monday to Friday, from 7:20 a.m. to 7:50 a.m.Where? Room 200

Cost? $1.00 per breakfastGood Start-Offs to School Days!

Special thanks go to all students and staff who continue to assist in making Clarkson’s Breakfast Café Program a success again this year. Gratitude is extended to our many Volunteers who arrive very early in the morning to prepare a delicious breakfast for our students and staff.

As well, many thanks go to our Student Volunteers who continue to be a vital asset in all aspects of the breakfast program, Thank you, all!

We gratefully acknowledge the dedication and hard work of Clarkson staff members, for without their help, the program would not be

successful. Thanks go to Mr. Kittel, Mr Jagielnik, Mr Kinnie, Ms Khan, Ms. Powell, Ms. Green, Mr. Thomas, all the students of the Applewood School and Ms. Luffman. We appreciate the contribution made by our OISE volunteers who have helped out this semester. All of our exceptional volunteers are all making the Café a welcoming place to begin the school day! Please remember that ALL students are welcome to join us on weekday mornings (Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday mornings) in Room 200 – 7:20 a.m. to 7:55 a.m. If you wish to volunteer and earn community service hours in the Clarkson Breakfast Café for next year, please see Ms. Luffman.Our Café healthy breakfast menus consist of a choice of, grilled cheese sandwiches, bagels, pancakes , yogurt, fruit and much more! If you wish to join the Breakfast Café and have not completed a form in previous years, please bring a signed Permission Form and bring a token donation of $1.00 for each breakfast, to keep the program running. Breakfast coupons are available from Ms. Bakyta, Ms. Luffman or any Clarkson staff member, for any student requesting and requiring a breakfast without charge. A Permission Form is attached to this Newsletter – see next page).

Clarkson Students!See you at our Breakfast Café

at 7:20 a.m. in Room 200 It costs $25 each morning to run the program . All donations are much appreciated.

Good Morning!

CLARKSON SECONDARY SCHOOL BREAKFAST CAFÉ2524 Bromsgrove Road, Mississauga, Ontario L5J 1L8

Telephone: 905-822-6700 Fax: 905-822-6896November 2014

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Clarkson Secondary School will be continuing their Breakfast Café program this year. The program runs weekdays, from Monday through Friday. All students are welcome to participate. The Clarkson Breakfast Café (CBC) runs from 7:20 a.m. to 7:50 a.m. on every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in Room 200 -- menus are posted there. Students are expected to eat in Room 200 and arrive in their first period classes by 8:00 a.m. There is a small charge of one dollar ($1.00) for each breakfast. Following Canada's Food Guide recommendations, we will offer a nutritious breakfast with a variety of items to choose from. Providing a healthy start to the school day, the breakfast program significantly enhances our students' physical, emotional, social, and intellectual development. The Breakfast Café program is supported through the Ministry of Children and Youth Services, Student Breakfast for Kids, Breakfast for Learning and the Student Activity Council of Clarkson. We also welcome volunteer support, financial donations and/or help in other ways from parents and the community. Please print your name and contact number on the Permission Form below.If you would like your son or daughter to attend, please fill in the Confidential Registration Form below. If you are unable to contribute the cost for each breakfast at this time, just complete the Registration Form and check the appropriate box. Have your child return it to Ms. Luffman in Room 134 before participating in the Breakfast Club, so that when your son/daughter does join us it will be with your permission. If you completed a form in the previous school year, there is no need to complete another form. Thank you.Ms. LuffmanBreakfast Café Committee, Clarkson Secondary School, 905-822-6700 Ext. 443 or Voice Mail 735.

CONFIDENTIAL BREAKFAST CAFÉ REGISTRATION FORM_________________ ___________________________ ________________________________Student No. First Name Last NameMy son/daughter has permission to participate in the Clarkson Breakfast Café. The program will operate Monday to Friday beginning from 7:20 a.m. until 7:50 a.m. Participants must return this completed form. Students understand that all school rules apply during this program. To enable us to serve a proper nutritious breakfast to your child, please supply the following information regarding food restrictions:

FOOD ALLERGIES: _______________________ FOOD RESTRICTIONS: _____________________________ My son/daughter can contribute $1.00 (one dollar) per breakfast. Since my son/daughter is unable to contribute $1.00 at this time to help defray the cost

of a Café breakfast, I give permission for him/her to have breakfast in the Breakfast Café.(Please return this form to Ms. Luffman in Room 134 or to the breakfast program in Room

200.)___________________________________________ _________________________Signature of Parent/Guardian

Date

I am able to assist with: Volunteering Fundraising I wish to make a donation of $________________ to the Breakfast Café. Please make cheques payable to Clarkson S.S. (Cheques of $25 or more will receive a tax

receipt.)

Name (Please print) Contact Telephone Number

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF PEEL REGION (STOPR)BUS CANCELLATIONS/SCHOOL CLOSING DUE TO BAD WEATHER

2014 – 2015 SCHOOL YEAR

During the winter months inclement weather may cause disruption of bus transportation and regular school operations. A decision to cancel school transportation and/or to close schools is usually made by 6:00 a.m. and will be announced on the following radio and television stations:

VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1CFRB AM1010 EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSEGLOBAL NEWS CTV CANADA AM

We will be communicating one of six standard messages to the radio stations. The six announcements and their effect on the transportation system are as follows: (Please note that the highlighted text only will be communicated by the radio stations).

1. “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES SERVING ST. ANDREW, ST. BENEDICT AND ST. PETER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND R.F. HALL SECONDARY SCHOOL ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY.”

2. “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES AND PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES IN THE TOWN OF CALEDON ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY”.

This means that ALL buses which operate into, out of, and within the Town of Caledon are cancelled for the entire day.

3. “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES IN THE TOWN OF CALEDON AND THE COUNTY OF DUFFERIN ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY”.

This means that all runs listed under announcements #l and #2 are cancelled. Individual schools will be notified if this cancellation affects their school.

4. “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES IN THE CITY OF MISSISSAUGA ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY.”

This means that ALL buses which operate into, out of, and within the City of Mississauga are cancelled for the entire day.

5. “ALL DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY.”

This means that ALL transportation services provided by the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and the Peel District School Board, including buses, vans and taxis have been cancelled for the entire day.

6. “ALL BUSES ARE CANCELLED AND THE SCHOOLS AND OFFICES OF BOTH THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ARE CLOSED”.

This means that ALL Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and Peel District School board schools and offices are closed to all students and staff.

Note: For Secondary School students Riding Public Transit, cancellation of service will be communicated by the respective transit property over the radio. Please be advised that Public Transit rarely cancels and that the level of service on days with inclement weather is unpredictable.

NEW

NEW

November 2014

Dear Families,

Peel Public Health will be reviewing the immunization records of all students at our school starting this fall. In order to attend school in Ontario, students must have a complete immunization record. You submitted a copy of your child’s immunization record when you registered your child for school in Peel. This copy was forwarded to Peel Health; however, additional immunizations may be required.

When the review process begins, if Peel Health does not have complete immunization records for your child, you or your child (if over 16) will receive a letter in the mail telling you that the record needs to be updated. If you do not update the record by the date indicated on your letter, or you do not have a valid exemption, your child may not be allowed to attend school.

An incomplete record does not necessarily mean that your child has not been immunized—what it means is that Peel Public Health does not have a complete record of your child’s immunizations. Find out if your child’s record is complete by calling Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700. Caledon residents can call toll-free at 905-584-2216.

If your child’s record is not complete, you must update it with Peel Public Health:

Go online to www.immunizepeel.ca and click on 'report your child's immunization'

Phone: 905-799-7700 (Toll free: 1-888-919-7800)

If your child is missing immunizations, make an appointment with your family doctor. If you do not have a family doctor you can visit a walk-in clinic. I’ve included a list of clinics on the back of this letter. If you do not have OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) please call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 for information about free immunization clinics. When your child receives new immunizations, make sure to send the updated record to Peel Public Health using one the methods listed above.

I wanted to make sure you had this information as soon as possible to avoid any surprises when the review process starts. If you have any questions, call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 and ask to speak to the immunization records team.

Sincerely,

Jim Kardash

Principal

What you should know about immunizationIn order to attend school in Ontario, your child must have an up-to-date immunization record. When you registered your child for school, you provided a copy of your child's immunization record. The school sends this information to Peel Health.

Keep track of your child's immunizations

After registration, keeping your child's records up to date is your responsibility. Students who are not completely immunized and do not have a valid exemption may not be allowed to attend school. Use this chart to keep track of your child's immunizations:

Ontario immunization schedule for infants and children

Immunization4 – 6 yearsold

Grade 7

12 yearsold

Grade 8 females13-14

years old

14-16 years old

Annually after age 6 months

2 4 6 12 15 18Diphtheria* X X X X X XPertussis* X X X X X XTetanus* X X X X X XPolio IPV* X X X X XHib X X X XMeasles* X XMumps* X XRubella* X XHepatitis B X1

HPV X2

Influenza XVaricella (Chickenpox)

X

Meningococcal X XPneumococcal X X X X

Your child must receive the immunizations marked with * to attend school in Ontario. Other immunizations are recommended.

Peel Public Health reviews student immunizations on a regular basis to ensure that all students attending school have the required immunizations.

When your child is vaccinated, you must contact Peel Health to provide the information.

WALK-IN CLINICS IN PEEL THAT MAY PROVIDE IMMUNIZATIONS.Call before your visit to confirm services provided and clinic timings.

Age(months)

Clinic Address Hours of OperationBrampton Walk-In Clinics

Family Care Walk-In Medical Centre

150 West Drive, Brampton 905-454-7410(Queen St. & Bramelea)

Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Kings Cross Doctor’s Office

17 Kings Cross Rd., Brampton 905-799-9144(Kings Cross Rd. & Hurontario)

Monday to Friday: 9:30 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Shoppers World Medical Centre and Walk-In

499 Main St. S. (Shoppers World Mall), Brampton 905-796-6570(Main St. & Steeles Ave.)

Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.Saturday: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.Sunday: 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Mississauga Walk-In ClinicsAdvance Walk-In Medical Clinic

21 Queensway W.,Mississauga905-897-9228(Queensway & Hurontario)

Monday to Sunday: 8 a.m. – 11 p.m.

Credit Valley Walk-In 124-2000 Credit Valley Rd.,Mississauga 905-569-1744(Eglinton & Erin Mills Pkway)

Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. – 9:30 p.m.Saturday and Sunday: 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Iona Doctors Clinic 1585 Mississauga Valley Blvd., Mississauga 905-897-2000(Hurontario & Central Prkway)

Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Port Credit Walk-In Clinic and Medical Centre

1205 Hurontario St.,Mississauga905-271-9000(Hurontario & Lakeshore)

Monday to Thursday: 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.Friday: 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Queentario Medical Centre 2325 Hurontario Rd., Mississauga905-270-8307(Queensway & Hurontario)

Call to confirm time.

Southdown Walk-In Clinic and Medical Centre

1375 Southdown Rd., Mississauga 905-822-2900(Southdown Rd. & QEW)

Monday to Friday: 9 a.m. – 7:30 p.m.Saturday and Sunday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

The Doctor’s Office 3100 Dixie Rd., Mississauga905 279-8922(Dixie Rd. & Dundas)

Monday: 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.Tuesday: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.Wednesday: 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.Thursday: 9 am. – 1 p.m.Saturday: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Travel and Immunization Clinic, Dr. Medhat Gindi

2000 Credit Valley Rd.,Ste. #201, Mississauga905-828-6000(Eglinton & Erin Mills Prkway)

Monday to Thursday: 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.Friday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.Every other Saturday: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Urgent Care 801 Dundas St. E.,Mississauga 905-566-4449(Dundas & Cawthra)

Monday to Sunday and Holidays 8 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Revised May 26, 2008.

It's easy to keep your child's records up to date call Health Line Peel at 905-799-7700; Caledon residents can call toll-free at 905-584-2216. Translation services are

available fax the record to 905-502-7109 or 905-502-5016 in person, drop in at 44 Peel Centre Dr., Ste. 102, Brampton, Mon. to Fri. – 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. use an online form at www.immunizepeel.ca mail or hand deliver a copy of the record to:

44 Peel Centre Dr., Suite 102Brampton, ON L6T 4B5

Where can I get more information?For more information on all vaccines and schedules for young children, students and parents, call Health Line Peel at 905-799-7700.

Caledon residents can call free of charge at 905-584- 2216. Visit the website at www.peelregion.ca

More immunization factsbetween the ages of four and six, your child needs a booster dose for diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus and polio – after these are received, they must be reported to Peel Healthimmunizations must be given at the right times to be effective immunizations needed to attend school in Ontario are freeif your child has been immunized outside Ontario or Canada, additional immunizations may be needed to meet the requirements in the provinceif your child has an immunization record from another country, Peel Public Health will translate it free of chargePeel Public Health offers free immunization clinics for school-aged children without an Ontario Health Card who require an immunization record to attend school