Welcome back!!! Everyone is so excited to start off this school year and it is absolutely wonderful for me to be a part of the Holland Landing PS community. All staff, parents and students have been so welcoming that it is hard not to imme-diately love being here. As a staff, we would like to welcome back all of the students and families who are returning for another exciting year at Holland Landing P.S. We would also like to extend a warm welcome to all the students and fami-lies who are new to our school. I would like to recognize the hard work of our caretaking team of Mrs. Wilson, Mrs. Gil-bert and Mrs. Sutton who worked very hard throughout the summer and have done a great job of ensuring that the building is ready for our return.

Mrs. Brillinger, Mr. Lorbetskie and Mrs. Wilson

Our focus this year will be to continue to build on our warm and welcoming school environment where all members of the school community can learn and grow together and where we treat one another with respect. Our classroom instruction will again focus on the use of the inquiry approach in our teaching. Through the inquiry approach, stu-dents are able to work collaboratively to solve real world questions. This will continue to include our school wide focus on technology as a tool we use to assist in the delivery of our programming. From an assessment perspective, we will continue to focus on formative assessments to ensure we provide our learners with feedback and instruction that will support their learning needs in all areas. Learning Skills and Character Education will continue to be a con-sistent focus in all classrooms so that students develop important habits that will support their learning in all grades.

Finally, we would like to continue encouraging our students and parents to start the day in an active way by either walking or biking to school. This helps students to be prepared for learning by engaging in some exercise and also helps to keep our driveway and bus route safe. With the large numbers of younger students in our school, physical safety is always a primary concern. We will work with students to reinforce the expectations of safe play on the yard and ask parents to support this initiative by reviewing the importance of playing games safely, fairly and equitably.

Tony Lorbetskie - Principal

Message From the 2016 Front Office:

School Organization 2016-17

FDK: Ms. Fisher and Ms. O’Quinn

FDK: Mrs. Davies and Mrs. Roberts

Grade 1: Mrs. Hisko

Grade 2/3: Mrs. Williams

Grade 2/3: Mrs. Evans-Milak

Grade 4/5: Mrs. MacKay

Grade 5/6: Mrs. Telford

Grade 7: Mrs. Giglio

Grade 8 Mr. Federovich

Community Class (SAC): Mr. Fasan

Support Staff: Ms. Goodkin

Ms. Oosterhof

Community Class (ASD): Ms. Mousmanis (LTO)

Support Staff: Mrs. Cudmore

Mrs. Hartog

French: Mme. Murgida

Library: Mrs. Dallaire

Student Support Centre: Mrs. Foster

Reading Rec.: Mrs. Hisko

Prep and Phys. Ed.: Mr. Kiatipis

Educational Assistants:

Mrs. Allen

Ms. Topp

Caretakers:

Mrs. Sutton (Lead)

Mrs. Gilbert

Mrs. Wilson

Office Support Staff:

Mrs. Wilson (EOAA)

Mrs. Brillinger

HOLLAND LANDING PUBLIC SCHOOL 905‐836‐6614

September 2016 Principal:

Mr. Tony Lorbetskie

School Office Admin

Assistant: Mrs.

Lisa J. Wilson

Admin Support: Mrs.

Kim Brillinger

Lead Caretaker: Mrs.

Kaylene Sutton

Superintendent of Schools

Mr. Paul Carew (905) 895

-5155

Trustee:

Ms. Loralea Carruthers

Inside this issue:

Character Matters 2

Trustee’s Message 2

School Assistants 2

School Sports 2

Search and Seizure 3

Cell Phone Use 3

Student Medica-

tions

3

Pediculosis (Lice) 3

CASL 3

Anaphylactic Reac-

tions

4

Safe Arrivals 4

School Start-Up

Package

4

FNMI Self-

Identification

4

School Council 5

Compliance Train- 5

Home Safety & Fire

Plan

5

Fire Drills 5

Boomerang Lunch 5

School Calendar 6

Trustee’s Message

As we start another school year, we are very pleased to welcome all of our new and

returning families. I hope you all enjoyed the hot summer months and are looking

forward to the upcoming school year. There is a lot to look forward to in the months

ahead and many ways for families to engage with their child’s learning. There is a

strong connection between parent and family engagement and student achievement

and well-being, and I hope that you will find opportunities to get involved.

In the coming year, trustees will continue to focus on the priorities that we set out in

our Multi-Year Plan: student achievement and well-being; the delivery of effective and

sustainable educational programs; and the responsible stewardship of Board re-

sources.

We know that partnerships with parents and families are essential to achieving these

goals. However you choose to get involved, know that you are making a difference to

your child’s learning. I wish you all the best for the upcoming school year.

Loralea Carruthers - Trustee

Page 2 HLPS Highlights

School Assistants

We are looking to add to our

pool of School Lunch Assistants

who assist in supervising stu-

dents over the lunch hour.

These paid positions are avail-

able on an occasional or ongoing

basis. We currently have a need for people

who can join our supply list in this

role. However we may also need a

regular daily person as well in the

near future. If you are interested, please see Mrs.

Wilson or Mr. Lorbetskie for an in-

formation package.

Character Matters Character Calendar

Respect, Responsibility,

Empathy, Fairness,

Initiative, Honesty,

Integrity, Courage,

Perseverance, Optimism

Our Character Trait for the Month of September is

Respect.

“We respect ourselves and treat others with courtesy, dig-

nity, and positive regard. We honour the rights of others.

We respect their belongings, the environment and the

world around us.”

Character Poster

At our monthly Character Assemblies, we

introduce our upcoming character trait for

the month. To the right, you will find this

month’s character poster so that you may

speak with your child about respect. Please

engage your child in talking about what

respect means to them. At school, we

have talked about the importance of treat-

ing others with respect. Please ask you

child how they can demonstrate respect at

home.

We anticipate try-outs for our Intermediate Boys’ and Intermediate Girls’ Three-Pitch Team

within the week. Junior Boys’ and Junior Girls’ Three-Pitch try-outs will take place in the second

week of school. Be sure to remind your child to listen to the announcements for details or have

them check with the office. Also during the second week of school, the Cross Country Team will

beginning practicing in the morning before school starts on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.

The Cross Country Team is open to all Junior and Intermediate students (Grades 4 to 8).

School Sports Update

Student Medications

Page 3 HLPS Highlights

Search and Seizure

As per the protocol between the York Region District

School Board and the York Regional Police, please be aware

of the right of school administration to search school prop-

erty, such as lockers, desks and backpacks, without notice

to or permission of any person.

Also, from time to time, police may be invited onto any

school premises to conduct their own searches without

notice to or permission of any member of the school com-

munity other than the school principal.

Please note that this information as well as other “Safe

Schools” messages were shared with all students at the

assembly on the first day of school.

Students are prohibited from using cell phones at school.

Students who need their phones before and after school

must turn them off and store them out of sight while on

school property. The first time a cell phone is visible or

audible, it will be confiscated for the day. If

it happens again, parents will be asked to

pick up the phone at the office at their con-

venience.

As with all items of value, the school will

not be held responsible for any phones that

are lost, stolen or damaged.

Thank you for your cooperation!

Cell Phone Use at School

Any student who requires medication during school hours

is required to have a York Region District School Board

Medication Form completed and signed by his or her par-

ent/guardian. It is especially important that parents

communicate a life-threatening allergy to the school

as soon as they are aware of it. Please notify the princi-

pal and your child’s teacher so that we take the steps to

ensure a plan is in place, and inform staff of the established

protocol.

All medication must be stored in the office (with the excep-

tion of emergency items such as additional EpiPens®), and

must be in their own container with medical labels/

prescription information attached.

Please see Mrs. Wilson or Mr. Lorbetskie if you require a

form. If your child does need to come to the office for

medication, please reinforce this responsibility with them

and help them to understand their role and responsibilities

in this process.

Pediculosis (Head Lice)

Each year, cases of head lice are found throughout the

schools. This fall seems to be particularly bad. In an ef-

fort to reduce the number of cases found and decrease

the inconvenience to parents and students, we ask that

parents please inspect your child’s hair and scalp on a

regular basis to help prevent the spread of head lice. If

head lice is found, please inform the school office and do

not return your child to school until treated. Your child

must report to the office for an examination before re-

turning to class.

For more information, please call Health

Connection at 1-800-361-5653.

Recommended website:

www.cps.ca or

www.healthcare.ubc.ca/lice/intro .

Canadian Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL)

Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) came into effect on July 1, 2014 and impacts how schools, staff and school councils communi-

cate electronically to parents. CASL prohibits the sending of any type of electronic message that is commercial in nature unless the

recipient has provided specific and informed consent first. Examples of commercial electronic messages include requests for money

such as registration fees, pizza days, field trips, fundraising initiatives, school photos and others.

If you have not already subscribed to our CASL list, please do so by going to the school’s website at http://www.yrdsb.ca/schools/

hollandlanding.ps/Pages/default.aspx and subscribing in the space provided on the first page of the website. Please note that if the

address you’re using to subscribe is not already in the school’s system, you will not be able to subscribe. If you experience that diffi-

culty, please contact the office via phone (905-836-6614) or e-mail (lisa.j.wilson@yrdsb.ca) to provide your current e-mail address.

This will allow us to ensure continued effective communication to all HLPS families. Thank you!

Page 4 HLPS Highlights

Anaphylactic Reactions

The Anaphylactic Reactions Policy is in a renewal process.

This can be accessed on the Board’s internet site at

www.yrdsb.ca. Select “Your Trustees” and then “Policies

and By-laws.”

Please note, if you are a parent of a child with an

anaphylactic allergy and you do not wish your child

to carry their EpiPen®, you must arrange a meeting

with Mr. Biemiller to discuss this situation. Other-

wise, it is our expectation that all students with anaphylac-

tic allergies will carry their EpiPen® with them at all times,

as well as having a second EpiPen® in the office. This ex-

pectation is consistent regardless of age.

In addition, parents of students with anaphylaxis may also

wish to contact the Canadian MedicAlert® Founda-

tion. MedicAlert® is Canada’s largest member-based,

charity organization dedicated to providing services that

protect and save lives. To learn more about MedicAlert®,

visit www.medicalert.ca or call 1(800) 668-1507.

Safe Arrival Program School Start-Up Package

As you may know, all public schools in York Region have a

Safe Arrival program. This requires that we verify any child

absences on a daily basis. If your child will be away

from school it is very important that you call the

school at 905-836-6614. You can leave a message at

this number at any time of day or night.

If your child is absent and we have not received a message

from you, we will make every effort to reach you. In the

event that we have not been able to contact you or

your emergency contacts, we will call the York Re-

gional Police.

It is important that when students arrive late to school they

come to the office for a late slip. This allows us to avoid

unnecessary, and often alarming calls home.

Please ensure you have read the “School Start-Up”

package that came home on the first day. It includes

a number of important items, as well as a package of

multi-coloured forms that will require your signa-

tures. In addition, please ensure that you have re-

viewed the Board polices outlined in the red Board

“Guide to the School Year” for 2016-17.

Agendas are an excellent organizational tool that are very

effective when used consistently. Please check your child’s

agenda daily. You will find homework, notices and special

activities listed in the agenda. While it is not mandatory, we

strongly encourage each student to purchase a school

agenda.

The cost of the Agenda, on a cost recovery basis, will

be $ 5.00.

PROMOTING SUCCESS FOR STUDENTS OF FIRST NATION, MÉTIS AND INUIT ANCESTRY

The York Region District School Board provides an opportunity for students with First Nation, Métis and Inuit ancestry to self-

identify. The process is voluntary and the information gathered will be kept confidential.

The self-identification process is the first step in providing:

Culturally specific learning opportunities or activities;

Additional support for academic achievement and well-being, including designated support staff;

Communication between schools, First Nation, Métis and Inuit Education staff, Aboriginal students and their families;

Connections to post-secondary institutions, community groups, service providers and other partners;

More learning opportunities for all members of the school community to develop a greater understanding of Aboriginal perspec-

tives, cultures and histories.

New students can self-identify when they register with the Board. Current students can complete an Aboriginal Self-Identification

Form which can be obtained from their school.

For further information, please see the “Information for Parents and Students with First Nation, Métis and Inuit

Ancestry” brochure available from the school or speak with the school principal.

Self Identification of Students with First Nation, Métis and Inuit Ancestry

Page 5 HLPS Highlights

School Council A reminder to all parents that School Council nomination

forms will be distributed on Friday, September 9 , 2016.

Being a member of the School Council is a great way to

become involved in the school and community. If you are

interested, please complete the nomination form and re-

turn it to the school office by Friday, September 20,

2016. You will receive a confirmation from the office of

the receipt of your application. Elections, if necessary, will

take place on the evening of our first SC Meeting on Tues-

day, September 20, 2016 from 7:00—8:30 p.m. in the

Art Room. Please join us!

Compliance Training

During the September 28th PD session, staff members at

HLPS will be engaged in the following learning. These are

compulsory courses and an essential part of our goal to

provide safe learning environments for your children.

Health and Safety Key Messages

WHMIS PSHSA

WHMIS YRDSB

Lockdown Procedures

Threat Assessment

Anaphylaxis webcast

Home Safety Plan

A Home Safety Plan ensures that your child knows exactly

what to do after school. You as a family have discussed

expectations. Your child knows how and when to go

home, and with whom to go home. If a student misses a

bus, or a ride is overdue, they should report to the office.

The school will contact parents to inform them of the

situation and supervise the student until parents can make

alternate arrangements to get them

home safely. A Home Safety Plan en-

sures that the home and school work

together for student safety. A student

should never have to find his/her own

way home or accept a ride with anyone

not included in your Home Safety Plan.

Home Fire Plan

A Home Fire

Plan ensures

that your

child knows

exactly what

to do in the

event of a

fire. Discuss

this plan

with your

children at home and take the time to practice this plan

much like we do at school.

Fire Drills

Fire Drills will be conducted early and late in the school year while the weather is good. This is a drill that every per-

son in the school must practice diligently to ensure safety. Students are expected to line up quickly and quietly when

they hear the alarm. The teacher will give the signal to proceed along their escape route once they have closed class-

room windows. Everyone must walk quietly in the event that their route is blocked by smoke or fire, someone would

call to tell them to exit via their alternate route. (This is why they must practice walking the route quietly. In a real

emergency, they must be able to hear instructions). Students should be wearing in-door shoes at all times in the event

a Fire Drill is undertaken.

Parents are reminded to counsel their children about the potential seriousness of a False Alarm. The Fire Department

has notified the school that a $300.00 fee will be assessed to the school if the alarm is the result of a malicious act.

Parents should be aware that this cost would be passed on to the offending student and his/her parents.

Boomerang Lunch

Holland Landing P.S. is continuing the challenge to become more environmentally responsible. One of the eco-friendly

initiatives that we have already started is the boomerang lunch program. Please pack your child(ren)’s lunch in recycla-

ble containers and encourage your child to bring their food waste home in these containers to be put in your green bin.

If your child brings a water bottle to school, we would greatly appreciate it if you could please switch to a reusable wa-

ter bottle in an effort to reduce our Eco footprint on the environment. Thanks for your support!

Page 6 HLPS Highlights

September 2016 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

28 29

30 31 1

2

3

4 5 Labour Day

6 Day 1 First Day of

School

7 Day 2 8 Day 3 Welcome As-

sembly 9:15

a.m.

9 Day 4 10

11 Eid-ul-Adha

12 Day 5

13 Day 1

14 Day 2 15 Day 3 16 Day 4 17

18 19 Day 5

20 Day 1 School Council

Mtg. 7:00 p.m.

21 Day 2

22 Day 3

23 Day 4

24

25 Safety week:

Fire Drill

Lockdown Drill Bullying Preven-

tion ...

26 Professional

Training Day—

No School

27 Day 5

28 Day 1 Int. Softball

Tournaments

Meet the

Teacher BBQ

29 Day 2 Jr. Softball

Tournaments

30 Day 3 Character As-

sembly - Respect

Terry Fox Run -

2:00 p.m.

1 Safety week:

Fire Drill

Lockdown Drill Bullying Pre-

vention ...

School Photos

School photos will take place on Monday, Oc-

tober 3rd. We will begin right after the morn-

ing announcements with the kindergarten

classes. Please do your best to look your best!