What’s Up Whiteoaks
November 2017
Whiteoaks Public School
1690 Mazo Cres.
Mississauga, Ontario
L5J 1Y8
Phone: 905.822-0451
Fax: 905.822-5973
Principal: Linda Lee
Vice-Principal: Christine Barnes
Office Manager: Jolanta Nolevski
Office Assistant: Carrol Bryan
Superintendent: Nina Jaiswal
Assistant: Maria De Sousa
Phone: 905-366-8800
Trustee: Brad Macdonald
Phone: 905-593-354
Dear Whiteoaks Families,
After an October that seemed more like August, it would appear that the colder days have finally arrived. Please
keep in mind that the students go outside twice a day and need to be prepared for their time outside. It is time to dig
out the winter coats, hats and mitts. The field can also be quite wet so students need to have a pair of shoes that
are dedicated to indoor use. This helps us to keep the dirt out of the classrooms.
Student safety is an important issue for all of us at Whiteoaks. We have completed all of our three fall fire drills, a
lockdown and our new emergency incident procedure. The students are becoming well versed in each safety proce-
dure. We will have another lockdown in the winter and three more fire drills in the spring. We want to keep our stu-
dents safe at all times.
Progress report cards will be handed out on November 10th. All students will be receiving a progress report. We
will also be holding parent teacher interviews the following week. These meetings, although they are not long, are
important ones. Students will be bringing home interview times with their progress reports.
We have lots of exciting events coming up in November. Please take a look in this newsletter to find more details.
Our next Spirit Assembly will be held on November 22nd. Our grade 5s will be sharing something special. Thank
you to all those families who participated in our WE Scare Hunger campaign. We have lots of boxes full of food for
the Compass Foodbank.
Mrs. Lee Mrs. Barnes
Principal Vice Principal
Office News
Nuts and Chocolate
Halloween will mean that many students will be wanting to bring treats to school. This is a friendly reminder to not bring chocolate or nut items into the school. Thank you to everyone for helping us to keep Whiteoaks safe and inclusive for all by not bringing nut or chocolate
products into the school.
Keep in Touch and Informed
http//schools.peelschools.org/1259
Go to our website and sign up for “School News”. You will receive calendar updates and news items
to your device.
Follow us on Twitter @whiteoakspeel
Nov. 24 opportunity to say 'thanks' to Peel Custodial & Maintenance Workers’ Day
In 2014, the board of trustees declared the last Friday in November as the Peel Custodial and Maintenance Workers’
Day. This year, the recognition day falls on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. Take this opportunity to thank the important work of
custodial and maintenance workers and their hard work and commitment to well-being and safety.
Parking Lot
We have been having issues in our parking lot. We have
people dropping students off after the bell and moving too
quickly through the parking lot to do a quick U turn in order
to drop students at the front door. We have blocked off the
parking lot after 8:55.
If you arrive late, please park in the church parking lot and
bring your child in to the
office to sign in. Thank
you for helping to keep our
students safe.
Upcoming Events
Junglesport is Coming to Whiteoaks!
We are lucky to have Junglesport bringing their rope course to Whiteoaks beginning November 6th to 9th. The program promotes fundamental move-ment skills, coordination and cooperation. Our kindergarten to grade 3 stu-dents will enjoy fun low ropes obstacle courses. Students climb, crawl, swing, leap, balance and always have a smile on their faces. All students
wear a helmet.
Our grade 4 and 5 students will climb and travel rope bridges. They feel great while learning about trust and responsibility. Students learn the ba-sics of climbing on our rock walls and other vertical challenges. They build self-confidence and an awareness of what
their bodies can do. All students wear a harness and a helmet.
We will be using money from our pizza fundraising to pay for this exciting program. Students must have a signed con-sent form before using the ropes course. Please make sure your child’s form has been handed in prior to November
6th.
Remembrance Day Assembly
We will be holding our annual Remembrance Day assembly on Friday November 10th beginning at 10:45. We have
some junior students and staff who have planned a thoughtful and solemn assembly. Our students in grade one to five
will be attending the assembly. While our gym will be very full, members of our community are welcome to attend.
Seating will be limited. We would ask that community members please use the PLASP entrance to our gym so that
you may be easily seated at the back of the gym.
We would ask that photographs are NOT taken during the assembly and as the
students exit the gym. We are teaching the students that this is a solemn event.
People getting up and taking pictures can be a distraction and cause students to
lose their focus and begin talking.
Students will receive a poppy to wear to the assembly. Students are invited to
bring a loonie or toonie as a donation to the Royal Canadian Legion.
Teaching and Learning
Dr. B. Visits our Grade 5 Classes
Dr. B was in visiting our grade 5 classes at the end of October .
The students were engaged in many experiments involving ener-
gy. These visits were subsidized by our School Council fundrais-
ing. Dr. B will be back visiting other grade levels later in the year.
CCAT Testing for Grade 4 Students
Our grade 4 students will be participating in the Canadian Cogni-
tive Achievement Test during the first week of November. Stu-
dents will be writing the test during the mornings of November 6,
7, 8 and 9. Please make sure your child is at school on time each
of these mornings.
EQAO Results for 2016—2017
We are very pleased with our EQAO results. We will use this information to continue to inform our planning for student
success.
Teaching and Learning
School Climate
House Teams Update
Students have been gathering house points during our Terry Fox Walk and throughout our WE Scare Hunger campaign. Team Red seems to be in the lead. Teams have also been adding points to their team for their participation in our intermural basket-
ball league.
There will be lots of upcoming opportunities
for teams to add to their points.
Playground Activity Leaderrs in Schools (P.A.L.S.)
Our grade 4 and 5 students have signed up to be P.A.L.S.
leaders. We have many students who have volunteered to
help younger students on the playground. Mme Marino has
created a schedule and the leaders are ready to go. The
equipment is organized and Mrs. Barnes will be ordering
more equipment to keep students active at breaks.
Leadership Crew for 2017—2018
We had over 50 students come out to audition to be
part of our Leadership Crew for this school year. Stu-
dents had to explain why they wanted to be part of the
group and perform a chant/cheer. Thank you for all
those students who came out to auditions. Our leader-
ship crew this year will be, Sadie, Sara, Jack, Jude,
Dominika, Brain, Michael, Kian, Sasha and Annabelle.
Our House Captains will be;
Blue -Mercedes, Rachel, Aneesa, Isabella
Purple-Sophia T. , Maryam, Monika, Evelyn
Red- Fiona, Emily L., Madelyn, Nolan
Orange- Kimaya, Michelle, Marianna,Cassidy
School Climate
#chooseACTION on Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
The Peel District School Board will recognize Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
during the week of Nov. 20 to 24, 2017.
This year, we ask our Peel community to ‘#chooseACTION to be inclusive’ in their clas-ses, offices, schools, or communities, in order to make these spaces better places for everyone. The Peel Board would like to hear about the big and small actions, the pledg-es, the promises and the attitudes that our Peel community value, and ask that you take
a moment to share your #chooseACTION moments on social media.
Across the Peel board, schools use many programs and initiatives to prevent bullying and to intervene when bullying happens. Though the programs vary, their messages are
consistent. Students are taught to:
define bullying
identify forms of bullying
identify the shifting roles in bullying relationships, for example the person who bullies, the
target, the bystander or the trusted advocate
determine how to safely “choose action” to prevent and intervene in bullying and harass-
ment
understand that bullying is a relationship problem with relationship solutions
determine positive ways to interact with others in an accepting, inclusive way
demonstrate character attributes and be a leader to help maintain positive and safe school communities
Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is one of the key items contained in Bill 13: The Accepting Schools Act, that came into effect on Sept. 1, 2012. For more information, visit www.peelschools.org/aboutus/safeschools/bullying or
www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/safeschools/prevention.html.
School Council
School Council 2017—2018
Here is our new school council for the 2017—2018 year: Jennifer Park
(chair), Erin Robinson (Treasurer), Rajbinder Grewal (co-secretary),
Kim Westlake (co-secretary), Arek Aniolowski, Jenny-Lynn Pfeiffer,
Sarah Clarke, Laura Vessel, Nicole Plaskett.
QSP Fundraiser
Way to go Whiteoaks! We have exceeded our fundraising goal. Thank you to everyone who participated in our QSP fundraiser. Monies earned will go right back to our students. For example, we will pur-chased leveled texts for our primary students to take home for Snuggle and Up and read. Thank you to parents who spent time organizing the fund-raiser. This fundraiser couldn’t have happened without you!
Lunchbox Lunches Coming Soon
Tired of making lunches? Lunchbox lunches
will be back beginning on Tuesday Novem-
ber 7th. Booster Juice will also be available
through online ordering for November 24 and
December 15th. Information about ordering
will be coming shortly.
Keep with School Council News
Also please be sure to follow School council
on Twitter @wpscouncil and on Facebook
@ Whiteoaks Public School council for
more updates.
Teaching and Learning
Scholastic Book Fair
Our Scholastic Book Fair was held at the end of the
month. Thank you to Mme Goulden for organizing this
exciting event. It was so great seeing students excited
about buying books. The profits from the sale will go to
buying books for the classrooms and library. Thank you
to Mme Issawi, Mme Guidolin, Mme Gregory, Miss
Tracy, Mr. Gallant and Mme Gregory’s mom, Susan.
Progress Report Cards
Progress report cards will be handed out to students on Friday November 10th. These reports will provide parents with
a report of student progress during these first weeks of school. This year our kindergarten students will also be receiv-
ing a progress report. Teachers will be meeting with parents the evening of Thursday November 16th and during the
morning of Friday November 17th. We hope to be able to meet with all parents during this interview period.
Peel News
Is French Immersion right for my child?
If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2018, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to apply for the French Immersion (FI) program.
What is the program like? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the program?
One way to help answer these questions is to attend the information meeting on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the French Immersion school your child would attend.
To find out the FI school your child would attend:
visit our website www.peelschools.org/French
call the school in your area
Online application
The application form for Grade 1 French Immersion for the 2018-19 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m.
The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 4 p.m. Applications received after that date will be put on a waiting list.
A French Immersion enrolment cap is in place. This means that a specific number of spaces are available for students entering grade 1 French Immersion. A random selection process will be used to identify students gaining entrance into the program. For more information about the random selection process visit www.peelschools.org/French.
Important dates
Information meeting Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 at 7 p.m.
Application process opens Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m.
Application deadline Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 4 p.m.
For more information
visit www.peelschools.org/French
call your nearest French Immersion school
talk with parents who have children in the French Immersion program
Bus cancellation and closing schools due to bad weather
During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather.
Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be announced on radio, television stations and will also be availa-ble on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by call-ing
905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.
One of the following messages will be announced (highlighted text only):
Peel District School Board buses are cancelled
This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require busing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual.
All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed
This means that all schools and Peel board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits.
All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled
This means that all activities in schools and Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.
All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled
This means that all activities in schools and Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.
Peel News
Peel News
Train More. Rehearse More. Learn More.
Peel District School Board program offers flexible school options for student athletes, artists
Does your child/teen have an intense sports or arts training and competition schedule that makes it difficult to attend school regularly? The Peel District School Board’s Peel Region High Performers Program will offer flexible timetabling to accommodate student athletes and artists with demanding practice, competition, rehearsal and/or performance sched-
ules.
Infor- mation nights will be of- fered as follows: The Peel Region High Performers Program is also available to students in grades 9 to 12 at Mississauga Secondary School.
For more information about Mississauga’s program, please call 905-564-1033.
Applications open Nov. 6, 2017
For more information and applications, visit www.peelschools.org/HighPerformers.
Grades Information Night Location
4 to 5 Nov. 8, 2017 Britannia Public School
1145 Swinbourne Dr. in Mississauga
6 to 8 Nov. 30, 2017 Dolphin Sr. Public School
18 Brookside Dr. in Mississauga
Community Corner
Stay up-to-date with community-based opportunities
The Peel District School Board is pleased to introduce an electronic resource page on www.peelschools.org called, Community Corner, which contains links to information and resources in the community that may be of interest to stu-dents and their families. This site replaces our previous method of sending promotional materials about community
clubs, camps, contests, fundraisers and events home with students on a regular basis.
How you can access Community Corner
Visit www.peelschools.org/parents/communitycorner
Peel News
Jump start your future with Explore High Skills
Explore High Skills is a Peel District School Board pathway program that allows secondary schools with Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs to offer a unique specialized program choice for grade 9 and 10 students.
These sector-related programs are available to students in all skill levels and in all pathways. Specialized programs in grade 9, like Explore High Skills, provide unique learning experiences to engage students as they transition to high school. Students can focus their learning on an area of interest as they build self-confidence, learn essential skills, and develop a sense of belonging in school and in the community.
Applications open Nov. 6, 2017
For more information and participating schools, visit www.peelschools.org/ExploreHighSkills.
Book Your Child's Back-to-School Eye Exam
Ontario Reminding Parents about the Importance of Vision Care
Ontario is reminding parents to make an optometry appointment for their children.
Eighty percent of classroom learning is visual. An annual comprehensive eye exam can identify vision problems and
treatment options to help students reach their full potential. Children who have trouble seeing can encounter difficulties
at school because their motor skills, social development, attention span and ability to read, write and learn may be af-
fected.
Some conditions such as lazy eye are most effectively treated at a young age. The Ontario Association of Optometrists
recommends that every child have their first eye exam at 6 months of age to ensure proper vision development, again
at ages 2 to 3, and subsequently every year thereafter.
Contact your optometrist if you have concerns about your child's vision or notice any of the following behaviour:
Does not make eye contact
Closes or covers one eye
Squints or frowns when looking far or near
Rubs or touches their eye(s) a lot
Blinks more than usual
Reacts strongly to light
Turns or tilts head when viewing objects
Trips, falls or bumps into things often.
Don’t forget, OHIP covers comprehensive eye exams for kids until they turn 20. And Year 1 kids qualify for complimen-
tary glasses through the #EyeSeeEyeLearn program. For more information or to find an optometrist, visit https://
www.optom.on.ca/.
Peel News
Parent resources help you support your child’s learning
At the Peel board, our mission is to inspire success, confidence and hope in each child. There is no doubt that families play a vital role in helping us achieve this goal. As our partner in education, we hope you'll stay connected to your
child's learning throughout his or her entire school experience.
Visit www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild to explore all resources available to parents. There you will find easy-to-navigate buttons that connect families to tip sheets and web pages on a number of different topics, including
math, homework, special education, EQAO and mental health.
Community Events and Partners
Community Events and Partners