Visit Ross Drive’s website http://schools.peelschools.org/1419/Our newsletter will be on-line from October on. We will also e-mail you a copy if you have registered your e-mail address with us.

Want to keep up to date with what’s happening at Ross Drive?Check out our school website where you'll find:

Visit schools.peelschools.org to find your child's school website, which features:• the latest school news• contact information for school administration, superintendent and trustee• the school calendar• enrolment data• school hours• registration information• online library catalogue

You can subscribe online to receive email notifications for school news, calendar events and volunteer job opportunities. You can also choose to receive email and/or text message notifications for critical news, such as school closures due to bad weather. Click on the “Subscribe” link on the left side of the main page of the school website.

Visit the Peel board's other websites:www.peelschools.org — learn more about school programs and ways to help your child succeed in school

www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild — an online resource centre with tips and resources for parents to help encourage student success at home

www.peelschools.org/parents/involved — learn about ways to get involved with your child’s education, including volunteer opportunities and school council.

www.makingmyway.ca — online resources and tools to help you make informed decisions and explore your child's options after high school. There are five main pathways: apprenticeship, college, community living, university and the workplace.

www.myBlueprint.ca/peel — an online planning tool used by grade 7 to 12 students, which includes: high school course selection, goal-setting, financial planning, occupation planner, resume and cover letter builder and a comparison of post-secondary options and programs.

Protect your kids—and your finances

The Peel District School Board does not provide accident insurance coverage for student injuries that occur on school property or during school activities including extracurricular sports. Each year, many of our families spend thousands of dollars when their children are injured at school, on field trips, while participating in non-school activities, or at home. If a student is injured, parent(s)/guardian(s) are responsible for any costs not covered by provincial health care or their employer’s health plan. Please check with your provider regarding your coverage.

The provincial health care system does not cover costs which are commonly related to accidents including dental work, ambulance fees, casts and crutches, and physiotherapy. All of these are covered by Old Republic’s student accident insurance plan. It is strongly recommended that all families consider this coverage, especially if your child participates in extracurricular activities. The annual plans provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year coverage. The insurance agreement is between you and Old Republic Insurance Company.

For more information call Old Republic Insurance Company toll free at 1-800-530-5446.

Understanding your child’s Ontario Student Record

The Ontario Student Record (OSR) is an ongoing, confidential record of a student’s education progress. Authorized by the Education Act and protected by the Freedom of Information Act and Protection of Privacy Act, an OSR is established for each student enrolled in an Ontario elementary or secondary school. The record is housed at the student’s current school and moves with the student as they transition from one school to the next. If a student leaves Peel to attend another school in Ontario, the OSR is forwarded to the new school upon request. If the OSR is not requested or the student leaves Ontario, the OSR is housed in the last Peel school that the student attended.

The OSR contains familiar documents that parents can view at any given time. OSR contents include:

biographical data documentation file, containing (if applicable): verification of a custody arrangement,

change-of-name order, placements decisions, suspension letters, psycho-educational assessment report, identification and placement decision letters, and registration forms

information concerning special health conditions name(s) of student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) Ontario Student Transcript (secondary school only) – the cumulative record of a

student’s successful completion of secondary school courses photographs may also be attached record of the student’s accumulated instruction in French as a second language, if

applicable report cards school(s) attended

Every student, and parents or guardians of students under 18 years of age have the right to examine the student’s OSR and receive a copy of its contents. Supervisory officers, school administration and teachers may also access a student’s OSR for the purpose of improving the instruction of the student. Written permission is requested for any outside agency or personnel to access the OSR.

Contact your school principal for details of the procedure to review your child’s OSR.

If you would like to learn more about your child’s OSR, visit the Ontario Ministry of Education web site at www.edu.gov.on.ca.

Getting your questions answered

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions about your child's education, or about education in general, anyone with the Peel board is happy to help. Here are some of the people who can help you:

If you have specific questions or concerns about the education of your son or daughter, the first person to talk to is your child's teacher. If possible, arrange a personal interview with the teacher to discuss your concerns and attempt to resolve the matter. Your child's teacher or principal can also give you more information about specific strategies being used to monitor your child's progress.

If you need extra help, or have more general questions, your school principal is there to assist. Your school principal can help if you have been unable to resolve the issue with your child's teacher. All curriculum material is available in your child's school.

If you still have unanswered questions or concerns, talk to your superintendent of education.

If you have general questions about curriculum, call Curriculum and Instruction Support Services at 905-890-1010 ext. 2559.

If you have questions about special education programs or services, contact Special Education Support Services at 905-890-1010 ext. 2345.

Of course, your local school trustee is elected to represent your interests and is always ready to hear and discuss your suggestions or concerns. If you don't know the name of your trustee, check the 'Meet your Trustee' section of the board's website at www.peelschools.org.

If you still have questions, please email communications@peelsb.com or call Communication & Community Relations Support Services at 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146 ext. 2809.

What you need to know about busing

Peel District School students may access transportation services if their primary address is within the school's attendance boundary, at a distance of more than:

kindergarten and grade 1 students – 1 km grades 2 to 4 students – 1.6 km grades 5 to 8 students – 2 km grades 9 to 12 students – 3.8 km

Eligibility distances are calculated using appropriate roadways and pedestrian walkways and are measured from home property line to school property line using Board approved software to ensure a consistent and equitable assessment of distance for all students and all schools within the Board. It is also important to note that parents are responsible for safely getting their children to and from school.

How do I know if my child is eligible for transportation?

Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR) has a website, www.stopr.ca, where you can find information concerning transportation including bus safety, procedures, late buses, cancellations, and frequently asked questions and as well whether your child is eligible for transportation based on your home address. Click on "Am I Eligible for Transportation" and enter your information.

In addition, if your child is eligible for transportation, beginning the last week of August to the end of June each year, at www.stopr.ca you can securely access your child’s specific transportation information, including bus stop location and pick-up and drop-off times. Click on “Parent/Student Login” and enter the information required. To ensure privacy of information you will be required to enter the Ontario Education Number (OEN), which can be found on your child’s report card.

Parents can now sign-up to receive automatic e-mail notifications of delays or cancellations for their children’s bus run. Go to www.stopr.ca and click on the “bus delays and cancellations” link and then click “subscriptions” to sign-up for this service.

Schools use many strategies to keep children safe

Peel schools provide a safe environment for staff and students to work and learn. The board has many procedures to ensure safety. To keep students safe, schools use many strategies including: requiring all parents and visitors to check in at the main office and obtain visitor passes the use of a "buddy system" – students can only leave the classroom if accompanied by

another student (for example, going to the washroom) assigning teachers to supervise inside and outside the school during recesses, before and

after school locking all exteriors doors, including the main entrance, during school hours [elementary

schools only] encouraging staff to regularly review streetproofing skills with students expecting staff and students to report unidentified individuals to the office immediately holding fire drills and "lockdown" rehearsals having evacuation and bomb threat plans in place ensuring that all staff and volunteers have up-to-date criminal record checks working with the police to provide education on street-proofing

We feel that it is important that you also take this opportunity to review safe procedures with your child. Peel Regional Police have provided the following safety guidelines: Tell your children to never go anywhere with a stranger, not to talk to strangers and never

take anything from them. You also have to teach them what a "safe stranger" is in case they need help. A safe stranger includes a police officer, a cashier, a fire fighter.

Develop a "what if" game for children to get them thinking about how they would respond if they felt threatened or afraid.

Know who your children play with and where they go. This includes keeping a list of their friend's addresses and phone numbers.

Do not leave your child in unsupervised locations, such as cars, parks, public washrooms, arenas, malls and plazas, etc.

Teach your children where and how to get help. Go with them on their regularly travelled routes.

Your child's body is private. Tell your children that no one may touch the area their bathing suit covers. If someone tries to touch them, they should tell you immediately.

Teach your children to talk to you immediately when someone does anything that makes them feel strange or uncomfortable. Listen when your children are trying to tell you about something that bothers them and provide them with support and understanding.

Communicate to your children the importance of following the teacher’s instructions during a lockdown, hold and secure, bomb threat, shelter in place or fire drill and to not use cell phones to ensure their own safety.

For more information about safety at your school, review your school handbook or speak to your principal or teacher.

Keeping lunches, snack peanut-free

Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that affects some children. We ask that you help us take care of these students by sending lunches and snacks for your child that are free from peanuts or nuts, because these foods are the leading cause of anaphylaxis.

Please read the label of any food you plan to send to school with your child. If the label says, "May contain nuts or peanuts," please do not send it to school.

You can get a complete copy of the Peel board's anaphylaxis guideline at www.peelschools.org under the Parent tab, under Student Health.

Subscribe to receive news from the Peel board

Take advantage of our electronic subscription service to automatically receive a list of activities by email on a monthly basis. Subscriptions are sent the last week of the month, plus bonuses throughout the year. Subscribing is easy just visit our website at www.peelschools.org and click on the subscription link under "Quick Links."

You can also subscribe to receive:

News releasesKeep up with the news at the Peel board. Subscribe to receive Peel board news releases to learn more about board news and school events.

Board agendasLearn more about Peel board meetings by subscribing to receive agendas. Meetings of the board are open to the public and are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

Board highlightsBriefing is a newsletter with highlights of decisions made by trustees at board meetings. It is sent out on the second and fourth Thursday of every month and immediately following any special board meetings.

Job postings for non-teaching staffLearn about each new non-teaching job that is posted on the Peel board's Job Board.

Procedures help keep students safe at school

Dear Families,

Peel schools provide a safe environment for students and staff to learn and work. The board has many procedures to ensure safety ¾ including regular fire drills, evacuation plans, criminal record checks for new staff and volunteers, and lockdown, hold and secure and shelter in place drills. Together with Peel Police, OPP and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board, the board developed procedures for critical situations including lockdowns, hold and secure, shelter in place and bomb threats in order to help keep schools safe during a potentially serious or violent incident.

Every school will review the key points of the lockdown process with students. We rehearse the drill twice per year to make sure staff and students know what to do if we have to initiate a lockdown.

During the rehearsal, the principal will make an announcement to "initiate lockdown procedure." The school bell will ring continuously for a period of time and our goal is to make the school appear vacated.

Students and staff inside the school will: go to the closest room, close the door and lock it, if possible turn off the lights and lie down on the floor away from doors and windows remain on the floor quietly until further directions are given

Students and staff outside the school will: move as far away from the building as possible remain outside until further directions are given

Depending on the situation, students and staff outside the building may be directed to an evacuation site. When the rehearsal is over, the principal will make another announcement.

Important things to note when an emergency occurs

1. Students and staff must not use cell phonesIt is important to note that in these critical situations, safety is our number one priority. During rehearsals or in real critical situations, Peel Police have advised that cell phone usage can cause more safety risks and danger than benefits.

We recognize that when an emergency occurs, students and staff may feel the need to communicate immediately with their families. However, increased cellular traffic in these critical situations can result in more dangers and the following consequences:

- Cause signal delays for emergency services to attend to the situation. - Prevents police from being able to communicate with each other and other important

personnel in a timely manner. - Public posts and messages may identify where individuals are in the building and a pose

a safety risk. - Cell phones can create a safety hazard by attracting attention to the area of the school

where the phone is being used.

Parents are requested to NOT call the school or your child’s cell phone during emergency procedures.

2. How parents can get updates during emergency procedures

There are a number of ways that parents can stay connected and get important, timely updates in the unlikely event of an actual lockdown, hold and secure, shelter in place or bomb threat. We will try to make every effort to keep parents informed using the methods listed below.

- Monitor your child’s school website. - Get updates by following posts on the Peel District School Board Twitter account

(@Peelschools), www.twitter.com/peelschools - Visit www.peelschools.org. All important updates are posted on the homepage under

the What’s New section. - Listen to local media

3. Parents are requested NOT to go to the school

In the unlikely event of an actual lockdown, hold and secure, shelter in place or bomb threat, police ask that parents do not go to the school. For safety reasons, you will not be allowed to enter a school that is in lockdown, hold and secure or shelter in place and students and staff cannot leave the school. In some cases, police will designate a Parent Information Site for you to attend and get up-to-date, accurate information. Please monitor your child’s school website and do not come to the school unless requested to do so.

If you have any questions about our lockdown drill, or any of the procedures we have in place to keep students and staff safe, please call the school.

Peel board trustees accountable to the community

The Peel board, like every public school board in Ontario, is governed by a board of trustees. Trustees are elected by public school taxpayers every four years during municipal elections. The next municipal election will be held in October 2018. The Peel board currently has 12 trustees representing three municipalities:Trustee Ward(s) City Email Phone #Carrie Andrews 7 and 8 Brampton carrie.andrews@peelsb.com 647-473-1858

Stan Cameron Caledon stan.cameron@peelsb.com 905-880-1162

Robert Crocker 6 and 11 Mississauga robert.crocker@peelsb.com 416-528-1312

Nokha Dakroub 9 and 10 Mississauga nokha.dakroub@peelsb.com 647-707-7320

David Green 1 and 5 Brampton david.green@peelsb.com 905-495-4579

Sue Lawton 3 and 4 Mississauga susan.lawton@peelsb.com 905-625-8084

Brad MacDonald 2 and 8 Mississauga brad.macdonald@peelsb.com 905-593-3547

Kathy McDonald 3 and 4 Brampton kathy.mcdonald@peelsb.com 905-796-8163

Janet McDougald(Chair)

1 and 7 Mississauga janet.mcdougald@peelsb.com 905-278-1402

Suzanne Nurse(Vice-Chair)

2 and 6 Brampton suzanne.nurse@peelsb.com 905-495-3423

Harkirat Singh 9 and 10 Brampton harkirat.singh@peelsb.com 647-209-8000

Rick Williams 5 Mississauga eric.williams@peelsb.com 905-814-6180

What do trustees do? advocate for the needs of the community help members of the community address concerns about the school system govern and set policies for the board explain the policies and decisions of the board to the community evaluate and review the board’s achievement of its goals, objectives and strategic plan participate in budget development, approve budget decisions and monitor its progress protect the future of the board by always considering the long-term effects of decisions

Visit www.peelschools.org and check out the ‘Meet Your Trustee’ section to subscribe to board meeting agendas and minutes and read highlights from board meeting.

Join our school council—share your ideas

Every Peel school has a school council—a group focused on helping students succeed. School councils provide a voice for parents and the community and offer advice to the school principal on a number of topics.

We are holding school councils elections on the last Monday of the month.

If you would like to know more or are interested in joining our council, please contact Mrs. Miller-Wood.

How to register at a Peel school

Here’s what you need to know about registering your child for school Who can attend?The Peel board serves children age 4 and older. Our schoolsPeel has more than 253 elementary and secondary schools. You can find the name and location of your local school by calling our Planning and Accommodation department at 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146, extension 2212. Where to registerIf your family is new to Canada, your child may need an orientation interview to register for school. To assist you with registration, we offer three Welcome Centres. Please call 905-366-8791 to talk to our staff and book your appointment. There is no fee for registration. Documents to bring to registrationProof of child's age

Canadian birth certificate Canadian passport citizenship card/certificate Permanent Resident Card Record of Landing confirmation of permanent residence work permit refugee permit

Proof of address

purchase agreement utility bill bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution) credit card statement federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada

documents) Ontario driver's licence

Proof of custody – children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation supports an alternate living arrangement Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated

Missing documents?If you are missing some documents, you can still visit the We Welcome the World Centres, and our staff will help you with all registration requirements.

Your child’s first day of schoolOnce the orientation interview is complete, you will get an appointment card with the date your child can start school. Please bring this card with you on your child’s first day, so that he or she can receive a new school schedule to complete the registration process. International students

International students are enrolled in the Peel Schools for International Students program currently offered at Applewood Heights, Clarkson, Rick Hansen and Harold M. Brathwaite secondary schools. The schools provide a unique, world-class program that integrates students from around world into the dynamic and welcoming learning environment.

International students interested in our program should visit www.peelschools.org/international or call 1-800-668-1179 ext. 2638.

Peel Region High Performers

Train More. Rehearse More. Learn More.New 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 new Peel Region High Performers Program will offer flexible timetabling to accommodate student athletes and artists with demanding practice, competition, rehearsal and/or performance schedules.

As of September 2017, the Peel Region High Performers Program will be offered at: Britannia Public School (grades 4 to 5) Dolphin Sr. Public School (grades 6 to 8) Mississauga Secondary School (grades 9 to 12)

For more information on the program, visit www.peelschools.org/HighPerformers

We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student.

A Parent's Guide to High School

Get ready for what could be the most exciting and important years your teen spends in school. For the first time, teens will have to make choices about what they will study and what career pathway to choose. Whatever path your teen chooses, we want to make sure your entire family is ready to meet the challenges and embrace the many opportunities that await your teen upon graduation. Our Parent’s Guide to High School will provide you with a snapshot of what you need to know to help your teen be successful. To view the online booklet, visit www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild/parentguide.

For more ways on helping your teen make a smooth transition, visit www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild.

Regional Learning Choices programs unlock passions

Regional Learning Choices Programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower students by providing them with opportunities to develop and explore skills in a particular area of interest. Regional programs are open to all students who meet the criteria for acceptance. Students and their families are encouraged to attend the information night for the program of their choice to receive more information about the program and application details. Transportation is not provided for students in regional programs. If students have been accepted into a regional program and they live within the school boundary, they are eligible for busing only if they meet the distance criteria outlined in the board’s Transportation Policy #39.

All regional programs include annual fees, including an $40 application fee for all regional programs. The application process for secondary regional programs opens Nov. 6, 2017. Application dates for middle school programs vary from school to school. Programs Starts in grade: 6 7 9Actively in Motion (AIM) – Royal Orchard MS

Advanced Placement – Central Peel SS, John Fraser SSArts – Earnscliffe Sr. PS (starts in grade 6), Queen Elizabeth Sr. PS (starts in grade 7), Cawthra Park SS, Mayfield SSArts and Technology – Morning Star MS

Graphic Design Management – Gordon Graydon Memorial SSInternational Baccalaureate – Bristol Rd. MS, WG Davis Sr. PS, Erindale SS, Glenforest SS, Harold M. Brathwaite SS, Turner Fenton SSInternational Business and Technology – Allan A. Martin Sr. PS, Lisgar MS, Williams Pkwy Sr. PS, Meadowvale SS, North Park SSInternational and Executive Leadership Academy – T.L. Kennedy SSSciTech – Centennial Sr. PS, Macville PS, Tomken Rd. MS, Chinguacousy SS, Port Credit SSSports – Applewood Heights SS

Strings – Central Peel SS, Port Credit SS

Truck and Coach Engineering and Technology – Bramalea SS

A number of other specialized programs that extend beyond the regular curriculum are available to Peel high school students. Learn more: Co-operative Education Program Dual Credit Programs Explore High Skills

Extended French/French Immersion

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

Peel Region High Performers Program Regional Co-operative Education

Programs

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) Programs

For more information about program information nights, busing, fees and the application process/dates, contact the school or visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms.

Immunize your grade 7 children for better health with the HPV-9 vaccine On August 17th, 2017, the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care announced that HPV-9 vaccine will replace the HPV-4 vaccine for grade 7 students starting on September 5th, 2017. You may recall completing an immunization consent form for your child to receive Hepatitis B, Meningococcal ACYW-135 and HPV-4 vaccines in the spring. Since HPV-4 vaccine will no longer be offered, we require your consent to immunize your child for HPV-9. If you have already spoken to a Peel Public Health Nurse and provided verbal consent for HPV-9, please disregard the consent form that will be sent home at the beginning of the year.

The HPV-9 vaccine provides protection against nine strains of HPV. A fact sheet with more information on the HPV disease will also be provided to each student for parents. Please review the fact sheet with your child and return the signed consent form to the school. Completed consents will be given to Peel Public Health Nurses who will give the vaccines at clinics held in your child’s school this school year. If you have questions, you can find more information on our website at www.immunizepeel.ca or you can talk to a Peel Public Health Nurse at 905-799-7700. Caledon residents can call toll-free at 905-584-2216.

Keep students safe in school parking lots

Many elementary schools offer a Kiss N’ Ride program, where parents/guardians can drop off and pick up their children at a designated area on school property. The program was established to provide a convenient and safe option for our students and parents driving to school. To ensure the safety of staff and students, we ask all parents/guardians be mindful of the following guidelines:

There is no parking and no waiting in the Kiss and Ride lane. Pay attention to the traffic in front of you and pull forward as cars move forward. If you choose to park in the parking lot, please escort your child to or from the nearest foot patroller and use the main crosswalk.

Vehicles entering the Kiss N’ Ride lane must stay in the designated lane, unless otherwise directed by a staff member or volunteer.

The Kiss N’ Ride program is only available to students who are able to disembark independently.

Have your child ready to exit the car when you reach the curb. Students may only exit from the passenger (right) side of the vehicle.

After picking up or dropping off your child, leave promptly so that others can get in behind you.

If your child is not waiting for you at the main crosswalk at the end of the day, please circle the parking lot if permitted and rejoin the line or park in a designated parking space to wait.

Always respect traffic flow and abide all traffic laws and signs.

Ask your child’s teacher or principal to learn more about our school’s specific Kiss N’ Ride procedures.