HUNTINGTON RIDGE PUBLIC SCHOOL

October 2, 2013

345 Huntington Ridge Drive, Mississauga, ON L5R 1R6

Phone: 905-890-2170 Fax: 905-890-6530

Attendance Line: 905-890-2170 Press 1

School Web Site: http://huntingtonridge.peelschools.org

School Council e-mail address: huntingtonridgeps.council@peelsb.com

Peel District School Board Web Site: www.peelschools.org

Ministry of Education Web Site: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca

Trustee: Sue Lawton, Wards 3 & 4 905-625-8084 susan.lawton@peelsb.com

Superintendent: Ina Fournier South Field Office: 905-366-8800

Principal: Sharon Totafurno Vice Principal: Mary Mikhail

September Re-organization Day

Each year, our school starts off with a certain number of classes and teachers—these numbers are based on estimates made the previous spring about how many students will be enrolled during the next school year.

As you may be aware, the Ministry of Education has class size goals that all school boards are required to meet. When the Peel District School Board organized its schools in the spring, they adhered to this ministry expectation.

Each September, the board reviews the enrolment and staffing needs through a re-organization process. During the process, administrators compare actual enrolment numbers to the numbers projected by the board in the spring.

Through the re-organization process, some students may move to another class in order to balance class sizes so that we can adhere to the government's expectation. In some cases, it may be necessary to create a combined grade class.

At Huntington Ridge we had to reorganize classes on September 25th. If your child was affected by the change, parents were informed with the details. Please be assured that these changes will not affect the quality of education your child will receive at Huntington Ridge. Our staff have the skills, training and resources to work effectively with students in a variety of settings.

Thank you to our parents for your ongoing support and cooperation.

School Council

All parents are invited to attend our first School Council meeting on Thursday, October 17th from 7:00 – 8:00 PM. Please see the flyer sent home with each student for more information about School Council elections and a copy of the nomination form. If you have any questions, please contact the Principal at 905-890-2170.

SAFE ARRIVAL PROGRAM

Huntington Ridge Public School has voice mail. When you dial 905-890-2170

your call will be answered by an automated system.

For the attendance line, please press 1 prior to the beginning of the school

day to let us know. Please give your child’s name (spelling the last name), the

teacher’s name and the reason for late arrival or absence. The attendance line is available 24 hours a

day—7 days a week.

To reach the office between 8:00 a.m to 4:00 p.m., please press 0

School Hours for 2012-2013

Entry: Kindergarten – Grade 5…….... 8:55 AM

Morning Recess………………………..10:48 – 11:03 AM

Morning Kindergarten Dismissal……...11:30 AM

Lunch Hour: Grades 1 – 5……………11:51 - 12:51 PM

Entry: Afternoon Kindergarten………..12:55 PM

Afternoon Recess……………………... 2:27 – 2:42 PM

Dismissal: Kindergarten – Grade 5…..3:30 PM

TERRY FOX WALK

Congratulations to our students who raised $812.00 for cancer research through our participation in the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope on September 26. This year, to boost the excitement and participation in our efforts to raise money for the Terry Fox Foundation, we held a lucky draw for a Terry Fox T-shirt and 2 Huntington Ridge T-shirts. The winners

of the lucky draw were Cynthia in class 2C, Avtar in class 5C and Ariyana in class K4.

Together we can make a difference in our world!

BBQ and Open House

On Thursday, September 26th, we had our BBQ and Open House. We had a tremendous turn

out and met many new families as well saw many familiar faces.

We would like to thank the teachers for assisting in the BBQ. A special thank you to

Mrs. Naik, Mrs. Weir. Mrs. Frieheit and Mrs. Ramphal for giving of their time to organize this

year’s BBQ.

Tuck Shop

Items will be on sale at the Tuck Shop starting Thursday, October 3rd, 2013. Milk will be sold for $1.00 on a daily basis.

The milk is PPM 150 compliant, and meets the Peel District School Board’s Health Food and Beverage Policy.

School Attendance

Please recognize that school starts at 9:00 a.m. Student entry is at 8:55 a.m. Students who enter the

school after 9:00 a.m. must report to the office to obtain a late slip. It is very important that

students attend school on time on a daily basis. Continual lateness sets students up for a difficult day

where they feel that they have to catch up with work and school expectations.

If your son or daughter will be absent from school, parents are asked to call the school. When you dial

905-890-2170 your call will be answered by an automated system. For the attendance line, please

press 1. For the safety of students it is important that all absences be reported.

Parents will be contacted if a child is sick and unable to participate in learning at school. Please ensure

that the office has all updated contact numbers (e.g., your home phone number, alternate phone

number and emergency contacts). Also ensure that you have alternate arrangements in place so that

when your child is sick, he/she has someone to pick them up from school and care for them during the

day.

Kiss and Ride Program in the Morning

Every morning our Kiss and Ride program services many cars in a fifteen minute time frame. Staff is on duty

to supervise Kiss and Ride and promote safety from 8:45 AM to 9:00 AM. After 9:00 AM staff is not available

at Kiss and Ride as they are expected to be in their classrooms ready to teach. Please plan to enter the

Kiss and Ride Lane prior to 8:55 AM to avoid the last minute rush.

Please remember the following Kiss and Ride rules:

-There is only one lane for Kiss and Ride. The lane closest to the school is used for busses.

-Please follow staff instructions when using the Kiss and Ride lane as they are there to promote safety.

-Areas where pylons are placed indicate a No Parking/stopping/idling zone.

-Students are expected to have all articles ready - backpacks, lunch bags, jackets, etc., so they can exit

the car promptly.

-Students exit the car from the passenger side only.

-Students must wait for a staff member to be standing next to their car.

-Students open and close their own car doors upon exiting their vehicle.

-The parking lot is closed during morning Kiss and Ride.

-There is no stopping or parking in the driveway

If you feel that your child is unable to open and close the car door, there are some options to consider :

Park your car on a side street and walk your child to school. There are many benefits to this such as an

opportunity to teach your child how to safely cross the road, exercise, and an opportunity to ensure

your child is dressed appropriately to enjoy the ever changing Canadian weather.

Have your child practice opening and closing your car door, under parental supervision, at home.

Thank you for your co-operation during the morning Kiss and Ride program.

School Driveway at the end of the School Day

The driveway at the front of the school is our designated fire route where stopping or parking is prohibited at all times.

At the end of the school day, busses use our driveway to safely take students home from school. It is illegal to pass a stopped school bus.

When school dismisses at 3:30 PM a large number of students use the sidewalk on Huntington Ridge Drive, crossing both the entrance and exit to our driveway, in a short period of time. The driveway therefore must remain clear of cars. This means that our driveway and parking lot are closed at the end of the school

day to ensure the safe dismissal of all students.

Pylons and signs will once again be placed at the entrance to the school driveway and parking lot

during this time. Please do not move them or park in these areas.

Huntington Ridge participates in the Walking Routes to School program and we encourage our students, through a variety of incentives, to walk to school. If you must drive to pick-up your child at the end of the

school day please park on a street nearby.

VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL – SAFE SCHOOL POLICY As a precaution against trespassers and to ensure the safety of all students, ALL VISITORS are required to identify themselves at the office upon entering the building. This includes all parents, guardians and relatives. Huntington Ridge is a secure school and all outside doors will be locked. The Peel Board has introduced the “Safe Welcome Program.” All Visitors are now required to buzz into the school to have the front door opened. As a result of this new practice, we ask that parents be patient when waiting to enter the school. Also, please note that lunchtime at our school is between 11:51-12:51. During this time, office and administrative staff are busier than other times of the day so there may be a delay in providing access.

Picking up your child from school

School finishes at 3:30 p.m. All students are dismissed from school by this time. Please ensure that your

caregiver/babysitter is at the school on time to take your child home. If your child does not see their

caregiver or babysitter, they are expected to go to the office. Tell your caregiver/babysitter to check the

office first if they do not see your child at the pick-up location.

Parents:

Make arrangements prior to the school day regarding the pick-up and drop-off of your child to

and from school.

If there is a change in who is taking your child home, ensure that your child is aware of this before

the start of the school day.

If your child is unable to remember who is picking them up from school, please send a note to the

teacher.

Ensure that you have alternate arrangements in place if you cannot pick up your child on time, as

the office staff are not able to supervise children on a regular basis after school.

Remember that children should walk home with a responsible adult or buddy of whom you

are aware.

FIRE DRILLS AND LOCKDOWN REHEARSAL

To keep students safe, schools use many strategies including fire drills and lockdown rehearsals. The Fire Code requires that schools hold fire drills three times in the Fall term and three times in the Spring term. Also, schools are required to practise the lockdown procedure. At Huntington Ridge Public School we will practice the lockdown procedure at least four times during the school year: two times in the October and two times in February.

LUNCHES AND MESSAGES

Students should bring their lunches to school at the beginning of the day. If

necessary, parents may deliver lunches to the shelf in the hall. Please make sure

that the lunch is clearly marked with the student's name and class. The

students know that they must check the shelf in the hall for their lunches.

Please make your plans at home with your children before they come to school. We are not able to take

and deliver frequent messages to your children. We appreciate your assistance and consideration.

Procedures keep students safe

Peel schools provide a safe environment for students and staff to learn and work. Staff have been trained on what to do if faced with an emergency situation. Here are the responses schools may take to an emergency situation, depending on the type of threat.

A school will initiate a lockdown if there is a major incident or threat of violence in or near the school. During a lockdown 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

Every school will review the key points of the lockdown process with students. The drill is rehearsed twice per year to make sure staff and students know what to do in the unlikely event of a real lockdown.

The term hold & secure will be used when it is necessary to secure the school because of a situation outside and not related to the school. During hold & secure, classes continue normally inside the school, with the exception that all exterior doors and windows are locked and no one enters or exits the building without approval from police or the school. This means parents/guardians will not be allowed to enter the building.

The term shelter in place will be used for an environmental or weather-related situation where it is nec-essary to keep everyone within the school to protect them from an external situation. During shelter in place, no one will be allowed to exit the building.

CELEBRATE WORLD TEACHER DAY ON SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 2013

Since 1994, parents and students from around the world have celebrated World Teacher Appreciation Day to commemorate the work of teachers and their contributions to society. During the week of September 30th, take the time to let your child's teacher know he or she is truly appreciated. Thank your child's teacher and let them know they are making a difference.

Continuing Education International Languages 2013-2014

Secondary credit and elementary international languages courses are available to currently enrolled Peel District School Board students. Instruction is provided in Arabic, Bengali, Cantonese, Eritrean, Greek, Gujarati, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Malayalam, Mandarin and Mandarin-Pinyin, Marathi, Nepali, Persian, Polish, Punjabi, Serbian, Sinhalese, Spanish, Tamil, Urdu and Vietnamese. The program is available at 22 locations in Brampton and Mississauga. For details on which languages are available at what locations, please visit our website at www.peelschools.org/conted/il.

How do I register my child? Registration is an online process accessible through the website at www.peelschools.org/conted/il. Registration for credit classes is open until Friday, October 4, 2013. And registration for elementary classes remains open until February 28, 2014. Enrolment is limited at each location and classes with insufficient enrolment will be cancelled.

If you have any questions, please contact us at conted.info@peelsb.com

October is International Walk to School Month

Huntington Ridge Public School is considered a walking school. If you live in our neighbourhood, why not take the time to walk to school? It not only gives you a chance to spend some quality time with your child before and after school, but promotes healthy living. Walking is great exercise and it also reduces the exhaust released from automobiles.

Our school is participating in International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 9th.

Parents why not walk, skip or hop to school with your child….but don’t drive! International Walk to School month is part of Active & Safe Routes to School program. Visit www.saferoutetoschool.ca for more information.

Outdoor Recess - Dressing for the Weather

Canada is a beautiful country known for its ever-changing weather and seasons.

Please ensure that your child is ready to play and enjoy our wonderful weather,

as they will be expected to participate in outdoor activities during morning,

lunch and afternoon recess.

Huntington Ridge follows the Peel District School Board’s policy around

inclement weather and determining indoor recesses, so please pay attention to

the weather report.

Autumn

Dress in layers

Sweater, jacket, outdoor shoes

Please dress for the season so you can enjoy the outdoors!

Huntington Ridge PS is becoming an Ecosource Green School!

Over the next two years, Huntington Ridge Public School is thrilled to be participating in the Ecosource Green Schools

program. Throughout the program, Huntington Ridge students and staff will work with the Ecosource team to better

understand our connection to the environment and motivate us all to reduce the impact we’re having on the planet.

We will be taking part in many exciting projects and events this year including a school waste audit, a wasteless lunch

challenge, waste reduction workshops and more. Look for more information on the many fun initiatives we will be

taking on over the year in future newsletters!

On November 5, we will be hosting our first major Green Schools event which will be a school-wide waste audit. A

number of classes will get the opportunity to put on safety gear and help sort one day’s worth of garbage and

recycling from the school (except bathroom waste). This hands-on activity will give our students an opportunity to

see firsthand the type and quantity of waste produced at our school every day. The waste audit will give us a baseline

for the year to see how much waste we create on an average day and how well we are sorting it into garbage and

recycling. Other classes will be invited to come down, see the sorting and learn about what we’re finding in our

garbage and recycling bins.

This partnership will provide special opportunities for students to acquire new skills and gain an understanding of

how to look after our local environment. This program also engages parents, community groups, regional represen-

tatives and school board officials to come and participate in the change, and learn with the students and staff as they

make their community a greener place.

For more information about the Ecosource Green Schools program, or to find out how to get involved, please contact

Angie Sanchez at 905-274-6222 or asanchez@ecosource.ca.

Oct. 16 opportunity to say 'thanks' to bus drivers

Peel schools will pay tribute to bus drivers on Bus Driver Appreciation Day on Oct. 16. The day will be celebrated with special activities and events that provide teachers, students and parents an opportunity to thank the people who safely transport over 36,000 students to and from school each day.

If your child rides the bus to school, take this opportunity to thank the bus driver for his or her contribution and ask your child to do so too. The Peel board appreciates the impor-tant job bus drivers do each school day and Oct. 16 provides an opportunity to give these individuals the recognition they deserve.

PIZZA DAY ORDER FORMS

At Huntington Ridge Public School we are collecting pizza orders one month in advance. The pizza forms are sent home with all students from grade 1 to 5.

Pizza Days for October, November, December and January

Order Due Dates are:

September 27th October 25h November 22h December 13th

for for for for

October Days November Days December Days January Days

October 2 November 6 December 4 January 8

October 9 November 13 December 11 January 15

October 16 November 20 December 18 January 22

October 23 November 27 January 29

October 30

If your child is absent on a pizza day, parents are asked to arrange to pick up the pizza from the office if you want it. Unfortunately we are not able to give refunds for missed pizza days.

PICTURE DAY AT HUNTINGTON RIDGE

It’s the start of a new school year and time for school portraits.

Huntington Ridge will be having Picture Day on Wednesday, October 23,

2013. It’s time to start practising how to get a big smile in front of the

camera.

CHOCOLATE FUNDRAISER

Beginning October 10th, 2013, Huntington Ridge will be selling chocolate for

this year’s fundraiser. Students will have a choice of selling a case of choco-

late covered almonds or “Nut-Free” chocolates. More information will be

sent home regarding the fundraiser in the coming days.

Celebrating Faith and Culture - October 2013 We extend our best wishes to students, their families and staff observing these special days in October.

$55 Tablet Supports Equity of Access for Peel Board Students

The Peel District School Board has worked with a vendor to increase equity of access to technology

through a low-cost tablet device. For $55, parents can purchase a Filla Sapphire 7, a seven-inch touch

screen android tablet that provides basic functionality for student use. The device is available

through the board’s Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) parent resource page at

www.peelschools.org/byod.

The Peel board does not benefit from the sale, does not endorse the tablet and will

not be involved in service or product issues. A product review by the board’s

instructional technology resource teachers is also posted online.

Teachers will continue to plan lessons with the assumption that not every student will

bring a personally owned device to school. To learn more about BYOD and device

options for your child/teen and how they will be used at school for educational

purposes, visit www.peelschools.org/byod.

DATE

CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

October Xlaaw Aboriginal Spirituality

October 5 Sharad Navratri Hinduism

October 6 World Communion Sunday Christianity

October 11 or 12 Durgashtami Hinduism

October 12 - 16 Ghambar Ayathrem Zorastrianism

October 13 or 14 Vijaya Dashmi/Dassehra Hinduism

October 14 Thanksgiving Day Canada

October 14 Waqfatu’Arafat Islam

October 15 or 16 Eid-ul-Adha Islam

October 16 – November 3 The month of 'Ilm Bahá'í

October 18 Kathina, Pavarana, Anapanasati and Foun-

ders' Day

Buddhism

October 20 Birth of the Báb Bahá'í

October 20 Installation of Guru Granth as Guru Sikhism

October 22 Karva Chauth Hinduism

October 31 Halloween Canada

Sunset of October 31 -

November 1

Samhain Wicca

Picking up your child during the day

We continue to encourage parents to pick up their children for appointments, when necessary,

at natural breaks in the school day, such as the beginning of lunch or at the end of the day. If it

is necessary to pick up your child during the day, please send a note to your child’s teacher so

that the teacher can have your child ready. Whenever possible, please avoid taking your child

out of school early.

Peel Board Students Have Choice

Explore program options at makingmyway.ca

Students have different needs, interests and abilities—our schools offer great educational opportunities to help all students achieve. For students looking for a more focused, specialized program, here are some options:

Regional programs start in grades 6, 7 and 9

Students in regional programs still complete all of the requirements of the Ontario curriculum, but there is an increased focus on an area of interest. Information nights for students applying to start programs in September 2014 begin this November. Programs include:

Arts

Flexography (package print technology)

International Baccalaureate

International Business and Technology

SciTech

Strings

Truck and Coach

Specialist High Skills Major programs start in grade 11

Specialist High Skills Major programs allow students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector, while meeting the requirements to graduate from secondary school. Students gain sector-recognized certification and career-relevant training. The programs support the transition after graduation to apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace. Peel board schools offer Specialist High Skills Major programs in the following areas:

●Arts & Culture

●Business and Entrepreneurial Studies

●Construction

●Environment

●Health and Wellness

●Hospitality and Tourism

●Information and Communications Technology

●Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services

●Manufacturing

●Sports

●Transportation

More options for Peel board students

co-operative education programs provide workplace experience

extended French starts in grade 7

dual credit programs allow student to earn college credits at the same time as secondary school credits

alternative programs are available for students who need flexible school hours, are dealing with unique situations, or re-quire more support

Our guidance counsellors can help students determine which courses will best meet their needs, interests and abilities—contact the school to make an appointment.

For more information about regional programs, Specialist High Skills Major programs and other programs of choice available to Peel board students, visit www.makingmyway.ca.