JANET I. MCDOUGALD P.S.

OCTOBER 2020

498 Hartsdale Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L5G 2G6 Phone: 905-278-1010 Fax: 905-278-4347

Trustee: J. Marchant Vice Principal: J. Orazem

Superintendent: P. Da Silva Office Manager: D. Goldthorpe

Principal: L. Culbert Office Assistant: G. Reis

A September to Remember

Welcome to Fall and to the 2020-2021 school year. September has been

a blur as we’ve all navigated new waters and welcomed students back

to our “bricks and mortar” school and also to our online school. We have

been amazed by how our students have acclimatized to our new procedures and

they still enter the school each day with a smile behind their masks. We want to

thank all our families for their patience and understanding as we worked through a

reorganization to get our online and in person classes adjusted and started.

We started the year by reading, All Are Welcome, by Alexandra Penfold and

Suzanne Kaufman.

Pencils sharpened in their case.

Bells are ringing, let’s make haste.

School's beginning, dreams to chase.

All are welcome here.

You have a place here! We know this year will continue to be filled with

challenges, but we also know that as a team we will work through them together.

We can do hard things together!

Sincerely,

L. Culbert J. Orazem

Proud Principal Proud Vice Principal

October 2020

Important Dates

Oct. 5 World Teacher Appreciation Day

Oct. 7 International Walk to School Day

Oct. 12 Happy Thanksgiving —No School

Oct. 14 Peel Principal & Vice Principals Day

Oct. 15 School Council

Oct. 21 Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Oct. 27 Go Purple Day

Oct. 28 Peel Educational

Assistant & Early

Childhood Educator’s

Appreciation Day

@jmcdougaldps

We tweet and post

information about school

events and activities.

We are a Pack—Brave and Strong

Respect

Through the month of October, our school will be learning about respect. We show re-

spect when we treat others, ourselves, and the environment with high regard and value:

Speak courteously to everyone

Treat yourself and others with care and value

Honour the rules of your home, school, workplace and community

Demonstrate value for yourself, your body and your rights

Take care with other people's property and belongings

You can help support the development of respect by reinforcing these skills with your

child at home!

JANET I . MCDOUG ALD P.S . PAGE 2

Janet I. McDougald School Entry & End of Day Procedures 2020-2021

Outdoor supervision begins at 8:55 a.m. each morning. Please do not drop your children at school before this time. Students are expected to be at their entry doors ready to line up and enter the building for the 9:10 a.m. entry bell. If you are using the school Kiss & Ride in the morning, please ensure you arrive before 9:05 a.m. Students are doing a great job lining up, in a physically distanced way, in their classroom line ups with their masks on ready to enter the building. Staff sanitize student hands before entering the school, and once again once they have entered the classroom.

If your child is late, please bring them to the front doors and ring the silver buzzer to contact the office. Be patient. The office staff will assist you as soon as they can. Students will enter the school by themselves and then be directed to their classroom by school staff.

At the end of the day we ask that you wait until 3:30 p.m. to pick up your child at their exit doors or from the Kiss & Ride area. Early pick ups are discouraged due to the difficulty in providing these safely and in a timely manner.

Oct. 23 opportunity to say ‘thanks’ to bus drivers

Peel schools will pay tribute to bus drivers on Bus Driver Appreciation Day on Oct. 21st, 2020. 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 important job bus drivers do each school day and Oct. 21 provides an opportunity to give these individuals the recognition they deserve.

Peel board recognizes Peel Principals and Vice-Principals’ Day on Oct. 14th

In 2018, the board of trustees declared the second Wednesday of October as Peel Principals and Vice-Principals’ Day. This year, due to a holy day conflict, this date will be celebrated on Oct. 14th. This day allows the community to recognize the important work of principals and vice-principals, and to acknowledge the lasting contributions that they make in the lives of students, families and community members. Take a moment to let your principal and vice-principal know they are truly appreciated.

October is International Walk to School Month

According to the 2015 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card, about 91 per cent of 5-to-17-year-olds are not meeting Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines to get at least 60 minutes of daily moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity. These declining activity levels are linked to obesity, illness and chronic diseases (i.e., cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer).

Using active transportation for the school journey is one of the easiest ways for students to get regular daily physical activity. Managing time to allow for the walk or bike ride to school will become a positive habit that leads to children arriving on time, refreshed and energized for the school day. In fact, University of Illinois research has found that just 20 minutes of easy walking boosts performance in the areas of the brain that support math and reading achievement.

Walking to school also helps out the environment. Eliminating just four short trips per week can reduce emissions by up to 100 kg of carbon dioxide per year. Families that participate in active travel to school can prevent almost 1,000 kg of carbon dioxide per year and save money in fuel costs as well. Also, when more children walk to school and fewer parents drive their children, the areas near school zones become safer for pedestrians.

That is why our school will be participating in International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 7. On that day—and throughout the month, if you can—walk, bike, blade, scooter, skip or hop to school… but don’t drive! International Walk to School month is part of the Active & Safe Routes to School program. Visit www.saferoutestoschool.ca for more information.

Celebrate Teachers’ Recognition Day in Peel

Since 1994, parents and students from around the world have celebrated World Teachers’ Day to commemo-rate the work of teachers and their contributions to society. On Oct. 5, 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.

JANET I . MCDOUGALD P.S . PAGE 3

BE SAFE!

Safety of our students is a priority. Please assist us with the following items to keep all our students and staff safe:

Use the Kiss and Ride at the front of the school for drop off and pick up. Do not drop off your child at

the back of the school. The doors around the school are locked and the front doors are the only safe entry point.

If you are using the back entrance please find a safe place to park on the street that does not block the

driveways of any of our neighbours.

Students using the Kiss and Ride should be able to open their own door and exit out the left side of the car.

Please make sure they have their backpacks and belongings with them ready to exit the car.

Please do not bring your dog into drop off and pick up areas on the school yard (e.g. around the

kindergarten fence or the back tarmac). If you choose to bring your pet for a walk when picking up or dropping

off your child(ren), please pick a safe meeting spot for you and your child on the outskirts of the school property.

Bringing animals into areas with large numbers of children/people can create an unsafe situation. Also, we do

have children who are afraid of animals.

During pick up after school please get out of your car to meet your child. It creates an unsafe situation when

children are walking unsupervised to meet their parents in the car. This is especially dangerous

at the back of the school or if you use the St. Dominic’s parking lot. We encourage Gr 1-5

students to use the Kiss and Ride at the end of the day too. Then you can stay in your car!

Use the crosswalk! Please do not walk/run across the Kiss and Ride and bus lanes. This is

unsafe for you and your child(ren). It is also unsafe for the drivers including our bus drivers. Be

a good role model for your children and use the crosswalk even if it means you have to walk a

little further.

Celebrate Peel Educational Assistant and Early Childhood Educators’ Appreciation Day on Oct. 28

In 2014, the board of trustees declared the last Wednesday in October as the Peel Educational Assistant and Early Childhood Educators’ (ECE) Appreciation Day. This year, the recognition day falls on October 28, 2020. The Peel board appreciates the important work of Educational assistants and ECEs, and the contri-butions that they make in the lives of children, families and community members.

The Lyndwood Community Association (LCA)

Welcome back to another great school year.

What and who is the LCA?

We are your Community Association. The LCA is made up of your neighbours and Janet McDougald caregivers working together to make our community a more active and engaging place to live. Our main objective is to provide recreational opportunities to all members of our community. We work closely with our community school, Janet I. McDougald PS, by renting out the gym space and providing recreational opportunities to students, their families, and everyone in our community.

Currently all Events and Group Gym Rentals at the school are on hold until further notice.

Join the association for FREE, by emailing us at Lyndwoodca@gmail.com and be the first to be notified of upcoming events and gym rental updates.

We hope you have a fabulous October.

On Hold:,Gym rental overview

Times: Mon-Fri / 6pm-10pm

Permit cost $15 per hour : Min. insurance fee applies

Call us at 416-684-2995 or Email Lyndwoodca@gmail.com

Find us on social media on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

HUSKY HURRAYS

Each day on the announcements we read our Husky Hurrays to celebrate students who demonstrate

some of our Peel attributes. Whether students demonstrate caring, honesty, responsibility, inclusiveness,

respect or cooperation, we are happy to hear about their actions. Each Friday we do a draw where five

students have the opportunity to win some of our Husky spirit prizes. Let’s show that Husky spirit!

Page 4 JANET I . MCDOUG ALD P.S .

Terry For Walk—Toonies for Terry We celebrated Canadian hero Terry Fox on Tuesday, September 29th. We did things a little differently this year but the intent was still the same. As a school we still wanted to continue Terry’s dream and help our students understand his determination to reach his goal. Each classroom teacher, online and in person, shared a common slideshow in their classes including a short

video. Students dressed in red, listened to stories about Terry Fox and participated in classroom activities. Then each class at JIMPS chose a timeslot for their Terry Fox walk. Class by class we walked through the neighbourhood honouring Terry Fox.

We are proud to have fundraised $667.00 so far.

Thank you to all students and families that supported the cause.

Donations can still be made online at - Terry Fox School Run under our school name.

Regional Learning Choices Programs empower students to unlock their 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 families are encouraged to visit www.peelschools.org/regionalprograms to learn about the programs, application details and how supports are available to help families choose the program(s) of their choice. 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 only eligible for busing if they meet the distance criteria outlined in the board’s Transportation Policy #39. All regional programs include annual fees, including a non-refundable $40 application fee, except the Regional Skilled Trades and Transportation Engineering and Technology programs, which are offered at no cost. Please note that supports are available for families who are interested in applying and may require financial assistance – please speak with your principal.

For more information about program information nights, busing and the application process, visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms

Programs Schools offered at Starts in grade:

6 7 9

Actively in Motion (AIM) Royal Orchard MS

Arts

Elementary / Secondary

Elementary: Earnscliffe Sr. PS (starts in grade 6), Queen Elizabeth Sr. PS (starts in grade 7) / Secondary: Cawthra Park SS, Mayfield SS

Arts and Technology Morning Star MS

International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB Elementary / IB Secondary

Elementary: Bristol Rd. MS, WG Davis Sr. PS Secondary: Erindale SS, Glenforest SS, Harold M. Brathwaite SS, Turner Fenton SS

International Business and Technology (IBT)

Elementary: Allan A. Martin Sr. PS, Lisgar MS, Williams Pkwy Sr. PS, Secondary: Meadowvale SS, North Park SS, T.L. Kennedy SS

SciTech Elementary / Secondary Elementary: Centennial Sr. PS, Macville PS, Tomken Rd. MS Secondary: Chinguacousy SS, Port Credit SS

Important dates to note: Applications open Applications close

ELEMENTARY Jan. 25, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 8, 2021 at 3 p.m.

JANET I . MCDOUGALD P.S . PAGE 5

ORANGE SHIRT DAY

On Wednesday, September 30th Janet I McDougald PS, along with PDSB and Canada, recognized Orange

Shirt Day. First launched in 2013 in Williams Lake, Orange Shirt Day commemorates the history and the legacy

of residential schools, and the strength and fortitude of residential school Survivors and their descendants.

Students wore orange shirts at school in recognition of this day.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) has issued Calls to Action, which include calls for

schools and communities to teach students about Canada’s history of residential schools. Addressing the

TRC’s Calls to Action are embedded in the Peel board’s commitments to achieve inclusion for all through

continuous progress on equity. These commitments are captured in the Board’s Plan for Student Success. The

board is proud to support Orange Shirt Day to help engage students in learning about the Residential School

System and its legacy in Canada. You can learn

more at https://bit.ly/36qFN06 to support

conversation with your child. #Everychildmatters

ANTI-BLACK RACISM & MINISTRY DIRECTIVES

Our school staff is working together to follow the Ministry Directives and continue our learning and evalua-

tion of policies and procedures at JIMPS. As part of our learning our staff each read a book over the summer

and are participating in book talks this fall. Books that have been chosen include:

The Skin We’re In

This Book is Anti-Racist

WHY ARE ALL THE BLACK KIDS SITTING TOGETHER IN THE CAFETERIA?

POLICING BLACK LIVES

me and white supremacy

Members of the staff also participated in 4 Big Questions this summer which was a four-part dialogue –based

webinar series in which four racial justice educators discussed big questions about racial justice in education.

Hosts and facilitators included Kike Ojo-Thompson, Pamala Agawa, Debbie Donsky and Paul Gorksi.

In a recent communication from the Director of Education, Colleen Russell-Rawlins wrote, “Black, African,

Caribbean children must feel a strong sense of belonging to achieve equitable outcomes through the fulfill-

ment of their human rights - this is our collective work. These measures are the only way forward to rebuild a

system that truly inspires, success, confidence and hope in ALL of our students - this is the longstanding mis-

sion of the PDSB.” This is also our mission at Janet I McDougald P.S. To do this we will work collaboratively

with our staff and community.

PAGE 6 NEWSLETTER TITLE VOLUME 1, I SSUE 1

From the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team

October 2020: Identifying Our Strengths and Assessing

Our Needs – The Wheel of Well-Being

Welcome to the second month of a school year like no other. We have made it this far, and we should congratulate ourselves, although it is important to note we are all at different points of coping with the upheaval and loss COVID-19 has created in our lives.

As the fall leaves start to turn colour and we are settling into the school year, now is a good time to reflect on our strengths and needs. The Kids Help Phone has an easy to fill in Wheel of Well-Being to help us accomplish that. The Wheel is divided into sections: Physical Health, Emotions, Relationships, Environment, School and Work, Spirituality, and Creativity and Thinking; with you (or your family) at the centre. It is an excellent visual guide to help you think about what, or who, can fill in any missing gaps to increase your support system. The Wheel of Well-Being can be completed as a family activity, or you can do it independently using it as a discussion aid for conversations about what each family member might need. It can also allow you to identify strengths you may not previously have appreciated. You can find the template, and suggestions to consider for each section here: www.kidshelpphone.ca/get-info/kids-help-phones-wheel-of-well-being

You could also make your own wheel as a creative exercise, with you at the centre, or “our family” at the centre. Often creative exer-cises can be a safe way to help us talk to each other during challenging times. If you do make your own wheel and feel comfortable to share a photo, please tag @MHRTPeel and #WELLinPEEL.

Despite the challenges 2020 has brought us, remember to tell yourself that you are doing your best; that it is okay to not feel your best; that we are all in this together, and we are doing the best we can with the resources we have. Please consider seeking support if you feel you or your child/teen needs it. Now more than ever before, our mental well-being is just as important as our physical well being.

If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health visit www.peelschools.org/schools/reopening/mental-health-and-well-being-supports for further information and links to school and community resources. For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter @MHRTPeel.

Acknowledgement:

Indigenous teaching reminds us that mental wellness is a balance of the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional parts of ourselves and is enriched when individuals experience purpose, hope, belonging and meaning in their lives (First Nations Mental Wellness Con-tinuum Framework).

The Peel Learning Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to enable Peel District School Board students to achieve personal excellence by providing resources that help them overcome barriers.

Did you know that 1 in 5 students in Peel Region face barriers related to poverty? That’s more than 27,000 Peel board students.

Through the Student Emergency Needs program and Student Backpack program, the support we provide can be as simple as providing funds for food or transportation, a winter coat, or a backpack filled with school supplies. This type of support can enrich a student's school experience and help them achieve success. Any teacher, staff or support person can speak confidentially to their school’s principal, vice-principal or supervisor when they encounter a student in need, who will then reach out to us to ask for help.

There are many ways that you can support the foundation. A gift will help us achieve great things for students. To learn more, visit www.peellearningfoundation.org/how.

You can help us create hopeful tomorrows. www.PeelLearningFoundation.org l 905-890-1010 ext. 2461 l foundation@peelsb.com

@PeelLearningFDN /PeelLearningFDN

Peel D i s t r ic t School Board Page 7

JANET I. MCDOUGALD BREAKFAST SNACK PROGRAM

Our school “Grab and Go” breakfast program is up and running. Students need to complete a permission form to be part of the program. This program is available for students who would benefit from having a snack at school each morning to start their day. Due to Covid 19 protocols, students participating in our breakfast snack program will receive a pre-packaged snack in their classrooms. At this time, no dairy products will be served. There is no charge for the program and we rely on the support of associations such as Breakfast for Kids and donations to be able to provide food for our students. If you would like to make a donation, please make your cheque payable to Janet McDougald P. S. Breakfast Program. Donations of over $25.00 will receive a tax receipt upon request. Thank you for your support! Special thanks to Ms. Seifried, Ms. Mancini, Ms.Orazem for getting the program up and running under challenging circumstances. If you wish your child to participate, and you have not submitted a permission form please contact your child’s teacher.

SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS

Thank you to everyone who attended our first virtual School Council meeting on September 23rd. This year we will be using a Zoom link for parents/guardians to access our virtual meetings. Our co-chairs, Alison Gaudet and Jessica Carreiro continued in their roles to start the school year. Several parents volunteered to be parent representatives. Thank you for your collaboration! We continue to look for additional parent representatives. Please contact the school at janetmcdougald.ps@peelsb.com if you are interested in being a voting member. The official council for the 2020-2021 school year will be decided on at our next meeting on October 15th at 6:30 p.m.

Please note that meetings are open for all parents and guardians. You do not need to be a council member to attend.

Please check your email the week of October 13th—15th for details about the meeting.

Special thanks to the School Council for assisting with community outreach programs including the Backpack initiative that helped provide backpacks filled with school items to start the school year for families in need.

Another School council initiative that helps fundraise for school initiatives is FlipGive. Please see the attache FlipGive flyer and give it a try when ordering on-line! For every dollar you spend at a participating on-line retailer, the school receives a percentage of funds back. There are many great retailers participating: Amazon, Chapters-Indigo, Gap/Old Navy, Sport Chek, Hudson Bay, Costco memberships, Home Depot, Lululemon, Expedia, Hertz, Air Canada, plus gift cards for lots of restaurants.

Happy October everyone! We’re looking forward to a great year working together.

OUTDOOR LEARNING AREAS

On behalf of the students and staff we would like to thank the School Council and all of our parents for everything you have done to make the enhancements to our outdoor space possible. Specifi-cally thank you to everyone who sponsored our students in our Move-a-thon last March. The event was enjoyed by all the students and in addition $15,405.50 was raised to go towards our outdoor projects. Thank you to Cynthia Schaeffer for all her work collecting donations/prizes and then distributing them safely to participants

after the event.

Students are excited to use the climbing logs, the playhouse, stage and two chalkboards. These are being used for outdoor learning currently. The logs, house and stage are also begin accessed dur-ing nutritional breaks. Unfortunately we are unable to use the pic-nic tables at this time. We also are excited to have some extra shade in the Kindergarten area. The blue umbrella adds shade and a nice pop of colour. These items would not be possible without the hard work of council members and the generosity of our community

members. Thank you!

THANK YOU!

Families encouraged to sign up for ParentConnect to access school alerts, report cards, busing info and more online

To help keep families connect to their children’s education experience, we are encouraging all Peel District School Board parents/guardians to sign up for ParentConnect. ParentConnect is our online parent portal which provides parents/guardians with a single ac-cess point to stay informed, access services online and receive important information about your children.

ParentConnect allows parents/guardians to:

view school based alerts and information

access the parent/guardian view of Brightspace for PDSB Online School

track real time absence reporting

view current and historic elementary report cards for your child(ren)

get up-to-date busing information

review secondary school credit history and diploma status To register and begin using ParentConnect, visit www.peelschools.org/parentconnect or click the ParentConnect button on your child’s school website. Parents/guardians that have used ParentConnect in the past will continue to have access to your child(ren)s infor-mation. You do not need to register again.

The ParentConnect online portal can be accessed through any computer, smartphone Internet browser and/or tablets by visiting par-ent.peelschools.org. Families can also download the mobile app titled Peel ParentConnect through Google Play Store or Apple Store.

If you have any questions about ParentConnect, please call the school or visit the ParentConnect FAQ page. If you encounter technical issues signing up for an account, please email ParentConnect@peelsb.com.

Visiting Janet I McDougald P.S.

To limit and track the number of visitors in our schools, only essential visitors will be permitted into schools. If families wish to speak to someone at the school, they are asked to do so by emailing or calling the school directly. You may be required to make an appointment to visit the school based on the reason for your visit.

Upon arriving at the school, visitors are required to:

Enter through the main entrance door using the buzzer or by phone Physically distance as much as possible

Wait in the established waiting area outside the main entrance Wear a mask/face covering

Sign in upon entry, and sign out when you leave

DO NOT require appointments Require appointments

Family member or caregiver who is picking up a sick child or has another emergency. Only one adult per household should attend the school at once.

Family or caregiver who is meeting with school staff to discuss an issue with their child of a non-urgent nature. All meetings should take place virtually or by phone whenev-er possible.

Pay school fees online using School Cash Online—register today!

Our school offers School Cash Online, a safe and secure form of online payment, as its preferred method of payment for all school fees. With a parent-friendly portal and an easy way to keep track of your child’s activity fees, you can use School Cash Online to pay for school items like field trips and pizza days directly from your computer or smartphone using eCheck, Visa or MasterCard.

Register now By registering, you’ll have the ability to:

· Keep track of your children’s school item and activity fees

· Check account history

· Print or view receipts

· Make donations to school fundraisers online and instantly receive a tax receipt

· Pay for school fees with the click of a button

For more information and to register, visit https://peelschools.schoolcashonline.com. If you have any questions, please contact the school directly.