Principal: Mrs. D. Perrott Vice-Principals: Mrs. A. Charrette, Ms. L. Lennox

Superintendent: Mr. M. Logue Trustees: Mr. Stan Cameron, Mr. William Davies

SouthFields Village Public School 110 Learmont Avenue, Caledon, ON L7C 3R1

905-843-3281

March 2020 Newsletter

Upcoming Dates to Remember

March 5 Kindergarten and Grade 8 Graduation Photos

March 5 School Council Meeting (6:30 pm)

March 6 Lunchroom Supervisors’ Appreciation Day (thanks to our dedicated SouthFields Village Supervisors!

March 16-20 Spring Break

March 24 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

March 27 CLAW Caring and Cooperation Assembly

*Every Wednesday Pizza Day (thanks to our parent volunteers!)

*Every Friday Lunch Lady

School Council Our next School Council meeting is on Thursday, March 5th. All parents are welcome to attend! If your child(ren) require babysitting, please email Alexandra.Charette@peelsb.com so we can secure the appropriate number of babysitters. African Drumming Workshops On February 3 and 18th, a visiting musician came to SouthFields Village to teach African drumming workshops to each class. There were 90 African drums made out of goatskin by the Kamba tribe in the village of Ukambani in Kenya as well as other African instruments for students to play. Students learned proper drumming technique, different rhythms, how people of African heritage have influenced many genres of music and that drumming and drum circles in many parts of Africa were used to build community, to communicate information and to share stories and culture from generation to generation. Two drums were donated to SouthFields Village P. S. and will be used to enhance music classes. Thanks to all families who participated in our fall chocolate fundraiser as part of the money was used toward providing this enriching experience for our students.

Meaning of Home Contest Once again students at SouthFields Village have demonstrated their caring and kindness towards others. During February, many junior students participated in The Meaning of Home Contest. This contest is a unique and meaningful way to get students involved in creative writing. The goal is to teach students the importance of actively participating to better their communities. Students produced an original poem or essay about the “Meaning of Home” to them. Each contest entry results in a $10 donation from Genworth Canada to Habitat for Humanity to build affordable homes in partnership with families in our community. This year, students from SFV donated over $1000 through this contest! Congratulations to all our change-makers! Professor Jamz Move-a-Thon Fundraiser On Friday, February 14th, SouthFields Village held its annual Move-a-thon fundraiser. Students enjoyed moving to the songs they had requested and the glow items many purchased made the event even more fun. This event is not only a great fundraiser but also creates a wonderful sense of community and school spirit. Thanks to all families who supported the Move-a-thon fundraiser. Your contributions will be greatly appreciated as we plan for the addition of an outdoor classroom and the seating boulders that will help create this new learning space! Thanks as well to our School Council for organizing this event and to all the parent volunteers who helped make the day a success! Reminder About Bus Cancellation Days We would like to remind families that when buses are cancelled for the Town of Caledon only, they still run for SouthFields Village Public School. Please double check our school website or STOPR to ensure that you have the correct information about which buses are cancelled. March Break Camp I Can 2020 Once again SouthFields Village will be hosting Camp I Can during the March Break. Camp I Can is a three-day

literacy, numeracy and technology camp run by Peel teachers for students in grades 7 to 10. It is designed to develop reading, writing and technology skills as well as tapping into students’ creative sides. The camp runs from Monday to Wednesday, March 16 – 18 from 9am to 3pm. Registration: Registration is free, however there is a $10.00 fee to cover recreational activity costs and daily peanut-free snacks. No transportation is provided to or from March Break camps. Students should be recommended for the program by their homeroom teacher or guidance counsellor. Parents can speak to the school if they are interested in having their child participate and to receive the registration forms. Parents or students can pick the registration forms up from Mrs. O’Sullivan in the office. Students may also speak with Ms. Randhava or Ms. McBean to receive the forms.

The deadline for registration is March 4, 2020 although students may still be accepted to the program until the middle of the following week.

Mississauga MaraFun Every year, SouthFields has made it possible for students to participate in the Mississauga MaraFun event. Typically, registered students train to run a total of 40 km at school over the course of 6 weeks, starting after the March Break. Then, on Sunday, May 3rd, parents/guardians are responsible for transporting their children to the MaraFun start line near the Lakeshore in Mississauga, where they run the final 2 km of their “Marathon”. They will run through the official finish of the Mississauga Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K events! This year, Mississauga Marathon is keeping the price low for all school participants. The cost is $20.00 (plus tax and processing fee) and the registration is only on-line. Please follow the registration instructions, below, and use the Promo Code to get the discount. As a parent or guardian, you are also welcome to use the Promo Code to get a discount to the event. Make sure you sign up under SouthFields Village P.S. so your race kit gets picked up for you. Registrants will receive a t-shirt, a medal, a race bib, post-race food and promotional material. In the event that teachers are not supervising extra-curricular activities following the March Break, registered students can train at home, by either running or engaging in alternative cardiovascular activities (e.g., cycling, soccer, basketball or other sports), or by being active on the playground during nutrition breaks. Race kits will be picked up on your behalf and will be distributed to registered students before the end of the day on Friday, May 1st. Please register before the March Break, if possible. MaraFun Registration Instructions Race Roster sign up (everyone must do this if you don’t already have an account)

1. Visit https://raceroster.com/signin 2. Enter your email, click “No I want to create a password”, make a password, accept the terms and

conditions, click sign up Registration sign up Visit www.mississaugamarathon.com/register/

1. Click on the Race Roster logo 2. Click the “Register” button under 2K Fun Run/Walk 3. Login to your Race Roster account 4. Ensure “2K Fun Run/Walk” is selected 5. Under “I am completing this form for”, click Myself 6. Enter the student’s personal information, and any allergies or health conditions we should be aware of 7. Enter your school’s name (SouthFields Village P. S.) 8. Enter the promo code MARAFUN20 9. Click “Continue” 10. Proceed through the waiver and checkout

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 available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org, Twitter @STOPRinfo and www.stopr.ca or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146. One of the following messages will be announced: 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.

Report your child’s immunizations to the Region of Peel online

When registering for school for the first time, parents and guardians are required to provide up-to-date

immunization information for their children. This includes registering for kindergarten.

You can update your child’s immunizations online. The online immunization tool allows you to attach a

photo of the immunization record. When reporting online, an Ontario Health Card is required.

Report immunizations online at: www.peelregion.ca/immunize

After you report your immunizations online you will be given a reference number. Keep this number for

your records. You will need to give this number to your child’s school when registering.

If you do not have online access or your child does not have an Ontario Health Card, take a copy of the

immunization record to the school. Make sure your child’s name and date of birth are visible on the

record.

Call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 if your child does not have an immunization record or if you

have any questions about immunization exemptions.

For more information, visit www.peelregion.ca/immunize

Peel Public Health shares tips to help prevent the flu

It’s flu season and we want to make sure students stay as healthy as possible this year! Influenza (flu)

spreads easily from one person to another and Peel Public Health has some tips to help reduce the risk of

catching the flu and spreading it:

Get your annual flu shot: The flu shot is your best defence against the flu. There are many

locations across Peel where you can get your flu shots:

Family Doctors’ offices

Walk-in clinics

Pharmacies

Keep children home when they’re sick: If your child develops flu-like signs and symptoms

(fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue), keep them home from

school. Contact your health care provider if symptoms are severe.

Practice good hygiene: Help your child get into the habit of covering their nose and mouth with

a tissue when they cough or sneeze and throw tissues in the trash. Cough or sneeze into a

sleeve or elbow, if they don’t have a tissue. They should also avoid touching their eyes, nose or

mouth. This is how germs are spread.

Wash your hands: Encourage your child to wash their hands often with soap and water or use

hand sanitizer, especially after they cough or sneeze.

For more information, call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 or visit www.peelregion.ca/flu.

Keep your child’s eyes healthy

Did you know that vision problems in children often go unnoticed because kids don’t know any

different? As many as 10 per cent of preschoolers will have vision difficulties that can affect the

development of their sight if not treated. However, if caught by the age of 5, treatment will be most

effective.

The Region of Peel recommends regular eye exams for your child to help find eye problems early and

get the right treatment.The best way to ensure good eye health is to have your child’s eyes checked by

an optometrist. Yearly eye exams for children 19 and under are covered by OHIP.

What to expect at your child’s eye exam

An optometrist will complete:

General vision testing in both eyes.

Eye muscle testing.

Eye coordination testing.

A general health assessment of the front and back of the eyes.

If needed, the optometrist will write a prescription for glasses for your child.

For information on overall vision health, common signs of a possible eye problem and the programs

available to you within Peel, visit www.peelregion.ca/vision-health

International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

In the Peel District School Board, we #ChooseACTION each and every day to proactively eliminate

racism in all forms and be inclusive in our school communities. We use an anti-oppressive stance to

support and maintain a safe and positive Climate for Learning and Working for staff, students and

community well-being. This important day, which we will recognize as a board on Tuesday, March

24th, will help lead the work we all do in our schools with our students in support of equity and

inclusion.

History of the Day: On March 21st, 1960, Afrikaner police opened fire and

killed 69 Indigenous South African people at a

peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa.

They were protesting the apartheid "pass laws" that

severely restricted the movement and freedom of

Indigenous South Africans. Proclaiming the Day in

1966, the General Assembly of the United Nations

called on the international community to redouble its

efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.

Peel District School Board Focus: This year supports and resources focused on Anti-

Black Racism and Islamophobia have been curated

and provided to schools. Educators are encouraged to

use this sampling of tools throughout the year in our

schools and classrooms. Our goal is to proactively

eliminate racial discrimination every day.

For more information and for activities to

commemorate the day with your children please access

the resources: www.peelschools.org/aboutus/equity

Lunchroom Supervisors Appreciation Day on March 6

In 2017, the board of trustees declared the first Friday in March as Lunchroom Supervisors Appreciation

Day. This year, the recognition day falls on Friday, March 6, 2020. Take this opportunity to thank the

important work of lunchroom supervisors, and their support and commitment to helping to ensure that

students are safe and secure.

Using social media safely

With the growing number of social media sites, it is no surprise that social media is the most common form of

communication for children and teenagers. Posts, status updates, comments, instant messages, video uploads,

tweets and texts have become a regular part of their lives. While there are many positive benefits to using social

media, including staying connected with friends and expressing your interests, students must be cautious in their

use of these networks.

Among the most popular social media platforms used are Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube and

Whatsapp Messenger. Many of these platforms are free and are available on smartphones and other electronic

devices. These platforms are easy to navigate and often allow information to be shared instantly, not only with

friends, but with strangers. On social media, it is important to remember that the world is watching.

Here are some tips, provided by the Canadian Safe School Network and GetSafeOnline.org, to keep your children

safe and help them make smart choices when using social media:

Set some boundaries for your child before they get their first ‘connected device’ (mobile, tablet, laptop or

games console). Once they have it, it can be more difficult to change the way they use it or the settings.

Have a conversation about what is appropriate online behaviour and what actions could have huge

repercussions that could damage their reputation and be harmful to others.

Talk to your child about the kind of websites they look at. Encourage them to speak to you if they come

across something they find worrying or upsetting on websites, games or social media.

Discuss with your child what is safe and appropriate to post and share online. Written comments, photos and

videos all form part of their ‘digital footprint’ and could be seen by anyone and available on the internet

forever, even if it is subsequently deleted.

Explain to your child that being online doesn’t give them anonymity or protection, and that they shouldn’t do

anything online that they wouldn’t do face-to-face. Users should only accept people they know in order to

protect themselves from spammers, strangers and others who may be using social networking sites to commit

crimes.

Unlike when they’re meeting someone face-to-face, children don’t always know who they’re actually

‘talking’ to online, even if they think they do. Tell your children they must never email, chat, or text with

strangers, and it’s never okay to meet a stranger in the real world.

Ensure your children set their privacy settings appropriately. Take the time to learn how privacy settings work

on your children’s favourite sites, and teach them how to control their privacy.

Tell your children never to share personal and private information with anyone online. This includes, but is

not limited to, his or her full name, age, birth date, address, phone number, social insurance number, credit

card information and parents’ full names.

Limit the amount of time that your children spend on social media platforms and talk about the importance of

healthy and appropriate use of technology.

2020 March Break Maple Syrup Days at the Jack Smythe Field Centre

Open House

Wednesday, March 18 - Saturday, March 21

10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature as spring blossoms. Jack Smythe Field Centre offers an

exceptional family experience with a visit to the Maple Syrup Sugar Bush. Join in on an authentic

Canadian tradition.

For a number of years, the Peel Field Centres have invited the public for an awe-inspiring visit to our

outstanding Maple Sugar Bush during the March break. Individuals and families are invited to get

involved as spring comes to life. Help empty sap buckets, tap trees or sample some freshly made maple

syrup as we celebrate the new syrup season. Take a hike along our tranquil trails and feed the friendly

chickadees by hand.

Discover the importance of Ontario’s first harvest and witness some of the many ways both sweet water

and maple syrup are made in this region. Your visit would not be complete without a trip to the sugar

shack where the sap will boil and clouds of sweet smelling steam will billow out of the chimney. Have a

taste of the freshly made syrup: it’s going to be sweet!

The cost is $5.00/adult and $4.00/child 12 and under.

Lunch will be available for purchase. It will include: hot chocolate, cookies and hotdogs for you to roast

over an open fire. Please note that all payments are “cash” only.

For more information, please contact the Jack Smythe Field Centre at 1-905-877-7771.

Directions to Jack Smythe Field Centre, 14592 Winston Churchill Blvd., Terra Cotta:

North on Mississauga Rd.

Left on King St. (You will see Credit View P.S. on your left)

Right on Winston Churchill Blvd. (You will pass the Terra Cotta Conservation Area on your left)

to the top of the hill

Left into the Jack Smythe site.

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.

Talking With Children and Youth About Mental Health Concerns From the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team

It can be challenging to talk about mental health concerns - especially to our own children! As parents

(like others), we sometimes avoid the conversation because we don’t know how to start, or we worry

that by expressing concerns, we will make the situation worse. However, it is important to remember

that acknowledging and discussing worries, concerns, or changes in behaviour openly and honestly with

our children is more likely to open up lines of communication rather than worsen the situation.

Here are some tips to consider if you want to talk to your child about mental health concerns:

To begin the conversation, find a quiet time when you are unlikely to be interrupted.

Reassure your child that they can be open and honest, without you getting angry (even if you

become scared or worried by the information they disclose).

Describe the changes that you have noticed in your child’s mood, behaviour, or reactions. For

example, “I have noticed that you are crying more often since school started” or “I have noticed

that you seem more frustrated recently.”

Try to label or “name” your child’s emotions and thoughts. For example, “I wonder if you’re

feeling sad about losing your friendship with Sam” or “I wonder if you are thinking that this cannot

be fixed.”

Allow your child time to reflect and respond. Silence is okay.

Be persistent. If your child responds with “nothing is wrong...leave me alone,” reassure your child

that you are there for them. Give your child some time and revisit the conversation again.

If your child tells you anything that makes you increasingly concerned, reassure them that you are

glad they told you, offer to help them find the right professional to talk to, and reinforce that you

will be there for them throughout the journey.

Remember, for many children and youth, everyday loving support from caring adults will be enough to help them thrive.

However, some children and youth require additional help. Ask your child’s teacher or Principal about

the mental health supports and services offered within schools. There are also community resources that

provide mental health support to children, youth, and families.

To access child and youth mental health services in the Region of Peel, visit wheretostart.ca.

The Mental Health Resource Team has also created a Peel Youth Mental Health Resources

handout that you can access here: bit.ly/PeelYouthResources.

Consider the Kids’ Help Phone Resources Around Me service (web: kidshelpphone.ca).

Make an appointment with your family doctor or nurse practitioner to ask about additional

supports.

For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them

on Twitter @MHRTPeel.