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Whitehorn psWhitehorn PS Newsletter January 2017/Important Information from PDSB (1-14)

Whitehorn Public School5785 Whitehorn Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L5V 2A9 Tel: (905) 819-9807 Fax: (905) 819-8250 Web Site: http://whitehorn.peelschools.org

WHITEHORN "PEAK" – Participation, Effort, Achievement, Kindness A special welcome to all students and their families who are attending Whitehorn for the first time! The student agenda has been prepared to provide you with important information about our school. You will be able to access monthly newsletters at: http://Whitehorn.peelschools.orgFrom the desk of the Principal and the Vice Principal: Mrs. Manners & Mrs Dube

Happy New Year! Welcome Back!

Every New Year is a fresh start for all of us. As we continue focusing on our school success

goals, PEAK periods will incorporate our board’s Character Values throughout the school. All

classrooms will be integrating Learning Goals, success criteria and mathematical strategies to

improve Communication. Any support you can offer to nurture Communication through

Literacy/Numeracy activities at home is strongly encouraged.

Hope to see you at school events! Please visit the School newsletter website:

Web Site: http://whitehorn.peelschools.org

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Whitehorn PSImportant dates: 2017

December 26-January 6 Winter Break (No School)

January 9 School re-opens

January 23 Report Writing Day (No School)

January 24, 25 Peel Safety Village. Gr.1’s

January 26 Ski Trip Gr.4’s, Gr.5’s

February 8 School Council Meeting #3

(Additional dates in Classroom Newsletters)

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Tips for Parents of English Language Learners Make sure your child is prepared for school. This means they are getting plenty of rest and assistance on homework assignments.

Work with your child's teacher. Talk about what you've noticed, progress that's been made and ask questions about what they think may help your child.

Have fun with language! Play games such as Scrabble and Boggle to help with English spelling. Use I SPY and ABC Books to increase vocabulary in a fun way. Read the comics in both languages and play games where you think of words in one language and your child has to think of the same word in the other language.

(From our ESL Teachers)

Bus cancellation & closing schools due to bad weather

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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 and television stations listed below and will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1NEWSTALK1010 AM EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSEGLOBAL NEWS CTV BREAKFAST TELEVISION

One of the following messages will be announced (highlighted text only):

Peel District School Board buses are cancelled. This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require busing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual.

All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed. This means that all schools and 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 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 Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

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Help your family stay warm this winter

Peel Public Health recommends the following cold weather guidelines for preventing cold-weather injuries:

1. Reduce amount of time children (grade 8 and under) spend outdoors when the temperature is –20 degrees Celsius or colder, with or without the wind chill.

2. Keep children indoors when the temperature is -25 degrees Celsius or colder, with or without wind chill. Some medical conditions may increase sensitivity to cold. Parents should consult their physician (Source: Environment Canada). 

3. Allow indoor breaks if children say they are feeling cold or during extreme temperatures.

4. Ensure children are dressed warmly, covering exposed skin: insulated boots, winter weight coats, mittens, hats, neck warmers.

5. Change wet clothing or footwear immediately.

6. Although these conditions are unlikely to occur during the school day, ensure that all staff are able to recognize and treat symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia. Given plenty of warm fluids to prevent dehydration.

7. When children are outside, be watchful for shivering or signs of numbness in faces, ears, hands or feet.

8. Educate children in dealing with cold weather: drinking plenty of fluids, dressing warmly, and recognizing signs of cold injury.

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It's time to register children born in 2013 for kindergarten

We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2013, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2017.  You can register your child at any time during regular school hours—just visit the school he/she will be attending to register.

Peel schools will also hold a Kindergarten Registration Week with special registration activities during Feb. 6 to 9, 2017. Visit Whitehorn PS from 10:00 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Feb. 6, 7, 8 and from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 pm. on Feb.9, 2017.

What you will need to bring to registration

Proof of child's age (one of the following) Canadian birth certificate Canadian passport citizenship card/certificate Permanent Resident Card confirmation of permanent residence work permit refugee permit

 Proof of address (one of the following) Ontario driver's license utility bill bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution) credit card statement federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada

documents) purchase agreement

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

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Middle School Regional Learning Choices Programs

Regional Learning Choices Programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower students by providing an opportunity to develop and explore skills in a particular area of interest. These programs are open to all students who meet the criteria for acceptance.

Information NightsStudents 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. If you are unable to attend the information night, program details and information about the application process are available through the school.  How to applyThe application process for elementary regional programs opens in mid-January 2017. Application dates for middle school programs vary from school to school. The application window for our secondary regional programs has closed for this school year.

Visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms to learn more about our programs, application process and transportation eligibility.

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Health and Physical Education Curriculum supports the physical, emotional and social well-being of students Working together to keep our students safe and healthy

The Peel District School Board implemented the Ministry of Education’s revised Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum in the 2015-16 school year. The curriculum is divided into four elements that work together to support the physical, emotional and social well-being of students:

active living movement competence living skills healthy living

Peel staff will again teach the human development and sexual health component to students, beginning spring 2017. This provides time for teachers to develop strong relationships with their students prior to this phase.

Advance notice letters will be sent home with students two weeks prior to the human development/sexual health lessons. Families can submit religious accommodation requests at any time prior to the lesson by contacting the school directly.

To get more information on how the HPE curriculum will be taught, please visit our website at www.peelschools.org/HPE.

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Help your teen plan for course selections for 2017-18

As our partners, families are encouraged to help prepare their teens for course selection. We encourage you to become familiar with the process by creating a myBlueprint account. Additionally, parents/guardians and students can review Chart Your Course, the Peel District School Board’s common course calendar, at www.peelschools.org/students/commoncoursecalendar. This guide will help you understand the course selection process and provide information on the courses and programs offered in Peel secondary schools. 

You can visit www.myBlueprint.ca/Peel to access your own myBlueprint account, an online planning tool, to explore features such as:  

High School –  plan courses, track progress toward graduation, and instantly identify post-secondary eligibility for opportunities in every pathway

Post-Secondary planner– compare detailed information on apprenticeships, college programs, university programs and workplace sectors

Career spectrum for finding your learning style Portfolios – create several portfolios (e.g. Career Portfolio) and share them with

parents, teachers, or future employers. It’s simple to add work you have completed in myBlueprint or add pictures and videos

Job Search – find real-world job and volunteering postings that relate to occupations of interest

Goals – add interactive SMART goals and action plans Resumes & Cover Letters – record experiences, build a resume, write a cover

letter Occupations – compare comprehensive information on occupations Money – build a budget to track income and expenses

The secondary school course selection process is open from Dec. 5, 2016 to Feb. 21, 2017. If you have questions or are looking for course suggestions, please contact your teen’s teachers or guidance counsellor.

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Conference helps parents make a difference in numeracy and beyond

The Peel District School Board is hosting its annual parent conference on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at Mississauga Secondary School in Mississauga. Once again, the conference will focus on numeracy—25 out of 60 workshops help with math. Parents will still have the opportunity to attend workshops on other topics, including literacy, special education and science.

This free learning event is open to Peel parents of students at all grade levels.

Registration opens Feb.1, 2017

Stay up-to-date!For more information, look out for the conference flyer at your child's school or visit www.peelschools.org/parents/conference.

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Apply for Extended French by Jan. 27, 2017

If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2017, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to consider Extended French (EF). To find out more about the program, visit www.peelschools.org/French

The application form for Grade 7 EF for the 2017-18 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 at 1 p.m.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will be placed on the school’s waitlist.

The EF school for our area is Green Glade Sr. PS. The phone number is 905 822-8386.

How to get more information

Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/French. Call Green Glade school. Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.

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Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 27, 2017

If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2017, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to consider French Immersion (FI). To find out more about the program, visit www.peelschools.org/French

The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2017-18 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will not be included in the random selection process and will be placed on the school’s waitlist.

The FI school for our area is Hazel McCallion Sr. PS. The phone number is 905 858-1133.

Enrolment cap and random selection process  As there is a grade 1 FI enrolment cap in place, there are a limited number of spots available for students entering the program. The cap is set at 25 per cent of all Peel students enrolled in grade 1.

Spots are not assigned on a first come, first served basis. A random selection process system is used to identify students gaining entrance into the grade 1 FI program.

All students who apply by the deadline will be assigned a rank using a computerized random selection process. Once students have been assigned to all available spots, remaining students will be placed, again in rank order, on the school's waitlist. Each school has its own waitlist.

How to get more information

Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/French. Call Hazel McCallion Sr. PS. Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.

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Winter bus safety

The following winter school bus safety tips will help to keep your child safe throughout the winter months.

Allow extra time to get to your bus stop. Wear bright clothing so the bus can see you in the early morning and late evening. Stand away from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room to stop when there is snow

and ice. Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping on wet or icy steps or

road surfaces. Dress properly—winter clothing, hats, and boots will keep you warm. Don't throw snowballs at the bus or other children waiting for the bus. Don't slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the street. Don't push or shove around the bus. Someone could fall down on the ice and get hurt.

On very rare occasions, buses are late because of weather conditions or mechanical problems. Talk to your child about what to do if the bus is late. Here are some suggestions:

When possible, wait with your child for the bus. Make sure your child knows a phone number where he can reach you or another trusted

adult. Teach your child how and where to get help. Talk to your child about what a "safe" stranger

is. Help your child set up a bus stop buddy system so your child has someone to wait with for

the bus.

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Nutritious lunches help children learn

Use Canada’s Food Guide to help your child get nutrients and energy needed to have a successful school day.

Try to give your child some choice about what to take for lunch. If possible, get your child involved in preparing meals.

Give your child a variety of healthy choices. Keeping your child interested in lunch is the first step to making sure it is eaten.

Make the food easy to eat. If it will take your child a few minutes to unwrap a sandwich, it may be skipped.

Resist the temptation to routinely send sweets, pop, chips and cookies in your child's lunch. Save treats for special occasions.

Try to avoid fast food or pre-packaged, convenience lunches, which are often high in salt and fat.

Do your best to role model healthy eating behaviours for your family.

To speak to a registered dietitian about healthy food choices, call EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-5102.

For more information about the policy, visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools. If you have questions about how we are implementing the School Food and Beverage Policy, please call the school at 905 819-9807.