THE MCKINNON

PIPER

Trustee: Ms. Nokha Dakroub

nokha.dakroub@peelsb.com December 2015

http://schools.peelschools.org/1318/Pages/default.aspx

December News!!!

This past fall has certainly not been business as usual, but we are very happy to see that the

labour issues are behind us and that there is much to look forward to here at McKinnon. Our

Kindergarten staff were so happy to move into the new addition this September. Those new

rooms have helped us have a warm welcome to our first year kindergarten friends and helped the

rest of the school get settled much faster than this time last year. Our yard is slowly coming

back to full use and everyone is excited about the new sod and new trees planted in the back.

Plans are also under way for a new learning garden to be started in the spring.

In the school, many students are actively involved in a number of clubs, intramurals and

leadership activities. As much as possible, we are encouraging students to get involved when they

can. Currently, several students are leading our annual Food Drive for the Salvation Army. Non-

perishable food items are being collected right up until December 15th. Items collected are being

sorted and organized by students, who are also working hard to get the message of giving out to

all our students.

Parent involvement is also something we encourage and if you are able to, please join us at our

next School Council Meeting, Monday, December 7th at 7:00 PM in the library. There are plans

for a number of evening parent events in the new year so please look for further communication

around those presentations.

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Ken Diana Steve Paas

Principal (Acting) Vice-Principal

THE GIVING TREE As part of our Caring values and Grade 5 Pioneer Leadership at McKinnon, the

Grade 5 students are taking on a leadership role in building supportive

communities by collecting donations for families who are experiencing some

challenging circumstances. These donations will be forwarded to the Salvation

Army Food Drive. The community is invited to share the spirit of giving this

season by placing donations of non-perishable food items under the Giving Tree

between December 1st to December 15th. We also invite parents and students to

send in new hats and mittens to donate as well as decorate our tree in the foyer. Help

us to help community members in need and support this month’s school-wide theme of Building

Supportive Communities during the Festival of Lights. We recognize that many of our own families are

experiencing difficult circumstances in these fiscal times in Ontario. Please let Mr. Diana or Mr. Paas

(acting VP) know if we may assist you directly before we forward the donations to the Salvation Army.

Please be assured that any such request would be handled in a confidential manner. In order to support

our community further, the staff requests that, in lieu of “a present for the teacher”, donations be sent

to place under the tree. The staff would accept appreciatively any “home made” card, notes, etc. from

the children, as an alternative to gifts, if your children wish to express special thoughts in some way.

LUNCH TIME Please ensure your child has a lunch every day before coming to school. If you are dropping

off a lunch for your child, please have it here no later than 11:15 A.M. Lunch is eaten from

11:25 to 11:55 A.M. Bringing in a late lunch impacts your child because he/she doesn’t have a

chance to eat and socialize with their friends. Packing a lunch the night before helps with

the morning routine and ensures that your child has a lunch.

MOVING OUT OF THE SCHOOL AREA OVER THE HOLIDAYS???

Please advise the office before December 18th at 905 812-2544 if you will be

moving over the holidays. If so, we wish you all the best!

DATES TO REMEMBER Please note the following upcoming special events:

School Council Meeting – Monday, December 7th – 7:00 P.M.

Seasonal Songs - Week of December 15th

Christmas Break – Monday December 21st – Friday January 1st

ATTENDANCE PHONE CALLS Please call the ATTENDANCE NUMBER, at 905-812-2544 and press #1 before

8:30 A.M. indicating your child’s name, grade, teacher’s name and reason for

absence or if they are coming in late. The Attendance Line is a 24–hour

number. Please DO NOT leave attendance messages on teacher’s voice mails.

Students who arrive at school after morning announcements must report to the

office, sign in and pick up a green admit slip. This way, the office knows that the

child has arrived safely and we can revise the school attendance record to read “late” and not “unknown”.

STUDENT RECOGNITION AWARDS McKinnon P.S. is a caring place to be. The following students demonstrated collaboration,

communication and personal growth in many ways and have been honoured with our monthly Student

Recognition awards. Congratulations to the following students:

Aashka A Rohit A. Rayah A. Sohana H. Zayd B. Amna K. Azaan K.

Amir M. Janice L. Aries Y. Hannah T. Ariel Y. Uno I. Kamal A.

Sania K. Lama A. Malak M. Vanessa P. Ali A. Jana D. Rachel H.

Zafreen S. Tyler W. Mahad Q. Aseel E. Rayyan R. Simar C. Iffah S.

Yousif Y. Angela R. Atul B. Mehsam M. Marwa N. Ula B. Navin J.

Yasmeen K. Mazen A. Zahra M. Shufei M. Ayaan A. Sara A. Mazen E.

Maaz M. Jasmine C. Zaynab S. Bhavini P. Danish I. Ryan James J. Abeer A.

Sama J. Yuka Y. Omar M. Eva P. Thusi S. Dylan T. Tiara H.

Nasvin J. Sourojeet A. Faisal M. Tanya S. Hana D. Abhishana J. Zayn B.

Ahmad A. Khadija N. Julia V. Alishba A. Enji A. Arman N. Amir H.

Mariam R. Kavya S. Riya D. Layson L. Akshaya R. Zakariya S. Shatha A.

Krish D. Shanthoash U. Khizar H. Omar E. Carter D. Alexis G.

NURTURING CRITICAL THINKING AT HOME

Critical thinking is a buzzword at school and as parents, we wonder what this means in

the 21st century classroom with technology and multiple resources available to our

children at the click of the mouse. It is open-ended and complex thinking that allows

for multiple responses and various perspectives. You can also foster critical thinking at

home by encouraging them to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate new information. Here are

some tips:

Ask questions that encourage multiple correct answers, and ask them casually, rather than quizzing.

For example, if your child enjoys playing chess and likes to play it on a chessboard or a computer, you

can ask: How would you show another way of playing? Why do you think it is better to play face to

face than with the computer? What would happen if you changed the format?

Engage your child(ren) in thoughtful discussions about the most efficient way to do household

chores, considering the most economical purchase to make at the grocery store and why. Describing

how you think and solve problems is the best way for you to foster similar thinking patterns in your

children.

Use verbs such as create, design, organize, judge, compare, predict, explain

The process of thinking can be emphasized through simple discussions and interactions. The ultimate

goal is for our children to use critical-thinking strategies in everyday life without prompting. So, when

your child(ren) comes home from school, say to him/her, “Ask me about my day today.” Then once you’ve

shared, you can ask, “Tell me about your day today.” Listen to the multiple responses and possibilities

that this question can bring.

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF PEEL REGION (STOPR) STOPR is responsible for administering the transportation policy for the Peel

District School Board and for planning and implementation of the

transportation for all eligible students within Peel Region.

Contacting STOPR:

STOPR operations are divided into 3 defined zones, East, West and Special Needs Transportation. The East and West zones manage all regular home to school busing for all of Peel

Region and the dividing line between these zones is generally Kennedy Road.

When calling into the STOPR office for school bus information, please make sure that you have your

child’s Ontario Educational Number (OEN) available. The OEN number can be found on your child’s report

card or is available from your school.

STOPR staff will ask for your child’s OEN to ensure your child’s personal transportation information is

secure and is shared only with the appropriate person.

Telephone contact: (905) 890-6000 (East, West and Special Needs Transportation) Toll free: 1-800-668-1140

STOPR Web Site:

We recommend that you take a moment to review our web site as it is available to you 24 hours per day 7

days per week at: www.stopr.ca

Also, if your child’s bus is late, please check the website for any delays or cancellations.

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 and television stations listed below and posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca. Information will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146. VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680 CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1 CFRB AM1010 EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860 FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107 CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CTV CITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS 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 bussing 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.

It's time to register children born in 2012 for kindergarten We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2012, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2016. 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. 1 to 4, 2016. Visit McKinnon P.S. from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 4. 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 arrangement Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated

Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 29, 2016

If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2016, 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 2016-17 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Monday, Nov. 23, 2015 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 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 Oscar Peterson P.S. The phone number is 905-569-6261. 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 Oscar Peterson P.S. at 905-569-6261. Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/

Special technology offers for Peel board students, parents and staff

Does your child need a computer or tablet for school? Equity of

access to technology is a key priority for the Peel board. That's why we've worked with a number of technology companies to offer discounted devices to Peel families and staff.

Renewed Computer Technology (RCT) offers low-cost, quality refurbished computers to families with a low-income. Qualified applicants can purchase: desktop for $60 laptop for $150

Prices include software, a two-year warranty and tax. For more information, contact RCT directly, call 905-795-0627 or visit their website at www.rcto.ca.

Peel families now have access to the following exclusive offers from VIG Solutions:

Intel Dual Core, 2GB, 160GB computer with a 17-inch LCD monitor -- $110 10-inch netbook with 1GB ram, 160GB hard drive, Wi-Fi capability and Windows 7 -- $60.

Taxes and shipping will be applied to product costs, and all items come with a six-month warranty. To purchase products, visit www.refurbitstock.ca/peel and enter peelregion before proceeding.

Microsoft Microsoft offers reduced pricing on select products. For more information, visit http://pdsb.me/1X2RtMF. The Peel board’s initiatives are part of the ongoing effort to create greater equity of access to technology

for Peel students, parents and staff and do not represent an endorsement of any company or product. For all BYOD information, visit www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stcentury/byod.

Time for school - A parent’s guide to regular school attendance Elementary school is a wonderful time in the life of a child, a time of great strides in learning and in social and emotional development. Many things affect your child’s success, from the quality of his or her teachers, to the makeup of the class. One of the most important factors is your child’s regular and timely attendance. Getting to class on time, and avoiding absences, are critical if your child is to get the most out of school. It seems obvious. But the fact is that elementary students tend to miss and average of eight or more school days during the year. What can you as a parent do to help ensure your child’s proper attendance?

Is your child missing more? Why does attendance matter? First, understand that getting to school–every day and on time–matters at every level, perhaps even more so in elementary school. That’s because important learning occurs daily, right from the start of class. And because you establish patterns early on. By being punctual and responsible, children are acquiring positive habits about school attendance. Some other things to consider:

By being late, children miss important social time with their peers before school begins.

Students who are late often feel embarrassed or self-conscious.

Late arrivals can disrupt the routine of the classroom.

A last-minute rush can be stressful for the child, and get her to school in the wrong frame of mind.

Missing even five or 10 minutes of the day can make it harder for the student to understand the material being taught.

Frequent absenteeism leads to gaps in a child’s skills and knowledge base, cause the child to fall behind his peers and hurt his self-esteem.

Too many missed school days can increase isolation, as the child stands out from her classmates and misses opportunities to develop socially.

Absenteeism makes it tougher for the child to develop a good rapport with the teachers.

When Time is Ticking Few homes run like clockwork. The morning routine, especially, can be a mad scramble. But there are effective strategies for getting your little one up and out the door on time.

Get your child to bed at a reasonable hour.

Set realistic and consistent schedules and rules at home. Getting ready for school should be part of the child’s overall routine, something that’s expected of him every day.

The night before school, do whatever is necessary to shave time in the morning, such as setting out clothes, packing lunch, and setting schoolbags at the door.

Have a set morning routine that the child can easily follow, i.e washing hands and face, going to the bathroom, dressing, making the bed, brushing teeth, and eating a healthy breakfast.

Avoid any distractions that can slow the child down, like TV or games.

If you’re running late regularly, set your alarm to get up earlier.

Is it a sick day? Children do get sick sometimes – they are still developing natural resistance to certain infections, their hygiene behaviours are still developing and germs spread more easily in a classroom. So some missed school is unavoidable, for the child’s own well-being, and the protection of her classmates. But there are ways to cut down on sick days.

Teach your child about proper hand washing, after going to the bathroom, playing outside or wiping his nose.

Follow other healthy habits, from eating nutritious food to getting enough sleep.

Some symptoms make school attendance uncomfortable, like a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. But if you’re unsure whether your child is sick enough to miss school, talk to your doctor.

Some children pretend to be sick to avoid school. Ask yourself is the child’s symptoms are vague, (i.e. a headache, upset stomach, fatigue), if your child tends to miraculously recover just after school starts or ends, or if the illness is happening during stressful times at school or at home. Allowing your child to remain home when there’s no real illness sets a bad pattern.

If you decide to keep your child home, inform the school and keep the child in bed or doing quiet, low-key activities. A day off from school shouldn’t be a holiday, it should be a time to recuperate from illness, so the child can return as soon as possible.

Set the right example

Children follow the lead of their parents. If you place an importance on regular and prompt school attendance, so will your child.

Show interest in your child’s education by asking about the school day, celebrating school successes, attending school events and parent-teacher interviews, volunteering at school, and communicating with your child’s teacher. The more you value school, the more your child will.

Provide a home environment that encourages learning and curiosity.

Treat the school hours with respect. If you have to make an appointment for your child, arrange it before or after school or, if that’s not possible, at the very beginning or end of the day.

When it comes to planning family trips, some parents will factor in the schedule in the higher grades, but think little of pulling their child out of school. If anything, younger students can be affected more when they miss an extended period, finding it tough to relearn classroom routines and rejoin their peer group. Learning is cumulative, building on the skills and concepts that were introduced before. And this process is ongoing. Family trips can be wonderful learning experiences themselves. But if they must occur during the school year, please save them for scheduled breaks.

If your child resists going to school, for no apparent reason, talk to him or her about any possible problems with the school, teacher or other kids. However, don’t give in to coaxing, pleading or threatening and keep the child at home. That creates a bad precedent.

Need more information? If you have any questions regarding any of the issues raised here about lateness or attendance, or if you’re looking for other tips on getting your child to school, please talk to us. By working together, we can help support a more successful school experience for your child. Visit our website at www.peelschools.org.

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