THE MCKINNON

PIPER

Trustee: Ms. Meredith Johnson

416-706-9215 January 2014

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

HAPPY NEW YEAR! As we enter into the last month of Term One, it is a good opportunity to reflect on the many ways

in which the McKinnon school community has lived up to its motto of being a “Caring Place to Be”.

The parents and students have time and time again supported both local and global initiatives like

the annual Terry Fox walk, local Legions on Remembrance Day, typhoon relief for the Philippines,

candy grams for the Eric Walters “Creation of Hope Project”, and our annual food and mitts & hat

drive. On behalf of the staff at McKinnon, we wish to thank you most appreciatively for all the

ways in which you have shown tremendous support for our wonderful school and community! This

generosity is a very positive example for our students.

We know your children benefit from learning in a school which has such a happy, positive and child

centered atmosphere. As school leaders, we have always believed that effective schools have

caring parents and teachers working closely together for the children.

Last month we had an opportunity to gather as a school community to celebrate in song and dance

with the wonderful grade two and three concerts and then our daily sing-a-longs during the last

week of school. Thank you to all the staff for your hard work in organizing these events.

The entire staff at McKinnon extends warm wishes to our students & their families for a safe,

happy & meaningful holiday season & we look forward to continuing this partnership in 2014! Ken Diana Anjali Tshering

Ken Diana Anjali Tshering

Principal Vice-Principal

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

It's time to register children born in 2010 for Full Day Kindergarten

Register at McKinnon Public School on Feb. 4, 5, 6 & 7

We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in Kindergarten! If your child was born in 2010, he or she can start Full Day Kindergarten in September 2014. Registration will be held at our

school from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 4, 5, 6 & 7 and 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 6.

What you will need to bring to registration

Proof of child's age Canadian birth certificate

Canadian passport

citizenship card/certificate

Permanent Resident Card

confirmation of permanent residence

work permit

refugee permit

Proof of address

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

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

Supportive Communities” this past month in many ways and have been honoured with our

monthly Student Recognition awards. Students are also recognized for making a special

effort to walk to school. We appreciate their contribution in developing a healthy

lifestyle and helping to care for our environment. Congratulations to the following caring

students: Lama A. Vishnu S. Sawera M. Aarush S. Michelle M. Rachel H. Faris N.

Samir O. Fardeen S. Ann D. KaranvirS. Rais E. Asiyah H. Mustafa T.

Malik C. Nadeen N. Avinash C. Sarvesh R. Belinda Z. Sarim S. Jessica R.

Suvethaa U. Aliyan R. Ethan L. Limar T. Isaac H. Alastair P. Kalki D.

Leen M. Adam E. Zaraib W. Agha L. Abdullah H. Mera S. Armaan N.

Raayan A. Abdullah K. Bhavini P. Tanya S. Yuka Y. Abishana J. Fatimah R.

Jahaan J. Tegh S. Aashir S. Shatha A Shaun M. Zewen H. Lujine F.

Sahij B. Atiya E. Zaynab S. Hamza A. Yukta K. James F. Riya D.

Sommer J. Ricky J. Zakariya S. Danial J. Rohan A. Vanjay S. Mustafa R.

Cyrus F. Kristen M. Yilin J. Hannah C. Aashir K. William J. Amir R.

Hoda E.J. Dhruv C. Simeon W. Tayyub B. Halla R. Aneet B. William E.

Fionn B. Ali S. Samuel S. Daylia F. Risini A. David T. Kelly I.

Cade B. Junior J. Sommer J. Caleb C. Kaleb Y. Julius J. Alyssa S.

Lola M. William T.

WALK TO SCHOOL AWARDS Students continue to participate in an incentive program to keep the “walking” spirit

alive! We encourage everyone to walk to school (or at least drive to a walk to school

route and let your child(ren) walk the remainder of the way to school. The Walk-to-

School winners for the month of December are:

Gr. 1 from Mrs. Khan‟s class – Apple W. Gr. 2 from Mrs. Gritter‟s class – George L.

Gr. 3 from Mrs. Brar’s class – Kaelen J. Gr. 4 from Mrs. Mehra‟s class – Dana N.

Gr. 5 from Mrs. Sharma Mehta‟s class – Rawan A.

JANUARY’S THEME January's theme is "Children's Rights" which reminds all of us that children

throughout the world have the same rights as anyone else regardless of their

age. They have the right to love, care, and protection. All children should be

engaged in spontaneous and enjoyable play inside and outside the school. It is a

fundamental right for children to be literate and learn everyday in school. By

discussing these global rights in class, it is hoped that we empower our own

children to take responsibility for their own learning and behaviour both at school and with our

families and communities. As we start off a new year, students will also be encouraged setting

goals to improve their school grade levels and Learning Skills. The sentence starters used in class

to make these values "come alive" are:

I am responsible for…

I try to improve by…

I help my friends with their goals by…

All children have the right to food, clean water, and shelter.

We hope these lessons spark some interesting family discussions and will support positive

attitudes and behaviour both in school and at home.

DATES TO REMEMBER Please note the following upcoming special events:

Monday, January 6th – Classes Resume

Wednesday, January 8th – Pizza Lunch begins

Monday, January 20th – PD Day – No School for students

Wednesday, January 15th – Kindergarten Pizza Day

January 23rd & 24th – Dental Screening for JK, SK and Grade 2s

Friday, January 31st – Final day of registration for French Immersion

Tuesday, February 11th – School Council Meeting

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 late 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”.

NURTURING HEALTH AND WELLNESS AT HOME Parenting can be challenging at times as we juggle between home, family, work and social

responsibilities. Our children, however, keep us on the go and refreshed. Their innocent view of

the world remind us to appreciate „simple things‟ in life. Here are some ideas:

Simplify what we have and do – the more we have and do, the more there is for us to keep on top

of. Easier said than done but once in a while, reducing our commitments and focussing on our

priorities can increase our time to do other things.

Find time to play – being with your children to play, cuddle, read good books and engage in

thoughtful conversations is uplifting and guarantees quality time with them.

Create space just for yourself - do something for yourself that you enjoy even if it is only once

a week such as walking, exercising, yoga, meditation, reading and listening to music.

Spend time with friends – create time to be surrounded with friends who are positive, reassuring

and supportive.

Prioritize eating healthy foods - choose healthy foods for you and your children – foods with less

sugar content, preservatives and colours. We need lots of energy to keep up with our children, so

rest and sleep well rather than pushing yourself beyond your limits.

Build self- esteem – celebrate the things we like about ourselves and our children by making a list

of the things you are all good at and the things you love most about your children. Talking about

your own and your children‟s strengths builds self esteem and positive attitude.

Ask for help if you are feeling stretched – when in need, reach out and ask someone for a hand.

Our friends and people around us usually don‟t mind being asked.

Most importantly, be caring and kind to yourself and your loved ones. If we imagine ourselves

as a cup filled with liquid, we need to be overflowing to be able to offer to our children. We need

to keep our cup full.

Before School, Lunchtime and After School Programs PLASP Child Care Services operates Before and After School Programs and a Lunch Program at this school. The Before School Program operates from 7:30 a.m. until school start. A nutritious breakfast is served daily. The Lunch Program provides a healthy lunch three days a week from 11:25 a.m. to 12:25 p.m. The After School Program runs from the end of the school day until 6:00 p.m. Children participate in recreational activities, are served a nutritious snack daily and have time for homework.

Register Today!

Fee assistance is available.

To register your child, visit the PLASP Program Director, Before School or After School. For further

information, call 905-890-1711 or visit the website at www.plasp.com.

CLOSING SCHOOLS BECAUSE OF BAD WEATHER

During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of bad weather. The board decides by 6:30 a.m. whether to cancel buses or close schools. To find out if busing is cancelled or schools closed, visit www.peelschools.org or call 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146. You will receive one of the following messages: Peel District School Board buses are cancelled. Schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require busing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, daycare and other activities in schools will operate as usual. All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed. Due to weather conditions, schools and board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, including daycare, night school and permits. All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled. Due to weather conditions, 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. Due to weather conditions, all activities in schools and board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF PEEL REGION (STOPR) BUS CANCELLATIONS/SCHOOL CLOSING DUE TO BAD WEATHER

2013 – 2014 SCHOOL YEAR During the winter months inclement weather may cause disruption of bus transportation and regular school operations. A decision to cancel school transportation and/or to close schools is usually made by 6:00 a.m. and will be announced on the following radio and television stations: VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 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 CITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS CTV We will be communicating one of four standard messages to the radio stations. The four announcements and their effect on the transportation system are as follows: (Please note that the highlighted text only will be communicated by the radio stations).

1. “DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES SERVING

ST. ANDREW, ST. BENEDICT AND ST. PETER ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND R.F. HALL SECONDARY SCHOOL ARE CANCELLED FOR TODAY.”

2. “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES IN THE TOWN OF CALEDON AND THE COUNTY OF DUFFERIN ARE CANCELLED”. This means that all runs listed under announcement #l PLUS the following are cancelled.

All schools in the Town of Caledon and all school runs that begin in the Town of Caledon.

Individual schools will be notified if this cancellation affects their school.

3. “THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD BUSES ARE CANCELLED.” This means that: ALL Transportation services provided by the Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and The Peel District School Board, including buses, vans and taxis have been cancelled for the entire day.

4. “THE SCHOOLS AND OFFICES OF BOTH THE DUFFERIN-PEEL CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD AND THE PEEL DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD ARE CLOSED.” This means that:

ALL Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board and Peel District School Board schools and offices are closed to all students and staff.

Note: For Secondary School students riding Public Transit, cancellation of service will be communicated by the respective transit property over the radio. Please be advised that Public Transit rarely cancels and that the level of service on days with inclement weather is unpredictable.

REGISTER FOR FRENCH IMMERSION BY JAN. 31, 2014

Are you thinking of registering your child for French Immersion (FI)? For the 2014-15 school year, parents must

register children for entry into grade 1 FI by 4 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 31, 2014.

Registration for FI is available through an online registration form at

www.peelschools.org/parents/programs/French/registration.

The FI school for our area is OSCAR PETERSON P.S. Their phone number is 905-569-6261.

Registration process

A grade 1 FI enrolment cap is in place. This means that a specific number of spots are available for students

entering grade 1 FI. If the number of students registered by the deadline exceeds the number of spots in grade 1

FI, a random selection process system will be used to identify students gaining entrance into the grade 1 FI

program.

All students who make the registration deadline will be placed in a random selection process and assigned a rank

using a computerized random selection process. Spots are not assigned on a first come, first served basis. Once

students have been assigned to all available spots, remaining students will be placed, again in rank order, on the

school's waitlist.

Some students will be automatically placed in grade 1 FI. To find out if your child does not need to participate in

the random selection process, and for more information about the random selection and waitlist processes, visit

www.peelschools.org/parents/programs/French/registration.

How to get more information

Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/parents/programs/French/registration.

Call Oscar Peterson P.S. at 905-569-6261.

Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at www.cpfont.on.ca.

CONFERENCE HELPS PARENTS 'MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN

LITERACY AND BEYOND'

Make a difference in literacy and beyond – practical ways parents can boost learning is on Saturday, March 29th

,

2014 at Mississauga Secondary School in Mississauga. This free learning event is open to Peel parents of

students at all grade levels.

choose from more than 40 practical workshops designed to help you help your child succeed in school

purchase educational materials from exhibitors

receive a free lunch, giveaways and more

Registration opens in February 2014

Stay up-to-date! For more information, look out for the conference brochure at your child's school in February. Conference

and registration information will also be available in February in the "Parents" section of

www.peelschools.org/parents/literacyconference/

IT'S TIME TO REGISTER CHILDREN BORN IN 2010 FOR KINDERGARTEN

Register at McKinnon P.S. on Feb. 4, 5, 6 & 7 We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child

was born in 2010, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2014. Registration will be held at our

school from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 4, 5, 6 and 7 and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 6th

.

What you will need to bring to registration

Proof of child's age Canadian birth certificate

Canadian passport

citizenship card/certificate

Permanent Resident Card

confirmation of permanent residence

work permit

refugee permit

Proof of address

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

Important information about immunization

In order to attend school in Ontario, your child must have an up-to-date immunization record. When you

register your child for school, you will provide copy of your child's immunization record and the school

will send it to Peel Health. After registration, keeping your child's records up to date is your

responsibility. Peel Health reviews immunization records regularly. Students who are not completely

immunized and do not have a valid exemption may not be allowed to attend school.

For information about immunization, or to get a copy of your child's record call Health Line Peel at 905-

799-7700; Caledon residents can call toll-free at 905-584-2216. Translation services are available.