PA DAYS - Upper Grand District School Board · Situations happen and ... Drop by the branch to fill in the blanks and tell us ... Creating Independent

June 2016 *** FOLLOW US ON TWITTER!!! @AberfoylePS ***

Thank You Volunteers! Hi A.C.E. families,

It is June and I really can’t believe it! Time really does move too quickly it seems. We have had so many successes this year that it is hard to count, but one area that I am very proud of is our volunteers. Our daily reading program has been a huge success because of people taking the time to come in and listen to students read. This daily opportunity for practice is so beneficial to increase reading levels and confidence and I really want to thank everyone who has been a part of this program especially parents and teachers for make this happen. I hope that we can continue this reading momentum into next year and I encourage everyone if they are interested and have an hour to spare sometime over the week to come in and be a part of this awesome program!

June is a busy month with many events happening during school. I encourage you to please try and make it out to the June Open House on the evening of June 14th to celebrate with us as a school community all the awesome things that have happened, the great learning we have done and a chance to share some of our inspiring talents. It really will be a time to reflect on what has been accomplished this year and to look forward to next year for even more excitement, ways to be involved and of course learning!

Grade 8 graduation is another big event in June and we want to take a moment to say thanks to all the grade 8s for being great examples to the rest of our students everyday and to say good luck as they leave our school and go on to new adventures. We wish you all the best on your journey and no matter where life takes you know that you will always be an A.C.E. student! Thanks for a great year, C. Guyitt PS. HAPPY FATHER’s DAY!

UP-COMING EVENTS

June EVENT

3rd PD Day School is Closed for students

7th Jr Track and Field at school

9th Favourite Book Character Day Intermediate City Track Competition

13th 17th Week of Giving

14th School Showcase in the evening

16th Junior City Track Competition

21st 24th Gr8s in Quebec

21st JK Orientation session 8:45 to 9:45am

22nd Colour Day

23rd Volunteer Appreciation Party @3pm

24th Gr 7 Field Trip

27th Term 2 Reports Go Home

28th Gr 8 Graduation

29th Last Day of School Appreciation Assembly

30th PD Day NO SCHOOL, Holidays Begin!

PA DAYS:There will be two more Professional Activity days this year. There are NO half days this year. Please note for childcare purposes that there is no school for students on the following days: June 3rd and June 30th.

Volume 2 Issue 10 ∙ June 2016 ∙ Follow us on Twitter: @AberfoylePS

Thinking Ahead If you are moving out of the school area this coming spring or summer, please let the office know as soon as possible to help in planning for next year.

Message from the

Elementary Superintendents of Education

RE: School Organization in the Fall of 2016

Schools will be building class lists based on their tentative organizations. Changes may be necessary at your child(ren)’s school in order that our Board remain compliant with Ministry parameters (see below). Any changes would be implemented by the end of September. Principals do not have the option of changing the school organization that is set by the District Staffing Committee of the Board. If changes affect your child(ren), you will be informed by the school.

Ministry of Education Parameters

Full Day Kindergarten Class Size Average for

the Board is 26 students

90% of the Board’s primary classes with 20

or fewer students

10% of the Board’s primary classes up to a

maximum of 23 students

Grade 3/4 classes have a cap of 23 students

Junior/Intermediate Class Size Average for

the Board is 25.2 students to 1 teacher

Aberfoyle’s Mission

Statement We are committed to inspiring students to be

lifelong critical thinkers and problem solvers who embrace the A.C.E. motto of Accepting

Responsibility, Caring for Others and Excelling Everyday.

Week of Giving Our Community Builders in connection with the Me To We Club have organized another amazing Week of Giving running from June 13th to the 17th. This is an awesome chance to show our community pride and how we can help others who need it most.

Monday, June 13

Food Bank drive (in need of dried beans, canned beans, tuna, etc.) children will watch Soccer Activity between teachers and soccer teams

Tuesday, June 14

Humane Society Drive cleaning supplies such as lysol wipes, paper towels, dishwashing soap, detergent to help with cleaning cages or soft dog treats

Wednesday, June 15

Me to We Drive for “The forgotten People” Pencil case filled with pencils, eraser, pencil sharpener

Thursday, June 16

Collecting old prescription sunglasses/glasses (adult or child) for Edinburgh Optometry Clinic which in turn joins with a foundation which distributes them in Haiti

Friday, June 17

Help send a child to camp collecting soap, shampoo, hats, towels, facecloths, toothpaste, toothbrush, sunscreen and anything else needed for going to camp


NEW JK & SK Parent Orientation Day

All new registered JK & SK students for the fall have been sent an invitation to the orientation session on Tuesday June 21st at 8:45am, all parents and students are welcome to attend. Please RSVP with the office.

Don’t Forget: School starts at

8:25 To get the day off to a great start for every student it is important to be on time. Situations happen and things come up but working towards being consistent in starting the day is important to establish routines and help to make the rest of the day run smoothly. If absent or late please do not forget to call the school.

Volunteers: WE NEED YOU!

Do you have a half hour or even a full hour once a week to listen to and encourage

students while they read? If yes then we need you! We are looking for volunteers who can dedicate some time once a week to help

students practice their reading skills. Please email Margaret Hauwert at

[email protected] to sign up and get more information. Thanks!

Safe Departure Please send authorization in writing if someone other than the legal guardian is going to pick your child up from school. The authorized adult may also be asked for photo identification. If it is necessary for a child to leave early, or to leave for a period during the day for an appointment, a note must be sent to the teacher. For the safety of your child, we request that you come into the school to sign him/her out at the office. We cannot send students out to waiting cars.***Please also remember to sign your child off the bus using the bus lists located in the foyer if they are not taking the bus home. We appreciate your efforts to keep all students safe.

DRESS CODE REMINDER... Warm weather is here and so is the reminder about Appropriate Dress. As stated in our Aberfoyle Family Handbook: Clothing that is revealing and shows an excessive amount of skin such as muscle shirts, lowscooped necklines, tops with spaghetti straps, bare midriffs and open backs are unacceptable. Shirts must be “tuckable” and not excessively tight. Shorts and skirts must be a reasonable length. Undergarments should not be visible. Thank you for your cooperation on this matter.

NEXT YEAR, WE NEED

LUNCH/YARD SUPERVISORS! If you could spare an hour a week to help out, keep students safe and connect with our school, please email Mr. Guyitt ([email protected]) for more information.


mailto:[email protected]


A special Volunteer Appreciation Party will take place on June 23rd @ 3pm in the library. Be sure to rsvp to [email protected] Without your help this year would not have been as successful as it was! Thank you!

Book Fair June 13th to the 15th

Stock up on all your summer reading during our Book Fair. It will be open during the day June 13th to the 15th and during the evening of the 14th during our June Open House!

June Open House

The students and staff here at Aberfoyle P.S. wish to extend an invitation for you and your family to be dazzled. Come and feast your eyes on spectacular student work around the school and be amazed by performances out on the front tarmac. As well, a book fair will be held in our Gym for your reading pleasure.

When: Tuesday, June 14th @ 5:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Where: Aberfoyle P.S. Why: To showcase student’s work

This free flowing evening will allow families to view displayed work and/or performances of their choice. Each child’s teacher will share additional information with you as to when and where your child’s talent will be displayed. Parents are expected to supervise their children while in attendance. As this event falls over your dinner hour, various Food Trucks will be here at 5:00 p.m. to satisfy your family’s hunger.



School

Cash

Online

For safety and

efficiency reason,

the UGDSB would

like to reduce the

amount of Cash and Cheques coming into our school.

We can now join the thousands of parents who have

already registered and are enjoying the convenience

of paying for things like field trips ONLINE! It takes

less than 5 minutes to register. Please go to

https://ugdsb.schoolcashonline.com/ for more

information and instructions on how to register.

The Sand Pit Needs Your Help

Looking for donations! The sand pit is exploding with excitement due to the building of roads, caves and tunnels. We are looking for gently used pails, shovels, cars, trucks or other sand equipment that you think the children might use in creating their towns. Please drop off any potential donations at the office and thanks on behalf of our future construction workers and urban planners. THINGS TO MAKE YOU GO HMMMMMM……….

Life at your local library PA Day: LEGO Challenge (Grades K 6) Join us for a surprise LEGO challenge! Bring your imagination for an hour of building fun. Please register. Friday, June 3, 10:30 am to 11:30 am

Father’s Day Draw (Grades K 6) Drop by the branch to fill in the blanks and tell us all about your Dad or Grandpa. Then enter into a draw to win him a great Father’s Day prize! June 7 to June 18 Mix It Up! (All Ages) Inspired by bestselling author and artist Hervé Tullet, this beautifully messy workshop will be active, collaborative, and entertaining, no matter your skill level. Please register. Saturday, June 18, 11:00 am to 12:00 pm TD Summer Reading Club Registration Begins (All Ages) Be one of the first to sign up for your FREE summer reading club package! Saturday, June 18, 10:00 am 5:00 pm Tech Savvy Saturday (All Ages) Come and play with the latest Robotics the Library has to offer as well as our new Green Screen and Playstation 4! Learn how to use the new robots, Cubelets, Ozobots and Dash in fun and exciting ways. Saturday, June 25, 10:00 am 2:00 pm Wellington County Library – Puslinch Branch 29 Brock Rd. S, RR 3 Guelph N1H 6H9 519.763.8026 • www.wellington.ca/Library

Creating Independent (Math) Problem Solvers

I was working in two different classrooms in two very different schools and noticed that the children approached solving problems in math differently. When children were given a problem in one classroom, their hands would immediately go up in the air with cries of, “I don’t get it,” or “I need help,” or “What do I do first?”. In the other classroom, when children were given a math problem, instead of asking for help right away, they would give it a try.


http://www.wellington.ca/Library



I was curious about the different student approaches to solving a math problem and I wanted to know how these students solved other problems. So I asked each group of children, “When you want to play with a friend, what do you do?” Here’s what they said:

School A School B

“My mom calls her mom.” “My mom calls and sets up a play date.” “My dad texts her mom to see if we can play.” “I ask my mom if she can drive me to his house.”

“I go knock on his door and ask if he can play.” “I call her on the phone and then walk over to her house.” “Lots of kids meet at the park after school. I go there and play with my friends.” “I ride my bike to her house. If she’s not home, I go see if someone else can play.”

Which school had children who asked for help with the math problem right away? Which children tried the math problem on their own first? To be successful in math, children need to be able to solve problems. When children are provided with opportunities to solve their own problems in life, they are more willing to tackle math problems on their own. Think about some of the “problems” children may experience every day:

Deciding what to wear Taking what they need to school for the

day (e.g., lunch, homework, shoes) Finding friends at recess Choosing what do after school Being hungry and needing a snack

If parents and teachers solve these problems for children, we take away the chance for children to develop problem solving skills and the belief that they can do things on their own. We cannot expect a child who has everything done for them in life to be an independent problem solver in math.

By stepping back and providing children with the opportunity to solve their own little problems, like what to wear or how to get together with a friend, we prepare them for tackling bigger problems later on, like the ones they get in math class!

Megan Haessler, Curriculum Leader

June’s Environmental Theme: CARING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT: ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP

Caring about the environment is all about “doing”. So get out there and start doing all the things you've learned about this year. It's time for all of us to start Living Green 365 days a year and make a commitment to environmental stewardship, so we can keep our Earth healthy!

Caring about our planet means being educated about our planet. Learn as much as you can. Earth needs smart people to take care of it! Be curious, ask questions, gather knowledge and find solutions. You need to understand what the problems are in order to fix them.

Every one of us is important when it comes to caring for the Earth and protecting it for the future. An advocate is someone who publically speaks or writes or does actions to support an important cause. What kind of “Earth Advocate” are you? Choose from the following list: A) Activist: I want to help others to change their habits to help the Earth. I want to host an event or make a website that encourages others to Live Green. I want to write letters to our government to ask them to make positive changes. B) Motivator: I will help others change their habits by being a role model that others can follow. People will see me living green and making a difference and be motivated to do the same.


C) Educator: I will research environmental issues and tell other people what I learn. I will be curious and ask questions and gather knowledge and find solutions to environmental problems that I will share with others.

So decide what kind of “Earth Advocate” you are. You can be more than one type!

Slogan of the month: Live Green 365 days a year!

Talking About Mental Health June

2016 – Successfully Shifting from

School to Summer

It is an exciting time of the year. The weather is getting warmer, days are getting longer and summer is just around the corner. School is wrapping up and it is time to think about how to have a good transition from school routines to summer vacation.

The shift from school year to summer break is easy for some, but more challenging for others, particularly those children and youth who experience anxiety or have difficulty with transitions.

So a good transition to summer is important and can lead to a more positive, fun summer experience.

Here are some practical tips to make a smooth transition from school to summer: Post the summer schedule. Have your child or youth contribute to a family calendar. Be sure to note blocks of unscheduled time as well; that way, you can anticipate free time to use as you wish – even if it’s just to enjoy a break in the action. Be prepared to be spontaneous. Keep a running list of places and people to visit when time permits and the mood strikes. Summer is a good time to stop by the library, bike trail, or concertinthepark that you can’t seem to get to during the school year.

Revamp – but don’t eliminate – your child’s daily routine. A daily routine gives most kids a sense of structure and security. Prepare your child for their scheduled activities. If possible, visit the locations where they will be during day camp or day care in advance. Have your child talk to counselors, caregivers, as well as other kids who have enjoyed those same situations and settings. Get outside and enjoy the summer. Try to limit the amount of time online, watching TV, or playing video games. Be active and get plenty of sleep and exercise. Being outside, such as going for a walk or playing in the park, elevates our mood and makes us feel less anxious.

Hope you have a wonderful, relaxing, fun summer. However, if you find mental health challenges to be increasing or causing more difficulties over the summer, seek out mental health or addiction supports for your child/youth, you and your family.

Summer resources for Mental Health and Addiction supports:

Your family physician and family health teams in Guelph, Wellington, Dufferin are excellent resources.

Canadian Mental Health Association WWD (CMHAWWD):

Tuesday Walk In 1:307:00, 485 Silvercreek Parkway, Guelph. To access services for Children, Youth and Adults in Guelph/Wellington: : 1 844 HERE 247 (1 844 437 3247) http://here247.ca/ Family Counselling and Support Services: Walkin, Wednesday, 17, sliding scale, based on ability to pay, but will not turn anyone away. 109 Surrey St E, 519 8242431. http://familyserviceguelph.on.ca/ KidsHelpPhone 1 800 668 6868. http://www.kidshelpphone.ca/ Dr. Lynn Woodford is the Mental Health and Addiction Lead for Upper Grand District School Board Follow me on twitter: @drlynnwoodford


http://here247.ca/

http://www.kidshelpphone.ca/

Newsletter Special Education

As summer approaches it is time to start thinking about what I can do as a parent to support my child’s continuing education throughout their holidays. Upper Grand District School Board now allows for home use of a student’s assistive technology. Please ask your child’s teacher about the “HOME USE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY PROTOCOL” form if you would like your child to bring their SEA assistive technology home for the summer.

We are striving to be ….

& Thanks for helping with this goal! PLEASE REMEMBER TO …



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PA DAYS - Upper Grand District School Board · Situations happen and ... Drop by the branch to fill in the blanks and tell us ... Creating Independent