Dates to

Remember:

Feb. 6 - SafeArrival is Live

Feb. 7 - Grade 1-3 Fire

Safety Presentation

Feb. 7 - Grade 5-8 Carousel

Players Presentation

Feb. 10 - Report Cards Go

Home

Feb. 10 - 100th Day of

School

Feb. 10 - Grade 6/7 Class

Curling

Feb. 14 - Hot Dog Day

Feb. 17 - PA Day

Feb. 21 - Last day for

French Immersion Registra-

tion

Feb. 21 - Grade 6/7 class

at Scottie’s Curling Tourna-

ment

Feb. 22 - Pink Shirt Day

Feb. 28 - Pancake Lunch

Feb. 28 - School Council

Meeting 6:30 p.m.

Mondays and Fridays - Lunch

Lady Lunch

Thursdays - Pizza Lunch

Wednesdays - Mad Science Club

FEBRUARY 2017

On Monday, February 6th we began using the SafeArrival system for reporting student absenc-

es. Using SafeArrival, you will be able to let us know your child will be absent using a

smartphone app, a web portal or by calling into the SafeArrival automated telephone number.

If you have already provided us with a valid email address on your child’s registration forms or

student verification form, you should have received an email on Feb. 1, with instructions on how to

create your account.

If you have not provided us with an email address, you can set up your account by visiting the

SafeArrival parent portal at dsbn.schoolconnects.com or by clicking on the “Need to report your

child’s absence?” button on our school website.

If you have any questions about this new process, please feel free to contact us at the school.

Thank you for your support!

SAFEARRIVAL

3691 Dorchester Rd.,

Niagara Falls, ON

905-354--3916

Principal -

H. Nunnenmacher

Secretary -

S. Mannella

ORCHARD PARK PUBLIC SCHOOL

As part of the Healthy Kids Communi-ty Challenge (HKCC), Niagara has teamed up with communities across Ontario to launch the www.waterdoeswonders.ca Pledge Campaign to encourage organiza-tions and families to make it easier for children to choose water over

sugary drinks.

Why Pledge? To be part of the solu-tion! Kids are drinking way too many

sugary drinks, which has a negative impact on their health and on the environment. We can all help by making water easier to access and by reducing the amount of sugary drinks we serve and sell to chil-dren. By taking the pledge, you are affirming your commitment to help

children sip less sugar.

What can you do?

• Sign the pledge at www.waterdoeswonders.ca. Your pledge will help Niagara earn Top Community status on the Hall of

Pledges.

• Print your pledge certificate and

display it prominently

• Check out the resources available

at www.waterdoeswonders.ca

• Spread the word using #WaterDoesWonders to inspire oth-

ers

Water Does Wonders

Pledge Campaign

DREAMBOX - CAN I ADJUST

MY CHILD’S DIFFICULTY LEVEL

OR ASSIGN SPECIFIC LESSONS?

"The Next Step"

DreamBox Learning bases

children’s custom-tailored

curriculum paths on their own

unique input. Children are

assessed with every mouse

click, to ensure that they are

receiving the very best les-

sons to build on their existing

knowledge. For this reason,

we do not provide any tools

to manually change chil-

dren’s curriculum placement

or the lessons DreamBox

gives them.

The best way to ensure that

your child always gets the

help he or she needs is to

coach him or her on the im-

portance of completing eve-

ry lesson he or she starts.

Do you want to know more about your child's program options in high school? Do you want to know more about your child's options after high school graduation? Do you want to know how to access funds for post secondary education and how to

apply?

If you answered YES to any of these questions "The Next Step" is the event for you. A N Myer's School Council is hosting an information session about programs such as French Immersion, SHSMs, academic and applied programming. There will also be sessions to outline the new OSAP program, how to assess scholarship opportunities

and the post secondary application process.

If interested, please complete contact A N Myer Secondary School to register for this FRRE workshop. It is scheduled for Thursday, February 23 beginning at 6:30

until 8:30 pm. Everyone is welcome.

GRADE 1 FRENCH IMMERSION

Online applications began Jan. 9. Go to www.dsbn.org and click on

the French Immersion Button. Programs begin in September 2017 at

John Marshall for students going into Grade 1. Registration closes Feb.

21 at 9:00 a.m. If you have any questions please contact the Principal,

Janice Slade at 905-358-3711.

PROMOTING GOOD ATTENDANCE —

ALL WINTER LONG

Every winter, bad weather -

snow, slush, freezing temper-

atures or even heavy rains in

warmer climates - can pre-

sent challenges to getting

children to school. So do the

colds, fevers and earaches

that often come with the win-

ter months.

1. Develop back up plans for

getting your children to

school in bad weather.

A) Check to see if your

child can get a ride with

other families who have

a reliable car that can

manage the snow.

B) Form a “walking school

bus” with other families

to get students to school

safely.

C) Join other families in a

snow shovel brigade to

clear the sidewalks clos-

est to the school.

2. Keep your children

healthy.

A) Dress them warmly for

the cold weather.

B) Stress the importance of

eating a good break-

fast in the morning.

C) Stress hand washing,

particularly in the winter

months.

Source:

www.attendanceworks.org

The Provincial Report Cards for Grades K-8 will be arriving home on February

10th.

On this report card, students in grades 1-6 will receive letter grades (e.g., A, B,

C, D) to indicate how well they are achieving the curriculum in each of their sub-

jects and the students in grades 7-8 will receive a percentage. If a particular subject or strand is not

part of a student’s program this term, then the NA box will be checked. This subject or strand will be

reported on in June.

The Learning Skills and Work Habits are the same as the ones that were on the Progress Reports.

These are essential skills that will help students be successful in both school and also as an active mem-

ber of their community. The Learning Skills and Work Habits are: Responsibility; Organization; Inde-

pendent Work; Collaboration; Initiative; and Self Regulation.

Comments will identify: student strengths, and the next steps that students should take in order to im-

prove their learning. We invite you to continue to communicate with us if you have any questions or

concerns about your child’s progress and achievement.

While there is no formal interview day, please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher to ar-

range an interview if you have any questions or concerns. You may receive a phone call from your

child’s teacher asking you to come in for a meeting to discuss your child’s progress.

Great schools ensure that families and schools work closely together to ensure the fullest potential is

reached for all our learners.

Thank you for your continued support at home!

TERM ONE REPORT CARDS

Just a reminder to please drop off and pick up your children at the cross walk in the parking

lot. We have busses and many cars that use our parking lot and we don’t want any of our stu-

dents to be injured. There is a staff member at the cross walk to ensure your child is safe when

getting in or out of your vehicle. By working together we can maintain our students’ safety and

well being.

If you are getting out of your vehicle to pick up your children, we ask that you please park

your car in one of the parking spots. Many times cars are left unattended and it causes con-

gestion within the parking lot. We have had times that the busses have not

been able to get into the parking lot due to the congestion.

Thank you for taking the time so our students are safe!

SCHOOL PARKING LOT

Check out our Website!!

http://orchardpark.dsbn.org/

Kids Are Sweet Enough Without

Added Sugar

he Niagara Healthy Kids Community Challenge (www.healthykidsniagara.ca) has teamed up with com-munities across Ontario to launch the Water Does Wonders Pledge Campaign. Why Pledge? To be part of the solution! Kids are drinking way too many sugary drinks, which has a negative impact on their health, their teeth, and their minds. We can all help by making water easier to access and by not serving sugary drinks to children. By taking the pledge, you are af-

firming your commitment to improved health for our

kids.

Sign the pledge at www.waterdoeswonders.ca!

If you choose to be recognized, your family will be featured on our Hall of Pledges. Your pledge will also help Niagara earn Top Community status on the Hall of Pledges.

Thank you to everyone who came out to our Family Movie Night! A great big

thank you to all of the families who enjoyed the “drive-in” with a cardboard

car! We even had a family make a bus which was a HUGE hit!!! It was a great

night! Thanks to our School Council for organizing this event!

Why We Wear Pink

The origins of Pink Shirt Day are noble! Started by 2 high school students in Cambridge, Nova Scotia,

these 2 ordinary boys did something extraordinary that has been recognized nation-wide. When they

found out that another male student in their school was targeted and teased because he was wearing a

pink shirt, the two boys headed out after school in search of pink shirts. They found several, 50 of them,

and the next day there was a show of solidarity amongst the students. 50 of them were waiting in the

foyer of the school wearing pink shirts, their way of sending the message “BULLYING STOPS HERE”. The

story spread. Pink Shirt Day is becoming nationally recognized as the day we wear pink and say “

Bullying stops here”.

Pink is certainly the colour of choice. Pink is used as a symbol of peace. Pink flowers mean friendship,

pink ribbons show support for Breast Cancer research and pink moons mean that we will finish all of our

tasks that are so far left undone. Pink has the strength and passion of red, and the softness of white. It

soothes the eyes and makes people smile.

We think we should wear pink more often. We think we should think of more good things for pink. And

then Pink Shirt Day will no longer be a one day event, but a statement we make when we get dressed

in the morning.

On Wednesday, February 22nd, we will be wearing pink and encourage you to do the same! Don’t be

afraid to make a stand!

We saw that even though the fire-fighters may look a little scary in all of their bunker gear that we should-n't be afraid of them. we were able to get close and feel firefighter

E.H. showed us how to stop, drop and roll!

R.W. knew that firefighters wear knee pads so that they won't kneel on anything pointy

S.M. - remembered that once we are out-

side we stay outside