Shaw PS News School Website: http://schools.peelschools.org/1489/Pages/default.aspx

Tuesday, September 4th

, 2018 school opening newsletter Please retain this information for future reference.

Important Date Reminders

Date Event Time Location

September 5th

- 2

nd day of school

Student Back to School Assembly Grades 1-5 Grades 6-8

10:10 a.m. 12:50 a.m.

Gym Gym

Final dates to be announced through a flyer!

Student Photo Day- September Photo Retake Day-October Grad Photo Day-May K. Grad Photo Day-May

All Day

Multipurpose room

September 7th

, 2018

Activity Fee and Consent forms Due 9:00 am Homeroom Teacher

September 21st

-24

th, 2018

Parents/ guardians of students being re-organized will receive information from the school to share details of the new class placement.

All Day

September 25th

, 2018

Reorganization Day Professional Activity Day No school for students

All Day

September 26th

, 2018

Re-organized classes begin today All Day

Thursday, September 27th

Terry Fox Walk – See walking permission section in student agenda.

9:00 am School Grounds

October 2nd

- October 3rd

School Council Elections- please review nomination forms in the front hall from September 14

th- October 1

st.

October 4th

, 2018 Open House- meet and greet the teachers

6:30-7:30 p.m. School Grounds

October 11th, 2018

School Council Meeting- Drop in to meet the Vice Principal,

6:00 p.m. Library

Taking the time to build community, to know your people, will have long lasting effects

—Clifton Taulert

Think

Believe

Achieve

Dear Shaw Families, It is with pleasure that we welcome students, staff and families back to begin another successful school year. In the words of Peel’s Director of Education, Peter Joshua, “It’s so great to see the faces of Peel students after the summer break.” We hope the summer has provided opportunities to rest, restore and enjoy time together. At this time of year, school Principals in Peel have the opportunity to attend a special event called “Starting Point”. It is a kickoff event that inspires school teams to begin the new school year inspired to make 2018-2019 the greatest school year. Greatness in education has different meanings globally but the wonderful thing about being part of the Peel District School Board is our understanding of greatness comes down to one thing- student success. Stop and pause- what does success mean to you? What does it mean for students? What will it mean for our school team? Your answers may vary but as I was reminded through this year’s Starting Point event, Peel schools understand school success. We are united by our commitment to set high expectations, to foster in our students and staff a desire to contribute to the community and to care for one another. We know our focus—empowering modern learners, equity and engaging math. Here at Shaw, you will see that focus come to life through student centered classrooms, through our engaging co-curricular program and through our respectful interactions with each other. Success for our school team begins with recognizing the awesome potential of each child at Shaw Public School. This means getting to know students holistically (academically, socially and emotionally) to ensure that we can put the right resources (human, physical and financial) toward their educational journeys. Knowing our students will ensure that we can set high expectations to ensure every learner has the opportunity to achieve to their personal best. Our staff is looking forward to getting to know all of our students. We look forward to a year of smiles based on personal achievements! The educational team at Shaw is committed to building in our students a true love of learning, a sense of curiousity and an innovative mindset. We cannot do this alone; as such, we ask that families and community partners work with us to guarantee that each child reaches their potential and promise. How can you get involved? Come out and be part of our School Council. School Councils play an important role in ensuring the success of all students. Serving on School Council can provide you with the opportunity to be involved in your child’s or children’s education. Come out for our first School Council Meeting on October 11

th at 6:30. Please join us in the Library

Learning Commons to meet and greet other Shaw families. We look forward to talking with you! School Council Elections will be held during the week of September 24

th- stay tuned for further details in the coming weeks.

Another way to be involved in our school is to volunteer. Perhaps you would like to help with fundraising, maybe you would like to be a volunteer in one of our classrooms or library, supervise or you love adventure and would enjoy being a school trip volunteer. We have plenty of volunteer opportunities and we would love to talk to you. If you are interested in being a volunteer, please call our new Vice Principal, Mrs. R. Vahra at 905-790-6095, extension 403. Shaw is proud to be part of the Peel District School Board. We are a board that is strongly committed to equity and inclusion. This means we work hard to build a safe, caring and respectful school where uniqueness is valued and relationships are cherished. Our positive learning environment is enhanced by not only strong academic programming but also a rich extra-curricular program that allows students to explore different clubs and athletics. We look forward to showcasing the arts and sports throughout the school year. We encourage families to come out and join us for special displays and events throughout the coming year. It is our hope that the solid foundation of learning at Shaw will prepare our students to move toward their future dreams with a sense of optimism and confidence.

The staff at Shaw is passionate, caring and dedicated to supporting each child’s school success. Thank you to our educational teams who have worked tirelessly building invitational and inclusive classrooms. Thank you to our amazing office team - Mrs. Adams, Mrs. Lazzaro and Mrs. Pantin who have been actively welcoming new families

and preparing business operations for a successful school year. Thank you to our custodial team – Mrs. Carriere, Mr. Calistro, Mr. Simpson, Mrs. Gordon and Mr. Fordjour for making our school sparkle!

The staff and I appreciate the trust you place in us each and every day. We are committed to be a school that supports wellness, fosters a sense of belonging and rests on a foundation of respect. To build a sense of security for families, we have systems in place to help keep our students safe. We ask that you please use the front main doors for secure entry and exit. There is a key pad to the left of the front doors to buzz into our front office. For safety and security of staff and students, all visitors must sign in through our front office. On arrival, visitors will be given a Shaw guest sticker which they must wear while on site. These stickers help our students to identify guests as “safe friends”. Thank you for supporting our efforts to keep our children safe

We are fully committed to ensuring each child in our care is inspired and valued. Please do not hesitate to contact your child’s teacher or the school administration if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to a wonderful 2018-2019 school year.

Warmest Regards,

Sally Ann Gibson

We welcome the following new staff members to the Shaw teaching team:

Ravinder Vahra- Vice Principal

Stephanie Carrasco-Rodriguez- Grade 4/5

Paul Osatczuk (LTO for Dana Robertson)

Savita Sharma - ESL

Zahra Bhatoo - 0.2 Planning Time

Davinder Hanjrah-DECE We welcome back Nordia Thomas- Educational Resource Facilitator A warm welcome to our new Multi-Cultural Settlement Worker- Parwinder Pabla. If you are a newcomer to Canada please speak with Pramila Ganesh (ESL teacher at Shaw) and she will connect you with Parwinder.

Permission and Consent Forms Throughout the school year, students and their parents will receive concerning upcoming event and activities. It is very important to keep track of documents and ensure that items such as permission forms and monies requested, are returned promptly. Thank you for your attention to these matters.

Reorganization at Shaw Our opening plan for Shaw’s school organization is based on projection numbers from last spring. Teachers and their teaching assignments were allocated based on this student population. Should that number change, it may be necessary to re-organize our school. Accordingly, this may correspond to a change in teachers and homeroom classes and/or assignments. The tentative nature of the first few weeks of school organization makes it possible for the Peel Board to respond to changes in student populations throughout the district. If there is a change in students' homeroom teachers and classes, we will let families know as soon as possible. Staff at Shaw Public School will continue to assess student needs when making decisions on class placements. Should any class changes be required. We attempt to make changes as smooth as possible. This year, Reorganization Day is on September 25th. There will be no school for students that day. Re-organization is used to fine-tune the best possible balanced class make-up for the school. Parents of students affected by re-organization will be notified of any changes between September 21

st and 25

th.

Open House We are delighted to invite our Shaw families to our school Open House on Thursday, October 4

th from 6:30- 7:30

p.m. It is an informal evening where you can come out to visit your child’s classroom and meet the teachers, Designated Early Childhoom Educators and Educational Resource Facilitators. We look forward to welcoming you to Shaw for this year’s Open House. This evening is an important one. It helps to build the partnerships between home and school in order to ensure our students get off to a great year at Shaw Public School.

School Hours Morning begins 8:55 a.m. Morning bell rings 9:05 a.m. Instructional day begins 9:10 a.m. Nutrition break A 11:30-12:50 a.m. (NEW TIME) Nutrition break B 11:50-12:10 a.m. (NEW TIME) Nutrition break C 1:30-1:50 p.m. Nutrition break D 1:50-2:10 p.m. Student Safety and Teacher Supervision At Shaw, teacher supervision begins at 8:55 a.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m. Parents and students are encouraged to plan their morning and afternoon routines around these times. In the morning, staff is on duty to meet students, greet buses and monitor student safety on the yard. At 9:05 a.m., all school door are locked. At this time student entry must be through the front doors. Check in at the office is required. At the end of the school day, staff is on duty until 3:45 p.m. to assist bus students with boarding the buses and to see that walkers safely exit from our school property. Students and their families should review their routines for entry and dismissal with their child (ren) and talk about a contingency plan should unusual circumstances occur. Students should go directly to the office for help should they miss their bus or do not have a safe walk home plan.

We ask that families update the school with their current phone numbers for home, work, cell phones and emergency contacts so that the office may help students when needed. Please note an Ontario Student Information Record will be sent home to all families after re-organization. Please review the information and update any pertinent information. Please return the form, with the updated information, to school by Friday, September 28

th, 2018.

School doors will remain locked during the school day The front doors of our school will be locked during the school day. This is part of the Safe Welcome program announced by the government in December 2012 for elementary schools in Ontario. We have long had the practice for Peel schools that all outside doors, with the exception of the front door, would be locked during the school day. While we acknowledge that locking doors will not in itself prevent all risks to the safety of students and staff, it is an important step in providing an additional level of security. A camera and buzzer unit are installed by the front door and are linked to a monitor in the main office of the school. Anyone who wishes access to the school once the school day has begun—parents, Peel board staff and visitors—will request entry by pressing the buzzer. Staff in the main office will be able to see and speak to the person, and release the door lock to provide access. When the office is very busy you may have to wait briefly at the front door before the buzzer is answered. Also, please note that during morning entry or nutrition breaks the office and administrative staff is busier than at other times of the day so there may be a delay in providing access. We thank you for your patience and understanding. Thank you for your continued support for the safety and well-being of all students and staff in our schools.

Visitors – Signing In and Out Procedures. There will be times throughout the school year when parents need to come to Shaw Public School to drop something for their child/children, to bring them to school or pick up them up for an appointment. To support the safety of our students, it is important that everyone follow the procedures outlined below when visiting the school.

Visitors (parents, family members and other community members) are asked to enter and exit the school by the front doors.

No parent, adult or visitor should enter the school at any time without signing in and/and out at the front desk and obtaining a visitors badge. The teacher should be expecting your arrival. Please remember to wear the visitors badge while on school premises.

Parents are required to sign in/out their child/children to and from school at non-dismissal times and when students are arriving late at the beginning of the day or at lunch time.

If students are being signed out from school, they must meet their parents or caregivers in the front office if being signed out of school. Please send a note with your child stating that he/she is being signed out at a particular time for a particular reason.

When dropping off academic items for a student, parents are asked to leave the item with the office staff who will then call the student to the office to pick up the item

Home for Lunch? At Shaw Public School there are two nutrition breaks (Please see the school hours outlined in this newsletter). The expectation is that students eat their lunches at school. This allows opportunities for them to be part of the school clubs and intramurals. Students may go home during the first nutrition break with a letter from their parent, guardian or caregiver. Their parent, guardian or caregiver must come to the office to sign students in and out for that lunch hour. If your child/children will be going home on a daily basis, please speak to Mrs. Adams (Office Manager) or Mrs. Vahra (Vice-Principal). If parent(s) or guardian(s) want to allow their child or children to go home for lunch on one occasion, the student must be picked up and signed out of school by an adult on the permitted and approved contact list as indicated on the School’s Information System. Students at Shaw are NOT permitted to leave school property to go to stores, plazas, eating establishments unless

accompanied and signed out by an adult listed in the school’s contact information.

Keeping lunches and snacks peanut-free Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that affects some children. We ask that you help us take care of these students by sending lunches and snacks for your child that are free from peanuts or nuts, because these foods are the leading cause of anaphylaxis. Please read the label of any food you plan to send to school with your child. If the label says, "May contain nuts or peanuts," please do not send it to school. You can get a complete copy of the Peel board's anaphylaxis guideline at www.peelschools.org under the Parent tab, under Student Health. Food Policy at Shaw Due to the number of severe allergies and in an attempt to provide safety for all of our students, staff is not permitted to distribute treats or food which has been sent from home. As such, if you wish to send in a class treat for a special occasion, please DO NOT send food items. You may wish to consider items, such as fancy pencils, special erasers or little notebooks. Assemblies at Shaw Our monthly character assemblies are based on the Shaw Code of Conduct and the Peel Character Traits- Caring, Cooperation, Honesty, Inclusivity, Respectfulness, and Responsibility. Parents will receive notification of the date for the first assembly mid toward the end of September. There will be a Code of Conduct assembly for students only on September 5

th. The goal of this assembly is to establish the foundation of expectations for the year and to

build a sense of community.

Extended Vacation We would kindly ask each family taking a student on an extended absence to complete the extended absence form through our front office. A meeting with the school Principal may be requested. We encourage all families to plan vacations during the scheduled school holidays. Research indicates that regular school attendance supports school success. Please avoid extended vacations during regularly scheduled school days. Gym Clothes Please check with your child, or refer to your child’s class calendar, as to what day he or she has gym. Please send your child to school with proper gym attire shorts, T-shirt and gym shoes with white bottoms (the black bases mark our gym floor) - thank you! Terry Fox Run/Walk Our school will participate in the Terry Fox Marathon of Hope school run on Thursday, September 27

th, 2018. The

rain date will be September 28th

. Shaw students, along with many other schools in Peel, will participate in this fundraising event for cancer research. We hope to raise a significant amount of money for the Terry Fox Fund and are asking that every student bring in a "TOONIE FOR TERRY" on the day of the event. I encourage each student to bring a Toonie or make a generous donation through School Cash online. Student Accident Insurance Protect your kids — and your finances The Peel District School Board does not provide accident insurance coverage for student injuries that occur on school property or during school activities including extracurricular sports. Each year, families could spend thousands of dollars when their children are injured at school, on field trips, while participating in non-school activities, or at home. If a student is injured, parent(s) and/or guardian(s) are responsible for any medical costs not covered by provincial health care or their employer's health care plan. The provincial health care system does not cover costs which are commonly related to accidents including dental work, ambulance fees, casts and crutches, and physiotherapy. All of these are covered by Insuremykids student accident insurance plan and as a convenience to parents, the Board has arranged to offer a plan to parents through Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada. To help protect your family, it is strongly recommended that you consider obtaining Insuremykids Protection Plan, which offers a variety of benefits at affordable prices, which provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year coverage, range from $13 to $33 per year. The insurance agreement is between You and Reliable Life Insurance Company. You can apply for coverage online at www.insuremykids.com for answers to frequently asked questions. For more information, call Old Republic Insurance Company of Canada toll free at 1-800-463-KIDS (5437). A Reminder about Volunteering At Shaw We encourage parents to be active in our school community. Foror some family members volunteering in our school or on a field trip is a viable option. Since September 2001, our Board requires that all volunteers have a Criminal Record Check (CRC). Parents wishing to accompany students on a class field trip need to have a completed a recent CRC. Thank you in advance for your interest in possibly volunteering at our school. To volunteer at Shaw,

you must complete a short interview and a criminal record check. A CRC is required for all school volunteers in Ontario. Even if you want to accompany your child on a field trip, you need a CRC.

Once you have completed the process and submitter your CRC to the Peel District School Board, you will be entered into the Peel District School Board Volunteer data based and can be a volunteer at Shaw. Beginning this year, all returning volunteers will be mailed an Offence Declaration Form that must be filled out and returned to the board office each year. You will not be able to volunteer with the Peel board until you have returned this form. If you have any questions about Criminal Record Checks or the Offence Declaration Form, please call the board office at 905-890-1010 ext. 2488 or come in at talk to us.

Medical Students All students who have a medical condition must alert the school immediately. Contacting the school at the beginning of the year alerts us to the condition and allows us to update our data. In cases where the condition is serious or requires medication to be kept at school, three forms will be sent home. One of these is the new Duty of Care form. We thank families for communicating this important information to Mrs. Vahra, our Vice Principal. If your child has taken the medication home over the summer or continues to require this medication during the school day, it is imperative that it is returned to the school as soon as possible with new documentation. If your child had medication last year and is no longer required to use it, let the school know as soon as possible so that we can update our data base. Please track expiration dates for medication (e.g. epi pens) and ensure that the school has non-expired medication on hand.

Prescribed Medication In the event that your family doctor prescribes medication for your child at some time throughout the school year, a form for the doctor to complete must be completed before we are able to give medication at school. This form may be requested through our Vice Principal.

Pay school fees online using School Cash Online—register today! Our school offers School Cash Online, a safe and secure form of online payment. It is the preferred method of payment for all school fees. With a parent-friendly portal and an easy way to keep track of your child’s activity fees, you can use School Cash Online to pay for school items like school agendas, field trips and pizza days directly from your computer or smartphone using eCheck, Visa or MasterCard. Register now By registering, you’ll have the ability to:

Keep track of your children’s school item and activity fees

Check account history

Print or view receipts

Make donations to school fundraisers online and instantly receive a tax receipt

Pay for school fees with the click of a button For more information and to register, visit https://peelschools.schoolcashonline.com. If you have any questions, please contact the school directly.

Keep students safe in school parking lots Many elementary schools offer a Kiss N’ Ride program, where parents, guardians and caregivers can drop off and pick up their children at a designated area on school property. The program was established to provide a convenient and safe option for our students and parents driving to school. To ensure the safety of staff and students, we ask all members of our community to be mindful of the following guidelines:

There is no parking and no waiting in the Kiss and Ride lane. Pay attention to the traffic in front of you and pull forward as cars move forward. If you choose to park in the parking lot, please escort your child to or from the nearest crosswalk or staff supervised crossing zone.

Vehicles entering the Kiss N’ Ride lane must stay in the designated lane, unless otherwise directed by a staff member.

The Kiss N’ Ride program is only available to students who are able to disembark independently.

Have your child ready to exit the car when you reach the curb. Students may only exit from the passenger (right) side of the vehicle.

After picking up or dropping off your child, leave promptly so that others behind you can get into the Kiss N’ Ride zone.

If your child is not waiting for you at the main crosswalk at the end of the day, please wait patiently following the flow of traffic or circle and rejoin the line or park in a designated parking space to wait.

Always respect traffic flow and abide all traffic laws and signs. Ask your child’s teacher or principal to learn more about our school’s specific Kiss N’ Ride procedures.

ParentConnect

Online parent portal to access important student information

The Peel District School Board is excited to announce the launch of ParentConnect, an online parent portal to access important student information. The pilot program was introduced at all schools in the 2017-18 school year.

What is ParentConnect?

ParentConnect is a safe and secure website, created by the Peel District School Board that acts as a single point to stay informed and to access all electronic services provided to Peel board parents and legal guardians. The parent-friendly website will allow you to:

View school-based alerts and information

Access real time absence reporting

View current and historic elementary report card information

Get up-to-date busing information

Review secondary school credit history and diploma status

And more

To learn more about the benefits of ParentConnect, visit our school website or www.peelschools.org/parentconnect

Stay up-to-date with Shaw Public School and Peel Board news School news http://schools.peelschools.org/1489/Pages/default.aspx Visit our school website to learn what’s happening at your school, including:

The latest school news

Contact information for school administration, superintendent and trustee

The school calendar

Enrolment data

School hours

Registration information

Online library catalogue You can subscribe online to receive email notifications for news, calendar events and volunteer job opportunities related to your school. You can also choose to receive email and/or text message notifications for critical news, such as school closures due to bad weather. Click on the “Subscribe” link on the left side of the main page of the school website. Peel District School Board news Subscribe to automatically receive a list of activities by email that is sent the last week of each month, plus bonuses throughout the year. Visit our website at www.peelschools.org and click on the subscription link under "Quick Links." You can also subscribe to:

Learn more about board news and school events.

View Peel board meetings with Board agendas. Meetings are open to the public and are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

Read highlights of decisions made by trustees at board meetings.

Receive job postings for non-teaching staff.

Join our school council – share your ideas Every Peel school has a school council—a group focused on helping students succeed. School councils provide a voice for parents and the community and offer advice to the school principal on a number of topics. We are holding school councils elections on October 2

nd and 3

rd. Nomination forms will be in our front hall.

If you would like to know more or are interested in joining our council, please contact Ravinder Vahra, 905-790-6095 The first School Council meeting will be on Thursday, October 11

th, 2018 from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. All families are

welcome to come out for the meetings. Important information regarding student privacy and use of third party apps and web services At the Peel District School Board, we are committed to helping each child achieve to the best of his or her ability. Using Modern Learning tools is an essential component of teaching and learning in today’s world. Modern Learning

tools can include Internet sites where users interact and collaborate in online environments, websites where users log in, and/or applications for tablets. The Peel board believes that these online services are key tools in aiding students and teachers in the development of 21st Century skills. Please note: In order to support student privacy, Peel board students are requested not to use their school email (studentnumber@pdsb.net) to create accounts on any third party, non-protected domain, apps/web services. The terms and conditions of these app/web-services do not align with the Peel board’s Registering and Use of Software, Web-Based Services and Apps guidelines as their services may collect and display the student’s private information, including the full name, publicly. If your child uses their own personal accounts to access these apps/web services, please encourage them to use privacy settings to ensure that their account information, including full name, is not shared publicly. Please visit www.bit.ly/byodparentresources for more information.

What you need to know about busing Peel District School students may access transportation services if their primary address is within the school's attendance boundary, at a distance of more than:

kindergarten and grade 1 students – 1 km

grades 2 to 4 students – 1.6 km

grades 5 to 8 students – 2 km

grades 9 to 12 students – 3.8 km Eligibility distances are calculated using appropriate roadways and pedestrian walkways and are measured from home property line to school property line using Board approved software to ensure a consistent and equitable assessment of distance for all students and all schools within the Board. It is also important to note that parents are responsible for safely getting their children to and from school.

How do I know if my child is eligible for transportation? Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR) has a website, www.stopr.ca, where you can find information concerning transportation including bus safety, procedures, late buses, cancellations, and frequently asked questions and as well whether your child is eligible for transportation based on your home address. Click on "Am I Eligible for Transportation" and enter your information.

In addition, if your child is eligible for transportation, beginning the last week of August to the end of June each year, at www.stopr.ca you can securely access your child’s specific transportation information, including bus stop location and pick-up and drop-off times. Click on “Parent/Student Login” and enter the information required. To ensure privacy of information you will be required to enter the Ontario Education Number (OEN), which can be found on your child’s report card. Parents can now sign-up to receive automatic e-mail notifications of delays or cancellations for their children’s bus run. Go to www.stopr.ca and click on the “bus delays and cancellations” link and then click “subscriptions” to sign-up for this service.

Coping with Back-to-School Anxiety Anxious feelings are normal and expected in children and teens returning to school. Your anxious child may cling, cry, have temper tantrums, complain of headaches or stomach pains, withdraw, plead or bargain, and become irritable or angry. It may take some time for the anxious feelings to disappear. Worries are common. Although it is normal for your child to have worries, it is crucial to have your child attend school. It is important they experience all that school offers and learn to cope with their fears. Be sure to communicate with the school and teacher(s) about the anxiety your child may be feeling so they are better able to support your child with their worries and concerns. 5 Steps to Deal with Back-to-School Worries Step 1 Take care of the basics: Ensure your child is getting enough sleep, eating regular meals and healthy snacks and has daily exercise. When your child’s mind and body are nourished, communicating with you and tackling school worries is easier Step 2 Provide empathy: Listen to your child’s concerns. What is s/he worried about? Why does s/he expect that to happen? Let your child share his/her fears and talk about what’s on his/her mind. Step 3 Problem solve: Develop a coping plan. Addressing your child’s fear head on, by creating an active plan with concrete solutions, will significantly reduce the worry. For example, “If (the worst) happens, what could you do?” or “Let’s think of some ways you could handle that situation.” Step 4 Focus on the positive aspects: Re-direct the worrying and ask your child, "What are three things that you are most excited for this school year?" Celebrate the good things about school. Chances are the fun aspects are simply getting overlooked by repetitive worries. Step 5 Pay attention to your own behavior: Children take cues from their parents, so the more confidence and calm you can model, the more your child will believe s/he can handle this new hurdle. Be supportive yet firm. For instance say, in a calm tone, say: “I can see that going to school is making you scared, but you still have to go. Tell me what you are worried about, so we can talk about it.”

Modified from Anxiety BC https://www.anxietybc.com/parenting/coping-back-school-anxiety

Dear Families, Peel schools provide a safe environment for students and staff to learn and work. The board has many procedures

to promote safety including regular fire drills, evacuation plans, criminal record checks for new staff and volunteers, and lockdown, hold and secure and shelter in place drills. Together with Peel Police, OPP and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board, the board developed procedures for critical situations. Every school will review the key points of the lockdown process with students. We rehearse the drill twice per year to make sure staff and students know what to do if we have to initiate a lockdown. During the rehearsal, the principal will make an announcement to "initiate lockdown procedure." The school bell will ring continuously for a period of time and our goal is to make the school appear vacated. Students and staff inside the school will:

Go to the closest room, close the door and lock it, if possible

Turn off the lights and lie down on the floor away from doors and windows

Remain on the floor quietly until further directions are given Students and staff outside the school will:

Move as far away from the building as possible

Remain outside until further directions are given Depending on the situation, students and staff outside the building may be directed to an evacuation site. When the rehearsal is over, the principal will make another announcement. Important things to note when an emergency occurs 1. Students and staff must not use cell phones In these critical situations, safety is our number one priority. During rehearsals or in real critical situations, Peel Police have advised that cell phone usage can cause more safety risks and the following consequences:

- Cause signal delays for emergency services to attend to the situation. - Prevents police from being able to communicate with each other and other important personnel in a

timely manner. - Public posts and messages may identify where individuals are in the building and a pose a safety risk. - Can attract attention to the area of the school where the phone is being used.

Parents are requested to NOT call the school or your child’s cell phone during emergency procedures.

2. Parents can get updates during emergency procedures on their school website 3. Parents are requested NOT to go to the school In the unlikely event of an actual lockdown, hold and secure, shelter in place or bomb threat, police ask that parents do not go to the school. For safety reasons, you will not be allowed to enter a school that is

in lockdown, hold and secure or shelter in place and students and staff cannot leave the school. In rarecases, police will designate a Parent Information Site for you to attend and get up-to-date, accurate

information.

Please monitor your child’s school website and do not come to the school unless requested to do so. *If you have any questions about our lockdown drill, or any of the procedures we have in place to keep students and staff safe, please call the school.

Getting your questions answered…

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions about your child's education or about education in general, anyone with the Peel board is happy to help. Here are some of the people who can help you:

If you have specific questions or concerns about the education of your son or daughter, the first person to talk to is your child's teacher. If possible, arrange a personal interview with the teacher to discuss your concerns and attempt to resolve the matter. Your child's teacher or principal can also give you more information about specific strategies being used to monitor your child's progress.

If you need extra help, or have more general questions, your school principal is there to assist. Your school principal can help if you have been unable to resolve the issue with your child's teacher. All curriculum material is available in your child's school.

If you still have unanswered questions or concerns, talk to your superintendent of education.

If you have general questions about curriculum, call Curriculum and Instruction Support Services at 905-890-1010 ext. 2559.

If you have questions about special education programs or services, contact Special Education Support Services at 905-890-1010 ext. 2345.

Of course, your local school trustee is elected to represent your interests and is always ready to hear and discuss your suggestions or concerns. If you don't know the name of your trustee, check the 'Meet your Trustee' section of the board's website at www.peelschools.org

SCHOOL SUCCESS PLANNING

Through collaborative inquiry, staff were able to track student progress. We remain committed to this process. We will also continue our focus on Engage Math with our Numeracy Action Plan focused on Collaborative Math. Staff will continue to learn about Cognitive Guided Instruction and use strategies such as Number Talks, 3-Part Lesson plans, Growth Mindset and Balanced Mathematics programming to engage students and foster improved learning. In addition staff school success planning will focus on Empowering Modern Learners through the lens of Equity. The Peel District School Board has termed these three intiatives Engage Math, Empowering Modern Learners and Equity 3-cubed! You will learn more about 3 cubed throughout the 2017-2018 school year.

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A Parent's Guide to High School Get ready for what could be the most exciting and important years your teen spends in school. For the first time, teens will have to make choices about what they will study and what career pathway to choose. Whatever path your teen chooses, we want to make sure your entire family is ready to meet the challenges and embrace the many opportunities that await your teen upon graduation. Our Parent’s Guide to High School will provide you with a snapshot of what you need to know to help your teen be successful. To view the online booklet, visit www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild/parentguide. For more ways on helping your teen make a smooth transition, visit www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild. Regional Learning Choices Programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower students by providing them with opportunities to develop and explore skills in a particular area of interest. Regional programs are open to all students who meet the criteria for acceptance. Students 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. Transportation is not provided for students in regional programs. If students have been accepted into a regional program and they live within the school boundary, they are eligible for busing only if they meet the distance criteria outlined in the board’s Transportation Policy #39. All regional programs include annual fees, including a non-refundable $40 application fee, except the Truck and Coach program which is offered at no cost.

Important dates to note:

Applications open Applications close

Elementary Jan. 28, 2019 Feb. 11, 2019

Secondary Nov. 5, 2018 Nov. 21, 2018

Programs Starts in grade: 6 7 9

Actively in Motion (AIM) – Royal Orchard MS

Advanced Placement – Central Peel SS, John Fraser SS

Arts – Earnscliffe Sr. PS (starts in grade 6), Queen Elizabeth Sr. PS (starts in grade 7), Cawthra Park SS, Mayfield SS

Arts and Technology – Morning Star MS

Graphic Design Management – T.L. Kennedy SS

International Baccalaureate – Bristol Rd. MS, WG Davis Sr. PS, Erindale SS, Glenforest SS, Harold M. Brathwaite SS, Turner Fenton SS

International Business and Technology – Allan A. Martin Sr. PS, Lisgar MS, Williams Pkwy Sr. PS, Meadowvale SS, North Park SS, T.L. Kennedy SS

International and Executive Leadership Academy – T.L. Kennedy SS

Regional Skilled Trades – West Credit SS (starting in September 2019)

SciTech – Centennial Sr. PS, Macville PS, Tomken Rd. MS, Chinguacousy SS, Port Credit SS

Sports – Applewood Heights SS

Strings – Central Peel SS, Port Credit SS

Truck and Coach Engineering and Technology – Bramalea SS

If you still have questions, please email communications@peelsb.com or call Communication & Community Relations Support Services at 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1149 ext. 2809. Regional Learning Choices programs unlock passions

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EVERY STUDENT WANTS TO FEEL VALUED AND CONNECTED!!! PROFESSIONAL LEARNING DAYS For the 2018-2019 school year, please note the following dates on your calendar; students do not come to school on these days: Tuesday, September 26 Reorganization Day Friday, October 6 Professional Learning Day – Provincial Education Priorities Friday, November 17 Reporting to Parents Monday, January 22 Assessment, Evaluation and Report Card Writing Day Friday, February 9 Professional Learning Day – Provincial Education Priorities Monday, June 11 Assessment, Evaluation and Report Card Writing Day Friday, June 29 Professional Learning Day – Provincial Education Priorities School Holidays SCHOOL YEAR ~ ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY

The school year begins September 4, 2018 First day of classes for students September 4, 2018 The school year ends June 28, 2019 The number of instructional days for elementary students 187 The number of professional activity days for the elementary panel 7 SCHOOL HOLIDAYS ~ ELEMENTARY Please schedule family holidays and appointments during school holidays or outside of the school day.

Labour Day September 3, 2018 Thanksgiving Day October 8, 2018 Winter Break (inclusive) December 24, 2018 - January 4, 2019 Family Day February 18, 2019 Spring Break (inclusive) March 11 - March 15, 2019 Good Friday April 19, 2019 Easter Monday April 22, 2019 Victoria Day May 20, 2019 Canada Day July 1, 2019