285 Great Lakes Drive, Brampton on. L6R 2R8 Phone 905-7938632 Fax 905-793-1860

Principal—Mrs. W. Vokey Vice-Principals-Ms. R. Perri & Ms. C. Karim Trustee– Mr. Harkirat Singh

Office Manager-Mrs. K. Baoia Superintendant-Mr. Michael Logue

JANUARY 2017 EDITION

The Great Lake P.S.

A Message from the Principal—

December Highlights

We hope you enjoyed the holiday season. All the best to you and your families in

2017!

We would like to thank our primary grade students for their hard work in prepar-

ing for our seasonal concert, Elfis and the Sleigh Riders, held in December. The

musical performance was a great success and helped remind us of the importance

of inclusion and good will to others. A thank you to the students, Ms. McKillop,

Mr. Snow and all of the staff from the musical committee for their leadership with

the performance.

Just prior to the start of winter break, the grade 8 students led the school in a

celebration of the character value “Honesty” and the Holiday Season. Their dra-

matic numbers and creative use of technology provided for an entertaining and

meaningful celebration before the holiday. Many thanks to the grade 8 students

and teachers for their creativity in leading us in the assembly.

During the month of December, we hosted a mitten and food drive to support St.

Louise Outreach Centre. Thank you to the students and families of the Great

Lakes community for supporting this local charitable event and a thank you to Ms.

Bucknam and her grade 5 class for organizing the community endeavour.

At our December School Council meeting, our public health nurse provided par-

ents with healthy living tips in conjunction with our school’s involvement with the

5210 Healthy Living initiative. The School Council executive will meet on Febru-

ary 15 , 2017 to plan the next community event. More details to follow.

Math Tips:

Support your child through

homework by listening and asking ques-

tions.

Allow your child to “struggle through”

the process of problem-solving to de-

velop perseverance skills.

Discuss mistakes as learning opportuni-

ties.

Inserts:

Bus Cancellations & closing schools due to

bad weather - Winter Bus Safety

Nutritious Lunches

Help your family stay warm this winter

Kindergarten Registration

Middle School Regional Learning Choices

Program

Health & Physical Education Curriculum

supports the physical, emotional & social

well-being of students

Help your teen plan for course selections for

2017-2018

Numeracy & Beyond Parent Conference 2017

Extended French & French Immersion

Deadlines

HOME OF THE GRIZZ

School Success Update

Our school’s work in the area of Teaching and Learning is focused on the devel-

opment of students’ numeracy skills. This year, our staff is engaged in profes-

sional development in rich tasks in mathematics, tasks which aim to enhance

students’ higher level thinking skills. During the month of December, teach-

ing staff, together with our school’s instructional coach, investigated and pi-

loted new resources in the classroom to assist with the instruction of rich

tasks. Please take note of our School Success bulletin board in

the main foyer of our school with a display highlighting rich

tasks in mathematics.

What's Happening At Great Lakes ?

Kindergarten Registration Dates

Kindergarten registration at Peel District School Board

schools will take place on each of the following dates:

Monday, Feb. 6 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Feb. 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Wednesday, Feb. 8 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Thursday, Feb. 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8

p.m.

Please send in your sheet that you would have

received in December, so we can get your pack-

age ready. If you have not yet received one,

please call the office (905-793-8532). Winter bus safety

The following winter school bus safety tips will help to

keep your child safe throughout the winter months.

Allow extra time to get to your bus stop.

Wear bright clothing so the bus can see you in the early morning and late evening.

Stand away from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room to stop when there

is snow and ice.

Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping on wet or

icy steps or road surfaces.

Dress properly—winter clothing, hats, and boots will keep you warm.

Don't throw snowballs at the bus or other children waiting for the bus.

Don't slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the street.

Don't push or shove around the bus. Someone could fall down on the ice and get

hurt.

On very rare occasions, buses are late because of weather conditions or mechani-

cal problems. Talk to your child about what to do if the bus is late. Here are some

suggestions:

When possible, wait with your child for the bus.

Make sure your child knows a phone number where he can reach you or another

trusted adult.

Teach your child how and where to get help. Talk to your child about what a "safe"

stranger is.

Help your child set up a bus stop buddy system so your child has someone to wait

with for the bus.

Bullying Tip :

Strategies used by the bystanders:

DO NOT LAUGH at the things the person showing bullying

behaviour says or does because that would seem

encouraging / approving

BE A FRIEND to the victim

TELL an adult and get HELP

Character Trait Theme: Responsibility

Responsibility

Set goals, stay focused and stick

with the task until completed.

Do your share of the work.

Recognize and learn from your mis-

takes.

Follow through with your commit-

ments.

Demonstrate initiative and persever-

ance in overcoming difficulties.

Elfis and the Sleigh Riders

Great Lake’s Students’ Work

(Mrs. Bhatti’s Students)

Great Lake’s Students’ Work

(Mrs. Mendez’s Students)

Grade 1C

Students are playing a math game with a partner (Snakes and Ladders)

Independent Writing Task

Great Lake’s Students’ Work

(Mrs. Spence’s Students)

Celebrating Faith and Culture

January 2017

DATE

CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

Month of January K'aliyee & Spirit moon Aboriginal Spirituality

January 1 Temple Day Buddhism

January 1 and 14 (J) New Year’s Day Christianity and Canada

January 1 Gantan-sai Shinto

January 5 Sakyamuni Buddha’s Enlighten-ment

Buddhism

January 5 Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Sikhism

January 6 and 19 (J) Epiphany or Feast of Theophany Christianity

January 7 (J) Christmas Christianity

January 9 Seijin-no-hi Shinto

January 12 Mahayana New Year Buddhism

January 13 Lohri Hinduism

January 13 Maghi Sikhism

January 14 Makar Sankranti Hinduism

January 15 World Religion Day Bahá'í

January 18 to February 5 Month of Sultán Bahá'í

January 28 Lunar New Year/Maitreya Bodhi-sattva’s Birthday

Buddhism

Bus cancellation & 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 will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling

905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680

CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1

NEWSTALK1010 AM EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860

FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107

CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSE

GLOBAL NEWS CTV BREAKFAST TELEVISION

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 busing 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 can-celled, 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 2013 for kindergarten

We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2013, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2017. 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. 6 to 9, 2017. Visit Great Lakes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 6, 7, 8 and Feb. 9 from 9a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.

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 arrange-ment

Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated

Middle School Regional Learning Choices Programs Regional Learning Choices Programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower students by pro-viding an opportunity to develop and explore skills in a particular area of interest. These programs are open to all students who meet the criteria for acceptance. Information Nights 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. If you are unable to at-tend the information night, program details and information about the application process are available through the school. How to apply The application process for elementary re-gional programs opens in mid-January 2017. Ap-plication dates for middle school programs vary from school to school. The application window for our secondary regional programs has closed for this school year. Visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms to learn more about our programs, application process and transportation eligibility.

Health and Physical Education Curriculum supports the physical, emotional and social well-being of students

Working together to keep our students safe and healthy

The Peel District School Board implemented the Ministry of Education’s revised Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum in the 2015-16 school year. The curriculum is divided into four elements that work together to support the physical, emotional and social well-being of students:

active living

movement competence

living skills

healthy living

Peel staff will again teach the human development and sexual health component to students, beginning spring 2017. This provides time for teachers to develop strong relationships with their students prior to this phase.

Advance notice letters will be sent home with students two weeks prior to the human development/sexual health lessons. Families can submit religious accommodation requests at any time prior to the lesson by contacting the school directly.

To get more information on how the HPE curriculum will be taught, please visit our website at www.peelschools.org/HPE.

Help your teen plan for course selections for 2017-18

As our partners, families are encouraged to help prepare their teens for course selection. We encourage you to become familiar with the process by creating a myBlueprint account. Additionally, parents/guardians and students can review Chart Your Course, the Peel District School Board’s common course calendar, at www.peelschools.org/students/commoncoursecalendar. This guide will help you under-stand the course selection process and provide information on the courses and programs offered in Peel secondary schools.

You can visit www.myBlueprint.ca/Peel to access your own myBlueprint account, an online planning tool, to explore features such as:

High School – plan courses, track progress toward graduation, and instantly identify post-secondary eligibility for opportunities in every pathway

Post-Secondary planner– compare detailed information on apprenticeships, college programs, university programs and workplace sectors

Career spectrum for finding your learning style

Portfolios – create several portfolios (e.g. Career Portfolio) and share them with parents, teachers, or future employers. It’s simple to add work you have completed in myBlueprint or add pictures and videos

Job Search – find real-world job and volunteering postings that relate to occupations of interest

Goals – add interactive SMART goals and action plans

Resumes & Cover Letters – record experiences, build a resume, write a cover letter

Occupations – compare comprehensive information on occupations

Money – build a budget to track income and expenses

The secondary school course selection process is open from Dec. 5, 2016 to Feb. 21, 2017. If you have questions or are looking for course suggestions, please contact your teen’s teachers or guidance counsellor.

Conference helps parents make a difference in numeracy and beyond

The Peel District School Board is hosting its annual parent conference on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at Mississauga Secondary School in Mississauga. Once again, the conference will focus on numeracy—25 out of 60 workshops help with math. Parents will still have the opportunity to attend workshops on other topics, including literacy, special education and science.

This free learning event is open to Peel parents of students at all grade levels.

Registration opens Feb.1, 2017

Stay up-to-date!

For more information, look out for the conference flyer at your child's school or visit www.peelschools.org/parents/conference.

Apply for Extended French by Jan. 27, 2017

If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2017, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to consider Extended French (EF). To find out more about the program, visit www.peelschools.org/French

The application form for Grade 7 EF for the 2017-18 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 at 1 p.m.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will be placed on the school’s waitlist.

The EF school for our area is Ross Drive P.S. The phone number is 905-796-4563

How to get more information

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

Call Ross Drive P.S. at 905-796-4563

Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 27, 2017 If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2017, 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 2017-18 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will not be in-cluded in the random selection process and will be placed on the school’s waitlist.

The FI school for our area is Ross Drive P.S. . The phone number is 905-796-4563

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 en-trance 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 Ross Drive P.S. at 905-796-4563

Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.

Nutritious lunches help children learn

Use Canada’s Food Guide to help your child get nutrients and energy needed to have a successful school day.

Try to give your child some choice about what to take for lunch. If possible, get your child involved in preparing meals.

Give your child a variety of healthy choices. Keeping your child interested in lunch is the first step to making sure it is eaten.

Make the food easy to eat. If it will take your child a few minutes to unwrap a sandwich, it may be skipped.

Resist the temptation to routinely send sweets, pop, chips and cookies in your child's lunch. Save treats for special occasions.

Try to avoid fast food or pre-packaged, convenience lunches, which are often high in salt and fat.

Do your best to role model healthy eating behaviours for your family.

To speak to a registered dietitian about healthy food choices, call EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-5102.

For more information about the policy, visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools. If you have questions about how we are implementing the School Food and Beverage Policy, please call the school.