Message from the Administrative Team... We would like to start our newsletter by wishing all of our families who are celebrating the Lunar New Year a happy, healthy, and prosperous new year.

We have many exciting opportunities and events coming up this term, including our Scholastic Book Fair, Valentines Day Fundraiser and our highly anticipated Parent Information eve-ning on stress and anxiety. Stay tuned for more information on these events.

Our teachers have been busy writing report cards and continuing their on-going assessment and evalua-tion. As a school, we have been working on supporting students in their ability to persevere, collaborate, and problem-solve in areas of both academics and overall well-being. STAFF CHANGES We would like to say goodbye to Mr. Jerry who has been part of our staff since September. Mr. Jerry was teaching in one of our grade 7/8 classes and we wish him all the best as he continues his path in educa-tion.

We would like to welcome back Ms. Koutsovitis who will be working in the library and within class-rooms, and Ms. Lee who will be working with the grade 7/8 class. We would also like to welcome Ms. Merhai to our staff. Ms. Merhai will be working with Ms. Biafore’s class in the role of Early Childhood Educator. SAFETY REMINDER Just a reminder that all doors (including the front entrance) will be locked from 8:30 am onwards dur-ing the school day. Parents and visitors will need to be buzzed in and sign in at the office upon entry. We encourage you to send lunch to school in the morning with your child, but if you need to drop off lunch, please do so between 12:00 pm and 12:20 pm.

Ashton Meadows Public School

February 2014

CONNECTIONS www.ashtonmeadows.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca

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CONNECTIONS

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Message from Our Trustee, Ada Yeung

This is an exciting time for our Board. We recently launched our new Mission, Vision and Values, and the Board’s first slogan – Inspire Learning! Our new mission statement – to advance student achievement and well-being through public educa-tion, which motivates learners, fosters inclusion, inspires innovation and builds community – will help to guide our work and move us forward in the months and years ahead. Thank you to everyone who shared their input. We look forward to bringing these statements to life in our school communities. We are now halfway through the school year, a good time to celebrate all that your children have achieved and to set goals for the rest of the year. I encourage you to speak with your child not only about what they are learning, but also how they are learning. There are so many exciting and inno-vative things happening in our schools. Best wishes for an enjoyable and successful second term.

Sincerely,

Ada Yeung Trustee

Help Wanted: Lunchtime Assistant

We are looking for anyone interested in the paid position of school lunch room assistant both per-manent (5 hrs a week), or as a substitute. Assistants would work from 12:20-1:20pm. They would be responsible for supervising students during the lunch hour both indoors and outdoors. If you are interested, please inquire in the office.

We’re Going to the Symphony!

Students from grades 4 to 8 will be going to Roy Thompson Hall on Tuesday, April 1st to see the Toronto Symphony Orchestra perform "Case Closed". The music se-lections are fantastic and we are very excited that our students will get to have this experience. Permission forms will go out Thursday Feb. 6th. We ask that you return the forms and payment by February 21st.

Details about the concert are on the permission form. If you have any further questions, please con-tact Ms. Arnokouros.

Valentines are coming to Ashton Meadows!

Beginning today students and parents may pur-chase a Valentine-O-Gram. A preorder form will be sent home. Get your orders in early to avoid

disappointment. Valentine-O-Grams can be preor-dered now until February 12th.

Starting Monday February 10th during morning recess a Valentine table will be set up in front of

the library. Students will be able to purchase Val-entine items to take away with them or order for

delivery on Valentines Day. Prices will range from 25 cents to $2.00.

Don't delay, send your Valentine Message today! All Valentine-O-Grams will be delivered before

morning recess on Friday, February 14th.

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Fundraising for Ashton Meadows

We are still selling ASHTON MEADOWS USB keys. The USB keys will have 8GB of storage and

come in both wristbands and lanyards. The lanyards are purple with ASHTON MEADOWS in

white, while the wristbands are white with ASHTON MEADOWS in purple. We will be selling

the wristbands for $10 and the lanyards for $12. If you would like to purchase one they are be-

ing sold during recess. This is a great way for parents to celebrate and support their school.

Use the lanyard or wrist band at work to show Ashton pride!

School Council News

SAVE THE DATE...

WHEN: Evening Thurs. March 27/14 WHERE: Ashton Meadows PS WHAT: Speaker: Stress/Anxiety * Free Dinner * Free Childcare * Door Prizes * Resource Package WHO: EVERYONE!!

Look for more details in our Wednesday Files and Newsletter.

Important Upcoming Dates

FEBRUARY

Feb. 13 First Term Report

Cards sent home

Feb. 13 Pizza Day

Feb. 13 Gr. 8 Grad Pictures

Feb. 17 Family Day holiday (School closed)

Feb. 27 Sub Day

MARCH

Mar. 7 PA Day (No school for students)

Mar. 10—14 March Break

(School closed)

Mar. 17 First Day Back

Mar. 20 Pizza Day

Mar. 27—28 Dental Screening

Mar. 31 Gr. 7 Hep B & Gr. 8 Girls HPV Immunization

APRIL

Apr. 1 Gr. 4—Gr. 8 Trip to the Symphony at Roy Thompson

Hall

Ashton Meadows Connections Newsletter School: (905) 887-2656 Fax: (905) 887-2684

www.ashtonmeadows.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca Community Education Centre - East: (905) 940-7800

York Region District School Board: (416) 969-8131

Principal Calvin Darby VM # 107 Vice-Principal Janice Perera VM # 106 Head Secretary Soula Karagiannis VM # 100 Secretary Lavinia Cheung VM # 105 Lead Caretaker Mile Veljanoski VM # 122 School Council Chairs Malinda Hepworth/Deborah Woolston (ashton.meadows.ps@sc.yrdsb.edu.on.ca) Superintendent Rashmi Swarup (905) 940-7800 Trustee Ada Yeung (416) 885-3294

This edition was published in February 2014.

SCHOOL OFFICE HOURS Office hours are from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM daily. There is a telephone voice mail system that operates outside of school hours (24 hours a day). Please use this voice mail system to report your child’s absence outside of the regular school hours. It is on all evening to take your messages. We have three telephone lines available and a fax line. LOST & FOUND BOX To help us with the identification of student belongings like shoes, boots, hats, coats and books, please label all personal belongings. Labelling them will significantly aid us in the return of these items when they be-come misplaced. Parents/guardians are asked to regularly check our lost and found box (located on the lower floor) to find any misplaced or lost items. Twice each year (December & June) all lost and found items are put on dis-play and students are asked to review them. Any items that are left over are packed up and donated to local charities VALUABLES @ SCHOOL Please be advised that students are not to bring valuable items to school. Students who choose to bring any valuable item to school do so at their own risk. The school and staff cannot be held liable or responsible for any item that is lost, stolen or misplaced. Please label all of your belongings and remind your child to check the lost and found box regularly.

DID YOU KNOW?

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