1 December 2009 Cameron Connection
Principal’s Message This past month Cameron staff and students were actively involved in our Remembrance Day assembly, Bullying Awareness Week and a variety of clubs and sports teams. On Monday, November 23, 2009, our Junior Girls’ basketball team played in the area tournament. Placing 3rd overall, the girls displayed fine athletic skill and sportsmanship. Congratulations to Lea, Elise, Natalie, Susan, Julia, Michaela, Isabel, Maria and Jordyn. Thanks to our parent volunteers for driving and Ms. Ranelli for coaching the team. On Monday, November 30th 2009, your child will be receiving their first term report card. Conferences to discuss your child’s progress will be scheduled on the evening of Thursday, December 3rd 2009 and on the morning of Friday, December 4th 2009. With the holidays just around the corner, our staff and students have been busy planning and preparing for our holiday concert. The concert will take place on Tuesday, December 8th @ 7:00 p.m. at Willowdale MS (225 Senlac Road). Parking will be available in the rear of the school and on the side streets. Please do not park on Senlac Road. Please note that Friday, December 4th will be a PA Day for parent/teacher interviews. This is a great opportunity to learn more about your child’s progress. Please return your interview time request form to your child’s teacher. We have made extra effort to coordinate sibling interviews. On behalf of the Cameron staff, I would like to wish parents and community members a safe and enjoyable holiday break. Andy Lubczynski, Principal [email protected]
Bullying Awareness Week On Friday, November 20, 2009, Cameron students enjoyed and fun and interactive performance called “Stop, That’s Bullying”. Through songs and discussion with the characters, our students learned lessons about bullying and what to do about it. One key message in the performance was the importance of the role of the bystander in helping to stand up for their friends. (Continued on page 3)
Holiday Food Drive In keeping with the holiday spirit and our December theme “Kind and Caring”, Cameron will be holding a food drive. Food donation collection will run from Monday, December 7 until Tuesday, December 15th. Each class will have a box for collections located outside of the main office. Donations will be dropped off at our local Fire Hall.
Items Needed • Baby formula &
food • Beans & lentils • Canned fruits &
vegetables • Canned fish & meat • Cans of soup or
hearty stew • Dried pasta &
tomato sauce • Macaroni & cheese • Peanut butter • Rice • Tetra Pak, canned
or powdered milk
December Events: http://schools.tdsb.on.ca>Calendar December 1-4 • Scholastic Book Fair December 3 • Holiday Bazaar December 4 • PA Day
(Parent/Teacher Interviews)
December 7 • School Council
Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.
December 8 @ 7:00 p.m. Holiday Concert December 16 • Sharing Assembly @
9:00 a.m. & 1:00 p.m. December18 • Pizza Lunch/Spirit Day • Last Day before Break January 4 • First Day of School
after Break
CAMERON CONNECTION DECEMBER 2009
Principal: A. Lubczynski Superintendent: S. Pfeffer Trustee: M. Rutka Council Chair: Lauren Hendrickson Child Care Director: Mary Davis December Focus: Kindness & Caring
211 Cameron Avenue Toronto, Ontario M2N 1E8 Phone: 416 395-2140 Fax: 416 395-2142 Web: http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/cameron
2 December 2009 Cameron Connection
Scholastic Book Fair Cameron's annual Book Fair will be held December 1- 4. The money raised from the book fair goes directly towards the purchasing of new books for our school library. Come in and check out the selection Book Fair Hours • Tuesday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. • Wednesday 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. • Thursday 3:30 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. • Friday 8:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Ms. Wallace Edmonds could really use some help with the book fair. If any adults are available to volunteer during these times please see (or send a note to) Mrs. Wallace Edmonds. H1N1 Update Beginning on Wednesday November 18th HINI vaccination clinics will be open to all members of the public. Before coming to a clinic, you may wish to check with your family doctor to find out if he or she is offering the vaccination. Clinic Hours: • North York Civic Centre, will be open 7 days a
week • Monday to Friday from 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. and on
weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The clinics, including the one at Toronto Public Health will be able to vaccinate 18,000 people per day at its 10 clinics. In addition, vaccine has been widely distributed to personal physicians to administer the vaccine to their patients. A complete list of clinics is available at http://www.toronto.ca/health Cameron Holiday Bazaar (Dec. 3) Cameron students will have an opportunity to purchase items for their own holiday shopping at the annual Cameron Bazaar. All items will priced for less than $5.00. • When: Thursday, December 3 (from 8:45 a.m.-
2:00 p.m.) • Where: Cameron Gym Please don’t forget to drop off new or gently used items that you don’t need in the leaf bags placed at the Kindergarten doors and in front of the office.
The Holiday Bazaar also needs your help – let us know if you can join in the fun to either help set-up on Wednesday, December 2nd at 3:30 pm or during the sale on Thursday, December 3rd from 8:30-11:00am. Please contact Alex Chesney at [email protected] or Mary Fraser [email protected] if you would like to participate. Note: We cannot accept clothing or foot wear. Please ensure that items are in reasonable condition and meet safety standards. Cancellation of Buses During Severe Weather Severe weather conditions may require the TDSB to cancel transportation or, in extreme conditions, close schools. The decision to close schools is made by the director of education. In the event transportation is cancelled or schools are closed, the local media will be informed before the beginning of the school day. Tune in to your radio and television news stations for the latest information. If weather conditions become extreme after students are in school, elementary students will remain in the school until they are picked up by a parent or parent designate. Premier’s Award
The Premier's Awards for Teaching Excellence recognizes outstanding educators and support staff in Ontario's publicly funded schools and boards. You know the difference one individual can make in your school or board — and in the lives of students. The awards are a great way to recognize the impact of an educator or support staff member who makes a difference. Do You Know This Person that fits this description?• Uses really innovative teaching methods; • Supports students who face difficult challenges • Builds strong relationships with parents and the community to help students learn; • Fosters a culture of equity and respect; and • Is an outstanding mentor to other educators and staff. If you know someone who fits this description, please visit the website below. http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/teachingawards/ The deadline for nominations is February 1, 2010.
3 December 2009 Cameron Connection
Bullying Awareness Week (continued) The performance was a culmination of a number of school-wide and classroom activities. During Bullying Awareness Week, Cameron students had a chance to learn about different kinds of bullying and positive steps they can take to deal with bullying situations. As we continue with the school year, we will continue to strive to create and promote a safe learning environment for all of our students. I encourage all parents to continue to speak with their child about bullying. I encourage parents to continue discussing bullying with your child. Feedback from Bullying Awareness Week “My child is now cognizant of the concept which is great. He is trying to teach his 2 year old brother what it all means.” (Parent) “Don’t be mean to others and treat them the way you want to be treated.” Alex, Gr. 5 “I liked the bullying presentation because it taught us how to stand up to a bully.” Andrew, Gr. 5 “It’s not good to fight someone if they are bullying you.” Megan, Gr. 1. Thanks to Ms. Robles for coordinating the program. If you would like to make a comment or suggestion about Bullying Awareness Week, please complete the online survey in the Friday File email on November 20 or 27. Additional Information: Bullying: We Can All Help Stop It The effects of bullying go beyond the school yard. As a parent, here's what to watch for, what you can do, and where you can go to get help.
Health and Wellness: Is Your Child Getting Enough Sleep? According to surveys by the National Sleep Foundation, 90% of American parents thinktheir child is getting enough sleep. While modern parents obsess about our babies’ sleep, this concern falls off the priority list after preschool. It is an overlooked fact that children – from elementary schools through high school– get an hour less sleep each night than they did thirty years ago. (Po Bronson, Nurture Shock p. 30) If your child has trouble paying attention, lack of sleep may be to blame, says Mary Sheedy Kurcinka, author of "Sleepless in America." Here's how to tell whether your child is getting enough sleep, and how to fix it if they aren't. Signs Your Child Isn't Getting Enough Sleep • Kids become clumsy or rowdy at bedtime • Kids can't focus or pay attention • Kids start fights in social situations How to Make Sure Your Child Gets Enough Sleep • Adhere to similar schedules on weekends
and weekdays. Lack of sleep on Saturday can affect kids on Monday morning.
• Avoid stimulating activities before going to bed e.g. surfing the computer, watching TV, or talking on the phone right before they go to bed. These activities stimulate the brain and keep it from relaxing, which will make falling asleep more difficult.
(source:http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Health/story?id=1786626
---------------------------------------- Weekly Draw Prize: Please cut out and return to your child’s teacher. We will hold a weekly draw! Child’s Name:__________________ Teacher:______________ Room:_______ Please return by Thursday, December 3rd, 2009
4 December 2009 Cameron Connection
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Sunday
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25 Christmas Day
24 Christmas Eve
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19 18 Day 1 - Last Day of School before the Holiday Break - Pizza Lunch/Spirit Day
17 Day 5
16 Day 4
15 Day 3
14 Day 2 - Glen Cameron Board Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.
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11 Day 1 Hanukkah
10 Day 5
9 Day 4
8 Day 3 Holiday Concert @ 7:00 p.m. Willowdale MS
7 Day 2 School Council Meeting @ 7:00 p.m.
5 4 PA Day No School Parent/Teacher Interviews
3 Day 1 Parent/ Teacher Interviews
2 Day 5 1 Day 4
Saturday Friday Thursday Wednesday Tuesday Monday
Sports/Team Practice Schedule Junior Boys Volleyball: Tuesday and Thursday @ 3:35 p.m.
