HAPPENINGS HELEN WILSON PUBLIC SCHOOL

HOME AND SCHOOL TOGETHER WE BUILD

9 Abbey Road Brampton, ON L6W 2T7 Telephone: (905) 451-1165 Principal: Ms. Kimberly May Office Manager: Susan Slack School Council Co-Chairs: Nicole Stockill & Jennifer Hunter Trustee: Kathy McDonald Superintendent: Michelle Stubbings

Helen Wilson STARs HONESTY, SAFETY, TEAMWORK, ATTITUDE and RESPECT

Principal's Message Welcome back! Happy New Year to our students, parents and staff. I hope everyone enjoyed a fun and re-laxing winter break with family and friends. Again, a big thank you to all of our families for the selling of chocolates for our school. We raised $9,000.00 for the school. We will use this money to add additional technology to our classrooms and school. Final draws took place in December and 30 students’ names were picked to go to the Mandarin for lunch on February 8, 2018. Our December concert was a huge success. The students did an exceptional job singing and dancing. A big thank you to all of the students and teachers for their dedication and many hours of practice. Thank you also to all families for all of your donations to our “Cram-a-Cruiser” drive. Your generosity and kindness to fami-lies in our community is sincerely appreciated. A reminder that our entry bell rings at 8:40 a.m. Supervision be-gins on the playground at 8:30 a.m. Class begins for our students at 8:45 a.m. Students arriving after 8:45 a.m. will be marked late. It is important to have students arrive at school on time so that they can get organized for the day and can be ready to learn. Thank you for your co-operation in getting to school on time.

A Newsletter for Students, Parents, Staff and Community January 2018

School Hours for the 2017-2018 Year Entry Bell 8:40 a.m. Classes Begin 8:45 a.m. Nutrition Break #1 10:25 a.m.—11:05 a.m. Nutrition Break #2 1:05 p.m.—1:45 p.m. Dismissal 3:05 p.m.

Absenteeism and Lates Students are expected to arrive to school on time and be present unless illness prevents attendance. Attend-ance is the responsibility of both the child and parents. Lost time can have a negative effect on your child’s progress.

SAFE ARRIVAL PROGRAM If your child will be absent, please either:

- call into our automated, interac-tive telephone system via a toll free number 1-855-209-6155 - log into a website: pdsb.schoolconnects.com, to access a SafeArrival Parent Portal

Follow us on Twitter @HelenWilsonPS

Peanut Allergies Please be advised that we have a number of children attending Helen Wilson Public School who have a serious and in some cases life threatening al-lergy to peanuts and products that are derived from peanuts. We would ask your co-operation in not sending peanuts or peanut products to school for snacks or lunches. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.

Milk and Juice Sales Milk and juice are now on sale in the Office for $1 every day at lunch time.

All Visitors Must Report To The Office All visitors must report to the office. We will be happy to assist you if you have to pick up your child early. This is to ensure the safety of all our children.

Medical Issues It is important for your child's teacher, and consequently the Office, to know about any medical issues that your child(ren) may have. If your child requires medication, please obtain the 'Administration of Prescribed Medication' Form A from the school office.

P.L.A.S.P. Helen Wilson now has P.L.A.S.P everyday be-fore and after school. Before school care be-gins at 7:30 a.m. and after school runs until 6 p.m. Children participate in recreational activi-ties and are provided with a substantial, healthy snack daily. For more information, or to inquire about a be-fore or after school program, please call 905-890-1711 or visit www.plasp.com

Time for School - A Parent’s Guide to Reporting School Absences All parents/guardians of elementary students need to report their children's absences or late arrivals from school via our automated SafeArrival system. Whether it is an illness or another absence and you decide to keep your child home, please report your child’s absence via the SafeArrival system quickly and conveniently in one of the three ways: Call an automated, interactive toll free number

– 1-855-209-6155 (Please note – You must wait for confirmation)

Report absences online by accessing the SafeArrival parent portal on pdsb.schoolconnects.com

Download the SafeArrival mobile applica-tion for Apple and Android devices

School Doors Remain Locked During the School Day We wanted to share a reminder with our school community. The front doors of our school will be locked during the school day. This is part of the Safe Welcome program, originally announced by the Ontario Government in December 2012, for all elementary schools in Ontario. As part of this pro-gram, portable doors will also be locked during the school day. A camera and buzzer unit is located by the front door and will be linked to a monitor in the main of-fice 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. 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. Thank you for your continued support for the safety and well-being of all students and staff in our schools.

Bus cancellation and 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 BREAKFAST TELEVISION NEWS 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 CITY NEWS CTV CFRB – (Bell Media) One of the following messages will be announced: 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 Peel board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, 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 Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing educa-tion 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 Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing educa-tion courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

Train More. Rehearse More. Learn More. Peel District School Board program offers flexible school options for student athletes, artists Does your child/teen have an intense sports or arts training and competition schedule that makes it diffi-cult to attend school regularly? The Peel District School Board’s Peel Region High Performers Program will offer flexible timetabling to accommodate student athletes and artists with demanding practice, com-petition, rehearsal and/or performance schedules. The Peel Region High Performers Program is available to students in grades 4 to 12 at Britannia Public School, Dolphin Senior Public School and Mississauga Secondary School. Applications close Jan. 12, 2018 For more information and applications, visit www.peelschools.org/HighPerformers.

Conference Helps Parents Empower Modern Learners The Peel District School Board is hosting its annual parent conference, co-presented by the Peel Elemen-tary Teachers’ Local, on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at Mississauga Secondary School in Mississauga. Once again, the conference will focus on Empowering Modern Learners. Parents will still have the opportunity to attend workshops on topics, including numeracy, literacy, special education, technology and science. This free learning event is open to Peel parents of students at all grade levels. Our keynote presentation will be delivered by Dwayne Matthews, a life and education strategist, who con-verges and shares knowledge on modern learning, disruptive technology, and the evolution of work. Dwayne will present Learning in the 21st century: Why it's different, why it matters and how to help children thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Registration opens Feb.5, 2018 Stay up-to-date! For more information, visit www.peelschools.org/parents/conference.

Middle School Regional Learning Choices Programs Regional Learning Choices Programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower students by providing 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 attend the infor-mation night, program details and information about the application process are available through the school. How to apply Application dates for middle school programs vary from school to school. Visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms to learn more about our programs, application process and transportation eligibility. The application window for our secondary regional programs has closed for this school year.

It's time to register children born in 2014 for kindergarten We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2014, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2018. 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 Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, 2018. Visit Helen Wilson P.S. from:

Jan. 29 to 31, 2018 – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Feb. 1, 2018 – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and in the evening on this day Feb. 2, 2018 – from 9 a.m. to 3 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 alter-nate living arrangement Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated

Nutritious Lunches Help Children Learn Use Canada’s Food Guide to help your child get nutrients and energy needed to have a suc-cessful 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.

Help Your Family Stay Warm This Winter Canada Safety Council recommends the following tips for staying comfortable and preventing hypothermia when working or playing outdoors:

Wear a warm hat—most body heat is lost through the head. Children

should keep an extra hat at school.

Wear layered clothing. Layers allow warm air to stay trapped around

the body.

Protect your feet and hands. Wear loose waterproof boots. If the boots

have liners, carry an extra pair to replace damp ones or take an extra pair of socks. Invest in thick socks to keep your feet warm. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Carry an extra pair of mittens to school, on outings, etc.

Prevent dehydration and exhaustion, which can lead to hypothermia. Drink plenty of fluids

and pace yourself when doing vigorous activities.

Stay fit by exercising and eating well—people who are fit are less susceptible to hypother-

mia.

If you stay indoors, avoid moving from a hot environment to a cold one. Excessive sweat-

ing caused from an extreme change in temperature increases the risk of developing hypo-thermia.

Eat high-energy food such as nuts and raisins. A balanced diet will also help

keep you warm and healthy in the winter.

If you are travelling (on the road or in the wilderness) carry emer-gency supplies.

Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 26, 2018 If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2018, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to consider grade 1 French Immersion (FI). To find out more about the pro-gram, visit www.peelschools.org/French The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2018-19 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Fri-day, Jan. 26, 2018 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will not be included in the random selection process and will be placed on the school’s waitlist. The FI school for our area is Dorset Drive P.S. The phone number is 905-793-5210. Enrolment cap and random selection process The Peel board has a limited number of spaces available for students interested in grade 1 French Immersion. At this time, the grade 1 FI enrolment cap is set at 25 per cent of all Peel students en-rolled in grade 1. A random selection process is used to determine which students will be offered spaces in the grade 1 FI program. It is important to note that applicants are not offered space in grade 1 FI on a first come, first serve basis. A computerized random selection process will randomly assign a rank to each appli-cation that is received by the deadline. Once students have been assigned to all available spaces, 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 Dorset Drive P.S.at 905-793-5210. Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.

Upcoming Dates January 8 First Day Back January 9, 16, 23 Pizza Days January 10 Gr. 1—Structures Presentation January 15 Safety Village Trip (Gr. 1) January 16 School Council Meeting (8 a.m.) January 22 P.D. Day January 25 Hot Dog Day January 26 Assembly January 29 FDK Registration Begins (for 2018/19 school year) January 30 Sub Day February 2 Ballet Creole Presentation February 8 Report Cards Go Home February 9 PL Day February 15—16 Dental Screening February 19 Family Day (School Closed)

Helen Wilson P.S. Month: December 2017

Teacher

Grade

Academic Pride

Ms. Fraser / Ms. Medeiros K1 Liam

Ms. Singhera / Ms. Simpson K2 Lily

Ms. Gurzanski / Ms. Dulic K3 Austin

Mrs. Ford Gr. 1 Lily

Ms. Valtas Gr. 1/2 Harris

Mr. Perrier Gr. 2/3 Matteo

Ms. White / Ms. Noseworthy H2/3 Aun

Ms. Rausch Gr. 3 Belle

Ms. Berry Gr. 4 Aryan, Micah

Ms. Hope JELC Anaya

Mr. Hodgkinson Gr. 5 Drew

Ms. Ricci-Toubia PTP Allyssa

Ms. Revelle and Mrs. Ouellet HOHKP Lucas

Teacher

Grade

Stars of the Month

Ms. Fraser / Ms. Medeiros K1 Renee

Ms. Singhera / Ms. Simpson K2 Aayat

Ms. Gurzanski / Ms. Dulic K3 Aanya

Mrs. Ford Gr. 1 Lily

Ms. Valtas Gr. 1/2 Isabella

Mr. Perrier Gr. 2/3 Nickolas

Ms. White / Ms. Noseworthy H2/3 Blessing

Ms. Rausch Gr. 3 Dhanya

Ms. Berry Gr. 4 Zi Ching

Ms. Hope JELC Shivangi

Mr. Hodgkinson Gr. 5 Noah

Ms. Revelle and Mrs. Ouellet HOHKP Veer