David Leeder Middle SchoolOctober Monthly Update

http://davidleeder.peelschools.org

Twitter: @DLMS_MSOn behalf of the entire staff, we are delighted to welcome everyone back to

school! We are looking forward to a successful, productive school year at David Leeder. It was such a great feeling to see the school filled with students and staff again. A warm welcome is extended to our new families joining our school community. David Leeder Middle School is an amazing school filled with dedicated, enthusiastic and talented staff who deliver a high caliber of teaching excellence.

DLMS is a school that sets high expectations for student achievement. Just as we expect ourselves to be our best, we also expect our students to strive for this same goal. The acronym of David Leeder S.P.I.R.I.T serves as a beacon for students and staff alike. We teach and counsel our students the importance of Success, Perseverance, Integrity, Responsibility, Initiative and Teamwork.

As you know, you also play a very important role in your child’s education. You can make a difference in your child’s middle school success with just a few consistent practices: co-create a homework routine, limit telephone and screen time, establish a time for pleasure reading. Establishing these habits will have a positive effect on your child’s achievement this year.

We invite you to partner with us as we help your children strive to be the best they can be!

All the best in the upcoming school year!

Principal: S. TakyiVice Principals: T. Lai Thom and M. Bitmanis

WELCOME NEW DLMS STAFF!

We are welcoming some new staff to David Leeder Middle School. Joining us this year are:

C. Belea (Teaching Assistant)O. Salam (Teacher - 6C)F. Malik (Teacher - 6OB)M. Hui (Teacher - 6OC)N. Faheem (Office Assistant)M. Bitmanis (Vice Principal)

Upcoming Dates:October is Islamic Heritage month Oct. 5th – Celebrate World Teachers’ Day in Peel Oct. 14th – Peel board recognizes Peel Principals and Vice-Principals’ DayOct. 21st – Bus Driver Appreciation DayOct. 28th – Peel Teaching Assistant and Early Childhood Educators’ Appreciation Day

Families encouraged to sign up for ParentConnect to access school alerts, report cards, busing info and more onlineTo help keep families connect to their children’s education experience, we are encouraging all Peel District School Board parents/guardians to sign up for ParentConnect. ParentConnect is our online parent portal which provides parents/guardians with a single access point to stay informed, access services online and receive important information about your children.

ParentConnect allows parents/guardians to:

view school based alerts and information access the parent/guardian view of Brightspace for PDSB Online School track real time absence reporting view current and historic elementary report cards for your child(ren) get up-to-date busing information review secondary school credit history and diploma status

To register and begin using ParentConnect, visit www.peelschools.org/parentconnect or click the ParentConnect button on your child’s school website. Parents/guardians that have used ParentConnect in the past will continue to have access to your child(ren)s information. You do not need to register again.

The ParentConnect online portal can be accessed through any computer, smartphone Internet browser and/or tablets by visiting parent.peelschools.org. Families can also download the mobile app titled Peel ParentConnect through Google Play Store or Apple Store.

If you have any questions about ParentConnect, please call the school or visit the ParentConnect FAQ page. If you encounter technical issues signing up for an account, please email ParentConnect@peelsb.com.

Visiting your child’s schoolTo limit and track the number of visitors in our schools, only essential visitors will be permitted into schools. If families wish to speak to someone at the school, they are asked to do so by emailing or calling the school directly.

You may be required to make an appointment to visit the school based on the reason for your visit.

DO NOT require appointments Require appointments

Family member or caregiver who is picking up a sick child or has another emergency. Only one adult per household should attend the school at once.

Family or caregiver who is meeting with school staff to discuss an issue with their child of a non-urgent nature. All meetings should take place virtually or by phone whenever possible.

Upon arriving at the school, visitors are required to: Enter through the main entrance door using the buzzer or by phone Wait in the established waiting area outside the main entrance Sign in upon entry, and sign out when you leave Physically distance as much as possible Wear a mask/face covering

School Council

One of the ways that parents can be involved with David Leeder MS is through the School Council. The role of the School Council is to meet with the Principal, Vice-Principal and staff to learn about the school programs and activities, and give advice on how to improve the school for students. The process for electing our School Council is as follows:

 October 2: Nomination form and Information sent out in the School Newsletter and posted to the David Leeder MS website  

By Friday October 16: Interested parents complete the School

Council Nomination form and submit a brief biography (no more than 100 words) using the following Click here to submit your nomination form

October 19: the list of candidates and their biographies will be

posted on the school website

October 26: School Council Election from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The election will be done electronically

October 30: School Council members will be announced on

the school website and in the November Newsletter.

November 4 (7:00pm): First meeting of the new School Council.  The School Council will elect the Executive.  The Principal will conduct election of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, PIC and Communications Coordinator.

October is International Walk to School MonthAccording to the 2015 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card, about 91 per cent of 5-to-17-year-olds are not meeting Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines to get at least 60 minutes of daily moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity. These declining activity levels are linked to obesity, illness and chronic diseases (i.e., cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer).

Using active transportation for the school journey is one of the easiest ways for students to get regular daily physical activity. Managing time to allow for the walk or bike ride to school will become a positive habit that leads to children arriving on time, refreshed and energized for the school day. In fact, University of Illinois research has found that just 20 minutes of easy walking boosts performance in the areas of the brain that support math and reading achievement.

Walking to school also helps out the environment. Eliminating just four short trips per week can reduce emissions by up to 100 kg of carbon dioxide per year. Families that participate in active travel to school can prevent almost 1,000 kg of carbon dioxide per year and save money in fuel costs as well. Also, when more children walk to school and fewer parents drive their children, the areas near school zones become safer for pedestrians.

That is why our school will be participating in International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 7. On that day—and throughout the month, if you can—walk, bike, blade, scooter, skip or hop to school… but don’t drive!

International Walk to School month is part of the Active & Safe Routes to School program. Visit www.saferoutestoschool.ca for more information.

Pay school fees online using School Cash Online—register today!Our school offers School Cash Online, a safe and secure form of online payment, as its 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 field trips and pizza days directly from your computer or smartphone using eCheck, Visa or MasterCardRegister nowBy 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

“October 2020: Identifying Our Strengths and Assessing Our Needs –

The Wheel of Well-BeingFrom the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team

Welcome to the second month of a school year like no other. We have made it this far, and we should congratulate ourselves, although it is important to note we are all at different points of coping with the upheaval and loss COVID-19 has created in our lives.

As the fall leaves start to turn colour and we are settling into the school year, now is a good time to reflect on our strengths and needs. The Kids Help Phone has an easy to fill in Wheel of Well-Being to help us accomplish that. The Wheel is divided into sections: Physical Health, Emotions, Relationships, Environment, School and Work, Spirituality, and Creativity and Thinking; with you (or your family) at the centre. It is an excellent visual guide to help you think about what, or who, can fill in any missing gaps to increase your support system. The Wheel of Well-Being can be completed as a family activity, or you can do it independently using it as a discussion aid for conversations about what each family member might need. It can also allow you to identify strengths you may not previously have appreciated. You can find the template, and suggestions to consider for each section here: www.kidshelpphone.ca/get-info/kids-help-phones-wheel-of-well-being

You could also make your own wheel as a creative exercise, with you at the centre, or “our family” at the centre. Often creative exercises can be a safe way to help us talk to each other during challenging times. If you do make your own wheel and feel comfortable to share a photo, please tag @MHRTPeel and #WELLinPEEL.

Despite the challenges 2020 has brought us, remember to tell yourself that you are doing your best; that it is okay to not feel your best; that we are all in this together, and we are doing the best we can with the resources we have. Please consider seeking support if you feel you or your child/teen needs it. Now more than ever before, our mental well-being is just as important as our physical well being.

If you’re concerned about your child’s mental health visit www.peelschools.org/schools/reopening/mental-health-and-well-being-supports for further information and links to school and community resources. For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter @MHRTPeel.

Acknowledgement:

Indigenous teaching reminds us that mental wellness is a balance of the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional parts of ourselves and is enriched when individuals experience purpose, hope, belonging and meaning in their lives (First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework).

The Peel Learning Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to enable Peel District School Board students to achieve personal excellence by providing resources that help them overcome barriers.

Did you know that 1 in 5 students in Peel Region face barriers related to poverty?

That’s more than 27,000 Peel board students.

Through the Student Emergency Needs program and Student Backpack program, the support we provide can be as simple as providing funds for food or transportation, a winter coat, or a backpack filled with school supplies. This type of support can enrich a student's school experience and help them achieve success. Any teacher, staff or support person can speak confidentially to their school’s principal, vice-principal or supervisor when they encounter a student in need, who will then reach out to us to ask for help.

There are many ways that you can support the foundation. A gift will help us achieve great things for students. To learn more, visit www.peellearningfoundation.org/how.

You can help us create hopeful tomorrows.

www.PeelLearningFoundation.org l 905-890-1010 ext. 2461 l foundation@peelsb.com

@PeelLearningFDN /PeelLearningFDN

Student Services Google SiteWe have a new google site for our families to assist in keeping up to date with information and activities from Student Services. The link is below:

https://sites.google.com/pdsb.net/dlms-student-services/home

Ready? Set? High school! Learn more about the opportunities available at your local Peel 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.

Learn about the Peel District School Board advantage and your local Peel board secondary school. To find out which secondary school your teen will attend, call 905-890-1010/1-800-668-1146 ext. 2212 or visit www.peelschools.org/findyourschool.

Contact your local secondary school to learn about the opportunities available for your teen and the programs offered at the school. Our Welcome to High School parent guide is also a great resource for parents to provide you with a snapshot of what you need to know to help your teen be successful.

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 difficult 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, competition, rehearsal and/or performance schedules.

Peel Region High Performers Program is offered at:

Britannia Public School (grades 4 to 5) Dolphin Sr. Public School (grades 6 to 8) Mississauga Secondary School (grades 9 to 12)

For more information, visit www.peelschools.org/HighPerformers or contact the school.

Regional Learning Choices Programs empower students to unlock their passionsRegional 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 families are encouraged to visit www.peelschools.org/regionalprograms to learn about the programs, application details and how supports are available to help families choose the program(s) of their choice.

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 only eligible for busing 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 Regional Skilled Trades and Transportation Engineering and Technology programs, which are offered at no cost. Please note that supports are available for families who are interested in applying and may require financial assistance – please speak with your principal.

Important dates to note: Applications open Applications close

ELEMENTARY Jan. 25, 2021 at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 8, 2021 at 3 p.m. SECONDARY Nov. 9, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 23, 2020 at 3 p.m.

Programs Schools offered at Starts in grade:

6 7 9

Actively in Motion (AIM) Royal Orchard MS

Advanced Placement Central Peel SS, John Fraser SS

Arts

Elementary / Secondary

Elementary: Earnscliffe Sr. PS (starts in grade 6), Queen Elizabeth Sr. PS (starts in grade 7) / Secondary: Cawthra Park SS, Mayfield SS

Arts and Technology Morning Star MS

Graphic Design Management T.L. Kennedy SS

International Baccalaureate (IB)

IB Elementary / IB Secondary

Elementary: Bristol Rd. MS, WG Davis Sr. PSSecondary: Erindale SS, Glenforest SS, Harold M. Brathwaite SS, Turner Fenton SS

International Business and Technology (IBT)

IBT Elementary / IBT Secondary

Elementary: Allan A. Martin Sr. PS, Lisgar MS, Williams Pkwy Sr. PS, Secondary: Meadowvale SS, North Park SS, T.L. Kennedy SS

International and Executive Leadership Academy

T.L. Kennedy SS

Regional Skilled Trades Judith Nyman SS, West Credit SS

SciTech

Elementary / Secondary

Elementary: Centennial Sr. PS, Macville PS, Tomken Rd. MS Secondary: Chinguacousy SS, Port Credit SS

Sports Applewood Heights SS

Strings Central Peel SS, Port Credit SS

Transportation Engineering and Technology

Bramalea SS

For more information about program information nights, busing and the application process, visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms.