page 1 march 2015 - pages - homeschools.peelschools.org/1424/lists/schoolnewsletters/march...
TRANSCRIPT
WILLIAMS PARKWAY SENIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 1285 Williams Parkway, Brampton, ON L6S 3J8 Tel: (905) 791-4324
Page 1
PRINCIPAL'S MESSAGE
Well it has been quite a winter so far! Lots
of snow, wind and frigid temperatures! As
you know, our students must stay indoors if
the weather is colder than –20 with the
wind chill. There are usually lots of
activities happening indoors at lunch.
There is also sometimes a chance for
students to step in the door if it is -15
degrees, just to warm up. Please ensure
that your child is dressed for winter
weather as it is the only way to enjoy the
outdoors these days! Speaking of outdoor
fun….Ms. N. Patel organized the ski trips
this year and the students had a fantastic
time at Mansfield Ski Resort. Thank you
Ms. Patel for an experience our students
will never forget.
Many thanks for your cooperation and
support with our driveway! This was such
a dangerous spot for students, staff and
parents in the morning and after school.
Thanks to your changed practices and our
amazing supervision staff, things seem a
little better out there. Please continue to
use an alternate location for drop off and
pick up and encourage your child to walk
to school! Our By-Law Officers will be
coming by again soon.
During the month of March, students will
begin to work on their Term 2 learning
goals. It is essential that we encourage our
students to be resilient thinkers. It means
we must resist the temptation to solve
problems for them and instead encourage
them to ask deep questions and provide
thorough responses based on proof.
Our Board and School focus continues to
be on complete and thorough investigations
with explanations that verify thinking. Our
Mathematics program has an increased
focus on thinking of alternate solutions to
problems and moving from simple
formula computations to a deeper more
full understanding of the mathematical
concepts or problems and the possible
strategies to solutions. The focus is less
about the “correct” answer and more
about finding ways to justify all solutions
that make sense. Also check out the
EQAO website for sample Grade 6 and
Grade 9 math questions and the answer
scores.
In numeracy, our students will be
working on a number of rich, inquiry
based word problems and will be
communicating their thinking and then
applying their knowledge to real life
situations.
On Sunday, March 8th, Ms. Yehudaiff
will be taking the Williams Parkway
choir to the Marlies game in Toronto to
sing the national anthem at the game.
The band will also have the opportunity
to perform during the intermission.
Students are excited to perform and have
been spending a great deal of time
practicing during their nutrition breaks
and after school.
We are looking to change our school
hours for the 2015-2016 school year.
Currently we start classes at 8:10 am and
end at 2:30 p.m.. Many of you have
expressed concern with such an early
start, so we are thinking the new hours
should be from 8:30 a.m. until 2:50 p.m..
Please call the school if you have any
questions or concerns.
Our March Break will begin on March
16th and classes will resume on March
23rd. Please enjoy a safe and healthy
March Break!!
Sincerely,
Ozma Masood
Principal: Ms. O. Masood
Vice-Principal: Ms. T. Phipps
Guidance Counsellor:
Ms. S. Lindahl
School Trustee: Mrs. C. An-
drews
Superintendent of Schools:
Ms. Jan Courtin
School Website: http://schools.peelschools.org/1424
Inside this issue:
Principal's Message 1
Symposium for Families of
Childred with special needs
2
Conference for Numeracy
& Beyond
2
Counting on You 2
French Advisory Committee 3
Visual Arts update 3
Jack Smythe Field Centre 4
Using Social Media safely 5
Adult ESL courses 6
Kite Festival 6
Calendar 7
MARCH 2015
WILLIAMS PARKWAY SENIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 1285 Williams Parkway, Brampton, ON L6S 3J8 Tel:(905) 791-4324
Page 2
Unique Symposium Addresses the needs of Families of
Children with Special Needs
This free family event is being held at West Credit Secondary School during the afternoon
of April 18th. Agencies such as Peel Children’s Centre, Erinoak, MotherRisk, CCAC will be
in attendance as well as presenters that will address the social/emotional and behavioural
needs of unique children. Parents will have the opportunity to ask psychiatrists, social work-
ers, speech and language and behavioural specialists, questions about community resources
and network with other parents. There is limited babysitting available.
This free event is open to parents of all grade levels. Please speak to your school
administrator for a registration form or e-mail [email protected] or call
905-824-0360 ext 402.
Conference helps parents make a difference in Numeracy and Beyond
The Peel District School Board is hosting its annual parent conference on Saturday, April
18, 2015 at Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School in Brampton. This year, Numeracy &
Beyond: Parent 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.
Space is limited. Registration closes March 27.
Stay up-to-date!
For more information, visit www.peelschools.org/parents/conference.
COUNTING ON YOU
More than 80 students are taking advantage of our Grade 7 and 8 numeracy and
literacy program, Counting on You. Counting on You classes are winding down for
this term and the last class will be on Thursday, March 5, 2015. We will be starting
our final term on Tuesday, March 24th and this term will end on Thur., May 14, 2015.
——————————————————————————————————————————-
WILLIAMS PARKWAY SENIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 1285 Williams Parkway, Brampton, ON L6S 3J8 Tel: (905) 791-4324
Page 3
Apply for a position on the board's French as a Second
Language Advisory Committee
The Peel District School Board is currently seeking parent members for its first French as a Second
Language Advisory committee. The committee will meet three to four times during the school year
to provide input and feedback in an advisory capacity to the board regarding the development and
implementation of French programs and initiatives.
We are now in the process of inviting parents to apply for eight available positions on the
committee.
Members will be selected based on the following criteria:
demonstrates a keen interest in public education and French as a Second Language programs
understands the importance of parent, family and community engagement
has experience working with French language/cultural organizations
demonstrates advocacy and community development skills
has a present level of involvement in the education system
reflects the diversity of the community
If interested, visit www.peelschools.org/parents/involved/french for an application and more
details.
VISUAL ARTS
Many examples of student work have been posted on Edmodo for you to see. Grade 8 Monster
Faces, a large Grade 7 group work inspired by Wassily Kandinsky, Grade 7 Group of Seven
research projects and some Cell Explosion art by the Grade 8 students. So far during Term 2, the
following tasks have been assigned to your student:
Grade 8 Art
Identity Link Bank
Cell Explosion
3 Landscapes (pencil sketch, ink, scratch art)
Grade 7 Art
Identity Link Band
Group of 7 research project
Warm and Cool Colour Painting
Thank you for your continued support in ensuring that your student is up to date with work
completion.
____________________________________________________________________________________
WILLIAMS PARKWAY SENIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 1285 Williams Parkway, Brampton, ON L6S 3J8 Tel:(905) 791-4324
Page 4
Visit the Maple Syrup Sugar Bush at Jack Smythe Field Centre
Enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature as spring blossoms. The Jack Smythe Field Centre
offers an exceptional family experience with a visit to its Maple Syrup Sugar Bush. The
March Break program runs from Wed., March 18, to Sat., March 21, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The Sugar Bush program has been established for more than 15 years and provides families
with an educational activity and a hands-on experience. The program is run by Peel District
School Board teachers and staff during March Break.
Families are invited to get involved as spring comes to life in the following activities:
help tap trees and empty sap buckets
sample some freshly made maple syrup
hike along our trails and feed the friendly chickadees by hand
learn how pioneers collected and produced syrup compared to modern-day operations
visit the sugar shack where the sap boils and clouds of sweet smelling steam billow out
of the chimney
The cost is $5/adult and $4/child 12 and under (cash only). Lunch will be available for
purchase. It will include: hot chocolate, cookies and hot dogs for you to roast over an open
fire.
Directions to Jack Smythe Field Centre, 14592 Winston Churchill Blvd., Terra Cotta:
North on Mississauga Road, left on King Street (you will see Credit View Public School on
your left), right on Winston Churchill Boulevard (you must pass Terra Cotta Conservation
Area on your left) and proceed to the top of the hill and left into the Jack Smythe site.
For more information, please contact the Jack Smythe Field Centre at 1-905-877-7771.
WILLIAMS PARKWAY SENIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 1285 Williams Parkway, Brampton, ON L6S 3J8 Tel: (905) 791-4324
Page 5
Using social media safely With the growing number of social media sites, it is no surprise
that social media is the most common form of communication for
children and teenagers. Posts, status updates, comments, instant
messages, video uploads, tweets and texts have become a regular
part of their lives. While there are many positive benefits to using
social media, including staying connected with friends and
expressing your interests, students must be cautious in their use of
these networks.
Among the most popular social media platforms used are Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram,
WeChat, Vine and Kik Messenger. Many of these platforms are free and are available on
smartphones and other electronic devices. These platforms are easy to navigate and often allow
information to be shared instantly, not only with friends, but with strangers. On social media, it is
important to remember that the world is watching.
Here are some tips, provided by the Canadian Safe School Network and GetSafeOnline.org, to
keep your children safe and help them make smart choices when using social media:
Set some boundaries for your child before they get their first ‘connected de-
vice’ (mobile, tablet, laptop or games console). Once they have it, it can be more difficult to
change the way they use it or the settings.
Have a conversation about what is appropriate online behaviour and what actions could have
huge repercussions that could damage their reputation and be harmful to others.
Talk to your child about the kind of websites they look at. Encourage them to speak to you if
they come across something they find worrying or upsetting on websites, games or social
media.
Discuss with your child what is safe and appropriate to post and share online. Written
comments, photos and videos all form part of their ‘digital footprint’ and could be seen by
anyone and available on the internet forever, even if it is subsequently deleted.
Explain to your child that being online doesn’t give them anonymity or protection, and that
they shouldn’t do anything online that they wouldn’t do face-to-face. Users should only accept
people they know in order to protect themselves from spammers, strangers and others who may
be using social networking sites to commit crimes.
Unlike when they’re meeting someone face-to-face, children don’t always know who they’re
actually ‘talking’ to online, even if they think they do. Tell your children they must never
email, chat, or text with strangers, and it’s never okay to meet a stranger in the real world.
Ensure your children set their privacy settings appropriately. Take the time to learn how
privacy settings work on your children’s favourite sites, and teach them how to control their
privacy.
Tell your children never to share personal and private information with anyone online. This
includes, but is not limited to, his or her full name, age, birth date, address, phone number,
social insurance number, credit card information and parents’ full names.
Limit the amount of time that your children spend on social media platforms and talk about the
importance of healthy and appropriate use of technology.
WILLIAMS PARKWAY SENIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 1285 Williams Parkway, Brampton, ON L6S 3J8 Tel:(905) 791-4324
Page 6
Register today for Adult ESL non-credit courses
Do you know an adult in Peel that is interested in improving their English language skills for work,
study or daily life?
The Peel District School Board offers Adult ESL courses at three locations in Brampton and Missis-
sauga. Winter courses begin February 2, 2015.
To learn more or to register, call 905-270-6000. Registration is ongoing and continues after courses
have started.
Bramalea Adult Education Centre
25 Kings Cross Road, Unit 3
Brampton Adult Education Centre
#300 - 7700 Hurontario Street
Mississauga
Adult Education Centre
100 Elm Drive West, Room 117
To learn more, visit www.peelschools.org/adulteducation.
Twitter: @PDSBLearnESL
_________________________________________________________________________
KIDS’ CBC HOSTS A FREE FAMILY KITE FESTIVAL EVENT
ON MARCH 21ST AND MARCH 22ND
This free family event will feature an excitinlg day full of fun for kids as they
make kites, rangoli designs, spin tops, hear South Asian stories and enjoy a
digitial gaming zone and more. They will also meet and greet with their fa-
vourite kids CBC characters including host Patty, Daniel Tiger, Bookaboo and
Super Why!
The kids will have a chance to appear on camera, as Kids’ CBC camera crew
captures fun moments of the day to be featured on-air and on the Kids CBC
You Tube Channel.
Saturday March 21, 10 am—2 pm Sunday March 22, 11 am—4 pm
Mississauga Central Library Bramalea City Centre
301 Burnhamthorpe Rd. W., Mississauga 25 Peel Centre Drive, Brampton
WILLIAMS PARKWAY SENIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL 1285 Williams Parkway, Brampton, ON L6S 3J8 Tel: (905) 791-4324
Page 7
MARCH 2015
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1 2 3
Pizza Day
4
5
Pizza Day
6
7
8 9 Forms for sub
orders due
IBT Assessment
night
10
Pizza Day
11
12
Pizza Day
13
Sub Day
14
15 16 17
18 19
20 21
22 23 24
Pizza Day
25
26 Tubing
Excursion
Pizza Day
27 28
29 30
31
Pizza Day