What’s Up Whiteoaks

November 2017

Whiteoaks Public School

1690 Mazo Cres.

Mississauga, Ontario

L5J 1Y8

Phone: 905.822-0451

Fax: 905.822-5973

Principal: Linda Lee

Vice-Principal: Christine Barnes

Office Manager: Jolanta Nolevski

Office Assistant: Carrol Bryan

Superintendent: Nina Jaiswal

Assistant: Maria De Sousa

Phone: 905-366-8800

Trustee: Brad Macdonald

Phone: 905-593-354

Dear Whiteoaks Families,

After an October that seemed more like August, it would appear that the colder days have finally arrived. Please

keep in mind that the students go outside twice a day and need to be prepared for their time outside. It is time to dig

out the winter coats, hats and mitts. The field can also be quite wet so students need to have a pair of shoes that

are dedicated to indoor use. This helps us to keep the dirt out of the classrooms.

Student safety is an important issue for all of us at Whiteoaks. We have completed all of our three fall fire drills, a

lockdown and our new emergency incident procedure. The students are becoming well versed in each safety proce-

dure. We will have another lockdown in the winter and three more fire drills in the spring. We want to keep our stu-

dents safe at all times.

Progress report cards will be handed out on November 10th. All students will be receiving a progress report. We

will also be holding parent teacher interviews the following week. These meetings, although they are not long, are

important ones. Students will be bringing home interview times with their progress reports.

We have lots of exciting events coming up in November. Please take a look in this newsletter to find more details.

Our next Spirit Assembly will be held on November 22nd. Our grade 5s will be sharing something special. Thank

you to all those families who participated in our WE Scare Hunger campaign. We have lots of boxes full of food for

the Compass Foodbank.

Mrs. Lee Mrs. Barnes

Principal Vice Principal

Office News

Nuts and Chocolate

Halloween will mean that many students will be wanting to bring treats to school. This is a friendly reminder to not bring chocolate or nut items into the school. Thank you to everyone for helping us to keep Whiteoaks safe and inclusive for all by not bringing nut or chocolate

products into the school.

Keep in Touch and Informed

http//schools.peelschools.org/1259

Go to our website and sign up for “School News”. You will receive calendar updates and news items

to your device.

Follow us on Twitter @whiteoakspeel

Nov. 24 opportunity to say 'thanks' to Peel Custodial & Maintenance Workers’ Day

In 2014, the board of trustees declared the last Friday in November as the Peel Custodial and Maintenance Workers’

Day. This year, the recognition day falls on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017. Take this opportunity to thank the important work of

custodial and maintenance workers and their hard work and commitment to well-being and safety.

Parking Lot

We have been having issues in our parking lot. We have

people dropping students off after the bell and moving too

quickly through the parking lot to do a quick U turn in order

to drop students at the front door. We have blocked off the

parking lot after 8:55.

If you arrive late, please park in the church parking lot and

bring your child in to the

office to sign in. Thank

you for helping to keep our

students safe.

Upcoming Events

Junglesport is Coming to Whiteoaks!

We are lucky to have Junglesport bringing their rope course to Whiteoaks beginning November 6th to 9th. The program promotes fundamental move-ment skills, coordination and cooperation. Our kindergarten to grade 3 stu-dents will enjoy fun low ropes obstacle courses. Students climb, crawl, swing, leap, balance and always have a smile on their faces. All students

wear a helmet.

Our grade 4 and 5 students will climb and travel rope bridges. They feel great while learning about trust and responsibility. Students learn the ba-sics of climbing on our rock walls and other vertical challenges. They build self-confidence and an awareness of what

their bodies can do. All students wear a harness and a helmet.

We will be using money from our pizza fundraising to pay for this exciting program. Students must have a signed con-sent form before using the ropes course. Please make sure your child’s form has been handed in prior to November

6th.

Remembrance Day Assembly

We will be holding our annual Remembrance Day assembly on Friday November 10th beginning at 10:45. We have

some junior students and staff who have planned a thoughtful and solemn assembly. Our students in grade one to five

will be attending the assembly. While our gym will be very full, members of our community are welcome to attend.

Seating will be limited. We would ask that community members please use the PLASP entrance to our gym so that

you may be easily seated at the back of the gym.

We would ask that photographs are NOT taken during the assembly and as the

students exit the gym. We are teaching the students that this is a solemn event.

People getting up and taking pictures can be a distraction and cause students to

lose their focus and begin talking.

Students will receive a poppy to wear to the assembly. Students are invited to

bring a loonie or toonie as a donation to the Royal Canadian Legion.

Teaching and Learning

Dr. B. Visits our Grade 5 Classes

Dr. B was in visiting our grade 5 classes at the end of October .

The students were engaged in many experiments involving ener-

gy. These visits were subsidized by our School Council fundrais-

ing. Dr. B will be back visiting other grade levels later in the year.

CCAT Testing for Grade 4 Students

Our grade 4 students will be participating in the Canadian Cogni-

tive Achievement Test during the first week of November. Stu-

dents will be writing the test during the mornings of November 6,

7, 8 and 9. Please make sure your child is at school on time each

of these mornings.

EQAO Results for 2016—2017

We are very pleased with our EQAO results. We will use this information to continue to inform our planning for student

success.

Teaching and Learning

School Climate

House Teams Update

Students have been gathering house points during our Terry Fox Walk and throughout our WE Scare Hunger campaign. Team Red seems to be in the lead. Teams have also been adding points to their team for their participation in our intermural basket-

ball league.

There will be lots of upcoming opportunities

for teams to add to their points.

Playground Activity Leaderrs in Schools (P.A.L.S.)

Our grade 4 and 5 students have signed up to be P.A.L.S.

leaders. We have many students who have volunteered to

help younger students on the playground. Mme Marino has

created a schedule and the leaders are ready to go. The

equipment is organized and Mrs. Barnes will be ordering

more equipment to keep students active at breaks.

Leadership Crew for 2017—2018

We had over 50 students come out to audition to be

part of our Leadership Crew for this school year. Stu-

dents had to explain why they wanted to be part of the

group and perform a chant/cheer. Thank you for all

those students who came out to auditions. Our leader-

ship crew this year will be, Sadie, Sara, Jack, Jude,

Dominika, Brain, Michael, Kian, Sasha and Annabelle.

Our House Captains will be;

Blue -Mercedes, Rachel, Aneesa, Isabella

Purple-Sophia T. , Maryam, Monika, Evelyn

Red- Fiona, Emily L., Madelyn, Nolan

Orange- Kimaya, Michelle, Marianna,Cassidy

School Climate

#chooseACTION on Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week

The Peel District School Board will recognize Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week

during the week of Nov. 20 to 24, 2017.

This year, we ask our Peel community to ‘#chooseACTION to be inclusive’ in their clas-ses, offices, schools, or communities, in order to make these spaces better places for everyone. The Peel Board would like to hear about the big and small actions, the pledg-es, the promises and the attitudes that our Peel community value, and ask that you take

a moment to share your #chooseACTION moments on social media.

Across the Peel board, schools use many programs and initiatives to prevent bullying and to intervene when bullying happens. Though the programs vary, their messages are

consistent. Students are taught to:

define bullying

identify forms of bullying

identify the shifting roles in bullying relationships, for example the person who bullies, the

target, the bystander or the trusted advocate

determine how to safely “choose action” to prevent and intervene in bullying and harass-

ment

understand that bullying is a relationship problem with relationship solutions

determine positive ways to interact with others in an accepting, inclusive way

demonstrate character attributes and be a leader to help maintain positive and safe school communities

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is one of the key items contained in Bill 13: The Accepting Schools Act, that came into effect on Sept. 1, 2012. For more information, visit www.peelschools.org/aboutus/safeschools/bullying or

www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/safeschools/prevention.html.

School Council

School Council 2017—2018

Here is our new school council for the 2017—2018 year: Jennifer Park

(chair), Erin Robinson (Treasurer), Rajbinder Grewal (co-secretary),

Kim Westlake (co-secretary), Arek Aniolowski, Jenny-Lynn Pfeiffer,

Sarah Clarke, Laura Vessel, Nicole Plaskett.

QSP Fundraiser

Way to go Whiteoaks! We have exceeded our fundraising goal. Thank you to everyone who participated in our QSP fundraiser. Monies earned will go right back to our students. For example, we will pur-chased leveled texts for our primary students to take home for Snuggle and Up and read. Thank you to parents who spent time organizing the fund-raiser. This fundraiser couldn’t have happened without you!

Lunchbox Lunches Coming Soon

Tired of making lunches? Lunchbox lunches

will be back beginning on Tuesday Novem-

ber 7th. Booster Juice will also be available

through online ordering for November 24 and

December 15th. Information about ordering

will be coming shortly.

Keep with School Council News

Also please be sure to follow School council

on Twitter @wpscouncil and on Facebook

@ Whiteoaks Public School council for

more updates.

Teaching and Learning

Scholastic Book Fair

Our Scholastic Book Fair was held at the end of the

month. Thank you to Mme Goulden for organizing this

exciting event. It was so great seeing students excited

about buying books. The profits from the sale will go to

buying books for the classrooms and library. Thank you

to Mme Issawi, Mme Guidolin, Mme Gregory, Miss

Tracy, Mr. Gallant and Mme Gregory’s mom, Susan.

Progress Report Cards

Progress report cards will be handed out to students on Friday November 10th. These reports will provide parents with

a report of student progress during these first weeks of school. This year our kindergarten students will also be receiv-

ing a progress report. Teachers will be meeting with parents the evening of Thursday November 16th and during the

morning of Friday November 17th. We hope to be able to meet with all parents during this interview period.

Peel News

Is French Immersion right for my child?

If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2018, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to apply for the French Immersion (FI) program.

What is the program like? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the program?

One way to help answer these questions is to attend the information meeting on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 at 7 p.m. at the French Immersion school your child would attend.

To find out the FI school your child would attend:

visit our website www.peelschools.org/French

call the school in your area

Online application

The application form for Grade 1 French Immersion for the 2018-19 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French on Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m.

The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 4 p.m. Applications received after that date will be put on a waiting list.

A French Immersion enrolment cap is in place. This means that a specific number of spaces are available for students entering grade 1 French Immersion. A random selection process will be used to identify students gaining entrance into the program. For more information about the random selection process visit www.peelschools.org/French.

Important dates

Information meeting Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017 at 7 p.m.

Application process opens Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m.

Application deadline Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 4 p.m.

For more information

visit www.peelschools.org/French

call your nearest French Immersion school

talk with parents who have children in the French Immersion program

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, television stations and will also be availa-ble on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by call-ing

905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

One of the following messages will be announced (highlighted text only):

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 education 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 education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

Peel News

Peel News

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 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 sched-

ules.

Infor- mation nights will be of- fered as follows: The Peel Region High Performers Program is also available to students in grades 9 to 12 at Mississauga Secondary School.

For more information about Mississauga’s program, please call 905-564-1033.

Applications open Nov. 6, 2017

For more information and applications, visit www.peelschools.org/HighPerformers.

Grades Information Night Location

4 to 5 Nov. 8, 2017 Britannia Public School

1145 Swinbourne Dr. in Mississauga

6 to 8 Nov. 30, 2017 Dolphin Sr. Public School

18 Brookside Dr. in Mississauga

Community Corner

Stay up-to-date with community-based opportunities

The Peel District School Board is pleased to introduce an electronic resource page on www.peelschools.org called, Community Corner, which contains links to information and resources in the community that may be of interest to stu-dents and their families. This site replaces our previous method of sending promotional materials about community

clubs, camps, contests, fundraisers and events home with students on a regular basis.

How you can access Community Corner

Visit www.peelschools.org/parents/communitycorner

Peel News

Jump start your future with Explore High Skills

Explore High Skills is a Peel District School Board pathway program that allows secondary schools with Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs to offer a unique specialized program choice for grade 9 and 10 students.

These sector-related programs are available to students in all skill levels and in all pathways. Specialized programs in grade 9, like Explore High Skills, provide unique learning experiences to engage students as they transition to high school. Students can focus their learning on an area of interest as they build self-confidence, learn essential skills, and develop a sense of belonging in school and in the community.

Applications open Nov. 6, 2017

For more information and participating schools, visit www.peelschools.org/ExploreHighSkills.

Book Your Child's Back-to-School Eye Exam

Ontario Reminding Parents about the Importance of Vision Care

Ontario is reminding parents to make an optometry appointment for their children.

Eighty percent of classroom learning is visual. An annual comprehensive eye exam can identify vision problems and

treatment options to help students reach their full potential. Children who have trouble seeing can encounter difficulties

at school because their motor skills, social development, attention span and ability to read, write and learn may be af-

fected.

Some conditions such as lazy eye are most effectively treated at a young age. The Ontario Association of Optometrists

recommends that every child have their first eye exam at 6 months of age to ensure proper vision development, again

at ages 2 to 3, and subsequently every year thereafter.

Contact your optometrist if you have concerns about your child's vision or notice any of the following behaviour:

Does not make eye contact

Closes or covers one eye

Squints or frowns when looking far or near

Rubs or touches their eye(s) a lot

Blinks more than usual

Reacts strongly to light

Turns or tilts head when viewing objects

Trips, falls or bumps into things often.

Don’t forget, OHIP covers comprehensive eye exams for kids until they turn 20. And Year 1 kids qualify for complimen-

tary glasses through the #EyeSeeEyeLearn program. For more information or to find an optometrist, visit https://

www.optom.on.ca/.

Peel News

Parent resources help you support your child’s learning

At the Peel board, our mission is to inspire success, confidence and hope in each child. There is no doubt that families play a vital role in helping us achieve this goal. As our partner in education, we hope you'll stay connected to your

child's learning throughout his or her entire school experience.

Visit www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild to explore all resources available to parents. There you will find easy-to-navigate buttons that connect families to tip sheets and web pages on a number of different topics, including

math, homework, special education, EQAO and mental health.

Community Events and Partners

Community Events and Partners