The Villager
Stories from the Countryside: December Newsletter, 2017
Countryside Village Public School - 40 Dolbyhill Drive, Brampton, Ontario
Message from Countryside Village Public School
As the snow begins to cover the ground and the weather gets colder, we are well into learning at Countryside Village Public School. Lots of inquiries and activities have been happening in the recent months and we would like to take an opportunity to share them with the community. Make sure you also read to the end of our newsletter for important information about kindergarten registration, French programs, school absences and educational programs.
WINTER CONCERT
On December 19th family and friends came to watch CVPS students at their best for a festive holiday concert. Classes from grades 1 to 5 sang songs and danced the evening away.
Performances included the dance club dancing to "It's a Marshmallow World", the kindergartens singing "Reindeer Pokey", piano pieces, a video about peace from Mrs. Burk and Ms. Clark's class, the songs "This is my Wish" and "Better Bundle Up", the French song "Petit Papa Noël" with Ms. Heritage and Mr. Smythe class and a fantastic finale with grades 1 to 5 singing "The First Day of Winter".
Thank you to all the students and teachers who helped behind the scenes. We could not have done it without you.
Our final song with grades 1 to 5.
"Better Bundle Up!" with primary and junior grades.
Kindergartens with their "Reindeer Pokey" song.
FUN WINTER TIPS
by: Vir D.
Are you dying to have some fun this winter? Well don’t worry I am here to save your winter! So here are 5 tips to have some fun this winter:
Have fun in the snow! Build a snowperson and/or build a fort.
You could make some hot chocolate if its cold. Here is a good recipe: Hot Chocolate Recipe
If you're bored why don't you just read a book! During the break everyone should read at least 15 minutes a day. Just make sure your book is suitable for your reading level.
You can go skiing/snowboarding at Mount Chinguacousy or go skating with your family at Gage Park
If the weather is too cold, stay in and do some arts and crafts! Here is a link with tons of ideas: Arts and Crafts.
Just remember to have fun and be safe.
Book Review
A Wrinkle in Time is the story of Meg Murry, a high-school-aged girl who is transported on an adventure through time and space. With her younger brother Charles Wallace and her friend Calvin O'Keefe they attempt to rescue her father, a gifted scientist, from the evil forces that hold him prisoner on another planet. It's an amazing book with so many hidden meaningful messages, and I recommend it for any person who likes adventure filled books. If you don't like reading chapter books, it's also available as a graphic novel and is even being released as a movie!
Grade 6, 7 and 8 Go See the Movie: RISING ABOVE
by: Israa G.
Rising Above is an amazing documentary about bullying, people who were bullied and people who were bullies. We went to see the documentary on November 30th at 10:00 a.m. at the movie theater. In the movie there was this girl who was put on a ugly girl list at her high school, and the way she responded to the list was so amazing that it went on the NEWS. She responded with kindness and sympathy feeling sorry for the person who made the list and that they would do that to someone for their own enjoyment or just to put people down. Also there was a guy named Anthony McLean who used to be a bully but is now a public speaker who talks about bullying. He thought he was a class clown, and he never thought he was a bully. He just wanted to make people laugh, not embarrass them and make them feel bad about themselves.
Rising Above is amazing and inspirational. This documentary is a great way to stop bullying and to tell people that your words hurt people more than you think. Words are bullets, your mouth is the gun. Your family should definitely watch this documentary over the winter break!
SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR
by: Yashika S., Jansi S., and Miru S.
This year's book fair was our best one yet! We raised $1,500, the most we have ever raised. The money we raised is going towards our school library and for students at Countryside Village PS. The book fair was really fun this year because we had great new books come in, such as: Brave, Switched Birthday, Disappear and much more! We also had great contests for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8. The winners got 10 dollars worth of books! The book fair started on December 12th and ended on December 15th.
The book fair is not only to raise money for our school library but also to encourage reading at every age. Everyone should read everyday for at least 15 minutes a day. Reading everyday can do wonders for your brain. The benefits of reading include knowledge expansion, bigger vocabulary, and it is very entertaining. It also provides excellent mental stimulation.
ECO TEAM NEWS
by: Jansi S.
Countryside Village and Tony Pontes students on the Eco-team have done our first full waste audit of the year. We collected both garbage and recycling around the school. We are working on an analysis to record who recycles properly and who doesn’t. Stay tuned in the new year for the results!
OUR WINTER WONDERLAND DANCE
by: Cailey F. and Madeleine K.
On Friday December 15th, we hosted our first ever senior winter dance! This event was a great way for the grade 6, 7, and 8’s of Tony Pontes and Countryside Village to get together to celebrate the coming of winter break. Ms. Poll’s grade 8 students greatly assisted in the organization of the event, along with Ms. Forrest's and Ms.Woelfle’s grade 7 and grade 6/7 classes; accompanied by some of Tony Pontes’ grade 8 students who also assisted with the gym set-up. The decorations included a banner collaboratively made by the three classes, 3D snowflakes created by members of the grade 7 class, a LED light Christmas tree, as well as other LED light displays made by members of the grade 8 class. The students danced the afternoon away to a variety of songs played by the DJs, and the photo booth enabled students to capture the moment with their friends; making for an all around great time. The dance was a success due to all the hardworking students who contributed their time and ideas to make such an enjoyable event happen. We couldn't have done it without you!
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 Countryside Village Public School 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 5 to 8 p.m.
· 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 alternate living arrangement
Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated
Peel District School Board to support Treaties Recognition Week
The Peel District School Board is proud to once again support Treaties Recognition Week from Nov. 5 to 11, 2017 to raise awareness about our collective treaty obligations in Canada. Peel schools will be provided with resources to help students engage in discussions to understand our treaty commitments and the important role treaties play in our lives.
Last year, Ontario passed new legislation to designate the first week of November each year as Treaties Recognition Week to honour the importance of treaties and to help Ontarians learn more about treaty rights and treaty relationships.
For more information on Treaties Recognition Week, visit www.ontario.ca/treaties and www.afn.ca/education/toolkit.
A focus on Indigenous education, and unlearning & re-learning Canada’s history is an important component of the Peel board's Plan for Student Success, and working towards addressing Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.
A FAMOUS AUTHOR AT CVPS
by: Ravneet K.
Our grade 2 teacher, Mrs. Currie, was nominated for the Burt Literary Award in 2017. I interviewed her about her experience. Here is what she said:
VOLLEYBALL
by: Amneet S. and Shubkaran S.
Grade 6, 7 and 8 boys participated in a volleyball tournament on December 7nd which was held at Castle Oaks PS. The team made the playoffs but lost in quarter finals. The players had great communication and finished 4th overall. Mrs. Haslam-Smith was coaching the team and said: “ Great job! That’s the farthest we’ve ever gone.”
Grade 6, 7 and 8 girls participated in a volleyball tournament at Castle Oaks PS on December 6th which was coached by Mrs DeSimone. Although the girls placed 7th overall Mrs DeSimone told the team that this was a fantastic experience for them.
Both teams looked amazing in their brand new Countryside Village jerseys!
Birthday Loot Bags and Birthday or Special Event Food
Nutritious lunches help children learn
Use Canada’s Food Guide to help your child get nutrients and energy needed to have a successful 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.
Get Social with Countryside Village Twitter Accounts
Here are the various ways that you can keep up-to-date on daily events at CVPS and in your child's class:
School @CountrysidePDSB
Principal Deb Pratt @_debpratt
KA @missminpeel
KB @tracyburk2
KC @KindergartenCS
KD can be followed on the Remind app
Grade 1A can be followed on the Remind app
Grade 1B @1Bsuperstars
Grade 2A @TheCurrieCorner
Grade 2B @temple_c4
Grade 3A @mrsPsaini
Grade 3/4 @love2learn1
Grade 4/5 http://www.riomhaire.ca (web site)
Grade 5A @Malik_GR5
Grade 5/6 @Mrs_Joyce_
Grade 6/7 @CVPS67
Grade 7 @FriendlyForrest
Grade 8 @CSVGrade8
Library @jacinthepage
Music/Gym @haslam_smith
French @csvFrench
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:
o Call an automated, interactive toll free number – 1-855-209-6155 (Please note – You must wait for confirmation)
o Report absences online by accessing the SafeArrival parent portal on pdsb.schoolconnects.com
o Download the SafeArrival mobile application 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 program, 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 office 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.
Conference helps parents empower modern learners
The Peel District School Board is hosting its annual parent conference, co-presented by the Peel Elementary 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 converges 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.
Apply for Extended French by Jan. 26, 2018
If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2018, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to consider Extended French (EF). To find out more about the program, visit www.peelschools.org/French
The EF school for our area is Sir John A. MacDonald Senior Public School. The phone number is 905-457-5535.
Online application
The application form for Grade 7 EF for the 2018-19 school year is available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m.
The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 4 p.m. A computerized random selection process assigns a rank to each application received by the deadline. Students are offered available space in Extended French in this order. Students who are not selected will be placed in rank order on a waitlist. Each school has its own waitlist. Parents will be notified if a space becomes available. Applications received after that date will be put on a waiting list.
For more information
· visit www.peelschools.org/French
· call your nearest Extended French school
· talk with parents who have children in the Extended French program
· visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca
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 program, visit www.peelschools.org/French
The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2018-19 school year is available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Friday, 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 Carberry Public School. The phone number is 905-458-6771.
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 enrolled 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 application 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 Carberry Public School at 905-458-6771.
· Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.
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 information 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.
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 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.
*NEW* 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 students 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
Click on the “Community Corner” button, found on the main page of school websites, as well as on www.peelschools.org.
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.
Peel Explore and Learn Centres
School Age Programs & Day Camps
Engaging and supervised Before & After School Programs are available at Countryside Village Public School. These programs are for students in junior and senior kindergarten, as well as Grades 1 to 6. Through the school holidays and on professional activity (PA) days exciting Day Camps are also available.
The Programs are operated by Peel Explore & Learn Centres and licensed by the Ministry of Education. Our goal is to engage school-aged children when school is out.
The Before School Program opens at 7 am and offers a nutritious breakfast snack and a range of activities each morning.
The After School Program starts once school is dismissed and continues until 6 pm. Children enjoy a healthy snack and weekly programming, participate in recreational activities, and have support to complete school assignments.
The Day Camps offer full days of excitement combining engaging programming with physical activity, creative arts, and field trips!
To register or for more information contact us at,
- PEALCentres@gmail.com or,
- (905) 790-6958
Child care subsidy from the Region of Peel is accepted
See www.peelregion.ca/children or call (905) 793-7200 for information
Subscribe to receive news from the Peel Board
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 posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca.
You can also subscribe to receive:
News releases
Keep up with the news at the Peel board. Subscribe to receive Peel board news releases to learn more about board news and school events.
Board agendas
Learn more about Peel board meetings by subscribing to receive agendas. Meetings of the board are open to the public and are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
Board highlights
Briefing is a newsletter with highlights of decisions made by trustees at board meetings. It is sent out on the second and fourth Thursday of every month and immediately following any special board meetings.
Job postings for non-teaching staff
Learn about each new non-teaching job that is posted on the Peel board's Job Board.
Countryside Village Public School
Email: countrysidevillage.ps@gmail.com
Location: 40 Dolbyhill Drive, Brampton, ON, Canada
Phone: 905-796-4467
Twitter: @countrysidepdsb