Walnut Grove PS
May 2018 Newsletter
Walnut Grove PS
Principal: P. Lone
Vice Principals: S. Rofaiel, T. Maharaj
Superintedant: Patrika Daws
Trustee: Carrie Andrews
Email: walnutgrove.ps@peelsb.com
Website: http://schools.peelschools.org/1416/Pages/default.aspx
Location: 10 Pinestaff Road, Brampton, ON, Canada
Phone: 905-796-4572
Twitter: @WalnutGrovePS
About Us
Walnut Grove’s Daily Schedule
Entry Bell 9:15
Period 1 9:15 - 9:55
Period 2 9:55 - 10:35
Period 3 10:35 - 11:15
Nutrition Break A 11:15 - 11:35
Nutrition Break B 11:35 - 11:55
Period 4 11:55 - 12:35
Period 5 12:35 - 1:15
D.P.A. 1:15 - 1:35
Nutrition Break C 1:35 - 1:55
Nutrition Break D 1:55 - 2:15
Period 6 2:15 - 2:55
Period 7 2:55 - 3:35
Dismissal 3:35
School Security
All parents and visitors entering the school during school hours must be buzzed in through the front doors and sign in and out at the office.
You are also reminded to wear a visitor’s badge while you are in the school. For safety reasons, it is important that we know who is in the school at all times.
Student Absences
Your child’s safety is very important to us, for this reason please make sure to call the automated attendance line at 1-855-209-6155 for each day that your child is going to be absent from school or will be coming in late.
An attendance call can be made at anytime however you need to call before 9 a.m. for the current school day. Safe arrival calls will be made each day for students that have an unexplained absence.
Late Arrivals
If a student arrives late to school, after the 9:15 a.m. entry bell, they must report to the office to sign in and receive a late slip before going to their class. Please help your child arrive to school on time up establishing and encouraging morning routines
Medication
If your child will require to take or have any medication (eg. Epi-pens, inhalers) while at school due to asthma, allergies or other medical conditions please inform the office. You will be given a medical form that will need to be completed by your family doctor and returned to school with the medication. No medication can be administered at the school without having a current medical form completed and on file at the school.
Birthdays
There are several students and staff who have severe food allergies in our school. For that reason, we ask to you please do not send any food items as a treat for a birthday or special celebration. If you wish to celebrate, sending materials to support learning in our school such as pencils, crayons, books, etc. would be appropriate. Thank you for your understanding.
Kiss and Ride
We understand that there are a lot of cars in the morning and after school using the Drop Off lane. We are asking for your patience and understanding and to follow the guidance of the teachers on duty.
Please note that children should never exit from the driver's side and even if they are seated behind the driver they should exit from the curbside.
Thank you for helping us in making Walnut Grove a safe school for all of our students
Nutrition Break Routines
We encourage all students to remain at school during both Nutrition Breaks, to participate in the variety of extra-curricular activities offered. However, we recognize that some families want their children to come home for lunch. In order to ensure student safety at all times, we have established some expectations for Nutrition Break Routines:
· parents/guardians will be asked to complete a form indicating their wishes for daily routines for lunch for their children – these will be kept on file to ensure that routines are being followed
·anytime that those routines are changed, parents/guardians will be required to contact the school (by phone or in writing) indicating the change in routine
· if students go home for lunch, they are expected to remain home for the entire break (40 minutes)
· students are expected to return ON TIME for next period
STUDENTS WILLL NOT BE PERMITTED TO LEAVE SCHOOL PROPERTY AT NUTRITION BREAKS EXCEPT TO GO HOME FOR LUNCH WITH PARENT PERMISSION. Students will not be allowed to go to the plaza across the street, nor are they allowed to go to a friend’s house for lunch.
Help protect students with severe allergies by keeping lunches, snacks
peanut-free
Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening allergic reaction that affects some children. We ask that you help us take care of these students by sending lunches and snacks for your child that are free from peanuts or nuts, because these foods are the leading cause of anaphylaxis.
Please read the label of any food you plan to send to school with your child. If the label says, "May contain nuts or peanuts," please do not send it to school.
You can get a complete copy of the Peel board's anaphylaxis guideline from the school office.
Supervision in Yard
Yard supervision for students begins at 9:00 a.m. Students should not be dropped off, or be arriving on school property, prior to 9:00 a.m. When outside, students need to play in their designated area and remain visible to the supervisor in the schoolyard.
Volunteers
Parents play an important role in the development and education of their children and in the success of the school community. At Walnut Grove, we welcome and encourage the participation of parents and community members, and are grateful for the countless hours our volunteers contribute throughout the school year.
To volunteer at our school, you must complete a short interview and a criminal record check. This Criminal Record Check must have been completed within the last 6 months, must include a Vulnerable Sector Screening (VSS) and must be an original copy. A police background check is required for all school volunteers in Ontario. Even if you want to accompany your child on a field trip, you need this background check.
Once you have completed the process, you are on file with the Peel District School Board as being a school volunteer. All returning volunteers will be mailed an Offence Declaration Form that must be filled out and returned to the board office each year. You will not be able to volunteer with the Peel board until you have returned this form.
If you have any questions about criminal record checks or the offence declaration form, please call the board office at 905-890-1010 ext. 2832.
Bring Your Own Device (B.Y.O.D.)
Walnut Grove students are welcome, with the permission of their parent/guardian, to bring a device from home to use at school for educational related purposes only. Students are expected to demonstrate good digital citizenship through the appropriate, responsible, legal and ethical use of technology. Parents are asked to sign a BYOD contract around the safe use of technology at school as outlined in the school’s code of conduct. Parents please look for this contract in your child’s agenda within the first few weeks of September.
If a student does not have access to a personal device, a school device (e.g., Net book, Chrome book, I Pad), may be made available for their use while on school property.
Principal's Message
Well Spring has FINALLY sprung! We welcome the warmer weather as we head into the last 2 months of the school year – it’s very hard to imagine that we are so close to the end of the year! Thank you to all families who came out to our Education Week Open House. We were treated to an amazing Spring Concert, with performances by our Grade 1 and 2 classes, and Junior and Intermediate dance teams. I am always so proud of the performances at Walnut Grove – both students and staff go above and beyond in all that they do!
“Shake it Up Shakespeare” is happening again this year. A group of our students will be performing “A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream” at the Rose Theatre on the evening of May 2nd. Mrs. Locke and Ms. Leaton, along with a few actors from Rose Theatre, have been working with the students over the past few months, in preparation for the big night. It is such an incredible opportunity for our students to be able to perform in a real theatre.
During the week of May 7-11, we will be participating in a variety of activities for Children’s Mental Health Week. Our focus will be on health and wellness, and what we can implement into our daily lives to maintain our own personal wellness and a healthy balance in our lives. Believe it or not, many of our children need to slow down, and shift their focus on ways to reduce stress and anxiety.
We will soon be welcoming new Junior Kindergarten students to Walnut Grove. Our annual “Start With a Smile” night will take place on May 24th. Parents will be able to come to the school with their child and engage in some activities in the FDK classrooms.
EQAO assessments for Grade 3 and 6 will take place between May 22 – June 4. We know our students have worked hard all year and are well-prepared for this Ministry assessment.
School Council
Character Trait Monthly Award Winners - April (Responsible)
K1 - Avinoor A., Ketan S., Fateh S.
K2 - Gurfateh B., Pehar D., Samarbir S.
K3 - Anahad M., Seerat G., Naim M.
K4 - Ansi Y., Rahman A., Keven K.
K5 - Aman S. Anujan S., Dasmesh S.
K6 - Krish S., Eva T., Mehar S.
1/2- Angel M., Govin D., Ishan D., Avi A.
1A - Kabishan S., Ajitesh M., Pari P.
1B - Gurleen K., Arjun A., Anna S.
1FA - Meher G., James E., Angad K.
1FB - Varana S., Ajay C., Dilpreet K.
2/3F - Bela G., Angadh A., Nenila V.
2A - Simran B., Pari S., Vrinda R.
2B - Prabhjot S., Navaya P., Annie P.
2FA - Nikhil S., Raya M-L., Kimberly D.
2FB - Krista G., Nimrit D. Sarina S.
3A - Krish M., Sorosh S., Paavan S.
3B - Andrew, Jina, Aarya
3C - Deepal C., Jasnam N., Harnick S.
3FA - Surleen S., Ekam S., Jaideep G., Karam D.
3FB - Amir H., Armaan T., Shlok P., Devan B.
4A - Devanshi C., Samia N., Ola N.
4B - Japnam D., Japji K., Lavedeep G.
4C - Arshia A., Tsana M., Sahib U.
4FA - Davin, Shania, Abhir
4FB - Avin M., Satasha S., Parneet S.
5A - Rashad K., Bhavneet K., Bhawneet P.
5B - Arnav M., Gurman C., Nimrat T.
5C - Sukhman, Colleen, Gurleen
5FA - Sairah B., Giya P., Tyler P.
6A - Aryan, Hazeeqa, Subha
6B - Heetuyu R., Kaira C., Rumman H., Keeret M.
6C - Ishrat K., Siginn Y., Anshit M.
6FA - Johi S., Aathischan P., Aseelah M.
6FB - Anjali S., Manreet G., Tanya D.
7A - Ashley J., Bobby D., Anmoal T.
7B - Rishikha K., Karanvir P., Shelraam G.
7C - Yuvraj H., Joban D., Samreen B.
7FA - Anthony, Sahib, Bellini B.
7FB - Saihbaaj G., Brahmjot S., Denrick R.
8A - Sai Y., Ranjan S., Jasmine V.
8B - Humreet G., Sukhman S., Akshay S.
8C - Navrit, Ahtheshan, Nikki
8FA - Jasmin K., Sukhjit N., Nicholas W.
Character at Walnut Grove
This month the Character focus is Honesty. Our Equity focus is the True Worth and Beauty. Honesty means being truthful, trustworthy and sincere in what you say and do
You show HONESTY when you:
Tell the truth - be sincere, genuine and trustworthy.
Take responsibility for your actions and words.
Admit to your mistakes.
Play by the rules.
Do what is right, even when no one is watching.
Things to consider when thinking about True Worth and Beauty:
Beauty is not always about what we see on the outside, but who we are on the inside. What kinds of things make
someone beautiful? What is beautiful about us? Older children will find a striking difference between what they
find valuable and beautiful and what the media portrays. Younger children can list all the different things they find
beautiful and marvel at the variety therein
Mental Health Week at Walnut Grove
Children's Mental Health Week takes place during the week of May 7-11. During this week, Walnut Grove will be engaging in a few simple activities to promote wellness for students and staff.
There will be daily morning announcements, a Gratitude Wall, lesson/resources for teachers to engage students in wellness activities, wellness themed DPA activities, and book reads in the Library. Staff will also be engaging in wellness activities during the week.
We encourage our parents to talk to their children about the wellness activities they've engaged in during our Mental Health Week.
News from the Music Department
News from the Music Department
May 2018
Extra-curricular Activities –
Mlle Li and Ms. Leaton’s Grade 2 and 3 Primary Choir will continue to meet weekly during NB1. We are having so much fun singing together! As well, our music council, the Music Alphas will continue to meet regularly to promote the music program and foster musicianship at Walnut Grove.
Ms. Fouracre, Ms. Jackson, Ms Kieltyka, and Mlle Li’s Grade 5 and 6 Drama Club will continue meeting on Day 3’s at first NB!
Mrs. Locke will be continuing with the Strings Ensemble, Woodwind Ensemble, Pop Band and continuing rehearsals for this year’s Shakespeare play to take place on May 2!
Units –
Mrs. Locke’s grades 4-8. Grades 6-8 will continue to learn songs on xylophones and glockenspiels during the ORFF unit. These are ORFF instruments:
Here is a video of students from Ms. Forrest’s class performing a round:
Ms. Forrest's class performs "Round".
SPRING INTO SONG!
Mlle Li and Ms Leaton’s grade 1-3 students performed to a full house on April 25. It was a very entertaining night filled with fantastic performances of dance, songs and MC jokes!
Students in Grades 3-8 have been continuing to play the recorder in music class and are expected to practice at home daily. As well, students are to keep their recorder in their school bags throughout the recorder unit to ensure easy access at home and at school. Select students in 7FA and 7FB performed O Canada on the recorder at the assembly in April!
Ms Leaton’s Grade 3-4 students have started a new unit using the Boomwhackers and Djembes with an emphasis on ensemble playing and learning to collaborate while playing music.
Here are 2 videos of students in 4FA (Mme Santos) practicing on the Djembes:
Save the dates:
Character Assemblies Link to the Assembly Schedule for the year
Thursday, May 31
9:30 - Grades 2,4,6,8, FDK
10:20 - Grades 1,3.5,7, Splits
Please follow us on Twitter:
@musicatthegrove
@missleaton
@Mlle_Li_Musique
Castlebrooke Arts Night May 9 6:00 - 8:00pm
The Annual Castlebrooke Family of Schools Arts Night will take place on Wednesday, May 9th from 6:00-8:00 pm. Each student performing will be given two tickets which can be used to invite two family members to attend the evening showcase.
We ask that students who are performing arrive at Castlebrooke between 5:45-6:00 pm. Family members with tickets will be granted entry into the cafeteria at 6:00 pm and the show will commence promptly at 6:30 pm.
All students must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Thank you.
News from the Peel District School Board
Changes coming to elementary SafeArrival system on May 14, 2018
As you know, the Peel District School Board implemented SafeArrival, an automated absence reporting system for all students in its elementary schools in September 2016. Recently, the service provider for our system was sold to a new company and so, beginning May 14, 2018, there will be some slight changes on how you will report your child’s absence from school.
All families must set up a new SafeArrival account beginning May 1, 2018. The new system will be “live” as of Monday, May 14, 2018 so please ensure your new account has been created by then. Please note: the new SafeArrival system CANNOT be used before May 14 to report any school absences. You must use our current SafeArrival system until Friday, May 11, 2018. The phone number will remain the same, only the App and website will change.
Use one of the following methods to set-up your new SafeArrival account. Please ensure the number and email address that you are using to report your child’s absences are those that we have on file.
SchoolMessenger app (free from Apple or Google Play)
Download the SchoolMessenger app
Tap Sign Up to create your account
Web and Mobile Web: go.schoolmessenger.com
Go to the above website
Click Sign Up to create your account
Interactive Toll-free Phone
Call the toll-free number: 1-855-209-6155
Listen to and follow the instructions to report an absence
As always, please report your child’s absences before the start of the school day. Late arrivals and/or early departures should be reported as soon as possible. If your child’s absence is not reported in advance, the automated notification system will contact you to inform you of the absence and will provide an opportunity to verify the absence. By reporting your child absent in advance on the SafeArrival toll-free number, website or SchoolMessenger mobile app, you will not receive a call.
A new way to ‘Share the Smile’
In every Peel school and worksite, there are endless inspiring stories just waiting to be told. To help share the smile, the Peel board will launch a new website on April 30 to showcase these amazing #PeelFam stories, people and creations.
Visit www.sharethesmile.ca to view some of the stories, people and creations we’ve featured so far. We encourage students, staff, parents and the community to share the stories happening in their school community. In the top right corner, you share by clicking ‘Share Your Story’.
Mental Health Minute Activity
For Children’s Mental Health Week, let’s try a Mental Health Minute Activity.
Grateful seeing - Look FIRST for what’s good and working for us in life. Ask your child to share one (or two) good things about their day. Make sure you share what’s good about your day too!
“We’re going for a walk!” - Exercise relieves anxiety for up to several hours as it burns excess energy, loosens tense muscles and boosts mood. If your child can’t take a walk right now, have them run in place, bounce on a yoga ball, jump rope or stretch.
Three hugs, three big breaths - Hug your child and take 3 deep belly breaths together. Share a smile and move on with your day. This is a quick way to pause, connect and be in the moment together.
Experiment! - Together with your child you might: try a new recipe, write a poem, paint something, or play a new game. Creative expression and well-being are linked.
Peel schools honour police officers during Police Appreciation Week
The Peel District School Board will pay tribute to police officers by holding Police Appreciation Week from May 14 to 18, 2018. Peel students and staff will show their appreciation for the tremendous job being done by police to protect schools, homes and communities. Police Appreciation Week coincides with National Police Week. National Police Week pays tribute to the work of police officers across Canada.
During this week, students, staff and parents in schools throughout Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga will honour the work of police officers and thank them for enhancing public safety and security.
Student trustees elected for 2018-19 school year
Laura Oris-Naidenova and Amanpreet Chonkrian have been elected as student trustees for the 2018-19 school year. These results were announced at the Regular Meeting of the Board on April 24.
Laura Oris-Naidenova, from Clarkson Secondary School, will represent schools south of Highway 401, and Amanpreet Chonkrian, from Harold M. Brathwaite Secondary School, will represent schools north of Highway 401. The student trustee elections were held in schools on April 17 and 18.
Student trustees serve an important role by representing students in decisions about education in Peel, and keeping students informed about important decisions that affect them. For more information about student trustees and their responsibilities, visit www.peelschools.org/students/studenttrustees.
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, YouTube and Whatsapp 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 device’ (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.
Summer School 2018
Secondary School full credit and 55-hour session classes will be offered at 12 high schools throughout the Board this summer. Peel eLearning-Summer classes, two-credit Co-operative Education, ESL and Summer Study/Travel programs are also available.
Please visit www.peelschools.org/summerschool for more details.
Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes
Do you know an adult that is interested in improving their English language skills for work, study or daily life?
Through the Continuing & Adult Education department, the Peel District School Board offers a wide variety of English language classes that help parents experience success in Canadian English in both listening/speaking and reading/writing. Courses are designed for a range of basic, intermediate and advanced English (Levels 1 to 8) as well as the more experienced learner needing to prepare for an IELTS exam.
Classes are ongoing - Register anytime.
All learners that complete a session will earn a certificate of learning from the Peel District School Board.
Classes operate from six locations in Brampton and Mississauga with three specially designed adult centres at:
- 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 or to register, call 905-270-6000, then press 2
Also visit www.peelschools.org/adulteducation or follow us on Twitter: @PDSBLearnESL
We Welcome the World Centres
The Peel District School Board’s We Welcome the World Centres located in Brampton, Malton and Mississauga, are the first point of contact for all newcomer families to become familiar with the educational system in Peel. The centres are open all year—including the summer months— from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
In addition to providing literacy and numeracy assessments, the We Welcome the World Centres provide newcomers with a host of services including: reception, orientation, interpretation and referrals.
At each centre, parents/guardians and students will discover:
settlement service information
age and grade appropriate educational and related program resources
information about various community supports
translation of materials to support the reception and assessment process
computer portals— providing information on Peel resources
For more information about the We Welcome the World Centre and the services they provide, call 905-366-8791.