Alexmuir Newsletter 95 Alexmuir Blvd., Scarborough, ON M1V 1H6

416-396-6025

January/February 2017

with the classroom teacher if you

have any further concerns or

questions about your child.

Student safety is a priority at

Alexmuir and we ask for your

continued support. Safety patrollers

and staff are on duty at the Kiss

N’Ride every morning and at the end

of each day. Parents must slow

down when entering the circular

drive and wait patiently to exit the

parking lot. We continue to ask

parents to not park in the staff

parking lot for safety reasons. It is

also important that parents follow

the traffic signs posted around the

school and refrain from parking

illegally. It causes congestion on the

street and creates unsafe situations

for our parents and students.

It is much safer and healthier if your

children walk to and from school

each day.

Susan Davis

Principal

Message from the Principal

It has been an unusual winter and after the warm weather we have experienced

we are all hoping that Spring will arrive soon!

We look forward to adding to our loose parts collection in the Kindergarten

Court and giving the students the opportunity to play and explore. If you have

any kitchen items that you no longer need, we are taking donations for our mud

kitchen (e.g. plastic dishes/platters, utensils, pots/pans, milk crates, etc.). We

continue to work with Earth Day Canada to create our Play Policy. At

Alexmuir we recognize that play is a right. We are aiming to create a

supportive environment and strengthen student’s resiliency, imagination,

creativity and learning. The staff at Alexmuir are committed to an ongoing

discussion about play so we can continuously grow and change.

As you know, Term 1 Report Cards went home on Tuesday, February 14th

and

parent teacher interviews have taken place. We certainly appreciate you taking

the time to meet to discuss your child’s progress. Please feel free to connect

Be Alexmuir

Awesome

Library

Library

ALEXMUIR Fundraiser

Move-a-thon

Friday, March 31st, 2017

The students and staff had such a wonderful time moving to the

music last year that we are going to do it again. We are thrilled to

announce that we will be hosting another Move-a-thon this year.

The proceeds from this fundraiser will be used to help purchase:

•Technology to enhance our current school resources

•New books for students to use in the classroom and to take home and

read to their families

•Literacy resources to support classroom programs

For every $10 a student raises, they will receive a ticket to be

entered into a draw to win a variety of prizes. If they raise $60 they

will receive a top ticket to enter into the Early Bird Draw or to win

the Top Prize. All donations are due by April 7th

to be eligible to

win a prize. Glow bracelets will again be sold the day of the Move-

a-thon for $1.00.

Prizes

Early Bird Draw – 2 Raptor Tickets to the March 31

st game against the

Indiana Pacers (Money due by March 27th to enter the Early Bird Draw)

Top Prize – Apple iPad Mini

Raptors Jerseys - 2 DeRozan Jerseys

Official Toronto Blue Jays Marcus Stroman autographed baseball

Lululemon - Yoga Kit (Scarborough Town Centre)

Joey Restaurant - $50.00 Gift Certificate (Markville Mall)

East Side Marios - 4 x $25.00 Gift Certificates (Markville Mall)

Tim Horton’s - Match the top class donation up to $1500.00, Tim’s lunch

for the top class

BrightPics - Underwater Camera

Mastermind – Remote control Spider

Nelson - Books

Scholastic - Books

Costco – 1 - $50 Gift Certificate

2 - $25 Gift Certificates

Movie for your class and a class of your choice in the gym on the big screen

Kelsey’s - $25 Gift Certificate

Reptilia - 2 Family Packs (each pack contains 4 VIP Passes)

Skyzone - 4 - 1 hour passes

Toronto Zoo - 2 Guest Passes

Hub Rock Climbing - 2 - 1 Day Passes

The Cave Climbing Gym - Two Introductory Passes for 4 weeks of rock

climbing, yoga & Muay Thai classes & gear rentals

Cineplex - 2 movie passes with drinks and popcorn

Ontario Science Centre – 2 Individual Passes

Please join us for

Arts Night

Spring Concert Thursday April 27

th , 2017

6:00-7:00 p.m.

Photo Booth

This year the students of the

Social Justice Me to We Group

held a photo booth. The students

worked over several recesses and

lunch hours to create a variety of

Valentine back drops for the

students to choose from.

The students raised $ 311.00. All

the proceeds from this sale are

going to help build a school in

Haiti. A big thank you to all the

students had their photos taken

and were involved in this

successful event.

Alexmuir JPS

95 Alexmuir Blvd.,

Scarborough, Ontario

M1V 1H6

S. Davis (Principal)

T. Wong (Vice Principal)

P. Caruso (OA)

M. Sue (Secretary)

416-396-6025

J. Spence, Superintendent

N. Shan, Trustee

Email: alexmuir@tdsb.on.ca

Toronto District School Board

Website: http://www.tdsb.on.ca

Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten Registration

February 2017

Please call to book an appointment 416-396-6025

To register, visit our school during the above hours and bring the following

information about your child:

1. Age (a birth certificate or baptismal record or passport)

2. Address (two pieces of identification that shows your recent address,

such as your telephone bill, Motor Vehicle Ownership and Insurance,

etc.)

3. Immunization (the card that shows a list of needles your child has

received)

4. Child’s Health Card

5. If your child was not born in Canada, verification of date of arrival is

required. Families who are permanent residents and refuge claimants

may register directly at the school. All other families should come to

the International Program and Admissions Office, Toronto District

School Board, 5050 Yonge Street, for a TDSB School Admission

Letter.

Coloured Playdough

Materials

1 cup water

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1/2 cup salt

1 tablespoon cream of tartar

Food coloring

Saucepan

1 cup flour

Directions

1. Combine water, oil, salt, cream of

tartar, and food coloring in a saucepan

and heat until warm.

2. Remove from heat and add flour.

3. Stir, then knead until smooth.

The cream of tartar makes this dough

last 6 months or longer, so resist the

temptation to omit this ingredient if you

don't have it on hand.

Store this dough in an airtight container

or a Ziploc freezer bag.

Traffic Safety Tips: Help Make This a Safe Winter Season

Now that winter is here, we know that severe weather will be part of our daily lives for the next few months. While

traffic safety is an important matter all year long, this is a particularly good time to review what we can do to keep

students safe.

The need to be aware and alert at all times, on any road, and even in the most routine circumstances, is key to traffic

safety. This applies to students and drivers alike. Road conditions can be challenging in the winter months. So to

those of us who drive, please take extra care on the roads and in parking lots, especially in areas where children might

be present.

School staff periodically review street and traffic safety with students. Parents can help reinforce these safety messages

with children at home. Below are some tips that might be helpful to review.

Stop, look, and listen for traffic

Only cross at corners and crosswalks

Make eye contact with drivers

Walk on the right side of the crosswalk

Wear appropriate footwear to reduce the chances of slipping

Never run into the street

Obey crossing signals

Cross only if clear

Walk on sidewalks

Where there are no sidewalks, walk as far away from traffic as possible, facing traffic

The safety of our students is always a top priority. Let’s work together to make the winter season safe so we can enjoy

all it has to offer.

Recess and Lunch During Cold Weather

Elementary school students are kept indoors for recess and lunch times for a number of weather conditions

such as rain, lightning in the area, extreme winds, and extreme cold. When temperature and wind chill

measure -28C or lower, students are kept indoors. Recesses and lunch hour may be shortened (to 10 minutes

for recess and 15 minutes less from lunch) if the temperature and wind chill reading is between

-28C and -20C.

Please ensure that your child comes to school with appropriate clothing for the weather, such as boots, a

warm coat, hat, snow pants, and mittens, so that they are prepared for any weather.

Character Education

Perseverance is never giving up what you have set out to do. It is the power to do something in spite of difficulties.

What is perseverance?

• Staying with the task and not giving up

• Demonstrating commitment, pride, and a positive attitude in completing a task

• Working hard without giving up

• Remaining focused on a goal

• Having the inner strength to pursue a goal or task

• Demonstrating self-discipline

What does perseverance look like/sound like?

• Spending time practising a skill

• Trying something new that is very difficult, and not giving up

• Having to overcome personal obstacles to reach a goal

• Finding ways to overcome obstacles in reaching a goal

• Believing a goal can be met, even when success doesn’t come easily

• Learning from past mistakes and avoiding the same mistakes in the future

Respect means a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something because of their abilities, qualities, or achievements.

What Is Respect?

• Treating others the way you would like to be treated

• Having concern––and the motivation to act––for the welfare of others

• Being inclusive of differences

• Using good manners and appropriate language

• Being considerate of the feelings of others

• Dealing peacefully with anger, insults, and disagreements

• Showing consideration for your own belongings and those of others

• Having pride and belief in yourself

What respect looks like and/or sound like?

• Respecting yourself: Accept and honour your own skills and challenges, emotions, body, beliefs,

and abilities.

• Being fair: Listen to all sides of the story before reaching a decision or resolution.

• Being reliable: Keeping our promises is one of the easiest ways to show that we respect

someone and that we mean what we say.

• Showing consideration: Show concern for the welfare of people, animals, and the environment.

Help someone out without them even having to ask.

• Embracing differences: Understand that other people’s values, beliefs, and practices are just as

important as our own.

“Earth Rangers are trying to help animals because they are going extinct. So, the

Earth Rangers are trying to help animals protect their habitat because humans are

polluting Earth. Earth Rangers are helping the animals because people are dumping

stuff into the water, such as oil, which pollutes the water and kills the fish.” --

Jeremaih

“The Earth Rangers help provide food for the animals, so they won`t become

extinct. Also, they can help get shelter for the animals.” -- Terry

“The Earth Rangers protect the animals who are becoming extinct, and also the

ones who don`t need help, just in case. They protect both land and water. Water

animals are dying because of oil spills. Also, the trees are getting chopped down on

land. That is why they help the animals.” -- Elijah

Thank you to everyone

who donated a loonie or

toonie to Earth

Rangers. We raised

$176.30 to help protect

the animals. Great job!

Are You Smarter

Than Your

Students?

Mrs. Kapsalakis and

Mr. Kochberg

represented the staff in

the game against the

students. They had to

answer different

questions about what

the Earth Rangers do

to help animals. The

students out smarted

the staff.

The students in Mrs. Shmanka’s class have been learning about poetry. The students are going to submit some of their poems to the Urban Voices competition. Mrs. Shmanka has been asked to join other teachers to choose the poems that will be published in this year’s Urban Voices.

Overflow By Janice Li

The overflow of

Sunshine spreads across my face

I feel like time stopped

And the whole world has only me

The sun shines down and it gives me

the tingles

My eyelids close

My whole body relaxes

My last thought in my head goes away

It seems as if everything has vanished

away

But the sun

And me…

Dreams By Waqas Khalid

My dreams are places where I can think straight

In my dream anything I think of I can get

In my dreams I have a comfort zone where I can talk to myself

Have some time to think about my future and what is to come.

My dreams are places where I can escape my worries and

troubles.

My dreams are places where imagination is the only limit.

Rain By Michelle Jiang

The first raindrop falls “splash”

All the kids run out to play

Thump thump goes the raindrop just like a sound of a heartbeat

Catching drops on our tongue

The smell of fresh air covers us with a feeling I can’t explain

The taste of water and sweetness is all I taste

Everyone is cheering, laughing, screaming until…..

the sound of thunder came

The adults cry 'Come inside'

The feeling of fear overcomes us

Hiding inside blankets or hiding inside closets

Out the window I look

A flash of lighting is one of the things I see

Everyone wonders when will it be over

The sound of a war

A fight of light and dark

Bam the sound of the last thunder we hear

The sun comes out with a rainbow

The warm sun shines down at the earth

covering us with a feeling to belong

The colourful rainbow shines down

bringing the children happiness and laughter

But after a few minutes the rainbow just vanishes

leaving the children with an unforgettable sight

Nature is… By Archayaa

Nature is the ocean breeze

Flowing through your hair

A place of which animals live

Nature is the crunchy leaves

Falling at its time

Or the green harvest

In the colour of a lime

Nature is the geese

Flying south

Sometimes the ripe fruit

The goes straight into your mouth

Nature is the place where

We live and fall

Or a place where

We can learn it all.