Captain Michael VandenBos P.S. Flying High for Excellence

MISSION STATEMENT

OUR SCHOOL

COMMUNITY WILL CREATE A SAFE

AND MOTIVATING LEARNING

ENVIRONMENT THAT EMPOWERS

STUDENTS TO BECOME

SUCCESSFUL LEARNERS AND

TO ACQUIRE THE SKILLS NEEDED

TO BECOME RESPONSIBLE CITIZENS OF TOMORROW

3121 Country Lane Whitby, Ontario

L1P 1N3

Safe Arrival Line

4pm to 8am 905-665-2001

Monique de Villers

Principal

Jayne Krattiger Vice Principal

Voula Phillips

Carolyn Copithorne Admin. Assistants

John Bowyer Superintendent 905-666-5500

Anne-Marie Laginski

Admin Officer 905-666-5500

Christine Winters 905-430-6050

Trustees

website ~ http://www.vandenbos.ddsbschools.ca/ NOVEMBER 2010

Wow! The month of October went in a flash! The first term is certainly quickly moving forward. As we start our third month of school, this is a great time for stu-dents and parents to get a formal update as to “how things are going”. With that in mind, you and your child will be receiving his/her progress report card on Wednesday, November 17th. The intent of this new report is to give you the big picture in areas of academic focus and learning skills. No grades or letters will appear on the report. Three way conferencing will be the format used for the con-ference, and it will give you the opportunity to celebrate your child’s learning. It is also the time to set realistic goals and to develop plans to support the achieve-ments of these goals. We know that achieving goals increases student self-esteem, academic performance and that social behavior also improves. The re-quest for interviews and explanation regarding three way conferencing were sent home last week. We look forward to meeting you at the student progress conferences on November 18th and 19th.

SAFETY GUIDELINES

1. Always walk with a buddy to and from school.

2. Do not talk to strangers. 3. Inform your parents and the school if

a stranger approaches you. 4. Remember, adults do not ask for

directions from children. 5. Always let your parents know if there

has been a change in your plans. 6. Avoid taking short cuts through

fields and parks. 7. Never walk alone, especially at night.

NOVEMBER 2010 Page 2

Now that colder weather has begun, we all need to wear layers after layers of clothing and this might mean taking longer (for some of us!) to get ready in the morning. Teachers and school staff would appreciate if stu-dents make a real effort to arrive at school on time. Every morning we have a group of students arriving late for school. In many cases, it is the same students who arrive late, day after day. When arriving late, children miss important beginning exercises and instruction. The core subjects (i.e., language, math, etc) are often taught early in the morning, and therefore being in the classroom right from the beginning of the lesson is highly important. The bell rings at 8:15 and every student should arrive at that time or shortly before. We would appreciate your support and cooperation in this matter.

We are trying our best to live as an “EcoSchool” and are, therefore, doing what we can to reduce the amount of paper and waste that we produce in the school. We are asking our students to continue to participate in our boo-merang lunches and also we encourage parents to read our monthly newsletters on line. Your child’s agenda will have a note of when a newsletter has been posted; don’t forget to regularly check our website. We have added some links and are continuously working on improving the content.

Please make a thorough check of your

child’s head on a weekly basis to check for Head Lice. Watch for itching behind the ears or in the nape of the neck. If you detect Head Lice, please call the school.

Silent Auction November 18th

It's that time again. The OAmbassadors will be hosting a silent auction on November 18th, the night of interviews. Please visit the auction and do some shopping. All proceeds will go to build a health care centre in Kenya. If you can make a donation on behalf of your family it would be greatly appreciated. Please attach your family name and approximate value of donation. Send to portable 7 or the office before November 16th.

Healthy Snacks for Recess/Lunch With an increasing awareness of healthy snacks in elementary schools, we recommend that students bring non-sugar snacks for recess and lunch. Some suggestions for healthy snacks: yogurt cup or tube, cheese string, whole grain crackers, milk pudding cup, fruit or vegetable slices and rice crackers.

Greek Olympics

The Greek freemen in portable 7 and 8 ( also known as grade 5 students) competed in the annual Greek olympics on Thursday October, 28th. All events were exciting and the competition was intense. Congratulations to the following winners who received first place and an olive wreath crown.

Armor Race- Nicholas Calvin, Tyron James.

Backwards Race- Ipariko Emojong, Chelsea Leroux

Javelin Toss- Xavier Villemaire, Mark Grinev

Sandle Kick- Xavier Villemaire, Mark Grinev

Monkey Shoot- Ayana Noel, Jordan Wityszyn

NOVEMBER 2010 Page 3

NOVEMBER

3....... Picture Retakes 4…….Picture Retakes 10..... Hep B Clinic/HPV Clinic 11..... Remembrance Day 12…..Superhero/Princess Day 16….. Dominos Family Pizza Night 17…...Popcorn Day 17…..Report Cards go home 18..... Parent Interviews

19…...PA Day 21……Oshawa Generals 23 ..... Pizza Lunch 24 ..... Author's Showcase 26…..Favourite Jersey Day

DECEMBER

2…..SCC Potluck

6….. McDonald’s Fundraiser

7…..Holiday Concert

8…..VandenBos Vocalists

At CMV staff and students enjoy welcoming and working along side with our parent volunteers. They are a valuable part of the school community and every year we have an opportunity to recognize one for ex-ceptional commitment to assisting the school. This year’s recipient of the Volunteer of Distinction Award is Maria Fong. On Thursday, October 21 Maria received her Volunteer of Distinction Award at a special ceremony held at Sinclair Secondary School. She is a very deserving recipient, as one of our regular vol-unteers who never stops supporting our school. She has been a vital member of our SCC for years; help-ing organizing the pizza and popcorn days, going on class trips and this year she has also taken on co-chairing our School Community Council. Félicitations et Merci Maria! On behalf of the staff and community, a special thank you goes out to all of the parents who have contrib-uted their time to organize our QSP magazine campaign, the popcorn days, pizza days, Spirit Wear, Yearbook, Cookbook, Quilts, Parent drivers, to name just a few of our activities. Merci to all of you!

NOVEMBER 2010 Page 4

Printer Toner Cartridges ~ inkjet, bubble jet., laser…

Canadian Tire $ ~ needed to purchase items for the school

Campbells Labels ~ from soups, vegetables ~ any Campbell products

Plastic Hangers ~ needed for our lost & found items The above items support the students of Captain VandenBos

Old Eye Glasses ~ frames, lenses for the Lion’s Club Old Cell Phones ~ any old cell phones go to the Denise House Pop Tabs ~ to go towards the purchase of wheelchairs

Fall is here and winter is fast approaching. Many parents have already planned to dress their

children for the cold days. We remind you that recess period can seem very long for a child who is not dressed appropriately. Mornings are already becoming quite cool. The school doors open at 8:15 a.m. For children who arrive at school early, it is important to be dressed appropriately. Playtime outside is important for the children and appropriate dress helps to make it a more enjoyable and healthy experience. And since we are talking about wet and cold weather…we are asking that primary students bring an extra pair of clothes (just in case!). Please make sure to label your child’s clothing, especially coats, sweaters, hats, mitts/gloves as these are typically the items that end up in our lost and found box. Our box has been growing at a steady pace since the beginning of the school year and we are encouraging parents to drop by and look at its contents. A huge Thank you once again to Laurie Carson, one of our SCC members, who has taken the respon-sibility (and the courage!) of looking after our lost and found box. Laurie has recently gone through the box and put every item on hangers or on the labeled plastic containers for a better view! Please have a look…we have lots of lost treasures!

IN FLANDERS FIELDS In Flanders Fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks, still bravely singing, fly

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved, and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders Fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders Fields. - John McCrae, 1915

WE REMEMBER!

Page 5 NOVEMBER 2010

♦ Remove all rings and wet your hands with warm running water ♦ Put a small amount of liquid soap in the palm of one hand. Bar soaps are not as hygienic as liquid soaps be-

cause they stay moist and attract germs. If a bar soap is the only option it should be stored on a rack so that the bar doesn't sit in water.

♦ Rub your hands together for 20 seconds so you produce lather. Make sure you scrub between your fingers, under your fingernails and the backs of your hands.

♦ Rinse your hands well with clean running water for at least 10 seconds. Try not to handle the faucets once your hands are clean. Use a paper towel to turn off the water.

♦ Dry your hands with a single use paper towel. If you use a hand towel be sure to change it daily. During cold and flu season you may want to give each family member his or her own hand towel.

♦ Use hand lotion to put moisture back into your skin if your hands are dry. ♦ Model good handwashing technique to your children. Have them sing a song like Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

while rubbing their hands together to teach them the amount of time it takes to clean their hands properly.

Congratulations to the Co-Ed Flag Football Team who have had an undefeated season!! The

Snowbirds finished FIRST in tournament play on Friday, October 29th defeating Woodcrest P.S., Norman Powers P.S. , Trudeau P.S. and Duffins Bay P.S.!! We have now qualified for the Durham Wide Championship Tournament which will be held on Wednesday, November 3rd at Ormiston P.S.. Come on out and support the team!!

Thank-you to all the parents for your support this season! Coach: Ms. Loach-Perry & Mr. Sanderson

It will be SNOW time again before we know it so plans are underway for the Ski/Snowboard Club. We will be going to Skyloft on Wednesday nights this year. The dates are January 12, 19, 26 and February 2 and 9, 2011. Buses will leave the school at 3:15, lessons will start at Skyloft at 4:00 and we will be leaving Skyloft at 7:30pm (pick up at the school is approximately 8:00pm). Students may bring a packed lunch to eat at Skyloft or may purchase from the cafeteria. Please return the form with a cheque indicating your child’s interest. The full package of permission forms will be sent home early in November. The deadline to send in your form and money is November 15, 2010 to the classroom teacher or Mrs. McLeod.

NOVEMBER 2010 Page 6

Lest We Forget

On Remembrance Day, our school will remember the sacrifice of tens of thousands of Canadians in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, Afghanistan conflict and in the peacekeeping and security operations throughout the world. Two morning ceremonies will be held in our hangar with a special presentation by a guest speaker. Students who take part in Brownies, Guides, Sparks, Cubs, Scouts, Beavers and Cadets are invited to wear their uniform to school that day. Their uniforms are symbolic of citizenship and service to others and are therefore most appropriate for the occasion. Poppies will be distributed to all students. Two CMV students will also present a wreath at the Whitby Cenotaph on behalf of our school community.

At the Durham District School Board, home and school communication is an essential component to student success. As directed by the Ministry of Education, the way we communicate a student’s progress to parents/guardians has changed. In elementary schools, the First Term Report Card has been replaced with an Elementary Progress Report. This report will help parents understand their child’s growth in learning skills and work habits. These changes align with the Ministry of Education's document entitled “Growing Success: Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting in Ontario Schools Grades 1 - 12, 2010”. For parents/guardians, the DDSB has created a section on its website and a brochure to outline the Changes to Elementary Report Cards and Progress Reports. This brochure is provided to help explain the recent changes. The brochure will accompany your child's progress report which will be sent home the week of November 15, 2010. To view this brochure and for information now on-line, please visit the DDSB's website at www.durham.edu.on.ca and click on Parent Resources/Parent Guide to the Provincial Report Card.

Just a friendly reminder that dogs are not al-lowed on school property. We have many small children that are frightened by dogs. Kindly leave your dogs at home. We appreciate your understanding in this matter.

We are asking that parents do not park in front of the pylons waiting for their child at dismissal. The pylons are there for safety reasons and we ask that parents do not park in front of them. Your co-operation is appreciated.

The focus for the month of October was Responsibility. Class discussions centered around being reliable and dependable both at home and at school. Any added component of this character trait includes taking responsibility for what one says or doesn’t say, and what one does or does not do. This latter part of responsibility is important in bullying situations (being the bystander) and incorporates the concept of accountability.

As an added bonus at our monthly assembly, we had 3 members of the Oshawa Generals Hockey Team present to share what responsibility means to them and how it applies to them as a team member. They also presented the awards to the students who were recognized by their teachers as demonstrating excellent responsibility throughout the month of October.

November’s focus is Optimism: looking at challenges as opportunities for learning and being positive.

NOVEMBER 2010 Page 7

PARENT VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We require parents to help out with our Hepatitis B, Meningococcal & HPV vaccines on Nov. 10, 2010, Jan. 14, Feb. 11 & May 18, 2011. Please return this form to your child’s teacher if you are able to volunteer. Name: Child’s room: Date(s) available:

Learning Skills The format of the report card is changing this year. In November, students will be receiving their first progress report. Not only are we moving from grade reporting to a check list, the format has also changed, putting the Learning Skills/Work Habits before the Subjects.

The development of learning skills and work habits is an integral part of a student’s learning. Research completed by a variety of organizations, both nationally and internationally, all agree that these skills contribute substantially to student success at school, in the workplace, and in their personal life. We want our students/children to learn about and put into practice attributes such as respect, responsibility, fairness and empathy, to develop self-discipline and personal management skills that will make their communities, workplaces and lives the best that they can be. Together, we can make this happen: (Ontario Ministry of Education, October 2006, p. 2).

Learning Skills: an important component of the report card.

On the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, Canadians are asked to pause and remember the thou-sands of men and women who sacrificed their lives fighting for freedom and democracy during the First World War, the Second World War, the Korean War and during peacekeeping missions. During the First World War, (1914-1918) more than 600,000 soldiers volunteered to go overseas. As of No-vember 2004, Veterans Affairs Canada is aware of 8 veterans of the First World War who are still alive. One is a woman. Their average age is 103. These soldiers fought in a series of costly and bloody battles and by the end of the war, more than 69,000 Canadian soldiers had died and 172,000 were wounded. They died fighting at Vimy Ridge, Hill 70, Bourlon Wood, Mons, Passchendaele and Ypres. In Ypres, Canadian soldiers were ex-posed to German gas attacks, yet continued to fight. They showed amazing tenacity and courage in the face of danger.

During the Second World War, (1939-45) more than one million men and women from Canada and New-foundland served in combat in the army, air force and navy. More than 47,000 men and women did not come home from that battle. Canadians lost their lives fighting in Dieppe, Normandy, the North Atlantic, defending Hong Kong, during the liberation of Italy, and in many other important air, sea and land campaigns. As of No-vember 2004, 268,110 veterans from this world war were alive, with an average age of 82.

In Korea, 516 Canadian soldiers died during the 1950-53 conflict, in which 26,791 Canadians served. The battles of Hill 355 and Hill 187, among others, saw Canadians fighting in swamps and rice fields, through torren-tial rain and snow, in the air and at sea. In 2003, Canada marked the 50th anniversary of the Korean War Armi-stice by unveiling the Monument to Canadian Fallen at Confederation Park in Ottawa.

The words "WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU BRAVE SONS OF CANADA" are inscribed at the base of the monument, which also contains the names of all 516 Canadians who lost their lives in Korean War service or subsequent Korean peacekeeping service.

In 2004, Canada also remembered the 60th anniversary of D-Day and the Battle of Normandy, where Cana-dian troops suffered 18,444 casualties. Among them, 5021 were killed. Of all the divisions which formed part of the 21 Army Group, none suffered more casualties than the 3rd and 2nd Canadian. It was a huge sacrifice – and a huge factor in turning the tide of the war against Hitler's Germany.

The first Remembrance Day, held in 1919 throughout the Commonwealth, was originally called Armistice Day. The day commemorated the end of the First World War on Mon. Nov. 11th, 1918, at 11 am the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month. THE POPPY ~ The association between the poppy and war dates back to the Napoleonic wars when a writer saw a field of poppies growing over the graves of fallen soldiers. During the Battle of Ypres in 1915, Canadian Lt.-Col. John McCrae was inspired to write the poem In Flanders Fields on sighting the poppies growing beside a grave of a close friend who had died in battle. The poem was a great inspiration in adopting the poppy as the Flower of Remembrance in Canada, France, the U.S, Britain and Commonwealth countries. The first poppies were distributed in Canada in 1921. Today the volunteer donations from the distribution of millions of poppies is an important source of revenue for the Royal Canadian Legion that goes toward helping ex-servicemen and women buy food, and obtain shelter and medical attention.

NOVEMBER 2010 Page 8

This year on Remembrance Day, our school will remember the sacrifice of tens of thou-sands of Canadians in the First and Second World Wars, the Korean War, Afghanistan con-flict and in the peacekeeping and security operations throughout the world. Two morning ceremonies will be held in our hangar with a special presentation by a guest speaker. Two CMV students will also present a wreath at the Whitby Cenotaph on behalf of our school community.

NOVEMBER 2010 Page 9

Captain Michael VandenBos P. S. is preparing for the flu and cold season by being proactive. Therefore, if your child is experiencing flu like symptoms please keep your child home. If your child is experienc-ing flu like symptoms at school, you will be notified and we are requesting that you please arrive as quickly as possible to take your child home; your child will not be sent back to class. In order to be proactive, please ensure that you have made alterna-tive arrangements for someone to pick up your child if you are unable to do so in a timely manner. To ensure that parents are able to be contacted right away, please pro-vide the school with the most up to date phone numbers. For more information on the flu strands, please visit the DDSB web-site or Durham Region website www.durham.ca or for more information call Durham Health Connection Line at 1-800-841-2729 or 905-666-6241.

NOVEMBER 2010 Page 10

Novem-ber 25 - Interna-t i o n a l

Day for t h e E l i m i -n a t i o n

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1. Student Information: Parents/Guardians are responsible to ensure the school administration has updated transportation related information with regards to your children i.e. caregiver address, moving, etc. As the information provided for transportation is downloaded electronically from the school, it should be noted that if the home address is incorrect, or if the family has moved, or a change has been made to the caregiver, parents must contact the school to have the information updated to avoid any delays in transportation. School bus route changes take three days to implement so accurate information is delivered to the driver to ensure student safety. 2. Alternate Address: For purposes of childcare, the parent/guardianof an elementary aged student may submit an alternative address, different from the residence.Transportation may be provided to and from the designated school if, � The alternative address is eligible fortransportation to the designated school, as per both school board approvedtransportation policies; � That both addresses remain the sameeach day, and every day throughout the school year. � The address of morning pickup (or noontime pickup) and the address of the afternoon return (or noon time return)may differ; however, they must remain the same on a constant five day-a-weekbasis throughout the school year. NOTE: Caregiver’s addresses are accepted forelementary students only. Parents/guardians of elementary and secondaryschool students whose children reside at two different addresses due to parents having jointcustody, may be provided with transportation to and from both addresses if: � Such an address is eligible fortransportation to the same designated school under both school boardapproved policy, and � The alternate address is on a consistentfive-day week (Monday to Friday) schedule only, throughout the schoolyear. Mid-week schedules will not be considered. 3. Transportation Policy and Procedure: Transportation is provided to eligible students within the jurisdiction of both the Durham District and Durham Catholic District School Board in accordance with the approved Transporting Policy for each school board. The blended transportation guidelines for DSTS can be downloaded from the DSTS website at www.dsts.on.ca 4. Ride Time Parameters: Every effort is made to provide the shortest ride time for all students. In urban areas, the ride time for students is less than those in north Durham. Schools boundaries in north Durham are usually geographically larger than those in south Durham resulting in longer school bus rides. Students who are required to travel across municipalities for programming requirements are to expect a longer school bus ride up to, and in some instances, greater than 60 minutes. 5. Contingency Plan: In the event the bus is delayed due to a breakdown, poor road conditions, or extreme cold weather days, parent/guardians are required to implement a contingency plan for their child(ren), and review the plan regularly.

6. School Bus Stop Locations and Distance: Common stops have been established throughout Durham to congregate students for both school boards and for all programs. Parks and green spaces are used wherever possible. Throughout Durham, the walking distance for students is capped at 600 metres, but wherever possible is limited to 400 metres. Parents will be notified of changes to a stop location in writing; pickup and drop off via the automated telephone message system. If your child attends an activity or job after school, it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian/caregiver to ensure the child(ren) arrive at their activity. Parent’s traveling i.e. trips, conferences, etc. throughout the school year are to make their own arrangements for their children if they will be at another caregiver. Approval will not be given for students to change buses or stops. 7. Route Delay Notification: www.dsts.on.ca School Buses that are later than 5-minutes of the expected pickup and drop-off time are posted on the DSTS Website. 8. Inclement Weather Advisories/School Bus Cancellation: The decision to cancel school buses due to inclement weather is made in cooperation with information and advice from several local service providers. Starting at 5:00 a.m. DSTS is in contact with road crews in Uxbridge, Brock, Scugog Townships, weather watchers in various parts of Durham Region along with representatives from school bus companies. If school buses are cancelled in the morning, the service is cancelled for the school day, including noon-hour bussing. If parents take their children to school they are responsible for pickup at the end of the day. Cancellation of school buses also includes taxi service. Should school buses be cancelled, the following TV and radio stations are notified by 7:00 a.m.: CFTO-TV, GLOBAL -TV, CITY TV-TV, CKDO-AM 1580, CKDO-FM 107.7 CFRB-AM 1010, CBC/CBL 740, Q107-FM 107.1, JACK-FM 92.5, CHUM 104.5 BOB-FM 91.9, THEROCK 94.9, CHFI-FM 98.1, KX96-FM 95.9 For more information regarding inclement weather please visit www.dsts.on.ca 9. Automated Telephone System: The automated telephone line provides 24 hour access to detailed information regarding the bus number, pickup and drop off times and the bus stop location for elementary and secondary yellow school bus riders. (905-666- 6979 or 1-866-908-6578) o Parents will need the child’s birth date (yyyymmdd) and student OEN number (9 digit number). The number can be found on the student report card. o Parents can also obtain bussing information from the child’s school. Parents can speak to a route coordinator at anytime during the conversation if additional information isrequired. 10. Information at a Glance: Websites: Durham Student Transportation Services.............. www.dsts.on.ca Durham Catholic District School Board .................. www.dcdsb.ca Durham District School Board ................................ www.ddsb.on.ca Durham Region Transit............................................ www.durhamregiontransit.com

Contact Numbers: DSTS......................................................................... 1-800-240-6943 or 905-666-6979 Durham Region Transit............................................ 1-866-247-0055

NOVEMBER 2010 Page 12

of

NOVEMBER 2010 Page 13

Council for Exceptional Children Chapter 584

Presents

“Over, Under, Around and Through......

Getting Around the Barriers that Keep Students from Learning”

Speaker: Cindy Waugh Autism Resource Team Teacher Durham District School Board

Date: Wednesday, November 10th, 2010 Place: Durham District School Board

Education Centre 400 Taunton Rd. E. Whitby

Room: Boardroom (1017) Time: 7:00 to 9:00 pm

Cost: $5.00

Please confirm attendance to

Christine Whitley By e-mail at whitley_christine@durham.edu.on.ca

or by phoning 905 - 666- 6325 (direct line)

1“If you require special services related to accessibility,

please advise at time of registration!”

NOVEMBER 2010 Page 14

Captain Michael VandenBos Public School

McDonald’s Night

Students, do you daydream about Mme Monique serving you french fries or Mme Krattiger filling up your cup with your favourite fountain drink? What about your very own teacher or coach ask-ing, “Can I take your order?” Our Athletic Council will be hosting this fundraiser to collect money for our Athletic program here at VandenBos!! Each family will receive a FUN CARD to bring to McDonalds and 15% of your purchase will come back to our school!!! This awesome fundraiser will take place on: Monday, December 6th from 4-8pm at McDonalds. (Taunton / Garden location). Mark your calendars!! Ms. Loach-Perry & Mr. Sanderson

On Fri. Dec. 17th, students will be dismissed ONE HOUR EARLY at 1:50 p.m. Bused students will be picked up by their respective buses one hour earlier. Please make arrange-ments for your children.