October 2017

Birchbank Public School

52 Birchbank Rd. Brampton, L6T 1L7

Phone: (905) 793-7984 Fax: (905) 793-0100

Principal: A. Khan

Office Manager Susan Doyle Office Assistant TBA

Superintendent Liz Cook

Trustees Kathy McDonald Carrie Andrews

School website: http://schools.peelschools.org/1407

TWITTER: @BirchbankBees

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SAFE ARRIVAL SYSTEM Call 1-855-209-6155

pdsb.schoolconnects.com

Please call when your child will be absent from school.

What’s

Inside ...

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

Dear Birchbank families,

On behalf of the Birchbank staff and administration, I would like to

once again extend a warm welcome to you and your family for the new

school year 2017-2018. To all the new students and families joining our community, we

also wish you a special welcome.

I would also like to take this opportunity to welcome all the new staff that have joined the

Birchbank community this year; Ms. Mithra– Gr. 1/2, Ms. Gilbert -Gr. 3, Ms. Rigato -

Music teacher, Ms. Nanuan -Librarian, Ms. Gabrielli - DECE, Ms. Radcliffe -DECE, Ms.

Hussain –Behaviour Teaching assistant and Ms. Ukwuoma– ERF (Teaching assistant). As

well, I would like to welcome back all other staff to one of the best schools in Peel!!

It was wonderful to see so many of you in the past weeks dropping off your children and

ensuring that they make it safely onto the school grounds.

Parents as you are aware, safety of our students is our priority. As a result, we would like to

remind you of the procedures when dropping off and picking up your child. The parking lot

of our school is designated as a bus route so it is strictly out of bounds for parents. There

are four big buses and three small buses that enter and leave our property every day. We

have very strategic supervision at the front of the school to ensure that all of our students

are safe at all times.

We are pleased to have a Kiss and Ride beside Birchbank road. As a result parents, you are

allowed to drive through, drop off your child and exit onto Birchbank road. Parents you are

not allowed to stop on the Kiss and Ride, and walk with your child to the school grounds.

Please understand that if parents are allowed to stop and park on the Kiss and Ride, there

will be a congestion, causing unsafe conditions for our students. We encourage you to park

safely on Birchbank road, cross the street safely at the crosswalk on Avondale and

Birchbank and walk your child onto the school grounds. We remind you when walking

your child onto the school grounds, that you cross the bridge and walk along the yellow

marked walkway on the west side of the school. Lately we have noticed some students

walking through the parking lot. This is very unsafe as there are moving vehicles in the

parking lot.

We also remind you to pay careful attention to the speed limits in a school zone and to note

that many parents and children are crossing especially on the Kiss and Ride. It is also a

good idea to talk to your child about road safety and crossing busy streets like Birchbank

road. Teach them each morning the proper ways of crossing. We continue to work with

Peel Police and Peel Health on the safety of children in the community. Continued on Page 2

Supervision Map - Where do I go? Birchbank’s mural Welcome Back from Ms. Kathy McDonald Future newsletters News from the Library Birchbank website and twitter pages Understanding your child’s Ontario Student Record Peanut free environment

Keeping children safe How to register for school Student Transportation of Peel Region Bus safety tips Picture day and Picture day tips … and much more!

Caring

Cooperation

Honest

Inclusive

Respectful

Responsible

PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE (continued from page 1) We were very pleased to start this school year as a Nutrition Break school. We hope by now you have

received all the information we have sent home about the benefits of nutrition breaks. Please come by the

office if you would like more information.

Please note that Staff supervision begins at 8:15 a.m. only, so we encourage students who are walking, to arrive closer

to the 8:15 a.m. start of supervision. All our students except kindergarten students enter through the back doors of our

school.

We welcomed approximately 70 new kindergarten students this year and we know that it has not been easy

understanding some of our school’s procedures. We encourage you to ask questions so that we could continue to make

this journey fairly smooth. We will do everything to ensure that communication is timely and efficient. Our

kindergartens are the only students who enter the school at the front kindergarten yard. By now you know that if your

kindergarten child is a walker, they enter at the west gate and bussed kindergarten students enter at the east gate. Again

parents we thank you for your understanding with respect to the safety of all our students.

We were very pleased to see the re-constructed bridge that leads to the school compound and the re-paving of the

entrance to the school. We look forward to many more upgrades to our school in the coming years. We would like to

thank Joanne Pozniak (School Council) and the partnership of Peel Health for installing a new bike rack at the front of

the school. Riding to school is an extremely healthy option so we encourage our students to ride. However, parents it is

important that your child must wear a helmet if they are riding.

At Birchbank we are happy to welcome our parents and community members with a smile each and every day. We are

a small but busy school so we ask for your patience when visiting the office. Our mission this year continues to be

efficiency, clear communication and productivity. We have developed many new systems and protocols at Birchbank,

which hopefully will help to serve you better. We welcome your feedback and look forward to your visits in the office.

Communication between home and school is done through many tools. We have our school website:

http://schools.peelschools.org/1407 and on Twitter - @BirchbankBees

New this year is Parent Connect. Stay tuned for more information.

One of our most important communication tool, is Synrevoice messages that come to your homes as a voicemail. If you

have not been receiving voice messages at your homes, we encourage you to contact us in the office. We also use

phone calls, memos, monthly school newsletters, agendas, assemblies and face to face meetings. Parents as you know;

staying informed of your child's learning and the events that take place at the school provides a great foundation for our

partnership. Students are more successful when parents become part of their learning.

Your child should have brought home a very important package on the first day of school. This included the school

agenda and many important forms. The agenda is an organizational tool that all students must use in order to learn how

to be accountable. The agenda will also be used for parents and teachers to stay in contact. By now all consent forms

should have been signed in the agenda.

On the first day of school, we held our first assembly to welcome students and staff, and to remind them of the

Birchbank expectations, procedures and routines. It was noted that we will be focussed on the Peel District's six

character traits of Respect, Responsibility, Cooperation, Caring, Honesty and Inclusiveness. For example, your child

will have to be responsible for staying focussed in class, trying his/her best, and asking for help if needed. Your child

will have to be respectful to all adults, and students. We reminded students that everything we do in our school and

personal lives will be applied to the traits. We talked about training our students to be respectful human beings and

outstanding citizens. We informed students that their teachers will be embedding all of the learning to include the traits.

Character education you will hear about throughout the year at assemblies and other school events. I encourage you to

continue to shape and develop your child's character at home as well, so we can all be proud of our Birchbank students. I look forward to working with you in the best interest of your child, to inspire success, confidence, hope and

greatness. I know we will have a very productive year at Birchbank as we make a difference in the lives of children by

giving them the "freedom to grow academically, emotionally and socially in a safe and inclusive environment." Sincerely,

Annesia Khan

NEW LATE SYSTEM at BIRCHBANK P.S.

At Birchbank P.S. we value Teaching and Learning for student success. We believe that when

students are punctual at school, it will contribute to their success. We are encouraging all our

students to arrive on time each day except for extenuating circumstanc- es.

Our start time is 8:30.

Our entry time is 8:25. Please note that if your child arrives after the 8:30 a.m. bell they are considered late; and you

will have to escort your child to the office and sign them in as “late” at the front counter.

Please do not drop your child off after 8:30, without visiting the office.

After 10 lates, a letter will be sent home and we will request to sign and return the letter. We

would be happy to work with parents to ensure that your child has a successful school year.

We thank you for your understanding and cooperation in providing a positive Climate for

Learning and Working at Birchbank P.S.

Peel schools will pay tribute to bus drivers on Bus Driver Appreciation Day on Oct. 18, 2017. The day will be celebrated with special activities and events that provide teachers, students and parents an opportunity to thank the people who safely transport over 36,000 students to and from school each day. If your child rides the bus to school, take this opportunity to thank the bus driver for his or her contribution and ask your child to do so too. The Peel board appreciates the important job bus drivers do each school day and Oct. 18 provides an opportunity to give these individuals the recognition they deserve.

In 2014, the board of trustees declared the last Wednesday in October as the Peel Teaching Assistant and Early Childhood Educators’ (ECE) Appreciation Day. This year, the recognition day falls on October 25, 2017. The Peel board appreciates the important work of teaching assistants and ECEs, and the contributions that they make in the lives of children, families and community members.

Oct. 18 opportunity to say 'thanks' to bus drivers

Oct. 25– Celebrate Peel Teaching Assistant and Early Childhood Educators’ Appreciation Day

Peel board plan helps ensure safety of students with severe food allergies

The Peel District School Board has a progressive approach to making sure that students with

severe food allergies are safe at school. If your child has anaphylaxis—a severe allergic reaction

—please contact the office. We will work with you to develop a plan for keeping your child safe

at school.

We have several students at our school with severe or life-threatening allergies

to peanuts and other nuts. We ask that you help us take care of these students

by choosing lunches and snacks for your child that do not contain allergens.

Please read the label of any food you plan to send to school with your child. If

the label says, "May contain traces of nuts," please do not bring it to school.

You can get a complete copy of the Peel District School Board's Guidelines for students with

Anaphylaxis Allergies from your school office. If you have any questions, please feel free to

contact the school office.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF A STUDENT WITH

AN ANAPHYLACTIC ALLERGY

Inform the school principal and teacher of their child’s life-threatening allergy

Arrange a meeting prior to the student attending school

Provide the school with physician’s instructions for administering medication by completing

FORM A annually, including parent's consent

Provide the school with up-to-date injection kits, and keep them current (Epi-Pens/Allerject

only)

Provide the school with any updated information including emergency contacts and telephone

numbers and changes in medical conditions

Provide additional medical information if requested

Provide support to the school and teachers as requested

Provide your child with a Medic Alert identification

Provide non-perishable foods (in case the child's lunch is forgotten) and safe snacks for spe-

cial occasions

For excursions, consider participating in the trip

Teach your child:

-to recognize the first symptoms of an anaphylactic reaction;

-to communicate clearly (if possible) when he or she feels a reaction starting;

-to carry his/her own auto-injector in a container (e.g., fanny pack) on their body, not in

a back pack;

-to always practice avoidance strategies;

-to eat only the snacks, foods, drinks brought from home;

-to only eat snacks, foods, drinks brought from home;

-not to share with peers

-to understand the importance of hand-washing;

-to assume as much responsibility as possible for his/her own safety

SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

Our school newsletter will be posted every month on our school website, which is located at: http://schools.peelschools.org/1407/Pages/default.aspx Beginning in November, the school newsletter will only be available online. If you prefer a hard copy, please provide the office with a written request and return to your child’s teacher.

Visit Birchbank Public School’s website

Website: http://schools.peelschools.org/1407

Twitter: Follow us: @BirchbankBees to see what our little bees are up to.

Want to keep up to date with what’s happening at Birchbank Public School?

Check out our school website where you'll find:

the latest school news

contact information for school administration, superintendent and trustee

calendar

enrolment data

school hours

mission, vision and values

registration information

printable forms

frequently asked questions

volunteer information

EQAO reports

Keep up to date with our website subscription service

Our new website also features a subscription service where you can sign up to receive email notifications for

school news, calendar events and volunteer job opportunities. You can also choose to be notified via email

and/or text message for critical news, such as school closures due to bad weather. Click on the subscribe link

on the left-hand side of the main page of our website.

School Picture Day

Picture day for Birchbank staff and students will take place on Wednesday, October 18th, 2017.

Please mark this important date on your calendar! More information will be sent home shortly.

Birchbank Public

School Photos 2018 - Original Photo Day: Wednesday, October 18, 2017

School Photos 2018 - Retake Photo Day: Thursday, November 9, 2017

Time for school - A parent’s guide to regular school attendance

Elementary school is a wonderful time in the life of a child, a time of great strides in learning and in social and emo-tional development. Many things affect your child’s success, from the quality of his or her teachers, to the makeup of the class. One of the most important factors is your child’s regular and timely attendance. Getting to class on time, and avoiding absences, are critical if your child is to get the most out of school. It seems obvious. But the fact is that elementary students tend to miss an average of eight or more school days during the year. What can you as a parent do to help ensure your child’s proper attendance?

Is your child missing more? Why does attendance matter? First, understand that getting to school–every day and on time–matters at every level, perhaps even more so in ele-mentary school. That’s because important learning occurs daily, right from the start of class. And because you estab-lish patterns early on. By being punctual and responsible, children are acquiring positive habits about school attend-ance. Some other things to consider:

By being late, children miss important social time with their peers before school begins.

Students who are late often feel embarrassed or self-conscious.

Late arrivals can disrupt the routine of the classroom.

Too many missed school days can increase isolation, as the child stands out from her classmates and misses opportunities to develop socially.

A last-minute rush can be stressful for the child, and the child may arrive to school in the wrong frame of mind.

Missing even five or 10 minutes of the day can make it harder for the student to understand the material being taught.

Frequent absenteeism leads to gaps in a child’s skills and knowledge base, cause the child to fall behind his peers and hurt his self-esteem.

Absenteeism makes it tougher for the child to develop a good rapport with the teachers and makes it harder for students to demonstrate their learning to teachers.

When Time is Ticking Few homes run like clockwork. The morning routine, especially, can be a mad scramble. But there are effective strat-egies for getting your little one up and out the door on time.

Get your child to bed at a reasonable hour.

Set realistic and consistent schedules and rules at home. Getting ready for school should be part of the child’s overall routine, something that’s expected every day.

The night before school, do whatever is necessary to shave time in the morning, such as setting out clothes, packing lunch, and setting schoolbags at the door.

Have a set morning routine that the child can easily follow, i.e. washing hands and face, going to the bath-room, dressing, making the bed, brushing teeth, and eating a healthy breakfast.

Avoid any distractions that can slow the child down, like TV or games.

If you’re running late regularly, set your alarm to get up earlier.

Is it a sick day? Children do get sick sometimes – they are still developing natural resistance to certain infections, their hygiene behaviours are still developing and germs spread more easily in a classroom. So some missed school is unavoida-ble, for the child’s own well-being, and the protection of her classmates. But there are ways to cut down on sick days.

Teach your child about proper handwashing, after going to the bathroom, playing outside or wiping his nose.

Follow other healthy habits, from eating nutritious food to getting enough sleep.

Some symptoms make school attendance uncomfortable, like a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. But if you’re unsure whether your child is sick enough to miss school, talk to your doctor.

Some children pretend to be sick to avoid school. Ask yourself is the child’s symptoms are vague, (i.e. a headache, upset stomach, fatigue), if your child tends to miraculously recover just after school starts or ends, or if the illness is happening during stressful times at school or at home. Allowing your child to re-main home when there’s no real illness sets a bad pattern.

If 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:

Call an automated, interactive toll free number – 1-855-209-6155

Report absences online by accessing the SafeArrival parent portal on pdsb.schoolconnects.com

Download the SafeArrival mobile application for Apple and Android devices

Once you have reported your child’s absence, keep the child in bed or doing quiet, low-key activities. A day off from school shouldn’t be a holiday, it should be a time to recuperate from illness, so the child can re-turn as soon as possible.

Set the right example Children follow the lead of their parents. If you place an importance on regular and prompt school attendance, so will your child.

Show interest in your child’s education by asking about the school day, celebrating school successes, attending school events and parent-teacher interviews, volunteering at school, and communicating with your child’s teacher. The more you value school, the more your child will.

Provide a home environment that encourages learning and curiosity.

Treat the school hours with respect. If you have to make an appointment for your child, arrange it before or after school or, if that’s not possible, at the very beginning or end of the day.

When it comes to planning family trips, some parents will factor in the schedule in the higher grades, but think little of pulling their child out of school. If anything, younger students can be affected more when they miss an extended period, finding it tough to relearn classroom routines and rejoin their peer group. Learning is cumulative, building on the skills and concepts that were introduced before. And this process is ongoing. Family trips can be wonderful learning experiences themselves. But if they must occur during the school year, please save them for scheduled breaks.

If your child resists going to school, for no apparent reason, talk to him or her about any possible problems with the school, teacher or other kids. However, don’t give in to coaxing, pleading or threatening and keep the child at home. That creates a bad precedent.

Need more information? If you have any questions regarding any of the issues raised here about lateness or attendance, or if you’re look-ing for other tips on getting your child to school, please talk to us. By working together, we can help support a more successful school experience for your child. Visit our website at www.peelschools.org.

October is International Walk to School Month According to the 2015 Active Healthy Kids Canada Report Card, about 91 per cent of 5-to-17-year-olds are not meeting Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines to get at least 60 minutes of daily moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity. These declining activity levels are linked to obe-sity, illness and chronic diseases (i.e., cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and cancer). Using active transportation for the school journey is one of the easiest ways for students to get regular daily physical activity. Managing time to allow for the walk or bike ride to school will become a positive habit that leads to children arriving on time, refreshed and energized for the school day. In fact, University of Illinois research has found that just 20 minutes of easy walking boosts performance in the areas of the brain that support math and reading achievement. Walking to school also helps out the environment. Eliminating just four short trips per week can reduce emissions by up to 100 kg of carbon dioxide per year. Families that participate in active travel to school can prevent almost 1,000 kg of carbon dioxide per year and save money in fuel costs as well. Also, when more children walk to school and fewer parents drive their children, the areas near school zones be-come safer for pedestrians. That is why our school will be participating in International Walk to School Day on Wednesday, October 5. On that day—and throughout the month, if you can—walk, bike, blade, scooter, skip or hop to school….but don’t drive! International Walk to School month is part of the Active & Safe Routes to School program. Visit www.saferoutestoschool.ca/ for more information.

How to prevent litter at school Did you know that litter is a safety hazard, discourages development, lowers property values and costs money? According to the Region of Peel, litter can attract animals and insects, harm pets and serve as a breeding ground for disease. Here are some tips for reducing waste at school:

Provide your child with a litter-less lunch which could contain:

refillable water bottle

returnable, reusable or refillable drink containers instead of plastic bottles and cans

snacks and sandwiches stored in plastic containers

fruit that requires no wrap such as bananas, apples, oranges

Put trash in the appropriate container. If a recycling bin isn't available, ask where you can find one and hold on to garbage until you can dispose of it properly.

Reduce and reuse as much as you can before you recycle. Reuse plastic bags, the other side of a sheet of paper etc.

If you see litter, pick it up!

Prevent the flu. It’s in your hands. Hand washing is the most important way to prevent the spread of infection. Always wash your hands with soap and water when they are dirty.

Clean your hands before:

touching your eyes, nose or mouth

touching/preparing food or drinks

eating or drinking

caring for someone in your home who can easily get sick

(baby, elderly or someone who has an unhealthy immune system)

first aid

Clean your hands after:

touching pets or other animals

touching raw meat, particularly chicken

touching surfaces such as a railing or grocery cart

touching money

touching objects sick people have touched

touching blood or body fluids such as urine, vomit or feces

contact with those who have a cold, the flu, diarrhea or virus of any kind

changing diapers

wiping your own or a child’s nose

sneezing or coughing

using a facial tissue

using the washroom

removing gloves

Cleaning

gardening

What to do when you cough or sneeze:

cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or your sleeve

put used tissues in the wastebasket

clean your hands with soap and water or a hand sanitizer

For more information call Peel Health at 905-799-7700 or visit www.peelregion.ca/flu.

Tips for being a smart trick-or-treater Halloween is a fun and exciting time, but safety should be the number one concern. Here are some safety tips for children:

Wear a properly fitted costume that is bright and non-flammable. Use reflective tape on your costume so you can be seen in the dark.

Use face makeup or enlarge the eyes on your mask so you can see well. When wearing a mask, push it up on your head while walking.

Teach children to visit the front door of well-lit homes and never go inside.

Help your child plan a route and a time to be home.

Remind children to always walk on the sidewalk, and obey traffic and pedestrian signals.

Have an adult check treats at home before allowing children to eat them.

Younger children should go trick-or-treating with an adult. Older children are reminded to trick-or-treat in groups.

Teach children their home phone number and how to call 9-1-1 if they have an emergency or become lost.

Schools use many strategies to keep children safe

Peel schools provide a safe environment for staff and students to work and learn. The board has many procedures to ensure safety. To keep students safe, schools use many strategies including:

requiring all parents and visitors to check in at the main office and obtain visitor passes

the use of a "buddy system" – students can only leave the classroom if accompanied by another student (for example, going to the washroom)

assigning teachers to supervise inside and outside the school during recesses, before and after school

locking all exteriors doors, including the main entrance, during school hours [elementary schools only]

encouraging staff to regularly review street proofing skills with students

expecting staff and students to report unidentified individuals to the office immediately

holding fire drills and "lockdown" rehearsals

having evacuation plans in place

ensuring that all staff and volunteers have up-to-date criminal record checks

working with the police to provide education on street-proofing We feel that it is important that you also take this opportunity to review safe procedures with your child. Peel Regional Police have provided the following safety guidelines:

Tell your children to never go anywhere with a stranger, not to talk to strangers and never take anything from them. You also have to teach them what a "safe stranger" is in case they need help. A safe stranger includes a police officer, a cashier, a fire fighter.

Develop a "what if" game for children to get them thinking about how they would respond if they felt threatened or afraid.

Know who your children play with and where they go. This includes keeping a list of their friend's addresses and phone numbers.

Do not leave your child in unsupervised locations, such as cars, parks, public washrooms, arenas, malls and plazas, etc.

Teach your children where and how to get help. Go with them on their regularly travelled routes.

Your child's body is private. Tell your children that no one may touch the area their bathing suit covers. If someone tries to touch them, they should tell you immediately.

Teach your children to talk to you immediately when someone does anything that makes them feel strange or uncomfortable. Listen when your children are trying to tell you about something that bothers them and provide them with support and understanding.

For more information about safety at your school, review your school handbook or speak to your principal or teacher.

Procedures help keep students safe at school Peel schools provide a safe environment for students and staff to learn and work. The board has many procedures to ensure safety including regular fire drills, evacuation plans, criminal record checks for new staff and volunteers and lockdown drills. Together with Peel Police and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board, the board developed a lockdown procedure to help keep schools safe during a potentially serious or violent incident. Every school will review the key points of the lockdown process with students. We rehearse the drill twice per year to make sure staff and students know what to do if we have to initiate a lockdown. During the rehearsal, the principal will make an announcement to "initiate lockdown procedure." The school bell will ring continuously for a period of time. Students and staff inside the school will:

go to the closest room, close the door and lock it, if possible

turn off the lights and lie down on the floor away from doors and windows

remain on the floor quietly until further directions are given Students and staff outside the school will:

move as far away from the building as possible

remain outside until further directions are given Depending on the situation, students and staff outside the building may be directed to an evacuation site. When the rehearsal is over, the principal will make another announcement. During lockdown rehearsals or in a real lockdown situation, students and staff must not use cell phones. Cell phones can create a safety hazard by attracting attention to the area of the school where the phone is being used. In the unlikely event of an actual lockdown, police ask that parents do not go to the school. For safety reasons, you will not be allowed to enter a school that is in lockdown. In some cases, police will designate a Parent Infor-mation Site for you to attend and get up-to-date, accurate information. To find your Parent Information Site or get further details during a real lockdown, visit www.peelschools.org or listen to local media.

Keep students safe in school parking lots Many elementary schools offer a Kiss N’ Ride program, where parents/guardians can drop off and pick up their children at a designated area on school property. The program was established to provide a convenient and safe option for our students and parents driving to school. To ensure the safety of staff and students, we ask all parents/guardians be mindful of the following guidelines:

There is no parking and no waiting in the Kiss and Ride lane. Pay attention to the traffic in front of you and pull forward as cars move forward. If you choose to park in the parking lot, please escort your child to or from the nearest foot patroller and use the main crosswalk.

Vehicles entering the Kiss N’ Ride lane must stay in the designated lane, unless otherwise directed by a staff member or volunteer.

The Kiss N’ Ride program is only available to students who are able to disembark independently.

Have your child ready to exit the car when you reach the curb. Students may only exit from the pas-senger (right) side of the vehicle.

After picking up or dropping off your child, leave promptly so that others can get in behind you.

If your child is not waiting for you at the main crosswalk at the end of the day, please circle the parking lot if permitted and rejoin the line or park in a designated parking space to wait.

Always respect traffic flow and abide all traffic laws and signs. Ask your child’s teacher or principal to learn more about our school’s specific Kiss N’ Ride procedures.

Regional Learning Choices Programs unlock passions, potential Regional Learning Choices Programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower students by providing them with opportuni-

ties to develop and explore skills in a particular area of interest. Regional programs are open to all students who meet the criteria for acceptance. 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. Transportation is not provided for students in regional programs. If students have been accepted into a re-gional program and they live within the school boundary, they are eligible for busing only if they meet the distance criteria outlined in the board’s Transportation Policy #39. All regional programs include annual fees, including an application fee. The application process for secondary regional programs opens Nov. 6, 2017. Application dates for middle school programs vary from school to school.

A number of other specialized programs that extend beyond the regular curriculum are available to Peel high school students. Learn more:

Co-operative Education Program • Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program

Dual Credit Programs • Peel Region High Performers Program

Explore High Skills • Regional Co-operative Education Programs

Extended French/French Immersion • Specialist High Skills Major(SHSM) Programs

For more information about program information nights, busing, fees and the application process/dates, contact the

school or visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms.

Programs Starts in grade: 6 7 9

Actively in Motion (AIM) – Royal Orchard MS

Advanced Placement – Central Peel SS, John Fraser SS

Arts – Earnscliffe Sr. PS (starts in grade 6), Queen Elizabeth Sr. PS (starts in grade 7), Cawthra Park SS, Mayfield SS

Arts and Technology – Morning Star MS

Graphic Design Management – TL Kennedy SS

International Baccalaureate – Bristol Rd. MS, WG Davis Sr. PS, Erindale SS, Glenforest SS, Harold M. Brathwaite SS, Turner Fenton SS

International Business and Technology – Allan A. Martin Sr. PS, Lisgar MS, Williams Pkwy Sr. PS, Mead-owvale SS, North Park SS, TL Kennedy SS

International and Executive Leadership Academy – TL Kennedy SS

SciTech – Centennial Sr. PS, Macville PS, Tomken Rd. MS, Chinguacousy SS, Port Credit SS

Sports – Applewood Heights SS

Strings – Central Peel SS, Port Credit SS

Truck and Coach Engineering and Technology – Bramalea SS

What you need to know about busing The Peel District School Board eligibility distances for transportation are as follows:

kindergarten and Grade 1 students – 1 km

Grades 2 to 4 students – 1.6 km

Grades 5 to 6 students – 2 km

Grades 7 to 8 students – 3.2 km The eligibility distances measured are the shortest, safe walking route along sidewalks, roadways and paved pedestrian walkways from school property line to home property line. How do I know if my child is eligible for transportation? Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR) has a website where you can find out whether your child is eligible for transportation based on your home address. Visit www.stopr.ca or businfo.stopr.ca, click on "Transportation Eligibility" and enter your information. In addition, if your child is eligible for transportation, beginning the last week of August to the end of June each year, you can securely access your child’s transportation information, including bus stop location and pick-up and drop-off times, from businfo.stopr.ca. Click on “Student Login” and enter the information required. To ensure privacy of information you will be required to enter the Ontario Education Number (OEN), which can be found on your child’s report card. For more information regarding procedures, late buses, cancellations, safety and frequently asked questions please visit the Student Transportation of Peel Region website at www.stopr.ca. Contacting STOPR: STOPR operations are divided into 3 defined zones, East, West and Special Needs Transportation. The East and West zones manage all regular home to school busing for all of Peel Region and the dividing line between these zones is generally Kennedy Road. When calling into our office for school bus information, please make sure that you have your child’s On-tario Educational Number (OEN) available. The OEN number can be found on your child’s report card or is available from your school. STOPR staff will ask for your child’s OEN to ensure your child’s personal transportation information is secure and is shared only with the appropriate person. Telephone contact: (905) 890-6000 (East, West and Special Needs Transportation) Toll free: 1-800-668-1140 Fax: (905) 890-6033 STOPR Web Site: We recommend that you take a moment to review our web site as it is available to you 24 hours per day, 7 days per week at: www.stopr.ca Our web site is your source for the most up to date transportation information such as bus delays and cancellations as well it can provide you with important information such as “what school do I attend” and “am I eligible for transportation”.

Student Transportation of Peel Region continued.. In addition, from our web site www.stopr.ca, you can also access important school bus safety information as well as “Transportation Procedures”, “Forms”, Courtesy Seats” and “frequently asked questions con-cerning student transportation”. Parents can also access their children’s bus route information and details through the web site by click-ing on the “Your Child’s Busing Information” tab located on the main page. You will need your child’s Ontario Educational Number (OEN), home address, school and grade in order to retrieve your child’s bus information from the web site. Parents can now sign-up to receive automatic e-mail notifications of delays or cancellations for their chil-dren’s bus run. Parents should go to www.stopr.ca and click on the “bus delays and cancellations” link and then click “subscriptions” to sign-up for this service. Bus Stop Locations and “Primary Protocol”: Please note that “door to door” or “home bus stop” locations are not generally provided. STOPR estab-lishes bus stops in safe and appropriate locations that can service multiple families and students. Typi-cally these stops are located at intersections or “group” locations that provide an area for all students/parents to wait for their bus away from the roadway. Please note that Parents/Guardians are responsible for the safe conveyance of their children to and from the bus stop location and it is expected that all transported kindergarten and grade 1 students are always met by a parent/guardian at the end of the day at their bus stop location. There is simply no substitute for an adult’s supervision at the bus stop as this is the most critical moment for student safety. Students in kindergarten and grade 1 must always be met at their bus stop each day under our “Primary Protocol”. For more information on school bus safety and the “Primary Protocol” please contact our office or go onto our web site at www.stopr.ca. Requests for changes for a Student’s Transportation: STOPR is responsible for the safe and efficient transportation of approximately 60,000 students each school day. Please note that during school start-up in September, the STOPR office is extremely busy and staff are focused on critical issues such as eligible students requiring transportation, bus overloads and route timing issues. Requests for a change in a bus stop location will be addressed after school start-up is completed later in September. On behalf of all the staff at Student Transportation of Peel Region, Welcome Back to Another School Year! We look forward to serving your transportation needs this year. Thank you Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR) (905) 890-6000 or 1-800-668-1140 www.stopr.ca

Keaton Centre, 5685 Keaton Crescent, Mississauga, Ontario L5R 3H5 Phone: 905 890-6000 Fax: 905 890-6033

SAFETY TIPS YOU CAN USE

Statistics indicate that the most critical moment for student safety, while riding a school bus, is actually when students are getting on or off of their school bus. Therefore it is important that Parents and guardians understand that they are ultimately responsible for the safe conveyance of their children to and from their bus stop location each day. There is simply no substitute for an adult’s supervision at a bus stop. Here are some important School Bus safety tips for par-ents and children. Please share this information with parents and students as it may one day save a child’s life. Get to the bus stop in plenty of time so you don’t have to run Wait for your bus in a place that’s away from traffic in the road Bus stops are not appropriate places to push or wrestle with your friends Let the bus come to a complete stop before you try to get on If you can touch the bus, you’re too close Remember if you can’t see the bus driver, then the bus driver can’t see you The driver will let you know when it’s safe to approach the bus Take the steps one at a time, holding onto the handrail Go right to a seat, and sit quietly, without blocking the aisle Listen to your bus driver, and obey any requests Leave the bus in single file, holding the handrail Walk away from the bus without running, and never go behind it If you have to cross the street to leave or board your bus, you need to be 10 giant steps away from the front of the bus. Watch for overhead red lights to flash, and wait for your driver’s signal before cross-ing If you ever drop something underneath the bus or in its path, leave it there! Never, never stop to pick it up. For more information on School Bus Safety please visit the STOPR web Site at: www.stopr.ca

Birchbank Bulletin Calendar CHARACTER TRAITS FOR THIS MONTH ARE

RESPONSIBILITY

October 2017

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

1 2 Day 9

3 Day 10

4 Day 1

Birchbank Open

House 6:00pm to 7:00pm

5 Day 2

6

P.A. Day

No School

7

8 9

No School

10 Day 3

Last day for School Council Nomination

Forms

11 Day 4

12 Day 5

13 Day 6

14

15 16 Day 7

17 Day 8

First School Council Meeting 6:00pm-7:30pm

Election Day

18 Day 9

SCHOOL PICTURE

DAY

19 Day 10

Keiko Martial Arts

20 Day 1

21

22 23 Day 2

24 Day 3

25 Day 4

26

Day 5 Firefighters Presentation

Keiko Martial Arts

27 Day 6 Cross Country Grade 3 BB

28

29

30 Day 7

31 Day 8

Halloween

Spirit Day Costume or Orange and black

Dates coming up :

November 3 - Assembly 1 PM

November 9 - Photo retake