Gage Gazette

http://schools.peelschools.org/1519/Pages/default.aspx

Monday February 1st , 2016

Important RemindersDate Event Time Location

Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Pizza Lunch -$2.00 /slice (cheese and peporoni)-to be ordered during advisory 8:10-8:30 Homeroom

Tuesday, ThursdayBoston Pizza-$5

Pasta (tomato or meat), Personal Pizza (Cheese or Veggie)-to be ordered during advisory

8:10-8:30Homeroom

Wednesday Patty and Spring Roll Day – for Black History Month ----- -----

January 26th -March 10th Counting On You Turtoring Program (Grade 7 and 8 students)Tuesday’s and Thursday’s afterschool 2:10pm -4:10pm

Grade 7 Math with Ms. Palmeri in Room 112Grade 7 French with Mme. Yu in Room 207Grade 7 French with Mme Founk Room 204

Grade 8 Math with Mr. Lee in Room 109Grade 8 French with Mme Pembleton in

Room 103

February 3rd Winter Walk Day

February 10th

Black History Month : And Still We Rise performing for the Spotlight on Stage

Black History Month : Spotlight on Black Heritage presentation (grades 7&8 students)

9am -12pm

Central Board office

February 8th School Council 6:30pm – 7:30pm Libray

February 11thBlack History Month : Attending Spotlight on Black Heritage

presentation (grade 6 students) 9am -12pmCentral Broad Office

February 12th Term 1 Reports and IEP’s go home today

February 16thGrade 6 OFIP Math tutoring program begins

Tuesday’s and Thursday’srecess portion of lunch

TBD

February 16th Black History Month: Michael “The Pinball”Clemons 9:30 to 10:15am GYM

Febrauary 17th and 18th Caribou Math Contest # 4 SWG Library Lab

February 19th Round 2 Immunizations (Grades 7 and 8)

February 22nd Black History Month: Guest Speaker Paul Riley (Grade 7&8) GYM

February 29th Black History Month: Closing Ceremonies 9:00-10:30am GYM

Dear Sir William Gage Families,

Sincerely,

Mary Rizos – Principal

Subcribe to the School Updates for Up

School Trustee ~ Kathy MacDonald (Trustee Wards 3 and 4)

S upporting

W elcoming

G uiding

1

School Council: The next school council meeting will be on February 8th at 6:30pm in the library. There is no formal school council this year at Gage.

All parents are welcome.

Email correspondence can be sent to:sirwilliamgageps.cou@peelsb.com

April 11, 2016 is a PA day for all studentsAs a result of labour settlements with various federations and employee groups, the Ministry of Education has directed all school boards to create an additional Professional Activity Day this year and for each school year going forward.

For the 2015-16 school year, the additional PA Day for the Peel District School Board will be April 11, 2016. All Peel board elementary and secondary schools will be closed to students on this day. If you have any questions, please contact the school.

Peel District School Board5650 Hurontario Street, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada L5R 1C6

In School Clubs and ProgramsFebruary is historically known as the coldest month of the year but not at Sir William Gage. This February, SWG will be celebrating Black History Month with activities that will warm our hearts and ignite our minds.

Every Wednesday For the month of February: Beef patties and spring rolls FOR SALE @ Lunch$1.50 for Patties and Spring Rolls 2 for $1.00

Every Friday For the month of February: Friday at the movies during recess in room 212

February 10th And Still We Rise present Umoja at the Central Board office for the opening of Spotlight on Black Heritage.February 10th Select grade 7 & 8 students attend Spotlight on Black Heritage at the Central Board office.February 11th Selected grade 6 students attend Spotlight on Black Heritage at the Central Board officeFebruary 16th School Wide Assembly: Sir William Gage welcomes Michael "the Pinball" Clemons as he shares 'his

story' on how he turned his scars into stars.February 18th Grade 6 assembly: Sir William Gage welcomes Joanna Eubanks a lawyer and community activist who will be

speaking towards goal setting and following your dreams.February 22nd Grade 7 & 8 assembly: Sir William Gage welcome Paul Riley, athlete, journalist, lawyer and community

activist who will be speaking towards goal setting and following your dreams.February 29th Closing Ceremony with a presentation from And Still We Rise.

Visual Arts The students of Sir William Gage have created amazing ethnic pieces, inspired by the artist David Kibuuka. Some of these pieces can be seen around the school. The Visual Arts Club has been diligently working on their South African Batik paintings. They are excited to have an exhilarating Installation of their creativity displayed on February 29th, at the closing of our

Black History Month Celebration.

2

Counting On YouCounting On You Session #1 will begin on Tuesday January 26th and end on Thursday, March 10th.

COY will run every Tuesday and Thursday from 2:10pm until 4:10pmGrade 7 Math with Ms. Palmeri in Room 112Grade 7 French with Mme. Yu in Room 207Grade 7 French with Mme Founk Room 204Grade 8 Math with Mr. Lee in Room 109Grade 8 French with Mme Pembleton in Room 103

For more information please visit :http://www.peelschools.org/parents/programs/afterschool_summer/counting/Pages/default.aspx

Mr. Tahir

OFIP Tutoring Starting Tuesday February 16th at recess, our Grade 6 OFIP Math tutoring program will begin. They will meet every Tuesday and Thursday during the recess portion of lunch. The program will continue for 11 weeks and end May 5th with a pizza party to celebrate their hard work and success.

Music DepartmentWinter ConcertWe would like to thank all the families and friends that have attended SWG’s annual winter concert! We had 6 ensembles, choir and And Still We Rise perform for over 350 guests!! What exciting evening it was! Thank you for supporting SWG’s music department and we look forward to seeing you again in spring for our final concert of the year!

Toronto Symphony OrchestraSWG instrumental program students will be going to Roy Thompson Hall to watch the Toronto Symphony Orchestra perform on February 3rd. This will be an amazing learning opportunity for our students to watch a top professional orchestra perform. Tickets were first come first serve and the tickets sold out within a week!

Athletic Department The Sir William Gage Sir. Boys and Girls Basketball Teams were chosen. Both teams have been practicing hard getting ready or the regular season games. The girls are two games in to their season with a record of 2-0. The Boys are one game in to their season with a record of 1-0. They both hope to continue their winning streaks as the season continues.

On Wednesday January 27th, the Senior Girls Badminton team played in the NPPHEA tournament held at Calderstone Middle School. There was some fierce competition. The girls fought hard and had fun finishing in fourth place. Great job Gators, your coaches are very proud of you.

The Boys Badminton Tournament is February 4th. The Boys Fotsal team has been selected and their tournament is February 18th.

Intramural Basketball is in full effect, and CrossFit Athletic Development at lunch recesses continues to grow in popularity. Coming up in PE in February is European Handball and then floor hockey unit. Keep up all the hard work Gators!

Sir William Gage Library News

3

Forest of Reading The Forest of Reading® is Canada's largest recreational reading program! This initiative of the Ontario Library Association (OLA) offers eight reading programs to encourage a love of reading in people of all ages. The Forest helps celebrate Canadian books, publishers, authors and illustrators. More than 250,000 readers participate annually from their School and/or Public Library. All Ontarians/Canadians are invited to participate via their local public library, school library, or individually.

Goals of the Forest of Reading

To develop recognition for Canadian authors and Canadian books To contribute to the financial stability of the Canadian publishing industry To provide teachers, teacher-librarians, librarians, library staff and parents with a

meaningful tool for improving literacy in schools and libraries To respond to community interest and needs

WE will be beginning our Forest of Reading Club this Month – listen for details on the announcement

Books With No Bounds

The mission of Books With No Bounds is to provide Indigenous children and teens living in remote communities throughout Canada and around the world, with books donated by publishers, authors, schools, individuals and organizations. Books With No Bounds organizes, catalogues, packs, and sends appropriate books, education resources and electronics to disadvantaged children in Canada and around the world.

Books With No Bounds believes that every child deserves the opportunity to read and should have access to an enormous supply of books

We are collecting books – Monday/ Wednesday / Friday - so clean out your book shelves !!!

Chess Club Grade 6 Thursday in the Library

New Library hours Tuesday – Grade 8 at Lunch Thursday – Grade 6 at Lunch Friday - Grade 7 at LunchAll students must have a signed agenda and outdoor clothing.

News Paper ClubREAD ALL ABOUT IT on the Gage Gazette 2015

Exciting to be able to report what's going on in the world around us as it impact our lives and all the exciting things going on in our school !

Here is the link to our school Newspaper BLOG: http://swgatornews.weebly.com/ Please read and comment, Miss Ratwatte and the Newspaper Club members On Wednesday, February 3rd, Sir William Gage Middle School is getting active with Winter Walk Day!Join in the fun by leaving the car at home and travelling to school on foot with your friends. If you live too far to walk the whole way, try getting dropped off at a friend’s house or a few blocks away from the school so you can walk the last leg! If you take the school bus, we’ll be doing walks in the school yard so you can get active, too!

4

When we walk to school, even if it’s just for the last few blocks, we contribute to a happier, healthier, cleaner, and safer school neighbourhood. So this February, let’s join the national movement and walk to school as often as we can!If your school is doing anything special such as handing out stickers, raffle tickets, hot chocolate, or organizing walking school buses, include that information here.

Reminder about Dress Code at GageAt SWG, students are asked to dress in a manner that demonstrates respect for themselves and others. Students are expected to wear:

Shirts that cover their entire torso and undergarments and no longer than middle finger when standing straight

Shorts/skirts of a suitable length (i.e. when a student’s arms are by their sides the shorts/skirts should touch their middle finger with no undergarments showing as students use stairs

Tee shirts without questionable messages/logos/ captions Outdoor wear (gloves, hats, scarves, boots etc.) are not to be worn indoor

Reminders about Safe Arrival/Attendance at SchoolAt Sir William Gage, teacher supervision begins at 7:55 a.m. and ends at 2:25 p.m. All students are expected to attend school

regularly. Students should be in line, ready to enter the building at 8:05 a.m. for morning entry and 12:29 p.m. for lunch entry. If your child will be late or absent from school, please contact our school attendance line at 905-456-3394. This line is dedicated to messages regarding late or absent students and is available 24 hours a day. When children return to school after an absence, they are responsible for connecting with their homeroom teacher and

their rotary teachers to "catch up" with any missed work or assignments. All classrooms have a section of the blackboard devoted to homework and assignment due dates and routines students follow when absent. Students that are late must have a note from a parent explaining the reason for being late.

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 elementary school. That’s because important learning occurs daily, right from the start of class. And because you establish patterns early on. By being punctual and responsible, children are acquiring positive habits about school attendance. 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. A last-minute rush can be stressful for the child, and get her 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. Too many missed school days can increase isolation, as the child stands out from her classmates and misses opportunities to

develop socially. Absenteeism makes it tougher for the child to develop a good rapport with the teachers.

Ask your child’s teacher or principal to learn more about our school’s specific Kiss N’ Ride procedures.

All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled. This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled. This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

Help your family stay warm this winterCanada Safety Council recommends the following tips for staying comfortable and preventing hypothermia when working or playing outdoors:

Wear a warm hat—most body heat is lost through the head. Children should keep an extra hat at school.

5

Wear layered clothing. Layers allow warm air to stay trapped around the body. Protect your feet and hands. Wear loose waterproof boots. If the boots have liners, carry an extra pair to replace damp

ones or take an extra pair of socks. Invest in thick socks to keep your feet warm. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Carry an extra pair of mittens to school, on outings, etc.

Prevent dehydration and exhaustion, which can lead to hypothermia. Drink plenty of fluids and pace yourself when doing vigorous activities.

Stay fit by exercising and eating well—people who are fit are less susceptible to hypothermia. If you stay indoors, avoid moving from a hot environment to a cold one. Excessive sweating caused from an extreme

change in temperature increases the risk of developing hypothermia. Eat high-energy food such as nuts and raisins. A balanced diet will also help keep you warm and healthy in the winter. If you are travelling (on the road or in the wilderness) carry emergency supplies.

Closing schools due to bad weather

During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather.

Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be announced on radio and television stations listed below and posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca. Information will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1CFRB AM1010 EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CTVCITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS

One of the following messages will be announced:

Peel District School Board buses are cancelled. This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require bussing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual.

All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed. This means that all schools and Board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits.

During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather. Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca.

Winter Bus Safety

The following winter school bus safety tips will help to keep your child safe throughout the winter months. Allow extra time to get to your bus stop. Wear bright clothing so the bus can see you in the early morning and late evening. Stand away from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room to stop when there is snow and ice. Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping on wet or icy steps or road surfaces. Dress properly—winter clothing, hats, and boots will keep you warm. Don't throw snowballs at the bus or other children waiting for the bus. Don't slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the street. Don't push or shove around the bus. Someone could fall down on the ice and get hurt.

On very rare occasions, buses are late because of weather conditions or mechanical problems. Talk to your child about what to do if the bus is late. Here are some suggestions:

When possible, wait with your child for the bus. Make sure your child knows a phone number where he can reach you or another trusted adult. Teach your child how and where to get help. Talk to your child about what a "safe" stranger is. Help your child set up a bus stop buddy system so your child has someone to wait with for the bus.

School closed for PA Day on April 11, 2016 6

As a result of labour settlements with various federations and employee groups, the Ministry of Education has directed all school boards to create an additional Professional Activity Day this year and for each school year going forward. For the 2015-16 school year, the additional PA Day for the Peel District School Board will be April 11, 2016. All Peel board elementary and secondary schools will be closed to students on this day. The next day, April 12, will remain a Day # for students.

Insπre. Gr23ness. 2gether.

Everyone is a math teacher, parents included

Parents and other adults in our students' lives are important partners in children's mathematics education. By engaging your children in thinking and talking about mathematics, you help support their numeracy success.

To help you with this, one great resource is the Ministry of Education's Doing Mathematics With Your Child. You can find this guide for parents of children in kindergarten to grade 6 online at www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/parentGuideNumEn.pdf. For more math tips and tools for parents of kindergarten to grade 12 students, visit ABC 123 at www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/tips/ and the Peel District School Board’s Math Help site at www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild/math. __________________________________________________________________________

REGISTER TODAY

Saturday, April 2, 2016 – 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.Rick Hansen Secondary School, Mississauga

Plan to attend our annual, free conference for Peel District School Board parents on Saturday, April 2, 2016. Take one day to enjoy: a powerful keynote presentation focused on math success your choice of 61 practical workshops facilitated by Peel board staff a display area with educational exhibits from local organizations free lunch and an opportunity to meet Peel parents

This year, a large number of morning workshops will provide parents with strategies to help you support math success at

home. Flyers are being sent home with Peel students now—look for yours. Register today at

www.peelschools.org/parents/conference.

School Council

Email correspondence can be sent to:sirwilliamgageps.cou@peelsb.com

7

Celebrating Faith and CultureFebruary 2016

DATECELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

February Buxwlaks Aboriginal SpiritualityFebruary 1 or 2 Imbolc WiccaFebruary 3 Setsubun-sai ShintoFebruary 7 to 26 month of Mulk Bahá’íFebruary 8 Lunar New Year/Maitreya

Bodhisattva’s BirthdayBuddhism

February 10 Ash Wednesday ChristianityFebruary 12 Vasant Panchami HinduismFebruary 15 National Flag Day CanadaFebruary 15 Family Day OntarioFebruary 22 Lantern Festival/Magha Puja BuddhismFebruary 26 to February 29

Intercalary Days Bahá'í

LET'S WORK TOGETHER TOWARDS A GREAT SCHOOL YEAR!

If you require a hard copy of the newsletter -- please let Ms Bola know immediately

8

9