January 2018

Westacres Public School —Our

Caring Community

First, I would like to begin by wishing our Westacres

Public School families a very Happy New Year! I hope

everyone had a very restful winter break with family

and friends and are coming back rejuvenated and ready for another term of learning.

At the beginning of each new year, many of us are prompted to make a list of resolutions for the

new year to change our behavior, increase our personal success or improve some aspect of our

daily life. Here at Westacres Public School, we continue to embrace and strive to implement

learning opportunities for our students that help them become passionate and critical thinkers. As

educators we are resolved to finding ways to ensure that we create learning environments that are

positive and innovative, empowering learners to grow through rich, authentic experiences. At this

time of year we also look back and review, committing to find methods to achieve our Mission,

Vision and Values:

Our Mission: —to challenge, motivate and guide all students to realize their full potential and

become lifelong learners. We will prepare them to be globally engaged 21st century citizens.

Our Vision: —a community of learners - parents, students and staff - who work together to meet

the diverse learning needs of all students.

Our Values: —Taking ownership of learning, Demonstrating resiliency, Being globally aware,

Learning to be critical thinkers, Showing responsibility for self, others and the world, Engaging

and contributing to the learning community.

As always, your continued support and participation in your child's education will be of prime

importance. I firmly believe that together as a community of families, educators and leaders we

share a responsibility to inspire our modern learners to be active, critically engaged, global

citizens.

May the New Year bring you and your family peace, health and happiness.

Paul Anderson

Principal, Westacres P.S.

2165 Breezy Brae Drive, Mississauga Ontario L4Y 1N2 Telephone: 905 277-0912 Fax: 905 277-3859

Principal: Paul Anderson Office Manager: Cathy Mercurio

Superintendent: Paul da Silva Trustee & Chair of the Board: Janet McDougald

“Safe Arrival” System To report your child’s absence call, visit or download:

1-855-209-6155 pdsb.schoolconnects.com Download the Safe arrival mobile App for Apple or Android

Check This Out

U p c o m i n g Important Dates

Beach Day Event

World Religion Day

French Immersion

K i n d e r g a r t e n Registration

Regional Program Info Nights

S c h o o l B u s Cancellation

Parent Conference

School Council Information Page

Students can participate in a

Special Hawaiian Pizza Lunch (forms due January 23rd by 4:00 pm)

Student will be participating in our move-a-thon hosted by Professor Jamz! Pledge forms will be sent home on January 18th

Students can purchase Beach Items and Treats (Glow in the dark sunglasses, bracelets and necklaces will be for sale and can be worn during the move-a-thon. For Sale at our Tikki Store will also be edible treats and candies. Items will range in price from 50 cents to 5 dollars.

All funds raised during our Winter Blues Beach Day will be used to support STEAM based learning in all classes. Our goal is to provide each classroom with their very own cart filled with resources that will support STEAM based learning. The carts will be designed in collaboration with the classroom teacher and Mrs. Hurley. The items will support authentic integrated learning designed around the Ontario curriculum.

Our fundraising goal is $25 per student. The class that raises the most money based on number of students will win a Pizza Party and some additional materials for their STEAM carts.

World Religion

Day

On Thursday January 18th, Westacres Public School will be hosting World Religion Day. Students will be rotating through varied centres to learn about different religious celebrations. Students will experience different crafts, song, and activities. The following day students will share with their friends what they have learned.

Important Upcoming Dates:

Tuesdays Pizza Days

Wednesdays Cookie Days

Thursdays Sub Days

Fridays Lunch Lady Days

Jan. 8th First Day Back

Jan. 18th World Religion Day

Jan. 22nd Professional Activity

Day

Jan. 26th Disney Spirit Wear Day

Jan. 26th Mad Science—Grade 2

Jan. 29th -Feb. 2nd Kindergarten

Registration

Jan. 31st Month End Assembly

Feb. 2nd Beach Day

Feb. 8th Report Cards Home

Shaking off the Winter Blues

On Friday February 2nd, Westacres Public School will be shaking off the Winter Blues by hosting a Beach Day Event hosted by our team of educators.

Students will be invited to dress in their best beach costumes.

bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution)

credit card statement

federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada documents)

purchase agreement

Proof of custody – children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation supports an alternate living arrangement

Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated

Apply for

F r e n c h

Immersion

by Jan. 26,

2018

If your child will be starting grade 1 in

September 2018, one of the important choices

you will make is whether you want to consider

French Immersion (FI). To find out more about

the program, visit www.peelschools.org/

French

The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2018-19 school year is available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Friday, Nov. 24, 2017 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 26, 2018 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will not be included in the random selection process and will be placed on the school’s waitlist.

The FI school for our area is Burnhamthorpe

P.S ( 905-625-0140) and Corsair P.S. ( 905-

677-1511)

Enrolment cap and random selection

process

The Peel board has a limited number of spaces available for students interested in grade 1.

It's time to register children

born in 2014 for kindergarten

We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2014, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2018. You can register your child at any time during regular school hours—just visit the school he/she will be attending to register.

Peel schools will also hold a Kindergarten Registration Week with special registration activities during Jan. 29 to Feb. 2, 2018. Visit

Westacres P.S. from:

Jan. 29 to 31, 2018 – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Feb. 1, 2018 – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.

Feb. 2, 2018 – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

What you will need to bring to registration

Proof of child's age (one of the following)

Canadian birth certificate

Canadian passport

citizenship card/certificate

Permanent Resident Card

conf irmation of permanent residence

work permit

refugee permit

Proof of address (one of the following)

Ontario driver's license

utility bill

Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be announced on radio and television stations listed below and will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook a t ww w. f a ce b o o k . co m / p e e l s ch o o l s , www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling

905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9

CHUM AM1050

CFTR AM680

CFNY FM102.1/AM640

CJCL AM590

CHFI FM98.1

NEWSTALK1010 AM

EZ ROCK FM97.3

CJBC (FR) AM860

FM Z103.5

FM93.1

FM Q107

CHIN FM100.7/AM1540

CBC99.1

CITYPULSE

GLOBAL NEWS

CTV

BREAKFAST TELEVISION

One of the following messages will be announced (highlighted text only):

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 busing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual.

French Immersion. At this time, the grade 1 FI enrolment cap is set at 25 per cent of all Peel students enrolled in grade 1. A random selection process is used to determine which students will be offered spaces in the grade 1 FI program.

It is important to note that applicants are not offered space in grade 1 FI on a first come, first serve basis. A computerized random selection process will randomly assign a rank to each application that is received by the deadline.

Once students have been assigned to all available spaces, remaining students will be placed, again in rank order, on the school's waitlist. Each school has its own waitlist.

How to get more information

Visit the Peel board website—

www.peelschools.org/French.

Call The FI school for our area is

Burnhamthorpe P.S ( 905-625-0140) and

Corsair P.S. ( 905-677-1511)

Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.

Bus cancellation and closing

schools due to bad weather

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

still have the opportunity to attend workshops on topics, including numeracy, literacy, special education, technology and science.

This free learning event is open to Peel parents of students at all grade levels.

Our keynote presentation will be delivered by Dwayne Matthews, a life and education strategist, who converges and shares knowledge on modern learning, disruptive technology, and the evolution of work. Dwayne will present Learning in the 21st century: Why it's different, why it matters and how to help children thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world.

Registration opens Feb.5, 2018

Stay up-to-date!

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t

www.peelschools.org/parents/conference.

Middle School Regional Learning

Choices Programs

Regional Learning Choices Programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower students by providing an opportunity to develop and explore skills in a particular area of interest. These programs are open to all students who meet the criteria for acceptance.

Information Nights

Students and their families are encouraged to attend the information night for the program of their choice to receive more information about

All Peel District School Board schools and

board offices are closed

This means that all schools and Peel 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.

All evening programs and permits at the

Peel District School Board are cancelled

This means that all activities in schools and Peel 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 Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

Conference helps parents

empower modern learners

The Peel District School Board is hosting its annual parent conference, co-presented by the Peel Elementary Teachers’ Local, on Saturday, March 24, 2018, at Mississauga Secondary School in Mississauga. Once again, the conference will focus on Empowering Modern Learners. Parents will

Report absences online by accessing

the SafeArrival parent portal on

pdsb.schoolconnects.com

Download the SafeArrival mobile application for Apple and Android devices

School doors remain locked

during the school day

We wanted to share a reminder with our school community. The front doors of our school will be locked during the school day. This is part of the Safe Welcome program, originally announced by the Ontario Government in December 2012, for all elementary schools in Ontario. As part of this program, portable doors will also be locked during the school day.

A camera and buzzer unit is located by the front door and will be linked to a monitor in the main office of the school. Anyone who wishes access to the school once the school day has begun—parents, Peel board staff and visitors—will request entry by pressing the buzzer. Staff in the main office will be able to see and speak to the person, and release the door lock to provide access.

We have long had the practice for Peel schools that all outside doors, with the exception of the front door, would be locked during the school day. While we acknowledge that locking doors will not in itself prevent all risks to the safety of students and staff, it is an important step in providing an additional level of security.

the program and application details. If you are unable to attend the information night, program details and information about the application process are available through the school.

How to apply

Application dates for middle school programs vary from school to school. Visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms to learn more about our programs, application process and transportation eligibility. The application window for our secondary regional programs has closed for this school year.

Time for school - A parent’s guide to reporting school

absences

All parents/guardians of elementary students need to report their children's absences or late arrivals from school via our automated SafeArrival system.

Whether it is an illness or another absence and 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 (Please note – You must wait for confirmation)

1-877-510-5102.

For more information about the policy, visit h t t p : / / w w w . e d u . g o v . o n . c a / e n g /healthyschools. If you have questions about how we are implementing the School Food and Beverage Policy, please call the school.

Thank you for your continued support for the safety and well-being of all students and staff in our schools.

Nutritious lunches help children

learn

Use Canada’s Food Guide to help your child get nutrients and energy needed to have a successful school day.

Try to give your child some choice about what to take for lunch. If possible, get your child involved in preparing meals.

Give your child a variety of healthy choices. Keeping your child interested in lunch is the first step to making sure it is eaten.

Make the food easy to eat. If it will take your child a few minutes to unwrap a sandwich, it may be skipped.

Resist the temptation to routinely send sweets, pop, chips and cookies in your child's lunch. Save treats for special occasions.

Try to avoid fast food or pre-packaged, convenience lunches, which are often high in salt and fat.

Do your best to role model healthy eating behaviours for your family.

To speak to a registered dietitian about healthy food choices, call EatRight Ontario at

Celebrating Faith and Culture January 2018

DATE

CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

Month of January K'aliyee & Spirit moon Aboriginal Spirituality December 31 to Jan. 1 Ghambar Maidyarem Zoroastrianism January 1 Temple Day Buddhism January 1 and 14 (J) New Year’s Day Christianity and Canada January 1 Gantan-sai Shinto January 2 Mahayana New Year Buddhism January 3 Amitabha Buddha’s Birthday Buddhism January 5 Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Sikhism January 6 and 19 (J) Epiphany or Feast of Theophany Christianity January 7 (J) Christmas Christianity January 8 Seijin-no-hi Shinto January 13 Lohri Hinduism January 13 Maghi Sikhism January 14 Makar Sankranti Hinduism January 18 to February 5 Month of Sultán Bahá'í January 21 World Religion Day Bahá'í January 21 Vasant Panchami Hinduism January 24 Sakyamuni Buddha’s

Enlightenment Buddhism