Follow us on Twitter: @alomaalligators Aloma Crescent ......resume on Monday, March 18. Enjoy your time with family. March 20 Spring Photo Day Beginning in March we will have snack

Karen Rocca, Principal

Heather Thomas, Vice Principal

Liz Cook, Superintendent

Carrie Andrews, Trustee

Kathy McDonald, Trustee

Visit our website at: http://schools.peelschools.org/1406/Pages/default.aspx

Follow us on Twitter: @alomaalligators

Aloma Crescent March Newsletter

From the Principal’s Pen... Dates and

Reminders

March 10th Daylight Savings Time

Don’t forget to move

your clocks forward one

hour as it is daylight

savings time!

March 11th—15th March Break

Schools are closed from

Monday, March 11 to

Friday, March 15,

inclusive. Classes

resume on Monday,

March 18. Enjoy your

time with family.

March 20

Spring Photo Day

It’s Spring Photo Day!

This is an opportunity

for siblings to have a

picture taken together

or for students to have

an individual photo

taken.

March 25th Chat & Chai

Aloma Families are invited to join us in the

library. We will be hosting a presentation

around Positive Parenting

March 29th

Character Assembly

Please join us at 9:30

am to celebrate the

attribute of inclusivity

Hello Aloma families,

What an interesting month February

was! Mother Nature definitely impacted

each week with bus and school

cancellations. Now that we’re moving

into March let’s hope that most of the

intense snow is behind us!

With the weather conditions it meant

postponement of some of our planned

activities, some of which we managed to

reschedule. We also had our character

assembly recogn izing inc lus ion .

Throughout the month we celebrated

Black History Month with trivia

contests, learning carousels and

culminating in our assembly with

student performances. Students and

staff worked hard to share their

knowledge and creative skills at both

assemblies and we hope your enjoyed the

results of all their efforts.

Our Family Math Night and EQAO night

were impacted by the weather and we

have not yet determined when these will

occur. As soon as we have that

information we will share it with

families.

We know that many of our grade 3

families (and some grade 2 families) are

thinking about EQAO. For information

on the testing and to see sample

questions from past tests, we encourage

you to visit the EQAO website at

eqao.com. Chose the “parents” tab and

you will find questions in reading, writing

and math that you can review with your

children. This is NOT mandatory, but

simply a way to familiarize yourself with

the types of questions your child will see

during the testing. To help students

brush up on skill needed to be successful

and confident as they write the test and

prepare for the transition to grade 4 we

will once again be offering OFIP tutoring

to grade 3 students from March until

May. Teachers will contact parents with

information about the program which

will run over the nutribreaks.

Beginning in March we will have snack

baskets in each of our classrooms which

will be available to students that may

need some extra nutrition throughout

the day. The snack baskets will cover

three food groups and is open to any

student that needs it. There is no cost

to families for this program which is

supported through generous donations

from corporate partners.

With March Break coming up quickly, we

encourage you to explore events and

clubs available through the City of

Brampton to keep students engaged and

active. Wishing everyone a safe and

happy break!

Mrs. Rocca

Your Character is Showing…

At our February student recognition assembly, the following

students received awards for their outstanding demonstration of the

character trait of INCLUSIVITY:

Alaya Aliya Lashyavi Benedict Manit Avenasa Malaya

Amrita Viraj Kaden Om Kavish Eric Jessa

Jahmar Jhayne Makayla Gbadebo Sahiti Janiyah Zahra

Aayushi Aarav Austin Tyce Khristina Givanunia Gabriel

Michael Sanvi Lydia Oviya Haidar Sahasra Annabelle

CONGRATULATIONS to everyone on this achievement!

In March, we will recognize the character attribute of cooperation. We can

demonstrate cooperation by:

*Following the rules established by the group

*Participating with our best efforts

*Assuming positive intentions in others

*Valuing the contributions of others

*Respecting the ideas and feelings of others

Keep Your Child Safe On The Internet

Even without trying, children can come across materials on the internet that are obscene, disturbing, violent,

hate-filled, racist or offensive in other ways.

Here are some steps to help you ensure that your children use the internet as safely as possible:

make sure your children understand what sites are appropriate for them

keep the computer in a common area of the home like the kitchen or family room

discuss the meaning of an ‘unsafe’ site with your children

explain to your children what they should do if they reach an unsafe site

make exploring new websites a family activity

pay attention to the games your children may download or copy

look into software or online services that filter out offensive materials or sites

It's important to review safety tips with children regularly. It is possible for children to meet unsafe

strangers on the internet. Ensure your child knows the following rules:

never give out personal information (including name, address, phone number, age, school name or location)

never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they meet online

never use bad language or send mean messages

never respond to e-mail messages that make them feel confused or uncomfortable

tell an adult immediately if something on the internet makes them feel uncomfortable

Aloma’s Exciting New

Cozy Up and Read Program For parents and their children

Back up and running this March 7th, 2019!

Every Thursday Morning

From 8:10 am to 8:45 am

Come to Aloma’s Library for chance to read with

your child/children. We have loads of books— in-

cluding dual language books, iPads and a

comfortable environment!

**Light refreshments included! (tea, snacks)

All children welcome—kindergarten through grade 5

with a parent or parents! (including siblings)

School Council

Every School has a school council-a group focused on helping

students succeed. Councils provide a voice for parents and/or

guardians as well as the community, and offer advice to the

school principal on a number of topics.

If you would like to know more about our council, please

contact:

Our principal, Karen Rocca, or

Our school council co-chairs, at

[email protected]

Lunchroom Supervisors Needed

If you are interested in applying for the paid position of a supply Lunch Room Supervisor, please submit your cover letter and resume to

Mrs. Thomas.

Snack Pack Program Begins at Aloma!

A new Snack Pack program has begun at Aloma

this month. The daily program is meant to support

healthy eating by providing healthy snacks to

students that help promote optimal learning for

all. This new initiative is

made possible by the kind

support of community and

corporate sponsors.

Chat and Chai

At Aloma!

We are excited to announce the return of our Chat and

Chai community meetings! Hosted by our ELL Support

staff, Ms. Persaud and our Settlement Worker, Ms.T

Farooq, Families and community members are invited to

join us in the library this Monday March 25th at 9:10am

for tea and light snacks. These meetings are a great way

to mingle with our Community and discuss relevant topics

of interest.

This month we will be hosting a discussion around the use

of Positive Parenting. We are looking forward to seeing

everyone!

Peel board celebrates public education during Education Week – April 8 to 12

The Peel District School Board will host hundreds of celebrations, activities and events across its 257 schools and worksites to celebrate Education Week from April 8 to 12. On April 15, the Peel board will host Showcase of Excellence, an evening to honour recipients for their outstanding contributions to public education. The theme for this year's Education Week is We Inspire.

Each year schools across Peel, celebrate and host a variety of activi-ties to share all the wonderful examples of learning our students engage in each year. Please stay tuned to classroom newsletters for information around scheduled events.

More than 1,000 individuals will also be honoured during Education

Week with Awards of Distinction for their contributions to their

school or workplace. Schools and worksites will use social media

to showcase their Education Week celebrations and events using the

hashtag #WeInspire.

March 1st is Lunchroom Supervisors

Appreciation Day!

In 2017, the board of trustees declared the first Friday in

March as Lunchroom Supervisors Appreciation Day. This year, the recognition day falls on Friday, March 1, 2019. Take this opportunity to thank the important work of lunchroom supervisors, and their support and commitment to helping to ensure that students are safe and secure.

ParentConnect

Online parent portal to access important student infor-mation Last year, the Peel District School Board launched ParentConnect, an online parent portal to access im-portant student information.

What is ParentConnect? ParentConnect is a safe and secure website, created by the Peel District School Board, that acts as a single point to stay informed and to access all electronic services provided to Peel board parents and legal guardians. The parent-friendly website will allow you to:

view school-based alerts and information

access real time absence reporting

view current and historic elementary report card information

get up-to-date busing information

review secondary school credit history and diploma status and more! To learn more about the benefits of ParentConnect, visit

our school website or www.peelschools.org/parentconnect

Smoking and Vaping Prohibited on School

Property The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA,

2017) came into effect on October 17, 2018. This law aims to pro-tect the health of Ontarians by regulating the sale, supply and use of tobacco and vapour products (electronic cigarettes), and the smoking and vaping of cannabis. Under the SFOA, 2017 it is illegal to smoke (tobacco or cannabis) or vape on:

School grounds (both inside the school and on the outdoor grounds, including the parking lot and sports fields)

Public areas within 20 metres of school property. New signs are being posted at our schools to notify users that smoking and vaping is prohibited in these areas. The smoking and vaping prohibition is always in effect and applies to staff, students and visitors. Region of Peel - Public Health enforces the smoking and vaping prohibition and has been working with school administrators to keep our schools smoke and vape free. Individuals found smoking and/or vaping in a prohibited area may be subject to a fine. For more information on how the SFOA, 2017 applies to schools, contact Region of Peel - Public Health at 905-799-7700. For more information on the health effects of smoking and vaping visit the Health Canada website: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco.html.

Peel Learning Foundation aims to create hopeful tomorrows for Peel

board students

In partnership with the Peel District School Board, the Peel Learning Foundation was created to enable Peel board students to achieve person-al excellence by providing resources to help them overcome barriers.

In its first year, the foundation will support Peel board students through:

Student Emergency Needs program

Depending on the need, the foundation will supporting individual students with food and clothing, medical supplies, eyeglasses and transportation costs, or where there is an emergency situation that requires a compassionate response.

Student Backpack program

The foundation will provide backpacks filled with school supplies that students need to fully participate in regular classroom work. The backpacks will be provided to students in need in a respectful and con-fidential manner. They are tailored for students in kindergarten to grade 3, grades 4 to 8, and grades 9 to 12.

Individuals or organizations who are interested in learning more about and supporting the foundation can visit: www.PeelLearningFoundation.org.

You can also follow the foundation on Twitter and Facebook and use the hashtag #CreateHope to join the conversation.

March Break Maple Syrup Days at the Jack Smythe Field Centre

Open House: Wednesday, Mar. 13 to Saturday, Mar. 16 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature as spring blossoms. Jack Smythe Field Centre offers an exceptional family experience with a visit to its maple syrup bush. The March Break programs run from Wednesday, Mar. 13 to Saturday, Mar. 16. The open house begins at 10 a.m. and the last presentation of the day will be at 3 p.m. This year marks the 50-year anniversary of the Peel District School Board’s Sugar Bush program, which provides families with outdoor, educational activities and hands-on experience. The program is run by Peel board staff during March Break. Families are invited to get involved as Spring comes to life through the following activities:

help tap trees and empty sap buckets.

sample some freshly-made maple syrup.

hike along our trails and feed the friendly chickadees by hand.

learn how pioneers collected and produced syrup compared to modern-day operations.

experience the Indigenous roots of sweet water.

visit the sugar shack where the sap boils and clouds of sweet smelling steam billow out of the chimney.

The cost is $5.00/adult and $4.00/child 12 and under. Lunch will be available for purchase. It will include: hot chocolate, cookies and hotdogs for you to roast over an open fire. Please note that all payments are “cash” only. Jack Smythe Field Centre is located at 14592 Winston Churchill Blvd. in Terra Cotta. Directions to Jack Smythe Field Centre:

Head North on Mississauga Rd.

Turn left on King St. (You will see Credit View P.S. on your left)

Turn right on Winston Churchill Blvd. (You will pass the Terra Cotta Conservation Area on your left)

Head to the top of the hill and turn left into the Jack Smythe Field Centre site.

For more information, please contact the Jack Smythe Field Centre at 1-905-877-7771.

Sleep Tips for Parents, Children & Teens

From the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team

Many parents face difficulties getting their children back into regular sleep routines, especially after holiday breaks. Studies have shown that a lack of quality sleep in children can increase the likelihood of anxiety, depression, poor grades and school performance, and even physical pain. Research has proven that kids need a lot of sleep in order to function adequately during the day, and sleep deprived children often overcompensate for lack of sleep by becoming fidgety or even disruptive in school.

How much sleep does your child need every night?

Children ages 5-8 need the most sleep, requiring about 10-11 hours every night. Children ages 9-12 need between 9.5-10 hours nightly. And teenagers 13-18 need between 8.5-9.5. Knowing how much sleep your child needs every night is key in establishing a proper bedtime. And it's important to remember that the above times aren't set in stone, but merely general approximations. Your child will have their own individual sleep needs, and you may need to fine-tune their bedtimes a little bit until you find your child less groggy and sleepy in the mornings, and more alert and aware.

Tips for getting your children on a regular sleep routine

Keep a regular bedtime schedule, including weekends.

Begin a relaxing bedtime routine such as baths, books, prayers, goodnights.

Turn off electronics at least an hour before bedtime.

Bedrooms should be cool, quiet, dimly lit, comfortable and associated with sleep.

Limit caffeine and sugar intake after lunch and none within three hours before bed. Make sure they eat healthy and have regular exercise

Communicate with your children about why regular

bedtimes are important.

Practice these tips yourself and set a good example.

For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter @MHRTPeel.

Adapted from Alaska Sleep Clinic (2018)

Peel Public Health tips to prevent and beat

the flu

During the winter season, it’s important to take precautions to avoid and help prevent the spread of germs and illnesses such as influenza or “the flu.” Influenza is a disease that affects the air-ways and the lungs. The flu can spread from person to person and can sometimes cause severe illnesses.

Peel Public Health has provided these tips to help reduce the risk of becoming ill or spreading the flu:

Get your annual flu shot: It’s not too late to get your annual flu shot. Visit your physician, a walk-in clinic, a pharmacy or find another location near you that is offering the free influ-enza vaccine.

Stay home when you're sick: If your child develops flu-like signs and symptoms, (fever, cough, sore throat, body

aches, headache, chills and fatigue), keep them home from school. Contact your health care provider if symptoms are severe.

Practise good hygiene: Help your child get into the habit of covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, and throw the tissue in the trash after it’s used. If they don’t have a tissue, they should cough or sneeze into their sleeve or elbow. They should also avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are spread this way.

Wash your hands: Encourage your child to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, especially after they cough or sneeze.

There are many locations across Peel where you can get your flu shots:

Peel flu clinics

Family Doctors’ offices

Walk-in clinics

Pharmacies

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

ALOMA CRESCENT P.S.

Sun

Sunday

Mon

\Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thu

Thursday

Fri

Friday

Sat

Saturday

1

Pizza Day

2

3 4

5

6

7 Cozy Up and Read

8:10 am in the library

8 Pizza Day

9

10

Daylight

Saving Time

11 12

13

14

15

16

17 18

19 20

Spring photo day

and

sibling photo day

21

Cozy Up and Read 8:10 am in the

library

22

Pizza Day

23

24

31

25

Chat and Chai 9:10 am in the

Library

26 27

28

Cozy Up and Read 8:10 am in the

library

29

Character Assembly

in the gym

Pizza Day

30

M a rc h 2 0 1 9