January Newsletter - Peel District School Boardschools.peelschools.org/1654/Lists/SchoolNewsLetters... · Web viewPost-Secondary planner– compare detailed information on apprenticeships,

Thomas Street Middle SchoolJanuary 2017 VOLUME 17, ISSUE 5

2640 Thomas Street, Mississauga, ON L5M 5G8Phone: 905-812-3725 Fax: 905-812-3716

Visit our Website regularly for updated informationhttp://schools.peelschools.org/1654

SIGNING YOUR CHILD OUT FOR AN APPOINTMENT?If your child will be picked up during school hours, we ask you send them with a note in the morning OR go on the SafeArrival System (pdsb.schoolconnects.com) and enter the pickup time. Please note your child needs to be aware of the early pickup so they may be waiting for you. This way they may leave the classroom quietly and be waiting in the Office for you. Thank you for your help in this matter.

OVERNIGHT TRIPS FOR GR. 7 & 8.

As an extension of the curricular program our Grade 7 Team is planning an excursion to Niagara Falls and the Grade 8 Team is planning an excursion to Quebec. There will be a Parent Information Night on Wednesday, January 18th. The Grade 7 program will start at 6:00 p.m. and the Grade 8 program will start at 7:00 p.m. If you and your child are interested in these trips please plan on attending this information night. Representatives from Temple & Temple Tours will be on hand to answer any questions as well as Grade 7 and 8 staff members.

Congratulations! On December 12th the TSMS Hockey Team participated in the St Timothy's tournament. The team played so well winning an exciting game 3 to make it to the semi-finals. The team had a heartbreaking loss in overtime, but finished third overall in the tournament. Special shout out to Rennick and Bradley who both had hat tricks, and Liam who was absolutely amazing in goal. Our Thunderwolves showed tremendous effort and teamwork throughout the day-we're so proud of you! Next up is our Dolphin tourney on January 16th.

On December 22nd , 5 Legacy Artists visited the pediatric ward at Credit Valley Hospital . Thanks to your generosity buying Art Cards, we were able to purchase $222 worth of art supplies. This is the message we received from a coordinator at the hospital:"I wanted to let you know that your donations have been safely received. I’ve already wrapped them up to have them secretly delivered by the nurses on Christmas eve so the kids wake up to gifts on Christmas morning. Thank you so much!"

THANK YOU to the many artists who spent countless hours creating these cards. Your hard work certainly paid off!

Mystery Skype ActivityClass 705 participated in a Mystery Skype with another teacher and class in an unknown area of the world. The very first thing we did to prepare for the Mystery Skype was we realized that the students Skyping us had to be at school meaning they had to be in the same time zone. So we started to search for all the time zones two hours ahead or two hours behind our time.After figuring out all the countries that had the same time zones as Ontario we then were assigned to brainstorm geographical questions. This way when we came together as a class we took the best questions and made a list to ask the grade 6’s to figure out their location. Some questions were used to narrow down the countries and others were used to figure out the specific region of the possible countries. For example: “Are you in North America?” if yes, “Are you North of the 40th parallel?” if yes “Are you in USA?” if they answered once again yes then we asked “Are you in the state that begins with N or M?” We continued to narrow down the area and started to ask relative location questions like or “Are you East of the 87 highway of New York?” We also asked questions about the climate to figure out their country or continent because of the difference in temperature in the different countries.After planning the questions we were split up into different groups to make the Skype easier to manage. We had researchers, questioners, recorders, mappers, answer receivers etc. This way when the Mystery Skype came we all knew who to turn to if we needed something and everyone had a role.

The day of the Mystery Skype the entire class was nervous. When we started the activity it was nerve racking. But as time passed the class pulled it together and worked together to try to figure out the location. Each group did their jobs and communicated with one another to narrow down the areas. The mappers would narrow down the information given by the recorders and they then turned to the researchers to figure out possible areas then they went to the questioners to submit the question. The overall experience was exhilarating and we couldn’t have succeeded without collaboration. The best part of the activity was talking to a class in Sidney New York!

By: Vinesh2, Class 705

Thomas Street is now on Twitter and Instagram! Please follow us @thunderwolves98 (twitter) and tsmspride (Instagram) for up to the minute news and updates at TSMS.

All Peel District School Board newsletter attachments, usually included in the monthly newsletter, are available through our school website at: http://schools.peelschools.org/1654

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Principal: Mrs. T. Tymkiv Vice Principal: Mr. D. Sidial.

Acting Vice Principal: Mr. A. ClarkeTrustees: Robert Crocker 905-890-1010 Superintendent: Dr. Pertia Minott 905-366-8800

Brad MacDonald 905-828-6929 Nikha Dakroub 905-890-1010

Bus cancellation & 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 will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1NEWSTALK1010 AM EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSEGLOBAL 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.

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.

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.

Winter bus safetyThe 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.

Help your family stay warm this winter

Peel Public Health recommends the following cold weather guidelines for preventing cold-weather injuries: 1. Reduce amount of time children (grade 8 and under) spend outdoors when the temperature is –20

degrees Celsius or colder, with or without the wind chill.2. Keep children indoors when the temperature is -25 degrees Celsius or colder, with or without wind

chill. Some medical conditions may increase sensitivity to cold. Parents should consult their physician (Source: Environment Canada).

3. Allow indoor breaks if children say they are feeling cold or during extreme temperatures.4. Ensure children are dressed warmly, covering exposed skin: insulated boots, winter weight coats,

mittens, hats, neck warmers.5. Change wet clothing or footwear immediately.6. Although these conditions are unlikely to occur during the school day, ensure that all staff are able

to recognize and treat symptoms of frostbite and hypothermia. Given plenty of warm fluids to prevent dehydration.

7. When children are outside, be watchful for shivering or signs of numbness in faces, ears, hands or feet.

8. Educate children in dealing with cold weather: drinking plenty of fluids, dressing warmly, and recognizing signs of cold injury.

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 NightsStudents 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. If you are unable to attend the information night, program details and information about the application process are available through the school. How to applyThe application process for elementary regional programs opens in mid-January 2017. Application dates for middle school programs vary from school to school. The application window for our secondary regional programs has closed for this school year.

Visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms to learn more about our programs, application process and transportation eligibility.

Health and Physical Education Curriculum supports the physical, emotional and social well-being of students Working together to keep our students safe and healthy The Peel District School Board implemented the Ministry of Education’s revised Health and Physical Education (HPE) curriculum in the 2015-16 school year. The curriculum is divided into four elements that work together to support the physical, emotional and social well-being of students:

active living movement competence living skills healthy living

Peel staff will again teach the human development and sexual health component to students, beginning spring 2017. This provides time for teachers to develop strong relationships with their students prior to this phase.

Advance notice letters will be sent home with students two weeks prior to the human development/sexual health lessons. Families can submit religious accommodation requests at any time prior to the lesson by contacting the school directly.

To get more information on how the HPE curriculum will be taught, please visit our website at www.peelschools.org/HPE.

Help your teen plan for course selections for 2017-18As our partners, families are encouraged to help prepare their teens for course selection. We encourage you to become familiar with the process by creating a myBlueprint account. Additionally, parents/guardians and students can review Chart Your Course, the Peel District School Board’s common course calendar, at www.peelschools.org/students/commoncoursecalendar. This guide will help you understand the course selection process and provide information on the courses and programs offered in Peel secondary schools. You can visit www.myBlueprint.ca/Peel to access your own myBlueprint account, an online planning tool, to explore features such as:

High School – plan courses, track progress toward graduation, and instantly identify post-secondary eligibility for opportunities in every pathway

Post-Secondary planner– compare detailed information on apprenticeships, college programs, university programs and workplace sectors

Career spectrum for finding your learning style Portfolios – create several portfolios (e.g. Career Portfolio) and share them with parents, teachers,

or future employers. It’s simple to add work you have completed in myBlueprint or add pictures and videos

Job Search – find real-world job and volunteering postings that relate to occupations of interest Goals – add interactive SMART goals and action plans Resumes & Cover Letters – record experiences, build a resume, write a cover letter Occupations – compare comprehensive information on occupations Money – build a budget to track income and expenses

The secondary school course selection process is open from Dec. 5, 2016 to Feb. 21, 2017. If you have questions or are looking for course suggestions, please contact your teen’s teachers or guidance counsellor.

Conference helps parents make a difference in numeracy and beyond

The Peel District School Board is hosting its annual parent conference on Saturday, April 1, 2017, at Mississauga Secondary School in Mississauga. Once again, the conference will focus on numeracy—25 out of 60 workshops help with math. Parents will still have the opportunity to attend workshops on other topics, including literacy, special education and science.

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

Registration opens Feb.1, 2017Stay up-to-date!For more information, look out for the conference flyer at your child's school or visit www.peelschools.org/parents/conference.

Apply for Extended French by Jan. 27, 2017

If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2017, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to consider Extended French (EF). To find out more about the program, visit www.peelschools.org/French

The application form for Grade 7 EF for the 2017-18 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 at 1 p.m.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will be placed on the school’s waitlist.

The EF school for our area is Green Glade Sr. P.S. The phone number is 905-822-8386.

How to get more information

Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/French. Call Green Glade Sr. P.S. at 905-822-8386. Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.

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 1-877-510-5102.

For more information about the policy, visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools. If you have questions about how we are implementing the School Food and Beverage Policy, please call the school.