Principal: Sabina Freemantle PLOWMAN’S PARK P.S....Beginning May 14, 2018, all elementary school parents/guardians need to report their child’s full-day absences, late arrivals

PLOWMAN’S PARK P.S.

5940 Montevideo Road

Mississauga, ON L5N 3J5

905-821-4973 Safe Arrival 1-855-209-6155

Plowman’s Park Website: http://schools.peelschools.org/1556

Plowman’s Park YouTube Channel: https://goo.gl/umygLK.

Twitter…follow us at: @PlowmansPS2016

Partners in learning: Working together today for a global tomorrow. Respect Safety Peace

April 2018 - HONESTY

Principal’s Message

March was awesome at Plowman’s Park!! March Break was enjoyed by families and staff –

students reported they enjoyed playing outside, seeing friends and family, but were excited to come

back to school (ok, they didn’t all say that but a lot of them did! )

March included February’s Responsibility Assembly and March’s Cooperation Assembly. I had a

great Character Ticket Responsibility Lunch with Taylor and Sofia and looking forward to lunch with

March’s Cooperation winners Anna and Aisling We had our Ski/Snowboard Trip to Hockley Valley

organized by Mrs. Piech and all our students that participated had an amazing time…thankfully there was

snow! We partnered with Peel Health to engage the entire school in the Great Gulp to encourage

drinking water and using reusable water bottles. Our Winter Play Day was full of excitement in our

Plowman’s Houses and in our beachwear for Beach Day. During March’s Welcome Wednesday, we were

joined by Corina Murphy, Speech and Language Pathologist, to discuss behavior as communication. April’s

Welcome Wednesday is on Wednesday, April 18th and we will be discussing and learning strategies to

enhance children’s numeracy skills.

The excitement is building in the school as we prepare for Education Week from April 23rd – 27th

which will include Open House on Thursday, April 26th, our Book Fair and Plowman’s Walk-In Closet. I

hope to see everyone during Open House.

Plowman’s Student Voice organized a Plowman’s Top Ten list that every class participated in and

the Top Ten list is revealed in this newsletter. There is an invitation for parents to submit their

Plowman’s Top Ten list as well…with a chance to win a $25 Indigo gift card.

I want to encourage everyone to follow us on Twitter at: @PlowmansPS2016 and subscribe to our

Plowman’s YouTube page at: https://goo.gl/umygLK

to see all the exciting things that are happening every day at Plowman’s Park

PLEASE NOTE:

March 30th – Good Friday – School Closed

April 2nd – Easter Monday – School Closed

DID YOU KNOW?

The driveway at the front of the school is

a FIRE ROUTE as well as our bus

loading/unloading zone. Parents are asked

not to park at the front of the school.

Instead, please park at the church

parking lot when coming into the school.

Cars parked in the fire route are subject

to a ticket from the City of Mississauga.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Principal: Sabina Freemantle Superintendent: Dr. Gale Solomon-Henry

Mississauga West Field Office 905-366-8800

Trustee: Nokha Dakroub

Mississauga Wards 9 & 10

416 432-5508

CHARACTER ASSEMBLIES

CARING RESPONSIBLE INCLUSIVE RESPECTFUL HONEST COOPERATIVE This year at Plowman’s Park we are continuing to hold our Monthly Award Assemblies to recognize our

students and also to promote Character Education. Our March Monthly Award Assembly was held on

March 29th. Cooperation was the focus for the month of March and we recognized the following

students:

Sophia S., Amber H., Ma’Kayla E., Faith M., Konstantine D., Alexander N., Zaid Y., Minna A., Ellis B.,

Felicity P., Nagay S., Anzeyah L., Cole L., Eden V., Aisling KM., Abdirahman M., Declan C., Nimra O.,

Sydney L., Selina S., Cole R., Kurtis W., Olivia H., Brooklyn S., Sloane D., Brooke C., Faaiz R., and Cole L.

March’s French Award was awarded to: Olivia H. and Brooklyn S.

March’s Music Award was awarded to: Sloane D. and Brooke C.

March’s Phys. Ed Award was awarded to: Faaiz R. and Cole L.

CONGRATULATIONS EVERYONE!

PLOWMAN’S DONATES TO THE CANADIAN RED CROSS

By: Alexia and Penelope

Hi! We are Alexia and Penelope and we are in Grade 3. We sold soft slime/play-dough

to raise money for the Red Cross. The first day we sold a lot. At the end of the first

day we counted all the money and raised $31. At the end of the week we counted all

of the money and we raised $100!!! Then we called the Red Cross and they said to

come. So, we went and we met a really nice lady named Carol and she took us to a

meeting room. She got a huge cheque and she wrote one hundred dollars on the

cheque and she got a poster and we took a lot of pictures. Carol gave us a bag with a

lot of stuff in it like a flashlight, mini first aid kit and information about the Red Cross. We hope the

money we raised is a huge help to the Red Cross.

#PLOWMANSPROUD MOMENTS

I have started identifying weekly #PlowmansProud Moments by looking out for

students that are doing amazing acts of kindness or have demonstrated incredible

character. These #PlowmansProud Moments are posted on Twitter and I announce to

the school who the student(s) is and what I caught them doing. Alexia and Penelope

were the first #PlowmansProud moment for initiating, planning and raising money for the

Red Cross by making and selling slime at school – see the article they wrote above. Tamara, Eden and

Tyler were the next ones chosen for being the first Plowman’s Ambassador Team to give a tour to a new

Plowman’s family and tell them about all the amazing things we are doing. Brooklyn’s #PlowmansProud

moment happened during Hang Out Club when a student wanted to play a game that others were playing

and had the maximum number of people playing and she asked Brooklyn if she could play too and

Brooklyn, without hesitation, said ‘of course’ and ensured that the student was included. So many

students make us proud at Plowman’s and we want to ensure that they know that their actions matter.

CALLING ALL PARENTS OF KIDS WHO GROW AND WHO WEAR CLOTHES

Collection has started for used children’s clothing in good or excellent used condition

for our Plowman’s “Walk-In Closet”. We are collecting gently used clothing in children’s

sizes (infant to size 16 kids) from April 3rd – 16th. Shoes, boots, jackets, pants,

shorts, t-shirts, swimwear and sweaters – we welcome any type of clothing in great

condition! Please drop any donations off in the bins in the front foyer outside the

main office starting Tuesday, April 3rd. Plowman’s Walk-In Closet will be open for our

Plowman’s Community from Monday, April 23rd – Friday, April 27th, 2018. The Walk-In Closet will be open

from 9 am – 3 pm every day during that week as well as during Open House on Thursday, April 26th from

6:30 pm until 7:45 pm. Just come and sign into the office, get a Visitor badge and bring some bags. If,

during that week, you are not available during those times but wish to pick up items from the Walk-In

Closet please call the main office to set up a time. After Friday, April 27th we will donate any remaining

items to a charity.

COME IN and TAKE WHAT YOUR FAMILY CAN USE

EDUCATION WEEK AT PLOWMAN’S PARK – April 23rd – 27th, 2018

Peel public schools will host hundreds of special activities and events to

celebrate Education Week 2018 from April 23rd to 27th. The theme for this

year's week-long focus on education is We Inspire.

Each year, more than 50,000 parents and community members across Peel attend

activities and events during Education Week. We are looking forward to an equally successful week this year.

We will be hosting our Open House on Thursday, April 26th from 6:30 – 7:45 pm. Families will be

issued ‘Plowman’s Park Passports’ that will be stamped in every classroom. All classrooms will have

a different theme or initiative that we have at Plowman’s so that you can see all the amazing things

that are happening in our classrooms. At the end of the Open House you will drop your passport into

a draw to win one of two $25 Indigo cards that will be announced on Friday, April 27th.

During our Open House the Plowman’s Walk-In Closet will be open for families to take what they need. The

Book Fair will also be open all week for classes to browse on Monday, April 23rd and open for families from

1–3 pm from Tuesday, April 24th – Friday, April 27th and during Open House from 6:30 – 7:45 pm on Thursday,

April 26th.

More details to follow

IMPORTANT CHANGES COMING TO SafeArrival SYSTEM IN MAY 2018

The Peel District School Board is currently using the SafeArrival system by Synervoice Technologies. As

Synervoice has been sold to West Communications, there will be slight changes to our SafeArrival system and how you will report your child’s absence from school. The phone number to report your

child’s absence will stay the same, but there are a few other changes.

Beginning May 14, 2018, all elementary school parents/guardians need to report their child’s full-day

absences, late arrivals and/or early departures from school via our new School Messenger SafeArrival system.

The phone number will stay the same: 1-855-209-6155

Website has changed to: go.schoolmessenger.ca

Download a new app: School Messenger App (from Google or Apple)

(please be sure to delete the old Safe Arrival app after May 11)

Please continue to use our current Synervoice system until Friday, May 11, 2018. The new School

Messenger SafeArrival will be live on Monday, May 14, 2018.

Important to note:

The transition to a new company and system will require parents to set up a new account with School

Messenger SafeArrival as data will not be transferred from the old system to the new. More

information on how and when to set-up your new account will be coming in the next month.

PLOWMAN’S PARK GOES PINK ON APRIL 11th, 2018

On Wednesday April 11, 2018, Peel District School Board schools will recognize Day of Pink. Unlike Pink Shirt Day, which is meant to combat all forms of bullying, we celebrate Day of Pink in Peel to specifically

combat homophobia and transphobia.

“Equity and inclusion is something that all Peel schools teach throughout the year and discuss with

students daily—it is embedded in everything we do,” says Peter Joshua, director of education. “Day of Pink is just one more way for us to ensure students and staff learn, work and develop in environments

that are safe, equitable, inclusive, respectful and nurturing for all.”

Day of Pink began when a high school student in Cambridge, Nova Scotia, was bullied with homophobic

language because he wore a pink shirt to school. The next day, hundreds of students at his school stood

up to bullying and wore pink to school to show their support for equity and inclusion.

Plowman’s Park students, staff and parents are invited to wear pink on this day to show their support of

promoting inclusivity and to combat homophobia and transphobia.

At Plowman’s Park, in April, teachers will be discussing themes of diversity, inclusion,

anti-bullying, and combatting homophobia and transphobia in classrooms through

literature and books from our library. School-wide we will share the Day of Pink

message through morning announcements, posters and other activities.

Wearing pink is a reminder to everyone that positive actions CAN and DO make a

difference.

Wear pink and make a difference!

JUNIOR SPEECH SHOWCASE

On Thursday, April 5th, 2018, we will be holding the Junior Speech Showcase. Two

students from each junior class will be chosen to share their speech in the gym in

front of a panel of judges.

Join us on April 5th at 9 am in the Gym to hear these amazing speeches.

PLOWMAN’S PARK PANDACAST and PLOWMAN’S PARK YouTube CHANNEL…

Plowman’s April “PandaCast” is now available on our Plowman’s YouTube page at:

https://goo.gl/umygLK While you’re there, click on “Subscribe” so you’ll always get

our latest episodes! The broadcast features videos of various events happening at

Plowman’s, important dates to remember, Math Talk provocation and a monthly school

wide S.T.E.M. challenge!

You can also access the PandaCast by visiting our school website at:

http://schools.peelschools.org/1556/Pages/default.aspx

MUSIC NEWS FROM MS. SPURGIASZ

Save the Date!

The Plowman's Park Spring Concert will take place on the evening of Thursday, May

10th at 7 pm and will feature all students from grades 1-6, the Panda Dance Team and

the Plowman's Park Glee Club.

Hope to see you there!

NEWS FROM THE LIBRARY

SCHOLASTIC BOOK FAIR

The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to Plowman’s Park library during Education Week.

It will be available for classes to preview on Monday, April 23 but there will be no

sales on that day. Families are invited to visit the Book Fair from April 23 – 27 in

the afternoon from 1:00 - 3:00 and during the evening of Open House, April 26. Remember to bring in

your ballot for the Family Event Door Prize at Open House. It is located on the back of the Book Fair

Flyer which will be sent home closer to the event.

Many thanks for helping your children return their books on time and in good shape. At this time, we

have several books that are long overdue or perhaps even lost. Notices for overdue items are regularly

sent home in your child's agenda.

NEWS FROM MRS. PIECH IN THE GYM

Follow me on my Twitter account “Plowmans Gets Active” to keep up to date with all of the events going

on in the gym.

Congratulations to the Plowman’s Park grade 4/ 5 Girls and Boys Basketball Teams. On

March 27th and 28th respectively they travelled to Vista Heights for the annual March

Madness Basketball Tournament. The students played a variety of schools from our

neighbouring communities. Thanks to all the players for their dedication to their team and

efforts during practice.

Students in grades 3 to 6 will be learning racquet skills in Physical Education classes

during the month of April. Each class will hold a mini P-I-G tournament in this small

court, 1 on 1 game to 3 points. The points are tracked with the letters P-I-G. The

student with the most wins in the mini class tournament will be named the class P-I-G

and go on to play at the school tournament. Good Luck to all of the students!

Grade 4 students have an opportunity to join a co-ed Deck Tennis team. We will be travelling to Plum

Tree Park on April 24th for a friendly Tournament with our Family of Schools. Deck Tennis is a throwing

and catching game using volleyball nets and one rubber ring.

As we start to get warmer weather students will be running outside during lunch recess to

train for cross country tryouts. All grades are welcome to come practice. Students will run

across the field to the trail that serves as a perimeter for our school yard. Students are

expected to wear appropriate running shoes to participate. We will be trying to build

endurance, but most of all to encourage participation and fun. Proper stretching before

running each day will be demonstrated.

Students are reminded that gym clothes (t-shirt and shorts) are still required for all students in Grades

3-6. Most importantly, all students must have clean, indoor running shoes in order to keep the gym clean

and safe.

RAISING RESILIENCE

Resilience is an important part of well-being. It is being able to ‘bounce back’ from difficult times,

setbacks and other significant challenges. It includes being able to deal effectively with pressure and

get through tough times.

Raising Resilience Tip:

Accept children & youth for who they are

Children and youth are more likely to be resilient if they feel accepted for who they are. Acceptance

means we must resist the temptation to judge and criticize. When people feel validated they feel worthy

and valued, which means when they encounter setbacks they will have the confidence to try again.

Letting children know specifically what you love about them or why you are proud of them can bolster

resilience.

“I am so proud of how you treat others with respect. The way you encouraged your classmates outside the school this afternoon made them feel so special!”

“You worked so hard at that activity today. I know you didn’t come first, but all that matters is that you tried hard – and it looked to me like you gave it everything you had!”

When we let people know we accept and care for them and offer them specifics, they feel like they can

conquer anything!

APRIL – EARTH MONTH

Earth Month encompasses the international celebration of Earth Day on

April 22, 2018. This is the most celebrated environmental event

worldwide. Initiated in 1970, this event has been considered the birth of

the environmental movement.

Each year, more than 6 million Canadians join 500 million people in over 180 countries in staging events

and projects to address local environmental issues. In Canada, Earth Day has grown into Earth Week and

even Earth Month to accommodate the profusion of events and projects. Here are some ways that you

can celebrate earth week with your family:

create a backyard or schoolyard habitat

plant a garden or tree

start a recycling program at home

organize a carpooling campaign in your neighbourhood to reduce air pollution

pick up trash in your neighbourhood

read a book about an endangered species

make a visit to your local zoo, aquarium or museum

visit a local park, wildlife area or farm to provide a fun opportunity to learn about the

environment and life

CELEBRATE ADMINISTRATIVE PROFESSIONALS’ DAY on Wednesday, April 25th, 2018

Peel schools will pay tribute to administrative professionals on Administrative

Professionals’ Day on April 25, 2018. The day will be celebrated with special activities and

events that provide teachers, students and parents an opportunity to thank the

administrative staff who help support student success each and every day.

The Peel board appreciates the important job administrative staff do each school day and

April 25th provides an opportunity to give these individuals the recognition they deserve.

PIZZA LUNCH REMINDER

The final pizza lunch term will run from Thursday, April 5th to Thursday, June 21st. If you did not order

pizza for this term, please be sure to send a lunch with your child each week.

MOVING OUT OF THE PLOWMAN'S PARK AREA

If you are planning to move out of the Plowman's Park community in the next few months or

over the summer, or if your child will be attending a school other than Plowman’s Park in September,

please advise the office in writing of your intention as soon as possible so that the proper paperwork can

be prepared.

Celebrating Faith and Culture April 2018 Date

Celebration Faith and Culture

April Mmaal and Sucker Moon Aboriginal Spirituality

April 1 or 8 (J) Easter or Pascha Christianity and Canada

April 1 (J) Palm Sunday Christianity

Sunset of March 31 to April 6

Pesach (Passover) Judaism

April 2 or 10 (J) Easter Monday Christianity and Canada

April 2 to 6 (J) Holy Week begins Christianity

April 4 or 7 Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s Birthday

Buddhism

April 5 (J) Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday)

Christianity

April 14 (J) Good Friday (Holy Friday) Christianity and Canada

April 8 Farvardegan Zoroastrianism

April 9 to 27 Month of Jalál Bahá'í

Eve of April 11 or 12 to April 12 or 13

Isra and Mi’raj Islam

April 11 to 12 Yom HaShoah Judaism

April 13 or 30 Theravada New Year Buddhism

April 13 or 14 Vaisakhi or Baisakhi Sikhism and Hinduism

April 13 or 14 Saka and New Year’s Day Buddhism and Hinduism

April 18 Akshaya-tritiya Jainism

Sunset of April 20 to May 2 Ridvan Bahá'í

April 24 Zarathosht-no-Diso Zoroastrianism

April 28 to May 16 Month of Jamál Bahá'í

April 30 to May 4 Ghambar Maidyozarem Zoroastrianism

SCHOOL COUNCIL

School Council would like to thank everyone who came out to our second family movie night, “Kung Fu

Panda 3” on March 2nd. This event raised $868 for technology and the Library Learning Commons.

School Council applied for a Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grant enabling the school to purchase math and

literacy growth mindset games and organize a FAMLY GAMES NIGHT during our Education Week Open

House on Thursday, April 26th from 6:30 – 7:45PM in the school gym.

Our next School Council meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 17, 2017 at 6:30PM in the Library Learning

Commons. Everyone is invited and welcome to attend.

See you there!

PLOWMAN’S PARK TOP 10 LIST BY STUDENTS

Student Voice helped to organize a TOP 10 List from every class of the top

ten things that they loved about Plowman’s Park. Every class submitted a list

and they have been tallied to create one TOP 10 List for the entire school. Here is the list

in no particular order:

1. Teachers

2. Clubs / Teams / Interest Groups

3. Plowman’s Houses

4. Technology

5. Movie Night

6. Ms. Freemantle

7. Library Learning Commons (LEGO Wall, Maker Space, Beanbag chairs)

8. Spirit Days

9. Friends

10. Plowman’s Popcorn Wednesdays

We will be asking Staff to write their Plowman’s Top 10 List to be shared in the May newsletter.

We would also like to ask parents and guardians to complete their Plowman’s Top 10 List to be shared.

Please fill out the list below by Friday, April 27th, 2018 and submit it to the box in our main office for a

chance to win a $25 Indigo card.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Plowman’s Park Parents’ Top 10 List

1. __________________________________

2. __________________________________

3. __________________________________

4. __________________________________

5. __________________________________

6. __________________________________

7. __________________________________

8. __________________________________

9. __________________________________

10. __________________________________

Name of child(ren):__________________________________

Please submit to the office by Friday, April 27th to be entered in the draw for a

$25 Indigo gift card.

Happy April Everyone!

April 2018

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

2 3 Day 7 Easter Monday School Closed

4 Day 8 Plowman’s Popcorn Wednesday

5 Day 9

Junior Speech Showcase at 9 am Pizza Lunch

6 Day 10

Character Ticket Lunch with Ms. Freemantle Grade 3’s Swim To Survive

9 Day 1

10 Day 2

11 Day 3 Plowman’s Popcorn Wednesday

INTERNATIONAL DAY OF PINK

12 Day 4

Pizza Lunch

13 Day 5 Grade 3’s Swim To Survive

SCHOOL HOURS

*Entry Bell rings at

8:40 AM Please be on

time!

*Our Instructional Day

begins at 8:45 AM

*School Ends at 3:15

PM – to avoid

disruptions to classes

and missed instructional

time, please do not pick

up your child before

dismissal time. Please

arrange to have your

child picked up at 3:15

each day.

16 Day 6

17 Day 7 School Council Meeting at 6:30 pm

18 Day 8 Welcome Wednesday 9-10 am – Numeracy Plowman’s Popcorn Wednesday

19 Day 9 Pizza Lunch

20 Day 10 Plowman’s Houses – Periods 5 & 6

April 22nd is EARTH DAY

23 Day 1 Education Week

24 Day 2 Grade 4 Co-Ed Deck Tennis Tournament at Plum Tree Park

25 Day 3 Administrative Professionals’ Day Plowman’s Popcorn Wednesday

26 Day 4 Honesty Assembly – 9 am Pizza Lunch Open House – 6:30 pm

27 Day 5

30 Day 6

May 1 Day 7 May 2 Day 8 Plowman’s Popcorn Wednesday Wednesday

May 3 Day 9 Pizza Lunch

May 4 Day 10

COMING UP: May 10th – Kindergarten ‘Start With A Smile’ May 10th – Spring Concert at 7 pm May 16th – Cadence

Milk Orders: www.remembermeinc.com

Please call the SafeArrival line 1-855-209-6155, to report all absences and lates.

Inclement Weather

School Closure & Bus

Cancellation Info

Number:

905-890-1010

Education Week–Plowman’s Walk-In Closet open all week and Book Fair 1-3 pm every day.

Children’s Mental Health Week – April 30th

– May 4th

, 2018

Bring in gently used

clothing for Plowman’s

Walk-In Closet starting

today until April 16th.