MUNDEN

PARK

PUBLIC

SCHOOL 905-279-9251

2019 Newsletter

Attendance Reporting 1-855-209-6155

PDSB.SCHOOLCONNECTS.COM

Principal: T. Ajrawat Superintendent: D. Van Hooydonk Vice-Principal: A. Castellana Trustee: J. Marchant Office Manager: N. Markham

Munden Park School Schedule:

Entry Bell: 8:30 Period 1: 8:30 Period 2: 9:00 Period 3: 9:40 Nutrition Break #1: 10:20-11:00 Period 4: 11:00 Period 5/Kdg Lunch: 11:40 Nutrition Break #2: 12:20-1:00 Period 6: 1:00 Period 7: 1:30 Period 8: 2:10 Dismissal: 2:50

For the safety of our students, all parents and visitors must check in at the office before going through the school. Thank you for your cooperation.

Late Arrivals If a student arrives late to school, after the 8:30am entry bell, they must report to the office to sign in and receive a late slip before going to their class. Please help your child arrive to school on time. Morning Supervision A reminder that morning supervision begins at 8:15am. Students are not to arrive to school before 8:15am.

In this issue:

Eco Club News

Celebrating Earth Day

EQAO Dates

School Council

Kindergarten Registration

Class Placements for 2019-2020

Eloquence Speech Competition

Updates from Learning Commons

Asian Heritage Month

ParentConnect

Adult ESL or LINC Classes

Police Appreciation Week

IT and Media Support Appreciation

Wellness - #WELLinPEEL

Storm Sewers, Waterways

What is an IEP?

Using Social Media Safely

We Welcome the World Centres

Celebrating Faith and Culture

ECO-CLUB News

The ECO-Club members have had a very busy year. May is going to be an outstanding month

for us! We have been tracking the use of re-useable water bottles in our school for two

months. The students are rising to the environmental challenge of not using plastic water

bottles. Great job Munden Park students!

Additionally, we are hosting an assembly on Friday, May 10th to introduce our WE Walk for Water initiative. Clean

water is the fastest way to change a life. When communities gain access to clean water, the health of the entire

community improves. We will be collecting toonies to support this social justice campaign. We plan to donate the

proceeds from our Used Book Sale to start our fundraising off on a positive note. Twenty five dollars can help

give one person clean water for life. Please help us turn clean water on for people around the world and in Canada.

The Eco-Club Members

Celebrating Earth Day at Munden Park

EQAO Assessment Dates

Specific EQAO Assessments Dates Next month, your child will be participating in the EQAO’s Assessment of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics. We have chosen the following dates to complete the assessment:

Thursday, May 23

Friday, May 24

Monday, May 27

Tuesday, May 28 Please avoid planning any appointments during these times so your child can complete all sections of the assessment during the allotted times. EQAO assessment questions are directly based on the expectations set out in The Ontario Curriculum, which is what teachers teach in the classroom every day. Therefore, your child does not need to prepare in any special way. Students will write the test in their regular classrooms with their regular teachers and are simply encouraged to do their best and show what they know. For more information about EQAO and to view a sample of its assessments, you are encouraged to visit www.eqao.com.

School Council News

Our next school Council meeting will take place on Monday, May 13th from 6:30-7:30 in the library. New members are always welcome to attend.

It is not too late to register for Junior Kindergarten

If your child was born in 2015, he or she can start Kindergarten in Sept. 2019. Register by visiting us at Munden Park Public School.

Class Placements for Next Year 2019-2020 It's hard to believe that we are into the last 2 months of school. As we begin to plan for the 2019-2020 school year, if you have any information you think we need to know when placing your child, please submit your request in writing to the Principal by May 30th.

Eloquence Speech Competition Congratulations to Waleed for representing Munden Park at the Excellence in Eloquence Speech Competition. We are so proud of his efforts as he spoke about Water Crisis. Way to go, Waleed! A special thank you to Ms. Lowe for organizing the Speech Competition at our school.

Updates from Ms. Kirkby in the Learning Commons

Follow us on Twitter!

@MundenLC @KirkbyLibrary @MrSaccucci #MPLC #MundenInquires #MundenBuilds

It's been a busy few months in the library with lots of building, 3 author's visits and our new Munden mural!

In the Learning Commons you can always find students building. Some classes are working on a Rube Goldberg machine to give a good dog a treat. One of them is actually in the shape of a dog!

Here is author Joanne Belgrave presenting her early literacy books to our friends in Kindergarten. She did a wonderful job teaching about the ABCs and getting students to think about all the fun they'd have in their very own secret hiding place!

Here is award-winning children's book author Rukhsana Khan sharing some of her cultural stories with the primary students

Author and award-winning visual artist Elly MacKay brings the smiles when sharing her work with illustrative picture books to our junior students

Elly said she received some of the best answers EVER from our students, and even gifted us an original art piece for the library!

Finally, over the last several months, Munden Park Teacher Mrs. Devane has been back working on a permanent mural for our library, and today it's done! Thank you to Mrs. Devane for spending her free time helping to beautify our space! Who do you see hiding among the trees?

Follow us on Twitter @MundenLC to keep up-to-date on all things happening in the library!

Munden Park puts the spotlight on Asian Heritage

In December 2001, the Senate adopted a motion proposed by Senator Vivienne Poy to officially designate May as Asian Heritage Month in Canada. In May 2002, the Government of Canada signed an official declaration to designate May as Asian Heritage Month. Throughout May, students, staff and parents from across Peel will participate in a number of activities that promote the understanding of the many contributions made by Asian Canadians.

ParentConnect Online parent portal to access important student information

Last year, the Peel District School Board launched ParentConnect, an online parent portal to access important 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

Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes Do you know an adult who is interested in improving their English language skills for work, study or daily life? Through the Continuing & Adult Education department, the Peel District School Board offers a wide variety of English language classes that help adult learners experience success in Canadian English in both listening/speaking and reading/writing. Courses are designed for a range of basic, intermediate and advanced English (Levels 1 to 8) as well as the more experienced learner needing to prepare for an IELTS exam.

Classes are ongoing - Register anytime. All learners who complete a session will earn a certificate of learning from the Peel District School Board. Certificates of completion at Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 and greater can be submitted as proof of language proficiency for Canadian Citizenship applications. Classes operate from six locations in Brampton and Mississauga with three specially designed adult centres at:

Bramalea - Adult Education Centre – Bramalea Secondary School, 510 Balmoral Dr, Brampton, Door #33

Brampton - Adult Education Centre - #300 - 7700 Hurontario Street, Brampton

Mississauga - Adult Education Centre - 100 Elm Drive West, Mississauga, Room 117

To learn more or to register, call 905-270-6000, then press 2

Also visit www.peelschools.org/adulteducation or follow us on Twitter: @PDSBLearnESL

Peel schools honour police officers during Police Appreciation Week

The Peel District School Board will pay tribute to police officers by holding Police Appreciation Week from May 13 to 17, 2019. Peel students and staff will show their appreciation for the tremendous job being done by police to protect schools, homes and communities. Police Appreciation Week coincides with National Police Week. National Police Week pays tribute to the work of police officers across Canada. During this week, students, staff and parents in schools throughout Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga will honour the work of police officers and thank them for enhancing public safety and security.

May 15 – Celebrate Peel IT Support Staff and Media Support Services Appreciation Day This year, the Peel District School Board will recognize the contributions of its IT support staff and media support services on May 15, 2019. The Peel board appreciates the important work of these individuals to ensure that innovative, reliable and adaptable solutions are available to support student success through equitable access to technology. We thank them for providing quality service and for supporting students and staff every day.

Celebrating and Promoting Children’s Mental Health Children’s Mental Health Week is happening May 5-11 in Ontario. It’s a time to focus on the important ways we can promote and nurture the mental health and well-being of our children.

Mental Health: A State Of Well-Being Did you know that we ALL have mental health? It is more than just the absence of illness. Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community (World Health Organization). Indigenous teaching reminds us that mental wellness is a balance of the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional parts of ourselves and is enriched when individuals experience purpose, hope, belonging and meaning in their lives (First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework). A child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health when it comes to success at school, in friendships and in life. Here are some key tips and strategies to nurture your child’s mental health and resilience from your PDSB Mental Health

Resource Team:

Safe, responsive relationships between adults and children is our greatest tool for promoting positive development and mental health in youth. When a child has consistent, caring adults in their life both at home and in the community, when they know they are loved and valued no matter what, and have someone trusted they can turn to when a problem arises, their resilience is bolstered.

Listen and validate feelings. Encourage children to talk about their thoughts and feelings, and show lots of love and

acceptance. Keep the conversation flowing by asking open-ended questions and spending quality time together at mealtimes and by participating together in activities your child enjoys.

Help Your Child Develop a Positive Sense of Self. A child’s self-perception is linked with their mental health. Help

them set realistic goals; praise them for effort as well as achievement by providing genuine, realistic praise. Foster positive connections with their cultural or faith community. A child with high self-esteem believes they are a good person, understands their positive qualities and strives for a successful, happy life.

Model and Teach Healthy Ways to Manage Stress. While it’s important to try to protect your child from

overwhelming or toxic stress, not all stress is bad. In fact, some stress helps us motivate and prepare us to perform our best, and there is bound to be some stress after a disagreement with friends or being cut from a sports team. Give your child the tools they need to cope with stress and big feelings in a healthy way: establish healthy habits including exercise, getting enough sleep and proper nutrition; practicing gratitude and deep breathing, journaling or talking with a trusted adult are just a few examples.

Notice Changes and Reach Out for Help. If you notice signs that your child feels sad or overly anxious about normal situations like going to school or meeting new people, take note. A change in mood or behaviour that lasts more than two weeks, impacting social problems, academic issues or family problems could be sign of a mental health concern. Keep the lines of communication open with your child’s teacher and other caring adults in their life to discuss observations. Remember, there is no age too early for a child or family to see a mental health provider; in fact, it might benefit the whole family by providing resources and support to caregivers who may be struggling, too.

Where Can I Get Help?

At school, your child can reach out to their teacher, coach, guidance teacher or school administrator as a starting point, to talk about their mental health. Every PDSB school is also assigned Social Work and Psychology staff to provide consultation and direct service to students, and assist students and families to get connected to helpful resources in the community. In the community, visit www.WhereToStart.ca to access mental health services for children and youth in Peel. For a quick guide to mental health resources, visit bit.ly/PeelYouthResources.

For more tips on building mental health and resilience, visit bit.ly/ResiliencyTips For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter @MHRTPeel. Adapted from Caring for Kids (2019) and Very Well Family (2018).

Keeping children safe in and around storm sewers, waterways

Rising and fast moving water in lakes, ponds and creeks is increasingly likely during spring. Children playing in and around storm sewers and watercourses, entering storm sewers through the outfalls, and entering storm sewers through access covers is dangerous. The following information will help keep children safe: water flows in storm sewers and watercourses are unpredictable and may change quickly toxic gases may be present in and around storm sewers and watercourses access is restricted, making rescue attempts are difficult tragic falls could take place Please review this information with your children and let them know how dangerous storms sewers and waterways are.

What is an IEP?

Education is full of acronyms and IEP is one of many that a parent/guardian of a child receiving special education support will encounter. An IEP is an Individual Education Plan. Developed at the beginning of the school year, it lays out the accommodations and modifications to the regular curriculum that help your child learn and be successful. No formal identification is needed but you; the parent/guardian should be involved in the development as you provide valuable input. It can be overwhelming so there are pamphlets, webpages, and Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) representatives who can help you understand and make informed contributions. May is Better Speech and Hearing Month. Let's thank the professionals who help our children with their speech and language challenges. For more information, please visit www.peelschools.org/parents/specialed/iep

Using social media safely With the growing number of social media sites, it is no surprise that social media is the most common form of communication for children and teenagers. Posts, status updates, comments, instant messages, video uploads, tweets and texts have become a regular part of their lives. While there are many positive benefits to using social media, including staying connected with friends and expressing your interests, students must be cautious in their use of these networks. Among the most popular social media platforms used are Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube and Whatsapp Messenger. Many of these platforms are free and are available on smartphones and other electronic devices. These platforms are easy to navigate and often allow information to be shared instantly, not only with friends, but with strangers. On social media, it is important to remember that the world is watching. Here are some tips, provided by the Canadian Safe School Network and GetSafeOnline.org, to keep your children safe and help them make smart choices when using social media:

Set some boundaries for your child before they get their first ‘connected device’ (mobile, tablet, laptop or games console). Once they have it, it can be more difficult to change the way they use it or the settings.

Have a conversation about what is appropriate online behaviour and what actions could have huge repercussions that could damage their reputation and be harmful to others.

Talk to your child about the kind of websites they look at. Encourage them to speak to you if they come across something they find worrying or upsetting on websites, games or social media.

Discuss with your child what is safe and appropriate to post and share online. Written comments, photos and videos all form part of their ‘digital footprint’ and could be seen by anyone and available on the internet forever, even if it is subsequently deleted.

Explain to your child that being online doesn’t give them anonymity or protection, and that they shouldn’t do anything online that they wouldn’t do face-to-face. Users should only accept people they know in order to protect themselves from spammers, strangers and others who may be using social networking sites to commit crimes.

Unlike when they’re meeting someone face-to-face, children don’t always know who they’re actually ‘talking’ to online, even if they think they do. Tell your children they must never email, chat, or text with strangers, and it’s never okay to meet a stranger in the real world.

Ensure your children set their privacy settings appropriately. Take the time to learn how privacy settings work on your children’s favourite sites, and teach them how to control their privacy.

Tell your children never to share personal and private information with anyone online. This includes, but is not limited to, his or her full name, age, birth date, address, phone number, social insurance number, credit card information and parents’ full names.

Limit the amount of time that your children spend on social media platforms and talk about the importance of healthy and appropriate use of technology.

We Welcome the World Centres

The Peel District School Board’s We Welcome the World Centres located in Brampton, Malton and Mississauga, are the first point of contact for all newcomer families to become familiar with the educational system in Peel. The centres are open all year—including the summer months— from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to providing literacy and numeracy assessments, the We Welcome the World Centres provide newcomers with a host of services including: reception, orientation, interpretation and referrals.

At each centre, parents/guardians and students will discover: • settlement service information • age and grade appropriate educational and related

program resources • information about various community supports • translation of materials to support the reception and

assessment process • computer portals— providing information on Peel resources

For more information about the We Welcome the World Centre and the services they provide, call 905-366-8791.

Celebrating Faith and Culture May 2019

DATE CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

May Yansa'altt and Flower Moon Indigenous May 1 Beltane Wicca Sunset of May 1 to May 2

Yom HaShoah Judaism

May 2 ● 12th Day of Ridvan Bahá'í May 6 Ramadan Islam May 7 Akshaya-tritiya Jainism May 12 or 19 Sakyamuni Buddha’s Birthday Buddhism May 17 to June 4 the month of 'Azamat Bahá'í May 19 ● Wesak Day/Buddha Day Buddhism May 20 Victoria Day Canada Eve of May 23 to 24 Declaration of the Báb Bahá'í May 24 Zarathosht-no-Diso Zoroastrianism Eve of May 28 to May 29

Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh Bahá'í

May 31 Lailat ul-Qadr Islam May 31 Jumatul Widha Islam May 10 or 17 (J) Ascension Christianity