Greenbriar Middle School January and February

2017 Newsletter

Superintendent: Ms N. Jaiswal

School Trustee: Ms C. Andrews

Principal: Ms M. Mulhern Vice-Principal: Mrs. C. Sciamanna

Office Manager: Mrs. P. Baird

Office Assistant: Mrs. L. MacKenzie

Your Voice Counts The Your Voice Counts (YVC) survey will be open to staff, students (grades 4 to 12), and parents/guardians in March of 2017. The purpose of the survey is to help inform school success planning by answering the question, What do staff,students, and parents/guardians think about their school? The survey consists of 47 questions and takes approximately 10 minutes to complete online. Principals will launch the survey suite in March. The surveys will remain open until May 5. Login and passwords: To access the survey follow these steps: Student survey: https://www.sspsurveyhub.ca/yvc/student/; Student login: Peel student ID number or

Ontario Education Number (OEN); the password is their birth date Parent/guardian survey: http://pdsb.me/yvcparent; Parent/guardian login: Peel student ID number or

child’s Ontario Education Number (OEN); the password is their postal code (i.e., the primary postal code assigned to the student in the SIS)

School Life and Student Reminders

BREAKFAST CLUB

The Greenbriar Breakfast Club continues to be extremely successful since the beginning of November.

In December, with the support of our Community Partner YMCA, we have served more than

900 meals. Breakfast Club is available Monday to Friday from 7:45am-8:10am.

Breakfast Club is offered at no cost to students, so we hope that you can support this initiative by

making a donation to our Greenbriar Breakfast Club.

Acceptable Donations (Following The Nutrition Guidelines)

Plastic Cutlery, napkins, small zip-lock bags

Cereal Boxes, Muffin Mixes, Granola Bars

Monetary Donations

To ensure a balanced and nutritious breakfast, we will be following the Canadian Nutrition

Guidelines. Some of the items that we will be providing students are bagels, eggs, fruits, vegetables,

and yogurt.

*When considering donations, please note that Greenbriar is a peanut free school.*

The Breakfast Club has many advantages for students and the school community at large

Reinforces the notion of healthy eating

Provides students with an additional opportunity to cultivate friendships at school

Offers leadership opportunities for students

Allows members of our learning community to contribute to a positive, safe and healthy climate

Builds a sense of belonging among the staff and students who participate and volunteer to keep the

program in operation

With your support and the ongoing support of our Community Partners at YMCA, we will continue to

provide Breakfast at Greenbriar! Please consideration making a donation. Thank you. The students

would greatly appreciate it.

Pizza Days are Wednesdays for those

who have pre-ordered and pre-paid.

The dates for March are:

March 1

March 8

March 22

March 29

(March 15 is not included as it falls during

March Break)

JOB OPENING Applications are being accepted for

Lunchroom Supervisor positions at Greenbr iar for the 2016-

2017 school year. Lunchroom Supervisor duties include the

supervision of students both indoors and outdoors for 1 hour each

day. This is a paid position with the requirement of a daily

commitment from 10:56 am – 11:56 am.

If you are interested in this position, you are invited to attend the

school to pick up an application. Successful candidates will require

a Criminal Record Check and 3 references.

Extracurriculars

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 2016-2017 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.

Grades 7 + 8 Counting on You The Counting on You program began January 12th and will run until March break. The focus is on improving Numeracy through problem solving and experiential learning including, but not limited to: cooking, building, technology-based activities, and math games. Students will be documenting their learning journey using the online app “Seesaw” and parents will be invited to view their child’s digital portfolio using the app. Students will be provided with a healthy snack and will have a short period of physical activity each session. Classes run every Tuesday and Wednesday from 2:30 pm to 4:10 pm. Teachers involved are Ms. Maharaj, Ms. Stecko and Ms. Borek. Below is a list of all class sessions for February and March: February 1, 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 March 1, 7, 8 Parents are kindly asked to ensure that their child is attending every session and that arrangements are in place for pick up at 4:10 pm.

Grade 6 OFIP

The OFIP program started on Wednesday, January 11th (cancelled Tuesday, Jan 10th due to weather), and will be ending on Thursday, February 16th. It will take place every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday after school from 2:30-3:30pm. The focus of the program will be on numeracy and will incorporate many concepts included within the EQAO testing. In order for the program to run successfully and for students to achieve their highest potential, it is necessary that students commit to the program and attend their sessions on a regular basis. For parents/guardians that have enrolled their child in the program, please ensure that your child is aware of their method of transportation following the program. Thank you for your continued support!"

Greenbriar’s DANCE CLUB

meets every Monday at lunch time.

Help your teen plan for grade 9 course selections for 2017-18 As 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.

Peel Board News

*NEW* Community Corner

Stay up-to-date with community-based opportunities

The Peel District School Board is pleased to introduce an electronic resource page on www.peelschools.org

called, Community Corner, which contains links to information and resources in the community that may be

of interest to students and their families.

How you can access Community Corner:

Visit www.peelschools.org/parents/communitycorner

Click on the “Community Corner” button, found on the main page of school websites, as well as on

www.peelschools.org.

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, 2017 Stay up-to-date! For more information, look out for the conference flyer included with your child’s report card or visit www.peelschools.org/parents/conference.

Hey Greenbriar: CHAMPIONS!!! CHAMPIONS!!! CHAMPIONS!!!

Many congratulations to the Junior Boys and Girls volleyball teams for winning their Division Three tourney. Both teams went undefeated in round robin play with 8-0 records. Coaches Brown and Fitzgibbon are extremely proud of your accomplishment. Tryouts for the Senior Basketball teams concluded in December and their season began towards the end of January. Badminton tryouts were held during the lunch hour in January.

With the new year 2017 here, the sporting scene at Greenbriar is well underway. The Boys and Girls badminton teams concluded their season with each team capturing third place at their divisional tournament. Of special note was Sriram's bronze medal match. The Senior Boys and Girls Basketball season is approaching the playoffs in the highly competitive NPPHEA league. Also, the Junior Boys and Girls Basketball tryouts are underway with an upcoming tourney in early March.

All athletes are reminded to check the Phys-Ed bulletin board for tryouts, practices, games and to have prearranged their ride/transportation at the end of the day!!!

ATHLETES OF THE MONTH: December

January

February

Grade 6 Girl Ehmiah 601 Bella 605

Grade 6 Boy Saithan 601

Alex 605

Grade 7 Girl Sameet 702 Nashia 705

Grade 7 Boy Avijot 701

Josh 904

Grade 8 Girl Kayla 801

Sayvaani 801

Grade 8 Boy Gopal 805

Anthony 802

Grade 6 Girl Grace 602 Ryalie 602

Grade 6 Boy Micaiah 601 Zenith 602

Grade 7 Girl Erin 702 Preethiga 706

Grade 7 Boy Ravpreet 703 Adam 706

Grade 8 Girl Noor 802 Nidhi 805

Grade 8 Boy Raghav 805 Sriram 803

Grade 6 Girl Saloni 601 Pon 605

Grade 6 Boy Tyrin 601 Kwame 605

Grade 7 Girl Pavneet 701 Jusleen 704

Grade 7 Boy Kishon 704 Jalen 706

Grade 8 Girl Riddhi 806 Nyawa 801

Grade 8 Boy Jaylen 805 Jayden 802

Dear Greenbriar students and families, thank you for your involvement in our annual holiday fundraising initiatives. Through our FOOD DRIVE, we collected over 600 non-perishable food items. Additionally, through CANDY GRAM SALES, we sold and delivered almost 600 candy canes to staff and students and raised $182, during the month of December. The food donations and money were given to the Region of Peel Outreach Team who works with individuals and families in our community who are homeless or at risk of being homeless. I would especially like to thank all of the Me-to-We members and staff who assisted with the food drive and candy gram sales. This fundraiser would not have been possible without your help! Once again, thank you to all of Greenbriar for making a difference this holiday.

Sincerely, Ms. Ma

From the Library… The Forest of Reading program is now fully underway. All students in the school are invited to participate in this fun reading activity. Students sign out books from the Forest of Reading shelf, then read these books. When complete, students will report their reading to the librarian. Those students who read 5 books from Forest of Reading will be able to vote for their favourite in April. The whole program ends with a huge celebration day at the PowerAde Centre where students will have the opportunity to meet some of the author's involved in Forest of Reading.

School Life

Help your family stay warm this winter Peel Public Health recommends the following cold weather guidelines for preventing cold-weather injuries:

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.

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).

Allow indoor breaks if children say they are feeling cold or during extreme temperatures.

Ensure children are dressed warmly, covering exposed skin: insulated boots, winter weight coats, mittens, hats, neck warmers.

Change wet clothing or footwear immediately.

Although these conditions are unlikely to occur during the school day, ensure that all staff are able to recognize and treat symp-toms of frostbite and hypothermia. Given plenty of warm fluids to prevent dehydration.

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

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

Winter bus safety These 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.

Peel Public Health recommends the following cold weather guidelines for preventing cold-weather injuries: 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. 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).

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

mittens, hats, neck warmers. Change wet clothing or footwear immediately. 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.

When children are outside, be watchful for shivering or signs of numbness in faces, ears, hands or feet. Educate children in dealing with cold weather: drinking plenty of fluids, dressing warmly, and

recognizing signs of cold injury.

Student Safety Safe Arrival System—to report child’s absence: CALL: 1-855-209-6155

VISIT: pdsb.schoolconnects.com

DOWNLOAD the SafeArrival mobile app for Apple and Android users.

Planned absences should be reported in advance.

School Success

Greenbriar staff have been hard at work learning and applying new thinking to teaching students

how to become problem solvers. In December teachers collaborated to create and deliver a

challenging task to the students at each grade level, then met again to look at the student work.

Students were given feedback and the opportunity to go back and improve their work. Our goal

as a school is to continue to assign rich tasks that will challenge the students to apply math

concepts to solve problems.

School Council

Our last School Council meeting is Monday, May

15th. All parents/guardians are welcome.

Our School Council Chair for the 2016-

2017 School Year is Mrs. E. Hutchison.

If you would like to know more or are

interested in joining our council, please

e-mail Mrs. Hutchison at:

greenbriarsnrps.council@peelsb.com

May 15th

Greenbriar Awards As you know, Greenbriar has a long standing tradition of providing deserving students

with awards. During the January Assembly, our Principal Mrs. Mulhern, briefly introduced the

revised Awards criteria to the students. At the end of the current school year, Greenbriar will

award students in the following categories: Sports, Community and Citizenship, Growth

Mindset, Arts and Technology, Academic Achievement (Principal’s Award), and

Greenbriar Griffin Award. Dur ing the next few months, teachers will continue to refer to

the criteria and guide students as they work towards demonstrating the expected behaviours,

skills and attitudes to be considered for specific Awards.

Our goal in revising the Awards Criteria and its implementation continues to be the development

of a transparent process that involves all stakeholders, while promoting an inclusive and

equitable climate in which all students have the opportunity to be considered for the awards that

are given.

As we implement this revised criteria, we will continue to invite feedback from all stakeholders

to ensure we meet the needs of our learning community.

NOTE

New

time of

4:30!!

During the month of February, we are

focusing on

RESPECT !

In March, Greenbriar will recognize

students who demonstrate

RESPONSIBILITY !

Acknowledgements / Student Leadership

Greenbriar’s WEB Leaders continued mentoring and building relationships with the Grade 6 students in December. They hosted the second Grade 6 social over three days in the gym during recess. All Grade 6 students were invited for a fun round of beach volleyball and everyone involved had a fantastic time! On the Friday afternoon before the break, students signed up for a variety of fun activities for Funapalooza. WEB Leaders helped with signing up students over three days. Several WEB Leaders took the initiative to plan and lead their own activity. The activities were cooperative games called Quest of the Century, Minute To Win it as well as Arts and Crafts focused on holiday ornament decorating. Thank you WEB Leaders for helping organize this fun afternoon for all the students!

STUDENT TRANSPORTATION OF PEEL REGION (STOPR) BUS CANCELLATIONS/SCHOOL CLOSING DUE TO BAD WEATHER 2016 – 2017 SCHOOL YEAR

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 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. 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.

Useful Info

Greenbriar Middle School

1140 Central Park Drive

Brampton ON L6S 2C9

905-791-2332

Coming up in March

Mar 1 and 2: Grad Pics

Mar 13 to 17: March Break

February 2017 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2:30 to 3:30 OFIP 2:30 to 4:10 COY

2 2:30 to 3:30 OFIP

3 4

5 6 7 2:30 to 3:30 OFIP 2:30 to 4:10 COY

8 2:30 to 3:30 OFIP 2:30 to 4:10 COY

9 2:30 to 3:30 OFIP

10

Report Cards go home

11

12 13 14 2:30 to 3:30 OFIP 2:30 to 4:10 COY

15 2:30 to 3:30 OFIP 2:30 to 4:10 COY

16 2:30 to 3:30 OFIP

17 PD Day (no classes)

18

19 20 Family Day (school

closed)

21 2:30 to 4:10 COY

22 8:40am: Black History Assembly 2:30 to 4:10 COY

23

24 25

26 27 28 2:30 to 4:10 COY