JANET I. MCDOUGALD P.S.

OCTOBER 2017

498 Hartsdale Avenue, Mississauga, Ontario L5G 2G6 Phone: 905-278-1010 Fax: 905-278-4347

Trustee and Chair of the Board: J. McDougald Vice Principal: C. Murphy

Superintendent: D. Van Hooydonk Office Manager: M. Church

Principal: L. Culbert Assistant Secretary: K. Lindow

FALL (or LATE SUMMER) NEWS

Thanks to all our staff, students and for making September 2017 a great

start to our school year despite dealing with the challenges of hot weather

and re-organization. September was filled with some amazing activities as

we began to build our classroom and school communities.

Reorganization is always a challenging part of our first month back. Thank you to all

the teachers and families that supported our students as some of them needed to move

classrooms to ensure we met the Ministry requirements. We appreciate your

understanding and we will continue to work hard to support all our students with their

teachers and classmates.

We were so excited to have a beautiful fall evening to host our Open House Barbecue

where we focused on “Spreading Kindness Like Confetti.” Our students are filled with

positivity and kindness and we want to share that each day. It was great to see the

smiles on as people visited with our Husky, had their faces painted, got a Husky

tattoo, listened to our amazing choir presentation and entered ballots in our

Estimation Station. All that while enjoying some delicious barbeque! Inside the school

students introduced their teacher to their family members and proudly showed off

some of their first month work including things they want to learn more about. Some

students even got some new books at our Book Fair. It was a great kick-off to another

fabulous year at Janet I. McDougald P.S. We hope you had a mint on your way out as

a way for us to thank you for your commitmint and encouragemint!

September was also a time for us to host the last school council meeting for the 2016-

2017 Council. The September 18th meeting was an opportunity to thank last year’s

committee members for all their hard work, and to welcome in some new members who

are embarking on new roles. Special thanks to out-going co-chairs Cherie Vosper and

Shelley Graham for all their hard work. It was a busy year and the dynamic team

kept us organized and moving forward. This year we are happy to welcome new

parent representatives. You can read more about our team in our School Council

section of this newsletter. Please remember, that you are all welcome to attend

meetings. We are still missing a representative in the role of Chair so please consider

joining the team. The partnership between home and school is an important one and

we appreciate the efforts of all our parents to support our school. Whether you are on

council, volunteering or assisting with school events, we appreciate your support.

This year our staff have been focusing on the gift of gratitude and the things that

inspire us and make us happy including the little and bigger things—the things that

make “your soul sing”. We wish you a wonderful October and a happy Fall season filled

with thanksgiving!

Sincerely and Many Thanks,

Laila Culbert Ciera Murphy

Proud Principal Proud Vice Principal

October 2017

Important Dates

Oct. 4 International Walk to School Day

Oct. 5 World Teacher Appreciation Day

Oct. 6 Professional Learn- ing Day—No School for Students

Oct. 9 Happy Thanksgiving —No School

Oct. 11 ***Picture Day** Individual & Class Photos

Oct. 16 Climate Kick-Off Assembly

Oct. 18 Bus Driver Appreciation Day

Oct. 25 TA/DECE Recogni- tion Day

Oct. 26 Grade 5 Assembly

Oct 31 Halloween Parade

Nov. 9 Progress Reports & Kindergarten Communication of Learning Home

@jmcdougaldps

We tweet information

about school events

and activities.

JANET I . MCDOUGALD P.S . PAGE 2

STUDENT LEADERSHIP at JIMPS

Mrs. Culbert and Mrs. Murphy met with all the Grade 4 and 5 students on September 27th to

talk about the important role they have as leaders in our school. Leadership provides our

students with opportunities to grow and learn. Students watched Kid President as he talked

about creating a future! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j393lNECNGw

Kid President, challenged students to think about what they are going to do to help make our

school awesome every day— “to be bold, be kind, be awesome”. You don’t have to have an official

leadership role to be a leader. “Tomorrow will be better because of how awesome you’re going to

make today!” Some of the possible roles junior students can have to be leaders in the school are:

Pizza Day Helper Morning Announcer Student Ambassadors Technology Team

Student Climate/Spirit Team Eco/Envionmental Team Activity Squad/Coaches

We look forward to seeing our students in action supporting our school, the environment and the world. Applications are

due on Monday, October 2nd. We’re building success, confidence and hope!

Celebrate World Teacher Appreciation Day—Wednesday, October 5, 2017

Since 1994, parents and students from around the world have celebrated World Teacher Appreciation Day to commemorate the work of teachers and their contributions to society. On Oct. 5, take the time to let your child's teacher know he or she is truly appreciated. Thank your child's teacher and let them know they are making a difference.

National Principals’ Month

Throughout the month in October, the Peel board will recognize the contribution of our school principals and their impact on education in celebration of National Principals’ Month. Starting Oct. 1, take a moment to thank your child’s school principal who supports students, staff and the whole community every day. Let them know that that he or she is appreciated and that they are making a difference.

News from The Green Team

Last year our Green Team worked hard and achieved Gold accreditation through the EcoSchools program. It was a step up from our Silver during the 2015-2016 school year and the work the Green Team did throughout the school was instrumental in bringing Eco initiatives to the forefront. We continue to count on the leadership of our Grade 4 and 5 students, and the active involvement of students of all grade levels to work together to make this world a better place for us all to share.

Walk to School Day is on October 44h. International Walk to School Day is a global event that involves communities from more than 40 countries walking and biking to school on the same day. It began in 1997 as a one-day event. Over time, this event has become part of a movement for year-round safe routes to school and a celebration – with record breaking participation – each October. Let’s get walking Huskies!

Waste Reduction Week October 16-22. Since 2001, National Waste Reduction Week in Canada (WRW) has been organized by a coalition of non-government, not-for-profit environment groups, including RCBC, from each of the 13 participating provincial and territorial jurisdictions across Canada. This year, we want to challenge you to reduce your ecological footprint through actions and activities such as, packing a wasteless lunch, using reusable water bottles, using reusable coffee/ tea travellers and bringing reusable bags when grocery shopping . We hope to inspire you to come up with your own, unique, creative ways to reduce waste. Share your

Oct. 25 – Celebrate Peel Teaching Assistant and Early Childhood Educators’ Appreciation Day

In 2014, the board of trustees declared the last Wednesday in October as the Peel Teaching Assistant and Early Childhood Educators’ (ECE) Appreciation Day. This year, the recognition day falls on October 25, 2017. The Peel board appreciates the important work of teaching assistants and ECEs, and the contributions that they make in the lives of children, families and community members.

SCHOOL COUNCIL 2017-2017

Thank you to all the parents who came out to our first School Council meeting of the 2017 - 2018 school year. It was

great to see so many familiar faces in addition to welcoming new the families at the meeting. We had a sensational

turn out this year!

We've had to say good-bye to Cherie Vosper who has spent two years co-chairing school council, Indra Ramnath who

has been recording our meeting minutes as secretary, Cynthia Schaeffer who was fundraising co-chair and treasurer

last year, Julia Goulbourne and Cynthia Hamilton our parent engagement co-chairs. Shelley Graham will move into

the secretary position and Julie Bowering will remain chair of fundraising. Thank you for all your help, we greatly

appreciate all that you've done for Janet I. McDougald! With their dedication and commitment, we had an amazing,

exciting and fun filled year for students, staff and families. Thank you for volunteering your time to make the last

school year a great one!

This year our School Council is seeking parent involvement to fill the role of

chair/co-chair. No prior experience on Council is necessary. We’re looking for someone

willing to coordinate meetings and work with parent representatives and the school team

to coordinate meetings and events. Please see Ms. Culbert for further information.

Our next scheduled meeting is Wednesday, November 1 at 6:30 pm in the school library. There will be free babysit-

ting and refreshments available at the meeting. Come out and support your school council, everyone is welcome!

Please mark your calendars for the upcoming meetings over the 2017 - 2018 school year. Those dates are Wednesday,

November 1, Monday, January 15, Wednesday, February 28, and Monday, May 7. We look forward to seeing

you there.

It's not too late to order Kidssentials, our successful hot lunch program. Orders can be made online at anytime and a

portion of each order is given back to the school. Check out the websitewww.kidssentials.com

JANET I . MCDOUGALD P.S . PAGE 3

BE SAFE!

Safety of our students is a priority. Please assist us with the following items to keep all our students and staff safe:

Use the Kiss and Ride at the front of the school for drop off and pick up. Do not drop off your child at

the back of the school. The doors around the school are locked and the front doors are the only safe entry point.

If you are using the back entrance please find a safe place to park on the street that does not block the

driveways of any of our neighbours.

Please do not bring your dog into drop off and pick up areas on the school yard (e.g. around the

kindergarten fence or the back tarmac). If you choose to bring your pet for a walk when picking up or dropping

off your child(ren), please pick a safe meeting spot for you and your child on the outskirts of the school property.

Bringing animals into areas with large numbers of children/people can create an unsafe situation. Also, we do

have children who are afraid of animals.

During pick up after school please get out of your car to meet your child. It creates an unsafe situation when

children are walking unsupervised to meet their parents in the car. This is especially dangerous at the back of

the school or if you use the St. Dominic’s parking lot. We encourage Gr 1-5 students to use the Kiss and Ride at

the end of the day too. Then you can stay in your car!

Use the crosswalk! Please do not walk/run across the Kiss and Ride and bus lanes. This is unsafe for you and

your child(ren). It is also unsafe for the drivers including our bus drivers. Be a good role model for your children

and use the crosswalk even if it means you have to walk a little further.

Janet I. McDougald School Entry Procedures 2017-2018

Outdoor supervision begins at 8:55 a.m. each morning. Our entry bell rings at 9:05 a.m. Students are expected to be at their entry doors ready to line up and enter the building at this time. If you are using the school Kiss & Ride in the morning, please ensure you arrive before 9:05 a.m. Students entering the building after the 9:10 a.m. bell will be marked late. If your child is late, please bring them to the office to sign in. We will then ensure they get to their classrooms.

Page 4 JANET I . MCDOUGALD P.S .

Toonies for Terry

We celebrated Canadian hero Terry Fox on September 30th and October 1st as the whole school participated

in our annual Terry Fox walk. Students wore red and white or Terry Fox T-shirts and participated in a school

assembly where they got to learn some interesting facts about a young man who had a dream. On Monday the sun was

shining and we walked through the neighbourhood to honour Terry Fox and to raise money for the Terry Fox Run for

Hope. Thank you to all students and families that supported the cause by bringing in a toonie or another

donation. Donations can still be made online at http://www.terryfox.org/SchoolRun/ We will let you know about our

fundraising total in November. Stay tuned...or toonied!

Tips for being a smart trick-or-treater Halloween is a fun and exciting time, but safety should be the number one concern. Here are some safety tips for children:

Wear a properly fitted costume that is bright and non-flammable. Use reflective tape on your costume so you can be seen in the dark.

Use face makeup or enlarge the eyes on your mask so you can see well. When wearing a mask, push it up on your head while walking.

Teach children to visit the front door of well-lit homes and never go inside.

Help your child plan a route and a time to be home.

Remind children to always walk on the sidewalk, and obey traffic and pedestrian signals.

Have an adult check treats at home before allowing children to eat them.

Younger children should go trick-or-treating with an adult. Older children are reminded to trick-or-treat in groups.

Teach children their home phone number and how to call 9-1-1 if they have an emergency or become lost.

Regional Learning Choices Programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower students by providing them with opportunities to develop and explore skills in a particular area of interest. Regional programs are open to all students who meet the criteria for acceptance. Students 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. Transportation is not provided for students in regional programs. If students have been accepted into a regional program and they live within the school boundary, they are eligible for busing only if they meet the distance criteria outlined in the board’s Transportation Policy #39.

All regional programs include annual fees, including an $40 application fee for all regional programs. The application process for secondary regional programs opens Nov. 6, 2017. Application dates for middle school programs vary from school to school.

For more information about program

information nights, busing, fees and the application process/

dates, contact the school or visit

ww.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms.

Programs Starts in grade:

6 7 9

Actively in Motion (AIM) – Royal Orchard MS

Arts – Earnscliffe Sr. PS (starts in grade 6), Queen Elizabeth Sr. PS (starts in grade 7), Cawthra Park SS, Mayfield SS

Arts and Technology – Morning Star MS

International Baccalaureate – Bristol Rd. MS, WG Davis Sr. PS, Erindale SS, Glenforest SS, Harold M. Brathwaite SS, Turner Fenton SS

International Business and Technology – Allan A. Martin Sr. PS, Lisgar MS, Williams Pkwy Sr. PS, Meadowvale SS, North Park SS

SciTech – Centennial Sr. PS, Macville PS, Tomken Rd. MS, Chinguacousy SS, Port Credit SS

Peel D i s t r ic t School Board

Through the month of October, our students will be learning

about responsibility.

We show responsibility when we are accountable and reliable in

our actions and commitments.

Set goals, stay focused and stick with the task until completed.

Do your share of the work.

Recognize and learn from your mistakes.

Follow through with your commitments.

Demonstrate initiative and perseverance in overcoming difficulties.

You can help support the development of responsibility by reinforcing these skills with your child at

home! What does responsibility look like in your house?

JANET I. MCDOUGALD BREAKFAST SNACK PROGRAM

Our school “Grab and Go” breakfast program is up and running. Students need to complete a permission form to be part of the program.

This program is available for students who would benefit from having a snack at school each morning to start their day. There is no charge for the program and we rely on the support of associations such as Breakfast for Kids and donations to be able to provide food for our students. If you would like to make a donation, please make your cheque payable to Janet McDougald P. S. Breakfast Program. Donations of over $25.00 will receive a tax receipt upon request. Thank you for your support! Special thanks to Mr. Brace, Ms. White and all our volunteer shoppers.

OPPORTUNITY TO SAY ‘THANKS’ TO BUS DRIVERS

Peel schools will pay tribute to bus drivers on Bus Driver Appreciation Day on Oct. 18th , 2017. The day will be celebrated with special activities and events that provide teachers, students and parents an opportunity to thank the people who safely transport over 36,000 students to and from school each day.

If your child rides the bus to school, take this opportunity to thank the bus driver for his or her contribution and ask your child to do so too. The Peel board appreciates the important job bus drivers do each school day and Oct. 18 provides an opportunity to give these individuals the recognition they deserve.

VOLUNTEERS—READING PROGRAM

Thank you to all the parents who have already visited the office and met with Mrs. Culbert or Mrs. Murphy to begin the process of getting your Volunteer Criminal Record Check. Many of you would like to assist with class trips, but we hope you would also consider getting involved and supporting our Reading Program. Volunteers who assist with the program come to read with primary students throughout the school day. Each volunteer is assigned a class and several students

that they read with regularly to provide additional one-on-one reading experiences. Timing is flexible to suit your schedules. If you would like to learn more about how you can become a reading program volunteer please contact Mrs. Basa. 905-278-1010 ext. 208

Page 5

RESPONSIBILITY

JANET I . MCDOUGALD P.S . PAGE 6

Apply for a parent position on the board's We Rise Together Advisory Council

The Peel District School Board is currently seeking parent applications from Black Peel parents to fill three available positions for the We Rise Together Advisory Council, beginning October 2017 and ending June 2018. Peel parents interested in this volunteer opportunity can apply using the online form available at www.peelschools.org/werisetogether. The online application closes Wednesday, October 11, 2017 at 4:30 p.m.

The advisory council will consist of parents, community members, students, trustees and board staff who are committed to achieving the goals set out in the We Rise Together Accountability Report. Parent representatives will provide advice, support and feedback on the implementation of We Rise Together action steps in the areas of Student Leadership, Curriculum, Staff Development and Community Engagement.

An important component of the We Rise Together Action Plan, the following is the selection criteria for parents interested in being a part of the We Rise Together Advisory Council:

Black Peel parent with a child or children currently enrolled in the Peel District School Board

one representative from Brampton, one from Caledon, one from Mississauga

demonstrates a commitment to, and knowledge of the We Rise Together Accountability Report and subsequent action steps

understands the importance of parent, family and community engagement

demonstrates a keen interest in public education

seeks to promote healthy, positive and progressive relationships with the Peel District School Board

demonstrates advocacy and community development skills

Selected applicants will be contacted. If you have any questions, please contact communications@peelsb.com. For more information about We Rise Together, please visit www.peelschools.org/werisetogether

At Janet I. McDougald we are kicking off another fun filled year with our school teams. All classes from Kindergarten to Grade 5 will be divided into one of the three school teams. The teams are divided into colours—stay tuned to find out what colour team your child is on. The multi-grade student groupings work together to help earn points for their team. Some of the ways students can earn points for their team are: dressing up for spirit days, participating in school events like our food drive and working

collaboratively and cooperatively with one another around the school. The student climate team will be sharing more news on how you can earn points for your team at our Spirit Teams Kick off Assembly on

October 16th.

COME ON HUSKIES LET YOUR SPIRIT SHINE THROUGH!

The Lyndwood Community Association

We want THANK YOU for participating in the Canada 150 Celebration Picnic and Play Day in the Park this past

September 9th! From having Mayor Bonnie Crombie kick off the start of the Play Day, Charles Souza enjoying the

BBQ with community members to Argos Football player, Declan Cross, teaching our youngest community members

how to throw a football, the day was a great success. All the success is because of you and your families. Thank

you!

We have now entered our fall/winter season. The rental of the Janet I. McDougald PS gymnasium is underway. If

you or someone you know is interested in booking the gym for any recreational activities, birthday parties, club

gatherings etc. please contact Cynthia Schaeffer, tel: 416-685-2995 or email: Cyncarola@gmail.com

Rental Details:

Rental rate: $15 per hour

Dates: Monday to Friday

Times: 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Additional fees: a minimal insurance fee $ is applied depending on type and length of event

You are invited to our next free event!

If you have always wanted to volunteer or join a group that meets and comes together after working hours please

join us in the upcoming Lyndwood Community Association Meet & Greet.

We want to get to know who you are and we want to let you know who we are, what we do and what we plan on

doing for our community. We have had many of you share wonderful ideas on how we can service our community

better with wonderful, engaging experiences. We want to continue having those conversations with you. As an as-

sociation we want to continue to evolve and continue to grow, all the while bringing our community together.

Cynthia Schaeffer

LCA - Marketing/Booking agent

JANET I . MCDOUGALD P.S .