This week at Oscar Peterson P.S.

♦ Farooq Shabbar, Principal ♦ Vivienne Baines, Vice Principal

♦ Shawn Bredin, Superintendent of Schools (905) 895-5155 ♦ Loralea Carruthers, Trustee (905) 953-0562

♦ OPPS Phone: (905) 642-1236 Fax: (905) 642-5938 ♦ Website: http://www.yrdsb.ca/schools/oscarpeterson.ps

~ Printed copies of the weekly newsletter available in the office ~

Oscar Peterson is an Allergy-Aware School

In collaboration with staff and School Council, we would like to remind everyone of our allergy-

awareness policy

Any school celebration or class party that features a food component will be organized

by the classroom teachers and school staff. Staff will have the responsibility for

providing the food (and may ask for a donation of money to support the event) or will

explicitly direct students on what packaged, labelled items to bring in (no home-

prepared food items). Packaged and labelled fruit and vegetables may be brought to

school, however any preparation/cutting of fruit/vegetables will be done at school.

Families should wait for direction from the teacher before sending in items for a class

party or celebration.

Celebrations, or in-class activities, that involve the preparation/cooking of food will have

the preparations done at school under the direction of school staff, using only

packaged/labelled ingredients purchased or inspected by school staff. This may be, but

is not limited to, curriculum-based food preparation and cultural celebrations.

On an on-going basis, we will communicate with the Oscar Peterson community about

policies and procedures. As needs arise, we will communicate directly with families

when unsafe items are sent to school to ensure understanding. Unsafe items will be sent

back home. We ask that families make us aware of food restrictions due to such things

as life-threatening anaphylactic allergies, medical and/or cultural concerns.

Parent/Family Expectations

-we ask that parents/guardians/families do not send students in with any products that

contain peanuts or nuts

-we ask that the needs of individual classrooms are respected where students have

other food allergies such as eggs, dairy, sesame seeds, seafood, etc. Classroom teachers

will communicate with families regarding concerns

-families are not to send in food/treats to share with classmates unless under the

direction from the teacher

-please ensure that whoever is preparing/packing lunches is aware of what foods are

not acceptable at school, and that food labels are read for any products you are unsure

about

Student Expectations

-we ask that students be knowledgeable about their own safety/dietary needs as a first

strategy

-students are expected to wear prescribed epi-pens at all times

-all students are not to share lunch items/food with anyone

-immediately notify an adult if they see a food that they believe contains an allergen,

including anything in their own lunch

JUNIOR-INTERMEDIATE ARTS NIGHT

SAVE THE DATE!

Junior/Intermediate Arts Night: Thursday May 24th, 6:30p.m.

Please join us in celebrating the Arts at Oscar Peterson on May 24th! A sneak peak of

some of the performances include: The Intermediate Band, Junior Dance Team, Jazz-

Week Dance electives, Grade 4 Bucket Drumming, Intermediate Drumming Group,

Grade 4 dances, Grade 5 vocal performances, and small performance ensembles from

various grades. All are welcome to attend and we hope to see you there!

BADMINTON TEAM

Congratulations to the badminton team for coming in second overall at the areas and

will send 3 teams to the regionals. Jet, Holden, Hugo, Andonis, Jaiden, and Taeja will

represent OPPS at the regionals on May 10th. Good Luck!

FAMILY WELL-BEING NIGHT FUN!

STUDENT VENTURES

The students had a successful day with their wide-variety of great businesses. They

had a great learning opportunity to put media, math, art, and oral skills into practice.

Ten percent of their earnings (with some students donating more) will go to charity,

and other money covers such things as booth rentals and materials.

CHESS TOURNAMENT

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Help us with FUNDRAISING!! A portion of The Lunch Lady lunches including but not limited to this lunch offer will

be going back to the school.

The Lunch Lady is bringing back the HOT DIGGITY DOG Lunch Offer that you love so much :)

This Lunch Offer is available for delivery on MAY 24th

i. share effective practices to help engage parents/guardians, especially parents/guardians who may

find engagement challenging, in their children’s learning.

ii. identify and reduce barriers to parent engagement.

iii. help ensure that schools of the Board create a welcoming environment for parents/guardians of its

pupils.

iv. develop skills and acquire knowledge that will assist the Parent, Family and Community Engagement

Advisory Committee and school councils of the Board with their work.

e) determine, in consultation with the Board’s Director of Education and in keeping with the Board’s

policies and procedures, how funding, if any, provided under the Education Act for parent involvement

is reported.

The Parent, Family and Community Engagement Committee (PEAC) is established according to Ministry

legislation and members must be prepared to attend each meeting. PEAC meetings are generally

scheduled on the second Tuesday of the month. Members are required to attend a minimum of six

meetings and will have opportunities to participate in other workshops and events. The first meeting

date for the new membership is November 13, 2018.

PEAC is composed of:

● 12 parents/guardians (2 Elementary and 1 Secondary for each Community Education Center) ● 1

Director of Education or Designate ● 1 Trustee and 1 alternate ● 1 Special Education Advisory

Committee member ● 1 Equity and Inclusivity Advisory Committee member ● 1 Community Member at

Large

Members are selected based on principles of representation that include diversity in all its

manifestations, a variety of skills, experiences, location and knowledge. The contents of the

Membership Applications are kept strictly confidential.

Two references are required, one of whom should be any YRDSB staff member. Parents/guardians who

are also employees of the Board are asked to self-identify when applying. References are kept strictly

confidential.

Further information about the role of PEAC may be found at the Ontario Ministry of Education website

School Councils and Parent Involvement Committees. Parents/guardians interested in serving as a

member of PEAC are asked to submit an electronic application between May 1, 2018 and June 15, 2018

(final deadline) using the on-line Application Form or calling Education and Community Services at 905

727-0022 ext 2242 to submit a paper application.

MOVING? REGISTERING?

The staffing process for the 2017-2018 school year is well underway. As part of this planning process, it is essential that you communicate with your child’s teacher and the office if you plan to move, resulting in a possible change of school. Staffing of schools is based on specific numbers of students expected to attend. This includes students registering for Kindergarten. As a result, if you are aware of a family friend and/or neighbour that resides in our enrolment area, please encourage them to register at Oscar Peterson for the Full Day Every Day Kindergarten Program as soon as possible.

EQAO

For those parents with children in grades 3 and/or 6, please note that your child will be participating in the grade 3 and 6 standards based assessment, known as EQAO. This year students will be participating in the assessment between May 22 to June 1. Please ensure that you don’t book any family holidays and/or medical appointments during this time. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the school. As many parents and educators are aware, EQAO assessments are used in schools to plan for continuous student improvement in the areas of Literacy and Numeracy. The school-based results assist in developing goals for improvement by targeting areas in the curriculum which may require additional focus.

CLASS PLACEMENTS 2018-2019

As we create our classes for next year, our staff will make every effort to place

students in the best learning environment for each student to be successful. We take

into account individual needs, academic achievement, emotional and social

development, number of boys and girls in each class, and work habits. If parents

would like to provide input into this process for their child(ren), we ask that you please

submit this input in writing to the principal by May 18, 2018. The school does not

accept requests for specific teachers. While your input is carefully considered, the

final decision about the students’ class placements rests with the school.

THE YORK CENTRE PRESENTS…

COFFEE & CONVERSATION A Series of Workshops …

In Recognition of Children’s Mental Health Week (May

7 – May 11, 2018), The York Centre for Children,

Youth and Families is hosting a Coffee &

Conversation series of workshops for interested

community members. All of the workshops are free

of charge. All you need to do is register in advance

through the Eventbrite links listed on the reverse side

of this flyer. The format of the evenings will be

structured, but informal. Each evening will include a

THE YORK CENTRE FOR

CHILDREN, YOUTH &

FAMILIES

11225 Leslie Street

Richmond Hill,

Ontario L4S 1N5

(Just north of Elgin Mills Rd.)

info@theyorkcentre.ca

presentation, discussion, coffee, and goodies, but

not necessarily in that order! Come and join the

conversation!

Supported by

Eventbrite Link: https://tycyouthaddictions.eventbrite.ca

The presentation will feature information about the primary signs of addiction, what addiction is,

addiction in video games and technology, communication techniques, information regarding

areas where parents can have a positive influence on their youth and a question and answer

segment. Presenter: Lyle Petersen has a Masters of Social Work, and currently works for Addiction Services York Region on the Family and Youth Team.

Eventbrite Link: https://tyckeepingkidssafe.eventbrite.ca

As parents and caregivers we want to do the best we can to ensure that our children are happy

and safe. This workshop is for everyone who is interested in learning the concepts of helping to

keep children and youth safe from harm, both offline and online. Keeping in mind the

developmental stage of the child, participants will be introduced to practical tips and strategies to

talk to children and youth about personal safety.

Presenter: Pearl Rimer, Director of Research & Training, Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre

Eventbrite Link: https://tycsafetalk.eventbrite.ca

safeTALK is a training that prepares you to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect

them to suicide first aid resources. Most people with thoughts of suicide invite help to stay safe.

Alert helpers know how to use these opportunities to support that desire for safety. As

safeTALK-trained suicide alert helper, you will be better able to: move beyond common

tendencies to miss, dismiss or avoid suicide; identify people who have thoughts of suicide; apply

the TALK steps (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe) to connect a person with suicide thoughts to

suicide first aid, and intervention caregivers. Powerful video clips illustrate both non-alert and

alert responses.

Discussion and practice help stimulate learning; learning steps that contribute to saving lives.

This workshop is three hours in length. Presenter(s): Michelle Cassidy, Mental Health Lead, YRDSB.

*** (Use the links listed under each workshop title to register through Eventbrite.ca) ***

Monday, May 7, 2018 (6:00 pm – 8:30 pm)

Tuesday, May 8, 2018 (6:30 pm – 8:30 pm)

Wednesday, May 9, 2018 (6:00 pm – 9:00 pm)

Eventbrite Link: https://tycconsciousparenting.eventbrite.ca

This workshop will provide parents of adolescents an opportunity to better understand their

children and their role as parents. During our time together we will explore questions such as:

How do I see myself as a parent? And why do I choose to parent the way I do? We will

also look at what our triggers are and our reactions to these triggers. Conscious parenting

includes awareness of ourselves as individuals, as parents and of our teenage child. We will look

at the developmental period of adolescence and the specific factors that distinguish it from other

developmental periods. The aim of the workshop is introduce you to the concept of Conscious

Parenting. It is an invitation to become more aware, reflective, understanding and deliberate in

the relationship with your child.

Presenter: Abner Lico, MEd DPE, Dipl–Psych, RP Member, CAPT

Thursday, May 10, 2018 (6:30 pm – 8:30 pm)

Upcoming…

Wednesdays: Subway lunch (if ordered) Fridays: Pizza lunch (if ordered)

May 7th: Music Monday

May 10th: Ascension Day (Western)

May 10th: Kindergarten Cook Nook

May 11th: Gr. 3 Swimming

May 16th: First day of Ramadhan

May 16-18th: J/I Jazz Week (information coming soon)

May 17-18th: Gr. 3 Swimming

May 20th: Pentecost (Western)

May 20th-21st: Shavuot

May 21st: Victoria Day—No school

May 22nd-25th: EQAO for Gr. 6 students

May 23rd: Declaration of the Bab

May 23rd: Welcome to Kindergarten 6:30-7:30pm

May 24th: J/I Arts Night

May 24-25th: Gr. 3 Swimming

May 28th: Ascension of Baha’u’llah

May 28th-June 1st: EQAO for Gr. 3 students

May 29th: Wesak

May 31st-June 1st: Gr. 3 Swimming

June 1st: Music Fest at Wonderland

Saturday June 2nd: FUN FAIR and 10th Anniversary Celebration

How to Report Planned Absences Quick Tips Below:

DOGS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY

While we welcome your dogs on leashes walking with you to drop off and pick up

students, we ask that you kindly keep them off of the playground and away from other

students as some students have fears, allergies, etc.

BREAKFAST PROGRAM

Every Tuesday morning at 8:35 am - 8:50 am, just outside of the staff room. Students enter doors by the YMCA and exit through the Primary doors. All students are welcome to come and grab a healthy snack.

Hello Parents

I have some really good news for you. Due to a number of requests, we will now have Lunch Lady

serving on both Tuesdays and Thursdays each week. If you have not given them a try yet, consider

taking a look. They have an amazing variety of healthy lunch choices that the students seem to love.

Go to www.thelunchlady.ca and click on order now to see our menus. They have plenty of options

available online.

ME TO WE – MILK BAG COLLECTION

The students at Oscar Peterson are encouraged to bring in clean, washed milk

bags that will be made into mats by the students at SDSS. Please see the mat in

the front foyer. Let's help the environment, our students at SDSS, and

individuals in need around the world. Milk Bags can be deposited into the box in

the office.