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 ~

Dear OPPS Families,

Exciting news! Beginning on Monday, April 9th you can notify the school of your child’s absence using the EDSBY application. The staff at Oscar Peterson Public School have been using online attendance in classrooms since February. Parents/guardians can use the “Report an Absence” feature in EDSBY to notify the school of any absences. Attendance is important to student success. However, if your child is going to be absent, it is important to let the school know as soon as possible for the safety and security of your child. Learn more about using Edsby to report an absence. Please note that use of the EDSBY system is optional for families. You are still welcome to call the school, leave a message and/or write a note to the school. Regular and punctual attendance affects school success and is expected of all students. It is important that students, families and school staff work together to ensure regular attendance. You are expected to notify the school as soon as possible if your child will be absent or late.

Reporting an absence online is available through EDSBY. If you have activated your EDSBY account, you can login to EDSBY and report your child’s absence online. If you have not activated your EDSBY account, you will need to do so before you will be able to use this online feature. How to Report Planned Absences Quick Tips Below:

If you have any additional questions, please contact the school’s main office at (905) 642-1236.

Mr. Shabbar & Ms. Baines

Autism Awareness at Oscar Peterson P.S.

April is Autism Awareness month and April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. At Oscar Peterson P.S. we will begin our awareness campaign on Tuesday, April 3rd. We would like to raise awareness by having students and staff participate in a few Autism Awareness activities.

Wear blue on April 3rd: We are asking that all staff and students wear blue on Tuesday April 3rd to raise awareness about autism.

Puzzle Pieces: each student will receive a puzzle piece (puzzle pieces are often used as a symbol for autism) to colour and decorate and these puzzle pieces will be put together to make a large puzzle in our hallway. The purpose behind this activity is to demonstrate that we are all unique pieces of a puzzle and that we can all come together to be a part of the bigger picture (inclusion).

Human Hungry Hippos Tournament: In an effort to raise some money for Autism Ontario for Autism Awareness, the Community Class organized a Human Hungry Hippo Tournament and challenged staff to participate and play against them. If you are not sure what the Human Hungry Hippos game is all about, please check out the following video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHjKjr0kNQ4 This tournament will take place the week of Tuesday, April 3 to Friday, April 6 during morning recesses. There is a schedule posted at school, and we are asking students to bring a small donation (quarter, loonie, or toonie) to enter the gym to watch the tournament. Here are some links for some great videos about Autism:

Amazing Things Happen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JdCY-cdgkI

Sesame Street: Meet Julia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dKCdV20zLMs

2018-2019 School Organization

Based on our projected school enrollment we have organized our classes as follows:

Kindergarten 4 Classes

Grade 1 3 Classes

Grade 2 3 Classes

Grade 3 3 Classes

Grade 3/4 1 Class

Grade 4 2 Classes

Grade 4/5 1 Class

Grade 5 2 Classes

Grade 5/6 1 Class

Grade 6 2 Classes

Grade 7 2 Classes

Grade 8 2 Classes

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 placement rests with the school.

Contribute to Strategic Planning at YRDSB - Upcoming Town Halls

York Region District School Board is re-visioning its Multi-Year Plan (MYP) and Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement and Well-being. The Board of Trustees is responsible for setting the strategic direction of public education in York Region public schools. The MYP incorporates the direction established by the Trustees with feedback received from all stakeholders, and will inform decision making at the Board in the years to come. Town halls will be taking place across the region and feedback collected from families and community members will inform the creation of a new MYP. Your voice is important and your input and feedback will help York Region District School Board support student achievement and well-being. There will also be other opportunities, including a survey available in April, to share your thoughts if you are unable to attend a town hall.

Save the Date!

TOWN HALL DATES AND TIMES LOCATIONS

Monday, April 16, 2018

7 - 9 p.m.

Keswick High School

100 Biscayne Blvd., Keswick

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

6 - 9 p.m.

Markville Secondary School

1000 Carlton Rd., Markham

Sunday, April 22, 2018

2 - 4 p.m.

Sir William Mulock Secondary School

705 Columbus Way, Newmarket

Wednesday, April 25, 2018

6:30 – 8:30 p.m.

Maple High School

50 Springside Rd., Maple

Saturday, April 28, 2018

10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Bayview Secondary School

10077 Bayview Ave., Richmond Hill

TRAFFIC AND SAFETY CONCERNS: PLEASE READ

February 8th, 2018

Dear OPPS Families,

As many of you are aware, recently there was a tragedy at a Toronto school that took the life of a 5-year old girl in a school drop off zone. There have been follow-up stories in newspapers and on the radio that highlight the unsafe behavior of drivers in and around school zones. We are always grateful to the many Oscar Peterson PS families who drive with added caution and care when they are dropping off or picking up their children. Unfortunately, we also see impatient and unsafe driving on a daily basis and as a result, we want to remind everyone of the importance of following the rules of the road to ensure student safety.

In January, the Toronto Star published an article entitled, “Stop Driving Children to School: It Could be a Lifesaver”. The article sites unsafe driving behaviors including cars crowding into school-bus only zones, performing U-turns in traffic, pulling in and out of parking lots and spots without looking, and dropping kids off in the middle of the road or on the wrong side of the road; all things we see at OPPS every day. The article asks parents to stop driving their kids to school, or to park a few blocks away and walk from there. It also recommends leaving the house a few minutes earlier so that you aren’t rushing. We recognize that the Kiss And Ride can be congested, however, if everyone can try to be focused, courteous drivers, it will mean that all of our children arrive and leave school safely. If you are interested in learning more about the safety issues in drop zones, please visit:

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/programs/metromorning/the-risks-of-school-drop-off-zones-1.4490886

Drop Off and Pick Up Reminders:

• If you must drive your son or daughter to school, we ask that you use the KISS AND RIDE only. Enter the KISS AND RIDE at the parking lot entrance on Sandiford Drive. Wait, and pull up as far as possible and allow your child to get out of your car safely. Staff are supervising from 8:35-8:50, and are able to escort Kindergarten Students to their play area. The driver should remain in the car at all times.

• The parking lot on the east side of the school is for daycare only. Cars are not permitted to enter and exit between 8:35-8:50 and 3:20-3:35. Please do not park in the main parking lot before or after school in order to pick up your child.

• The bus loop at the front of the school is for bus drop off and pick up only. Cars are not permitted to enter the loop before or after school. This is also a fire route.

• There should be no parking on Hoover Park Drive between the traffic lights and the bus loop entrance.

• Supervision at OPPS begins at 8:35 a.m. Please drop off your children after this

time. The kiss and ride is far less congested at 8:35 than it is at 8:50.

• DO NOT turn around in private driveways or make U-turns on Hoover Park Drive.

• DO NOT pull out from the curb on the road or in the Kiss and Ride without indicating as well as checking your blind spot

Thank you for your continued efforts to keep OPPS safe.

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.

Upcoming…

March 30th: Good Friday (No School)

March 31st-April 7th: Pesach/Passover

April 1st: Easter Sunday (Western), Palm Sunday (Eastern)

April 3rd: Wear blue to raise awareness about Autism

April 4th: Subway Lunch (if ordered)

April 6th: Holy Friday (Eastern)

April 6th: Pizza Lunch (if ordered)

April 8th: Easter Sunday (Eastern)

April 9th: School Council Meeting 7:00 Library (all welcome)

April 10th: Grade 3s to the Science Centre

April 11th: Subway Lunch (if ordered)

April 13th: Chaitra/Chithirai New Year

April 13th: Pizza Lunch (if ordered)

April 13th: Miraj-un-Nabi

April 13th: Vaisakhi

April 13/14th: Saka New Year

April 18th: Grades 5&6 Chef a l’ecole

April 18th: Subway Lunch (if ordered)

April 20th: Ridvan begins

April 20th: Pizza Lunch (if ordered)

April 23rd-27th: Jungle Sport (information to follow next week)

April 25th: Subway Lunch (if ordered)

April 27th: Pizza Lunch (if ordered)

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.