Principal’s Message

Wednesday June 29, 2016 Volume 3, Issue 37

Whiteoaks

Wednesday Weekly Whiteoaks Public School

1690 Mazo Cres.

Mississauga, Ontario

L5J 1Y8

Phone: 905.822-0451

Fax: 905.822-5973

http://schools.peelschools.org/1259

Follow us on Twitter: @whiteoakspeel

Principal: Greg Lorentz

Vice-Principal: Christine Barnes

Office Manager: Jolanta Nolevski

Office Assistant: Grace Piatek

Superintendent: Patricia Rossall

Assistant: Lisa Ellis

Phone: 905-366-8800

Trustee: Brad Macdonald

Phone: 905-593-3547

Inside this issue:

Principal’s

Message 1-3

Celebrating Faith

and Culture 3-4

Staff List for

September 5

Safe Arrival

Procedures

Changing in

September

6

Summer Programs

At The Story

Garden

7

September Bus

Information 8-9

Dear Whiteoaks Families,

Summer is here, and I am sure we are all looking forward to the warm weather

and spending time with family and friends. September will return soon enough,

and it is a time when many in our learning community will experience change.

Students beginning at Whiteoaks will transition to a new school and to new

teachers. Students leaving Whiteoaks will also experience a change in schools

and move on to new experiences. In keeping with the themes of change and

transition…

Our Grade 5 students have graduated, and will soon be starting middle school.

The Grade 5 Graduation Ceremony took place this past Friday on June 24th. It

was a wonderful ceremony that was very well attended by the families and

friends of our graduating students. Thank-you to all our students and staff for the

preparation of the Farewell Ceremony and for their positive participation. A spe-

cial thank-you to our grade 5 staff, and to Mme Marin for all the work she put into

organizing the day for our graduates. Our valedictions all spoke very well and

took us on a journey of rich memories of their experiences at Whiteoaks. Our vale-

dictorians were: 45E - Anushka, 45A - Yasmeen, 5A - Noosha, 5B Logan, 5C -

Ethan , 5E – Devan. Well done! Congratulations to all our graduates!! It was a

beautiful day and we were able to enjoy a lovely graduation reception under

the trees thanks to our amazing Grade 4 parent volunteers. Parent volunteers who

planned and supported the reception are: Lee Steele, Mark Anderson, Carolyn

Hambly, Jessie Lee, Jennifer Park, Nicole Plaskett, Martha Rave, and Eva Vander-

starren.

The Kindergarten Graduation Celebrations occurred last week. They were won-

derful occasions where parents and family came together to celebrate the success

of their children, our Kindergarten students. I would like to extend my thanks to our

Kindergarten staff for organizing these special graduation ceremonies for our Kin-

dergarten students. Thank-you for the support demonstrated by our Kindergarten

parents and families demonstrated throughout the year.

I would like to thank the Whiteoaks learning community for the ongoing support

you have shown to the school and to your children, and for learning with us over

the past year. In particular, I would like to thank the School Council for its support as

we worked together to support community interests. Once again, a BIG THANK-YOU

to all our parent volunteers.

September will also bring change to the staff at Whiteoaks.

Welcome New Staff to Whiteoaks! …. and Welcome Back Returning Staff!

I am pleased to welcome the following staff to Whiteoaks for the upcoming 2016-

2017 school year. Welcome to: Mrs. Cassan who will be joining us from Owenwood

as a part-time teacher, of special education and Kindergarten planning time. Mme

A. Maheshwari will fill a Grade 3 French Immersion position at Whiteoaks from Rown-

tree P.S. and Mme T. Makavita from Great Lakes P. S. will assume a grade 4 French

Immersion position at Whiteoaks. I am confident that our new staff will do an excel-

Page 2 Whiteoaks Wednesday Weekly

Principal’s Message...continued lent job in their new positions. We look forward to seeing Mrs. Auchterlonie and Mme. Hughes in Sep-

tember.

(For a complete staffing update for next year, please see the Staff Organization Chart inserted in this

newsletter.)

Fond Farewells to Staff

Mrs. Axiak is has accepted a position at Hillside P.S.; Mrs. Bianchi is leaving Whiteoaks to accept a

position at Stanley Mills P. S.; Mrs. Chandler will be joining the staff at Mount Royal P.S; Mrs. Nunes has

accepted a position at Ridgewood P.S.; Mrs. Sandhu will join the staff at Arnott Charlton P.S. and Mme

Tyminska will move to Camilla Road S. P. S.

We thank M. Bragg, Mrs. Cassan, Mr. McCann, Mr. Morgan, Mme Rodriguez, and Mme Souaid for

their great work as LTOs at Whiteoaks this year. We wish them all the best for the future.

As many of you are aware, this year brings change for me as well. I am retiring after 31 years in ed-

ucation and am looking forward to spending more quality time with my family. I would like to thank

the Whiteoaks community for your caring and impressive support of your children. I thank you for what

you do every day to support them to come to Whiteoaks to be the best they can be. Family and vol-

unteer support for our school is second-to-none and contributes significantly to making Whiteoaks a

special place. It has been a privilege to work together with you to support our children. All the best for

the future!

School Timetable

We will continue to use a 10 day cycle to organize the scheduling of classes.

Class Lists

Our staff has worked very hard to develop balanced class lists for the upcoming school year. When

creating the class lists, staff follow Ministry and Peel District School Board guidelines. Working in this

context, our staff takes many factors into account. Your child’s learning style and individual needs

are considered when determining the best placement. As well, staff is aware of friendships and do

their best to ensure that your child is placed in a class with at least one friend. Other factors that must

be considered when developing a class are maintaining a balance, and striving to create a combi-

nation of students that will foster a learning environment that is the most conducive to learning.

Although I understand that you may wish another placement for your child other than the one indi-

cated in the letter you would have received, please note that because of enrolment and staffing

considerations and the factors relating to the construction of class lists noted above, requests to have

students transferred to another class before September 27, 2016 cannot be accommodated. Class

transfers may be possible in the event that we must reorganize our classes in September, and may be

determined at that time.

The First Day of School

Information regarding procedures for the first day of school will be posted on the school website at

http://schools.peelschools.org/1259/ after July 1, 2016.

Keeping in Touch

A good way to stay informed about school and Board happenings, is to subscribe to receive school

news from the Peel District School Board website. To subscribe, go directly to http://

www.peelschools.org/aboutus/subscribe/Pages/default.aspx and select the information you would

like to receive.

School Hours:

School day begins: 9:10am, School Day ends: 3:40pm

First Nutrition Break: 11:30am – 12:20pm, Second Nutrition Break: 1:40pm – 2:20pm

Page 3 Whiteoaks Wednesday Weekly

Principal’s Message...continued Full Day Kindergarten times: Student Entry: 9:10am and Dismissal at 3:45pm

Busing Communication for Next School Year, 2016 – 2017

Information regarding start-up busing for the upcoming school year is inserted in this newsletter. It is

important that you review it and contact the Student Transportation for Peel Region Office (STOPR) as

necessary.

It is important to note that if your child is not designated as a Peel District School Board bus rider,

but received Courtesy Busing this year, that it is not guaranteed for September. Students must apply

for Courtesy Busing each school year. It is allocated on a case-by-case basis according to specific

criteria, and is based on the number of confirmed, available seats. Courtesy Busing assigned in the fall

will not be in effect immediately in September. It may take until mid October before seats are as-

signed.

Detailed bus information specific to your child will be available at www.stopr.ca beginning in Au-

gust.

Some Important Dates for September

Labour Day, September 5th

First day of classes for students, September 6th

Professional Activity Day, Reorganization, September 27th no classes for students on this day

Thanksgiving Day, October 10th

Yours in education,

G. Lorentz

Principal

Celebrating Faith and Culture

At Whiteoaks, we continue to work to be an inclusive school. To honour the fact that at Whiteoaks our student

body represents many cultures and faiths, we celebrate the faith and cultures at Whiteoaks regularly as they

occur, by reading messages about cultural celebrations over the announcements. In addition, we insert a chart

in each week’s newsletter indicating Days of Celebration, their dates and the Faiths and Cultures that observe

them. We have included the chart of celebrations for the upcoming weeks in this newsletter.

June Miso'o Aboriginal Spirituality

June Aboriginal History Month Aboriginal Spirituality

June 4 to 22 the month of Núr Bahá'í

June 23 to July 11 the month of Rahmat Bahá'í

June 29 to July 3 Ghambar Maidyoshem Zoroastrianism

July Xmaay Aboriginal Spirituality

Evening of June 30 to July 1 Lailat-ul-Qadr Islam

Page 4 Whiteoaks Wednesday Weekly

Celebrating Faith and Culture

At Whiteoaks, we continue to work to be an inclusive school. To honour the fact that at Whiteoaks our student

body represents many cultures and faiths, we celebrate the faith and cultures at Whiteoaks regularly as they

occur, by reading messages about cultural celebrations over the announcements. In addition, we insert a chart

in each week’s newsletter indicating Days of Celebration, their dates and the Faiths and Cultures that observe

them. We have included the chart of celebrations for the upcoming weeks in this newsletter.

July 1 Jamatul Widha Islam

July 1 Canada Day Canada

June 29 to July 3 Ghambar Maidyoshem Zoroastrianism

July 6 Eid ul-Fitr Islam

July 9 Martyrdom of the Bab Bahá'í

July 11 Imamat Day Islam

July 12 to 30 the month of Kalimát Bahá'í

July 18 Navroze Zoroastrianism

July 19 Asalha Puja Day Buddhism

July 19 Poson Buddhism

July 19 Vassana Buddhism

July 19 Guru Purnima Hinduism and Jainism

July 22 Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s En-

lightenment

Buddhism

July 23 Khordad Saal Zoroastrianism

July 30 Oh-harai-taisai Shinto

July 31 to August 18 The month of Kamál Bahá'í

August Wiihoon Aboriginal Spirituality

July 31 to August 18 The month of Kamál Bahá'í

August 1 Civic Holiday Canada

August 1 or 2 Lammas Wicca

August 5 Farvardegan Zoroastrianism

August 6 and 19 Transfiguration Christianity

Sunset of August 13 to 14 Tishah B’Av Judaism

August 17 Dharma Day/Ullambana Buddhism

August 17 or 18 Raksha Bandhan Hinduism

August 17 Navroze Zoroastrianism

August 19 to September 6 The month of Asmá' Bahá'í

August 22 Khordad Saal Zoroastrianism

August 24 or 25 Sri Krishna Janmashtami Hinduism

August 30 Paryushan Parva Jainism

Page 5 Whiteoaks Wednesday Weekly

Whiteoaks Public School - Staff Organization – 2016 – 2017

Principal L. Lee Superintendent P. Rossall

Vice-Principal C. Barnes Trustee B. MacDonald

Office Manager J. Nolevski Head Custodian S. Cooper

Office Assistant G. Piatek Night Custodian T. Borges

Teaching Staff

Eastwood Kindergarten

L. Taylor Kindergarten E. Cassan Special Education

S. Mason Kindergarten A. Chiacchia Special Education

S. Gallant Kindergarten E. Goulden Special Education

Gharios Kindergarten P. Hughes Special Education

(LTO) K. Lancaster Kindergarten

S. Galbraith Kindergarten E. Goulden Library

H. Lavalley ESL

K. Walton Gr. 1 English

K. Kormann Gr. 1 French Immersion M. Auchterlonie Music

W. Mundy Gr. 1 French Immersion (LTO) M. Curic Music – French Immersion

D. Stewart Gr. 1 French Immersion D. Kim Physical Education

(LTO) K. Wilson Gr. 1 French Immersion

B. Milroy Gr. 2 English (LTO) M. Curic Core French

C. Cummings Gr. 2 French Immersion E. Cassan Planning Time

J. Marino Gr. 2 French Immersion H. Lavalley English Planning Time

(LTO) J. Racanelli Gr. 2 French Immersion T Marriott English Planning Time

S. Beck Gr. 2/3 French Immersion C. Ramirez English Planning Time

L. Taylor FDK Planning Time

S. Atanassova Gr. 3 English M. Wilson English Planning Time

L. Helsby Gr. 3 English

M. Wilson Gr. 3 English

A. Maheshwari Gr. 3 French Immersion T. Issawi French Planning Time

L. McFarland Gr. 3 French Immersion C. Ramirez French Planning Time

A. McKillop Gr. 3 French Immersion F. Simpson French Planning Time

N. Patrick Gr. 3 French Immersion L. Taylor French Planning Time

A Campbell Gr. 4 English Educational Resource Facilitators

M. Bird Gr. 4 French Immersion M. Cassolato Special Needs ERF

S. Ghaffarpour Gr. 4 French Immersion T. Hutt Special Needs ERF

S. Wilson Gr. 4 French Immersion E. Bince Special Needs ERF

T. Makavita Gr. 4 French Immersion (LTO) T. Thornhill Special Needs ERF

D. Robson Behaviour ERF

D. Mcdonald Gr. 5 English

(LTO) N. DeGroote Gr. 5 French Immersion

K. Marin Gr. 5 French Immersion

J. Gregory Gr. 5 French Immersion

(LTO) indicates that a Long Term Occasional Teacher will be hired for September to fill the teacher’s position to begin the school year.

Page 6 Whiteoaks Wednesday Weekly

Safe Arrival Procedures...Changing in September

IMPORTANT CHANGE COMING SEPTEMBER 2016 Report student absences through new SafeArrival system Beginning Sept. 6, 2016, all parents/guardians need to report their children’s full-day absences, late arrivals and/or early departures from school via our new automated SafeArrival phone number at 1-855-209-6155, online at pdsb.schoolconnects.com, or by downloading the mobile app for Apple and Android devices. For absences longer than 5 consecutive school days, please contact the school office. Parents are encouraged to provide an email address to schools. Parents who have an email address on file at school will receive an email invitation from Synrevoice Technologies during the week of August 29th. The invitation will include login information. Starting the week of August 29th, parents who do not have an email address on file at the school can visit pdsb.schoolconnects.com and choose CREATE LOGIN to create your account and receive login credentials that can be used online or with the mobile app. Parents need to have a cell phone that is capable of receiving text messages to complete the setup process. The cell phone number must be on file with the school. All three options are available 24 hours a day. Reminder: After Sept. 6, there is no longer an absence reporting phone line at school. If you have any questions or require any assistance, contact the school directly.

Page 7 Whiteoaks Wednesday Weekly

Summer Programs at The Story Garden

Page 8 Whiteoaks Wednesday Weekly

September Bus Information

Page 9 Whiteoaks Wednesday Weekly

September Bus Information

WELCOMING ALL KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN TO YOUNG RIDER ORIENTATION DAY

Introduce your children to school buses prior to the first day of school

Saturday, August 27, 2016 9:00 am – 12:00 noon

We encourage you to participate by bringing your kindergarten children and elementary age siblings to a one hour program between the hours of 9:00 am and 12:00 noon. Bus rides and a school bus safety video are only part of the informative fun! To confirm your attendance and preferred time slot, please contact one of the bus companies listed below in June 2016.