november - 2014 - New Lowell Central Public School

NEW LOWELL CENTRAL PUBLIC SCHOOL
5197 County Road 9, New Lowell, Ontario L0M 1N0
Phone 705-424-0991/Fax 424-0012
Cathy Bell, Principal
Greg Daniels, Principal’s Assistant
November 2014
CHARACTER TRAIT: COURAGE – We do the right thing even when it is difficult
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
November 3:
School Council Meeting
November 3:
Character Recognition Assembly
November 7:
Progress Reports Go Home
November 11: Remembrance Day Assembly – 10:45 a.m.
November 12: Good Food Box orders due
November 12 – 14: Book Fair
November 13: Spaghetti Dinner and Silent Auction
November 13: Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews – p.m.
November 14: Parent/Teacher/Student Interviews – a.m.
November 14: EP Day Elementary
November 19: Good Food Box pick up
Principal’s Desk
New Lowell School has a new web page.
Teacher volunteers are working to keep
our page informative and updated. Thanks
to Mr. Daniels, Miss Hartley and Mr.
Anderson. Our school is now on Twitter.
Follow us at NLO_@scdsb.
SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT
EQAO results have been released and we have a lot to
celebrate! Our grade 3 students have seen a steady increase
over the last 3 years and are above the Board and Provincial
Average in Reading (78 %) and in Math (74%). Writing
results were 74% at the Provincial level -2% below the Board
average. In grade 6, great gains were made in Reading (87%)
and writing (77%) and were above the Board and Provincial
Average. Grade 6 Math scores were significantly lower in the
Board and Province with our school scoring 32%. Our
School Improvement Plan for this school year will focus
heavily on Mathematics. This will include students’ mindset
around math, improving computational skills and focusing on
problem solving steps and strategies in all grade levels. We
encourage you to help support your child at home by asking
about math, visiting math game sites featured on our School
Web Page and/or included in Teacher’s Newsletter or playing
card or dice games with your child. Just as we encourage 1520 minutes of reading each night, we would also encourage
that the same amount of time be spent consolidating numeracy
skills.
Please Note:
 Staff supervision is not available for students until 8:45
a.m.
 Ensure that all children are sent with clothing suited for
the colder temperatures.
Listen to the radio (KICX 104.1, ROCK 95, CHAY 93.1 or
PEAK 95.1) and/or check the Board website
(www.scdsb.on.ca) for bus cancellations. New Lowell
Central P.S. is classified in the Simcoe County West Zone.
STAFF CHANGES
Welcome to Ms. Stewart who is providing Planning Time in
our Kindergarten Classrooms, Mr. Anderson our half time
SERT and Day 4 and 5 p.m. in Miss Bumstead’s classroom
and Mrs. Halliday (EA) who is working in the afternoons.
DROPPING STUDENTS OFF AT SCHOOL
Our parking lot is extremely busy in the morning and at 3:30
dismissal. Parents/Guardians who drop off or pick up their
child are asked to do so at the east gates of the school.
Students should not be let out or picked up in the parking
lot. Please remain behind the buses in the parking lot and wait
until they have dropped off / picked up students. Do not go
around the school bus when it is stopped in our parking lot!
Our entrance to the school parking lot is ONE WAY ONLY.
An alternative is to drop off students at the road side where
they would access the sidewalk and proceed to the pathway on
the east side.
Your cooperation and understanding with this matter of safety
is much appreciated.
HAVE YOUR SAY ABOUT THE SIMCOE COUNTY
DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD’S MISSION, VISION AND
VALUES
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is
renewing its mission, vision and values. Your input is needed.
Feedback is being gathered through a short survey. Find more
information and the survey here: www.scdsb.on.ca/mission.
The deadline to respond to the survey is November 12. We
appreciate you taking the time to share your views. Please also
share this information with others who may be interested.
SIMCOE COUNTY DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
CIRCLE OF LEARNING PARENT ACADEMY - FREE
WORKSHOPS TO HELP YOU BOOST YOUR CHILD’S
SUCCESS
As a parent/guardian, you were your child’s first teacher and
you are still his or her most important teacher. Your
involvement in your child’s education has an impact on
success. Register to attend workshops throughout the year
designed to help you support your child’s learning and
development.
Sessions include:
 Successful transitions – how parents can guide their
children to achieve their full potential

Make the difference in math with a growth mindset

Math 101 - all parents can support their children in
math

Resilience: Nine things kids need from their families,
schools, and communities
Find workshop dates, times, descriptions and register online at
www.scdsb.on.ca/circleoflearning.
The Circle of Learning Parent Academy is hosted by the
Simcoe County District School Board’s Parent Involvement
Committee and made possible with the support of the Ministry
of Education through a Parents Reaching Out Grant.
CHANGES TO ELEMENTARY
REPORT CARDS
The provincial government has updated
elementary report cards to align with
changes in the curriculum. The changes
are minor and reflect changed to the
curriculum in the following areas:



French as a Second Language (Grades 1 to 8)
Changes: the three areas of evaluation (Oral
Communication, Reading, and Writing) were
changed to four areas: Listening, Speaking, Reading,
and Writing. Report cards will now list these four
areas.
Social Studies, History and Geography in Elementary
(Grades 1 to 6)
Changes: two areas of study were renamed: Heritage
and Citizenship to Heritage and Identity, and Canada
and World Connections to People and Environments.
Reporting the Arts in Elementary (Grades 1 to 8)
Changes: all four areas of study for the Arts (Dance,
Drama, Music, and Visual Arts) now have a box to
indicate if the subject was taught in French.
For more information, and to see examples of the report cards,
visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca and search for ‘Report Cards’
in the upper right search box.
Bus cancellation information in case
of inclement weather
Fall weather has certainly arrived,
which means winter is just around the
corner in Simcoe County. With it comes the possibility of
severe inclement weather conditions, challenging winter
driving conditions and, as a result, possible bus and school
event cancellations.
All information regarding cancelled buses in Simcoe County
is posted on the Simcoe County Student Transportation
Consortium’s bus information website at
www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca. Our school is in the West
zone. When buses are cancelled, please remember that schools
are still open (unless otherwise noted) for student learning.
The Consortium, in conjunction with bus operators, will make
the decision to cancel school buses before 6 a.m. and as such,
will make every effort to post announcements between 6 and 7
a.m. Parents should also note that inclement weather
cancellations are effective for the whole day and buses
cancelled in the morning will not run at the end of the day.
SHARE YOUR FEEDBACK ABOUT THE FUTURE OF
EDUCATION IN ONTARIO
The Ontario Ministry of Education is inviting input on the
development of the next phase of Ontario’s education strategy.
Individuals can provide feedback through an online
submission form here:
www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/about/survey.html.
The deadline to provide feedback is Nov. 15. For more
information about the consultation, visit
www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/about/excellent.html.
STUDENT IMMUNIZATIONS
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit is
currently reviewing the immunization records of
students in our school. If you have received an
immunization questionnaire, please be sure to
provide the health unit with the requested information.
Information can be provided to the health unit in the following
ways:
Online: www.simcoemuskokahelath.org/immsonline
Call: 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 ext 8807
Fax: 705-721-1495
In addition, Nurses from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health
Unit will be in school over the winter providing
immunizations to grade 7 students and grade 8 girls who
provided consent. Consent forms and fact sheets for the
Hepatitis B and Meningococcal Conjugate ACWY vaccines
for grade 7’s and Human Papillomavirus vaccine for grade 8
girls were sent home in September. The consent forms and
fact sheets are available on the immunization page of the
health unit’s website. If you have questions or concerns,
please call Your Health Connection.
YEARBOOK
The yearbook is in full swing again this year. Yearbooks are
just $22 and include an original artwork cover designed by
one of our very own New Lowell Chargers. (The contest will
be held in the new year). It will have 48 full colour pages,
including spirit days, teams and clubs, houses, grad 8 grads,
kindie grads and so much more! Order forms will be going
home this month, please watch for them in your child’s bag.
Yearbooks will also be available to purchase at the Parent
Teacher interviews on November 13th and 14th. We accept
cash and cheques (written to New Lowell Central Public
School). You can also pay with your credit card online,
checkout ybpay.lifetouch.com and search New Lowell.
Receipts will be given out this year, please keep it in a safe
place.
This year we are also offering business advertising in the
yearbook. Your advertising dollars will help offset the rising
cost of the publishing a full colour yearbook. For a fee of just
$20 we will offer your business a two lined tag line at the
bottom of a yearbook page (you can even request which
page1!). Receipts will be provided. If you are interested
please contact Mrs. Haufe at [email protected] or 705-4240991.
LIBRARY NEWS
Start Your Christmas Shopping Early!!!
Books Make Great Gifts!!!
We are very excited to be hosting our second book fair in
November. It will be open on Wednesday, November 12th
during nutrition breaks, Thursday, November 13 th during
nutrition breaks and for the evening of Parent/Teacher
Interviews. We will be open Friday, November 14 th until
noon during parent/teacher interviews. Please drop by and see
us then. This is a great opportunity to start some early
Christmas shopping and to donate a book to your child’s
classroom. Check out the Teacher’s Wish Lists while you
browse over a wide selection of popular reading materials as
well as nifty gift ideas. We look forward to seeing you then.
MABEL’S LABELS FUNDRAISER
Tired of your child loosing things?! Our school has a large
lost and found! Help minimize lost belongings with the help
of Mabel’s Labels. Mabel’s Labels is a company with all
types of labels that are colourful, indestructible, easy-to-use
and fun! Iron-Ons, Stickies, Bag Tags, Allergy Alert labels &
more! Personalize your labels with names, nicknames, initials
- whatever you choose. Cool icons help even little ones
identify their own belongings. Dishwasher, microwave,
laundry & kid tested! Dispatched within 24 hours! Visit
http://www.newlowell.mabelslabels.com/ to place your order
while helping our fundraiser! All funds raised will be used for
to enhance our playground.
FIRST TERM PROGRESS REPORTS
First term progress reports will be sent
home on Friday, November 7th. Our
parent/student/teacher interviews will be
held on the evening of Thursday,
November 13th, and the morning of
Friday, November 14th. Friday,
November 14th is an E.P. Day. Forms have been sent home
for these interviews and confirmations from the classroom
teachers will be sent home.
Why are parent/student/teacher interviews important?
Conferences give you a chance to get to know your child’s
teacher, learn about the program your child will be studying
(the curriculum) and discuss the strengths and weaknesses of
your child with the person who will be helping him/her to
learn this year. During these conferences particular attention
will paid to your child’s development of their learning skills.
These skills are very important to the life-long success of all
students. Please spend time discussing the importance of
these with your child(ren).
As a parent, what should you do to prepare for a parentteacher conference?
 Talk to your child beforehand. Have a good
understanding of the expectations of the teacher, the
curriculum, homework assignments and any issues that
you should raise with the teacher.
 Be prepared to share specific examples if you have
concerns about any aspect of the classroom or program
 If applicable, bring your child’s latest report card with
you so that you can discuss it in more detail.
 Make a list of things that will help the teacher better
understand your child, such as any special health or
medical needs, outside interests and hobbies that may
have an impact on school, and events occurring at home
that may affect your child’s learning (such as the sickness
or death of someone close, change in your home life or
past school experiences.)
 Share approaches that have worked for you when dealing
with your child that the teacher might also find useful.
 Put together a list of things you would like to find out
from the teacher such as services and programs the school
offers, discipline policies, how your child will be assessed
and graded, homework expectations, or extra curricular
activities that your child can take part in.
Helpful Hints for Conferences:
 If possible, both parents should attend the conference.
See if you can exchange babysitting with another parent.
 Be on time. Most conferences will be held on a day when
teachers are meeting back to back throughout the day.
When one parent is delayed, it backs up the meetings of
all other parents and creates more pressure for the teacher.
 Follow-up with the teacher if there are areas discussed
during the conference that require further action.
If you feel your child’s progress warrants a discussion with the
principal, either call ahead to plan a meeting on parent’s night
or schedule a follow up meeting at another time.
TERRY FOX FUNDRAISER
This September marked our 20th year participating in the Terry
Fox Run! We set a goal, if we raised $2000, then Mrs.
Wiederer and Ms. Doka would cut off their hair and donate it
to make wigs for people with cancer. We didn’t reach our
goal this year, but we still raised $1864.50 bringing our grand
total of $332,907.27 in 20 years. Mrs. Wiederer and Ms.
Doka are good spirited and decided to cut and donate their hair
anyways. On Tuesday, October 28th their hair was cut in front
of the school and has since been donated. Seven lucky
students got to have the honour of cutting a teacher’s hair.
Students earned this privilege by fundraising the most money.
Congratulations to Madi, Bailey, Kylee, Brittany, Amy, Seth
(each raised $85) and Santana raised $110. Thank you for all
your donations and for helping to keep Terry’s dream alive!
Thank you to Jaime-Lynn from A Small Hair Studio in
Stayner for coming in to assist with the hair cutting.
PROTECT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY FROM THE FLU
Influenza is a potentially serious illness, which is different
from the common cold or the stomach flu. The virus spreads
easily from person to person – especially children. People
who get influenza usually feel quite unwell, and may have a
fever, chills, cough, runny eyes, stuffy nose, sore throat,
headache, muscle aches, extreme weakness and fatigue.
Children can also have earaches, nausea, vomiting, and
diarrhea. The flu shot is recommended for everyone six
months of age and over. The flu shot can help to avoid days
off sick from school or work. It can also help prevent you
taking the flu home to your own family. For the very young
and the old, and for those with chronic illnesses, influenza can
be life threatening—we can all help to prevent the spread of
influenza. The best way to prevent the flu and protect you and
your family is by getting your annual flu shot. New this year,
the Health Unit’s community flu clinics will be by
appointment. For more information about this year’s flu shot
and to book your appointment, visit the health unit’s website
at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org and click on “Book Your
Flu Shot Online” hot button.
LOCAL HEALTH UNIT MONITORING
ENTEROVIRUS D68
You may have heard of a nasty cough that has been
hospitalizing some children in the United States. It has now
been detected in Canada, including communities in Ontario.
This particular bug is called the Enterovirus D68, a cousin of
the family of common cold viruses. For most people
including most children, this virus will cause mild illness
similar to the common cold. Symptoms include fever, runny
nose, sneezing, cough, and body and muscle aches. Most
people don’t need a visit to the clinic or the hospital, and will
get better on their own. There is no specific antibiotic or
antiviral medication or vaccine for D68.
The virus spreads like the common cold, by droplets from
sneezing or coughing and from nasal mucus. It can also be
picked up by touching surfaces that have been contaminated.
This virus behaves much like the cold or influenza, and
protecting yourself and your children is much the same as with
those diseases. For more information, visit the Health Unit’s
website at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.
LOST AND FOUND
The school has quite a few items that have been lost and
found. Mrs. McQuay has bagged quite a few items and the
bag is sitting in the front foyer. If your child has lost
something, please come in and see if it’s in the collection.
GRADE 8 INFORMATION NIGHTS
Is your child starting Grade 9 next year? High school
information nights happen this winter! Information nights give
an overview of what’s new and what to expect, and are a
chance to ask questions.
High school is an exciting time—there are so many programs,
clubs and activities for students to try. Attend the information
night at Stayner Collegiate on November 27th 6:30 p.m. and
Nottawasaga Pines on February 11th at 7:00 p.m.
PARTICIPATE IN THE 2014 ONTARIO CHILD
HEALTH STUDY AND SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH
SURVEYS
The 2014 Ontario Child Health Study is underway and will
provide vital information about the mental health needs of
children and youth living in Ontario today. This study will be
the first of its kind in Canada to examine the influence of
family, community and school environments on child and
youth mental health. The results will be used to develop
programs and services to improve the mental health of young
people in Ontario.
From October 2014 to May 2015, Statistics Canada will be
inviting 7,000 families with children aged 4 -17 to complete
an interview in their home. At the same time, McMaster
researchers will be conducting School Mental Health Surveys
in 240 Ontario schools to help us learn new ways of promoting
and addressing student mental health needs.
Let's make our province a better place for children and
youth. If invited to participate, please say ‘yes’ to the 2014
Ontario Child Health Study and School Mental Health
Surveys. For more information, visit:
www.ontariochildhealthstudy.ca.
SNAC TEAM
The SNAC team (School Nutrition and Activity Committee) is
meeting again this year. We are a group of staff, parents and
community members working towards promoting a healthier
lifestyle. Last year we organized a very exciting and
successful event, Healthpalooza! We have some new and
exciting ideas for this year and we would love for you to join
our team. We are looking for more parents and students to be
part of the SNAC team. If you are even a little interested in
what the SNAC team does, please contact Mrs. Haufe at
[email protected] or 705-424-0991 to get more details. Our
next meeting is Wednesday, November 26th in the school
library at 3:45 p.m. Come out and be healthy!
MAGAZINE CAMPAIGN NOTICE
Please remember that if you ever have an inquiry regarding
your magazine subscription purchase, you can call
QSP/Reader’s Digest’s special school Customer Service
number at 1-800-667-2536.
Please also remember that the school will again be providing
you with the opportunity to purchase and renew your
subscriptions this coming spring. We would appreciate it if
you could hold onto your renewals, and any special price
coupons the publishers may send you, until the school runs the
program. If you renew through the publishers, the school does
not receive credit for the purchases (that’s why they try to get
you to renew early).
PRIMARY DIVISION READING HELPERS
The Primary Teachers are still looking for volunteers to read
with students. Times and days are flexible. Please contact
Ms. Bumstead if you are interested.
NEW LOWELL BREAKFAST PROGRAM
Student nutrition programs are an excellent way to help ensure
that all children have the opportunity to attend school well
nourished and ready to learn.
Child nutrition programs help to:






Provide students with healthy meals and snacks that
provide the energy they need to stay alert and
engaged throughout the school day;
foster a happy and healthy school environment;
decrease student absenteeism, in-class disruptions
and conflict between students;
increase students self-esteem, problem-solving skills
and creative abilities;
develop life-long healthy eating habits; and
provide children and youth with the best chance at
success possible!
Students will be able to come inside from 8:45am - 8:55am.
Parent volunteers, teachers and EA's will have nutritional
breakfast type foods available (toast, cereal, granola bars,
fruit, etc.) Students are asked to enter through the Primary
Doors and proceed to Ms. Bumstead's class.
We are serving between 25-50 kids each morning. We are in
need of parent volunteers that would be able to help out from
8:45am - 9am. Please contact Mrs. Bell if you are able to
volunteer.
HEALTH UNIT
Your Child’s Immunization Record
The Simcoe Muskoka District health Unit is required by law
to keep complete immunization records on every school-aged
child in Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka.
Unfortunately the health unit does not receive immunization
information directly from doctors’ offices; it is the parent’s
responsibility to give all immunization information to the
health unit. If your child’s immunization record is not
complete, you may receive a notice from the health unit
requesting dates for immunization or proof of a valid
exemption. You will also be advised that your child may be
suspended from school if the health unit does not receive this
information. Please check to make sure that your child’s
immunization information is up-to-date and that the health
unit has record of it. If you have any question or concerns,
please call Your Health Connection at (705) 721-7520 or
1-800-721-7520
Nurses from the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit will be
in our school over the winter providing immunizations to
grade 7 students and grade 8 girls who provided consent.
Consent forms and fact sheets for the hepatitis B and
meningococcal conjugate ACWY vaccines for grade 7s and
Human Papillomavirus vaccine for grade 8 girls were sent
home in September. The consent forms and fact sheets are
available on the immunization page of the health unit’s
website at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org. If you have any
questions or concerns, please call Your Health Connection at
(705) 721-7520 or 10877-721-7520.
THE FACTS OF LICE
Working together, we will help keep head lice in check. This
means that all families must do regular head checks and treat
their child if head lice are found. There is a Head Lice Fact
Sheet available on the Simcoe county District Health Unit’s
website at www.simcoehealth.org, click on Health Topics,
then Parenting, then Facts of Lice. For further information,
call the Simcoe County District Health Unit’s Health
Connection Line at 721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520.
NOVEMBER - 2014
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
1
2
3
2
Daylight Saving
Time – Clocks
go back 1 hour
4
3
Character
Recognition
Assembly
School Council
Meeting – 6:30 pm
9
6
5
Subs/Wraps
11
3
12
4
13
Subs/Wraps
Good Food Box
Orders
Interviews
3:30 – 8:00
BOOK FAIR
DAY
BOOK FAIR
Spaghetti
Supper/Silent
Auction
18
2
19
3
24
1
30
27
4
Subs/Wraps
21
22
28
29
5
Pizza
26
3
Popcorn
20
4
25
2
15
E.P DAY
Interviews
9:00 – 12:00
BOOK FAIR 9 12
Good Food Box
Pick up
Subs/Wraps
Popcorn
23
14
5
REMEMBRANCE
17
1
8
Progress Reports
go home
Pizza
Popcorn
16
7
1
Popcorn
10
2
5
4
5
Pizza
November 2014
SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING: MONDAY NOVEMBER 3rd @ 6:30p.m.
Everyone is welcome to attend! Takes place in the library at school.
School Council Fundraising Initiatives
School Council commits to fundraising efforts in order to support the school and student
success. The following outlines this year’s plans:
Fundraising Activities
 Milk Sales
 Steeped Tea
 Valentine’s Day Dance-A-Thon
 Mabel’s Labels
 Christmas Family Photo Booth
 Bradford Greenhouse
 Zumba FUNdraiser
 Vesey’s Spring Bulbs
th
 5
Annual Metal Recycling Day
 Family Entertainment Magician Performance – Magical Duda
Proceeds Will Go Towards the Following Purchases
 Updating Technology Throughout The School
 Subsidizing Class Trips For Each Student
 Playground Enhancement/Outdoor Classroom
 Bus Driver/Custodian Recognition
 Staff Recognition
 Grade 8 Graduation Cake
 In-School Presentations
We appreciate your support in our fundraising initiatives!
STAY INFORMED…Want to receive the monthly meeting minutes?
Send your email address to: [email protected]