January 2016

Westwood Public School
January 2016 Newsletter
PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE:
Happy New Year and all the best to you and your family in 2016!
The winter weather is upon us. Please be sure to send your children with warm outdoor clothing
including a coat, snowpants, boots, hats and mittens. We have extra hats, scarves and gloves for
students to use when needed. They are located in the front foyer in bins for student use.
New Winter teams and clubs will be starting right away. Be sure to encourage your children to listen
to the announcements and sign up for extra-curriculars at school.
We are very happy to announce that we will be running the Triple P: Positive Parenting Program from
the Public Health Unit on Tuesday, January 19th from 9am to 11am. This is a fantastic, award
winning program that helps all parents use positive strategies when dealing with common parenting
challenges. To sign up, please contact Mr. Anderson at 519-823-5450 ext 224.
School starts at 8:50 each day. We have yard supervisors outside starting at 8:35. Please do your
best to make sure your children arrive on time each day so that they can have a good start to their
learning.
Kindergarten Registration for September 2016 will begin on January 28th from 4:30pm-6:30pm in the
school gym. If you have a child, or know of children who are turning 4 years old in 2016, please be
sure to come to the school on January 28th.
READING BUDDIES:
On behalf of Westwood students and staff, Mr. Anderson and I would like to thank the Reading
Buddies for their commitment to Westwood. We appreciate their time and expertise as they work with
our students to improve their reading skills.
HIGH SCHOOL PARENT INFORMATION NIGHTS:
Guardians and Grade 8 students are welcome to attend the following Parent Information Nights:
GCVI on January 12th from 6-9 pm.
College Heights January 13th 6:30 - 8:30pm
Tour the school, see the classes, and meet the teachers.
These information nights are evenings where you will have the opportunity to hear about all of the
Grade Nine courses offered at each of the Secondary Schools and will provide you some guidelines
to help you choose the appropriate courses for your son or daughter.
Teachers from GCVI and College Heights will be coming to Westwood this month to assist with
course selection for our Grade 8 students.
CHRISTMAS CONCERT:
Congratulations to all students who participated in the Christmas concert. What a
talented group of students Westwood has! Thanks to all the staff who helped out, and a
special thanks to Mrs. Warnholtz for all her efforts. It was great to see so many children
perform and so many from our community come to enjoy the festivities!
STUDENT COUNCIL:
Student council would like to thank all students, parents and other community members for their
support during the holiday events. It was fun to see everyone wearing special colours and hats for the
various dress up days, especially all the teachers as Christmas trees! Thanks, too, for supporting our
student council and buying Candy Grams. Lots of people received special candy cane treats from
family and friends. December was fantastic and the school spirit was contagious! This month's theme
is “ZEST”. Our Wonderkids assembly will be on Friday January 29 as well as a “WACKY”spirit day!
Be ready to wear ‘wacky’ clothes, socks, hats or whatever you can imagine!
PD DAY:
Reminder of our next PD Day on Friday, January 22nd, 2015. There is no school for students on this
day.
WONDERKIDS:
Congratulations to our December winners! The theme was Cooperation.
Kindergarten: Nakita, Lucas, Gwen
Grade 1: Lily, Gavin
Grade 2: Omar
Grade 3: Maliyah
Grade 4: Natasha, Ashley
Grade 5: Dilani
Grade 6: Nina, Amaija
Grade 7/8: Vinrey, Amandeep, Noble
LIBRARY NEWS:
Thanks to everyone who returned their books before the holiday. Mrs. Warnholtz had a BIG job
shelving all those books.
This month we will be starting the “Forest of Reading” book clubs for all grades. This is a Canada
wide program that brings Canadian authors and students together. Encourage your child to join!
January will also be tech month at our “Maker Spaces” in the library. Students will be given
opportunity to explore ‘Cubelets’, Sphero’ and more!
MILK ORDERS
Milk Order forms for February to April will be going home the week of January 11th. Please send the
order form back to school by Friday, January 15th if you're interested.
WESTWOOD SAFETY PATROL:
Students on our Westwood Safety Patrol Team perform a very important duty each and every day of
the school year. It is their responsibility to look out for the safety of our students as they walk to and
from school. In order for this to happen, patrols need the respect and cooperation of all Westwood
students. As parents, you can help by encouraging your child to obey safety patrols at all times and
use the patrolled crosswalks.
Safety Patrol Students patrol at the following crosswalks at the following times:
Rhonda & Willow, and Westwood’s Parking Lot at
8:35-8:50 & 3:20-3:35.
Note: On extremely cold days when the temperature reaches -25 or less including windchill, safety
patrol students will only be on post 5 minutes before the morning bell (8:45-8:50) and five minutes
after the dismissal bell (3:20-3:25).
Hot Chocolate: Patrols who are on post need to bring a mug on Monday, Wednesdays and Fridays
for hot chocolate. A warm thank you for all your outdoor work!
Congratulations to our Star Patroller for the Fall 2015: Taylor H
Parking Lot Access:
Please remember that vehicle access to the parking lot is strictly
prohibited 15 minutes before and after school for the safety of our students.
Safety Patrols are located in the parking lot to direct students and
parents to use the path to walk around the parking lot and to help monitor
vehicle access to the parking lot. Please respect and obey our Safety Patrol
Students, they are just doing their job to ensure the safety of all our students.
Questions or concerns?
Please direct any questions or concerns you may have regarding our Safety Patrol Program and
restricted parking lot access to Mrs. Topping or Mr. Anderson. We ask that you do not confront our
Safety Patrol Students directly.
Upcoming Patrol Events:
Hot Chocolate Program - January to March
FULL DAY KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION:
Kindergarten Registration will be held during the day on February 1st -5th, 2016.
We will also be holding registration on the evening of Thursday, January 28th
from 4:30-6:30pm.
Eligible students for the Junior Kindergarten program must be four years of age
on or before December 31, 2016 and students must be five years of age on or
before December 31, 2016 to register for Senior Kindergarten.
Please note: students currently in Junior Kindergarten do not need to register for Senior Kindergarten.
Parents are required to complete the “STUDENT ADMISSION FORM” (Version 19) which is found on
the Upper Grand District School Board website- www.ugdsb.on.ca/admission and provide the
following information to register their child for kindergarten:
● Proof of birth date. ie Birth Certificate/Canadian Citizenship, Permanent Resident Card. The
following website allows parents to complete their Birth Certificate Application on-line or print off a
blank application – http://www.forms.ssb.gov.on/ca/mbs/ssb/forms.nsf/AttachDocsPublish/00711076E~1/$File/11076E.pdf
● Proof of Date of Entry, if born outside of Canada (i.e. stamped passport, citizenship & Immigration
Canada documentation, statement notarized by a Notary Public, Permanent Resident Card or
Confirmation of Permanent Residence document)
● Proof of and full address (i.e. driver’s license, purchase/rental agreement, bank statement, or
hydro bill.)
● Current Immunization Record
● Custody Order documentation (if applicable)
CLUBS & TEAMS
Intermediate Girls and Intermediate Boys Basketball is starting the first week of January.
Ms. Fitzgibbon is running an Intermediate Games Club during the morning recess.
Mrs. Shrives and Mr. Anderson will be starting the very popular Books and Ball Hockey program
again.
DATES TO REMEMBER
Jan 4 - Return to School
Jan 11 - Grade 8 GCVI Course Selection 1:30pm
Jan 12 - Guelph Police Presentations (Grade 6-8)
Jan 12 - Grade 8 Parents' Night at GCVI 6pm to 9pm
Jan 13 - Grade 5/6 to River Run
Jan 13 - Grade 8 Parents' Night at College Heights 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Jan 19 - Power of Positive Parenting - 9AM
Jan 20 - Grade 3/4 to River Run
Jan 22 - PD Day (no school for students)
Jan 27 - Fluoride Screening
Jan 28 - Grade 8 - College Heights Course Selection 12PM
Jan 28 - Kindergarten Registration 4:30-6:30
Jan 29 - Wacky Spirit Day & Wonderkids Assembly @ 1:45pm
Talking About Mental Health January 2016- Apps for Mental Health
Today it seems like there's an app for almost everything! Apps can be useful for helping us to learn
and practice new skills. Interactive apps can help children and youth learn about how to identify
feelings, how to relax, and even about navigating social situations. Check out some of the apps below
and learn together with your child.
Apps are not a substitute for talking with a professional, so be sure to contact your local mental health
agency if you or your child needs support.
Touch and Learn – Emotions (Free)
Encourages children to look at body language and facial expressions to help them identify feelings
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/touch-and-learn-emotions/id451685022?mt=8
Mind Shift (Free)
An app designed to help youth cope with anxiety
http://www.anxietybc.com/resources/mindshift-app
Smiling Mind (Free)
An app that guides children and youth through simple, calming meditations
http://smilingmind.com.au/
Relaxing Sounds of Nature (Free)
Listen to the calming sounds of nature
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/free-relaxing-sounds-nature/id345747251?mt=8
Zen Space (Free)
Relax by raking sand and creating a tranquil space
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/zen-space/id371463710?mt=8
Zen View(Free)
Relax by listening to rain and watching water swirl
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/zenview/id499881701?mt=8
3 Minute Mindfulness (One strategy is free. Full app is $4.59)
Learn simple deep breathing strategies
https://itunes.apple.com/ca/app/3-minute-mindfulness-breathing/id982502810?mt=8
I Know How You Feel (“Lite” version is free. Full version is $11.99)
Children learn how to identify feelings in specific situations
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/i-know-how-you-feel/id960352272?mt=8
Kailey Thompson, MSW, Specialized Mental Health Interventionist, compiled and tested out the
Apps.
Dr. Lynn Woodford, Psychologist, is the Mental Health and Addiction Lead for Upper Grand District
School Board Follow me on twitter: @drlynnwoodford
INQUIRY
HOW TO SUPPORT INQUIRY AT HOME
Now-a-days ?knowing st uf f ? is no l onger
enough. Any resourcef ul st udent wit h an iPad
coul d sit in f ront of t he TV and Googl e al l t he
quest ions t o Al ex Trebek's responses on
Jeopardy, and get t hem correct . We are
moving away f rom simpl y "knowing cont ent ,"
t o being abl e t o appl y knowl edge in
int erest ing, creat ive, and crit ical ways. To
accompl ish t his, st udent s and t eachers need
t o ask t he right quest ions. Asking t he right
quest ions is what inquiry is al l about .
Chil dren are great at asking quest ions. They
are nat ural l y curious, and are const ant l y
asking quest ions t o make sense of t heir
worl d.
Inst ead of just t el l ing your chil d t he
answer, t ry one of t hese st rat egies.
First , you can get t hem t o l ook up t he
answer. This wil l hel p t hem devel op
t he abil it y t o sol ve t heir own
probl ems. Or, you can ask t hem "What
do you t hink?" This wil l give you
insight int o what t hey al ready know,
and t hen you can ask t hem more
quest ions t o guide t hem t o an answer.
An inquiry-based approach is seen
t hroughout t he Ont ario Curricul um.
St udent s l earn best when t hey are
f ormul at ing t heir own quest ions and
working t owards sol ut ions t hrough
discussion wit h t heir peers.
A closed-quest ion:
These are questions with a specific
answer. Here are two examples:
TIPS FOR INQUIRY AT HOME
Why do some stars twinkle?
What colours mix to make purple?
Closed-questions are great questions for
your child to look-up in a book, or google.
An open-quest ion:
These are questions that could be
answered in many ways. Here is an
example:
- Resist providing the answer
- Resist giving a procedure (math)
- Ask questions to clarify their
thinking
- Ask your child to explain the
reasons behind their answer
How can we best support the Syrian
refugees?
Open-questions are great questions for
you to explore with your child. Discuss
with them what they already know, and
help them form their own answer.
All images are used, with permission, from the
creative commons.