LARKSPUR PUBLIC SCHOOL growing together today, for tomorrow

111 Larkspur Road Brampton, Ontario L6R 1X2 Phone: 905-799-2952 Fax: 905-799-8109 Website: http:/ /schools.peelschools.org/1477

JANUARY 2015 DATES FOR YOUR CALENDAR January 5 First day back January 09 Character Education Assembly / Pyjama Day January 19 PA Day January 22 Family Literacy Night (5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.)

KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION DATES (MORE INFORMATION BELOW)

February 2 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. February 3 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. February 4 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. February 5 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. PRINCIPAL’S MESSAGE

I would like to welcome all of our students back to Larkspur Public School from the Winter Holiday Break and on behalf of all the Staff at Larkspur Public School, wish all our families a Happy New Year! As we move into a new year we reflect on all the wonderful things happening at Larkspur such as our Character Education assemblies, our Walk to School Wednesdays, intramural sports, musicals, and the amazing learning that happens each day in our classrooms. We learn together and grow as a Larkspur School community, looking ahead to the various activities being planned for the whole school. Remember to smile every day and we look forward to continuing our journey together in 2015.

LARKSPUR GIVES - FOOD DRIVE

During the month of December, the Grade 4’s have been very busy collecting and sorting food for the Knight's Table Food Drive, which is a local charity that provides food to people and families here in Brampton. To help promote our Larkspur Food Drive, Peel Regional Police Officers, Staff and Students had a Floor Hockey Tournament on December 15. It was very well received and generated a lot of food for the Knight’s Table. By

December 17th, we had collected a total of 875 items! Well done and thank you to all of the students, families and staff members who have helped so many families in need by donating to this wonderful charity! Way to go Larkspur!

GREENING OUR COMMUNITY

Larkspur's Green Club students have been meeting and collaborating to work on helping our school and community be Eco Friendly. We are continuing to take responsibility for our adopted park (Giffen Family Park) by cleaning up the park of litter each month. Earlier this year, we conducted an energy audit to help us determine where we can save energy as a school. We are currently working on a campaign to educate students about what can be recycled so that the recycling does not become contaminated with non-recyclable materials. Have a Wonderful Holiday Season! Remember to reuse your wrappings as much as possible!

ONTARIO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM The City of Brampton is offering a free exciting after school program that will be fun for our Larkspur children between the ages of 8 to 13. The program will focus on three areas that include:

Physical Activity (i.e., sports, swimming, dance or fitness)

Healthy Eating and Nutrition Education (Preparing and eating healthy snacks)

Wellness and Personal Health Education (Focus on prevention issues that pertain to bullying, violence and body image)

WHO: City of Brampton WHERE: Chinguacousy Wellness Centre (955 Peter Robertson Blvd) WHEN: Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays (September 2, 2014 until June 25, 2015) TIME: 2:50 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. MEETING PLACE: Larkspur Public School and walk to the Chinguacousy Wellness Centre

This program is free of charge and is offered on a first come first serve basis. If you are interested please read the information at the end of this newsletter, fill out the application and drop it off at the Chinguacousy Wellness Centre (995 Peter Robinson Blvd) as soon as possible.

FAMILY VACATIONS Just a reminder to parents, if you are going to be taking a family vacation at a time where your child will miss school, the teachers will not be expected to prepare a work package that will go along with your child. If the student will be absent for an extended time, it would be advisable to register the child in one of the local schools in the vacation location.

Keeping a journal, creating a scrapbook of interesting sites and events while away, writing postcards back to the class or creating a collection of information about the location of the vacation are good ways to keep your child reading and writing while away. For mathematics, calculating distances travelled, collecting, organizing, and/or graphing numerical data during the trip will also keep your child in touch with mathematics.

These are a few suggestions that are frequently used by students and their families for a fun and enjoyable way to continue to practice their skills, as well as creating a souvenir of the vacation. Parents are asked to submit a letter to the school prior to the vacation indicating the departure and return dates.

It's time to register children born in 2011 for kindergarten Register at Larkspur Public School on Feb. 2, 3, 4 & 5 We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2011, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2014. Registration will be held at our school from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 2, 3, 4 and 5 and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 5 What you will need to bring to registration Proof of child's age

Canadian birth certificate Canadian passport citizenship card/certificate Permanent Resident Card confirmation of permanent residence work permit refugee permit

Proof of address

Ontario driver's license utility bill bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution) credit card statement federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada documents) purchase agreement

Proof of custody

children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation supports an alternate living arrangement

Proof of immunization

proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated Important information about immunization In order to attend school in Ontario, your child must have an up-to-date immunization record. When you register your child for school, you will provide copy of your child's immunization record and the school will send it to Peel Health. After registration, keeping your child's records up to date is your responsibility. Peel Health reviews immunization records regularly. Students who are not completely immunized and do not have a valid exemption may not be allowed to attend school. For information about immunization, or to get a copy of your child's record call Health Line Peel at 905-799-7700; Caledon residents can call toll-free at 905-584-2216. Translation services are available.

Bus cancellation & closing schools due to bad weather During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather. Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be announced on radio and television stations listed below and posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca. Information will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146. VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680 CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1 CFRB AM1010 EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860 FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107 CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS CTV

One of the following messages will be announced (highlighted text only): Peel District School Board buses are cancelled. This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require busing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual. All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed. This means that all schools and Board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits. All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled. This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed. All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled. This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

Help your family stay warm this winter

Canada Safety Council recommends the following tips for staying comfortable and preventing hypothermia when working or playing outdoors:

Wear a warm hat—most body heat is lost through the head. Children should keep an extra hat at school.

Wear layered clothing. Layers allow warm air to stay trapped around the body. Protect your feet and hands. Wear loose waterproof boots. If the boots have liners, carry an

extra pair to replace damp ones or take an extra pair of socks. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Carry an extra pair of mittens to school, on outings, etc.

Prevent dehydration and exhaustion, which can lead to hypothermia. Drink plenty of fluids and pace yourself when doing vigorous activities.

Stay fit by exercising and eating well—people who are fit are less susceptible to hypothermia. If you stay indoors, avoid moving from a hot environment to a cold one. Excessive sweating

caused from an extreme change in temperature increases the risk of developing hypothermia. Eat high-energy food such as nuts and raisins. If you are travelling (on the road or in the wilderness) carry emergency supplies.

Traffic safety in our community

Safety is a top priority at our school. Here is a list of traffic tips to keep students, staff and parents safe while commuting to and from school.

Respect traffic signs and road markers around the school.

Drive slowly and with caution on and near school property. Adhere to the posted speed limits on any surrounding streets used by students on their way to and from school.

Always yield to pedestrian traffic. Wait for students, staff members and parents to cross before driving past them.

When dropping your child off at the school, use the Kiss'n'Ride area. This is a supervised area that is designed to keep students safe.

Do not double park or do anything else to block traffic or draw your child off the curb and into traffic. Do not take shortcuts over curbs.

Have your child ready to exit the car when you reach the curb. Say goodbye to your child before you park at the curb to let your child out of your car.

During regular drop-off times, students are to remain in the car until it is safe for them to exit the car onto the curb.

Follow the directions of staff or volunteers on duty in the school parking lot and treat staff, students, volunteers, passengers and other drivers with respect.

Consider parking off site and walking a short distance to school. This will give you time to talk to your children about their day, review new vocabulary words, math concepts, etc.

Remind your child to only cross the street at an intersection or crosswalk. They should never “jaywalk” by crossing in the middle of the street.

Students who bike to school should always wear a helmet, and follow all traffic laws. They should only cross the street at a crosswalk or intersection—never in the middle of the road.

Register for French Immersion by Jan. 30, 2015

Are you thinking of registering your child for Grade 1 French Immersion (FI) for the 2015-16 school year? Registration for Grade 1 FI for the 2015-16 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Monday Nov. 24, 2014 at 9 a.m. The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at 4 p.m. Registrants after that date will be put on a waiting list. The FI school for our area is Carberry Public School. The phone number is 905-458-6771 of Carberry Public School. Registration process A grade 1 FI enrolment cap is in place. This means that a specific number of spots are available for students entering grade 1 FI. If the number of students registered by the deadline exceeds the number of spots in grade 1 FI, a random selection process system will be used to identify students gaining entrance into the grade 1 FI program. All students who make the registration deadline will be placed in a random selection process and assigned a rank using a computerized random selection process. Spots are not assigned on a first come, first served basis. Once students have been assigned to all available spots, remaining students will be placed, again in rank order, on the school's waitlist. Some students will be automatically placed in grade 1 FI. To find out if your child does not need to participate in the random selection process, and for more information about the random selection and waitlist processes, visit www.peelschools.org/French. How to get more information

Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/French.

Call Carberry Public School at 905-458-6711 Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.

Register for Extended French by Jan. 30, 2015

Are you thinking of registering your child for Grade 7 Extended French (EF) for the 2015-16 school year? Registration for Grade 7 EF for the 2015-16 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French as of Monday Nov. 24, 2014 at 9 a.m. The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at 4 p.m. Registrants after that date will be put on a waiting list. The EF school for our area is Sir John A. Macdonald Senior PS. The phone number is 905-457-5535 of Sir John A. Macdonald Senior PS. How to get more information

Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/French.

Call Sir John A. Macdonald Senior PS at 905-457-5535. Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.

Celebrating Faith and Culture January 2015

DATE

CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

Month of January K'aliyee Aboriginal Spirituality January 1 and 14 New Year’s Day Christianity and Canada January 1 Gantan-sai Shinto January 1 Temple Day Buddhism Eve of January 2 to 3 Milad-un-Nabi Islam January 5 Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Sikhism January 5 Mahayana New Year Buddhism January 6 and 19 Epiphany or Feast of Theophany Christianity January 7 Christmas Christianity January 7 Amitabha Buddha’s Birthday Buddhism January 12 Seijin-no-hi Shinto January 12 Lohri Hinduism January 13 Makar Sankranti Hinduism January 13 Maghi Sikhism January 18 World Religion Day Bahá'í January 19 to February 6 Month of Sultán Bahá'í January 24 Vasant Panchami Hinduism January 27 Sakyamuni Buddha’s

Enlightenment Buddhism

ONTARIO AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM Dear Parent(s) / Guardian, The City of Brampton in partnership with the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport is pleased announce that The Ontario Afterschool Program will be starting again on Tuesday September 2nd, 2014. This program is being offered free of charge to a small amount of children ages 8-13 years old in our community and includes all supplies and snacks. The program provides an opportunity for participants to develop and learn in a fun environment . It provides families with a safe and secure location for their children and provides the community with youth focused activities they can support. The program will take place at the Chinguacousy Wellness Centre on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. The children will meet in the gym of Larkspur Public School after school where they will be walked to the Chinguacousy Wellness Centre under the supervision of program facilitators. You may pick up your child from the Chinguacousy Wellness (995 Peter Robertson Blvd) no later than 6:00pm. The program runs the full school year from September 2nd , 2014 until June 25th, 2015, however, it does not run on scheduled PA days or during Christmas Break and March Break. Your child would be required to attend on all three days on a weekly basis. Should their attendance fall below the scheduled 3 days, they will be removed from the program and their space will be offered to another child. The Ontario Afterschool Program focuses on the following three areas - Physical activity, Healthy Eating and Nutrition Education, Wellness and Personal Health Education. Children will enjoy approximately one hour of exercise such as a sport, swimming, dance or fitness class per day. Once our physical activity is complete children will help prepare and eat a healthy snack . All snacks will include a fruit or vegetable and we will not allow any snack containing sugar or trans-fats into the program. As part of the snack preparation the children will also learn how to incorporate healthy food choices into their daily life. Our Wellness portion uses interactive games to address issues youth face today, such as bullying, violence prevention, positive body image, tobacco and substance abuse. There will also be time set aside for homework, passive games and art and cultural activities. If you would like your child to participate please fill in the attached registration form and return it to the Chinguacousy Wellness Centre (995 Peter Robertson Blvd) as soon as possible. Positions for this program will occur on a first come first serve basis, with any overflow of participants being put onto the waitlist, until spaces can be opened for them. Should you have any questions regarding the program please feel free to contact me at the number provided below. Best regards, Rosanna Santoro Recreation Programmer Chinguacousy Wellness Centre Work: (905)789-6111 ext.63342