Pierre Berton Public School

Principal Wendy McVicar-Lew Office Staff Jane Purdy Zabrina Fraser Superintendent Dianne Hawkins 905-764-6830 Trustee Anna DeBartolo 416-898-9653

Inside This Issue:

Pierre Berton Public School 470 Via Campanile, Vaughan, ON

905-303-4540

Administrator’s Message September, 2012

On behalf of the entire staff, I would like to welcome everyone back to school for the 2012 -2013 school year. This year promises to be another exciting one as we continue to focus on learning conditions that support improved student learning and success. We are committed to ensuring that each of our students has the opportunity to grow and learn in a positive, safe, caring and inclusive environment. Preparing a school for the beginning of a new school year takes the hard work and commitment of many people. I would like to thank our caretakers, Mr. Richardson, Mr. Heighton, Mr. Tansley and Mr. Heighton for their hard work throughout the summer to ensure our school is in great condition to begin a new school year. Mrs. Purdy and Mrs. Fraser, our secretarial staff, were extremely busy last week with new student registrations and preparations for the upcoming school year. Your child’s teachers have also worked at various times throughout the summer in the set up of the classrooms and planning of programs to ensure a successful year for students. We would like to extend a special welcome to our new Pierre Berton staff members: Ms. Nalwa, Mr. McRae, Mr. Pennino, Ms. Bezaire, Ms. Trombino, Ms. Vaze and Mr. Acchione. We know they will enjoy be-ing a part of the Pierre Berton team. At Pierre Berton, we will continue our strong commitment to student learning through intentional, focused instruction for each student. All classes throughout the school will begin with a very focused start to learn-ing creating the conditions for developing a community of thinkers. Across all grades (K to 8), instruction will be dedicated to developing appropriate structures, attitudes and routines related to academic success. In addition, we will continue our focus on building a positive climate for learning through Tribes, Healthy Schools and EcoSchools. We value our partnership with our Pierre Berton families. We look forward to working with you this year.

Important Dates:

Admin. Message Page 1

School Organization Page 2

Important Information Pages 3—4

Safe, Caring and Sup-portive Schools

Pages 5—7

Positive Climates for Learning

Pages 8—9

Calendar Page 10

Sept. 10 Return Book of Forms

Sept. 20 Grade 7/8 Immuniza-tion

Sept. 28 P.A. Day

Oct. 1-5 Safety Awareness Week

Oct. 4 Curriculum Night

Writing the Pages of our Future!

@YRDSB Now Up and Tweeting The York Region District School Board recently entered the social media universe as part of its ongoing effort to en-hance parent, family and community engagement in public education. Parents and students who are interested in learning more about what is going on in York Region public schools are invited to follow the York Region District School Board’s newly established Twitter account. Followers of @ YRDSB can expect to receive information about: opportunities to provide feedback or participate in surveys, busing and transportation, student programs and events, Board policy information, Board meetings and agendas, new content on the YRDSB website, board events and photos, media releases. Visit www.twitter.com/yrdsb to follow the YRDSB.

Tentative School Organization

This is our tentative school organization for the 2012-2013 school year. Please note that due to enrolment changes, we may need to reorganize classes later in September. We appreciate your support. Staff Name Assignment

Jennifer Cain JK/SK Aisha Khan JK/SK Vicky Leone JK/SK Vanessa Tedesco JK/SK Laura Paglia Grade 1 Kerri Hardy Grade 1 Dan McRae Grade 1/2 Karina Starobinsky Grade 2 Mandip Hallan Grade 2/3 Melissa Rosato-Bagheri Grade 3 Stephanie Ridgley Grade 3/4 Kyle McRoberts Grade 4 Stephanie Bezaire Grade 4/5 Tisha Nelson Grade 5 Nadine Cheddie Grade 6 Kristina Leslie Grade 6 Jacqueline Stone Grade 7 Nancy Trombino Grade 7/8 Derek Herbert Grade 8 Jessica Oliveira French Laura Stolf French / Reading Recovery Kevan Li Music Danya Lantz Primary Prep / ELL Christopher Pennino Primary PHE / Health / Drama Diane Cipollone Library / Literacy Anna Bruno Reading Recovery / SERT Ann Matheson SERT Kelpana Vaze SERT Lisa Conforti Jr. Special Ed. Sabina Nalwa D-ECE Shumaila Nasir D-ECE Christina Perri D-ECE Casandra Molella D-ECE Ambreen Agha Support Staff Barb D’Urzo Support Staff Cynthia Hayhoe Support Staff Taruna Nayyar Support Staff Joan Ramlogan-Maraj Support Staff Jane Purdy Office Admin. Assistant Zabrina Fraser Office Admin. Assistant Mike Richardson Lead Caretaker Mark Acchione Caretaker Daniel Tansley Caretaker Wendy McVicar-Lew Principal

Pierre Berton Public School Staff List

School Day Organization: Kindergarten—Grade 8

8:30 a.m.—2:50 p.m.

8:28: Warning Bell 8:30: Entry

8:30—10:10: Instructional Time 10:10—10:30: Recess

10:30—12:10: Instructional Time 12:10—1:10: Lunch

1:10—2:50: Instructional Time 2:50: Dismissal

School Day Organization

Friday, September 28, 2012

Monday, October 22, 2012

Friday, November 23, 2012

Friday, January 18, 2013

Friday, February 1, 2013

Friday, February 15, 2013

Friday, June 7, 2013

Professional Activity & Training Days

Labour Day Monday, September 3, 2012

Thanksgiving Day Monday, October 8, 2012

Christmas/ Monday, December 24, 2012 -

Winter Break Friday, January 4, 2013 inclusive

Family Day Monday, February 18, 2013

Mid-Winter Break Monday, March 11, 2013 - Friday, March 15, 2013 inclusive

Good Friday Friday, March 29, 2013

Easter Monday Monday, April 1, 2013

Victoria Day Monday, May 20, 2013

School Holidays

Page 2

Important Information

Included in your first day package is a form for purchasing the agenda planner. The student agenda contains impor-tant procedures to be followed at Pierre Ber-ton. Work and study habits are an important part of becoming an independ-ent lifelong learner. Stu-dents learn valuable or-ganizational skills such as recording homework, tests and assignment dates. The agenda also provides an excellent communication tool be-tween school and home. We hope you choose to purchase an agenda as it is an effective way to help your child to de-velop homework rou-tines and organizational skills.

Student Agendas Message from our Trustee

It is my pleasure to welcome back our returning students and families, and to offer warm greetings to those of you who are new to the school community. I hope you all had an enjoyable summer and are looking forward to the months ahead. In our schools, we strive to create safe, caring and supportive learning environments that promote student achievement and well-being. Partnerships with families are essential to achieving that goal. Your strong support and active involvement in the school and your children’s education help create an environment where students can thrive. Thanks to your support, and the hard work of our staff, students, families and community partners, we continue to be one of the top performing school boards in Ontario. As an elected trustee and an advocate for high quality public education, I am committed to ensuring the highest quality public education possible for York Region students and their families. I take those responsibilities very seriously. In the coming year, we will continue our focus on the priorities set out in our Multi-Year Plan: stu-dent achievement and well-being, the delivery of effective and appropriate educational programs and the responsible stewardship of Board resources. Together, we can continue inspiring and preparing students for life in our changing world commu-nity. I wish you all the very best for the 2012-13 school year. Sincerely, Anna DeBartolo Chair and Trustee YRDSB Vaughan

Please do not send your child to school with expensive electronic equipment. The students should not have MP3 players, iPods, etc. in class or during recesses at school. These devices will be taken from the student if they are found in a class-room. The school will not assume responsibility for these valuable items. Other items should not be brought to school as well. This list includes, but is not limited to, skateboards, roller blades, heelies, scooters or laser pointers. These items are best used at home and are not to come to school. For personal safety and security, some parents want their children to have cellular telephones. We understand that desire and support it. Please note that cell phones are not allowed in classrooms nor are they to be used at school. Students must leave their phones in their lockers or backpacks. If we see (or hear) a cell phone at school it will be confiscated and given to the office. The phone will be returned to the student at the end of the school day. Please note that cameras and cell phone camera functions are not permitted to be used on school property without explicit permission from the principal or designate. The inappropriate use of cell phones, especially camera phones can become a problem in schools. Let’s work together to ensure that it is not a problem at Pierre Berton Public School.

Electronic Devices

Page 3

Important Information

Page 4

Our School Council will continue to coordinate pizza lunches this year. A letter will be sent home shortly outlining the process for ordering. The first order form will include pizza lunches up to the break in December. Please note the dates for pizza Lunches:

September 26, 2012 October 3, 2012

October 10, 2012 October 17, 2012 October 24, 2012 October 31, 2012

November 7, 2012 November 14, 2012 November 21, 2012 November 28, 2012 December 5, 2012

December 12, 2012 December 19, 2012

If you would like to help with the pizza lunches, please con-tact the school. Thank you to the School Council for organizing this fundraiser to support the students at Pierre Berton Public School.

Milk Program at Pierre Berton P.S. The milk program was a great suc-

cess last year. We will continue to

offer a milk program this year at

PBPS. Please watch for ordering

information in the near future.

All accidents should be reported to a teacher and the school office so that a record of the incident is kept on file. The York Region District School Board makes in-surance plans available with several options for insur-ance. Applications will be sent home the first week of school.

Student Accidents and Insurance

Punctuality is Important!

Punctuality is a life skill that is valued by school, em-ployers in the workforce, and society. Regular atten-dance ensures continuity of program and assists stu-dents in achieving academic success as well as main-taining social ties. The bell rings at 8:28 a.m. for stu-dents to enter the school to prepare for learning. The instructional day begins at 8:30 am sharp. Please note that supervision will be in the yard beginning at 8:15 am. Please help your child start each school day pre-pared to learn! Last year, there were a tremendous number of stu-dents arriving to school late on a regular basis. At times, we had approximately fifty students receiving late slips in the morning. We ask all families to put morning routines in place to ensure that children arrive on time for school. They should be in the back of the school by 8:25 a.m. to enter the school with their class. Several strategies will be used to help students who are repeatedly late to school. Students will be expected to make up lost time during recess or after school. We will inform parents if a student’s attendance is a matter of concern. Severe cases will be referred to the York Region District School Board’s Attendance Counselor.

Given the new fee guidelines from the Ministry of Education, there will be a change in the ability of schools to collect fees from students. Schools currently charge fees for supplies re-lated to coursework. The new guidelines do not allow these fees to be charged, however, they do allow fees for en-hanced materials that are voluntary enrichments for stu-dents beyond what is necessary to meet the curriculum ex-pectations. These enhancements, which would also generally include field trips, are optional. As always, the York Region District School Board will continue to deliver high quality pro-grams and remains committed to equity and excellence in education for all students.

School Fees and Enhancements

Safe, Caring and Supportive Schools

In accordance with the Principal’s responsibilities under the Education Act to ensure a safe and orderly learning environment, the school has a right to search school property, such as lockers and desks, without notice to or permission of any person. From time to time, the police may be invited onto school property to conduct their own searches, and these searches may be conducted without notice or permission of any member of the school community as per our Joint Board and Po-lice Protocol. When conducting a search of school property, persons or personal property, the police are responsible for conforming to all legal requirements with respect to searches.

Medication

Either on a regular basis or at times throughout the year, some students may need to take medication at school. Parents are required to complete a Re-quest for Administration of Medication Form signed by the parents and approved by the principal before the medication can be given or stored in the school. Written permission is required for ALL medications including inhalers, Aspirin, Tylenol, etc. All medica-tion is kept locked in the office and students are supervised as they take any medication. Students are not permitted at any time to bring medication to school and keep it in the classroom, lunch bags, backpacks or lockers.

The York Region District School Board recognizes and highlights the significant achievements of our students through a variety of sources—from hall displays, school and board publications, as well as in the media and on our website, special school activi-ties, productions and assemblies that attract media attention, sports’ events and recordings and pic-tures honouring graduation and musical celebra-tions. We believe these forms of recognition are important to enhance our students’ self-esteem and to foster a positive school environment. To enable us to be in accordance with the Freedom of Infor-mation and Protection of Privacy Act we require that those parents who do NOT want their child(ren)’s accomplishments recognized to please notify the principal in writing. In addition, please note that a new form, Permission to Post Student Information on the Internet, has been included in the Book of Forms to allow us to highlight school events in our school newsletter, yearbook, school website and hall monitor. We would only use your child’s name (first name, last initial) and/or a photograph of your child.

Freedom of Information

Keeping Our School Safe

Our check of your child’s attendance is an important part of our daily routine. In the interest of ensuring that your child’s safety we ask you to cooperate with us by following the steps below if your child is absent or is expected to be absent in the near future: If a future absence has been planned, please inform your child’s

teacher by note, giving the date and length of time of the ex-pected absence.

In all other cases, please call 905-303-4540 to inform the office or leave a message concerning your child’s absence on the answer-ing machine.

If a child is not in school, and the school office has not received any notification from the parents, the school will take the following steps: 1. Call the student’s home. 2. If we do not reach you at home, we will call your work and/or cell

phone numbers. 3. If we cannot reach you at work, we will call your emergency con-

tact numbers. 4. If we are not able to obtain information from your emergency

contact regarding your child’s whereabouts, we will speak to a sibling, if one is in the school.

5. Should we still not be able to obtain information regarding your child’s location, we may check with a friend of your child.

6. If we are not able to obtain any information, we will consider your child missing and will contact the York Region Police.

Safe Arrival Program

Page 5

Safe, Caring and Supportive Schools (continued)

Visitors, including par-ents and volunteers, are welcome at Pierre Berton. For safety reasons, all visitors and volunteers are asked to sign in at the office and wear a ‘visitor’ or ‘volunteer’ tag (available in the office). This helps us to know who is in the building for security reasons. Par-ents/guardians/visitors are not to be in the school hallways without checking in at the office first. If you do not have a visitor or volunteer tag on, staff members are required to redirect you to the office. When you leave the school, please return the tag to the office and sign out. Volunteers assume an important role within a school. A requirement of the YRDSB to assist in ensuring a safe envi-ronment for students and staff is the completion of a voluntary sector screen-ing.

In order to prevent physical injury and because of our concern for student safety, students at Pierre Berton Public School are expected to avoid activities that involve aggressive play and touching. Activities that are not acceptable include wrestling, piggy-backing, tripping, pushing, shoving, body-checking, poking, punching and other forms of play in stairwells, hallways and play-grounds. On the playgrounds students are expected to play safely without the use of rough play (wrestling, piggy-backing, punching/shoving, body-checking, tripping, play fighting). Please take the time to review these expectations with your child(ren).

School Yard Safety

Visitors / Volunteers Creating a Safe and Healthy School for Students with Allergies

This is an additional challenge for schools attended by chil-dren with allergies, especially life-threatening allergies. While we take every step to create a risk-free environment, school staff and parents can take important steps to minimize potentially fatal allergic reactions as there are implications for the whole school, not just individual classrooms. It is especially important that parents communicate a life-threatening allergy to the school as soon as they are aware of it. Please notify the principal and your child’s teacher so that we take the steps to create accurate records and inform staff of the es-tablished protocol. We ask that you avoid sending any foods that may contain peanuts and/or nuts. Please check the list of ingredients for peanut oil/butter/sauce/flour/meal, mixed nuts, ground nuts, goober peas, and artificial nuts. Examples in-clude: cookies, chocolate, granola bars, some cereal bars and some chocolate nut spreads. Avoid products that say “may contain peanut/nuts”. Imported products have different labelling requirements, please read the labels care-fully when sending these products to school. If you are unsure about a chosen product, please do not send it to school. We thank you for your cooperation. Remember …. we must all work together to keep our children safe!

Book of Forms

A number of important forms have been included in the ‘Book of Forms’ pack-age sent home today. Please take the time to read this material carefully and return the forms that require a signature to your child’s homeroom teacher no later than Monday, September 10th, 2012.

Students will participate in physical edu-cation classes twice a week. All students from grades four to eight are expected to have a change of clothing for gym classes. Students are required to wear shorts or track pants, t-shirt, and indoor running shoes. Younger students will not be required to change, however they will need to wear clothing ap-propriate for gym classes on these days.

Physical Education Classes

Page 6

It is important for us to outline the Kiss and Ride expectations to ensure that all of our students, parents and staff are safe. As you know, the Kiss and Ride can become very congested in the mornings and after school. We ask for your cooperation in reducing the congestion. This is possible if we work together as a school community. We ask that families arrive prior to 8:25 a.m. in the morning to alleviate the last minute rush. Students should be in the school yard to enter with their class. If you are driving your child to school, please consider parking on Via Campanile to drop off your child. If you choose to use the Kiss and Ride, please ensure that you drive your vehicle up to the FRONT of the drop-off zone before allowing your child to exit the car. When parents stop their car closer to the school yard it creates an unsafe situation for our children and frustration for families who are trying to follow the established drop-off routines. A reminder that YOU MAY NOT STOP AND LEAVE YOUR VEHICLE in the Kiss and Ride. If you wish to walk your child to the yard, please park on Via Campa-nile or in a designated parking spot.

Bus Loop: Only board transportation vehicles are permit-ted in this area. Please use the Kiss and Ride at all times of the day, including lunch. We want to ensure the safety of all of our students.

Kiss and Ride Drop-Off: Only drop off in the area marked in white (not the pass-ing lane). Please move up to the front of the marked area to allow other cars to stop.

PLEASE DO NOT STOP AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LOOP BY THE YARD.

IMPORTANT REMINDERS:

Please ensure that if you are using the Kiss and Ride that you proceed SLOWLY AND CAU-TIOUSLY through the parking lot. We want to ensure that everyone is safe.

When pulling out from a parking spot or the

curb, please ensure that you check for stu-dents/parents crossing and oncoming traffic.

Also, please note that staff supervising at the

front enter the school at 8:30 am as they need to be in class with students.

When picking up at the end of the day, the

only area permitted for stopping is the Kiss and Ride lane by the curb. Please DO NOT stop behind the parked cars.

Let’s Work Together for a Safe Student Drop-Off and Pick-Up!

Positive Climates for Learning

EcoSchools

The Ontario EcoSchools Program is an environmental education program that incorpo-rates environmental education with environmentally-responsible action. The program is designed to help schools take an organized approach to improving environmental per-formance. We know that protecting the environment for future generations is every-one’s responsibility. Last year, Pierre Berton Public School became a certified EcoSchool at the silver rating. We are committed to continuing a strong school focus to ensure we

implement environmentally friendly practices and procedures each and every day. As part of this re-sponsibility, we will continue:

Boomerang lunches (using reusable lunch containers & bringing all left over food/garbage home);

Recycling program;

Energy conservation (turning lights and computers off when not in use)

How Can You Help? By packing a litterless lunch each and every day you will be modelling the importance

of protecting the environment and supporting our school focus. It is important that we all work together. How to pack a Litterless Lunch:

A reusable lunch bag or box (not a throw-away, single-use plastic or paper bag).

Reusable containers for packing food (no plastic wrap, foil, plastic bags, single-serving containers, pre-packaged foods). Hard plastic food containers or re-use of plastic tubs are suitable options.

Reusable drink containers e.g. thermos, or reusable bottle.

Non-disposable cutlery and a cloth napkin. To support our ‘boomerang’ lunches, everyday any uneaten food and any waste material produced must be returned home and not become part of the school’s waste collection. This supports our EcoSchool initiative and helps parents monitor what their child is eating during the day.

We are committed to ensuring that we support Healthy Schools initiatives for the health and well-being of our stu-dents. Throughout the year, we will be participating in Healthy Schools initiatives, including walk to school days. In order to support this endeavour, we ask that you do not send any food in recognition of birthdays or holidays. This not only supports the health of our students, but it also protects valuable instructional time. We greatly appreciate your support with this initiative.

Healthy Schools Transportation

Student Transportation Services (STS) is a joint venture be-tween the catholic and public school boards in York Region. The mandate of STS is to provide a safe, efficient and on-time transportation for students. Transportation officers design and manage bus routes based on Board approved criteria as set out in policy #680. The school staff does not create bus routes or determine who is eligible to ride the bus. Parents and students can access a variety of informa-tion on the STS website www.schoolbuscity.com, including eligibility for bussing and pick up locations (if eligible). Click on MapNetWEB to enter your address. Please note that only students who are eligible for bussing will be per-mitted to ride the school bus.

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Positive Climates for Learning Page 9

Student Leadership Team

Our PBPS touchstone incorporates a set of shared values, beliefs and aspirations for all members of the school

community. It can be quite powerful in building community as people tend to feel more connected when

joined by common values. With input from the School Council, and all of our students and staff, our touch-

stone was created last year. It is important to infuse the values of the touchstone within the school commu-

nity. We will continue to focus on the touchstone in class activities so that all students will become familiar

with it and understand their role in upholding the values, beliefs and aspirations to which we have made a

shared commitment.

The Pierre Berton Public School Touchstone

Pierre Berton Public School Touchstone

At Pierre Berton, our smiles ignite others to feel welcome.

Together we walk the road of success, living up to and exceeding expectations. We are all treated equitably no matter our beliefs or abilities.

We value our differences. We speak to each other with kind and supportive words.

Searching for sparks of light, we choose to look on the bright side of situations. Win or lose we stand together and keep our heads held high.

We contribute to our community without need of reward or recognition. When mistakes happen, we take ownership of our choices.

We are green as green can be; respectful of our community. We achieve our goals by taking risks and believing in ourselves.

Our school is safe and bully-free; everyone belongs here. We are strong. We are proud.

We never retreat. We are PANTHERS.

It’s how we roll!

PROUD TO BE A TRIBES SCHOOL!

Attentive Listening Appreciations Participation Mutual Respect

At Pierre Berton Public School, we will continue our work with Tribes. Making sure every student and staff members’ voice is heard to create a safe environment. We are committed to being a Tribes school, a complete community that is actively devel-oping 21st century lifelong learners and compassionate citizens who will contribute positively to our global society. This year, we will continue to work together in our cross grade tribes to learn how to collaborate and work well in groups, as well as build an inclusive school culture. The focus in and out of the classroom is on how to help each other work on tasks, set goals and solve problems, monitor progress and celebrate achievements.

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