Principal

Mrs. Sherry Morgan

Vice Principal

Ms. Julia De Rose

Superintendent of Schools

Mr. Tod Dungey

(905) 764-6830

Trustee

Mrs. Anna DeBartolo

60 Wellington Street West

Aurora, Ontario L4G 3H2

(905) 727-0022

Kindergarten Registration 2

Summer Institute 2

Lost and Found Items 2

LEGO Build the Change 2

More Fruits and Veggies Please 2

School Trustee Greetings 3

Student Attendance 3

Board Games & Puzzles 3

Parent Talk Series 4

Positive Parenting Tip 4

Are You Moving? 4

YRDSB Climate Survey 4

Parenting Workshop @ G.H.C 5

March is National Nutrition Month 5

Design Your Path to Success 5

PFLC News 6

March Calendar 6

Inside this issue:

From the Office March 2017

THE WOODBRIDGE WINDOW

Woodbridge Public School

60 Burwick Avenue, Woodbridge Ontario L4L 1J7

Tel: (905) 851-0102 Fax: (905) 851-4707

Email: woodbridge.ps@yrdsb.ca

Dear Parents/Guardians:

With Spring on the horizon, we look forward to warmer temperatures, buds emerging on branches and more

opportunities to go outside for learning and exercise. The winter weather has at times impacted our

recesses, but it hasn’t slowed down the physical activities in school. Our basketball teams are busy practis-

ing and competing, students enjoyed a riveting, interactive performance by Saidat and we will be having an

afternoon of dance, music and movement on March 10th. Physical activity is an important part of learning

and we know that student well-being and academic achievement is improved when there are opportunities

to move and be active.

As we visit classrooms we can see that the Woodbridge Public School staff remain passionate and dedi-

cated in their efforts to support student achievement and well-being. On a daily basis we see students

collaborating on math problems, building and creating structures and projects, debating ideas, working with

technology, reading and writing reports and narratives. Students are engaged, motivated and focused and

we are proud of their achievements thus far.

We hope you have had an opportunity to discuss your child’s first term report card since it came home on

February 16th. This report card should highlight for you how your child has progressed through the curricu-

lum since September and should provide insight to how their learning skills and work habits are developing.

We encourage you to read the report card with your child and to discuss the comments as well as the letter

grades. Reflect with your child on what they did well and what their next steps for improvement are. Setting

academic and performance goals with your child monthly or by term, is a supportive step in helping your

child achieve improved results.

We encourage all parents to reach out to teachers regarding the report card if there are lingering questions

or if you need more information about your child’s learning. The parent-teacher relationship is a powerful

factor in student engagement and achievement. When students see their parent or guardian working

together with the teacher to assist them in their learning, students quickly realize that they have a circle of

care and support around them and that often inspires students to work harder.

On February 23rd we enjoyed Math Night and are grateful that so many families were able to attend. Our

focus was on highlighting the value and merit of playing games that involve problem solving, number sense,

computation, strategy and technology. Families with children from Kindergarten to grade 8 were able to

participate together in a variety of games. Photos of our evening are posted on our Twitter account

@Woodbridge_P.S.

We wish you and your families a wonderful month ahead and a happy and safe March Break.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Morgan Ms. De Rose Principal Vice Principal

March Break:

March 13 - 17, 2017

Summer Institute Registration

Information is now available on the

YRDSB website, www.yrdsb.ca

Next School Council Meeting:

April 3, 2017

Page 2 Woodbridge Public School

Summer Institute at Woodbridge P.S.

The York Region District School Board’s

Summer Institute is a program that offers

academic, recreational and athletic programs and

activities with intentional links to the Ontario Cur-

riculum for children and youth from Senior Kinder-

garten to Grade 8.

Summer Institute will once again be offered at

Woodbridge Public School, from July 4, 2017 to

August 11, 2017. Programs run weekly from

9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. with extended YMCA before

and aftercare programs available.

Program and registration information is now avail-

able on the YRDSB website, www.yrdsb.ca. To

access Summer Institute information, click on the

Programs and Services tab on the YRDSB home-

page, then choose the Summer Institute link.

Kindergarten Registration

For the 2017-2018 School Year

Kindergarten registration has begun for the 2017-18 school

year. Registration forms are available at Woodbridge P.S.

or on YRDSB’s website: www.yrdsb.ca.

Children who turn four or five years old during 2017, live

within the school boundary and whose parents are public

school tax supporters are eligible to register for kindergar-

ten. A kindergarten information session for

parents is being planned for this spring.

For more information please visit the YRDSB

website or contact our school office at (905)

851-0102.

More Fruits and Veggies Please

Canada’s Food Guide recommends that children four to 13 years of age eat at least five to six servings of fruits and vegetables each day. One serving includes a medium piece of fresh fruit, half cup of cooked vegetables or one cup of salad.

How to help your child eat more fruit and vegetables:

Include fruit at breakfast; try adding half cup of banana slices or berries to cereal

Include fruit and vegetables in lunch bags daily Keep washed fruit and vegetable sticks ready where children can easily reach them Serve a healthy snack after school that includes a fruit or vegetable; try serving

fresh fruit slices with cheese or yogurt Set a good example by eating lots of vegetables and fruit yourself

For more information about creating a healthy school food culture, visit brightbites.ca

This material is provided by York Region Public Health.

Lost and Found

Please remind your children to check the “Lost and Found”

boxes for misplaced hats, boots, shoes, sweaters and

coats.

Labelling clothing with your child’s name is always a good

idea. Any found items like rings, keys, watches and valu-

ables are held in the office.

Unclaimed articles from the Lost and Found

boxes are donated to a local organization on

a regular basis.

Page 3 Woodbridge Public School

School Trustee Greetings With spring approaching and the hours of daylight increasing, now is a good time to enjoy the outdoors and our natural environment. Did you know that our Board has five outdoor education centres, and students have opportunities to visit them and other outdoor learning spaces throughout their schooling? This is part of our commitment to giving students an opportunity to learn in and about the natural world. This learning supports students in gaining a deeper appreciation for nature and the importance of environmental sustainability.

“Modelling continuous environmental sustainability” is one of the goals outlined in our Board of Trustees’ Multi-Year Plan. We believe that we all have a role to play in reducing waste and protecting our environment. Our students, staff members and families continue to show leadership when it comes to supporting student learning and initiatives to reduce our eco-logical footprint.

Spending time outside as a family also provides a great opportunity to support and enhance your child’s learning outside

of school. Whether visiting a park or museum, reading with your child in your home language or asking questions about

their day at school - know that there are many ways you can support their education and that you are making a difference.

I hope you all have a happy and safe March Break and enjoy the warmer weather ahead.

Anna DeBartolo

YRDSB School Trustee

Student Attendance

Regular and punctual attendance affects school success and is expected of all students. It is important that par-

ents/guardians and school staff work together to ensure regular attendance.

YRDSB Board Policy #665.0, Safe Arrivals and Departures: Elementary Students, states that “Parents/Guardians are

responsible for… communicating with the school about any absences, lateness or change in safe departure plans for their

child as soon as possible”. At Woodbridge Public School, parents are required to call into the SchoolConnects automated

notification system, by dialing the toll free number 1-855-203-2994 or go online at yorkrdsb.schoolconnects.com to report

their child’s absence. For parents who have Android or Apple devices, the SafeArrival app may be downloaded. Go to the

Google Play store or the Apple App and search using the keyword “safearrival” (one word) to download the Synrevoice

SafeArrival app. Use district code yorkdsb for York Region District School Board.

Please be advised that all students need to be on time for the start of the each school day and

after lunch. We do our best work as a school when students are present, and late arrivals not only

miss out on classroom instruction, they interrupt lessons underway.

Board Games and Puzzles

Do you have any board games or puzzles that you are no longer using? W.P.S. is accepting donations of gently used games, that have all of their pieces, for use by students during indoor recess periods. Please drop off any donations to the school office. Thank you for your support!

Positive Parenting Tip York Region Public Health is launching Let’s Cook! to get York Region residents cooking more often with fresh ingredients.

Let’s Cook! It keeps you healthy and independ-ent, connects you with your family and friends, saves you time and money, and helps the envi-ronment.

For more information visit york.ca/letscook.

This material is provided by York Region Public Health.

Page 4 Woodbridge Public School

Are You Moving?

We are now planning for staff allocation and

student placement for next school year.

If you will be moving out of

the school attendance area

before September, please

inform the school office.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Wednesday, March 22, 2017 Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.

Location: Anne Frank Public School, 431 Ilan Ramon Blvd., Maple, ON L6A 0X2

RSVP: by email to Carly: carlycohen@hotmail.com

*Include age of children and if childcare is needed

York Region District School Board School Climate Survey for Students

Students in Grades 5 to 12 at the York Region District School Board will be invited to participate in a survey between March 20 and April 28, 2017. The survey is voluntary, anonymous and confi-

dential, and will take place at school.

The YRDSB survey fulfills the Ontario Ministry of Education’s requirement for schools to conduct student surveys and is aligned with the YRDSB’s Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement and Well-Being. Survey questions will address topics related to Math, Modern Learning, Mental Health and Well-Being, Equity, and School Safety.

This survey provides an opportunity to hear directly from students and the results will be used to identify student needs and plan strategies to support student achievement and well-being. If you have questions, please contact the school office.

If you do not wish your child(ren) to participate in the survey, please contact the school by March 20, 2017.

Page 5 Woodbridge Public School

March is National Nutrition Month!

Our Healthy Schools Committee has organized sev-

eral fun activities for the month of March. The

“Colour of the Week” campaign encourages stu-

dents to pack a fruit or vegetable for their snack

based on the “colour of the week”.

Each week in March we will be celebrating a differ-

ent colour of fruit and/or vegetable and designating

that colour as the “colour of the week”. For example,

during Red Week, students will be encouraged to

bring a red fruit or vegetable to school (e.g., straw-

berries, red peppers, red apples). During the month

of March, our Snack Program will feature “colour of

the week” fruits/vegetables on Thursdays.

Each day that a student packs a “colour of the week”

fruit or vegetable for his/her snack, a point will be

earned for his/her class. At the end of the month, the

class with the most points will

win a Smoothie Party.

Let’s bring more colourful fruits

and vegetables to school and

Happy Healthy Snacking!

Design Your Path to Success

YRDSB Adult Classes

Would you like to upgrade your skills in English, Math or Computers? Are you

seeking employment? Applying for college, second career or an apprentice-

ship?

The YRDSB offers free classes to help you prepare for work or further your

education in order to achieve your goals.

The program is offered at no cost to Ontario residents aged 19+ by the York

Region District School Board with support from the Ministry of Advanced

Education and Skills Development.

Classes are offered at three convenient locations:

Uplands Community Learning Centre

8210 Yonge Street, Thornhill, ON L4J1W6

Yorkworks Stouffville

111 Sandiford Drive, Stouffville, ON L4A 0Z9

Participation House (adults with special needs)

9 Butternut Lane, Markham ON L3P 3M1

Call 905--731-9557 for more information or to book your assessment today!

Get started on your path to success!

Page 6 Woodbridge Public School

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 Gr. 3 students to Black

Creek Pioneer Village

Mrs. Arora’s class to the

ROM

Gr. 4 students to the ROM

2

3 Movie Night - “Home” for

K - Gr. 4 students 3:15 - 5:00

p.m.

Super Hero Day

4

5 6

7 8 9 10 Change for Change

Dance (p.m.)

Wacky Day

11

12 13

14

15

16

17

18

19 20

21

VIP Program:

Gr. 3 @ 11:00 a.m.

Gr. 6 @ 1:35 p.m.

Kindergarten students to the ROM

22

23

24

Earth Hour

Plaid/Pattern Day

25

26 27

28 29

Mr. Ali and Mrs. Dorval’s

students to the ROM

Gr. 7 & 8 students to

Mansfield

30

31 Movie Night - “The Lego

Movie” for K - Gr. 4 students

3:15 - 5:15 p.m.

P.J. Day

March 2017

News from the Woodbridge Parenting and Family Literacy Centre

March Family Fun

The Woodbridge PFLC in Room 120 will be closed on the following dates:

Monday, March 13th through Friday, March 17th

Friday, April 14th and Monday, April 17th

Here are some other activities for you and your family to enjoy in the community:

Ontario Early Years Centre – 140 Woodbridge Ave, Unit E-400, L4L 4K9 – 905-856-5511

http://www.socialenterprise.ca/ontario-early-years-centres/calendars

Woodbridge Pool and Memorial Arena – 5020 Highway 7, L4L 1T1 – 905-832-8576

https://www.vaughan.ca/services/recreation/Pages/Holiday%20Central%20Hours%20and%20Activity%20Schedules.aspx

Woodbridge Public Library – 150 Woodbridge Avenue, L4L 2S7 – 905-653-7323

http://www.vaughanpl.info/events_calendars/calendar/library/8/2016/march

Parent Worker: Samina Mohiuddin Regular Hours: 9:00 a.m—1:00 p.m.

No cost or registration required Snacks are provided for the children

March Break