Thomas Street Middle School 2640 Thomas Street, Mississauga, ONT. L5M 5G8

Website: thomasstreet.peelschools.org ≈ Twitter: @thunderwolves98 ≈ Instragram: tsmspride

Principal's Update November was a busy month with a beautiful Remembrance Day Assembly, Progress Reports and Student/Parent/Teacher Conferences. It was also jam-packed with activities for students such as volleyball intramurals, Beaver computing challenge, Grade 8s visiting John Fraser Secondary School, Sankofa movie trip, Scholastic Book Fair, Instrumental Music Clinics and Grade 8 Guidance Sessions with Mr. Morosin for course selections using My Blueprint. Many thanks to our whole Thomas Street community for your support with our School Council Fundraiser! Our net profit is $7072.77. We couldn't have raised this money without your support. As mentioned previously, these funds will be used promptly to order additional technology, arts and physical education equipment to support your children this school year. Thank you so much to Andrea Howarth who worked diligently with me and with our sponsors to ensure a successful fundraising event. And to her team of parent volunteers, we are thankful for the time you took to meet weekly at the school to assist in processing donations. It takes a community to make these things work, and we couldn't have done this without you. December is upon us and we are feeling the pinch of some colder temperatures and feel the excitement leading up to the December Break. Before the break, we continue with Guidance Sessions, instrumental music clinics and All Peel Volleyball Finals. There will also be an activity afternoon on the final day of school before the break, which as always, has a variety of options for students. There are a few big changes at Thomas Street that I would like to share as well. To begin, Lori Coulter our Office Manager, who has been an instrumental part of the team at Thomas Street for 17 years, will be leaving us. Lori has accepted a position at John Fraser Secondary School and is looking forward to joining the team there on December 9th. We will miss her dearly. She has always greeted families, students and staff with a warm smile, has such a positive energy, and always goes above and beyond in her job. We are in the process of hiring a new Office Manager whom we hope to introduce to you in the new school year. In the interim, Carol George our Office Assistant, will assume the role of Acting Office Manager. We hope to maintain the high level of service we offer to families, but also hope you are patient with us as we undergo this significant transition in the office. Daryl Sidial, our full time Vice Principal for the last four years and a few months, will also be transitioning to a new school. Daryl has developed positive relationships with students, staff and families in his time here, and his smile and caring ways will be greatly missed. He will be transitioned to Aylsebury Public School beginning January 6th, 2020. It is a Kindergarten to Grade 8 school, which he is looking forward to because he enjoys middle school, but has also missed the early years as well. We hope this will be a nice balance for him! Beginning in January through to March Break, we will welcome retired principal Gregory Lorentz to the position of Vice Principal in the interim until someone is placed.

Many of our families are engaged in holy celebrations - they span from mid November through to the end of January. Most of these celebrations, no matter what the religion or heritage, have a common thread of light - Diwali, Hanukkah, Winter Solstice, Christmas, Kwanza, Chinese New Year - to name a few. Whether it be candle light, twinkly lights, moon light or star light, let's enjoy the time together with family and friends and let the brightest glow be from peace and love. I continue to be honoured to serve the Thomas Street community and families. Best, Tanya Tymkiv

WE ARE FAMILY! Thomas Street’s feeder schools are Middlebury, Castlebridge and Credit Valley. Our Physical Education team

maintains close ties with our family of schools to ensure an easy transition to Thomas Street. Early this month,

our Athletic Council organized a Cross Country event for their grade 4 and grade 5 students. This was followed

up with Thomas Street hosting a coed soccer tournament for all three schools. Running events for our three

schools unite the Dragons, Dolphins and Canucks as they will all be a part of our Wolf Pack next year at

Thomas Street. The events also give our Athletic Council an opportunity to utilize their leadership skills.

Thomas Street’s Athletic Council went to John Fraser and worked with their student leaders. Students from

John Fraser held a leadership workshop for our Council that emphasized the importance of effective

communication. Big shout out to our Big Brothers and Big Sisters that complete Thomas Street’s family of

schools.

Junior and Senior Boys place second in South Peels Volleyball. Congratulations to both our squads for an

outstanding season.

Congratulations to our Junior and Senior Girls Volleyball teams for finishing in first. Well done!

HOMEROOM GAMES Congratulations to our Homeroom Games Victors: Class 605, Class 710 and Class 804.

UNTIL NEXT YEAR AND REMEMBER MAY THE ODDS BE EVER IN YOUR FAVOUR

Library News Forest of Reading Each year, TSMS students have the opportunity to participate in the Forest of Reading Program. It is

Canada’s largest recreational reading program! The Forest helps celebrate Canadian books, publishers,

authors and illustrators. More than 270,000 readers participate annually.

The Forest of Reading Award Programs are where children and young adults pick the winner! Readers choose

a program that they would like to be a part of, usually based on their age or grade, and simply begin reading!

They can read all ten of the titles, or pick and choose to read only the ones they are interested in. Participants

are encouraged to read at least five of the ten titles to be eligible to vote in April. This program aims to

encourage a genuine and life-long love of reading among readers of all ages.

At Thomas Street MS, we offer the Silver Birch (geared towards grade 3-6) and the Red Maple (geared

towards grades 7-8) reading programs. All students are permitted to read from either programs but they need

to read at least five books from the same program in order to vote. Students who join the program will be

required to attend a book talk session once a month in the library during lunch where they will share their

thoughts and on the book they are reading.

We have set up an interactive bulletin board, where

students will put their rating of each book they finish

onto the bulletin board.

If your child is interested in joining the reading

program, please have them fill out the Google Form

below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdNeGKrrnxekg6mNvqFiZRj8mBilmWW3rD12-

vJw7HPFfYdHw/viewform?usp=sf_link

Results for Beaver Computer Challenge! On November 5th, about 140 students from Thomas Street participated in the University of Waterloo’s Beaver

Computing Challenge. This was a very difficult challenge that put students’ logical thinking, deductive

reasoning and sequencing skills to the test!

Grade 6s

The national average for the grade 6 contest was 35 with a maximum score of 60.

Congratulations go out to Owen (608), Sidhant (606) and Iat Seng (612) for all achieving perfect scores! What

an accomplishment!

Grade 7 and 8s

The national average for the grade 7/8 contest was 55 with a maximum score of 90.

Congratulations go to Matthew (728), Patrick (710) and Jerry (712) for tying for first place in our school but all

achieving a score of 88! Well done!

The following students received a Certificate of Distinction for scoring in the top 25% of contestants:

Grade 7/8 Matthew I. 88 Patrick 88 Jerry 88 Alyssa 86 Evan 86 Edison 86 Yixuan 84 Haroon 82 Joseph 82 Malcolm 82 Charles 80 Kate 80

Glacier 82 Ethan 82 Isaac 82 Alice 82 Eben 80 Maya 80 Vivaan 80 Angela 80 Lara 80 Alexis 80 Ryan 80 Ryan 78 Abdallah H. 78

William 78 Shaun 78 Pournima 78 Aasiya 78 Brian 78 Grade 6 Owen 60 Iat Seng 60 Sidhant 60 Nikhil 56 Jolie 56 John 56

Well done Thomas Street students! We’ll see you again next year!

If you would like to learn more about how to program, check out Computer Science Circles from the University

of Waterloo at http://cscircles.cemc.uwaterloo.ca/. Here you can learn to program in Python, without having to

download any software and with human support to assist them through 100 different exercises, moving them

from basic concept to more advanced topics in programming and algorithms.

Scholastics Book Fair

A huge thank you to all of you for supporting the Scholastics Book Fair. Over the course of the week, we were

able to see over $4000 in products resulting in almost $1000 raised for the library! A huge thank you goes out

to all the library helpers who did most of the work!

Students also really enjoyed the contest that were held during the book fair.

Congratulations to Joel from 810 for winning the Door Prize of $25 and to Usman (801) who guessed that there

were 345 “Snowballs” in our container (there were actually 344!). As, for the ice sculpture melting contest,

Kathleen (611) came the closest in guessing the time in which the sculpture was going to melt. She guessed

Wednesday at 2:35 pm. The actual time the last bit of ice melted was at 2:38 pm. Well done!

Dear Families, Parents and Guardians: Now that the clocks are turned back an hour winter will soon be here!

It is very important that everyone using the school bus system is familiar with STOPR’s winter weather procedures.

STOPR will monitor weather and road conditions during the winter months and will make a decision to cancel

school transportation by 06:00 am each morning.

When it is necessary to cancel school transportation, STOPR will post this information on our website at

www.STOPR.ca and on our “twitter” account @STOPRinfo.

Local radio stations and media will also broadcast cancellation information, however we encourage

parents/guardians to follow us on twitter and check the STOPR website for the most up to date cancellation

information.

We also encourage Parents, Guardians and older Students to visit our website and sign into the “Parent/Student

login” to register to receive automatic email or text alerts for school bus delay or cancellation information.

Here are some school bus safety tips to help keep your children safe through the winter months: Whenever possible wait with your children at the bus stop or arrange to have someone wait with them;

Allow extra time to get to your bus stop location;

Make sure your children are dressed appropriately for the cold winter weather as unexpected mechanical problems with

school buses can occur during winter months;

Wear bright coloured clothing or wear a coat with reflective safety strips for added visibility;

Talk to your child about staying off of snow banks while they are walking to the bus stop and while they are waiting for the bus;

Never slide on the snow or ice patches while walking to the bus;

Never push or shove anyone around the bus, someone could fall and slide under the bus;

Always use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping on wet or icy steps

What should you do if your bus is late or cancelled? It is important to talk to your children about what to do if their bus is delayed or cancelled on inclement weather

mornings. Here are some suggestions:

Do your children have a plan if their school bus is delayed or cancelled? For example, do they have an emergency

contact person they can call or a neighbour they can go to;

Do your children have a “bus buddy” or someone they can walk to the bus stop and wait for the bus with?

Always remember that if your school bus is cancelled in the morning due to inclement weather, it will also be

cancelled in the afternoon.

Parents and Guardians should know their children’s school bus route number and the name of the Bus Company

transporting their children. If you do not know this information, visit our website and sign into the “Parent/Student

login” to find and document this important information.

Tips for staying warm and comfortable during the winter from the Canada Safety Council: Wear a hat, most body heat is lost through the head;

Dress in layers to allow warm air to stay trapped around the body;

Choose a good pair of winter boots. For warmth and stability look for these features: well-insulated, waterproof,

thick non-slip tread sole made of natural rubber, wide low heels and light-weight;

Wear thick socks and bring an extra pair to school with you;

Mittens are warmer than gloves, bring an extra pair of mittens to school with you;

A good balanced diet is important to help you keep warm and healthy in the winter

Help your teen plan for grade 9 course selections for 2020-21 Soon, current grade 8 students will select their courses for grade 9. Before they do, we want to ensure that they have

the opportunity to consult with their teachers, guidance counsellor, if applicable, and their parents.

As our partners, families are encouraged to help prepare their teens for course selection. We encourage you to become

familiar with the process by creating a myBlueprint account. Additionally, parents/guardians and students can review

Chart Your Course, the Peel District School Board’s common course calendar, at

www.peelschools.org/students/commoncoursecalendar. This guide will help you understand the course selection

process and provide information on the courses and programs offered in Peel secondary schools.

You can also visit www.myBlueprint.ca/Peel, an online planning tool that includes the following:

high school planner for course selection

goal-setting

career spectrum for finding your learning style

occupation planner for exploring careers

post-secondary planner for opportunities after high school

The grade 9 course selection process will be open from Nov. 11 to Dec. 3, 2019. If you have questions or are looking for

course suggestions, please contact your teen’s teachers or guidance counsellor.

Thomas Street celebrates Hindu Heritage Month in November During Hindu Heritage Month, schools across Peel will participate in a number of activities that recognize and celebrate

the rich heritage, history, culture and contributions of Hindu Canadians as well as Hindu communities from around the

world.

On April 9, 2019, as part of the board’s commitment to equity and inclusion, the Peel board approved a motion to recognize and celebrate Hindu Heritage Month in November. In addition to Hindu Heritage Month, the Peel board also approved a motion to recognize and celebrate Islamic Heritage Month in October, Indigenous Heritage Month in November, Sikh Heritage Month in April and Jewish Heritage Month in May. The board will continue to recognize Black History Month in February, Asian Heritage Month in May and Pride Month in June.

The Province of Ontario declared the month of November as Hindu Heritage Month in 2016. The month of November

was chosen in recognition of “Deepawali” or “Diwali”, which is a significant festival in the Hindu community.

On October 4, 2018, a Member of Parliament introduced a Private Member’s Bill (PMB), Bill C-416 in the House of

Commons to designate the month of October as Hindu Heritage Month in Canada. The bill is currently going through

several stages to become law.

Thomas Street celebrates Indigenous Heritage Month in November Schools across Peel will participate in a number of activities in November to recognize, celebrate and honour the rich

heritage, culture, contributions and diversity of First Nation, Inuit and Métis communities across Canada.

On June 19, 2019, as part of the board’s commitment to equity and inclusion and to help better reflect student identity,

trustees approved a motion to recognize and celebrate Indigenous Heritage Month in the month of November. This

month includes several dates of significance, including, Treaty Recognition Week, Indigenous Veterans Day, Louis Riel

Day, and the Peel Community Cultural Indigenous Celebration and Pow Wow.

In addition to Indigenous Heritage Month, the Peel board has also approved a motion to recognize and celebrate Islamic

Heritage Month in October, Hindu Heritage Month in November, Sikh Heritage Month in April and Jewish Heritage

Month in May. The board will continue to recognize Black History Month in February, Asian Heritage Month in May and

Pride Month in June.

The House of Commons officially recognized June as National Indigenous History Month following a unanimous motion

in 2009. In the month of June, Peel board schools and worksites will raise and/or display the flag of the Mississaugas of

the Credit First Nation in the spirit of equity, inclusion and reconciliation. The raising of this flag is only one of the ways

we help to create spaces that are inclusive, welcoming and safe for students, staff and families.

Nov. 7 – Celebrate Peel Teaching Assistant and Early Childhood Educators’

Appreciation Day In 2014, the board of trustees declared the last Wednesday in October as the Peel Teaching Assistant and Early

Childhood Educators’ (ECE) Appreciation Day. This year, the recognition day falls on Nov. 7, 2019. The Peel board

appreciates the important work of teaching assistants and ECEs, and the contributions that they make in the lives of

children, families and community members.

Nov. 29 – Say 'thanks' for Peel Custodial & Maintenance Workers’ Day In 2014, the board of trustees declared the last Friday in November as the Peel Custodial and Maintenance Workers’

Day. This year, the recognition day falls on Friday, Nov. 29, 2019. Take this opportunity to thank the important work of

custodial and maintenance workers and their hard work and commitment to well-being and safety.

Bus cancellation and 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, television stations and will also be

available on Twitter @Peelschools, Twitter @STOPRinfo, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools,

www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling

905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

One of the following messages will be announced:

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 Peel 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 Peel 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 cancelledThis means that all activities in

schools and Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be

closed.

Peel Public Health shares tips to help prevent the flu It’s flu season and we want to make sure students stay as healthy as possible this year! Influenza (flu) spreads easily

from one person to another and Peel Public Health has some tips to help reduce the risk of catching the flu and

spreading it:

Get your annual flu shot: The flu shot is your best defence against the flu. There are many locations

across Peel where you can get your flu shots:

Family Doctors’ offices

Walk-in clinics

Pharmacies

Peel flu clinics

Keep children home when they’re sick: If your child develops flu-like signs and symptoms (fever,

cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue), keep them home from school. Contact

your health care provider if symptoms are severe.

Practice good hygiene: Help your child get into the habit of covering their nose and mouth with a

tissue when they cough or sneeze and throw tissues in the trash. Cough or sneeze into a sleeve or

elbow, if they don’t have a tissue. They should also avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth. This is

how germs are spread.

Wash your hands: Encourage your child to wash their hands often with soap and water or use hand

sanitizer, especially after they cough or sneeze. For more information, call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 or visit www.peelregion.ca/flu.

Give what you can on United Way Giving Day – Nov. 14, 2019 At the Peel District School Board, our mission is to inspire success, confidence and hope in each student – each and

every day. Yet we know that there are many needs in our community that we can’t address on our own, like providing

food for families that may go without or supporting communities after a crisis. That’s why we are holding a board-wide

giving day in support of United Way Greater Toronto, a key partner and supporter of Peel families.

This year, the Peel board has declared Nov. 14 as United Way Giving Day to raise much needed funds for United Way

Greater Toronto and the network of local, Peel social service agencies it supports. Whether it’s providing shelter for a

mother and her children in Brampton, matching a child who is at risk with a mentor in Caledon, or funding a breakfast

program in Mississauga for youth that would otherwise go hungry, United Way offers hope and possibility to thousands

in our community.

A donation of:

$2 may go towards a breakfast program for a child from a low income family. $10 supports a child with interactive, recreational outings for one year, including healthy snacks and transportation,

to help them build their social skills and self-esteem.

$25 is enough to provide a daily homework club that gives children and youth access to computers, peer support and mentors.

This is a completely voluntary campaign and any contributions are welcome. Whether you send a loonie, toonie, cheque

made out to United Way Greater Toronto, or donate through school cash online, your contribution will make a

difference. Pledges of $25 or more will receive a tax receipt from United Way Greater Toronto. To receive a receipt, you

must fill out the pledge form on the back and send it to school with your donation by Dec. 13, 2019. If you donate

through School Cash Online, attach a copy of your receipt to your completed pledge form.

Thank you for lending a helping hand to those who need it most. Together, we can help those in poverty which wouldn’t

be possible without your continued support – your local love can change lives.

Stan Cameron Peter Joshua

Chair of the Board Director of Education

#chooseACTION on Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week The Peel District School Board will recognize Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week, November 17 to 23, 2019.

Bullying is a form of harassment. The World Health Organization says, “Bullying…demands the concerted and

coordinated time and attention of health-care providers, policy-makers and families.” (Prevention of Bullying, 2010)

Bullying is a relationship problem, with relationship solutions.

Each year, across the Peel board, students, staff and families engage in learning and programming opportunities

focussed on actively disrupting bullying, by creating positive and safe Climates for Learning and Working, built on a

foundation of healthy relationships.

This year the Peel board community will ‘#chooseACTION to STOP hate’ in their classrooms, offices, schools and

communities, in order to make these spaces better places for everyone.

Establishing and maintaining a positive Climate for Learning and Working requires all of us to actively intervene on

assumptions, stereotyping, bias, discrimination and hate. We must proactively act and speak in ways that are inclusive,

accepting of others and values difference.

Throughout the week, we will be highlighting the importance of being an upstanding bystander by acting to stop hate:

Step 1: Stop the Action

Step 2: Name it

Step 3: Explain the impact/harm

Step 4: Ask the person causing the harm to change their behavior

Step 5: Support the person harmed.

The Peel board would like to hear about the big and small actions, pledges,

and promises our Peel community values, and ask that you take a moment to

share your #chooseACTION to STOP hate” moments on social media.

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is one of the key items contained

in Bill 13: The Accepting Schools Act, that came into effect on Sept. 1, 2012.

For more information, visit

www.peelschools.org/aboutus/safeschools/bullying or

www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/safeschools/prevention.html.

Celebrating Faith and Culture November 2019

DATE CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

November Freezing Moon Indigenous Worldview (First Nations)

November 1 All Saints Day Christianity

November 1 Gnan Panchami Jainism

November 1 ● Samhain Wicca

November 4 Qudrat (thirteenth month) Bahá'í

November 9 or 10 Milad-un-Nabi Islam

November 11 Remembrance Day Canada

November 12 Dev Diwali or Lokashah Jayanti Hinduism and Jainism

November 12 ● Birth of Guru Nanak Sikhism

November 16 Louis Riel Day Indigenous Worldview

November 23 Qawl (fourteenth month) Bahá'í

November 24 Martyrdom of Guru Teg

Bahadur

Sikhism

November 26 Day of the Covenant Bahá'í

November 28 Ascension of 'Abdu'l-Bahá Bahá'í

November 28 (J) First Day of Advent (Christmas

fast)

Christianity

Is Extended French right for my child? If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2020, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want

to apply for the Extended French (EF) program.

To find out the EF school your child would attend, visit www.peelschools.org/French or

call the school in your area.

Grade 7 Extended French dates for the 2020-21 school year

Information night

Attend the information meeting at the

Extended French school your child would

attend

Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019 at 7 p.m.

Applications open

Apply at www.peelschools.org/French

Monday, Nov. 25, 2019 at 8:30 a.m.

Application deadline

Applications received after this date will be

put on a waiting list.

Friday, Jan. 31, 2020

A random selection process is used to determine which students will be offered spaces in the grade 7 EF program.

Applications for grade 7 Extended French will only be considered for students who are currently registered in an English

program and have not been previously in a French Immersion program. Students currently enrolled in grade 6 French

Immersion will continue grade 7 in the French Immersion program.

For more information

visit www.peelschools.org/French

call your nearest Extended French school

connect with families who have children in the Extended French program

visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca

Jump start your future with Explore High Skills Explore High Skills is a Peel District School Board pathway program that allows

secondary schools with Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs to offer a unique

specialized program choice for grade 9 and 10 students.

These sector-related programs are available to students in all skill levels and in all pathways. Specialized programs in

grade 9, like Explore High Skills, provide unique learning experiences to engage students as they transition to high

school. Students can focus their learning on an area of interest as they build self-confidence, learn essential skills, and

develop a sense of belonging in school and in the community.

To enroll in the Explore High Skills program, students will indicate their interest when selecting high school courses in

the fall. For more information about the program and participating schools, go to

www.peelschools.org/ExploreHighSkills

Peel District School Board program offers flexible school options for student

athletes, artists

Does your child/teen have an intense sports or

arts training and competition schedule that

makes it difficult to attend school regularly?

The Peel District School Board’s Peel Region

High Performers Program will offer flexible

timetabling to accommodate student athletes and artists with demanding practice, competition, rehearsal and/or

performance schedules.

Peel Region High Performers Program is offered at:

Britannia Public School (grades 4 to 5)

Dolphin Sr. Public School (grades 6 to 8)

Mississauga Secondary School (grades 9 to 12)

Information nights will be offered as follows:

Location Information Night

Britannia Public School Nov. 7, 2019 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Dolphin Sr. Public School Nov. 6, 2019 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Mississauga Secondary School Nov. 5, 2019 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

For more information, visit www.peelschools.org/HighPerformers.

Regional Learning Choices programs unlock passions Regional Learning Choices Programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower students by providing them with opportunities to develop and explore skills in a particular area of interest. Regional programs are open to all students who meet the criteria for acceptance. Students and their families are encouraged to attend the information night for the program of their choice to receive more information about the program and application details.

Transportation is not provided for students in regional programs. If students have been accepted into a regional program and they live within the school boundary, they are eligible for busing only if they meet the distance criteria outlined in the board’s Transportation Policy #39. All regional programs include annual fees, including a non-refundable $40 application fee, except the Regional Skilled Trades and Transportation Engineering and Technology programs, which are offered at no cost. For more information about program information nights, busing, fees and the application process, visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms

Important dates to note:

Applications open Applications close

ELEMENTARY Jan. 27, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 10, 2020 at 3 p.m.

SECONDARY Nov. 11, 2019 at 8:30 a.m. Nov. 25, 2019 at 3 p.m.

Our work has just begun. The Peel Learning Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to enable Peel District School Board students to achieve

personal excellence by providing resources that help them overcome barriers. We officially launched in February 2019,

and to date, the foundation has supported more than 200 students.

Did you know that 1 in 5 students in Peel Region face barriers related to poverty.

That’s more than 27,000 Peel board students.

Through the Student Emergency Needs program and Student Backpack program, the support we provide can be as

simple as providing funds for food or transportation, a winter coat, or a backpack filled with school supplies. This type of

support can enrich a student's school experience and help them achieve success. Any teacher, staff or support person

can speak confidentially to their school’s principal, vice-principal or supervisor when they encounter a student in need,

who will then reach out to us to ask for help.

There are many ways that you can support the foundation. A gift will help us achieve great things for students. To learn

more, visit www.peellearningfoundation.org/how.

You can help us create hopeful tomorrows.

Programs Schools offered at Starts in grade:

6 7 9

Actively in Motion (AIM) Royal Orchard MS

Advanced Placement Central Peel SS, John Fraser SS

Arts Earnscliffe Sr. PS (starts in grade 6), Queen Elizabeth Sr.

PS (starts in grade 7), Cawthra Park SS, Mayfield SS

Arts and Technology Morning Star MS

Graphic Design Management T.L. Kennedy SS

International Baccalaureate Bristol Rd. MS, WG Davis Sr. PS, Erindale SS, Glenforest

SS, Harold M. Brathwaite SS, Turner Fenton SS

International Business and

Technology

Allan A. Martin Sr. PS, Lisgar MS, Williams Pkwy Sr. PS,

Meadowvale SS, North Park SS, T.L. Kennedy SS

International and Executive

Leadership Academy

T.L. Kennedy SS

Regional Skilled Trades Judith Nyman (starting in September 2020), West Credit

SS

SciTech Centennial Sr. PS, Macville PS, Tomken Rd. MS,

Chinguacousy SS, Port Credit SS

Sports Applewood Heights SS

Strings Central Peel SS, Port Credit SS

Transportation Engineering

and Technology

Bramalea SS

www.PeelLearningFoundation.org l 905-890-1010 ext. 2461 l foundation@peelsb.com

@PeelLearningFDN l /PeelLearningFDN

After 18 years, the Peel District School Board is revamping its annual parent conference. After hearing from participants,

we are changing the traditional full-day workshop model to a multi-evening speaker series focused on a specific subject,

where parents and caregivers will hear from a keynote speaker followed by a panel who will take audience questions.

We will also invite Peel board departments, groups and community partners to share their information in an exhibitor

area.

The Engage. Educate. Empower. Speaker Series is co-presented by the Peel Elementary Teachers’ Local. Without their

support, this free learning event for parents/caregivers would not be possible.

Date and Time Location Topic and Speaker

Monday, Nov. 4, 2019 5 to 8 p.m.

HJA Brown Education Centre, 5650 Hurontario St., Mississauga

Digital citizenship and online safety featuring Jesse Miller

Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2020 Chinguacousy Secondary School, 1370 Williams Pkwy., Brampton

TBA

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020 Mayfield Secondary School, 5000 Mayfield Rd., Caledon East

TBA

*These free events are open to all Peel board parents of students at all grade levels.

Reserve your spot for the first session starting Oct. 7, 2019 at www.peelschools.org/parents/conference.

Healthy Relationships Bolster Mental Health and Resilience

From the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team

When it comes to mental health, connectedness - the sense of caring for others and being cared for - is one of

the most powerful protective factors. A positive ‘environment of relationships’ is essential for healthy brain

development, which forms the foundation for lifelong outcomes such as interpersonal skills, academic

performance and mental health and well-being (1).

Caring adults are key to building the skills, attitudes and habits that promote child and youth mental health.

Here are some tips for families to help build strong, caring relationships:

Comfort your child when they’re upset. They won’t feel alone with their big emotions and it helps to strengthen your bond with them.

Give your child love and affection - this helps your child feel loved and valued. Have fun together!

Listen attentively to your child’s feelings, thoughts and ideas. Help to label and identify your child’s emotions (e.g. scared, frustrated, angry, sad). Try to see things from your child’s point of view.

Build in quality time. Spend some time together each night around the dinner table. Show your children how to solve problems that arise through your modelling, and collaborating with them to help

solve their own problems when they arise. Be a role model by taking care of your own mental health and modelling healthy coping strategies. Talk about

your feelings. Make time for things you enjoy. Ensure your home is an emotionally and physically safe and secure environment, where children are protected

from harm. Nurture caring relationships between your child and other important people in their lives, like family members

and friends, neighbours, teachers and members of cultural and faith communities. Research suggests that the short-term intervention of even a single caring adult can make a profound difference. This also widens a child’s network of support, and makes it easier to reach out for help when needed.

At the heart of it, we are in the business of human development. We are helping children and youth discover their

strengths, build skills and knowledge, develop positive attitudes and habits, and find their path. We need to know our

children and youth. We need to show we care. We need to inspire hope. We need to model the power of positive

relationships.

For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter

@MHRTPeel. References:

1. National Scientific Council on the Developing Child (2004). Young Children Develop in an Environment of Relationships: Working Paper No. 1. Retrieved from www.developingchild.harvard.edu.

2. Ontario Ministry of Education (2010). What Works: Research Into Practice - Bolstering Resilience in Students. Retrieved from www.edu.gov.on.ca.

3. Search Institute (2016). The Developmental Relationships Framework. Retrieved from www.search-institute.org.