Thomas Street Middle School

December 2017 VOLUME 17, ISSUE 42640 Thomas Street, Mississauga, ON L5M 5G8

Phone: 905-812-3725 Fax: 905-812-3716Visit our Website regularly for updated information

http://schools.peelschools.org/1654

Principal’s Pen

Thank you to all families who generously made donations to our school’s November fundraising campaign. School Council will be sharing their report at our School Council Meeting on Monday, December 5, 2016 @ 6:30 pm in the Library on the second floor. Join us!

Thank you to Lesley McReynolds who tirelessly organized and solicited donated and purchased prizes for students to win as an incentive. Thank you also to Jill Sellar and Ning Zhang who helped Lesley to count money and in our fundraiser assembly. We had 75 prizes in total handed out in an exciting fundraising assembly on Wed., Nov. 30th. The students had fun duct-taping Mr. Morosin to his chair and the whole study body were on pins and needles for forty-five minutes as prize winners names were drawn. I can’t wait to plan my day with our Grade 6 Principal and Vice Principal for a Day! Our culminating activity was a “Thanks-for-Giving” activity afternoon on Friday, Dec. 2nd where students danced, played outdoor activities, arts, etc. An enjoyable afternoon was had by all.

We are happy to announce that the funds will go towards the purchase of two portable iPad carts that will be easily transferrable for sign-out to the eight classes in the portables. This enhancement and access to technology will go far in continuing to support the excellent programming at Thomas Street.

December is a month of many cultural celebrations and family memory-making. The theme of light is common among many of these celebrations demonstrating symbolism and hope for a bright future. We hope that you will join us on Wednesday, December 14th for our Jingle Jam in the Gymnasium. Stay tuned for more information to come as we highlight the arts.

Our Sr. Boys Volleyball teamFirst place finish in Tier 5 of Provincial Cup Tournament

and took Bronze in All Peel.Congratulations goes out to the members of the Senior Boys Volleyball team that played in the Provincial Cup. There was some steep competition on Friday evening resulting in a third place finish in their pool. As a result, the boys played in the Tier 5/6 grouping on Saturday.

The boys showed up Saturday mad and ready to show their true abilities on the court. They played three matches and won every game that morning. This set up a semi-final match with a team from Parry Sound, and although it was a tougher match, the boys were victorious in the third game. Thomas Street then played in the championship game against a team from Oakville and were again victorious, bringing home the Championship banner for Tier 5.

Congratulations to the Senior Boys Volleyball team on a great season! By finishing second in the South Peel volleyball league this year, the team was invited to participate in the All Peel finals. In their semi-final match against W.G. Davis they played well but a few untimely errors saw them lose a 'heart-breaker' 15-13 in the third set. This result set up the bronze medal match against Williams Parkway. The boys played very well and managed to take the match in just two sets!

A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to them for winning the bronze medal! Being third in all of Peel is an accomplishment of which to be SUPER PROUD. They also competed at Provincials, bringing home the Tier 5 Championship.  Ms. Bennett and Mr. Price would like to thank all the boys for their excellent season and encourage them strongly to keep playing volleyball in preparation for the beach season which will soon be upon us.

Senior Girls VolleyballThe Senior Girls Volleyball Team had a successful year finishing in fourth place for South Peel. The girls are to be commended for their dedication in representing Thomas Street during the volleyball season where they attended the Provincial Cup, Westend Showdown and the Skirrow Cup. The members are Annie, Sydney, Sam, Dominque, Nikita, Julia, Melodie, May, Amelia, Chirstina, Hind and Jamie

Congratulations to the Junior Girls Volleyball Team who captured third place at the South Peel Volleyball tournament. The girls played incredible matches in the round robin winning 4 games and losing 2. The girls advanced to the semis, where they played two very close games and came up just short. Heading into the consolation finals the girls dug deep to rebound in an incredible fashion by winning both games by big scores!!! Big shout out to Sydney, Jenna, Anthi, Amanda, Kenya, Kelly, Mumna, Anika, Jade, Christina, Anita, Vanessa

Junior Girls VolleyballCoed Volleyball TeamThe Coed Volleyball Team traveled to Edenwood where they came out in third place. The team only had a short time to come together and they were able to find success at the tournament with their positive mind set and support for each other. Congratulations to Julia, Annie, Christina, Hind, Dominique, Melodie, Ben, Bradley, Jason, Matthew, Caleb and David

Our Junior Boys Volleyball team travelled to Lisgar to participate in the South Regional Junior Peel Volleyball championships. With strong performances from all our players but up against some stiff competition, our boys managed to finish top 4.Ms. Cassano and Mr. Pol-Bodetto would like to congratulation all the boys who showed great commitment and great competitiveness throughout the season. You demonstrated amazing growth in your skills and understanding of the game of volleyball. Next year's senior team will be very promising!

Jr. Boys VolleyballFrom the Green Team

The green team is once again having a bake sale on December 21st, so start baking and freeze your cupcakes, banana loaf, muffins and cookies to get ready for the big day. Please remember that all baked goods must be peanut and nut free. Thank you

Walk on Wednesdays- even in the winter to reduce the pollution and the number of cars in the kiss and ride

Plastic disposable water bottle ban- students are asked to use re-usable/washable/refillable water bottles at TSMS to reduce the amount of plastic we waste.Water bottle refill station- we have raised enough money through our letter writing campaign to have construction start on our water bottle refill station= stay tuned to see the transition to a cleaner, healthier environment at TSMS and watch for the grand opening ceremony with all our donors......

Thank you Thomas Street Community!!

Through Viola Hearts, Pizza Sales, Pop Sales, and generous donations we have raised $2000 to support Viola. Now, not only will we be able to pay for her surgery, her physiotherapy, and follow up appointments, we will also be able to purchase items, such as farming equipment, bedding and mosquito netting, from her local community, to improve the life of her family. We have truly changed the path Viola's life will now take. #tsmspride

Students participate in Dodge Ball to raise funds for Viola

Scholastic Book Fair a Great Success!First, thank you to all the parents, grandparents, students, teachers and staff who supported the Book Fair so whole-heartedly and so generously.

Of course this Fair would not have been possible without the unbelievable support we received from our parent volunteers and students who assisted in setting up the Book Fair, running the cash, taking book orders, helping out with Family Night, and of course our tear down team. Thank you to everyone who helped in any way with our Scholastic Book Fair. We would also like to congratulate Abigail K., in class 604, who won our Family Event Door Prize of $50. worth of books.

Now the moment you’ve all been waiting for, the total amount raised from book sales at this year’s Scholastic Book Fair. We sold $5449.41 worth of books at this year’s book fair. Awesome!A portion of these sales benefits our school directly. As a result of your efforts the library will be able to add just over $1,200 in new instructional materials and equipment to our school’s library collection. Once again, to everyone who came to our Book Fair, and to all who helped make it a great experience, a big thank you!

Keep on reading, and we’ll see you in the Library! It’s the place to be!

Results for Beaver Computer Challenge!On November 7th, 100 students from Thomas Street participated in the University of Waterloo Beaver Challenge. This was a very difficult challenge that put students’ logical thinking, deductive reasoning and sequencing skills to the test! The average for this contest was a score of 51 out of 90. Congratulations go to Andy C. for achieving a perfect score! Only 22 out of the 5773 students (world-wide) who wrote this contest achieved a perfect score.

Congratulations also go to Katherine W., Vanessa F. and Phoebe J. for having scores above 82. Only 138 out of 5773 students achieved a score this high.

A Certificate of Distinction goes to the following students for achieving a score in the top 25% of our school:

Andy CKatherine W

Ayera HFelice M

Faustina CTheron N

Vanessa FPhoebe JGayan AJerry GSumant DAlyssa LVanessa OTina GaAnoushka H

Emily MEarnest YAndrew ZBradley BJulian CKevin CNathan DJordan LClayton P

Vinesh VJessica ZBrooke LCheen-Yo LMay LVijay PAnushka SEmily X

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

Thomas Street is now on Twitter and Instagram! Please follow us @thunderwolves98 (twitter) and tsmspride (Instagram) for up to the minute news and updates at TSMS.

All Peel District School Board newsletter attachments, usually included in the monthly newsletter, are available through our school website at: http://schools.peelschools.org/1654

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Principal: Mrs. T. Tymkiv Vice Principal: Mr. D. Sidial. Vice Principal: Ms. L. Rosatone

Trustees: Robert Crocker 905-890-1010 Superintendent: Dr. Pertia Minott 905-366-8800 Brad MacDonald 905-828-6929 Nikha Dakroub 905-890-1010

Bus cancellation & closing schools due to bad weatherDuring 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 will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1NEWSTALK1010 AM EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSEGLOBAL NEWS CTV BREAKFAST TELEVISION

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.

*NEW* Community CornerStay up-to-date with community-based opportunitiesThe Peel District School Board is pleased to introduce an electronic resource page on www.peelschools.org called, Community Corner, which contains links to information and resources in the community that may be of interest to students and their families. This site replaces our previous method of sending promotional materials about community clubs, camps, contests, fundraisers and events home with students on a regular basis.How you can access Community Corner

1. Visit www.peelschools.org/parents/communitycorner

2. Click on the “Community Corner” button, found on the main page of school websites, as well as on www.peelschools.org.

Celebrating Faith and CultureDecember 2016December Luut'aa and Little Spirit Moon Aboriginal SpiritualityDecember 8 Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) BuddhismDecember 10 Maun Agiyaras or Muanajiyaras JainismSunset of December 11 to 29 the month of Masa'il Bahá’íEve of December 10/11 to 11/12 Milad-un-Nabi IslamDecember 13 Birthday of Imam Agakhan IslamDecember 14 Sanghamitta Day BuddhismDecember 15 Amitabha Buddha’s Birthday BuddhismEve of December 20 to 21 Yule WiccaDecember 21 Tohji-taisai ShintoSunset of December 24 to January 1 Chanukah JudaismDecember 25 Christmas Christianity and CanadaDecember 26 Boxing Day Christianity and CanadaDecember 26 Zarathosht-no-Diso ZoroastrianismDecember 26 to January 1 Kwanza African-Canadian

communitiesDecember 30 to January 17 the month of Sharaf Bahá’íDecember 31 to January 4 Ghambar Maidyarem Zoroastrianism

It's time to register children born in 2013 for kindergartenWe inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2013, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2017. You can register your child at any time during regular school hours—just visit the school he/she will be attending to register.

Peel schools will also hold a Kindergarten Registration Week with special registration activities during Feb. 6 to 9, 2016. Visit the school from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 6, 7, 8 and 9 and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 9. What you will need to bring to registrationProof of child's age (one of the following)

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

Proof of address (one of the following) 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 arrangementProof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated

Help your family stay warm this winterCanada 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. Invest in thick socks to keep your feet warm. 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. A balanced diet will also help keep you warm and

healthy in the winter. If you are travelling (on the road or in the wilderness) carry emergency supplies.

Winter bus safetyThe following winter school bus safety tips will help to keep your child safe throughout the winter months. Allow extra time to get to your bus stop. Wear bright clothing so the bus can see you in the early morning and late evening. Stand away from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room to stop when there is snow and ice. Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping on wet or icy steps or road

surfaces. Dress properly—winter clothing, hats, and boots will keep you warm. Don't throw snowballs at the bus or other children waiting for the bus. Don't slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the street. Don't push or shove around the bus. Someone could fall down on the ice and get hurt.

On very rare occasions, buses are late because of weather conditions or mechanical problems. Talk to your child about what to do if the bus is late. Here are some suggestions:

When possible, wait with your child for the bus. Make sure your child knows a phone number where he can reach you or another trusted adult. Teach your child how and where to get help. Talk to your child about what a "safe" stranger is. Help your child set up a bus stop buddy system so your child has someone to wait with for the bus.

Special technology offers for Peel board students, parents and staff

Does your child need a computer or tablet for school? Equity of access to technology is a key priority for the Peel board. That's why we've worked with a number of technology companies to offer discounted devices to Peel families and staff.

Renewed Computer Technology (RCT) offers low-cost, quality refurbished computers to families with a low-income. Qualified applicants can purchase: desktop for $60

laptop for $150

Prices include software, a two-year warranty and tax. For more information, contact RCT directly, call 905-795-0627 or visit their website at www.rcto.ca.

Peel families now have access to the following exclusive offers from VIG Solutions:

Intel Dual Core, 2GB, 160GB computer with a 17-inch LCD monitor -- $110 10-inch netbook with 1GB ram, 160GB hard drive, Wi-Fi capability and Windows 7 -- $60. Taxes and shipping will be applied to product costs, and all items come with a six-month warranty. To purchase products, visit www.refurbitstock.ca/peel and enter peelregion before proceeding.

Microsoft Microsoft offers reduced pricing on select products. For more information, visit http://pdsb.me/1X2RtMF.

The Peel board’s initiatives are part of the ongoing effort to create greater equity of access to technology for Peel students, parents and staff and do not represent an endorsement of any company or product. For all BYOD information, visit www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stcentury/byod.

Time for school - A parent’s guide to regular school attendanceElementary school is a wonderful time in the life of a child, a time of great strides in learning and in social and emotional development. Many things affect your child’s success, from the quality of his or her teachers, to the makeup of the class. One of the most important factors is your child’s regular and timely attendance.

Getting to class on time, and avoiding absences, are critical if your child is to get the most out of school. It seems obvious. But the fact is that elementary students tend to miss and average of eight or more school days during the year. What can you as a parent do to help ensure your child’s proper attendance?

Is your child missing more? Why does attendance matter?First, understand that getting to school–every day and on time–matters at every level, perhaps even more so in elementary school. That’s because important learning occurs daily, right from the start of class. And because you establish patterns early on. By being punctual and responsible, children are acquiring positive habits about school attendance. Some other things to consider:

By being late, children miss important social time with their peers before school begins. Students who are late often feel embarrassed or self-conscious. Late arrivals can disrupt the routine of the classroom. A last-minute rush can be stressful for the child, and get her to school in the wrong frame of mind. Missing even five or 10 minutes of the day can make it harder for the student to understand the material being

taught. Frequent absenteeism leads to gaps in a child’s skills and knowledge base, cause the child to fall behind his peers

and hurt his self-esteem. Too many missed school days can increase isolation, as the child stands out from her classmates and misses

opportunities to develop socially. Absenteeism makes it tougher for the child to develop a good rapport with the teachers.

When Time is TickingFew homes run like clockwork. The morning routine, especially, can be a mad scramble. But there are effective strategies for getting your little one up and out the door on time.

Get your child to bed at a reasonable hour. Set realistic and consistent schedules and rules at home. Getting ready for school should be part of the child’s

overall routine, something that’s expected of him every day. The night before school, do whatever is necessary to shave time in the morning, such as setting out clothes,

packing lunch, and setting schoolbags at the door. Have a set morning routine that the child can easily follow, i.e. washing hands and face, going to the bathroom,

dressing, making the bed, brushing teeth, and eating a healthy breakfast. Avoid any distractions that can slow the child down, like TV or games. If you’re running late regularly, set your alarm to get up earlier.

Is it a sick day?Children do get sick sometimes – they are still developing natural resistance to certain infections, their hygiene behaviours are still developing and germs spread more easily in a classroom. So some missed school is unavoidable, for the child’s own well-being, and the protection of her classmates. But there are ways to cut down on sick days. Teach your child about proper handwashing, after going to the bathroom, playing outside or wiping his nose. Follow other healthy habits, from eating nutritious food to getting enough sleep. Some symptoms make school attendance uncomfortable, like a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. But if you’re unsure

whether your child is sick enough to miss school, talk to your doctor. Some children pretend to be sick to avoid school. Ask yourself is the child’s symptoms are vague, (i.e. a

headache, upset stomach, fatigue), if your child tends to miraculously recover just after school starts or ends, or if the illness is happening during stressful times at school or at home. Allowing your child to remain home when there’s no real illness sets a bad pattern.

If you decide to keep your child home, please report your child’s absence via the SafeArrival system quickly and conveniently in one of the three ways:

o Call an automated, interactive toll free number – 1-855-209-6155 o Report absences online by accessing the SafeArrival parent portal on pdsb.schoolconnects.com o Download the SafeArrival mobile application for Apple and Android devices

Once you have reported your child’s absence, keep the child in bed or doing quiet, low-key activities. A day off from school shouldn’t be a holiday, it should be a time to recuperate from illness, so the child can return as soon as possible.

Set the right exampleChildren follow the lead of their parents. If you place an importance on regular and prompt school attendance, so will your child. Show interest in your child’s education by asking about the school day, celebrating school successes,

attending school events and parent-teacher interviews, volunteering at school, and communicating with your child’s teacher. The more you value school, the more your child will.

Provide a home environment that encourages learning and curiosity. Treat the school hours with respect. If you have to make an appointment for your child, arrange it

before or after school or, if that’s not possible, at the very beginning or end of the day. When it comes to planning family trips, some parents will factor in the schedule in the higher grades,

but think little of pulling their child out of school. If anything, younger students can be affected more when they miss an extended period, finding it tough to relearn classroom routines and rejoin their peer group. Learning is cumulative, building on the skills and concepts that were introduced before. And this process is ongoing. Family trips can be wonderful learning experiences themselves. But if they must occur during the school year, please save them for scheduled breaks.

If your child resists going to school, for no apparent reason, talk to him or her about any possible problems with the school, teacher or other kids. However, don’t give in to coaxing, pleading or threatening and keep the child at home. That creates a bad precedent.

Need more information?If you have any questions regarding any of the issues raised here about lateness or attendance, or if you’re looking for other tips on getting your child to school, please talk to us. By working together, we can help support a more successful school experience for your child. Visit our website at www.peelschools.org.

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Our school is on social media too!Thomas Street is now on Twitter and Instagram! Please follow us @thunderwolves98 (twitter) and tsmspride (Instagram) for up to the minute news and updates at TSMS.

All Peel District School Board newsletter attachments, usually included in the monthly newsletter, are available through our school website at: http://schools.peelschools.org/1654

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