Highgate Public School

35 Highgate Drive, Markham, Ontario, L3R 3R5

Tel: 905-477-1019 School Website: www.highgate.ps.yrdsb.ca

School email: highgate.ps@yrdsb.ca Principal: Lisa Stover Vice Principal: Janice Perera-Baker

Superintendent: Eric Khilji (905) 940-7800 Trustee: Juanita Nathan (905) 471–2553

A Message from the Administration…. It is hard to believe that we are in the month of May and only have 2 months left in the current school year! This month we have many exciting opportunities for family engagement including The Battle of the Books, School Council and Welcome to Kindergarten Night. Staff have been spending a lot of time preparing for these exciting events and we hope that we will see many of you there. Also during the month of May (May 23-June 5), our Grade 3 and 6 students will begin writing E.Q.A.O. (Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics). In six one-hour sessions, stu-dents will complete a variety of assessment activities designed to allow them to demonstrate their skills and knowledge relating to reading, writing and mathematics as described in The On-tario Curriculum. E.Q.A.O .has developed a “Parent’s Guide to E.Q.A.O. Tests” and “Questions and Answers for Parents” (available in 20 languages) to give you more information about the as-sessments and an understanding of what to expect. To access these resources, go to the E.Q.A.O. Web site (www.eqao.com), click “Parent Resources” and then select “Primary Division (Grades 1–3) and Junior Division (Grades 4–6).” If you have any questions regarding E.Q.A.O. please speak to your child’s teacher or the office.

Soon it will be that time of year again when schools begin the process of organizing classrooms for September 2017. We work hard at placing students in the most positive learning environment possible. We take into account the pupils’ learning styles, personality traits, social dynamics, gender balance, and any special education needs. As in previous years at Highgate P.S., we do not accept requests for specific teachers. We do however, encourage you (if you feel that it would be beneficial) to forward any pertinent information about your child(ren) that will assist us in making the best placement. Please forward all letters to Ms. Stover by May 15, 2017. Thank you for your cooperation with this matter. Please note that class lists will not be posted until Sep-tember.

Lisa Stover Janice Perera-Baker Principal Vice Principal

School Times Entry Bell : 8:25 a.m Recess: 10:30 – 10: 50 a.m. Lunch: 12:10 – 1:10 p.m. Dismissal: 2:50 p.m

Daily Physical Activity (DPA) Every morning at 8:30 the students participate in DPA. There are various locations around the school that DPA takes place. It is imperative students arrive at school on time so that they are able to join their class for DPA.

Fuel Program Our snack program is a universal program where all students get the opportunity to eat a healthy snack each morning. We continue to receive regional and provincial funding to support our nourish-ment program, however a lot of the funding does rely on parental contributions. Please ensure you sign up to online payment to contribute to your child’s fuel program.

Lunches (Peanut Free) If you are bringing your child’s lunch to school, please leave it on the table in our front lob- by, clearly labelled with your child’s name. Inform your child in advance that his/her lunch will be left at this lunch table to be picked up by him/her at noon.

Please do not go to your child’s class without first checking in the office.

Safe Arrival Program If your child is going to be late or absent, please telephone and inform the office in advance at 905-477- 1019. If we do not receive a message on our machine or telephone call in the morning, we will telephone your home or place of work to ensure your child is safe. If you know your child is absent, it would be appreciated if you let us know as early as possible, prior to the school start time. Also note, if you know your child will be absent on any other particular day, please let the office or your child’s teacher know in advance. In the event that we cannot reach a parent or an emergency con-tact, the police will be notified.

Blast Off with Breakfast Program Our breakfast program is a universal program where all students get the opportunity to eat a bal-anced meal before school starts. If you are interested, please ensure you sign your child up. The following is the daily schedule for the blast off with breakfast program:

8:00am – 8:15am – Walking students. 8:15am – Walking students are dismissed. 8:15am – 8:25am – Bus students.

Our Visit with Elly MacKay

On April 12th, author and illustrator Elly MacKay visited

our school. Elly is the author of several books, including

Butterfly Park and If You Hold a Seed. One of Elly's great-

est talents is her ability to create breathtaking whimsical di-

oramas-- tiny worlds from cut paper, ink and light, which she then photo-

graphs. Her Highgate visit gave our students the opportunity to experience

one of her dioramas first-hand! It was truly a pleasure to see such love and tal-

ent that goes into making each one of her picture books.

ARE YOU MOVING?

IF YOU ARE MOVING OUT OF THE HIGHGATE P.S. attendance area, please advise the school A.S.A.P.

您將搬家,九月份不回 Highgate 學校上學嗎?

Student Name: ________________________

Class: _______________________________

Moving to:

New School: _______________________________ OR

New Address: _______________________________

‘Walking To My Own Beat’ S.O.A.R. Event  

On Wednesday, May 3rd staff and students will be celebra ng what it looks, sounds and feels like to have an ‘Open Mind’ through our S.O.A.R. mantra. The learning goal for this assembly will be:  

 

Developing a secure iden ty and sense of self. 

Learning adap ve, management and coping skills to deal with differences. 

Learning to build healthy rela onships.  In prepara on for the assembly, students will be par cipa ng in a lead up ac vity with their home-room class and music teacher. At the assembly, classes will get the opportunity showcase their ‘beat’ with their DIY materials. Mr. McGouren will be orchestra ng a unified musical piece with the whole school.   Following the assembly students will get the opportunity to par cipate in a carousel of curriculum-based workshops that focus on how to prac ce an open mind. Workshop topics will include: 

Au sm awareness Families, culture, and religion Service dogs Different forms of communica on 

 Hero Of Play contest  Highgate Public School will be par cipa ng in the Ontario Physical and Health Educa on Associa on, Hero of Play contest in May. This is an exci ng challenge for schools across Ontario to showcase how their community is ge ng ac ve! We will be submi ng a video of how staff and students in our community embrace daily physical ac vity. We hope that our school will get the opportunity to be recognized for our focus on well-being.  *If you would not like your child(ren) to par cipate in this video, please let us know.  Making Tracks program at Highgate  The Making Tracks program is a York Region program that encourages children, youth and their fami-lies to safely use ac ve transporta on to be er preserve the environment, to increase physical ac vi-ty, and to improve traffic safety.   From May 22nd to June 2nd students in Kindergarten, and grade 1 to grade 3 will get the opportuni-ty to par cipate in this program in their outdoor physical educa on classes. We will have a class set of scooters for students to use. In order for students to par cipate safely in this program, we are en-couraging students to bring their own bicycle helmet. Please stay tuned for de-tails to come!

Public Health Immunization Information In the 2017/18 school year, York Region Public Health will visit all  elementary schools to provide school immuniza-on clinics to Grade 7 students. The clinics offer vaccines for Hepa s B, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Menin-

gococcal A, C, Y, W-135 at no cost.   Under the Immuniza on of School Pupils Act, meningococcal vaccine is required for school a endance, unless an exemp on is filed with public health. Hepa s B and HPV vaccines are recommended, but not required for school a endance.   Parents of students entering Grade 7 in fall 2017 will receive consent forms in the mail in June. Please complete the consent form and return it to York Region Public Health to allow your child to par cipate in the immuniza on clin-ics. Detailed instruc ons can be found on the forms and accompanying le er. If the consent form is not completed, your child will not be able to receive vaccines at the clinic.   Parents and guardians who do not consent should s ll complete the forms and return them, indica ng that you do not authorize York Region Public Health to immunize your child.  Visit york.ca/immuniza ons and click on School Immuniza on Clinics for more informa on. 

 Did you know? If your child has missed a required vaccina on on Ontario’s rou ne immuniza on schedule, he/she can receive the vaccine at one of York Region Public Health’s Community Immuniza on Clinics. These evening clin-ics are offered throughout the summer, giving students the opportunity to catch up before returning to school. Visit york.ca/immuniza ons and select Community Immuniza on Clinics to learn more. 

  

SAFE PLAY  

Parents, now is a great  me to remind your child about being re-sponsible for their safety and ac ons toward others while playing.   All students/par cipants are expected to take increasing responsi-bility for their own safety, as well as the safety of others, as they mature. Students must begin to take responsibility from a very young age for their own safety and the safety of others around the school. Following procedures, using equipment as instructed, wearing appropriate a re, and using thinking skills to assess risk and take appropriate precau ons are some ways in which students can contribute to their own safety and the safety of others while par cipa ng in physical ac vity.  - Ontario Ministry of Educa on, The Ontario Curriculum, Health and Physical Educa on, Grades 1 – 8, revised, 2010  

The Welcome to Kindergarten program (WTK) offers resources and strategies for families in support of children and early learning. Our school will be hosting our WTK Family Orientation session on

May 25, 2017 at 6:00p.m.

Learning to Play and Playing to Learn: Getting Ready for School is a wonderful booklet for families in helping their child prepare for a successful transition to kindergarten.

We look forward to seeing NEW JK Family on: THURSDAY, MAY 25, 2017 from 6-7pm.

Talk Read Sing Play every day! _______________________________________________________________________

Medical science has revealed how critically important early experiences are in shaping children’s development, their subsequent school success and their future lifelong success. Harvard’s Centre on the Developing Child summarizes the research in

The Science of Early Childhood Development.

Welcome to Kindergarten (WTK) is a wonderful opportunity for families, schools and community partners to come together and celebrate active early learning. Active early learning ensures a smooth transition to school for every child. Welcome to Kindergarten for All Children shows that WTK Fami-ly Orientation sessions are for every child.

Talk Read Sing Play every day!

Talk Read Sing Play every day!

Welcome to Kindergarten (WTK) has partnered with Chirp Magazine to provide a spe-cial WTK Chirp edition in our WTK bag of family resources this year. Chirp has also partnered with CBC to provide a series of Online Chirp Episodes that are very appro-priate for children’s viewing. These online episodes are wonderful for families to view together with their children. They also provide wonderful opportunities for follow up with fun art, dress-up or sim-ple science related activities. This type of family engagement that creates play-based activity and conversation is at the root of children’s healthy, optimal growth and de-velopment.

Talk Read Sing Play every day!

Welcome to Kindergarten (WTK) programming provides a wonderful opportunity for families to engage with their new school and celebrate active play based learning that is the foundation for children’s healthy, optimal growth and development. That initial WTK family and school engagement starts a relationship that needs to be nurtured in supporting children throughout their school experience. Dr. Michelann Parr, from Nipissing University’s Schulich School of Education, shares anecdotes, ex-periences, and practices related to family and school engagement in her most informa-tive blog: “engaging families, engaging schools”.

Talk Read Sing Play every day!

MAY 2017

It is May and the warm weather is here! Now is a great time to start thinking about afterschool and/or summer programs that you would like your child/ren to participate in. Co-operative games and sport teams are not only a fantastic way to increase you child’s physical activity, but it also encourages cooperation, team-work and building a positive and respectful attitude toward winning and losing. Speak to your child and find out what activities they would be interested in partici-pating in and visit your local library and community centre to see what they are of-fering. If you need any help, speak to your child’s teacher or let the office know.

PARENTS CORNER

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 1 *Music Alive concert in GYM 10-12pm Gr. 6-8 *Parent Survey Starts *Gr. 1&2 Afterschool program 3-4:30pm

2 *SMASH (Badminton 3:00-4:00)

3 *S.O.A.R. Event *Gr. 3&4 afterschool program 3-4:30pm *Gr 7, 8 Girls Immunization

4 5

8 *Gr. 1&2 Afterschool program 3-4:30pm

9 *SMASH (Badminton 3:00-4:00)

10 *Gr. 3&4 afterschool program 3-4:30pm

11 *1A/1B Trip to Phyllis Rawlinson Park *Battle of the Books 7-9pm

12

15 *Gr. 1&2 Afterschool program 3-4:30pm

16 *SMASH (Badminton 3:00-4:00)

17 *Special Needs Track & Field *Gr. 3&4 Afterschool program 3-4:30pm

18 *School Council Meeting 6:00p.m.

19

22

*Victoria Day NO SCHOOL

23 *SMASH (Badminton 3:00-4:00)

24 *Gr. 3&4 Afterschool program 3-4:30pm *Gr. 8 Skills Trades & Technology @ Humber College

25 *Welcome to Kindergarten Night 6-7pm

26

29 *Gr. 1&2 Afterschool program 3-4:30pm

30 31 *Gr. 3&4 Afterschool program 3-4:30pm

1 2 PA Day NO SCHOOL

GRADES 3 & 6 E.Q.A.O.

GRADES 3 & 6 E.Q.A.O.

MAKING TRACKS PROGRAM SCOOTER SAFETY IN PE CLASS (K-3)

MAKING TRACKS PROGRAM SCOOTER