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Silver Stream News March 2014
Silver Stream Public School
180 Farmstead Road Richmond Hill, ON L4S 2K9
905 508-5696 Fax: 905 508-7513
http://silverstream.ps.yrdsb.ca/
Principal
Mrs. Judy MacLachlan-Dow
Vice Principal
Ms. Ann Gnoinski
Office Administration
Ms. Bonnie Lebovic Mrs. Connie Locker
Lead Caretaker
Mr. Nigel McLeod
Superintendent
Mr. C. LaTouche
905 884-4477
Trustee
Mrs. Carol Chan 416 953-2738
School Council Chair
Mr. Ali Amini-Kisomi [email protected]
Administrator Message
As we move into March, we certainly will welcome Spring, and hopefully spring like weather! Our winter has certainly tested our patience with cold, snowy, and icy weather conditions. We appreciate the patience and understanding of our parents as they continue to safely navigate the parking lot and driveway.
February may have been a cold month outside, but it was certainly warm and busy inside our school. Our Intermediate students participated in a Science Fair presenting their projects for parents and peers. Some of the Junior and Intermediate classes completed a unit on the Olympics and the values demonstrated by our Canadian athletes during the Winter Olympics. Through thoughtful and creative projects, students learned about the Olympics in many countries around the world, as well as showing what our Olympic athletes mean to our students. From patriotism and camaraderie, to sportsmanship, talent and skill, our students demonstrated the spirit of the Olympics through projects and games. Our busy month came to an end with a wonderful assembly and evening of song from our Primary students. We were delighted to have so many families join us for the celebration of Winter.
Our Intermediate students have begun Artist in Residence, or AIR projects, which gives them an opportunity to explore the Arts with the support of professionals in the areas of dramatic arts and drumming. We look forward to the final celebrations of their work at the end of their projects.
Looking ahead in March, we know the weather will warm, trading in our winter boots for rubber boots! We wish all our families a safe March Break, one that offers a time of leisure and rest.
The newsletter is available on our website. If you wish notification of when it is available, please contact us with your email address.
PA Day - March 7, 2014 March Break - March 10 to 14, 2014
No School on these days.
Planning for Next Year
Next year‟s classes are organized based on the number of students we project for September 2014. Please call us if you are planning to move or know a new student moving into the area. We would also like to register all new Kindergarten students, those born in 2009 or 2010.
(905) 508-5696
The Annual Grade 3 and 6 EQAO Assessment
Each spring, students in grade 3 and 6 participate in a province wide assessment in reading, writing, and mathematics. The results of the EQAO assessments provide valuable information to the government, teachers, parents and students on the achievement of students in Ontario. They also
provide information to support instructional planning and improve student learning. It is important that all students participate in these assessments, as absent students are included in our scores and can impact our results.
This year the EQAO assessment will take place between May 26 - June 6. We ask that you do not schedule appointments during this time to minimize distractions and disruptions in our classrooms. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
More information will be sent home to students in Grade 3 and 6 as we get closer to the
assessments. Parents can find additional information on the EQAO website at www.eqao.com.
The Importance of Critical Thinking
As a school, we have identified critical thinking as a skill our students need to prepare for their future. Our goal is to help students approach issues in an open-minded manner, to look carefully at various options, and to reach reasonable conclusions based on careful assessment of relevant factors.
“Critical thinking involves thinking through problematic situations…where the thinker makes reasoned judgments…thinking critically is a way of carrying out…it is the quality of thinking…” Roland Case
Critical thinking is nurtured by encouraging students to experiment with various methods before deciding the best approach, whether estimating a problem in math or science, or a design challenge in art or business. Critical thinking is characterized by the ongoing consideration and careful assessment of a situation before acting. Critical thinking provides our children with the skills and attitudes they need to handle the many challenges they will face in school, work and in their home.
Parents can help their child develop this important life skill by reinforcing the work we are doing in school. Below are a few ideas to help children develop as critical thinkers:
- Look for casual opportunities, especially while reading books, to raise questions that require assessing various alternatives (e.g. Do you think it would have been better for the character to do ___ or ___?)
- Encourage your child to explore positions from different points of view, especially from perspectives that he/she does not personally hold (e.g., how might your brother/sister feel about…?)
- Help your child to identify the relevant factors or criteria to consider when making a particular decision (e.g. when selecting a bicycle a child might consider the cost, how often they will use it, whether it suits their needs).
Encouraging children to think critically is more time consuming and slower than simply telling them what to think. With patience and guidance and a little gentle persistence, children will develop the skills that lead them to become critical thinkers.
For more information parents are encouraged to visit the Critical Thinking Consortium at www.ct2.ca
Vivian Outdoor Resource Centre
Textures in Nature
Congratulations Sharmin
Sharmin from Mrs. Won‟s class drew a special picture for the Richmond Hill Winter Carnival. Her picture won a Special Recognition Award.
Way to go Sharmin!
Spring Concert - Celebration of Winter We would like to congratulate our Primary students for their wonderful celebration of „Winter‟ shared with parents on Thursday, February 27th. Through song, poetry, and dance the students celebrated our long cold winter. Thanks also to our Intermediate band for their participation. We very much appreciate the effort and commitment of our Primary staff, support staff, Mr. Smith, and Mrs. Lucas, who organized the concert for our community.
„Me to We‟ Initiative The „Me to We‟ club would like parents to know about their current fund raising initiative. Our students will be selling Rafiki chains. Proceeds can provide one child in a needy community with health care, education or clean water for one year. Each Rafiki chain will cost $10, and will be available in shades of blue for water, red and white for health care, or rainbow colours for education. Students will be able to pre-order the chains after March Break. The „Me to We‟ club will continue to pre-sell the chains until the beginning of June with all proceeds going to support children around the world. Thank you in advance to our students and families for supporting our students‟ „Me to We‟ efforts.
Safe Arrival
Help us make sure your child is safe...call or email
the school if your child will be absent.
905-508-5696
Healthy Schools Summary
Skating Party Success!! We hope to continue this as an annual event. We had a great morning at the
rink and several students at the school were able to try snowshoeing. Many families indicated that they would continue public skating with family and friends.
Dance Party Again, a great time was had by all. Our students actively participated in the dance moves
demonstrated by the energetic leader from Bounce Entertainment.
Please Help Us
Monitoring our entryways during entry and dismissal has become very challenging for our staff. Many parents elect to enter the school to support their child with personal belongings without checking in at the office. This poses two difficulties: unidentified adults are mingling with students in our crowded hallways and students are missing the opportunity to develop independence. In light of our new front door security procedure, parents are asked to kindly remain outside as they wait for their children.
We are asking for your assistance in the parking lot at both morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up times. Cars are not to park in the middle lane of the parking lot and be left unattended. If you are picking up a child and need to meet them at their doors, you must park in a proper parking space. Thank you
Welcome Back
In February, we welcomed Mrs. Baker back to Silver Stream as she returned from her maternity leave. We would like to extend our thanks to Mrs. Salter for her efforts in supporting our Grade 6 students for Term One. She demonstrated care and concern for each child and supported their learning in a safe and nurturing environment. We wish her well as she continues to pursue her teaching career in York Region. We would also like to acknowledge Mrs. Baker‟s efforts in ensuring a smooth transition for the students as she met frequently with Mrs. Salter in the weeks leading to her return. Mrs. Baker brings her enthusiasm and energy and will continue to support and promote the learning for each student.
We also said good bye to Mr. Matthew Barnett, one of our caretakers. Mr. Barnett was not with us very long, but left a positive impact on our school. We thank him for all his efforts to support students and staff and wish him well in his new assignment at Langstaff SS. We welcome Mr. Bradley Shiels who joined our caretaking team on Monday March 3rd.
Change to YRDSB Email
Please note that all YRDSB email addresses have changed from @yrdsb.edu.on.ca to simply @yrdsb.ca. This is effective immediately.
School Council Corner
Speaker Series We have several opportunities for parents to participate by attending a speaker series to support raising healthy children. The first event will take place in the Library at 7:00pm on April 3 with Mrs. Evans (our teacher librarian) speaking about the “Journey to Excellence” program. The core of this program is the teaching of 7 essential life skills. When these skills are explicitly taught and practiced they teach children how to achieve their Personal Best, not just academically but in all areas of their lives. Self Esteem, Self knowledge and Emotional Wellness are the foundational teachings of this program. On May 8, Julie Carrique, RHN, RNCP will present a workshop on Nutrition. One additional speaker will be joining us before the end of the year with a focus on children‟s mental health. We hope you will join us for one, or all, of these wonderful opportunities for parents to learn and share.
QSP Reminder Families are reminded that you can continue to take advantage of the QSP magazines program. Call the toll free customer service number 1-800-667-2536 if you have any questions about your current magazine orders. Also, you can order magazines anytime online at QSP.ca.
Athletic Update
Intermediate Basketball Our Intermediate Girls and Boys basketball teams competed in the Area Tournament at Red Maple
Public School. Students practised diligently preparing for the tournament under the guidance of
Mr. Tam. Although our students did not proceed to the Regional tournament, they demonstrated
good sportsmanship and team work as they represented Silver Stream. Our thanks to Mr. Tam for
coaching both teams.
Fitspirit Kickoff
Our kickoff assembly was February 25th. We have many energetic Intermediate girls gearing up to be ready for the spring 5km run at Sunnybrook Park. Thanks to Mrs. Andrade for heading up
this fitness adventure.
Rummage Sale and Community Jamboree...June 5th
...save the date! As a year-end event, the School Council is organizing a
Rummage Sale and BBQ Spring cleaning?
Basement packed?
Save those gently used house wares, toys, games and electronics. Support our
School Council fundraising efforts at our spring Rummage Sale and Community
Jamboree. Look for more information about our year end community event
including details about the rummage sale and BBQ coming soon.
Board Launches New Mission, Vision, Values and Slogan
Mission: To advance student achievement and well-being through public education, which motivates learners,
fosters inclusion, inspires innovation and builds community.
The York Region District School Board is celebrating the launch of its new Mission, Vision and Values statements
and slogan – Inspire Learning!
The Board last reviewed these statements in the late 1990s. Since that time, education in York Region has been
influenced by a number of significant changes, including changes in technology, in our communities and in our
learning environments.
Community members, parents/guardians, staff members and students had the opportunity to provide input and share ideas about the ideal future of public education in York Region. Thank you to everyone who participated
in the process.
For more information, visit the Board website at www.yrdsb.ca.
Mission To advance student achievement and well-being through public education, which motivates learners,
fosters inclusion, inspires innovation and builds community.
Vision To be a leader in public education by empowering all students to become engaged and caring citizens of the
world.
Values Our School Board operates based on a set of values which guides our actions:
Inclusivity We demonstrate inclusivity in all that we do. We demand an environment in which all students, staff,
parents, and our community feel valued and have a sense of belonging. We expect empathy, mutual respect and understanding to be demonstrated in our words and actions.
Relationships We value positive, meaningful relationships with students, staff, parents, and our community. We value
diversity of opinion, sincere dialogue and community engagement. Innovation
We continuously strive to provide the best educational programs for all students. We empower staff and students to take initiative and to be innovative leaders.
Engagement We encourage active participation in all learning and activities by creating an environment that engages
students, staff, parents, and our community. Responsibility
We are individually and collectively responsible for creating the best possible school community to support the achievement and well-being of all individuals. We are responsible for the delivery of effective and
sustainable educational programs and stewardship of Board resources. Optimism
We approach all situations with optimism. We cultivate confidence and resiliency in all students and staff.
March - Perseverance
Perseverance is also called “Stick-To-It-Ness”. It is the ability to stick to something and complete a task even though difficult circumstances may try to prohibit you finishing. You set a goal, make a commitment to complete the goal, and follow through on your commitment. Sometimes, the follow-through is the difficult part.
In school, children can practise initiative and perseverance by setting a goal to improve their school work and putting a plan in place to achieve their goal.
When the world says, “Give up,”
Hope whispers, “Try it one more time.”
Author Unknown
Message from our Trustee
This is an exciting time for our Board. We recently launched our new Mission, Vision and Values, and the
Board’s first slogan – Inspire Learning!
Our new mission statement – to advance student achievement and well-being through public education, which
motivates learners, fosters inclusion, inspires innovation and builds community – will help to guide our work
and move us forward in the months and years ahead.
Thank you to everyone who shared their input. We look forward to bringing these statements to life in our
school communities.
We are now halfway through the school year, a good time to celebrate all that your children have achieved and
to set goals for the rest of the year. I encourage you to speak with your child not only about what they are
learning, but also how they are learning. There are so many exciting and innovative things happening in our
schools.
Best wishes for an enjoyable and successful second term. Carol Chan
February 21, 2014
Dear Members of the York Region District School Board Community:
As you may be aware, our current Director of Education will be retiring as of July 31, 2014. The important responsibility of selecting his successor now becomes the task of the Board of Trustees.
We have engaged the services of Laverne Smith & Associates, a leading Canadian firm that has worked extensively with school boards and other public sector organizations across the country. Dr. Laverne Smith, our consultant, will be assisting us by gathering input from you, the educational community.
Your input into the qualities and characteristics that you would like to see in the new director of education is critical. Please take a few minutes to complete the linked (https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FT9XQKF) online survey which comprises four questions. The survey results will be submitted electronically directly to Laverne Smith & Associates. All responses will be held in strict confidence by the consultant.
Please submit your response by Tuesday March 18, 2014. If you require more time to complete the survey, responses will continue to be accepted after this deadline.
Thank you in advance for your time and input. Yours truly,
Anna DeBartolo Diane Giangrande
Co-Chairs of the Search Committee for Director of Education York Region District School Board
Respect Responsibility Honesty Compassion/Empathy Fairness/Tolerance Initiative/Independence Perseverance Integrity Courage/Confidence Optimism
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March 2014 BUS ROUTES HOTLINE
1-877-330-3001
www.schoolbuscity.com
Perseverance
We stick to a goal and work hard even in the face of obstacles and
challenges. We complete all tasks and assignments.
Updated: 5-Mar-14
International Day for the
Elimination of Racial
Discrimination
EARTH HOUR
International Women’s Day Ash Wednesday
NAW RUZ HOLI
St. Patrick’s Day
CHANGE CLOCKS
March Break
PA DAY
(No School)
Silver Stream Public School
Tel: (905) 508-5696 Fax: (905) 508-7513
Website: www.silverstream.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
eMail: [email protected]
HEP B grade 7’s
HPV grade 8 girls
Swim to Survive for Gr. 3 VIP for Gr. 6
VIP for Gr. 6,7
Scientists in School VIP for Gr. 6
Harriet Tubman
presentation for Gr. 5/6 - 8
Band to
Music Alive
Mad Science at lunch
Fitspirit at lunch
Int. band after school
Artist in Residence
Sub days
Lunch lady
Pizza day
Mental Health Workshop at
Richmond Rose 6:30 p.m.
