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Principal
Mrs. Sherry Morgan
Vice Principal
Ms. Julia De Rose
Superintendent of Schools
Mr. Tod Dungey
(905) 764-6830
Trustee
Mrs. Anna De Bartolo 60 Wellington Street West Aurora, Ontario L4G 3H2
(905) 727-0022
School Day Organization 2
Upcoming School Holidays 2
PA and Training Days 2
What’s Happening @ WPS? 2
Message from our Trustee 2
School Connects 3
Regular School Attendance 3
School Cash Online 3
Student Safety 4
Supervision 4
Medical Conditions 5
Electronic Newsletter 5
Lost and Found 5
Curriculum Night 5
School Crossing Guards 5
School Council Meeting 6
Save the Date! 6
Volunteering in the School 6
Substitute Peanut Butter 6
Nutrition News 6
PFLC News 7
September Calendar 7
Inside this issue:
From the Office September 2017
THE WOODBRIDGE WINDOW
Woodbridge Public School
60 Burwick Avenue, Woodbridge Ontario L4L 1J7
Tel: (905) 851-0102 Fax: (905) 851-4707
Email: [email protected]
Dear Parents/Guardians:
We would like to take this opportunity to welcome back all returning families after what we hope
was a fun filled, relaxing summer break with your family and friends. We would also like to extend a
warm welcome to our new Kindergarten students and to all new students and families who are
joining our school community. We are excited to begin the 2017-18 school year with you and look
forward to another year of learning and growing.
To help our families stay informed, we have provided each family with the 2017-2018 Guide to the
School Year. This guide contains useful information for students and parents to reference through-
out the course of the year. The school newsletter is another wonderful source of information. It will
be posted online on our school website and sent to our contacts via email each month. If you wish
to be added to our contact list, please visit our website to subscribe to electronic communications
of a commercial nature. Please refer to our online school calendar and our school blog, on the
Woodbridge Public School website, for the most up-to-date information.
Many exciting changes began to take place over the summer in our school! Our library space has
been transformed to a brand new space with the support of Mr. Mizuno and a few of our commu-
nity volunteers. We now have brand new furniture to facilitate the transition into an innovative
learning commons for reading and exploration. Also, both our play structures are currently under
construction as the loose gravel is being replaced by a rubberized play surface. We look forward to
our students benefiting from these beautiful new spaces.
After much reflection and consideration, we have made a decision to remove the ‘soft entry’ model
and return to the former model of having students playing outside from 8:40-8:55 a.m. each day.
We believe that our students benefit greatly from fresh air, exercise and socializing with peers dur-
ing this time. Students will now remain outside upon their arrival at 8:40 a.m. and are supervised by
staff. When the 8:55 a.m. bell rings, students will line up at their entry doors and be escorted in-
side by staff. We will continue to use the soft entry procedure only during inclement weather morn-
ings.
We are fortunate to be welcoming new and returning staff to our team. Please join us in welcoming: Ms. Bento, Mr. Brown, Ms. Fallone, Mrs. Georgas, Mrs. Hayer, Ms. Liscio and Ms. Talis.
On behalf of the entire staff, we wish you a wonderful September. We look forward to working with our families and the Woodbridge community towards a successful and rewarding 2017-2018 school year.
Your Partner in Education,
Mrs. S. Morgan Principal
Page 2 Woodbridge Public School
School Day Organization
8:55 a.m. - 3:15 p.m.
8:40 a.m. - Supervision Begins
8:55 a.m. - Entry Bell
8:55 a.m. - 10:35 a.m. - Instructional Time
10:35 a.m. - 10:55 a.m. - Recess
10:55 a.m. - 12:35 p.m. - Instructional Time
12:35 p.m. - 1:35 p.m. - Lunch
1:35 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. - Instructional Time
3:15 p.m. - Dismissal
Professional Activity & Training
Days
Monday, September 25, 2017
Friday, October 20, 2017
Friday, November 24, 2017
Friday, January 19, 2018
Friday, February 2, 2018
Monday, June 4, 2018
Friday, June 29, 2018
Upcoming School Holidays
Thanksgiving – October 9, 2017
Winter Break – Dec. 25, 2017 – January 5, 2018
Family Day – February 19, 2018
March Break – March 12-16, 2018
Good Friday – March 30, 2018
Easter Monday – April 2, 2018
Victoria Day – May 21, 2018
What’s Happening at W.P.S.?
For the most current information on what is happening at Wood-
bridge Public School, please visit our school website,
www.yrdsb.ca/schools/woodbridge.ps.
From the W.P.S. home page you will have access to our blog,
monthly newsletters, School Cash Online, tweets
by @Woodbridge_PS, Career Cruising, and much
more!
Please refer to the school’s online calendar for the most up-to-
date schedule of events. Simply click on the News & Events tab,
then access the Calendar tab.
Message from our Trustee
As we begin the 2017-2018 school year, I want to take this opportunity to welcome all of our new and returning students and families. This is an exciting time of year and I hope you are starting this new school year as trustees are - with optimism and a commitment to
working together to continue advancing student achievement and well-being.
An important part of that commitment is working together with staff members, families and communities to ensure our schools provide an environment that is safe, welcoming and inclusive. This takes on increasing importance given recent local and global events. We
take pride in the diversity of our communities and will continue striving to uphold the values of equity and inclusivity in our system.
Trustees have had a busy summer, welcoming our new Human Rights Commissioner and beginning the process for selecting a new
Director of Education as we continue to move forward implementing the Minister’s Directions.
An important part of the director selection process includes collecting input from students, staff, families and community members - input that will be used to shape the job description, interview questions and more. I encourage everyone to share their thoughts
through the survey available in September. We will continue to keep you updated as this work progresses.
Our schools are stronger when we work in collaboration with families and communities. Partnerships with parents and families are essential to achieving the goals we have for our students, and I hope that you will find opportunities to get engaged with the school
and your child’s learning this year.
I wish you all the best for the upcoming school year.
Anna DeBartolo
Trustee, YRDSB
Woodbridge Public School Page 3
Safe Arrival and SchoolConnects
Woodbridge Public School uses “SchoolConnects”, an
automated notification system, to assist us with our safe
arrival program. Woodbridge Public School implements
SchoolConnects to notify parents of their child’s absence
in a timely manner.
Parents are required to dial the toll free
number, 1-855-203-2994, or go online at
yorkrdsb.schoolconnects.com to report their child’s
absence. SchoolConnects safe arrival program is avail-
able 24 hours a day, 7 days a week; however, a
student’s absence must be reported before 8:45 a.m.
on the day of the absence.
Whenever a student is absent from class, and a call has
not been placed to our SchoolConnects toll free number
informing us of the absence, a call will be made to the
student’s home on the day of the absence. If parents
cannot be reached at home a call will be made to the
parent’s cell number on file. If we are unable to reach
you by phone we will continue to follow the safe arrival
protocol and contact York Regional Police.
Woodbridge Public School is excited to use SchoolCon-
nects to enhance communication. Should you wish to
receive text messages from our school, please text the
word JOIN to 56360. If you have any
questions concerning this initiative,
please call the school at 905-851-0102.
Regular School Attendance
Regular attendance is crucial for continued academic progress.
Getting to class on time and avoiding absences are critical if
your child is to get the most out of school. Attending school -
every day and on time - is very important. Learning occurs
daily, right from the start of class.
In order to be less disruptive to both staff and students during
instructional time, please follow the following procedures:
If your child is going to be late or absent from school,
please report the absence before the start of the school day
(8:55a.m.). Parents are required to call into the SchoolCon-
nects automated notification system, by dialing the toll free
n u m b e r 1 - 8 5 5 - 2 0 3 - 2 9 9 4 o r g o o n l i n e a t
yorkrdsb.schoolconnects.com to report your child’s absence.
If you must sign out your child from school due to a
scheduled appointment, please place a note in your child’s
agenda/communication bag so that your child’s teacher will
have time to prepare your child for an early dismissal (i.e.
homework, notes). Children will be called down to the office
when you arrive. Please avoid appointments during class
time.
If you need to pick up your child at the end of the school
day (instead of taking the bus), tell your child before school
and leave a note in their communication
bag/agenda to inform the teacher of the
change. Please make all attempts NOT to
make last minute changes to your child’s
regular dismissal routine.
School Cash Online Reminder
School Cash Online is our online payment system for parents. School Cash Online is an easy and safe way to pay for
your children’s school fees. You can pay for your child’s agenda, class trips, hot lunches and so much more, from the con-
venience of your own home. Simply register an account, then “link” your children to that account and in no time you will be
able to make payments online. We accept many different forms of payment such as Visa, Master Card, and Interac. If you
activated your account last school year, you do not need to repeat this process.
NOTE: Parents, you must activate your account to make any payment submissions to Woodbridge P.S. Cash and
cheques will no longer be accepted. In order to set up your account, go to the Woodbridge Public School website and
click on the School Cash Online icon. In setting up your account, you will need to know your child’s student number.
Please contact the school if you require this information. Parents, please use Google Chrome, an internet web browser
that supports School Cash Online. If you are experiencing problems, please click on the Support tab at the top right side
of the web page and send an email by completing the form. You may also contact customer support at 1-866-961-1803,
24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you still require assistance, please do not hesitate to come to the school office. Mrs.
Greco would be happy to help you register.
Parking Lot and Car Safety
When driving through our lots, please remember the following
safety rules:
Slow down, especially when approaching turns and the
crosswalk
No U-Turns
No parking in the Kiss and Ride - park in the lot if you
wish to stay
No parking on the west side of the school
– this is our Emergency Vehicle zone
Seatbelts for everyone – it’s the law
School Yard Safety
Students at Woodbridge Public School are
expected to avoid activities that involve
aggressive play and touching.
Activities that are not acceptable include wres-
tling, piggy-backing, tripping, pushing, shoving,
body-checking, poking, punching, and other
forms of play in stairwells, hallways, and play-
grounds.
On the playgrounds students are
expected to play safely without
the use of rough play. Please,
take the time to review these
expectations with your child(ren).
Supervision
We continue to make the safety of your children a top priority. We need your assistance to keep all
of our students safe:
1. Yard supervision begins at 8:40 a.m. Please do not send children to school before that
time. Any students arriving to school before 8:40 a.m. must attend the Breakfast Club (Rm. 113).
The Breakfast Club opens at 8:00 a.m.
2. If you are picking up your child at the end of the day, please arrive no
later than 3:15 p.m.
Page 4 Woodbridge Public School
Lost and Found
Please remind your children to check the “Lost
and Found” boxes on a regular basis for mis-
placed hats, boots, shoes, sweaters and coats.
Labelling your child’s clothing with his/her name
is always a good idea. Any
found small items like rings,
keys, watches and valuables
are held in the office.
Electronic Newsletter
Our monthly school newsletters will be available to download from our
school website throughout the school year. Limited paper copies will
be available in the office.
If you would like to receive the W.P.S. newsletter by email, please
subscribe by entering your email address on the home page of our
school website, www.yrdsb.ca/schools/woodbridge.ps, or by returning
a completed CASL form to the school office. A CASL form was
included in your child’s School Startup Package.
Thank you to all our readers.
Page 5 Woodbridge Public School
Anaphylactic and Other Medical Conditions
Parents of children with anaphylactic or other medical conditions are reminded to share relevant
information with the school. If your child has a medical condition, please complete the Emergency
Health Care Plan form. Parents of children with an anaphylactic condition must also complete the
Anaphylactic Reactions Protocol form. Please note that these forms must be completed annually for
children with anaphylactic or medical conditions. All forms are available through the school office.
Some children may need to take prescribed medication at school either on a regular basis or at
times throughout the school year. Parents are required to complete a Request for Administration of
Medication form signed by parents and approved by the principal before the medication can be
given or stored in the school. Written permission is required for ALL prescribed medications. All
medication is kept in the office and students are supervised as they take any medication. With the
exception of Epi-pens and inhalers, students are not permitted at any time to
bring medication to school and keep it in the classroom, lunch bag, backpack or
lockers.
Thank you for your support in ensuring the safety of our students.
Curriculum Night
Please join us on Thursday, September 28, 2017, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00
p.m., for Curriculum Night!
Families and school staff will have the opportunity to meet informally and
parents will be able to visit their children’s classrooms. During the evening,
teachers will introduce themselves, review curriculum expectations and
means of communication between home and school, and answer any ques-
tions parents may have.
The Scholastic Book Fair will be open during Curriculum Night. Don’t forget
to stop in the Library and support Wood-
bridge Public School. You could win $25
worth of books for your family!
We look forward to seeing everyone on
Thursday, September 28th!
School Crossing Guards
School crossing guards are an important part of our
school community. They work every school day to
protect and assist children walking across streets in
Vaughan. The City of Vaughan recruits, trains and
hires crossing guards for both permanent and standby
positions on an ongoing basis.
There are three crosswalk locations for Woodbridge
Public School: Hwy 7 & Kipling Ave., Kipling Ave. &
Burwick Ave. and Burwick Ave. & Lansdowne Ave.
We would like to advise our school community
that there is a crossing guard vacancy at our
Kipling Ave. & Burwick Ave. crosswalk location.
The City of Vaughan is currently
recruiting for this position, as well as
other vacancies across the City of
Vaughan.
Page 6 Woodbridge Public School
Our First School Council Meeting and Elections
Please join us for our first School Council meeting of the school year on Monday, September 25,
2017 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., in the library. We encourage you to come to the meeting, learn
about our school, and participate in our shared work to support the learning and well-being of your
children. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. Childcare will be provided for school age
children.
At the first School Council meeting, elections will be held to determine our 2017-2018 chair/co-
chairs, secretary, treasurer, and executive members. The School Council Candidate Nomination
Form sent home to all families.
You don’t need to be an executive member to participate; however, your atten-
dance is important to lend your voice to the discussion. We look forward to seeing
you there!
Volunteering in the School
We welcome and encourage the important role that parents/guardians and community members play in education. There are many opportunities for you to get involved at the school. If you are interested in volunteering at W.P.S., please complete the Volunteers in Our Schools Form, available in the School Start-up Package, and return it to the school office. If you were a volunteer at Woodbridge Public School last year, and would like to volunteer again this year, please contact the school office to update your profile. For more information on volunteering at Wood-bridge P.S., please contact the school office staff or review Policy and Procedure #280.0, Volunteers in Our Schools.
Substitute Peanut Butter
A substitute peanut butter product is being marketed to
consumers as a safe alternative for children to bring to
schools in place of peanut butter. We ask that parents refrain
from including these kinds of products in your child’s lunches
or snacks. These products tend to look, taste, and smell very
much like peanut butter. While the product is nut free, it mim-
ics a known allergen that causes anaphylaxis in some
children to the degree that it is indistinguishable from the aller-
gen. It is a convincing substitute, opening up the possibility
that it can be confused as peanut butter, or worse yet, peanut
butter could be confused as this soy-based product.
The safety and well-being of our students is our first priority,
which is why our schools have procedures in place to mini-
mize risk of anaphylaxis reactions in our students. We
sincerely appreciate your cooperation in avoid-
ing the use of these products to assist in our
continued efforts to create a safe, caring and
inclusive learning environment for all students.
Nutrition News
The Breakfast, Snack and Emergency Lunch Programs have
started for this school year. There is no charge for students to par-
ticipate in these programs.
Our Milk Program and Hot Lunch Programs are scheduled to com-
mence in October. Payment for participation in these
programs must be made on School Cash Online.
Please check your email inbox for notification of pay-
ment for upcoming Nutrition Programs.
Police Vulnerable Sector Checks
In order to volunteer in any environment that involves children,
all adults over 18 years of age must have a Police Vulnerable
Sector Check. We are mandated to enforce this requirement at
W.P.S. Thus, any person wishing to volunteer in the school
must have a Police Vulnerable Sector Check which is one year
current (this includes attending class trips). Please contact the
school office for a reference letter. Forms and further informa-
tion are available on the York Regional Police website,
www.yrp.ca.
Save the Date!
Curriculum Night - Thursday, September 28, 2017
Picture Day - Thursday, October 12, 2017
Page 7 Woodbridge Public School
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sun Sat
1
Eid-ul-Adha
2
4
Labour Day
Holiday
5
6 7 8
3 9
11 12
13
14
15 Gr. 2 students to
BORC
10 16
18
19
20
21
Rosh Hashanah
22
Rosh Hashanah
17 23
25 PA Day
(no school for
students)
Safety Week
School Council Meeting & Elections @ 6:30p.m. in the Library
26
Terry Fox Run
(p.m.)
27
Safe Schools
Assemblies
28 Mr. Piacente’s Gr. 4 students to BORC
Curriculum Night
6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Book Fair (to Oct. 6th)
29 Mrs. Arora’s and
Ms. Stavrakis’ Gr. 4
students to BORC
24 30
Yom Kippur
September 2017
News from the Woodbridge Parenting and Family Literacy Centre
Welcome Back from the Woodbridge PFLC!
The Parenting and Family Literacy Centre is a place where you can bring your children (0-6 years of age) to
play, learn, sing, read and explore together from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. every day that school is open.
There is no registration and no cost for the program.
Come to Room 120 and see Samina Mohiuddin, Parent Worker, as well as all the new toys and equipment that are waiting for you and your child.
For those children not yet in Kindergarten, coming to the Woodbridge Parenting and Family Literacy Centre is a great way to start school right away!
Parent Worker: Samina Mohiuddin
Open: Every school day between 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
No cost or registration required
Snacks are provided for the children
