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10 Pinestaff Road, Brampton, ON L6P 3X9 Phone 905-796-4572 Fax 905-796-4573
Principal - Mrs. P.Lone Vice-Principal - Mrs. S. Bineesari Acting Vice-Principal - Ms. C. Dell
Office Manager - Mrs. B. Elder Superintendent - Ms. Patrika Daws Trustee - Ms. Carrie Andrews 905-792-1412
Walnut Grove P.S. Newsletter
Walnut Grove‟s Daily
Schedule
Entry Bell 9:15
Period 1 9:15 - 9:55
Period 2 9:55 - 10:35
Period 3 10:35 - 11:15
Nutrition Break A 11:15 - 11:35
Nutrition Break B 11:35 - 11:55
Period 4 11:55 - 12:35
Period 5 12:35 - 1:15
D.P.A. 1:15 - 1:35
Nutrition Break C 1:35 - 1:55
Nutrition Break D 1:55 - 2:15
Period 6 2:15 - 2:55
Period 7 2:55 - 3:35
Dismissal 3:35
A Message from the Principal Welcome Back! We would like to extend a very warm welcome to all of our returning
students, as well as any new students and families who are joining us. The Walnut
Grove staff are very excited to begin a new school year with our families. We have
been working very hard to ensure that our classrooms and programs are well-
prepared, and we know there are many wonderful learning activities and challenges
planned for the students. As always, we are committed to providing a rigorous
academic program, balanced with extracurricular activities that enhance and enrich
learning beyond the classroom.
I’d like to thank our wonderful Custodial staff for working so hard throughout the
summer to clean the school and prepare it for our staff and students – it looks
amazing! As well, thank you to our office staff, who have managed this very busy
office with new registrations and family inquiries. We are very fortunate to have
such a caring and dedicated staff in all areas!
What are our goals this year?
Our academic focus continues to be on developing Numeracy skills. Specifically, we
will engage students more deeply in problem solving, making meaningful connections
and applications to the world around them and, to communicate their mathematical
thinking and reasoning. As well, we will continue to build on our Bullying Prevention
focus, with student led committees and activities, aimed at raising awareness, and
reducing/eliminating instances of bullying at Walnut Grove. 21st Century teaching and
learning at Walnut Grove incorporates inquiry based learning, collaboration and the
responsible and effective use of technology, to help further develop critical thinking
skills in our students.
As always, student success is at the heart of
everything we do at Walnut Grove. We encourage
you to be actively involved in your child’s daily life
at school, and communicate regularly with your
child’s teachers. Please feel free to contact
myself, or our Vice Principals, Sabrina Bineesari
or Cheryl Dell, at any time. We look forward to
working with you throughout the school year.
September 2015
Notifying the School of a
Student Absence
Your child‟s safety is very im-
portant to us, for this reason
please make sure to call the
automated attendance line at 1-
855-209-6155 for each day that
your child is going to be absent
from school or will be coming
in late.
An attendance call can be made
at anytime however you need
to call before 9 a.m. for the
current school day. Safe arrival
calls will be made each day for
students that have an unex-
plained absence.
SCHOOL YEAR - ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY
The school year begins September 8, 2015
The school year ends June 30, 2016
The number of instructional days for elementary and secondary students 188
The number of professional activity days for the elementary and secondary panel 6
2015-2016 SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY DAYS
Professional Learning Day September 3, 2015
In-school professional activity/reorganization September 25, 2015
Reporting to Parents November 13, 2015
Assessment, Evaluation and Report Card Writing Day January 18, 2016
Professional Learing Day May 13, 2016
Assessment, Evaluation and Report Card Writing Day June 13, 2016
SCHOOL HOLIDAYS
Labour Day September 7, 2015
Thanksgiving Day October 12, 2015
Winter Break (inclusive) December 21, 2015 - January 1, 2016
Family Day February 15, 2016
Spring Break (inclusive) March 14-18, 2016
Good Friday March 25, 2016
Easter Monday March 28, 2016
Victoria Day May 23, 2016
School Security
All parents and visitors entering
the school during school hours
must be buzzed in through the
front doors and sign in and out at
the office. You are also reminded
to wear a visitor‟s badge while
you are in the school. For safety
reasons, it is important that we
know who is in the school at all
times.
Late Arrivals
If a student arrives late to school,
after the 9:15 a.m. entry bell, they
must report to the office to sign in
and receive a late slip before going
to their class. Please help your
child arrive to school on time up
establishing and encouraging
morning routines.
Supervision in Yard
Yard supervision for students
begins at 9:00 a.m. Students
should not be dropped off, or be
arriving on school property, prior
to 9:00 a.m. When outside,
students need to play in their
designated area and remain visible
to the supervisor in the schoolyard.
Safety WALKING to School
Once again, we are asking parents to remind
students NOT to cut through the parkette to
access the Bridge across from the school. This
bridge is fenced off and not open for use. It
is UNSAFE. The school has been in contact
with the City of Brampton, and the issue of
the bridge is being addressed, HOWEVER,
until it is safety opened for use, it is OFF LIM-
ITS for our students (and for the public).
K1 Ms. N. Natt & Ms. W Li 4/5 Ms. M. Sutton French Ms. N. Qayumi
K2 Mr. T. Koossa & Ms. E. Marasigan 4A Ms. A. Atkinson French/Phys. Ed. Ms. A. Simone
K3 Ms. J. Smellie & Ms. S. Yazdanpanah 4B Ms. M. DiMarsico French Ms. T. Buczkowski
K4 Ms. C. Iammatteo & Ms. C. Cox 4FA Ms. A. Bradley Spec. Ed Ms. M. Puscas
K5 Ms. S. Singh & Mr. L. Michael 45B Ms. L. Muntean Spec. Ed. Ms. L. Pham
1/2 Ms. G. Shergill 45C Ms. B. Vaid FI Spec. Ed. Ms. S. Tisdale
1A Ms. J. Hovius 5/6 Ms. S. Gupta ESL/Spec. Ed. Ms. A. Kaur
1B Ms. N. Hundal 5A Ms. K. Bening ESL Ms. M. Francis
1FA Ms. T. Tran 5B Ms. M. Dubey ESL/Phys. Ed. Ms. J. Chadha
1FB Ms. B. Kaur 56F Ms. L. Ford Library Ms. A. Hall
1FC Ms. R. Dumas 6A Ms. M. Jackson Guidance Ms. S. Bernstein
2/3 Ms. S. Thapar 6B Ms. K. Johal Phys. Ed. Ms. S. Aly
2A Ms. J. Ferris 6C Ms. J. Mithra Music/Planning Ms. R. Dhinsa
2B Ms. P. Kahlon 6FA Ms. S. Leaton Music Ms. J. Locke
23F Ms. C. McKenzie 7/8 Ms. M. Croft Music Ms. J. Li
2FA Ms. H. Pearlston 7A Ms. M. Binsky BTA Ms. K. Leveck
2FB Ms. J. Quintiliani 7B Ms. T. Beattie TA Ms. S. Droulliard
3A Ms. E. St. Pierre 8A Ms. M. Guirguis TA Ms. J. Germano
3B Ms. T. Harris 8B Mr. M. Kuehn TA Ms. K. Kuttiyappan
34F Ms. T. Kilibarda TA Ms. B. Ojo
3FA Ms. A. Low & Ms. J. Chadha
Walnut Grove Staff
Outdoor Play
Walnut Grove now has a variety of activities
for outdoor play:
Soccer field
Field play area
Basketball nets
Painted playground activities
Students will continue to be on a split Nutri-
tion Break schedule in order to safely access
the play areas.
Character Traits
At Walnut Grove Public School we value all staff, students and community
members. Our community is one of inclusiveness and respect. Each month,
our community will be focusing on Peel‟s Character Traits as well as specific
Equity and Social Justice themes. Our monthly theme for September will
be Caring.
You show care when you:
Show kindness towards people and other living things
Listen to and respond appropriately to the concerns of others
Help others who are in need
Demonstrate empathy by recognizing and identifying with the feelings
of others
Protect and respect the environment
Caring is being compassionate, considerate and unselfish. A caring person
shows appreciation, forgives and helps others. They help people without
expecting anything in return. Doing something for other people without
expecting anything in return is a valuable trait for each of us to have. Our
community benefits when people care about each other. Always remem-
ber - we become caring people by doing caring things! We look forward
to celebrating Peel‟s Character Traits - Honest, Cooperative, Respectful,
Caring and Responsible at various student led assemblies throughout the
course of the school year.
Walnut Grove School Council
We will begin the process of forming our Walnut Grove School
Council for the 2015-2016 school year. We are inviting nomi-
nation forms from parents/guardians who are interested in posi-
tions on the School Council. Please note the following dates:
Nomination forms for School Council Elections to be sent
home on September 14, 2015
Nomination forms are due back into the school office by 4:00
pm, Friday, September 21, 2015
Nomination list and brief biographies sent out to Walnut
Grove school community on September 28, 2015
SCHOOL COUNCIL ELECTIONS will be held on October 8,
2015, throughout the day and during OPEN HOUSE eve-
ning at Walnut Grove P.S. Voting must take place in person
only
Notification of election results by Friday, October 9, 2015
1st School Council meeting – Wednesday, October 14, 2015, at
6:30 pm in the Library
We are looking forward to working with our School Council, as
well as our school community, as we support and inspire our
students to achieve their very best.
Please Note: Employees of Walnut Grove P.S. (e.g., Lunch
Room Supervisors), are not eligible to run for positions on the
Council, but may be members of the committee at large.
Nutrition Break Routines
We encourage all students to remain at school during both Nutri-
tion Breaks, to participate in the variety of extra-curricular activi-
ties offered. However, we recognize that some families want
their children to come home for lunch. In order to ensure stu-
dent safety at all times, we have established some expectations
for Nutrition Break Routines:
parents/guardians will be asked to complete a form indicating
their wishes for daily routines for lunch for their children –
these will be kept on file to ensure that routines are being fol-
lowed
anytime that those routines are changed, parents/guardians will
be required to contact the school (by phone or in writing)
indicating the change in routine
if students go home for lunch, they are expected to remain
home for the entire break (40 minutes)
students are expected to return ON TIME for next period
STUDENTS WILLL NOT BE PERMITTED TO
LEAVE SCHOOL PROPERTY AT NUTRITION
BREAKS EXCEPT TO GO HOME FOR LUNCH
WITH PARENT PERMISSION. Students will not
be allowed to go to the plaza across the street,
nor are they allowed to go to a friend‟s house
for lunch.
Visit Walnut Grove‟s website
www.schools/peelschools.org/1416
Follow us on Twitter @WalnutGrovePS
Want to keep up to date with what‟s happening at Wal-
nut Grove? Check out our school website where you'll
find:
the latest school news
contact information for school administration, super-
intendent and trustee
calendar
enrolment data
school hours
mission, vision and values
registration information
printable forms
frequently asked questions
volunteer information
EQAO reports
Keep up to date with our website subscription service
Our new website also features a subscription service
where you can sign up to receive email notifications for
school news, calendar events and volunteer job opportu-
nities. You can also choose to be notified via email and/
or text message for critical news, such as school closures
due to bad weather. Click on the subscribe link on the
left-hand side of the main page of our website.
Bring Your Own Device (B.Y.O.D.)
Walnut Grove students are welcome, with the permission of their parent/guardian, to bring a device from home to use at school for educational related purposes only. Students are expected to demonstrate good digital citizenship through the appropriate, responsible, legal and ethical use of technology. Parents are asked to sign a BYOD contract around the safe use of technology at school as outlined in the school’s code of conduct. Parents please look for this contract in your child’s agenda within the first few weeks of September. If a student does not have access to a personal device, a school device (e.g., Net book, Chrome book, I Pad), may be made available for their use while on school property.
The Field is OPEN!!!
We have been waiting for a long
time for the field to finally open, and
the students will finally have a wide
open space to play. We have pur-
chased soccer goal posts as well, and
grade levels will have opportunities
to access the field during Nutrition
Breaks and Gym times. Due to the
large number of students in the
school, there will be a schdule for use
to ensure fairness and safety.
Courtesy Seating for
Walnut Grove Busses
Courtesy Seating for bussing will oc-
cur in the middle of October. Cour-
tesy seating will be given based on
youngest to oldest and dependent on
spots available on the bus.
If you would like to submit your
child‟s name to be considered for
courtesy seating, please come to the
school office to complete the request
form. Parents will be notified by
Mrs. Bineesari if a space is available.
Bussing at Walnut Grove P.S.
We have 9 buses providing transporta-
tion to approximately 650 students to
and from Walnut Grove each school
day.
Despite our best efforts, there may be
confusion and delays at the beginning
and throughout the school year due to
route changes, traffic, weather condition
or construction. Please be patient as
Transportation and the school work to
ensure safety and efficiency for our stu-
dents and families.
Please ensure your child follows the
rules and regulations at the bus stop and
while traveling on
the bus. We thank
you for your coop-
eration in helping
our students be safe.
What you need to know about busing
The Peel District School Board eligibility distances for transportation are as fol-
lows:
kindergarten and Grade 1 students – 1 km
Grades 2 to 4 students – 1.6 km
Grades 5 to 6 students – 2 km
Grades 7 to 8 students – 3.2 km
The eligibility distances measured are the shortest, safe walking route along side-
walks, roadways and paved pedestrian walkways from school property line to
home property line.
How do I know if my child is eligible for transportation?
Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR) has a website where you can
find out whether your child is eligible for transportation based on your home
address. Visit www.stopr.ca or businfo.stopr.ca, click on "Transportation Eligibil-
ity" and enter your information.
In addition, if your child is eligible for transportation, beginning the last week of
August to the end of June each year, you can securely access your child‟s trans-
portation information, including bus stop location and pick-up and drop-off
times, from businfo.stopr.ca. Click on “Student Login” and enter the information
required. To ensure privacy of information you will be required to enter the
Ontario Education Number (OEN), which can be found on your child‟s report
card.
For more information regarding procedures, late buses, cancellations, safety and
frequently asked questions please visit the Student Transportation of Peel Region
website at www.stopr.ca.
KISS „N RIDE
We have a Kiss „N Ride service available at Wal-
nut Grove P.S. The purpose of this is to help
parents/guardians who drive their children to
school to drop them off SAFELY and efficiently,
without having to park the car and get out to
bring children into the school yard. There are
teachers assigned to Kiss „N Ride duty, and they
have been trained to process vehicles through the
driveway safely. If you choose to use the Kiss „N
Ride, we ask that you follow the directions of
the staff, and NEVER allow your child to get out
of your vehicle unless directed to do so by the
staff. The Kiss N‟ Ride goes in one direction so please do not enter and go
the opposite way. We also ask that you do not get out of your car, a teacher
will assist you. For Kindergarten children, they will be escorted to their gate
before and after school.
Also, please do not drop students off at the front of the school, as this is the
BUS ROUTE. Children should NEVER walk through the parking lot. There
are supervised crosswalks and sidewalks for students to use safely. We will
be reviewing the Kiss „N Ride safety rules with students on a regular basis.
Medication
If your child will require to take or have any medica-
tion (eg. Epi-pens, inhalers) while at school due to
asthma, allergies or other medical conditions please
inform the office. You will be given a medical form
that will need to be completed by
your family doctor and returned to
school with the medication. No
medication can be administered at
the school without having a current
medical form completed and on file
at the school.
Birthdays
There are several students and staff
who have severe food allergies in
our school. For that reason, we ask
to you please do not send any food
items as a treat for a birthday or
special celebration. If you wish to
celebrate, sending materials to
support learning in our school such as pencils,
crayons, books, etc. would be appropriate. Thank
you for your understanding.
Help protect students with severe allergies by keeping lunches, snacks
peanut-free Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening aller-gic reaction that affects some children. We ask that you help us take care of these students by sending lunches and snacks for your child that are free from peanuts or nuts, because these foods are the leading cause of anaphylaxis. Please read the label of any food you plan to send to school with your child. If the label says, "May contain nuts or peanuts," please do not send it to school. You can get a complete copy of the Peel board's anaphylaxis guideline from the school office.
Offence Declaration required for
returning volunteers
Parents play an important role in the development and education of
their children and in the success of the school community. At Walnut
Grove, we welcome and encourage the participation of parents and
community members, and are grateful for the countless hours our
volunteers contribute throughout the school year.
To volunteer at our school, you must complete a short interview and
a criminal record check. This Criminal Record Check must have been
completed within the last 6 months, must include a Vulnerable Sector
Screening (VSS) and must be an original copy. A police background
check is required for all school volunteers in Ontario. Even if you
want to accompany your child on a field trip, you need this back-
ground check.
Once you have completed the process, you are on file with the Peel
District School Board as being a school volunteer. All returning volun-
teers will be mailed an Offence Declaration Form that must be filled
out and returned to the board office each year. You will not be able
to volunteer with the Peel board until you have returned this form.
If you have any questions about criminal record checks or the offence
declaration form, please call the board office at 905-890-1010 ext.
2832.
Updated procedures for anaphylactic students
In order to create a safe school environment for staff and students,
new procedures have been implemented for students with anaphy-
lactic allergies.
All staff must be informed of students who have been prescribed an
Epi-Pen, Epi-Pen Junior or Allerject. Two Epi-Pen/Allerjects should
be available: one is stored in an accessible location for staff and stu-
dents, and the other is kept with the student at all times.
Please remind your child that Epi-Pens should not be shared with
other students. Epi-Pens are to be shared only in the case of an ana-
phylactic emergency.
Updated procedure for asthma medication
On April 30, 2015, "Ryan's Law" (the “Act”) was passed by the
Ontario Legislature.
The Act requires every school principal to permit a pupil to carry
his or her asthma medication if the student has his or her parent's
or guardian's permission. The principal must maintain an up-to-
date file of current information about each student who has
asthma and establish an individual plan for each student who has
asthma.
The Act imposes an obligation of student's parent or guardian
and the student to ensure that the information in the student's file
is kept up-to-date.
Protect your kids—and your finances
The Peel District School Board does not provide accident insurance coverage for student injuries that occur on school prop-erty or during school activities including extracurricular sports. Each year, many of our families spend thousands of dollars when their children are injured at school, on field trips, while participating in non-school activities, or at home. If a student is injured, parent(s)/guardian(s) are responsible for any costs not covered by provincial health care or their employer’s health plan. Please check with your provider regarding your coverage. The provincial health care system does not cover costs which are commonly related to accidents including dental work, am-bulance fees, casts and crutches, and physiotherapy. All of these are covered by Reliable Life’s student accident insurance plan. It is strongly recommended that all families consider this coverage, especially if your child participates in extracurricular ac-tivities. Annual plans, which provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year coverage, range from $13.50 to $32.00 per year. Through the application only you can be covered for the school day only as low as $8.00 per year. Family rates for three or more children are available. The insurance agreement is between you and Reliable Life Insurance Company.
You can apply for coverage through paper application or online at www.insuremykids.com. For more information call Reli-
Understanding your child’s Ontario Student Record
The Ontario Student Record (OSR) is an ongoing, confidential record of a student’s education progress. Authorized by the Education Act and protected by the Freedom of Information Act and Protection of Privacy Act, an OSR is established for each student enrolled in an Ontario elementary or secondary school. The record is housed at the student’s current school and moves with the student as they transition from one school to the next. If a student leaves Peel to attend another school in Ontario, the OSR is forwarded to the new school upon request. If the OSR is not requested or the student leaves Ontario, the OSR is housed in the last Peel school that the student attended. The OSR contains familiar documents that parents can view at any given time. OSR contents include:
biographical data documentation file, containing (if applicable): verification of a custody arrangement, change-of-name order,
placements decisions, suspension letters, psycho-educational assessment report, identification and placement decision letters, and registration forms
information concerning special health conditions name(s) of student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) Ontario Student Transcript (secondary school only) – the cumulative record of a student’s successful completion
of secondary school courses photographs may also be attached record of the student’s accumulated instruction in French as a second language, if applicable report cards school(s) attended
Every student, and parents or guardians of students under 18 years of age have the right to examine the student’s OSR and receive a copy of its contents. Supervisory officers, school administration and teachers may also access a student’s OSR for the purpose of improving the instruction of the student. Written permission is requested for any outside agency or person-nel to access the OSR. Contact your school principal for details of the procedure to review your child’s OSR. If you would like to learn more about your child’s OSR, visit the Ontario Ministry of Education web site at www.edu.gov.on.ca.
Getting your questions answered
If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions about your child's education, or about education in general, anyone with the Peel board is happy to help. Here are some of the people who can help you:
If you have specific questions or concerns about the education of your son or daughter, the first person to talk to is your child's teacher. If possible, arrange a personal interview with the teacher to discuss your concerns and attempt to re-solve the matter. Your child's teacher or principal can also give you more information about specific strategies being used to monitor your child's progress.
If you need extra help, or have more general questions, your school principal is there to assist. Your school principal can help if you have been unable to resolve the issue with your child's teacher. All curriculum material is available in your child's school.
If you still have unanswered questions or concerns, talk to your superintendent of education. If you have general questions about curriculum, call Curriculum and Instruction Support Services at 905-890-1010 ext.
2559. If you have questions about special education programs or services, contact Special Education Support Services at 905-
890-1010 ext. 2345. Of course, your local school trustee is elected to represent your interests and is always ready to hear and discuss your
suggestions or concerns. If you don't know the name of your trustee, check the 'Meet your Trustee' section of the board's website at www.peelschools.org.
If you still have questions, please email [email protected] or call Communication & Community Relations Sup-port Services at 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146 ext. 2809.
Subscribe to receive news from the Peel board
Take advantage of our electronic subscription service to automatically receive a list of activities by email on a monthly basis. Subscriptions are sent the last week of the month, plus bonuses throughout the year. Subscribing is easy - just visit our website at www.peelschools.org and click on the subscription link under "Quick Links." You can also subscribe to receive: News releases Keep up with the news at the Peel board. Subscribe to receive Peel board news releases to learn more about board news and school events. Board agendas Learn more about Peel board meetings by subscribing to receive agen-das. Meetings of the board are open to the public and are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month. Board highlights Briefing is a newsletter with highlights of decisions made by trustees at board meetings. It is sent out on the second and fourth Thursday of every month and immediately following any special board meetings. Job postings for non-teaching staff Learn about each new non-teaching job that is posted on the Peel board's Job Board.
A Parent's Guide to High School
Get ready for what could be the most exciting and important years your teen spends in school. For the first time, teens will have to make choices about what they will study and what career pathway to choose. Whatever path your teen chooses, we want to make sure your entire family is ready to meet the challenges and embrace the many opportu-nities that await your teen upon graduation. Our Parent’s Guide to High School will provide you with a snapshot of what you need to know to help your teen be successful. To view the online booklet, visit www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild/parentguide. For more ways on helping your teen make a smooth transition, visit www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild.
Schools use many strategies to keep children safe
Peel schools provide a safe environment for staff and students to work and learn. The board has many procedures to ensure safety. To keep students safe, schools use many strategies including:
requiring all parents and visitors to check in at the main office and obtain visitor passes
the use of a "buddy system" – students can only leave the classroom if accompanied by another student (for example, going to the washroom)
assigning teachers to supervise inside and outside the school during recesses, before and after school
locking all exteriors doors, including the main entrance, during school hours [elementary schools only]
encouraging staff to regularly review streetproofing skills with students
expecting staff and students to report unidentified individuals to the office immediately
holding fire drills and "lockdown" rehearsals
having evacuation plans in place
ensuring that all staff and volunteers have up-to-date criminal record checks
working with the police to provide education on street-proofing We feel that it is important that you also take this opportunity to review safe procedures with your child. Peel Regional Police have provided the following safety guidelines:
Tell your children to never go anywhere with a stranger, not to talk to strangers and never take anything from them. You also have to teach them what a "safe stranger" is in case they need help. A safe stranger includes a police officer, a cashier, a fire fighter.
Develop a "what if" game for children to get them thinking about how they would respond if they felt threatened or afraid.
Know who your children play with and where they go. This includes keeping a list of their friend's addresses and phone num-bers.
Do not leave your child in unsupervised locations, such as cars, parks, public washrooms, arenas, malls and plazas, etc.
Teach your children where and how to get help. Go with them on their regularly travelled routes.
Your child's body is private. Tell your children that no one may touch the area their bathing suit covers. If someone tries to touch them, they should tell you immediately.
Teach your children to talk to you immediately when someone does anything that makes them feel strange or uncomfortable. Listen when your children are trying to tell you about something that bothers them and provide them with support and under-standing.
For more information about safety at your school, review your school handbook or speak to your principal or teacher.
Keep students safe in school parking lots
Many elementary schools offer a Kiss N’ Ride program, where parents/guardians can drop off and pick up their children at a desig-nated area on school property. The program was established to provide a convenient and safe option for our students and parents driving to school. To ensure the safety of staff and students, we ask all parents/guardians be mindful of the following guidelines:
There is no parking and no waiting in the Kiss and Ride lane. Pay attention to the traffic in front of you and pull forward as cars move forward. If you choose to park in the parking lot, please escort your child to or from the nearest foot patroller and use the main crosswalk.
Vehicles entering the Kiss N’ Ride lane must stay in the designated lane, unless otherwise directed by a staff member or volun-teer.
The Kiss N’ Ride program is only available to students who are able to disembark independently.
Have your child ready to exit the car when you reach the curb. Students may only exit from the passenger (right) side of the vehicle.
After picking up or dropping off your child, leave promptly so that others can get in behind you.
If your child is not waiting for you at the main crosswalk at the end of the day, please circle the parking lot if permitted and rejoin the line or park in a designated parking space to wait.
Always respect traffic flow and abide all traffic laws and signs. Ask your child’s teacher or principal to learn more about our school’s specific Kiss N’ Ride procedures.
Procedures help keep students safe at school
Peel schools provide a safe environment for students and staff to learn and work. The board has many procedures to ensure safety - including regular fire drills, evacuation plans, criminal record checks for new staff and volunteers and lockdown drills. Together with Peel Police and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board, the board developed a lockdown procedure to help keep schools safe during a potentially serious or violent incident.
Every school will review the key points of the lockdown process with students. We rehearse the drill twice per year to make sure staff and students know what to do if we have to initiate a lockdown.
During the rehearsal, the principal will make an announcement to "initiate lockdown procedure." The school bell will ring continuously for a period of time.
Students and staff inside the school will: go to the closest room, close the door and lock it, if possible turn off the lights and lie down on the floor away from doors and windows remain on the floor quietly until further directions are given
Students and staff outside the school will: move as far away from the building as possible remain outside until further directions are given
Depending on the situation, students and staff outside the building may be directed to an evacuation site. When the re-hearsal is over, the principal will make another announcement.
During lockdown rehearsals or in a real lockdown situation, students and staff must not use cell phones. Cell phones can create a safety hazard by attracting attention to the area of the school where the phone is being used.
In the unlikely event of an actual lockdown, police ask that parents do not go to the school. For safety reasons, you will not be allowed to enter a school that is in lockdown. In some cases, police will designate a Parent Information Site for you to attend and get up-to-date, accurate information. To find your Parent Information Site or get further details during a real lockdown, visit www.peelschools.org or listen to local media.
If you have any questions about our lockdown drill, or any of the procedures we have in place to keep students and staff safe, please call the school.
Regional Learning Choices Programs
Regional programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower students by providing an opportunity to develop and explore skills in a particular area of interest. Regional programs are open to all students who meet the criteria for accep-tance.
Information nights 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. If you are unable to attend the information night, information and application details are available through the school. Busing 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 Peel board’s Policy 39 – Transportation.
Fees All regional programs include application and annual fees. Annual fees are specific to the program.
How to apply The application process for secondary regional programs opens Oct. 28, 2015. Application dates for middle school programs vary from school to school.
For more information about program information nights, busing, fees and the application process/dates, contact the school or visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms.
Peel board trustees - accountable to the community
The Peel board, like every public school board in Ontario, is governed by a board of trustees. Trustees are elected by public school taxpayers every three years during municipal elections. The next municipal election will be held in October 2018. The Peel board currently has 12 trustees representing three municipalities:
Trustee Ward(s) City Email Phone #
Carrie Andrews 7 and 8 Brampton [email protected] 647-473-1858
Stan Cameron Caledon [email protected] 905-880-1162
Robert Crocker 6 and 11 Mississauga [email protected] 416-528-1312
Nokha Dakroub 9 and 10 Mississauga [email protected] 416-432-5508
David Green 1 and 5 Brampton [email protected] 905-495-4579
Sue Lawton 3 and 4 Mississauga [email protected] 905-625-8084
Brad MacDonald 2 and 8 Mississauga [email protected] 905-593-3547
Kathy McDonald 3 and 4 Brampton [email protected] 905-460-7499
Janet McDougald Chair
1 and 7 Mississauga [email protected] 905-278-1402
Suzanne Nurse Vice-Chair
2 and 6 Brampton [email protected] 905-495-3423
Harkirat Singh 9 and 10 Brampton [email protected] 647-209-8000
Rick Williams 5 Mississauga [email protected] 905-814-6180
What do trustees do? advocate for the needs of the community to other members of the board help members of the community address concerns about the school system set policies in the areas of curriculum, facilities, human and financial resources explain the policies and decisions of the board to the community evaluate the board's achievement of its goals and objectives and monitor its implementation of new policies participate in budget development, approve budget decisions and monitor its progress protect the future of the board by always considering the long-term effects of decisions Visit www.peelschools.org and check out the ‘Meet Your Trustee’ section to subscribe to board meeting agendas and minutes and read highlights from board meeting.
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.
How to register at a Peel school Here’s what you need to know about registering your child for school Who can attend? The Peel board serves children age 4 and older. Our schools Peel has more than 245 elementary and secondary schools. You can find the name and location of your local school by calling our Planning and Accommodation department at 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146, extension 2212. Where to register If your family is new to Canada, your child may need an orientation interview to register for school. To assist you with registration, we offer three Welcome Centres. Please call 905-366-8791 to talk to our staff and book your appointment. There is no fee for registration. Documents to bring to registration Proof of child's age
Canadian birth certificate Canadian passport citizenship card/certificate Permanent Resident Card Record of Landing confirmation of permanent residence work permit refugee permit
Proof of address purchase agreement utility bill bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution) credit card statement federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada documents) Ontario driver's licence
Proof of custody – children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation supports an alternate living arrangement Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated Missing documents? If you are missing some documents, you can still visit the We Welcome the World Centres, and our staff will help you with all registration requirements. Your child’s first day of school Once the orientation interview is complete, you will get an appointment card with the date your child can start school. Please bring this card with you on your child’s first day, so that he or she can receive a new school schedule to com-plete the registration process. International students International students attend the Peel Academy for International Students at Clarkson Secondary School. The academy provides a unique, world-class program that integrates students from around the world into the dynamic and welcom-ing learning environment at Clarkson. International students interested in our program should visit www.peelschools.ca/international or call 1-800-668-1179 ext. 2638.
