It’s hard to believe that March is already upon us, and with it comes the promise of spring and a week long break from school. Congratu-lations to our students and their families for their generosity in look-ing after others in our community. The Student Council collected money for EFN, and our School Council hosted a very successful pancake day and collected can goods to support Community Care. The school community would like to thank Cora restaurant for donat-ing the pancake batter and syrup. If you have not had a chance to

complete our online school survey please take a few minutes to help us monitor how we are doing as a school. If you would like a hard copy, please ask at the office. Please visit:

http://westdale.dsbn.org/

From the Principal’s DeskFrom the Principal’s DeskFrom the Principal’s DeskFrom the Principal’s Desk

I n s i de t h i s I n s i de t h i s I n s i de t h i s I n s i de t h i s

i s s ue :i s s ue :i s s ue :i s s ue :

Early Learning Registration

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Fundraising 2222

Rankin Run 3333

DSBN Road Race

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Reinvented Recess

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Literacy 5555

Westdale Public

School

M a r c h 2 0 1 2M a r c h 2 0 1 2M a r c h 2 0 1 2M a r c h 2 0 1 2 N E W S L E T T E RN E W S L E T T E RN E W S L E T T E RN E W S L E T T E R

Superintendent:

John Dickson

905-641-1550

Ext. 54120

Principal:

Mrs. G. Harris

Vice-Principal

Mr. W. Dixon

Secretary:

Mrs. P. Pickering

March Break is a little dif-ferent this year, students have an extra day to their March break. Students will have no school on Fri-day, March 9th, and stu-dents return to school on Monday, March 19th. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!

Other March News

Westdale book fair will be taking place from March 26th until the 30th. More infor-mation will fol-low.

March is healthy eating month. Healthy eating habits can help reduce the risk of children devel-oping chronic diseases such as heart disease, some types of can-cer and obesity. When children see their parents eat healthy, they will also eat healthy and de-velop healthy eating habits.

Visit www.dietitians.ca for healthy eating tips.

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Are you registered?Are you registered?Are you registered?Are you registered?

Rankin RunRankin RunRankin RunRankin Run

School Council: Chocolate Bar School Council: Chocolate Bar School Council: Chocolate Bar School Council: Chocolate Bar

Fundraising CampaignFundraising CampaignFundraising CampaignFundraising Campaign

February was Kindergar-ten Registration Month. I know it seems awfully early to be thinking about the fall but early registra-tion helps our school board with planning for staffing and classroom allocations. All new Jun-ior and Senior Kindergar-ten-aged students need to be registered starting in February for our Sep-tember 2012 classes. (Students currently in our

JK classes do not need to re-register.) If your son or daughter will be 4 or 5 years of age by De-cember 31st, 2012, please call the school for information or come in and speak with our sec-retary, Mrs. Pickering. When you come in to register, we require proof of age documentation. We will also need to make a copy of your child’s yellow Proof of

Immunization card. If you know of neighbour-ing children who are eligi-ble to begin school, please pass this informa-tion on to them.

their money by Thursday, March 8th will receive a free chocolate bar and double prize tickets.

All money is due back in by Monday, March 20th.

The School Council kicked off their chocolate bar fundraising campaign on February 22nd. Chocolate bars came home with students on Thursday, February 23rd.

Students who return

Sell, Sell, Sell for the top prize of an Ipad or a weekend stay at the Great Wolf Lodge. There are lots of other prizes avail-able too!

Calling all Wildcats....The 7th Annual Rankin Cancer Run is happening on Saturday May 26th and we are inviting all Westdale students and their fami-lies to be part of this wonderful community event. Last year $640,000.00 was raised by over 60 schools and 8000 participants! The event includes a 1km and 5km route, a t-shirt and a free barbeque after the event. Watch for further details, sign ups and pledge sheets in the coming months! Walk or run but whatever you do...join the fun!!!

Mrs. Hildebrandt and Mrs. Kornelsen

W e s t d a l e P u b l i c S c h o o l

Early Learning (JKSK) Registration Early Learning (JKSK) Registration Early Learning (JKSK) Registration Early Learning (JKSK) Registration

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Reinvented Recess for Westdale!

The Niagara Recess Project has found its way to Westdale Elementary school to revamp the students’ recess time! In the beginning of January 2012 a group of eager grade seven and eight students were trained to be junior coaches. For the last few weeks (and more weeks to come!), the junior coaches have befriended the primary students and now lead games and activities for their newest friends during their recess time.

The Niagara Recess Project was founded by Lauren McNamara, a professor at Brock University. The program was first implemented in a couple of other local schools in September of 2011. The goal of the pro-gram is to create a positive, inclusive, and fun atmosphere on the playground. The Niagara Recess project recognizes that bullying is a reoccurring issue at recess in schools all across Canada, and hopes to decrease the likelihood of students being teased, hurt and excluded.

Westdale welcomed two of the recess project volunteers (that’d be us; Melissa and Katrien) into their school, to train the grade seven and eight junior coaches, and oversee the program being carried out. So far, we have seen a great deal of change at recess since the first day we sent the junior coaches out. We see less children playing by themselves, and more children including everyone in their play. We’ve also received a lot of positive feedback from teachers and parent volunteers, who have noted the changes as well. They com-ment on the decrease in conflict at recess, as well as the increase in the number of student initiated games.

The entire Westdale community is excited about the positive changes the Niagara Recess Pro-ject has brought about for the school. We would also like to take this opportunity to send out a huge THANK YOU to our first group of junior coaches; Nathan, Alexis, Josh N., Josh M., Cheyenne, Terrell, and Aaron! Your vibrant personalities, commitment, and extraordinary work at recess has made you wonderful role models for the primary students, as well as for the next group of junior coaches scheduled to start in March!

See you at recess!

Katrien and Melissa

Free Dental Screening Coming to Westdale

CRITICAL LITERACY IN THE DIGITAL WORLD