PC Mar.2015 newsletter 10

Pringle Creek P.S.
DDSB
80 Ribblesdale Dr.
Whitby, ON
L1N 8M1
905.430.2488
905.430.3832 fax
Principal:
M. Johnston
Vice Principal:
S. Knights
Secretary:
I. Somerville
Chief Custodian:
B. Bedard
Important Dates:
MARCH
SPIRIT WEEK;
9 - Wacky Hair Day
10 - Twin Day
-Down Syndrome
Day
Pringle Creek’s
Panther Pride
March 2015
Hello Pringle Panthers,
It is with great pleasure that I write this message as the new Principal of Pringle Creek...
It has been a wonderful first few weeks getting to know the students, staff and families
that make up our dynamic community. I am simply amazed by the number of opportunities
that our school offers to our students in support of developing the whole child. Whether it
be an academic event, an athletic team or an artistic club, our students are given an incredible number of opportunities to get involved in our school community.
Each day I witness the character of our students through acts of kindness and respect; I
witness the devotion of our staff to academic excellence by providing a plethora of opportunities to support our students; and I witness the commitment of our parents and community
to giving their time to assist our school through countless hours of volunteering.
The DDSB Strategic Priorities as outlined in our Ignite Learning are:
Increase Student Achievement and Well-Being
Constructively Engage the Community
Advance Inspired Leadership
11– Canada Day
These priorities will continue to drive our focus here at Pringle Creek throughout this year
and in the years to come.
-Recognition Assemblies 9:15 and 10:15
I am excited and proud to have joined such an amazing school and I look forward to our years
together growing and learning alongside one another.
a.m.
Yours in partnership,
Mhairi Johnston
13-20 MARCH BREAK
23 - School Resumes
To our new evening custodian Karen
Brennan!
http://pringle.ddsbschool.ca
pringcreek_ps@durham.edu.on.ca
Gong Hey Fat Choy
新年快樂
Xīnnián kuàilè
On February 19th, Mrs. Northey’s FDK class celebrated
Chinese New Year! We started our day with a special visit
from Nicolas Jiang’s mother. Nicolas and his mom explained
some of the traditions of Chinese New Year celebrations and
taught us how to say Happy New year in Mandarin. We discovered that Gong Hey Fat Choy was Cantonese and Xīnnián kuàilè
was the Mandarin way to wish someone a Happy New Year. We
created dragons and did a dragon parade around the main
floor sweeping away the evil spirits and wishing everyone a
Happy New Year. We concluded our celebration by eating
Chinese noodles. We would like to also wish everyone who is
celebrating Chinese New Year a wonderful and prosperous new
year.
Pringle Panthers made us proud at
our Wrestling Mini Meet. A big
thank you goes out to all of our
committed wrestlers who come out
every week to improve their game.
Drumming Club continues Tuesday’s afterschool with Ron Cross.
Folk Dancing:
This year, once again, we be having a Folkdancing club. All student in grade 2-8 are welcome to join. This year due to the
very cold winter our club is starting late. We will be having
lunch time meeting on Thursdays starting after the March
Break. We look forward to another amazing year.
Lego Robotics:
Mrs. Moolenschot has recently kicked off the Junior Division Lego Robotics Club. There has been an
overwhelming response to the opportunity. The
club will be meeting every week on Tuesdays at
lunch. Due to the large number of participants, we
will be dividing the group into 2 with the first half
attending throughout March and the second half
of the group attending throughout April. There will
be continued opportunities offered for May and
June as well.
Legislative Assembly of Ontario:
The grade 5s had the fantastic opportunity of visiting the Legislative Assembly
of Ontario on Monday, February 23rd. They were able to learn about the levels
of government in Canada, with specific reference to Ontario, as well as the roles
of MPPs. February 23rd just happened to be a day that Parliament was in session, so they were afforded the educational experience of watching MPPs debate while the House was sitting. It was very interesting indeed! The group was
also taken on a tour of the building and were given in-depth information about
the architectural features of the building while also experiencing the wide range
of art on display. We would like to extend our thanks to all of the parent volunteers who were able to accompany the grade 5s on their exciting expedition into
Toronto to visit the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.
Friday, March 13th, 2015 schools will be closed for
March Break until Monday, March 23th, 2015.
Have a SAFE and RESTFUL March
Break!
Moving ????
If you know you will be moving or registering
your child at another school for September
please let our office know. This will assist us
in planning for 2015-2016.
LUNCH ROOM SUPERVISORS NEEDED! IF INTERESTED PLEASE COME TO
THE OFFICE AND SPEAK TO OUR SECRETARY!
Just a reminder that students are to
come to the office to call parents when
feeling ill. Cell phones are not to be used
in class during instructional time unless
teachers have given students permission
to use their cell phones.
French Immersion
Thursday, April 23, 2015
at 7:00 p.m., Education Centre
400 Taunton Road East
Please take a minute and
check out the lost and found
items on the tables in the
front hall. Items will be donated if not claimed by Fri.
March 13, 2015
Parent Information Night
This information meeting is intended for parents who have children
in SK and are interested
in the French Immersion
Program.
No registration is required for this session.
Safety Over Convenience!
In order for us to monitor who is in the building and ensure the
safety of our students and staff it is imperative that visitors sign in
at the office and not head directly to classrooms after entering
the building. Pick up and drop off of students should happen outside at a pre-arranged location. If you do need to wait in the
building at the end of the day to pick up your child we ask that
you stay by our front doors and refrain from going to the classrooms as it can be disruptive when parents are waiting in the halls It is also important that students learn independence in entry and exit routines. If you need to speak to a staff member, the office will
page him/her for you.Your support in this is greatly appreciated.
When your child’s school bus is cancelled and you have
driven him or her to the school, you must remember that the
bus will not be taking your child home at the end of the day
and you will be responsible for picking-up your child.
School Entry
All doors will be locked and entry to the building is only accessible
through the front doors, controlled by a buzzer and camera system.
Thank you for always putting our students safety over convenience.
No more lates…..
Please contact the school to report student lates or absences.
Child safety is our priority.
The school phone line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a
week.
(905) 430-2488
9:00 a.m. entry
10:55 a.m. recess
11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. lunch
2:15 p.m. recess
3:35 p.m. dismissal
Supervision of all children begins at 8:45 each morning. Please watch
these times so that you can make it to school on time. If students go
home for lunch please do not send them back to school until 12:10
p.m. when our outdoor supervision begins.
During inclement weather, students who are not bussed should arrive
before the entry bells of 9:00 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. This will help to
reduce the congestion in the halls. Thank you.
Storm Water Management Ponds
Storm Water Management Ponds are containment facilities designed to collect
runoff from the local storm sewer system. Water enters the storm sewer system
following either a rainfall or snowmelt event or from activities such as washing
cars or watering lawns. Storm Water Management Ponds are built to temporarily
hold this water, provide treatment to remove the pollutants, and then slowly release the water back into the natural waterway to prevent downstream erosion
and flooding.
Public Access Prohibited
Water levels in Storm Water Management Ponds are subject to dramatic and
rapid changes during and following periods of rain and snow melt. Public access
to the Storm Water Management Pond is prohibited due to site conditions such
as murky water, sudden drop offs, subsurface currents, and the potential for entanglement with vegetation, sewer debris, or containment booms.
Safety Tips
Here are some tips for safety around Storm Water Management Ponds:
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Exercise caution at all times around frozen ponds or bodies of water.
Even if a pond appears to be frozen solid never attempt to go on the ice. Fluctuating temperatures and the use of road salts can create thin or unstable ice and potentially hazardous conditions.
Stay well back from the pond's side slope, vegetated barriers, and outfall areas.
Be aware that water levels can rise rapidly, so never wade or swim in a Storm
Water Management Pond.
Do not dump garbage or other household waste (including used medical products, fertilizers, soap scum , etc.) into storm sewers, creeks or Storm Water Management Ponds. These pollutants represent a community safety hazard and compromise the environment.
Coyotes have been seen in and around the Durham region and have been spotted around the
school. We ask that you take a moment to review safety rules with your children at home.
We ask that you take a moment to review safety with your children at home.
To assist you, we have compiled a list of guidelines for you:
 Avoid approaching or feeding wildlife
 Avoid taking short cuts through fields, wooded areas and parks
 Always walk with a buddy to and from school
 Never walk alone, especially at night
 Always be aware of your surroundings when wearing earphones
At school, teachers will be reviewing these important messages with all students and, as always, staff will be vigilant in supervision.
If you are interested in learning about the animals that live in the area, you will find more information on the Ministry of Natural Resources website: www.mnr.gov.on.ca
SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL
Our next SCC meeting TBA , 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the library.
Some Dates of Significance for March
March 8 - International Women's Day
International Women's Day is celebrated around the world. Established in 1977 by the United Nations, this
special day is an excellent opportunity to recognize the contributions to social justice and international peace
and security that have been made by women. March 8th also provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to advance women's equality, to assess the challenges facing women in contemporary society, to
plan steps to enhance the status of women, and to celebrate the gains made in these areas.
th
For more information:
International Women’s Day http://www.internationalwomensday.com/
CARE Canada: Defending Dignity. Fighting Poverty http://care.ca/
Status of Women Canada, http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/commemoration/iwd-jif/index-en.html
United Nations http://www.un.org/events/women/iwd/2004/
“A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. It's compli-
cated by the fact that in most nations women receive substantially less education than men.” - Melinda Gates (Co-Chair of the
Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation)
March 17th - St. Patrick's Day (Irish)
This day is the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick, the Roman Catholic patron saint of Ireland, Born in Roman Britain in the late 4th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461,
he had established monasteries, churches, and schools. Ireland came to celebrate his day with religious services and feasts. In Dublin, Ireland, St. Patrick’s Day is part of a 5-day celebration. The longest running St.
Patrick’s Day parade in Canada takes place in Montreal–dating back to 1864. The shamrock is the symbol of
St. Patrick's Day and was originally used to explain the Trinity.
For more information: http://www.st-patricks-day.com/
"Saint Patrick’s Day." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2011. Web. 22 Feb. 2011. http://
www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/858491/Saint-Patricks-Day
March 21st - Naw-Ruz (Bahá'í)*
This date marks the New Year (167 BE) for people of the Bahá'í faith. The first month of the year is called Baha, meaning “Splendour.” In the Badi calendar of the Bab, Naw-Ruz is the day of Baha of the month of
Bahá'í, a day called by the Bab “the Day of God” (yawmu’llah). The observance begins the evening of the day
before, marking the end of ‘Ala, the month of fasting. Thus, the day begins with a meeting for prayer and
then dinner.
For more information: http://www.bahai.org/
March 21st - United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racism
Beginning in 1966, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has been observed annually on March 21st around the world. On this day in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid “pass laws” in Sharpeville, South Africa. This incident provoked outrage
and an increased desire to see racial discrimination of all sorts eliminated.
Examples of racial discrimination fact sheet from: Ontario Human Rights Commission http://www.ohrc.on.ca/en/examples-racial-discrimination-fact-sheet
Some Dates of Significance for March
March 25th - International Day of Remembrance - Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade
“This observance forces us to confront human beings at their worst. But in those who opposed slavery then and now, we also celebrate people at
their best... ” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon
I
n commemoration of the memory of the victims, on December 17, 2007, the General Assembly, declared
March 25th the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave
Trade, to be observed annually. Commemorative events observing this day are designed to seek answers to
the key questions: Who were these people? What are their stories? What did they contribute to the societies
of their enslavement? What are their legacies and what lessons has the modern world learned from that dark
phase of human history?
For more information:
Youth For Human Rights – No Slavery (video) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWCjLeADSLE
United Nations http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryremembranceday/
Breaking the Silence, Beating the Drum (documentary) http://cultureproject.org/highlights/breaking-silence/
March 29th – Palm Sunday (Christian)
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates
Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. In many Christian
churches, Palm Sunday includes a procession of the assembled worshipers carrying palms, representing the
palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem. The difficulty of procuring
palms in unfavorable climates led to their substitution with branches of native trees, including box, yew, willow, and olive. The Sunday was often designated by the names of these trees, as in Yew Sunday, or by the
general term Branch Sunday.
For more information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palm_Sunday
I can achieve anything in life that I desire to achieve. No one nor anything can stop me
from achieving excellence. The only person that can stop me from achieving excellence …
IS ME - and I refuse to stop myself from achieving excellence.
Principal Bharuti Kafele