May 2015 newsletter - Algonquin Ridge Elementary School

Algonquin Ridge Elementary School
PRINCIPAL: K. Torrie
SCHOOL OFFICE 705-737-4080
VICE-PRINCIPAL: F. Van Arragon
FAX: 705-730-5820
SCHOOL WEBSITE: alr.scdsb.on.ca
May 2015
MESSAGE FROM ADMINISTRATION
We’re happy that spring has finally sprung and students are able to
enjoy the warm weather again. Our school yard and playground
have reopened for students just this past week, and we were happy
to see that the pavement behind our school has recently been swept
clean of sand. We’re looking forward to having different types of
line games painted on the tarmac soon for the students to enjoy.
We’ve recently had our jumping pits expanded and improved for our
upcoming track and field day at Algonquin Ridge and we have
mulched around the kindergarten play equipment at the north end
of the school.
May and June are busy months at school. We enjoyed Music
Monday on the 4th of May and look forward to our Jump Rope for
Heart event, popcorn sales for Free the Children, Spirit wear sales,
and a Blue Jays game all this month. Towards the end of the month
our grade 3 and 6 students will participate in province wide
standardized testing.
We also had a visit from the students who are coming to Algonquin
Ridge from Warnica next fall. The Algonquin Ridge family is growing!
With the nice weather many students are out on their bikes and
scooters again so please watch for their safety if you’re dropping
your child off at school by car. Please be reminded that cars may
not park on the street in front of the school. This is a no parking
zone and the bylaw officer stops by frequently to enforce this
parking bylaw.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Free the Children presentation – Me to We leader - May 12th
Welcome to Kindergarten – May 12th @4:00 pm
School Track and Field – May 13th
Jr BBall Cities – May 14th @ Eastview
VICTORIA DAY – May 18th – School Closed
Immunization Clinic – Grade 7’s and Grade 8 girls – May 19th
Grade 8’s to Innisdale – May 20th
Zone Track and Field @ Sunnybrae – May 21st
EQAO – May 27-June 2nd
Character Ed Assembly – Respect – May 29th
Spirit Day – May 29th – Crazy Hair Day
Think Pink Day – June 3rd
PA Day – June 5th
KINDERGARTEN CELEBRATION
We do not have a Kindergarten graduation at Algonquin Ridge. Prior
to the start of the Full Day Kindergarten program these students
would come to school for two or three days each week. Once
kindergarten was completed it was felt that students would
graduate from the 1/2 time program and start full time school. Now
students come for the same amount of time beginning in JK and the
next change for them is after grade 8. We hold a grade 8 graduation
each year.
We are planning a kindergarten celebration (not a graduation)
toward the end of the school year.
Please don’t hesitate to contact Mrs. Torrie or Mr. Van Arragon if
you have further questions.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Do you (or someone you know) have a child who was born in 2011?
If so, it is time to register them for Kindergarten. Registration
documents
include
birthdate
documentation, proof of address and
record of immunization.
For more information visit
www.scdsb.on.ca/kindergarten
FREE AFTER SCHOOL WORKSHOPS FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN
WITH ASD
This year, the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) and the
Centre for Behaviour Health Sciences at Mackenzie Health are
partnering to offer workshops for parents and educators of students
with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). These workshops will be
offered monthly during the school year. They started in the month
of October. All of the workshops are free for parents and educators,
and run from 4:30 to 6:30p.m. at the SCDSB Education Centre, 1170
Highway 26 in Midhurst. Space is limited in each workshop and
registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. To
register, contact Sue McNabb at smcnabb@scdsb.on.ca or 705-7346363 x11246.
For more information and specific session descriptions, visit SCDSB’s
website at www.scdsb.on.ca/Parents/Pages/Workshops.aspx.
HOMEWORK HELP FOR STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 TO 10
Homework Help is a free online math help resource for students in
Grades 7 to 10. Homework Help provides free, live one-on-one
tutoring from Ontario teachers Sunday to Thursday from 5:30 to
9:30 p.m. The program is funded by the Ontario government and
administered by TVO's Independent Learning Centre. To log in,
students will need to register with their Ontario Education Number
(OEN), found at the top of their report card near their name. For
more information, visit https://homeworkhelp.ilc.org/.
POPCORN! POPCORN! POPCORN!
The Me to We Student Leadership
team will be selling popcorn for
just $1/bag starting on Monday,
May 4 for 2-3 weeks. Popcorn will
be sold during 2nd nutrition break
each day. All profits from popcorn
sales will go to support Free the
Children’s initiatives to provide
education
for
children
in
developing countries.
Kettle Corn – Dill Pickle – Salt &
Vinegar – Butter and Salt – Wh.
Cheddar
There will also be homemade
bracelets for sale for $1.00 each.
GET YOUR BLUE JAYS TICKETS!
Have you purchased your tickets for ARES
Blue Jays night? Tickets are just $22 for
great seats in section 106 on the first level
of the Rogers Centre for the Blue Jays
game versus the Los Angeles Angels at 7
PM on May 20. Place your order at the
school office by Friday, May 8. If you need
another order form, please contact the school office.
S.E.E.D.S. BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL
CHILDCARE
Our educators recently attended a workshop
called C.A.T. C.H (Co-ordinated Approach to
Child’s Health), this program teaches the value of physical activity
and how to increase the level of activity and create an inclusive
team approach in traditional games or activities. Since attending the
workshop our Educators have been implementing different practices
and strategies from the training, and the results have been
outstanding! Not only are the children becoming more physically
active but the team work has really taught the children to value each
person’s contributions to the game. These results have helped to
promote the anti-bullying campaign that has been extended into our
program as well.
S.E.E.D.S is proud to offer summer programming for school-age
children, we have several camps available this summer! Our
program are highly interactive, providing many educational
opportunities outside and weekly field trips. If you are interested
please contact Sheena Bardai at 705-726-3770.
CHILD CARE OPTIONS IN ONTARIO
The Ontario government recently launched an advertising campaign
to raise public awareness about child care options in this province.
The campaign’s objective is to support and empower parents, so
they can choose child care that suits their family’s needs. It provides
information about different types of care, and indicators of quality in
child care settings.
For more information and resources about child care options in our
province, visit www.ontario.ca/childcare. For more information
about child care in our schools, including before- and after-school
care options, visit SCDSB’s public website at www.scdsb.on.ca and
then click on ‘Schools’ – ‘Before and After School Care.’
PACK A RAINBOW IN YOUR KID’S LUNCH!
The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit would like to remind
parents about the importance of a school lunch full of colourful
veggies and fruit. Try some of these tasty kid-friendly ideas to ensure
they will eat what you pack:

Add grated carrot to egg or tuna salad

Pack veggies or fruit in small bite size pieces for easy
eating

Prepare veggies and fruit with different tools that change
the shape and add interest to your child’s lunch. Use
melon ballers, vegetable crinkle cutters, cookie cutters or
even an egg slicer to make some great shapes

Use a shake of cinnamon on cut fruit if it tends to turn
brown - they will enjoy the new flavour to their favourite
apple or banana pieces

If your kid is a dipper, add a small container of yogurt or
pudding for fruit dipping or cottage cheese or hummus for
veggie dipping
For more information you can call Health Connection at 705-7217520 or 1-877-721-5720 and speak with a public health nurse or visit
the health unit website at www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.
PARTICIPATE IN THE 2014 ONTARIO CHILD HEALTH STUDY
AND SCHOOL MENTAL HEALTH SURVEYS
The 2014 Ontario Child Health Study is underway and will provide
vital information about the mental health needs of children and
youth living in Ontario today. This study will be the first of its kind in
Canada to examine the influence of family, community and school
environments on child and youth mental health. The results will be
used to develop programs and services to improve the mental
health of young people in Ontario. From October 2014 to May 2015,
Statistics Canada will be inviting 7,000 families with children aged 4 17 to complete an interview in their home. At the same time,
McMaster researchers will be conducting School Mental Health
Surveys in 240 Ontario schools to help us learn new ways of
promoting and addressing student mental health needs.
Let's make our province a better place for children and youth. If
invited to participate, please say ‘yes’ to the 2014 Ontario Child
Health Study and School Mental Health Surveys. For more
information, visit: www.ontariochildhealthstudy.ca.
SUBSCRIBE TO OUR WEBSITE
Check out our website. It is full of information about our school. It
has links to great resources, class blogs
and regular posts about what is
happening at Algonquin Ridge. Check us
out
at
http://algonquinridge.edublogs.org/ and
click on the Subscribe button to join so
that you can automatically receive regular
updates and monthly newsletters
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PEANUT AND NUT AWARE SCHOOL
Our school strives to be a Nut-Safe School. At Algonquin Ridge we
have a number of students who have a severe nut
allergy. These students cannot be exposed to
nuts in ANY form, as this may trigger an
anaphylactic reaction that is life-threatening and
requires immediate medical intervention.
Therefore, in the best interests of these students
and for any other students who may develop peanut or nut allergies
in the future we have banned all peanut/nuts and food containing
nuts within the school. These will include but are not limited to:

Peanut butter sandwiches, dips or crackers

Nutella

Cookies or cakes with nuts

Granola Bars with nuts

Chocolate bars containing nuts e.g. Snickers

Dried Fruit and nut mixes
CIRCLE OF LEARNING PARENT ACADEMY - FREE WORKSHOPS TO
HELP YOU BOOST YOUR CHILD’S SUCCESS
As a parent/guardian, you were your child’s first teacher and you are
still his or her most important teacher. Your involvement in your
child’s education has an impact on success. Register to attend
workshops throughout the year designed to help you support your
child’s learning and development.
The workshops in May is:
• Resilience: Nine things kids need from their families, schools, and
communities
Find workshop dates, times, descriptions and register online at
www.scdsb.on.ca/circleoflearning.
The Circle of Learning Parent Academy is hosted by the Simcoe
County District School Board’s Parent Involvement Committee and
made possible with the support of the Ministry of Education through
a Parents Reaching Out Grant.
Direct contact with the food is not always required to trigger a
reaction. For example: if someone in our school eats peanuts and
then touches playground equipment, the equipment may then
become contaminated with enough peanut butter to trigger a
severe reaction. We also ask that children who have peanut butter
for breakfast on school days please wash their hands thoroughly and
clean their teeth before coming to school.
As always, our paramount concern is for the safety and well-being
for all children in our care. We feel this is the best way to attempt to
ensure the safety of students that have severe nut allergies in our
school. If your child forgets to comply with this, a reminder notice
will be sent home with them and an alternative snack will be
provided. Teachers will also assist students by reinforcing the policy
through class discussions.
Thank you for your continued support of our school, and our efforts
to make this the safest environment possible for all students.
SIGN-IN PROCEDURES FOR ALL VISITORS AND VOLUNTEERS
All visitors and volunteers are to report to the main office on arrival
at the school, sign-in, in the Volunteer/Visitor Log and indicate
which teacher they are meeting/volunteering with. Once the office
has confirmed the meeting or volunteer activity with the supervising
teacher, a school Visitor or Volunteer tag will be issued. All visitors
and volunteers are to report to the main office on departure from
the school, sign-out in the Volunteer/Visitor Log and return the
Visitor or Volunteer tag.
If a person is found in the school building, in/around the portables
or in the school yard without being signed-in, being announced
to/supervised by a staff member or wearing a Visitor/Volunteer tag,
the school may be placed in a Lockdown. The visitor/volunteer could
possibly be asked to leave the school building, given a trespass
warning or issued a formal trespass notice.
Thank you for your continued support for our student’s academic
achievement and safety here at school.
TECHNOLOGY IN SCDSB CLASSROOMS
Today’s students have grown up with technology—it’s a regular part
of their daily lives. By bringing educational technology into the
classroom, we can tap into our students’ interests and build on their
developing skills to create vibrant learning environments that are
innovative, creative and engaging.
Read more about how the SCDSB is supporting technology-enabled
learning environments while at the same time protecting student
privacy and personal information. Visit www.scdsb.on.ca, click on
‘Programs’ and then ‘Learning & Technology.’
LEARNING ADVANTAGE Workbook
"Learning Advantage" is a fully coloured, 192 page activity book
designed to maintain and extend all Kindergarten to Grade 7
students' academic learning over the summer months. There is one
activity book per grade level from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 7.
All books are aligned with the Ontario curriculum expectations.
These activities are intended to keep students' thinking skills sharp
over the summer, to introduce themes and subject content for the
upcoming school year and to provide an alternative to television.
When your child says "I'm bored", Learning Advantage will provide
that beneficial alternative. In addition to the summer the books can
be used all year long from September to the following June. All
books have parent information pages, evaluation forms; follow up
activities and a family focus. There is also a Summer Advantage
website www.learningadvantage.ca which contains more detailed
information. The cost of each booklet is $20 ($19.05 plus GST).The
Learning Advantage campaign runs from May 4 to June 2, 2015.
Delivery of books will be in June. Please make all cheques payable
to "Learning Advantage".
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CHILD AND YOUTH SERVICES IN SIMCOE COUNTY
Kinark Child and Family Services is a local children’s mental health
organization providing individual, family and group counselling
services for children and youth with mental health issues. Kinark also
supports children with Autism Spectrum Disorder and their families.
In terms of community mental health services, Kinark offers
specialized treatment including Multi-Systemic Therapy, Crisis
Services, Residential Treatment, Day Treatment, Respite Programs,
SNAP (Stop Now and Plan), and Triple P (Positive Parenting
Program). The Kinark Intake number is 1-888-454-6275. The Barrie
office number is 705-726-8861 and the Midland office number is
705-526-3708.
New Path Youth and Family Services is an accredited children’s
mental health agency funded through the Ministry of Child and
Youth Services. Their head office is in Barrie with other offices in
Collingwood, Orillia, Bradford, Cookstown and Alliston. New Path
offers a full range of community-based programs for clients aged 7
to 18 and their families. These programs include office-based
counselling and long term youth and family counselling. They also
have school-based mental health workers in elementary schools in
Innisfil, Alliston, Bradford, Collingwood and Orillia. Their Early Years
program services clients aged 0 to 6 and are based out of the Barrie
location. New Path also has a Multi-Disciplinary Consultation Clinic
for children up to 18 years of age with complex needs who require a
psychiatric and/or psychological consultation. More information
about the above mentioned programs can be found by contacting
New Path’s central intake department at 705-725-7656.
S.E.E.D.S. CHILD CARE BEFORE AND AFTER
SCHOOL PROGRAM
Register today for September 2015!
Register today for September 2015
Fees
Before and After School
$18.50/day
Before School Only:
$ 9.25/day
After School Only
$13.50/day
Fees subject to change.
Child Care Fee Assistance may be available for families who
qualify.
For more information about Fee Assistance call 705-722-3132 or
905-729-4514.
For more information on how to register visit www.scdsb.on.ca
or www.seedschildchildcare.ca
ARES TRACK AND FIELD DAY –MAY 13TH
We are looking forward to track and field day at our school on
Wednesday, May 13th. Students in Grade 4-8 will participate in a
variety of events. As well a concession stand will be available for the
students and parents. We will be selling hot dogs, hamburgers,
chips, pop, water, freezies and popcorn. We’re looking forward to a
great day! Look out for more information coming home soon!
ALGONQUIN RIDGE SPIRIT WEAR
Spirit wear is now available for your purchase at the school. The
following items are available in grey with a 3 colour imprinted logo
or in blue with a 2-colour imprinted logo:
T-shirts
Long sleeve t-shirts
Hoodies
Sweat pants
Shorts
If you are interested in ordering spirit
wear for your family or friends please complete and return the
attached order form no later than Wednesday, May 13. Sample
clothing for sizing is available in the school office. You may make
your purchase with cash, cheque or schoolcash online. Orders will
be received and distributed near the end of May.
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