OUR MISSION STATEMENT: “We will prepare all students to meet the challenges of a changing society by facilitating and fostering their intellectual, physical, emotional and social development

in a safe and inclusive learning environment”

SCHOOL SUCCESS AT DAVID LEEDER MIDDLE SCHOOL

Happy New Year!

As we enter a new calendar year, it is always natural to make plans, set goals and renew our efforts to make meaningful changes in our lives. Whether these changes are small or large, it is important to strive for our personal best and the betterment of our community. It is not any different at DLMS! After a short and restorative winter break, staff and students return to school re-energized and ready to face new challenges. Although, as a school, we have set goals from early on in the fall, we revisit and adapt these goals to continually meet our students’ needs and the high expectations we hold for each student. Mental health and wellness at DLMS have always been an area of focus as we know that each member of our school community needs to be well in order to learn and grow. Our Theory of Action within the Mental Health domain states: If students and staff at DLMS engage in in-class lessons and processes that promote mindfulness and well-being, and speak openly about best practices surrounding self-regulation, then we will have the tools to build positive relationships with others and better manage stressors in the classroom and workplace. Based on our Theory of Action, we offered a number of wellness activities during the month of December, such as Mindfulness Mondays, Wellness Wednesdays and Spirit Days – in an effort to continue empowering our students to be successful. As a staff, we work hard to help our students develop emotional intelligence by guiding them in identifying their feelings and expressing them in appropriate ways. According to research studies, when children learn that there is a name for their feelings and learn ways to work through them, they are better equipped to effectively deal with them in the future. You can help at home by encouraging your child to find effective ways to express his/her feelings at different occasions. This strategy is called “Name it to tame it!” This phrase has been coined by renowned author and psychiatrist Daniel Siegel, who says that choosing words to describe subtle emotions jump-starts your executive brain and calms down your emotional limbic brain. (Source: The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture your Child’s Developing Mind, Survive Everyday Parenting Struggles, and Help Your Family Thrive). In our ongoing effort to nurture emotional resilience in our children, we invite you to continue your partnership with DLMS. Together we will continue to create safe and supportive environments to foster the physical, mental and socio-emotional well-being of each one of our students.

Catch the………….. January 2019

Leeder S.P.I.R.I.T. Success Perseverance Integrity Responsibility Initiative Teamwork

Save the Date for David Leeder’s Annual Career Day

Are you or someone you know free to volunteer at this years' Career Day, please contact Mrs. Trotter if you are available at

nicole.trotter@peelsb.com Career Day will be held on April 18th, 2019.

Update – Superintendent Change

Effective January 1st, 2019, Mr. J. Robertson, our

Superintendent of Education, has taken over the role of

Superintendent, Human Resources Support Services.

We would like to welcome Mr. Harjit Aujla as our new

Superintendent of Education. Mr. Aujla comes to DLMS

from the role of Coordinating Principal – Indigenous

Education and Equity, in the Curriculum Department. He

brings a wealth of experience as a teacher, vice principal,

and principal, particularly in the area of equity.

We are sorry to see Mr. Robertson go and wish him all the

best in his new role. Welcome to Mr. Aujla!

FOLLOW US!

Twitter: DLMS_MS Instagram: david_leederms

REMIDER

If you decide to keep your child home, please report your child’s absence via the SafeArrival system quickly and conveniently in one of the three ways:

o Call an automated, interactive toll free number – 1-855-209-6155

o Report absences online by accessing the SafeArrival parent portal on go.schoolmessenger.ca

o Download the SchoolMessenger mobile application for Apple and Android devices Planned absences should be reported in advance.

DMLS Library News

- Forest of Reading Book Club is continuing on Mondays, during lunch recess. This is a reading program organized

by the Ontario Library Association, where students have a chance to read some excellent nominees for the Silver

Birch, Red Maple and Le Prix Tamarac awards. Students are always welcome to join - come and see Mrs. Sinclair in

the LLC for more details. - Study Hall is open on Tuesdays, at lunch recess, for

students who are looking for a quiet, safe place to

complete any work or study.

Thank you for supporting the Library!

SAFETY FIRST At DLMS we strive to keep your children safe at all times. We need your help during our morning Kiss-and Ride drop off. Please ensure that as you drive up to the curb, you remain in the car line-up at all times. Remember too that it is safe to drop off your child(ren) anywhere around the curb, not just in front of the side doors.

Agents of Change This year’s Six Days of SPIRIT was a great success. Thanks to the David Leeder Community, we collected 866 food items for Eden Food For Change, 143 toys for Toys for Tots, 613 hygiene products for the Mississauga Library Homeless Outreach program, and $235.00 which was used to purchase gift cards for Our Place Peel, youth shelter. Your generosity will help make the holidays better for many people in our community. We look forward to another six days next year!

During the month of January, DMLS will continue to offer mindful activities

on Mondays and other wellness activities on

Wednesdays. Some of the activities will be mindful coloring, breathing

exercises, group fitness, yoga classes.

SCHOOL COUNCIL NEWS Join our school council—share your ideas!

Upcoming School Council meeting date January 23

rd,

@ 7 pm.

Peel board trustees accountable to the community The Peel District School Board, like every public school board in Ontario, is governed by a board of trustees. They are elected by public school taxpayers every four years during municipal elections and are directly accountable to the community. The current 12 trustees have been elected to serve from Dec. 3, 2018, to Nov. 30, 2022:

Trustee Ward(s) City Email Phone #

Carrie Andrews

7 and 8 Brampton carrie.andrews@peelsb.com 647-473-1858

Susan Benjamin 5 Mississauga susan.benjamin@peesb.com 647-268-1435

Stan Cameron (Chair)

Caledon stan.cameron@peelsb.com 905-880-1162

Robert Crocker

6 and 11

Mississauga robert.crocker@peelsb.com 416-528-1312

Nokha Dakroub

9 and 10

Mississauga nokha.dakroub@peelsb.com 289-914-0214

Will Davies 2 and 6 Brampton will.davies@peelsb.com 647-218-0295

David Green

1 and 5 Brampton david.green@peelsb.com 905-495-4579

Sue Lawton (Vice-Chair)

3 and 4 Mississauga susan.lawton@peelsb.com 905-625-8084

Brad MacDonald

2 and 8 Mississauga brad.macdonald@peelsb.com 905-593-3547

John Marchant 1 and 7 Mississauga john.marchant@peelsb.com 905-599-5646

Kathy McDonald

3 and 4 Brampton kathy.mcdonald@peelsb.com 905-796-8163

Balbir Sohi 9 and 10

Brampton balbir.sohi@peelsb.com 416-828-4330

Trustee Ward(s) City Email Phone #

What do trustees do?

advocate for the needs of the community

help members of the community address concerns about the school system

govern and set policies for the board

explain the policies and decisions of the board to the community

evaluate and review the board’s achievement of its goals, objectives and strategic plan

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.

Applications to submit Education Week Award nominations now open!

Each year, as part of Education Week, the Peel District School Board recognizes individuals for their exemplary contributions to student success by presenting them with an Education Week Award. There are three Education Week Awards: Award of Distinction, Award of Excellence and Education Champion Award. The nominations are open to everyone, including current and former staff, current and former students, parents/guardians, community members and volunteers. The applications to submit a nomination is open from now until January 18, 2019 at 4 p.m. Families, students, community members and volunteers who wish to submit a nomination may do so by contacting their school. Education Week Award recipients will be recognized during Education Week from April 8 to 12, 2019. Below is a brief overview of the criteriafor each of these awards: Award of Distinction: The Award of Distinction is presented to recipients for their above-and-beyond contributions to student success at their school/worksite. Award of Excellence: The Award of Excellence recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary, significant contributions to student success at their school/worksite and to public education in Peel. Education Champion Award: The Education Champion Award honours an individual who has made significant and lasting contributions to public education at the provincial, national or international level. Please note that group nominations will not be accepted for Education Week Awards. For more information on the Education Week Awards or award criteria’s, please contact your school principal or supervisor.

Minding Your Mindset From the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team

With the beginning of a new year, you may be thinking about the resolutions and goals you want to set for both you and your family. Your mind is a powerful force that has the potential to help you exceed even your loftiest goals, but it also has the potential to hinder you from reaching your goals. It’s all a matter of mindset.

What Do You Mean By Mindset?

“Mindset” refers to a series of beliefs that people hold about themselves and the world. It’s the reason people think and act the way they do and it influences their outlook on life. Your mindset has a big impact on your overall wellbeing and sense of achievement in life.

Types of Mindset

There are two different types of mindsets. People who possess more of a growth mindset are likely to stick with a task even when it proves difficult. They tend to believe that they can learn and develop through dedication and hard work. They are also more likely to: ✓ Welcome challenges

✓ Be open to new ways of learning

✓ View mistakes as opportunities for learning

✓ Recognize their weaknesses and work to improve them

People who possess more of a fixed mindset are likely to shy away from challenges. They tend to believe that traits like intelligence or talent are set at birth, and as a result, likely unchangeable. They are also likely to: ✓ Engage in negative self-talk (“I can’t”)

✓ Avoid tasks where there is a risk of failing

✓ Struggle to accept setbacks

✓ Try to hide or justify their mistakes

Changing Your Mindset Is Possible

Feel like you could be stuck in a fixed mindset? Here are some tips for developing a growth mindset.

1. Instead of “I can’t do it,” try “I can’t do it…yet.” If you believe that you can, you have a better chance

at succeeding, even if it doesn’t happen right away.

2. Challenge accepted! The next time you are faced with a tricky task, try to embrace it. You might

struggle along the way, but each new try will lead to more success.

3. Work hard. Many of the goals you set for yourself won’t come easily. They will require hard work. But,

when you work hard for something, the rewards feel really good.

4. Setbacks are opportunities for learning. Believe it or not! Making a mistake does not mean you have

failed, but you may need a different strategy. Achieving perfection on the first try is often unrealistic.

5. Be open to new ways of doing things. By tackling a challenge in a new way, you may be very surprised

(and happy) with the outcome.

Remember! Mindsets can change over time and we as individuals are not typically all growth or all fixed, all of the time. However, fostering a growth mindset from an early age can help children and youth to experience and enjoy life to its fullest. When children and youth learn that putting forth effort, accepting challenges, and overcoming difficulties can make them smarter or stronger, they tend to try harder and achieve more. When children and youth know that their brains are capable of growing and improving, they can unlock their full potential and amazing things can happen! For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter @MHRTPeel. Adapted from Reach Out Australia (2018).

Nutritious lunches help children learn

Use Canada’s Food Guide to help your child get nutrients and energy needed to have a successful school day.

Try to give your child some choice about what to take for lunch. If possible, get your child involved in preparing meals.

Give your child a variety of healthy choices. Keeping your child interested in lunch is the first step to making sure it is eaten.

Make the food easy to eat. If it will take your child a few minutes to unwrap a sandwich, it may be skipped.

Resist the temptation to routinely send sweets, pop, chips and cookies in your child's lunch. Save treats for special occasions.

Try to avoid fast food or pre-packaged, convenience lunches, which are often high in salt and fat.

Do your best to role model healthy eating behaviours for your family.

If your child’s school is on the Nutrition Break schedule, divide your child’s lunch into two separate segments (e.g. half a sandwhich and half an apple x 2) to help your child save food for the second break as many children eat everything at first break.

To speak to a registered dietitian about healthy food choices, call EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-5102. For more information about the policy, visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools. If you have questions about how we are implementing the School Food and Beverage Policy, please call the school.

Excel Hoops basketball preparation program to open September 2019 Open Information Night will be held on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019 Initial Men’s tryouts will be held on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019 Initial Women’s tryouts will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019

The Peel District School Board will enter into a partnership agreement with Excel Hoops to offer a basketball preparation (prep) program. Beginning September 2019, the basketball prep program will be offered at Turner Fenton Secondary School in Brampton and will be geared towards student athletes who train year-round in basketball. The basketball players, who are selected by Excel Hoops to be a part of the prep program, will be registered as Turner Fenton students. They will be expected to meet the full academic requirements of their courses and adhere to Turner Fenton’s Code of Conduct.

Excel Hoops will be hosting an Open Information night on Wednesday, Jan. 16, 2019, for parents and prospective players to ask questions and learn about everything the program will have to offer. Tryouts will kick off on Sunday, Jan. 27, 2019 for the Men’s team and Tuesday, Jan. 29, 2019 for the Women’s team. For more information and to apply for the prep program, visit www.excelhoops.com.

The following winter school bus safety tips will help to keep your child safe throughout the winter months:

Allow extra time to get to your bus stop. Wear bright clothing so the bus can see you in the early morning and late evening. Stand away from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room to stop when there is snow and ice. Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping on wet or icy steps or road surfaces. Dress appropriately—winter clothing, hats, and boots will keep you warm. Don't throw snowballs at the bus or other children waiting for the bus. Don't slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the street. Don't push or shove around the bus. Someone could fall down on the ice and get hurt. Talk to your child about what to do if the bus is late. Here are some suggestions: When possible, wait with your child for the bus. Make sure your child knows a phone number where he can reach you or another trusted adult. Teach your child how and where to get help. Talk to your child about what a "safe" stranger is. Help your child set up a bus stop buddy system so your child has someone to wait with for the bus.

David Leeder Middle School

6900 Gooderham Estate Road

905-362-1340 Principal: S. Takyi

Vice-Principals: S. Robertson, M. Murphy

Superintendent of Education: H. Aujla - (905) 366 - 8800 (ext. 1308)

Trustees: Robert Crocker & Nokha Dakroub

Bus cancellation and closing schools due to bad weather During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather. Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146. It is usually also announced on the radio and television stations listed below VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 BREAKFAST TELEVISION NEWS AM680 CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1 NEWSTALK1010 AM EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860 FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107 CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS CITY NEWS CTV CFRB – (Bell Media) One of the following messages will be announced: Peel District School Board buses are cancelled This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require busing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual. All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed This means that all schools and Peel board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits. All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled This means that all activities in schools and Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed. All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled This means that all activities in schools and Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.