MUNDEN MATTERS MAY 1, 2014

Boys and Girls Talk participants enjoying making spring crafts

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KINDERGARTEN STUDENTS PERFORM AT EDUCATION WEEK

MS. VULIC’S CLASS AT THE LIVING ARTS

CENTREPINK DAY

COMMUNITY WALK

MUNDEN MATTERS

CROSS COUNTRY TEAM TRY OUTS

MUNDEN MATTERS MAY 1, 2014

Supporting Children’s Mental Health

!As the end of the school year approaches, it is not unusual for children to become more anxious. The final months of the school year can be difficult for many students. As the year draws to a close, there are numerous reminders that the consistency and stability of routines that school provides will be coming to an end. This is also a time of year for a great many transitions. Grade five students are both looking forward and our anxious about attending middle school; kindergarten students are both scared and excited to be starting grade one; at all grades students are wondering who will be my teacher in the fall. As well, over the summer months is when many families plan to move. This can add to the feelings of stress and anxiety that children may experience. !Anxiety is defined as a feeling of worry or unease. When the level of anxiety is great enough to interfere with a child or young person’s everyday activities, it is called an Anxiety Disorder. Anxiety disorder is a psychiatric condition that may require medical or psychological treatment. !HOW COMMON ARE ANXIETY DISORDERS? !Roughly 6% of children and youth have an anxiety disorder that is serious enough to require treatment. !HOW LONG DO THEY LAST? !Without treatment, some of the anxiety disorders that begin in childhood can last a lifetime, although they may come and go. !WHAT CAUSES ANXIETY DISORDERS? !Anxiety disorders have multiple, complex origins. It is likely that genes play a role in causing anxiety. However, the home, the neighbourhood, school and other settings can also contribute to anxiety. For example, some babies or young children who live with too much stress can become anxious. Other children may “learn” to respond in an anxious way to new situations because a parent or other caregiver shows

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The Munden Park Education Week

Play Day

MUNDEN MATTERS MAY 1, 2014

anxiety. In most children and young people it is a mix of these causes that leads to an anxiety disorder. !!WHAT’S NORMAL AND WHAT’S NOT? !Being nervous about a single event, such as writing a test, is normal. Trying to avoid any situation that causes anxiety is not normal and may mean that the child or teen has an anxiety disorder. !Source: Centre of Knowledge on Healthy Child Development (http://www.knowledge.offordcentre.com)

Tips for helping children cope with fears, anxieties !

Parents can help children learn techniques to manage anxiety. Here are some tips to try: !Reduce stress: Excessive stress and tension in your home can have a negative effect on your child. Look for ways to reduce stress by doing calm activities together and deal with conflict as it arises, avoiding raised voices or arguing around children. !Make a routine: A regular routine for meals, homework, quiet time and bedtime can be comforting to an anxious child. !Give consequences: Anxiety does not excuse inappropriate behaviour. It is important to set limits and expectations and follow-through with realistic consequences, rewards and praise. Children are happier when they know what the rules are and what will happen if they break them. !Be supportive: It is difficult for children to face their fears. Don't laugh at your child or minimize your child's fears. Let your child know it is normal to have fears and listen to your upset child and let them know it is okay to talk about feelings. Help your child figure out ways to handle difficult situations. Ask, "How can we make this easier for you?" !Encourage independence: Although it is tempting to do things for your child when they are anxious or fearful, it is much more beneficial to help children learn to do things for themselves and take some risks. By doing this, you will help your child develop the skills and abilities to cope with life. This can include giving your child responsibilities around the house or brainstorming ideas for solving problems. Be supportive but don't take over. !Avoid giving excessive help and reassurance: Giving constant help and reassurance can prevent your child from learning how to cope on his own. Teach your child to answer their own questions and model problem solving for them.

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!Build self-confidence: Praise your child for their accomplishments in facing their fears. Involve your child in activities that help him feel proud. !Have realistic expectations: It is important your child is taking steps forward, even if they are small steps. Help your child set and achieve goals that can be more easily met, perhaps at a slower pace. Have realistic expectations for your child. !Take care of yourself too: It can be very difficult dealing with an anxious child. Make sure you manage your own reactions and take care of yourself. Remember the basics of eating well, getting enough rest and give yourself permission to take some time off. !Take risks: Model brave behaviour for your child by trying new things together. Anxious children need to try new things and take some risks in order to develop increased confidence and skills. !Avoid avoidance: Anxious children want to avoid things that cause them anxiety. Although this temporarily decreases distress, it also allows fears to grow and can make coping more difficult in the future. It is better to support your child in facing their fears-small steps at a time. !Source: Anxiety BC website (www.anxietybc.com) !

Information Sources for Parents !BOOKS !The Worried Child: Recognizing Anxiety in Children and Helping Them Heal by Paul Foxman, Hunter House Publishers (2004) ISBN: 0897934202 !Freeing Your Child from Anxiety: Powerful, Practical Solutions to Overcome Your Child's Fears, Worries, and Phobias by Tamar E. Chansky Broadway (2004) ISBN: 0767914929 !Your Anxious Child: Raising a Healthy Child in a Frightening World by Mary Ann Shaw Tapestry Press; 2nd edition (2003) ISBN: 193081917X !School Phobia, Panic Attacks, and Anxiety in Children by Marianna Csoti, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (August 2003) ISBN: 1843100916 !STEP-BY-STEP GUIDES !Helping Your Anxious Child: A Step- By-Step Guide for Parents by Ronald M. Rapee, New Harbinger Publications (2000) ISBN: 1572241918

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!The Anxiety Cure for Kids: A Guide for Parents by Elizabeth DuPont Spencer, Wiley (2003) ISBN: 0471263613 !Your Anxious Child: How Parents and Teachers Can Relieve Anxiety in Children by John S. Dacey, Jossey- Bass (2001) ISBN: 0787960403 Help for Worried Kids: How Your Child Can Conquer Anxiety and Fear by Cynthia G. Last, Guilford Press (2005) ISBN: 1572308583 !Seven Steps to Help Your Child Worry Less: A Family Guide by Sam Goldstein, Specialty Press (2003) ISBN: 1886941467 !Worried No More: Help and Hope for Anxious Children by Aureen Pinto Wagner, Lighthouse Press, 2nd edition (2005) ISBN: 0967734797 !VIDEOS Fighting Their Fears: Child and Youth Anxiety by Melanie Wood, National Film Board of Canada (2004) NFB ID# 113C9104249 !WEB SITES Anxiety Disorders Association of America www.adaa.org/GettingHelp/FocusOn/ Children&Adolescents.asp !Canadian Paediatric Society www.caringforkids.cps.ca/behaviour/ fears.htm !!

Munden Park puts the spotlight on Asian Heritage !

In December 2001, the Senate adopted a motion proposed by Senator Vivienne Poy to officially designate May as Asian Heritage Month in Canada. In May 2002, the Government of Canada signed an official declaration to designate May as Asian Heritage Month. !Throughout May, students, staff and parents from across Peel will participate in a number of activities that promote the understanding of the many contributions made by Asian Canadians. !Our In School Enhanced Learning Group is working hard with Mr. Saccucci, Ms. Foda and Ms. Chmielowiec on their Asian Heritage Assembly presentation for the school. The Assembly will take place on Wednesday, May 21st at 10:00 am.

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MUNDEN MATTERS MAY 1, 2014

Ms. Foda and Mr. Saccucci in a planning meeting with our ISELP group discussing their Asian Heritage presentation

Help us keep students and staff safe in the school parking lot

!On any given school day, as many as one hundred students are dropped off at Munden Park Public School within about 10 minutes. This number greatly increases during the winter months and on rainy days. As such, traffic congestion in front of the school in the morning and at dismissal can create a dangerous situation for our students and staff. !We understand that many families need to drive their children to school, but that doesn't mean that safety needs to be put at risk. Based on ongoing concerns about the safety of our students and staff, we are asking for your co-operation and assistance in following the safety rules in our parking lot. These rules have one purpose—to ensure that every child arrives and departs from school safely each day.

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!Here are some ways you can help to keep students and staff safe in the school parking lot: !• Drive slowly and with caution on and near school property. Adhere to the posted speed

limits on Tedwyn Drive and any surrounding streets used by students on their way to and from school.

• Always yield to pedestrian traffic. Wait for students, staff members and parents to cross before driving past them.

• There is no parking and no waiting in the Kiss and Ride lane, parking spaces for persons with a disability, bus lanes or fire lanes. You must keep your car engine running while in the Kiss and Ride lane. Pay attention to the traffic in front of you and pull forward as cars move forward.

• Do not leave your car if you are waiting for your child. If you get out of your car, park in a lined parking space or on the street.

• Do not double park or do anything else to block traffic or draw your child off the curb and into traffic. Do not take shortcuts over curbs.

• Have your child ready to exit the car when you reach the curb. Say goodbye to your child before you enter the drop-off area.

• Students must be dropped off and picked up at the crosswalk in front of the office. Please ensure that your children exit through the passenger side of your vehicle. 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.

• During regular drop-off times, students are to remain in the car until it is safe for them to exit the car.

• If your child is not waiting for you at the main crosswalk at the end of the day, please circle the parking lot and rejoin the line or park in a designated parking space to wait.

• After picking up or dropping off your child, leave promptly so that others can get in behind you.

• Follow the directions of staff or volunteers on duty in the school parking lot and treat staff, students, volunteers, passengers and other drivers with respect.

• Consider parking off site and walking a short distance to school. This will give you time to talk to your children about their day, review new vocabulary words, math concepts, etc. !

As you may know, the by-law enforcement officers for the City of Mississauga have the authority to hand out tickets on school property. Munden Park Public School assumes no responsibility for drivers parking where they shouldn’t park. !The above parking lot rules have been implemented for the safety of our students and their families. Please follow them when dropping off your children, picking them up or parking at the school. Your co-operation and patience is greatly appreciated. If you have any questions, please contact the school. !Thank you for working with us to keep Munden Park a safe place for students, staff and the community.

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MUNDEN MATTERS MAY 1, 2014

Peel schools honour police officers during Police Appreciation Week

!The Peel District School Board will pay tribute to police officers by holding Police Appreciation Week from May 4 to 10, 2014. Peel students and staff will show their appreciation for the tremendous job being done by police to protect schools, homes and communities. Police Appreciation Week coincides with National Police Week. National Police Week pays tribute to the work of police officers across Canada. !"The Peel board appreciates the dedication and commitment of police officers who work to keep our schools and communities safe," says Janet McDougald, Peel board chair. "Police Appreciation Week is our way of thanking officers who dedicate themselves to protecting our community. It's also a way to give these officers the special recognition they deserve." !During this week, students, staff and parents in schools throughout Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga will honour the work of police officers and thank them for enhancing public safety and security.

May 4 to 10 is Emergency Preparedness Week !What is EP Week? !The first full week of May of each year is Emergency Preparedness (EP) Week. This year, we will celebrate EP week May 4 to May 10. EP Week is a nation-wide initiative to increase awareness about individual and family preparedness, emphasizing how the public can reduce the risks and consequences of an emergency by being better prepared. During this week, we promote, educate and bring about awareness concerning emergency management planning and personal preparedness. !What is the purpose? !The purpose of EP Week is to educate students, parents and the community about the importance of being prepared in the case of an emergency. !

On the road again: How to keep your cyclist safe

!Here are some tips you can review with your child to ensure bike season gets off to a great start: !

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MUNDEN MATTERS MAY 1, 2014

The right fit • children should be able to straddle the bike with both feet on the ground • a bike that is too big or too small can be a safety hazard • the helmet should fit—if it's too loose, it could fall off, if it's too tight, it's

uncomfortable !Get noticed

• a young child's bike should be equipped with a bell and reflector • older riders should have a light and/or reflectors !

Follow the rules • no riding on busy streets • no riding at night • stop for all STOP signs !

Actions that cause injuries • driveway ride out—not stopping and looking both ways before entering the street • running the stop sign • turning without warning • cycling in the dark • following the leader—one child goes through a stop sign or misses a parked car but the

second cyclist doesn't

Keep your child safe around train tracks !Trains are often closer and are moving faster than most motorists and pedestrians perceive. That's why all members of a family should be are aware of the importance of rail safety. !Safety steps for children

• Playing on railway tracks and bridges is dangerous. Find safe, supervised and open areas (e.g., neighbourhood parks) in which to have fun.

• The only way to safely cross a rail track is to use designated railway crossings. • If you must cross railway tracks, for example on your way to and from school, stop,

look and listen before crossing. • It is against the law to trespass on railway property. !

Safety steps for adults • Be prepared to stop at a highway/ railway crossing. • Listen for warning bells and whistles of an approaching train. Turn off, or turn down

distracting fans, heaters, music/radios. • Obey the signals. Never attempt to drive under a gate as it is closing or around a

closed gate. If the gate begins to close while you’re underneath, keep moving ahead until you clear the crossing.

• If a police officer or a member of the train crew is directing traffic at the crossing, obey their directions.

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• If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out quickly and away from the vehicle and tracks. Move in the direction that the train is approaching from to avoid being hit by debris. Your vehicle will be swept forward by the momentum of the train. !

Dell Canada offers special rates for Peel board families and staff

The Peel board’s relationship with Dell Canada is part of the ongoing effort to create greater equity of access to technology. To learn more, or to purchase a Dell Canada notebook or tablet and see other devices offered, visit www.dell.ca/peel or www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stCentury/byod/devices. !

!!!!Enjoying Education Week Play Day

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Does your family need a new computer? The Peel District School Board and Dell Canada are working together to help make the purchase of new technology more accessible for Peel students, parents and staff. To learn more, visit www.dell.ca/peel.

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MUNDEN MATTERS MAY 1, 2014

!Grade 3 parents and students participating in an EQAO workshop with Mr. Williams

!Ms. Vulic’s grade five class performing at the Living Arts Centre (Literacy and Values through

Music)

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Education Week AssemblyEducation Week Assembly

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