February/March, 2019 Upcoming Dates - Highlights include:

February, 2019

Jan.8th -Feb.1st …NEW to Kindergarten

Registration, 9-3 p.m. daily

Fri. Feb. 8th ...Professional Learning Day-

no school for students

Feb. 11th–18th…February Break and

Family Day

Feb. 22nd …Kindergarten Family Fridays

continue…parents/grandparents please at-

tend and learn with the students! Topics:

Problem Solving and Innovation

Mon. Feb. 25th...Grade 3 and 6 Family

EQAO LEARNING Night...6:15-7:30

p.m. All families invited.

March and April PREVIEW, 2019

March 11th-22nd …March Break, balanced

calendar…

Fri. April 5th …11 a.m. RLPS Grades 4-6

Public Speaking Contest! All welcome!

April 8th-12th -EDUCATION WEEK@RLPS!

Thurs. April 25th…SET THE DATE…

6:30 p.m. Junior Concert Night ...all Grade

4,5, and 6 students performing.

Included in the Lawson Link:

Important RLPS and Peel DSB Information Student/Community February-March Calendars come home as colour copy too Monthly Student Activity Schedules are on

school website-updated GOOGLE DOCS CALENDAR. Check out the school website too!

LOTS of “Ray” Award winners, January 2019~Congratulations! There’s more to come on June 26th! Give YOUR BEST! Mark the date!

Thanks to all who attended. See bulletin board for awards and pics in front foyer.

Term One Reports Cards Come Home on February 6th

All students bring home their first term report cards on February 6th. This ful-

some report includes teaching and learning since August so it is very important. For

students who achieve Learning Skills of G (good) and E (excellent) and Grades of a

B or above, it is not necessary to have a student-led conference at this time. Keep

up the good work! For any student who achieves an S (Satisfactory) or N (Needs Improvement) or below a B, please be sure to book a student-led conference with your teacher as soon as possible and make a plan to achieve the standard of a B or above by end of Term Two. We can achieve it together!

Let’s ACE EQAO! WE CAN ACHIEVE EXCELLENCE!

Come find out how YOU can ACE the EQAO on our FAMILY LEARNING NIGHT!

Monday, February 25th, 2019

Grade 3 and 6 Families

6:15-7:30 p.m.

FREE Practice book provided! BIGGER and BETTER than EVER!

Research shows Level 3s and 4s on Grade 3 EQAO predict future success in school.

Grade 4 to Grade 6 MUSICAL PERFORMANCE! Mark the date-Ray Lawson Junior students performing

Thursday, April 25th at 6:30 p.m.

Leadership Clubs at Ray Lawson-Student Report Leadership for every student is an important part of our school—students are integral to the work of our

school, providing leadership in their leadership clubs which meet at least once every month on Leadership Club

Day. Here is a closer look at two of our clubs written by student leaders of Cubs Council and LEAP

Announcers.

Cubs Council: At Ray Lawson P.S., the Cubs Council leaders help out in the gym by sorting the class

equipment if it is lost or broken. We also help with some assemblies based

on Physical Education. For example, we presented in the Lacrosse assembly.

The Cubs Council team is responsible for doing attendance when our class is

in Phys. Ed. We also coach intramurals and encourage the students to come

down to the gym to get active. It is very fun to be a part of Cubs Council at

Ray Lawson P.S.! By Manjot Sohi and Yash Chaudhari

LEAP Announcers: LEAP Announcers learn

and practise effective public speaking skills during our

meetings. We use the 7 Habits to become better public speakers so that we are able to

be good emcees and announcers at different school assemblies and in our classrooms.

For example, our LEAP Announcers have been important leaders at the Terry Fox,

Remembrance Day and January Awards assemblies. In December and January, every class team of LEAP An-

nouncers made a morning announcement to remind Ray Lawson P.S. about how to demonstrate the 7 Habits

every day to be successful. By Pavit Gill

Leadership in Action—Fundraising and Service to Others Our students have been busy this term planning, creating and selling bracelets, ornaments and greeting cards

to support Me to We. We are very proud of the students and staff for their commitment to helping others

in need. Thank you as well to our families who generously donated to these efforts. Together, we raised

$625 that will be donated to Me to We. For our local community, students, staff and families donated over

200 mittens, hats, scarves and toys that were given to the Salvation Army. Earlier in the fall, our Terry Fox

run helped to raise $880 for the Terry Fox Foundation—AMAZING!! We are grateful to our families who are

so generous and supportive—thank you again!

Growth Mindset-Everyone can learn to have a growth 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 fami-ly. 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. At Ray Lawson, we promote a growth mindset to help students reach their potential and know they are capable! 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

Changing Your Mindset Is Possible Feel like you could be stuck in a fixed mindset? Here are some tips for developing a growth mindset.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 un-lock 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).

Parents play an important role in the development and education of their children and in the success of the school community. At RAY LAWSON PS, we welcome and encourage the participation of parents and community members, and are grateful for the countless hours our volunteers contribute throughout the school year.

To volunteer at our school, you must complete a short interview and a criminal record check. A criminal record check is required for all school volunteers in Ontario. Even if you want to accompany your child on a field trip, you need this record check. Once you have completed the process, you are on file with the Peel District School Board as being a school volunteer. All returning volunteers will receive an Offence Declaration form that must be filled out and returned to the board office each year. Completing the Offence Declaration will ensure that you can continue volunteering in the next school year. Expect to receive the form in Feb-ruary.

Offence Declaration required for returning volunteers WE ALWAYS NEED NEW VOLUNTEERS TOO!

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 announced on radio and television stations listed below and posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca. Information will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680 CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1 CFRB AM1010 EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860 FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107 CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CTV CITYPULSE GLOBAL NEWS

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 mu-nicipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require bussing 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 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 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 Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

**Please note that when the Peel District School Board cancels buses, all parents who keep their child(ren) home MUST report this using the School Messenger system before the start of the school day. This includes bused and non -bused students and en-sures the safety of all students.

Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes –check out Ray Lawson! Do you know an adult that is interested in improving their English language skills for work, study or daily life?

Through the Continuing & Adult Education department, the Peel District School Board offers a wide variety of English language classes that help parents

experience success in Canadian English in both listening/speaking and reading/writing. Courses are designed for a range of basic, intermediate and

advanced English (Levels 1 to 7) as well as the more experienced learner needing to prepare for an IELTS exam.

Winter courses begin February , 2019. JOIN THE CLASS AT RAY LAWSON PS!

All learners that complete a session will earn a certificate of learning from the Peel District School Board.

Classes operate from six locations in Brampton and Mississauga with three specially designed adult centres at:

Bramalea - Adult Education Centre - 25 Kings Cross Road, Unit 3 Brampton - Adult Education Centre - #300 - 7700 Hurontario Street

Mississauga - Adult Education Centre - 100 Elm Drive West, Room 117

We even have a class right here at RAY LAWSON! Ask about it.To learn more or to register, call 905-270-6000. Also visit

www.peelschools.org/adulteducation or follow us on Twitter: @PDSBLearnESL 4

What you need to know about head lice What is head lice? Head lice are tiny insects that live on the scalp where they lay their eggs. They have three stages: the egg (nit), the nymph and the adult. Head lice do not spread diseases and cannot be spread between animals or pets and hu-mans, only through direct contact between people. Head lice spread easily, especially where people are in close contact. They are very common among school-aged children or children attending child care, where they spread through direct hair-to-hair contact or directly by shar-ing things like hats, combs, hairbrushes or headphones. One of the first signs of head lice is an itchy scalp. However, children can have head lice for several weeks with no

symptoms. If you think your child has head lice, check their hair for nits right away, then again after one week and after two weeks.

What to do if your child has lice Parents are advised to keep their child at home until they have been treated for lice. Students may only return to school if they are “nit-free.” If your child has live lice, ensure that they avoid head-to-head contact with other children until the lice are gone. Children should not share combs, hairbrushes, caps, hats or hair ornaments. You should also check all family members for head lice. Be sensitive to your child’s feelings and let them know that having head lice does not mean they are not clean. Head lice can be treated with the following approved insecticides:

pyrethrin (found in R&C Shampoo + Conditioner) permethrin (Nix Creme Rinse or Kwellada-P Creme Rinse) lindane (Hexit Shampoo or PMS-Lindane Shampoo).

School doors remain locked during the school day

We wanted to share a reminder with our school community. The front doors of our school will be locked during the school day. This is part of the Safe Welcome program, originally announced by the Ontario Government in December 2012, for all elementary schools in Ontario. As part of this program, portable doors will also be locked during the school day. A camera and buzzer unit is located by the front door and will be linked to a monitor in the main office of the school. Anyone who wishes access to the school once the school day has begun—parents, Peel board staff and visitors—will request entry by pressing the buzzer. Staff in the main office will be able to see and speak to the per-son, and release the door lock to provide access. We have long had the practice for Peel schools that all outside doors, with the exception of the front door, would be locked during the school day. While we acknowledge that locking doors will not in itself prevent all risks to the safety of students and staff, it is an important step in providing an additional level of security. Thank you for your continued support for the safety and well-being of all students and staff in our schools. 5

How to report absences when School Messenger is experiencing technical issues

Recently before the Winter break, the SafeArrival system, provided by School Messenger, experienced problems reporting absenc-es through the App and website. While School Messenger works diligently to fix any technical issues, parents/guardians are re-minded that absences can always be reported by calling the School Messenger toll-free number 1-855-209-6155 even when the App and website are inaccessible.

Peel Learning Foundation aims to create hopeful tomorrows for Peel board students Peel Learning Foundation, a community-based, charitable organization, will officially introduce itself to the Peel community at a launch event on Friday, Feb. 22, 2019. In partnership with the Peel District School Board, the foundation was created to enable Peel board students to achieve personal excellence by providing resources to help them overcome barriers. In its first year, the foundation will support Peel board students through: Student Emergency Needs program Depending on the need, the foundation will support individual students with food and cloth-ing, medical supplies, eyeglasses and transportation costs, or where there is an emergency situation that requires a compassionate response. Student Backpack program The foundation will provide backpacks filled with school supplies that students need to fully partici-pate in regular classroom work. The backpacks will be provided to students in need in a respectful and confidential manner. They are tailored for students in kindergarten to grade 3, grades 4 to 8, and grades 9 to 12. A launch event will be held at the HJA Brown Education Centre, located at 5650 Hurontario St. in Mississauga, from 9 to 10 a.m. on Feb. 22. The foundation’s inaugural board of directors will be present as well as other guests. The event includes a performance by Mayfield Secondary School students and information booths. To RSVP for the launch event, visit www.PeelLearningFoundation.org/launch. Individuals or organizations who are interested in learning more about and supporting the foundation can visit www.PeelLearningFoundation.org. They can also follow the foundation on Twitter and Facebook and use the hashtag #CreateHope to join the conversation.

Ray Lawson P.S. puts the spotlight on Black Heritage In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month, following a motion introduced by the first black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine. During Black History Month and through-out the school year, students, staff and parents from across Peel will participate in a number of curriculum-based activities that promote the understanding of the many contributions made by black Canadians.

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:

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. 6

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