Peel District School Board Lougheed Middle School · 2020. 9. 9. · Page 3 out of 12 September...
Transcript of Peel District School Board Lougheed Middle School · 2020. 9. 9. · Page 3 out of 12 September...
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Peel District School Board
Lougheed Middle School 475 Father Tobin Road, Brampton, ON L6R 0J9
TEL: 905-789-8751 FAX: 905-789-8754
http://schools.peelschools.org/1486
September 2020 Newsletter Ruth Wedderburn-Shelton Principal Donna Bhamra Vice-Principal
Katrina Laforest Office Manager Pat Noble Superintendent Balbir Sohi Trustee 416-828-4330 Transportation www.stopr.ca 905-890-6000 Attendance Check 1-855-209-6155
SafeArrival Parent Portal at
pdsb.schoolconnects.com
twitter.com/LougheedMiddle
Principal’s Message
Dear Parents/Guardians, Welcome back to our returning students who have opted for online learning and in- person learning, and a warm welcome to all the new students and their families to start their new school year. The 2020-2021 school year will look different, bringing forth challenges none of us have experienced in a school system. As a parent your first concern is the safety of your children. With that in mind, let me share a bit about what school will look like. Safety is paramount and practically everywhere students look, they will see safety guidelines in effect or reminders of them. For example, students will see everyone wearing face coverings, sanitizing stations visible in all areas of the building, hallway signs directing students into one-way traffic patterns, ziploc bags provided for storage of personal belongings, and staff members visibly enforcing these safety precautions. We understand that most learning will happen in an environment where students feel safe, hence we are committed to safety protocols so students can resume the education at Lougheed we all believe in! We are committed to doing everything we can to keep our schools safe. To do this, we need your help. As parents/caregivers, you can help stop the spread of COVID-19 by screening your child each day for COVID-19 symptoms, and keeping them home if they are sick. When in doubt, families should take extra care and keep their child home from school. A safe school is always more important than a perfect attendance record.
Students are encouraged to review their previous grade math concepts
before starting their new grade to improve their performance and boost
confidence. Please find below the link for math review guide designed for
each grade:
bit.ly/Grade-6-Math-Review-Guide ; bit.ly/Grade-7-Math-Review-Guide ; bit.ly/Grade-8-Math-Review-Guide The information in this newsletter is integral to your child’s success. So,
please read its contents and review it with your child.
Looking forward to having a successful school year of learning.
Be Safe, Be Well! Sincerely, Ruth Wedderburn-Shelton Principal Lougheed Middle School
Page 2 out of 12 September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter
Screen your child(ren) daily to help
prevent the spread of COVID-19
We all have a role to play to prevent the spread of
COVID-19. The most important thing families can
do to help limit the transmission of COVID-19, is
to screen your children daily for any COVID-19
symptoms and keep them home from school if
they are sick or have had close contact with
anyone diagnosed with COVID-19.
Each day, before arriving to school,
parents/caregivers MUST perform a daily
screening to determine if your child should stay
home.
Students should NOT come to school if they:
are sick or experiencing symptoms of COVID-
19 (see the Peel Public Health website for a
full list of symptoms:
https://www.peelregion.ca/coronavirus/prevent
ion/#about).
have returned to Canada in the last 14 days.
have been in close contact with a person who
has returned from outside of Canada in the
last 2 weeks with new COVID-19 symptoms
(like a cough, fever, or difficulty breathing).
have been asked to self-isolate by public
health authorities.
have had close contact with someone who is
ill with suspected or confirmed COVID-19.
When in doubt, we ask that families err on the
side of caution and keep their child home from
school. A safe school is always more
important than a perfect attendance record.
More information about our screening protocols
and procedures in the event of a positive COVID-
19 case is available at
www.peelschools.org/reopening in the Enhanced
Health and Safety Measures section.
What to bring to school
Students are able to bring their own personal items
to school, but will be required to return home with
them daily. Use this chart to help determine what to
bring to school, and what to leave at home.
A mask and/or face covering (required for all grade 1 to 12 students)
A reusable water bottle
Lunch (elementary only)
Weather-appropriate clothing
Backpacks
Any items that need to be locked away. Lockers will not be used.
Any personal items from home (e.g. a book to share)
Lockers will not be used—any locks put on
lockers will be removed. Every effort will be
made to provide lockers later in the school year
when it is deemed safe to do so.
Parents/guardians should avoid dropping off
lunches or other items during the school day. If
necessary, they must phone the school ahead of
time and establish a time that they could be met at
the entry door by either their child or office
personnel. Lunches from third-party services will
not be accepted.
Page 3 out of 12 September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter
What to expect upon school arrival and dismissal
As we begin the start of a new school year, our priority will be getting students to and from their
classrooms in a safe, distanced manner.
At the start of the day, students arriving to school will be directed to an outdoor entry area assigned
to their cohort. They will be supervised by school staff.
Students arriving by car will follow Kiss N Ride procedures, while following Peel Public Health
physical distancing guidelines. Specific pick-up/drop-off instructions will be provided to families who
are dropping off student(s) with special needs.
Staff will be on-site to ensure physical distancing when students get on-and-off from the bus
loading area. Students who take the bus will be loaded from back-to-front and unloaded from front-
to-back in an orderly fashion for safe physical distancing.
As in previous school years, all doors will remain locked until entry time and be locked after
students have entered the building.
To help ensure a smooth arrival and dismissal, parents/caregivers are encouraged to:
Follow instructions shared by school staff
Have the same adult drop off and pick up their child.
Leave immediately after dropping off or picking up their child. To help with physical distancing
measures, families/caregivers will not be permitted to enter the school to drop off or pick-up
students.
Maintain physical distance from other adults and children.
Wear masks outdoors if physical distancing is not possible.
What if a student arrives late for school?
If you are dropping off your child after the morning bell, you will be required to call or buzz the school from the front door to let them know your child has arrived. Office staff will sign the student in, notify their Teacher, and the student will go directly to class without entering the office. Parents/caregivers will not be permitted inside the school to accompany their child.
Page 4 out of 12 September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter
Wearing a mask and following hand hygiene routines
Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our students. To help ensure safer
schools, we will be following Peel Public Health’s recent recommendation that all students
in Grades 1 to 12 be required to wear a mask or face covering while indoors at school, including
in classrooms and hallways. Peel Public Health has also indicated that the wearing of masks or
face coverings is strongly recommended in Kindergarten.
Face coverings include disposable or cloth masks, bandanas, scarfs or similar items. All face
coverings must cover the nose, mouth and chin, without any gaps.
Families are encouraged to practice wearing a mask at home so students are used to this
routine by the time they return to school. View these tips from Peel Public Health.
Reasonable exceptions on the requirement to wear masks will apply (e.g. staff or students
with sensory or breathing difficulties). More information about these exemptions will be shared
at www.peelschools.org/reopening.
Students will also not be required to wear a mask while outdoors or while participating in a
moderate or vigorous activity for Health and Physical Education classes.
Hand hygiene
Hand sanitizer will be available at all school entrances and in every classroom and gymnasium.
Before entering the school, students, staff and all visitors must sanitize their hands. All classes
will also have scheduled washroom and hand washing breaks throughout the day.
Students and all staff will wash/sanitize their hands:
upon entry/exit of the building (mandatory for anyone who enters the building)
upon entry to their classroom
before and after eating
before and after using the washroom
and at other intervals (e.g. after handling shared items)
Posters are placed around the school to remind students and staff to:
avoid touching their eyes, mouth and nose as much as possible
avoid contact with people who are sick
cover their coughs and sneezes with a tissue or into their upper sleeve or elbow
wash their hands after coughing and sneezing
Page 5 out of 12 September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter
Stay up-to-date with Lougheed Middle School and Peel board news
School news
www.schools.peelschools.org
Visit our school website to learn what’s happening at your school, including:
the latest school news
contact information for school administration, superintendent and trustee
the school calendar
enrolment data
school hours
registration information
online library catalogue
You can subscribe online to receive email notifications for news, calendar events and volunteer
job opportunities related to your school. You can also choose to receive email and/or text
message notifications for critical news, such as school closures due to bad weather. Click on
the “Subscribe” link on the left side of the main page of the school website.
Peel District School Board news
Subscribe to automatically receive a list of activities by email that are sent the last week of each
month, plus bonuses throughout the year. Visit our website at www.peelschools.org and click
on the subscription link under "Quick Links."
You can also subscribe to:
Learn more about board news and school events.
View Peel board meetings with Board agendas. Meetings are typically held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.
Read highlights of decisions made by trustees at board meetings.
Receive job postings for non-teaching staff
Access important student information through our online parent portal - ParentConnect
Our school offers ParentConnect, a safe and secure website, as a convenient method for
parents/legal guardians to stay informed and have easy access to important student
information. By registering, you will have access to:
view school-based alerts and information
access real time absence reporting
view current and historic elementary report card information
get up-to-date busing information
review secondary school credit history and diploma status
Page 6 out of 12 September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter
To register and begin using ParentConnect, visit parent.peelschools.org or click the
ParentConnect button on your child’s school website.
For those parents/guardians that have used ParentConnect in the past, you will receive a
new token/passcode to re-register your child(ren) with ParentConnect via email. This
important step ensures that only you, as legal guardian, have access to your child’s
information.
If you have any questions, please contact the school.
Getting your questions answered
If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions about your child's education, we want to
make sure they are addressed as quickly as possible. Follow the steps below to know who to
reach out to and when.
If you have specific questions or concerns about the education of your child, the first person to talk to is your child's teacher. Your child's teacher or principal can also give you more information about specific strategies being used to monitor your child's progress.
If you require additional assistance, or if your question extends beyond the classroom, speak with your school principal or vice-principal. They can assist you with topics such as School Council, school safety, registration, student schedules, report cards, and student Code of Conduct.
If you still have unanswered questions or concerns, talk to your superintendent of education. Superintendents are responsible for a Family of Schools and provide support to local school sites. Your local school trustee is elected to represent your interests and is always ready to hear and
discuss your suggestions or concerns. If you don't know the name of your trustee, check the
'Meet your Trustee' section of the board's website at www.peelschools.org
Page 7 out of 12 September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter
Protect your kids — and your
finances
The Peel District School Board does not
provide accident insurance coverage for
student injuries that occur on school property or
during school activities – this includes
extracurricular sports. If a student is injured,
parent(s)/guardian(s) are responsible for any
medical costs not covered by provincial health
care or their employer's health care plan.
The provincial health care system does not
cover costs which are commonly related to
accidents including dental work, ambulance
fees, casts and crutches, and physiotherapy.
All of these are covered by Old Republic
Insurance Company of Canada’s student
accident insurance plan. To help protect your
family, it is strongly recommended that you
consider this coverage, especially if your child
participates in extracurricular activities.
Insuremykids® Student Accident Insurance
offers three plans with a variety of benefits at
affordable prices – their most affordable plan is
available for as little as $17.00 per year for 24
hours a day, 7 days a week.
The insurance agreement is between you and
Old Republic Insurance Company of
Canada.
You can apply for coverage online at
www.insuremykids.com. For more
information, call Old Republic Insurance
Company of Canada toll-free at 1-800-463-
KIDS (5437).
Time for school - A parent’s guide
to reporting school absences
All parents/guardians of elementary students
need to report their children's absences or late
arrivals from school via our automated School
Messenger SafeArrival system.
Use one of the following methods to set-up
your new SafeArrival account. Please ensure
the number and email address that you are
using to report your child’s absences are
those that we have on file at the school.
SchoolMessenger app (free from Apple or
Google Play)
1. Download the SchoolMessenger app 2. Tap Sign Up to create your account
Web and Mobile Web:
go.schoolmessenger.ca
1. Go to the above website 2. Click Sign Up to create your account
Interactive Toll-free Phone
1. Call the toll-free number: 1-855-209-6155
2. Listen to and follow the instructions to report an absence
As always, please report your child’s absences
before the start of the school day. Late arrivals
and/or early departures should be reported as
soon as possible. If your child’s absence is not
reported in advance, the automated notification
system will contact you and will provide an
opportunity to verify the absence. By reporting
your child absent in advance on the SafeArrival
toll-free number, website or SchoolMessenger
mobile app, you will not receive a call.
As always, if you have any questions or require
any assistance, please contact the school.
Page 8 out of 12 September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter
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 [email protected] 647-473-1858
Susan Benjamin 5 Mississauga [email protected] 647-268-1435
Stan Cameron Caledon [email protected] 905-880-1162
Robert Crocker 6 and 11 Mississauga [email protected] 416-528-1312
Nokha Dakroub 9 and 10 Mississauga [email protected] 289-914-0214
Will Davies 2 and 6 Brampton [email protected] 647-218-0295
David Green
(Vice-Chair)
1 and 5 Brampton [email protected] 905-495-4579
Sue Lawton 3 and 4 Mississauga [email protected] 905-625-8084
Brad MacDonald
(Chair)
2 and 8 Mississauga [email protected] 905-593-3547
John Marchant 1 and 7 Mississauga [email protected] 905-599-5646
Kathy McDonald 3 and 4 Brampton [email protected] 905-796-8163
Balbir Sohi 9 and 10 Brampton [email protected] 416-828-4330
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.
Page 9 out of 12 September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter
Going back to school after a summer break can be an adjustment, even under normal
circumstances. This year brings additional challenges and stress because of COVID-19. It’s
important to acknowledge that returning to school will look and feel quite different this year.
Here are some ways to support your child with the return to school
Take care of you, so you can be your best to support your child: This has been a very difficult
time for everyone. It’s especially hard on parents, who have been juggling so many things these
past several months. During the return to school period, it might be a good time to try to move that
up your priority list a little bit. Try to take time each day to do something just for you that helps you
to feel well and happy. Practicing self-care and positive coping during uncertain and difficult times is
a powerful tool to support your children.
Get organized: Take some time to think through what the return to school will look like and what
your child will need to feel comfortable and successful. For example, practice having your child
wear a mask so they know what it feels like. Wear one yourself so that they can get used to seeing
adults wearing masks. You may want to think about scheduling blocks of time that are unstructured,
and allow your children time to just relax and process all that is happening.
Talk to your child about the return to school: Children may feel nervous about returning to
school. It is important to be honest and allow space for them to express their concerns, while
avoiding too much focus on physical safety and/or risk. Check in regularly with your child and
remind them of the positives of going back to school. If your child is not returning to school in-
person, you could brainstorm ways for them to stay connected with friends while also physically
distancing. Remind your child that they will be supported and safe.
Pay attention to special transitions: The return to school has special meaning and challenges for
those who are experiencing other big transitions this coming school year. For example, we want our
youngest learners who are starting kindergarten for the first time this fall to have a wonderful start to
their school journey, even if it looks different than it would in other years. Similarly, students starting
high school, or moving to a new school, may be more nervous than normal. Reassure your child
that there will be many caring adults at school to help them to navigate their new school.
Visit www.peelschools.org/reopening and click Mental Health and Well-Being Supports for tips
and resources to navigate mental health and wellness during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Modified from School Mental Health Ontario: https://smho-smso.ca/wp-
content/uploads/2020/08/Supporting-Mental-Health-and-Wellness-during-the-Return-to-School-Tip-
Sheet-EN.pdf
Page 10 out of 12 September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter
How to prepare your child(ren)’s lunch
During the 2020-21 school year, lunch routines
have been changed with the health and safety
of students and staff in mind. Each day,
students will eat their lunch in their classroom
during their designated lunch time. Students
are asked to bring their own lunch and will be
provided with a designated storage space.
Parents and caregivers are advised to follow
the helpful tips below to plan for safe lunches
and snacks.
Prepare a lunch that your child can open and eat without adult assistance.
Avoid dropping off lunch during the school day. If necessary, you must phone the school ahead of time and book an appointment. Lunches from third-party services (e.g. Skip the Dishes) will not be accepted.
Pack a water bottle for your child. Water fountains will be available to refill water bottles or cups. Students will not be allowed to drink directly from the fountain to avoid their mouths making contact with the spout.
When packing snacks, consider sending snacks like granola bars or any other food items that should not require the use of a microwave.
Keep lunches and snacks peanut-free. If the label of any food you plan to send to school with your child says, "May contain nuts or peanuts," please do not send it to school.
Learn more about the Peel District School Board’s Reopening Plans for 2020-21
To help you prepare and make informed
decisions about your child's school year, the
Peel District School Board has developed a
comprehensive Family Guide: Reopening Plans
for 2020-21 for families and students.
This guide is available
at www.peelschools.org/reopening. You
can download the full documentor jump to
specific topics of interest on the board’s
Reopening Plans website. There, you will find
information about enhanced health and safety
measures, in-person and online learning
models, revised schools routines,
transportation, child care and more.
Join our school council – share
your ideas
Every Peel school has a School Council—a
group focused on helping students succeed.
School councils provide a voice for parents and
the community and offer advice to the school
principal on a number of topics.
We are currently seeking 5 parent
representative positions for our School Council
If you are interested in joining, please contact
(905)789-8751 for a self-nomination form.
School Council elections at our school will be
held on Wednesday, September 30, 2020. This
year, we have a new, online process for voting.
More information will be communicated with
you in mid-September.
For more information on School Councils,
please visit
www.peelschools.org/schoolcouncils
Page 11 out of 12 September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter
LUNCHROOM SUPERVISORS NEEDED
Lougheed Middle school is looking for Lunchroom Supervisors to work on a daily basis from 11:30
AM - 12:30 PM. This is a PAID Position.
What is a lunchroom supervisor?
Lunchroom Supervisors supports students in regular, early learning and special needs classes to
provide lunch break supervision on a daily or supply basis. Special needs students may have some
health/medical and/or behavioural needs.
Who can be a lunchroom supervisor?
We're looking for lunchroom supervisors with the following skills and qualities:
Grade 12 Secondary School Diploma
Experience working with children
Ability to ensure the safety and security of students
Ability to communicate with staff, students and parents
Willingness to work with students with different needs and capabilities
Ability to work with students with different cultural and language backgrounds
Ability to work as a team player
Proven record of attendance and punctuality
If interested please email [email protected] to set up a scheduled VIRTUAL interview or
call the office at (905) 789-8751.
Page 12 out of 12 September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Newsletter
Sun Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Sat
1 2 3
4
5
6
7
8 No school for
elementary
students.
9 Full-day
orientation for
students
with last names
between A to G
only.
10 Full-day
orientation for
students
with last
names
between H to
O only.
11 Full-day orientation
for students
with last names
between P to Z
only.
12
13
14 Full-day
orientation for
students
with last names
between A to K
only.
15 Full-day
orientation for
students
with last names
between L to Z
only.
16 Regular school
day begins
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29 30
September 2020 Lougheed Middle School Calendar