Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter · Web viewOntario Student Transcript (secondary school...

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Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter 2014 Sir John A. Macdonald Middle School 250 Centre Street, Brampton ON, L6V 2R4 905-457-5535 Mrs. K. Flear, Office Manager Mrs. R. Manners, Principal Mrs K. Dhillon, Vice-Principal Please find our newsletter online at our webpage http://schools.peelschools.org/1540/Pages/default.aspx Message from the Principal and the Vice Principal Welcome! Bonjour! We are looking forward to a great school year and to inspire greatness together. Please refer to your child’s school agenda for Sir John A. policies and procedures. 1

Transcript of Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter · Web viewOntario Student Transcript (secondary school...

Page 1: Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter · Web viewOntario Student Transcript (secondary school only) – the cumulative record of a student’s successful completion of secondary

Sir John A. Macdonald First Newsletter 2014

Sir John A. MacdonaldMiddle School

250 Centre Street, Brampton ON, L6V 2R4905-457-5535

Mrs. K. Flear, Office Manager Mrs. R. Manners, Principal Mrs K. Dhillon, Vice-Principal

Please find our newsletter online at our webpage http://schools.peelschools.org/1540/Pages/default.aspx

Message from the Principal and the Vice Principal

Welcome! Bonjour! We are looking forward to a great school year and to inspire greatness together. Please refer to your child’s school agenda for Sir John A.

policies and procedures.

Mrs. R. Manners, PrincipalMrs K. Dhillon, Vice-Principal

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Dates to Remember

Date EventTuesday September 23 Re-Org Day (no school for students)Friday September 26 Terry Fox Run

Tuesday September 30Tuesday September 30

Photo DaySchool Council Meeting 6 p.m.

Monday October 6 Babysitting Course starts (11:36-12:36)Wednesday October 8 School Open House (6 p.m.-7p.m.)

Friday October 10 PD Day (no school)Monday October 13 Thanksgiving (no school)Tuesday October 21 Bhangra Dance Classes begin for students

3:15pmFriday November 7 Progress Reports Go Home

Dropping off lunches & school work?Please make sure your child’s name & class are written or attached to the item. A table is located outside the office to place your child’s lunch for pickup at lunchtime.

If Your Child Will be Absent or Late from SchoolA reminder to all parents to please call the school to notify us if your child will be absent or late from school. If a child is absent or arrives late without parental notification (phone call or note), you will receive an automated phone call from the school.

Student Information SheetsStudent Information sheets (OSOR) will be sent home in a few weeks. Please ensure all information is accurate and updated. If there are any changes, please send the form back to your child’s teacher with all corrected information as soon as possible.

A Warm Welcome To Our Staff of 2014-2015

Mrs. Manners, PrincipalMrs. Dhillon, Vice PrincipalMrs. Flear, Office Manager

Mrs. H. Morrison, Office AssistantMrs. C. Morrison, Guidance/ContactMrs. R. Cooper, Librarian/Contact

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Mrs. Pavlovic, Head CustodianMr. Downer, Assistant Custodian

Ms. Holmes, 6AMrs. Mitchell, 6B

Mr. D’Alessandro, 6CMrs. Borsato, 6DMrs. Pilania, 6E

Mrs. Henderson, 7AMiss. Stansfield, 7BMr. Redmond, 7C

Mr. Metelnick/Mr. Pasqua, 7DMr. Lapiccirella, 7EMr. Nanitelamio, 7F

Ms. Lochrie, 7GMr. D. Cooper, 7HMs. Ogurian, 7X8

Ms Alexis, 8AMr. Marentette, 8BMrs. Piwowar, 8C

Ms. Rawes, 8DMr. Dybel, 8E

Ms. Narinesingh /Mr. Kopel 8FMrs. Swan, 8G

Miss.Smereczynski, 8HMr. N. McClung, ELCMr. Morgadinho, ESL

Mr. Jeffery, ASDMrs. Carlone, Music

Ms. Dorani, Music/DramaMr. Leung, Art/Computers

Mr. Lindsay, ISSPMrs. Ridley, ISSP

Ms. Schad, Phys.EdMr. Robb, Phys. Ed.

Ms. Welsh B.T.AMrs. Rowsell, TA

Mr. P. McClung, T.AMr. Poudel, T.A

Ms. Leworthy/ Ms. Palmieri T.A

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Consent to receive electronic communication

Dear Families:

As you may know, Canada’s new anti-spam law came into effect on July 1, 2014. This law requires the Peel District School Board and its schools to have consent from you before we send you any electronic communication (e.g. synrevoice texts, email) that contains commercial information.

While the majority of Sir John A. MacDonald’s electronic communication to families is about school and/or Peel board initiatives and activities, we may also include commercial information, such as details about fundraisers, field trips, sale of yearbooks, student pictures, book sales, event tickets, special offers for Peel students and families, or similar events and offers.

Although we may have previously collected your email address, in order to be compliant with the new law, we must receive your consent (in writing) to receive electronic communication from our school.

If you wish to receive information, including school newsletters, from our school via email or other electronic communication, please provide your consent by providing the information required below and returning this form to your child's teacher by October 1, 2014. If you do not provide your consent below, you will not receive any electronic communication from Sir John A MacDonald.

You may also choose to provide your consent by filling out and submitting an online form, which will be available as of Tuesday, Aug. 26 athttp://subscribe.peelschools.org

You may withdraw your consent and unsubscribe from our communications at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link in any future email. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school at 905-457-5535.**Please note this consent request is separate from our school website’s subscription service. Even if you have already provided consent to receive emails from our school website, you must still complete and submit this form in order to receive information updates from the school via other electronic means.

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CONSENT TO RECEIVE ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION FROM SIR JOHN A. MACDONALD SENIOR PUBLIC SCHOOL.

I hereby consent to receive electronic communication from Sir John A MacDonald at the email address I have provided below. I understand this consent will be effective for the duration of my child’s education at Sir John A. MacDonald. I understand this information may be shared with the School Council (co-)chair(s) for the purposes of sending School Council information to me via email.

Date:____________________ Name(s): ___________________________________________________I am/We are the parent(s)/guardian(s) of _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(include full names and grades of all students)Email address(es): ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Parent/Guardian signature(s):______________________________________________________________

Please note: If you do not provide your express consent, you will not receive any electronic communication from Sir John A. MacDonald.

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Celebrating Faith and CultureSeptember 2014

The Peel District School Board is a mosaic of many cultures and faiths from all over the world. To commemorate this diversity, the board recognizes the special faith and culture days of our communities. September 2014 has several special faith and culture days to celebrate and remember.

DATE CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

September Genuuqwilkw Aboriginal SpiritualitySeptember 1 Installation of Guru Granth Sahib SikhismSeptember1 Labour Day CanadaSeptember5 Farvardegan ZoroastrianismSeptember 8 to 26 the month of `Izzat Bahá'íSeptember 7 or 8 Anant Chaturdashi Hinduism and JainismSeptember 9 Kshamavani JainismSeptember 11 Nayrouz ChristianitySeptember 12 to 16 Ghambar Paitishahem ZoroastrianismSeptember 19 Powley Day Aboriginal SpiritualitySeptember 22 Shuki-Sorei-Sai ShintoSeptember 23 Mabon /Harvestide WiccaSunset September24 to 26 Rosh Hashanah JudaismSeptember 24 Sharad Navratri HinduismSeptember 27 to October 14

the month of Mashi'yyat Bahá'í

Understanding your child’s Ontario Student Record

The Ontario Student Record (OSR) is an ongoing, confidential record of a student’s education progress. Authorized by the Education Act and protected by the Freedom of Information Act and Protection of Privacy Act, an OSR is established for each student enrolled in an Ontario elementary or secondary school. The record is housed at the student’s current school and moves with the student as they transition from one school to the next. If a student leaves Peel to attend another school in Ontario, the OSR is forwarded to the new school upon request. If the OSR is not requested or the student leaves Ontario, the OSR is housed in the last Peel school that the student attended.The OSR contains familiar documents that parents can view at any given time. OSR contents include:

biographical data

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documentation file, containing (if applicable): verification of a custody arrangement, change-of-name order, placements decisions, suspension letters, psycho-educational assessment report, identification and placement decision letters, and registration forms

information concerning special health conditions name(s) of student’s parent(s) or guardian(s) Ontario Student Transcript (secondary school only) – the cumulative record

of a student’s successful completion of secondary school courses photographs may also be attached record of the student’s accumulated instruction in French as a second

language, if applicable report cards school(s) attended

Every student, and parents or guardians of students under 18 years of age have the right to examine the student’s OSR and receive a copy of its contents. Supervisory officers, school administration and teachers may also access a student’s OSR for the purpose of improving the instruction of the student. Written permission is requested for any outside agency or personnel to access the OSR.Contact your school principal for details of the procedure to review your child’s OSR.If you would like to learn more about your child’s OSR, visit the Ontario Ministry of Education web site at www.edu.gov.on.ca.

Getting your questions answered

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions about your child's education, or about education in general, anyone with the Peel board is happy to help. Here are some of the people who can help you:

If you have specific questions or concerns about the education of your son or daughter, the first person to talk to is your child's teacher. If possible, arrange a personal interview with the teacher to discuss your concerns and attempt to resolve the matter. 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 need extra help, or have more general questions, your school principal is there to assist. Your school principal can help if you have been unable to resolve the issue with your child's teacher. All curriculum material is available in your child's school.

If you still have unanswered questions or concerns, talk to your superintendent of education.

If you have general questions about curriculum, call Curriculum and Instruction Support Services at 905-890-1010 ext. 2559.

If you have questions about special education programs or services, contact Special Education Support Services at 905-890-1010 ext. 2345.

Of course, 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.

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If you still have questions, please email [email protected] or call Communication & Community Relations Support Services at 905-890-1010 or 1-800-

668-1146 ext. 2809.

Schools use many strategies to keep children safe

Peel schools provide a safe environment for staff and students to work and learn. The board has many procedures to ensure safety. To keep students safe, schools use many strategies including:

requiring all parents and visitors to check in at the main office and obtain visitor passes

assigning teachers to supervise inside and outside the school during recesses, before and after school

locking all exteriors doors, including the main entrance, during school hours [elementary schools only]

encouraging staff to regularly review streetproofing skills with students expecting staff and students to report unidentified individuals to the

office immediately holding fire drills and "lockdown" rehearsals having evacuation plans in place ensuring that all staff and volunteers have up-to-date criminal record

checks working with the police to provide education on street-proofing

We feel that it is important that you also take this opportunity to review safe procedures with your child. Peel Regional Police have provided the following safety guidelines:

Tell your children to never go anywhere with a stranger, not to talk to strangers and never take anything from them. You also have to teach them what a "safe stranger" is in case they need help. A safe stranger includes a police officer, a cashier, a fire fighter.

Develop a "what if" game for children to get them thinking about how they would respond if they felt threatened or afraid.

Know who your children play with and where they go. This includes keeping a list of their friend's addresses and phone numbers.

Do not leave your child in unsupervised locations, such as cars, parks, public washrooms, arenas, malls and plazas, etc.

Teach your children where and how to get help. Go with them on their regularly travelled routes.

Your child's body is private. Tell your children that no one may touch the area their bathing suit covers. If someone tries to touch them, they should tell you immediately.

Teach your children to talk to you immediately when someone does anything that makes them feel strange or uncomfortable. Listen when your children are trying to tell you about something that bothers them and provide them with support and understanding.

For more information about safety at your school, review your school handbook or speak to your principal or teacher.

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Subscribe to receive news from the Peel boardTake advantage of our electronic subscription service to automatically receive a list of activities by email on a monthly basis. Subscriptions are sent the last week of the month, plus bonuses throughout the year. Subscribing is easy just visit our website atwww.peelschools.org and click on the subscription link under "Quick Links."

You can also subscribe to receive:

News releasesKeep up with the news at the Peel board. Subscribe to receive Peel board news releases to learn more about board news and school events.

Board agendasLearn more about Peel board meetings by subscribing to receive agendas. Meetings of the board are open to the public and are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

Board highlightsBriefing is a newsletter with highlights of decisions made by trustees at board meetings. It is sent out on the second and fourth Thursday of every month and immediately following any special board meetings.

Job postings for non-teaching staff Learn about each new non-teaching job that is posted on the Peel board's Job Board.

Procedures help keep students safe at school

Peel schools provide a safe environment for students and staff to learn and work. The board has many procedures to ensure safety ¾ including regular fire drills, evacuation plans, criminal record checks for new staff and volunteers and lockdown drills. Together with Peel Police and the Dufferin-Peel Catholic School Board, the board developed a lockdown procedure to help keep schools safe during a potentially serious or violent incident.Every school will review the key points of the lockdown process with students. We rehearse the drill twice per year to make sure staff and students know what to do if we have to initiate a lockdown.During the rehearsal, the principal will make an announcement to "initiate lockdown procedure." The school bell will ring continuously for a period of time.Students and staff inside the school will:

go to the closest room, close the door and lock it, if possible turn off the lights and lie down on the floor away from doors and windows remain on the floor quietly until further directions are given

Students and staff outside the school will: move as far away from the building as possible remain outside until further directions are given

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Depending on the situation, students and staff outside the building may be directed to an evacuation site. When the rehearsal is over, the principal will make another announcement.During lockdown rehearsals or in a real lockdown situation, students and staff must not use cell phones. Cell phones can create a safety hazard by attracting attention to the area of the school where the phone is being used.In the unlikely event of an actual lockdown, police ask that parents do not go to the school. For safety reasons, you will not be allowed to enter a school that is in lockdown. In some cases, police will designate a Parent Information Site for you to attend and get up-to-date, accurate information. To find your Parent Information Site or get further details during a real lockdown, visit www.peelschools.org or listen to local media.If you have any questions about our lockdown drill, or any of the procedures we have in place to keep students and staff safe, please call the school.

Peel board trustees accountable to the community

The Peel board, like every public school board in Ontario, is governed by a board of trustees. Trusteesare elected by public school taxpayers every three years during municipal elections. The next municipal election will be held in October 2014. Newly elected trustees and their contact information will be distributed following the election.

The Peel board currently has 12 trustees representing three municipalities:

Stan Cameron email: [email protected] Caledon 905-880-1162

Beryl Ford email: [email protected] Brampton 7/8 905-793-0800

David Green email: [email protected] Brampton 1/3 905-495-4579

Steve Kavanagh email: [email protected] Brampton 4/5 905-457-3132

Brad MacDonald email: [email protected] Mississauga 2/8 905-593-3547

Janet McDougald,Chair email: [email protected] Mississauga 1/7 905-278-1402

Suzanne Nurse,Vice-Chair email: [email protected] Brampton 2/6 905-495-3423Jagdeep Mann email: [email protected] Brampton 9/10 416-816-1140

Sue Lawton email: [email protected] Mississauga 3/4 905-625-8084

Meredith Johnson email: [email protected] Mississauga 9/10 416-706-9215

Jeff White email: [email protected] Mississauga 6/11 905-267-0764

Rick Williams email: [email protected] Mississauga 5 905-814-6180

What do trustees do? advocate for the needs of the community to other members of the board help members of the community address concerns about the school system set policies in the areas of curriculum, facilities, human and financial resources

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explain the policies and decisions of the board to the community evaluate the board's achievement of its goals and objectives and monitor its

implementationof new policies

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 meetingagendas and minutes and read highlights from board meeting.

Protect your kids—and your finances

Each year, many of our families spend thousands of dollars when their children are injured at school, on field trips or at home. For pennies a day, this can all be avoided.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, parents are responsible for any costs not covered by provincial health care or their employer's health care plan. Please check with your provider regarding your coverage.To help protect your family, the Peel board has arranged to have student accident insurance available exclusively through Reliable Life Insurance Company. This program offers a variety of plans and benefits at affordable prices. The coverage can include:

dental expenses, and future costs (resulting from an accident) total and permanent disability paralysis/loss of use of limbs special disability benefits ambulance fees

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 Reliable Life’s student accident insurance plan.It is strongly recommended that all families consider this coverage, especially if your child participates in extracurricular activities. Annual plans, which provide 24 hours a day, 365 days a year coverage, range from $13.50 to $31.00 per year. Through the application only you can be covered for the school day only as low as $8.00 per year. Family rates for three or more children are available.

The insurance agreement is between you and Reliable Life Insurance Company.You can apply for coverage online atwww.insuremykids.com. For more information call Reliable Life Insurance Company toll free at1-800-463-KIDS (5437).

Join our school council—share your ideasEvery 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.

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We are holding school councils elections on October 16, 2014 at 6pm.If you would like to know more or are interested in joining our council, please contact Mrs. Manners at 905-457-5535.

How to register at a Peel schoolHere’s what you need to know about registering your child for school

Who can attend?The Peel board serves children age 4 and older.

Our schools

Peel has more than 240 elementary and secondary schools. You can find the name and location of your local school by calling our Planning and Accommodation department at 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146, extension 2212.

Where to register

If your family is new to Canada, your child may need an orientation interview to register for school. To assist you with registration, we offer three Welcome Centres. Please call 905-366-8791 to talk to our staff and book your appointment. There is no fee for registration.

Documents to bring to registrationProof of child's age

Canadian birth certificate Canadian passport citizenship card/certificate Permanent Resident Card Record of Landing confirmation of permanent residence work permit refugee permit

Proof of address purchase agreement utility bill bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution) credit card statement federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service

Canada documents) Ontario driver's licence

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Proof of custody– children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation supports an alternate living arrangement

Proof of immunization– proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated

Missing documents?If you are missing some documents, you can still visit the We Welcome the World Centres, and our staff will help you with all registration requirements.

Your child’s first day of schoolOnce the orientation interview is complete, you will get an appointment card with the date your child can start school. Please bring this card with you on your child’s first day, so that he or she can receive a new school schedule to complete the registration process.

International studentsInternational students attend the Peel Academy for International Students at Clarkson Secondary School. The academy provides a unique, world-class program that integrates students from around the world into the dynamic and welcoming learning environment at Clarkson.International students interested in our program should visit www.studyincanada-peel.ca or call 1-800-668-1179 ext. 1252.

Visit http://schools.peelschools.org/1540/Pages/default.aspxWant to keep up to date with what’s happening at Sir John A MacDonald?Check out our school website where you'll find:

the latest school news contact information for school administration, superintendent and trustee calendar enrolment data school hours mission, vision and values registration information printable forms frequently asked questions volunteer information EQAO reports

Keep up to date with our website subscription serviceOur new website also features a subscription service where you can sign up to receive email notifications for school news, calendar events and volunteer job opportunities. You can also choose to be notified via email and/or text message for critical news, such as school closures due to bad weather. Click on the subscribe link on the left-hand side of the main page of our website.

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Kobo offers special rates for Peel board students, parents and staff Does your child need a tablet for school? The Peel District School Board and Kobo are working together to help make the purchase of new technology more accessible for Peel students, parents and staff. As a part of the relationship, Peel families now have access to the following exclusive offers:

kobo arc 7” HD - $135 with free shipping kobo arc 10” HD - $199 with free shipping

To learn more, or to purchase a Kobo product visit www.kobo.com/peelor www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stCentury/byod/devices and enter promo codeKOBOPEEL at checkout.The Peel board’s initiative with Kobo is part of the ongoing effort to create greater equity of access to technology for Peel students, parents and staff and does not represent an endorsement of the product.

Keep students safe in school parking lotsMany elementary schools offer a Kiss N’ Ride program, where parents/guardians can drop off and pick up their children at a designated area on school property. The program was established to provide a convenient and safe option for our students and parents driving to school. To ensure the safety of staff and students, we ask all parents/guardians be mindful of the following guidelines:

There is no parking and no waiting in the Kiss and Ride lane. Pay attention to the traffic in front of you and pull forward as cars move forward. 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.

Vehicles entering the Kiss N’ Ride lane must stay in the designated lane, unless otherwise directed by a staff member or volunteer.

The Kiss N’ Ride program is only available to students who are able to disembark independently.

Have your child ready to exit the car when you reach the curb. Students may only exit from the passenger (right) side of the vehicle.

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

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

Always respect traffic flow and abide all traffic laws and signs.

Ask your child’s teacher or principal to learn more about our school’s specific Kiss N’ Ride procedures.

Dear Families:

Each school year, we seek parental permission for a number of school-based activities. By signing the consent form below, you are giving permission to:

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Post your child's artwork in the school's front foyer and/or hallways. Please note that only your child's first name will appear next to the art.

Include your child's name on awards/trophies that will be kept in the school's front foyer and/or hallways.

Mention your child's achievements in our school newsletter and website. Only your child's first name will be used. The grade level may also be mentioned.

Post your child's schoolwork in our school's newsletter and website. Your child's first name and grade level may be referred to.

Include your child’sfull name in school programs or student awards (graduation programs, school plays and musical productions, school brochures), and school yearbook.

Use photos of your child in our school’s newsletter, yearbook and website. Photos will be taken of groups of students and will not identify any individual student. For example, a photo of a group of students playing basketball in the gym.

Have your child videotaped or photographed by a teacher, volunteer or student teacher as part of the learning program. These photos and videotapes may be used within the school or board, and may appear on school/board websites and/or social media accounts, including Twitter, Facebook and YouTube.

Have your child videotaped, photographed and/or interviewed for media stories throughout the school year. This does not include photographs taken for political purposes. The images and/or audio may be used in local, national or international news stories about school programs, initiatives, awards and/or events. Your child's full name and photograph may accompany the story.

In providing this consent, I acknowledge that any photos/videos posted on the board’s website or social media accounts may be widely circulated to the public, and may be viewed by anyone with access to the Internet. If I provide consent, and then later revoke my consent, I acknowledge that although the photos/videos will be removed from the board’s websites and social media accounts, it may not be possible to remove all traces of personal information from the Internet.If there are items you do not consent to, please cross them off. This consent will be effective during the current school year. Consent may be revoked at any time by contacting the school office.

Please complete and return the permission form to your child's teacher. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the school.

AUTHORIZATION AND RELEASEI hereby consent to the initiatives described in the letter above. I understand this consent will be effective during the current school year.Date:________________________________________I am the parent or guardian of _______________________________________________and I consent to this authorization and release.Parent/Guardian signature __________________________________________________

September 2014

Dear Peel District School Board Families:

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We all want our students to experience success and we do this by focussing on their well being as well as their academics. If a student is facing challenges at home or school, it influences how they learn, grow and interact with others. Our goal is to help our students. We have a number of resources within our schools and within the community to help students.One of the organizations we partner with is Peel Children’s Aid, our local Children’s Aid Society whose role it is to support and help strengthen families so children are safe and well. Last year, Peel CAS worked with about 10,000 Peel families who were experiencing stressors and difficulties related to their children. One of the functions of Peel Children’s Aid under the Child and Family Services Act is to investigate situations where a child is or may be in need of protection. This Act has specific requirements which school staff must follow:

School staff do not have a choice if they suspect that a student is or may be in need of protection. Staff must report their suspicions directly and immediately to the Children's Aid Society.

When staff report concerns to Children's Aid, they must also share with them any information about the concern which might otherwise be confidential.

It is not the school's responsibility to investigate suspicions, evaluate the situation or assign blame.

Staff can be fined $1,000 for failing to report that a student is or may be in need of protection. Staff may also be subject to employment consequences and a provincial offence charge under the Child and Family Services Act.

Our staff has a special awareness of the signs of child abuse and neglect, and as such, has a legal responsibility to report any suspicions to Children's Aid. It is not necessary for staff to be sure that a student is or may be in need of protection. All that is needed is "reasonable grounds to suspect" abuse or neglect. "Reasonable grounds" is defined as being what the average person would expect given his or her training, background and experience.

The Peel District School Board is fully committed to meeting the legal requirements of the Child and Family Services Act. Staff has the full support of the board in meeting this obligation.Keeping children safe is a shared responsibility – parents, schools, police, Children’s Aid and all members of the community. At the Peel District School Board, we are committed to the welfare of our students.

Sincerely,

Tony PontesDirector of Education

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