May 2012

We‟re going to Move It, Move It. You‟ve got to Move It Move It! We are very excited that our Move It May „Fun‟draiser is finally here. A group of parents, led by Christine Scott and Leslie Gould have been working very hard to plan a wonderful series of events and experiences that will help everyone work on their fitness. Our big Opening Ceremonies will feature former Olympian Elfi Schlegel , co-owner of Schlegel s̓ Gymnastic Centre and NBC Commentator at this year‟s London Olympics. Students will come home with a “Kit” that has all kinds of information and resources for families to participate together during the month of May and beyond if they wish. According to Statistics Canada only 7% of Canadian children and youth are meeting the new Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines of at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day. Equally alarming is the fact that childhood obesity in Canada has tripled over the past three decades. The teachers of Lorne Park Public School are also „stepping up to the challenge‟. They will track their activity by wearing pedometers for the entire month. During the month of May, the children will collect pledges based on the number of minutes of daily exercise they perform. The month-long event will conclude with a fantastic Play Day and a Clos-ing Ceremony. A portion of the funds raised will be donated to the Jays Care Founda-tion, an organization that provides access to programs that support physical activity, education and life skill development to children and youth in need. We are looking forward to an exciting Move It May!!

A Note from the LPPS School Council

As you know, our focus during the month of May is on FITNESS! Our Move it May Committee is hard at

work putting together an amazing month full of fun and healthy activities for students, teachers and parents.

Please find time to attend some of the events and help to reinforce the idea to our kids that maintaining our

health and fitness should be a lifetime endeavour.

Because of our already busy fitness schedule for May, the Council has decided not to run the Bike Rodeo this

year, and will consider incorporating it into our Fitness Program next year.

Other School events to look forward to are: one more Movie Night (date TBD) and the Family BBQ in June.

Thank you to all our parent volunteers. Your dedication and commitment to our school is unsurpassed and

we are truly grateful for your hard work.

Jill Rawlin

Chairperson, School Council

LPPS is looking for on-call Lunch Room Supervisors who

might be able to help out when we are short once in a while.

Please contact Mrs. Buckingham if you can help.

905-278-8771

Lorne Park Website:

http://schools.peelschools.org/1257/Pages/default.aspx

Trustee’s Corner - Brad MacDonald .

School Success Update Teaching and Learning—A full day of teacher learning is planned for our PD day on Friday, May 11th begin-

ning with a time to work together to do some goal setting and planning for next year. This will be followed by-

some time collaborating with our partners at Tecumseh, Owenwood and Riverside facilitated by our fantastic

resource teachers.

Climate for Learning and Working—As a follow up to the post card that went home addressing the differ-

ences between conflict and bullying situations, you will be receiving a pamphlet that talks about Lorne Park’s

Bullying Prevention and Intervention plans. Thanks to our team of wonderful teachers for collaborating on this

with Peel Health and the Board’s resource teams. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Mr.

Bartalos at the office (905) 278-8771.

Plan ahead with the 2011-12

elementary school year calendar

First day of classes for all students: September 4, 2012

Last day of classes for elementary students: June 28, 2013

School holidays

Labour Day: September 3, 2012

Thanksgiving Day: October 8, 2012

Winter Break (inclusive): December 24, 2012 – January 4, 2013

Family Day: February 18, 2013

Spring Break (inclusive): March 11 – 15, 2013

Good Friday: March 29, 2013

Easter Monday: April 1, 2013

Victoria Day: May 20, 2013

Elementary professional activity days

Professional Learning Day: September 14, 2012

In-school professional activity/ reorganization/teacher plan-

ning: September 25, 2012

Reporting to Parents: November 16, 2012

Report Card Writing/Assessment Day: January 21, 2013

Professional Learning Day: May 3, 2013

Report Card Writing/Assessment Day: June 7, 2013

Education Week 2012—Two wonderful weeks of celebrating public education!!

Grade 5 French Club French Club is under way and looking for-

ward to going to Lorne Park SS

and Whiteoaks PS to present in

June

Tennis Students in Grades 1—5 have all had an

opportunity to work on their skills with

a Tennis Canada coach this term.

Grade 3 EQAO

Our Grade 3 students will

be working on their provin-

cial assessment beginning

on May 28 until May 31.

Please try to avoid booking

appointments if possible

during this time. Thank

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 6 to 12, 2012. 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.

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:

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.

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.

Keep your child safe on the Internet

Even without trying, children can come across materials on the internet that are obscene,

pornographic, violent, hate-filled, racist or offensive in other ways.

Here are some steps to help you ensure that your children use the internet as safely as possible:

make sure your children understand what sites are appropriate for them

keep the computer in a common area of the home like the kitchen or family room

discuss the meaning of an ‘unsafe’ site with your children

explain to your children what they should do if they reach an unsafe site

make exploring new websites a family activity

pay attention to the games your children may download or copy

look into software or online services that filter out offensive materials or sites

It's important to review safety tips with children regularly. It is possible for children to meet

unsafe strangers on the internet. Ensure your child knows the following rules:

never give out personal information (including name, address, phone number, age, school

name or location)

never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they meet online

never use bad language or send mean messages

never respond to e-mail messages that make them feel confused or uncomfortable

tell an adult immediately if something on the internet makes them feel uncomfortable

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

On any given school day, as many as 70 students are dropped off at Lorne 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.

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 Indian Road 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. Lorne Park Public School assumes no

responsibility for drivers parking where they shouldn’t park.

Thank you for working with us to keep Lorne Park a safe place for students, staff and the

community.

11 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.

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)

Important Bussing Information 2012-2013

Dear Parent(s)/guardians(s), Please note the following school bus information for the start of the 2012-2013 school year:

The distance criteria for transportation eligibility is: Kindergarten students – greater than 1. km. Grades 1 – 4 students – greater than 1.6 km. Grades 5 – 6 students – greater than 2. km. Grades 7 – 8 students – greater than 3.2 km. Secondary students – greater than 4.8 km. If your child is moving to Grade 1, 5, or 7, or is entering secondary school in the 2012-2013 school year, their eligibility status for bussing may be changing. Eligibility information can be accessed at www.stopr.ca.

If your home address will be changing during the summer, please notify the office staff at your child’s school prior to June 30, 2012. Address changes received after this deadline may not be reflected in the planned bus routes to commence in September 2012 and may result in transportation services not being available for your child during the first weeks of school. Parents will be responsible for their children getting to and from school until appropriate transportation service is arranged.

All transported kindergarten students are required to be met by a parent/caregiver when disembarking from their bus on their return trip from school.

Please be aware that during September and early October 2012, STOPR priorities include eligible students requiring transportation service, bus overloads, and route timing adjustments. Requests for additional or adjusted bus stop locations, route adjustments, and challenges to eligibility status will not be addressed until late October 2012.

Courtesy transportation, (which is assignment by the school principal of ineligible students to available, empty seats on buses), will not be initiated prior to October 3, 2012. Parent(s)/guardian(s) wishing to apply for courtesy transportation must complete the Courtesy Transportation Request Form (TFL004) found at www.stopr.ca and submit the form to your child’s school.

Please be patient. STOPR has an operations staff of 15 that oversees transportation services for approximately 62,000 students to 350 schools on 1,300 buses. Every effort is made to complete required adjustments as quickly as possible.

As STOPR is responsible for all transportation operations, please contact us regarding all bussing questions and concerns. Please do not contact school board staff or individual trustees with any bussing questions or concerns.

Contacting STOPR Internet: www.stopr.ca. This website provides information specific to school and transportation

eligibility, access to specific bus stop locations and pick up and drop off times, up to date bus

delay and inclement weather cancellation details, and policies, procedures and frequently asked questions.

Telephone: Transportation West (areas generally west of Highway 10) 905-890-6000 Special Education Transportation 905-890-6000

Lorne Park Public

School Vision

"At Lorne Park Public

School, all learners in-

cluding students, staff

and community, will

work together in a car-

ing environment to

achieve their personal

best as independent

learners in their quest

for life-long learning."

1325 Indian Road, Missis-

sauga, Ontario, L5H 1S3

Telephone 905 278 8771

Fax

905 278 6355

Safe Arrival

905 278 8775

Michael Bartalos

Principal

Sandy Buckingham

Office Manager

Lorne Park Family of

Schools

Superintendent

Wendy Dowling

Trustee

Brad MacDonald

905 593 3547

School Council

Chairperson

Jill Rawlin

Congratulations

Leadership, Safe, Respectful, Responsible

April Award Recipients

KAR Ella B, Clare H, Shriyans D, Katarina V

KPR Anaya K, Nate R, Addison F, Sara F

KAL Maya V, Sadie S, Ameer A, Mia H, Darren Y

1W Mark V, Alexander J, Nathan M, Eva F

1/2M Jessica S, Kyle V, Simran P, Derek S

2/3M Ireh S, Rowan S, Christian P, Elise T

3D McKenzie F, Megan C, Igor S, Emily K

4L Alex D, Kyle T, Sunaina P, Zoe F

4/5D Jake B, Jeffrey C, Hayley V, Leanne D

5H Isabella R, Connor N, Ali A, Lejla S

Dates to Remember

May 4 Move It May—Opening Ceremonies

May 9 Fit 2 Dance

May 11 PD Day—No School for students

May 13 Movie Night

May 16 Zumbatomic

May 16 School Council Meeting @ 6:30

May 18 Spirit Day—Beach Day

May 21 Victoria Day—No School

May 23 Sportball

May 28 Leadership Assembly

May 30 Teacher / Parent / Student Challenge

May 28—31 EQAO Provincial Testing for Grade 3s

June 1 Move It May—Play Day & Closing Ceremonies

Please Refer to your May Calendar for more Move It May Activities