THE BANTING AND BEST BULLETIN

September 2014

Dear Parents and Guardians,

A sincere welcome back is extended to all of our Banting and Best families. We hope you had a safe and enjoyable summer. A special greeting is extended to our junior kindergarten students and to the families new to Banting and Best. We know you will love our school as much as we do!

We are very excited about the new school year and to be returning to Banting and Best Public School. It is a pleasure and an honour to be working with such enthusiastic students, hard working staff and caring parents.

We welcome the following new and returning staff members to our school:

Ms. Miller JK/SK

Ms. Shanthi Grade 4/5 AM

Ms. Mann SERT and 4/5 PM

Ms. Huang Library/Music

We know that they will enjoy working at Banting Best and we look forward to benefitting from their contributions to our school!

We would like the newsletter to accomplish three things:

  1. increase the communication between home and school
  2. provide ideas on how to best support children’s learning at home
  3. present some new approaches to the teaching and learning in the 21st century. Feedback is always beneficial. Our doors are always open to parents. Please feel free to drop by the office anytime.

Sincerely,

K. MacKinnon, Principal/

A New School Year is here. Are You Ready?

Getting ready for a new school year can be a whirlwind of frenzied activity and erratic emotions. But don't panic yet, we're here to help. Here is some information to help you and your child have a stress-free start to the school year.

Starting School for the Very First Time

It's a big step in your child's life, filled with many firsts. Get an overview of the TDSB's Kindergarten program and read about activities you can be doing at home to help prepare your child for school. Go to and select Kindergarten from the Parents menu. Click on the Getting Ready for Kindergarten link.

Getting to School

It's always a good idea to become familiar with the school route and to have an alternate plan in anticipation of the unexpected. In certain circumstances, your child may be eligible for transportation to and from school. Select student transportation from the parents menu of the TDSB's web site here to find out more about TDSB student transportation and school bus safety tips.

Raising a Good Student

Research indicates that your interest and involvement in your child's learning and education is the key to his or her success in school. As a parent you are your child's number one role model and your participation in school life is essential.

The time you spend with your child away from school is very important. This time allows you both to relax and be together doing things that you both enjoy. Spend this time reading together, playing games, doing projects and just being a family. These family times help your child build self-confidence and self-esteem, in addition to building a strong relationship with you.

To keep involved in your child's school life, visit the school on a regular basis and make yourself known to the teachers and staff. Attend parent/teacher interviews and request a meeting yourself if you deem it necessary.

Make the most of your interview time with your child's teacher. Come prepared with questions you'd like answered and don't be afraid to speak up. Discuss with the teacher how you can help your child do better in the classroom and set up a plan of action that you both feel will work for him or her.

Schedule additional time to meet with your child's teacher if necessary. You may even want to arrange to talk on a steady basis over the telephone. It's important to let your child know that you are in contact with the teacher and you're all working together to help him/her succeed.

Use your child's report card as a tool to help you both understand what's happening in the classroom. The card acts as a guide to achievements, progress, areas that need improvement and any behaviour or attendance problems. You can use it to help your child set goals for the next term.

Be open and honest with your child about progress in school. Discuss what the teacher has told you and talk about how to improve. If you have expectations for your child, make them clear. For example if you are happy with your child's effort and she continually brings home B's, let him/her know that you won't intervene unless you see a decline in his/her grades.

Catherine Rondina

City Parent (Reprinted with the permission of City Parent Newsmagazine)

Combined Grade Classrooms

As you may be aware, many schools in T.D.S.B. and across the province have combined grade classrooms. A combined grade class contains students from two consecutive grades.

Why do combined grade classes exist?

Schools combine classes to meet student learning needs and to balance class size. Sometimes, there are too many students to form one class, but not enough students to form two classes. In these situations, students from two different grade levels are grouped together to form a combined class. Smaller schools are particularly challenged because of lower overall enrolment. In these cases, students may be in combined grades for several years in a row. All classrooms include students with a range of skills and abilities. Combined classes are neither better nor worse than single-grade classes.

Are there any benefits to my child in a combined class?

Educational research supports many benefits for students in combined classes, including:

  • The development of independent learning skills
  • Students learning from each other
  • Developing decision-making skills, and becoming more self-motivated and responsible
  • The enhancement of social/emotional development
  • Increased leadership opportunities for students

Is the achievement of students in a combined grade comparable to children in a straight grade?

Educational literature shows that children in combined grade groupings do as well as students in single-grade classes. Student achievement is not compromised.

Are there disadvantages to a combined class?

No. An effective teacher and supportive parents provide a positive learning environment for children in any classroom. When student achievement is examined, the educational research has determined that there is no significant difference between single and combined classes.

Will my child be prepared for the next grade if he/she is in a combined class?

Yes. At the beginning of each school year teachers use a variety of methods to assess the needs of each student regardless of the composition of the class. Using the Ontario Curriculum in each subject as a basis, the program is planned to meet the needs and abilities of all students in the class and to prepare students for the next grade.

(An Introduction to Combined Grades, a Ministry of Education publication available at )

Anaphylaxis - Taking the Necessary Precautions

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can be life threatening. This medical condition can cause a severe reaction to specific foods or other materials, and can result in death within minutes. Although foods such as peanuts, milk, eggs, and sesame seeds are the most common cause of anaphylaxis, insect stings, medicine, or latex can also cause a reaction. In recent years, anaphylaxis has increased dramatically among students. The TDSB is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for all students and works with Toronto Public Health and other partners to ensure the successful implementation of Sabrina's Law, which came into effect on January 1, 2006.

Sabrina's Law requires every school board to establish and maintain an anaphylactic policy that includes strategies to reduce the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents in classrooms and common school areas. The TDSB has procedures for the prevention and management of anaphylactic reactions.

Although this may or may not affect your child's class directly, we want to raise awareness about this life-threatening condition. Students who have severe allergies to such food substances are exposed to a severe health risk when such products are consumed in their environment or shared with them. As prevention is the best approach, we ask that you speak with your child about not sharing their snacks or lunches with other students and please do not send any snacks or lunches with your child that contain nuts.

If your child has health problems of any kind, please inform your child's teacher or office staff immediately so that the necessary health protection steps may be taken and to ensure everyone's co-operation for a safe learning environment.

Whether you are living with the allergy yourself, caring for someone who is, or concerned about people in your community, more information about life threatening allergies is available on the Anaphylaxis Canada's web site at or by calling 416-785-5666.

Student Safety

One of the TDSB's goals is to provide a safe and caring learning environment for all our students. Information on programs and services that promote safety and a healthy learning environment in our schools is available from the TDSB's web site. Select safe and caring schools from the parents menu to find out more.

The TDSB launched a Student Safety Line (416-395-SAFE or to provide students with another option to report school-related or personal safety concerns. The TDSB Student Safety Line is a confidential reporting tool for TDSB students. All messages and online reports are anonymous, unless the student chooses to leave his/her name or personal information. All information will be dealt with in a confidential manner. To find out more about Student Safety Line and to access the online report form, students can visit

AS OUR CHILDREN’S SAFETY IS OUR FIRST PRIORITY…we are requesting that you follow these guidelines:

  • Encourage your child to walk to school as it is not only good exercise, but many of our traffic challenges will be eliminated
  • When walking across the street, please remind your child to look both ways before proceeding
  • Parents are asked to please refrain from using the school parking lot for student drop off as this is very unsafe
  • Please note that our drive way moves in one direction only. Please enter from the north side of the drive and exit through the south side
  • Please use the walkways when walking to the back of the school. Avoid walking through the parking lot

Character Development: A Partnership with Families

With a new school year ahead, we continue to develop character in all students and this is a shared responsibility between home and school. There is a need for family, community and schools to engage cooperatively to encourage students' learning and maturing as social beings.

Throughout the year, we will continue to focus on the 10 attributes identified at the TDSB and we encourage parents to reinforce these attributes at home whenever possible: Respect, Responsibility, Empathy, Kindness and Caring, Teamwork, Fairness, Honesty, Co-operation, Integrity and Perseverance.

Some tips for supporting Character Development in the Home, include:

- Model and teach respectful manners

- Listen to your children and spend time with children in shared activities

- As a family, take part in community service projects or civic activities

- Establish family traditions and enjoy family celebrations together

- Teach your children to be responsible and discerning with their choices in media and entertainment and online activities

- Teach your children how to resolve conflict in a peaceful, respectful way

- Become involved in your child's school life from Kindergarten to Grade 12

- Live character every day

For more information, please visit

Late Arrival

We, at Banting and Best, strongly believe that patterns and practices established while children are young, become a “way of life” and carry on through adulthood. Punctual attendance is an important expectation for all students. It has a direct effect on their work, attitude, and sense of responsibility. When students arrive late at school, not only are they missing key learning time, but they are also disrupting their classes. The Education Act states that it is the responsibility of the parent (or guardian) to ensure that their children attend school regularly and punctually. When students arrive after 8:40 or 12:20 p.m.. and have missed entry with their class/division, they are asked to

come to the office for a “Late Slip.” Please help your child become responsible and learn the importance of punctuality.

Forgotten Items at School

Students are reminded to take their needed belongings home with them each night. For safety and security reasons, we discourage students and/or parents from entering entering the school to pick up forgotten items (e.g. lunch bags, homework, boots, etc), after dismissal time. Thank you for your co-operation.

Safe Arrival

Please make every effort to contact the school office if your child is going to be late or absent. Daily calls are made for unaccountable absenteeism. This Safe Arrival Program can take up a great deal of time if parents do not inform the school of their child’s absence. Please leave a message on the school’s answering machine the evening before, or early in the morning at 416-396-5800, press 1. Include your child’s first and last name, grade, teacher’s name, and the reason for the absence.

If you are going to pick up your child earlier than the regular dismissal time, please write a note to the classroom teacher. Come directly to the office and our staff will call your child to meet you. In order to ensure the safety of all students, we require written permission from a parent or guardian if someone other than the regular caregiver is picking up a child. Please begin all school visits by stopping in at the office. Thank you for your continued cooperation.

Student Accident Insurance

The T.D.S.B. does notprovide accident insurance coverage for student injuries that occur on school premises or during school activities. Accidents can and do happen. Some injuries incur medical, dental, or other expenses that are not covered by provincial health care or employer group plans. The Board has arranged a Student Accident Insurance Policy exclusively through Reliable Life Insurance Company. Participation in such a program is voluntaryand the costs are to be paid by the parent/guardian. The insurance agreement is between youand Reliable Life Insurance Company. If you wish to subscribe, you can apply directly on-line at or

call Reliable Life Insurance Company toll free at 1-800-463-KIDS (5437). Students in JK to Grade 8 can also subscribe by using the brochure that will be provided by our school.

Curriculum and Family Pizza Night

We are looking forward to meeting all of you at our Curriculum and Family Pizza Night on Thursday, September 18that 5:00 p.m. You will have an opportunity to enjoy some pizza from 5:00 – 6:00 pm (please fill out the order form),and visit your child’s class where you can chat informally between 6:00 and 7:00 pm. At Banting and Best P.S., we strive to create a strong home-school partnership. It is extremely important that you make every effort to attend this evening.

Student Agendas

Agendas help create timelines, set goals, and monitor their progress. The front of the agenda includes an insert that summarizes the Banting and Best rules and routines as well as our School Code of Conduct. The agendas represent a learning tool for students, a communication tool for parents, and a teaching tool for teachers. Please sign your child’s agenda each night when homework has been completed. Through a strong partnership between the school and home, we will be able to help our students achieve their full potential. All students in Grade 1 to 8 are asked to purchase an agenda for $6.00. Please send the money to school with your child, as soon as possible.

Lunch Program

The lunch program is provided for students where both parents are working (or going to school) and no other arrangements can be made for lunchtime supervision. If at all possible, we strongly encourage students to go home for lunch or for parents to make alternate arrangements for their children. The children are more refreshed when they have the opportunity to leave school grounds during the lunch hour. Not only do they get a much-needed break, but they also get to eat their lunch in a family setting. If you wish to make a one time change to your child’s lunchtime plans (either staying for one day or going home), we ask that you write a note notifying us of the change. A permission form and contract must be completed for each student staying at school for lunch on a regular basis.

THE BANTING AND BEST BULLETIN