ALLISTON UNION PUBLIC SCHOOL
25 Albert Street West, Alliston, Ontario, L9R 1H2
Phone 705-435-7391 / Safe Arrival Press 1 / Fax 705-435-6124
Greg Jacobs, Principal Jenn Carrick, Vice Principal Len Dunkley, Vice Principal
FEBRUARY 2016 NEWSLETTER - Issue #6
INCLUSIVENESS: We include everyone in what we do and value their unique contributions.
REPORT CARDS
Your child’s Term 2 report cards will be sent home on February 19th. Please review the report card with your child referring to the next steps for further progress in your child’s achievement. Please call your child’s teacher with any questions regarding your child’s progress at school.
SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING
The next School Council meeting will take place on Monday, April 4th at 6:00 pm. Please join us! (No meeting during month of March due to March break. Next meeting will be Apr 4)
House Color T-shirt Orders
Thank you to those who placed a t-shirt order in November. We hope everyone is happy with their purchase. We currently have some extra shirts on hand and wondered if anyone may be interested in purchasing if the color and size matches your child.
Youth Small – green
Youth Medium – yellow
Youth Large – blue, orange and yellow
Adult Medium – orange and red
Adult Extra Large – grey
Please contact the school office to inquire if interested.
KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION
Welcome to a Wonderful Journey of Learning!
To be eligible for registration into Junior Kindergarten, your child must be four years of age by December 31, 2016 (born in 2012).
Kindergarten registration for September 2016 began on January 25, 2016. You may call or drop into Alliston Union PS to complete the necessary forms. No appointments are necessary.
We will require proof of your child’s birth date (one of the following will be required: original Canadian birth certificate, Certificate of Canadian Citizenship, Canadian Passport, Permanent Resident Card/Record of Landing, or Statement of Live Birth - long version), proof of your child's address and his/her record of immunization. Families new to Canada within the last 4 years MUST contact our "Newcomer Welcome Centre" at 705-725-8360, ext. 310 to arrange completion of the necessary registration papers.
PLEASE REMEMBER TO COMPLETE REGISTRATION FORMS BEFORE THE END OF THIS SCHOOL YEAR! TELL YOUR FRIENDS WHO MAY HAVE A CHILD BORN IN 2012.
AFTER HOURS MATH & ENGLISH
The Ministry of Education has allocated funding to enable the Simcoe County District School Board to provide additional support programs to enhance the literacy and numeracy achievements of students in grades 7 and 8. The purpose of these programs is to support the reading, writing and math skill development of your child within an engaging and supportive learning environment. The program is up and running. Ms. Blake and Mrs. Gauthier are the teachers. If your child is in grade 7 or 8 and would benefit from this program please contact the school so that we may send home the student registration form. It’s not too late to begin.
Extended French Program for upcoming years
· Is the Grade 5 – 8 EFSL program moving to Ernest Cumberland? No decisions have been made about moving students or programs at this time. An attendance area review will commence next fall and at that time, information will be shared through the school from the board about community meetings to share background data and seek community input.
· Will the modified calendar remain at Ernest Cumberland? The modified calendar will continue for next year.
· Will their school hours be the same as this year at Ernest Cumberland? School hours are determined on an annual basis and at this time no decisions have been made.
· If there is not an answer at this time to the above questions when will parents be notified of changes, if any? Greg/Aileen, we would suggest that you use your newsletter to clip the relevant portions of the Capital Plan and share with the community that the attendance area review will commence in the fall and will include discussions about student numbers, program offerings, calendars and school hours and that they will be kept informed through your regular school communications.
Winterfest 2016
On Thursday, February 25 and Friday, February 26, students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 will be involved in various outdoor activities in their house colours.
Thursday, February 25- Grades 1, 3, 5 and 7 (Grade 8’s in Mr. Smale and Ms. Carr’s classes will help run activities on this day. Attendance is important)
Friday, February 26-Kindergarten, Grades 2, 4, 6 and Mrs. Kelly’s 5/6 class (Grade 8’s in Mlle. Blake’s class will help run activities on this day. Attendance is important)
The purpose of this day is to promote school spirit and character education initiatives in support of our “ONE Campaign”. We will be starting both days with a pancake breakfast for staff and students. Please be prepared for the weather and send your child with appropriate outdoor clothing as well as a change of socks and gloves as there is a high probability that they may get wet.
We are looking for parent volunteers to assist us in making pancakes Thursday and Friday mornings and stay throughout the day to help make hot chocolate. If you are able to volunteer, please contact Ms. Longthorne or Mrs. Myers at the school (435-7391) by Friday February 12.
Please be advised that all parent volunteers must have a completed CBC on file at the school.
Thanks in advance for your support!
Scholastic Book Fair
Ms. Longthorne would like to thank all of our students, parents and staff for supporting our second book fair of the year. It was a great success! We raised $1200.00 in free Scholastic product. Students can look forward to seeing new French books on our library shelves in the coming months. Thank you for your continued support! Merci beaucoup!
Engineering Event – Designing and Building Competition for students in Grades 6-8!
Several students at AUPS have expressed an interest in wood working / engineering projects. Specifically, there is a National Engineering Event that welcomes students to build structures using Popsicle sticks and white/carpenter’s glue. This year’s event will be held at Eastview Secondary School in Barrie on Saturday, March 5th, 2016. The event is organized jointly by the Georgian Bay Chapter of Ontario Association of Certified Technicians and Technologists (OACETT) and the Simcoe-Muskoka Chapter of Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO), under the umbrella of the National Engineering Month throughout the province. The 2016 activities will include: Competitions in Bridge building, catapult, water bottle car (new event); as well as a quiz on the knowledge of the engineering profession, demonstrations of 3D printer and water treatment plant. We wish all AUPS students who participate all the best at this year’s competition. It is not too late to enter. The following link will share more information: http://simcoe-muskoka.peo.on.ca/wordpress/?page_id=128
Grade 3 Family Fun Night - Save the Date!
A reminder to our students in grade 3 and their families to book Wednesday, February 24th (6:30-8pm) to attend / participate in our Family Fun and Nutrition Night. More details will be available in early February (registration form). Thank you!
WINTER DRESS
Please remind students to dress warmly for cold winter weather. Students need to be prepared for very cold, wintry weather with extra mitts, socks, gloves, hats, snow pants, boots and warm coats with secure closures. Parents, please remind students of the importance of wearing proper winter clothing outside for fitness breaks.
ON-LINE SCHOOLCASH REGISTRATION
A personalized Registration Information sheet has been sent home in the past with your child(ren) outlining the procedure to follow in order to be set up for upcoming school payments. The School Board is wishing parents to use this on-line payment program in lieu of sending cash to school with your child. Thank you for working with us as we too learn this new system. If you need further information, please contact the school office.
BUS CANCELLATION INFORMATION
This information can be found at www.simcoecountyschoolbus.ca or a bus icon on the home page of the public website at www.scdsb.on.ca or Alliston Union’s website at www.alu.scdsb.on.ca .
PARKING LOT and STREET SAFETY
A friendly reminder to take extra care in our school parking lot now that snow has finally arrived! Drivers: please be mindful of pulling out of parking spaces as large piles of snow can decrease visibility. As well, remember our Kiss and Ride procedures [add specific info/reminders here about your Kiss and Ride – if required]. School board property is private property, and in some cases (eg. after hours) vehicles could be towed from parking lots to facilitate snow removal. Unauthorized parking in school lots overnight and/or weekends is at the sole risk of the vehicle owner.
VALENTINE’S DAY DANCE
Staff and students will be celebrating Valentine’s Day by wearing red &/or pink and participating in our Valentine’s Day Dance on Friday, February 12, 2016.
The schedule will be as follows:
K – 3: 9:00 – 10:00 AM
4 – 6: 11:00 AM – 12:25 PM
7 – 8: 1:10 – 2:45 PM
VALENTINE’S DAY TREAT REMINDER
Please check all labels on treats and baked goods for known allergens, like nut products, prior to sending them to school. Home baked goods are no longer an acceptable choice, since we have no way to verify the ingredients.
STACD Fundraiser for My Sister’s Place
A group of grade 7 and 8 students at AUPS are involved with the STACD program. The objectives of this program are as follows:
- Engages youth so that they may Start Talking About the struggles they face during life transitions and how they deal with these struggles
- Helps foster Coping skills and resiliency so that youth are prepared for stress associated with life transitions
- Assists youth with developing additional resources and skills to avoid illicit and prescription Drugs
Part of the STACD program focuses on youth coming together to help make a difference in the community. The students this year have decided to run a fundraiser to raise money to donate to My Sister’s Place. They will be selling candy grams on Thursday February 11th during both breaks on all three floors. The items will be nut free and will have tags for the students to write messages on. All items will be 1.00. The students and leader of the STACD program thank you in advance for supporting their fundraising initiative!
STUDENT TARDINESS
A number of students are continuing to arrive late in the morning for the start of school. A number of these students are missing the lesson in literacy or numeracy and are then left to catch up on their own. This loss of learning will be reflected in their level of academic achievement and satisfaction with school. For those families that this effects please ensure that your child(ren) get enough sleep each night, that they prepare their lunches and pack their school bags the night before and consistently ensure your child(ren) wake up with a enough preparation and travel time to get to school on time.
GRADE 8 NEWS…….
Feb. 2: Grad Photos taken
Feb. 10: Gr. 8 Open House at Banting Memorial H.S. at 7 pm
Feb. 19: Term 2 Report Card will be coming home.
Feb 22 Parent Info meeting re: year end trip
Jun. 28: Grade 8 Graduation Night
PA Day added on April 15
An additional Professional Activity (PA) day has been added to the 2015-16 school year calendar for Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) elementary and secondary schools. This PA day is scheduled for April 15, 2016. The school year calendar for 2015-16 now includes 187 instructional days and seven professional activity days. The additional PA Day is part of the settlements that were centrally negotiated with the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers’ Federation (OSSTF). View the updated school calendar at www.scdsb.on.ca and click on ‘Schools’ and then ‘School Year Calendars.’
Nominations invited for Character Recognition Evening on May 18
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) recognizes students, staff and volunteers who demonstrate good character in their daily lives at the annual Character Recognition Awards Evening, taking place on May 18 this year.
Each year, nominations from schools and the Education Centre are received highlighting the good character of our students, staff and volunteers. Nominees are invited to the Education Centre on May 18 to celebrate those who exemplify the SCDSB Commit to Character attributes. The nomination process opens on Feb. 8 and ends on Feb. 26, 2016. Recommendations can be made by email or fax. More information and the Character Recognition nomination form is available at www.scdsb.on.ca under ‘About Us’ and then click on ‘Commit to Character.’
OTIP Teaching Awards - nominations due by March 31
Want to recognize a teacher who does great work at our school? For many years, the Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) awards have recognized the excellence of teachers in publicly funded education. There are three categories of awards: elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher and beginning teacher in the first five years of teaching. Winning teachers attend a fall awards ceremony in Toronto where they are presented with a personal award of $1,000 and a Certificate of Recognition. Their schools are also recognized with a $1,000 prize and a Certificate of Recognition. Visit www.teachingawards.ca for details. The deadline for submitting nominations is March 31.
Doodle 4 SCDSB contest open to all students
The Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB) is holding a Doodle 4 SCDSB contest, inviting students of all ages to create a ‘doodle’ using the letters SCDSB, and telling the world “What makes me unique.” This exciting contest is modelled after the Doodle 4 Google competition, but is designed specifically for our students! There will be one winner from each grade grouping: K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-10 and 11-12/Continuing Education. The grand prize includes a 3D Doodler EduBundle ($1400 value) for the winner’s class, and their artwork will be featured on the SCDSB website and next year's student agenda. A runner up from each grade category will win art supply bundles from Brault & Bouthillier Canada and Baldwin School Supply. Find out more at www.doodle4scdsb.blogspot.ca/. The deadline to submit a Doodle is Feb. 26, so students -- get your creative on!