Give What You Can on United Way Giving Day Feb. 9, 2016

Give what you can on United Way Giving Day – Feb. 9, 2016

At the Peel District School Board, our mission is to inspire success, confidence and hope in each student – each and everyday. Yet we know that there are many needs in our community that we can’t address on our own, likeproviding food for families that may go without or supporting communities after a crisis. That’s why we are holding a board-wide giving day in support of United Way of Peel Region, a key partner and supporter of Peel families.

This year, the Peel board has declared Feb. 9 as United Way Giving Day to raise much needed funds for United Way of Peel Region and the network of social service agencies it supports.Whether it’s providing shelter for a mother and her childrenin Brampton, matching a child who is at risk with a mentor in Caledon, or funding a breakfast program in Mississauga for youth that would otherwise go hungry, United Way of Peel Region offers hope and possibility to thousands in our community.

A donation of:

• $2 may go towards a warm winter coat for a child.

• $10 supports a child with interactive, recreational outings for one year, including healthy snacks and transportation, to help them build their social skills and self-esteem.
• $25 matches a teen with a caring adult mentor who will meet with him or her several times each month for fun activities.

This is a completely voluntary campaign and any contributions are welcome. Whether you send a loonie, toonie or chequemade out to your child’s school, your contribution will make a difference. Pledges of $25 or more will automatically receive a tax receipt from United Way of Peel Region. To receive a receipt, you must fill out the pledge form on the back and send it to school with your donation by March 29, 2016.

Thank you for lending a helping hand to those who need it most. Together, we can Inspire Possibility!

Closing schools due to bad weather

During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather.

Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be posted as soon as possible at on Twitter at and on Facebook at You can also call in using 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

It's time to register children born in 2012 for kindergarten

We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2012, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2016.You can register your child at any time during regular school hours—just visit the school he/she will be attending to register.

Peel schools will also hold a Kindergarten Registration Week with special registration activities during Feb. 1 to 4, 2016. Visit Tecumseh Public Schoolfrom 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb.1, 2, 3 and 4 and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb. 4.

Help your teen plan for grade 9 course selections for 2016-17

Soon, current grade 8 students will select their courses for grade 9. Before they do, we want to ensure that they have the opportunity to consult with their teachers, guidance counsellor, if applicable, and their parents.

As our partners, families are encouraged to help prepare their teens for course selection. We encourage you to become familiarwith the process by creating a myBlueprint account. Additionally, parents/guardians and students can review Chart Your Course, the Peel District School Board’s common course calendar, at . This guidewill help you understand the course selection process and provide information on the courses and programs offered in Peel secondary schools.

You can also visit , an online planning tool that includes the following:

• high school planner for course selection
• goal-setting
• career spectrum for finding your learning style
• occupation planner for exploring careers
• post-secondary planner for opportunities after high school

The grade 9 course selection process will be open from Jan. 4 to Jan. 22, 2016. If you have questions or are looking for course suggestions, please contact your teen’s teachers or guidance counsellor.

Jump start your future with Explore High Skills, a specialized program for grade 9, 10 students

​Explore High Skills (EHS)is a Peel District SchoolBoard pathway program that allows secondaryschools with Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)programs to offer a unique specializedprogram choice for grade 9 and 10 students.The program will open with grade 9 only during the 2016-17 school year. Starting September 2016, grade 9 students will have the opportunity to participate in one of the EHS programs at any of the following schools:

EHS is a specialized program with unique learning experiences designed to engage grade 9 students as they transition to high school. Students can focus their learning on an area of interest as they build self-confidence and learn essential skills. Through experiential learning and certification programs, students develop a sense of belonging in their school community.

There are no program fees and no application fees associated with EHS programs. Busing will not be provided. This sector-based program is available to grade 9 students at all skill levels and in all pathways.

Grade 8 students/families can apply online or get additional information at The application is open from Jan. 4 to 22, 2016.

Apply for Extended French by Jan. 29, 2016

If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2016, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to consider Extended French (EF). To find out more about the program, visit

The application form for Grade 7EF for the 2016-17 school year will be available online at as of Monday Nov. 23, 2015 at 1 p.m.

The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will be placed on the school’s waitlist.

The EF school for our area is Green Glade Senior Public School. The phone number is 905-822-8386

How to get more information

• Visit the Peel board website—.
• Call Green Glade Senior Public School at 905-822-8386.
• Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at .

Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 29, 2016

If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2016, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to consider French Immersion (FI). To find out more about the program, visit

The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2016-17 school year will be available online at as of Monday, Nov. 23, 2015 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will not be included in the random selection process and will be placed on the school’s waitlist.

The FI school for our area is Riverside Public School. The phone number is 905-274-1515

Enrolment cap and random selection process

As there is a grade 1 FIenrolment cap in place, there are a limited number ofspots available for students entering the program. The cap is set at 25 per cent of all Peel students enrolled in grade 1.

Spots are not assigned ona first come, first served basis. A random selection process system is used to identify students gaining entrance into the grade 1 FI program.

All students who apply by the deadline will be assigned a rank using acomputerized random selection process.Once students have been assigned to all available spots, remaining students will be placed, again in rank order, on the school's waitlist. Each school has its own waitlist.

How to get more information

• Visit the Peel board website—.
• Call Riverside Public School at 905-274-1515.
• Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at .

Special technology offers for Peel board students, parents and staff

Does your child need a computer or tablet for school? Equity of access to technologyis a key priority for thePeel board. That's why we've worked with a number of technology companies to offer discounted devices to Peel families and staff.

Renewed Computer Technology (RCT) offers low-cost, quality refurbished computers to families with a low-income. Qualified applicants can purchase:

• desktop for $60​
• laptop for $150

Prices include software, a two-year warranty and tax. For more information, contact RCT directly, call 905-795-0627 or visit their website at

Peel families now have access to the following exclusive offers from VIG Solutions:

Intel Dual Core, 2GB, 160GB computer with a 17-inch LCD monitor -- $110

10-inch netbook with 1GB ram, 160GB hard drive, Wi-Fi capability and Windows 7 -- $60.

Taxes and shipping will be applied to product costs, and all items come with a six-month warranty.To purchase products, visit and enter peelregion before proceeding.

Microsoft

Microsoft offers reduced pricing on select products.For more information, visit

The Peel board’s initiatives are part of the ongoing effort to create greater equity of access to technology for Peel students, parents and staff and do not represent an endorsement of any company or product. For all BYOD information, visit

Conference helps parents make a difference in numeracy and beyond

The Peel District School Board is hosting its annual parent conference on Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Rick Hansen Secondary School in Mississauga. Once again, the conferencewill focus on numeracy—25 out of 60 workshops help with math. Parents will still have the opportunity to attend workshops on other topics, including literacy, special education and science.

This free learning event is open to Peel parents of students at all grade levels.

Registration opens February 1, 2016

Stay up-to-date!

For more information, look out for the conference flyer at your child's school or visit

Nutritious lunches help children learn

Use Canada’s Food Guide to help your child get nutrients and energy needed to have a successful school day.

• Try to give your child some choice about what to take for lunch. If possible, get your child involved in preparing meals.
• Give your child a variety of healthy choices. Keeping your child interested in lunch is the first step to making sure it is eaten.
• Make the food easy to eat. If it will take your child a few minutes to unwrap a sandwich, it may be skipped.
• Resist the temptation to routinely send sweets, pop, chips and cookies in your child's lunch. Save treats for special occasions.

• Try to avoid fast food or pre-packaged, convenience lunches, which are often high in salt and fat.

• Do your best to role model healthy eating behaviours for your family.

To speak to a registered dietitian about healthy food choices, call EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-5102.

For more information about the policy, visit If you have questions about how we are implementing the School Food and Beverage Policy, please call the school.