November 2019

Principal’s Message:

Dear Families,

We are thrilled to have such a wonderful start to the year. Our students have enjoyed participating in events such as the Terry Fox Run the We Scare Hunger campaign, Halton Cross Country meet and our Maple Grove House Activities. Students have been provided with opportunities to think critically and problem solve as leaders in their own learning and our staff are inspired by their passion and enthusiasm.

This coming month, our School Teams will continue to look at data to inform our instruction and set goals for this year using a variety of data sources.

Thank you for your ongoing support and participation in our Maple Grove School Community.

Principal M. McKenzie Wells


Parent Council:

Next Meeting - November 4, 2019 at 7:00

The first meeting of the Maple Grove Parent Council convened in October. With many new, as well as familiar faces in attendance. Our council was fortunate to have many people ready to lend a hand. Your new Parent Council for 2019/20 school year consists of Co-Chairs: Alison Hodd and Gertrude Vanderpol-Lim. Secretary: EJ Walker. Treasurer: Gracie Gao and Angela Song. Communications Rep: Shahan Farooq. Volunteer Coordinator: Valerie Presti. Teacher Appreciation: Dee Sanderson, Alyssa Howard. Newcomer Welcome: Naureen Shahan. PIC Rep: TBD. Voting members: Tatiana Monteiro, Alan Tin, Yan Yang, Wei Wei, Keiran Kapoor, Leila Mahdavi, Laurence Chiu.

Administration: Mrs. McKenize Wells & Ms Lukawecky.

Future Parent Council evenings are as follows: November 4th / Dec 2nd/ February 3rd/ /April 6 / May 4th. All are welcome. We hope to see you there in November, 7:00pm in the library.


Dance-A-Thon is back this year in Wednesday November 14th

Highlights include:

-Glow Gear

-Freezies

-Dance DJ

-Great Music

See you on the dance floor!


Days of Significance this Month:

  • Indigenous Education Month
  • Nov. 11 Remembrance Day
  • Nov. 12 Birth of Guru Nanak (Sikhism)


Spirit Days:

  • PJ Day November 29, 2019


Dates to Remember:

  • School Council Meeting Nov. 4th at 7:00
  • Author Phillip Roy Visit Nov. 5th
  • Photo Retake Day Nov. 18th
  • Progress Reports go home Nov. 18th
  • HPV and HPB Immunizations Nov. 18th
  • Book Fair Nov. 21-28th
  • Bus Safety Presentations Nov. 21st
  • PD Day Nov. 22nd
  • Sharing Assembly Nov. 28th
  • Newcomer Session Dec. 3rd at 9:30


High School Information:

Oakville Trafalgar High School

Parent Information Night - Wednesday November 13th at 7:00 pm

*There will be a special presentation about the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at 6:00 pm

T.A.Blakelock High School Parent Information Night (for families with ELL students) - Thursday November 14th at 6:40 pm

Please contact Ms. J. Lynch for any further information or questions lynchjo@hdsb.ca


HDSB Human Rights Symposium:

Engage in vital conversations and challenge thinking at the HDSB Human Rights Symposium on Thursday, Dec. 5, 2019. This year's theme focuses on the Rights of the Child and features two keynote speakers Stephen Lewis and Michel Chikwanine. Learn more and register at www.hdsb.ca.


First Language Read Alouds:

Beginning this year, we will be hosting First Language Read Alouds in our Library on Wednesdays at second nutrition break. All students will be welcome to attend. This will be an opportunity for students to enjoy hearing stories in their first language, to continue to build their language skills in their first language and to foster pride in their first language. This will also be a wonderful opportunity for students to learn words and phrases in a language that is new to them! We are currently looking for volunteers to make this happen! If you would be occasionally available to read a picture book in your first language in the library at nutrition break, please complete the following Google Form and we will be in touch soon! First Language Read Aloud Volunteers


Prescribed Medication:

This year, there is a board policy on dispensing prescribed medication to students. As with EpiPens and inhalers, all prescribed medication to be dispensed at school requires a Physician’s signature. Therefore, if you are heading to the doctor’s office, and think that your child may require medication at school, please ensure you get the physician’s signature on the correct form before you leave. These forms can be found in the Student Health Page of our school and board website. If you are not sure which form to use, please contact the office. Over-the-counter medication (e.g., Tylenol, Advil, cough syrup) will not be dispensed by school staff at any time. If you wish to provide this to your child, please come into the school and we will call them down to the office for you to administer. Students should not be carrying any medication on them while at school, other than EpiPens and inhalers.


Kiss N Ride Reminders:

This is a reminder that the Kiss N Ride is for the use of kindergarten students and their siblings only. When using the Kiss N Ride please follow these guidelines:

-Follow the directions of the volunteers

-Pull forward all the way

-Put your car in park

-Remain in your vehicle

-Wait for the volunteer to help your child out of the vehicle and to close the door

-Exit safely

Thank you for keeping our Kiss N Ride safe!


Use of Technology Reminders:

This is a reminder that students should leave their personal electronic devices in their backpacks/locker throughout the day, unless asked to bring it to class by a teacher. This is generally unnecessary as we have lots of chromebooks and iPads in our classrooms. All students in Grades 7-8 should have a lock on their locker and should not share the combination with their friends. Students are permitted to check their phones for text messages from their parents at the end of the day. If you have a more urgent message for your child, please call the office directly.


Classroom Community Circles:

This year, our teachers will continue to hold weekly community circles with their class. The purpose of these community circles is to build relationships within the classroom, to foster respect and understanding for one another, and to solve classroom level problems. It is a forum for students to share their thoughts and opinions in a safe environment, to be heard, and to hear other perspectives and points of view. Our school Equity Leads have also put together a series of prompts that teachers can use each week to promote equity and inclusion. Some of these prompts are more general, focusing on topics such as kindness, while others may be more specific and tackle challenging topics such as racism, sexism, bullying etc. These prompts are also designed to draw awareness of a wider range of voices, for example, politicians, athletes, scientists, artists, entertainers from a variety of backgrounds.


Outdoor Education Backpacks:

With the creation of our new learning garden last year, we have also invested in “Outdoor Education Backpacks.” There is a primary, junior and intermediate backpack that is filled with all of the materials needed for outdoor learning, including clipboards, containers for collecting specimens, for measuring etc. Our staff had the opportunity to participate in professional development around how to use these backpacks effectively with their students at the end of last year, and again this fall. We know that students today spend less time outdoors than children did a generation ago, and this is one of the ways that we are doing our part at Maple Grove to ensure that children have the opportunity to participate in outdoor learning!


Dreambox:

This year our students in Grades 1-3 will have access to Dreambox. This online learning tool helps students to visualize mathematics and to develop an understanding of the many different strategies that can be used to solve a problem. If your child is in Grades 1-3, they may also access Dreambox at home. If you have any questions, please contact your child’s teacher.


Code of Conduct and Progressive Discipline:

Our Code of Conduct is now available on our School Website in both English and Mandarin. Thanks to Sophie for translating this important document for us.


Cross Country:

We have said good-bye to another great cross country season at Maple Grove. We had approximately 185 enthusiastic participants from grade 3 - 8 this year who practiced hard during the month of September. Although we were unable to have our Maple Grove meet this year due to the weather, we had a very successful Halton Meet on Monday, October 7th. We are very proud of all our participants. Cross country provides an opportunity for all students to participate to the best of their ability and to work together and support each other as a team. Our results speak to how well our students worked together and did their very best. Not only did our participants support each other, there were many displays of support for participants from other schools, from a grade 4 boy wishing another boy from a different school good luck before the race began, to our students shaking hands with other students at the finish line.

Team and individual results are as follows:

Grade 3 girls: 1st Place Individual ribbons to: Zoe Stretch -2nd; Ayla MacDonald 3rd; Darcy Wilson-5th; Madelyn McCreesh-10th

Grade 3 Boys: 5th Place Individual ribbons to: Oliver Stackhouse-3rd

Grade 4 Girls: 3rd Place Individual ribbons to: Lexi Inglis-7th

Grade 4 Boys: 3rd Place Individual ribbons to: Arturo Presti-5th; Gabriel MacDonald-7th; Walter Howard-9th; Andrew Ward-10th

Grade 5 Girls: Individual ribbons to: Vivienne Boulanger-10th

Grade 5 Boys: 4th Place Individual ribbons to: Kieran Browne-3rd; Gordon Matichuk-6th

Grade 6 Girls: 3rd Place

Grade 6 Boys: 3rd Place Individual ribbons to: Kavin Bhargava-10th

Grade 7 Girls: 1st Place Individual ribbons to: Darragh Browne-2nd; Abby Vanshie-4th; Carina Ghindea-7th; Toni Wilson-10th

Grade 7 Boys: 4th Place

Grade 8 Girls: 6th Place Individual ribbons to: Marissa Hamilton-4th

Grade 8 Boys: 5th Place

Congratulations to all our participants and a huge thank you to all the teachers and volunteers and to our Grade 7 & 8 student helpers. See you next September!


Primary/Junior Intramurals:

The following intramural schedule will be in place until approximately May, so please encourage your child to come and try them out.

Grade 1 and 2: Wednesdays @11:15

Grade 3 and 4: Thursdays @ 11:15

Grade 5 and 6: Mondays @ 11:15


Intermediate Intramurals:

Class vs Class intramurals will continue in November with Capture the Ball in the first half of the month. Another intramural will take place after this one is over.


Free 2 B Me Club:

Our Free 2 B Me Club will be meeting once a week starting at the beginning of November. Students in Grades 5-8 are invited to attend. Our focus will be on creating an inclusive school environment in which all students feel safe to be themselves and advocate for the rights of others.


The Arts:

Grade 7 students have created mixed media self-portraits. Students choose a word and a pose that expresses their personality. Here are some artworks by Harrison, Bridget, Kevin, Adriel, Joseph, London, Amy and Zoya. Follow Mrs. Tittarelli on Twitter to see more of our artworks as we continue to create @tittarellil1


Remembrance Day:

We will be recognizing those who have fought for our freedom in Canada on November 11th before the first nutrition break, at 10:00am. If you would like to observe this important day with us, parents are welcome to attend and sit at the back of the assembly, as we will have a few rows of chairs set up for you.


Author Philip Roy:

Award-winning author, Philip Roy will be presenting to our students on Tuesday, November 5th. Originally from Nova Scotia, but now residing in Ontario, Mr. Roy writes children's books and Middle Reader novels of adventure and historical fiction. Philip is best known for his Submarine Outlaw adventure series, but his Happy the Pocket Mouse picture book series is equally well-loved. Mr. Roy’s books have been nominated for the Silver Birch, Red Maple, CLA, Hackmatack and Geoffrey Bilson awards, and his books have been chosen consistently by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre for Best Books for Kids and Teens. Several of Mr. Roy's books have been translated into French. For more information about Philip and his books, please visit: http://philiproy.ca/books/. If interested, your child can pre-order autographed books by Philip. A student book order form will be sent home for this purpose, and order forms and payment should be returned to Ms. Scully no later than Friday, November 1st.


Book Fair!!

Save the date for our Book Fair- Monday, November 25th to Thursday, November 28th. Helping hands and volunteers are always welcome! If you're able to lend us some of your time, we would be grateful! Please email Mrs Scully: scullyi@hdsb.ca


Cobs Fundraiser:

We are one of the lucky schools to be part of the dough raiser again this year! 10% of all sales made at Cobs bakery located on Lakeshore in Oakville will be donated back to the school. Parents just mention that you are from Maple Grove School when making your purchase and you will receive this incredible discount. See attached Cobs Flyer!


We Scare Hunger:

The We Schools Student leadership group would like to thank everyone in the Maple Grove Community who helped support our We Scare Hunger Food Drive campaign during the month of October. Our combined efforts brought in almost 1,000 items for the Food Drive to help support our local Oakville Community. A huge Thank you goes to all people who helped out! Thanks so much Maple Grove!