December 2016

33 Greenbriar Road Brampton, ON, L6S 1V8 905-791-2333 Principal: Sumitra Lad Superintendent: Nina Jaiswal, NFO 905-451-2862 ext.4232 Trustees: Carrie Andrews, 647-473-1858 Website : http://grenoble.peelschools.org Office Manager: Debbie Wattier Office Assistant: Francine Lewis @grenobleps

Grenoble Office Hours: 7:45 am to 3:45 pm

Principal Message

Grenoble’s Remembrance Day Ceremony was held on Friday November 11th. The ceremony provided students, staff and parents with an opportunity to honour our veterans and remember our brave soldiers who gave their lives so that we can have the freedom that we enjoy today. I would like to thank our students and staff for making the service a special one through their quiet reflection and reverence. I would also like to thank Mrs. Bortolussi and Mr. Co’Dyre who organized the ceremony.

On November 30th the students had an opportunity to have their photo taken with Santa. Thank you to all of our school council members and parent volunteers that assisted with this, creating a special memory for our students. Thank you to all students and parents who participated and sent in a donation. A special thank you to Santa Clause for coming to Grenoble PS during this very busy time of year!

December is filled with lots of fun and exciting events that have been organized for our Grenoble families. Our school council has worked hard to organize our Winter Ball which is being held on December 8th and we encourage everyone to attend. On December 15th we have our Primary Winter Concert and on December 23rd, school council members will be leading the Christmas Caroling at 1:45 in the gym. Looking forward to another wonderful month!

We would like to wish all of our Grenoble P.S. families a wonderful festive season. We hope you enjoy a happy and healthy season with family and friends during the month of December. School will resume on Monday January 9, 2017.

Kindest regards, Mrs. S. Lad Principal

Congratulations to the following students for winning Grenoble Awards for the month of November. Well done!

Academic Achievement: Addil N., Arshvir M., Emily G., Jacob D., Jeet R., Jimmy T., Joseph M., Kamalpreet S., Kianna W., Kirathis S., Noor A., Purbita B., Ronik C., Vance D., Vidhushi P. Personal Success: Anjani G., Anna C., Arjun P., Dawson K., Denae B., Jalen C., Jessina S., Mayaasia J., Mutinta M., Navin T., Omega W., Paolo D., Sanjay T., Sehaj A., Sukhman D., Tanish D. Gym: Brienna B., Dhairya T., Ibraheem I., Saidah U. Good Citizenship: Ajayvir M., Andreas B., Anjani G., Avarie M., Avery W., Casper M., Diya S., Ethan W., Janeet J., Jaya P., Layla D., Ravneet C., Ronik C., Serena H., Yamileth M. French: Ameila H., Anna C., Arshia S., Chanel W., Daniel W., Dharra R., Dominic V., Jacob D., Kritika K., Parteek D. Arts-Visual: Anna C., Arshia S., Eden L., Ghania W., Mayaasia J., Mekhai E., Noah K., Saidah U. Arts-Music: Cassius K., Grace K., Yugh M. Principal Award: Gia G., Mia M.

December Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1 Hat and Mitten Drive Begins

Day 4

2 Day 5

4 5 School Council 6-7 pm Day 1

6 Day 2

7 Day 3

8 Gr. 1 Field Trip Winter Ball ( 6-8 pm)

Day 4

9 PIZZA DAY

Day 5

10

11 12 Day 1

13 Day 2

14 Gr. 4 & 5 Field Trip Day 3

15 K- 2 Winter Concert (6-7 pm)

Day 4

16 Last Day for Hat and Mitten Drive

Day 5

17

18 19 Day 1

20 Day 2

21 Day 3

22 Day 4

23 PIZZA DAY

Sprit Day Red and Green Day December Assembly 1:45 pm

Day 5

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

Reminders….

0

Winter Break is from December 26 to January 6 2017, there will be NO

SCHOOL. See you back on Monday, January 9th 2017.

ATTENDANCE

Peel District School Board has a new automated absence reporting system for all

elementary students. Please visit pdsb.schoolconnects.com and choose CREATE

LOGIN to create your account and receive login credentials.

SafeArrival will allow you to report your child(ren)’s absences quickly and conveniently in

one of three ways: TO REPORT THE ABSENCE PLEASE CONFIRM BEFORE

8:45AM

1. Call the automated telephone system 1-855-209-6155.

2. Log into the website, pdsb.schoolconnects.com

3. Download the SafeArrival mobile application for Apple and Android devi

Message from our Trustee – Carrie Andrews

It’s hard to believe that winter break is almost here! Time certainly flies and it’s hard to believe that we

are already in the month of December. As we wind down for the winter holidays, it’s important to

reflect on how much has been accomplished so far in the 2016-17 school year.

In my role as board trustee, I have had the pleasure of visiting schools and seeing how staff and students

inspire hope. From fundraising for the Terry Fox Run, United Way Giving Day and Hurricane Matthew to

coming together to share how we #ChooseAction, we all have the ability to unite for common cause and

help others in need. I am proud to see how many students and staff working together to inspire

success, confidence and hope, each and every day. This holiday season, I encourage you to lend a

helping hand, whether it is a kind gesture, a simple hello or a random act of kindness. These small

actions can make a huge impact on those around us.

Thank you to students, staff and community members for your hard work during the first few months of

school. Have a safe, fun-filled and relaxing winter break!

Carrie Andrews

Wards 7/8 Trustee

Grenoble News

Winter Ball

Grenoble School Council would like to invite you to join us for our 1st annual Winter Ball! Join us on Thursday, December 8th from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. Put on your dancing shoes and come out to meet the members of the Grenoble Public School community while enjoying some music, food and raffles! This is a fundraising event for all families of Grenoble Public School students. Funds raised from the event will go towards a new Audio System for the gym to host future activities for students and families. We look forward to seeing you there!

Annual Mitten, Scarf and Hat Drive

It’s that time of year again when we collect mittens, hats and scarves for those less fortunate. We will

be running our annual mitten drive from December 1st until December 16th. The mittens, hats and

scarves will be used to decorate our Grenoble Christmas tree. The items will be donated to the Peel

Children’s Aid Society. Please bring new mittens, hats and scarves to school and help make our tree look

beautiful.

School Success

Monthly Reading Tips: Dual Language Books

In Ontario schools, we believe that “reading is thinking! To encourage thinking, students should be

engaging with texts all the time. Text can be anything that conveys a message in any language or form

(e.g. WebPages, books, pictures, music, movies, posters, commercials, etc.)”

Since more than half of our Grenoble student population think in more than one language, one of the

ways to promote their multilingual thinking is to read “dual-language” books. In other words, using the

books where you could read the same story in two different languages: English and your home

language. These books have numerous advantages. They:

-“bridge home and classroom languages and help children take pride in their home language”

-“help kids develop their language awareness skills”

-“increase vocabulary in home and classroom languages”

-“provide opportunities for parents and grandparents take an active part in their child’s learning”

-“connect what students know in their first language to English”

Whether your home language is Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Tamil, Chinese or Korean, there are many

children’s books that were translated both in English and your home language. One of the best places to

locate these types of books is the public and/or school libraries. There are also great on-line resources:

Tumblebooks (you need your Brampton library card to be able to access them)

http://www.bramlib.on.ca/index.php/children-main;

International Children’s library: http://en.childrenslibrary.org

Thornwood PS collection of dual-language books:

http://www.thornwoodps.ca/dual/index.htm

Happy reading!

The Grenoble Climate Committee

It is important for children to know what they have control of and what things they do not have control

of. Remind your child they cannot control the way others feel, act or think. However, they do have

control over the way they act, think and feel by being a leader.

Congratulations, our new gr. 4 Student Ambassadors!

We would like to congratulate our new student ambassadors!

Their names are:

Mrs. Farrow’s class – Gurneet, Mia, Nethu, Preet, Saidah, and Tajvir

Mr. Co’Dyre’s class – Arshia, Dharra, Laiba, and Navdeep

Many of our gr. 4 students apply every year to become Grenoble student ambassadors. In order

to be chosen, they first have to apply and write a paragraph of why they want to become an

ambassador, then get trained and finally take a teacher on a test tour around the school. It

takes time and personal commitment to go through this selection process. This year, eleven of

our young Grenoble leaders have made to the finishing line!

We also wanted to say “Thank you!” to our last year’s ambassadors, Anjani, Arjun, Dominic and

Ravneet, who spent a number of nutrition breaks training our gr. 4 ambassador candidates. You

have done a wonderful job!

We are looking forward to working with all of you in making our

school a welcoming place

School Climate Committee

Math Tips for December

Students enjoy playing with long strings and ribbons and making

and describing shapes. This month we are suggesting that parents

can build on this activity by providing long loops of string or

elastic to stimulate conversations about 2D shapes. To make learning fun at

home, we encourage parents to try the following activities with their children.

- Make a shape using string, ribbon or elastic

- Sort different shapes by size, colour and type

- Go on a community walk this winter and look for

various shapes people have put up for the holiday

- Have your child describe shapes by asking: Have

you seen a shape like this before? Where?

- Have your child trace various shapes onto paper

- Use toothpicks and marshmallows to build 2D and 3D shapes

- to continue to discuss the school’s monthly math challenge

- (a whole school activity based on different math concepts which will be

posted in the gymnasium during monthly assemblies)

Our Monthly Math Challenge theme will be: Shapes in my community.

Thank you from the Numeracy Team.

It's time to register children born in 2013 for kindergarten

We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If

your child was born in 2013, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2017. 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 during Feb. 6 to 9, 2016. Visit

Grenoble Public School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 6, 7, 8 and 9 and from 5 to 8 p.m. on Feb.

9.

What you will need to bring to registration

Proof of child's age (one of the following)

Canadian birth certificate Canadian passport citizenship card/certificate Permanent Resident Card confirmation of permanent residence work permit refugee permit

Proof of address (one of the following)

Ontario driver's license utility bill bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution) credit card statement federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada

documents) purchase agreement

Proof of custody – children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation

supports an alternate living arrangement

Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated

Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 27, 2017

If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2017, 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 www.peelschools.org/French

The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2017-18 school year will be available online at

www.peelschools.org/French as of Thursday, Dec. 1, 2016 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is

Friday, Jan. 27, 2017 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 Folkstone Public School. The phone number is 905-792-2266.

Enrolment cap and random selection process

As there is a grade 1 FI enrolment cap in place, there are a limited number of spots 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 on a 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 a computerized 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—www.peelschools.org/French.

Call Folkstone Public School at 905-792-2266. Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.

Bus cancellation & 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 announced on radio and television

stations listed below and will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at

www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling

905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 CHUM AM1050 CFTR AM680

CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1

NEWSTALK1010 AM EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860

FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107

CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSE

GLOBAL NEWS CTV BREAKFAST TELEVISION

One of the following messages will be announced (highlighted text only):

Peel District School Board buses are cancelled.

This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations

could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require

busing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will

operate as usual.

All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed.

This means that all schools and Board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and

board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits.

All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled.

This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education

courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled.

This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education

courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

Help your family stay warm this winter Canada Safety Council recommends the following tips for staying comfortable and preventing hypothermia when working or playing outdoors:

Wear a warm hat—most body heat is lost through the head. Children should keep an extra hat at school.

Wear layered clothing. Layers allow warm air to stay trapped around the body. Protect your feet and hands. Wear loose waterproof boots. If the boots have liners, carry an

extra pair to replace damp ones or take an extra pair of socks. Invest in thick socks to keep your feet warm. Mittens are warmer than gloves. Carry an extra pair of mittens to school, on outings, etc.

Prevent dehydration and exhaustion, which can lead to hypothermia. Drink plenty of fluids and pace yourself when doing vigorous activities.

Stay fit by exercising and eating well—people who are fit are less susceptible to hypothermia. If you stay indoors, avoid moving from a hot environment to a cold one. Excessive sweating

caused from an extreme change in temperature increases the risk of developing hypothermia. Eat high-energy food such as nuts and raisins. A balanced diet will also help keep you warm and

healthy in the winter. If you are travelling (on the road or in the wilderness) carry emergency supplies.

Winter bus safety

The following winter school bus safety tips will help to keep your child safe throughout the winter months. Allow extra time to get to your bus stop. Wear bright clothing so the bus can see you in the early morning and late evening. Stand away from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room to stop when there is snow and ice. Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent slipping on wet or icy steps or road

surfaces. Dress properly—winter clothing, hats, and boots will keep you warm. Don't throw snowballs at the bus or other children waiting for the bus. Don't slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the street. Don't push or shove around the bus. Someone could fall down on the ice and get hurt.

On very rare occasions, buses are late because of weather conditions or mechanical problems.

Talk to your child about what to do if the bus is late. Here are some suggestions:

When possible, wait with your child for the bus. Make sure your child knows a phone number where he can reach you or another trusted adult. Teach your child how and where to get help. Talk to your child about what a "safe" stranger is. Help your child set up a bus stop buddy system so your child has someone to wait with for the bus.

Time for school - A parent’s guide to regular school attendance

Elementary school is a wonderful time in the life of a child, a time of great strides in learning and in

social and emotional development. Many things affect your child’s success, from the quality of his or her

teachers, to the makeup of the class. One of the most important factors is your child’s regular and timely

attendance.

Getting to class on time, and avoiding absences, are critical if your child is to get the most out of school.

It seems obvious. But the fact is that elementary students tend to miss and average of eight or more

school days during the year. What can you as a parent do to help ensure your child’s proper attendance?

Is your child missing more? Why does attendance matter?

First, understand that getting to school–every day and on time–matters at every level, perhaps even

more so in elementary school. That’s because important learning occurs daily, right from the start of

class. And because you establish patterns early on. By being punctual and responsible, children are

acquiring positive habits about school attendance. Some other things to consider:

By being late, children miss important social time with their peers before school begins.

Students who are late often feel embarrassed or self-conscious.

Late arrivals can disrupt the routine of the classroom.

A last-minute rush can be stressful for the child, and get her to school in the wrong frame of mind.

Missing even five or 10 minutes of the day can make it harder for the student to understand the material being taught.

Frequent absenteeism leads to gaps in a child’s skills and knowledge base, cause the child to fall behind his peers and hurt his self-esteem.

Too many missed school days can increase isolation, as the child stands out from her classmates and misses opportunities to develop socially.

Absenteeism makes it tougher for the child to develop a good rapport with the teachers.

When Time is Ticking

Few homes run like clockwork. The morning routine, especially, can be a mad scramble. But there are

effective strategies for getting your little one up and out the door on time.

Get your child to bed at a reasonable hour.

Set realistic and consistent schedules and rules at home. Getting ready for school should be part of the child’s overall routine, something that’s expected of him every day.

The night before school, do whatever is necessary to shave time in the morning, such as setting out clothes, packing lunch, and setting schoolbags at the door.

Have a set morning routine that the child can easily follow, i.e. washing hands and face, going to the bathroom, dressing, making the bed, brushing teeth, and eating a healthy breakfast.

Avoid any distractions that can slow the child down, like TV or games.

If you’re running late regularly, set your alarm to get up earlier.

Is it a sick day? Children do get sick sometimes – they are still developing natural resistance to certain infections, their

hygiene behaviours are still developing and germs spread more easily in a classroom. So some missed

school is unavoidable, for the child’s own well-being, and the protection of her classmates. But there are

ways to cut down on sick days.

Teach your child about proper handwashing, after going to the bathroom, playing outside or wiping his nose.

Follow other healthy habits, from eating nutritious food to getting enough sleep.

Some symptoms make school attendance uncomfortable, like a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea. But if you’re unsure whether your child is sick enough to miss school, talk to your doctor.

Some children pretend to be sick to avoid school. Ask yourself is the child’s symptoms are vague, (i.e. a headache, upset stomach, fatigue), if your child tends to miraculously recover just after school starts or ends, or if the illness is happening during stressful times at school or at home. Allowing your child to remain home when there’s no real illness sets a bad pattern.

If you decide to keep your child home, please report your child’s absence via the SafeArrival system quickly and conveniently in one of the three ways:

o Call an automated, interactive toll free number – 1-855-209-6155 o Report absences online by accessing the SafeArrival parent portal on

pdsb.schoolconnects.com o Download the SafeArrival mobile application for Apple and Android devices

Once you have reported your child’s absence, keep the child in bed or doing quiet, low-key activities. A day off from school shouldn’t be a holiday, it should be a time to recuperate from illness, so the child can return as soon as possible.

Set the right example Children follow the lead of their parents. If you place an importance on regular and prompt school

attendance, so will your child.

Show interest in your child’s education by asking about the school day, celebrating school successes, attending school events and parent-teacher interviews, volunteering at school, and communicating with your child’s teacher. The more you value school, the more your child will.

Provide a home environment that encourages learning and curiosity.

Treat the school hours with respect. If you have to make an appointment for your child, arrange it before or after school or, if that’s not possible, at the very beginning or end of the day.

When it comes to planning family trips, some parents will factor in the schedule in the higher grades, but think little of pulling their child out of school. If anything, younger students can be affected more when they miss an extended period, finding it tough to relearn classroom routines and rejoin their peer group. Learning is cumulative, building on the skills and concepts that were introduced before. And this process is ongoing. Family trips can be wonderful learning experiences themselves. But if they must occur during the school year, please save them for scheduled breaks.

If your child resists going to school, for no apparent reason, talk to him or her about any possible problems with the school, teacher or other kids. However, don’t give in to coaxing, pleading or threatening and keep the child at home. That creates a bad precedent.

Need more information?

If you have any questions regarding any of the issues raised here about lateness or attendance, or if

you’re looking for other tips on getting your child to school, please talk to us. By working together, we

can help support a more successful school experience for your child. Visit our website at

www.peelschools.org.

Subscribe to receive news from the Peel board

Take advantage of our electronic subscription service to automatically receive updates from the

Peel District School Board. Subscribing is easy just visit our website at www.peelschools.org

and click on the subscription link under "Quick Links."

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 at

www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca.

You can also subscribe to receive:

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learn more about board news and school events.

Board agendas

Learn more about Peel board meetings by subscribing to receive agendas. Meetings of the

board are open to the public and are held on the second and fourth Tuesday of the month.

Board highlights

Briefing is a newsletter with highlights of decisions made by trustees at board meetings. It is

sent out on the second and fourth Thursday of every month and immediately following any

special board meetings.

Job postings for non-teaching staff

Learn about each new non-teaching job that is posted on the Peel board's Job Board.

Follow us on social media

Social media is the easiest and fastest way to stay connected to the amazing things

happening in the Peel District School Board.

Follow @Peelschools on

Twitter to:

learn about our schools and programs

find out if buses are cancelled during bad weather

share the Peel smile

Follow Peel schools

on Facebook

at www.facebook.com/peelschools.

Follow @Peelschools on

Instagram where we share

motivational and inspirational

#PeelProud moments.

Our school is on social media too!

Follow us on Twitter @XXXX, on Instagram @XXXX and on

Facebook at www.facebook.com/XXXX.

Special technology offers for Peel board students, parents and staff

Does your child need a computer or tablet for school? Equity of access to technology is a key priority for

the Peel 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 www.rcto.ca.

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 www.refurbitstock.ca/peel and enter peelregion before

proceeding.

Microsoft

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

http://pdsb.me/1X2RtMF.

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 www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stcentury/byod.

Celebrating Faith and Culture December 2016

December Luut'aa and Little Spirit Moon Aboriginal Spirituality

December 8 Bodhi Day (Rohatsu) Buddhism

December 10 Maun Agiyaras or Muanajiyaras Jainism

Sunset of December 11 to 29 the month of Masa'il Bahá’í

Eve of December 10 or 11 to 11

or 12

Milad-un-Nabi Islam

December 13 Birthday of Imam Agakhan Islam

December 14 Sanghamitta Day Buddhism

December 15 Amitabha Buddha’s Birthday Buddhism

Eve of December 20 to 21 Yule Wicca

December 21 Tohji-taisai Shinto

Sunset of December 24 to

January 1 Chanukah Judaism

December 25 Christmas Christianity and Canada

December 26 Boxing Day Christianity and Canada

December 26 Zarathosht-no-Diso Zoroastrianism

December 26 to January 1 Kwanza African-Canadian

communities

December 30 to January 17 the month of Sharaf Bahá’í

December 31 to January 4 Ghambar Maidyarem Zoroastrianism