In the blink of an eye, the first month of school has just vanished! Please make sure that you are checking message bags and agendas daily for notes, reminders and communication from both the school and your child’s teacher.

Please join me in congratulating the members of the 2018-2019 School Council:

Mrs. Quin Blake - Returning Chair

Mrs. Jennie Roberts - Secretary

Mrs. Dayle Nelson - Treasurer

As a very small school, we are looking for anyone interested in participating in School Council. Though just starting, the School Council has already donated $500.00 to reduce the costs of attending the Markham Fair to only $8.00, begun our Friday pizza lunch beginning on October 12th and launched our Fresh from the Farm healthy living program that ties into our recent trip. Every little bit helps so feel free to drop by the next School Council meeting scheduled for Monday, November 5th!

Our teachers have worked exceedingly hard to help ensure that your child experiences success in both our literacy and numeracy programs. Though only one measurement to track student achievement, the 2017-2018 EQAO results have been affirming of the work that starts in kindergarten and continues into Stuart Scott P.S. Results indicated that our students achieved levels 3 and 4 in the following areas: 85% in reading , 92% in writing and 77% in mathematics!

October’s character trait focuses on responsibility especially when we consider students taking ownership for their learning, their own belongings and their own behavior. Respect and responsibility are indeed the two essential cornerstones for success in life!

“Friendship is always a sweet responsibility , never an opportunity.”

-Khalil Gibran

“A hero is someone who understands the responsibility that comes with his freedom.”

- Bob Dylan

From the Principal

JLR Bell News

O C T O B E R 2 0 1 8 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2

I M P O R T A N T

D A T E S :

O C T O B E R :

1 - O R A N G E S H I R T D A Y

- S C H O O L C O U N C I L

M E E T I N G ( 6 : 3 0 -

7 : 3 0 P . M . )

8 - T H A N K S G I V I N G

( N O S C H O O L )

9 - C R O S S C O U N T R Y

M E E T

1 2 - C R O S S C O U N T R Y

R A I N D A T E

1 6 - R E G I O N A L

C R O S S C O U N T R Y

1 9 - R E G I O N A L

C R O S S C O U N T R Y

( R A I N D A T E )

2 2 - P A D A Y

( N O S C H O O L )

2 3 - O F F I C E R J O D I / Y R P

V I S I T — G R . 3

3 1 - H A L L O W E E N

121 Queen St., Newmarket, ON L3Y 2E9 Tel: 905-895-2601 Principal: Mr. Paul de Sousa

Administrative Assistant: Brenda Slagter Lead Caretaker: Bill Ballo Superintendent: Mr. Erik Khilji Trustee: Mr. Martin Van Beek

School Website: jlrbell.ps.yrdsb.ca

Our Board Mission: To advance student achievement and well-being through public education, which motivates learners, fosters inclusion, inspires innovation and builds community.

Please check out our Website :

jlrbell.ps.yrdsb.ca

for the most up to date

information about what is happening at JLR Bell PS

Follow us on Twitter @JLRBellPS

P A G E 2

Allergy Alert!

Students and Medication

Protecting our Instructional Time At J.L.R. Bell, we make every effort to protect student instructional time . In order to avoid classroom disruptions, students will not be notified during instructional times about items dropped off for them in the office. Students are welcome to check for them at the office at the beginning of recess or lunch. Mrs. Slagter will buzz into rooms just before recess, lunch and home dismissal. If your child has an appointment, please send a note with your child to the teacher. If possible, please arrange to pick them up during the recess or lunch break.

We realize this is not always possible, but any additional efforts in this regard would be most appreciated.

Either on a regular basis or at times throughout the year, some students may need to take medication at school. Parents must complete a permission form and have it approved by the Principal before medication can be taken or stored at school. All medication is kept locked in the office and students are supervised as they take any medication. Students are not permitted at any time to take any medication to school and keep it in their classroom, lunch bags or backpacks. Please contact the office if you have any questions.

Due to students with extreme food allergies as well as making a conscious effort to promote healthy food choices, we will not allow food products for birthdays or other class celebrations. Also, please note that we are a Peanut/Nut Free school. Please do not sent any food containing peanut/nut ingredient. This included food stating “may contain peanut/nut”.

J L R B E L L N E W S

The rush of cars, buses and children arriving at school can create many dangers. Everyone plays a role in ensuring the safety of children when they are going back and forth to school. This year we have three additional mini vans ; therefore, please be aware of the additional traffic and avoid parking in the bus only area. Use the parking lot across the street to ease the congestion, particularly around the southern parking lot closest to the Kindergarten yard.

Drivers, to keep kids safe in the school zone:

Reduce your speed and be ready to stop at all times

Avoid distractions (i.e. Cell Phones)

Drive cautiously and follow the rules (even when you are late!)

Be patient and wait for children to complete their crossing before proceeding

School Zone Safety

Cross Country

P A G E 3 V O L U M E 1 , I S S U E 2

Our Gr. 3 and Gr. 4 students on our cross country team have been training hard for their meet on Oct. 9th at George Richardson Park. We want to wish them good luck and let them know that we are proud of them!

We are seeing an increasing number of electronics, dolls, stuffed animals, action figures, cars and other personal items from home being brought to school. Please be aware that these toys and personal items can be very distracting to your student and their classmates. It is hard for young students to stay focused on a lesson when there are some cool and cuddly toys just waiting to be played with. Also, if these amazing and special toys go missing or get broken it can be very upsetting to your child.

With this in mind, we are asking you to please keep these special toys at home where they are safe and well taken care of. The school and the staff are not responsible for these items if they are lost or damaged.

Thank you for your help with this matter.

Please Keep Toys at Home

Reminder - Parking Lot Safety! Parents: please review this parking lot safety page. Many of you are still parking in the Kiss and Ride lane . This lane is meant to be a “drop off and go” lane to keep the traffic flowing. At no point is this lane to be used to park your car and get out to walk your student to the doors. This lane is for vehicles to line up in and wait until they have reached the spot in line closest to the crosswalk. This will ensure that vehicle drop off is “one at a time”. Student exiting their vehicles will safely use the crosswalk to reach the school.

Parents, if you are walking your child to the school doors you MUST park your car in a designated parking spot, not down the driveway exiting the school nor in front of the designated fire route. If there are no spots available in our 2 parking lots , please use the parking lot across the street.

Please be aware of our Fire Route and do not park your car there. Town of Newmarket Parking Enforcement monitors these areas and will ticket illegally parked vehicles.

Student's safety is our FIRST concern and we take it seriously. Please help us to keep our school a safe place for all students. We strongly encourage parents to walk their children to and from school. Walking promotes a healthy life style and creates awareness of their community and

surroundings.

Reminders Halloween is a very fun time at school for staff and students. The following are just a

few reminders to help everyone have an enjoyable and safe time: Students are to arrive to school wearing their costumes in the morning.

We will be having our Halloween Parade at 8:50 a.m. Parents are welcome to stay outside after morning drop off to watch the parade of ghouls and guys!

Please have regular clothes for students to change into - costumes can be uncomfortable and distracting for the remainder of the day.

No masks, no weapons, and no overtly scary costumes. Please do not send in candy/edible treats to be shared with the class. We will not

distribute and they will be returned to you . We have students with many serious allergies. Non - edible treats such as pencils or stickers are welcome.

Have a safe and spooky Halloween!

Markham Fair Trip - Sept. 27, 2018

Terry Fox Run - Sept. 28, 2018

Orange Shirt Day - October 1, 2018

A Parent’s Guide to Regular School Attendance School can be a wonderful time in the life of a child. It is a time for learning and for developing friendships. Children begin to develop lifelong habits and skills. Getting to class on time, and avoiding absences are critical, if your child is to get the most out of school. What can you, as a parent, do to help ensure your child’s regular attendance? Why does attendance matter ? Getting to school – every day and on time – is very important. Learning occurs daily, right from the start of class. By establishing patterns early on (i.e. by being punctual and responsible) children acquire positive habits about school attendance. Some other things to consider • If children are late arriving to school, they miss important social time with their peers before school begins. • Students who are late often feel embarrassed or self-conscious. • Late arrivals disrupt the routine of the classroom. • A last-minute rush can be stressful for the child, and get him/her to school in the wrong frame of mind. • Missing even five or ten minutes of the day can make it harder for a student to understand the material being taught. • Frequent absenteeism leads to gaps in a child’s skills and knowledge base and can cause the child to fall behind peers and de-crease self-esteem. • Too many missed school days can increase isolation as the child stands out from his/her classmates and misses opportunities to develop socially. Absenteeism makes it tougher for the child to develop a good rapport with the teachers. TIPS FOR BEING ON TIME The morning can be a very hectic time. Here are some effective tips for getting your child 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/her every day. • Do whatever is necessary the night before to save time in the morning, such as setting out clothes, packing lunches, and setting backpacks at the door. • Create a set morning routine that your 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 your child down, like TV or games. • Set your alarm to get up earlier if you’re running late regularly. HOW SICK IS SICK? Children do get sick. They are still developing natural resistance to certain infections, their hygiene behaviors are not fully developed yet and germs spread. Some missed school is unavoidable for your child’s own well-being and the protection of classmates. There are ways to cut down on sick days: Teach your child about proper hand washing after going to the bathroom, playing outside or wiping his/her 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. 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 if the child’s symptoms are vague, (i.e. a headache, upset stom-

ach, fatigue) or if your child tends to instantly recover just after school starts or ends, or if the illness is happening during stress-ful times at school or at home. Allowing your child to remain home when there’s no real illness may start a bad habit.

If you decide to keep your child home, inform the school and 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 importance on regular and prompt school attendance, so will your child. • Provide a home environment that encourages learning and curiosity. • Treat school hours with respect. If you have to make an appointment for your child, arrange it before or after school or at the v very beginning or end of the day. • Show interest in your child’s education by asking about the school day, celebrating school successes, attending school events, parent-teacher interviews, volunteering at school, and communicating with your child’s teacher. The more you value school, the more your child will. • If your child resists going to school for no apparent reason, talk to him/her about any possible problems with the school, teacher or other children. Don’t give in to coaxing or pleading; that creates a bad precedent. • Some families plan trips during the school year due to scheduling of vacations from work or to take advantage of low travel costs. When this occurs, children of every age miss valuable learning which can impact on their success. Even brief absences can have a negative impact. Family trips can be a wonderful learning experience, but should be saved for school vacation time, such as March Break.

RespectResponsibilityCourageCompassion/EmpathyOptimismInitiative/IndependenceHonestyFairness/IntegrityPerseveranceInclusiveness

Sunday  Monday  Tuesday  Wednesday  Thursday  Friday  Saturday 

  1 Orange Shirt Day School Council Mee ng  (6:30—7:30) 

2  3  4  5  6 

7  8  

9 Area  Cross‐country Meet 

10  11  12 Area Cross‐country  (Rain date)  Pizza Lunch 

13 

14  15 16

Regional Cross-country

17  18  19

Regional Cross country

(Rain date)

Pizza Lunch

20 

21  22 PA Day  No School 

23  Officer Jodi visit ‐ Gr. 3’s  

24  25  26   Pizza Lunch 

27 

28  29  30  31 Halloween  Parade—8:50 am Outside 

     

October 2018 BUS ROUTES HOTLINE

1-877-330-3001 www.schoolbuscity.com

J.L.R. Bell Public School Tel: (905) 895-2601 Fax: (905) 895-6984

Website: www.jlrbell.ps.yrdsb.ca eMail: jlrbell.ps@yrdsb.ca

Character Trait: Responsibility