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ROYAL

ORCHARD MS

CORE VALUES:

Royal Orchard Middle School will cultivate a collaborative professional learning community:

Staff, students, parents & community

strive for

Excellence in the 4 A’s

Engagement & a celebration of

Diversity and

Student Success

Hours:

Morning bell - 8:25 a.m. Classes begin - 8:35 a.m. Lunch hour - 11:15 am-12:15 pm Dismissal - 2:35 p.m. Reporting an Absence Call: 1-855-209-6155

People to Know: Principal - Mr. Kervin White Vice Principal - Ms Allison Held Office Manager - Mrs. D. Guglietti Superintendent – Jeff deFreitas Trustee – David Green

Royal Orchard Middle School will foster an environment that values mutual respect, lifelong learning and diversity. We celebrate staff, students and community.

77 Royal Orchard Dr

905.455.3760

May 2019

Newsletter

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May (whole month) Asian Heritage Month

May 7th Grade 6 Track & Field Meet @ Ching Park

May 8th Grade 7 Track & Field Meet @ Ching Park

May 8th Parent Council

May 9th Grade 8 Track & Field Meet @ Ching Park

May 9th Welcome to Grade 6 Parent Info Night

May 15th Student Led Learning Walk & BBQ

May 23-June 1 Grade 6 EQAO Testing

Royal Orchard puts the spotlight on Asian Heritage In December 2001, the Senate adopted a motion proposed by Senator Vivienne Poy to officially designate May as Asian Heritage Month in Canada. In May 2002, the Government of Canada signed an official declaration to designate May as Asian Heritage Month. Throughout May, students, staff and parents from across Peel will participate in a number of activities that promote the understanding of the many contributions made by Asian Canadians. Here is a list of Asian Heritage Month events happening at May 13th: Cultural Dress Up Day May 14th: Henna Art during lunch recess (11:35-12:15) in the front foyer May 16th: Samosa Day (pre-ordered samosas will be distributed during Advisory) May 21st: Henna Art during lunch recess (11:35-12:15) in the front foyer May 23rd: Samosa Day (pre-ordered samosas will be distributed during Advisory) June 4th: Artwork due in room 217 June 6th: Door Decorating Contest June 7th: Staff Potluck (starts 11:15 in the staff room)

June 7th: Asian Heritage Month Assembly (in the afternoon)

School Council Meeting Please join us for our next School Council meeting on Wednesday May 8st at 7:00 p.m. in the library. Learn about our school. Contribute your voice to our ROMS community. If you would are interested in attending a meeting , please join us or contact Allison Held, VP. Welcome to everyone!

How to report absences when School Manager

is experiencing technical issues. Recently before the Winter break, the SafeArrival system, provided by School Messenger, experienced problems reporting absences through the App and website. While School Messenger works diligently to fix any technical issues, parents/guardians are reminded that absences can always be reported by calling the School Messenger toll-free number 1-855-209-6155 even when the App and website are inaccessible.

DATES TO REMEMBER

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Peel schools honour police officers during

Police Appreciation Week The Peel District School Board will pay tribute to police officers by holding Police Appreciation Week from May 13 to 17, 2019. Peel students and staff will show their appreciation for the tremendous job being done by police to protect schools, homes and communities. Police Appreciation Week coincides with National Police Week. National Police Week pays tribute to the work of police officers across Canada. During this week, students, staff and parents in schools throughout Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga will honour the work of police officers and thank them for enhancing public safety and security.

40 hours to graduate – Start this summer

All students in Ontario secondary schools are required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of community involvement in order to obtain their Ontario Secondary School Diploma. Students are encouraged to start accumulating community involvement hours in the summer after grade 8.

Research shows that early involvement in community service helps students build a spirit of civic responsibility which can be expanded as they move through secondary school. The community involvement component is an opportunity for students and parents to work together, independent of the school. With parent support, your teen is responsible for finding and completing 40 hours of community service. Parents should provide assistance to their teen in the selection of community involvement activities. Here’s how to get started:

Spend some time with your teen going through the list of eligible and ineligible activities by visiting www.peelschools.org/students/40hours

View the volunteer opportunities posted at www.peelschools.org/students/40hours/volunteerjobboard/

Create a resume using myBlueprint to capture a potential supervisor’s attention while showcasing your teen’s skills.

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Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes Do you know an adult who is interested in improving their English language skills for work, study or daily life? Through the Continuing & Adult Education department, the Peel District School Board offers a wide variety of English language classes that help adult learners experience success in Canadian English in both listening/speaking and reading/writing. Courses are designed for a range of basic, intermediate and advanced English (Levels 1 to 8) as well as the more experienced learner needing to prepare for an IELTS exam.

Classes are ongoing - Register anytime. All learners who complete a session will earn a certificate of learning from the Peel District School Board. Certificates of completion at Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 and greater can be submitted as proof of language proficiency for Canadian Citizenship applications. Classes operate from six locations in Brampton and Mississauga with three specially designed adult centres at:

Bramalea - Adult Education Centre – Bramalea Secondary School, 510 Balmoral Dr, Brampton, Door #33

Brampton - Adult Education Centre - #300 - 7700 Hurontario Street, Brampton

Mississauga - Adult Education Centre - 100 Elm Drive West, Mississauga, Room 117

To learn more or to register, call 905-270-6000, then press 2

Also visit www.peelschools.org/adulteducation or follow us on Twitter: @PDSBLearnESL

May 15 – Celebrate Peel IT Support Staff and Media

Support Services Appreciation Day This year, the Peel District School Board will recognize the contributions of its IT support staff and media support services on May 15, 2019. The Peel board appreciates the important work of these individuals to ensure that innovative, reliable and adaptable solutions are available to support student success through equitable access to technology. We thank them for providing quality service and for supporting students and staff every day.

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EMPOWERING MODERN LEARNERS

IN THE LIBRARY LEARNING

COMMONS MakerSpace Escapades

CONGRATULATIONS to our Balloon Powered Car Race winners:

1st – James Chikere 2nd – Aryaman Sharma 3rd – Burhan Syed

Forest of Reading Celebration at the Powerade

Centre On May 16th, we will be hopping on the bus to join this year’s Forest of Reading Celebration at the Powerade Centre again. There were so many great reading choices this year, making it very difficult to vote. Congratulations to Anshika and Ruth for reading the most books in both Silver Birch and Red Maple reading categories.

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Celebrating and Promoting Children’s Mental Health

Children’s Mental Health Week is happening May 5-11 in Ontario. It’s a time to focus on the important ways we can promote and nurture the mental health and well-being of our children.

Mental Health: A State Of Well-Being Did you know that we ALL have mental health? It is more than just the absence of illness. Mental health is defined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully, and is able to make a contribution to their community (World Health Organization). Indigenous teaching reminds us that mental wellness is a balance of the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional parts of ourselves and is enriched when individuals experience purpose, hope, belonging and meaning in their lives (First Nations Mental Wellness Continuum Framework). A child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health when it comes to success at school, in friendships and in life.

Here are some key tips and strategies to nurture your child’s mental health and resilience from your PDSB Mental Health Resource Team:

Safe, responsive relationships between adults and children is our greatest tool for promoting positive

development and mental health in youth. When a child has consistent, caring adults in their life both at home and in the community, when they know they are loved and valued no matter what, and have someone trusted they can turn to when a problem arises, their resilience is bolstered.

Listen and validate feelings. Encourage children to talk about their thoughts and feelings, and show lots

of love and acceptance. Keep the conversation flowing by asking open-ended questions and spending quality time together at mealtimes and by participating together in activities your child enjoys.

Help Your Child Develop a Positive Sense of Self. A child’s self-perception is linked with their mental

health. Help them set realistic goals; praise them for effort as well as achievement by providing genuine, realistic praise. Foster positive connections with their cultural or faith community. A child with high self-esteem believes they are a good person, understands their positive qualities and strives for a successful, happy life.

Model and Teach Healthy Ways to Manage Stress. While it’s important to try to protect your child from

overwhelming or toxic stress, not all stress is bad. In fact, some stress helps us motivate and prepare us to perform our best, and there is bound to be some stress after a disagreement with friends or being cut from a sports team. Give your child the tools they need to cope with stress and big feelings in a healthy way: establish healthy habits including exercise, getting enough sleep and proper nutrition; practicing gratitude and deep breathing, journalling or talking with a trusted adult are just a few examples.

Notice Changes and Reach Out for Help. If you notice signs that your child feels sad or overly anxious

about normal situations like going to school or meeting new people, take note. A change in mood or behaviour that lasts more than two weeks, impacting social problems, academic issues or family problems could be sign of a mental health concern. Keep the lines of communication open with your child’s teacher and other caring adults in their life to discuss observations. Remember, there is no age too early for a child or family to see a mental health provider; in fact, it might benefit the whole family by providing resources and support to caregivers who may be struggling, too.

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Where Can I Get Help? At school, your child can reach out to their teacher, coach, guidance teacher or school administrator as a starting point, to talk about their mental health. Every PDSB school is also assigned Social Work and Psychology staff to provide consultation and direct service to students, and assist students and families to get connected to helpful resources in the community. In the community, visit www.WhereToStart.ca to access mental health services for children and youth in Peel. For a quick guide to mental health resources, visit bit.ly/PeelYouthResources.

For more tips on building mental health and resilience, visit bit.ly/ResiliencyTips For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter @MHRTPeel. Adapted from Caring for Kids (2019) and Very Well Family (2018).

We Welcome the World Centres The Peel District School Board’s We Welcome the World Centres located in Brampton, Malton and Mississauga, are the first point of contact for all newcomer families to become familiar with the educational system in Peel. The centres are open all year—including the summer months— from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addition to providing literacy and numeracy assessments, the We Welcome the World Centres provide newcomers with a host of services including: reception, orientation, interpretation and referrals.

At each centre, parents/guardians and students will discover: • settlement service information • age and grade appropriate educational and related program resources • information about various community supports • translation of materials to support the reception and assessment process • computer portals— providing information on Peel resources

For more information about the We Welcome the World Centre and the services they provide, call 905-366-8791.

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Using Social Media Safely

With the growing number of social media sites, it is no surprise that social media is the most common form of communication for children and teenagers. Posts, status updates, comments, instant messages, video uploads, tweets and texts have become a regular part of their lives. While there are many positive benefits to using social media, including staying connected with friends and expressing your interests, students must be cautious in their use of these networks. Among the most popular social media platforms used are Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube and Whatsapp Messenger. Many of these platforms are free and are available on smartphones and other electronic devices. These platforms are easy to navigate and often allow information to be shared instantly, not only with friends, but with strangers. On social media, it is important to remember that the world is watching. Here are some tips, provided by the Canadian Safe School Network and GetSafeOnline.org, to keep your children safe and help them make smart choices when using social media: Set some boundaries for your child before they get their first ‘connected device’ (mobile, tablet, laptop or

games console). Once they have it, it can be more difficult to change the way they use it or the settings

Have a conversation about what is appropriate online behaviour and what actions could have huge repercussions that could damage their reputation and be harmful to others

Talk to your child about the kind of websites they look at. Encourage them to speak to you if they come across something they find worrying or upsetting on websites, games or social media.

Discuss with your child what is safe and appropriate to post and share online. Written comments, photos and videos all form part of their ‘digital footprint’ and could be seen by anyone and available on the internet forever, even if it is subsequently deleted

Explain to your child that being online doesn’t give them anonymity or protection, and that they shouldn’t do anything online that they wouldn’t do face-to-face. Users should only accept people they know in order to protect themselves from spammers, strangers and others who may be using social networking sites to commit crimes

Unlike when they’re meeting someone face-to-face, children don’t always know who they’re actually ‘talking’ to online, even if they think they do. Tell your children they must never email, chat, or text with strangers, and it’s never okay to meet a stranger in the real world

Ensure your children set their privacy settings appropriately. Take the time to learn how privacy settings work on your children’s favourite sites, and teach them how to control their privacy

Tell your children never to share personal and private information with anyone online. This includes, but is not limited to, his or her full name, age, birth date, address, phone number, social insurance number, credit card information and parents’ full names

Limit the amount of time that your children spend on social media platforms and talk about the importance of healthy and appropriate use of technology.

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Successful Snapshots

May 2019 Edition

Follow us on Twitter Peel District School Board @PeelSchools

Royal Orchard MS @Royal_Orchard

AIM Program @ROMSAIM