Learning Commons News

Pine Grove Learning Commons Presents…
The Ontario Library Association’s Forest of Reading Program
A Literacy Initiative

What is the Forest of Reading?
The Forest of Reading is a library program in which books written and illustrated by Canadians are read by or to students.  Students then participate in a province-wide event by voting for their favourite book in April 2015.  Based on the voting results, the author and illustrator are honoured with the award. 

This library program is open to all students at Pine Grove.  Students are required to read the appropriate number of books in their age group.  Once the books are read, students are asked to complete activities related to their reading and vote for the book they decide is the most appealing for their age group. Students who successfully complete the program will receive a certificate from the Ontario Library Association.  Students who wish to participate in the program are asked to see Mrs. Meleca in the Pine Grove Learning Commons.    

Blue Spruce Award (Kindergarten to Grade Two)
•       10 books are read to the students in order for them to vote in April 2015
•       a great introduction to the world of picture books by Canadian authors – each child is rewarded by being part of a province wide voting event; it is a very exciting time for everyone

Silver Birch Express Award (Grade Three and Four)
Silver Birch Fiction/Non-Fiction Award (Grade Five and Six)
•       5 books in either the fiction or non-fiction category must be read by the students in order to vote in April 2015
•       provides Canadian authors with insight into young people’s reading preferences and gives students proud ownership of their vote for their favourite book

Red Maple Fiction Award (Grade Seven and Eight)

Red Maple Non-Fiction Award (Grade Seven and Eight)
•       5 books in either the fiction or non-fiction category must be read by the students in order to vote in April 2015
•       encourages students to choose good quality Canadian literature and authors, and exposes students to a variety of book genres

For more information about the Forest of Reading program please contact Mrs. Meleca or go to the following link www.accessola.com

2014 Scholastic Book Fair Results           
Thank you to the many parents, students and staff who volunteered and lent a helping hand to make our Pine Grove Scholastic Book Fair Literacy Event a huge success.  In November, the Pine Grove community and families helped our school by purchasing $7200.00 in books – thank you!  By making purchases at the Scholastic Book Fair, our school will be able to purchase more books for our classrooms and for our Learning Commons.  Once again, this event helped promote literacy in our school by providing students with a variety of fiction and non-fiction materials at all levels and has allowed students to appreciate good quality literature. 

Enjoy your new books and happy reading!

Inclement Weather Day

Today is an Inclement Weather Day.  School buses are cancelled and all hot lunches are cancelled for today.   If your child is at school today, please ensure that you give yourself plenty of time to come pick them up before 2:45.  The after school child care is open for those children who are registered for this program.

December newsletter

Pine Grove Newsletter: December 2014

86 Gamble St.Woodbridge, ON  L4L 1R2 Tel: 905-850-067 Fax: 905-850-3869  Website: www.pinegrove.ps.yrdsb.ca

Principal: Mr. B. Fisher    Vice Principal: Ms. A. Loopstra

Superintendent: Mr. C. LaTouche 905-764-6830 

Trustee:  Mrs. A. DeBartolo  905-898-9653

Congratulations to our re-elected trustee and chair of the YRDSB, Anna DeBartolo!

Pine Grove has a New Blog!

At a recent Digital Leadership conference hosted by YRDSB, we had the opportunity to learn more about blogging as an effective way to keep families and community abreast of activities, events, and initiatives that are happening at Pine Grove P.S.    

Please visit our blog site at    http://pinegrovepublicschool.blogspot.ca/

You can subscribe to email and this blog will notify you when a new post has been added.   

You will notice that this month the Newsletter has a new, simpler format.  This is to facilitate a move towards using our blog to share information.  For the month of December we will post the Newsletter on the website as per usual practice, but we will also post on our blog! 

In January, we will use the blog as a way to share information.  Please check for school information updates, photos, and stories about past events and activities. 

You can subscribe via email to get notification if a new post has been added.

Upcoming Dates

December 3^rd       

·         You’re the Chef

·         Girls Volleyball Tournament

·         Lights Out Wednesday

December 4^th       

·         Boys Volleyball Tournament

                  

December 5^th       

·         You’re the Chef

December 10^th     

·         You’re the Chef

·         Quebec City parent info night (grade 8)

December 12^th     

·         You’re the Chef

December 17^th     

·         K-4 Awards Ceremony (1:10pm)

December 22^nd     

·         Start of winter break

January 5^th

·         School Starts Again

·         School Council Meeting: 7:00pm 

January 16^th        

·         PA Day.  No School

WINTER WEATHER

All students are required to go outside twice a day. Please make sure your child comes to school dressed appropriately to go outdoors. All students should have an outdoor pair of shoes or boots, as well as an indoor pair of shoes to wear in the classroom and for physical education. Children go outside for all recesses unless the weather does not permit it. Students who are ILL SHOULD NOT COME TO SCHOOL until completely recovered as indoor supervision is NOT provided during recess.

WITH THE WET AND MUDDY WEATHER AHEAD OF US, PLEASE SEND EXTRA CLOTHING LIKE SOCKS AND PANTS TO BE KEPT AT SCHOOL. IT WOULD HELP REDUCE THE CALLS MADE TO PARENTS ASKING TO COME IN WITH DRY CLOTHES.       

REMEMBRANCE DAY ASSEMBLY 

We would like to thank all of the teachers and students who contributed to a wonderful Remembrance Day assembly. It was filled with poems, presentations, dance and music from the choir and band.

Kindergarten Registration to Commence

Kindergarten registration will commence on January 16, 2015 for the 2015-16 school year. Registration forms are available on YRDSB’s website: www.yrdsb.ca. Children who turn four or five years old during 2015, live within the school boundary and whose parents are public school tax supporters will be eligible to register for kindergarten. A kindergarten information session for parents is being planned for this spring. For more information please visit the YRDSB website or contact your local school.

Please contact Mrs. Skoko and/or Mrs. Kahr in the Main Office at Pine Grove Public School for further

Information regarding Kindergarten Registration for the upcoming 2015/2016 school year. 

French Immersion Information Sessions and Registrations

Information sessions for the French Immersion (FI) program will take place at Elders Mills P.S. on January 15, 2015 at 7 p.m. FI registration will begin January 16, 2015. In order to streamline the registration process, parents or guardians of Senior Kindergarten students entering Grade 1 in 2015, and wishing to enroll in the FI Program, can visit or call the school office and request an Office Index Card - short version. The Office Index Card must be signed by the principal of the home school. Parents or guardians then take this form, along with one piece of identification showing their address to Elders Mills P.S.to register between January 16 and February 13, 2015. This eliminates the need to provide duplicate enrollment information or to pre-register.

YRDSB’s FI Accommodation Plan provides long-term consistency and equity of access to all students in York Region and will enable YRDSB to continue to offer the FI program to all who wish to enroll. The FI program will be offered in Dual Track or Single Track settings, in a variety of configurations. In order to meet community needs and optimize available space in our schools, a community's Grade 1-8 FI program may be provided over more than one school during the course of a student's FI education. This will allow flexibility in addressing community needs and the opportunity to use existing space in schools. More information is available on the Board’s website: www.yrdsb.ca. Please note: Some of the FI accommodation plans will require facility modifications or the development of new schools and will require short-term transition plans that might include overflow while we work toward the long-term vision. Overflow refers to situations in which the Board directs students to attend a school other than their community school or optional program for a specific period of time, as defined in Policy #108.

Pick Up and Drop Off Times

A reminder that supervision in the yard beings at 8:10am.  Please do not leave your child unattended in the yard before this time.  Also, students cannot wait in the school halls.  The bell rings promptly at 8:25 and students are expected to be ready to enter the building at this point.  If you are dropping off your child at exactly 8:25 or later there is a chance he/she will be marked late.  Children coming into the building after 8:25 need to report to the office for a late slip. 

At the end of the day, the bell rings at 2:45pm.  Students are expected to be on the bus, walk home or be picked up at this point.  Students are not allowed to wait in the school for a parent to come get them later in the afternoon.  We make exceptions for emergency situations and would expect telephone communication with the office staff to make for a one-time arrangement. 

Eco Schools Initiative

Pine Grove PS will be starting a new Eco initiative and we need your help! As a school we will be collecting clean milk bags throughout the month of December in order to send them to be crocheted into mats and delivered to Haiti.

Milk bags are not bio-degradable and are very durable for use. Outer printed milk bags can be crocheted into sleeping mats used by people which otherwise do not have beds.  This initiative also helps our community and environment by keeping the bags out of our landfills.

Students are encouraged to bring in clean milk bags during the month of December. The class with the most bags will win hot chocolate delivered to the classroom! We look forward to contributing to this great cause as a school.  Your effort and co-operation are always appreciated.

Thanks.

-          The Eco Club

Healthy Schools Update

Heart Healthy Presentation:

In November the FDK and SK/Grade 1 classes were involved in a program presented by the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The purpose of the presentation was to promote daily physical activity and healthy eating habits. Our young students learned the importance of being active at recess times and choosing snacks that are healthy for their minds and bodies. It is well known that health, well-being and learning are all connected!

Healthy Snacks and Lunches:

Your child’s school lunches and snacks are what will give them the energy and nutrients that they will need to learn and play during the school day. Remember to think of the food groups and try to have at least three of the four food groups when packing your child’s lunch.

Our school’s healthy snack program offers students healthy and fresh choices that are always changing. Fresh fruit, vegetables and grains are distributed to classrooms so that students, staff and visitors have healthy options in case they need a pick-me up during the school day! Please help yourself to a healthy snack the next time you visit our office.

SPOONS AND FORKS

Please remember to pack a spoon and fork as needed.  We have many children coming to the office asking for cutlery and simply don't have enough items to give out!  We do not purchase plastic cutlery for students as per our eco-schools initiative.  Have your child bring one from home.

Enjoy Your Public Library

Vaughan Public Library Information

Pine Grove families, please visit the Vaughan Public library website with your Public Library card at the following link:

htttp://www.vaughanpl.info/materials/downloads_digital.  If you do not have a library card, you may visit any of our public libraries to get a card free of charge and have access to a variety of digital resources for students from home.

National Jersey Day!

On National Jersey Day staff and students wore jerseys to school. Here our kindergarten team shows the importance of cooperation and getting along, despite a difference of opinion!

You're the Chef

Ms. Loopstra was delighted to sample the culinary masterpieces created by students participating in the You're the Chef program after school on Wednesday.  Students created pancakes, blueberry pancakes, and french toast and learned about the importance of presentation.  Yummy!

Mural Art

 Our beautiful new mural in our stairwell!

Sock Tree

The school council sock tree is starting to fill! Please bring in new socks for families in need. In years past we have collected mittens and hats but this year the local agencies and shelters have expressed a real need for socks!  Thank you to all who already brought in items for the tree. 

Grade 4 & 5

SnowPass TM Program 

Canadian Ski Council

“What to ski and ride this winter? 

The Canadian Ski Council’s SnowPassTM lets you ski and ride three times at EACH participating ski area for $29.95. That’s a lot of skiing and boarding right across Canada!

To join in, you need to be in grade 4 or 5 (or 9 or 10 years old) and live in Canada.  Every skier and rider is welcome; especially if you’re a beginner.

You only need to apply once for the SnowPassTM and the pass is valid until the end of grade 5.  The means if you apply in grade 4 the pass is valid for two years.”  Excerpt from Grade 4 & 5 SnowPassTM brochure.

Applications can be picked up in office at Pine Grove Public School or you can save time and apply online at

www.snowpass.ca

Inclement Weather and Bus Cancellations

To ensure the safety of students, school bus service may be cancelled from time to time due to inclement weather, extreme temperatures and/or poor road conditions.  In these cases parents and students should develop alternate care/transportation arrangements.

Bus Cancellations will be made by 6:00 a.m. Parents, students and school staff are asked to access the following radio and television stations after 6:00 a.m. to receive bus cancellation information:

RADIO

590 AM          640 AM          680AM           860AM           1010AM          1050AM

1540AM          1580AM

88.5FM           89.9FM           92.5FM           93.1FM           94.9FM           95.9FM           97.3FM

98.1FM           99.1FM           99.9FM           101.1FM          102.1FM          104.5FM         100.7FM

107.1FM 

TELEVISON

CITY TV         CTV Barrie     CFTO TV        CP24   GLOBAL NEWS 

A bus cancellation message will also be available at www.schoolbuscity.com and by calling

1-877-330-3001, or by following the YRDSB on twitter.

School bus charters will not operate when home to school bus service is cancelled.

Please note the following:

¨ A decision to cancel school bus service will be region-wide meaning all school buses, vans and taxis will not operate.

¨ Unless otherwise stated, schools will remain open and parents can make arrangements to transport their children to and from school even if school bus service is cancelled.  If buses are cancelled in the morning, they will not operate in the afternoon.  Therefore students transported to school by parents will require the same transportation home.

FOOD AND TOY DRIVE

           

     Dear Parents/Guardians,

     Pine Grove Public School will be conducting a FOOD AND TOY DRIVE to help support The Vaughan              

     Food Bank.

     Collections will begin on Friday, November 7th and end on Friday, December 12th.

     Large Bins will be located in the front hallway of the school. Have your child place their contributions

     in these bins. Students will also be coming around to the classes each morning to collect donations.

Some items needed by the food bank are:

• Canned food items such as soups, fruit, vegetables, juices, pasta sauces, etc…
• Cereals hot & cold, biscuits, crackers, cookies, cake mixes, pancake mixes, etc…
• Toiletry items such as hand soap, dish soap, laundry detergent, razors, hair shampoos
• Paper towels, hair creams, cosmetics, etc…
• Kraft dinners and all types of pasta
• Glass items such as pickles, sauces, jams, relishes, salad dressings, etc…
• Baby diapers, sizes 3 to 6

                             Toys must be unwrapped, in their original packaging.

    We thank you in advance for helping us in providing food and toys for people in need in our community.

     Free The Children Committee

     Pine Grove Public School                 

First Blog Post!

Hello Pine Grove community!   Today the YRDSB held a Digital Leadership conference.  During one of the sessions I learned about creating a school blog and how this tool can help strengthen relationships with families and the larger school community.  As Vice Principal at Pine Grove P.S. I am thrilled to be authoring the first blog post!  Looking forward to sharing with you.

Ms. Loopstra

Our school website!