Important First Day of School Information

89 Vista Blvd. Mississauga, ON L5M 1V8 T 905 826-1581 F 905 826-9997

Principal: D.McFadden-Hillman Vice Principal: V. Lewis

IMPORTANT FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL INFORMATION PLEASE READ AND COMPLETE ALL FORMS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

September 2016

Dear Parents and/or Guardians,

The Vista Heights’ Staff would like to extend a warm welcome to this year's students and their parents. Both our Vice Principal, Mrs. Lewis and I as well as the whole Vista staff are here to work with you in partnership for the success of your child(ren). We have compiled the following information about school routines in order to assist you and to help ensure a successful learning environment.

RE-ORGANIZATION DAY – SEPTEMBER 27th – NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

We have attached 2 forms. We ask that you take a few minutes to fill out these important forms and return them to your child's teacher by Friday, September 9th, 2016.

 PARENT CONSENT FOR LUNCH EXPECTATIONS, COMMUNITY WALKING EXCURSIONS AND THE SAFE ARRIVAL SYSTEM

School Hours: AM Supervision 9:00 Entry bell 9:10 Grades K-5 9:15 - 3:35 - Instructional time E-Breaks 11:35 - 12:15 Morning 1:35 - 2:15 Afternoon

Bus Information: https://businfo.stopr.ca – to access information about bus stops and times.

School Day

Our day is structured to reflect the findings of the Brain Compatible Learning Research which indicates the benefits of teaching-learning interaction provided by proper nutrition, a balance of physical activity and efficiency of time on task. As a result, students in grades 1-5 will have two nutrition breaks a day. The first from 11:35 a.m. - 12:15 p.m. and the second from 1:35 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Please send a lunch as well as snacks and two drinks for the nutrition breaks. Nutrition Breaks

Grades 1, 2 and 3 will eat during the first 20 minutes and participate in extra-curricular activities or play outside for the last 20 minutes. Grades 4 and 5 will do the reverse. Students will be supervised by teachers and/or lunchroom supervisors during both 40 minute breaks. Our Full Day Kindergarten students (FDK) will have the opportunity for a morning and afternoon snack and lunch will be from 12:15 to 1:35. During this block of time, students will eat lunch followed by a variety of activities such as books, puzzles and outdoor play. The FDK students will be supervised by the teacher, Early Childhood Educator and lunchroom supervisors.

Medication at School

All students who must bring medication to school (epi- pens, puffers) or who must take regular medication during school hours require a form to be filled out and signed by the parent/guardian and the physician. Non- prescription medications such as cough syrup or Tylenol must not be sent to school. These should be administered at home.

Asthma, Allergies and other Medical Conditions

In order to update our files and to ensure student safety, we would appreciate it if you could advise the office/classroom teacher if your child has any medical conditions. Medical information and photos of students with medical conditions, life threatening allergies and asthma are given to teachers and stored in the medication binder in the office.

SABRINA’S LAW AND EPI-PENS- if your child has allergies requiring an epi-pen HE/SHE must keep it on them at all times for safety reasons. Please have your child wear a fanny/waist pouch to school daily with the epi-pen in it. All staff are trained in the administration of epi-pens. Please check daily that the epi-pen is in the fanny pack before leaving for school and monitor the expiration date. The appropriate paperwork completed by the Doctor must be returned to the office.

RYAN’S LAW - If your child has asthma, and you have not done so already, we ask that you immediately contact the main office of our school to provide information about your child's asthma medication. With permission, your child will be allowed to carry their asthma medication (students who are 16 years of age or older do not require permission from their parents). Students should be carrying their puffer with them in a fanny/waist pouch and NOT a backpack. The appropriate paperwork completed by the Doctor must be returned to the office.

IMPORTANT : Many individuals in our Vista Heights school community have severe nut allergies. We ask that you please send snacks and lunches that are NUT FREE. We have had parents ask about sending food in for special occasions such as birthdays; this is not permitted due to the many allergies. Teachers will have individual ways of recognizing student birthdays that do not involve food. Thank you for your assistance in ensuring a safe learning environment for all students and staff.

School Council

School Council is a vital and important part of our school community. A School Council that is active and engaged helps to ensure student success for all. You are encouraged to consider becoming involved in Vista Heights School Council. More information on our annual School Council Elections will be sent home soon. Please watch for further communication from School Council outlining the election process.

Kindergarten students

All kindergarten and Grade 1 students must wear a bus tag in order to ride the bus. As well, they must be met by the parent/guardian or assigned caregiver. If the child is not met at the bus stop, she/he will be returned to the school and parents will be required to pick the child up at school. For safety reasons, children who do not have a bus tag will not be allowed to ride the bus. Parents will have to pick up their child at the school.

Kiss N Ride

In order for you to use the Kiss N Ride, your child must be able to enter and exit your car without adult assistance. Please obey all staff on duty in the Kiss N Ride. They are there for your child's safety. Please drive slowly and carefully through the Kiss N Ride. Please DO NOT drop your child off anywhere other than the Kiss N Ride areas, as they have been designed to promote safety and traffic flow. Drivers must remain in their cars and never leave the car unattended as this holds up the flow of traffic in the parking lot.

Entry/Exit Doors

If you are meeting your child at dismissal, please wait for them outside on the hardtop by Door 4 or 5.

Morning Supervision

Please be advised that staff will be on duty to supervise students as of 9:00 a.m. Students should NOT be using the front door. Parents are encouraged to drop off their children at this time and line up with their classmates at the back of the school to come into school punctually at 9:10 a.m. Students arriving earlier than this will be unsupervised. Teachers at Kiss and ride are on duty until 9:15. It is a safety concern if we have parents stopping to drop children off at the front door at the 9:10 bell as this blocks the flow of traffic for parents who are attempting to move on to the Kiss and Ride area which is the expectation for drop-off. Thank you for your cooperation with this.

Walking Excursions During the school year, students may visit local areas in the school community that will provide a basis for further exploration and discussion in the classroom. Signed parental consent is required. Please see consent that has been sent home with your child.

Agendas

Each child in grades 1-5 will be given an agenda. A big thank you to our school council for funding the cost of the agendas this year so there is no cost to you. This agenda will travel between home and school every day and we ask parents to initial it daily once you have reviewed your child's homework. This promotes home and school communication as well as student responsibility.

Lunches

Parents of students in Kindergarten and grades 1-5 are asked to ensure that their children take a lunch and snacks with them when they leave in the morning. This helps avoid confusion in the office during lunch time. If a child has forgotten a lunch, parents are asked to bring a lunch to the school with their child's name clearly marked on the lunch and leave it on the table in the front entry hall. Unfortunately, we cannot be responsible for lost or unclaimed lunches.

Milk Program and Lunch Lady

Students will have the opportunity to purchase white or chocolate milk daily or participate in the Tuesday Lunch Lady program. Both of these programs will begin in October. You will receive an order form at the end of September. You will have the option to pay cash or use on-line service.

Library

Your child may visit the library to sign out books. They are able to sign out one book. Please note that your child needs a library bag to ensure that the quality of our library books remain intact. This can be any type of bag suitable for carrying books.

Monthly School Newsletter

Our monthly school newsletter will be posted on our school website at http://schools.peelschools.org/1560. If you do not have access to the internet and need to receive a paper copy of our newsletter, please complete the form below and return it to school by Friday, September 9, 2016. Newsletters will be sent home with the youngest and only child of a family. Please check your child’s backpack nightly for communication from the school and teacher.

TWITTER – Follow Vista Heights on Twitter - @VistaHeightsPS Check out TWITTER to see special events and celebrations our staff and students are participating in and for school announcements and reminders.

We are looking forward to a wonderful year of learning with and from each other at Vista Heights. Again, we thank you for your co-operation and support in making our school an efficient and successful learning environment. We look forward to your continued support throughout the school year.

Sincerely,

Principal, Mrs. D. McFadden-Hillman Vice Principal, Mrs. V. Lewis and the Vista Heights’ staff.

------Please cut and return------

I require a paper copy of the school newsletter.

Student’s Name ______

Teacher’s name ______

PLEASE READ, SIGN AND RETURN Lunch Expectations  I would like my child to eat at school on a regular basis. I understand that they are not permitted to leave school property unless I have advised my child's classroom teacher in writing.

Walking Excursions  I understand that during the year my child may participate in walking excursions within the school community. I give my permission for my child to participate in these walking excursions under the teacher's supervision.

Safe Arrival  I understand that I am responsible to contact the school to report my children’s full day absences, late arrivals and/or early departures from school via the new Safe Arrival system by one of 3 ways: call 1-855-209-6155 OR log into pdsb.schoolconncects.com, to access a Safe Arrival Parent Portal OR download the Safe Arrival mobile application for Apple and android devices. For assistance, please call the office at 905-826- 1581.

This consent shall be effective during the 2016-17 school year. Consent may be revoked at any time by contacting the school office.

Signed this______day of______, 2016

I am the parent or guardian of ______and I consent to the above.

Teacher’s Name: ______

Parent/Guardian signature ______

Address______

______

Phone number______