Sir John A. Macdonald Middle School 250 Centre Street, Brampton ON, L6V 2R4 905-457-5535 Mrs. R. Manners, Principal Mrs K. Dhillon, Vice-Principal Mrs. K. Flear, Office Manager

Please find our newsletter online at our webpage: http://schools.peelschools.org/1540/Pages/default.aspx

Dates to Remember

Date Event Thursday November 13 Parent/Teacher Interviews (3:30-7:30pm) By appointment only Friday November 14 Parent/Teacher Interviews By appointment only Thursday November 20 Extended French Open House 7pm – 8pm Tuesday November 25 Parent Council Meeting 6pm Thursday December 11 Winter Concert 7pm Monday December 22 – Friday Winter Break January 2 (inclusive) Monday January 5 First Day of Classes after Winter Break Dropping off lunches & school work? Please make sure your child’s name & class are written or attached to the item. A table is located outside the office to place your child’s lunch for pickup at lunchtime.

If Your Child Will be Absent or Late from School Please call the school to notify us if your child will be absent from school. If a child is absent, or arrives late without parental notification (phone call or note), you will receive an automated phone call from the school.

Peel board students have choice Explore program options at makingmyway.ca

Students have different needs, interests and abilities—our schools offer great educational opportunities to help all students achieve. For students looking for a more focused, specialized program, here are some options:

Regional programs start in grades 6, 7 and 9

Students in regional programs still complete all of the requirements of the Ontario curriculum, but there is an increased focus on an area of interest. Programs include:

 Actively in Motion (AIM)  International Business and Technology  Advanced Placement  International and Executive Leadership  Arts Academy  Arts and Technology  SciTech  Graphic Design Management:  Sports Flexography  Strings  International Baccalaureate  Truck and Coach Technology Sir John A. Newsletter 2014

 Specialist High Skills Major programs start in grade 11   Specialist High Skills Major programs allow students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector, while meeting the requirements to graduate from secondary school. Students gain sector-recognized certification and career-relevant training. The programs support the transition after graduation to apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace. Peel board schools offer Specialist High Skills Major programs in the following area.   Arts & Culture  Business and Entrepreneurial Studies  Construction  Environment  Health and Wellness  Hospitality and Tourism  Information and Communications Technology  Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services  Manufacturing  Non-Profit  Sports  Transportation     More options for Peel board students   co-operative education programs provide workplace experience  extended French starts in grade 7  dual credit programs allow student to earn college credits at the same time as secondary school credits  alternative programs are available for students who need flexible school hours, are dealing with unique situations, or require more support   Our guidance counsellors can help students determine which courses will best meet their needs, interests and abilities—contact the school to make an appointment.   For more information about regional programs, Specialist High Skills Major programs and other programs of choice available to Peel board students, visit www.makingmyway.ca.     

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 Choose Action on Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week   The Peel District School Board will recognize Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week during the week of November 16 to 22.   Across the Peel board, schools use many programs and initiatives to prevent bullying and to intervene when bullying happens. Though the programs vary, their messages are consistent. Students are taught to:  define bullying  identify forms of bullying  identify roles in bullying relationships, for example the person who bullies, the target, the bystander or the trusted advocate  determine how to safely “choose action” to prevent and intervene in bullying & harassment  demonstrate character attributes and be a leader to help maintain positive and safe school communities  Every school has a Climate for Learning and Working Team which is required to develop a Bullying Prevention and Intervention Plan as part of the School Success Plan. Also, every employee who is involved in the care and service of students is obligated to report in writing to the school administration any action for which the principal must consider suspension or expulsion. Bullying is an offence that must be considered for suspension.   Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week is one of the key items contained in Bill 13: The Accepting Schools Act, that came into effect on September 1, 2012. For more information, visit: www.peelschools.org/aboutus/safeschools/bullying/ or www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/safeschools/prevention.html   Is Extended French right for my child?   If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2015, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to register your child in Extended French.   What is the program like? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the program?  One way to help answer these questions is to attend the information meeting on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 at 7 p.m. at the Extended French school your child would attend.   To find out the Extended French school your child would attend:  call the school in your area  visit our website www.peelschools.org/French  call 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146 ext. 2212

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  Registration   Registration for Grade 7 Extended French for the 2015-16 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French on Monday Nov. 24, 2014 at 9 a.m.   The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at 4 p.m. Registrants after that date will be put on a waiting list.    Important dates   Information meeting Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 at 7 p.m.  Registration opens Monday Nov. 24, 2014 at 9 a.m.  Registration deadline Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at 4 p.m.    For more information 1* visit www.peelschools.org/French 2* call your nearest Extended French school  talk with parents who have children in the Extended French program  visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/   Is French Immersion right for my child?   If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2015, one of the important choices you will make is whether you want to register your child in French Immersion.   What is the program like? What are the advantages and disadvantages of the program?  One way to help answer these questions is to attend the information meeting on Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 at 7 p.m. at the French Immersion school your child would attend.   To find out the French Immersion school your child would attend:  call the school in your area  visit our website www.peelschools.org/French  call 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146 ext. 2212    Registration   Registration for Grade 1 French Immersion for the 2015-16 school year will be available online at www.peelschools.org/French on Monday Nov. 24, 2014 at 9 a.m.

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  The deadline to register is Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at 4 p.m. Registrants after that date will be put on a waiting list.   A French Immersion enrolment cap is in place. This means that a specific number of spots are available for students entering grade 1 French Immersion. A random selection process will be used to identify students gaining entrance into the program. For more information about the random selection process visit www.peelschools.org/French.    Important dates   Information meeting Thursday, Nov. 20, 2014 at 7 p.m.  Registration opens Monday Nov. 24, 2014 at 9 a.m.  Registration deadline Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at 4 p.m.    For more information 3* visit www.peelschools.org/French 4* call your nearest French Immersion school  talk with parents who have children in the French Immersion program  visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/  

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  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   

November/December Page 7 Sir John A. Newsletter 2014   Need help in math? Free tutoring now available online   Math students in grades 7 to 10 can access live, interactive online math help by visiting www.homeworkhelp.ilc.org. Homework Help is free, real-time math tutoring by certified Ontario teachers.   Students can log in from Sunday to Thursday, between 5:30 and 9:30 p.m. for individualized confidential math tutoring. There are discussion rooms for each grade where students can join and see what questions other students are asking, watch the tutors draw on the whiteboard – and ask their own question for on-the-spot help.   Students will also find 24/7 discussion rooms, video lessons and commonly asked questions. Other online math resources include math games and a virtual locker, where students can save their work.   Homework Help is a project funded by the Ministry of Education.   Help your child prepare for tests   Many students will become anxious at the thought of writing a test. Anxiety about an upcoming test can affect a child's behaviour, thoughts and actions. Here are some ways you can help minimize anxiety at test time:   Organize & Prepare  Encourage your child not to leave assignments, studying and homework to the last minute.  Schedule time for review and work on assignments each day.  Establish a regular time of the day for homework, studying etc.  Make the home a homework-friendly environment where learning is regular routine.  Remove distractions like the television, phones, computers when studying.  Tell your child to make sure tests and due dates are marked in their agenda.   Practice  Encourage your child to think about ‘what, when, where and how’ when preparing/completing assignments.  Develop practice tests and help them anticipate questions.  Review previous exercises.  When appropriate, encourage your child to pair up with a friend to review information and brainstorm.  Build learning into family activities— suggest keeping a journal, writing a report or a news article about family events, outings or trips and include photos. 

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 Be in the know  Check out the curriculum for your child’s grade level (available as PDF files at www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/curriculum)  Ask your child’s teacher about major topics studied and how these topics are structured— homework, assignments, exercises  Use your child’s agenda to communicate with their teacher—ask questions, check for homework tips, etc.    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.  

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