120 Napa Valley Avenue, Woodbridge, On L4H 1L1 Tel: 905-893-1631 www.eldersmills.ps.yrdsb.ca Fax: 905-893-7371 juin 2014 COMMUNITY BBQ AND FUN Principal’s Message Un Mot de la Directrice: FAIR May was a very busy month and as we look ahead to June, we recog- On Thursday June nize that we have many exciting events taking place to complete what 5, 2014, 6:00– 8:00 has been a very memorable year. In the month of May we had a very we will be having successful Read-a-thon, field trips, a musical performance and held a our Community BBQ rigorous Track and Field meet for our Junior students. Last week, we and Fun Fair. were happy to welcome many of our new Grade 1FI students and parents at our Grade 1 Open House. We also enjoyed a wonderful Please join us for an evening Spring Concert highlighting much of the talents of our students. of fun, games and laughter. This week on June 4th, we will have our Volunteer Appreciation Tea DJ entertainment, where we will take the time to thank the many parent volunteers that Bouncy Castles have helped us throughout the year. See your there at 2:00 p.m.! and much more. Hope to see you As we move into June we look forward to seeing many of you at our there!! annual Community BBQ sponsored by our School Council on June 5th. We also look forward to our very popular annual Tree Day on June 17th to celebrate the diversity of our school and talented students. As always, we welcome parents to join us and enjoy our student perform Principal: in the talent show in the morning. Other special events for the month Micheline Joseph include our Area Track and Field meet and our FI Primary Spelling Bee on June 19th.

Superintendent of Schools: This is also the time of year when we bid farewell to our departing staff Susan Logue members that will be moving to other opportunities next year and Tel: 905‐764‐6830 welcome new members. It is with regret that we will be bidding adieu to Mme Montana, Mme Alberga, Mlle Joachim and Mme Hendricks all of Trustee: whom are talented teachers who have made a huge contribution to our Anna DeBartolo school over the years. We also want to announce that Mme Hintz our Tel: 905‐727‐0022 Ext 2829 head secretary will be moving to a school closer to home and will be sorely missed. We wish them all the best and much success in their future endeavors. We know that parents and students of Elder’s Mills School Priorities: will join us in thanking them for their hard work and wishing them well. Literacy: “Once an Eagle, always an Eagle!” Reading Comprehension

Assessment for Learning We want to welcome new teachers, Ms. Bassett and M. Villa who will be

joining us next year and congratulate Mme. Consiglio who will take on Parental & Community the role of head secretary. Engagement:

Supporting Student Learning As we work towards our final Report Cards, all of our students continue at Home in our Changing to work hard at activities to support the completion of their school year Community and to prepare them for the commencement of next year. Thank you for your help ensuring a continued focus on your children’s studies. Effective Schools:

Creating a Safe and Supportive Respectfully yours, School Mme. Joseph page 2 L’école Elder’s Mills juin 2014 Positive School Climate and Student Achievement:

School Climate Student Surveys: To help us with our ongoing commitment to a positive school climate and improved student achievement at Elder’s Mills, we asked all our students from Grade 1 to 5 survey questions focussing on school safety as well as questions relating to student improvement. This was an anonymous survey in which we also asked them to express their thinking to support their responses. In this way, we hope to identify and address more spe- cific student concerns in our classroom discussions. Generally, the results we have received so far are en- couraging. We will be using this data to help us develop strategies to improve our practise and our school.

Safety and Positive Climate: 1. I feel safe at this school - 89% 2. There is an adult I feel comfortable speaking to if I see someone being bullied or am bullied - 84% 3. I feel accepted and included by students in my school - 84%

Student Improvement: 1. I understand what I need to do to improve my work - 94% 2. I use feedback to set my goals for improvement - 90% 3. I try hard with my school work even when I find it difficult – 90% 4. I find school work interesting- 78%

Early Dismissal in Elementary Schools Student Bussing Eligibility

All schools in the York Region District School Board are committed to improving student achievement and Did you know that students’ well-being. On Thursday, June 26th, 2014 an early bussing eligibility changes release day will take place to allow elementary teachers throughout their school and support staff to take part in meetings during the after- career? Your son/daughter’s noon of that day. These meetings will allow for school eligibility to ride the school staff to engage in culminating activities regarding the bus may change according to their grade and review and revision of the School’s Improvement Plan as distance from home to school. Below are the well as year-end and transition activities that support stu- provisions for eligibility identified in the Board’s dent success. Transportation policy #680: As has been our practice in all York Regions schools that students will attend school during the morning of Thurs-  All YRDSB students in Grades JK-3 who day, June 26th, 2014 only. Students will be dismissed live within 1.2 km of their school are not eli- early that day at 11:45 a.m. Arrangements will be made gible for transportation. to ensure that students who are normally bussed to and  All YRDSB students in Grades 4-8 who live from school will receive transportation at this time. Parents within 1.6 km of their school are not eligible whose children attend after school child care should make for transportation. appropriate arrangements to address this change in  All YRDSB students in Grades 9-12 who live schedule. within a transit served area are not eligible for transportation.

Report Cards go home To view Board Policy #680 Student transporta- on June 25th tion, please visit www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca. For more information about bus transportation and to determine your son/daughter’s eligibility, please visit www.schoolbuscity.com page 3 L’école Elder’s Mills juin 2014 School Council Corner

Teacher Appreciation Lunch Thank you to everyone who participated and donated to our annual Teacher Appreciation lunch. Everything was delicious—a small gesture to the staff who make Elder's Mills such a successful and unique school.

School Community BBQ is almost here! Join us on Thursday, June 5th from 6-8 p.m. at the School Community BBQ! The event will feature Jet Entertainment DJ with Jennifer Pappas (“Chloe”) from The Next Step, bouncy castles, and so much more! Don’t forget to bring your meal tickets if you pre-ordered your combo meals! A limited number of hamburgers, hot dogs and veggie burgers will also be available for sale on site. Event will be held rain or shine!! (Back of school or, in case of rain, inside the gym.)

Volunteer Appreciation Tea We look forward to the Volunteer Appreciation Tea on Wednesday, June 2nd at 2:30 p.m. hosted by the staff of Elder's Mills. We appreciate your thoughtfulness – what a lovely way to close out the school year!

As we come to the end of another school year... The School Council would like to take this opportunity to extend our appreciation to the staff at Elder’s Mills for all of your hard work on behalf of our students and school community throughout the past year! It’s been an amazing first year as a single-track FI school and we look forward to continuing to work together next year. A big thank you as well to all School Council members and volunteers – we truly could not have done it without you!!

Our first school council meeting is Wednesday September 17th, 2014.

We’ll see you all in the fall!

First Day of School Paint-a-Plow Contest Tuesday, September 2, 2014 Our Grade 5 Students participated in the Paint-a-Plow Art Contest. This If your child will not be in was a contest that the Public Works Department for the City of attendance on the first day of put on. Students had to create a mural that represented our neighbour- school in September, please notify hood. Winning schools will be declared next month. Great Job Eagles! our school office at 905-893-1631 or at the school your child will be attending in September. Students who will be absent on extended vacations in September are required by the Ministry of Education Bill 52 to complete a form indicating their expected return to school. Please drop by the office if you require a form. Thank you for your co-operation in this matter. page 4 L’école Elder’s Mills juin 2014

LIBRARY NEWS… LES NOUVELLES DE LA BIBLIOTHEQUE…

The Forest of Trees was an amazing day! A huge thank you to all the parents that helped supervise on this event! We had lots of fun and we hope to go again next year. Now the results you’ve been waiting for…the winners are:

Le Prix Peuplier --- Une mouche, un chat et une patate by Céline Malépart Le Prix Tamarac Express --- Attention, j’arrive ! (BiBop) by Raymond Parent Silver Birch Express --- The Secret of the Village Fool by Rebecca Upjohn, Renné Benoit Silver Birch Non fiction ---- One Step at a Time: A Vietnamese Child Finds Her Way by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch Silver Birch Fiction --- Record Breaker by Robin Stevenson

It was a very difficult decision to vote for only one book, but the criteria for judgement really helped to steer our thinking in selecting the right book. All the books were wonderful and we are very fortunate to be part of this event. Bravo to all the wonderful Canadian authors that were nominated! Their books are available at our school library and the public libraries.

Our Spring Book Fair was an exciting success. Students had the opportunity to shop for themselves! They purchased books to their liking that they will enjoy reading over the summer. Books were available in English and in French. Statistics show that reading levels go down one to two levels over the summer, so hopefully that won’t be the case for any of our Elder’s Mills students, since they’ve purchased so many books to keep them busy reading! Thank you to all our families for their support on our book fair!

KEEP READING As you all know, our read-a-thon was to support the Humaine Society. AND ENJOY What a HUGE success. Thank you for all your donations. As a school WHAT YOU READ! community we raised a total of… $859.95. Thank you all for participating! Spring Concert JUMP ROPE FOR HEART On Wednesday May 28, the Students at Elder’s Mills Throughout the year, students performed beautifully at our Spring Concert. A special have been learning how to be Thank you to Mme. Esposito and all staff who helped put heart healthy by making smart the concert together. snack choices and staying active through various sports. During our annual Jump Rope for Heart event, students stayed active by skipping and showing off their skills from doing the Double Dutch to partner skipping to skipping with their arms crossed! This year, our school raised a total of $3,452.58 towards the Heart and Stroke Foundation to help fund research related to heart disease.

Way to go, Elder’s Mills!! page 5 L’école Elder’s Mills juin 2014

Peace Tree Day ….

PEACE TREE DAY, TRIGGERED BY THE AWARD Peace Tree Day@

WINNING FILM THE PEACE TREE BY MITRA SEN, June IS A FOR ay sd 14 CHILDREN AND FAMILIES OF EVERY ue 20 T th, AND FAITH TO CELEBRATE 17 PEACE AND DIVERSITY TOGETHER!

Peace Tree Day will…

 help young people create a world where they can grow up in peace and prevent the rise in conflict  inspire young people to take pride in their heritage and share it with their peers

 encourage young people and their ELDER families to gain a greater understanding, respect, and appreciation between people of

all ’ S

MILLS

? s do n W ent r ow e are proud t n stud thei o present our t ca from annual T alen Wha hing hing t Show and r clot clot Cultura P wea rrow er l Fashion show o h .  or b anot lture om S cu nd fr Parents frie are invite . m a d to come join fro watching o us in ear ur very talent JUNE lture so w ed student cu y al rms bod ts ma unifo y! den and Stu rseys ing  ic je pcom thlet he u Talent Show a e t 17, 2014 lebrat 9:00 a.m.—10: o ce p, 15 a.m t ld Cu ace Ms. Richard Wor pe s will be spea FIFA or a ith students king to mbol or fa about youth e a sy ture an mpowermen ring r cul d using your vo t  b thei ice to resolve from issues. sign We look forward to her presentation.

Any students interested in participating in the fashion are to let Mrs. Fancy know.

WE HOPE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO SUPPORT THIS UNIQUE FESTIVAL WHICH WILL BENEFIT ALL CHILDREN AND FAMILIES AND HELP CREATE A WORLD WHERE WE CAN ALL LIVE TOGETHER IN PEACE. page 6 L’école Elder’s Mills juin 2014 ECO CORNER ARE YOU LEAVING EARLY FOR SUMMER BOOMERANG LUNCHES HOLIDAYS ?

Help Elder’s Mills continue to be a green school: Please let the school office and the homeroom teacher know if  Pack a litter-less lunch your child is leaving on holidays  Take all garbage and green bin material home to reduce food before the end of the school year. waste and the amount of garbage at school Please leave a large (81/2x11)  Continue to recycle everyday. self-addressed stamped envelope with the office indicating where ECO TIPs you would like us to mail your child’s Our Eco Team continued to monitor our electricity conservation and report card. checked that all classroom lights were turned off before we went out to play at lunch recess.

20 Minute Makeover 2014 TRACK AND FIELD

All students from Elder's Mills participated in the Vaughan 20 Minute nd Makeover on Thursday, April 24. The event On May 22 despite was a huge success. Students collected the crazy weather a large amount of and cold winds, the garbage bags worth of garbage from the students at Elder’s school yard, baseball diamond, soccer Mills attended Emily pitch and neighbourhood park. The event Carr Secondary gave us a good opportunity not only to School to enthusiastically partici- clean up the community, but to educate the pate in our Track and Field Day. students on the importance on properly Students in grades 4 and 5 had disposing of garbage, compostable goods and recyclable materials to the opportunity to compete in a protect the environment. variety of track and field events including 100m, Triple Jump, Shot Our Eco theme for June and the whole summer long is -put, Standing Long Jump, and remembering the 4 R's. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and many others. Congratulations to Rethink the way we use our resources and how we the students who have qualified dispose of garbage. We challenge everyone to for the Area meet which will be continue remembering our 4Rs throughout the summer, held on June 10. at home and everywhere in our community.

Help us help our world! Good Luck, and Go Eagles!

MEDICATION Lost and Found LAST NEWSLETTER Please arrange to pick up your If you have lost an item of child's epi-pen and puffers by Our final newsletter of the year will clothing, please drop by the Thursday June 27, 2013. Any go home the last week of June. medication left at the school after school before Thursday June This newsletter will contain 26, 2014 to look through our this date will be discarded. information regarding start up box. Any unclaimed articles of procedures for September and to help answer any questions which clothing will be may arise over the summer. donated to a clothing shelter. page 7 L’école Elder’s Mills juin 2014

Character Assembly: May’s Character Trait Recipients for “Responsibility”

Laura, Mia, Sophia, Eva, Sabrina, 1 Mme Hendricks Jordan, Eman 3 Mme. Alberga Hanna Stefan, Linta, Lynette, 1 Mme. Bergeron Jonathan, Jack, Lisha 3 Mme. Colonna Seif, Hillary Matheus, Sophia, 1 Mme. Sampogna Michelle, Mia, Presha 4 Mme. Constantin Amaya, Abby Nidhi, Emily,Naumann, Tannaz, Younas, Elyse, 1 Mme. Trivedi Chimzurum, Talia 4 M. Ghomffo Angela Muhammad, Ruben, Giuliano, Schymera, 1 Mme. Yususf Rivka, Ana 5 Mlle. Joachim Amelia, Jennah

2 M. Thompson Juliana, Carter 5 M. Petrilli Dhruv, Pallav, Rougine Golden Dustbin Award/ Ms. Fancy 2 Mme. Ing Alexia, Noah First Floor/Second Floor Mme. Sampogna Learning Commons Mme. Colonna, Mme. Hendricks, 2 Mme. Bianchi Radhesh, Luca Eco Award Mme. Sampogna Character Matters! We encourage our students to display positive character traits always and we celebrate their efforts at our monthly Character Assemblies. June’s Focus: Optimism/’optimisme

Respect/le respect Honesty/l’honnêteté Fairness/la justice Perseverance/la persévérance Courage/le courage Responsibility/responsabilité Empathy/l’empathie Initiative/l’initiative Integrity/l’intégrité L’école Elder’s Mills

dimanche lundi mardi mercredi jeudi vendredi samedi

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 EQAO EQAO EQAO EQAO PA DAY NO SCHOOL Volunteer Tea Community BBQ @ 2 p.m. 6:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m.

8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Area Track & Area Track & Field Field (rain date)

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

Peace Tree Regional Track Regional Track & Character Assembly Day & Field Field (rain date) at 9:30 a.m. “Optimism” Primary Spelling Bee

22 23 24 25 26 27 28 Happy Fathers Day Play Day Report Cards go Last Day of Home School Students dismissed at 11:45 a.m.

29 30

HAVE A SAFE SUMMER!!!!!

“Your attitude, not your aptitude, determines your altitude”. -Zig Ziglar