16 Old Brock Road, Puslinch, ON N0B 2J0 519-763-7040 @AberfoylePS

11 Zumba for Children’s Tumor foundation - $2 April showers will hopefully bring May flowers. With weather permitting Spring also comes thoughts of planting and warmer weather. 12 6:30 PM: School Council – Library 7:00 PM : Oratorical Contest – Zone Finals All the best, Paul Tribe, Principal 13 Assembly – Jump Rope for Heart Intermediate Floor Hockey Thank you Puslinch Optimists! 14 Good Friday We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the 17 Easter Monday Puslinch Optimist Club for donating $1000.00 to our school! Check out our article about the Oratorical 18 Talent Show Auditions – Primary competition later in the newsletter. Leadership Assembly – Grade 4

PD Days 2017 19 Gr. 7 Hep B; Gr. 7 girls HPV Blue Spruce voting – JK to Gr. 3 Please note for babysitting purposes that there is no school for students on the following days: 20 Colour Day • April 28th, Talent Show Auditions – Junior, Intermediate • June 9th, and 21 Scientist in School – gr. 5 • June 30th. Quebec Trip Third Payment Due

Intermediate Spring Dance UPCOMING EVENTS APRIL EVENT 24 Teams and Clubs – Photos

03 PM - Primary Classes – Green Legacy 25 Focus on Nature – Gr. 5 all day Talent Show Auditions 04 Grade 2 - DASH Ms. Moldenhauer to Puslinch Library

05 AM – River Run – Ms. Singh, Ms. Moldenhauer, 26 River Run – Mr. Fiddes, Ms. Dinsmore, Ms. Ms. Robbers classes Bertrand Senior Luncheon – Ms. Singh, Ms. 1:30 PM - Music Night Rehearsal Moldenhauer, Ms. Robbers 5:00-8:00 PM – Parent Involvement Committee event – Centre Wellington DHS 06 UGDSB Chess Tournament – Puslinch Centre 27 Ms. Singh to Puslinch Library 07 Skills – Centennial and College Heights 7:00 PM – Music Night – School Gym Twin Day Week of Giving – Hope House 28 PD Day – no school for children

10 Grad and Sibling Photos Volunteers are Awesome! Week of giving – Old glasses

11 5:00 – 10:00 PM: Chapters Fundraiser for the Aberfoyle considers its parent and community Library – volunteers a special resource. Parents and community members are encouraged to help in the classroom, on

Volume 3, Issue9 · April 2017 · Follow us on Twitter: @AberfoylePS Page 1

school trips, assist in the library or with extra-curricular If you are buying presents for Easter, birthdays, activities and to participate on School Council. Being a Mothers Day, Fathers Day or a little something for volunteer is a wonderful way of participating in your yourself please come out on April 11th, from 5:00 until child’s education! Contact your child’s teacher to find 10:00 PM to help support our school. out how you can help.

Here is the link to our Aberfoyle School Council Facebook group. It will give you access to what is Request for Consent happening with our School Council. https://www.facebook.com/groups/1509233629393288/ Canada’s Anti-Spam Legislation (CASL) came into force on July 1, 2014. As a result, the Upper Grand District As is usual, we had an excellent meeting on February 8. School Board, would like to ensure that we have your The next one will be on Wednesday, April 12 at 6:30 consent to receive newsletters, school and Board PM. We would love to see you. Come out and get to updates, announcements, event invitations, and other know an excellent group of people making a difference electronic messages which may contain advertising or in their school. promotions regarding school fundraisers, field trips, the sale of yearbooks, student pictures, uniforms, books, If you would like to see the most recent minutes, just prom or dance tickets, or similar events and offers. check out the Facebook page or our website http://www.ugdsb.ca/aberfoyle/. If you wish to receive the above communications from us, please visit our CASL registration website at: Spring Bulbs from School Council www.ugdsb.on.ca/CASL

Just in time to celebrate Spring, If consent is not provided, you will not receive we are excited to share an electronic messages containing commercial content and upcoming fund raising may find it more difficult to be aware of the activities event! There will be an opportunity to order from a that take place in school, and which your child may have variety of Spring planted bulbs and plants, including an interest in participating. fruits and vegetables from Veseys Canada. If you have any questions or if you wish to withdraw Order forms will go home on April 10th and completed your consent at any time, please click the link at the order forms are due back April 21st to allow time for bottom of email messages you receive from the school, submission. or visit the same site and click on “Unsubscribe” to remove your name from our contact list. For additional information on Canada’s Anti-Spam A Fundraiser for our Library at CHAPTERS! Legislation you may visit our board’s website at

www.ugdsb.on.ca. As you know our library is going

through some exciting changes. It is transitioning into a learning Community Builders at Work! commons but we need your support. Once again the community helpers will be running a "Pay it forward week". Here at Aberfoyle School we are The school council is running a fundraising event on very fortunate. So to extend our Aberfoyle A.C.E. Motto April 11th at Chapters in the Stone Road Mall. It will be "C is for caring" we are going to be supporting some a great opportunity to raise money to support the local charities, with the help of the school maker space and learning commons projects. A portion of all the sales from friends and families purchases community. This is an optional program. throughout the entire store will be given to the school. Volume 3, Issue9 · April 2017 · Follow us on Twitter: @AberfoylePS Page 2

On Friday, April 7th we are supporting "The Hope House" by collecting shampoo, hair brushes, combs, toothpaste, toothbrushes and deodorant for adults and children. On Monday, April 10th we are collecting children and/or adult used eyeglasses to send to the Waterloo Optometrist teaching school. This is where they clean scratches and fix the arms as needed. They in turn volunteer their time overseas to do eye surgeries and take these much needed glasses with them.

On Tuesday, April 11th we are hoping to support Julia Turner's Tumour foundation with a 2$ donation for a Zumba fest. This Zumba event itself may be postponed until June, due to weather.

On Wednesday, April 12th it will be baby days for "Better Beginnings, Better Futures" (located in ) by donating baby wipes, new bibs, sleepers, baby food, diapers or other items you think a baby would need.

On Thursday, April 13th we will once again be collecting items for "Sending a child to camp" such as small shampoos, soap, brushes, combs, beach towels, wash cloth, face towel, hats, sunscreen or insect repellent.

Thanks in advance for all your help.

Community Builder Team

Recess is for Fun!

Volume 3, Issue9 · April 2017 · Follow us on Twitter: @AberfoylePS Page 3

• Learn more about the environment and the Monthly Environmental effects of global warming. Encourage Activities to help awareness and promote the Reduce, Reuse and celebrate our planet Recycle way of life. Remember that every day is Earth Day! Don't restrict yourself to just one day a year. Make environmental nd April 22 actions and caring about the planet a habit - on Earth is Earth Day! Day and every day.

It is vital to teach our children to How Do you Relax? respect and take care of the environment. The Community Builders helped us recently learn more about self-regulation and what to do when Celebrate Earth Day on April 22nd! we feel stressed. Ms. Moldenhauer introduced a “Founded in 1990, Earth Day number of students to yoga and how it might help Canada inspires people of all ages find a better way to maintain balance. across the country to connect with nature and build resilient communities as well as foster an intrinsically motivated, enduring commitment to stewardship and conservation.” https://earthday.ca/about/

Why is it so important to connect kids with nature? Kids who don’t get outside, who aren’t stimulated by their environment, won’t grow up with the motivation to protect our planet. Kids who don’t connect to their inner nature through creative play won’t be as resilient as generations before them.” https://earthday.ca/ed2017/everyone/

Ideas for your family to celebrate Earth Day:

• Get involved with Earth Day’s EarthPlay https://earthday.ca/ed2017/schools/ . You can download an activity tool kit and enjoy the many suggestions to promote outdoor activities and learning for kids. • Spend a day outside. In the garden with your family, plant vegetables, trees or native flowers and attract native animals and pollinators. Or join a local community event to help clean your neighbourhood or restore local plant life, • Make commitments to cut down on your energy usage as well as waste. Turn lights off, power down electrical devices, turn down your thermostat and only do full loads of laundry and dishes. Always bring cloth bags when shopping, refuse to buy over packaged products, and lug a

mug instead of using non-recyclable coffee cups. Volume 3, Issue9 · April 2017 · Follow us on Twitter: @AberfoylePS Page 4

Talking about Mental Health - May 1-5 is Child and difference in your school and community. Start Youth Mental Health and Well-being Week! small, you never know where it will lead too.

Child and Youth Mental Health and Well-being Week is Friday May 5 – Resilience - “Every Challenge is a in the first week of May. It is about promoting mental Learning Experience”. wellness, increasing awareness of the child and youth Mental Health and Well-being means coping mental health, decreasing stigma and understanding with the ups and downs of day to day life. that support is available. Let’s improve everyone’s Building more resilient thoughts and skills can mental health and well- being! really help. Children and youth can also find The theme for Child and Youth Mental Health and Well- support by seeking help from caring adults. being at UGDSB is: Have a SUPER Week! Take time now to talk with child or youth about Social Connections who those caring adults are in their lives. Understanding Emotions For more information about Mental Health and Well- Personal Health being and interactive activities with your children and Empowerment youth: Resilience

Each day of the week will focus on a different aspect of Mind your Mind (online) Mental Health and Well Being. The schools will be www.mindyourmind.ca/Interactives provided with resources and activities related to each Fun, interactive options for de-stressing for youth. day’s theme. Smiling Mind (Free App) smilingmind.com.au/ As a parent, you can increase the Mental Health and An app that guides you through simple, calming Well-being of your children, youth and family too! Here meditations. are some suggestions:

Monday May 1 -Social Connection - “Be the Reason GoNoodle (Free App) https://www.gonoodle.com/ Someone Smiles Today”. Fun interactive body and mind breaks for kids. Say Hi to 3 people that you do not know. At the end of the week, talk with your child/youth about Perform a random act of kindness. the things that made them feel more connected,

emotionally aware, healthy, empowered and resilient Tuesday May 2 – Understanding Emotions – and continue to do those things every day! “Understanding Emotions Creates Positive Actions” Most of all… have a SUPER week! Right now, stop and reflect on how you are Dr. Lynn Woodford is the Mental Health and Addiction feeling. Take a couple of moments as a family to Lead for Upper Grand District School Board do some deep breathing. Follow me on twitter: @drlynnwoodford http://youth.anxietybc.com/how-do-it Now,

how are you feeling? Junior Basketball Tournament

On Wednesday, wear GREEN to support Mental Health On March 23rd, our Junior basketball teams travelled to Awareness. Ken Danby Public School to participate in the annual

tournament. Each team played a total of 3 regular play Wednesday May 3 – Personal Health - “Move, Sleep, games which determined where they would play in the Eat, Repeat. Keep yourself healthy every day”. finals. The teams competed against Edward Johnson, Did you know that how our bodies feel affects Ken Danby, and William Winegard. how good we are feeling? Three of the best

things you can do to improve your mood is to exercise, sleep well and eat well. Go for a walk The boys team won all three of their games to put them or play a game, get outside, turn off the devices in the finals against Ken Danby. The boys won 1st place an hour before bed and eat fresh food! The in the finals. Congratulations boys!!!! Team members more you do to help your body feel good, the included Asad, Ali, Liam, Fred, Owen, Jaden, Zain, Joel, better you will feel! Shane, Muzzammil, and Nick.

Thursday May 4 – Empowerment - “Change Your The girls also won all three of their games and they Thoughts, Change Your World”. faced Edward Johnson in the playoff finals. The girls You are encouraged to look for ways to make a worked hard and also came in 1st place in the

Volume 3, Issue9 · April 2017 · Follow us on Twitter: @AberfoylePS Page 5 tournament. Team members included Jocelyn, Charlotte, Claire, Elizabeth, Taylor, Jordyn, Sydney, Opportunities for shared reading will support Serena, Emily, Brooke, Sophie, Campbell, Tristan, Sierra, motivation and skills in reading no matter the language. and Jessica. Way to go, girls! Asking your child to predict what the text will be about or what will happen next, to visualise what is happening Both teams are to be commended on their teamwork, as you read and to use picture clues to better sportsmanship, and skill! A special thank you goes out understand the text are all activities that will positively to the coaches, Miss Grewal, Mrs. Bertrand and Mr impact reading. Hawkins for your dedicated time and athletic knowledge. Way to go Gators! The whole school is very Another way to support and motivate your child is to proud of your efforts! encourage them to read to you in French and then ask them to summarize or retell what they have read. This Testing Trusses shows them that you are interested in and value their reading experience in French and may even teach you some new French vocabulary along the way. Simply Here are some more photos showing students having a conversation with your child about what they testing their structures to see how much weight are reading in French and asking questions is an they can bear. additional way to show your interest and support.

What happens when students are not moving forward in their reading or parents have concerns about student progress?

Research shows that interventions can be effectively delivered in the student’s first language as well as in French at a time when the gap between strong and weak readers is still relatively small. Early intervention is key. Discussing your concerns as soon as they arise by speaking with your child’s teacher and then examining appropriate courses of action and supports as a team

are important first steps. French as a Second Language It is important to remember that a student struggling in “Today a reader, tomorrow a leader” - Margaret Fuller. reading does not mean that the student is not a good fit for learning French. French as a second language In education, we strive to teach our students how to be programs are for all students. Promoting this belief critical readers so that they can flourish in their future helps to create a supportive environment where endeavours whether in English or in French. Reading students feel more confident and can be successful. skills in French are not unlike reading skills in your first language, however, reading in French does require Further Reading: attention to a different sound system, different 1. What Works? Research into Practice. “Supporting vocabulary and at times an understanding of contexts or Early Language and Literacy. Dr. Janette Pelletier OISE, cultures that may be different than those in another University of . The Literacy and Numeracy language. Secretariat.

How can parents support student reading at home 2. What Works? Research into Practice. “ Early when they don’t speak French? Identification and Intervention for At-Risk Readers in French Immersion. Nancy Wise and Dr. Xi Chen. OISE, One way to do this is to read with your child in their first University of Toronto. The Literacy and Numeracy language. Research shows that reading behaviours and Secretariat. skills are transferable across languages. For example, understanding how to retell a story in English using the beginning, middle, and end structure is a skill that is transferable to French. Volume 3, Issue9 · April 2017 · Follow us on Twitter: @AberfoylePS Page 6

Crunch Day! Oratorical Contest 2016 – 2017

On March 9th at 2:00 PM we celebrated Crunch Day by biting into scrumptious apples. The pictures tell you how well the children enjoyed the activity!

On March 21st, 11 of our students from Grades 6 to 8 competed in the Optimist International Oratorical Contest. This contest is designed to inspire today’s youth to motivate and inform others through the art of public speaking. It also provides young people with the opportunity to compete for a college scholarship and express their views on a pre-assigned topic. This year’s topic was What the World Gains from Optimism.

Each candidate bravely presented their ideas about optimism and they were marked on their poise, content of speech, delivery and overall effectiveness.

5th place-Kavya V 4th place-Brooke B 3rd place-Liam D 2nd place- Colin G

1st place winner of the 2017 Optimist International Oratorical Contest at Aberfoyle P.S. was Aidan D.

Our top 5 representatives then battled it out for a zone position on Tuesday, March 28th at the Puslinch Community Centre. The students presented their award winning speeches to the Puslinch Optimist members. Each individual student demonstrated poise, confidence, and a passion for the topic. The judges for the District competition awarded the following students:

3rd place- Aidan D 2nd place- Liam D 1st place winner of the 2017 Optimist International Oratorical District Contest winner- Colin Grant

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Way to go ACEs! A special thank you to Mrs. Bertrand, Aberfoyle Student's Photo In Exhibit For Mr. Fiddes, Mr. Sehl, Mrs. Slater and Ms. Dinsmore for Focus On Nature your help and assistance with the competition. Congratulations to Serena Basi, a grade six student at We would also like to express our sincere gratitude to Aberfoyle School. One of her photos of nature, taken in the Puslinch Optimist Club for donating $1000.00 to spring, 2016, has been selected for, 'Naturally Aberfoyle Public School for our participation in the Canadian', Focus on Nature's upcoming student Optimist Oratorical competition. Thank you for your photography exhibit, celebrating Canada’s 150th guidance and support! anniversary!

Library Volunteers Needed Naturally Canadian features the work of 60 young photographers and runs from March 20th to April 20th Ms. Sunega was hoping for some volunteers to help at eMERGE Guelph in the Old Quebec Street Mall. with sorting books and shelving them too. Thanks in advance for your help. In April, 2016, as a grade-five student, Serena participated with the rest of her class in a one- We Read Books Here! day workshop on outdoor photography of nature run by the volunteer organization known as 'Focus On Nature'. Participants are supplied with a digital camera for the day to take close-up photos of elements of nature ranging from tree leaf buds to frosty glass blades. Instruction comes from a team of volunteer professional photographers. Advice is given for key aspects of camera use including focus range, shutter speed and light exposure. From approximately 20 - 25 photos, students choose their best five to edit and enhance. During the final portion of the day, students share their top photos with peers while explaining the reasons behind their selections and what software features, if any, were used to embellish their photography.

Aberfoyle students in grade five have been using the grounds of the Puslinch Community Centre for their annual Focus on Nature experience since autumn Medical Concerns 2013. We switched the program to the spring term in 2015. If your child has a serious medical condition, please contact the child’s teacher and the office. We need to be provided with up-to-date information and medication. A Life Threatening Management Form must be completed by the parent and the doctor. This information will be kept on file and shared so that all staff will be knowledgeable of emergency procedures. Parents should administer medication at home whenever possible. When medication must be administered by school personnel, it will be kept in the office. Non-prescription oral medication as well as prescription medication requires the completion of an authorization form before medication can be administered. This form is available at the school office.

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We congratulate Serena on this fine Puslinch Library Activities: April 2017 accomplishment. Below is information for anyone in our school community who may be interested in The following are the children’s programmes offered at viewing Serena's photo along with others during the the Puslinch Library for the month of April. . exhibit at eMERGE. Story Time (All Ages) Location: eMERGE Guelph, 55 Wyndham St North, in Our Story Times are created to help your child get ready Old Quebec Street Mall, across from PharmaPlus for reading. Share stories, songs, rhymes, and activities Dates: March 20th to April 20th, 2017 aimed at developing your child's early literacy skills. Hours: Mondays - Thursdays, 9:30am - 5pm Parents and caregivers are encouraged to participate. Please register. Thursdays, April 6 to June 15, 11:00 - 11:45 am Chess is Fun! Easter Scavenger Hunt (All Ages) As you are aware, chess is an important activity at Reading rabbits have hidden Easter eggs all over the Aberfoyle. Over 50 students took part in our school library! See how many you can find! Drop in. chess tournament in preparation for the board Saturday, April 1 to Saturday, April 15 tournament on April 6th. As you can tell by the pictures, everyone is engaged and having a good time. PA Day Build It! LEGO Challenge Tech Edition (Grades 1- 4) Thank you Mr. Fiddes for making this opportunity Join us for some exciting LEGO challenges. You bring available and arranging for Mr. Bond to help. your creativity and we will provide the LEGO. Please register. A special thank you also goes to the School Council for Friday, April 28, 10:30 am - 12:00 pm their funding assistance in this activity. Safe Arrival Reminder

If your child is going to be late or absent, please call the school at 519-763-7040, press extension 100, and leave a message. In order to ensure the safety of your children, if your child is marked absent and you have not called, we will call you. If there is any change in your child’s end-of-day routine, please write a note in your child’s agenda in the morning and Mrs. Warden will get that information from the classroom teacher.

Makerspace is for Making!

Volume 3, Issue9 · April 2017 · Follow us on Twitter: @AberfoylePS Page 9

Safe Departure Y Activities for PA Days 2016/17

Please send authorization in writing if someone other Check out these links for terrific things to do at the Y than the legal guardian is going to pick your child up and Puslinch Centre. They have attached what the from school. The authorized adult may also be asked for YMCA currently has on their website regarding their photo identification. sign up brochure for camp and also their link to their If it is necessary for a child to leave early, or to leave for website. a period during the day for an appointment, a note must http://www.guelphy.org/wp- be sent to the teacher. For the safety of your child, we content/uploads/2016/09/PD-Day-and-School-Break- request that you come into the school to sign him/her Camp-2016-2017-FINAL.pdf out at the office. We cannot send students out to http://www.guelphy.org/camp/pd-day-camps/ waiting cars.

Please also remember to sign your child off the bus using the bus lists located in the foyer if they are not taking the bus home. We appreciate your efforts to keep all Babysitting Course Ages 11+ - 9-4:30 pm 1 Day students safe.

This Canadian Red Cross course targets youth aged 11 Life-Threatening Allergies years of age & up who are planning to start babysitting. Learn basic first aid and how to respond to emergency We have children in our school with potential life- situations, basic baby and childcare and advice on threatening allergies to various foods and other becoming a responsible babysitter. Develop confidence, materials called anaphylaxis. This is a medical condition create a safe environment and find out tips for getting that causes a severe reaction to food or other materials, babysitting jobs. and can cause death within minutes. In recent years, anaphylaxis has increased dramatically among students. Upon completion of the course, students are given a Red Cross Babysitter's participatory certificate. Must be Although this may not affect your child’s class directly, 11 years old within 2 months of course date. we are letting you know so that you may refrain from * are PD Days or Holidays. sending foods to the school that contain peanuts and • *Friday, April 28/17 nuts. We aim to create an allergy safe environment at • Saturday, May 6/17 our school. • * Friday, June 9/17 • Friday, July 7/17 If your child is in a classroom with an anaphylactic child, or your child has anaphylaxis, you will be contacted by Wellington Centre for Continuing Education the classroom teacher. 1428 Gordon Street Fee: $60 Our school has procedures in place to help manage anaphylactic reactions. If your child has health concerns Home Alone Ages 10-12 of any kind, please tell your child’s teacher or the office • Monday, May 1, 4:30-6pm, 2 Wks and we will take the necessary health protection steps. Wellington Centre for Continuing Education Strong scents such as perfumes and certain 1428 Gordon Street deodorants can cause an allergic reaction in some of Fee: $35 our students and staff who experience sensitivity to these products. Please be considerate of others in the To register online, go to: building and try to use scent free products. Our noses http://www.ugdsb.on.ca/coned or thank you! http://www.learningforyou.ca Call: 519-836-7280

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Cardboard Boat Teams Reach Fourth and Six Positions and Set a Weight Record in Provincial Competitions

Donate to Free to Achieve! During the current school year, 327 cardboard boat teams of intermediate grades from across Ontario have School Trips for all Students participated in cardboard boat competitions organized by School trips are normally high on the list of childhood Skills Ontario at local or regional levels. On March 2, the

memories and are a vital part of our student’s top thirty-five teams including two from Aberfoyle were

educational experience. Unfortunately many students in invited to participate the provincial championship competition in Waterloo. Thirty -one teams showed up. our community are not able to participate in trips due Aberfoyle’s Boat Team A placed 4th with a speed of 21 to costs. Raising the funds to go is not always easy. You seconds for 25 metres and a total weight of 713 pounds or can help by making a donation to the Free to Achieve 323 kilograms for six passengers. This weight is a new 10th Fund! Donations of $20 or more to your School Fund place record among the top ten weights recorded, for and receive a tax receipt. Donate through the UGLF elementary school cardboard competitions, since Skills

website at www.uppergrandlearningfoundation.com Ontario began hosting the competitions in 1997. Aberfoyle’s Team B placed 6th overall with a speed of

20.18 seconds and a total weight of 498 pounds or 226 School Bus Safety kilograms.

Now that the weather has begun to change it is very Our team decorations were also a creative, fun and important that the driver is allowed to focus on the job humourous highlights. Team A decorated their boat as the of driving children safely to and from school. Most Loch Ness Monster complete with team members children do sit very well and understand that if the surrounding their creation or discovery while dressed in driver is looking in the rear-view mirror to check on kilts with a reporter showing photos of Nesse. At the other noise, he or she is not as focused on the road. end of the boat building hall, Team B decorated their boat as a large dragon fly. Team members were standing nearby with fly swats and shields.

We are extremely proud of the efforts and results of all of our cardboard boat team members. We also appreciate the moral support of their parents and the financial

support of our school council. Team members spent many hours designing, building, working on decorations and practising before the competition in Guelph on February 3 and the provincial championship in Waterloo on March 2. They will go down in Aberfoyle archival history as two brave, adventurous and courageous teams.

Volume 3, Issue9 · April 2017 · Follow us on Twitter: @AberfoylePS Page 11

Volume 3, Issue9 · April 2017 · Follow us on Twitter: @AberfoylePS Page 12