December 2008.pub (Read-Only) - Teston Village Public School

Teston Village Public School
80 Murray Farm Lane, Maple, Ontario L6A 3G1
Tel: (905) 417-0555 Fax: (905) 417-8368
E-mail: teston.village.ps@yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Website: www.testonvillage.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca
Principal
Mr. David Nimmo
Vice Principal
Mrs. Mary Oppedisano
Superintendent of
Schools
Mr. Robert Dunn
(905) 764-6830
Trustee
Ms. Anna DeBartolo
60 Wellington Street
West, Aurora, Ontario
L4G 3H2
(905)727-0022
Ext. 2829
Inside this issue:
Baythorn Arts Program 2
Clothes Drive/
Character Corner
Literacy Corner 3
Parenting Corner 3
Maple Library 4
Bus Cancellation 4
Important Dates 5
Faith Days 5
Student Leadership 6
Teston Tornadoes 6
School Council 6
2
From the Office:
Report Cards have been sent home, and Student Led Conferences
have taken place. As parents you should have a clear picture of your
child’s progress. It is our hope that you have a better understanding
of your child’s strengths and areas to improve. With this information
it will be important to set some realistic goals for your children to
attain. We appreciate the efforts parents are making to ensure we
improve student achievement.
Attendance is directly related to success in school and in life. Loss of
classroom time, especially in the early years, can affect a child’s social,
emotional and educational needs and may lead to problems such
as worrying about school work and not getting along with other children.
Lateness impinges on instructional time, disrupts the classroom
routine and may impact on a student’s academic performance. Your
child needs to be at school by 8:10 a.m. Punctuality from the
very beginning ensures that your child has a better opportunity to
develop skills and positive attitudes toward learning.
This is certainly a busy time of year filled with celebrations! At the
end of October some of our families have celebrated Diwali. In December
we recognize Eid-ul-Adha, Chanukah, Christmas and Kwanzaa.
We would like to wish every family the very best for a happy and
safe holiday season! Our first day back to school is Monday, January
5 th , 2009.
Happy New Year!
December, 2008
Health Corner 7
Calendar 8

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Teston Village Public School
ARTS @ BAYTHORN PROGRAM
INFORMATION EVENING
Does your child enjoy learning through the
Arts
All grade four and five students interested in learning
through the Arts (Drama, Dance, Music, Visual Arts) are invited
to audition for the Integrated Arts Program at Baythorn
Public School located in Thornhill. Please join us at our
Arts Information Evening on Tuesday, January 13, 2009 at
7:00 p.m. in the Gym at Baythorn Public School. Applications
will be available on our school website at:
www.baythorn.ps.yrdsb.edu.on.ca (beginning on January 14 th
2009).
Information regarding the audition process will be distributed
at the information evening.
Auditions for qualified students will be held in February
2009.
A number of flyers will be distributed to your school later
this month. We ask that you post them in places for students
and parents to be able to see the. Also, please give a
copy of the flyer to the appropriate teachers for distribution.
Please call us at Baythorn Public School if you have any questions.
905-889-7992
Partners in Education,
Brian Stone
A MESSAGE FROM THE WEST OFFICE:
As the York Region District School Board has continued to
grow, consideration has been given to how the Board supports
our schools and their families. In the Community Education
Centre West we have added six schools in a very short period
of time. In addition to the significant growth we have changed
how our schools work together. To support CEC-West families
and school initiatives, we are delighted to share with you that
the Supervisory Officer complement has been increased. We
welcome Scott Yake to the Supervisory Officer team in CEC-
West effective January 5, 2009.
Scott has been with the York Region District School Board for
the past 18 years. For the past ten years, he has served as vice
-principal and then as principal. In these roles, Scott has been
committed to building positive relationships with all members of
the school communities in which he has served. A focal point of
his leadership at the school level has been on establishing working
and learning conditions that support improved student learning
and success. Since 2007, Scott has been the Principal on
Assignment to Human Resource Services in our Board where he
has played an important role in elementary staffing, teacher
performance appraisals, and the implementation of the Ministry’s
Primary Class Size Reduction strategy.
Scott joins the West leadership team with enthusiasm and a
strong commitment to public education and lifelong learning.
Effective January 5, 2009 Scott will have direct supervisory
responsibilities for the following CEC-West schools:
German Mills, Stornoway, Johnsview Village, Willowbrook,
Glen Shields, Bayview Fairways, Brownridge, Woodland,
Ventura Park, Rosedale Heights, Dr. Roberta Bondar, Herbert
H. Carnegie, Fossil Hill, Lorna Jackson and Blue Willow.
COLD WEATHER IS COMING!!!!!
A reminder that ALL students are expected to go outside
for recess. Please ensure that your child(ren) is/are dressed
appropriately for Canadian winter. If your child is not well
enough to be out at recess, he/she is probably too ill to be at
school.
A change of clothes would be helpful for primary children
should they get wet during the day. Please make sure all
items are labeled with your child’s name. Our “Lost and
Found” bin gets filled up quickly and belongings
often go unclaimed.
Please make sure your child has a pair
of indoor shoes for school.
CLOTHES DRIVE!!!!
If you have any old coats, hats gloves, scarves,
boots, that you are not using, please feel free to
drop them off at the school.
Often times we have children that are not dressed in proper
clothing for being outdoors.
CHARACTER CORNER
This month our focus is: Empathy
We strive to sense and appreciate the emotions of
others, to stand in their shoes. We demonstrate
appreciation and concern for their feelings. We try to understand
issues from their perspective, even though we may not
agree with them personally.

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Teston Village Public School
CONTINUING THE JOURNEY:
USING ASSESSMENT FOR LEARNING TO IMPROVE
STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
Feedback IS A Powerful Tool for
Raising Student Achievement:
Research says that specific, descriptive feedback that focuses on success and points the way
to improvement has a positive effect on student learning. Students must be given the opportunity
to apply the feedback by trying again. (Davies 2002)
Get involved in the Assessment Process by Asking your child:
“How Can You Improve your Work”
How can I tell if my child is being bullied
BULLYING
WATCH FOR THE SIGNS!
A young child may not know the word “bully”, but she knows when someone is being mean, hurting her, or making
her feel sad or scared. There are signs that your child is being bullied, even if she doesn’t talk about it. She may not tell
you because she may be worried she’ll make things worse if she “tells" or “rats”.
Instead of waiting to be told, you can watch for signs that your child is being bullied – signs such as changes in behaviour, in
attitude, or in appearance. Children who are being bullied may not want to go to school or may cry or feel
sick on school days.They may not want to take part in activities or social events with other students. They might suddenly begin
to lose money or personal items, or come home with torn clothes or broken possessions, and offer explanations
that don’t make sense.
Children who are bullied may also start talking about dropping out of school and begin skipping activities that include other
students.
Is it bullying if force hasn’t been used
Bullying can take many forms. It can be:
• physical – hitting, shoving, stealing, or damaging property
• verbal – name calling, mocking, or making sexist, racist, or homophobic comments
• social – excluding others from a group or spreading gossip or rumours about them
• electronic (commonly known as cyber bullying) – spreading rumours and hurtful comments
through the use of e-mail, cell phones, and text messaging

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Teston Village Public School
MAPLE PUBLIC LIBRARY PROGRAMS—NOVEMBER
10190 Keele Street, Maple ON, L6A 3G1
905-653-READ (7323)
BORN TO READ
Tuesdays, 1:30 p.m.
Join us for an interactive program for parents and caregivers
with infants up to 18 months. We will share stories,
songs, rhymes and early literacy activities that you
can continue to enjoy at home! Please drop in!
TODDLING TO READ
Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m.
This program features stories, songs, and action rhymes
for toddlers ages 18 months to 3 years, with their parents
and caregivers. Toddlers will enjoy lots of stimulation
and activity. Please drop in.
READY TO READ
Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.
Join us for a half-hour of stories, finger plays and activities
for children aged 5 years and under and their
parents and caregivers. Come share great ideas for developing
early literacy skills and a love of reading. Please
drop in.
SEKAI NO ANIME
Thursday, December 18, 7:00 p.m.
Can’t get enough anime Is manga the only thing you
read Do you love Pokémon, Yu Gi Oh and InuYasha
Come and read the latest manga, learn to draw animestyle
and watch your favourite episodes too! For ages 8-
12. Please drop in.
WRITE LETTERS TO SANTA
December 1 – 7, during library opening hours
Ho ho ho! Make sure Santa knows what you want for
Christmas! Write him a letter and you’ll get one back.
Younger children can send Santa a drawing.
COUNTDOWN TO CHRISTMAS
Tuesday, December 16, 7:00 p.m.
Join us as we get ready for
Christmas with a fun-filled story
time!
For all ages, with a parent or
caregiver. Please drop in.
School Bus
Cancellation Notice
School bus service may be cancelled from time to time due to
inclement weather and/or poor road conditions. In these cases,
parents and students should develop alternate care/transportation
arrangements.
Since busing schedules begin by 7:00 a.m. or earlier, all cancellation
decisions must be made by 6:00 a.m. to ensure the safety of
our students. Cancellation decisions will only be made after thorough
consultation with school bus companies servicing York Region.
Decisions are based on several factors including precipitation,
air temperature and road conditions.
Please note the following:
• A decision to cancel school bus transportation may be system
wide (where all buses in York Region are cancelled) or municipality
specific (where buses in one or more municipalities
are cancelled).
• Even though transportation in your municipality is running, if
your child attends school in a different York Region municipality
where transportation is cancelled, your child will not be
transported to/from school.
• Even though your child attends school in a different York Region
municipality where transportation is running, if transportation
in your municipality is cancelled, your child will not be transported
to/from school.
• 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.
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 680 AM 860 AM 1010 AM 1050 AM
102.1 FM 1540 AM 1580 AM
88.5 FM 89.9 FM 92.5 FM 93.1 FM 94.1 FM 94.9 FM
95.9 FM 97.3 FM 98.1 FM 99.1 FM 99.9 FM 101.1 FM
104.5 FM 100.7 FM 107.1 FM
TELEVISION
CITY TV THE A-CHANNEL CFTO TV THE WEATHER NET-
WORK GLOBAL NEWS
A bus cancellation message will also be available at
www.schoolbuscity.com and by calling 1-877-330-3001.
The above procedure is not applicable to school charters. Please
confirm the cancellation of these trips with school administration.
Thank you for your support as we focus on providing safe transportation
for all of our students.
Student Transportation Services of York Region
320 Bloomington Road West, Aurora, Ontario L4G 3G8
905-713-2535, FAX: 905-713-2533
Web site: www.schoolbuscity.com

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Teston Village Public School
Health Corner -Exercise and activity
Physical activity is an important part of good health. Try to encourage
your child to do something active each day, such as a hobby, play a
game or be involved in sports.
To increase your child’s level of activity, try to:
• Limit the amount of time spent watching television for the whole
family
• Do something physical and active together.
• Encourage daily activity, not just exercise.
• Use the car less – that means everyone!
Healthy tips for school aged children
Suggestions include:
• Children need a variety of different foods each day.
• Snacks are an important part of a healthy diet for active children.
• Make snacks nutritious, not just high in energy.
• Plan to share meals as a family.
• Enjoy talking and sharing the day’s happenings at mealtimes.
• Let children tell you when they’re full.
• Let children help with food preparation and meal planning.
• Encourage physical activities for the whole family.
• Encourage children to drink plain water.
December
Colour your lunch!
Help your children eat plenty of colourful
vegetables and fruit every day.
Growing children, aged 4 to 8 years
old, need at least 5 servings; children
aged 9 to13 years old need at least 6
servings. For tasty school snacking, pack
juicy apples or pears, crunchy baby carrots,
canned fruit cups, or applesauce blends —
the choices are endless.
Visit Canada’s Food Guide
online at
www.healthcanada.gc.ca/
foodguide.
For health related information call
York Region
Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653 or
visit www.york.ca.
… Important Dates …
December - 2,3,4,5,9, - Scientists in the School
- 4,11,15,16,18 - V.I.P. Program
- 16 - Samosa Day
- 19 - Pizza Day - Mon/Wed Kindergartens
- 19 - Holiday & Good News Assembly
- 19 - Red/Green & White Day
During the Week of the 15th there will be:
Holiday Caroling in the Gym every morning
Holiday Cookies will be sold at morning recess
FAITH DAYS
December 8th - Eid-ul-Adha
December 25th - Christmas
December 22nd - Chanukah
December 26th - Kwanza

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Teston Village Public School
STUDENT LEADERSHIP COUNCIL
Madame Reid, Mr. Brown, Mr. Divito,
Mr. Weisinger and Mr Svela:
Have started Teston Village’s Student
Leadership Council. The council is made
up of intermediate students who have an interest
in developing their leadership skills around the
school. Some members of the SLC will be attending
the Together Were Better Anti Racism conference.
The SLC will be doing fundraising throughout
the year to support student generated initiatives
around the school.
Congratulations go out to all those applicants who
were selected for the committee:
Samitah Waqas Cindy
Rashda Asam Burhan
Alfia Fateh Andleeb
Navqql Gevethan Momal
Khaula Yanalisa Marya
Iqura Madiha Asima
Bushra Samina Somal
Hania
TESTON TORNADOES SPORTS NEWS
Teston Sports – Go Tornadoes!!
Teston Sports – Go Tornadoes!!
Over the last few months, Teston Village students have been
involved in several sport teams. In October, our cross country
and football teams showed dedication and hard work
while competing in the regional events. In November, our Intermediate
Boys and Girls Volleyball Team improved their
skills over the short season, and achieved great results. Furthermore,
the intermediate girls volleyball team won 1st
place in the west area, and brought back the first ever banner
for Teston Village. They competed at the regional's on
December 3rd, and came in 4th place. Congratulations to all!
The Junior Volleyball Team tryouts are currently underway,
good Luck to all the students who signed up!
The coaches would like to express their thanks to all the
supportive parents and fellow teachers.
Mr. Chan & Mrs. Lindo
FROM YOUR SCHOOL COUNCIL
I am pleased to announce the Teston Village School Council. The members
of the council are as shown below. As School council our goal is to
help enhance the learning and teaching environment of the school. We
look forward to working with the administration, teaching and nonteaching
staff to achieve this goal. Though the Council has been
formed, we still need more hands to help support the school. Your expertise
and input will be appreciated. Together we can build a great
school for teaching and learning, a school where children have all the
resources they need to succeed. This is our community and this is our
school, let’s make it happen.
Here are some highlights regarding what is happening now:
A Fund Raising & SPCI committee has been set up to plan activities to
raise funds to support our school.
Do come out and join us, bring a neighbor. - ALL ARE WELCOME
NEXT SCHOOL MEETING DATE IS:
JANUARY 13, 2008
IN THE SCHOOL LIBRARY 7:00 P.M.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
Nadeem Mahmood
Chair
Hina Kausar-Ahmad
Vice-Chair
Saima Ahmad
Secretary
Sajeda Muzaffar
Treasurer
Nadia Nazeer
Co-Treasurer
David Nimmo
Principal
Mary Oppedisano
Vice-Principal
Christina Papadakis
Administration
Katherine Billard
Teacher
Attiya Tulhadi
Parent
Amir Zada
Parent
Shahid Rabbani
Parent
Aysha Rashid
Parent
David Vella
Parent
Diane Vella
Parent
James Tekyi-Annan
Parent
Farzana Mansoor
Parent

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Teston Village Public School