Pringle Creek s Panther Pride

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1 Pringle Creek P.S. DDSB 80 Ribblesdale Dr. Whitby, ON L1N 8M fax Principal: M. Johnston Vice Principal: S. Knights Secretary: I. Somerville Chief Custodian: B. Bedard Important Dates: MARCH SPIRIT WEEK; 9 - Wacky Hair Day 10 - Twin Day -Down Syndrome Day 11 Canada Day -Recognition Assemblies 9:15 and 10:15 a.m MARCH BREAK March 2015 Pringle Creek s Panther Pride Hello Pringle Panthers, It is with great pleasure that I write this message as the new Principal of Pringle Creek... It has been a wonderful first few weeks getting to know the students, staff and families that make up our dynamic community. I am simply amazed by the number of opportunities that our school offers to our students in support of developing the whole child. Whether it be an academic event, an athletic team or an artistic club, our students are given an incredible number of opportunities to get involved in our school community. Each day I witness the character of our students through acts of kindness and respect; I witness the devotion of our staff to academic excellence by providing a plethora of opportunities to support our students; and I witness the commitment of our parents and community to giving their time to assist our school through countless hours of volunteering. The DDSB Strategic Priorities as outlined in our Ignite Learning are: Increase Student Achievement and Well-Being Constructively Engage the Community Advance Inspired Leadership These priorities will continue to drive our focus here at Pringle Creek throughout this year and in the years to come. I am excited and proud to have joined such an amazing school and I look forward to our years together growing and learning alongside one another. Yours in partnership, Mhairi Johnston 23 - School Resumes To our new evening custodian Karen Brennan! pringcreek_ps@durham.edu.on.ca

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3 Gong Hey Fat Choy 新年快樂 Xīnnián kuàilè On February 19 th, Mrs. Northey s FDK class celebrated Chinese New Year! We started our day with a special visit from Nicolas Jiang s mother. Nicolas and his mom explained some of the traditions of Chinese New Year celebrations and taught us how to say Happy New year in Mandarin. We discovered that Gong Hey Fat Choy was Cantonese and Xīnnián kuàilè was the Mandarin way to wish someone a Happy New Year. We created dragons and did a dragon parade around the main floor sweeping away the evil spirits and wishing everyone a Happy New Year. We concluded our celebration by eating Chinese noodles. We would like to also wish everyone who is celebrating Chinese New Year a wonderful and prosperous new year.

4 Pringle Panthers made us proud at our Wrestling Mini Meet. A big thank you goes out to all of our committed wrestlers who come out every week to improve their game.

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6 Drumming Club continues Tuesday s afterschool with Ron Cross. Folk Dancing: This year, once again, we be having a Folkdancing club. All student in grade 2-8 are welcome to join. This year due to the very cold winter our club is starting late. We will be having lunch time meeting on Thursdays starting after the March Break. We look forward to another amazing year. Lego Robotics: Mrs. Moolenschot has recently kicked off the Junior Division Lego Robotics Club. There has been an overwhelming response to the opportunity. The club will be meeting every week on Tuesdays at lunch. Due to the large number of participants, we will be dividing the group into 2 with the first half attending throughout March and the second half of the group attending throughout April. There will be continued opportunities offered for May and June as well.

7 Legislative Assembly of Ontario: The grade 5s had the fantastic opportunity of visiting the Legislative Assembly of Ontario on Monday, February 23rd. They were able to learn about the levels of government in Canada, with specific reference to Ontario, as well as the roles of MPPs. February 23rd just happened to be a day that Parliament was in session, so they were afforded the educational experience of watching MPPs debate while the House was sitting. It was very interesting indeed! The group was also taken on a tour of the building and were given in-depth information about the architectural features of the building while also experiencing the wide range of art on display. We would like to extend our thanks to all of the parent volunteers who were able to accompany the grade 5s on their exciting expedition into Toronto to visit the Legislative Assembly of Ontario.

8 Moving???? If you know you will be moving or registering your child at another school for September please let our office know. This will assist us in planning for Friday, March 13th, 2015 schools will be closed for March Break until Monday, March 23th, Have a SAFE and RESTFUL March Break!

9 LUNCH ROOM SUPERVISORS NEEDED! IF INTERESTED PLEASE COME TO THE OFFICE AND SPEAK TO OUR SECRETARY! Just a reminder that students are to come to the office to call parents when feeling ill. Cell phones are not to be used in class during instructional time unless teachers have given students permission to use their cell phones. Please take a minute and check out the lost and found items on the tables in the front hall. Items will be donated if not claimed by Fri. March 13, 2015 French Immersion Thursday, April 23, 2015 at 7:00 p.m., Education Centre 400 Taunton Road East Parent Information Night This information meeting is intended for parents who have children in SK and are interested in the French Immersion Program. No registration is required for this session.

10 Safety Over Convenience! In order for us to monitor who is in the building and ensure the safety of our students and staff it is imperative that visitors sign in at the office and not head directly to classrooms after entering the building. Pick up and drop off of students should happen outside at a pre-arranged location. If you do need to wait in the building at the end of the day to pick up your child we ask that you stay by our front doors and refrain from going to the classrooms as it can be disruptive when parents are waiting in the halls It is also important that students learn independence in entry and exit routines. If you need to speak to a staff member, the office will page him/her for you. Your support in this is greatly appreciated. When your child s school bus is cancelled and you have driven him or her to the school, you must remember that the bus will not be taking your child home at the end of the day and you will be responsible for picking-up your child. School Entry All doors will be locked and entry to the building is only accessible through the front doors, controlled by a buzzer and camera system. Thank you for always putting our students safety over convenience. No more lates.. Please contact the school to report student lates or absences. Child safety is our priority. The school phone line is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. (905) :00 a.m. entry 10:55 a.m. recess 11:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. lunch 2:15 p.m. recess 3:35 p.m. dismissal Supervision of all children begins at 8:45 each morning. Please watch these times so that you can make it to school on time. If students go home for lunch please do not send them back to school until 12:10 p.m. when our outdoor supervision begins. During inclement weather, students who are not bussed should arrive before the entry bells of 9:00 a.m. and 12:50 p.m. This will help to reduce the congestion in the halls. Thank you.

11 Storm Water Management Ponds Storm Water Management Ponds are containment facilities designed to collect runoff from the local storm sewer system. Water enters the storm sewer system following either a rainfall or snowmelt event or from activities such as washing cars or watering lawns. Storm Water Management Ponds are built to temporarily hold this water, provide treatment to remove the pollutants, and then slowly release the water back into the natural waterway to prevent downstream erosion and flooding. Public Access Prohibited Water levels in Storm Water Management Ponds are subject to dramatic and rapid changes during and following periods of rain and snow melt. Public access to the Storm Water Management Pond is prohibited due to site conditions such as murky water, sudden drop offs, subsurface currents, and the potential for entanglement with vegetation, sewer debris, or containment booms. Safety Tips Here are some tips for safety around Storm Water Management Ponds: Exercise caution at all times around frozen ponds or bodies of water. Even if a pond appears to be frozen solid never attempt to go on the ice. Fluctuating temperatures and the use of road salts can create thin or unstable ice and potentially hazardous conditions. Stay well back from the pond's side slope, vegetated barriers, and outfall areas. Be aware that water levels can rise rapidly, so never wade or swim in a Storm Water Management Pond. Do not dump garbage or other household waste (including used medical products, fertilizers, soap scum, etc.) into storm sewers, creeks or Storm Water Management Ponds. These pollutants represent a community safety hazard and compromise the environment.

12 Coyotes have been seen in and around the Durham region and have been spotted around the school. We ask that you take a moment to review safety rules with your children at home. We ask that you take a moment to review safety with your children at home. To assist you, we have compiled a list of guidelines for you: Avoid approaching or feeding wildlife Avoid taking short cuts through fields, wooded areas and parks Always walk with a buddy to and from school Never walk alone, especially at night Always be aware of your surroundings when wearing earphones At school, teachers will be reviewing these important messages with all students and, as always, staff will be vigilant in supervision. If you are interested in learning about the animals that live in the area, you will find more information on the Ministry of Natural Resources website: SCHOOL COMMUNITY COUNCIL Our next SCC meeting TBA, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. in the library.

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14 Some Dates of Significance for March March 8 th - International Women's Day International Women's Day is celebrated around the world. Established in 1977 by the United Nations, this special day is an excellent opportunity to recognize the contributions to social justice and international peace and security that have been made by women. March 8 th also provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made to advance women's equality, to assess the challenges facing women in contemporary society, to plan steps to enhance the status of women, and to celebrate the gains made in these areas. For more information: International Women s Day CARE Canada: Defending Dignity. Fighting Poverty Status of Women Canada, United Nations A woman with a voice is by definition a strong woman. But the search to find that voice can be remarkably difficult. It's complicated by the fact that in most nations women receive substantially less education than men. - Melinda Gates (Co-Chair of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation) March 17 th - St. Patrick's Day (Irish) This day is the anniversary of the death of St. Patrick, the Roman Catholic patron saint of Ireland, Born in Roman Britain in the late 4 th century, he was kidnapped at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. He escaped but returned about 432 to convert the Irish to Christianity. By the time of his death on March 17, 461, he had established monasteries, churches, and schools. Ireland came to celebrate his day with religious services and feasts. In Dublin, Ireland, St. Patrick s Day is part of a 5-day celebration. The longest running St. Patrick s Day parade in Canada takes place in Montreal dating back to The shamrock is the symbol of St. Patrick's Day and was originally used to explain the Trinity. For more information: "Saint Patrick s Day." Encyclopedia Britannica. Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, Web. 22 Feb March 21 st - Naw-Ruz (Bahá'í)* This date marks the New Year (167 BE) for people of the Bahá'í faith. The first month of the year is called Baha, meaning Splendour. In the Badi calendar of the Bab, Naw-Ruz is the day of Baha of the month of Bahá'í, a day called by the Bab the Day of God (yawmu llah). The observance begins the evening of the day before, marking the end of Ala, the month of fasting. Thus, the day begins with a meeting for prayer and then dinner. For more information: March 21 st - United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racism Beginning in 1966, the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination has been observed annually on March 21 st around the world. On this day in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration against apartheid pass laws in Sharpeville, South Africa. This incident provoked outrage and an increased desire to see racial discrimination of all sorts eliminated. Examples of racial discrimination fact sheet from: Ontario Human Rights Commission -

15 Some Dates of Significance for March March 25 th - International Day of Remembrance - Victims of Slavery and Transatlantic Slave Trade This observance forces us to confront human beings at their worst. But in those who opposed slavery then and now, we also celebrate people at their best... Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon I n commemoration of the memory of the victims, on December 17, 2007, the General Assembly, declared March 25 th the International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, to be observed annually. Commemorative events observing this day are designed to seek answers to the key questions: Who were these people? What are their stories? What did they contribute to the societies of their enslavement? What are their legacies and what lessons has the modern world learned from that dark phase of human history? For more information: Youth For Human Rights No Slavery (video) United Nations Breaking the Silence, Beating the Drum (documentary) March 29 th Palm Sunday (Christian) Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four canonical Gospels. In many Christian churches, Palm Sunday includes a procession of the assembled worshipers carrying palms, representing the palm branches the crowd scattered in front of Jesus as he rode into Jerusalem. The difficulty of procuring palms in unfavorable climates led to their substitution with branches of native trees, including box, yew, willow, and olive. The Sunday was often designated by the names of these trees, as in Yew Sunday, or by the general term Branch Sunday. For more information: I can achieve anything in life that I desire to achieve. No one nor anything can stop me from achieving excellence. The only person that can stop me from achieving excellence IS ME - and I refuse to stop myself from achieving excellence. Principal Bharuti Kafele