Palgrave Public School Newsletter

May 2016

There are days when I look out my window and think – SPRING HAS ARRIVED. And then others when I look out the window and wonder where I put my winter coat. Part of the joy of being Canadian is that we can experience an entire year’s worth of seasons in a week. Quite miraculous actually. I will continue to be an optimistic Canadian and take joy in the (slightly) warmer days and the April showers that will bring those May flowers. Spring is here and time is flying. We have only 2 months left of our school year and things are busier than ever.

Please take a moment to read through the newsletter and take note of the special happenings.

Events in May

May 2 – Jump Rope for Heart Event.

  • Students will spend a period enjoying the weather outside (hopefully) and jumping rope.

May 5 – School Council and Home and School Meeting

  • 6:00 p.m. in the School Library

May 9 – 12 – Grade 8 Trip

May 13 – PD Day

  • NO SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

May 17 – Senior Cross Country Meet

May 19 – Junior Track and Field (rain date May 20).

May 23 – VICTORIA DAY – NO SCHOOL

May 26 – 27 – Grade 7 Trip

May 26 – Mental Health Evening Event at Humberview Secondary School. Everyone welcome.

May 30 – Retirement celebration for Mrs. O’Rourke and Mrs. Forletta at the school (4:30).

Peel schools honour police officers during Police Appreciation Week

The Peel District School Board will pay tribute to police officers by holding Police Appreciation Week from May 15 to 21, 2016. Peel students and staff will show their appreciation for the tremendous job being done by police to protect schools, homes and communities. Police Appreciation Week coincides with National Police Week. National Police Week pays tribute to the work of police officers across Canada.

"The Peel board appreciates the dedication and commitment of police officers who work to keep our schools and communities safe," says Janet McDougald, Peel board chair. "Police Appreciation Week is our way of thanking officers who dedicate themselves to protecting our community. It's also a way to give these officers the special recognition they deserve."

During this week, students, staff and parents in schools throughout Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga will honour the work of police officers and thank them for enhancing public safety and security.


May 1 to 7 is Emergency Preparedness Week

What is Emergency Preparedness Week?

The first full week of May of each year is Emergency Preparedness (EP) Week. This year, we will celebrate EP week May 1 to May 7. EP Week is a nation-wide initiative to increase awareness about individual and family preparedness, emphasizing how the public can reduce the risks and consequences of an emergency by being better prepared. During this week, we promote, educate and bring about awareness concerning emergency management planning and personal preparedness.

What is the purpose?

The purpose of EP Week is to educate students, parents and the community about the importance of being prepared in the case of an emergency.


The safety of our students is our top priority

Throughout the school year, incidents in our school communities happen. Our staff take precautions to emphasize street-proofing skills with your child. However, we feel that it is important that you take an opportunity to review safety procedures with your child.

Peel Police have provided the following safety guidelines if your child encounters a stranger:

  • Tell your children to never go anywhere with a stranger, not to talk to strangers and never take anything from them. You also have to teach them what a "safe stranger" is in case they need help. A safe stranger includes a police officer, a cashier, a fire fighter, etc.
  • Remind your child to never walk alone—always walk with a group.
  • Develop a "what if" game for the kids to get them thinking of how they would respond if they felt threatened or afraid.
  • Know who your children play with and where they go. This includes keeping a list of their friend's addresses and phone numbers.
  • Remind your children not to take short cuts through parks, ravines, or other secluded areas.
  • Your child's body is private. Tell your child that no one may touch the area their bathing suit covers. If someone does or tries to touch them, they should advise you immediately.
  • Teach your children to talk to you immediately when someone does anything that makes them feel strange or uncomfortable. Listen when your children are trying to tell you about something that bothers them and provide them with support and understanding.

Tips for riding the bus:

  • Take a seat as quickly as possible, put belongings under the seat and stay seated.
  • Never stick anything out of the window, including part of your body.
  • Refrain from eating on the bus. If a choking incident occurs, the driver may not be able to help immediately.
  • Wait until the school bus stops before standing up to exit the vehicle.

Tips for exiting the bus:

  • When getting off the bus, take two large steps away from bus. If you have to walk in front of the bus, do so at least three metres (10 giant steps) away from the bus.
  • The driver must be able to see students exiting the bus and will give a signal when it is safe to cross. If more than one student is crossing in front of the bus at the same time, they should cross in single file.
  • Children must never reach for something that is under the bus without the driver’s permission. Let the driver know that something is under the bus or wait until the bus moves out of the way.

Tips for walking to school:

  • Help your child establish a safe, direct route to school. Avoid potential safety hazards such as train tracks, busy intersections, and reinforce what safety precautions to follow.
  • Stay on sidewalks whenever possible. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road and walk facing traffic.
  • Cross streets at intersections and at crosswalks and learn to look to the left, the right, and the left again before proceeding.
  • Wait until traffic comes to a stop before crossing. Make sure drivers see you before you cross. Don't assume the driver will stop for you.

On the road again: How to keep your cyclist safe

Here are some tips you can review with your child to ensure bike season gets off to a great start:

The right fit

  • children should be able to straddle the bike with both feet on the ground
  • a bike that is too big or too small can be a safety hazard
  • the helmet should fit—if it's too loose, it could fall off, if it's too tight, it's uncomfortable

Get noticed

  • a young child's bike should be equipped with a bell and reflector
  • older riders should have a light and/or reflectors

Follow the rules

  • no riding on busy streets
  • no riding at night
  • stop for all STOP signs

Actions that cause injuries

  • driveway ride out—not stopping and looking both ways before entering the street
  • running the stop sign
  • turning without warning
  • cycling in the dark
  • following the leader—one child goes through a stop sign or misses a parked car but the second cyclist doesn't

Keep your child safe around train tracks

Trains are often closer and are moving faster than most motorists and pedestrians perceive. That's why all members of a family should be are aware of the importance of rail safety.

Safety steps for children

  • Playing on railway tracks and bridges is dangerous. Find safe, supervised and open areas (e.g., neighbourhood parks) in which to have fun.
  • The only way to safely cross a rail track is to use designated railway crossings.
  • If you must cross railway tracks, for example on your way to and from school, stop, look and listen before crossing.
  • It is against the law to trespass on railway property.

Safety steps for adults

  • Be prepared to stop at a highway/ railway crossing.
  • Listen for warning bells and whistles of an approaching train. Turn off, or turn down distracting fans, heaters, music/radios.
  • Obey the signals. Never attempt to drive under a gate as it is closing or around a closed gate. If the gate begins to close while you’re underneath, keep moving ahead until you clear the crossing.
  • If a police officer or a member of the train crew is directing traffic at the crossing, obey their directions.
  • If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out quickly and away from the vehicle and tracks. Move in the direction that the train is approaching from to avoid being hit by debris. Your vehicle will be swept forward by the momentum of the train.

Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes

Do you know an adult that is interested in improving their English language skills for work, study or daily life?

Through the Continuing & Adult Education department, the Peel District School Board offers a wide variety of English language classes that help parents experience success in Canadian English in both listening/speaking and reading/writing. Courses are designed for a range of basic, intermediate and advanced English (Levels 1 to 7) as well as the more experienced learner needing to prepare for an IELTS exam.

Classes are ongoing - Register anytime.

All learners that complete a session will earn a certificate of learning from the Peel District School Board.

Classes operate from six locations in Brampton and Mississauga with three specially designed adult centres at:

  • Bramalea​ - Adult Education Centre - 25 Kings Cross Road, Unit 3
  • Brampton - Adult Education Centre - #300 - 7700 Hurontario Street
  • Mississauga - Adult Education Centre - 100 Elm Drive West, Room 117

To learn more or to register, call 905-270-6000

Also visit or follow us on Twitter: @PDSBLearnESL