MISSION Captain Michael VandenBos P.S.

STATEMET
OUR SCHOOL Flying High for Excellence
COMMUNITY
WILL CREATE A
SAFE AND
MOTIVATING
LEARNING
NEWSLETTER MAY 2011
ENVIRONMENT
THAT EMPOWERS
STUDENTS TO
BECOME
SUCCESSFUL Hello VandenBos Team! Well, only one week has passed since my arrival and I can't believe how
incredibly busy, welcoming and dedicated our students, staff and community are. My walkthroughs
LEARNERS AND
have confirmed that the teaching and learning at VandenBos is the number one focus. Not only are
TO ACQUIRE THE the classrooms alive with curious learners, but student leadership, music, drama, art and athletics fill
SKILLS NEEDED the hallways with VandenBos talent and spirit. Everyone here is 'Flying High with Excellence.' Two
TO BECOME more months of school before summer vacation arrives, however, here at CMV, we are in full
swing. Students and staff are working hard to consolidate the skills and knowledge that are required
RESPONSIBLE for their grade level to best prepare our students for the next grade. This is especially true for our
CITIZENS OF students in grade three and six, as they prepare for the annual provincial assessment in May/June.
TOMORROW We continue to encourage all students to complete their daily assignments to the best of their ability,
and to read for pleasure as much as possible. This is particularly important for our grade eight
3121 Country Lane students as they have their sights set on high school. There are several exciting events planned for
our students in May and June, so please read the newsletters carefully, check your child's agenda
Whitby, Ontario
for notices and refer to the Durham District School Board calendar for key dates to remember.
L1P 1N3
Safe Arrival Line I would like to personally thank all VandenBos students, staff and families who have welcomed me
so kindly to the Snowbird community! I am proud to be a Snowbird and have fond memories of
4pm to 8am
being a VandenBos parent myself (many, many years ago!). My door is always open and I look
905-665-2001 forward to working with you and your wonderful children.

Karin
Schmidlechner
Principal
STUDENT
Jayne Krattiger
Vice Principal
ARRIVAL IN
We all know that students perform at their best without THE
Voula Phillips
Carolyn Copithorne
interruptions to their instructional time. With that in mind, MORNING
Susan Blakley we are asking parents to keep interruptions into the Please remember that stu-
Admin. Assistants classroom to a minimum. We understand that emergen- dents should not arrive at school
cies do arise and we will always page the student for any earlier than 8:05 am unless re-
John Bowyer quired to do so for a practice. We
Superintendent emergency. Preplanning after-school activities at home
do not have outside supervisors
905-666-5500 with your child also helps to keep the phone lines free at in the morning and students are
the end of the day and to eliminate crowding in the office. not typically allowed inside until
Anne-Marie Laginski
The agenda is a great communication tool for your child’s the 8:15 am bell rings. Thank you
Admin Officer
for your cooperation.
905-666-5500 teacher. Thank you for your co-operation.
As well, we have noticed that
some students are habitually late.
Kimberly Zeppieri
It would be appreciated if stu-
905-668-7782
dents could be on time for school
Christine Winters
on a regular basis.
905-430-6050
MAY 2011 Page 2

As of April 1, 2011 the Durham District School Board website will offer a new tool to make finding designated
school locations easier. The tool is called the School Locator and it will provide online users with the ability to
search for the school(s) designated to a specific municipal address. This feature provides users with the elementary and
secondary regular track as well as French Immersion schools to which an indicated address is designated. The user can access
school information, boundary maps, information and news. If the school(s) or program information is not provided from the search
request, users can always access assistance or additional information by contacting the DDSB’s Planning Department at 905-666-
6421 or 1-800-339-6913 ext. 6421 during regular business hours. Additionally, contact information for Durham Student
Transportation Department is available to users of the site. You can find the School Locator in the upper scroll above the 'What's
New' section of the DDSB website. Its permanent home will be located in two sections of the DDSB website: Schools - DDSB
Schools menu and the About DDSB - Facilities and Accommodations menu at the left side of the Board’s front page.

If you are planning to move out of the Captain Mi-

chael VandenBos school area over the summer,
please inform the school (905-665-2001). If you
know someone who is moving into the area and will
be attending CMV, please have them call the
school. This information is important in planning for
September. Thank you.
The Volunteer Café will be held on Friday, May 13,
2011 at 1:00pm in the school gymnasium. Everyone
who has volunteered their time to help at our school
is invited to attend. Entertainment will be provided
by some of our students. Come and join us for cof-
fee and cookies so we can say “Thank you” for all
your efforts on behalf of the students and staff.

F.I. Boundaries for CMV:

Rossland Road North and Taunton Road South within the Williamsburg area

F.I. Boundaries Julie Payette:

Lake Ontario to Taunton Road South (excluding Williamsburg Area).

Julie Payette Students

As you all know, CMV is going through a transition period. A large group of F.I. students will leave CMV to
attend Julie Payette P.S. located on the former Leslie McFarlane site. Grade 1 to 8 F.I. students who live
outside the Williamsburg area will attend this new F.I. Centre. Bussing will be available to all students who
meet the transportation criteria (distance of ≥1.6 km from school). Please note that all 2011/12 Grade 8
students are scheduled to go to the new school.
MAY 2011 Page 3

Grade 8 Graduation

Plans are well underway for our Grade 8 Graduation which will take place on Mon-
day, June 27, 2011 at 7:00pm in our school gymnasium. This will be followed by a dance for the
graduates. Due to fire regulations concerning the number of people allowed in our gym, it is essen-
tial that each graduate invite only three guests each to attend the ceremony. Three tickets per gradu-
ate will be sent home shortly before the graduation date. Rehearsal for graduation will take place on
Tuesday, June 21 during the school day.
Clap Out
On Tuesday, June 28 the graduates will return for the traditional “Clap Out” at 2:15. Parents are in-
vited to attend the clap-out.

Clap Out will be for grade 8 students only.

Grade 8 Trip to Ottawa

The grade 8 students are eagerly looking forward to their trip to Ottawa. They leave Wednesday,
June 22 and return Friday, June 24.

Classroom Requests for 2011-2012

Class placement meetings for the September 2011 school year will take place in June. The teachers and administration work
collaboratively together to determine the best class placement for all our students. The following factors are considered:

• learning style-needs of students

• teaching style

• social skills and peer interactions/ gender combinations

• special requirements (resources/technology etc.)

• Ministry guidelines regarding class size

Teachers who work with your child(ren) have the best perspective on these issues and will be working closely together with
administration to make good decisions for the students, teachers and VandenBos as a whole. Your input is valued and you are
welcome to provide information that may assist your child’s teacher in making these important decisions. Appropriate details would
include your child’s placement history, the type of learner that you perceive they are, the style of instruction that you feel they would
best benefit from and/or relevant medical information. Parents may not pick a specific teacher for their child and this type of request
will not be accepted. If you have information to share regarding class placement needs, please speak to your child’s teacher before
the June 3 PA day.
MAY 2011 Page 4

Grade 3 EQAO Information

EQAO dates for 2011 are as follows:
Grade 6 – Tuesday, May 31, Wednesday, June 1, and Thursday, June 2 with a make-up day Monday, June 6.
Grade 3 – Tuesday, June 7, Wednesday, June 8, and Thursday, June 9 with a make-up day Friday, June 10.

Please try to avoid booking appointments or trips if possible on these days. It is also important that your child be at
school on time on these dates.

Sample Grade 3 Language Questions:

1. Write a paragraph about an imaginary machine you have invented.
Explain how it works and what it can do.
Write down ideas for your paragraph first, then write your paragraph, remembering to check punctuation,
spelling and grammar.
2. Choose the sentence that is written correctly.
a. David said, “Hurry up!”
b. “David” said, Hurry up!
c. “David said that” we should hurry up.
d. David “said that we should hurry up.”
3. Choose the best order to make a paragraph using the sentences below.

(1) After school, Nat and Shaun ride their bikes.

(2) Nat and Shaun are good friends.

(3) They start each day by walking to school together.

(4) They really enjoy spending time together.

a. 1, 2, 4, 3

b. 2, 3, 1, 4

c. 3, 4, 1, 2

d. 4, 2, 3, 1
Sample Grade 3 Math Question
1. Miro gives away the same number of stickers each day.
On Day 1 he has 98 stickers. On Day 2 he has 93 stickers. On what day will he have exactly 63 stickers?
Show your work.

En francais: 1. Chaque jour, Miro donne à sa soeur le même nombre d’autocollants. Le premier jour, Miro a
98 autocollants. Le deuxième jour, Miro a 93 autocollants. Quel jour aura-t-il exactement 63 autocollants?
Montre ton travail.
MAY 2011 Page 5

Grade 6 EQAO Information

EQAO dates for 2011 are as follows:
Grade 6 – Tuesday, May 31, Wednesday, June 1 and Thursday, June 2 with a make-up day Monday, June 6.

Please try to avoid booking appointments or trips if possible on these days. It is also important that your child be at
school on time on these dates.

Sample Grade 6 Language Questions:

1. Write a description of your favorite school day in Grade 6 for a teacher you will have next
year.
Use specific details in your description. Write down ideas for your description and then write down your description.

2. Choose the word that has the same meaning as the words in bold in the following
sentence.
The picture showed a grizzly bear standing next to a car, and the bear looked very big.

a. major b. plentiful c. abundant d. immense

3. Choose the punctuation that is missing from the following sentence.

I am so happy that the warm weather has arrived, said the teacher.

a. apostrophe

b. question mark

c. quotation marks

d. exclamation mark

Sample Grade 6 Math Questions:

1. Enrico pours 80 L of water into 200 mL cups. If he fills the cups completely, how many
cups does he fill?
A .250 B.400 C.2500 D.4000

2. A turkey weighs 9.75 kilograms. It takes about 20 minutes to cook 500 grams of this
turkey. Approximately how many minutes does it take to cook the whole turkey?
A. 39 B. 74 C. 390 D. 488
MAY 2011 Page 6

Building Character Education

This month’s feature…

The focus for the month of April was Kindness. Class discussions centered around being sensitive to
others’ feelings, being charitable and being attentive to the words and actions we choose with others.
In addition, most of our classes received a visit from a beautiful poodle and its owner, whose
conversation with our students centered around the topics below:

Kindergarten: To reduce incidence of fear or injury to children and animals. Understanding pets and
instilling feelings of love and respect.
Grades 1 & 2: Awareness of animals in child's neighbourhood. Care of pets and free creatures.
Grades 3 & 4: Developing empathy through a comparison of pupils and pets. Wise choice of a pet.
Grades 5 & 6: Extension of development of empathy to include all creatures. Their needs - our
responsibility.
May’s focus is Honesty: being trustful and sincere.

Recently, I read an article that had noted a most interesting statement: people readily admit to not being able to do math well,
however, very few people will make the same comment about reading. How do we, as parents and educators, disable this
statement? May I suggest through exploration and fun. Students are more easily motivated to take risks when learning is fun
and safe. So why not combine today’s student’s love of technology with math?

This website, www.topmarks.co.uk, offers a variety of math games for all ages that are both fun and challenging. Type in the
website, choose “games”, select the appropriate age group and the area of math you would like to work on.

So, the next time your child goes on the computer, have them check this website. Better still, give it a try yourself. You may
be surprised at how good you are at math.

Getting Ready For High School

Grade Eight students and parents - please stay tuned for information about a “Getting Ready for High School” week
long opportunity this August. The program runs from Monday, August 22nd to Thursday, August 25th (8:30 am to 1:30
pm). This program is open to all students entering Grade Nine and provides them with a brief introduction to the
Grade Nine English and Mathematics curriculum, as well as study skills, time management, and steps to success. More
information is also available through www.dce.ca (Durham Continuing Education).
Grade 7 & 8 Language Arts & Mathematics Upgrading
This program provides students who have completed Grades 7 or 8 with remedial support in upgrading their skills
in language arts and mathematics. The program will run from July 4th -28th (no Fridays) at: Dunbarton HS, O’Neill
(Oshawa) and Sinclair (Whitby). Bussing is available for students attending the full day program (Language in the
morning and Mathematics in the afternoon). Students requesting a half day program are responsible for
transportation at mid-day. More information is available through www.dce.ca.

Positive Strategies for dealing with common parenting challenges - please see the link below for information or request
a paper copy from the school office.
http://www.practicalparenting.ca/pdf/registration.pdf
MAY 2011 Page 7
MAY 2011 Page 8

You are cordially invited to this year’s school play, Anne of Green Gables. Take a trip to P.E.I., the garden of the east, and have a
tryst with Canada’s 101 year old icon. Our cast has been rehearsing for weeks and look forward to playing for you on May 11 and
12th. Tickets will be on sale this week and available at the door. Watch your child’s backpack for the advance order form.

In order to put together this wonderful production, we are in need of a few items. If you have anything from the list below, could you
send it, labeled with your name, to Mme Gantley or Mme Hofmann at the school. Any items you can provide would be greatly ap-
preciated.

8 stools, old suitcase or carpet bag, wooden table with chairs, 2 quilts, slates, blankets, grad gowns, tea pot and cups, school bell,
old fashioned metal kettle, basket with fake eggs, old fashioned looking books, old fashioned bottle, 2 plastic tumblers, small old
fashioned bottle ( medicine), homemade looking crutches or canes, something that looks like a wooden coffin & a scholarly looking
gold medal. Thank you for you help. Mme. Hofmann & Mme. Gantley

At school, we emphasize safety practices and we ask for If you have a child beginning kindergarten for the first time
your continued assistance in reinforcing good safety habits in September we are looking forward to seeing you on
with your children. Wednesday, May 25th (6:30 - 7:30 pm) for our Welcome to
• Always walk with a buddy or friend to and from school Kindergarten program. Parents will receive valuable
• Do not talk to strangers
• Inform your parents and your school if a stranger
information from the school and receive resources to
approaches you use at home in the lead up to school start in September.
• Remember, adults do not ask directions from children Hope to see you there and welcome to our new Snowbirds!
• Always let your parents know if there has been a change in
your plans
• Avoid taking short cuts through fields and parks
• Move away from a car that pulls up beside you if you do not
know the driver
• If you are wearing earphones, please be aware of your
surroundings at all times
• Never walk alone, especially at night

STAYING AT SCHOOL FOR LUNCH

As the weather gets warmer, more students want to leave
school property to have their lunch. Please discuss lunch time
and pick up arrangements with your child before he/she is
sent to school. If a student is to stay for lunch, they are not
permitted to leave school property (e.g., going to a friend’s,
eating lunch uptown or eating at the park, etc.) unless we
have written permission from parents. We are conscious
about student safety at all times.
SPRING SAFETY
We are beginning to see more students walking to school and
riding their bicycles now that the nice weather is here. Students
and families are reminded that for everyone’s safety, bicycles are
walked to the bike racks and that students should use a lock to
secure their bicycle during the day. Valuable items such as
skateboards, scooters and roller blades are not permitted on
school property.
MAY 2011 Page 9
MAY 2011 Page 10

Wed Wednesday June 1st 5pm-8pm

Rain OR Shine!
Come out and join us for another great evening of fun for the whole family!
Starr Burger BBQ, Games, Magic Show, Face Painting, Popcorn, Raffle, Teacher Surprise Bags, Music/DJ
and much, much more!

The SCC would like to thank everyone for another successful Popcorn Day (April
27th). We raised $306 for the 'Anne of Green Gables' play while
enjoying this special treat! The winner of the free popcorn for their
class for the May 26th Popcorn Day was Ashwin in Mlle Goss's class
#112. Remember our next Popcorn Day will be: Thursday May 26th.

It’s been a while in the making, it’s so close we can taste it. Cook book order forms are going home this week.

♦ Soft cover, spiral bound, black & white

♦ Over 250 recipes of great, family friendly recipes
♦ Recipes from students and staff
♦ 80+ pages (8 1/2 X 11)
♦ Complete with students artwork throughout
♦ June delivery date

All of this for only $10.00!cookbook

Get you order in before the Friday, May 13th deadline.
MAY 2011 Page 11

Cybersafety for kids!

Listed below are a few websites that deal with internet
VandenBos Folkdancers Strut their Stuff on May 9 usage and digital citizenship that may be of use for
Bring your dancing shoes!!! Our dedicated Folkdancers parents of students ages 10—14:
have been learning and practising for months. We finally Internet Safety:
get to strut our stuff at the Annual Jamboree! www.thedoorthatsnotlocked.ca
Come one, come all, to Iroquois Park on May 9, 7-8:30pm www.cybertip.ca/respectyourself
to see all our hard work in action. Cell phone Safety:
www.mobility.protectchildren.ca

The school dress code responds to several needs: the need to uphold a healthy self-image, a sense of modesty, respect for self and
others, and rules of etiquette. The school dress code assists in the creation of a positive learning environment. Inappropriate dress
distracts and diverts us from our primary purpose - LEARNING!
As the warm weather comes upon us, school staff always find themselves talking to our students about appropriate school dress. It
is an ongoing conversation in all schools and we would like to remind everyone of dress code expectations for all Durham schools:
•Clothing free of inappropriate logos, slogans, phrases, and pictures.
Clothing does not depict ethnic, cultural or racial slurs, violent scenes or slogans are prohibited. Alcohol or cigarette advertisements
are inappropriate dress.
•Head uncovered - hats are to be removed when entering the school building.
•No exposed undergarments, tank top shoulder straps should follow “2 finger rule”.
•All undergarments hidden from view.
•All cleavage concealed.
•Opaque clothing materials for tops and bottoms is not appropriate.
•Mid thigh length for bottom garments (including slits).
•Midriff area and back covered completely, ie no belly-baring shirts.

May 4th - Dental Screening JK/SK Diversity for Dialogue & Development

May 4th - Hawaiian Beach Bash Day May 23rd - Declaration of the Bab
(Bahai)
May 5th - Gr. 7 Band @ Kiwanis
Festival 10:50 am May 23rd - Victoria Day - No School
The Month of May is Asian Heritage
May 5th - Math Olympics May 25th - National Missing Children’s
Month Day
May 8th - Mother’s Day
May 25th - JK Orientation 6:30 pm
May 11th - Gr. 8 Band @Kiwanis
Festival 9:30 am May 26th - Popcorn Day

May 11th & 12th - Musical
Performance 7:00 pm in the Gym
May 13th - Volunteer Café 1:00-2:30
pm
May 15th - International Day of Families
May 17th - Pizza Lunch
May 17th - International Day Against
Homophobia
May 26th - Int. Spring Concert 7:00 pm
May 29th - Ascension of Baha u llah
(Bahai)
May 17th Wesak ( Buddhism) May 30, 31 June 1 & 2 - Jr. EQAO
May 19th - Hep. B & HPV Immunization
May 19th Palmerston Open House 7:00
pm @ CMV
May 21st - World Day for Cultural