Tuesday, February 27, 2018

SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT @ 6:30 p.m.

A reminder that we have our School Council Meeting tonight!  Hope to see you there!



Fossil Hill Public School

School Council Meeting

Tuesday, February 27, 2018 at 6:30

Agenda Items
Welcome & Acceptance of Current Agenda             Sonia                     1 min

Adoption of Minutes from November 21 meeting     Sonia                     1 min

Fossil Hill Update                                                  Joanne/Carolyn      15 min
(past month's events)                        

Discussion Items:

·         PRO Grant - Math Night                               All                         45min
* Fundraising to support evening

                                     
 Other Business (Proposed future agenda items):

  

Summarize meeting's actions                                 Sonia                     5 min

Motion to End Meeting

Monday, February 26, 2018

Upcoming Parent Presentations



Spirit Days

Day of Pink
This Wednesday, February 28th Fossil Hill will be joining schools across the board, the province and the country in wearing PINK to stand up to bullies.  This day originated in Nova Scotia when 2 boys decided to support a classmate being bullied for wearing a pink shirt by wearing pink themselves and encouraging the school to create a sea of pinkWe hope to see a SEA of PINK at our assembly Wednesday afternoon when Fossil students will all wear pink to take a stand against bullying.

SPIRIT COLOURS
The first school day of each month Fossil students are encouraged to wear their grade colours to show Fossil spirit.  So, because Thursday is March 1st, students should wear their grade colour to school.  The grade colours are;
    RAINBOW for Kindergarten students
    RED for Grade 1
    ORANGE for Grade 2
    YELLOW for Grade 3
    GREEN for Grade 4
    BLUE for Grade 5
    PURPLE for Grade 6
    PINK for Grade 7  and
    WHITE for Grade 8

Friday, February 23, 2018

Contribute to Strategic Planning at YRDSB - Upcoming Town Halls



York Region District School Board is revisioning its Multi-Year Plan (MYP) and Board Improvement Plan for Student Achievement and Well-being. The Board of Trustees is responsible for setting the strategic direction of public education in York Region public schools. The MYP incorporates the direction established by the Trustees with feedback received from all stakeholders, and will inform decision making at the Board in the years to come. Town halls will be taking place across the region and feedback collected from families and community members will inform the creation of a new MYP. Your voice is important and your input and feedback will help York Region District School Board support student achievement and well-being. There will also be other opportunities, including a survey available in April, to share your thoughts if you are unable to attend a town hall.

Save the Date! 

TOWN HALL DATES AND TIMES
LOCATIONS
Monday, April 16, 2018
7 - 9 p.m.
Keswick High School
100 Biscayne Blvd., Keswick
Wednesday, April 18, 2018
6 - 9 p.m.
Markville Secondary School
1000 Carlton Rd., Markham
Sunday, April 22, 2018
2 - 4 p.m.
Sir William Mulock Secondary School
705 Columbus Way, Newmarket
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Maple High School
50 Springside Rd., Maple
Saturday, April 28, 2018
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Bayview Secondary School
10077 Bayview Ave., Richmond Hill




Thursday, February 22, 2018

YRDSB Summer Institute


 

Looking for summer learning and fun activities for your children?  YRDSB Summer Institute offers academic, recreational & athletic programs, and activities with intentional links to the Ontario Curriculum. 

 

The program runs for six weeks during July and August. It is offered at 11 school sites around York Region.

 

For more information on dates, programs and locations, please visit the Summer Institute page onwww.yrdsb.ca.

 

Registration opens March 7.  Families can register online, as well as in person or by mail.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Volunteers - upcoming Ski Trip


Dear Families:
We are welcoming parent volunteers for our upcoming day at Snow Valley on Wednesday, March 7.

If you are interested in joining us, please email me at carolyn.lamy@yrdsb.ca
  
We thank you in advance for your consideration. 


Mrs. Carolyn Lamy

Carolyn Lamy
Vice Principal
Fossil Hill Public School
2 Firenza Drive
Woodbridge, ON L4H2P5
905.653.8055 ext. 156





Friday, February 16, 2018

Celebrating Lunar New Year in Kindergarten










Happy Lunar New Year!

Dear Families:



To all those who celebrate Lunar New Year, we would like to wish you and your families a very happy celebration.


February 16, marks the Lunar New Year for members of the Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese communities.
To celebrate, people may light firecrackers, hang poetry, enjoy a family feast (oranges and apples are considered lucky fruits), exchange gifts (adults may give children laisee, red envelopes filled with money), and buy new clothes or new shoes. Fossil Hill PS will acknowledge this occasion through various activities that promote sharing and understanding.
We wish all staff, students and Fossil Hill community members celebrating Lunar New Year a happy and joyful celebration in the company of family and friends.
Carolyn Lamy and Joanne Lomanno-Aprile





Lunar New Year is a cultural and religious celebration for many Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese. This is the year of the Dog. People born in 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994 and 2006 were also born in the year of the “Dog”. Many rituals are associated with this festive occasion. They include cleaning house, paying off debts, settling old arguments, and other means of making a "fresh start."




Tuesday, February 13, 2018

Flu Activity in York Region


Increased Absenteeism Due to Illness in York Region Schools

York Region Public Health has noticed an increase in school absenteeism due to illness. When York Region Public Health receives reports of increased absenteeism, we support the affected schools by providing infection prevention and control measures as well as monitoring of absences in collaboration with the school.

Many viruses are active at this time of year in the community, including enteric viruses (like norovirus) and respiratory viruses (like influenza, commonly known as the flu.) Preventative measures can help reduce the spread of illness in the community.


Norovirus
The most common symptoms of norovirus illness are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. The illness often begins suddenly, about 24 to 48 hours after exposure, and the infected person may become very sick with frequent vomiting and/or diarrhea. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults.


To lower the spread of norovirus within our communities:
·       Anyone experiencing symptoms should continue to stay home for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop

·       Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water, especially after using the toilet or changing diapers and before preparing, handling and eating food

·       Remove and wash clothes and linens that may be contaminated with vomit or feces

·       Keep sick individuals out of areas where food is being handled or prepared

·       Anyone who is sick should not handle or prepare food for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop

·       Take precautions to protect yourself when cleaning up vomit and diarrhea, refer to: Information for Parents


Influenza
Norovirus is not related to influenza, or “the flu”. The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus which commonly starts circulating during the late fall and continues into spring.

Symptoms of the flu may include:


        sudden onset of headache

        chills

        cough

        sore throat

        runny nose

        fever

        loss of appetite

        muscle aches

        fatigue


Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur in children. Most people recover from the flu within a week to 10 days. People aged 65 years or older, pregnant women and individuals with chronic health conditions may be at greater risk of becoming ill and developing severe health problems such as pneumonia.

Young children and influenza
Children under five years of age, especially those younger than two years of age, are at high risk of flurelated complications. These complications include pneumonia, encephalopathy (inflammation of the brain), ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of medical problems like asthma or heart disease. In rare cases, flu complications can lead to death.

How to protect against the flu
1. Get vaccinated – The flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu. Studies show the flu vaccine can prevent 70 to 90 per cent of illness in healthy adults and children. York Region Public Health recommends everyone six months and older get the flu shot. It’s not too late to get vaccinated.
Flu shots are available at:
        Physicians’ offices, for people six months of age and older
        Pharmacies, for people five years of age and older
        York Region Public Health clinics, for people three years of age and older

Visit ontario.ca/flu to find where you can get the flu shot. For more information about flu vaccines contact York Region Health Connection at 18003615653.

2. How can you reduce the chances of getting the flu?
        Keep sick children home from school or child care
        Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and warm water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcoholbased hand sanitizer. Choose an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains between 60% and 90% alcohol
       Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue out immediately
        Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
        Avoid people who are ill and stay home when you are sick
        Keep common surfaces and items clean and disinfected.   To learn more about preventing spread of illness in school and home, visit york.ca/infectionprevention

How does the flu spread?
The flu spreads through the air from coughing and sneezing. It also spreads through direct contact with surfaces, door knobs, unwashed hands, or objects such as toys and eating utensils that have been contaminated by the influenza virus.  A person with flu may be able to infect other people one day before symptoms develop and up to seven days after becoming sick.


For more information, visit york.ca/flu



Wednesday, February 07, 2018

Spirit Days

Fossil Hill's Spirit Committee is chasing away the Winter Blah's
with lots of spirit activities coming up.

To get us into the Olympic Spirit, Friday, February 9th we'll be weaingr red and white and maple leafs to show our Canadian pride.

On Wednesday, February 14th, we'll celebrate Valentine's Day with red, white and hearts.        

And the next day, is the 15th of the month, so it's Pajama Day again.
Pajama Day - the 15th of every month
Keep following this blog for more information about future Spirit Days at Fossil Hill Public School.

Thursday, February 01, 2018

Message From Our Trustee

With report cards coming home, this is a good time of year to review your child’s progress and to set goals for the rest of the school year.

As trustees, our goals are set out in the Board Multi-Year Plan. In the coming months, trustees will be reviewing and updating this plan. This process will include opportunities for public input, and trustees will be out in the communities talking about this. More information will be shared about this in the spring.  

Developing and reviewing the Multi-Year Plan is just one of our responsibilities as publicly elected officials. Trustee responsibilities also include hiring the Director of Education, setting Board policies and the annual budget, and communicating with the public.

This is a good time to learn more about the role of trustees with the next municipal election taking place later this year on October 22, 2018. York Region District School Board has 12 trustees, elected by ratepayers. As a trustee, listening and communicating with families is an important part of my role. Students, families and members of the public are welcome to attend and observe any public Board, Advisory or Board Committee meetings and to share their views with us on policy and Board governance.  

As we move into the second half of the year, I hope that you are seeing evidence of your child’s learning and progress, and finding opportunities to get involved in their learning and the life of the school.


I wish you all the best for a successful second term. 


Linda Aversa - Vaughan Wards 3, 4

PA Day - Friday, February 2



A reminder to all our Families that Friday, February 2 is a PA Day!  

We wish you a safe and fun long weekend!

Experience Music in a New Way!





The York Region Elementary Enrichment Band is an overnight camp program where talented musicians from Grades 6 to 8 rehearse under the direction of Dr. Jeffrey Reynolds of the Faculty of Music at the University of Toronto. The camp runs June 4 – June 7th, 2018 at the Cedar Glen Outdoor Education. Application will open in January 8, 2018. To apply, please complete this online formThe application deadline is February 5, 2018.

HELLO EDSBY News River

Dear Families: Everyone likes to be up to date with the latest news and EDSBY makes that easy. The News River is located at the top...