106 Chestnut Street
Brantford, Ontario
N3T 4C6
519-752-8232
granderie.ca/dufferin
Principal
Corrie Way
Office Coordinators
Nancy Wallace/Jen Dalby
DUFFERIN STAFF
Kindergarten
Mme O’brien & Mme Roucette
Mme Simich & Mme Almedia
Mme Spicer & Mme Trottier
Grade 1
Mme Gorecki
Mme Strickland
Mme Goncalves
Grade 2
M Burton
Mme Macoretta
Mme Roarke
Grade 3
Mme Gibbon
Mme Dulac
Grade 3/4
Mme Clarysse
Grade 4
Mme Guy
Grade 4/5
Mme McGrail
Grade 5
Mme VanKlink
Grade 6
M Yelle
Grade 6/7
M Lien
Grade 7/8
M Segura
Grade 8
Mme Soules
Prep
M Kranenburg
Mme Coretti
Mme Desjardins
M Zylstra
NOVEMBER 2016 NEWSLETTER
WOW! AS we move into our third month of school, we
have lots of wonderful things to celebrate. Our cross
country team and soccer teams were amazing. Both Junior
and Intermediate volleyball will be starting. Ukuleles clubs
are practicing. Thanks to all staff for making these extracurricular teams and clubs happen.
In November, most of all, however, we wish to be mindful
of the many men and women who have served and
continue to serve our country to protect our rights and our
freedoms. Once again we having our Remembrance Day
Assembly on Nov. 11th in the gym at 10:30am. Our
community and families are most welcome to attend.
Important Safety Reminder
ALL VISITORS MUST REPORT TO THE OFFICE UPON
ARRIVAL AT SCHOOL.
Do not go directly to classrooms.
The Office will arrange for messages/items to be
given to your child.
Parents are not allowed to be on yards during
recess times.
A Note From Your School’s Public Health
Nurse…
Wash Your Hands and STOP Germs in Their
Tracks!
If you have ever been sick with the cold or flu,
blame a Germ! You cannot see germs but
they can make you sick!
The single most important thing you can do to
keep from getting sick and spreading germs to
others is to wash your hands. Germs can live
on surfaces like desks and keyboards for up to
several days. By washing your hands
properly, you are being a positive role model
for your children.
Stop Germs in their tracks by following some
of these tips:
 If your hands are visibly dirty, wash
your hands with soap and water for at
least 15 seconds (about the length of
time it takes you to sing the “Happy
Birthday” song)
 If your hands are not visibly dirty and if
soap and water are not available, use
alcohol-based hand sanitizer (minimum
60% alcohol)
 Cover coughs and sneezes with a
tissue or sneeze into your elbow
 Stay at home if you are sick
 Get your flu shot – Book appointments
with your doctor, or contact the Brant
County Health Unit by visiting
www.bchu.org or calling 519-753-4937
ext. 446
WINTER IS COMING!
Winter is back!! Please ensure
that your child arrives at school
with all the necessary outerwear
for the cold weather, including
mittens or gloves, caps or
toques, and boots. For younger
children, labels on mittens,
gloves, headwear and boots is
helpful, as these items often
show up in our Lost and Found.
Inclement Weather: Its again time to
remind you about the procedures for
inclement weather. If the weather is bad in
the morning, please listen to CKPC FM 92.1
or 1380 a.m. or visit the Board website,
www.granderie.ca for bus delays or school
closures.
We are Zone 4.
Remember, if the buses are cancelled the
schools are closed.
In the event that the weather gets bad
during the school day, the decision to close
schools and send students home will be
made prior to 12:00 p.m. If the schools
do close in the morning, please do not
call the school. An Inclement Weather
sheet with your instructions for dismissing
your child(ren)) if they close the school will
be sent home shortly. We will follow the
Inclement Weather sheets for dismissal.
LOST AND FOUND
Once again we are experiencing a
very high number of clothing items
left in the Lost and Found Box.
Please check when you are in the
school to claim these items. Remind
your child to check the bin regularly
when clothing goes missing.
Labelling your child’s clothing, lunch
bags, shoes, etc. will help us send
item back to their rightful owners.
Lost and Found will be displayed at
Parent Teacher Interviews and then
will be donated to the ‘Wish Closet’ at
Major Ballachey School,
EARLY MORNING ARRIVALS
Please note that there is NO
playground supervision prior to
8:30am. Students should not be
arriving before that time. Thank
you for your support.
Intermediate Co-Ed Soccer
Congratulations to the Dufferin Intermediate Co-Ed
soccer team on a great day of soccer (and weather)
at the Brant County tournament on Wednesday,
October 19th. Our team demonstrated a strong
effort throughout the day. In our first game against
Walter Gretzky, we lost 2-1. In our second game,
we defeated Lloyd S. King 2-0. In our third and
final game of the day, our team played a great
game against Ryerson Heights, unfortunately losing
that game 2-0. William scored an exciting goal in
our first game just as the game was ending. In our
second game, Kylie and Calum each scored and
assisted each other on their goals. Ethan earned a
shutout in the second game.
Madame Peters would like to thank team cocaptains, Layla and William, as well as all the
players: Kylie, Olivia, Jordan, Camryn, Shea,
Serena, Morgan, Calum, Thoreyn, Josiah, Ekam,
Ethan, and Eric for their contributions to this year’s
team. You represented Dufferin extremely well with
your sportsmanship, excellent behavior,
enthusiasm, and team spirit. Well done!
Thanks also to the wonderful parent volunteers who
came out to drive players and cheer the team on at
the tournament. We really appreciate your support!
Kindergarten Winter Musical
École Dufferin’s winter presentation will be: Comment le
Grinch a volé les fêtes !
- How the Grinch stole the
holidays.
Our musical will feature the Dr. Seuss story adapted to include
holiday celebrations and music from around the world.
“Le Grinch” will be held in our school gymnasium the evening
of Tuesday December 20th at 6pm and a second performance on
the morning of Wednesday December on 21st at
11:30am. Parents and family members of all students are
welcome to reserve and order tickets for our presentations. The
evening show December 20th at 6pm will have a cost of $3.00 per
person. The daytime show December 21st at 11:30am will be free
of charge, but freewill donations will be welcomed at the
door. Proceeds will be used to help cover production costs.
If you would like to reserve your attendance to the
daytime show or purchase tickets for the evening show,
ticket info will be sent home on a different form.
Classes involved in this production will be
Grade 1: Gonçalvas, Gorecki, Strickland,
Grade 2: Roarke, Burton, Macoretta,
Grade 3: Dulac, Gibbon,
Grade 3/4: Clarysse
Grade 7/8: Ségura.
Plans are underway for a spring musical, which will feature
those students who are not performing in this December’s
production.
“Le Grinch Kinder” will be a special
kindergarten version of our musical
performed by Mr. Ségura’s class and
École Dufferin’s SK and JK students
in our school gymnasium on
Wednesday December 21st at 2pm.
No tickets will be required,
are welcome to
attend.
All
TRANSPORTATION
One of the most important
responsibilities as a parent at Dufferin
School is to ensure you notify either
your child’s teacher, the Office or the
Bus Monitor of changes to your child’s
regular dismissal routine.
Please note: paperwork must be
submitted to the bus company stating
designated pick up people.
Communication through the agenda
or a phone call in the morning to the
school would be best. Last minute
changes are very difficult to manage.
After 3:00pm, if you are picking up
your child you need to report to the
bus monitor at the bus loading zone.
If communication of changes does not
happen, and the school is unaware of
changes, bus schedules, phone calls
and delays happen for everyone. We
will ensure all students are accounted
for and all students arrive safely to
and from school. If you are unclear of
the procedure please ask your child’s
teacher or the Office can assist.
Signing Out a Student
Parents, guardians, or caregivers who
are signing out a student during the day
MUST come to the Office and speak to
the Secretary or Principal in person.
We take great care in ensuring the
whereabouts of all our students at all
times.
It is important that you let us know
when a student is leaving during the
day.
Nurturing your child’s self-respect encourages respect
for others
Respectful behavior makes classrooms peaceful and supportive places to learn. A child’s ability to show
respect depends on a key ingredient: a sense of self-respect. If children don’t value themselves, they will
find it hard to value and respect other people. They will also have trouble following the rules.
But how do you develop your child’s sense of self-respect?
Consider these factors:
• Competence. It feels great to be good at things. Give your child lots of chances to learn and practice
skills—everything from reading to playing sports to doing chores.
• Accomplishments. Notice and compliment her progress. “You’ve read three books this week.
Impressive!”
• Confidence. Encourage your child to stay positive through challenges. Display a “you can do it” attitude.
Help her see mistakes not as failures, but as opportunities to learn.
• Independence. Let your child make age-appropriate choices. For example, “Would you like to organize
your closet today or tomorrow?”
• Support. Show that you accept, appreciate and love your child for who she is. Ask about her day. Listen
to her answers.
• Imitation. If you have self-respect, your child is more likely to have it, too. Be kind to yourself and believe
in your worth.
Parents and guardians of grade eight students.
Have you heard about SOAR – the elite athletic program at Pauline Johnson Collegiate
school in Brantford? On Tuesday, November 22nd, and Wednesday, November 23rd, there
will be a grade 8 parent information night held at Pauline Johnson Collegiate school in
Brantford beginning at 7 pm. Come out to the school to learn more about this wonderful
elite athletic program dedicated to: strength, opportunity, achievement, and results,
…..SOAR! Check out the new facility, see the spin cycle room and the yoga room, view the
fantastic Kiwanis Field, and hear students and teachers talk about the wonderful
combination of academics, athletics, and character that is the SOAR program! Two nights
available for families to choose from, November 22nd or November 23rd. The SOAR
program…..a magnificent program for elite athletes…..only offered at Pauline Johnson
Collegiate in Brantford! Choose it!
November 2016
Today’s Math Classroom
Students used to spend almost all their time working at their desks, with
the teacher at the blackboard and with little discussion. Math classes today
look, sound, and feel quite different.
How and Why it’s Different
If you peeked inside your child’s math class, here are some things you would
notice.
 students working on their own, in pairs, in small groups,
independently and with teacher direction
 students engaged in a wide variety of tasks — practising
skills, solving problems about real-life situations, playing
games, and applying math concepts to design challenges
 students using a variety of physical and digital learning
tools as they explore math ideas and solve problems
 students using a variety of tools, including paper and pencil, chart paper and
markers, and digital devices, to write and record their math thinking
 students talking about connections they have made personally or exploring
new math concepts and skills
 students sharing their strategies for solving a problem
Learning math involves understanding concepts and procedures, acquiring skills,
and applying math processes. Each of these aspects of learning requires
different learning and teaching strategies. As well, individual students learn
differently. It’s important for students to have opportunities to learn in a
variety of ways.
Taken from: Math Learning Today: produced in partnership with the Ministry
of Education and Ontario District School Boards 2016
From the DPC corner
Our first fundraising drive is underway. We are encouraging families to support
the school by selling QSP products and magazine subscriptions as well as
Jensen cheese. Cheese will be delivered on December 14th making it a great
Christmas idea for those on your list. All funds go back to the school to support
such things in the past as the library revitalization and the arts at Dufferin. Our
next meeting is being held on Wednesday, November 9th at 6:30 pm in the
library. Free child care is available and we encourage all to come out and be a
part of the school community.
Elementary Progress Report Cards
Snack program!
We offer a healthy snack to all
students every day, five days a
week. There are a variety of fruits
and vegetables as well as yogurt,
cheese and crackersetc to name a
few things your child can choose
from each day.
Please keep this in mind when
packing lunches.
.
The Elementary Progress Report Card is designed
to show a student’s development of the learning
skills and work habits during the fall of the school
year, as well as a student’s general progress in
working towards the achievement of the curriculum
expectations in all subjects.
For Grades 1 to 8, teachers would indicate whether
a child is progressing very well, progressing well,
or progressing with difficulty. Term One Report
Cards are distributed in February.
Parent Teacher interviews will be scheduled for the
evening of Thursday Nov 17th and the morning of
Friday Nov. 18th. Forms will be coming home
shortly to identify a preferred meeting time.
Confirmation slips will be sent home stating the
date and time for you interview. Back to back
interview times will be arranged if possible for
families with more than one child.
Learning about your child’s progress is
encouraged throughout the year. If you have any
questions about how your child is doing, you may
contact his or her teacher for this information at
any time.