Arran-Tara
Tiger Talk Arran-Tara
September 2016
Welcome to Arran-Tara Elementary School. I trust
you all enjoyed some time to rest and relax in our
gorgeous area we are lucky enough to call home. It was
certainly a hot and dry summer. Fall is an exciting time in
the area with the harvest, warm days and cool nights and
many local fall fairs to experience all over Bruce County.
I enjoyed greeting our new and returning students
through our doors today. I just love the excitement that a
school year brings! Especially this year, with all our new
students from Derby Public School. We know you are going
to love it here and we will do whatever we can to make
you feel comfortable in an environment of learning,
playing and growing.
We welcome Ms. Sara Morrow as our new viceprincipal. Ms. Morrow comes to us from Hillcrest
Elementary School in Owen Sound and she brings a wealth
of knowledge with her. She was also a Tiger during her
elementary school days, so it’s like coming back home for
her. She writes:
Hello Families,
My name is Sara Morrow and I am very excited
to be vice principal at ATES this year.
Previously, I was V.P. at Hillcrest school in
Owen Sound and have a strong background in
special education. Arran Tara Elementary
School and community are near and dear to my
heart and it is a pleasure to work in this
community. As part of my role, I will be a
resource teacher as well, alongside Cheryl
Morris. If you have any questions or concerns, I
welcome you to call me at the school at ext.
526. I look forward getting to know your child
throughout the year. Regards, Ms. Morrow
As we have so many new staff and former staff of
Arran-Tara, here is a list of all our staff for your interest. At
the end of this newsletter is a telephone extension guide,
to help you contact those you wish.
STAFF
SK – Anne Crocker
JK SK – Kim Hoy and Valerie Price (ECE)
JK SK – Aunalea Cruickshank and Sherry Johnson (ECE)
Grade 1 – Patty St. Marie
Grade 1 – Krista Fritz
Grade 1 /2– Nicole Danbrook
Grade 2 - Alison Donivan
Grade 2/3 – Heather Sproule
Grade 3/4 – Karen Linner
Grade 3/4 – Scott Price
Grade 4 – Jackie Floyd
Grade 5- Lynn Beaton
Grade 5/6 – Kristi Sanderson
Grade 6/7 – Jill Scott
Grade 7 /8 - Paul Bolton
Grade 7/8 – Sharon Bye
Jacqueline Kippers – Core French & prep. coverage
Heather Manery – Music and prep. coverage
Goldie Walma – Core French
Laurie Price – prep. coverage
Amy Delano – primary coverage
Cheryl Morris – Learning Resource Teacher
Sara Morrow – Vice Principal, resource , prep.
coverage
Mary Ann Alexander, Patrick McManamen, Lynn
Reavie – Educational Assistants
Patsy Hammell, Susan Greig - Office Manager and
Office Professional
Karen Quan – Library Clerk
Steve Johnston, Sara Smith – Head Custodian and
Custodian
We welcome your children on our
playground at 8:40 a.m. when supervision will be
provided. Dismissal will continue to be at 3:10
p.m. (See your child’s planner for more details.)
Our Welcome Back BBQ will be held
tomorrow between 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Join us
for a burger or a hotdog and ice cream and a
chance to visit your child’s classroom.
Next Wednesday, as a school, we will
be participating in the Arran-Tara Fall Fair. The
students love to experience this unique
opportunity and it is an amazing community
event. The school will walk or ride (JK/SK
students only) down to the Fairgrounds at 12:00
noon in the parade. Please ensure that you
have made arrangements for student pickup.
Permission forms and more information will be
going home shortly.
We also welcome you to join us at our
Terry Fox Run on Thursday, September 29th
from 2:10 to 3:10. As a community, your
fundraising efforts continue to astonish me!
Thank you for your contributions. Join us for a
walk ... or run!!
I am sincerely looking forward to an
awesome school year filled with great learning
and fun.
P. Mielhausen, Principal
Preparing Our Students Today for the World of Tomorrow
Arran-Tara
Tiger Talk Arran-Tara
September 2016
Welcome Back Barbecue
On Wednesday, September 7th from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., a
Welcome Back Barbecue will be held to welcome students
and families. Grade 8 students and their families will be
selling hotdogs, hamburgers, sausages, ice cream, and
drinks. There will also be a cake wheel available if you
would like to participate. Classrooms will be open to visit
from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Please come out and visit your
child’s classroom.
Safe Arrival Phone Number
Our Safe Arrival phone number is 519-934-2560,
extension 100. This extension is designated for student
absence. Please call the school to report your child’s
absence. Please indicate your child’s name, the name of
his/her teacher, whether your child’s absence from school is
due to illness or an appointment.
Again this year we are sending home our new school
planning magnets with each child. This school year
calendar will provide helpful reminders of holidays,
and P. A. Days as our year unfolds. Please note, that there
are no Early Dismissal Days this year. Perhaps post in on
your refrigerator for easy reference. If your family receives
more than one magnet, please feel free to give one to your
babysitter and/or grandparents. If you still have more than
you need, the extras may be returned to the office as we will
then be able to give them away to community members
who help us out during the year.
Remind 101
be received. It is a quick and safe way to
send
emergency
messages
and
reminder messages around upcoming
events related to our school. I will never
see your phone number or email
address, nor will you see mine. 
Please follow the directions below to
Get Connected Now:
1. Please open a new text message
2. Send a text message to this
number: 519-968-1801
3. In the body of the text, please
enter @atesfa (which is short for ATES
Families)
Please enter this text message in
lowercase letters with no spaces.
4. Please send the text message
5. You should receive a response saying
you've been added, OR that you need to
respond with your full name.
Or for EMAIL Messages:
Send an email to (in Recipients area)
[email protected] and leave the
subject blank.
I will be sending out messages
periodically over the course of the year
and you may unsubscribe at any time, if
you wish. See the last page of this
newsletter or the school website for more
information.
GET CONNECTED NOW...
This year I am again going to use a
safe and secure system to text/email
parents important reminders about
our school.
A few tidbits…
What is Remind 101?: Remind 101 is a
system
used
by
teachers
and
administrators alike to send out important
and emergency text messages and email
messages to students and staff
members. It allows me to send
messages ONLY and no responses will
It is essential that we know where our
students are at all times and when they have
left the building. Therefore, ALL parents
must go to the office through the front doors
before picking up children so that our office
Preparing Our Students Today for the World of Tomorrow
Arran-Tara
Tiger Talk Arran-Tara
September 2016
manager is made aware. Also, all students, including
all JK/SK students, please remember to continue on to
the playground until the morning bell rings. You will
line up with the other students and enter via our
primary doors. If transportation changes are required,
please send a note in your child’s planner so that
he/she can show his teacher. From there, your child
will bring his/her planner to the office at the beginning
of the day so that our office manager also knows the
plans of each student.
Scent Free and Nut Safe School
Parents and students, when coming into the school
please consider those with allergies and refrain from
using perfumes/colognes and avoid sending nuts or nut
products to school. Some students have a lifethreatening allergy to peanuts and other nuts. An
allergic reaction could cause the child’s airway to
clamp down and fill with mucous. As this is a serious
problem, please be sure to do the following when
preparing lunches and snacks for school:
Breakfast Club starts Monday, September 13th
Did you know that A.T.E.S. has breakfast available in
the morning every day? Each morning volunteers
prepare healthy foods such as apples, cheese and
crackers. If you ever want to make money donations to
the Breakfast Club, please send the money to the
office marked for Breakfast Club. Cheques can be
made out to Arran Tara Elementary School. We also
accept food donations of low-fat cheese, Breton whole
wheat crackers, Premium Plus whole wheat crackers or
a bag of apples.

Do not use peanut butter, Nutella or other
products containing nuts
Breakfast Club Volunteer Needed
The Breakfast Club is in need of more volunteers to
come for a morning shift, from approximately 8:159:15. If you are able to help us out, please contact
Miss Mielhausen or the office as soon as possible. No
experience necessary!

Check all ingredients and labels on packages to
ensure no nuts are in the products
ATES Clothing BANK!

Wash the face and hands of your child if
peanut butter or other nuts were used at home

On occasions when you may want to send in
treats for the classroom, please ensure all items are
nut free
We appreciate your understanding and cooperation
with this potentially life-threatening allergy.
If you have a need, come on out!!
Your A.T.ES. SCC (School and
Community Council) has clothing for
families who could use the extra help.
We have all sizes for both boys and
girls. Just pop in anytime and we will
show you what we have to offer.
Preparing Our Students Today for the World of Tomorrow
Arran-Tara
Tiger Talk Arran-Tara
September 2016
Accompanying Forms
There are a number of forms for parents/guardians to
please fill in and return for every child as soon as possible –
The Student Health-Safety Information Form, please read
and update phone numbers, addresses if there is a change in
your family. The Student Identification Consent and Web
Site Consent Form and the Elementary Information
Technology Acceptable Use Agreement have been
photocopied front and back on one sheet. Please make sure
that both forms are filled out before handing them back in.
There is also a Field Trip Form to walk to the Community
Centre on the day of the Arran-Tara Fall Fair. *We need
these above- mentioned forms to be filled out for every
student, every year.
Attached to this newsletter is our Pizza and Milk
Contract sheet which are optional and are provided for
your convenience. Please note that there is one sheet per
family with milk available every day and pizza available on
Fridays. If Friday is a holiday for students, pizza will be
served on the Thursday of that week. Milk will not be
ordered on any holidays as those days are excluded from
the order form. All pizza and milk contract sheets must be
in to the office by Tuesday, September 15th. No late orders
will be accepted.
The Pizza and Milk contract sheets will be sent home
three times this year; on the first day of school year with the
September newsletter; with the December newsletter for the
January to March Break contract; and with the March
newsletter for the time period after March Break to the end
of the school year in June.
Student Accident Insurance is available to parents, at
low cost, to provide benefits for dental injuries and other
accidents which may occur through participating in sports
and other activities. The basic insurance can be purchased
for as little as $6.00/year to cover accidents which occur
during school years.
Dental injuries account for
approximately 75% of all claims and many dental plans
cover only 50% of the cost of repairs for accidental damage
to teeth. By participating in this insurance, parents can
ensure that the high cost of dental repairs following an
accident will be covered. All students participating in
extra-curricular sports should be encouraged to purchase
this insurance.
child’s planner. The Tara Rotary
Club provides funding each year
to purchase student planners. We
are very grateful for their
generous support!
Arran – Tara Elementary School
Community Council Update
We Need Your Input! Interested in what
happens behind the scenes? Parents who
are interested in joining the School
Community Council (SCC) are invited to the
first meeting, Wednesday, October 5th at 7:00
pm in the staffroom. If you wish to become a
member of the SCC executive for the 20162017 school year, please contact Miss
Mielhausen for nomination forms. The SCC is
an advisory body to the Principal and the
Bluewater District School Board that consists
mainly of parents, with representation from
administration and the teaching staff. Final
date for nominations for the SCC executive
will be Wednesday, September 28th. If
candidate
nominations
exceed
those
required, an election will be held to select
the council. We hope to see you there!
36th Terry Fox Run
It was 36 summers ago that Terry Fox, a young
man from British Columbia captivated Canadians
with his determination, commitment, and energy
to find a cure for cancer. This year our school
will be holding its 15th annual fundraising event
to commemorate Terry’s inspirational Marathon
of Hope. The date of this year’s Terry Fox
National School Run Day is Thursday,
September 29th.
Millions of students are
expected to participate across Canada. Pledge
sheets and additional information will be sent
home by the end of the first week of school.
STUDENT PLANNERS
Do you have questions regarding
staff members, your child’s timetable
and school holidays? Be sure to read all
the information in the front of your
VISITORS TO THE SCHOOL
All visitors to the school are to report to
the office. This includes parents. Mrs. Hammell
will notify classroom teachers if a parent wishes
Preparing Our Students Today for the World of Tomorrow
Arran-Tara
Tiger Talk Arran-Tara
September 2016
to speak with his/her child during the school day. For
several of our students, there are child access restrictions,
and in order for the school to be diligent in complying with
court orders, we must insist on this routine. Sign-in
routines for volunteers remain the same: sign the visitor’s
book in the main office.
Respecting Social Media
BUS SAFETY
In an attempt to assure the safety of students travelling on
school buses, several counties have put camcorders/video cameras
in their buses. The success experienced by these Boards in
improving student behaviour and reducing driver stress has
prompted us to approve the use of video cameras on our school
buses to assist drivers with student supervision.
Buses may have been outfitted with a black box at the front of
the vehicle to accommodate the video camera. The black box has
a one-way glass so that it is impossible for anyone to determine if
the camera is present and operational. This allows us to rotate
cameras between buses. A sign has also been posted on the buses,
stating that a video camera may be in use.
The video tapes will only be reviewed by the bus driver, a
representative of the bus operator, the school administrator and
the Supervisor of Transportation. If the video tape is used for
disciplinary purposes, the parents/legal guardian will be
contacted. After any appropriate action has been taken, the tape
will be erased.
Tara Area Food Bank
Tara
has
a
Food
you have confirmed your email address
you will be able to login and select what
you want to subscribe to and update your
information (if necessary).
Bank! It is
open
every
Wednesday from 1:00 - 4:00pm at Christ Church
Anglican in Invermay. If you are in need, come
check this out any Wednesday afternoon or call
519-934-1855 for more information.
This respects the privacy of all students and families
from Arran-Tara Elementary School.
Change to Bus Cancellation Website
On-line bus cancellations for Bruce & Grey
counties can be accessed on
https://www.mybrucegreyschoolbus.ca/Cancellatio
ns.aspx. Anyone can subscribe for email
notifications for general notices, school closures
and route cancellations & delays. You must first
confirm that you have a valid email address. To
subscribe go to the above site, click on the
“Subscriptions” icon, then click on “Subscribe”.
Enter your email address and press the
“Subscribe” button. You will receive an email
confirmation containing a link that you will need to
click to complete the subscription process. Once
Just a reminder to our parent and
guardian volunteers, that we have
some students who do not have
permission to be published within
the media. While at school or
school-related activities we can
monitor this, however, we ask that
you refrain from posting pictures on
social media sites of children while
in school or on school trips.
MedicAlert’s No Child Without
Program is at Our School
The No Child Without program offers a free
MedicAlert membership to students who attend
our school and are between the ages of 4 up to
their 14th birthday. If your child has a medical
condition, allergy or is required to take
medication on a regular basis then you should
consider a MedicAlert membership through this
program. MedicAlert is your child’s voice in an
emergency.
MedicAlert membership;
 Gives emergency first responders
immediate access to a your child’s
medical information on their MedicAlert
bracelet or necklet
 Enables first responders to quickly obtain
up to date medical information by means
of the child’s Electronic Health Record
through the 24 Hour Emergency
Hotline.
 Communicates with the parent or
emergency contact upon activation of the
Hotline
 Allows free updates of the child’s
medical record as needed
Preparing Our Students Today for the World of Tomorrow
Arran-Tara
Tiger Talk Arran-Tara
September 2016
Ms. Alison Donivan
ext. 322
Mrs. Jackie Floyd
ext. 308
Ms. Krista Fritz
ext. 304
Mrs. Patsy Hammell
ext. 521
Mrs. Kim Hoy
ext. 301
Mrs. Sherry Johnson
ext. 319
Mr. Stephen Johnston
ext. 531
Mme. Jacqueline Kippers
ext. 321
Mrs. Karen Linner
ext. 310
Ms. Heather Manery
ext. 314
Mr. Patrick McManamen
ext. 331
Up-coming Dates to Remember
Ms. Pam Mielhausen
ext. 527
September 7th – Welcome Back BBQ – 5 to 7 p.m.
September 14th – Arran-Tara Fall Fair – parade to
fairgrounds from school, then dismissal from
Fairgrounds at 12:30pm
September 15th – Pizza & Milk Contract
Sheets due
th
September 29 – Terry Fox Run 2:10 to 3:10
Spetember 30th – P.A. Day – no school today
Mrs. Cheryl Morris
ext. 523
Ms. Sara Morrow
ext. 526
Mrs. Laurie Price
ext. 333
Mr. Scott Price
ext. 320
Mrs. Valerie Price
ext. 328
Telephone Extension Numbers for Staff
Ms. Lynn Reavie
ext. 332
Mrs. Kristi Sanderson
ext. 317
Mrs. Jill Scott
ext. 330
Ms. Heather Sproule
ext. 318
Mrs. Patty St. Marie
ext. 324
Mme. Goldie Walma
ext. 326
First Base program
ext. 106
MedicAlert identification can alert school staff, friends,
coaches and others about your child’s medical condition
should an emergency occur.
For further information come to the office for a brochure or
go to www.nochildwithout.ca.
To register your child you will need a No Child Without
brochure from the office.
Fall Fundraising
Please note that we will not be doing the QSP magazine subscriptions this
year as a fundraiser. Rather, we will be selling Elmira Chicken in both the
spring and fall. Please keep this in mind for your family’s “poultry needs” in
the months to come.
Our school’s phone number is 519-934-2560. If you
need to leave a message with your child’s teacher and
would like them to call you back, call 519-934-2560 and
dial/ask for the following extensions:
Ms. Mary Ann Alexander
ext. 329
Ms. Lynn Beaton
ext. 311
Mr. Paul Bolton
ext. 312
Ms. Anne Crocker
ext. 511
Mrs. Aunalea Cruickshank
ext. 334
Mrs. Nicole Danbrook
ext. 303
Arran-Tara School’s Website
Visit the school’s website
at http://www.tar.bwdsb.on.ca.
Preparing Our Students Today for the World of Tomorrow
Arran-Tara
Tiger Talk Arran-Tara
September 2016
Preparing Our Students Today for the World of Tomorrow