Author: Ventura Park P.S.

Groups and Workshops March 2019

Message From Our Trustee 

I hope everyone has had a great start to the second half of the school year. Over the past few months, I have had an opportunity to connect with families, students, staff members and with our broader community. I have seen a lot of exciting opportunities for students to explore their interests, celebrate their identities, and develop skills and knowledge that will benefit them in the future.

Many students are participating in skills competitions or other events where they problem-solve, innovate, collaborate and further develop their technical skills. Students compete in robotics, construction, hairdressing, transportation, 3D animation and much more. These events are among the many options available to help students explore different careers and pathways, and gain valuable experience. We are grateful for the support of community partners in helping to provide these great learning opportunities to our students.

I also want to express my appreciation to our broader school community. One of the priorities in our Multi-Year Strategic Plan is to build collaborative relationships. The relationships that our schools have with families is so important. There are many different ways you can be involved – talking to your child’s teacher, asking your child about homework, or volunteering on a field trip or the school council. Your contributions make a difference to your child’s success and to the success of our schools.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable March Break.

David Sherman

Trustee

Online Safety

Dear Families,

As you may be aware, there has been recent media attention on an Internet challenge that may cause concern for families. The Internet provides access to many engaging learning opportunities, but requires responsible use and digital citizenship. Parents play an important role in ensuring their child’s safety, including on the Internet. It’s important for parents to talk to children about the importance of being safe, protecting their personal information and stressing that they should never disclose personal details that would allow someone online to contact them in real life.

Here are 12 tips to promote safe online behaviour:

• Children should never give anyone their name, address, telephone number, computer password, or any other personal information on the Internet without parental or guardian consent.
• Children should only use social media and websites approved by their parent or guardian.
• Internet use should be encouraged in a central place in your home where you can supervise children’s online activities.
• Don’t allow a webcam in a child’s bedroom.
• Watch for children quickly minimizing sites when you enter the room.
• Reinforce that people online may not be who they say they are.
• Consider using parental controls like Internet filters or blocking software.
• Remind children that everything said online stays in cyberspace forever, whether or not it is deleted.
• Talk to your children about Internet safety and clearly define your rules.
• Never respond to messages that make them feel confused or uncomfortable.
• Pay attention to the games your children may download or copy.
• Never arrange a face-to-face meeting with someone they meet online.

Reinforce a sense of safety. Some Internet content can evoke a sense of fear or lack of safety in your child. It can be difficult for some children to discern fact / fiction online. Try to offer reassurance that your child is safe. Children and youth take their emotional cues from the significant adults in their lives. Your reactions can help to model calmness to your child. Recognize that some children may be concerned about something bad happening to themselves, family or friends. Explain to them the safety measures in place and reassure them that you and other adults will take care of them.

Be a good listener and observer. Let children guide you to learn how concerned they are or how much information they need. If they are not focused on the issue, do not dwell on it. However, be available to answer their questions to the best of your ability. Young children may not be able to express themselves verbally. Pay attention to changes in their behaviour or social interactions.

Reach out. Reach out to the school if you feel that your child may be showing a significant reaction to online material. We may be able to offer some classroom strategies that could help reduce stress. It may also be important to seek additional support from a school mental health professional (i.e., social worker or psychologist) to cope with overwhelming feelings experienced by children and youth.

Sincerely,

Arin Otis

Principal, Ventura Park P.S.

Good afternoon awesome parents and guardians!!!

On days when the buses are cancelled in the morning, they are cancelled in the afternoon as well.  As a result, the following arrangements and pick up locations will be in place for dismissal at 3:20 pm today:

1. Le Club – students will be picked up by Le Club staff as per normal routine;
2. Walkers – students who normally walk home will be dismissed by their teacher at 3:20 pm;
3. Students in Grades 1, 2, and 3 – will be brought to the gym at the end of the day, and can be picked up there;
4. Students in Grades 4 & 5 – will be brought to the Library at the end of the day, and can be picked up there;
5. Students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 – will be brought to the Staff Room at the end of the day, and can be picked up there.

We look forward to seeing you later today.  Be Safe!

Please remember that if your child isn’t attending school today, please report absences via EDSBY

Good morning,

Please be advised that due to weather warnings issued by Environment Canada, all school buses servicing the York Region District School Board are cancelled for today, WEDNESDAY  FEBRUARY 27, 2019. Please be advised that schools WILL remain open.

When buses are cancelled in the morning, they are also cancelled for the afternoon.  This means that if you plan to bring your child to school, you must also be available for pick up by dismissal time at 3:20 pm.

Have a safe day!

M. Otis, Principal

Congratulations to our February Athletes of the Month!  #VPPSVikings are AWESOME!

Pictured from left to right:

Junior

Mikayla W. – 6C – Intermediate Basketball Team

Zachary F. – 6A – Jr. Volleyball Team

Ethan S. – 6A – Jr. Volleyball Team

Intermediate

Koby P. -7B – Intermediate Basketball Team​

Rebecca L. – 8B – Intermediate Basketball Team

Nate G. – 8C – Intermediate Basketball Team

Congratulations to the following students for demonstrating exemplary character during the month of February:

Character Award winners – February 2019

1A – MME BOVE-MORGANI	1B – MME MCINTYRE	1C – MME GHITULESCU	1D – MME MINCHOPOULOS	1E – MME FANG
Alexa P.	David L.	Marzia D.	Aiden N.	Lev G.
Ryan S.	Veronica T.	Claire K.	Ameda T.	Ally Z.
	Ilona Z.
2A – MME SHERMAN	2B – MME KASMANI	2C – MME TADRISI	2D – MME ANDRÉ	2E – MME LEMIEUX
Misha S.	Louis G.	Reanna N.	Julia G.	Albina M.
Elyse S.	Myles L.	Melody Y.	Austin H.	Daniel P.
	Anthony M.			Elliot K.
3A – MME LYON	3B – MME PAPADAKIS	3C – MME BELLMAN	3D – MME DENIS	3E – MME MOCCIA
Marcus L.	Tea B.	Benjamin Y.	Monica I.	Olivia M.
Alyssa R.	Aaliyah W.	Deea P.	Ivana T.	Ryleigh R.
	Michael K.
	Samuel L.
4A – MME FARKOVA	4B – MME FREEDMAN	4C – MME AVAGYAN	4D – MME PHILLIPS	5A – MME DAKRAN
Ethan P.	Hannah K.	Kamilla D.	Henya N.	Mia B.
Eitan A.	Joshua P.	Mai A.	Emilia G.	Mia B.
Lily C.	Diana T.	Ely N.	Michelle M.	Max C.
Artiom B.				Dianna K.
Sam B.
5B – MR. JOHNSON	5C – M. SHAPIRO	6A – MME FORDE	6B – MR. ARRO	6C – MME MORIN
Zidaan N.	Samuel H.	To be presented in March	Katelyn P.	To be presented in March
Adam S.	Eric S.
Arta B.	Arel R.
	Addison G.
6D – MR. BABIN	7A – MME GALLICCHIO	7B – MME LOMBARDI	7C – MME OPATOWSKI	8A – MME BLOOM
Sam R.	Estella V.	Nia N.	Nicole S.	Abbey Y.
Jahnavi S.	Devin P.	Leni T.	Shira H.-R.	Ethan U.
Kenny W.	Daiven J.	Tanner W.	Jadyn R.
		Layla R.	Ruqaiyah P.
			Alexa M.
			Sofia K.
8B – M. COHEN	8C – MME SHIFMAN
Kaye T.	Ana K.
Michelle L.	Matthew M.
Danielle L.	Emma M.
Nick T.

 

 

Good afternoon awesome parents and guardians!!!

On days when the buses are cancelled in the morning, they are cancelled in the afternoon as well.  As a result, the following arrangements and pick up locations will be in place for dismissal at 3:20 pm today:

1. Le Club – students will be picked up by Le Club staff as per normal routine;
2. Walkers – students who normally walk home will be dismissed by their teacher at 3:20 pm;
3. Students in Grades 1, 2, and 3 – will be brought to the gym at the end of the day, and can be picked up there;
4. Students in Grades 4 & 5 – will be brought to the Library at the end of the day, and can be picked up there;
5. Students in Grades 6, 7, and 8 – will be brought to the Staff Room at the end of the day, and can be picked up there.

We look forward to seeing you later today.  Be Safe!