Curriculum Night

Re-Painting of Tarmac Lines

Dear Families,

After receiving feedback from students last year about how to make our playground and recess times more engaging for them, School Council has allocated funds to re-paint the lines on the pavement outside where our yard games are.  They were painted when the school was built and once since then, but this paint always fades over time.  Council and admin decided it would be more cost effective to do the painting ourselves as paying a company to do it is very expensive.

We are looking for volunteers on September 23 from 1 to 4 p.m. to help us paint (weather permitting).  Adults and high school age students who might need volunteer hours are welcome!  If a parent is coming with their Intermediate age student, we will be happy to include our Gr. 7 and 8 students. However, that parent would have to work directly with their child for the duration of the painting.

If you can help us that day and have paint brushes to donate to the cause, please email the school or come in and let us know you are available.  We won’t be able to do this project without help from the community, so please consider this volunteer opportunity!

Many thanks in advance.

Unionville Meadows School Council and Administration

亲爱的家长们，

在过去一年里，我们通过和孩子们积极的互动和沟通，探讨了如何可以让孩子们更好的参与户外和课间活动。结合学生们的反馈意见，学校家委会决定出资把孩子们的户外活动区域的路面重新粉刷一下。那里是孩子们课间游戏的场所，学校在建立之初粉刷过该户外活动区域，后来又粉刷过一次，但颜料会随着时间褪色。所以学校管理团队和家委会探讨决定我们用自己的时间来粉刷要比支付昂贵的费用邀请其他粉刷公司来完成这个任务更加高效和节省。

所以我们希望您可以在9月23日下午1:00 P.M -4:00 P.M 来帮助我们一起粉刷学校的户外活动区域（在天气允许的情况下）。大人以及需要义工时间的高中生我们都非常欢迎！ 如果家长希望带着孩子一起，我们也欢迎7-8年级的学生一起参与。但是，家长需要在这段时间里和孩子全程紧密合作。

如果您当天可以过来给我们帮忙或者捐赠一些刷子，您可以Email学校或者直接来告诉我们您可以帮忙。没有您和社区的参与，我们就没有办法完成这一工程，所以我们真诚的希望您可以参与并且帮忙！

对此，我们表示诚挚的感谢！

International Baccalaureate Programme

A Caring, Safe and Inclusive Environment at Unionville Meadows PS

September 2019

Dear families,

It is important to us that we provide a caring, safe and inclusive environment in our school that supports the academic achievement and well-being of all students. We held a school assembly this week to talk about some of the important elements of a caring and safe school. You may want to have a conversation with your child about what they learned and discussed. Topics covered include:

Positive Behaviour

Students are encouraged to demonstrate positive character attributes (such as empathy, courage and respect for human rights and inclusivity). We also discussed standing up for each other in bullying situations and the importance of reporting incidents of bullying, including:

o    Telling a caring adult

o    Using the YRDSB’s “Report It Button” (located on our school website)

o    Contacting Kids Help Phone (1-800-668-6868)

Student Discipline

We use a progressive discipline approach when inappropriate behaviour occurs. This means we consider a range of options to determine the most appropriate response to each situation to help students learn from their choices. In some cases, suspension or expulsion may be necessary. The Ontario Education Act and our Board Caring and Safe Schools Policy outline the situations in which suspension and expulsion must be considered. These infractions are also outlined in the Guide to the School Year. When inappropriate behaviour occurs, information will be shared with the victim and parents/guardians of the victim to the extent that legislation allows.

Tobacco/Alcohol/Drug-Free Environment

The use of tobacco, electronic products (such as vaping, electronic cigarettes and cigars and related products) and/or student possession of alcohol/illegal and restricted drugs, including cannabis, are prohibited on school property or within 20 metres of school boundaries. This also applies during Board or school-sponsored events and activities. This is in compliance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which is enforced locally by York Region Community and Health Services and the Tobacco and Smoke-Free Environment Policy and Procedure. A progressive form of discipline, including suspension from school and fines (up to $5,000), is in place for students who break the law. In accordance with the Smoke-Free Ontario Act (SFOA), exceptions are made for the traditional use of tobacco that forms part of Indigenous culture and spirituality.

We also discussed the potential harms associated with vaping and e-cigarettes, including that e-cigarettes can contain nicotine, formaldehyde and other harmful chemicals, and are being used to inhale other harmful substances such as marijuana, weight loss supplements and other drugs. Partnership for Drug Free Kids also provides a resource on how to talk to your kids about vaping.

Appropriate Use of Technology

Students were reminded about the Appropriate Use of Technology agreement, including the importance of using respectful language and making positive choices when using electronic communications and social media tools. 

Students were reminded that threats made online are taken seriously and may have serious consequences, including potential criminal charges. Where there are concerns for the safety of students, staff, community members or Board property, the school board works closely with York Regional Police and appropriate actions are taken. The safety and well-being of students remains our top priority. 

For More Information

For more details on each of these items, please read the Guide to the School Year or visit the Caring and Safe Schools section on the YRDSB website for details and resources for families to continue the conversation. 

Thank you for helping us create a safe, respectful and inclusive school community.

Free online Math Tutoring/Help from ILC for students from Grades 7-10

Swim to Survive Program from the City of Markham

Elementary International and Indigenous Languages Program 2019-2020

Dear Families,

York Region District School Board’s Elementary International and Indigenous Languages Program is pleased to offer over 20 languages at 35 different sites from Tuesday to Friday evenings, and Saturday mornings. Our Board has one of the largest International and Indigenous Languages programs in the province with approximately 15,000 students who register each year.

Classes run 2.5 hours once a week for 30 weeks for Elementary SK-8 students who want to learn a new language or maintain their heritage language.  The cost for the entire program is $20.00.  Program brochures will also be sent home from your child(ren)’s school.

We would like to share with you our program information:  

• New student registration (New registrants must submit a copy of the Birth Certificate) begins at the language location during the specified registration hours listed on our brochure or on our webpage.
• Please note online registration through EDSBY is now closed so families must register in person.
• First day of classes begin at the language location during the specified dates and times listed on our brochure or on our webpage.
• Students pre-registered online through EDSBY are to attend the first day of classes at the language location during the specified dates and times listed on our brochure.
• Huron Heights Secondary School is a new language site opening for the 2019-2020 school year.
  

For elementary courses, registration times and locations, please see our updated flyer.

For elementary program information, please visit:

http://www.yrdsb.ca/Programs/ConEd/Pages/International-Languages-Elementary-Program.aspx

If you require any further information, please contact us at:

international.languages@yrdsb.ca

Thank you,

International and Indigenous Languages Program

Non-Credit Adult English as a Second Language (ESL) and Literacy Basic Skills (LBS) Programs

Communications from the Board to Parents Using Text Messages

Piano Lessons at UMPS

Letter from the Director and the Chair of the Board

Welcome From Trustee Ron Lynn

Milk Bags to Mattresses

Thank you for bringing in clean milk bags this year. The grade 3/4 class weaved together 2 adult size mattresses that will be given to the Town of Markham and then be distributed to countries that are in need. 

Emergency Contact Through Text Messages Next Year

Year-End Letter from the Board

Lunch Assistants Needed--Can you help?

We are in need of Lunch Assistants! If you know of anyone (you, a neighbour, friend, grandparent, nanny…) who can give between one hour to five hours per week to help us out during the lunch hour, please tell them to contact the main office.

Lunch Assistants help to supervise inside while the children eat and outside while the children play. We endeavor to have the same person with the same group of children to help build consistency and relationships. Could it be you?

We provide training for all Lunch Assistants and require a Vulnerable Sector Screening. This is a paid position. Please contact the office at 905-479-4795 and speak with Ms. Shiva or Ms. Sipidias if you have interest or questions.

Thank you for your help!

International Baccalaureate Programme

International Day of Yoga at UMPS

Charity VR Competition

Band Practice tomorrow at 7:15AM Cancelled

June 17, 2019

Please be advised that Band Practice with Ms. Wu tomorrow morning at 7:15AM is cancelled. We apologize for the late notice and apologize if this message does not affect you. Please let others who are affected by this know of this change.

Again, Band Practice at 7:15AM on June 18/19 is cancelled.

Thank you,
UMPS