For specific accessibility inquiries related to your DDSB community school, please contact the school's principal. You may also find information by visiting the Durham District School Board's website and clicking on DDSB and Accessible Customer Service.
Mr. Graham and Mrs. Bark will complete their teaching assignment this
month. We would like to thank them for all they have done for our school
and wish them all the best. Mrs. Speedie will continue her maternity leave
and we would like to welcome back Mrs. Hughes who will be teaching the
B.A.C. class and Mrs. Glazier who will be teaching kindergarten in September.
We wish you all a restful and relaxing summer.
ECOSCHOOL
UPDATE
Congratulations to S.A. Cawker P.S. for becoming a certified EcoSchool
at the SILVER level! A huge thanks goes out to the EcoTeam, the Recycling
Team and all staff and parents who have contributed to our schools
ecoinitiatives. Our next years goals are School Ground greening
projects.
Project #1 Providing shade around the primary sand box by planting large
trees.
Project # 2 Provide more shade for the SK/JK yard.
Project # 3 New Playground Equipment to replace the old playground
Project # 4 Outdoor education classroom that has a no mow zone.
If you are interested in planning with the school, please contact an S.C.C.
representative or the school. We are looking for creative ideas and would
like to extend this invitation to all members of our community.
PARENTS
AS PARTNERS CONFERENCE
RESTORATIVE PRACTICE AND FORGIVENESS - HOW IT CHANGES LIVES
SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2010
Katy Hutchison is an author and parent with a unique and engaging message.
Despite experiencing tragic loss, she advocates for restorative justice
and emphasizes the power of forgiveness. Katy clearly describes how the
mix of youth, alcohol, drugs, bullying, and peer pressure contributed
to the murder of her husband on New Years Eve in 1997.
Join us to hear Katys unique perspective on strategies to reduce
risk taking behaviour, boundary setting, consequences, communication with
other parents, and host liability issues.
Katy chronicles her experience and healing in her book, Walking After
Midnight. Katy was nominated for the Courage to Come Back award
in 2004, the Women of Distinction award in 2005 and she received the Canadian
Living From Me to We award for social action in 2006. She has been featured
in numerous national magazines including Redbook, Chatelaine, Canadian
Living, Readers Digest, Homemakers, Glow and More. Interviews on national
television have included Canada AM, Gill Deacon, Fanny Kiefer and Montel
Williams.
This presentation is suitable for parents of children and teens.
www.katyhutchisonpresents.com/biography.html
DURHAM
FOREST ENVIRONMENTAL CENTRE
Once again this year, the Durham Forest Environmental Education
Centre will be offering an Environmental Summer Day Camp program during
the months of July and August. Over the years, this camp has proven itself
to be an adventurous and educational summer opportunity for children in
Durham.
For specific accessibility inquiries related to your DDSB community
school, please contact the school's principal. You may also find information
by visiting the Durham District School Board's website www.durham.edu.on.ca
and clicking on "DDSB and Accessible Customer Service."
PARENT
BULLY PREVENTION SURVEY
In 2010, The Ministry of Education released Bill 157 - Keeping Our Kids
Safe At School. One aspect of this Bill is an expectation to gather information
about school safety. Although the Durham District School Board gathers
data for individual schools, to date we havent collected information
for the board.
As a result, the Durham District School Board is conducting a survey entitled
Imagine Bully-Free Schools to help identify parental/guardian
perceptions regarding school climate. The information from this Parent
Bully Prevention Survey will be used by the Board for discussion and decision-making.
We ask you to complete the survey with each child that you have enrolled
within the Durham District School Board. The survey is available on-line
and in paper form by request.
The on-line survey will appear on the front page of the Durham District
School Board website at http://durham.edu.on.ca/DDSBmain.htm and will
be available to complete from May 17 to June 11, 2010. To save on printing
and paper costs, we encourage you to complete the on-line version. In
order to complete the survey on-line, you will need to use a computer
with internet access.
If you require a paper copy of the survey, please request it from your
school. This survey should be returned to the school by June 11, 2010
in the envelope provided.
Your feedback is important to us. We encourage and welcome your participation.
BUS
SAFETY
Dear Parents/Guardians,
This message is in response to some ongoing issues on our bus routes.
Keeping in mind that safety of our students is our highest priority, we
have met with bus drivers, DSTS Co-Ordinator and bus operators to bring
forth the following message to our community.
We must stress that bussing a privilege, not a right. Since drivers are
the first line of safety, we want all to be aware that they have the authority
to place students strategically on the bus and to create bus seating plans.
It is their discretion as to how long these assigned seats will remain
in place. Bus drivers also have a legal responsibility to report student
misconduct to the school. Administration fully supports the bus drivers
in their efforts to ensure that students are safe and respectful while
riding their bus. When we receive a bus report from a driver, we communicate
to the child and the parents. We will provide counseling and/or consequences
at the school level. If a child receives three bus reports, they lose
their bus privileges for anywhere from one day to three days, (Length
of time will vary depending on the severity of the issue and frequency
of reports, with consequences increasing over time, based on Progressive
Discipline. Please see your childs agenda for the Progressive Discipline
chart). Major safety issues could result in an immediate bus suspension
for as long as the concern warrants.
The Keeping Our Kids Safe School Act clarifies what must happen when serious
incidents or inappropriate student behaviour takes place at school, on
the bus and off school property (i.e. lunch at Tim Hortons). The bus
is an extension of the classroom and the rules are the same.
Durham Student Transportation Services School Bus Rules
- obey the instructions of the driver at all times
- assist in keeping the bus sanitary and clean
- ensure that you take all belongings with you when leaving the bus
- remain seated at all times
- leave aisles clear of personal belongings; keep feet out of the aisles
when sitting
- do not tamper with equipment and furnishings on the bus
- keep windows closed unless the driver gives you permission to open them;
close window before leaving the bus
- do not throw anything out of the bus window
- avoid excess noise and rowdiness which may distract the driver and thus
endanger other students on the bus
- use appropriate and polite language(no swearing or improper language
is to be used); name calling or teasing is not permitted
- no eating, drinking or smoking while on the school bus
- ensure that sporting equipment taken on the bus is securely contained
within a bag that can fit under the seat of the school bus
- do not bring animals onto the school bus with the exception of a certified
service dog.
All school staff, including bus drivers, must report serious incidents
that could lead to suspension or expulsion directly to the principal.
This includes bullying, swearing at a bus driver, threatening to seriously
harm someone or a physical fight. This also includes racist, sexual, sexist
or homophobic comments, slurs, jokes and graffiti. These are major issues
and students will lose their bus privileges if they engage in this behaviour.
Our goal is to encourage cooperation, acceptance and respect in our school
communities. Please assist us in providing a safe and secure environment
on our buses, which promotes positive relationships between all school
communities and cultures, by reinforcing our message of safety and respect
with your children.
SPRING
GARDENING AT S.A. CAWKER
We're gardening at S.A. Cawker Public School. Otter Greenhouses has
graciously offered S.A. Cawker another fundraising opportunity. If you,
a relative, a friend, or even a neighbour are buying flowers for your
gardens this spring, consider purchasing your flowers at Otter Greenhouses!
A percentage of your flower purchase will come directly back to the school.
The only thing you have to do is tell the cashier that you wish to support
S.A. Cawkers fundraiser.
We're also looking for boulders to add to our landscaping projects. If
you have or know of anyone that has boulders on their property that they
would consider donating please contact the school.
We will also need access to a large truck for transporting, and a backhoe
for placement and completion of our landscaping projects. Thank you in
advance for your ongoing support.
Also, S.A.Cawker would like to thank Janice Patton and Bonnie Thompson
for our Mosaic in the intermediate yard. It is absolutely beautiful and
the grade 8's next year will be planning greening projects around it.
YOUNG
RIDER PROGRAM
On Saturday, August 28, 2010, we will be holding our annual
School Bus Orientation Day. The intent of the day is to introduce your
family to school buses in an informal setting prior to the first day of
school. For mor information: -
Click Here
S.A.
Cawker is PEANUT FREE!
We have a number of staff and students with allergies. Please refrain
from bringing in peanuts, shellfish and lilacs (during the spring). Thank
you for keeping our school safe!
FREE
MEDICAL ALERT BRACELETS
We are a medical alert school and are offering medical
alert bracelets. Does your child have a medical condition, an allergy,
or a special need? If so, our school will be offereing children free medical
alert bracelets. Flyers have been sent home. If you would like a medical
alert bracelet you can order one free of charge.
BIG
BROTHERS BIG SISTER OF NORTH DURHAM
Brothers and Sisters of North Durham, in partnership with the Durham
District School Board, offers ‘In School Mentoring’ to schools
in Uxbridge, Scugog and Brock Townships. The program philosophy is that
all children need and benefit from having positive Mentorship in their
lives. Our program thoroughly screens adult volunteers and matches successful
candidates with children in participating schools, with parents consent.
The volunteer and child spend one hour a week, during the school year
participating in an activity or connecting in a way that strives to enhance
the child’s self esteem and self confidence. Our ‘Traditional or
Community Based Mentoring Program’ differs in that it takes place
directly between the parent/child and the volunteer. The meeting time
is not restricted by an hour a week or by the time school is in session.
Both of our Mentoring Programs strive to foster the child’s personal growth
and increase their overall resiliency.
The May/June Menu is here and packed full of kid favourites! It is never
too late to order from the Lunch Lady. If you missed the paper menu due
date, just call us and we would love to help. You can visit our website
at www.thelunchlady.ca and order online anytime! All of us at the Lunch
Lady hope you have enjoyed our meals this year. We have certainly enjoyed
serving your school. E-mail cathy@thelunchlady.ca with any enquiries you
may have or call the kitchen at 905-985-2103. Thank-you!
For
information regarding the schools policies on:
- Tim Horton's and Wild Wing
- Safe Arrival and Illness
- Permission to leave school
- Permission to leave after school
- Kiss & Ride Programme
- Pickup Time
JUNE: Grad trip information in on the page attached to MS STONE'S class. (Monday morning 6:15 AM be at school... come home Thursday 7:30pm) We don't get our itinerary till Friday. But we have m... Read more...