W. Erskine Johnston Public School

Good morning,

Due to freezing rain, all student transportation is cancelled today, Friday, January 27th, 2012. This means that buses and taxis will not run in the morning or the afternoon. The school remains open.

Please note: If your child normally takes a bus, you may drop him or her off, starting at 9:00 am. If you do so, you must make arrangements to pick him or her up at the end of the day — 3:45 pm — at the back of the school near the portables. We appreciate your assistance in keeping the front of the school and the office clear for urgent matters.

Also, if your child normally takes the school bus or taxi and he or she will not be attending, you do not need to notify the office. We only require notification for those students who normally walk to school.

You may check school bus cancellations and delays here.

If you have questions regarding this, please email me at shannon.smith (at) ocdsb.ca rather than phoning the office. I will return your email as soon as possible.

If you must be on the roads today, please drive safely.

Thank you,

Mrs. Smith

Please note that due to circumstance beyond our control, all of the buses returning form Vorlage had a late departure from the hill. We anticipate their arrival between 5:45 pm and 6:00 pm. Thank you for your understanding.

Mrs. Smith

Please see the attached for some information sessions being hosted at Stephen Leacock Public School. Babysitting is being offered.

Leacock parent sessions

Hello,

The following information is for parents of students downhill skiing or snowboarding from the following classes: Mme. Esposito, Mr. Marquis, Mr. Bradley, Ms. Shank and Mr. Officer.

The buses returning these students from Vorlage will not return until 6pm this evening. This is a change from the initial return time of 5:15 – 5:30 pm. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding in this matter.

All other buses will return as scheduled.

When you arrive to the school, please plan to park on the street. The lot will fill quickly and we must reserve a lane for the buses to unload. Thank you.

Mrs. Smith

Hello,

Due to the number of students who will be out participating in the ski day on February 1st, we will be postponing pizza day that day and rescheduling it to April 4th. Please ensure that you send your child with an adequate lunch on February 1st.

Mrs. Smith

Hello!

This Friday is “Family Literacy Day”.  You can find some creative ways to celebrate by visiting the Family Literacy Day website.

Enjoy!

Mrs. Smith

Kindergarten registration begins on January 30th.  Please note that there is no cut off date — kindergarten registration is ongoing after January 30th.  We offer Full Day Kindergarten for both Junior and Senior Kindergarten.

If you are unsure which OCDSB school’s catchment area you belong to, please visit our School locator prior to registering.

If you are new to Canada, have a school-aged child, and English is not your first language, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s Family Reception Centre can assist you with enrolling your child in school. The Centre’s staff will provide student assessment and guidance for English language learners and their families. Please call 613-239-2416 for assistance.

Steps to register:

• To register, please bring proof of age in the form of a birth certificate, baptismal certificate, registration of birth card, or passport. Registration cannot be completed without one of these forms of identification.

• You will also need to bring your child’s Ontario health card and immunization record, or proof of compliance with the exemption of the Immunization of School Pupils Act, R.S.O. 1990 c.11.

• Ottawa Public Health requires proof that your child has received proper immunization. All children attending school in Ontario must be immunized against diptheria, tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella, unless there is a valid exemption. If your child has lived or travelled outside Canada or in a First Nations/Inuit community in Canada for three months or longer during the past five years, you will need a Certificate of Immunization and Tuberculosis Assessment for School Entry issued by Ottawa Public Health before starting school. Call the Ottawa Public Health Immunization Program at 613-580-6744, ext. 24108 for additional information.

School bus transportation is available to all kindergarten students who live more than 0.8 km from their school. Information is available at your school or from the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority

Resilience in Kids 

Resilience is being able to bounce back from problems or adapt to change. It allows you to cope when things are not going well. It helps you manage life events in a healthy way.

 To build resilience:

• Reach out to people who can help you.
• Deal with feelings as they occur so they do not overwhelm you.
• Use skills to help you solve problems.
• Keep a hopeful outlook.

To help kids build resilience parents can:

• Talk with them during meals.
• Help them with homework.
• Ask them how they are feeling.
• Be positive.
• Remind them of their good qualities.
• Take time to notice the things they enjoy.

For more information contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744 orottawa.ca/health.