Administrators’ Message
We welcome all staff, students and families to the 2016/17 school year! Welcome back to those who are returning, and welcome to Clinton Public School those who are new to our community.
We are pleased to highlight some of the changes to our physical space which happened over the summer months. When you enter the building you will notice a TV monitor in the front foyer. We plan to use this screen for school and community announcements, as well as a place to showcase student work. Beyond that, we are hoping that our parents and students can help us out. What would you like to see on the screen? Please let a staff member know your ideas. Thank you!
Our doors were also upgraded over the summer, making our building more secure. They have been modified to open to staff electronically. As always our doors, except for the main entrance, will remain locked during the school day. We ask parents and visitors to enter through the front door and report to the office during school hours.
Please note a new procedure this year, which can be found on Page 7 of the Student Handbook: Parents picking up children before the regular dismissal time must sign the student out in the office. Thank you for assisting us in ensuring the safety of your child(ren).
We encourage all parents and guardians to be involved in their child’s education and school community. We welcome volunteers in the school, classroom and building as well as on class trips. We welcome visitors to assemblies, special events and sporting events. Joining or dropping in at School Council meetings is another way to be involved in the growth of our school community. Our first School Council meeting will be Tuesday, September 13 at 6:30 pm. Our school Open House will be September 21 from 5:30-7 pm.
Please feel free to contact us in person, by phone or email with questions or concerns. We are here to support students, families, and staff. We wish our students a successful year of learning and growth!
Sincerely,
Mrs. Marie McDade and Mrs. Luise Hoffman
2016/2017 Timetable
JK to Grade 8 Daily Schedule
- 8:35–8:45 Student arrival/supervised yard
- 8:45 First bell and students enter
- 8:50 School Begins
(Periods 1, 2, 3)
- 10:50-11:10 Physical Activity Break
- 11:10-11:30 Nutrition Break
- 11:30 Classes resume
(Periods 4, 5, 6)
- 1:10-1:30 Physical Activity Break
- 1:30-1:50 Nutrition Break
- 1:50 Classes resume
(Periods 7, 8)
- 3:10 School dismissal
- 3:20 Playground supervision ends
- Clinton Staff 2016-2017
Please find below the list of staff and their assignments for the upcoming school year. I know you join us in welcoming new staff members to the Clinton Public School team.
Our full student enrollment thus far this year is approximately 305 students. As our enrollment continues to shift, our homerooms and organizations are tentative throughout September.
Teaching Staff
- Mrs. Bennett, Early Learning Class A
- Ms. Carter, Early Learning Class B
- Miss Dalrymple, Grade1
- Mrs. Koene, Grade 1 and 2
- Ms. Henderson, Grade 2 – Sept
- Mr. Carroll, Grade 2
- Mrs. Bicknell, Grade 2 & 3
- Mrs. Wise, Grade 3 & 4
- Mrs. Erb, Grade 4 & 5
- Mrs. Breckon, Grade 5
- Mr. Lingard Grade 5 and 6
- Mrs. Glavin, Grade 6 and 7
- Mr. Lobb, Grade 7 and 8
- Mrs. Plaetzer, SERT
- Mrs. Van Hoof, French
- Mrs. Schofield, French
- Mrs. H. Stoll, Section 23
Educational Assistants
- Mrs. Nigh
- Mrs. Haakers
- Mrs. Graham
- Ms. Leishman
- Mrs. MacIsaac
Early Childhood Educators
- Mrs. Hallahan
- Mrs. Hastings
Child & Youth Workers
- Mrs. Coombs
- Mrs. Reid
Secretary
- Mrs. teRaa
Technical Resource Assistant
- Mrs. Johns
Custodians
- Mr. Beuerman
- Mr. Reichert
Administrative Staff
- Mrs. McDade, Principal
- Mrs. Hoffman, Vice-Principal
Emergency Contact Information Sheet
Coming home with your child today is a form called “Confirmation of Emergency Contact & Personal Information.” We ask that you read over the form carefully, make changes as needed, fill in information required and sign where needed. Please return this form to school by Friday, September 9, 2016.
Freedom of Information Letter
Please take time to read the Freedom of Information letter coming home today. If you have any objections to the use and disclosure of your child’s personal information in any or all of the activities listed in the letter, please contact Mrs. McDade in writing as soon as possible. Otherwise, the school will assume your approval.
AMSDB Code Of Conduct
The Code of Conduct is printed in our CPS Planner for your convenience. We ask that all parents and guardians review this booklet with their children. Staff will be reviewing the Code of Conduct with their classes as well. Working together as parents, students and educators, we can ensure increased safety and appropriate behaviour for our children. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Character Attribute Of The Month – Respect
The virtue of good character for September is Respect: Valuing self, others and our world.
Respect is an attitude of caring about people, and treating them with courtesy, dignity and positive regard. Respect means valuing ourselves and others. We treat their belongings, the environment and the world around us with consideration.
Yard Supervision
Supervision for students on the playground begins at 8:35 am daily, with an entrance bell at 8:45 am. Students are dismissed at the 3:10 pm exit bell, and the schoolyard is supervised until the 3:20 pm bell. Please note that students arriving prior to 8:35 am or remaining on the yard after 3:20 pm are the supervision responsibility of parents or guardians. For your child’s safety, please encourage your child’s arrival and departure within supervised times.
Clinton Public School Is A Nut-Safe School
CPS is a peanut, nut and nut oil safe school, meaning safe from peanuts, all nuts and all nut oils. Your child is now required to bring lunch/snacks that contain no nuts or nut products. Finding nut-free snacks may be challenging, but carefully reading the product labels will tell you which products to avoid. Read the ingredient listings every time you shop. Manufacturing and packaging practices may change without any warning; a product that was once peanut-free, for example, may now contain peanuts. It is especially important to look for a warning such as, “may contain peanuts and traces of peanuts”.
Proper hand washing with soap is important to eliminate nut oil residue from hands as contact with the slightest residue from nut products on playground equipment, door handles, gym equipment etc. can also cause a severe anaphylactic reaction. When consuming products with peanuts, nuts, or nut-oils please stress proper hand washing to your children before they depart for school.
We understand that this may be a concern or inconvenience for your family at times, but it is a life threatening situation for other children. We appreciate your efforts to pack nut-safe lunches.
Clinton Public School Is A Scent Safe Learning Place
At CPS, we have a number of students and staff with asthma. Smelling strong perfumes and scents makes this condition worse. That means that some children find it more difficult to focus and learn, because their breathing is laboured, their eyes and nose run, and they may feel dizzy or weak. The Canadian Lung Association says that children with allergies and asthma can have fatigue and disturbed sleep, miss more school, find it difficult to exercise, and may need to take more medication. It is important that we keep our learning place safe for all children and adults.
What does this mean for you?
- All staff, students and visitors to the school are asked to not wear perfumes, colognes or strongly scented products at school.
- When purchasing products such as shampoo, body wash, soap and hairspray, choose ones that have soft scents or are fragrance free.
- Please read and respect the Scent Safe signs at entrances of the school.
- If you arrive at Clinton PS wearing a strong scent, you may be asked to leave the school, to protect the health and wellbeing of our students and staff.
If you have questions or concerns about our Scent Safe Learning Place, please contact the office. Thank you for your support in keeping our school safe for everyone.
Safe Arrivals
For your child’s safety, we are required to check attendance and place safe arrival telephone calls, twice daily, at 8:50 am (beginning of the school day) and again at 11:30 am (following first break). Since students are not permitted to leave the premises at the second break, safe arrival is not routinely done at this time. Please assist us by giving us a call or sending a note to the teacher when your child is away from school. We do have voice mail at school for your convenience. If you are unable to call during office hours, please leave a message on our voice mail (include your child’s name, grade and reason he/she is absent). If the school is unaware of why a child is absent the following calls will be made until contact is made to verify the absence:
- Parents/guardians at home
- Parents/guardians at work
- Emergency phone number contacted
- Message will be left at home/work
- Siblings at school may be asked
Parking
Thanks to all parents and caregivers who are observing the “Accessible Parking Zone” at the front of our school. Only vehicles that have accessible parking permits are allowed to park in this designated parking spot. Vehicles without an accessible parking permit are not allowed to park in this area, not even for a short time.
We also ask parents to not park in the circle in front of the school to drop off their children in the mornings and at dismissal and pick up times as this is a bus drop off zone.
As well, at times, some vehicles have been left idling and unattended in our parking lot or in front of the school. This poses a safety danger for our children. Please ensure that your vehicle is shut off, and the keys have been removed from the ignition prior to getting out. We thank you for your cooperation.
Safety Issues
Controlled Entrance:
As part of our safety plan, we continue to lock all outside doors except the front door during the school day. This is done to control the entrance of visitors into the school, and to maintain a safe classroom for your child. All visitors, including parents, guardians, volunteers, and occasional staff are required to report to the office upon entering the school in order to pick up an identification card. This helps us to know who is in the building at all times, keeps the building safe from strangers wandering in, and minimizes disruption to classroom learning.
Student Entrance and Exit Routines:
During the regular school day, all students will enter the building through their designated doors at the rear of the school. At the end of the day, all walking students will exit from their designated doors and meet their parents/caregivers on the asphalt at the back of the school. In the case of our youngest students (Kindergarten and Grade One), they are ‘handed’ from teacher to parent/caregiver. All students are taught to return to the school office if the person they are supposed to meet is not on the school yard. Students will not be permitted to enter or leave the building from the front door or alternate exits. This routine ensures an orderly flow of traffic inside and outside the school building, for your child’s safety.
Other Pick-Ups And Drop-Offs: Parents who need to pick up or drop off their child outside of regular entrance and dismissal times are required to do so from the main office. Your child will wait at the office until we have confirmation that a parent or a designated adult has arrived for pick up. If your child arrives late, he or she must report to the office for a late slip before entering the classroom.
Medical Information
Please notify the school of any medical issues that may affect your child’s health or well-being at school (eg. allergies, medical conditions, etc.). If your child requires medication during the school day, visit the office to fill in the necessary forms. In the case of high-risk medical conditions, a specific medical plan will need to be developed with the school staff and be approved by your child’s doctor to ensure your child’s health and well-being while at school. Please contact Mrs. McDade or Mrs. Hoffman as soon as possible so that we can be prepared to support your child’s medical needs.
No Child Without
Our school is involved in the Canadian MedicAlert Foundation’s No Child Without program. There is no cost for students who attend our school and are between the ages of 4 up to their 14th birthday to join MedicAlert through this program. If your child has a medical condition, allergy or is required to take medication on a regular basis, then you should consider this program. A child’s 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.
If your child is already part of the No Child Without program and there have been changes to their medical condition, medications or emergency contact information, call MedicAlert at 1-800-668-1507 to update your child’s file.
Sabrina’s Law And Anaphylaxis
In January 2006, Sabrina’s Law came into effect. This Law requires school boards to have emergency procedures in place to deal with incidents of anaphylaxis and to provide training for all staff. With support from the Perth District Health Unit and the Huron County Health Unit, school principals provide to their staff, annual training in the administration of EPI-Pens to treat anaphylactic reactions. In cases where a student is anaphylactic, parents/guardians are expected to provide an EPI-Pen(s) for their child to carry with them at all times during the school day. Parents/Guardians must also work with the school to develop an Individual Medical Management Plan that outlines emergency procedures for their child. In accordance with Sabrina’s Law, all schools have been provided with two generic EPI-Pens. These EPI-Pens are being provided to support schools in responding to a medical emergency for an anaphylactic student for whom the school has an Individual Medical Management Plan and Emergency Procedure in place. Also, in accordance with Sabrina’s Law, schools must administer an EPI-Pen when a student is suspected of suffering an anaphylactic reaction even if no Individual Medical Management Plan exists. If you are aware that your child is allergic to epinephrine or if you have any concerns, it is suggested that you contact the school principal.
School Volunteers
Children do best in school when their parents are actively involved in their education. Volunteering in a school is an extremely rewarding experience and can take many forms. Volunteering might involve reading with young students, making your skills and talents available to make something for the school, or serving on the School Council. Please contact your child’s teacher, Mrs. Hoffman or Mrs. McDade if you would like to get involved at CPS! Our School Council is a very welcoming group of people. Our first meeting is on Tuesday, September 13th beginning at 6:30 p.m. – all are welcome!
Student Planner
Every student in the school will receive a student planner. Please take time to review your child’s school planner with your child. The first pages include important information regarding routines and expectations at Clinton Public School. Staff will use the planner as a homework book and method of communicating with parents. We encourage parents to continue to support their child by signing and returning the planner daily. The cost of the planner is being paid from our magazine fundraiser held last fall.
Terry Fox Event
We plan to hold a Terry Fox Run/Walk to raise money for cancer later this fall. This event promotes our daily physical activity initiative, and also encourages our students to be charitable citizens of good character. Be looking for more information in the next few weeks.
Food/Milk Days at Clinton Public School
We will begin our food and milk days in October. Order forms will be sent home with students the third week in September. Clinton Public School uses a three month order form for milk and pizza to ease the amount of paperwork coming home and ease with organization for both families and volunteers who help with this fundraiser.
Payment instructions are included with the order form. Families do have the option of paying in one lump sum (in cash or cheque) or may send post dated cheques for the 20th of each month.
Kids Plus™ Accident Insurance
Our school board is offering you the opportunity to voluntarily purchase student accident insurance through the Kids Plus™ Accident Insurance program, underwritten by Industrial Alliance Insurance and Financial Services Inc.
Kids Plus™ Accident Insurance provides protection against unexpected costs arising from accidental injuries. The program is especially valuable for families who:
- do not have medical or dental plans,
- have limited plans, as it may help supplement health and dental benefits, or
- have active children who enjoy sports and outdoor activities.
Kids Plus™ Accident Insurance has a selection of plans to suit most budgets. Benefits include coverage for:
- The full school year (September to September), 24 hours a day, while at home and in school;
- Expenses that are often limited or not covered by private or group insurance plans, or Provincial Health Insurance Plans, such as ambulance, physiotherapy, private tutoring, counselling, and much more;
- Injury-related dental treatment (including future dental treatment up to age 26);
- Out-of-province or country emergency medical expenses.
If your address changes during the school year, your Kids Plus™ Accident Insurance plan is transferable from school to school, anywhere in Canada.
Insurance premiums for children are $14.50 or $33.50 per year, depending on the plan selected. A discount is available for families with 3 or more children. Adults age 20 to 64 can also be insured for $32.00 per year.
For more information or to apply online, please visit kidsplus.ca, or speak with a Kids Plus™ Client Service Administrator at 1-800-556-7411.
Community News
Piano Lessons
Individual piano lessons will be available in September at Clinton Public School. Please call Lorrie Mann at 519-441-0800 or [email protected] for more information.
Huron FC Competitive Soccer Club
Fall and Winter 2016-2017 soccer opportunities for children birth years 2000 to 2010.
Location at CHSS
For more information contact Huron FC at
Box 120 Blyth, ON N0M 1H0
Clinton Cooperative Child Care Centre &
Ontario Early Years Program
Clinton Public School is very proud to partner with the Clinton Cooperative Child Care Centre within our building. The Centre offers high quality care for children before, during and after school. The Child Care Staff can be reached at 519 482-5777.
We would also like to welcome back the staff from the Ontario Early Years Program. The Ontario Early Years Program runs excellent programs for children and families. More information can be found below.
Ontario Early Years Program
The Ontario Early Years program will be offering FREE Early Learning programs. All programs are for children ages birth to six years and their parents/caregivers.
These programs offer interactive play time, craft, games, songs and stories. All programs are FREE and are held in the Child and Family Centre within the Clinton Co-op Child Care Centre. Please enter on the North East entrance.
For information call 519-482-8505.
School Year Calendar
2016-2017
Opening Day of Classes
September 6, 2016
School Holidays
October 10, 2016 – Thanksgiving Day
December 26, 2016 through January 6, 2017 – Christmas Break
February 20, 2017 – Family Day
March 13 – 17, 2017 – March Break
April 14, 2017 – Good Friday
April 17, 2017 – Easter Monday
May 22, 2017 – Victoria Day
Last Day of Classes
June 29, 2017 – Elementary Schools
P.A. Days
September 23, 2016
November 4, 2016
December 2, 2016
February 2, 2017
May 8, 2017
June 9, 2017
June 30, 2017