February 2020

Dear Mount Royal Families:

It is our pleasure to introduce you to our new newsletter format. It is simple to navigate and provides our families with a snapshot of the wonderful world at Mount Royal.

The month of January has brought such joy and happiness throughout the building. Already in the past few weeks, so much has happened in our school community. During the snowfalls our community has come together and with support we have been able to ensure safety as best as possible for all our families. Our Kindergarten registration was a success and our numbers continue to rise. Seeing our young Mustangs enter the building, always brings joy to me! We welcome all our new Mustangs from K-8 that have joined us in 2020. We also welcome Ms. Reale (Grade 8) and Ms. Oberai (Grade 2) who have joined us until the end of the school year. I wanted to take a moment to thank our Lunchroom Supervisors who come to school each day to take care of our students. These supervisors are members of our community and we appreciate their hard work every day. Please take some time and connect with your child’s teacher to see the amazing things that are happening in the classes. It is always a pleasure to have our alumni students return to volunteer during their time off from high school. When they come back, it shows the memories they have being a Mustang and share it with our present students. Each morning as a staff with our students we rise after the national anthem and state, “I am magnificent, I am unique, I am strong, I am talented, I am ambitious, I am non-judgmental and I am grateful” to remind all of us of the wonderful people we are. Please take time and try this at home and repeat it with your children.

I would also like to extend greetings from our School Trustee Balbir Sohi. She sends the following message to our Mount Royal Families:

“Wishing the Mount Royal Public School community a wonderful school year. It is my pleasure to serve you and look forward to our continued relationship in 2020 as we strive to inspire success, confidence and hope in our students”.

Thank you Mount Royal Families for trusting our staff with your children. It is a pleasure to serve you each and every day.

Educationally yours,

Mr. Zuberi

Black History Month

Mount Royal puts the spotlight on Black Heritage

Black History Month is a time to celebrate the many contributions of Black Canadians and Black communities throughout the world who, throughout history, have done so much to make Canada the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous country we know today.

In December 1995, the House of Commons officially recognized February as Black History Month, following a motion introduced by the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine.

During Black History Month, schools across Peel will recognize and celebrate the rich heritage, history, culture and contributions of Black Canadians as well as Black communities from around the world.

As a result of the impact of current labour action, recognition of Black History Month may look different than it has in the past. Peel board schools will continue to integrate Black history and culture in all curriculum areas throughout the year.

Celebrating Faith and Culture February 2020

February	Bear Moon	Indigenous Worldview (First Nations)
February 1 or 2	Imbolc	Wicca
February 3	Setsubun-sai	Shinto
February 7 to 25	month of Mulk	Bahá’í
February 7	Lantern Festival/Magha Puja	Buddhism
February 15	National Flag Day	Canada
February 17	Family Day	Ontario
February 21	Mahashivratri ●	Hinduism
February 26 to 29	Intercalary Days	Bahá’í
February 26	Ash Wednesday	Christianity

The expectation is that Peel schools and worksites not schedule events on significant holydays (as marked with a ● or ○ on the calendar) that would exclude observing staff and students from participating.

● = Do not schedule events at any time on these days ○ = Do not schedule events on the evenings of these days

Dates in bold lettering are approved holy days according to the Peel District School Board Leaves of Absence policy #23 and O.P. HRS #42

Bus cancellation and closing schools due to bad weather

During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather.

Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be announced on radio, television stations and will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org, Twitter @STOPRinfo and http://www.stopr.ca or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.

One of the following messages will be announced:

Peel District School Board buses are cancelled

This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require busing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual.

All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed

This means that all schools and Peel board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits.

All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled

This means that all activities in schools and Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled

This means that all activities in schools and Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.

Edit

Maker Fair

Kindergarten Registration

It’s time to register children born in 2016 for kindergarten

We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born in 2016, they can start kindergarten in September 2020.  You can register your child at any time during regular school hours—just visit the school they will be attending to register.

What you will need to bring to registration

Proof of child’s age (one of the following)

• Canadian birth certificate
• Canadian passport
• citizenship card/certificate
• Permanent Resident Card
• confirmation of permanent residence
• work permit
• refugee permit

• Ontario driver’s license
• utility bill
• bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution)
• credit card statement
• federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada documents)
• purchase agreement

Proof of custody – children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation supports an alternate living arrangement.

Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated.

Health Updates

Report your child’s immunizations to the Region of Peel online

When registering for school for the first time, parents and guardians are required to provide up-to-date immunization information for their children. This includes registering for kindergarten.

You can update your child’s immunizations online. The online immunization tool allows you to attach a photo of the immunization record. When reporting online, an Ontario Health Card is required.

Report immunizations online at: www.peelregion.ca/immunize

After you report your immunizations online you will be given a reference number. Keep this number for your records. You will need to give this number to your child’s school when registering.

If you do not have online access or your child does not have an Ontario Health Card, take a copy of the immunization record to the school.  Make sure your child’s name and date of birth are visible on the record. 

Call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 if your child does not have an immunization record or if you have any questions about immunization exemptions.

For more information, visit www.peelregion.ca/immunize

Peel Public Health shares tips to help prevent the flu

It’s flu season and we want to make sure students stay as healthy as possible this year! Influenza (flu) spreads easily from one person to another and Peel Public Health has some tips to help reduce the risk of catching the flu and spreading it:

• Get your annual flu shot: The flu shot is your best defence against the flu. There are many locations across Peel where you can get your flu shots:
  • Family Doctors’ offices
  • Walk-in clinics
  • Pharmacies
  • Peel flu clinics

• Keep children home when they’re sick: If your child develops flu-like signs and symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue), keep them home from school. Contact your health care provider if symptoms are severe.
  
  
• Practice good hygiene: Help your child get into the habit of covering their nose and mouth with a tissue when they cough or sneeze and throw tissues in the trash. Cough or sneeze into a sleeve or elbow, if they don’t have a tissue. They should also avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth. This is how germs are spread.
  
  
• Wash your hands: Encourage your child to wash their hands often with soap and water or use hand sanitizer, especially after they cough or sneeze.

For more information, call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 or visit www.peelregion.ca/flu.

Keep your child’s eyes healthy

Did you know that vision problems in children often go unnoticed because kids don’t know any different? As many as 10 per cent of preschoolers will have vision difficulties that can affect the development of their sight if not treated. However, if caught by the age of 5, treatment will be most effective.

The Region of Peel recommends regular eye exams for your child to help find eye problems early and get the right treatment.

The best way to ensure good eye health is to have your child’s eyes checked by an optometrist. Yearly eye exams for children 19 and under are covered by OHIP.

What to expect at your child’s eye exam

An optometrist will complete:

• General vision testing in both eyes.
• Eye muscle testing.
• Eye coordination testing.
• A general health assessment of the front and back of the eyes.

If needed, the optometrist will write a prescription for glasses for your child.

Forinformation on overall vision health, common signs of a possible eye problem and the programs available to you within Peel, visit www.peelregion.ca/vision-health