 GO THUNDERBOLTS GO 
BECKETT FARM PUBLIC SCHOOL
78 Beckett Avenue. Unionville, ONT. L6C 0T3
TEL: (289) 746-FARM (3276)
FAX: (905) 534-2334
Principal’s Message
Happy New Year to all! On behalf of all staff, we hope you had a wonderful holiday spent with
family and friends. Thank you to all who attended our Winter Concert, “Let it Snow’. It was exciting
to see our gym seats filled to capacity for our first ever school performance. The staff and students
are very proud of what they accomplished. So many people dedicated their time to the production
of this event but I would particularly like to recognize Mrs. Knott for her tireless efforts to organize
and lead this show.
There are many experiences we have shared these past four months to create a sense of community and to connect our students within the different grade levels. This concert was an opportunity
for us to include our families and to highlight what our children can accomplish when they work
together. We look forward to strong participation from our BFPS families in our upcoming
events. Finally, I would like to thank the parents who graciously made a financial donation to support the purchase of more sound and performance equipment for our future concerts.
As term one quickly moves to a close, I would like to acknowledge the staff and students for a successful start to our new school. More than academics, we focused on student well-being. On
Wednesday February 18th the Term 1 Report Cards will be sent home. This will be an opportunity
to learn about the strengths and area for improvement (called next steps) for your child(ren). I
encourage you to take suggestions offered in this report seriously and contact your child’s teacher
should you have questions. Further, report cards provide the perfect opportunity for you to discuss with your children what happens in school.
In January and for the finalists in late February, all students from grades Three to Eight will have
participated in our first ever Spelling Bee. This fun competition provides the opportunity for
our best spellers to demonstrate their remarkable skills. The finals will be performed in
the gym on Tuesday February the 24th. Parents are welcome to observe the students in
this competition.
School Schedule
Period 1
9:10 AM—9:50 AM
Period 2
9:50 AM—10:20 AM
Period 3
10:20 AM—10:50 AM
Recess
10:50 AM—11:20 AM
Period 4
11:20 AM—12:00 PM
Period 5
12:00 PM—12:20 PM
Period 6
12:20 PM—1:00 PM
Lunch
1:00 PM—2:00 PM
Period 7
2:00 PM—2:40 PM
Period 8
2:40 PM—3:10 PM
Period 9
3:10 PM—3:40 PM
Once again, all the best for a prosperous, healthy and happy 2015 !
EMAIL: [email protected]
TWITTER: @BeckettFarmPS
SCHOOL COUNCIL EMAIL: [email protected]
WEBSITE: http://beckettfarm.ps.yrdsb.ca BLOG: http://beckettfarmps.wordpress.com
SCHOOL YEAR CALENDAR: http://www.yrdsb.ca/schools/beckettfarm.ps/NewsEvents/Pages/School-Calendar.aspx
PAGE 2
BECKETT FARM PUBLIC SCHOOL
KINDERGARTEN 2015 – 2016: REGISTRATION STARTS JANUARY 16, 2015
Kindergarten registration will commence January 16, 2015 for the 2015-16 school year. Children who turn four or
five years old during 2015, live within the school boundary and whose parents are public school tax supporters
will be eligible to register for kindergarten. A kindergarten information session for parents is being planned for
this spring. For more information please visit http://www.yrdsb.ca/schools/Kindergarten/Pages/default.aspx or
contact us at Beckett Farm PS.
FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM 2015 - 2016
REGISTRATION DATES: JANUARY 16, 2015 – FEBRUARY 13, 2015
(FOR PARENTS/GUARDIANS OF SK STUDENTS ENTERING GRADE 1 IN SEPT 2015)
Information sessions for the French Immersion (FI) program will take place at French Immersion schools on January 15, 2015 at 7 PM. Beckett Farm students should attend the session at Sir John A. Macdonald Public School.
In order to streamline the registration process, parents or guardians of Senior Kindergarten students entering
Grade 1 in 2015, and wishing to enroll in the FI Program, can visit or call their home school office (Beckett Farm
PS) and request an Office Index Card. The Office Index Card must be signed by the principal of the home school.
Parents or guardians then take this form, along with one piece of identification showing their address to your designated French Immersion school to register between January 16 and February 13, 2015. This eliminates the need
to provide duplicate enrolment information or to pre-register.
For more information please visit http://www.yrdsb.ca/Programs/fi/Pages/French-Immersion-Registration.aspx
POSITIVE CLIMATE FOR LEARNING
ELEMENTS GALLERY WALK: Wednesday January 14, 2015 from 4-6pm
Beckett Farm PS students have been hard at work building community and getting to know one another. They
have been participating in weekly Elements activities to build relationships throughout the whole school. In addition, the students have been working on an art contest by the City of Markham called “Getting to Know Your
Neighbours” which celebrates our community’s ethno–cultural inclusiveness.
For more information on this contest, visit https://www.markham.ca/wps/wcm/connect/
markhamconstituentcontent/01markhamcasite/home/homeevents/20150322_many-faces-markham.
Prior to sending the art to the Flato Markham Theatre on Friday January 16, 2015, we would like to invite our
Beckett Farm Parent community to see the wonderful work that has been done in the school. Parents and
guardians are invited to attend an Elements Gallery Walk on Wednesday January 14, from 4-6pm. Come and
discover the artistic talents of our student community and the wonderful themes of inclusion and community
building that are evident in their art.
Positive Climates for Learning (PC4L) Team
PAGE 3
BECKETT FARM PUBLIC SCHOOL
PUNCTUALITY IS IMPORTANT
Classes begin at 9:10am at Beckett Farm P.S. Students are expected to be in class promptly. Supervision outside
begins at 8:55am. The first bell goes at 9:00am. Students must enter the school through the grade designated
doors. They are not allowed to use the front doors unless they are late.
Several strategies will be used to help students who are consistently late. Parents will be contacted and the
school will work on a plant to support timely arrival. Severe cases will be referred to the YRDSB Attendance and
Counseling Services.
SAFE ARRIVAL PROGRAM
All School Boards have to implement a safe arrival program across Ontario. The YRDSB has been working
closely with the York Region Police to ensure the safety of our students.
The safe arrival program at Beckett Farm P.S. depends on parents to notify the office in the event of their
child’s late arrival or absence. All parents and guardians must notify the school at (289)746-3276 if your child is
going to be absent or late. Please leave your child’s name, the teacher’s name and the reason for the absence.
There is a 24hr answering machine so please call as soon as you know your child will be away.
Below are the procedures we must take when a child is away and we have not received notification
Step 1: Call the parents and/or guardians. If there is no answer:
Step 2: Call the emergency contact person. If the contact person cannot be reached or is unaware of the child’s
location then:
Step 3: The school will notify the YORK REGIONAL POLICE that a child is missing.
We always do our best to make contact with parents before taking the final step of calling the police. Please
ensure the office has your most updated and accurate contact information.
KEEPING SCHOOLS SAFE
This is a reminder to all students and families that school principals are expected, under Ontario’s Education Act,
to ensure a safe and orderly learning environment. To support that expectation, principals retain the right to
search school property, including lockers and desks, without notice, if they believe that it is in the interest of
school safety to do so. Principals may also involve police in searches of the school, subject to all legal requirements, if they feel it is necessary in order to maintain the safety of the school.
PAGE 4
BECKETT FARM PUBLIC SCHOOL
HEALTHY SCHOOLS
THE FACTS OF LICE (SEE ATTACHMENT FOR MORE DETAILS)
Dear Parents,
Each year cases of pediculosis (head lice) are found throughout our schools. In an effort to reduce the numbers
of cases found and decrease the inconvenience to parents/guardians and students, the York Region District
School Board requests your assistance. As your child is now returning to school after the holidays, please inspect
his/her hair and scalp for pediculosis. Periodic inspections during the year will help prevent the spread of head
lice.
Head lice are tiny (1/8” or 3mm long) wingless insects with flattened bodies. They cling to the hair by means of
six legs. They live mostly behind the ears and at the nape of the neck. The female lays tiny, yellowish-white eggs
called nits. They resemble dandruff but are attached to hair by a cement-like material and are very difficult to
remove. It is usually the eggs that are noticed first.
If head lice are found, do not return your child to school until treated. This will prevent the spread of pediculosis.
Children are only allowed to reenter the class when all the nits are removed from the hair.
For more information, please call the Public Health Nurses at York Region Health Services Health Connection line,
1-800-363-5653, (Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.).
Sincerely,
Michael Matt, Principal
THE FACTS OF LICE
The pamphlet “The Facts of Lice” can be requested from York Region Health Services or can be
accessed in a complete form on the York Region District School Board website in Public Folders.
This appendix is an abridged version.
The Facts of Lice
Yes, like everywhere else there are head lice in York Region! Perhaps you have received a letter
from school, or a telephone call to notify you of a "lice alert". You may feel angry, fearful,
frustrated or itchy. However, head lice are not a health issue in that they do not carry disease.
Don’t panic! Be sensitive to your child's feelings and check your child's head right away.
Checking for lice takes patience, diligence and plenty of time. For centuries, people have been
dealing with head lice. A co-operative community effort will help to keep head lice in check.
This means that all families must take responsibility for regular head checks and treating their
children if head lice are found. There are differing opinions by researchers, pharmaceutical
companies and parents who have experience with head lice. This fact sheet will provide an
overview of the identification, prevention and treatment of head lice.
The Head Check
• Sit in a well lit area - near a sunny window or brightly lit lamp.
• Divide the hair into sections and look carefully, one section at a time.
• Look carefully in the hair, behind the ears, nape of neck, hairline - "the halo" of the head.
• Check the heads of all family members.
• Don't forget to have your own head checked!
• If you find head lice or nits (eggs), proceed with treatment.
• If you don't see lice or nits (eggs), continue to check the head regularly twice a week for
one month or more often if there is an out break.
• If you see anyone scratching their head or if someone tells you that their head feels itchy,
check their head.
What You Might Find on the Head
• head lice
• nits (eggs)
• lice bites on the scalp
• excrement from lice (looks like pepper)
Look Alikes:
• hair casts
• residue from gel, mousse or hair spray
• dandruff
Proceed with treatment only if you find nits (eggs) or lice.
Who is At Risk?
Anyone can get head lice! School children get them more often because they're frequently in
head to head contact. If your child has lice, tell anyone with whom your child has had contact to
have their head checked: e.g. babysitter, grandparents, the school, playmates, parents,
playgroup/sports group parents. This helps to prevent the spread and protects your child from
another encounter with lice. Only humans get head lice, not animals. Head lice do not result from
a lack of cleanliness.
Life Cycle of the Head Louse
Nit (eggs)
• half the size of the head of a pin
• shaped like a tear drop
• found close to the scalp, on the shaft of the hair
• are cemented to the hair so they cannot be blown or flicked off
• feel like tiny knots on the hair
Mature Nits (eggs)
• larger, the size of the head of a pin
• more visible, creamy colour
• eggs hatch in 7 to 10 days
Lice - Immature Louse (nymph)
• transparent or rust coloured after blood meal and very difficult to see
• reaches maturity in about 10 days
• lice have 6 legs with claws so they can cling to human hair
Mature Louse
• female louse can lay up to 150 eggs during the life span
• lice do not like movement or light
• lice crawl from head to head
• they do not fly or jump
How Do You Treat Head Lice?
When using anti-lice products, READ directions and FOLLOW them CAREFULLY! Please talk
to your doctor if you are nursing or pregnant or treating a child under 2 years of age.
Treatments Chemicals:
• Pyrethrins (e.g.R&C) should not be used for anyone with a known allergy to ragweed or
chrysanthemums.
• Permethrin (e.g.NIX,Kwellada - P crème rinse) should not be used for persons with a
known allergy to chrysanthemums,syntheticpyrethroids,or pyrethrins. Do not use on
children under age 2 unless directed by a physician.
• AMC Acetomicellar Complex (SH 206) is not recommended for children under 30 months
of age.
The effectiveness of alternative treatments has not been scientifically documented. Please call
the Public Health Nurses at Health Connection for further treatment information.
When Using a Head Lice Treatment
Timing is important. If the product is rinsed off too soon, lice may not be killed. If you are using
a chemical product, do not leave it on the head for longer than is recommended. This will avoid
unnecessary exposure to the chemicals. Rinsing a child's hair under the tap, (instead of a shower)
will limit skin exposure and prevent the child from swallowing some of the product. These
products should not be used near the eyes, nose or mouth. A towel held tightly over the eyes
protects them during treatment. Wear plastic/rubber gloves to avoid unnecessary exposure to a
chemical product. Store unused head lice products away from the reach of young children.
How to Remove Nits and Lice
Regardless of what treatment you use, we recommend that you check for nits and remove all that
you find. After treating the hair, comb out tangles. Part the hair into four or more sections. Use a
clip to hold each section. Focus on one section at a time, checking small amounts of hair. Use
your thumb-nail against your first finger to strip the nits from the hair starting from the roots
right down to the ends, then discard. Nit combs are sometimes helpful. If the nits are difficult to
remove, dip the comb in vinegar. This may help the nits slide off more easily. Pin back that lock
of hair and continue until all nits are removed.
How Do You Prevent Head Lice From Coming Back?
We recommend that you check for and remove all lice and nits after each treatment for 7 - 10
days.
Bright, natural light helps you to see the nits better. Lice are not likely to abandon the warmth of
the scalp, to lurk in clothing, furniture and bed linen, where it is cold and there is no food supply.
Most authorities suggest washing bed linens, hats and towels in hot soapy water and drying them
in a hot dryer for at least 20 minutes, after the first and second treatment. Lice do not like dry
heat.
Children should be discouraged from sharing personal items such as hairbrushes, hats and
combs.
Children should be encouraged to wear their hair in a ponytail or braid. The single most
important anti-louse measure is to check for lice and nits regularly.
For more information, please call Health Connection at 1-800-361-5653. Recommended website:
www.cps.ca or www.healthcare.ubc.ca/lice/intro .
Health Connection Your Link to Health Information and Services