Bright’s Grove Public School
2612 Hamilton Road,
Bright’s Grove, Ontario NON 1C0
Phone: (519) 869-4284 Fax: (519) 869-4285
http://brightsgrove.lkdsb.net
Zone 2
Mr. Andy Parnham
Principal
Mrs. Nancy Faubert
Secretary
_____________________________________________________________________________________
May, 2015
Improving Student Achievement
Parental Involvement
Questions to Ask at a School Parent-Teacher Conference – What are my child’s strengths and areas in
need of improvement? How are my child’s work habits? What areas should my child focus on for
improvement? Could we examine an assignment my child has completed with the rubric for
assessment? What subjects does my child enjoy most? How does my child get along with the other
students? Are there any issues of which I should be made aware? How can I assist my child at home?
Remember to keep the lines of communication open year round with your child’s teacher(s). Don’t let a
small issue grow into a big one. Address any concerns immediately and move forward in the best
interest of your child. Thank you for working closely with the school team to move your child forward
on the learning spectrum. Your support and encouragement is duly noted and appreciated! Thank you!
Education Week
Education Week will be held this year from May 4-8. The LKDSB theme for this year is “Every Student,
Every Day”. The Ministry of Education’s theme for this year’s Education Week is “Achieving Excellence
in Education”.
EQAO Assessments
This year our Grade 3 and 6 students will be involved in the EQAO Primary and Junior Assessment of
Reading, Writing and Mathematics. The Grade 3’s and Grade 6’s will complete the assessment during
the weeks of May 25-June 5. The Grade 6’s will write the assessment from May 25-May 29 and the
Grade 3’s from June 1-5. Please refrain from scheduling any appointments, etc. during these weeks, if
possible, to allow for minimal disruptions during the assessment period. These assessments will be
administered over six one hour sessions.
Explanation Writing
Students in Grades 1-8 continue to work on the explanation form of writing and will continue to do so
until the end of June. Explanation writing is written to explain an experience of an event. It progresses
sequentially, describes a cause-and-effect relationship, uses impersonal, objective tone and is written in
the present tense. Some excellent pieces of explanation writing are being produced within our
classrooms.
Math Practice
If you are looking for a math website to help assist and/or strengthen your child(ren)’s basic math fact
skills you might want to consider checking out www.xtramath.org.
Meningitis Vaccine, Hepatitis B Vaccine and Human Papillomavirus Vaccine
On Wednesday, May 27, the nurses from the Community Health Services Department will be visiting
Bright’s Grove P.S. to administer the meningitis vaccine, and the second dose of the Hepatitis B vaccine
to our Grade 7 students, as well as the third dose of the Human Papillomavirus vaccine to Grade 8 girls.
The Community Health Services Department already has signed consent forms on file from these
students’ parents/guardians as they were filled out in the fall.
Dress Code
We are asking that parents/guardians please consider the students’ dress code that is found in our
student planner when purchasing any new/used spring and summer clothing for your child(ren). We
would also like to draw students’ and parent/guardians’ attention to the school dress code. This can be
found in the student planners and is also listed on our school website. We would greatly appreciate
your support in ensuring that the students are dressed accordingly and appropriately when at school.
Thank you.
Allergy Awareness Month
May is allergy awareness month in Canada. It is an important time for everyone to raise their allergy
awareness and educate others about food allergies. We encourage each Bright’s Grove P.S. student to
tell at least three other people about food allergies each week during the month of May. Teach your
friends and family members about how to support people with food allergies and educate them on how
to use an Epipen auto injector to help prevent someone from going into anaphylactic shock, if you know
how. More information on symptoms of food allergies and Epipen administration can be found at
www.Epipen.ca.
Anaphylaxis Reminder
Remember to only send safe snacks, food, etc. to school with your child(ren) as we have students who
are severely allergic to certain foods (e.g., nuts, nut products, etc.). Thank you for continuing to read the
labels carefully on all foods sent to school to help ensure that all of our students are safe. Please
remember to encourage your child(ren) not to share food at school due to allergy concerns. Precautions
must be taken to ensure that students are eating and handling only their own food and/or snacks that
they bring to school.
Pets on School Property, Animal Allergies and Phobias
Please be advised that several of our students are allergic to certain kinds of animals and some others
are quite afraid of them. As a result, we are asking parents/guardians to not bring your animals onto
the Bright’s Grove Public School property during entry or dismissal times in order to avoid an uneasy
and/or potentially unsafe situation. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
In our school community it is the responsibility of each of us to safeguard the well-being of all of us. We
look out for each other. A danger to even one child is a threat that we must all take seriously.
Stranger Danger: Stay Safe
We are asking that parents/guardians reinforce with their child(ren) not to talk to strangers on their way
to and from school and/or accept rides from them. Students are also encouraged to walk with a buddy
at all times for safety reasons.
School Holiday
Please remember that Monday, May 18 is Victoria Day. As such, there will be no school on this day.
Students return to school on Tuesday, May 19.
News from Bright’s Grove School Council
The next Bright’s Grove P.S. School Council meeting will be held on Thursday, May 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the
library. All Bright’s Grove P.S. parents/guardians are invited and are encouraged to attend. Bright’s
Grove School Council would also like to remind our school community of the upcoming Family Dance
that will take place on Friday, May 8 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. and the Talent Show which takes place on
Wednesday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Pediculosis (Head Lice)
Spring is one of the seasons where cases of head lice (pediculosis) are most prevalent. Your assistance
in early detection is greatly appreciated. Please check your child(ren) for head lice and/or nits weekly. If
you find evidence of head lice or nits, please contact the school immediately. This will allow us to notify
other parents/guardians in the classrooms affected so that they may check their child(ren). Children
who are suspected of having head lice will be excused until appropriate treatment has been
administered. Infestation of head lice is an unpleasant nuisance, but not a health problem. Head lice
do not carry or spread disease. By working together we can control the spread of head lice in our
school community.
Excursions/Field Trips
As we near the end of our current school year, a number of our classes will be involved in some type of a
class trip and/or excursion. Informational newsletters and permission forms regarding these trips will
be sent home by the classroom teacher(s). We are also asking parents/guardians to check their
child(ren) for ticks and to monitor them for signs of infection after attending any outdoor class
excursion/activity due to the possible exposure. Note: That “not all ticks carry Lyme disease. The
American dog tick, which is the most common tick found in Lambton County, does not carry Lyme
disease.”
Graduation
For your planning purposes, our annual Grade 8 Graduation will take place this year on Tuesday, June 23
at Huron Oaks. For more information please contact Mr. Thompson or Mr. Martin.
2015-2016 Tentative Classroom Organization
I am reprinting the following information that has been in our newsletter for the past three years for
parents/guardians.
A significant amount of time and planning goes into organizing classes for the upcoming school year.
Each year, parents/guardians ask how this is done. Once the number of teachers has been allocated to
the school and the number of students determined, the organization process begins. Several important
factors are considered:
1. Balance: Each class is balanced (as much as is possible) in terms of strengths, needs and gender
in order to provide the best opportunities for full participation in all the school has to offer. No
classes are “streamed” with only strong or weak students in any of the grades. Research has
demonstrated that heterogeneous grouping, where strong, average and weak students work
together, provides the best learning opportunities for all involved.
2. Learning and Teaching Styles: Children learn in a variety of ways compatible with the way they
make sense of their work. Teachers teach in the ways in which they learn best. To match
learning style with teaching style is a challenge. Often this may be a point of discussion between
a parent and a teacher in terms of how a child’s needs are best met.
3. Classroom Management: Children respond to a variety of situations in terms of the way things
are done. Some need a more rigid structure with specific procedures in place. Other children
need greater flexibility and less specificity. Again, parent and teacher perceptions can and do
differ based on how a child performs within the home or the school setting.
4. Instructional Groupings and Program Continuity: Children of similar needs and interests can be
formed into groups for meaningful instruction more effectively than individuals who may feel
isolated. Change in our world abounds. We need to be able to respond to change, but not be
overwhelmed by it. While program is constantly evolving, we attempt to avoid a major shift in
program directions for the child.
5. Maturity and Work Habits: Placement in a class according to this factor looks at both sides of
the coin. A child may be mature and function best in an environment where that is encouraged.
On the other hand a child may need to develop some independence and to be held accountable
for schoolwork and need an environment which keeps those concerns front and centre. We
attempt to match a child to a situation best suited to these needs.
6. Peer Relationships and Group Dynamics: No one wants to feel alone or left out. On the other
hand sometimes being with friends is not a productive experience that enhances learning. Who
gets along with whom? Who should be separated? What kind of individuals could best come
together as a group and develop? Who needs a new situation to extend themselves and grow in
social relationships? We attempt to answer these questions as we construct a particular class.
7. Class Size: Ministry and LKDSB averages and class size caps (where applicable) are used when
determining class size. There are a number of complicated variables and calculations that come
into play when determining class size both within our school and then overall within the LKDSB
district.
8. Number of Years With The Same Teacher: It is our belief that a variety of teachers are beneficial
to students as they proceed through their elementary years. Every attempt possible is made to
ensure that students are not placed with particular teachers for more than two consecutive
years.
When possible, tentative class lists are created through the input of both the sending and
receiving teachers, resource staff, EAs, ECEs and Principal. Teachers are very careful to consider
each child’s strengths, needs and interests. “Combined” or “split” classes are evident most
years along with some “straight” grades. Although most parents/guardians feel that “straight”
grades are better than the “combined” or “split” grades, the truth of the matter is that all
classes are in effect “combined” or “split”. Each teacher has to address the needs of the
students within each class at several instructional levels.
If you have special concerns related to class placement for 2015-2016 for your child(ren) that
directly relate to the needs of your child(ren), please put them in writing and submit them to
the office by no later than Friday, May 22. Any request will be shared with the teachers and
considered along with the many other factors listed previously. Please note that a written
request is not a guarantee that your request will be or can be accommodated. It is a balancing
act to get the “best placement” for 353 students, but we will attempt to do our best. As well,
please do not request that your child be with or not be with a lengthy list of students as we will
be unable to accommodate everyone’s requests. A request for a friend or two is much more
permissible usually as opposed to requesting five friends in the same class as your child, for
example.
As always, please feel free to contact the school at any time.
Sincerely,
Mr. A. Parnham
Principal
Important Dates to Remember for May
May 4-8 – Education Week
May 6 – Caribou Math Contest
May 7 – Fruit Cup Day
May 7 – School Council Meeting 6:30 p.m.
May 7-8 – Book Fair
May 8 – Backwards Spirit Day
May 8 – Family Dance 6:30-8:30 p.m.
May 10 – Mother’s Day
May 12 – Class Photos
May 13 – Jump Rope for Heart
May 18 – Victoria Day = No School!
May 20 – Day 1
May 20 – Volunteer Tea
May 20 – Talent Show 7:00 p.m.
May 22 – Wear Your House Colour Colour Spirit Day
May 25-June 5 – EQAO Assessment for Grade 3 and Grade 6
May 29 - Grade 8 Pizza Lunch
May 27 – Grade 7 and 8 Immunizations