Principal Mr. B. Taha

Vice Principal

Mrs. O. Soroka

School Council Chairs Mrs. P. Wood

Mrs. J. Shelton

Superintendent of Schools

Ms. S. Logue (905) 764-6830

Trustee

Mrs. A. Debartolo (905) 898-9653

A message from Administration…

February may be the shortest month in the calendar, but it was sure busy at Mackenzie Glen PS! We marked many celebrations such as Black History Month, Carnaval, the Winter Olympics in Sochi and the 100th day of school!

We celebrated Black History Month with daily announcements recognizing the impor-tant contributions of Black Canadians. In our classrooms, teachers found curriculum connections using various texts. We also celebrated Lunar New Year and Tamil Heritage month.

The past winter has felt like a long and cold season with what often seemed like a lot of snow! Despite the many cold indoor recesses, we celebrated winter through the Olympics and Carnaval. Our grade 4 to 8 students studied the cultural significance of ‘Carnaval’ in French class. The Winter Olympics hosted in Sochi were a good les-son for students around this month’s character trait of Perseverance. It was exciting to see Canadian athletes compete and exhibit good sportsmanship.

February 11th marked the 100th day of school! This is a significant day for many of our primary students. Our students celebrated with a 100th day Parade led by Mrs. Browning as the grand marshal.

Your feedback and questions are always appreciated. Please do not hesitate to call and speak to either one of us.

Sincerely,

Mr. B. Taha Mrs. O. Soroka

March 2014

SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING

Wednesday, April 2nd

7:00 pm Library

Mackenzie Glen Public School 575 Melville Ave, Vaughan, Ontario L6A 2M4 Tel: (905) 417-9771 Fax: (905) 417-8492

e-mail: mackenzie.glen.ps@yrdsb.edu.on.ca @MackenzieGlenPS

PA Day There will be

NO SCHOOL on

Friday, March 7,

2014 We’ve Been Counting! (Sing to the tune of The Ants Go Marching)

We've all been counting one-by-one, Hurrah! Hurrah! We've all been counting, oh what fun, Hurrah! Hurrah!

We've all been counting one-by-one, And now 100 days are done, Today's the 100th day of school! Of school, hurrah! Boom, boom, boom.

REMINDER to Spring Forward! Remember to move clocks AHEAD one hour on

Sunday, March 9th

Keep  the  kids  engaged  over 

the March Break and help the 

Mackenzie Glen School Coun‐

cil support Literacy by partici‐

pating  in  the  upcoming 

Mackenzie Glen Read‐a‐thon. 

Early next week, students will 

receive  their  Read‐a‐thon 

packages from their teachers, 

and  will  commit  to  reading 

for  a  Grade‐specific  amount 

of  time  for  5  days  over  the 

March  Break.  By  asking  par‐

ents,  family,  and  friends  if 

they will make  small pledges 

toward  their  reading  time, 

students  will  contribute  to 

the  purchase  of  resources 

that support the           

enhancement of student liter‐

acy and technology.  

But  that’s  not  all!  For  every 

$1 of pledge money that stu‐

dents  raise,  they will  receive 

a  ballot  that  they  may  put 

into  fun  prize  boxes  for  a 

chance  to win!  Just  some  of 

the great prizes for this event 

are:  two  Kobo  Mini  e‐

Readers; a Plasma Car; a Sam‐

sung DV150F Selfie Camera; a 

boxed  set of  “The  Secret  Se‐

ries”; and a Furby Boom™.  

In addition,  there will be  lots 

of  other  prizes,  including 

Early  Bird  Prizes,  and  a 

chance  to  be  PRINCIPAL  FOR 

THE DAY!  

FILL  OUT  YOUR  READING 

LOGS!  For  each  day  your 

reading  log  is  filled  out  you 

will  receive  ONE  FREE  BAL‐

LOT! A  fully  completed  read‐

ing log will earn you SIX FREE 

BALLOTS.  

 

We  hope  everyone  will  par‐

ticipate  by  reading  over  the 

March Break and have lots of 

fun! Thank‐you for all of your 

support!  

 

Respectfully,  

The Mackenzie Glen School 

Council  

CURE YOUR SPRING FEVER WITH FUN AND PRIZES AND…

READING!

Drop Off and Pick Up Procedures

School drop off and pick up times can be very stressful. We ask that families who choose to drive their child(ren) to school follow the following guidelines to ensure student and staff safety. We also ask that parents exercise extreme caution when using Melville Avenue for drop off. This is espe-cially important as the road has been narrowed by the piling of snow. For students in grades 1 to 8, we would like to utilize our large parking loop by directing traffic through the loop and around to the yellow, lined Drop-off and Pick-up Zone. Cars will be waved all the way up to the front of the loop where 5-6 vehicles can drop off at the same time. It is very im-portant that you do not let your children off at any other part of the loop, as walking through the parking lot is extremely dangerous. As well, when cars stop throughout the loop it holds up traffic for the cars behind you. Once you have dropped off your child in the Drop-off Zone, you may con-tinue out along the front of the school using any available lane of the front driveway. For students in Kindergarten, cars will enter the same way as above and circle through the en-tire loop, waiting patiently as other cars drop off. There will be two Kindergarten Drop-Off areas. The regular Drop-Off zone will be used for students in Ms.Chow and Ms.Lee’s classes and a teacher will accompany these students to the back kindergarten play area. For students in Ms. Schatzky and Ms. Oosman’s classes, please continue through the loop and drop off your child just before the exit to Melville, where a teacher will walk your child to the side Kindergarten play area. Do not park your vehicle at the front of the school at any time. Organized, safe and punctual arrival… We are a team! When we work together to follow routines, our students feel safe and confident when arriving and departing from school.

Supervision begins at 8:00am. Your child should arrive between 8:00-8:10 to give everyone plenty of time to safely drop off, as well as to give our students a calm and orderly start to their day.

The back doors are locked at 8:15. If you arrive after 8:15, your child will be required to enter through the front door.

Instruction begins at 8:15. Students arriving late will be required to get a late slip before entering class, which takes away time from their learning and disrupts the learning of others upon entering the classroom.

The front door is locked at 8:30. Students or visitors arriving after this time will be required to ring the Buzzer. You will then have to wait for an available office staff member to answer and allow you entry to the building.

Following these routines will help ensure students arrive and leave school safely.

At Mackenzie Glen Public School we value SAFETY over CONVENIENCE. Let us work together to get students to school by 8:10 am each morning and avoid a stressful start to your day.

Let’s work together for student safety… Drive all the way through the loop and only drop off your children in the Drop- Off Zone.

Pull all the way up into the Drop-Off Zone - 5 or 6 cars can drop off at the same time.

Students should have their bags ready on their lap.

Students should exit from the passenger side of the vehicle ONLY!

Students should never walk through the parking lot.

End of day Pick-Up: You may have to circle the loop, exit onto Melville and re-enter the loop if

your child is not yet ready for pick-up at the end of the day.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Procedures, Continued

Character Corner: Perseverance

The Character Matters trait for the month of March is Perseverance.

We stick to a goal and work hard even in the face of obstacles and challenges. We complete all tasks and assignments.

You show perseverance when you… Give up your television time to spend hours studying Try a new sport that is very difficult but you don't give up Have a learning disability but keep studying even when discouraged Have missed a week of school but you work hard to catch up Are at the end of a difficult race but you cross the finish line Save money and make sacrifices to buy something Spend hours practicing on your music Study and work hard to raise your grade Try out for something you weren't successful at the first time

Parents can support their children by reviewing these key ideas… When something starts to bother you, wait as long as you can before you express frustration. When something doesn't work right, try again and again. Don't lose your temper when something upsets you. Always finish what you start. Keep working at something that is difficult until you complete it. Don't give up on difficult jobs or situations. Focus on someone or something that ordinarily makes you lose your patience and try to under-stand it (and don't "lose it"). Work a little harder or a few minutes longer on a task that you do not like.

Children books about Perseverance: The Little Engine that Could by Watty Piper The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

“Be like a postage stamp, stick to something until you get there!”

Josh Billings

Are You Planning on Moving?

In planning for next year’s classes, it is most helpful to know if your child or children will be attending another school in September 2014 (high school not included). If your child(ren) will not be returning, please complete and return this form to the school office. If your child currently attends Mackenzie Glen P.S. and you have moved out of the school’s attendance area, please contact Mrs. Kemble at the school office. Mrs. Kemble will advise you on how to make arrangements for your child’s September placement at their new school.

Student Name(s): ____________________________will not be returning to Mackenzie Glen PS in September 2014. Next School: __________________________________________

Graduation Photo Day

Monday March 3, 2014 Grade 8 and SK Students

Our next SPIRIT DAY is PLAID DAY

on Tuesday, March 25th.

Wear anything with a plaid, checker tartan or gingham pattern.

Intermediate Girl’s Basketball

The intermediate girls’ basketball season was short but successful. The girls came to each practice eager to learn and ready to play.

On Tuesday February 18th, 2014 our team competed in the Area Tournament at Discovery P.S. Throughout the tournament they were very motivated and played very well. After playing in the semi-final game, the team placed third overall. They are to be commended for their good sports-manship.

The team consisted of the following players: Tiffany T., Breanna J., Sierra Y., Fizza M., Brooke A., Priscilla A., Kafiya K., Sienna H., Erica R., Alessandra S., and Charanija S. The coaches are very proud of the team’s effort and enthusiasm throughout the basketball sea-son.

SAVE THE DATE!

Junior Intermediate Family Math Night

Thursday, April 10, 2014

6:30 pm-7:30 pm

Positive relationships and partnering helps to prepare students for the future.

Strong relationships lay the ground work for a greater understanding of program delivery.

All students who attend will be entered to win an iPad Mini!

April

2 School Council Meeting, 7:00 pm

18 Good Friday—No School

21 Easter Monday—No School

10 Junior/Intermediate Math Night

Upcoming Dates

To report your child’s absence, please call our

attendance line (905) 417-9771 Leave a message at any time!

Follow us on Twitter: @MackenzieGlenPS

MARCH 2014 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1

2 3 Grad Photo Day

4 5 Ash Wednesday

6 Intermediate Dance

7 PA Day—No School

8 International Women’s Day

9 10 First Day of Lent

11 12 13 14 Sikh New Year’s Day

15

16 Purim

17 Holi Ghambar Hamaspathmaedem

18 19 20 Spring Ohigon

21 Naw Ruz International Day for the Elimination of Racism

22

23 24 25 Plaid Day

26 Birthday of Prophet Zarathustra

27 28 29

30 31