Thomas Street Middle School 2640 Thomas Street, Mississauga, ONT. L5M 5G8

Website: thomasstreet.peelschools.org ≈ Twitter: @thunderwolves98 ≈ Instragram: tsmspride

Dear Thomas Street Families,

Can you believe it is March and almost March Break? Where has the time

gone? Hopefully snow days and ice days will be behind us. Spring will here and

we can look forward to warmer spring temperatures, more sunshine and outside

activities and a strong academic finish to the final stretch of the school year.

We would like to wish all of our students and families a safe and relaxing

March Break. Please remember to be mindful of screen time and balance that with

lots of activity and time outdoors, even simply going for a walk. We have seen a

recent rise in some inappropriate language being used online with

students. Sometimes students feel they have the right to speak rudely or use hurtful

language that they would never say to someone in person, because they presume the

online world is out of sights of adults. A great discussion with children is about

healthy relationships, including how we speak to one another in person and online.

As we head into the final part of the school year, please encourage your son or

daughter to stay focused on their term two goals and discuss strategies they can use to be successful in

maintaining focus on their work, and most importantly their learning skills. If students have strong learning

skills or organization, initiative, responsibility, independent work and collaboration, they can leverage these

strengths to make improvements academically. If you and your child need further supports as we approach the

final months of the school year, don't hesitate to reach out to the homeroom teacher to initiate a conversation.

We finished a busy month of February that celebrated and had focused learning on black history through in-

classroom inquiries through art, music, drama, a beautiful Freedom Quilt, and through integrated learning tasks

in language and history. Former Peel student Jamil Jivani, came to Thomas Street twice - once to work with

staff and once to share his story and inspire our students to aspire to great things. He will be back in April to

mentor and coach our Sankofa Black Student group with their leadership journey as well.

Thank you to all of our teachers for all that they do to keep so many activities going throughout the

year. Between intramurals, sports teams, Coding Club, TACT, choirs, bands, legacy artists, scholastic

achievement challenge and so much, Thomas Street is busy with opportunity and activity every single

day. Thanks to our community for encouraging your children to be involved!

Looking ahead, April we will be celebrating Month of Diversity and May is Asian Heritage Month. We look

forward to sharing our learning with you and thank you for continuing to support our work in the school.

Again, have a safe and relaxing March Break.

Best,

Tanya Tymkiv

Articles:

Principal’s Message

Athletic Teams

Invention Convention

March Maple Syrup Days

Bus Cancellations

Smoking & Vaping Prohibited

Tips to Prevent/Beat the Flu

Peel Learning Foundation

Public Education Week

Lunchroom Supervisors

Appreciation Day

Parent Connect

#Well in Peel

Celebrating Faith & Culture

Thank you to Peel District School Board Director Peter Joshua for joining us at Thomas Street. He got to see

and hear firsthand the amazing work our students and teachers engage in daily to empower modern learners.

From our Athletic Department

Congratulations to our Sr. Girls Basketball team as they finished 2nd place at the ALL @PeelSchools Finals. Our

girls finished in 2nd at our 80+ teams in Peel. Well done girls and congrats on an amazing season!

Special shout out to our Sr. Boys Basketball team on finishing in 2nd place in @SPESPHEA League. Our boys

played hard every game, down to the championship game were we lost by 1 point in overtime. Great season boys! The Gr. 6, 7 & 8 TSMS Dodgeball Intramural Finals were epic! Congratulations to our Dodgeball Intramural

Champions - Gr. 6 Strikerz, Gr.7 Defenders & Gr. 8 Hit or Miss.

INVENTION CONVENTION

The 2019 Thomas Street Invention Convention showcased over 60 inventors, sharing 20 new products! In

collaboration with The Learning Partnership, who helps create opportunities for students to cultivate

entrepreneurial thinking, students developed new products and in visioned a business, presenting to visiting

classes and judges. The Top 8 inventions will represent Thomas Street during The Invention Convention

Showcase at the University of Toronto Mississauga on March 26.

March Break Maple Syrup Days at the Jack Smythe Field Centre Open House: Wednesday, Mar. 13 to Saturday, Mar. 16

10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature as spring blossoms. Jack Smythe Field Centre offers an exceptional family

experience with a visit to its maple syrup bush. The March Break programs run from Wednesday, Mar. 13 to Saturday,

Mar. 16. The open house begins at 10 a.m. and the last presentation of the day will be at 3 p.m.

This year marks the 50-year anniversary of the Peel District School Board’s Sugar Bush program, which provides families

with outdoor, educational activities and hands-on experience. The program is run by Peel board staff during March

Break.

Families are invited to get involved as Spring comes to life through the following activities:

help tap trees and empty sap buckets.

sample some freshly-made maple syrup.

hike along our trails and feed the friendly chickadees by hand.

learn how pioneers collected and produced syrup compared to modern-day operations.

experience the Indigenous roots of sweet water.

visit the sugar shack where the sap boils and clouds of sweet smelling steam billow out of the chimney. The cost is $5.00/adult and $4.00/child 12 and under. Lunch will be available for purchase. It will include: hot chocolate,

cookies and hotdogs for you to roast over an open fire. Please note that all payments are “cash” only.

Jack Smythe Field Centre is located at 14592 Winston Churchill Blvd. in Terra Cotta.

Directions to Jack Smythe Field Centre: Head North on Mississauga Rd.

Turn left on King St. (You will see Credit View P.S. on your left)

Turn right on Winston Churchill Blvd. (You will pass the Terra Cotta Conservation Area on your left)

Head to the top of the hill and turn left into the Jack Smythe Field Centre site. For more information, please contact the Jack Smythe Field Centre at 1-905-877-7771.

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 available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at

www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-

1146. It is usually also announced on the radio and television stations listed below

VIRGIN RADIOFM99.9 BREAKFAST TELEVISION NEWS AM680

CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CJCL AM590 CHFI FM98.1

NEWSTALK1010 AM EZ ROCK FM97.3 CJBC (FR) AM860

FM Z103.5 FM93.1 FM Q107

CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CBC99.1 CITYPULSE

GLOBAL NEWS CITY NEWS CTV

CFRB – (Bell Media)

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.

What if my child does not go to school due to a bus cancellation or inclement weather?

If your child will be absent as a result of a bus cancellation or you choose to keep your child home due to inclement

weather, parents/guardians must report the absence using one of the following methods:

For elementary K-8 students: report it through SafeArrival by calling 1-855-209-6155 or visiting go.schoolmessenger.ca

For secondary students: call the school office directly

Smoking and Vaping Prohibited on School Property The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, 2017 (SFOA, 2017) came into effect on October 17, 2018. This law aims to protect the

health of Ontarians by regulating the sale, supply and use of tobacco and vapour products (electronic cigarettes), and

the smoking and vaping of cannabis.

Under the SFOA, 2017 it is illegal to smoke (tobacco or cannabis) or vape on:

School grounds (both inside the school and on the outdoor grounds, including the parking lot and

sports fields)

Public areas within 20 metres of school property.

New signs are being posted at our schools to notify users that smoking and vaping is prohibited in these areas.

The smoking and vaping prohibition is always in effect and applies to staff, students and visitors.

Region of Peel - Public Health enforces the smoking and vaping prohibition and has been working with school

administrators to keep our schools smoke and vape free. Individuals found smoking and/or vaping in a prohibited area

may be subject to a fine.

For more information on how the SFOA, 2017 applies to schools, contact Region of Peel - Public Health at 905-799-7700.

For more information on the health effects of smoking and vaping visit the Health Canada website:

https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/smoking-tobacco.html.

Peel Public Health tips to prevent and beat the flu During the winter season, it’s important to take precautions to avoid and help prevent the spread of germs and illnesses

such as influenza or “the flu.” Influenza is a disease that affects the airways and the lungs. The flu can spread from

person to person and can sometimes cause severe illnesses.

Peel Public Health has provided these tips to help reduce the risk of becoming ill or spreading the flu:

Get your annual flu shot: It’s not too late to get your annual flu shot. Visit your physician, a walk-in clinic, a

pharmacy or find another location near you that is offering the free influenza vaccine.

Stay home when you'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.

Practise 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 the tissue in the trash after it’s used. If they don’t have a tissue, they should

cough or sneeze into their sleeve or elbow. They should also avoid touching their eyes, nose or mouth. Germs are

spread this way.

Wash your hands: Encourage your child to wash their hands often with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand

sanitizer, especially after they cough or sneeze.

There are many locations across Peel where you can get your flu shots:

Peel flu clinics

Family Doctors’ offices

Walk-in clinics

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

Peel Learning Foundation aims to create hopeful tomorrows for Peel board students In partnership with the Peel District School Board, the Peel Learning Foundation was created to enable Peel board

students to achieve personal excellence by providing resources to help them overcome barriers.

In its first year, the foundation will support Peel board students through:

Student Emergency Needs program Depending on the need, the foundation will support individual students with food and clothing, medical supplies, eyeglasses and transportation costs, or where there is an emergency situation that requires a compassionate response.

Student Backpack program The foundation will provide backpacks filled with school supplies that students need to fully participate in regular classroom work. The backpacks will be provided to students in need in a respectful and confidential manner. They are tailored for students in kindergarten to grade 3, grades 4 to 8, and grades 9 to 12.

Individuals or organizations who are interested in learning more about and supporting the foundation can visit

www.PeelLearningFoundation.org. You can also follow the foundation on Twitter and Facebook and use the hashtag

#CreateHope to join the conversation.

Peel board celebrates public education during Education Week – April 8 to 12 The Peel District School Board will host hundreds of celebrations, activities and events across its 257 schools and

worksites to celebrate Education Week from April 8 to 12. On April 15, the Peel board will host Showcase of

Excellence, an evening to honour recipients for their outstanding contributions to public education. The theme for this

year's Education Week is We Inspire.

In addition to inviting parents and community residents to visit their classrooms during the week, Peel schools are hosting open houses, plays/musicals, storytelling, environmental activities, awards assemblies, talent shows and much more.

More than 1,000 individuals will also be honoured during Education Week with Awards of Distinction for their

contributions to their school or workplace. Schools and worksites will use social media to showcase their Education

Week celebrations and events using the hashtag #WeInspire.

Lunchroom Supervisors Appreciation Day on March 1 In 2017, the board of trustees declared the first Friday in March as Lunchroom Supervisors Appreciation Day. This year,

the recognition day falls on Friday, March 1, 2019. Take this opportunity to thank the important work of lunchroom

supervisors, and their support and commitment to helping to ensure that students are safe and secure.

ParentConnect Online parent portal to access important student information

Last year, the Peel District School Board launched ParentConnect, an online parent portal to access important student

information.

What is ParentConnect?

ParentConnect is a safe and secure website, created by the Peel District School Board, that acts as a single point to stay

informed and to access all electronic services provided to Peel board parents and legal guardians.

The parent-friendly website will allow you to:

view school-based alerts and information access real time absence reporting view current and historic elementary report card information get up-to-date busing information review secondary school credit history and diploma status and more

To learn more about the benefits of ParentConnect, visit our school website or www.peelschools.org/parentconnect

Sleep Tips for Parents, Children & Teens From the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team

Many parents face difficulties getting their children back into regular sleep routines, especially after holiday breaks.

Studies have shown that a lack of quality sleep in children can increase the likelihood of anxiety, depression, poor grades

and school performance, and even physical pain. Research has proven that kids need a lot of sleep in order to function

adequately during the day, and sleep deprived children often overcompensate for lack of sleep by becoming fidgety or

even disruptive in school.

How much sleep does your child need every night? Children ages 5-8 need the most sleep, requiring about 10-11 hours every night. Children ages 9-12 need between 9.5-10

hours nightly. And teenagers 13-18 need between 8.5-9.5.

Knowing how much sleep your child needs every night is key in establishing a proper bedtime. And it's important to

remember that the above times aren't set in stone, but merely general approximations. Your child will have their own

individual sleep needs, and you may need to fine-tune their bedtimes a little bit until you find your child less groggy and

sleepy in the mornings, and more alert and aware.

Tips for getting your children on a regular sleep routine

1. Keep a regular bedtime schedule, including weekends.

2. Begin a relaxing bedtime routine such as baths, books, prayers, goodnights.

3. Turn off electronics at least an hour before bedtime.

4. Bedrooms should be cool, quiet, dimly lit, comfortable and associated with sleep.

5. Limit caffeine and sugar intake after lunch and none within three hours before bed.

6. Make sure they eat healthy and have regular exercise.

7. Communicate with your children about why regular bedtimes are important.

8. Practice these tips yourself and set a good example.

For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter

@MHRTPeel.

Celebrating Faith and Culture March 2019

DATE

CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

March Xsaak and Sugar Moon Aboriginal Spirituality

March 1 Intercalary Day Bahá'í

Sunset March 1 to 20 Alá (Fasting month) Bahá'í

March 1 World Day of Prayer Christianity

March 4 Mahashivaratri Hinduism

March 6 Ash Wednesday Christianity

March 11 Clean Monday (J) Christianity

March 14 New Year Sikhism

March 16 to 20 Ghambar Hamaspath-meadem Zoroastrianism

March 17 St. Patrick's Day Christianity

March 20 Sakyamuni Buddha’s Nirvana Day Buddhism

Eve of February 28 to

March 1

Holi Hinduism

Sunset of February

March 20 to 21

Purim Judaism

March 20 Shunki-sorei-sai Shinto

March 20 Lady Day (Ostara) Wicca

March 21 Naw Ruz/Navroze Bahá'í and

Zoroastrianism

March 21 Eid e-Navroz Islam

March 21, 24 or 25 Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva’s

Birthday

Buddhism

March 21 Hola Mohalla Sikhism

March 26 Khordad Saal Zoroastrianism