December 2014

From the Principals Desk

Happy December Everyone!

Holiday Season is on the way, and it is a great time to step back to look at ourselves. We can and should be
thankful for the positive things we have in our lives, but we should also be thinking about things that have
been hard or challenging this year. What can we do to overcome challenges? Sometimes the most powerful
thing we can do is to talk with one another and listen closely to each other. If we learn about each others
point of view, we often begin to have a better idea of what might need to happen to solve the problem.
In schools, we are working hard to have more conversations. As I walk through classes, I see students
talking together to solve problems. When our staff team works to improve supports for students, we do it
together by sharing ideas. When we listen and try to understand the point of view of another, we are doing
what is most important: learning.
I am very proud of the amazing things that have been achieved this fall at Rothwell-Osnabruck, and as we
move forward we will continue to share and listen to one another, so that when we take steps in a new
direction, we do it with confidence. I believe that when we model this behaviour for our youth, we live the
learning culture we aspire to provide them.
I wish you only the best for a safe and warm December.
Yours in Public Education,
Mr. Ewen McIntosh

Principal

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Attendance and Safe Arrival

In order to ensure the safety of our students, your co-operation in following the established attendance
procedures is very important. In the event that your child is unable to attend school on a given day, please
contact the school prior to 9:00 AM on the day of the absence to let us know and provide the reason for the
absence. (613-537-2454) or send an email to the Classroom Teacher, Mrs. Tait(vicky.tait@ucdsb.on.ca), Mrs.
Barclay(amanda.barclay@ucdsb.on.ca ) and Mrs. Thompson(kim.thompson@ucdsb.on.ca) in case one of us is
absent. Safe arrival phone calls will be made to all students who are reported absent from class at the
beginning of the day and we are obligated to continue calling all available numbers (including emergency
contacts) until we have reached someone to verify the absence. Your co-operation and support in reporting
absences to us is most appreciated.

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School Council

Breaking news soup is coming back to hot lunch program in January!

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Eastern Ontario Health Unit

Keep your children safe this winter
When your child is enjoying winter sports, a proper fitting, certified helmet made just for snow sports is a must.
Make sure your child follows these tips to stay safe this winter:
Wears a hockey helmet when playing hockey, ice-skating or sledding
Wears a ski or snowboard helmet when downhill skiing or snowboarding
Does not wear a bicycle helmet, as they are not designed for winter sports
Wears a winter helmet that fits snugly and is insulated
Replaces a helmet if it has been dropped or involved in a fall or collision
Has a helmet that is replaced every 5 years and meets the safety standards of the Canadian Standards
Association
For more tips on how you can help keep your family healthy, visit www.eohu.ca or http://www.parachutecanada.org/.
Triple P: On the morning rush hour!
For most families, getting out the door is the most stressful part of the day. But with a good routine, you can get
yourself and your family where you need to be on time.
The Triple P: Positive Parenting Program suggests that the key is to be organized. Set some positive rules with your
family and put a routine in place. Letting your children know ahead of time what they need to do in the morning,
like brushing their teeth and getting dressed, gives them a chance to practice these skills and saves you time.
Make sure you leave yourself enough time to get ready in the morning as well. Preparing lunches and choosing
outfits the night before can also save you time.
There is no one right way to be a parent, but Triple P can offer information, support and practical answers for your
everyday parenting concerns. You can start your Triple P experience today by registering for our upcoming events
and information sessions at www.MYtripleP.ca, or by calling 1 844 362-8593.

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Kindergarten
This month in kindergarten, we will enjoy the excitement and anticipation of the changing season and the
upcoming holiday. Our focus in language will be looking at how we can make personal connections with the
poems and stories that we read. We will learn how much fun it is to send and receive letters and cards
through our post office centre. We will take a trip to the Ingleside Post Office, where we will deliver our
letters to Santa and we will visit the Senior Centre to sing Christmas carols. In math, we will learn to create
patterns and we will begin to explore 2-D and 3-D shapes.
Erin Carter

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Arts

With December brings lots of work and joy!! The students at RO are working hard to be ready for this year's
Festival of the Arts. The Festival of the Arts will be held on Tuesday, December 16th at 1:30-3:00 for all K-6
students, if room 7-12 are invited. Any parents unable to make the evening performance from 6:30-8:00 can
join us for the afternoon show. The inclement weather date, if the 16th ends up a snow day will be December
18th. All K-6 students are to go directly to their homeroom class upon arrival no later than 6:15pm. Any
individual acts will go to the Lancer Gym by 6:15pm at the latest. This is a magical show each year, come and
see how talented RO K-12 really is!!! Have a warm, happy and restful Christmas holiday!
Angela Raycroft

January will present another opportunity for students to display their many talents again at our second Open
Mic Night which will be held here at the school in a coffee house sort of environment.
James Hunter
On Wed. Nov. 5th, Ms. McNeill's secondary English and Art classes attended the National Arts Centre's
production of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde. This classic example of a comedy of manners
had the students in stitches at times and speculating about why it is so important to be 'Earnest' at other
times. The elaborate sets and costumes were impressive and wonderful to look at. Prior to the show, everyone
had lunch and some free time to do some shopping at the Rideau Centre. Following the show, the group walked
over to the War Memorial where Mr. McIntosh shared some words to acknowledge the recent tragic events on
the site. Ms. McNeill would like to say thank you to all the students who attended as they were exemplary
students and she had a wonderful time sharing her love of theatre with them.
Sandra McNeill

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School Board
This year, the Upper Canada District School Board is running a Parent Satisfaction Survey Pilot project. Many
schools are using this data to measure school success plan goals. By completing the survey, you help all schools
in the district improve through planning and goal-setting. The survey closes December 15th: your feedback is
greatly appreciated!

Here is the link to the survey:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ParentSatisfactionFall2014

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14th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
The South Stormont Chamber of Commerce and the Ingleside Firefighter Association cordially invites you to
attend the 14th Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony.
When: Saturday, December 6th @6:30pm
Where: In front of the Ingleside Fire Hall
What: Tree Lighting, cookies and hot cocoa, Santa, caroling, wagon rides and gifts for the children and more!
Cost: Its Free! But we do encourage you to bring a NON-Perishable food item for the Osnabruck
Christmas Food & Toy Drive.
Hope to see you there

Sponsored in part by South Stormont Chamber of Commerce and the Ingleside Firefighter
Association

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FINCH PARADE OF LIGHTS!

Saturday December 13th
8:00 am -12:00pm Breakfast Buffet with Santa Arena Hall (Sponsored by Finch Fire Department)
9:30-11:00 Santa Visits
6:30 pm Floats organized at Morans yard (For Float Information Jason Molinaro -613-551-0090)
7:00 pm Santa Claus Parade (Sponsored by FINCH RECREATION and St. Bernards Knights of Columbus)
8:00 pm Santa and Social Time Arena Hall (Following the Parade)
Visit Santa. Enjoy Free Hot Chocolate and other goodies. Social Time with Friends & family
Donations for the Food Bank will be accepted at the Breakfast and collected during the parade by the
Finch & District Lions Club.

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Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario

Methods of Communicating School Vehicle Cancellations
Due to Inclement Weather
Student Transportation of Eastern Ontario (STEO) would like to advise students and
parent(s)/guardian(s) that there are three (3) methods in which you can check for school
vehicle cancellations:
1. Announcements regarding the cancellation of school bus and special vehicle
transportation will be broadcasted starting at 6:15 a.m. on local area radio stations.
2. Access our Website at www.steo.ca and click View Bus Delays & Cancellations.
School vehicle cancellations will be posted by 6:15 a.m. Scroll down to check the
transportation status for your school.
3. Call 1-866-629-0629 to access a pre-recorded message.
During inclement weather the message will be posted by 6:15 a.m.
Please note that the message for this phone line is only updated on
inclement weather days.
Please do not call the bus companies as the radio and website reflect the most accurate
information.
If transportation is cancelled in the morning, afternoon transportation will not operate.
Thank you.

Safe Schools Corner

The term Safe Schools is becoming more and more the term schools use to describe a wide range of
school functions, including school discipline. As community members, we all want our schools to be safe
learning places for kids, and school discipline plays a big part of our work to growing Safe Schools
School discipline has changed a lot over the last 20 years, and now looks much different than what adults
may remember in their school days. Today, we are mandated (Provincial Law and Board Policy directs
schools) to use Progressive Discipline to address problems that arise amongst students. This means that
we dont apply mandatory consequences for each type of infraction. Instead, we deal with each student on a
case-by-case basis and apply a consequence that we hope, at that point in time, will help them understand
the need to make better choices in the future.
Consequences begin in the classroom with verbal reminders from the teacher of rules and expectations, and
can move to further verbal reminders about what consequences are possible for continuing poor choices.
School discipline is a partnership between the classroom teacher, school administration and parent, and
often parents are consulted after a pattern of negative behaviour develops. Our goal throughout this process
is to avoid being punitive (punishing) and to give consequences that help students understand the larger
need for improved behaviour. Some of these consequences may include:

Loss of unstructured time

Assigning reflection tasks (apology letters, reflection notes, etc)
Referral to school counselor
Parent-school conference
Referral to board supports (behaviorist)
Referral to outside agencies (counseling)
In School Withdrawal (in school, doing work, not in class)
Lunchtime detentions
Loss of optional activities
Suspension
Restorative Justice Circles

Our goal with all incidents is to intervene before many of the above actions may be taken; if we can help
students see a better future through good choices, and if we can achieve this through good conversations,
then we see this as success.

December 2014
Mon

Tue

Wed

7/8 Boys volleyball UC

Cup Qualifier @ RO
- 6:00 pm School
council meeting in
Library

Secondary History
Field Trip 9:05 4:00
Grilled Cheese K-6

Thu

Fri

5
10:00 am 7/8 Upper
Canada Playhouse

Subs K-6

Pizza Day K-6

10

11

12

7/8 Girls volleyball UC

Cup

-4:00 pm Co-ed
Hockey

Grade 8 females
HPV vaccine

Grilled Cheese K-6

7/8 Boys volleyball

UC Cup
K-6 Snow Queen Play
@ St. Joes
Jr/Sr Girls volleyball
@ RO
Subs K-6

19

Pizza Day K-6

15

16

17

18

Grade 4/5/6 Ultimate

Chicken at Benson
Centre in Cornwall

-6:00 pm Festival of
the Arts
Ultimate Chicken
(inclement weather
date)

Secondary ski trip

-6:00 pm Festival of
the Arts (Inclement
weather date)

Hot Dogs K-6

22

Grilled Cheese K-6

Pizza Day K-6

23

Subs K-6

24

25

26

-4:00 pm Co-ed
Hockey

Christmas Holidays - No School

29

30

31

Christmas Holidays - No School

Coming Events:
Monday, January 5, 2015 first day back to school after holidays
Tuesday, January 6, 2015 6:00 pm School Council Meeting in Learning Commons
Wednesday, January 7 & 21, 2015 4:00 pm Co-ed hockey

January 23 29, 2015 Secondary Exams

January 30, 2015 PA Day No School