Julie Payette P .S.

Rver. Viser. Devenir. ~ Dream. Aspire. Become.

Please visit us on the web at http://juliepayette.ddsbschools.ca/ Telephone: 905.668.2225 Fax: 905.668.7555
Principal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . M. de Villers Vice-Principal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Rousell Administrative Assistants . . . . . . . . . M. Symons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C. Copithorne Superintendent of Whitby/ Safe Schools. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J. Bowyer Administrative Office . . . . . . . . . . . . A. Taylor Whitby Trustees. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . K. Zeppieri . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .C. Winters

Principals Message...
November is almost behind us and we can all agree that we have been very fortunate to experience such mild weather in the last few weeks. The nice weather makes it very difficult to believe that December is just around the corner and yes before long, the winter holidays will be here! We have entered this special season, the season of appreciating what we have and especially sharing and kindness. There is happiness associated with giving to others and our community has certainly shown its generosity earlier in the month by donating over 2000 food items and toys to the Durham Regional Police Service Food and Toy Drive. This was impressive! To all of our Julie Payette families and staff, I want to say MERCI for your big heart and support to our community at large. You brought joy to families and children around us. Our November student progress conferences were very well attended, merci for your support. Your participation in these meetings is a very important component to the assessment, evaluation and reporting process. Please do not hesitate to contact the teachers at any time during the school year, if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child/children. Communication is key to creating a successful learning environment. We look forward to continued academic and social success for our students as we continue our adventure together in 2012.

Happy Holidays! Joyeuses Ftes!

Dates to Remember...
December 1 2 3 7 12 14 16 19 20 21 23 School Vandermere Orders Due Gr 6 - St Donat Last Payment Due Santa Claus Parade Pizza Count Pizza Day BackPacks Fundraiser Due Gr 7-8 Cyber Bullying 12:00 - 2:25 pm Winter Concert Primary Concert (7 pm) Primary Concert (7pm) Intermediate Talent Show

EARLY DISMISSAL 1:35 pm (one hour)

School Closed - Vacation December 26 - January 6 Classes Resume January 9, 2012

Julie Payette P.S. December 2011

Best wishes for a safe and happy holiday season filled with kindness, laughter and peace.

Joyeuses Ftes!
Dec 23 - Early Dismissal - 1:35
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Inclement Weather With winter right around the corner, parents are reminded to listen to the following radio stations for up-to-date information on school closures due to inclement weather. When buses are cancelled in the morning, noon and afternoon transportation will not operate. Students who are dropped off by parents in the morning will have to be picked up again by parents at dismissal time (2:35 p.m.) If your child will not be attending school due to a bus cancellation, please contact the school and leave a message on our Safe Arrival Line: 905.668.2225 extention 1. In cases of extreme weather, please listen to one of the local radio/TV stations below for notices of transportation cancellation:

Websites: Durham Student Transportation Services (DSTS): www.dsts.on.ca

Junior Kindergarten/New to Kindergarten Pre-Registration Pre-registration begins on Tuesday, January 12, 2012 at 9:30 am Phone-in registration only There are ONLY 20 Kindergarten spots available First come first serve with priority given to current Julie Payette families Children currently registered in JK will automatically be registered for SK All other children need to register

Junior
To attend Junior Kindergarten, children must be four years old by December 31, 2012 (born in 2007).

5
December 2011

Senior
To attend Senior Kindergarten, children must be five years old by December 31, 2012 (born in 2007).

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Safe Schools In accordance with Julie Payettes Safe School Policy, we remind parents to use the front entrance and to report to the office immediately when visiting the school. If you have to drop off items for your child, please deliver them directly to the office and we will call your child down to prevent interruptions during classroom instruction time. If you are volunteering in the school, please sign in at the office and use the Visitor or Volunteer tags to identify yourself while in the school. Safety is everyone's responsibility. Thank you for your support in this important matter. .and Safe Arrival 905.668.2225 ext. 1 Thank you for your diligence in calling the school when your child is absent. Your help with this process allows the office staff to finish this very important safety procedure quickly and efficiently. Together we make a difference! Last Day for Lost and Found If you havent already done so, please check the lost and found because its days are limited... We will be donating all items of clothing on December 9th. Dress for the Weather Please make sure your child is dressed for the weather. The children should plan on going outdoors for recesses except in extreme conditions. In these cases, indoor recesses and lunch hours will be necessary. Please remember to have all clothing labeled with your child's name. Early Dismissal at 1:35 pm on Friday, December 23 Buses will pick up the students one hour early (1:35 PM). School will start again after the winter break on Monday, January 9th, 2012. Yearbook Committee The Julie Payette yearbook committee needs your photos. We are looking to parents and students to help make this the best first yearbook ever! If you have any photos of Julie Payette students on class trips, at special events, on sports teams or club activities please send them into the school on a cd or memory stick to the attention of the yearbook. If you put your students name on it and we will return it to you. Or you can email your photos to leanne.paty@sympatico.ca. We look forward to seeing all the photos!
Health Notes: At this time of year, we encourage families to be aware of some possible health risks. Please visit the Durham Health website for more information on the following: Influenza: http://www.durham.ca/health.asp?nr=/departments/health/facts_about/influenza.htm Head Lice: http://www.durham.ca/health.asp?nr=/departments/health/facts_about/pediculosis.htm Ticks are part of our natural environment and are all around us. They climb on tall grass and bush. There is some indication that one of our students may have picked up a tick on our yard. The board was notified and the long grass surrounding our back field has been cut, students have been reminded where to play, and teachers have received information from the health department and are monitoring their students. As some ticks may carry the bacteria which causes Lyme disease (at the moment Durham doesn't have an established tick population carrying Lyme Disease), we are encouraging our community to check the Health dpt website to learn more about ticks. Ticks and Lyme disease: http://www.durham.ca/print.asp?nr=/departments/health/lymeDisease.htm
Bed Bugs: http://www.durham.ca/health.asp?nr=/departments/health/bedbugs/index.htm

Check-in at the OFFICE

Julie Payette P.S.

December 2011

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First Annual Intermediate Concert - Monday December 19th @ 7:00 pm Featuring the Gr. 7 Band, the Gr. 8 Band and the Drumming club as well as a variety of performances by our students. Donations will be accepted at the door to support our music dept.

Primary Concerts With the arrival of December, the primary division is beginning to prepare for our Primary Holiday Concerts on December 20th and December 21st. In order to ensure that all primary classes have the opportunity to participate while also maintaining a reasonable program length, each primary class will perform on one of the two nights as outlined below:
Classes performing on Tuesday, December 20th
! Kindergarten T/Th class ! Grade 1 (Mme Gibb, Mme Leeman, Mme Allin) ! Grade 2 (Mme Faucon-Murray, Mme Lafontaine,

Classes performing on Wednesday, December 21st

! Kindergarten M/W class ! Grade 1- (Mme Clark, Mlle Goss, Mme Jarvis) ! Grade 2 (Mme Hogenbirk, Mme Beauclair,

Mme Leonardis)
! Grade 3 (Mme Fowler, Mme Fleet)

Mme D'Amours)
! Grade 3 (Mme Maheux, Mme Beltrano)

The performances each evening will begin at 7 p.m. Homeroom teachers will inform parents of specific details for each class as the concert approaches. Holiday Backpacks! Over the holiday season, staff and students at J.P. look for ways to give back to others in our community who may be less fortunate. This year, our school has forged a partnership with the Refuge Community Youth Outreach Program, a charitable organization in Durham. The Refuge supports youth in our community through practical and compassionate means of prevention and intervention. During the holiday season, the Refuge distributes gift backpacks filled with fun treats, personal hygiene products, and items to help keep homeless youth warm and more comfortable. The Julie Payette Philanthropy Club has decided to support this Backpack initiative, and are counting on your help! Over the next few weeks, students will be asked to contribute small items to help fill a backpack. We have a very generous community, and with your support, we hope to make the holiday season a happier one for someone in need.

December Pizza Count Volunteers Needed!

Wednesday, December 7th at 8:00 am
If you are available to help count, even if its only for a half hour, please e-mail Kirsten Frost at kirsten.frost@sympatico.ca

Julie Payette Athletic Fundraiser!!! The staff from Julie Payette will be serving up your favourite meal on Wednesday, January 18th between 4 pm and 8 pm at McDonald's at Garden and Taunton in order to raise funds for our athletic department. This money will be used for new physical education equipment, school jerseys as well as team fees. Come and join us with your family for a delicious meal at McDonald's to support your school. I'm lovin it!!!

October Pizza Lunch Volunteers Needed!

Monday, December 12th
If you are available to help deliver to the classrooms for either lunch - 10:50 - Primary and Intermediate classes and/or - 11:20 for Junior classes please contact Kirsten Frost at kirsten.frost@sympatico.ca

Julie Payette P.S.

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Lost and Found Are you tired of having your kids misplace their clothing, shoes, lunch bags and other belongings? Purchase these Stuck on You labels and we will be able to match lost items to their respective owners. You can order using the order form sent to you until December 16th or order on-line until August 2012. The school will earn a commission, when you remember to enter our fundraiser name when completing your details online.
https://www.stuckonyou.biz/canada/index1.asp?RegionID=9

Holiday Post Office-Literacy Is Alive at Julie Payette! This Holiday Season, the students at Julie Payette will have the opportunity to develop and strengthen their writing skills by participating in our school's Holiday Post Office letter writing activity. This school-wide initiative will provide a framework designed to encourage and enhance writing skills learned in the classroom. Students will have the opportunity to write and exchange letters within our school community. Parents can also participate in this event by writing to their children at the school between December 14th and December 22nd. To address a letter, please refer to the address key posted on our website. Letters can be written in English or French and can be mailed in the boxes in the front foyer of the school. Questions or comments? Please contact Mme Jennifer Clark at 905.668.2225 ext 3. Flicitation Mr. Turner! Makaela is now a big sister. Congratulations to Mr. & Mrs Turner on the birth of their second daughter, Brooklyn. Here s to sleepless nights! Au revoir Mme Jarvis! When teachers leave a school it is always a bitter sweet time and in a few weeks we will have to say au revoir to Mme Jarvis. I would like to take this opportunity to thank her for all of her hard work and efforts at our school. She made the transition between kindergarten and Grade 1 a smooth one! Her calm and caring manner has helped her students adapt quickly to her teaching style. Mme Jarvis is an amazing Grade One teacher and we wish her bonne chance in her next adventure! We are going to miss you!

Au Revoir Mme Jarvis !

et Bonjour Mme O'Connor! We are happy to say Bienvenue to Mme O'Connor who is returning from her maternity leave in January. Mme O'Connor is thrilled to be part of the Grade One team and work with her JP colleagues. We know that she will create an amazing learning environment for her little ones. Julie Payette P.S. December 2011 Page 5

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Dates of Significance
December 2 - International Day for the Abolition of Slavery The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery, December 2, recalls the date of the adoption, by the General Assembly, of the United Nations Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (resolution 317(IV) of 2 December 1949). The United Nations' (UN) International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is annually observed on December 2 to remind people that modern slavery works against human rights. The day also encourages people to put meaning to the words of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that no one shall be held in slavery or servitude through their actions. This holiday is not to be confused with the UN's International Day for theRemembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition. The abolition of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the 19th century did not eradicate the practice globally. Instead, it took on other forms, which persist to this day: serfdom, debt bondage and forced and bonded labor; trafficking in women and children, domestic slaveryincluding children, forced marriage and the sale of wives; child labour and servitude Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Message for the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery December 2, 2010 For more information: http://www.un.org/en/events/slaveryabolitionday/ Youth For Human Rights no slavery http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=youth+for+hum an+rights+no+slavery&oq=youth+for+human+right&aq=8&aqi= g10&aql=&gs_sm=c&gs_upl=11893l14909l0l16707l21l18l0l8l8 l0l438l2705l0.2.5.2.1l10l0 December 3 - International Day of Disabled Persons (United Nations) First declared in 1992, this day reminds people of the special concerns, rights and needs of people with disabilities. December 3 is also the anniversary of the adoption of the World Program of Action concerning Disabled Persons in 1992. For more information see: http://www.un.org/esa/socdev/enable/disiddp.htm UN enable Development and Human Rights for all A good resource for using the disability lens to learn more about the intersections (layers) of physical/intellectual ability and dimensions of diversity. http://www.un.org/disabilities/ December 5th Ashura (Islam)* On this day, the martyrdom of Husain is commemorated. Shi'ite Muslims celebrate for ten days. This day is also associated with the landing of Noah's ark on Mount Ararat. December 6 - National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women This day was established in Canada by parliamentary consensus in 1991 to recognize and oppose violence against women. This national day commemorates the tragic deaths of 14 young women who were killed on this date in Montreal in 1989 simply because they were women. For more information and resources: http://www.swc-cfc.gc.ca/dates/dec6/index_e.html For more information: http://www.whiteribbon.ca/about_us/ December 10 - Anniv`ersary of the UN Declaration of Human Rights On December 10, 1948 the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. To view the Universal Declaration of Human Rights please go to: http://www.un.org/Overview/rights.html December 21 - 28th - Hanukkah (Judaism)* Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights and the Feast of Dedication, commemorates a victory that took place more than 2000 years ago. In 164 B.C., a band of Hebrews, led by Judah Maccabee, recaptured the temple in Jerusalem from the ruling Syrians. Their mission was to clean and purify their temple as well as to relight the holy temple lamp, called the Menorah. Hannukah means "dedication" and by re-lighting the Menorah they were rededicating the temple to God. The story goes that they only had enough oil for the lamp for one day, but that, miraculously, the lamp burned for eight daysjust enough time to make and consecrate new oil. This is why Hanukkah lasts for eight days. A special candle holder called a "chanukkiyah" is often used in Hanukkah celebrations. It has a place for nine candles (eight of them to represent each day of Hanukkah and the ninth is known as the "shammus" or worker candle). Each day the shammus is lit before sundown and then used to light the correct number of candles for the day of the festival. At Hannukah, some Jewish children receive a present for each of the eight nights along with gifts of money. Oily foods are eaten at this time to commemorate the oil used to light the menorah. December 24th - Christmas Eve (Christianity) In many Christian families, Christmas Eve is a night of great celebration, which often includes big dinners, attending special church services, and visiting friends and family. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day tend to be given more importance in Western Christianity than in Eastern Christianity. December 25th - Christmas (Christianity) Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ over 2000 years ago. No one knows the actual birth date of Christ, but in 336 A.D. the Catholic Church declared that it would commemorate Jesus' birth on this date. This date is celebrated in different ways around the world, with traditions as diverse as the cultures from which they come. Many of the customs associated with Christmas such as lighting of candles and evergreen decorations were adapted from customs associated with earlier solstice celebrations. December 26th - Jan. 1st - Kwanzaa (African American) Professor Maulana Karenga started Kwanzaa in 1966 to encourage African Americans to celebrate the beauty of their African heritage. The time is celebrated by decorating with African art and fabrics, and wearing African clothing. Each of the 7 principles of Kwanzaa, called the Nguzo Saba (Swahili for seven principles) is thought about and celebrated on each of the 7 days of the festival. The Nguzo Saba are: Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose in building the community), Kuumba (creativity), and Imani (faith). A special seven-pronged candle holder, the kinara, is used for Kwanzaa. One candle is lit the first day, two the second day and so on.

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