BEST WISHES FOR THE HOLIDAYS!!

ENJOY THE WINTER BREAK - SEE YOU JANUARY 8, 2018

We wish all of our Blue Willow families a safe and enjoyable WINTER BREAK with family and friends, and we look forward to welcoming you all back to school on MONDAY, JANUARY 8, 2018!!

Introducing Online Kindergarten Registration

Online Kindergarten Registration

January 2018

Introducing Online Kindergarten Registration

Kindergarten registration for September 2018 begins January 19.

This year, our school is excited to introduce online registration for Kindergarten. We are one of a small number of schools in the Board piloting this new, optional process.

If you, or someone you know, is registering a child for Kindergarten at our school, you can access the online registration information at bit.ly/KindergartenYRDSB. Please note that for this pilot, a laptop or desktop computer is strongly recommended, rather than a mobile device.

Families are still welcome to register in person in the school office. 

THANK YOU BLUE WILLOW!!

Thank you Blue Willow for all of your 

food and toy donations!  

Our collection bins were overflowing with your generosity and love, and now our York Region Firefighters are off to deliver these items to families in our own community. Thank you for encouraging our students to take action and brighten the lives of others.

WINTER CONCERT HIGHLIGHTS

Many of our students showcased the ARTS last night at our WINTER CONCERT!!  Thank you to all our performing students and their families who showed their love and support! We are already looking forward to our next concert in the Spring. 😊

WAY TO GO BLUE WILLOW!

GIVE!! Free Training Program for Volunteers!

GIVE! is a free training program for those who want to volunteer at York Region District School Board.Training Sessions are six half-days over six weeks. Please see the flyer for more information.

New SCHOOL LUNCH option available!!

ORDER NOW!

A NEW SCHOOL LUNCH option is available for purchase on www.schoolcashonline.com!
Subway Lunch orders will begin every WEDNESDAY from January 10, 2018 and close on March 28, 2018.  Please complete your child(ren)'s order on schoolcashonline NOW!

PICTURES FROM SCHOOL COUNCIL's PAINT THE HOLIDAYS EVENT

PAINT THE HOLIDAYS was a great success! Thank you to our School Council who organized this wonderful family event for our community. 

Special THANK YOU to our Blue Willow Families who joined us as well!!  

Our glazed creations will be ready to take home on Thursday, December 14!

DECEMBER NEWSLETTER

LAST DAY TO REGISTER!!!!

www.schoolcashonline.com 

Letter to Families from our Chair of the Board

BUS UPDATES and ARRIVAL TIMES

With the ongoing construction in our area, please be aware of possible bus delays.

For timely updates and notices of Bus Schedules, please remember to visit www.schoolbuscity.com.

ONLY 2 DAYS LEFT TO REGISTER!!!

There are only 2 days left to register for two upcoming community events at Blue Willow:

FREE PARENTING SEMINAR AT BLUE WILLOW

JOIN US IN LEARNING and GROWING TOGETHER AT BLUE WILLOW!!

POSITIVE PARENTING SEMINAR 1 - The Power of Positive Parenting

This session will focus on ensuring a safe engaging and positive learning environment for children.  Parents will learn about using assertive discipline, having realistic expectations and taking care of themselves as a parent.  

Thursday, November 30, 2017 (7-8:30pm)  

REGISTER NOW!
https://goo.gl/forms/amM3nAYb9DMDJUVl2

DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER!!!

FREE PARENTING SEMINAR 
AT BLUE WILLOW

JOIN US IN LEARNING and GROWING TOGETHER AT BLUE WILLOW!!

POSITIVE PARENTING SEMINAR 1 - The Power of Positive Parenting

This session will focus on ensuring a safe engaging and positive learning environment for children.  Parents will learn about using assertive discipline, having realistic expectations and taking care of themselves as a parent.  

Thursday, November 30, 2017 (7-8:30pm)  

REGISTER NOW!
https://goo.gl/forms/amM3nAYb9DMDJUVl2

PAINT THE HOLIDAYS WITH US!!!

FREE POSITIVE PARENTING SEMINAR - The Power of Positive Parenting

FREE PARENTING SEMINAR 
AT BLUE WILLOW

JOIN US IN LEARNING and GROWING TOGETHER AT BLUE WILLOW!!

POSITIVE PARENTING SEMINAR 1 - The Power of Positive Parenting

This session will focus on ensuring a safe engaging and positive learning environment for children.  Parents will learn about using assertive discipline, having realistic expectations and taking care of themselves as a parent.  

Thursday, November 30, 2017 (7-8:30pm)  

REGISTER NOW!
https://goo.gl/forms/amM3nAYb9DMDJUVl2

Looking Forward to Sharing Our Learning at Parent-Teacher Interviews!!

Thank you parents and guardians for scheduling your Parent Interview on EDSBY.   

We look forward to sharing our learning and partnering with you in order to ensure the success of all our children.  

If you have not yet booked your preferred time with your child(ren)'s teacher, please take the opportunity to do so before the schedule closes on Thursday morning. 

Should you have any questions or concerns, please call the office (905) 851-0043.

JOIN US AT SCHOOL COUNCIL TOMORROW

Our next SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING is tomorrow!

Monday, November 20, 2017  

6:30-8pm

Blue Willow P.S. - Staff Room

All are welcome!

JOIN US AND PAINT THE HOLIDAYS!!!!

GENTLE REMINDER: PHOTO RETAKES ON FRIDAY

PICTURE RETAKES will take place on Friday, November 17th, before lunch.

Please ensure your request for photo retakes is clearly shared with your child's teacher.

EDSBY - ONLINE INTERVIEW SCHEDULE OPENS ON MONDAY at 1pm

Thank you parents and guardians for activating your YRDSB EDSBY accounts.

On Monday, November 13, 2017 at 1pm, the EDSBY online Interview Schedule will be open for parents and guardians to book their preferred time with their child(ren)'s teacher(s).  

Should you have any questions or concerns, please call the office.

PICTURE RETAKES ON FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2017

PICTURE RETAKES will take place on Friday, November 17th, before lunch.

Please ensure your request for photo retakes is clearly shared with your child's teacher.

LAST DAY TO ORDER SPIRIT WEAR!!!

BLUE WILLOW!!! TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO ORDER YOUR SPIRIT WEAR!!
Please login to schoolcashonline.com for more details.

REMEMBRANCE DAY SERVICES

We invite you to join us in honouring Remembrance Day on

Friday, November 10, 2017

  9:35 - 10:05 a.m. (K to Grade 3 ~ Period 3)

10:30 - 11:00 a.m. (Gr. 4 to Gr. 8~ Period 4)

DON'T FORGET TO REGISTER!!!

FREE WORKSHOPS AT BLUE WILLOW

JOIN US IN LEARNING and GROWING TOGETHER AT BLUE WILLOW!!

REGISTER NOW!

https://goo.gl/forms/amM3nAYb9DMDJUVl2

A MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND LONG TERM CARE

The Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is releasing additional resources ahead of the January 1, 2018, launch of OHIP+: Children and Youth Pharmacare.

On the ministry’s website (health.gov.on.ca/ohipplus_resources), you will find the following documents for downloading and printing:

·       Factsheet for patients/families

·       Postcards (available in 14 languages)

·       Social media posts

Please distribute these materials in your schools so that all students, parents and caregivers can be aware of OHIP+ and be able to take full advantage of its benefits. Through this program, Ontarians aged 24 years and younger, who are OHIP insured, regardless of their family income, will be eligible for over 4,400 medications and drug products at no cost.

If you have any questions about OHIP+, please send an email to OHIPplus@ontario.ca.

For more information, please visit: Ontario.ca/OHIPplus.

---

Le ministère de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée publie des ressources supplémentaires en prévision du lancement de l’Assurance-santé Plus : Assurance-médicaments pour les enfants et les jeunes, le 1^er janvier 2018.

Vous trouverez sur le site Web du Ministère (health.gov.on.ca/assurancesanteplus_ressources) les documents qui suivent, qui peuvent être téléchargés et imprimés :

·       Feuille de renseignements pour les patients et les familles;

·       Cartes postales (offertes dans 14 langues);

·       Messages pour les médias sociaux.

Veuillez distribuer ces documents dans vos écoles pour que tous les élèves, parents et fournisseurs de soins soient informés sur l’Assurance-santé Plus et puissent profiter pleinement de tous ses avantages. Grâce à ce programme, tous les Ontariens âgés de 24 ans et moins qui ont un numéro d’Assurance santé auront accès à plus de 4 400 médicaments gratuitement, quel que soit leur revenu familial.

Si vous avez des questions au sujet de l’Assurance-santé Plus, veuillez les transmettre à OHIPplus@ontario.ca.

Pour obtenir plus de renseignements, rendez-vous au Ontario.ca/assurancesanteplus.

REMINDER TO CREATE YOUR EDSBY ACCOUNT

Parent/Guardian INTERVIEW NIGHT is during the evening of Thursday, November 23 and during the day on Friday, November 24, 2017.

BLUE WILLOW is happy to announce that we will be using an online process to manage our Parents’ Interview Night scheduling.

Edsby is an intuitive, cloud-based platform that will allow families to easily reserve times to meet with their child’s teachers. Families will need to create an account in Edsby in order to reserve appointments.

Families will need to create an Edsby account to access the online appointment scheduler for their child’s teachers for Parents’ Night. Only families who create an Edsby account prior to the schedule being opened on November 13, 2017 will have access.  (For help signing up for Parent-Teacher interviews, please visit http://bit.ly/edsbyparents.)

Once you open your Edsby account, you will receive an email from the York Region District School Board. (Please check your junk mail folder to ensure you do not miss this opportunity.)

Important Timelines

October 12, 2017    November 2, 2017	Reminder to parents and/or guardians to create accounts
November 13, 2017	Parents’ Night schedule is opened for booking, an invitation to book appointments will be sent to your email inbox
November 22, 2017	Interim Report Cards sent home
November 23, 2017 November 24, 2017	Parent/Guardian Evening Interviews Parent/Guardian Day Interviews

Please feel free to contact the office with any questions at (905) 851-0043.

Thank you!

A Message from York Region Public Health...

NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER

Looking Back

October was a wonderful month of learning and growing at Blue Willow!

Here are a few highlights:

Thank you to all our families who joined us for a very successful CURRICULUM NIGHT on October 4, 2017.  We have had such positive feedback and we all enjoyed spending time together in your child(ren)’s learning environment.  A special thank you to Vaughan Fire Services for sharing their fire truck with us, Holy Grill and Ice Cream Truck for their delicious treat options, and to Officer Toni for meeting and greeting our Blue Willow families.

Kindergarten students enjoyed a theatre performance of CAT IN THE HAT at the Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts.  This was a wonderful opportunity for our students to develop connections to the Arts, Music, and Literature!

Grade Three students had the unique opportunity to explore artifacts made by Indigenous Peoples of Canada through our partnership with the Royal Ontario Museum (ROM). Grade 3’s inquired about how some Indigenous tribes made their tools from natural resources and how they used them for a variety of reasons.  The hands-on experience allowed students to touch a bit of the past as the ROM original artifacts were probably used over 3000 years ago! Together, we discovered that people of the past used stone, flint, animal bones and clay to make their tools. This experience helped students make connections to their learning and deepen their understanding of curriculum lessons.

Congratulations to our Junior/Intermediate Cross Country Team for representing Blue Willow!!  Our Grade 4 Girls finished in FiRST PLACE at Regionals, and our Grade 6 Girls finished in SECOND PLACE!!  WE are so proud of all our Cross Country Team members for their perseverance, their determination and their success!                                  GO WILDCATS!!!

Our York Regional Police CommunityLiaison, Officer Toni, presented on the topic of Internet Safety with all Junior and Intermediate Classes. Students were reminded of legal policies and responsibilities when using technology both at school and elsewhere.  Please take the opportunity to review safe use and expectations with your child(ren).  For more information, please see Board Policy #194.0 Use of Technology.

BLUE WILLOW HONOURED BY TERRY FOX FOUNDATION:  In honour of our 15 year commitment to the Foundation, a representative visited our BW Terry Fox Committee and presented Blue Willow with commemorative banner for our school!

Thank you to all of our staff, students, parents, and guardians for your ongoing participation and generosity in supporting the Terry Fox Foundation. This year we are very happy to announce that we have met our goal by raising over $1,000.00.

Donations will continue to be accepted at: http://www.terryfox.ca/BlueWillowPublic until the winter break. Remember any amount, no matter how small or large, is a great help to the foundation. Remember, through our continued efforts, we are one step closer to finding a cure for cancer.

  Looking FORWARD

FREE WORKSHOPS AT BLUE WILLOW

JOIN US IN LEARNING and GROWING TOGETHER AT BLUE WILLOW!! REGISTER NOW! https://goo.gl/forms/amM3nAYb9DMDJUVl2

NOVEMBER 2017 AT BLUE WILLOW
		1 Dental Screening	2 Dental Screening	3 Dental Screening
6	7	8	9 Gr5&6 ROM	10 Remembrance Day Assemblies 9:35am/10:25am
13 Gr7s Cold Creek	14	15	16	17
20 School Council 6:30-8pm Library	21	22 Progress Reports sent home	23 Interview Night	24 Interview Day
27	28	29	30

Edsby is an intuitive, cloud-based platform that will allow families to easily reserve times to meet with their child’s teachers. Families will need to create an Edsby account to access the online appointment scheduler and to reserve appointments for their child’s teachers during Parents’ Night. Only families who create an Edsby account prior to the schedule being opened on November 7, 2017, will have access. More information will be sent home shortly. If you have any questions or concerns regarding interview scheduling, kindly call the office at (905) 851-0043.

As partners in your child’s education and well-being, we are always willing to work with students, parents, and community partners to ensure your child’s learning is supported, and meets challenges with a growth mindset. As research demonstrates again and again, positive relationships between family and the school are fundamental to the ongoing success of your child!

Mr. Fisher, Principal

and Ms. Lucas, Vice Principal