Gatestone Elementary School

127 Gatestone Drive, Stoney Creek ON, L8J 3Z5 Phone: (905) 573-7731 Fax: (905) 573-3127 E-mail: gatestone@hwdsb.on.ca Website: http://schools.hwdsb.on.ca/gatestone/ May 1st, 2012 Principal : Mr. Bill Torrens PRINCIPALS MESSAGE LOOKING BACK AT APRIL AND AHEAD TO MAY We received our final school organization late in April and we April was a busy month. Amongst other events, Pink T-shirt Day can confirm that to begin the 2012-2013 academic year, showed Gatestones commitment to stamping out bullying and Gatestone will be organized as follows: the Grade Fours enjoyed a medieval feast.. Thank you to the Grade Four Team for their effort in organizing both events. We JK A/B 2 Classes Grade Four/ also began a new tradition of a rooftop photo. Five Split 1 Class SK A/B 2 Classes Mrs. Srsan and her yearbook team have been working very hard to prepare this years yearbook. The yearbook is $20.00 and this is the last week for orders. Order one to preserve the memories of a great year at Gatestone! Our Grades Three and Six classes are preparing for their EQAO Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics (please see the next page more information on EQAO). In May, we focus our preparations on having the students experience activities taken from old assessments to build their confidence and a level of comfort with the type of tasks they will encounter. Another way that we prepare for EQAO is offering the After-School Scholars Program. For two nights a week over more than two months, groups of students received extra support and coaching to become prepared for the assessment. Thank you to Mrs. Flis and Mrs. Dunstall, who worked with Grade Three students, and Mrs. Baturin and Mrs. Gould, who worked with Grade Sixes, for their efforts on behalf of our students. Vice-Principal: Mrs. Jenny Seto-Vanderlip ORGANIZATION FOR 2012-2013

JK/SK A/B Split Grade One Grade Two Grade Three Grade Three/ Four Split Grade Four

2 Classes 3 Classes 4 Classes 2 Classes 1 Class 2 Classes

Grade Five Grade Six

2 Classes 3 Classes 2 Classes

Grade Seven Grade Seven/ Eight Split Grade Eight Comprehensive

1 Class 2 Classes 1 Class

At this time it is premature to place teachers names to these classes as our staffing process unfolds until the last week of June. As always, we expect a combination of retirements, promotions, transfers and successful postings to alter our staff. As we did last year, we will make students aware of their 2012-2013 teacher when they receive their report cards. FUNDRAISING UPDATE

Thank you for your support of our 21st Century Education Fundraising Drive. We are within $2600 of our goal. With the Athletic Equipment and Wear Sale plus our Open House, we Mrs. Wlodarczyks Class 68 will once again practice their sales should be able to go back to the Heritage Green Community and money skills by selling TCBY Yogurt on Fridays during Trust on May 18th with our target of $8000 attained. Nutrition Break. OPEN HOUSE This years Open House is scheduled for Thursday, May 3rd from 5:30 to 7:00. In terms of an agenda, it is a simple event: 5:00 Harveys food service begins at the front of the school; 5:30 doors open for parents; 6:30 Raffle Basket Draw in the Front Foyer 6:45 Pie Toss Fundraiser We hope to see everyone there! Have a great May! Bill Torrens, Principal

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NEWS AROUND GATESTONE

Gatestone Elementary School

WARM WEATHER We hope May and June brings lots of sunny days, but with the sun comes high UV days. To keep your child safe, please apply sunscreen (spf 50 is recommended) before school and ensure that they have a hat to protect their faces from the sun. It is also recommended that every student brings a refillable water bottle to school.

CLASSBUILDING May marks the time to begin planning for 2012-2013. The staffing process occurs throughout May and June and class building will begin in May, as well. Our class building work will be guided by educational research which informs us that classes that include a balance of genders and a diversity of abilities and personalities are the most successful. Information regarding next Sunny days also bring summer clothes. Please be mindful that years class placement (Teacher and Class) will be provided our dress code remains in effect and we request that our with each childs final report card in June. Once classes are set, students do not wear: the only opportunity for change will be September Tops which have spaghetti straps or expose reorganization. undergarments or midriff sections and/or low cut necklines; Every year, some parents make specific requests regarding their Muscle shirts or pants that expose undergarments childrens teacher for next year. I ask that those requests come (worn low on the hips); to me directly, in writing, for my consideration. Skirts or shorts which do not come to the ends of fingers of and flat hand while standing or pajamas. GRADE THREE AND SIX EQAO ASSESSMENTS Annually, the Education Quality and Accountability Office, Our dress is outlined in full in the school agenda. EQAO, assesses Grade Three and Six Students in the areas of CELL PHONES Reading, Writing and Mathematics. Although HWDSB Policy allows them to do so, we prefer that The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that our education students do not bring cellphones to school. This is a reminder system is preparing students for success. It is based on the that students are not allowed to call or text message in class Ontario Curriculum and a grading format is used to ensure that and they need a Staff members permission to call or text (to someone outside of Gatestone) at Nutrition Break. children are scored in a consistent, fair manner. The information gathered in the assessments is provided to parents/caregivers and to the school. It is used to assist in school planning in the following year. For example, the EQAO data can help us, as a Staff, identify where our students excel and where additional support and instruction is needed. Our teachers have been working all year to prepare the students for the assessment and in May we will bump up our efforts. For example, a practice assessment day in May will be held. The teachers will simulate the assessment (use old EQAO materials, use the same timeframe, provide no help, etc.) to help the students get ready. This year, the assessment will occur between Wednesday, May 23rd and Wednesday, June 6th. The students are assessed over a number of days. A full schedule will be prepared and communicated to the families of Grade Three and Six students in the next weeks. If you are interested in learning more about EQAO, please go to our website, http://schools.hwdsb.on.ca/gatestone/eqaoinformation/. A Youtube video, powerpoint presentation and other publications from EQAO can be accessed through the website. Students caught calling or texting in class will have their cellphones sent to the Office where they are kept to the end of the day. We record the students name and if it happens a second time have the parents pick up the cellphone. DROP OFF AND PICK UP Traffic in front of the school is becoming a major concern. Unfortunately, the school was not designed to have a drop-off area for passenger cars at the front. Only buses should use this area for drop-off and pick-up. Please drop you children off on a side street or another safe place rather than in our laneway. Perhaps the most congested place is the parking area at the side of the school. It was not designed as a roundabout. Please do not drop off your child there and then precede to turnaround. As well, please do not drop-off your children in the middle lane of our front lane. This increases the likelihood of a child being hit by car in the curb lane. Please either walk your children to school or drop them off on a side street.

ATHLETICS Congratulations to both the senior boys and senior girls basketball teams on winning their respective divisions this year. Both teams went undefeated in league play and qualified for the playoffs. In playoff action, the girls were upset in the first round by Flamboro Centre while the boys progressed all the way to If there are questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call the city semi-finals where they lost to a very big and talented the school and speak to your childs teacher or either the Vice team from Dalewood. Mr. Lane, Mr. MacNab and Mrs. Taylor would like to thank all the players for the time and effort they Principal or Principal. put in this season. Well done Seniors!

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Gatestone Elementary School

Engaging our students in effective learning environments with programs that respond to their interests and needs is our priority, in a context that never forgets equity of access, opportunity and outcome. By wrestling with how to make this priority a reality, we will strengthen our public education system in Hamilton-Wentworth.

DIRECTOR MALLOY: ENGAGING OUR STUDENTS Engaging students is at the heart of our work. When students are engaged, they learn. So, how do we engage each and every student? Some would argue that a caring environment will engage students. This environment encourages students to share their voice, to advocate for their own learning, to collaborate with others, to explore, to think, to create Some would argue that unique programs engage students programs in the arts, technology, sports and social justice, to name a few. Some would argue that effective instruction and innovative learning environments engage students. I would argue that we need all of the above! In our public education system in Ontario, we are expected to ensure that all students achieve, to close any achievement gaps and to build confidence in public education. At the end of the day, our responsibility is to provide equity of access, opportunity and outcome for our students. Students achieve because each and every student attends a school (access) that has the environment and programs (opportunity) that allows them to excel (outcome). If we take this responsibility seriously and we hold as the ideal for each student that they will achieve, then I believe this responsibility and ideal has an impact on the type of programs and learning environments we offer. In order to fulfill our commitment to each student, schools need to be responsive to the interests and needs of their students. This is no easy task. A school system may need to provide out of the box support to ensure that programs are offered that our students may desire or need. For me the focus of our work needs to be:

We must engage each and every student. Learning environments and programs have an impact on this Please go to www.stoneycreekstorm.com for more information engagement. and registration form. Listening to student voice is paramount. Providing access, opportunity and outcome is foundational Report Your Childs Absence There are no perfect answers to the challenge of engaging all students; therefore innovative thinking and practice is This is a quick reminder to please call the school at needed. 905-573-7731 if you child is going to be late or absent.

STONEY CREEK STORM BASKETBALL CLUB Stoney Creek Storm Basketball will be hosting its 2nd Annual Summer Basketball Camp. This camp is open to all boys and girls regardless of ability and experience. We develop our schedule based on the skill level of the players and each player will be challenged daily to improve their individual skills and team game. Our program goal is to provide an environment that will foster the growth of each player regardless of their abilities.

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Gatestone Elementary School

May 2012
Sun Mon Tue 1 April Winit Assembly 2:20 Wed 2 Boomerang Lunch Thu 3 Open House JK/SKA Police Community Helpers Assembly Pizza 10 Pizza Fri 4 JK/SKB Police Community Helpers Assembly TCBY Sat 5

8 SKA Graduation Photos

9 SKB Graduation Photos Boomerang Lunch

11 TCBY

12

13

14

15 Gauss Math Contest

16 Run4Change Boomerang Lunch 23 EQAO begins Destination College Gr. 7 JK Orientation Night 6:00 Boomerang Lunch Special Olympics Grade Two Trip 30 EQAO School Council 6:30 Boomerang Lunch

17 Pizza

18 TCBY

19

20

21 Victoria Day (No School)

22

24 EQAO Pizza

25 EQAO TCBY

26

27

28 EQAO 9:15 Fire Prevention Assemblies

29 EQAO

31 EQAO WINIT Assembly 2:30 Pizza

1 EQAO TCBY

Key Dates in June Friday, June 8th, PA Day (No School) Monday, June 11th to Wednesday, June 13th, Grade Six Wanakita Trip

Tuesday, June 19th, Grade Two HCA Trip Wednesday, June 27th, Report Cards Distributed Thursday, June 28th, Last Day of School