From the Durham Region Health Department:  We would like to congratulate Whitby Shores Public School on achieving the 2011/2012 Healthy School Award!  We would like to acknowledge your school’s work in creating a healthy school community.  Whitby Shores P.S. will receive a framed certificate indicating a silver level of recognition for participating in three health-related topics.

This year’s Grades 3 and 6 testing dates are approaching.  They will be on May 28, 29 and 30 for Grade 6’s and May 31, June 4 and 5 for Grade 3’s.  It is very important that all our students attend school on these dates.  For those families who wish to see what the assessments will look like, resources and sample questions are available at the EQAO website:

http://www.eqao.com

Remember sunscreen, a hat and sunglasses are important for your child’s good health.  The temperatures may not be hot but the UV is increasing in intensity every day.

As the staffing process in the Board continues, we will introduce next year's new staff during this spring.  After the first round of transfers, I am pleased to introduce our newest teachers:  Mrs. Chapple, Miss Jeens, Mrs. Johns and Mrs. Vendra.  Mrs. Shaw will be returning to Whitby Shores to be full time.

After the second round of transfers, I am pleased to introduce our newest teachers:  Mrs. Behm, Ms. Pitt and Mrs. King.

Attached is a profile for Mrs. Chappel.

Mrs. Chapple.pdf

Thoughtful, professional consideration goes into creating the best combinations of students for next year’s classes.  Students are placed in classes based on the professional judgment of a team of teachers, special education resource teachers and the school’s administration. While we appreciate parents sharing information in writing about their child’s learning style and needs, the final decision on student placement ultimately rests with the school.  Please do not request particular teachers because staffing is very fluid as we are selecting new teachers and current teachers may be reassigned.

If there are particular aspects of your child’s learning style and needs that you would like us to consider when placing your child in a class for next year, please write a letter or send an e-mail to Mr. Whitmarsh before Friday, May 25^th.

Thank you for supporting our school through magazine purchases.  For more information on how you can still help, please read below.

Spring Reminder Notice.pdf

We acquired an old Peterborough canoe that has become a ‘canvas’ for a student art project.  Every person in our school has had a hand in creating an extraordinary image on the hull of the canoe.  The Peterborough canoe is a relic of a once thriving canoe manufacturing industry that began in the late 1800’s and ended in the 1960’s. The canoe will hang in our clerestory beside the stage.  Mike Ormsby, canoeist, outdoor educator and writer spoke to the students about the canoe, Kirk Wipper - the founder of the Canadian Canoe Museum and wilderness.  Mike is of First Nations background and is currently assisting with a freighter canoe restoration project in Fort Severn.

Our canoe project has made the DDSB website:          Link to DDSB News Release 

Mike Ormsby's blog about his visit:                                  http://reflectionsoutdoors.wordpress.com/