April Calendar

Last year, Sheridan achieved Silver EcoSchools status, largely through waste reduction (recycling - blue bins and green carts) and energy conservation (turning off lights and computers). To achieve gold status, we need to expand our reach into classroom learning and schoolground greening. The idea is to help our students understand the impact they can have, and then to involve them in actions that will lead to a a healthier environment.

Our greening project will be small and focused this year with the planting of 3 or 4 donated trees and plans to help them survive so that they will eventually produce shade for students on the playground and improve the air quality in our neighbourhood. The scope of our current plan has been determined through research, consultation and an inventory of donations to date. The greatest challenge has been to keep the project small enough to be completed before the end of April, at which point our EcoReview will take place. Flowers and shrubs planted after April 31 will be beneficial and much appreciated but will not be included in this year's application for certification.

It is our hope that schoolground greening will become an annual tradition at Sheridan. Thanks for your help in creating a better environment for our children and achieving Gold EcoSchools status this year and for years to come.

We would like to thank a number of individuals and organizations who have offered to donate items for our greening project including several Sheridan parents, Conservation Halton, Oakvillegreen, and the Town of Oakville.

Healthy Basket Program Update
As you know, we have recently implemented a Healthy Basket Program at Sheridan Public School. This program has been very well received by the staff and students at the school. Our thanks to Chantal Ingram, from the Halton Food for Thought program who came in to introduce this program to each classroom.

This Nutrition Program provides a basket of healthy snacks in each classroom for students who still feel hungry after eating their own snacks or for those who may have forgotten their lunches at home. Please remind your children that the baskets are there for them when they find they haven't packed enough food and need something extra to eat. Encourage them to let you know so that you can make sure they always have enough food to carry them through the day. A full stomach equals a mind that's ready to learn!

The following snacks can be found in the baskets each week: Kelloggs Nutrigrain bars, Kelloggs All Bran Bars (excluding chocolate chip), Kelloggs Munch ‘Ems (excluding chocolate chip), Fruit Cups in Juice (no syrup), Applesauce cups and Cloverleaf Tuna Snack-Its. Thank you to the Cancilla family who recently donated a case of applesauce as well as a box of Kelloggs Nutrigrain Bars.

Dance-A-Thon

Thank you to all the Sheridan students that worked hard to raise money in support of this year's Dance-A-Thon. Thank you to the Sheridan community for supporting this year's Dance-A-Thon. We were able to raise $2,710.47 to help us reach our goal of funding a complete SMART Board system for Sheridan. Thank you to the team of parent volunteers (Camilla, Chantal, Andrea, Karen M., Karen C., Hanlie and Taye) that generously donated their time and talent to organize the Dance-A-Thon again this year. 

Next Council Meeting
We invite all Sheridan parents to get involved in the life of our school and in the processes that shape it. Our monthly meetings are an excellent way to do so. Please join us at our next council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 13th at 7:00pm in the staff room. All Sheridan parents are welcome to attend and participate in our discussions. Hope to see you there.

Thank you to the staff members and Sheridan families who have already made donations in support of our global neighbours in Haiti. In the Iroquois Ridge area, which includes the Sheridan community, donations currently total $14,115.73. That's a great start! The amount required to build a sustainable school community in Haiti is $24,000.

It's even easier than ever to donate, so if you haven't already, please consider sending a cheque in the amount of your choosing to Iroquois Ridge High School or donate online at http://tiny.cc/ridgeforhaiti. A charitable receipt for tax purposes will be provided by Free the Children for any donations over $10.00.

Thank you for your energy and acts of kindness.

If your child is going to be absent or late for school, please assist us by following this procedure:

Phone the Absence Check Number 905-845- 3504 and leave a message on the answering machine each day that your child will be absent or if it is a prolonged, planned absence, please call in the dates that your child will be away.

Please provide the following information:
i. Your child's name (please spell surname)
ii. Your child's teacher
iii. Reason for absence
iv. The length of time your child will be absent

If you are interested in volunteering for the Absence Check System, please contact the office.

Help Habitat for Humanity fill their volunteer equipment bank for the 2010 Oakville builds this summer!

Items to donate include:
*Granola Bars
*Dried Fruit
*Crackers
*Juice Boxes
*Ice Tea
*Cookies
*Pudding Snack Packs
*Pretzels
*Pop
*Paper Plates (no Styrofoam)
*Potato Chips
*Trail Mix
*Chocolate Bars
*Gatorade

If you would like to donate any of these items please contact Habitat for Humanity at 905-637-4446 ext. 223.

 Please note we are not able to dispense medications to your child(ren) unless it is a prescribed medication from a physician and the appropriate HDSB forms have been completed and signed by a parent. As well please refrain from sending in non-prescribed medications such as Tylenol, cough & cold products, we are unable to dispense these to your child(ren).