Emily Carr
January 2019
Message from Administration
Happy New Year Emily Carr!
We hope that everyone had a wonderfully restful break and that everyone is feeling energized and ready to Dream, Soar and Succeed in 2019!
As you all know, our Principal Mrs. Bate will be leaving Emily Carr at the end of the month. We want to take the time to thank her for her time and energy in making Emily Carr a place for students to dream, soar and succeed.
We also want to give a very warm welcome to our new Principal Mrs. Snowdon who will be joining the Emily Carr PS team February 1st.
Kindergarten Families
At 8:15 am, Kindergarten teachers begin to take students into the classroom. During this time, the Kindergarten yard is no longer supervised. For safety, the gates will have a bungee cord to keep them closed. If you see the gate has the bungee cord keeping it closed, please bring your child to the front office.
Thank you for your cooperation in keeping Kindergarten students safe.
2019/20 School Year - Students Leaving Emily Carr and New Registrations
Our staffing for the 2019 school year depends on registrations at the school prior to the beginning of March. If you know that your family will be leaving our school prior to September 2019, please contact the office.
Please register new students for JK and SK now! If you have friends or neighbours in our catchment area with children who will be starting Kindergarten in September 2019, please encourage them to register at the office on the following dates:
Thursday, January 17th from 12 p.m.- 2:15 p.m.
Friday, January 18th from 12 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.
Monday, January 21st from 8:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Family STEAM Night
Parents and children will have the opportunity to work together to solve hands on problems that involve science, technology, engineering, arts and math.
Door prizes will be raffled off, no purchase necessary!
Please remember to RSVP!
EC Ambassadors
Grade 7 and 8 Performing Art Centre
A reminder to Grade 7/8 students and parents that we are heading to the Burlington Performing Arts Centre on January 31st to see Shaun Boothe.
Please hand permission forms and payment in (through School Cash Online) no later than the 17th.
Supply Lunchroom Student Supervisors
Town of Oakville - Crossing Guard Recruitment
Be part of our Walk to School program:
• Keep children safe
• Provide an essential and valuable community service
• Enjoy holidays and summers off
• Earn $15.39 per hour
For more information, visit oakville.ca or contact the Crossing Guard Office at 905-845-6601, ext. 3363 or crossingguards@oakville.ca.
Student Leadership
Pizza Orders Due
Stay Informed
School Council - Volunteers Needed
Even a few hours a month is appreciated!
We need volunteers to help run our Pizza Program, support our school Library, organize several upcoming events, including our year-end CARRnival Celebration, and several other activities during the school year!
We also need Parking Lot helpers each morning and afternoon during student drop-off and pick-up times.
Contact Erica Ramey today to get started! --> erica.ramey@gmail.com
Thank you for being part of this great community and for your support!
The HDSB App
Prevalent Medical Conditions
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Education released Policy Program Memorandum 161: Supporting Students with Prevalent Medical Conditions. School Boards across Ontario are expected to implement PPM 161 by September 2018. As a result, the HDSB has updated several Administrative Procedures to better support students who have Anaphylaxis, Asthma, Diabetes, Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders. With the revised HDSB procedures, students who have any of the listed prevalent medical conditions, must have a Plan of Care in place. Furthermore, the Plan of Care must be co-created by the student, parent and school staff.
If your child has a prevalent medical condition, please access the new Plan of Care documents at the hyperlinks below
Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders
Please also complete Appendix A and Appendix B of the Request to Administer Emergency Medication Form 1
Dates to Remember
Monday, January 14th - Pizza Orders Due (Runs from Monday, February 4th to Monday, June 17th). The order form is available on School Cash Online.
Wednesday, January 30th - Emily Carr P.S. presents Family STEAM Night -- a night of exploring, building, discovery and PLAY. More info to follow!
Thursday, January 31st - Grade 7 and 8 students visit The Burlington Performing Arts Centre.
Friday, February 1st - P.A. Day (No School for Students)
January 2019 Celebrations/Observances and Significant Days
Tamil Heritage Month
January is Tamil Heritage Month. A motion was passed in the House of Commons in late 2016 to recognize the contributions that Tamil-Canadians have made to Canadian society, the richness of the Tamil language and culture, and the importance of educating and reflecting upon Tamil heritage for future generations.
January 1 - New Year’s Day
According to the Gregorian calendar, used in Canada and many other countries, January 1 is the first day of a new year. This date is commonly known as New Year's Day and is a statutory holiday in all Canadian provinces and territories. An important symbol of New Year’s Day is the fireworks that are set off to mark the beginning of the New Year at midnight as December 31 becomes January. There are particularly spectacular shows in many major cities, including Toronto. The Toronto fireworks display is a large public performance that is accompanied by music.
January 6 - Epiphany (Christianity)
Epiphany, also known as Three Kings Day, is a Christian feast celebrating the revelation of God to man (a theophany) and the presence of God in human history. In Western Christianity, the feast commemorates the Gospel of Matthew. Eastern Churches commemorate on this day mainly the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River.
January 6/January 7 - Christmas Eve/Christmas Day (Orthodox Christian)
Christmas in Canada’s Orthodox Christian communities is a time of importance when rich cultural traditions are observed. Many people attend a special church service on Christmas Day. Many Orthodox Christians in countries such as Canada, fast before Christmas Day. Many people identify the Nativity Fast as the period of preparing to celebrate Jesus Christ’s birth. It is believed that fasting helps people shift their focus from themselves to others, spending less time worrying about food and using more time in increased prayer and caring for the poor. In return, fasting before the Nativity enables one to fully enjoy, appreciate and celebrate the Nativity of Christ. For many Orthodox Christians, Christmas Day is not about Christmas characters that have become popular through commercialization. Christmas Day is a time to heal the soul. It is also a time of peace and unity.
January 13 - Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh (Sikhism)
Guru Gobind Singh was a spiritual leader who was the tenth Guru of Sikhs. He had shaped the sikh religion to what it is today. The festival is celebrated with immense joy and happiness all around the world by many. People burn crackers and light earthen lamps to decorate their house. Gurdwaras are decorated with flowers and colorful lights. Various kinds of food items are prepared for the day. The food is then distributed to all the visitors, regardless of their religion and financial background.
January 13 - Maghi (Sikhism)
Maghi is the occasion when Sikhs commemorate the sacrifice of forty Sikhs, who fought for Guru Gobind Singh Ji. Maghi, Makar Sankranti, is the first day of the month of Magh. The eve of Maghi is the common Indian festival of Lohri when bonfires are lit in Hindu homes. For Sikhs, Maghi means primarily the festival at Muktsar, a district town of the Punjab, in commemoration of the heroic fight of the Chali Mukte, literally, the Forty Liberated Ones, who laid down their lives warding off an attack by an imperial army marching in pursuit of Guru Gobind Singh ji.
January 14 - Lohri Makar Sankranti (Hinduism)
Happy Lohri, happy Pongal, happy Sankranti. Lohri marks the culmination of winter, and is celebrated on the 13th day of January in the month of Paush or Magh, a day before Makar Sankranti. Lohri celebrates the spark of life. People gather around bonfires, throw sweets, puffed rice and popcorn into the flames as an offering to the Sun God, the giver of all life, sing popular songs and exchange greetings. For Punjabis, this is more than just a festival; it is also an example of a way of life.
January 14 - New Year (Orthodox)
The Orthodox New Year, also known as the Old New Year, according to the Julian calendar is on January 14 in the Gregorian calendar. The Julian calendar pre-dates the Gregorian calendar.Many Orthodox Christians who observe the New Year’s Day date from the Julian calendar may spend the day reflecting on the previous year and think about meaningful resolutions for the New Year. Many people celebrate the day with family or friends to welcome the New Year. Activities may include fireworks, large meals and music entertainment. Some churches hold Orthodox New Year events such as parties or dinners. Those who attend these events may pray for the New Year and toast their drinks. Some churches host gala dinners to raise funds for charitable causes or church building restorations.
January 20 - World Religion Day (Baha’i)
World Religion Day, now observed internationally, originated among American Baha´’ı´s. Its history dates back to 1949. The Baha'i´’ı´ Faith, among the younger of the independent world religions, emphasizes unity in the human community, and the inauguration of World Religion Day seemed a natural expression and extension of the Baha´’ı´ focus on the unity of religions, races, and nations.
January 21 - Mahayana Buddhist New Year (Buddhism)
The Mahayana new year starts on the first full moon day in January. However, the Buddhist New Year depends on the country of origin or ethnic background of the people.
For example, Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese celebrate late January or early February according to the lunar calendar, while the Tibetans usually celebrate about one month later. Honoring and praying to their deities particularly Buddha is the most important activity for the New Year. On New Year’s Day, every Buddhist visits a nearby temple to light up candles which is considered to bring happiness and good luck for the coming year. Many Buddhists believe that buying new items, cleaning and redecorating the home and giving gifts can bring good luck. Sweets are never absent during feasting and of course, fireworks at midnight.
January 21: Martin Luther King Day (US Holiday)
Martin Luther King was an important civil rights activist. He was a leader in the movement to end racial segregation in the United States. His most famous address was the "I Have A Dream" speech. He was an advocate of nonviolent protest and became the youngest man to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. He was assassinated in 1968. In 1968, shortly after Martin Luther King died, a campaign was started for his birthday to become a holiday to honor him.It is seen as a day to promote equal rights for all people regardless of their background. Some educational establishments mark the day by teaching their pupils or students about the work of Martin Luther King and the struggle against racial segregation and racism.
January 27th: International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust
On January 27 each year, the United Nations (UN) remembers the Holocaust that affected many people of Jewish origin during World War II. This day is called the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. It also commemorates when the Soviet troops liberated the Nazi concentration and death camp Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland on January 27, 1945. Holocaust survivors and various leaders make their voices heard on the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. Many of them speak publicly about the Holocaust or their experiences around the event, its aftermath and why the world should never forget what happened in Europe in the 1930s and 1940s.
January 30 - Jashan-e-Sadeh (Zoroastrianism)
Sadeh is a mid-winter celebration observed by Zoroastrians. It includes preparing a large bonfire and is therefore also known as Adur-Jashan (Feast of Fire).
Emily Carr Public School
Website: https://sites.google.com/a/hdsb.ca/emily-carr/home
Location: 2255 Pine Glen Road, Oakville, ON, Canada
Phone: (905) 827-3928
Twitter: @EmilyCarrHDSB