Emily Carr
November 2016
Message from Administration
Currently, teachers are busy collaborating and writing Grade 1-8 Provincial Progress Reports. Progress Reports will be coming home on November 21st. The Progress Report focuses on the six learning skills that improve student learning. The second page of the Progress Report provides you with an indication of how your child is progressing in each subject. There are no grades on the Provincial Progress Report.
The parent-teacher-student conferences will take place during the week of November 21st, with the bulk of the conferences happening on the evening of November 24th and the morning of November 25th (PA Day). The office has already sent out the conference forms for families with siblings at Emily Carr in Grades 1-8. Thank you to all parents who submitted those forms. In the next couple of weeks, teachers will be communicating with the rest of the parents in their classes to finish booking conferences and confirming dates and times. Look for this communication from your child's classroom (or homeroom) teacher.
Growth Mindset
Dates to Remember:
November 7th: School Council @ 7pm
November 11th: Remembrance Day Assembly
November 15th: Grade 7 Immunizations
November 16th: Picture Retake Day
November 21st: Progress Reports go home
November 22nd: East area Super Council Meeting @ 7pm
November 24th pm: Progress Report Conferences
November 25th: PA Day (Progress Report Conferences)
November 29th: Grade 7's at Brock University
November 30th: SK Goal Setting Forms go home
Walk to School Month
Walk to School Winners!
EC parents and students - thanks for all your efforts to walk to school during the month of October - National Walk to School month. Walking to school is fun, good for you and healthy for the planet too!
A special thank you to all the students who completed ballots for our Active Transportation Prize Pack and Class Prize. Congratulations to Maia Murrain who won the $50 Sport Chek Gift Card to put towards her next pair of "walk to school" shoes. Ms. Agnew's kindergarten class won the class prize and each student received a FREE Town of Oakville swim or skate pass.
Everyone enjoyed the Sidewalk Celebrations on Wednesday, October 5th for International Walk to School Day. Music, balloons and iWAlk stickers were a fun way to start the day! Keep it up EC - you walk, you ROCK!!
Save the Date:
December 7th: Junior/Intermediate Holiday Concert (7pm)
December 23rd: Last day of school before Winter Break
Terry Fox
Congratulations Emily Carr on another amazing year on the Terry Fox Walk. On September 23, the Emily Carr community set out on a neighbourhood walk, where students could be heard singing, cheering, and encouraging each other. I am so thrilled to announce that our school raised $6900 for the Terry Fox Foundation. The students worked so hard to raise money this year, and all the efforts are truly appreciated. Congratulations to Ms. Norman's Grade 5 class for raising the most money in the school- over $800! They have won the class pizza party challenge.
A huge thank you to the community for all your support, to Mrs. McDonald for helping out, and to the Terry Fox Committee. We are looking forward to beating this fundraising goal next year!
-Mrs. Shewchuk
Spirit Wear
Spirit Wear Orders - Online Store
Just a reminder that our spirit wear store is open online for families to order t-shirts, hoodies, shorts and jogging pants. We are very excited that all t-shirts are available in all of our House League colours. All orders must be placed by the end of the day on Sunday, November 13th and items will be delivered to the school 3-4 weeks after that date. The online store can be accessed by using the following link: https://emilycarr16.itemorder.com/sale
If you require any further information, please see the full write-up on our website at www.ecs.hdsb.ca or contact Mrs. MacDougall at macdougallan@hdsb.ca
Go Thunderbirds!
Parent Resources
Parent Workshops:
The Learning Disabilities Association of Halton (LDAH), using a PRO Grant, has organized a number of Workshops and Parent Tool Kit Sessions. A number of resources will also be shared with parents in attendance. LDAH is an active member of SEAC and a valuable partner in our work supporting students with Learning Disabilities. For more information on these workshops check out this link.
Milk Orders:
We are excited to have our milk program up and running. The forms are located on the website and are due on or before November 7th. For those who pay with cashless, no form needs to be returned to the school. We would like to thank all of the parents that came forward to volunteer. Without parent volunteers, this program would not be possible. If you are interested in volunteering, please email lamanj@hdsb.ca. Daily volunteers are still welcome as well as a someone to help co-coordinate.
A Musical Note
Emily Carr’s Bucket Drumming Ensemble will be performing Friday, November 4th at the Ontario Music Educators’ Association conference in Niagara Falls. The students are very excited to be performing at the music teachers’ conference.
The Interlink Choir will perform at the Oakville Conference Centre on November 2nd in partnership with five other choirs, Mississauga Festival Choir, Halton Regional Police Chorus, Masterworks of Oakville and the Tempus Choral Society. The students are to arrive at the Conference Centre at 6:30 p.m. The directions are on the back of your ticket.
The Interlink Choir continues to meet Monday at first break. They are preparing for the Remembrance Day Assembly and their December 7th School concert.
The Emily Carr grade 8 band had their first performance at the Halloween Parade. They will also be playing at our Remembrance Day Assembly and will be preparing for the December Emily Carr School concert. Rehearsals are Wednesday and Friday after school.
Students from grade 5 continue to develop their rhythm skills through various activities. They have also created a sound track to accompany a seasonal poem.
Students from grade 6 are beginning their study of First Nation music. They each will make a drum or rattle which they will use to accompany a First Nation legend.
The grade 7 and 8 students continue to develop their skills on their chosen band instrument. Extra practice times are Wednesday and Friday, first break.
November 2016 Holidays and Observances
November 1 - All Saints Day
Many Christians in Canada honor all the different saints, particularly those who do not have their own feast day, on All Saints' Day on November 1 each year. Some eastern churches in Canada celebrate this day on the first Sunday after Pentecost. It is also known as All Hallows Tide, All-Hallomas, or All Hallows' Day.
November 1 - Hindu New Year
Hindu Vikram New Year – October 31, 2016 – Gujarati New Year - Vikram Samvat 2073 begins.
This date is from the lunar calendar that began in 57 B.C. and is observed in some states in India who follow this calendar.
November 1 - Birth of the Bab
Baha'is around the world will observe the holy day of the Birth of the Bab. One of nine holy days on which Baha'is are enjoined to suspend work if possible, the date marks the anniversary of the birth - in 1819 in Shiraz, Iran - of Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad, known to history as the Bab. Many attend holy day celebrations.
November 11 - Remembrance Day
Remembrance Day commemorates Canadians who died in World War 1 and World War 2, and also remembers those who have fought in the many wars since, including the conflicts in recent times. November 11 is significant because it is the date that marked the end of World Ware 1. The poppy is the symbol used to show that we remember those soldiers who were killed in these wars. We pause for a moment of silence to remember those who gave their lives in service to our country and give thanks for the freedom we enjoy today. The tradition of wearing a poppy to honour Canadian soldiers originates from the poem entitled “In Flanders Fields”, written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae in 1915.
November 14 - Dev Deepawali or Dev Diwali
Dev Diwali or Dev Deepawali is a Hindu festival observed in the Hindu month of ‘Kartik’, celebrated with great pomp and show in the Indian state of Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh. Dev Deepawali is the ‘Festival of Lights of the Gods’ and falls on the Kartik ‘Purnima’ (full moon day), fifteen days after the celebrations of Diwali.
November 14 - Birth of Guru Nanak
Today, the Sikh community celebrates the Birth of Guru Nanak. A gurpurab in Sikh tradition is a celebration of an anniversary related to the lives of the Sikh gurus. The founder of Sikhism was Guru Nanak Dev Ji. Gurpurab is celebrated by the Sikh community all over the world and is one of the most important festivals in the Sikh calendar.
November 20 - Universal Children’s Day
The United Nations' (UN) Universal Children's Day, which was established in 1954, is celebrated on November 20 each year to promote international togetherness and awareness among children worldwide. UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, promotes and coordinates this special day, which also works towards improving children's welfare.
November 27 - First Day of Advent
Many Christians in Canada celebrate the beginning of the Advent season on the first Sunday of Advent. It marks the start of the Christian year in western Christianity. Its length varies from 22 to 28 days, starting on the Sunday nearest St Andrew’s Day and encompassing the next three Sundays, ending on Christmas Day.
Inclement Weather
Inclement Weather Reminders:
During the winter months, inclement weather may cause the disruption of bus transportation and regular school operations. In case of poor weather, the decision to close schools and/or cancel buses is communicated to parents beginning at 6:30 a.m.
It is always a parent’s decision whether to send their child to school on inclement weather days.
Since communication is key in alerting families to the status of school operations and busing, we use a variety of methods to communicate this important information including:
Primary Methods of Communication
- Halton District School Board website - banner posted on homepage
- Halton Student Transportation Services
- Telephone recording through the Board’s main switchboard at 905-335-3665 or Toll free at 1-877- 618-3456
- Television Stations: CHCH, CITY TV, CP24
- AM Radio Stations: CFRB 1010 AM, CJOY 1460 AM, CHML 900 AM,
- CKOC 1150 AM, CHWO 740 AM, AM680NEWS, CHAM 820 AM.
- FM Radio Stations: CHFI 98.1 FM, WAVE 94.7 FM, Y108/107.9 FM, CING 95.3 FM, KLITE 102.9 FM, CBC 99.1 FM, CIMJ 106.1 FM.
- Twitter - School closures and bus cancellations will be tweeted to followers at @HaltonDSB
Email messages on Inclement Weather Days
The Home Notification System will email the parents of approximately 60,000 students (between 6:30 and 7:30 a.m.). Parents are reminded there are several reasons these emails could be delayed, including the limitations of parent’s Internet Service Provider (ISP) receiving our messages, spam protection, as well as other GTA school boards sending messages that morning. For this reason the Home Notification System is supplementary to TV, radio, website and social media.
From Student Leadership
Some of our grade 7 & 8 students are part of our Emily Carr Student Leadership team. They meet on Thursdays and plan a variety of activities for our students. Here are some things they will be offering this year at Emily Carr:
- Student Leadership will run Silver Birch Express for students in grades 3 & 4 from January to April. A specific time and day has not been selected but will be announced closer to the date.
- Student Leadership will also run independent events throughout the year (for example a Primary Craft for Halloween, Winter Holiday, etc.)
- In the past, they have also run Lego Club for grades 3 & 4 for a month.
- Teacher Contacts: Heather Stoness and Kelly Gray
Library Clubs
Our Emily Carr Library is a happening place. Most days there is something going on in the library.
- Open Library on Monday Nutrition Break 1 and Friday period 1 for grades 5 & 6, Tuesday period 1 and Thursday period 2 for grades 7 & 8.
- Mr. Elliott and Ms. Stoness run a coding club for grade 6 on Thursday at Break 2. We are looking at involving Intermediates in the new year. (More information to follow in the new year)
- Library Volunteers for students in grades 5 - 8. This will happen at breaks throughout the week.
- Red Maple on Thursdays Break 1 from January - April.
Lego Club/ Sketch Club
Lego Club
Contact: Marina Politano & Sarah Munro
Grades: 4-6
When: Wednesdays, second nutrition break
Length: until Christmas break
Artistic? Do you love sketching? Come out and see what this club is about.
Club: The Sketch Club
Contact: Anne Nakahara
Grades: 7 & 8
When: Wednesdays @ 1st break in the Library
How long: TBD
Emily Carr Public School
Website: http://ecs.hdsb.ca/
Location: 2255 Pine Glen Road, Oakville, ON, Canada
Phone: 905 82703928