Emily Carr
January 2017
Message from Administration
Welcome back! December was a busy month at Emily Carr, full of activities and excitement with the play, food drive, spirit days, and dance-a-thon just to name a few. Thank you to all of the staff and parent volunteers who made these events possible, including a special thank you to Mrs. Howse, Mrs. Barber and Ms. van Veen. Destination Celebration turned out to be a wonderful performance and we feel so fortunate to have had a power team working on this fantastic event. We'd like to send out a special welcome back to Ms. Hudson as well as wishing the best of luck to Ms. Politano in her future teaching positions.
January is a great time to look at the new year with a fresh outlook. It is the perfect time to set new goals, create new habits and learn new skills. We look forward to starting 2017 with a couple of new and exciting learning opportunities for our parents. In this newsletter you will find two sessions that are being offered: one is on Google and the other is for parents who are new to Canada. We look forward to learning together as a community.
As always please feel free to contact Mrs. Bate and/ or Mrs. Laman if you have any questions or concerns. Our door is open if you want to connect with us.
Dates to Remember:
January 13: Emily Carr Yearbook on sale (order forms will be going home)
January 16: Parents' Google Learning Session 6:00 pm- 7:00 pm
January 16: School Council 7:00 pm (All Welcome)
January 19: Pizza Orders Due
January 24: Grade 7 Trip (Snowshoeing @ Crawford Lake)
January 26: Newcomer Parents Group 8:15 am- 9:45 am
Looking Forward:
February 3: PA Day (No School for students)
February 20: Family Day
February 27: Report Cards go home
Parents' Google Learning Session
Parents, are your kids coming home talking about Google Classroom, Google Drive, the Cloud, Google Docs, Google Read and Write? Do you want to know what it's all about? Then come and LEARN!
Join us Monday, January 16th, 2017 from 6-7 pm at Emily Carr for our first Google Learning Session just for parents!
Bring your own technology or borrow one of our school Chromebooks as we teach you what these programs can do and how to navigate them. You'll get a sense of what your children are discussing and you may even want to try these programs yourself!
We look forward to hosting you and helping you learn the technology and programs we use in classrooms! Technology today can be daunting and overwhelming; let us help you learn!
Save the Date!
Thursday, January 26th from 8:15am - 9:45am
Have you been in Canada for less than 3 years? If so, you are invited to our Newcomer Parents Group. Come and learn about school and community events and have a chance to ask questions and make connections with other parents. Our Emily Carr ESL teachers and Settlement Specialists will be there to share information and answer your questions. Coffee, tea & snacks will be provided.
If you have questions, please email: Lisa Hassall (hassalll@hdsb.ca) or Anne Nakahara (nakaharaa@hdsb.ca).
MONDAY PIZZA PROGRAM
ALL ORDERS ARE DUE ON THURSDAY, JANUARY 19TH .
Dressing for Winter
During these winter months, walking to and from school is still the desired mode of transportation. Winter walking ideas and reminders about how to handle cold weather can be found at the Halton District School Website. The parking lot continues to be congested before and after school. When you choose to drive, arranging a meeting place is encouraged to avoid entering the parking lot which in the end will save you time.
Thank you
Another Thank you
The Make-a- Difference Club would like to offer their huge thanks to the EC community for the overwhelming donations of gently used coats, boots, and snow pants for the Halton Syrian Refugee Families. Together, we collected over 10 garbage bags full of winter wear that we know will be greatly appreciated by the newcomers. The Make-a- Difference Club looks forward to their new initiative for January - TBD soon! New members in Grade 4 and 5 are always welcome; we meet Tuesdays at 10:15 a.m. in room 209!
Me to We
The Me to We Club would like to thank the Emily Carr community for the amazing donations to our food drive. You have helped make a difference for families in our local area! We cannot wait to start the new year with more initiatives. Stay tuned.
A Musical Note By J. Barber
The Grade 8 Band will be starting rehearsals on Wednesday, January 11 after school. The students are to watch Edsby for rehearsal times. They are preparing to compete at the Provincial Golden Horseshoe Music Festival on Thursday, February 23rd at Redeemer University.
A Blue Jays’ Choir will be forming this Friday, January 13th at first break. The date we have been given to sing at a Blue Jays’ game is Wednesday, April 12th.
Our Interlink Choir will begin rehearsals on Monday, January 16 at first break. They will be preparing for our spring concert on Wednesday, March 29 at the school. Please mark your calendars.
Kindergarten Registration
January Celebrations, Holidays and Observances
January 5 - Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh
Guru Gobind Singh was a spiritual leader who was the tenth Guru of Sikhs. The festival is celebrated with immense joy and happiness in Punjab, India. People burn crackers and light earthen lamps to decorate their house just like people do on Diwali. Gurudwaras are decorated with flowers and lights. Various kinds of food items are prepared for the day. The food is then distributed to all the visitors, irrespective of their religion and financial background.
January 6 - Epiphany
Epiphany, also known as Three King's 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)
Christmas in Canada’s Orthodox Christian communities is a time of importance when rich cultural traditions are observed. Many people attend a special church liturgy 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 11/12th - Milad-un-Nabi - Birthday of Prophet Muhammad
Those who observe Milad-un-Nabi gatherings remember, discuss and celebrate the advent of the Prophet Muhammad's birth and his teachings. Some people send Milad-un-Nabi e-cards to friends and family. Festivities include: night-long prayer meetings, marches and parades, festive banners and bunting on and in homes, mosques and other buildings, communal meals in mosques and other community buildings, exhibitions featuring photos of mosques in the holy cities of Mecca and Medina in Saudi Arabia and teachings about the Prophet Muhammad.
January 12 - Mahayana Buddhist New Year
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. Honouring 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 13 - Birthday of Imam Agakhan
This day celebrates the birthdate of Imam (spiritual leader) Agakhan. He succeeded his grandfather as Imam. While in the office of the Imamat, he has been concerned with the well-being of Muslims, especially when faced with challenges. On his birthday, Muslims around the world celebrate and reflect on the work he has done.
January 17th: Martin Luther King Day
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 non-violent protests 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 28th: Chinese New Year/Lunar New Year
Many people in countries such as Canada celebrate Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival or the Lunar New Year. It marks the first day of the New Year in the Chinese calendar. Chinese New Year is a vibrant and festive occasion for many people in Canada. This event can last for many days and often includes various festivities such as street parades and festivals featuring dancing, traditional Chinese costumes, firework displays, food stalls, and arts and crafts. Many Chinese Canadian families spend time together giving gifts, particularly red envelopes with money that are normally given to children. Some Canadian organizations have also participated in Chinese New Year through various activities over the years.
January 29 - Jashan-e-Sadeh
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). The bonfire is to drive back the winter in defiance of Ahriman. It is a deeply religious festival.
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.
Emily Carr Public School
Website: http://ecs.hdsb.ca/
Location: 2255 Pine Glen Road, Oakville, ON, Canada
Phone: 905 82703928