Emily Carr
February 2017
Message from Administration
We would like to offer a warm welcome to Mrs. Perica who is here while Ms. McComb is working on a special job for the Halton District School Board. Congratulations Mrs. McComb on this wonderful opportunity.
It is hard to believe that January is over, considering that it has been a very mild winter (so far). In fact, it is the perfect weather to walk to school. On February 1st we are going to celebrate another school-wide push to encourage our students to walk to and from school. Parents, we need your help! You can help by walking with your child to school and enjoying the music, talking with your child about the benefits of walking to school and even continuing to promote walking to and from school after the event. Let's get walking Emily Carr!
For those parents that are occasionally using the parking lot we would like to remind you that you are to follow the rules of the road. If you need to park then you are to use the designated parking spots. There are 2 handicap parking spots that require a Handicap parking permit. By-law regularly patrols our parking lot, so you are reminded of these very important laws. We also want to stress the importance of remembering that the parking lot is an extension of the school and there are many students walking in the parking lot. Please keep your language respectful when communicating with others.
Something new and exciting is coming to Emily Carr. We are going to have Monthly Pita Pit Fridays. Pita Pit lunches will start in March. This gives you lots of time to sign up for Cashless if you haven't already done so. It is quick, easy and convenient. We have 270 families already using our Cashless system. Here is the link if you need to sign up.
Dates to Remember:
February 1: Winter Walk to School/ Wear your Winter Gear Day
February 3: PA Day (No School for students)
February 6: Google Apps Session for Parents Part 2
February 6: School Council 7:00 pm (All Welcome)
February 9: Senior Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament (Falgarwood)
February 14: Valentine's Dance (Grades 6-8)
February 20: Family Day (No School)
February 22: Healthy Family Night
February 23: Band at Provincials
February 27: Report Cards go home
HDSBreads Author Event
Pita Pit Lunches
If you want to pay using cash you need to print the form and return the form to school by Friday, February 10th.
Did you know?
Here are some ideas from EC students on how to make your walk to/from school interesting:
-play a game when you walk
-walk with friends
-talk about your day
-choose a different route to walk
-collect nature on your walk
-bring a garbage bag and do a neighbourhood clean up
-play "I spy" or other imaginative games
-pretend game (live on a different planet or rocket ship)
List of Fun Walking Activities:
- Use a Pedometer: Get your family and friends to get in on the fun by competing for the most steps. Guess how many steps it takes to walk a certain distance. Track your steps and provide rewards for accomplishments.
- Take Pictures: Photograph interesting things you see while on a walk. Photograph things in the moment such as a beautiful sunset or ducks flying into a pond. Take pictures of as many types of animals as you can see while out walking. Then collect photos of tree leaves, flowers, or even clouds.
- Do a Scavenger Hunt: Let someone come up with a list of things to look for and find those items while out walking. It's best to take a picture of the item to prove that it was found, but you can also carry a bucket and collect natural items. This can be a real fun and competitive game.
- Talk to Friends or Family: Freeing up time to spend on the phone staying in touch with family and friends becomes easier when it is part of your walking routine, just make sure to charge your phone well. You may want to invest in a Bluetooth ear piece to avoid holding the phone the entire time.
- Enjoy Your Environment: If it isn't enough to take in the beautiful scenery, whether urban or rural, buy a pocket guide to help you identify things in nature or in the city scape. You can study types of trees, birds, butterflies, clouds, etc if you are in a rural or suburban area. You can study architecture, historical landmarks, or other properties of the city scape in urban areas.
- Pray, Meditate, and Work on Gratitude: Because walking can be a solitary activity, it can be the least distracting time of the day to pray, meditate, or work on gratitude. As you focus your mind on spiritual and important positive things, your walking becomes something much more than just exercise. It's "me time."
See link for more ideas.
Google Apps for Learning Part 2
On January 16th, 2017, we offered an evening learning session to parents on Google Apps and how to use Google to support your children's learning at school and home. We had a terrific turnout and the feedback from parents led us to create another evening of learning: Google Apps for Learning, Part 2 - Deepening your Understanding of taking Google to the next level in education.
SAVE THE DATE! Please join us on February 6th, 2017 at 6pm in the Emily Carr Library for Google Apps for Learning Part 2. You will have the opportunity to explore and create Google Docs, Google Slides and other applications. Please bring technology or if needed, school ChromeBooks can be provided. YOU DO NEED NOT TO HAVE PARTICIPATED IN PART 1 TO JOIN US FOR PART 2.
Parent Engagement: Math
When you support and encourage your child to learn,
When students understand mathematics, they are equipped with knowledge they can bring to every aspect of their lives. Inspiring Your Child to Learn and Love Math is a tool kit for parents. It provides modules with simple, but effective methods and materials for parents.
This Parent Tool Kit was created specifically for parents of children in the elementary grades in Ontario (Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8). The goal of this resource is to provide parents with the most significant research-based information to help them be the best, most knowledgeable and most confident supporters for their child's mathematics education.
This Parent Tool Kit consists of five modules, each with its own set of resources, support materials and videos: Module One: Overview, Module Two: Kindergarten, Module Three: Primary (Grades 1, 2 and 3), Module Four: Junior (Grades 4, 5 and 6), Module Five: Intermediate (Grades 7 and 8)
We have 5 of these kits at the school. Stop by the office to borrow one.
A Musical Note by J. Barber
The Grade 8 Band is working hard as they prepare for the competition at the Provincial Golden Horseshoe Music Festival on Thursday, February 23rd at Redeemer University. They perform at 2:30 p.m. Families may attend to watch. The rehearsal schedule is on Edsby and they all have a hard copy too.
The Blue Jays’ Choir continues to meet weekly. The date we have been given to sing at the Blue Jays’ game is Wednesday, April 12th. A ticket order letter will be going home February 9th. This is a whole school event and everyone is welcomed to purchase tickets and join the choir for this special evening.
Our Interlink Choir meets each week as they prepare for their spring concert on Wednesday, March 29 at the school.
Please mark your calendars.
Spread The News...
- Monthly Newsletters: We produce a monthly newsletter that is online and accessible through a link on the website and via synervoice.
- School Website: Many of our forms can be located through the website and events are posted on the website school calendar.
- Twitter: If you are on Twitter, follow Emily Carr and be the first to know about things that are happening.
- Synervoice: Synervoice is used to keep our parents informed regularly, through telephone and/or email communication.
- Classroom teachers use a variety of modes of communication such as email, agendas, EDSBY, Twitter and remind apps.
We value communication with parents and our school community. If you have any concerns regarding your child's learning or progress, please contact your child's teacher. If you have any success stories, feedback or even concerns please feel free to contact Mrs. Bate (batec@hdsb.ca) or Mrs. Laman (lamanj@hdsb.ca).
February 2017 - Holidays, Celebrations and Observances
February 1 - Black History Month Begins
In the 1950's the Canadian Negro Women's Association brought the celebration to Toronto, Ontario. By 1978, Ontario Black History Society successfully petitioned the City of Toronto to have the monthly celebration formally recognized. This celebration is currently proclaimed across Canada.
But why have a Black History Month? African Canadian students need to feel affirmed; need to be aware of the contributions made by other Blacks in Canada; need to have role models; need to understand the social forces which have shaped and influenced their community and their identities as a means of feeling connected to the educational experience and their life experience in various regions in Canada. They need to feel empowered. The greater Canadian community needs to know a history of Canada that includes all of the founding and pioneering experiences in order to work from reality, rather than perception alone.
As a people, with roots dating back to 1603, African-Canadians have defended, cleared, built and farmed this country; our presence is well established, but not well-known. The celebration of Black History Month is an attempt to have the achievements of Black people recognized and told.
February 1- Saraswati Puja Vasant Panchami (Hinduism)
Vasant Panchami is a famous festival that marks the end of the winter season and ushers in the springtime. Saraswati is the Hindu goddess of the Vasant Panchami festival. Young girls wear bright yellow dresses and participate in the festivities. The color yellow holds a special meaning for this celebration as it signifies the brilliance of nature and the vibrancy of life. The whole place bursts with yellow during the festival. Saraswati Puja is celebrated every year on the fifth day of the Indian month Magh, the first day of spring.
February 15 - Nirvana Day (Buddism)
Parinirvana Day — or Nirvana Day — is observed primarily by Mahayana Buddhists, most commonly on February 15th. The day commemorates the death of the historical Buddha and his entry into final or complete Nirvana.
Nirvana Day is a time for contemplation of the Buddha’s teachings. Some monasteries and temples hold meditation retreats. Others open their doors to laypeople, who bring gifts of money and household goods to support monks and nuns.
February 20 - Family Day (Canada)
Family Day is observed in the Canadian provinces of Alberta, Ontario and Saskatchewan on the third Monday of February. In British Columbia, Family Day falls on the second Monday of February. This holiday celebrates the importance of families and family life to people and their communities. On Family Day, many people plan and take part in activities aimed at the whole family. These include visiting art exhibitions, watching movies, skating on outdoor ice rinks, playing board games and taking part in craft activities. Some communities plan special public events, and art galleries and museums may have reduced price or free entry.
As the weather is usually very cold in February, hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies are popular snacks. Other people use the long weekend as an opportunity for a short winter break or to travel to visit family members or friends.
February 20 - World Social Justice Day
Social justice is an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations. We uphold the principles of social justice when we promote gender equality or the rights of indigenous peoples and migrants. We advance social justice when we remove barriers that people face because of gender, age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture or disability. The General Assembly proclaimed 20 February as World Day of Social Justice in 2007, inviting Member States to devote the day to promoting national activities in accordance with the objectives and goals of the World Summit for Social Development and the twenty-fourth session of the General Assembly. Observance of World Day of Social Justice should support efforts of the international community in poverty eradication, the promotion of full employment and decent work, gender equity and access to social well-being and justice for all.
February 21 - Int. Mother Language Day
International Mother Language Day has been observed every year since February 2000 to promote linguistic and cultural diversity and multilingualism. Languages are the most powerful instruments of preserving and developing our tangible and intangible heritage. All moves to promote the dissemination of mother tongues will serve not only to encourage linguistic diversity and multilingual education but also to develop fuller awareness of linguistic and cultural traditions throughout the world and to inspire solidarity based on understanding, tolerance and dialogue.
February 24 - Maha Shivarati (Hinduism)
Shivaratri is great festival of convergence of Shiva and Shakti. Chaturdashi Tithi during Krishna Paksha in the month of Magha is known as Maha Shivaratri according to South Indian calendar. However according to North Indian calendar Masik Shivaratri in the month of Phalguna is known as Maha Shivaratri. In both calendars it is naming convention of lunar month which differs. However both, North Indians and South Indians, celebrate Maha Shivaratri on the same day.
Festival of Mahashivaratri has tremendous significance in Hinduism. According to sacred scriptures, ritual worship of Lord Shiva on Shivratri festival that falls on the 14th day of the dark fortnight in the month of Phalgun pleases Lord Shiva the most. This fact is said to have been declared by Lord Shiva himself, when his consort Parvati asked him as to which ritual performed by his devotees pleases him the most.
February 25-28 Intercalary Days (Baha’i)
Baha’is around the world will celebrate four days of festivities, gifts, parties, service projects and charitable humanitarian work during the Baha’i holidays called Ayyam-i-Ha. That Persian phrase designates the Baha’i Intercalary Days, describing the four or five days in the annual Baha’i calendar that don’t fall into any given month. Baha’is set aside those days for joyous celebrations and preparation for the Baha’i fast that always follows Ayyam-i-Ha.
EMILY CARR: WE NEED TOWELS!
Emily Carr's Make a Difference Club is collecting used towels for the Oakville Humane Society. The towels will be used for cleaning the animals and warming their cages. Donated towels allow the Humane Society to spend money on other important necessities.
If you have towels to donate, please ask your child to bring them to Mrs. Longhurst's room (room 209) by Friday, February 10.
Thank you!
Newcomer Session
Oh No!
Snow Board
Emily Carr is starting the year by building appreciation for our friends and our school community.
Emily Carr Public School
Website: http://ecs.hdsb.ca/
Location: 2255 Pine Glen Road, Oakville, ON, Canada
Phone: 905 82703928
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.