Emily Carr
January 2018
Message from Administration
Welcome back from the Winter Break. A friendly reminder to families regarding the start of each school day.
8:00am - Supervision begins
8:10am - Students begin entering
8:15am - Instructional day begins
Parents we count on your support to provide a smooth transition to the start of each school day. Please have students here to enter the building at 8:10am. This is essential for student learning and promoting life-long behaviours for academic success.
School Council Parking Lot Initiative
Thank you for your support!
Kindergarten Registration
Inviting All Newcomer Parents and Families
Please join us in the Emily Carr library, Friday, February 9th from 8:15-9:45am for our Emily Carr Newcomer Parents Group! Come and learn about the school, the February report card and other topics of interest. You will have an opportunity to ask questions and make connections with other parents. Our Emily Carr ESL teachers and Settlement Specialist will be there to share information and answer your questions.
Light refreshments will be provided.
8:15 - 8:30am - Arrival
8:30 - 9:30am - Information Sharing
9:30 - 9:45am - Questions & Answers
Even if you could not join us for our last session, please come -- all are welcome to attend!
To RSVP or if you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hassall (hassalll@hdsb.ca).
Me to We Club
Our Me to We Group is back in full action for 2018. Be on the lookout for new initiatives to raise awareness regarding local and global issues around the Emily Carr community.
Make a Difference Club
Please help the Make a Difference Club with a Sweater and Socks Drive. New socks and gently-used sweaters are being collected to help the homeless. Please drop your donation off by Friday, February 2 to Mrs. Longhurst's room.
Lego Club
Mrs. Shewchuk
Emily Carr Student Leadership
We are extremely excited to announce that with the support of the EC community through the Angel Drive and the Candy Gram initiatives, we were able to donate nearly 2000 hygiene items along with a $600.00 cash donation to The Angel Project for their Christmas Adopt-A-Patient program. The participation of the Emily Carr School Community was tremendous and we are so grateful for your support in this initiative. Below students were at work collecting and organizing the Angel Drive items.
Way to go Thunderbirds!
A Musical Note by Jean Barber
The Grade 8 Band has started rehearsals as of January 8th . The students are to check our Google band site for upcoming rehearsals. They are preparing to compete at the Provincial Golden Horseshoe Music Festival on Thursday, February 22nd at Redeemer University.
A Blue Jays’ Choir for students from grades 4 to 8 is being formed. We were invited back by the Blue Jays’ organization to sing the National anthems at a game this season. The date of the game is yet to be finalized by the organization.
Our Interlink Choir will begin rehearsals on Monday, January 15 at first break. They will be preparing Broadway tunes for our spring concert.
This year Emily Carr will have a grade 4 to 6 choir singing with other schools at the Halton Showcase. The date for the showcase is Thursday, April 12th . This event takes place at Hamilton Place in Hamilton. The students for this choir will be meeting Wednesdays at 2nd break.
Please mark your calendars with these important dates!
Grade 6's from Class 6/7 Exploring Flight
Building a model of an airplane wing simulator.
Grade 6's from Class 6/7 Exploring Flight
Grade 7's from Class 6/7 Exploring Forces and Structures
Building Challenge: Tent Design Challenge.
Design & build a prototype of a tent, to be strong, as most wind resistant as possible.
Pathways Plannings Information Nights
The Halton District School Board is hosting several Pathways Planning Information Evenings in January 2018 that will allow parents and Grades 7-12 students to explore program opportunities high schools offer in Halton.
The Board offers more than 80 programs designed to meet individual needs and help students succeed after high school, whether they are pursuing a pathway toward apprenticeship, college, community, university or the workplace. Information nights help students to be better prepared for a rapidly changing world while receiving a relevant and engaging education.
All are welcome to attend and registration is not required. The meetings will be held at the following locations from 6-8 p.m.:
- Thursday, January 11, 2018: Georgetown District High School, 70 Guelph Street, Georgetown
- Tuesday, January 16, 2018: White Oaks Secondary School, North Campus, 1055 McCraney Street East, Oakville
- Thursday, January 18, 2018: Craig Kielburger Secondary School, 1151 Ferguson Drive, Milton
- Tuesday, January 23, 2018: M.M. Robinson High School, 2425 Upper Middle Road, Burlington
These programs include the Specialist High Skills Major programs, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Programs, Specialty School to Career programs, the Employability Skills Certificate program, Dual Credit college programs, Grade 8-9 Transition programs, and more.
Agenda for each night:
6-6:30 p.m. - Pathways displays staff by Pathways Program teachers
6:30-7:15 p.m. - Pathways presentation (Programs and planning for post-secondary)
7:15-8 p.m. - Teacher displays and elementary transition to high school workshop
To learn more, visit www.haltonpathways.ca.
Camp Fair
The 30th Annual Summer Camp Fair 2018
Thursday, January 18 6pm-8pm
Plan the Perfect Summer !
Attend the 30th Annual Summer Camp Fair at New Central School and check out residential and day camps from across Ontario. It's a one stop Summer Camp planning experience.
Bring the family - Admission is free
Plus attendees can enter to WIN a $500 camp credit toward the Camp Fair camp of their choice.
New Central Public School,
133 Balsam Drive, Oakville
(on Balsam near Lakeshore Rd. East of Trafalgar)
For more information and a list of the Camps attending visit;
Dates to Remember
Tuesday, January 16th - Pathways Planning Information Evening
- 6:00pm-8:00pm White Oaks Secondary, North Campus
Wednesday, January 17th - Kindergarten Registration
- 8:30am-1:00pm
Friday January 19th - Kindergarten Registration
- 12:00pm-2:15pm
Monday January 22nd - Kindergarten Registration
- 8:30am-1:00pm
Tuesday January 23rd - Crazy Sock Day
Thursday, January 25 - Pizza Orders (February 5 to June 18) due
(please pay via School Cash Online)
Friday, February 2nd - PD Day - No school for students
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
January 2018 Celebrations, Holidays and Observances
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 - Duruthu Poya Day (Buddhism)
Duruthu Poya celebrates Gautama Buddha’s momentous first visit to Sri Lanka twenty five centuries ago and marks the country’s initiation to the teachings of Buddhism. When the full moon appears at approximately the same time every month, it is known as ‘Poya’ in Sri Lanka, a term derived from the Pali and Sanskrit word Uposatha meaning “day of fasting”.
January 2 - 4 - 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 5 - 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 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 13/14 - 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 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 - 17 - Thai Pongal (Hinduism)
Thai Pongal is celebrated on the first day of the month Thai of the Tamil calendar. The day normally falls between 12th and 15th of the month of January in the Christian calendar. Thus, Thai is the first month of the Tamil Almanac, and Pongal is a dish of sweet concoction of rice, moong dal, jaggery and milk. This festival is celebrated by one and all as it is non-relevance to any particular religious faith. The whole Tamil population of the world celebrate it without any differences. Therefore it is widely known as "Tamil Thai Pongal" or the "Festival of the Tamils".
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 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 21 - 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 22 - Saraswati Puja Vasant Panchami (Hinduism)
Vasant Panchami day is dedicated to Saraswati, the Goddess of knowledge, music, arts, science and technology. Goddess Saraswati is worshipped on Vasant Panchami day. Vasant Panchami is also known as Shri Panchami and Saraswati Panchami.
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 28 - Lunar New Year (Buddhism)
In Mahayana countries the 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. As for example, Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese celebrate late January or early February according to the lunar calendar.
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).