Emily Carr
November 2017
Message from Administration
October was an exciting month at Emily Carr. We started strong with a great kick off to our Walk to School campaign. A special thanks to School Council for supporting this event and handing out stickers. We especially want to thank Mrs. Barber and the bucket drummers for giving us a beat to our step while walking to school! We continued the month by promoting healthy eating by participating in The Great Big Crunch. On October 26th, all of our students met on the playground and took a simultaneous crunch of a healthy, local apple. Thanks to Halton Food for Thought; we thoroughly enjoyed the crunchy treat! In November, our theme of being healthy continues with our Dance-a-Thon fundraiser. School Council is organizing this Emily Carr event and will send home more information shortly.
Currently, teachers are busy collaborating and writing Grade 1- 8 Provincial Progress Reports and Kindergarten Communication of Learning. These reports will be coming home on November 20th. 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 for Grades 1 - 8 will take place during the week of November 20th, with the bulk of the conferences happening on the evening of November 23rd and the morning of November 24th (PA Day). Thank you to all parents who signed up for the conferences. In the next couple of weeks, please connect with your child's teacher(s) via email to arrange or confirm your conference time.
Dates to Remember
November 1st: Dance-a-Thon Assembly
November 6th: School Council
November 10th: Remembrance Day Assembly (10:35 am)
November 17th: Dance-a-Thon
November 17th: Newcomer Welcome
November 20th: Progress Reports go home
November 24th: PA Day (No school for students)
WE scare hunger
Newcomer Welcome Session
Inviting all Newcomer Parents and Families!
Please join us!!! on Friday,November 17 from 8:15-10:00 am for our Emily Carr Newcomer Parents Group. Come and learn about the Ontario Progress Report, Student-led Conferences and preparing for winter. 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. Even if you could not join us for our last session, please come -- all are welcome to attend!
If you have any questions, please contact Lisa Hassall (hassalll@hdsb.ca) or Anne Nakahara (nakaharaa@hdsb.ca)
Halloween Parade
On Tuesday, October 31 around 8:30 a.m., we will be having our annual Halloween Parade. Students in grades JK-3 will be participating in the parade, with students from grades 4-8 acting as spectators. Parents are welcome to join us on the blacktop to watch the parade. There will be pylons outside that will indicate where the children will walk. Please assemble on the blacktop outside of the pylons rather than waiting inside the school.
Please note that the involvement of your child in the parade and costume activities is completely voluntary. We appreciate that not all parents may support the secular concept of Halloween in its entirety. An alternative location is provided for students not participating. Our goal is to make it a fun day for the children.
Students choosing to wear their Halloween costume to school that day are reminded about the following guidelines:
- It is easily removable after the parade.
- It does not restrict vision (we discourage any type of mask).
- It does not represent any violent character.
- It does not involve accessories violent in nature (e.g. swords, knives, axes, nunchucks), or that can be damaged or left behind at school.
- Costumes that mimic the traditional attire of an ethnic, religious, racial or gender group/identity are inappropriate and unacceptable for Halloween at our school.
Please be aware that:
- Occasionally, a costume may become soiled or damaged.
- Costumes that the children can maintain themselves work the best.
- Students are also welcome to wear orange and black to school on Tuesday if you decide that they should not wear their costume.
A Musical Note by Jean Barber
Emily Carr’s Grade 8 Bucket Drumming Ensemble played Wednesday, October 4th at 8 a.m. This was for the Walk to School kick off. It was a beautiful morning to be outside -- Cogeco was there filming. and we made the news that night. How exciting for Emily Carr!
The Interlink Choir will perform at the Oakville Conference Centre on November 8th in partnership with seven other choirs, Circle of Harmony, The Entertainers, Halton Regional Police Choir, The O’Pears, The Tempus Choral Society, Tempus4Us and Tempus Jazz. The students are to arrive at the Conference Centre at 6:30 p.m. The directions are on the back of their ticket. I have a six tickets left, if you are interested.
The Interlink Choir continues to meet Monday at first break. They are also preparing for the Remembrance Day Assembly and their December 6th School concert.
The Emily Carr Grade 8 band continues to meet twice a week after school. All the students received a schedule and information is posted weekly on the Google Band Classroom site. Please check this site each weekend. The students are preparing for the Halloween Parade, the Remembrance Day Assembly and for the December Emily Carr School concert.
The grade 7 and 8 students continue to develop their skills on their chosen band instrument. Extra practice times are Tuesday first break, Thursday second break and Friday first break. I have organized grade eight students who play well to mentor the new players. I hope everyone will take advantage of this service. I appreciate the grade 8's for doing this. Parents please check and sign their duo-tangs to see how they are doing on their playing tests.
Popcorn!
Popcorn is on sale on School Cash Online until October 31st.
Don't forget to sign up!
Playground Safety Before and After School
Thunderbirds Success at Cross Country
Last month when our newsletter went out, we didn't have our standings from our cross country meet in early October. Our runners did a great job and we wanted to share our results:
Grade 3 Girls Team- 2nd Place
Grade 3 Boys Team- 1st Place (Pennant)
Grade 4 Girls Team- 2nd Place
Grade 4 Boys Team- 3rd Place
Grade 5 Girls Team- 2nd Place
Grade 5 Boys Team- 2nd Place
Grade 6 Girls Team- 2nd Place
Grade 6 Boys Team- 3rd Place
Grade 7 Boys Team- 4th Place
Grade 8 Boys Team- 5th Place
Congratulations once again to all of our runners who worked so hard this season.
Donation Needed
Needed: Red Cups from Costco
On Thursday, November 9th, many of our students will be taking part in an international cup stacking day for a World Record. Costco sells large bags of over 200 red cups for the cost of about $15. After trying many cups from different places, we've realized these truly are the best to use for a large group. If your family is willing to donate a bag of these cups, please contact Mrs. MacDougall at macdougallan@hdsb.ca.
We need the cups for Friday, November 3rd. Our hope is to have 7-8 packages donated so we can involve lots of our classes and then use them for brain breaks in our classrooms.
Please see the following link for more details: https://www.thewssa.com/stackup/2017/
Thanks so much.
Dance-A-Thon
Our kick-off assembly is scheduled for 8:30 am on November 1st! Students will be sent home with pledge cards/envelopes on this day to begin collecting pledges! Funds raised will be used to support student learning and school enhancements. The student with the highest amount funds raised will win a splatter party at 4Cats Art Studio! Three other lucky winners will win 4Cats workshop prizes!
We will be sending additional communications home after our kick-off assembly!
The Big Crunch
he Great Gig Crunch across Halton.
Thank you Halton Food For Thought for the wonderful apples!
Check It Out!
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
November 2017 Holidays and Observances
We would like to recognize the many faiths and cultures in our school community. These are the special days of significance for November.
November is Aboriginal Education Month
The history of Canada begins with Aboriginal peoples. Each year, November is Aboriginal Education Month in schools and workplaces across Canada. In recognizing Aboriginal Education Month, we acknowledge the rights of Canada’s Indigenous peoples as the original peoples of this land.
With several significant dates for Aboriginal peoples taking place in November, including honouring Aboriginal veterans on Remembrance Day and Louis Riel Day on the 16th, this month provides an excellent occasion to increase knowledge and understanding of contemporary Aboriginal realities, as well as to honour the cultures, histories, experiences and achievements of First Nations, Métis, Inuit peoples in Canada within our classrooms and workplaces.
November 1 - All Saints Day (Christianity)
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 (Hinduism)
Today is Hindu Vikram New Year or Gujarati New Year - the 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. Happy New Year to all those celebrating this occasion.
November 1 - Birth of the Bab (Baha’i)
Baha'is (Baa highs) around the world will observe the holy day of the Birth of the Bab. One of nine holy days,the date marks the anniversary of the birth - in 1819 in Shiraz, Iran - of Siyyid 'Ali-Muhammad (See yeed Ali Muhammad) known to history as the Bab. Many attend holy day celebrations.
November 1 - Samhain (Wicca)
observance of Samhain is inspired by the ancient Irish-Celtic celebration of the holiday thousands of years ago and more modern interpretations of the day that have grown out of Halloween celebrations. Celebrations can include feasting, bonfires, hosting suppers to thank the ancestors who came before you, and traditional games like bobbing for apples.
November 2 - All Soul’s Day (Christianity)
Many Christian churches in Canada hold special All Souls’ Day services each year. These services include songs, sermons, and prayers that reflect the day’s theme. Some churches give their members the opportunity to write the names of deceased loved ones in a prayer request book so that they can be included in special prayers.
November 3 - Il Poya Day (Buddism)
The Il Poya falls on November full moon. It is the last Poya of the “Wassana” Rainy Season and a number of important incidents occurred on this day. Therefore, it is a significant day in the Buddhist calendar.
November 4 - Dev Diwali (Jainism)
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 4 - Birth of Guru Nanak Dev (Sikhism)
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.
Treaty Recognition Week (November 6-12)
Ontario has passed new legislation to recognize the importance of treaties and to bring awareness to the treaty relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the province.
The Treaties Recognition Week Act was introduced and passed in 2016 with the support of all parties today and designates the first week of November each year as Treaties Recognition Week. The first legislation of its kind in Canada, Treaties Recognition Week will provide a recurring opportunity for teachers to plan learning activities about treaties during the school year and will help promote awareness of treaties in the broader public.
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 the war. 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 titled “In Flanders Fields”, written by Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae in 1915.
November 16 - Louis Riel Day (First Nations, Metis, Inuit)
Louis Riel Day is held every year on November 16 across the Métis homelands. November 16 is the anniversary of Riel’s execution in 1885. During that year, Riel led the Métis people in the Northwest Resistance, which was a stand against the Government of Canada because it was encroaching on Metis rights and our way-of-life. The Canadian government captured Riel. He was eventually put on trial where he was convicted of treason. As a result, Métis people across Canada were labeled as traitors and for generations many felt the need to hide their Métis culture and heritage. Despite this oppression, many Métis people found a way to preserve their way-of-life and passed it on to current generations. Today, the strength of the Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO) is a testament to the courage of our ancestors.
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 24 - Martyrdom of Guru Teg Bahadur (Sikhism)
Born in Amritsar, Guru Tegh Bahadur was the ninth of the ten Gurus who founded Sikhism. He's honoured and remembered as the man who championed the rights for all religious freedom. He taught liberation from attachment, fear and dependence and that strength should be gained through truth, worship, sacrifice and knowledge. He is recognized by the Sikh community on this day in November.
November 24 - Day of the Covenant (Baha’i)
Baha’is around the world celebrate what is known as The Day of the Covenant on 4 Qawl, according to the Baha’i calendar. The Day of the Covenant is a commemoration of Baha’u’llah’s appointment of His eldest son, Abdu’l-Baha as His successor. Abdu’l-Baha played a crucial role in guiding the early Baha’i community and ensuring that the followers of the Baha’i Faith remained united, rather than fragmenting into different sects.
November 25 - International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women (United Nations)
The United Nations General Assembly has designated November 25 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. The premise of the day is to raise awareness of the fact that women around the world are subject to many forms of violence on a daily basis. Furthermore, one of the aims of the day is to highlight that the scale and true nature of the issue is often hidden.
November 27 - Acsension of Abdu’l Baha (Baha’i)
This day marks the Ascension of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá which marks the passing of ‘Abdu’l-Bahá in 1921. It is recognized by the people of Baha’i faith and is one of eleven holy days in the Baha’i calendar.
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.
November 30 - Milad-Un-Nabi (Islam)
Milad un nabi – also known as Mawlid which means “Birth of the Prophet”. This date marks the birthday of the Islamic prophet Muhammad which is celebrated often on the 12th day of Rabi’ al-awwal, the third month in the Islamic calendar. Many Muslims in Canada may mark Eid Milad ul-Nabi by fasting during daylight hours or saying special prayers. Some communities organize parades, lectures or readings of poems on Muhammad's life and work. Many people believe that it is important to tell the story of Muhammad's life to children. Children often play an important part in the celebrations. Many mosques organize Eid Milad ul-Nabi celebrations that include sermons, prayers and a communal meal. The rooms used during the celebrations may be decorated with banners or modest flower arrangements.
November 30 - Maun Agiyaras (Jainism)
The festival of Maun Ekadashi (also known as Maun Agyaras) is an auspicious Jain festival which falls on the 11th day of the month Magshar (Magshar Sud 11). People in the faith worship and fast on this day to observe the day.