Week of March 25th, 2024

 Happy Easter 

Happy Easter to the members of our school community who are celebrating this weekend. Wishing you peace, love and happiness today and always.

Deer Park Summer School July 2024 

Please note that Deer Park is offering summer school for July and registration is now open. Please refer to the link below for more information on this. Families can register online or by hard copy PDF registration. You will find both links in the attachment. The program is for students in Kindergarten to Grade 8. For students in Grades 6, 7 & 8, there is a focus on learning skills and strategies that will assist them during their transition years moving toward Secondary School. 

Deer Park Summer School

EQAO Parent and Caregiver Webinars

Parents and/or caregivers can register for upcoming EQAO Webinars. Click here for the link to the EQAO parent webinar registration page: Webinar Registration - Zoom

Upcoming Elementary Parent/Caregiver webinars are scheduled for: April 3 and April 10.

Sikh Heritage Month at the TDSB – April 2024

Source: TDSB website

Sikh Heritage Month has been proudly recognized at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) since 2016 as the Board of Trustees voted to designate April of each year as Sikh Heritage Month making the TDSB the first school board in Canada to do so. Sikh Heritage Month is recognized nationally across Canada.

This year’s the Sikh Heritage Month’s theme is Chardi Kala (The Positive and Uplifted State of Mind). According to Sikh beliefs, Chardi Kala is a state of mind that radiates positive energy, optimistic attitude, strong confidence, and virtuosity. With true belief in the supreme power of the Almighty and the oneness of humanity, this state of mind can pave a way for the well-being and happiness of all.

The TDSB community, students, and staff is invited to join our virtual Sikh Heritage Month launch to learn about the Sikh heritage and traditions! Join us for a remarkable morning of information and celebration on Wednesday, April 3rd from 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., zoom webinar link.

Lastly during the month of April, Sikh Canadians recognize Vaisakhi, also known as Khalsa Day, which celebrates the Sikh New Year across Ontario. This year Khalsa Day will be celebrated on Sunday, April 28 in downtown Toronto at Exhibition Place This celebration is the third largest parade in Canada with thousands of individuals joining in the festivities! We hope you are available to join the festivities and celebrate!

Latin-America History Month at the TDSB: April 2024

Source: TDSB website

The month of April is proudly recognized as Latin–America History Month at the Toronto District School Board. This year the focus and theme of 2024 is: "Weaving Our Legacies: Return to Our Collective Path | Enlazar Nuestres Legados: Volver a Nuestre Camino Colectivo."

The “e” in Nuestres was purposefully chosen to disrupt the dominant and default patriarchal binary gender grammar system of the colonial language of Spanish. The intentional use of the letter “e” as gender inclusive was created by LGBTQIA+, gender non-binary, and feminist communities in what is recognized today as Latin-America.

Sources: https://callmelatine.wordpress.com/

Since the creation of the Latin-America History Month Volunteer Planning Committee in 2016, the membership, which is comprised of educators, community organizers, parents/caregivers and TDSB staff and alumni, continues to ensure that we are reflective of all intersectional differences within our communities of Latin-America / Abya Yala / Pachamama and its diaspora, including those right here at the TDSB.

In alignment with this year’s theme, we are centering weaving individual and collective legacies of resistance, struggles, joy, love, and healing as peoples of the Latin-America / Abya Yala / Pachamama and its diaspora. While also focusing on the communal purpose of raising consciousness and moving towards reclaiming our whole authentic selves and a (re)commitment to reciprocal relations, solidarity, and action towards a just world.

During the month of April, several activities are being planned for students, staff, and community members. We invite everyone to join us to kick off Latin-America History Month with a virtual launch, on Friday, April 5, 2024, from 9:30-10:30 a.m.

Wednesday, April 10th: International Pink Shirt Day

This day was created as a campaign to end bullying against the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, continuing the fight for equality, diversity, and acceptance. The day aims to make the world more inclusive and diverse. On this day, people around the globe are encouraged to wear pink and stand against bullying and in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The community believes that wearing pink on International Day of Pink represents acceptance, courage, diversity, equality, and inclusivity.

Week of March 18th, 2024

Dressing Appropriately For The Weather

Dear Families,

Please note that all students are expected to dress appropriately for outdoor activities no matter what the weather is. Outdoor play is valuable and students are expected to be outside daily during our regularly scheduled recesses (i.e., lunch and recess). We ask that all students come to school with appropriate rainy/cold weather clothes. Most days students will go outside, even on wet/cold days, so it is important that they are dressed for the seasonal weather extremes. With the weather being so unpredictable here in Toronto, your children should always be prepared for wet and blustery weather. Students will not be permitted to remain indoors during recesses, as we do not have adequate supervision at that time. We thank you for your understanding and support with this matter.

Room 310 - World Water Day Blurb

          

Friday, March 22nd, 2024 was World Water Day. Various classrooms around the school recognized this important day in all kinds of valuable ways. We would like to highlight the efforts of one classroom in particular. The Grade 3s and 4s in Room 310 discussed the importance of this day and highlighted the importance of ALL PEOPLE having access to CLEAN WATER. Room 310 listened to the story, Nibi’s Water Song and had some great, rich discussions surrounding Nibi’s experience with a lack of clean drinking water, what she did to fix the problem and how she got her community involved. They were able to connect this story to indigenous activist Autumn Peltier, whom the class began studying on International Women’s Day. Autumn Peltier’s work is all about ensuring that all First Nations communities have access to clean water.

Primary Puzzle Club

Here are some photos from our primary puzzle club. On a weekly basis, students have enjoyed challenging themselves to different puzzles. What a fun way to get students to develop their critical thinking and problem-solving skills, while encouraging them to think outside the box. Thank you to both Ms. Casselman and Mme Viner for their weekly efforts running this amazing club!

Vaccinations Source: Shelley Laskin's Weekly Updates Measles is increasing and spreading in every region of the world. It can cause a fever, rash, runny nose, red eyes & more. It spreads through the air and close contact when a person infected with measles breathes, coughs, or sneezes. If you think you have the virus, stay home & contact your doctor. Learn more: http://toronto.ca/measles-fact-sheet. Vaccines are available from your primary health care provider or at a TPH community clinic for school-aged children, by appointment. Visit TPHbookings.ca for more information. All children attending school between ages 4 to 17 need to be immunized according to Ontario's Immunization Schedule. If you are unsure of your child’s vaccination status, check their yellow card (Ontario Immunization Record), TPH’s Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) or by speaking with their primary health care provider. To learn more, visit toronto.ca/immunization or contact TPH at publichealth@toronto.ca, or 416-338-7600 (TTY: 416-392-0658), Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

TDSB Earth Hour 2024 On Friday, March 22nd at 2:00 PM TDSB schools and offices are asked to go as electricity-free as possible for ONE HOUR. Earth Hour presents a great opportunity to raise awareness focused on energy conservation and climate change. Thank you to our Ec-Club at Davisville JPS for their efforts on this day. They distributed Power Down stickers to all, encouraging people to power down electronics when not in use. We also turned off interior lights and electronics to save energy on this day. It was a great day to understand and raise awareness on the importance of energy reduction. To help maximize your energy reduction, you can explore the TDSB EcoSchools Earth Hour resources.

 

TDSB Summer Music & Art Camps 2024 Source: Shelley Laskin's Weekly Updates We are excited to announce that registration for our summer music camp in Toronto 2024 is now open! Explore your musical talents and creative flair at the TDSB Summer Music and Art Camps! Our camps welcome young artists and musicians of all skill levels, offering diverse programs including band, orchestra, strings, and personalized instruction. It's a chance to develop your skills, build friendships, and celebrate in an exciting final concert. Join us for a summer of music-making, artistic expression, and endless fun! For more information and details, click here - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Innovation/Summer-Programs/TDSB-Music-Camps

Ramadan Continues

Source: Shelley Laskin's Weekly Updates

Ramadan is an opportunity to celebrate the diversity that exists within our school communities. For many Muslim students (and staff), observing Ramadan through fasting brings a great sense of fulfillment and community. Please see these shared tips that schools can use to support students who are observing and promote inclusion throughout Ramadan. For more information on the duty to accommodate, please click here

Week of February 26th, 2024

 

Karl Subban: Guest Speaker

We would like to thank, Karl Subban, for being a guest speaker at our school this past week. Karl is an author, coach, inspirational speaker, former school principal and father of five. He has raised two daughters who are educators and three sons who are professional hockey players. Karl did not play hockey himself, but fell in love with the sport when he moved to Canada from the Caribbean. He is the author of two books – How We Did It and The Hockey Skates. 

During his presentation, Karl shared with our students inspirational stories and lessons about focus, motivation, perseverance and reaching one's full potential. These invaluable messages will resonate with us. Also, a huge thank you to our Spectrum staff and students who created trading cards for Karl as an extension of their gratitude. As part of an integrated media literacy, writing and history assignment, Spectrum students researched Black Canadian trailblazers in ice hockey and created trading cards as a way to demonstrate what they learned in honour of Black History Month. These trading cards were proudly presented to, Karl, at the end of his presentation. Bravo Spectrum!

TPH Measles Awareness Communication

The following is a message from TPH:

Travelling abroad for March Break? Measles is just a plane ride away.

Last week, TPH announced an investigation of a confirmed case of measles linked to travel. This virus continues to spread in many parts of the world. If you are planning to leave the country over March Break, get the best protection for you and your loved ones by staying up-to-date with your routine vaccines, including the measles vaccine.

These vaccines are available from your primary health care provider or at a TPH community clinic for school-aged children, by appointment. Visit TPHbookings.ca for more information. If you are unsure of your child’s vaccination status, check their yellow card (Ontario Immunization Record), TPH’s Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) or by speaking with their primary health care provider.

To learn more, visit toronto.ca/immunization or contact TPH at publichealth@toronto.ca, or 416-338-7600 (TTY: 416-392-0658), Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Greek Heritage Month at the TDSB – March 2024

Source: TDSB website

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is proud to recognize Greek Heritage Month during the month of March. It has been celebrated across the school board since March 2015 when a motion was carried by at our Board of Trustees meeting. This heritage is also celebrated within the Province of Ontario because of the Hellenic Heritage Month Act, 2019 that was passed. This Act reads, in part:

March is a significant month for the Hellenic community and March 25 is celebrated each year as Greek Independence Day. Proclaiming March as Hellenic Heritage Month provides an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the outstanding achievements and contributions of the Hellenic Canadians in the province.

The theme for this year is:

“Greek Thought and Civilization: From Myth to Logos”

«Eλληνική Σκέψη και Πολιτισμός: Από τον Μύθο στον Λόγο»

Join us on Sunday, April 7 at 1:30 p.m. for the Greek Independence Day Parade on the Danforth (meet at 15 Phin Avenue at 1 p.m.).

Join us for the GHM Closing Event on Saturday, April 13th at the Greek Community Centre at 30 Thorncliffe Park Drive from 1 to 3 p.m.

MIDTOWN NEIGHBOUR TO NEIGHBOUR CLOTHING SWAP MARCH 16

SAVE THE DATE: March 16 11-2pm for a Spring Neighbour-to-Neighbour Back-to-School Clothing Swap (hosted by works-in-progress collective)

Spring cleaning? As seasons change you may find last summer's clothes no longer fit. Keep them in use and out of landfill and get something new to you at this annual Clothing Swap. Here's how it works: kids in your household outgrown their clothes? Keep the kids, pass on those clothes to others in your neighbourhood! Need some clothes for quick-growing kids? We'll have lots to choose from - come fill your bags and keep clothes with life left in them in circulation as long as we can! WE ALSO HAVE ADULT SIZES

The swap IS INDOORS at Glebe Road United church, 20 Glebe road e. Just south and east of Manor and Yonge. Please reach out ASAP if you have questions or want to take part as a donor, swapper, or host. Come participate in the local, circular economy (and have some fun 😉.)

Location: Glebe Road United Church (enter off parking lot)

Date: Saturday March 16 (rain or shine)

Time: 11am-2pm

Cost: FREE (fill a bag for $5 or pay what you want... monetary donations will buy lunch for volunteers)

Items: gently used clothing and shoes all sizes

Info & Sign-up: Midtown Neighbour-to-Neighbour Clothing Swap or email us at: works.in.progressto@gmail.com.Contact: Tanya Murdoch at: works.in.progressto@gmail.com

Works-in-Progress is an eco-artist collective with roots in Toronto and Hamilton. We make art out of garbage, co-host swaps, and hold workshops. We use recycled materials in art making because reclaiming and up-cycling inspires creativity. We have been hosting clothing swaps in Toronto and Hamilton for many years. Check out the swaps section on our website www.works-in-progress.ca for more information and FAQs.

Q: How do I donate? Drop off (clean, sorted, and labelled) clothes with Siobhan during office hours (M 9:15-12, W 9:15-3, F 9:15-3) at Glebe Rd. United Church (off the parking lot) the week of March 11 - 15th or the morning of the swap. If you cannot drop donations off on these days or times , please contact Tanya at works.in.progressto@gmail.com (mailto:works.in.progressto@gmail.com)

Promoting Respect in Our School Building

Each and every day, TDSB staff in schools and buildings interact with students, parents, guardians, caregivers, and other members of the community. As a school and school board, it is our expectation that staff be treated with kindness, dignity and respect during all interactions, whether in-person or via phone and email. Harassment or disrespectful behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated.

Please remember that respectful behaviour must be maintained during all interactions. We ALL have an important role to play in creating and maintaining respectful working and learning spaces.