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.