PARENT INFORMATION EVENING
On March 27th, children, parents and teachers from Brookmede, King’s Masting and Sawmill Valley had the opportunity to get together for a workshop at Ashgrove Public School. This was the third in a series of workshops lead by Garfield Gini-Newman from the Critical Thinking Consortium (U of T/OISE). The focus of the evening was how we as parents and educators can ask purposeful questions to excite children about learning and foster critical thinking.
DANCE-A-THON
(Mrs. Daoust, Principal)
A big thank you to all friends and families of theBrookmede and King’sMasting community for your support with our Dance-a-Thon fundraiser. This event was a wonderful opportunity for the children from the two schools to get together and share in a whole lot of fun. You probably heard about the great music, fantastic lighting effects and cool videos from your child.
Not only was the Dance-a-Thon a good time, we also raised$4832.00 Teresa from Ms. Ebber’s Class raised $300.00which won them a $50.00 gift certificate to Cineplex Odeon. Mr. Fazio’s class raised $1128.00 whichearned them a special activity from Bricks 4 Kidz and a Pizza lunch.Waleed from Ms. Barrow’s and Ms. Cabrera’s class was chosenby random drawfor the Mini iPad.
Profits from the Dance-a-Thon will be used to equip and update the newly renovated library space at Brookmede. We will be using the space to create a Learning Commons to support 21st century learning. A Learning Commons is a space for students and staff to experiment, practice, celebrate, learn, work and play.
We extend a very special thanks toGianpaul Faziofor his hard work and dedication to this event.
The Alberta Library Association describes the difference between a traditional school library and a Learning Commons:
Traditional school libraries are seen as quiet places full of printed books, people reading and librarians ‘shushing’. A Learning Commons takes school libraries into the 21st century. Yes, we still have printed text, and there are still people reading, and there is still a librarian, however, the Learning Commons has so much more! There is a hum of activity with students talking, learning, searching for information on a variety of devices, focusing on content creation and synthesizing of information. The Learning Commons becomes the hub and the heart of the school; a place for teachers and teacher-librarians to collaborate to build inquiry learning and critical thinking skills in students; a place for technology integration and experimentation; a place that is ‘owned’ by students and staff alike.
LIBRARY NEWS
(Mrs. Kahnert and Mrs. Wojton, Teacher Librarians)
Forest of Reading
The Forest of Reading Book Club will finish up in the next few weeks. Voting for and celebrating our favourite books will take place later in April.
Library Closure April 7th to 11th
The library will be closed the week of April 7th in order to remove old and damaged books from the collection. We ask that students return all library materials as quickly as possible in order to facilitate this process.
Wanted: Guest Readers for Education Week
Education Week activities will take place April 14th to the 25th. One of the ways we are going to celebrate is to have teachers, parents, and others guests read a story to a class. We are looking for parent volunteers. If you would like to participate or if know of an author who would like to read to a few classes please look for a form in your child’s Friday folder this week and return it with your contact information. We appreciate you giving your time.
iPad Apps
A fun and easy to use ipad app is Pic Collage. It is a great way to use your own pictures or pictures from the internet to create your own books or collages and add messages to them. You can then post your work to Facebook or Twitter to share with friends and family.
FROM THE CLASSROOM
(Ms.Reiter’s and Ms. Waite’s Kindergarten Class)
Students in Ms. Reiter/Ms Waite Kindergarten class are learning about the human body. Students measured their feet by tracing, cutting and then by counting “how many cubes long?”
EDUCATION WEEKS – April 14th – 25th
Peel public schools will host hundreds of special activities and events to celebrate Education Week 2014. To give schools plenty of time to hold activities, this celebration of education will be held for 2 weeks. The theme for this year’s focus on education is WE INSPIRE. Brookmede’s celebration will include Meca Dance Workshops and evening performance (K-5), Dufflebag Theatre presentation, and special guest readers in our library. Please refer to our school calendar for dates and times of all the wonderful opportunities we are offering our children.
YOUR VOICE COUNTS (YVC) SURVEY
In April we will launch an online YVC survey which is designed to collect perception data about schools, and answers the question - What do staff, students, and parents/guardians think about their school? There are different versions of the survey for each audience, although the types of questions are very similar.
As our partner in education, we are inviting you to complete the survey to tell us what you think about your child's school. It is very important that we hear from all families. Students and staff are also participating. The survey results will be used to help us best meet the needs of all our students and school community, and to guide our school improvement plans. If you have more than one child at this school, please answer the questions with one of your children in mind. The survey is anonymous, so no one will know your answers. A letter containing more information will soon be distributed to families in our Friday Folder.
VISION AND HEARING
(Mrs. Jeffries, ISSP)
Has your child’s vision or hearing been checked in the last year? Good vision and hearing are important for students to learn and focus on their work. The Look Hear company will be coming to Brookmede on April7thand 8thto screen your child for hearing and middle ear function and distance vision (and colour vision for boys 6 years and older).
Ensuring good vision and hearing is vital to school success.
EARTH WEEK – APRIL 21st-25th
Earth Week encompasses the international celebration of Earth Day on April 22. This is the most celebrated environmental event worldwide. Initiated in 1970, this event has been considered the birth of the environmental movement.
Each year, more than 6 million Canadians join 500 million people in over 180 countries in staging events and projects to address local environmental issues. In Canada, Earth Day has grown into Earth Week and even Earth Month to accommodate the profusion of events and projects. Here are some ways that you can celebrate earth week with your family:
- create a backyard or schoolyard habitat
- plant a garden or tree
- start a recycling program at home
- organize a carpooling campaign in your neighbourhood to reduce air pollution
- pick up trash in your neighbourhood
- read a book about an endangered species
- make a visit to your local zoo, aquarium or museum
- visit a local park, wildlife area or farm to provide a fun opportunity to learn about the environment and life
ABSENCE FROM SCHOOL
Parents are reminded to please contact the school should your child be absent for any reason on any given school day. Call answer is available twenty four hours a day (905-820-9833).
Parents taking their child on an extended vacation must contact the office for specific information.
LOST AND FOUND
We continue to have many items of clothing placed in the Lost and Found. Please assist by ensuring that your child’s name is written on clothes and footwear as this enables us to return items to the rightful owner. Items of monetary or sentimental value should not be sent to school.
HELP YOUR CHILD SUCCEED
The Peel District School Board provides an excellent math resource for parents, students and teachers. You can use Math Online on any computer connected to the Internet by going to .
Math Online is a collection of math websites—picked by teachers and sorted according to the math learning expectations in the provincial curriculum. The website shows you topics by grade and by math strand—for example, number sense, measurement, geometry, patterning and probability.
Here are some of the other features that you and your child may find useful:
- Resources—Find the "Best of the Web" in this collection of the best math sites
- Homework Helpers—This button provides several sites for students who run into difficulty while doing their math homework
- Math Tools—Visit sites with online tools—such as calculators and pattern blocks—to help with assignments
THE FINAL TERM IS UNDERWAY
During this term it is important for your child to continue to put forth his/her best effort in all subject areas. Your child’s report card will have identified areas that need to be addressed and next steps that need to be followed in order to improve student learning. Please remember to schedule specific time for homework, provide a space for homework completion that is free from distractions and keep consistent bedtime routines.
MOVING
If you are planning on moving over the summer holidays, please inform Ms.Chadder in the office at 905-820-9833.
KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE
Rising and fast moving water in lakes, ponds and creeks is increasingly likely during spring. Children playing in and around storm sewers and watercourses and entering storm sewers through access covers is dangerous. Please review water safety information with your children and help keep them safe.
Keep your child safe around train tracks:
Trains are often closer and moving faster than most motorists and pedestrians think they are. That's why all family members should be aware of the importance of rail safety.
Taken from 100 Tips to Raise Global Citizens, The World Needs Your Kid written by Marc Kielburger, Craig Kielburger and Shelley Page
Tip # 14
BOTTOM FEEDERS:
SCHOOL HOLIDAYSGood Friday / April 18, 2014
Easter Monday / April 21, 2014
Victoria Day / May 19, 2014
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY DAYS
Report Card Writing/Assessment Day / June 9, 2014
Move the plates to a low shelf so the kids can set the table. No matter what the task, enlisting kids to do chores teaches them to contribute.
CELEBRATING FAITH AND CULTURE
APRIL 2014
Date / Celebration / Faith and CultureApr. / Mmaal / Aboriginal Spirituality
Apr. 8 / Sri Ramnavami / Hinduism
Apr. 8 / Farvardegan / Zoroastrianism
Apr. 9 to 27 / Month of Jalál / Bahá'í
Apr. 13 to 20 / Holy Week / Christianity
Apr. 13 / Palm Sunday / Christianity
Apr. 13 or 14 / Vaisakhi or Baisakhi / Sikhism and Hinduism
Apr. 13 to 14 / Theravada New Year / Buddhism
Apr. 13 or 14 / Saka New Year’s Day / Buddhism and Hinduism
Apr. 13 / Mahavir Jayanti / Jainism
Sunset of Apr. 14 to 22 / Pesach (Passover) / Judaism
Apr. 17 / Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) / Christianity
Apr. 18 / Good Friday / Christianity and Canada
Sunset of Apr. 20 to May 2 / Ridvan / Bahá'í
Apr. 20 / Easter or Pascha / Christianity
Apr. 21 / Easter Monday / Christianity and Canada
Apr. 25 / Zarathosht-no-Diso / Zoroastrianism
Sunset of Apr. 26 to 27 / Yom HaShoah / Judaism
Apr. 28 to May 17 / Month of Jamál / Bahá'í
Apr. 30 to May 4 / Ghambar Maidyozarem / Zoroastrianism
SCHOOL YEAR 2013-2014
Superintendent: Wendy Dowling 905-366-8800 ext.1224 Trustee: Brad MacDonald 905-593-3547
Principal: Kathy Daoust 905-820-9833 Attendance Line: 905-820-9833 Option 1