asian heritage month - all schools...are from 9:30-1:00, as well as some lifting is required. please...

Parkway Public School 24 Duncan Bull Drive

Brampton, ON L6W 1H4

Phone: (905) 451-8440

FAX: (905) 451-4729

Principal Mr. D. Abela

Vice Principal Ms. A. Carnegie Office Manager Mrs. H. Trivedi

Superintendent M. Stubbings

Phone: (905) 451-2862

Trustee Kathy McDonald 905-796-8163

Student Transportation Phone: (905) 890-6000

Bus Companies:

Switzer Carty

(905) 595-1261

First Student (905) 857-4370

WE LOVE DOGS, BUT WE NEED OUR SCHOOL YARD TO BE SAFE FOR ALL! At Parkway Public School, student safety is always our priority. We love family pets too, but we ask that dogs be kept off of school property during the school day, especially dur-ing arrival and dismissal mes. Some mes the interac on between dogs and young people can be unpredictable, even when the dog is on a leash, and we would not want either stu-dents or pets harmed as a result. Please help us keep the school yard safe for everyone by keeping your pet off of school property. Your coopera on is much ap-preciated!

EQAO INFORMATION The Grade 3 students at Parkway P.S. will be par cipa ng in the Educa on Quality and Ac-countability Office’s (EQAO’s) Grade 3 Assess-ment of Reading, Wri ng and Mathema cs from May 21st to May 29th. The assessments will be approximately one hour in length on six different dates. There is no special prepa-ra on needed for these assessments.

Please try not to schedule any appointments or trips during these two weeks. If you have further ques ons please visit www.eqao.com or contact your child’s teacher.

PARKWAY SCHOOL COUNCIL School Council is seeking volunteers for our upcoming 2019-2020 school year. Volunteers are especially needed to assist with Pizza days every other Thursdays in each month. Hours

are from 9:30-1:00, as well as some lifting is required. Please go to [email protected] to get more informa on.

ASIAN HERITAGE MONTH May is Asian Heritage Month. Asian Heritage Month offers all Canadians an opportunity to learn more about the history of Asian Canadi-ans and to celebrate their contribu ons to the growth and prosperity of Canada. Throughout this month we will explore the diversity of Asian cultures by organizing some events at our school. These events Asian music on Mon-days and Fridays, Henna pain ng and Samosa day. We will also highlight some cultural as-pects, such as Asian Heritage Showcase and Bollywood Dance.

PARKWAY STAFFING UPDATE There are three changes to staffing at Park-way that have taken place in recent days. Mrs. Dourmissis, who teaches Grade 3, will be on a leave of absence un l the end of the school year. In addi on, Ms. Zavarella, our music and dance/drama teacher, will be on a leave of absence un l May 21st. We wish both teach-ers well during their me away from school. We are in the process of replacing our absent teachers with long-term occasional staff, and hope to have them working in our classrooms as soon as possible.

The third change involves our Head Custodian, Mrs. Pineda. She recently fell at home and broke her ankle, and of course needs to be at home recovering from her injury. She hopes to return to school in about 3 weeks. We wish her a speedy recovery! Our night Custodian, Mr. Chris e, will be working in place of Mrs. Pineda during her absence.

Upcoming Dates Grade 5 Grad Photo: May 14th Great Gulp: May 17th Water Walk Grade 1-5: May 17th

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

May 2019

PARKWAY’S TALENT SHOW The Talent Show took place on April 12 with over 50 students performing. Parkway has so many talented stu-dents and everyone enjoyed the songs, dances, instruments, karate and hula hooping. Thank you to all of our performers for sharing their talents!

There is an outdoor Talent Show that takes place during the upcoming Parkway Spring Fair on June 6. Stu-dents who are interested in par cipa ng in that Talent Show will be audi oned during the last week of May. Students who performed in the April Talent Show do not need to re-audi on.

BRAMPTON BEAST GAMES The Brampton Beast hockey season is now over as the team lost to the Newfoundland Growlers during the first round of playoffs. The Parkway community was able to enjoy a free game on April 18 with over 260 parents and students in a endance to cheer the Beast to a win! We look forward to con nuing to support the Brampton Beast during the next school year.

MUSIC INSTRUMENT CHOICES for Gr. 5 students Grade 5 students have the op on to take instrumental music or vocal music when a ending Grade 6 at either W.G. Davis or Fletcher’s Creek Sr. public schools. Forms will be sent home during the month of May for stu-dents interested in the instrumental music op on. We will be welcoming the Fletcher’s Creek Band on May 14, who will play and answer ques ons for our Grade 5 students.

WATER WALK On Friday, May 17th, the Parkway staff and students will be par cipa ng in a community Water Walk down to the local river. We will take the me to acknowledge that we are connected to the land and the water around us. This is being done in response to Josephine Mandamin, who recently passed away. She choose to raise awareness that water is not only sacred but it's our lifeline. Parkway has joined the Junior Water Walkers and is commi ed to taking care of the Etobicoke Creek, located close to our school.

THE GREAT GULP

On Friday, May 17, Parkway will par cipate in The Great Gulp! All students are encouraged to bring a re-useable water bo le and join us in a school wide synchronized drink! Our synchronized drink of water will raise awareness about how fortunate we are to have access to safe and healthy tap water in the Peel Re-gion. We have inten onally linked our Great Gulp with our school wide Water Walk to stress the importance of water. Cheers!


- Meet Principal Dube- Parent/Student Info Session- Quest ion & Answer Period

GRADE 5 OPEN HOUSE @DAVISWELCOME TO THE POUND BULLDOGS!!

BULLDOG HOUSE SYSTEM

FREE POPCORN

OPEN HOUSE ACTIVITIES

905-459-3661 William G. Davis 491 Bart ley Bull Parkway

Will iam G. Davis

MAY 15t h, 2019

5:30 pm t o 7:30 pm

- Tour the Building- Sign Up for Parent Council- Purchase Davis Apparel

Chianina

Dam ascus

Highland

Mashona

EDUCATION WEEK


Parkway Public School puts the spotlight on Asian Heritage In December 2001, the Senate adopted a mo on proposed by Senator Vivienne Poy to officially designate May as Asian Heritage Month in Canada. In May 2002, the Government of Canada signed an official declara on to designate May as Asian Heritage Month. Throughout May, students, staff and parents from across Peel will par cipate in a number of ac vi es that promote the understanding of the many contribu ons made by Asian Canadians.

Peel schools honour police officers during Police Apprecia on Week The Peel District School Board will pay tribute to police officers by holding Police Apprecia on Week from May 13 to 17, 2019. Peel students and staff will show their apprecia on for the tremendous job being done by po-lice to protect schools, homes and communi es. Police Apprecia on Week coincides with Na onal Police Week. Na onal Police Week pays tribute to the work of police officers across Canada. During this week, students, staff and parents in schools throughout Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga will honour the work of police officers and thank them for enhancing public safety and security.

May 15 – Celebrate Peel IT Support Staff and Media Support Ser-vices Apprecia on Day This year, the Peel District School Board will recognize the contribu ons of its IT support staff and media sup-port services on May 15, 2019. The Peel board appreciates the important work of these individuals to ensure that innova ve, reliable and adaptable solu ons are available to support student success through equitable access to technology. We thank them for providing quality service and for suppor ng students and staff every day.


Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes Do you know an adult who is interested in improving their English language skills for work, study or daily life? Through the Con nuing & Adult Educa on department, the Peel District School Board offers a wide variety of English language classes that help adult learners experience success in Canadian English in both listening/speaking and reading/wri ng. Courses are designed for a range of basic, intermediate and advanced English (Levels 1 to 8) as well as the more experienced learner needing to prepare for an IELTS exam.

Classes are ongoing ‐ Register any me. All learners who complete a session will earn a cer ficate of learning from the Peel District School Board. Cer ficates of comple on at Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 and greater can be submi ed as proof of language proficiency for Canadian Ci zenship applica ons. Classes operate from six loca ons in Brampton and Mississauga with three specially designed adult centres at:

Bramalea ‐ Adult Educa on Centre – Bramalea Secondary School, 510 Balmoral Dr, Brampton, Door #33

Brampton ‐ Adult Educa on Centre - #300 - 7700 Hurontario Street, Brampton

Mississauga ‐ Adult Educa on Centre - 100 Elm Drive West, Mississauga, Room 117

To learn more or to register, call 905‐270‐6000, then press 2 Also visit www.peelschools.org/adulteduca on or follow us on Twi er: @PDSBLearnESL


Celebra ng and Promo ng Children’s Mental Health

Children’s Mental Health Week is happening May 5-11 in Ontario. It’s a me to focus on the important ways we can promote and nurture the mental health and well-being of our children.

Mental Health: A State Of Well‐Being Did you know that we ALL have mental health? It is more than just the absence of illness. Mental health is de-fined as a state of well-being in which every individual realizes their own poten al, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work produc vely and frui ully, and is able to make a contribu on to their community (World Health Organiza on). Indigenous teaching reminds us that mental wellness is a balance of the mental, physical, spiritual and emo onal parts of ourselves and is enriched when individuals experience purpose, hope, belonging and meaning in their lives (First Na ons Mental Wellness Con nuum Framework). A child’s mental health is just as important as their physical health when it comes to success at school, in friendships and in life.

Here are some key ps and strategies to nurture your child’s mental health and resilience from your PDSB Mental Health Resource Team:

Safe, responsive rela onships between adults and children is our greatest tool for promo ng posi ve devel-opment and mental health in youth. When a child has consistent, caring adults in their life both at home and in the community, when they know they are loved and valued no ma er what, and have someone trusted they can turn to when a problem arises, their resilience is bolstered.

Listen and validate feelings. Encourage children to talk about their thoughts and feelings, and show lots of love and acceptance. Keep the conversa on flowing by asking open-ended ques ons and spending quality me together at meal mes and by par cipa ng together in ac vi es your child enjoys.

Help Your Child Develop a Posi ve Sense of Self. A child’s self-percep on is linked with their mental health. Help them set realis c goals; praise them for effort as well as achievement by providing genuine, realis c praise. Foster posi ve connec ons with their cultural or faith community. A child with high self-esteem be-lieves they are a good person, understands their posi ve quali es and strives for a successful, happy life.

Model and Teach Healthy Ways to Manage Stress. While it’s important to try to protect your child from overwhelming or toxic stress, not all stress is bad. In fact, some stress helps us mo vate and prepare us to perform our best, and there is bound to be some stress a er a disagreement with friends or being cut from a sports team. Give your child the tools they need to cope with stress and big feelings in a healthy way: estab-lish healthy habits including exercise, ge ng enough


sleep and proper nutri on; prac cing gra tude and deep breathing, journalling or talking with a trusted adult are just a few examples.

No ce Changes and Reach Out for Help. If you no ce signs that your child feels sad or overly anxious about normal situa ons like going to school or mee ng new people, take note. A change in mood or behaviour that lasts more than two weeks, impac ng social problems, academic issues or family problems could be sign of a mental health concern. Keep the lines of communica on open with your child’s teacher and other caring adults in their life to discuss observa ons. Remember, there is no age too early for a child or family to see a mental health provider; in fact, it might benefit the whole family by providing resources and support to care-givers who may be struggling, too.

Where Can I Get Help? At school, your child can reach out to their teacher, coach, guidance teacher or school administrator as a star ng point, to talk about their mental health. Every PDSB school is also assigned Social Work and Psycholo-gy staff to provide consulta on and direct service to students, and assist students and families to get connect-ed to helpful resources in the community.

In the community, visit www.WhereToStart.ca to access mental health services for children and youth in Peel. For a quick guide to mental health resources, visit bit.ly/PeelYouthResources.

For more ps on building mental health and resilience, visit bit.ly/ResiliencyTips

For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twi er @MHRTPeel. Adapted from Caring for Kids (2019) and Very Well Family (2018).


What is an IEP? Educa on is full of acronyms and IEP is one of many that a parent/guardian of a child receiving special educa-on support will encounter.

An IEP is an Individual Educa on Plan. Developed at the beginning of the school year, it lays out the accommo-da ons and modifica ons to the regular curriculum that help your child learn and be successful. No formal iden fica on is needed but you, the parent/guardian should be involved in the development as you provide valuable input. It can be overwhelming so there are pamphlets, webpages, and Special Educa on Advisory Commi ee (SEAC) representa ves who can help you understand and make informed contribu ons. May is Be er Speech and Hearing Month. Let's thank the professionals who help our children with their speech and language challenges. For more informa on, please visit www.peelschools.org/parents/specialed/iep


We Welcome the World Centres The Peel District School Board’s We Welcome the World Centres located in Brampton, Malton and Mississau-ga, are the first point of contact for all newcomer families to become familiar with the educa onal system in Peel. The centres are open all year—including the summer months— from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. In addi on to providing literacy and numeracy assessments, the We Welcome the World Centres provide newcomers with a host of services including: recep on, orienta on, interpreta on and referrals.

At each centre, parents/guardians and students will discover: se lement service informa on age and grade appropriate educa onal and related program resources informa on about various community supports transla on of materials to support the recep on and assessment process computer portals— providing informa on on Peel resources

For more informa on about the We Welcome the World Centre and the services they provide, call 905-366-8791.


Using social media safely With the growing number of social media sites, it is no surprise that social media is the most common form of communica on for children and teenagers. Posts, status updates, comments, instant messages, video up-loads, tweets and texts have become a regular part of their lives. While there are many posi ve benefits to using social media, including staying connected with friends and expressing your interests, students must be cau ous in their use of these networks. Among the most popular social media pla orms used are Facebook, Twi er, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube and Whatsapp Messenger. Many of these pla orms are free and are available on smartphones and other elec-tronic devices. These pla orms are easy to navigate and o en allow informa on to be shared instantly, not only with friends, but with strangers. On social media, it is important to remember that the world is watching. Here are some ps, provided by the Canadian Safe School Network and GetSafeOnline.org, to keep your chil-dren safe and help them make smart choices when using social media: Set some boundaries for your child before they get their first ‘connected device’ (mobile, tablet, laptop or

games console). Once they have it, it can be more difficult to change the way they use it or the se ngs.

Have a conversa on about what is appropriate online behaviour and what ac ons could have huge repercus-

sions that could damage their reputa on and be harmful to others.

Talk to your child about the kind of websites they look at. Encourage them to speak to you if they come across something they find worrying or upse ng on websites, games or social media.

Discuss with your child what is safe and appropriate to post and share online. Wri en comments, photos and videos all form part of their ‘digital footprint’ and could be seen by anyone and available on the internet forever, even if it is subsequently deleted.

Explain to your child that being online doesn’t give them anonymity or protec on, and that they shouldn’t do

anything online that they wouldn’t do face-to-face. Users should only accept people they know in order to

protect themselves from spammers, strangers and others who may be using social networking sites to

commit crimes.

Unlike when they’re mee ng someone face-to-face, children don’t always know who they’re actually ‘talking’ to online, even if they think they do. Tell your children they must never email, chat, or text with strangers, and it’s never okay to meet a stranger in the real world.

Ensure your children set their privacy se ngs appropriately. Take the me to learn how privacy se ngs work on your children’s favourite sites, and teach them how to control their privacy.

Tell your children never to share personal and private informa on with anyone online. This includes, but is not

limited to, his or her full name, age, birth date, address, phone number, social insurance number, credit

card informa on and parents’ full names.

Limit the amount of me that your children spend on social media pla orms and talk about the importance of

healthy and appropriate use of technology.


Celebrating Faith and Culture May 2019 DATE CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE May Yansa'altt and Flower Moon Indigenous May 1 Beltane Wicca Sunset of May 1 to May 2 Yom HaShoah Judaism May 2 ● 12th Day of Ridvan Bahá'í May 6 Ramadan Islam May 7 Akshaya-tritiya Jainism May 12 or 19 Sakyamuni Buddha’s Birthday Buddhism May 17 to June 4 the month of 'Azamat Bahá'í May 19 ● Wesak Day/Buddha Day Buddhism May 20 Victoria Day Canada Eve of May 23 to 24 Declaration of the Báb Bahá'í May 24 Zarathosht-no-Diso Zoroastrianism Eve of May 28 to May 29 Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh Bahá'í May 31 Lailat ul-Qadr Islam May 31 Jumatul Widha Islam May 10 or 17 (J) Ascension Christianity

Celebrating Faith and Culture Backgrounder May 2019 The Peel District School Board is a mosaic of many cultures and faiths from all over the world. To commemorate this diversity, the board recognises special faith and culture days of our communities. May 2019 has several special faith and culture days to celebrate and remember: _____________________________________________________________ May - Yansa'altt & Flower Moon in Indigenous Yansa’altt is celebrated by Nisga'a people of the Nass Valley in northwest British Columbia. It is

the season when the woods are filled with fragrance of berry blossoms that yield the fruit in the

summer.

The fifth moon of Creation is called the Flower Moon by the Ojibwe people. During this time, all

plants display their Spirit sides for the World to see. During this period of new life, all are

encouraged to discover their spiritual essences.

May 1 - Beltane in Wicca Celebrated by Wiccans, Beltane is one of the four major sabbats (seasonal days of celebration).

Beltane is a word that refers to the 'fire of the Celtic God of light.' This sabbat is the last of the

spring fertility festivals, when nature is blooming and full of life. Beltane has also been known

as May Day, as it is traditionally celebrated on May 1 with May pole dances. Another custom is

to make a small bel-fire (a bonfire, or light a few candles) and either leap over the flames or

walk between two bonfires for fertility and prosperity.

May 2 - 12th Day of Ridvan in Bahá'í The 12th Day of Ridvan concludes this important Bahá’í festival. The festival of Ridvan,

considered the "most great festival”, is a 12-day celebration that starts at sunset April 19 and

runs until sunset May 1. The most important holyday on the Bahá’í calendar, Ridvan

(pronounced "Riz-wan") commemorates the public declaration of the prophethood of

Baha'u'llah, the acknowledged founder of the Bahá’í faith. The first, ninth and 12th days of

Ridvan are all major Bahá’í holy days. These days are marked by communal prayers and

celebrations and are days when work is suspended by adherents.

Sunset of May 1 to May 2– Yom HaShoah in Judaism This Holocaust remembrance day is a Jewish holiday. “Shoah" is the Hebrew word for destruction and is another name for the Holocaust. The anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 is the date chosen to commemorate the six million Jews who died during World War II. In Israel, a morning siren sounds stopping all activity, and people stand in honour of those who died. Jews around the world hold memorials and vigils, often lighting six candles in honour of the six million Holocaust victims. Many hold name-reading ceremonies to memorialize those who perished.

May 6 - Ramadan in Islam

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic Calendar, is considered one of the holiest months of

the year by followers of Islam. It is during Ramadan that Muslims observe the Fast for the entire

month. Muslims fast (abstaining from both food and drink) during the daylight hours and in the

evening eat small meals and visit the mosque and family. It is a time of worship and

contemplation. Also a time to strengthen family, community ties and supporting the needy.

May 7 - Akshaya-tritiya in Jainism Akshaya-tritya (Immortal Third) celebrates the day when Lord Rishabha broke his first year-long fast by drinking sugar cane juice. Jains who fast on alternate days for six months, or a year, break their fast by sipping fresh sugar cane juice. People who perform the austerity of Varsitap (fasting for a year on alternate days or longer period at a time) complete the austerity on this day by taking sugar cane juice. This day is considered to be very auspicious for going on a pilgrimage to Shatrunjay (located in Gujarat, India). May 12 or 19 - Sakyamuni Buddha's Birthday in Buddhism On this day, Buddhists celebrate the birth of the founder of their religion. Siddhartha Gautama

was born in the sixth century BCE, a prince of a north kingdom in ancient India. According to

Buddhist scriptures, he was so concerned about the inequities of human life that when he was

29, he gave up his royal position, left home and strove to live a virtuous life. At age 35, he

attained enlightenment and became Sakyamuni Buddha. He died at the age of about 80, and

left a number of his students who continued to study and spread Buddhism all over the world.

Buddhists celebrate this day by visiting temples to make offerings of prayers, incense, fruits,

flowers and donations.

May 17 to June 4 - the month of 'Azamat in Bahá'í In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attribute of God. May 17 is the Feast Day for the beginning of 'Azamat, the fourth month of the Bahá'í calendar, signifying "grandeur." The Bahá'í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day. May 19 - Wesak Day/Buddha Day in Buddhism For followers of Buddhism, mainly in Sri Lanka, Wesak is the major festival of the year, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha on the day of the first full moon in May (except in a leap year when the festival is held in June). Adherents visit temples and pay homage to the Buddha with candles, flowers and incense. Chanting and prayers are important part of the day. May 20 - Victoria Day in Canada Canadians celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday on the Monday proceeding May 24 which is the actual birthday of the Sovereign. The holiday was declared by the Legislature of the Province of Canada in 1845. Eve of May 23 to May 24 - Declaration of the Báb in Bahá'í Siyyid Alí Muhammád declared himself to be the Báb, or "Gate of God," at two hours and eleven minutes after sunset on the evening of May 23, 1844 in the Persian city of Shiraz. Members of the Bahá'í faith believe that the Báb was the herald and forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh, the messenger of God for this age. The date of his declaration marks the beginning of the Bahá'í faith and calendar. Every year on this date, Bahá'ís around the world gather to commemorate this event. They abstain from work on this day. May 24 - Zarathosht-no-Diso in Zoroastrianism On May 24, Zoroastrians following the Shenshahi calendar, commemorate the anniversary of

the death of Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster), the founder of their faith. Scholars say he lived

between 1500 and 1000 bce in northeast Iran.

Eve of May 28 to May 29 - Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh in Bahá'í This date commemorates the death in 1892 of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í faith. This

anniversary is a day of rest and is often observed by prayers and readings. Bahá'ís suspend work

on this day.

May 31 - Lailat ul-Qadr in Islam Lailat ul-Qadr is the holiest night of the holy month of Ramadan. It is also called the "Night of Power," as Muslims believe that Prophet Muhammad first received God's revelation (Qur'an) on this night. Followers spend the night in worship. May 31 - Jumatul Widha in Islam Jamatul Widha also known as Juma-tul Widha is observed on the last Friday of the holy month of Ramadan. Prayers offered on this Friday are extremely significant to followers of the faith. They believe that any lapses in prayers during the year can be recompensed by offering heartfelt prayers on this day in the mosque. Ideas for celebrating special faith and cultural days in your school If you have a colleague who celebrates one of these days, don't forget to offer them best wishes! If you have students in your school who are followers of any of the listed religions: - Make sure the dates are included on your school calendar - Have your principal announce the day over the PA system - Hold an assembly to talk with students about the importance of these days - Include a mention of these days in your school newsletter - Include information on your school website - Display student artwork announcing these days or depicting their ideas about these days - Invite a member of a local faith group to come in and discuss the significance of this day with

students - Have class discussions about these days - Ask some of your students who celebrate certain holidays to write a short essay on how they

celebrate this day at home. Have them read it to the class to share this celebration with the other students.

- Have parents offer a cultural session

Questions? If you would like any more information on how to celebrate these days, please call Ashley Bigda, Community Relations Officer at 905-890-1010, ext. 2573 or e-mail her [email protected].

mailto:[email protected]

asian heritage month - all schools...are from 9:30-1:00, as well as some lifting is required. please...

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