Community Update - April 19
Good afternoon, Bellwood Community, the home of the Bobcats where we Belong, Believe and Succeed!!
We would like to take this opportunity to send out a huge Thank You to all the families who came out to our Eid dinner this week. Thank you to all of the families that made donations of drinks, desserts and cash donations, these donations helped to make a successful evening.
As you know a big event like this cannot be done single handedly. We would like to thank Mr. Mohammed and Mrs. Khan for organizing this event and for all of the staff and community members that came out to help with our Henna Stations, our Read Aloud Room and our Arts and Crafts room. We also had many staff and community members helping as food servers to make sure that everyone was fed.
It was a wonderful evening and we look forward to many more community events!
Have a wonderful weekend!
Please see below for our weekly updates;
Save the Date
- April 25 Family Movie Night
- May 10 FDK Family Friday
- May 20 NO School - Victoria Day Weekend
- May 21 – 24 Grade 3 EQAO
- May 28 – 31 Grade 6 EQAO
Active Sustainable Travel to School
The Regional Municipality of Durham is looking for information from families in our community in regard to Active and Sustainable Travel to school.
What is the Family /Caregiver Survey?:
Family and Caregiver Surveys provide insight into what factors are influencing travel mode choices.
Link to Survey:
A QR code is available through the link if needed. 2024 QRCode for Active and Sustainable School Travel - Family_Caregiver Survey 2024.png
Footloose the Musical
Footloose, the Musical is being performed by our grade 11 and 12 O’Neill Collegiate Performing Arts classes next Wednesday – Saturday. It is a fantastic show with an incredibly talented cast! Please help me spread the word. Here is our most recent trailer: https://youtu.be/r8NZLe31Tqs?si=BcCKxkyJ1mGXVuRh
See the attached flyer for more details 2024 (Official) Footloose Poster.jpg
Rhythm Nation at Maxwell Heights
Dear DDSB Community Friends and Family.
It’s that time of the year again…MDC is returning to the Maxwell stage, after two award-winning competitions, to present RHYTHM NATION, a showcase of this year's dancers and dance at Maxwell Heights! Our students have been working hard to prepare a variety of routines and are excited to present these to our community. As always, we would love to see you and your families in the audience to support our dancers and enjoy an amazingly fun night! See attached flyer 2024 MDC Showcase Poster.png
THE DETAILS!!!
SHOWDATES: Tuesday, April 30TH & Wednesday, May 1st
TIMES: 7:00 pm… Doors open at 6:30 pm
PLACE: Maxwell Cafeteria (1100 Coldstream Drive)
COST: Adults $10, Students $8
TICKETS!!
Tickets and seating is first come, first serve! Tickets will be sold at the door and sales will be CASH ONLY!
Great Beginnings Family Webinar Series
Self-Reg: Supporting the Path to Young Children's Well-being
Wednesday, May 1st, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Navigating the Transition: Understanding Behaviour When Starting School
Tuesday, May 14th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Parent and Caregiver Masterclass in Stress Management
Thursday, May 30th, 2024 at 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Please click on the link for registration information March 22 Great Beginnings Family Webinar Series 2024 - Admin Memo.pdf
Ignite Learning Foundation in Partnership with Tribute Community Center
Thanks to the success of the Harlem Globetrotters ticket sales, the Ignite Durham Learning Foundation has again partnered with Tribute Communities Centre for two upcoming shows:
Gerry Dee ‘Funny You Should Say That’ show - April 20th
Monster Trucks ‘All Out Northern Lights Party’ - May 25th
All tickets sold using the code IGNITE will see $5.00 from each ticket go to helping our students during their time of need.
We ask that schools consider sharing the attached flyer with your families, the more it’s promoted, the more tickets sold using the code IGNITE the more children we can support. 2024 DDSB Ignite - 2024 Offer_GD_MT.pdf
Harlem Globetrotters event provided enough funding to support 6 DDSB students ($1500 with 300 tickets purchased using the code IGNITE)!
THANK YOU for all that YOU do for our DDSB students, families and communities!
The IDLF Team
FDK Family Friday
We are excited to let you know that we would love to invite our Kindergarten families to our Family Friday on May 10, 2024 from 2:30 - 3:30. Come in and learn alongside your child and see what they do at school! For more information please click on the link 2024 Kindergarten Family Day 2024.pdf
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to your child's teacher!
Kindergarten Pick-Up and Drop off
This is a reminder to please for families dropping off their children to the Kindergarten enclosures in the morning, picking up at lunch and picking up afterschool. In order to keep all children safe, we are reminding you to please do not enter the Kindergarten enclosure. Please wait for a staff member to open and close the gate to receive children in the morning and to give you your children when picking up at lunch or afterschool. If there is no staff member at the gate, please bring your child to the office. The gates need to be closed at ALL times!
We appreciate your attentiveness to this matter. If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at the office or via email. The school phone number is 905 436-0098. My email is sharon.knights@ddsb.ca
Newcomer Fair
The attached flyer is for Welcome to Ajax: Newcomer Fair on Wednesday April 24, 2024 between 3-6pm.
The session will be held at the Ajax Public Library - Main Branch @ 55 Harwood Avenue South in the Rotary Room.
The session will share information about local community organizations including settlement services, volunteer opportunities, employment help, and more.
If you are interested in attending, please register at ajax.ca/newcomersfair
DDSB Recruitment Information Workshop
In support of the Compendium of Action for Black Student Success the Durham District School Board (DDSB) is striving to bring the leadership and influence of Black Educators and Professionals into our schools. Please click on the link for more information
A FREE information session is scheduled for: May 4, 2024, at the Education Centre, 400 Taunton Road E., Whitby, ON. From 10am to 12 noon.
Registration is required to ensure we can accommodate all interested participants. https://forms.gle/DVQ4jQdJJnEoDVGq8
Youth Empowerment Event
The Congress of Black Women of Canada, Ajax/Pickering Chapter, is excited to partner with the Ajax Public Library to host "Black Youth Empowered 2024", one-day in-person conference for Black teens in Gr 9 to 11 on Sat. Apr 20 (10 am - 3 pm) at the Ajax Public Library, where they can learn about financial literacy and positive mindset, be in conversation with young, engaging facilitators, and build community with each other. Register today (limited spots available)! bit.ly/2024bye
Parent Engagement: An evening with Sam Demma@ Donald A. Wilson on Thursday May 9, 2024
Registration link https://forms.gle/hg5jwX1Zq8DJaCvX8
DONALD A. WILSON S.S. presents:
Musical Performance followed by a Guest Speaker presentation @HOME and in person. Thursday, May 9, 2024 @ 5:30 pm-7 pm
The evening at a glance:
An enlightening in person, interactive presentation with a virtual option for parents/guardians of Donald A. Wilson S.S.
Empty your Backpack; a Message of Hope, Mental Health and Kindness
Keynote description:
Everyone has a giant invisible backpack strapped to their shoulders – and surely your students are no exception. In these backpacks, your students carry the thoughts and opinions others place on them. Things that stop them from loving themselves and expressing who they truly are. This program aims to help your students remove the mental burden on their shoulders and provide them with an empowering outlook on the past, present and future.
Biography:
Sam Demma is a best-selling author and one of the most in-demand keynote speakers in the education and association sectors. He delivered two TEDx talks, co-founded PickWaste—an organization that mobilized volunteers to pick up over 3000 bags of litter—and was awarded the prestigious Queens Platinum Jubilee Award for his exceptional National contributions. During the pandemic, Sam produced two viral graduation videos for students who missed their ceremonies and launched a partnership with Taco Bell to encourage people to engage in acts of kindness. His work and interviews have been featured in The Globe & Mail, CBC, and CTV. He has been recognized as Starfish Canada’s Top 25 Under 25. Sam’s multimedia platform, The High Performing Educator, has spot lit over 250 educators, and his bestselling debut book, Empty Your Backpack has been called “a must-read for young dreamers.” In his spare time, you can find Sam reading books, dancing the bachata, or journeying across the globe with his giant red backpack.
Durham Counselling Walk-In Clinic
The Durham Counselling Walk-In Clinic is a free, confidential counselling service, providing service for children and youth, 3 – 19 years (up until their 20th birthday), and their families. Please see attached flyer for more information
Summer School Course Information
Summer school course information is now available at DCE.ca.
Durham Continuing Education offers a variety of credit and non-credit programs for students from Grades 6 to 12.
Program dates and more are available at: http://bit.ly/3lvZ7TB
#IgniteLearning
Student Art Gallery Submissions Due April 26!
On May 30, 2024, the DDSB will open the next Student Art Gallery – a district-wide art collection housed in the Education Centre, displaying artworks created and curated by students in Grades 7 to 12 with staff support.
The theme of this year’s gallery is My Journey, My Joy, My Genius. Artwork should focus on the student’s personal journey, sources of joy, and expressions of genius. Digital representations of completed (or nearly completed) artworks should be submitted through this form. The deadline for submission is Friday,April 26, 2024.
For more information about this year’s theme and the selection process, please visit the DDSB website.
Kindergarten Registration for the 2024-2025 School Year
Reminder: Kindergarten registration for the 2024-25 school year is open! Do you have questions about Kindergarten or other Early Years programs?
Read the Early Years FAQ: https://bit.ly/3uCxqgz
For families who are interested in registering their child(ren) for a Kindergarten program at the DDSB, please visit our Kindergarten Registration web page for access to the online portal, as well as information and resources to help your child prepare for this very exciting time!
As a reminder, online registrations will not be confirmed until the school has met with a parent/guardian to verify all required documentation and information within the application. Your designated DDSB home school will contact you in the coming months via phone or email to arrange a time for you to visit the school, review your child’s Kindergarten application, and finalize the registration. During this scheduled time, you will have the opportunity to discuss required documents (i.e., Immunization records, special education needs, medical requirements, Personalized Learning Plan (PLP) classes, transportation requirements, etc.), and any additional questions you may have.
French Immersion for Students going to Grade 1
Below please see the link for the French program at John Dryden PS.
Senior Kindergarten Parents: If you decide to put your child into French Immersion for grade 1 at John Dryden PS please use this link to do a pre-registration so we can predict numbers and classes.
https://forms.gle/q8H7b1w5RduRWDXC6
Teams and Clubs
Students are advised to listen carefully to the morning announcements for when try-outs for teams are happening and for when clubs are running at school. Mr. Marshall has permission forms and a calendar on the bulletin boards just outside of the gymnasium. It is important for students to check for permission forms and to view the calendar to see when things are happening. Please see attached photos
The following teams and clubs are running;
- Folk Dancing April 9 to May 7, 2024. Practices are Tues. and Thurs. from 3:35 to 4:45
- Intramurals: Monday Grades 1 and 2, Tuesday Grades 5 and 6, Wednesday Grades 3 and 4, Thursdays Grade 7 and 8.
- Intermediate Band and Bell Choir
- Second Round of Junior/Intermediate Cooking Club has started for selected students on Wednesdays from 3:45 – 5:00 p.m. The second round of cooking club will started on Wednesday April 17, 2024.
SCC Family Movie Nights: Save the Date
- Thursday April 25, 2024 from 6 – 8:30 p.m. with doors opening at 5:45 p.m.
The cost of entry for the Movie Night will be $2.00 per person or $5.00 per family. We will be also selling popcorn, chips, and cookies. Please be reminded that parents should be staying with the children for the Movie.
Kiss and Ride Reminders:
- When dropping students off in the kiss and ride please drive right up to the front of the kiss and ride so that other cars are able to join the Kiss and Ride to drop off their children
- Please be patient as everyone is trying to drop off their children safely
- We understand that the mornings and afterschool times you are busy rushing to get your children to and from school. We ask that you choose safety over convenience as you are driving through the Kiss and Ride and please watch your speed
- Please do not park or stop in the Kiss and Ride or in front of the kindergarten enclosure in the morning from 8:50 – 9:20 a.m. and from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. If possible, please find a parking space or circle around (like at the airport)
- It has been brought to our attention that some people are parking in our handicapped parking spaces who do not have the handicapped permit visible on their dashboard or where it can be seen. We are reminding you that these parking spots are for people who have a handicapped permit, and the permit must be visible if you are going to park in the handicapped spots. Also, we have noticed that cars are sometimes blocking these spots making it difficult for those who need it to park there. Please note the fine for parking in these spots without a permit is $5000.00.
- We are also reminding parents who drive their children to school to please drive right up to the front of the Kiss and Ride. Please do not park your car in the middle of the Kiss and Ride as this slows down the process for everyone. Also the laneway beside the Kiss and Ride is not for parking this laneway helps the traffic move along and keeps a flow to our Kiss and Ride in the morning and afterschool
- We are also asking that you prioritize safety over convenience as we try to keep everyone safe. Please use the sidewalk. We see many parents crossing in front of cars in the Kiss and Ride and this poses a very serious safety risk. Please use the sidewalk to walk your children to their line up
Dates of Significance
April 19 Ridvan
Ri?ván is a twelve-day festival in the Bahá'í Faith, commemorating Bahá'u'lláh's declaration that he was a Manifestation of God. In the Bahá'í calendar, it begins at sunset on the 13th of Jalál, which translates to the 20th or 21st of April, depending on the date of the March equinox.
April 22 - April 30, 2024 Passover/Pesach
Passover, also called Pesach, is a major Jewish holiday, one of the three pilgrimage festivals, that celebrates the Biblical story of the Israelites' escape from slavery in Egypt.
April 22 International Earth Day
Earth Day is an annual event on April 22 to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinated globally by Earthday.org including 1 billion people in more than 193 countries. The official theme for 2024 is "Planet vs. Plastics."
April 24 Administrative Professionals Day
Administrative Professionals Day is a day observed yearly in a small number of countries. The day recognizes the work of secretaries, administrative assistants, executive assistants, personal assistants, receptionists, client services representatives, and other administrative support professionals.
Your Admin Team,
Sharon Knights and Gavin Ruddock
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