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Community Update - March 24

Posted On Friday March 24, 2023

Good afternoon, Bellwood Community, the home of the Bobcats where we Belong, Believe and Succeed!!

We would like to invite our school community to an Iftar meal at Bellwood Public School to celebrate Ramadan.  An Iftar describes the evening meal eaten by Muslims after the sun has gone down during Ramadan.

Bellwood will be hosting our first Community Iftar on Thursday, April 6th, 2023. Doors will open at 6:30 pm and the event will end at 8:30 pm.  Please join us for this event. 

The evening will go as follows;

  • There will be stations set up in classrooms for families to attend (Henna, colouring, Ramadan story, crafts) between 6:30 to 7:20 pm.  
  • There will be special guest speakers in the Gym from 7:20-7:49.  
  • At 7:49pm, there will be time for prayer in the library and eating in the Gym.  

We look forward to seeing Bellwood families there!

Please complete this survey by March Monday March 27th in order to help determine number in attendance and to ensure enough food. Please click on the link to access the Google Form https://forms.gle/3cRpEC19xMq8UZUMA

Please note that food will be provided for families who have RSVP’d their attendance as we will be catering this event.  You will receive a ticket for entrance to the event and at that time meal tickets will be provided for your family.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Please see below for our weekly updates;

Vision Screening OHIP will cover an eye exam by an optometrist every year until children are 19

Did you Know?

Up to one in four children may have a vision problem that problem that can affect their learning and development.  Some of these problems can be treated if found while children are young.

See flyer attached for more details click on the link Find-Optometrist-WHITBY-March-2023-ACS.pdf   vision-screening-posters-Oct-2022-ACS.pdf 

Wellness Day

We will be having a Wellness Day on Tuesday March 28, 2023, for our students.  Our Public Health Nurse and Student Leaders will be running stations for our grades 4-6 in the gym.  We will have a special guest who will be doing Yoga with our grades 7 and 8 and classroom teachers will be doing activities with their classes throughout the day.

Food Drive

We will be having another food drive.  The food drive will run from Monday March 27, 2023 to Friday April 21, 2023.  We will again have a competition between classes to see who brings in the most food.  Each class will be given a box to collect their items.

Extra Clothing

As the weather changes, we are asking families to send extra clothing with their children, especially those in the younger grades.  We have been having many accidents of students getting wet and muddy.

Chocolate Milk Sales

Please be reminded that we are selling Chocolate Milk everyday at lunch for $1.50.

Transitional Afrocentric Grade 8 Math Course

You can check out our website here at https://www.rootstoroutes.ca/

At Roots to Routes Academy, we have created a high school credit course that transitions grade 8 students into grade 9 mathematics. Currently, the Grade 9 Mathematics course is de-streamed to reduce the impacts of systemic racism and the early streaming of students into applied level courses. 

Historically, Black students have been gravely impacted by these early streaming practices. Our course is created to bridge the gap for students with creative minds who need to feel connected to the course material in order to thrive. Our global curriculum focused on cultural literacy where students learn more about mathematics and how various topics relate to cultures around the world. We prioritize an Afrocentric lens so that students can access a course that exposes them to the many Black stories of resilience in the field of mathematics. 

Through this course, students can have the option of taking a spare in high school to explore electives and to feel more confident going into high school with a credit already under their belt! Our teachers are not only OCT certified, but they reflect the population that they serve. We believe that by creating the space for students to celebrate their uniqueness, students will feel empowered to create change in the world.

This program would be offered to Grade 8 students in the Durham Region. See attached flyer 

Parent Involvement Committee

The Parent Involvement Committee is offering it’s fourth SCC Training Session

See flyer attached

April 24, 2023 at 6:30 p.m.

Session Four

By-Law’s for School Community Councils

This session will provide an overview of By-Laws as they relate to our School Community Council’s, and answer such questions as:
What are By-Laws, and what is their purpose?
How do we create them for our SCC?
How do Rules of Engagement and By-Laws differ, if at all?

Among other important topics.

Registration is required:

https://ddsb.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_e-OunnfeRx6GU4B2VygXng

Kiss and Ride

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for making our Kiss and Ride a safe drop off zone for our students.  There are just a few reminders.

  • Drop off and pick up should only be done in the Kiss and Ride unless you have parked and are walking your students to their line ups
  • Please do not cross in between the cars in the Kiss and Ride.  This is a safety hazard and we want to keep everyone safe especially our students, your children.
  • Please do not park in front of the kindergarten enclosure at the front of the school or in front of the garbage hut, we will be asking you to go back through the Kiss and Ride
  • The parking lot in front of the school is for parents
  • The parking lot at the east end of the school is for staff only.  Please do not park in the staff parking lot as this causes issues especially for our supply staff.

Save the Date

  • Wellness Day -  Tuesday March 28, 2023
  • Transgender Awareness Flag Raising at all DDSB schools – Friday March 31, 2023
  • Community Iftar  - Thursday April 6, 2023
  • Good Friday – Friday April 7, 2023  NO School
  • Easter – Monday April 10, 2023  NO School

Dates of Significance

International Transgender Day of Visibility March 31, 2023

International Transgender Day of Visibility (TDOV) occurs every year on March 31st. This day is dedicated to celebrating transgender people, their contributions to society and raising awareness of discrimination faced by transgender people worldwide.

Palm Sunday April 2, 2023

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and was cheered by crowds who strew palms branches in his path. It is observed by worship services and parades using palm branches.

Passover April 5-13, 2023

The eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover is celebrated in the early spring, from the 15th through the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan, April 15 - 23, 2022. Passover (Pesach) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Pesach is observed by avoiding leaven, and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus.
 

Your Admin Team,
 

Sharon Knights and Gavin Ruddock