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Community Update - February 24

Posted On Monday February 24, 2025

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

Our SCC is planning to end our school year with a Community BBQ and mini Fun Fair.  We would like to gage the communities’ interest for this event which would happen in June.  Please take a moment to fill in the google form that can be found by clicking the following link.  We look forward to hearing from you! https://forms.gle/pgRTMGcdkPC526XA9

We would like to thank parents for their efforts in making sure that your children are dressed appropriately for this amazing winter weather that we are having.  The children are enjoying playing in the snow and dressing for the weather makes this an amazing experience.  Please continue to send your children to school with snow pants, hats, mitts/gloves a warm coat, boots and a change of clothes just in case they get wet while playing in the snow.

Please note our school parking lot is Private Property.  We have noticed that there are a few cars that park here over night taking up parking spaces for our families that drop off and pick up their children. This also affects our snow removal when our contractors come to remove the snow.   If you know who is using up our parking spaces, please let them know that this is not allowed.  We will be looking into ticketing and towing if these cars are not removed.

Our next SCC meeting will be on Thursday March 27, 2025 @ 6 – 7:30 p.m.  Thank you to those community members who came to our SCC meeting last night.  Please find the minutes for the meeting by clicking on the link School Community Council Meeting Minutes -February 2025.docx 

Have a wonderful weekend!

Please see below for our weekly updates:

Muslim Educators' Network of Durham - Ramadan Market

On Sunday February 23, 2025 the Muslim Educators' Network of Durham will be hosting a Ramadan Market from 11 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. at J. Clark Richardson Highschool in Ajax.  Please click on the link for more information Ramadan Market 2025 .pdf 

Ontario Tech Summer Camps

Ontario Tech’s Office of Continuous Learning, in partnership with the Mitch and Leslie Frazer Faculty of Education and the Faculty of Engineering and Applied Science, is pleased to offer youth safety courses, and week-long in-person and virtual camp programs this coming July and August. Camps cover a variety of educational subjects, including STEAM, robotics, coding & gaming - and more! For more information about our 2025 Summer Camp offerings, please visit our child & youth programming website: https://ontariotechu.ca/camps

As well please click on the link to see flyer with camp offerings 2025-summer-camps-flyer.pdf 

Kindergarten Registration 2025

DDSB Kindergarten Registration started online on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Kindergarten is a child-centred, play-based educational program that provides children with a stronger start in school and in life.

To be eligible for enrollment in Junior Kindergarten (JK) or Senior Kindergarten (SK):

  • Children must be four years old by December 31, 2025 to enroll in year one, JK
  • Children must be five years old by December 31, 2025 to enroll in year two, SK

For more information on the Kindergarten program and to register your child on or after January 7, please visit the Kindergarten Registration webpage.

WINTER IMPORTANT NOTICE

As we are in the depth of winter weather, we are encouraging parents to work with us to make sure that children are coming to school prepared for the winter weather.  The expectation is that all students will wear a coat outside for recess.  When it snows students in grade 1-5 will be expected to wear snow pants and boots if they would like to be on the field playing in the snow.  Students in grade 6-8 will be expected to wear boots if they would like to play in the field when it snows.  If students do not have the proper gear when it snows, they will be asked to stay on the pavement.  

Kiss and Ride – We need your help so we will continue to ask you to adhere to the following rules! 

  • Between 8:55 – 9:15am please DO NOT park in front of the kindergarten enclosure. We need to keep the flow of traffic moving.
  • Please DO NOT let your children out of the car in the center lane to pass.  Please drive through the Kiss and Ride to let children out of the car.  This is a safety concern for us here at Bellwood.
  • When you are using the Kiss and Ride, please make sure you drive right up, pick up your children quickly and safely and follow the directions to keep moving by the staff supporting the smooth running of our Kiss and Ride.

Two areas that continue to require attention from our community……

  • Please do not park in the Kiss and Ride as this causes back up and is not safe for our students.
  • Please use the sidewalks to walk your children around and do not cut between the cars as this is a safety hazard.  This is a safety concern for us here at Bellwood.

Safety is our number one priority, and we work hard to make sure that our Kiss and Ride runs safely and smoothly.  We need your help!

Teams and Activities Around Bellwood after the break

  • Junior Boys and Girls Basketball – Schedules will be provided.
  • Senior Band – Monday and Wednesday at lunch
  • BELL Choir – Tuesday and Thursday at 8:15 am
  • Peer Tutoring:  selected grade 8 students @ lunch Tuesdays and Thursdays in the library
  • Intramurals: Mondays grades 1 and 2, Tuesdays grade 3 and 4, Wednesdays grades 7 and 8, Friday grades 5 and 6

Students are encouraged to check the schedules posted on the white board by the gym doors for practice days and times.

Save the Date

  • Feb. 27 - Peer Tutoring Celebration for those students involved in Peer Tutoring
  • March 5 - Grade 8 Grad Photo re-takes
  • March 6 – Movie Night 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
  • March 7 to March 14 – March Break
  • March 25 – Henna Yasir Art – more information to come
  • March 27 – SCC meeting 6 – 7:30 p.m.
  • March 31 – P.A. Day No School for students

Dates of Significance

February 21 is International Mother Language Day

International Mother Language Day is a worldwide annual observance held on 21 February to promote awareness of linguistic and cultural diversity and to promote multilingualism.

February 22 – 25 is the Great Prayer Festival

The main purpose of the Great Prayer Festival is to pray for the long life of all the holy Gurus of all traditions, for the survival and spreading of the Dharma in the minds of all sentient beings, and for world peace. The communal prayers, offered with strong faith and devotion, help to overcome obstacles to peace and generate conducive conditions for everyone to live in harmony.

February 26 is Pink Shirt Day 

National Pink Shirt Day is a vibrant, national movement to fight bullying. It encourages everyone to wear pink shirts as a stand against bullying and brings people together, promoting kindness and inclusivity.

This day also emphasizes that everyone has a role to play in promoting kindness and stopping bullying. The movement continues to grow, spreading its message worldwide.

February 26 is Shivratri

It is a notable festival in Hinduism, marking a remembrance of "overcoming darkness and ignorance" in life and the world. It is observed by remembering Shiva and chanting prayers, fasting, and meditating on ethics and virtues such as honesty, non-injury to others, charity, forgiveness, and the discovery of Shiva.[8] Ardent devotees stay awake throughout this night. Others visit one of the Shiva temples or go on a pilgrimage to the Jyotirlingams. The festival is believed to have originated in 5th century BCE.[8]

February 28 - March 30, 2025 Start of Ramadan

Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar, is a time of fasting, reflection, prayer, and community for Muslims around the world.

In 2025, Ramadan is expected to begin on the evening of Friday 28 February 2025, and will conclude on the evening of Sunday 30 March 2025, with the exact dates contingent upon the sighting of the moon.

Ramadan is a period dedicated to spiritual growth, increased devotion, and worship. Muslims fast from dawn until sunset, refraining from eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours. This fast, known as Sawm, is one of the Five Pillars of Islam and is intended to bring Muslims closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate.

Your Admin Team

Sharon Knights and Todd Smart