Community Update - April 25

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

Just a reminder that April 28, 2025 is Voting Day for our Federal Election!  Bellwood P.S. is a polling station so there will be voting going at our school for our local community between 9:30 a.m. and 9:30 p.m.

We are pleased to announce that Booster Juice Wednesdays are here! Starting on Wednesday April 30th and continuing until the end of this school year, we will be offering an amazing assortment of Booster Juice flavors and sizes, all made with quality ingredients such as Mango, Banana, Pineapple, Strawberry, Raspberry, Passion Fruit, Guava, and Cranberry, with options to add Probiotic Yogurt, Frozen Yogurt, and we are even offering Dairy Free options! Weekly orders will be delivered directly to your child in their classroom for them to enjoy during their lunch break.

If you are interested in learning more about either our existing Subway Tuesdays or our new Booster Juice Wednesdays, please see the attached Lunchbox flyer and Parent/Guardian FAQ's below, and follow the Lunchbox link to create your own account today: https://www.lunchboxorders.net/

As a reminder, participation in our Subway Tuesday and Booster Juice Wednesday Lunchbox programs is optional to all Bellwood families, with proceeds going directly to Bellwood's school initiatives and back to our very own students through purchases made to enhance learning and fun!

Lunchbox_School_Flyer.pdf     Lunchbox_Parent Guardian FAQs.pdf 

Thank you to those of you who came out to our School Community Council meeting last night. Our next School Community Council meeting will be on Thursday May 22, 2025, from 6 – 7 p.m.  

Have a wonderful long week ahead!

Please see below for our weekly updates:

SCC Community BBQ and Mini Fun Fair:  Date is Set for Saturday June 7, 2025 (RAIN date is Sunday June 8, 2025)

Our SCC is planning to end our school year with a Community BBQ and mini–Fun Fair.   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           

Creative Club Outdoor Design with Giant Lego Blocks Club Register by April 30, 2025

We are excited to START a NEW Outdoor Design and Build Program this spring using the largest blocks in Canada – Everblocks!   Please note this is run by Creative Club and the same company that ran the Lego Lunch time clubs.  Please see flyer for more details 

100 Strong FREE Summer Camp July 7 – 31, 2025

The Board of Directors of 100 Strong Foundation are pleased to invite applications for the Strong Summer Academy program for 2025.  

Strong Summer Academy is a 4-week summer program designed to inspire Black male youth ages 11-14 years old.  This program has been designed to provide the attendees with the tools necessary to achieve their maximum potential both in education as well as life skills.  The Strong Academy curriculum strives to combine the concepts of academic theory and experiential learning alongside real world experiences, while focusing on the holistic learner.  The academy is held Monday to Friday from July 7 – July 31, 2025. 

Attached you will find information to share with students and families who identify as Black, African, or Afro-Caribbean about an upcoming summer program.  100 Strong Summer academy is geared towards Black male identifying students in grades 7 and 8.  The program runs during the month of July at UTSC (University of Toronto Scarborough campus).  There is no cost to families and busing will be provided.

An information session will be scheduled in the coming weeks. Further details will be shared shortly.

Applications should be submitted to margaret.lazarus@ddsb.ca.    Participants will be admitted to the program based on the submission of a completed application on a first come first serve basis.  Please click on the link to access registration form 2025 Summer Academy Flyer 1.png   Summer Academy Application.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.

Kiss and Ride and Parking on School Property– 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.
• 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.

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

• Please stay in your vehicles and do not park in the Kiss and Ride as this causes traffic to 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 

• Intermediate Pickleball, Round ball (Grades 4-8), Flag Rugby (Grades 4-8)
• Senior Band – Monday and Wednesday at lunch
• BELL Choir – Tuesday and Thursday at 8:15 am
• Pokeman and Games Club:  Day 2’s

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

Save the Date

• May 15 – Spring Concert
• May 16 – Empower Her Conference 
• May 19 – Victoria Day NO School 
• May 20 – Track and Field Day (Rain Date: May 23)
• May 21 – Maple Syrup Presentation
• May 22 – Great Beginnings for new JK students for September 2025
• May 26 – 30 - Grade 3 EQAO
• June 2 – 5 – Grade 6 EQAO
• June 6 – PA day – NO School
• June 7 – Community BBQ and mini Fun Fair
• June 19 – Grade 8 Grad trip #1
• June 23 – Grade 8 Grade trip #2
• June 24 – Grade 8 Graduation Ceremony
• June 24 – Report Cards sent home
• June 26 – Last day of school

Dates of Significance

National Principal’s and Vice Principal’s Day is celebrated on May 1 each year. 

The day acknowledges the valuable work performed by our principals and vice-principals. It recognizes the contributions made by front-line leaders who interact daily with students, staff, parents and community members.

Throughout the school year, principals and vice-principals support, mentor and guide teachers and staff, resulting in productive learning environments for our students. They promote academic success and set the tone for an entire school.

Being a principal or vice-principal can be the most challenging and the most rewarding role in education. The influence you have extends beyond the walls of a classroom or school building. We are proud that each of you plays a key role in the success of Ontario’s world-class public education system.  

National Speech and Hearing Month

Each year the month of May is dedicated to raising public awareness about communication health. Many of us take for granted the ability to hear and speak but our ability to communicate is much more vital to our everyday lives then we may realize.

Jewish Heritage Month

May is declared Jewish Heritage Month in Canada and USA. It provides an opportunity to reflect on and celebrate the incredible contributions t

 Asian and South Asian Heritage Month

The month of May in Ontario is dedicated to celebrating the contributions of Canadians from over 30 countries that make up the Asian and South Asian diaspora.

Asian Heritage Month has been a focus of celebration in many communities across Canada since the 1990s. In December of 2001, Senator Vivienne Poy proposed a motion that was adopted by the Senate of Canada, designating May as Asian Heritage Month nationally. During May of 2002, the Government of Canada made this motion official by signing a declaration to designate May as Asian Heritage Month.

May 5 is Cinco de Mayo

It marks the victory of the Mexican Army over the French at the 'Batalla de Puebla' in 1862. Although the Mexican army was eventually defeated, it came to represent a symbol of Mexican unity and patriotism. It is celebrated on a much larger scale in the United States than it is in Mexico. People of Mexican descent (Chicanos) in the United States celebrate this significant day by having parades, mariachi music, folkloric dancing and other festive activities.

Your Admin Team

Sharon Knights and Todd Smart