Community Update - April 12

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

Our next School Community Council meeting will be on Thursday April 24, 2025, from 6 – 7 p.m.  Please see the minutes from our March meeting by clicking on the link Bellwood School Community Council Meeting Minutes -March 2025.docx 

A huge shout out to Mr.  Smart for organizing our Grey Cup visit!  It was a great afternoon seeing the Grey Cup and getting to interact with two of the players who were on the winning Argonauts team!

The Junior Boys Basketball Team had a strong season, showing great teamwork, encouragement, and effort. They faced some tough games but kept working together and never gave up. Throughout the short season, the boys showed clear improvement in their skills and teamwork. Mr. Mohamed and Mrs. Calder are proud of how committed the boys were all season. They stuck together, worked hard, and represented Bellwood with pride.

Have a wonderful week ahead!

Please see below for our weekly updates:

Grade 8 Cupcake Fundraiser

On Tuesday April 15, 2025 our grade 8’s will be selling cupcakes to raise money for the grade 8 graduation events.  Cupcakes will be sold for a loonie!  Please support this initiative by purchasing cupcakes on Tuesday April 15, 2025.

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 Leggo Lunch time clubs.  Please see flyer for more details BELLWOOD PS - OUTDOOR DESIGN IN ACTION - SPRING SESSION.docx (1).pdf 

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.  See link for more information Summer Academy Application.pdf  2025 Summer Academy Flyer 1.png 

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           

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, Flag Rugby and Spike Ball – See Gym Whiteboard outside the gym. 
• Senior Band – Monday and Wednesday at lunch
• BELL Choir – Tuesday and Thursday at 8:15 am
• Pokeman and Games Club:  Day 2’s

• Intramurals: Tuesday’s grade 3 and 4, Thursday’s 7 and 8 and Friday’s grades 5 and 6

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

Save the Date

• April 18 – 21 – Easter Long weekend NO School
• May 19 – Victoria Day NO School 
• 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

Passover/Pesach April 12 - April 20, 2025

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.

Tamil and Sinhala New Year is Monday April 14, 2025

Sinhalese New Year, generally known as Aluth Avurudda in Sri Lanka, is a Sri Lankan holiday that celebrates the traditional New Year of the Sinhalese people and Tamil population of Sri Lanka. It is a major anniversary celebrated by not only the Sinhalese and Tamil people but by most Sri Lankans.

Vaisakhi is Monday April 14, 2025

The first day of the solar year, this is an agricultural festival celebrating the harvest, especially in North India. Tamils and Sri Lankans celebrate their New Year on this day. In Kerala, South India this day is called Vishu. Especially important to the Sikhs, it marks this day in 1699, when the tenth Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, established the order of 'Khalsa'. The festival is a mixture of feasting, dancing and worship.

Friday April 18, 2025 is Good Friday

Good Friday is celebrated on the Friday before Easter and marks the day Jesus was crucified and died. 

Monday April 21, 2025 is Easter

Easter, also called Pascha or Resurrection Sunday, is a Christian festival and cultural holiday commemorating the resurrection of Jesus from the dead, described in the New Testament as having occurred on the third day of his burial following his crucifixion by the Romans at Calvary c. 30 AD.

Ridvan is April 20 - May 2, 2025

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.

Your Admin Team

Sharon Knights and Todd Smart