Community Update - May 2

Posted On Friday May 02, 2025

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

Today we kicked off Jump Rope for Heart! Our Event Date is scheduled for June 11th. This event teaches our students the importance of giving back and encourages them to learn healthy habits, so they understand the importance of staying active, eating well, and taking care of their heart and brain health. The funds our school raises will help support important heart and stroke research. Let’s work together as a school community and show how generous we can be! Join our school online and get your child set up with their own fundraising page by clicking here: https://jumpropeforheart.crowdchange.ca/83799 For more information on why our school is participating in Jump Rope for Heart please click on the link

On May 14, 2025 our SCC will be selling Patties and Chocolate Milk for lunch. Patties will be $3.00 each and Chocolate Milk will be $1:00.

Our next Movie Night will be on Thursday May 15, 2025 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.

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. Please click on the link to see April minutes April School Community Council Meeting Minutes -_.pdf

Bellwood SCC is excited to invite our students and their families to our Community BBQ and Fun Fair on Saturday, June 7, 2025, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM (Rain date is June 8th)! Join us for a fun-filled afternoon with games, tasty treats, raffles and some delicious food which will include vegetarian and halal options. We also can't wait for you to come DUNK your favourite teachers and staff in the dunk tank! This will be a CASH ONLY event. Watch this space for more details to come. Mark your calendars and bring your biggest smile—we can’t wait to see you there!

Unfortunately, we did not have enough interest from families wanting to purchase Maple taffy after our presentation on May 21, 2025 on Maple Syrup and how it is made.

Have a wonderful long week ahead!

Please see below for our weekly updates:

Creative Club Outdoor Design with Giant Lego Blocks Club extended, Register by May 14 , 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. Program start date will be Wednesday May 14, 2025. Please see flyer for more details Updated BELLWOOD PS - OUTDOOR DESIGN IN ACTION - SPRING SESSION.pdf

Afrocentric Heritage Program
Join us for the Afrocentric Heritage Program for students in Grades 1–8! Running Saturdays from May 10 to June 21 at Viola Desmond Public School in Ajax (10:00 AM–1:00 PM), the program features affirmations, team-building activities, instructional blocks, a well-being break, and engaging afternoon sessions. Celebrate culture, build community, and grow confidence in a supportive environment.

For more information see the flyer by clicking on the link Afrocentric Heritage Program.pdf

Compendium of Action for Black Student Success 2.0

The Durham District School Board (DDSB) will be hosting an in-person community engagement for the Compendium of Action for Black Student Success 2.0. One of the commitments made in the Compendium of Action for Black Student Success 2.0 was to connect with and report back to the community twice a year to share and discuss the work we are doing to implement the action items of the Compendium.

This event will be family focussed and will occur in two locations - one will be in the south at Maxwell Heights SS at 1100 Coldstream Drive, Oshawa and the other will take place in the north at Uxbridge SS, 127 Planks Ln, Uxbridge, Ontario. Parents/Caregivers will have an opportunity to sign up for 2 workshop sessions - details can be found within the link below.

Click on the link for more information The Living Compendium-Community Engagement Evening_JUNE 11.pdf

South Durham Event

Where: Maxwell Heights Secondary School in Oshawa

When: Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

North Durham Event

Where: Uxbridge Secondary School in Uxbridge

When: Wednesday, June 11, 2025

Time: 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Booster Juice Wednesdays

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 flavours 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

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

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 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 14 – Patties and Chocolate Milk lunch sales
May 15 – Spring Concert – Doors open at 1:00 p.m. and the concert will begin at 1:30 p.m.
May 15 – Movie Night 6:00 – 8:00 p.m.
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

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 is Dutch Heritage Month

Since the early 1800s, the Dutch Canadian community has made and continues to make significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of the Province of Ontario. May is a historically significant month for the Dutch Canadian community. On May 5, 1945, the Canadian forces were instrumental in the liberation of the Netherlands from occupation during World War II. The Netherlands celebrates its independence and liberty, along with the heroic efforts of the Canadian forces, with a national holiday known as Liberation Day, which takes place annually on May 5.

May is Polish Heritage Month

In Canada, May is recognized as Polish Heritage Month. This annual celebration, established by the Polish Heritage Month Act, 2021 in Ontario, acknowledges the significant contributions of Polish Canadians to Canadian society, economy, politics, and culture. It also highlights the importance of educating Canadians about the core values imparted by Polish Canadians.

Mother’s and Mother Figure’s Day Sunday May 11, 2025

Many people in Canada express their gratitude towards mothers and mother figures on Mother’s Day. Mother figures may include step-mothers, mothers-in-law, guardians (eg. foster parents), and family friends. It is the time for people to thank mothers and mother figures who took the time to care for them and help them through life’s challenges.

May 5 National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ Peoples (MMIWG2SLGBTQIA+)

National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S+) Held annually on May 5, this day honours the lives lost, supports impacted families, and raises awareness of the ongoing violence faced by Indigenous peoples.

Education Week May 5-9, 2025

Education Week is recognized annually during the first full week in May. It is a time for students, teachers and parents to celebrate teaching excellence and student achievement.

Children’s Mental Health Week May 5 - 11, 2025

Children's Mental Health Week 2025 will take place from May 5th to 11th, 2025. The theme for Children's Mental Health Week in Ontario is "Voices Unheard, Stories Told: Centering the Diversity of Ontario's Infants, Children & Youth," emphasizing the need for culturally safe and community-based mental health services, especially for marginalized groups. The week also includes National Child and Youth Mental Health Day on May 7th

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Sharon Knights and Todd Smart

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