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Newsletter Vol. 5

THE BOBCAT

ECOLE PUBLIQUE BRIMWOOD BOULEVARD JUNIOR P.S. 151 Brimwood Blvd., Scarborough, Ontario M1V 1E5 Tel: (416) 396-6085

http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/brimwood

Principal: Claudette White Superintendent: Jacqueline Spence Trustee: Abdul Patel

JANUARY 2018 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Congratulations to the following students who were selected by their teachers as Students of the Month for consistently demonstrating the character trait, kindness and caring during the month of December.

Ms. Ravindrarajan’s Class – Pranavan S., Maryam M. Ms. Cleland – Lincy Y., Sarvin V. M. Ndeke’s Class – Sierra D., Aneya C. Ms. Chan – Mandy L. Ms. Ohri’s Class – Kimi L., Zaid J. Mme Akineza’s Class – Raine Q., Rayne D-W.

Ms. Moyles’ Class – Abishankar Y.

Mme Wert’s Class – Suki L., Jahlani M. Mme Yim’s Class – Ajesh U., Swetha S. Ms. Tassopoulos’ Class – Hazel B. Ms. O'Neill’s Class – Farah J. Mme Law’s – Alyssia L., Nishi P. Mme Yap’s Class – Sophia W., Shanae H.-B.

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR FOOD DRIVE

The Grade 6 “No Other Me” Girl’s Group

reached out into the community by leading

Brimwood students in a food drive to address

the growing need of families in Scarborough.

For 3 weeks, the girls prepared boxes, sorted

unperishable food donations, and kept the

school updated with needed items. Finally, on

Wednesday, December 22nd

a truck from the

Scarborough Food Bank made its first school

pick up stop at Brimwood. With the help of Mr.

Dave, our caretaker, the girls loaded the boxes

of food on to the truck. Thank you, parents and

friends of Brimwood, for your generous

donations to our food drive. Thank you, “No

Other Me, for your vision and leadership!

Boxes of food loaded on to the truck to be

taken to the Scarborough Food Bank.

Reminder to parents that the school does not have forks or spoons to give to students at lunch time. Please make sure that you include these in your child’s lunch. Thank you.

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WINTER IS HERE!

Living in Toronto means that

we will experience especially

cold temperatures during the

winter months; however,

students are expected to be

dressed appropriately enough

for the wintry weather, and may be sent out for recesses and outdoor learning activities

in very cold temperatures.

Parents, please make sure that you send your children

to school prepared for the cold and snowy weather –

boots, hat, mittens/gloves, scarves, snow pants, and

a warm coat.

There are times when frigid windshield temperatures warrant that indoor recesses,

lunch periods and pre-entry times be considered necessary for student and staff safety.

The TDSB provides the following general guidelines:

- When the temperature and/or wind chill factor is -28C or lower, children remain indoors.

- When an extreme cold weather alert is issued, or when temperatures and/or wind

chill factor indicate -20 to -28C, recesses are shortened to 10 minutes and lunch

recess is 20 minutes.

Brimwood Guidelines for Shortened/Indoor Recesses

Ultimately however, decision-making authority is given to the school principal, and the guidelines below have been implemented at Brimwood.

Winter Conditions

Adjustments Made

Students Remain

Indoors

Temperature and/or

Wind Chill Factor

-18 to -20C

recess shortened to 10 minutes

-20C or lower

Playground Conditions

field is too wet – students remain

on the pavement

(no running or ball playing)

entire grounds too icy and/or wet

Have your child speak to

us in the office if he or she

needs a pair of gloves.

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Cancellation of School Buses

There are times when winter conditions

such as freezing rain, blizzard, low driver

visibility, and poor road conditions may result

in the TDSB’s Director of Education making

the decision to cancel school buses in the

interest of student and driver safety. This

decision will be made by 6:00 a.m.

Parents are encouraged to check social

media (local radio and television stations) or

the TDSB website for such an announcement.

When school buses are cancelled, and school remains open for instruction, parents

must decide if they wish to send their children to school.

Parents, if you choose to send your children to school when buses are cancelled, you

must make arrangements to bring your children to school and pick them up at the

end of the school day at 3:15 p.m. Please note that when buses are cancelled, the

cancellation lasts the entire school day.

Students who walk to school or wait at school

bus stops should be dressed appropriately for

cold temperatures and snowy conditions. If you

have particular concerns regarding your child’s

safety getting to or from school on the school

bus, please call the TDSB Transportation Dept.

at (416) 394-6163 or the specific bus company.

SCHOOL CLOSURE

The Director of Education will make the decision to close schools due to poor winter conditions that

may negatively impact the safety of students and staff.

This decision is made by 6:00 a.m. and students are

NOT to come to school.

Parents are encouraged to check social media

(local radio and television stations) or the TDSB

website for such an announcement.

Please remember that as icy and/or snowy conditions hit us this winter, to use extra

precaution when following or approaching a school bus as students get on and off the

bus; as well, please be extra careful when dropping off or picking up your child.

When buses are cancelled, the

cancellations last the entire school day.

There is no bus drop off at the

end of the school day.

BRIMWOOD BUS ROUTES

Stock North (416) 757-0565

Tam O’Shanter, Highland Heights, Silver Springs

a.m. TDSB Bus (416) 396-8524

p.m. First Student Markham (905) 294-5104

Tom Longboat. Steppingstone, Thomas Wells, Wells, Brookside, Pinery Trail, Mourning Dove

a.m. First Student Markham (905) 294-5104

p.m. TDSB Bus (416) 396-8524

Alexmuir. Macklin, Banting & Best, Alton Towers Agnes MacPhail, Port Royal, Millken

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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The children in our Kindergarten program,

learn and develop knowledge, skills and

abilities through inquiry and intentional play-

based learning activities. The success of the

program doesn’t just happen without the

expertise and support of our three Early

Childhood Educators (ECE) – Ms. Selvadurai,

who works with Ms. V. Lee in room 107, Ms.

Feng, who works with Ms. Miranda in room

106, and Mme Deschamps in our French

Immersion program with Mme Gendi in room

K-1 and supports Mme U. Lee in room 102.

These 3 educators work alongside the

teachers to plan and oversee many

experiences where children are given

opportunities to actively engage in learning

and thinking creatively.

We thank them for the measure of dedication

they have for our youngest children at

Brimwood, and for the difference they make!

Whether it is planning and leading a school fundraiser,

helping on a school field trip, hosting a parent workshop,

keeping parents informed, helping at school events, and

much, much more, we are extremely thankful for the

never-failing support of our School Council.

It is not just Brimwood students who recognize the

wonderful contributions of our School Council. At a

ceremony hosted last month at Albert Campbell Collegiate,

by Shawn Chen, Liberal MP of Scarborough North, our

School Council Chair, Simone Dublin and Treasurer,

Dayna Maheswaran, were awarded a Canada 150 Medal

for their “outstanding contributions and service to the

Scarborough North community."

Thank you, Simone and Dayna, for your sacrificial and

unconditional commitment to Brimwood’s students and

staff. Thank you for always putting the best interest of

our students first and for making a difference.

Ms. Selvadurai, Ms. Feng, Mme Deschamps

School Council Chair, Simone Dublin, and Treasurer, Dayna Maheswaran

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WINTER BOOTS NOT PERMITTED

Students are not permitted to wear their

boots in the school. Wet boots on the carpets

and floors create an unsafe situation in classrooms

and hallways.

All students must have a pair of indoor shoes to

wear in the classroom and throughout the school.

They must wear shoes in the classrooms and

appropriate shoes in the gym.

Students are not permitted to be in their sock feet.

These precautions are in place to keep your child

safe. Thank you for your cooperation.

JUNIOR KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION

Thursday, February 15, 2018 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Please call the school for an appointment.

Children must be 4 years old by December 31, 2017 to attend Junior Kindergarten in September 2018.

To register your child, please bring:

1) Two proofs of address (e.g., lease, phone bill, utility bill)

2) Child’s Birth Certificate 3) Child’s Immunization Card 4) Child’s Ontario Health Card 5) If your child is not a Canadian citizen, please bring proof of status in Canada

Parents may pick up the registration package in advance of their appointment and bring the completed forms on registration day.

STUDENT ILLNESS We respectfully ask that you not send your child to school when he or she has a sore throat, fever, a cold or the flu, and is coughing excessively. Flus and colds spread very easily to staff and other students.

Please note that children who are well enough to attend school must participate in the normal school day, including recess and outdoor activities.

If your child becomes ill during the school day, you will be contacted to come and take him/her home. Thank you.

GRADE 7 EXTENDED FRENCH PROGRAM

Sir Alexander Mackenzie Sr. P.S. (SAM) 33 Heather Road, Scarborough

Parent information meeting at SAM on Wednesday, January 17th at 7:00 p.m.

Completed application forms are due by February 2, 2018.

JUNIOR EXTENDED FRENCH PROGRAM

Grade 3 students brought home applications for the Junior

(Gr. 4-6) Extended Program. Application is ON-LINE ONLY

Application opens on January 8 and ends on February 8.

Please note that the extended program is not at Brimwood.

CALL THE SCHOOL (416)

396-6085 when your child is going to be absent. Please leave your child’s name, name of teacher, and reason for your child’s absence. Thank you.

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JANUARY 2018

TEAMWORK

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

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2 3 4 5 6

7 DAY 1 8

DAY 2 9

DAY 3 10

DAY 4 11

DAY 5 12

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14 DAY 1 15

Pizza lunch order forms

due at school

DAY 2 16

DAY 3 17

7:00 p.m. Gr. 7 Parent Info Session at S.A.M.

DAY 4 18

PIZZA LUNCH

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P.A DAY (no school)

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21

DAY 5 22

DAY 1 23

DAY 2 24

DAY 3 25

DAY 4 26

27

28 DAY 5 29

DAY 1 30

6:30 p.m. School Council Meeting

DAY 2 31

SOME DATES TO HELP YOU PLAN AHEAD

February

9 – Term 1 Report Cards Home

14 – Pizza Lunch

15 – Junior Kindergarten Registration Begins

– Parent-Teacher-Student Conference (p.m.)

16 – Parent-Teacher-Student Conference (a.m.)

(no school in the afternoon)

19 – Family Day Holiday (no school)

27 – School Council Meeting (6:30 p.m.)

March Break – March 12-16

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UPDATE PHONE NUMBERS AND EMAILS

Please call the school and

let us know when your

phone number(s), emails

and contact information

have changed.

It is important that we can get in touch with you

in the event there is an emergency. Thank you.