We are pleased to announce that Monday lunchtime chess lessons are back for spring! Lessons are offered to Grades 1-3, starting the week of April 7th in Room 20. If you would like to register your child for the program, please go to the Clubs section of www.brownschool.ca, and download the "Chess 'n Math Spring 2014 Registration Form" or fill one out at the Office.
The chess program will be offered by the Chess & Math Association and is available for a fee of $68 for 8 sessions, first come first serve. For more information contact Judy-Ann Bunn <jabunn5@gmail.com>.
LIBRARY NEWS: BOOK FAIR
The Scholastic Book Fair is coming to our Brown! What better way to promote reading to our students than by supporting this important literary event. We invite your entire family to participate by purchasing the latest and greatest in children’s books.
Did you know that for every $10 you spend at the Fair up to $6 comes directly back to our school? Your support of this vital literary event is key in helping us obtain new books and resources for our library and classrooms.
You’ll find hundreds of quality books at our Book Fair with a wide assortment for all reading levels also some French books will be available. Don't forget to mark the Book Fair dates on your calendar! It will last from Tuesday May 13th until Thursday May 15th until 3:45 p.m.
We will also need parent volunteers in order to make this event run, please send a note with your child if you are available to help out. We look forward to seeing you during our Scholastic Book Fair and thank you, in advance, for supporting this literary fundraiser. Mostly, thank you for believing in books and the importance reading has on your child’s future.
WORLD CHANGERS
World Changers is running a "We Are Silent" campaign in April. On April 17 we will observe a day of silence in recognition of all of those children in the world who do not have a voice - who are bullied, exploited or denied their rights. Throughout the month, students will be raising funds through a Bake Sale (April 3), pledge sheets (as of April 11) and a school-wide Talent Show. These funds will be put towards the building of a school in Ghana.
The World Changers will also be doing a presentation in the gym to all Brown students explaining the We Are Silent campaign.
Brown's We Day student Talent Show auditions have been terrific! Thank you to all students who have participated. Brown's We Day student Talent Show will take place on April 24 and will include an evening performance for friends and family. Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation to contribute to our campaign.
World Changers are also excited to announce that we will have a special guest speaker on May 6 to talk about facing adversity and redefining what is possible. Spencer West is a We Day celebrity and an inspirational individual who has accomplished such feats as climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and travelling from Calgary to Edmonton using only his hands and his wheelchair. It is a real honour for Brown to be hosting this special event. We were chosen by Free The Children as a venue because of all the great work that World Changers has done to date (spearheaded by Michele Breslin). Way to go Brown School!
Anwar has again joined the community that is raising funds for JDRF by participating in the TELUS Walk to Cure Diabetes. This year he has been chosen as a Youth ambassador for the Toronto Walk for a Cure. By supporting him, you will help JDRF fund crucial research and accelerate the most promising opportunities for curing, better treating and preventing type 1 diabetes (T1D). Please visit his personal fundraising page to make a donation online. No amount is too small. Anwar is hoping that more of our friends and his friends show their support to him and to his cause. Please take a minute to visit his page at
http://jdrfca.donordrive.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=donordrive.participant&participantID=224153
As always if you have any questions, please contact one of the World Changers parent co-chairs, Allison Fortier <allisonfortier@rogers.com> or Laura Finch <laura.finch@me.com>.
MUSIC NEWS
This music department has been very busy this March. The Junior Choir did an amazing job the the TDSB non-competitive music festival. They did our school proud with their beautiful singing and musical interpretations. A huge thanks for our wonderful accompanist, Channing Huang.
All of our grade 4, 5 and 6's went to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra on March 31st, and they did an incredible job singing and playing their recorders along with the orchestra.
Spring Concert
Coming up we have the Spring Concert on May 1st. Classes are busy preparing their repertoire already, and we look forward to seeing all of the parents at 9:15 a.m. the day of the concert. The spring concert is for our junior classes, along with our Band and String ensembles and the Junior Choir.
Practice resources
Grade 4, 5 and 6 students who wish to practise for their third term recorder test have a few online resources to use. On YouTube, students can search "Ellen recorder" and the YouTube channel for Ellen Vesterdal recorder lessons will come up. The Pink Panther Recorder 2 is the test piece for the 3rd term. You can watch Ellen play The Pink Panther and play along with her while watching the fingerings.
As well, http://www.tso.ca/en-ca/Youth-And-Education/Education/Student-Concerts/Junior-Intermediate.aspx has links to support your student's learning with sheet music and accompaniment tracks.
Happy Practicing!
ASLAN Boys Choir
The ASLAN Boys Choir is a community choir for boys aged 7 - 13 run by a Brown parent, Thomas Bell. The programme includes concerts, workshops with acclaimed musicians, and an array of social activities, all combining to provided a stimulating experience of music making with likeminded boys! Rehearsals are on Tuesdays 4.30 - 6.00 p.m. in mid-town Toronto (Manor Road E). Tryouts are held regularly for admission to ASLAN. We simply look for a pleasant singing voice, an engaged and inquisitive mind, and a love of music. For further details: aslanboyschoir@gmail.com or (416) 859 7464
This July and August, Unicorn Day Care will be offering a full day summer camp program in Brown Public School, for children 2 to 12 years of age. Our enriched program is staffed by fully qualified Registered Early Childhood Educators.
Our program is offered on a weekly basis, with the option of adding early morning care and/or after care for a small additional fee. Weekly fees include a catered hot lunch, sports and art-based programming, science, all field trips, and swimming twice a week for our School Age children.
Join us this summer for an amazing, fun-filled program. Please keep in mind that all Unicorn Day Care Summer Camp fees are considered childcare and are fully tax-deductible. For more information go to www.brownschool.ca or www.unicorndaycare.com , or if you prefer you can give us a call at 416 929 6841.
