Please note there will be no school on that day. Interviews will be conducted in the morning for the Progress Reports. Please contact your child’s teacher if you have not yet made an appointment for an interview. All of the 2013/2014 Professional Activity and other school holidays are available by visiting the TDSB website at www.tdsb.on.ca or www.brownschool.ca under "Events".
MESSAGE FROM THE PRINCIPAL
November has always been a month of reflection for me. I think about Remembrance Day and all of the men and women who sacrificed and continue to sacrifice their lives for our freedom and rights around the world.
This year I am reflecting on our school and the many changes that have occurred in just one year. Our Full Day Kindergarten classes have transitioned nicely and construction is almost done. Our sports teams, clubs, music program are up and running and the school has a very positive charge to it this year. Our cross country participants had a wonderful time running for our school and we even had a number of our students rank in the top 10 in the championship finals at Centennial Park. Many banners were displayed in our main office as our Cross Country, Football and Baseball teams won Conference Finals and City Championships. We look forward to many more banner displays throughout the year. Our Parent Council has started the After 4 Programs once again this year, offering a variety of activities and our teachers are offering our students various lunchtime programs including house league flag football and free time swim.
We appreciate the parental support driving to and from games along with the cheering and encouragement which never goes unnoticed. Sincerest thanks.
SCARE HUNGER FOOD DRIVE
Our We Scare Hunger Food Drive has been one of the most successful food drives yet. This year many boxes were overflowing with food in our hallway. We surpassed the 1000-item goal within the first few days.
HALLOWEEN
We had a Halloween Parade on October 31 and had the opportunity to marvel at some very original and scary costumes this year. Everyone had a lot of fun showing off their super hero and some very original costumes despite the inclement weather.
FALL FLING
Our Fall Fling held on the evening of November 7 was another great success. The Fall Fling Committee did an incredible job organizing this annual event. Sincerest thanks to everyone that participated in this evening. Your hard work and efforts are always appreciated by our students, staff and community. Merci beaucoup !
LEST WE FORGET
On this Remembrance Day, we pay tribute to those past and present who served our country with courage and compassion. Our students and staff paid tribute to our military heroes at our Remembrance Day Assembly on November 11. The poems, songs and drama pieces were very moving. We thank our staff and students who participated and showed their gratitude to those who have voluntarily given of themselves to serve our country with pride and fortitude.
LOCKDOWN AND FIRE DRILLS
Now that construction is almost over, we will be starting our lockdown and fire drill practices. Please do not be alarmed if your children come home talking about a lockdown drill. We are required to do three lockdowns a year and three fire drills per term. Should you require more info about our lock down procedures or our fire drill procedures, please do not hesitate to call us.
ELEMENTARY PROGRESS REPORT UPDATES
Progress Reports will be going home on Wednesday November 13 and Thursday November 14. Interviews for first term will be taking place November 14th and 15th.
We respect the professionalism of our teachers and believe they understand the value and importance of reporting to parents/guardians on their child’s progress. We know that providing meaningful comments in a student’s progress report will allow important discussions between a teacher and a parent/guardian to take place and will help establish a positive tone for the remainder of the school year. Parents/guardians are encouraged to schedule a Parent/Guardian-Teacher Conference and are encouraged to follow the useful tips below.
The TDSB's Guidelines for Elementary Progress Reports provides consistency among schools within our Board and for the benefit of improving student learning. Progress Report Cards should provide parents with the clarity they need to understand their child’s progress. These Guidelines complement documents created by the Ontario Ministry of Education: Guidelines for Effective Teacher-Parent-Student Communication and Supporting Your Child's Learning Through Assessment, Evaluation & Reporting.
Teachers are able to speak to your child’s progress. Parents/guardians are encouraged to speak to their child’s teacher directly if they have any questions on how their child is progressing. We are confident that by working together our schools will continue to be rich learning environments for our students. To make an appointment with your child’s teacher at Brown Public School please call 416-393-1560.
Below is a description that outlines the differences between progress report cards and provincial report cards.
Elementary Progress Report Card
- Captures general progress in working towards achievement of curriculum expectations and your child’s development of learning skills and work habits during the fall of the school year.
- To report on students’ development on Learning Skills and Work Habits teachers will use: E- Excellent G- Good S-Satisfactory N- Needs Improvement
- On the first page, teachers will report on your child’s development of Learning Skills and Work Habits from September to November, in the following: Responsibility, Organization, Independent Work, Collaboration, Initiative, Self-Regulation
- On the second page, teachers will highlight your child’s general progress towards the achievement of curriculum expectations in all subject areas.
- Captures achievement of expectations at two points in the school year and your child’s development of learning skills and work habits during terms two and three of the school year
Useful tips for Parent/Guardian-Teacher conference
Before the conference: Make a list of what you want to ask the teacher. The following are some questions for you to consider asking the teacher:
- What does my child do well?
- What skills does she or he still need to develop?
- Is my child getting extra help? If yes, in what subjects?
- How does my child get along with the other students?
- How can I help my child at home?
- What is the best way to contact you if I have more questions?
- Request to see samples of your child’s work that reflect the progress that the teacher describes
- Share information that will help the teacher understand your child better
- Ask the questions you have prepared
- Take notes so that you can share the teacher’s comments with your child
WINTERFEST CONCERT
Thursday, December 12 is our Annual Winterfest Concert Celebration. This year we will have a separate afternoon concert for the Kindergartens as they are a larger part of our school population this year.
Grade 1-3 with the Junior choir, band and strings only.
Rm. 30 will be doing the Ghanian Drumming.
This Concert will begin at 9:30-10:30 a.m. in the gymnasium. All are welcome.
Kindergarten Concert will begin at 1:00-2:00 p.m. in the gymnasium. All are welcome.
The other grades/classes will perform in the Spring Concert.
BUILDING CHARACTER, BUILDING SUCCESS
Each month at Brown P.S our students are involved in a school wide assembly which highlights the month’s character trait. The assembly gives students an opportunity to learn about the character trait and how it coincides with home and school life.
What is Character Development?
The role of the Family
Character Development is a joint responsibility between home and school. Children need to see, hear and feel good character in a variety of ways within the family and community and to receive consistent messages around the value of good character. Character Development is a deliberate effort to encourage positive personal attributes, civility and solid ethical and moral actions. Character Development focuses on each individual’s personal management at home, at school and within the community.
Parents, guardians, caregivers and family members are the first and most important character educators of children. Working together with the school and community, we can guide our children towards common values. When families reinforce the character attributes at home, Character Development becomes a way of life. The goals of Character Development are in essence the goals of raising children: youth who comprehend, care about, and act positively, make for a productive, just, and democratic society.
As they develop their character, young people do their best work, do the right thing, and lead lives of purpose. Successful Character Development involves creating the types of classroom and school environments that make it possible for all students, to fulfill their potential and to achieve their goals. In developing character, the Toronto District School Board seeks to deliberately nurture the common character attributes to go beyond racial, religious, socio-economic and cultural lines.
The TDSB will play an active role in Character Development by ensuring that it is valued and highlighted in the daily lives of our students. As a whole school approach, the school community will grasp the “teachable moments” to integrate character into the existing curriculum. In a focused and intentional approach, respect, responsibility, empathy, kindness & caring, teamwork, fairness, honesty, co-operation, integrity and perseverance will be emphasized and developed.
Our Goals for Character Tips for supporting Character Development in the Home
- Use the language of character
- Model and teach respectful manners
- Listen to your children
- Be clear about your values
- Spend time with your children in shared activities
- As a family, take part in community service projects or civic activities
- Establish family traditions and enjoy family celebrations together
- Capitalize on the “teachable moments”
- Assign household or family responsibilities
- Teach your children to be responsible and discerning with their choices in media and entertainment and online interactions
- Teach your children how to resolve conflict in a peaceful, respectful way
- Encourage empathy by asking questions such as, “How would you feel if...?”
- Become involved in your child’s school life - from Kindergarten to Grade 12
- Live character each day
November’s Character Trait is EMPATHY
What is empathy?
• Putting yourself in someone else’s shoes
• Understanding, sensing, and sharing in the feelings and emotions of others
• Showing love, sympathy, compassion, and encouragement
• Identifying with, and understanding, another’s situation, feelings, and motives
• Having concern for someone experiencing misfortune
Quotations
- “People will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” ~Bonnie Jean Wasmund
- “Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”~Leo Buscaglia
- “Only your compassion and your loving kindness are invincible, and without limit.” ~Thich Nhat Hanh
- “Be nice and smile at everyone you meet. You don’t know what they are going through, and they may need that smile, and treasure it.” ~Christine M. Huppert
- Listening with full attention to the speaker and looking for the feelings behind the words, facial expressions, and body language
- Respecting the thoughts of a friend who has shared his or her feelings
- Acknowledging the emotions of someone by saying something like, “I can see that you are really uncomfortable about this.”
- Showing appropriate reactions to someone who is sharing his or her feelings (i.e., nodding, smiling, paraphrasing) and asking questions at appropriate times
- Allowing the person to share his or her feelings without interrupting, judging, or trying to solve his or her problem
- Trying to really understand a person’s feelings and motives, even when you may disagree with the actions of a person
- Speaking from “I” and owning your emotions
- Understanding that we are all a lot more alike than we think, even if on the outside we look and act differently
- Seeing ourselves in others—even those we think are so different from us
- What is empathy? How can we show empathy?
- What does it mean to be empathetic?
- Engage your child in volunteer opportunities, such as helping at the food bank or other community organizations.
- Develop a family project that is meant to help others.
- When reading or watching the news, encourage a discussion about how those involved might feel.
- Encourage discussion, and expose your child to the language of emotions.
- Talk with your child about the importance of showing empathy through helping others.
- Share your own feelings with your child, providing him or her with the opportunity to be empathetic.
- Allow your child to express his or her feelings, regardless of whether they are positive or negative.
REMINDERS
Yard supervision
Yard supervision for Grades 1 to 6 begins at 8:35 a.m. and ends at 3:45 p.m. Kindergarten Supervision begins at 8:50 a.m. in the Primary yard with a 9:00 a.m. start. Kindergarten dismissal is at 3:20 p.m. Parents are responsible for their children’s safety and conduct in the yard before and after these times. All Grade 1 and 2 students are to be dropped off in the Primary/Kindergarten play area. Grade 3-6 students are to be dropped off in the junior yard area.
Visitor sign-in book
Visitors are requested to sign in at the main office and wear a ‘visitor tag’. This is a safety measure to ensure that visiting adults are recognized and encouraged to feel welcome in our school.
Kiss 'n Ride
Do not use the Avenue Road driveway as this is the school bus pick up and drop off area for our students. Please pick up and drop of your children at the Kiss 'n Ride designated area on Poplar Plains Road in front of the church.
School parking lot
This parking lot is for staff only. Please park on the side streets off of Poplar Plains where one hour parking is available.
Safe Arrival Program
The Safe Arrival program is used by parents/guardians and schools to account for any student’s unexplained failure to arrive at school. Please call the school safe arrival number 416-393-1557 before 8:55 a.m. or 12:30 p.m. (for an afternoon absence) if your child will not be attending school or plans to be late. This line is available 24 hours a day with voice mail. If your child is absent and we have not heard from you, we will make every effort to contact you using the information provided on the Emergency Form. The name and telephone number of an emergency contact are absolutely essential.
We are currently seeking parent volunteers to help in the office for our school. Please call our office if interested.
Gina Christakis
Principal
Brown Public School
