1 Newsletter Vol. 10 THE BOBCAT ECOLE PUBLIQUE BRIMWOOD BOULEVARD JUNIOR P.S. 151 Brimwood Blvd., Scarborough, ON M1V 1E5 Tel: (416) 396-6085 Principal: Claudette White Vice-Principal: Jenny Georgiou Superintendent: Shirley Chan Trustee: Neethan Shan JUNE, 2016 THANK YOU FOR A GREAT YEAR! This has been a year filled with many academic learning and co-curricular opportunities for our students. Brimwood’s emphasis this year was on math problem solving, improving students’ critical thinking skills through inquiry-based learning, and giving them the tools to effectively express their opinions orally and in writing. Students had many opportunities to address social justice issues as they practically applied what they were learning. Inquiry-based learning in science and social studies was facilitated by teachers, as students asked numerous questions about topics of interest and were guided in exploring and discovering answers and solutions to their inquiries. We saw examples of their STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, Math) projects at our very successful Science Fair in May. Another focus this year was on self- regulation. We worked with our School Council to provide parent workshops on emotional self-regulation, facilitated professional learning sessions for staff led by our school psychologist and social worker, and began implementing strategies in our classrooms to help students regulate their emotions more effectively. This will continue to be a focus in the new school year. Our primary and junior concerts, monthly character education assemblies, Track and Field, Aboriginal Games Day, and numerous social justice innovation opportunities allowed Brimwood student to shine as they demonstrated their talents, leadership abilities, and citizenship. Brimwood judges were thrilled to watch and listen to each of the Grade 4-6 Speech Arts finalist present their speeches so eloquently to their teachers and peers on June 24 th . Allowing students to have a voice and providing them with the tools to critically communicate their thoughts, is a skill that will definitely serve them well in the future. We are proud of the measure of improvement that our students have achieved this year. Whatever the improvement – large or small, academic and/or socio-emotional - it is important that Brimwood staff and parents continue to work together to ensure that each child develops and realizes his or her potential. School is closed for the summer on June 30. The school office will reopen Tuesday, August 30. First day of school for all students is Tuesday, September 6.
This has been a year filled with many academic learning and co-curricular opportunities for our students. Brimwood’s emphasis this year was on math problem solving, improving students’ critical thinking skills through inquiry-based learning, and giving them the tools to effectively express their opinions orally and in writing. Students had many opportunities to address social justice issues as they practically applied what they were learning.
Inquiry-based learning in science and social studies was facilitated by teachers, as students asked numerous questions about topics of interest and were guided in exploring and discovering answers and solutions to their inquiries. We saw examples of their STEM (Science,Technology, Engineering, Math) projects at our very successful Science Fair in May.
Another focus this year was on self-regulation. We worked with our School Council to provide parent workshops on emotional self-regulation, facilitated professional learning sessions for staff led by our school psychologist and social worker, and began implementing
strategies in our classrooms to help students regulate their emotions more effectively. This will continue to be a focus in the new school year.
Our primary and junior concerts, monthly character education assemblies, Track and Field, Aboriginal Games Day, and numerous social justice innovation opportunities allowed Brimwood student to shine as they demonstrated their talents, leadership abilities, and citizenship.
Brimwood judges were thrilled to watch and listen to each of the Grade 4-6 Speech Arts finalist present their speeches so eloquently to their teachers and peers on June 24th. Allowing students to have a voice and providing them with the tools to critically communicate their thoughts, is a skill that will definitely serve them well in the future.
We are proud of the measure of improvement that our students have achieved this year. Whatever the improvement – large or small, academic and/or socio-emotional - it is important that Brimwood staff and parents continue to work together to ensure that each child develops and realizes his or her potential.
School is closed for the summer on June 30. The school office will
reopen Tuesday, August 30. First day of school for all students is
Tuesday, September 6.
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Co-Curricular Activities
Our students have had many opportunities to participate in a number of curriculum-related activities:
Field Trips Hillside Outdoor Education Centre, Grade 6 four-day trip to Kearney Outdoor Education Centre in the Muskokas, Casa Loma, Toronto Botanical Gardens, Downsview Park, Ripley’s Aquarium, Science Centre
Curriculum-Related Scientist in the school for the Kindergarten classes, Aboriginal Games, primary winter concert, junior concert, visits from Fire Dept., Waste Management and Garbage, EMS, Dairy Farm, CNIB, police safety presentations, and NED (bullying presentation)
Clubs Primary Dance Club, Primary Choir, Junior Choir, Primary Art Club, Craft Club, Ukulele Club
Leadership Ubuntu Team (primary and junior), student volunteers, safety patrollers, office helpers, library helpers, and morning announcers
Thank you to all staff who facilitated each of these activities, and to you, parents and caregivers, who supported the children by volunteering on field trips and in the Kindergarten classrooms for Scientist in the School.
Making a Difference
Students and staff walked several times around the perimeter of the school in April in support of the Terry Fox Foundation. What an amazing thought to think our students will someday have a hand in finding a cure for cancer!
We saw our students make a difference by getting actively involved in social concerns, led by our Ubuntu Team. Our school-wide food drive was a huge success when we collected non-perishable items to address hunger right here in our Scarborough community.
Our Ubuntu Team organized many different games and charged students 25–50 cents per game during morning recesses, resulting in Brimwood raising $750 for families who have been devastated by the fires in Fort McMurray.
Primary and junior members of our Ubuntu Team used information technology to bring awareness to a variety of social justice issues. They represented Brimwood well at a number of TDSB events, including the Social Innovation Symposium, ER19 Student Voice presentation, Digital Lead Learners presentation, and the ER19 Parent Engagement evening. An incredible group of young leaders!
Brimwood continues to have a silver status with Eco-School. We continued with many practical reminders to conserve energy, to reduce and reuse, and to bring waste-free lunches that contain no throwaway packaging, and to use compost bins for our food waste. Next year, we are aiming for gold status!
We thank you very much for supporting our fundraising initiatives this year. Special thanks to our incredible School Council that hosted the September BBQ, pizza lunches, the move-a-thon, and movie nights. Ms. Singh led us in our milkshake fundraising. Money raised from all fundraising has helped to pay:
- for all the buses for class field trips; - for the bus to Birchmount track and field; - to subsidize student costs for field trips - for Gr. 6 graduation costs; - for Scientist in the School for the Kindergarten - for the Raz Kids On-Line Reading Program for our
Grade 1 students to access at home and at school; and - for iPads and laptops.
Brimwood students have shared their science explorations, math problem solving, art work and posting their questions and ideas on class sites using Google apps; using Smart Boards, Mimeo Boards, chrome books, docu-cameras, iPads, video camera, and various software, etc. to demonstrate their learning. Have you checked us out on Twitter? The expense of technology is great, and it is our hope that you will join us next year as we continue to increase the availability of technology at Brimwood.
Our fundraising events could not have happened without the faithful support of our School Council, under the leadership of Simone Dublin and Carla Boutwell (BBQ, t-shirt sales, movie nights, move-a-thon, and pizza lunches), and by Ms. Singh (milkshake sales). We thank those parents, businesses in the community, and friends of Brimwood for supporting our efforts this year.
VOLUNTEERS
Student Volunteers
Our students willingly and enthusiastically give of their time to help others and assume a number of school-based responsibilities. We are very grateful to the following students who have helped out in a number of ways at Brimwood this year. They truly know the meaning of volunteer! They were acknowledged at our year end assembly and received a token gift of appreciation.
Office Helpers Ethan Niya Kaaviya Ameen Aden Aleena Asfiya Jayden Samuel
Amani Kailash Anastacia Wendy Nathan Siraj Maahiesh Cheryl Rahim
School Council co-chair, Simone Dublin
volunteers in Scientist in the School
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Walkie-Talkie Helpers Jayden Samuel Ryan Kaaviya
Safety Patrollers
Morning Announcers Aden Kaaviya Asfiya Aleena Niya
Asfiya A. Ethan C. Amari J. Anastacia M.
Ameshten N. Siraj S. Brinthavi S. Kaaviya S.
Prithvi S-V. Kailash S. Amrutha T. Mae Shi W.
Parent Volunteers
Whether helping out in a classroom, helping to supervise on class trips and Kindergarten Scientist in the School, helping at our fundraising events, serving on School Council, and many other opportunities. Regular volunteers were given a small gift in appreciation of their time and care of our students over the year.
A big thanks to Brimwood staff for working diligently with our students, encouraging them to be the best that they can be academically. They also used early morning times and their lunch time to facilitate the many co-curricular activities students had opportunity to participate in, to develop and platform their skills and talents, and to grow socially and emotionally.
SCHOOL COUNCIL
Fundraising was not the only thing our School Council did this year! There were many workshops for parents that School Council hosted, including: January – Family Math Night February – Helping Your Child Manage His/Her Anger March – French Immersion Night April – EQAO Information Night May/June – 123 Magic
We hope to see many more parents come out next year.
Although small in number, our School Council is a vibrant and dynamic group. We offer our thanks to Simone Dublin and Carla Boutwell for co-chairing School Council this year. Carla will be resigning from this position. We thank her for her involvement in the school and the care and support she has shown the students.
Many parents came out on Math Night to learn
about the math their children were learning and
to participate in some of the math activities with
their children.
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Simone Dublin has been very active on Council this past year sharing her insights and creative ideas, and mobilizing the Council in our fundraising events and parent workshops. We look forward to her continued involvement and leadership as chair of School Council next year.
To the entire Brimwood learning community … thank you for working so collaboratively, productively and successfully. We have a fantastic school to be proud of – one with great kids, amazing teachers, and supportive parents.
WE SAY GOODBYE TO…
June is always a time of change, and it is with sadness, but best wishes, that Brimwood bids farewell to a number of staff who will be at other schools next year.
Mme Magat (ECE in Kindergarten room K-1) will be supporting the Kindergarten Program at Jackman Avenue Jr. P.S.
Mr. Steacy will be teaching Grade 2/3 at Milliken P.S.
Mme Rossiter-Thornton will be teaching French Immersion Kindergarten at Pauline Johnson Jr. P.S.
Ms. Rajan and Ms. Jones will be Learning Coaches at the central Board level, supporting teachers in their classroom instruction.
Ms. Kennedy will be teaching Gr. 1 at Daystrom P.S.
M. Zesseu will be teaching a Gr. 4/5 French Immersion Gifted Program at Parkdale P.S.
Ms. Jackson will be teaching Grade 4/5 at Bruce P.S.
We also say goodbye to the following Long Term Occasional teacher (LTOs) and wish them much success in their teaching careers. Ms. Kalia Mme Saynor Mme Rhooms We extend sincere thanks to these staff members for their time of service here at Brimwood. Best wishes to them as they continue their careers at other schools or in a different capacity.
FINAL REPORT CARDS GO HOME TODAY!
Students’ report cards are included with this newsletter. The report card evaluates students’ progress based on Ministry of Education expectations for term 2 (February to June). It also shows your child’s placement and teacher for September. Please take the time to review the marks and comments with your child. Teachers have indicated next steps for improvement by providing suggestions for summer activities.
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MAY STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to the following students who were chosen by their teachers and acknowledged at our May assembly as Students of the Month for consistently demonstrating honesty.
Mme Gendi - Emma W., Andrew D. Mme Lopez - Ellie D., Kaiyin G. Ms. Lee - Rethuran R., Varunie V. Ms. Kennedy - Shambhavi B., Michelle L. Ms. Kalia - Anjana V., Kingsley C. Ms. Das - Nathan D., Samuel W. Ms. Jones - Raymond T., Zaina J. Ms. Moyles - Benjamin C., Vanessa S. M. Ndeke-Manfata - Danial A., Basira A. Mme Yim - Nilesh S., Arianna A. Mme Akineza - Kaidyn B., Bella L Mme Cane - Sina K., Alyssia L.
Mme Rossiter-Thornton - Balraaj J., Aishwarya S. Ms. Tassopoulos - Sudanra S., Sayyoan M. Mr. Liaw - Leo C., Jason D. Mme Saynor - Fatima F.., Jahlija M-H. Ms. Arulanantham - Hussain R., Maahiesh S. M. Zesseu & Mme Rhooms - Karim C., Niya A. Ms. Yu - Kaedon G., Tony G.
JUNE STUDENTS OF THE MONTH
Congratulations to the following students who were chosen by their teachers and acknowledged at our June assembly as Students of the Month for consistently demonstrating integrity.
Mme Gendi - Nomaan A., Arushi N. Mme Lopez - Mithusha S., Dev. S. Ms. Lee - Maryam M., Shaalini S Ms. Kennedy - Katherine W., Anson F., Aseel K. Ms. Kalia - Evan H., Elena G. Ms. Das - Chloe C., Samuel W. Ms. Jones - Casey S, Shruthi S. Ms. Moyles - Chloe T., Nikhil T. M. Ndeke-Manfata - Basira A, Danial A. Mme Yim - Lisa C., Ryan W. Mme Akineza - Hafsa P., Savya P. Mme Cane- Maggie R. Jodie T.
Mme Rossiter-Thornton - Meera K., Keerthy K. Ms. Tassopoulos- Ilakgana K. Mr. Liaw - Bilal K., Raiha X. Mme Saynor - Shayden M., Jenelle A. Ms. Arulanantham - Mae Shi W., Maahiesh S. M. Zesseu & Mme Rhooms - Daniel W., Carly C. Ms. Yu - Asfiya A.
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FAREWELL TO OUR GRADE 6 STUDENTS
Congratulations to our 38 students who have completed their Grade 6 education and will be advancing to Grade 7 to begin their middle school years in September. Students who will be in the French Immersion Program and the Extended French Programs will be going to Sir Alexander Mackenzie Sr. P.S. Students on the English track will be going to Henry Kelsey Sr. P.S.
A ceremony took place in our gym on the afternoon of Tuesday, June 28 to honour these students’ achievement. Following the ceremony, students and their parents enjoyed light refreshments together.
The following students received specific awards as follows:
Athletic – Renee C., Shanthuru K. Mathematics – Kailash S. Science – Jerry D. Social Studies – Maahiesh S. Music – Grace W. Visual Arts – Fei Er S. Drama – Amani M.
Literacy – Amrutha T. French – Carly C. Citizenshi – Amrutha T., Maahiesh S.,
Kailash S., Brinthavi S. Principal’s Leadership – Maahiesh S. Commitment to Learning – Daniel W.,
Joshua B., Suki C., Shu C., Fei Er S.
Valedictorian
Congratulations to Amrutha T. for the heart-warming and inspiring speech she gave as valedictorian.
Brimwood Speech Arts Showcase
Providing opportunities for our students to have a voice and express their opinions about issues they feel strongly about, is extremely important for their overall development of oral and literacy skills. Students in Grades 4-6 spent time in their classes learning how to write opinion pieces and how to effectively give a speech to express their opinion.
Brimwood’s Speech Showcase was held on Friday, June 24th in our school gym with those representing their classes presenting speeches on a variety of topics. Students had to project their voices, have good eye contact with the audience, know their speech, and keep the audience’s attention.
The following representatives received a Certificate of Participation: Yasma K., Hazel B., Mae Shi W., Maahiesh S., Prithvi P., Shathuru K., Fei Er S., Nettie C., Niya A.
Congratulations to all our Grade 4-6 students who worked on persuasive and opinion speeches. All representatives were great, and their speeches reflected much effort and represented a wide array of topics.
We wish all our Grade 6 students much success, and trust that their experiences at Brimwood will serve them well as they embark on the next chapter of their young lives in middle school.
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HIGHLIGHTS OF THE YEAR
As we reflect on the 2015-16 school year, we are so proud of how Brimwood students have shone – both in and outside the school. The learning that has taken place in their classrooms has been applied through so many different practical ways. Some highlights include:
SCIENCE FAIR - Students share their STEM projects at our Science Fair during Education Week May 3-6. Below are just some of the projects from different classes.
KINDERGARTEN PLAY DAY – Our Kindergarten teachers facilitated a fun day for our Kindergarten children last week out on the Brimwood field. Great fun was had by all!
Parents and fellow students had the opportunity to go from class to class to see and hear about practical ways to solve some of the environmental and social concerns that face our world today through the STEM projects that our Grades 1-6 students presented.
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TAKING IT GLOBAL SOCIAL INNOVATION SHOWCASE (pictures below) - Brimwood students shared social justice projects at the Taking It Global Social Innovation Showcase at Albert Campbell Collegiate on June 15. Three of our students spoke about the kinds of technology they used to enhance their social justice projects in an “Ignite Talk” in front of the entire audience. One of our Grade 1 students spoke about the accessible playground models her class produced and two students of our Ubuntu Social Justice Team spoke about Brimwood’s school wide projects they led this year.
BRIMWOOD’S UBUNTU SOCIAL JUSTICE TEAM
Below is our group of primary and junior students who made up our social justice leadership team. They led the school in many different educational awareness and proactive activities to address a variety of community and global issues this year, such as our food drive for the Scarborough Food Bank, toiletry drive for a Scarborough men’s homeless shelter, Day of Silence for women’s rights, games to raise money for Fort McMurray, Aboriginal Games, and much more.
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ER19 PARENT ENGAGEMENT FORUM - Much learning in our classrooms took place this year, and the opportunity to present some of our learning this year took place at the ER19 Parent Engagement Forum in June. This was an opportunity for parents of all schools in our area (ER19) to see and hear some of what their children have learned this year.
STEM and DIGITAL LEAD LEARNER MARKETPLACE
Members of our Ubuntu Social Justice Team share how they use technology to promote our school wide social justice projects at the STEM and Digital Lead Learner Marketplace hosted by the Toronto District School Board. The students explained how they created a powtoon movie to promote a school wide toiletry drive, and how they plan their projects using various Google Apps.
Literacy learning in Mme Lopez’s French
Immersion Kindergarten class
Shyam explaining the learning in Mme Cane’s
Gr. 2/3 French Immersion class
Students in Mme Cane’s,
Mme Lopez’s, Ms. Jones’
and Ms. Arulanantham’s
classes posing with
Superintendent Shirley
Chan at the ER19 Parent
Engagement Forum.
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“PLAY4FORTMCMURRAY” FUNDRAISER – The Ubuntu Team created and led the
school in a variety of games at lunch recesses in June. Students paid 25-50 cents per game
and over 3 days. The biggest hit was arm wrestling the teachers! Guess who won? Brimwood
raised raised $750 to donate to the Red Cross’s efforts in meeting the needs of the families who were devastated by the fires in Fort McMurray.
OUR ATHLETES SHINE AT BIRCHMOUNT TRACK AND FIELD
Kearney
Garhay, Malachi, Karim, and Akash won 5
th place in the Grade 5 Boys’
Relay.
Ludhvahi, Amani, Renee and Carly won 1st place in the
Grade 6 Girls’ Relay.
Jeffrey
represents his
Gr. 3 Boys’
Relay team –
Jahsiah, Kalani,
Neshaun.
Congratualtions
to these four
boys who won
3rd
place.
Heading out for a great day of competition
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BRIMWOOD’S ESL STUDENTS SHINE AT CANADIAN VISTAS (pictures below)
Each year, the ESL Dept. collects writing completed by ESL students. The writing pieces are collected in Canadian Vistas Writing Anthology. Congratulations to Phoenix G. (Gr. 5) and Hasti A. (Gr. 6) whose writing pieces were included in the anthology. Phoenix presented her writing at the unveiling ceremony of the anthology on June 3rd. Hasti was attending the Grade 6 trip to Kearney Outdoor Centre and was not able to attend the ceremony.
Both girls are part of our ESL program and receive support from Ms. Miranda. Congratulations to Phoenix and Hasti. Well done!
Phoenix writes about her experience at the celebration.
On June 9 Jing Yi and I went to the Canadian Vistas launch celebration. Hasti’s writing and mine were chosen to be published in the ESL book. The event happened at John Polanyi Collegiate which was a 30 minute drive away. We came in and two ladies handed us each a copy of the Canadian Vistas book and schedule. First, I signed my piece on the wall and Mrs. Miranda took a photo of me. Then, we headed towards the room where the event would take place. After everyone was there, a storyteller, Dan Yashinsky told us a joke and two stories. The last one was the funniest. Next, me and some other students read our pieces to the audience. Then, the host lead us into the snack room where there were cookies, cake, drinks and some fruits. After eating, we heard a few more students read their pieces, and then the host showed us a video that an E.S.L. class had made. Finally, we left the high school and drove back to Brimwood. It was really fun there! My favourite part was the snacks and all the stories.
REACHING OUT INTO OUR COMMUNITY
Phoenix G. Hasti A.
Toiletry Drive for Good Shepherd
Homeless Shelter
Food Drive for Agincourt
Community Services
Collecting milk bags, pop tabs and
batteries to be reused
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DAY OF PINK – Bully Intervention
April 13 was International Day of Pink – a day that focuses on the seriousness of bullying and what each one can do to end the cycle of bullying.
FROM START TO FINISH - OUR KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN PLANTING A BUTTERFLY GARDEN
Students in Ms. Moyles Gr. 2/3 class pledge to
try to end bullying.
Brimwood students took pledges to do their part in creating a more peaceful community.
The Kindergarten children have learned that butterflies drink nectar from flowers. Nectar gives butterflies energy to fly. However, they noticed that our school does not have flowers on the property, and butterflies cannot get food around our school. So they thought of solving the problem by making a butterfly garden. The children got some professional help from Environmental Earth Angels and Qualcomm who sent volunteers on June 2nd to make a butterfly garden in front of the school.
14
GRADE 6 TRIP TO KEARNEY OUTDOOR CENTRE - On June 6-9, our Grade 6 students went on a 4-day trip to Kearney Outdoor Centre in the Muskokas. Below are some highlights of their trip.
SOUTH ASIAN HERITAGE
A number of Brimwood students participated in a fashion show portraying the various kinds of attire worn by members of our South Asian community. The fashion show took place at Leacock Collegiate in celebration of South Asian Heritage Month. Our students also led a variety of South Asian games.
Waiting for the next activity outside the girl’s cabin
Exploring living things in the pond Playing Capture the Flag in the woods
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ABORIGINAL GAME DAY
Brimwood participated in its 2nd annual Aboriginal Game Day on June 22nd. Long before we were at Brimwood, there were those who called this area their home. We recognize that the sacred land on which Brimwood is located, was a site for many different indigenous groups, most recently, the Mississauga of the Credit River. As we gathered to celebrate our school community, we acknowledged and gratefully celebrated the beautiful cultures of the First Nations, Metis, Inuit, and all First Peoples of Canada.
Thank you to Brimwood staff and parent volunteers who made all our activities inside and outside the classroom such a positive learning experience for our students.
Have a safe and enjoyable summer!
The school is CLOSED for summer holidays from June 30 to September 5 .
First day of school is September 6th
The name of your child’s teacher for next year is written on the first page of his/her report card at the end of the Learning Skills section.
The first day of school is September 6th. Class lists will be posted with the names of students and teachers. Students are to line up in the schoolyard 8:40 a.m. where the name of their teacher will be posted.
School Council is hosting a
WELCOME BACK BBQ 5:00 p.m.
SEPTEMBER 20th
Curriculum Night will follow the BBQ
Watch for more information in September
Learning how to play lacrosse Demonstrating stick catch
