Happy Kwanzaa!

December 26 - January 1 

Kwanzaa is a cultural observance created in 1966 to celebrate African inspired traditional values and African American ancestry and heritage. Kwanzaa ("first fruits of the harvest" in Swahili) is being observed by increasing numbers of African Canadian families. 

On each day of the week during Kwanzaa, a candle is lit in a seven-branched candelabrum called a kinara, to represent one of the seven principles celebrated during Kwanzaa: unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Children often receive educational and cultural gifts, and the week may end with a great feast - the Kwanzaa Karamu - followed by dance, music and readings. (adapted from A Chorus of Cultures: Developing Literacy Through Multicultural Poetry, by Alm Flor Ada, Violet J. Harris & Lee Bennett Hopkins).

We join you in wishing students, staff and members of the community who will be celebrating Kwanzaa a joyful time of celebration.

Merry Christmas!

December 25  (Western) / January 7 (Eastern) 

December 25 is Christmas for most Christians in the West. Some Orthodox Churches, such as the Ukrainian Church, follow the Julian calendar and will celebrate Christmas on January 7.

For Christians, Christmas is a joyous religious celebration of the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem. Christians recognize Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah, the Son of God, and accept him as their Saviour and Lord. Western Christianity celebrates Christmas on December 25 following the Gregorian Calendar. Some followers of Eastern Christian churches follow the Julian Calendar and celebrate Christmas in early January.

Christmas has a long tradition of gift giving which originates with the New Testament account of the Three Wise Men bearing gifts to the newborn baby. Many Christians acknowledge this aspect of Christmas on January 6th, or the Day of the Three Kings. Christmas has also become a secular holiday enjoyed my many non-Christians.

Many celebrate Christmas by exchanging gifts, singing, visiting with family and friends, and attending services in Church.

We join you in wishing Christian students, staff and members of the community who will be celebrating Christmas, a Merry Christmas and a joyful time of sharing.

Dear Fossil Hill Families:

It is hard to believe that today is the last day of the 2017 school year. What a wonderful first half of this school year it has been.  We cannot believe how quickly time flies when we are having fun! 

At this time, we would like to wish Mrs. Sofia Zarina a happy retirement.  She has been part of the Fossil Hill Community for many years.  We thank her for her work with our students and their families.  She will be missed dearly by all the students and staff. 

Please also note that there are a few updates to the Junior-Intermediate Ski-Trip to Snow Valley.

       1.   We have changed the January date to Monday, January 29 (Friday, January 12 has been cancelled).

2.   Students who wish to go on only ONE date may now sign up for the Tuesday, March 6 ski trip.

3.      Forms and cash-on line will be updated to reflect these changes in the New Year.

On behalf of the Fossil Hill staff, we wish all our families a happy and relaxing holiday and for those families who celebrate Christmas, and/or Kwanzaa, we wish you a lovely celebration!

We look forward to seeing everyone back at school in the New Year on Monday, January 8, 2018.

Warmest wishes,

Joanne Lomanno-Aprile                         Carolyn Lamy

Principal                                                    Vice Principal    

Dear Families:

The YRDSB’s Equity and Inclusivity Advisory Committee (EIAC) created four sub-committees to engage family/parents and community voice and ideas with regard to ways to counter Anti-Black Racism, Islamophobia, Antisemitism, and Classism within the context of education.  

The EIAC subcommittees are launching multiple Community Consultations early in the new year. As such, the Anti-Black Racism and Classism Sub-Committees are slated to host community consultations in January and February 2018.   These consultations will also provide a summary of the Ministry’s recent review of YRDSB and in turn the Board’s response to equity-based recommendations in the Ministry’s report. The Antisemitism and Islamophobia community consultations will be conducted in April/May 2018.

Please see attached EIAC Anti-Black Racism and Classism Community Consultations flyer.  

Thank you,

Joanne Lomanno-Aprile                          Carolyn Lamy

Principal                                                   Vice Principal

Pajama Day

Spirit Committee has declared Friday, December 15th a PJ Day.  We encourage everyone to come dressed in their pajama's and to bring a stuffed animal if they wish.  PJ's and Stuffies - should be a great day at Fossil Hill Public School!!

DRESSING FOR COLD WEATHER

 

A kind reminder please dress your child for the weather. Some students were cold today because they were missing snow pants, water proof gloves, hats and boots. Neck warmers are preferred over a long scarf.

Happy Hanukkah!

Happy Hanukkah! 

December 13-20

To all our families who celebrate Hanukkah, we wish you a happy and enjoyable celebration full of light and happiness with your family and friends!

Chanukah (Hanukkah), the Jewish "Festival of Lights," also known as the "Feast of Dedication," begins at sunset on Tuesday, December 12th. 

In Judaism, Chanukah is celebrated for eight days to commemorate the victory of Judah the Maccabee for religious freedom and rededication of the Temple in 165 B.C.E. and to celebrate the power of God and the faithfulness of Israel. 

During the celebration, the eight candles of the menorah, the Chanukah lamp, are lit one day at a time. Card-playing is traditionally associated with the festival, as is spinning the dreidel (a spinning top). 

We will be acknowledging the festival through a variety of activities that promote learning and understanding for all students. We join you in wishing students, staff and members of the community who will be lighting the menorah in their homes a joyful time of sharing. 

Get Involved - Volunteer in Education

To our Fossil Hill Community,

We are pleased to let you know that once again this year YRDSB will be offering GIVE (Get Involved Volunteer in Education) – a free training program for parents/grandparents/caregivers, school council members, school lunch assistants and/or community members that wish to volunteer in the our schools.  The training program will be starting on January 23, 2018 at the Vaughan Welcome Centre.

York Region District School Board is offering this program in collaboration with Settlement and Education Partnership in York Region (SEPYR) and the Region of York.

Participants of this program will have instructional in class 3 hour sessions once a week for 6 weeks and will be required to volunteer in a school. The topics covered will be:  Role of the Volunteer,  Equity and Inclusive Education, Communication Skills, Human Rights, Mental Health & Well-being and Interview Skills.

Please see attached pamphlet.

Thank you,

Carolyn Lamy

Vice Principal

Fossil Hill - A "Future Aces" School

Last Friday, Fossil Hill was privileged to have Coco come speak to us as we become a “Future Aces” school.  Her message was clear…turn your pain into power.  When she was faced with hardship, she could have run from it or become hardened by it.  Instead, with the help of people who believed in her, she faced it head-on and she turned her life around.  She now mentors young people and uses her life to serve others.  We were inspired by her story, and that of another great man she told us about.  We learned more about Herb Carnegie.  He was a remarkable man, who when faced with the most overwhelming discrimination turned his anger into a life’s mission.  That mission became the creed we will now adopt as a school.  The Future Aces Creed.  As ACES we will vow to demonstrate a positive “Attitude”, show “Co-operation”, be an “Example” to others, and use our lives in “Service” to others.  The staff and students who went on the Future Aces Retreat last month will be leading us on this journey, and we are all very excited to join them.    

Joanne Lomanno-Aprile

Principal

Hats, Mittens, Gloves, and Boots!

Get ready for Winter!  Believe it or not…the winter months are HERE.  Please ensure your child comes prepared for the colder weather.  It is time to get out the warm clothes - winter jackets, hats, mitts and gloves are a must.  Our students are outside for a 20 minute morning recess and a 40 minute lunch recess - so dressing warmly is key to a fun outdoor experience!  Snow pants for our younger students and winter boots for all are a must as we approach snowy cold days.  Packing extra mitts and socks is always a good idea!  Let’s enjoy the weather and keep warm!  

Mark Your Calendar

Last Day of Fall Term:

Friday, December 22, 2017

First Day of Winter Term:

Monday, January 8, 2018

School Council Dates:

Tuesday, January 16, 2018 @ 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, February 27, 2018 @ 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, April 17, 2018 @ 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, May 29, 2018 @ 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, June 19, 2018 @ 6:30 p.m.

3 more SLEEPS until FAMILY FUN NIGHT!!!

Please Join Us!!

In support of the Vaughan FOOD DRIVE, please donate some 

non-perishable items. 

Arts @ Baythorn

Transfer Requests - Secondary Schools

Dear Students and Parents/Guardians,

Each year, the York Region District School Board staff work collaboratively to balance student enrolment and accommodation needs in an effort to ensure that students living in a school attendance area can attend their local secondary school without overflowing to other schools. Further, those accepted on transfer into courses and/or programs outside their home school attendance area need to be accommodated without displacing or limiting opportunity for students who live locally. To this end, this letter is to inform you of the status of new student transfer requests into secondary schools for September 2018.

The following list of schools is provided to assist students in their course selection and pathways choices:

A.     The following schools will not be accepting new student transfer requests for the 2018-2019 school year:

CEC Central:              Bayview SS, Richmond Hill HS, Langstaff SS (French Immersion only)

CEC East:                   Markville SS, Pierre Elliott Trudeau HS

CEC North:                 Newmarket HS

CEC West:                  Emily Carr SS, Vaughan SS (French Immersion only)

Note:  Transfer requests may be considered in extenuating circumstances, with prior approval from the Superintendent of Schools, for specific program reasons (i.e., Personalized Alt. Ed.)

B.     The following schools will be open to new student transfer requests into Grades 9-12 for the 2018-2019 school year:

       

CEC Central:	Alexander Mackenzie HS, Aurora HS, Dr. G.W. Williams SS, King City SS, Langstaff SS (Regular Track only), Richmond Green SS
CEC East:	Bill Hogarth SS, Bur Oak SS, Markham DHS, Middlefield CI, Milliken Mills HS, Unionville HS
CEC North:	Dr. J.M. Denison SS, Huron Heights SS, Keswick HS, Sir William Mulock SS, Stouffville DSS, Sutton DHS
CEC West:	Maple HS, Stephen Lewis SS, Thornhill SS, Thornlea SS, Tommy Douglas SS, Vaughan SS (Regular Track only), Westmount CI, Woodbridge College

Transfer requests from Grade 8 students must accompany the Registration Forms and are due to their home school by February 2, 2018. As well, students currently attending secondary school are to submit transfer request forms to their principal by February 2, 2018.  Students will be notified of the decision of their transfer request by February 8, 2018. Please note that course selection forms for all students must be submitted in Career Cruising by February 23, 2018 (please see your classroom teacher, the guidance department or school principal with questions regarding course selection).

For more information on attendance areas and student transfers, students and parents/guardians are encouraged to review the process outlined in Board Policy #108 Student Accommodation – Attendance Areas and Student Transfers.

If you have questions regarding a specific school, course or program, please contact the school.

Sincerely,

Leslie Johnstone                                                                                                

Associate Director of Education

Learning and Working Environments

Join us for FAMILY FUN NIGHT!!!

Please Join Us!!

In support of the Vaughan FOOD DRIVE, please donate some non-perishable items. 

We welcome Chris McKhool!

On Monday, December 4, 2017, Fossil Hill Public School is proud to host singer-songwriter and violinist Chris McKhool from Prologue to the Performing Arts.  Chris is a "Children's musical star" and has been touring across Canada performing at family concerts for over 10 years!  

Chris McKhool will be sharing songs from his "Celebrate! Holidays of the Global Village" album.  Together through songs, we will learn about the diverse multicultural celebrations, such as Bodhi Day, Chanukah, Chinese New Year, Christmas, Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, Kwanzaa, and Ramadan.  What better way than to sing our way into the upcoming Winter Holidays!

Fossil Hill is hosting a Scholastic Book Fair the week of December 1st to 8th. Classes will get a chance to preview the Fair early in the week and then sales will begin. The Fair will be open to families for sales

• Wednesday, December 6th from 3 until 4
• Thursday, December 7th from 3 until 4 and during Family Fun Night from 6 until 8
• Friday, December 8th from 9 until 10am

Proceeds from the Book Fair are used to purchase more books for the Library and other resources for the school. Please come check it out - books make great gifts for the Holidays! Thank you for your support!!!!

Help Support Our Food Drive

 

Dear Parents and Students:

We are having a food drive   It is going to be with Mrs. Jeffries’ class and the Grade 1 and 2 classes. It is going to be on December 4 to December 15.  The donations are going to go to the Vaughan Food Bank . Please bring in non-perishable foods, for example, cereal, canned food and granola bars. There will be large boxes in front of the School Office  and you can put your donations.

Thank you,
Mrs. Jeffries' students