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.