Bell Let’s Talk Day

Today's the day we break the silence—and talk about mental health. For every Tweet using #BellLetsTalk, Bell Canada will donate 5¢ to mental health initiatives. So speak up, speak out, and end the stigma. Let's talk.

Sparky Fire Safety Program

 

We welcome the Vaughan Fire Department to visit our Grade 1 and 2 students on February 8!

The Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service have developed successful programs through the schools that deliver the message of ire safety to the home and encourage families to take action. 

Students will have a chance to take Sparky (a stuffed dog) home for the night with a special booklet. The booklet includes a checklist for families to complete to ensure that families have fire safety plans and functional fire alarms. Students will have a chance to draw and write about their special night with Sparky. This aligns with various topics in the Ontario Curriculum. 

The fire department will return for another special visit in the spring.

Supporting Your Child in Successful Post Secondary Pathway Planning

Family Literacy Day

Family Literacy Day is a national awareness initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 and held annually on January 27 to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. 

Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development, improving a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well. 

Please see the Family Literacy Day website for literacy activities you can do with your children today!

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This date was designated by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in November, 2005. The day is an international memorial day for the victims of the Nazi holocaust, which saw the murder of 6 million Jews, 2 million Roma people, and 15000 people who were LGBTQ. 

January 27 was selected because it is the date when the Nazi concentration and extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945. Each year, Canadians and individuals all over the world take this opportunity to remember the victims of the atrocities of the Holocaust and reflect on the dangers of antisemitism.

FINAL SKI TRIP DETAILS SHEET 
Snow Valley Ski Resort

We are off to the hills on Monday!  Here are some important reminders...

Date:                                  
Monday, January 29, 2018   

Time of departure:          
Board Bus at 7:30 a.m.
Bus is leaving Fossil Hill at 8 a.m.

           

Return Time: 
Between 4:00 and 4:30 p.m.

Mode of transportation: 
Can-Ar Coach Service

Lunch and Snack:            
Students may bring a peanut-free lunch or purchase their lunch at resort.  
A water-bottle is highly recommended.

Dress:                     
- Snow pants and ski jacket
- Waterproof mitts or gloves (an extra pair)
- Extra warm layers (avoid cotton) – Dry-Wick is BEST
- 2 pairs of warm socks (avoid cotton) – wool or dry-wick
- Ski Goggles (optional)
- Balaclava (optional) – keeps you warm under helmet
- Neck warmer (NO SCARVES allowed)

Ski Lead:                             
Ms Carolyn Lamy
Vice Principal 
carolyn.lamy@yrdsb.ca

Supervising Teachers:      
Ms Hinds, Ms Glass, Ms Davies, Mr. Hutton, Ms Sacco, Mr. Silverberg, Mr. Nissenthall, Ms Stevens, 
Ms Jeffries

Emergency Contacts:        
School:          905.653.8055

Other:            416.727.2929

Parent Volunteers - Snow Valley

Dear Families:

Next Monday, January 29 many of the Junior and Intermediate students will be off to Snow Valley.

If you are interested in joining us, please email or call me.  We will have room on the bus and would love to see you on the hills!

Carolyn Lamy

Vice Principal

Fossil Hill Public School

2 Firenza Drive

Woodbridge, ON L4H2P5

905.653.8055 ext. 156

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A Kangaroo? Where?

Welcome Animal Ambassadors!

Animal Ambassadors is an organization that rescues animals and provides hands-on educational experiences! 

It was so great having Animal Ambassadors here at Fossil Hill today! Animal Ambassadors brought in such great animals to see including snakes, tree frogs, chinchillas, spiders, a bearded dragon and even a Kangaroo!  

The Grade 1 and 2 students were so excited to see these animals live and up close!!  Thank you to the Animal Ambassadors for such a great day!

Free Parenting Workshop - Jan 31

York Hill ES will be hosting a free workshop on Parenting Traps on January 31.

EIAC Classism Sub-Committee Community Conversations.

YRDSB has updated the flyer for the upcoming EIAC Classism Sub-Committee Community Conversations.  Online registration is preferred, however, not required. 

Please see the updated flyer below.

Conquering Anxiety - Adult Workshops

Fossil Hill Community:

The Vaughan Community Health Centre is offering a new free program for Adults 21+ called “Conquering Anxiety”.    

Please see the poster below for details if you are interested.  

A letter from our new Director of Education

Dear Families:

We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Louise Sirisko, our new Director of Education to YRDSB!
Please see her letter attached.
Thank you.

Tamil Heritage Month

On October 5, 2016, Motion M-24 was passed in the Federal Parliament, officially proclaiming January of every year as Tamil Heritage Month.  Tamil Heritage Month aims to celebrate the richness of the Tamil language and its literature, as well as to highlight the vibrant traditions, histories, arts, and cultures of Tamil Canadians. In addition, it seeks to recognize the significant contributions of Tamil Canadians in key areas of social, cultural, economic, and political spheres. 

According to the Tamil calendar, January 14, 2017 is the start of the Tamil New Year during the month of “Thai”. On this day Tamils around the diaspora will be celebrating Tamil New Year and Thai Pongal, the Tamil harvest festival. Thai Pongal is the most important and widely-celebrated festival amongst Tamils around the globe. 

Thai Pongal is a time to give thanks for the blessings of the previous year and a time to look forward to the New Year. Pongal refers to rice cooked in milk and sweetened with chakkarai (brown cane sugar). On Thai Pongal members of the family wake up early in the morning, dress in new clothes and gather together to cook the traditional Pongal meal. Additional ingredients used in this special dish include milk-roasted green gram (payaru), raisins, cashew nuts (optional), and cardamom. Pongal is served with fruits (banana and mango) on a banana leaf, and the family gives thanks to the sun and, the farmers for a bountiful harvest before sharing the special dish with family members, friends and neighbours. 

Please join us in recognizing Tamil Heritage Month.

Nominations open for

OTIP Teaching Awards 2018

 

Nominations are open for the 2018 awards. The deadline for receipt of nominations is March 31, 2018.

There are three categories of awards: elementary school teacher, secondary school teacher and beginning teacher in the first five years of teaching. A teacher may be nominated by anyone – professional colleagues, students, parents, or the general public.

The Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) are proud sponsors of the OTIP Teaching Awards. For many years, these awards have recognized the excellence of our teachers in publicly funded education.

We are proud of the excellence of teachers throughout the province. These awards allow us to recognize and celebrate outstanding contributions that our members make to their students’ education, to their schools, and within their communities.

Further information is available at www.teachingawards.ca.

French Immersion Information Evening

To our Senior Kindergarten Families:

Please see the attached flyer regarding an upcoming French Immersion information evening at Lorna Jackson 

Note:  This is the site for the grade 1 students who wish to enter the French Immersion program.  In grade 2, students would then move on to the French Immersion school that would be assigned to them based on their home address.  This will be explained to families at the information evening, along with many details pertaining to the French Immersion program. 

If you have any questions, please call Lorna Jackson.

Triple P - Positive Parenting Seminar Series

Thanks for your support!!!

Our Scholastic Book Fair during Family Fun Night in December was one of our most successful ever.  We sold almost $4500 in product netting us $2500 in profit which we will use to purchase more books for our Library and classroom use.  Many thanks to everyone for your support.  Congratulations to our prize winners too!  Carson in 5/6P, Fatiah in 4S and Mikayla in 1P all won $10 worth of free books while Raj in Ms. Picchetti's class was the grand prize winner of $25 in product for himself and $25 worth of books for his classroom.

Birth of Guru Gobind Singh 

January 5 marks the birthday of the tenth and last guru within the Sikh tradition. Guru Gobind is recognized as the "saint/soldier" and poet who fought against oppression by infusing a martial spirit in people through soul-inspiring heroic poetry. He founded the "Khalsa" order within the Sikh tradition that sought to bring justice and quality to mankind through selfless service.

Birth anniversaries of the ten gurus are observed with a great deal of devotion and enthusiasm and this is especially the case for the birthdays of the first and last gurus, as these days are often celebrated as festivals. The festivities typically last for three days.

On the first day, a large procession is organized that is led by the Panj Piyaras (Five beloved ones) and the Palki (icon) of Guru Gobind. On the following day, devotional hymns are traditionally sung and there may be a katha (religious discourse) or Sikh historical lecture scheduled. A free langar (luncheon) is then usually served where everyone gathers together in a spirit of sharing and community.

We extend our best wishes to staff, students and members of the Sikh Community who will be celebrating this festive occasion.