The Brisdale Bear

the foundational pieces for student success.

Although the month of March was a little shorter, our students and staff alike, were busy preparing for many exciting upcoming events. Once again, we have our Jump Rope for Heart team working very hard on perfecting their skip rope skills with Mr. Taylor. Our talented team of jumpers will begin visit-ing local schools in the near future to inspire oth-ers to get involved and raise money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. The cast, choir and many supporting staff led by Mrs. Friesen, our musical direc-tor, have been working endless hours in prepara-tion for our "Annie Jr." mu-sical performances. Al-though most of the tickets have been sold for the two evening performances on April 14th and 15th, there

are a few more tickets available, so please pur-chase them as soon as possible to avoid disap-pointment. Also, we had most of the students prac-tice and take part in a pro-fessional videotaping ses-sion by our Board media department creating a video highlighting the 6 character traits (caring, honest, cooperative, inclu-sive, respectful and re-sponsible) that we continue to foster in all of our schools across the Board. Teachers, led by Mr. Poitras, supported our stu-dents in their preparations. We look forward to show-casing this video with to community during our Open House event. Once again, thank you to the whole community for your generous contribu-tions to our fundraiser in February. We raised over $10,000. We are making plans to purchase the sign.

Volume V, Issue 8

Brisdale Public School

Inserts:

• Peel board celebrates public education

during Education Week—April 19-30

• Peel schools honour police officers

during Police Appreciation Week

• Keep your child safe around train

tracks

• Nutritious lunch helps your child learn

• Review street-proofing tips to keep your

child safe

• Use the internet to help your child

succeed in math

• Celebrating Faith and Culture Back-

grounder April 2010

• Help us to encourage and enhance

parent involvement in Peel

• Parent Member Application Form—

Parent Involvement Ctte

• Challenge: Sustainable Living

March highlights ... 1

School Success 1

Education Week

Information

2

Student Writing - Gr. 3 Brisdale’s Best – March winners April's theme—Citizenship

3

Brisdale PS Information EQAO Schools Attuned Dates to Remember School Council

4

Inside this issue:

Welcome back everyone! We hope that all of our stu-dents and families had a restful March Break and enjoyed the wonderful weather we had for the week. You would have already received information re-garding the change in our "parent-teacher" interview process for this term. To that end, with your child's report card you would have received a letter indicating if your child's teacher would like to arrange an interview with you. If you have not done so already, please be sure to respond to the teacher in order to arrange a time to meet. Also, please keep in mind that if at any time during the year you have ques-tions regarding your child's progress, feel free to get in touch with the teacher. A strong connection between home and school is one of

March highlights from the Principal ...

April 2010

School Success One of the three school success goals is in the area of Leadership for Learning.

Our school focus, as you would know, is to continue to empower and support our stu-

dents to learn and understand themselves and their strengths through the contin-

ued implementation of the Schools Attuned program. We provide you, our parents

and guardians with relevant tips every month on page 4 of this newsletter from the

Schools Attuned programme. Please be sure to take time to talk to your child(ren)

regarding their strengths and in this way further support their own understanding

of themselves.

During our upcoming Open House on April 29th , you will once again have the oppor-

tunity to visit classrooms with Schools Attuned activities with your child. Enjoy!

“If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.” ~ Dorothy Law

PAGE 2 BRISDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL VOLUME V, I SSUE 8

Peel board celebrates public education during Educ ation Week – April 19 to 30

Peel public schools will host hundreds of special activities and events to celebrate Education Week

2010. To give schools plenty of time to hold activities, this celebration of education will be held

for two weeks from April 19 to 30. The theme for this year's focus on education is Smile together

In 1969, 10 local boards came together as the Peel County Board of Education—a growing, flexi-

ble, adaptable, progressive school system committed to the unique learning needs of each student.

Today, the Peel District School Board is a sophisticated leader in education—a system focused on

student success and bringing out the smile within.

"As we celebrate our 40th year of service to our Peel community, we remain committed to building

a legacy of caring and smiling together," says Tony Pontes, director of education. "We're inspired

by what has endured and stood the test of time—our relationships with the community, parents,

staff and students."

In addition to inviting parents and community residents to visit their classrooms during the week,

Peel schools are hosting open houses, plays/musicals, storytelling, environmental activities,

awards assemblies, talent shows and much more.

One of the highlights of Education Week is the presentation of Awards of Excellence. The award

recipients are students, volunteers, staff and community partners who have made outstanding

contributions to public education in Peel. The awards will be presented to 31 deserving recipients

at the Showcase of Excellence ceremony on April 19 at 7:30 p.m. in the board room, HJA Brown

Education Centre, 5650 Hurontario St., Mississauga.

More than 900 individuals will also be honoured during Education Week with Awards of Distinc-

tion for their contributions to their school or workplace.

At Brisdale during Education Weeks …

We have a variety of events and performances for our students and the community planned at Brisdale

for the 2 Education Weeks (April 19th - April 30th) including children author's visits, environmental

presentations and movies, as well as story readings for students in a variety of languages. We look for-

ward to having our families visit with us during the Open House on Thursday, April 29th at 6:30 pm.

Brisdale’s Best April's theme:

CITIZENSHIP

Students who are good citizens: • Cooperate with others

• Contribute to their community and work to improve

it

• Obey rules and laws

• Use good manners and kind words

• Accept responsibility for their actions

Here are our Brisdale’s Best students who demonstrated

respect during the month of March:

K— Tyler, Aarun, Chanithi, Surnish, Jacob, Navroop, Krish, Esther,

Umar, Neha, Kiara, Alana and Kajen

Gr. 1— Arkin, Timothy, Doulton, Talha, Sarah and Robby

Gr. 2 — Ishan, McKayla, Jessica, Sareena, Barnita, Sellvi

Gr. 3— Bowen, Anika, Dilpreet, Harnoor, Jada, Keon, Herithik

Gr. 4 — Samir, Shay-Ann, Matthew, Sydney

Gr. 5 — Janika, Farzad, Mandy, Parmeen, Nabid, Divya and Devon

Grade 3 students share their thoughts about …

Persuasive Writing

Should We Have March Break?

Hello, my name is Iffah and I think we should have March Break. I think it is great to have

March Break.

I think we should have March Break because in March Break you could go to lots of places like

to your cousins house or somebody's party that could be your friends or family. I know that

would be fun because lots of people like to go places.

I also think we should have March Break because I know how it feels to have March Break. It

feels very good and it is very fun. Kids will enjoy it.

Grown ups will enjoy themselves too because they can relax and they can enjoy March Break

with their children and go to the Ontario Science Centre.

It is truly amazing and wonderful to have a March Break. So have a March Break and enjoy.

My reasons are you could go lots of places. Kids will enjoy it. Also grown ups will enjoy it too.

Iffah F.

PAGE 3 BRISDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL VOLUME V, I SSUE 8

contributions to public education in Peel. The awards will be presented to 31 deserving recipients

From the School Council

Brisdale Public School

Website

Brisdale Public School 370 Brisdale Drive Brampton, Ont. L7A 3K7 905-840-2135 phone number 905-840-8093 fax number

Dates to remember…..

Suzana Budetic

Principal

Wendy Vokey

Vice Principal

Sue Fraleigh

Vice Principal

Barb Elder

Head Secretary

Mark Haarmann

Superintendent 905-451-2862

Steve Kavanagh

Trustee 905-457-3132

EQAO

In every grade three class, students are learning a number of strategies that will help

them to be successful when writing the EQAO test. COPS, APE, UPSET and ATCO are all

strategies that can be used to ensure that questions are being answered appropriately.

Parents can help students prepare for the test by asking how each strategy can be used.

In addition, students continue to be reminded to highlight key words and to carefully re-

read questions to ensure understanding. As the test approaches, EQAO booklets will be

coming home on a regular basis.

Thank you to all of the parents who joined us earlier this week for our School Council meeting.

Our next School Council meeting is on Wednesday, May 26th, beginning at 6:30 pm.

We are also looking forward to the second annual liter-acy BINGO night at Brisdale on Monday, April 19th.

Friday, April 2nd - Good Friday - NO SCHOOL

Monday, April 5th - Easter Monday - NO SCHOOL

April 14th & 15th - "Annie Jr." evening musical shows

April 19th — April 30th - Education Weeks

Thursday. April 29th - Open House (6:30 p.m.)

Brisdale Public School is a Schools Attuned School

The Schools Attuned Committee will continue to provide you with various

strategies to help your child strengthen all of his/her Higher Order Cognition.

To date we have given you various strategies regarding Neuromotor Function

Development. For the remainder of the year, we will highlight strategies to

strengthen your child’s Higher Order Cognition.

Higher Order Cognition refers to thinking creatively, trying new things and

understanding and using steps to solve problems. It consists of concept forma-

tion, critical thinking, creativity/ brainstorming, problem-solving, rule use, rea-

soning./logical thinking and mental representation.

Students who develop and use their problem-solving skills are able to apply

a systematic step wise approach to complex questions or challenges.

Here are some strategies to help your children develop their problem-

solving skills:

- Have a brainstorming session with your child about the many different

types of problems they face and different ways they can solve each problem.

(e.g., How can I get my friends to like the new kid in class? )

- Have your child identify cause-effect relationships in real life to connect

decision making to problem solving.

- Stress effort over ability, learning and development over being smart or

intelligent.

- Encourage creativity, divergent thinking and persistence in your child.

- Model listing the steps in solving a problem and then model and guide your

child through the steps to solve the problem.

For more information, visit the Schools Attuned Website at http://

www.allkindsofminds.org

Peel schools honour police officers during Police Appreciation Week

The Peel District School Board will pay tribute to police officers by

holding Police Appreciation Week from May 9 to 15, 2010. Peel

students and staff will show their appreciation for the tremendous job

being done by police to protect schools, homes and communities. Police

Appreciation Week coincides with National Police Week. National

Police Week pays tribute to the work of police officers across Canada.

"The Peel board appreciates the dedication and commitment of police

officers who work to keep our schools and communities safe," says

Janet McDougald, Peel board chair. "Police Appreciation Week is our

way of thanking officers who dedicate themselves to protecting our

community. It's also a way to give these officers the special recognition

they deserve."

During this week, students, staff and parents in schools throughout

Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga will honour the work of police

officers and thank them for enhancing public safety and security.

PAGE 5 BRISDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL VOLUME V, I SSUE 8

(e.g., How can I get my friends to like the new kid in class? )

PAGE 6 BRISDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL VOLUME V, I SSUE 8

Keep your child safe around train tracks

Trains are often closer and are moving faster than most motorists and pedestrians perceive.

That's why all members of a family should be are aware of the importance of rail safety.

Safety steps for children • Playing on railway tracks and bridges is dangerous. Find safe, supervised and open areas (e.g.,

neighbourhood parks) in which to have fun.

• The only way to safely cross a rail track is to use designated railway crossings.

• If you must cross railway tracks, for example on your way to and from school, stop, look and

listen before crossing.

It is against the law to trespass on railway property.

Safety steps for adults

• Be prepared to stop at a highway/ railway crossing.

• Listen for warning bells and whistles of an approaching train. Turn off, or turn down dis-

tracting fans, heaters, music/radios.

• Obey the signals. Never attempt to drive under a gate as it is closing or around a closed gate.

If the gate begins to close while you’re underneath, keep moving ahead until you clear the cross-

ing.

• If a police officer or a member of the train crew is directing traffic at the crossing, obey their

directions.

• If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out quickly and away from the vehicle and tracks.

Move in the direction that the train is approaching from to avoid being hit by debris. Your vehi-

cle will be swept forward by the momentum of the train.

Use the internet to help your child succeed in math

The Peel District School Board provides an excellent math resource for parents, students and

teachers. You can use Math Online on any computer connected to the Internet by going to

http://mathonline.peelschools.org.

Math Online is a collection of math websites—picked by teachers and sorted according to the

math learning expectations in the provincial curriculum. The website shows you topics by grade

and by math strand—for example, number sense measurement, geometry, patterning and

probability. It also lets you search for topics and activities of interest in the database.

Here are some of the other features that you and your child may find useful:

Resources—Find the "Best of the Web" in this collection of the best math sites

Homework Helpers—This button provides several sites for students who run into difficulty

while doing their math homework

Math Tools—Visit sites with online tools—such as calculators and pattern blocks—to help

with assignments

Nutritious lunch helps your child learn

Good nutrition comes from eating a balanced diet chosen from each of the four food groups in

Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating: grain products, vegetables and fruits, milk products, and

meat and alternatives. Children need to eat a variety of foods everyday to be healthy. With a little

creativity and planning you can make lunch fun for your child, while still meeting his nutritional

needs. Here are a few tips to get you started:

Try to give your child some choice about what she takes for lunch, and if possible, get her involved in preparing her own lunch.

Plan ahead. Think through the lunches you will be preparing for the next week. Make a shopping list to get

all the items you'll need.

Give your child as much variety as possible. Keeping your child interested in lunch is the first step to

making sure it is eaten.

Make the food easy to eat. If it will take your child a few minutes to unwrap his sandwich, he may skip it.

Resist the temptation to routinely send sweets, pop, chips and cookies in your child's lunch. Save treats for

special occasions.

Try to avoid sending pre-packaged, convenience lunches, which are often high in salt and fat.

By focusing on foods from the four food groups and limiting less nutritious foods, you can help your child get

the nutrients and energy she needs to have a successful school day.

PAGE 7 BRISDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL VOLUME V, I SSUE 8

Review street-proofing tips to keep your child safe

Know who your children play with, where they go and what routes they take.

Do not leave your child in unsupervised locations such as cars, parks, public washrooms, arenas,

malls, and plazas.

Tell your children never to go anywhere with a stranger, take anything from a stranger, or talk to a

stranger, unless they require help from a “safe” stranger (police officer, firefighter, paramedic.)

Remind your child not to take shortcuts through secluded areas like ravines, forests, and parks.

Teach your child how and where to get help. In the event that they become separated from you or

lost, tell them to seek help from a “safe” stranger or find a public telephone and dial 911.

Keep an up-to-date photograph and other detailed information about your child on file at home

such as height, weight, scars and other details. Many police agencies offer free child

identification kits.

Develop a “what if” game with your child to get him or her thinking of how they should respond if

they felt threatened.

If your child becomes separated from you or you think they may be lost, DON’T panic. If you are in

a store or mall, go to the nearest courtesy desk or ask for security. If you are at home, call their

friends and notify police.

Make an emergency kit for your child that includes information such as emergency numbers, your

work number, medical information and quarters for a pay phone.

Your child’s body is private. Tell your child that no one can touch the area their bathing suit

covers. If someone does or tries to touch them, they should advise you immediately.

Teach your child to talk to you immediately when someone does anything that makes them

uncomfortable. Listen when your children are trying to tell you about something that bothers

them and provide them with support and understanding.

Watch for changes in your child’s behaviour such as hesitation to go with certain people, loss of

appetite, withdrawal or aggressiveness as these signs could indicate something is wrong.

PAGE 8 BRISDALE PUBLIC SCHOOL VOLUME V, I SSUE 8

Celebrating Faith and Culture Backgrounder April 2010

The Peel District School Board is a mosaic of many cultures and faiths from all over the world. To commemorate this diversity, the board recognises special faith and culture days of our communities. April 2010 has several special faith and culture days to celebrate and remember:

______________________________________________________

April – Mmaal in Aboriginal Spirituality

Mmaal is celebrated by Nisga'a people of the Nass Valley in northwest British Columbia. It is the season when rivers again become accessible after winter. The Nisga'a people can launch their canoes and resume travel on the Nass River.

March 29 to April 4 – Holy Week begins in Christianity

Holy Week is the period from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity it is also known as Great Week. It is the last week of Lent. Each of the days of Holy Week has its own traditions of services.

Sunset of March 30 to April 6 – Pesach (Passover) in Judaism

Pesach, or Passover, commemorates the liberation of the Jews from Egypt and slavery. It is cele-brated for eight days. Pesach begins at dusk (before sundown) on March 30th. The first and last days of the festival are full holidays - work is not done by followers.

A highlight is the Seder (meaning "order") meal held in each family’s home on the first evening of Pesach, when the story of their deliverance is recounted as narrated in the Haggadah (the Telling, the Story). Matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten throughout the festival, as are other foods that contain no leaven and are symbolic to the struggle. There is a great spring cleaning in the home before the festi-val to ensure that no trace of leaven is left in the home during Pesach.

April 1 – Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) in Christianity

Holy Thursday is remembered as the time Jesus ate a final meal together with his fol-

lowers. This day is known as Maundy Thursday in the Eastern Church which will be

celebrated on the 1st. On the evening of Maundy Thursday, Christians remember Ju-

das' betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

In the Roman Catholic Church, Lent officially ends at sundown on March 31st, Holy Thursday. Fol-lowers mark this period with prayer, fasting and abstinence.

April 2 – Good Friday (Holy Friday) in Christianity and Canada

Good Friday commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion. It is a day of mourning for followers of the faith. During special Good Friday services, Christians meditate on Jesus' suffering and death on the cross, and what this means for their faith. Followers of Christianity will celebrate Good Friday on April 2nd this year. Followers of Orthodox Christianity and Eastern Rite will also celebrate Holy Friday on April 2nd.

April 4 – Easter or Pascha in Christianity

Easter, also known as Pascha, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians attend special church services to celebrate the resurrection.

Eastern Orthodox churches will also celebrate Easter, Pascha on April 4th. In Eastern Christianity, the oldest and most important festival of the Christian year, it initiates the fifty-day period culminating in Pentecost. In Eastern Orthodox churches, the church year begins with Pascha. The holiday's name is derived from Pesach, the Hebrew name of Passover.

While its origins are religious, many Easter customs are less serious and have more to do with celebrating the begin-ning of spring: Some of the traditional celebrations include: painting eggs in bright colours and pretty designs arranging/participating in Easter egg hunts giving and receiving chocolate Easter bunnies

April 4 – Sakyamnuni Buddha's Nirvana Day in Buddhism

Nirvana Day, also known as Parinirvana, is an annual Buddhist festival celebrating the death of Buddha af-ter achieving Nirvana (liberation from cycle of rebirth and suffering) at the age of 80. Followers of the faith visit temples, offer prayers, meditate and read scriptures describing the last days of Gautama Buddha.

April 4 – Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Birthday in Buddhism

The full moon day in April is celebrated by followers of Mahayana Buddhism as the birthday of the enlight-ened one who is most compassionate like Budhha and is known as Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. The celebra-tions include visiting the temples and offering prayers.

April 5 – Easter Monday in Christianity and Canada

Easter Monday is the day following Easter and is celebrated as a holiday by followers of Christianity. Roman Catholics celebrate it with many traditions depending on their country of origin. Egg rolling competitions and dousing each other with water are a few of the traditional celebrations. Followers of the Julian Calendar will also celebrate on April 5th.

April 8 – Farvardingan in Zoroastrianism

Zoroastrians following Fasli calendar celebrate this ten day Farvardingan festival honouring the dead. Fol-lowers of the faith believe that guardian angels of humans and spirits of departed souls (fravashis) return to earth during this period and accept the hospitality of relatives.

April 9 to 27 – the month of Jalál in Bahá'í

In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attribute of God. April 9 is the Feast Day for the beginning Jalál, the second month of the Bahá'í calendar, signifying "glory." The Bahá’í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day.

April 11 – Yom HaShoah in Judaism

This Holocaust remembrance day is a Jewish holiday. “Shoah" is the Hebrew word for destruction and is an-other name for the Holocaust. The anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 is the date chosen to commemorate the six million Jews who died during World War II. In Israel, a morning siren sounds stopping all activity, and people stand in honour of those who died. Jews around the world hold memorials and vigils, often lighting six candles in honour of the six million Holocaust victims. Many hold name-reading ceremo-nies to memorialize those who perished.

April 13 and 14 – Saka and Sri-Lankan New Year in Buddhism and Hinduism

The Saka calendar’s New Year’s Day is a religious and cultural celebration for Sinhalese, Indians, Bur-mese, Kampucheans, Laotians and Thai Buddhists. The Saka calendar, is a lunar calendar based on the Hindu astronomy of the holy Vedas.

This New Year's Day is celebrated in many southeast Asia countries, such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia over two days. The exact date of celebration is deter-mined by astrologers. New Year's Day observations vary based on adherent's country and religion.

April 13 or 14 – Vaisakhi or Baisakhi in Sikhism and Hinduism

Celebrated throughout India, Baisakhi has special importance for Sikhs. On this day in 1699, Sikhs be-lieve that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, created the Khalsa Panth, the Brotherhood of the Pure. On this day, the farmers also commence cutting their harvest. This is the holiest day of the year for followers of Sikhism. It signifies the beginning of the Sikh New Year. The day is celebrated with Bhangra and Gidda dances.

Sikhs celebrate this day by visiting gurudwaras and distributing kada prasad. Processions led by the Panj Piaras or the five religious men, are taken out. Kirtans and recital of passages from the Granth Sahib are also organized in gurudwaras.

Vaisakhi, the first day of the Hindu solar year, is celebrated differently in the many regions of India. The farming communities in the northern states of India celebrate it as an agricultural and harvest festival. For people in Himachal Pradesh, it is a religious celebration and for many others - Bengal and southern states it is the New Year's Day.

Sunset of April 20 to May 2 – Ridvan in Bahá'í

The festival of Ridvan, considered the "most great festival" in Bahá'í, is a 12-day celebration that starts at sunset April 20 and runs until sunset May 2. The most important date on the Bahá'í calendar, Ridvan (pronounced "Riz-wan") commemorates the public declaration of the prophethood of Baha'u'llah, the ac-knowledged founder of the Bahá'í faith.

The first, ninth and 12th days of Ridvan are all major Bahá'í holy days. Bahá'ís suspend work on the ninth day (April 29).

April 25 or 26 – Zarathosht-no-Diso in Zoroastrianism

In April each year, Zoroastrians following the Qadimi calendar, commemorate the anniversary of the death of Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster), the founder of their faith. Scholars say he lived between 1500 and 1000 BCE in northeast Iran.

April 28 to May 17 – the month of Jamál in Bahá'í

In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attribute of God. April 28 is the Feast Day for the beginning of the third month of Jamál, which signifies beauty. The Bahá’í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day.

April 30 to May 4 – Ghambar Maidyozarem in Zoroastrianism

Followers of Zoroastrianism celebrate six seasonal festivals, known as the Ghambars. These are associated with agricultural seasons. Ghambar Maidyozarem, the mid-spring feast, celebrates the creation of the sky and the harvesting of the winter crop.

Ideas for celebrating special faith and cultural days in your school

If you have a colleague who celebrates one of these days, don't forget to offer them best wishes! If you have students in your school who are followers of any of the listed religions:

- Make sure the dates are included on your school calendar

- Have your principal announce the day over the PA system

- Hold an assembly to talk with students about the importance of these days

- Include a mention of these days in your school newsletter

- Include information on your school website

- Display student artwork announcing these days or depicting their ideas about these days

- Invite a member of a local faith group to come in and discuss the significance of this day with students - Have class discussions about these days

- Ask some of your students who celebrate certain holidays to write a short essay on how they celebrate this day at home. Have them read it to the class to share this celebration with the other students.

- Have parents offer a cultural session

Questions?

If you would like any more information on how to celebrate these days, please call Varsha Naik, Commu-nity Liaison Coordinator at 905-890-1010, ext. 2573 or e-mail her varsha.naik@peelsb.com

Celebrating Faith and Culture

April 2010

DATE

CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

April Mmaal Aboriginal Spirituality

March 29 to April 4 Holy Week begins Christianity

Sunset of March 30 to April 6 Pesach (Passover) Judaism

April 1 Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) in Christianity

April 2 Good Friday (Holy Friday) Christianity and Canada

April 4 Easter or Pascha Christianity

April 4 Sakyamnuni Buddha's Nirvana Day Buddhism

April Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Birthday Buddhism

April 5 Easter Monday Christianity and Canada

April 8 Farvardingan Zoroastrianism

April 9 to 27 the month of Jalál Bahá'í

April 11 Yom HaShoah Judaism

April 13 and 14 Saka and Sri-Lankan New Year Buddhism and Hinduism

April 13 or 14 Vaisakhi or Baisakhi Sikhism and Hinduism

Sunset of April 20 to May 2 Ridvan Bahá'í

April 25 or 26 Zarathosht-no-Diso Zoroastrianism

April 28 to May 17 month of Jamál Bahá'í

April 30 to May 4 Ghambar Maidyozarem Zoroastrianism

Help us to encourage and enhance parent involvement in Peel

Apply to sit on the board's Parent Involvement Committee

Under the Ministry of Education's Parent Involvement Policy, all boards must have a committee com-prised of a majority of parents that is directly linked to the director of education and trustees. The Peel board Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) meets regularly throughout the school year to review the boards' plans for parent involvement as it relates to parent, family and community engagement, and to make suggestions to schools, councils and the board regarding additional parent outreach.

As mandated by the ministry, the purpose of Peel board's PIC is to:

• support, encourage, and enhance meaningful parental involvement within schools and across the district, including, outreach to parents who find involvement more challenging

• work collaboratively with the school board to support student success

• seek out the advice and ideas of school councils, and other parents and partners as they plan and implement strategies to involve more parents at the regional level

• develop strategies for enhancing parental engagement and outreach

The term of membership is two or three years. Parent representatives will be required to serve one two-year or three-year term, beginning in September and ending in August.

Membership must include a majority of parents and reflect the diversity of the parent community. The committee, co-chaired by parents, will be comprised of:

• three trustees selected by the board from each of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga

• three school council chairs (one elementary/one middle/one secondary from each of Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga)

• one parent member nominated by the Special Education Advisory Committee

• one parent member nominated by the Multicultural Inter-Agency Group of Peel

• three to five additional parents representing the diverse community

Tony Pontes, director of education

The following Peel board staff members serve as a resource to the committee:

• Varsha Naik, community liaison co-ordinator

• Carla Pereira, communications officer with school council/parent involvement responsibilities

• Brian Woodland, director of communications & strategic partnerships

Call for parent members

We are now in the process of inviting parents to apply for up to four positions on the committee—two that replace outgoing members and up to two new parent members.

In early May, a selection sub-committee consisting of current parent and trustee members will review all parent applications and select representatives using the following Parent Member Selection Criteria as a guide:

reflects the diversity of the community

understands the importance of parent, family and community engagement

has experience working with newcomers to Canada, Ontario or Peel

has volunteer experience – including experience on school council

has previous experience in Peel board parent involvement activities

demonstrates advocacy and community development skills

has a present level of involvement in the education system

demonstrates a keen interest in public education

If you are interested in becoming a member of the Peel board's Parent Involvement Committee, please fill out the Application Form on page 3 of this document and fax it to 905-890-1112 or email it to judi.stephenson@peelsb.com by April 16, 2010.

If you have questions about the committee or the application process, please contact Carla Pereira at 905-890-1010, ext. 2626 or email her at carla.pereira@peelsb.com.

Parent Member Application Form – Parent Involvement Ctte.

~ Deadline: April 16, 2010 ~

Name: _______________________________________________________________________________________________

Address: _____________________________________________________________________________________________

City: _______________________________________ Email: __________________________________________________

Daytime Phone: _________________________________ Evening Phone: _________________________________

Your children currently attend:

School _______________________________________________________________________________ Grade ________

School _______________________________________________________________________________ Grade ________

School _______________________________________________________________________________ Grade ________

Are you responding (check all that apply)

� as a school council member at ____________________________________________________________ School

� as a school council chair at ________________________________________________________________ School

� as a member of a diverse community _____________________________________________________________

� as a newcomer to Canada

� as a newcomer to Ontario

� as a newcomer to Peel

� other ______________________________________________________________________________________________

I currently volunteer at a (check all that apply)

� school as a ____________________________________________________________________________________

� community agency ___________________________________________________________________________

� other ______________________________________________________________________________________________

I am interested in a � two-year term � three-year term

Parent Member Application Form – Parent Involvement Ctte.

Page 2

Do you have specific experiences as a parent or community member that you feel would be helpful to the Parent Involvement Committee?

Briefly tell us why you are interested in sitting on the Peel board's Parent Involvement Committee.

Please let us know the best meeting time of the day for you. __________________________________

Please send the completed form to Judi Stephenson in Communications Services

Phone: 905-890-1010, ext. 2809 Fax: 905-890-1112 E-mail: judi.stephenson@peelsb.com

Challenge: Sustainable Living

With a successful Earth Hour behind us, Brisdale students and staff are looking ahead to

the events of Education Weeks, which include the celebration of Earth Day on April

22nd. It is unfortunate in a way that two of the most advertised environmental events in

the world today fall within one month of each other. What happens during the rest of

the year?

Many students at Brisdale are reporting that they have made an impact on their carbon

footprint by changing out incandescent light bulbs with the environmentally friendly CFL

(curly) bulbs at home. This is a great start towards reducing our impact on the environ-

ment! A recent article in the Toronto Star presented the following fact: If every Cana-

dian family replaced one regular (incandescent) light bulb with a compact fluorescent

light (curly bulb) it would eliminate 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gases - the same as

taking 750,000 cars off the road! AMAZING!

What is the next step? Have you considered assessing your own or your family's carbon

footprint on this planet? (http://www.zerofootprintkids.com/kids_home.aspx) The average Cana-

dian currently requires 4.2 earths to sustain their current lifestyle! Kind of unbelievable,

but when you think about the footprint of your home (land use), what you use (consumer

goods), what you eat, what you throw away, and your current transportation use, it all

starts to add up with a negative impact on our world.

Sustainable living is the answer. Fundamentally it is the application of sustainability to

lifestyle choices and decisions. Sustainability itself is expressed as meeting present eco-

logical, societal, and economical needs without compromising these factors for future

generations. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "What is sustainability?" Retrieved on: 2010-03-25.

^ United Nations General Assembly (2005). 2005 World Summit Outcome, Resolution A/60/1, adopted by the Gen-

eral Assembly on 15 September 2005. Retrieved on: 2010-03-25.)

YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Reduce Energy Consumption

CFL bulbs are a great beginning. Next, perhaps you can check for all the phantom power

that is being used in your home - major culprits are electronics and digital standby clocks

on appliances. Plugging into a power bar that you can turn off when not in use will de-

crease phantom power drain.

Saving Water

Think about how you currently use water in your home. Remember, it takes energy to

heat water for the washing of clothes, dishes and for the shower as well. Can you reduce

the minutes in the shower, install a low-flow shower head or perhaps a dual flush toilet to

reduce the amount of water consumed?

Be a Savvy Consumer

Considering how things are made, where they have come from and the impact they have

had on our environment before a purchase, is a BIG step to sustainable living. Starting

small by considering where your food comes from and how much shipping was involved in

getting it from the field to your table may be a good starting point.