IMPORTANT DATES Daylight Savings Time: Sunday, March 13th, 2016 March Break: Begins Monday, March 14th and Ends Friday, March 18th (NO SCHOOL) Good Friday: Friday, March 25th, 2016 (NO SCHOOL) Easter Monday: Monday, March 28th, 2016 (NO SCHOOL) Vision Screening for Junior Kindergarten: Begins Tuesday, March 29th and Ends Friday, April 1st Parent Workshop: Healthy Eating for Children & “Picky Eaters” Wednesday, March 23rd

Math Drop-In: Thursday, March 31st from 3:45 pm to 4:15 pm Next April Month:

Professional Activity Day for Educators Friday, April 15 (NO SCHOOL for Students)

Parents as Partners Conference: Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Brushamania is Back!! Events taking place 3rd week of April (more information to follow)

Newsletter Contents

1. Daylight Savings Time 2. Parent Workshops 3. Theatre Field Trip for Senior Kindergarten 4. TDSB and Earth Hour: Wear Green on Friday, March 11th, 2016 5. Vision Screening 6. Free Dental Screening Information 7. March Break Activities for Children 8. Thorncliffe Branch Programs – March 2016

9. Parents as Partners Conference: Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm 10. 30 Questions to ask your children about school instead of “How was your day? What did

you do?”

1. Daylight Savings Time When local standard time is about to reach Sunday, March 13, 2016, 2:00:00 AM clocks are turned forward 1 hour to Sunday, March 13, 2016, 3:00:00 AM local daylight time instead

Sunrise and sunset will be about 1 hour later on Mar 13, 2016 than the day before. There will be more light in the evening. Also called Spring Forward, summer time, and Daylight Savings Time

Fraser Mustard ELA Website

Please remember to visit our website;

http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/frasermustard and our Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/FraserMustardEarlyLearningAcademy

2. Parent Workshops

Emily O’Brien, Toronto Public Health Nurse

In partnership with

Thorncliffe Collaborative for Muslim Families and Children

***Coming Soon: Wednesday, March 23rd

, 2016

Join us for a workshop on healthy eating for children 3-7 years

Come Learn about:

Strategies to manage picky eating

How to reduce meal-time stress

Date: Wed March 23rd, 2016 Time: 9:15 – 10:45am

Location: Library Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy

Presented by:

Alia Virjee, Registered Dietitian Van Quach, Registered Social Worker

Health Access Thorncliffe Park

Part 1 of this workshop focused on the different

temperaments of children and how to manage their

behaviour accordingly. Part 2 gave participants strategies for

limit setting and the use of consequences. Parents were able

to discuss their triumphs and challenges in an open friendly

environment. Many thanks to Emily O'Brien for such an

informative workshop! This workshop was brought to you by

the Thorncliffe Collaborative in partnership with Toronto

Public Health at Fraser Mustard School.

Thank you to all our families who attended our 2 part series on Positive Discipline.

Thank you to our school volunteers for meeting families and guiding our families to the library.

We hope to have door prizes at future workshops.

3. Theatre Field Trip for Senior Kindergarten: February 22nd & 23rd

Presented by Theatre Direct Canada

Created by Lynda Hill and Thomas Morgan Jones

A grumpy old man lives in his little house in the woods by the river. Every day is the same and he

likes it this way, until one day…

a magical creature leaps into his world and everything changes!

This beautifully designed puppetry work performed without words to an enchanting musical score

“And the old man said swept, “The old man waked up and the old man swept, swept, swept.” said swept, swept, swept.”

From teachers at Fraser Mustard...

“…My impressions were that the play was quite marvellous. The simple story was easy for them to understand and appreciate. The students loved it…” “…We are extending the theme of friendship in our classroom right

now; it has lead to ongoing discussions, a friendship chain made of

links everyone decorated, and some shared writing to date…”

4. TDSB and Earth Hour

TDSB Earth Hour 2016 is Friday, March 11th, from 2:00 to 3:00 pm

TDSB Schools and offices are asked to go as electricity-free as possible for ONE HOUR.

Wherever possible, our schools and offices will turn off all interior lighting except necessary

emergency lights, and minimize fan use.

Earth Hour is an especially good candidate for a student-run environmental campaign about

energy conservation and slowing climate change. Its sharp focus allows you to undertake

as little or as much awareness and action building as your school is ready for. It's a

wonderfully inclusive campaign—the youngest child can take part. The TDSB Earth Hour

poster/checklist can serve as an organizing tool for classroom or school-wide endeavours.

Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy, along with the entire TDSB, will be

celebrating Earth Hour on Friday March 11th at 2:00 to 3:00 pm. As well, we

encourage the children to wear green, as a symbol of their love of and

commitment to protect the environment. I hope you celebrate Earth Hour at

home, with your family too.

Wear Green on Friday, March 11th, 2016!!

5. Vision Screening

Vision Screening Partnership with Sick Kids’ Hospital & McMaster University Vision screening for the spring session will begin in Tuesday, March 29, 2016. Vision screening is only for JK students and/or SK students who have newly registered to Fraser Mustard. If your child’s vision was screened last year in JK, his/her eyes will not be screened again. Half of the classes in

the school were screened in the fall and the other half will begin in March. This program is free and so are the glasses for any of the children who need them. Spring/March Schedule Includes: 103, 104, 106, 107, 110, 203, 204, 205, 206, 208, 210, and 214, as well as any newly registered students from JK/SK

If you have any questions please contact either of the clinical research co-ordinators: Naemah Abid at naemah.abid@sickkids.ca

6. Free Dental Screening Information

THORNCLIFFE NEIGBOURHOOD OFFICE

TWICE A MONTH NOW!

Emergency and urgent dental care to

treat issues like dental pain and cavities

-rays

FREE DENTAL SERVICES AVAILABLE

For Thorncliffe Park Residents

Must meet financial eligibility criteria.

*All services are based on individual assessment*

Toronto Public Health Mobile Dental Clinic visits 1 Leaside Park Drive Twice a Month Now! For more information on eligibility criteria and to book an appointment Please call Asma @ 416-467-0126

1 Leaside Park Drive, Unit #7, Toronto, ONT. M4H 1

7. March Break Activities for Children

Thorncliffe Branc

March Break

Fun for Kids!

Join us every day

during March Break

for some great

activities in the library!

Monday March 14, 2 – 3pm – Button Making Workshop

Tuesday March 15, 2 – 3 pm – Crafting Fun!

Wednesday March 16, 11am – 12pm – March Break Mad Science

(This will be in the gymnasium – no tickets required!)

Thursday March 17, 2 – 3pm – March Break BINGO!

Friday March 18, 2 – 4pm – March Break Family Movie

Saturday March 19, 2 – 3pm – Family Story Time

Tickets will be available 30 minutes before the program begins

Space is limited!

Thorncliffe Branch

48 Thorncliffe Park Dr. Toronto, ON M4H 1J7

416-396-3865

8. Thorncliffe Branch Programs – March 2016

Thorncliffe Branch Programs – March 2016

Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

1

Leading to Reading 4 – 8pm

2 Book Club

12:30 – 1:30pm

Leading to Reading 4 – 8pm

3 English Conversation

Circle 1 – 2:30pm

Afterschool Club 4 – 5pm

4

5

Shakespeare for Kids 10 – 12pm

Knit & Lit 1 – 2pm

Ready for Reading

Family Time 2 – 3pm

7

Ready for Reading Baby Time

11-11:30am

English Conversation Circle

1 - 3pm

TOEFL & IELTS 3 – 5pm

8

Leading to Reading 4 – 8pm

9 Leading to

Reading 4 – 8pm

10 English Conversation

Circle 1 – 2:30pm

Afterschool Club 4 – 5pm

Sketchbook T.O

5 – 8pm

11

Teen Movie Night (YAG) 4 – 5:30pm

12

Gaming for Kids 2 – 3pm

14

March Break

Button Making Workshop

2 – 3pm

15

March Break

Crafting Fun 2 – 3pm

16 March Break

Mad Science 11am – 12pm

(in the Gym)

March Break

Drawing Workshop

2 – 4pm

17

March Break

BINGO! 2 – 3pm

Sketchbook T.O

5 – 8pm

18

March Break

Movie 2 – 4pm

19

Knit & Lit 1 – 2pm

Ready for Reading

Family Time 2 – 3pm

21

English Conversation Circle

1 - 3pm

TOEFL & IELTS 3 – 5pm

22

Leading to Reading 4 – 8pm

23 Leading to

Reading 4 – 8pm

24 English Conversation

Circle 1 – 2:30pm

Afterschool Club 4 – 5pm

Sketchbook T.O

5 – 8pm

25

CLOSED -- Good Friday

26 Gaming for Kids

2 – 3pm

28

CLOSED – Easter Monday

29 Leading to

Reading 4 – 8pm

30 Leading to

Reading 4 – 8pm

31 English Conversation

Circle 1 – 2:30pm

Afterschool Club

4 – 5pm

Sketchbook T.O 5 – 8pm

8. Parents as Partners Conference

Saturday, April 16, 2016 - 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

Welcome parents/guardians and caregivers of TDSB students!

This year, the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC), Special Education Advisory

Committee (SEAC), Mental Health and Well-Being Parent Partnership Committee and Model

Schools for Inner Cities' Parent Academies are thrilled to join together to bring one all-inclusive

conference to TDSB parents and caregivers.

Who: ALL parents/guardians and caregivers of TDSB students are invited and welcome to

attend.

What: Parents as Partners Conference 2016 is a FREE conference. Whether your child is just

beginning on their educational journey in elementary school or closer to graduation and planning

for the future, there are informative and empowering sessions for parents/guardians and

caregivers of students of all ages and all stages of education.

Where: Allstream Centre (105 Princes' Blvd, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3). Transportation is

available and can be chosen when you register. Please click here for a map of shuttle bus

locations. Please click here for a map of the Allstream Centre.

Why: The Parents as Partners Conference 2016 is planned by parents, for parents and we are so

pleased to be able to offer a selection of 80 sessions that cover a broad range of topics to

provide parents with useful information and resources to help your child improve their

achievement and well-being at school and at home

9. Instead of asking your child “How was your day? What did you do?” Here are some ideas:

1. What did you eat for lunch?

2. What games did you play at recess?

3. What was the funniest thing that happened today?

4. Did anyone do anything super nice for you?

5. What was the nicest thing you did for someone else?

6. Who made you smile today?

7. What was your favourite song you sang today?

8. What new fact did you learn today?

9. Who brought the best food in their lunch today? What was it?

10. What challenged you today?

11. If school were a ride at the fair, which ride would it be? Why?

12. What learning centre did you like best?

13. If one of your classmates could be the teacher for the day who would you want it to be? Why?

14. If you had the chance to be the teacher tomorrow, what would you teach the1 class?

15. Who do you want to make friends with but haven’t yet? Why not?

16. What is your teacher’s most important rule?

17. What is the most popular thing to do in the Learning Yard?

18. Does your teacher remind you of anyone else you know? How?

19. Tell me something you learned about a friend today?

20. Who did you talk to in the morning during first group time?

21. What is one thing you did today that was helpful?

22. When did you feel most proud of yourself today?

23. What rule was the hardest to follow today?

24. What is one thing you hope to learn before the school year is over?

25. Which person in your class is your exact opposite?

26. Which area of your school is the most fun?

27. Which playground skill do you plan to master this year?

28. Does anyone in your class have a hard time following the rules?

29. If I called one of your classroom teachers tonight, what would he/she tell me about your day?

30. Do you like school? Why?

https://www.parent.co/30-questions-to-ask-your-kid-instead-of-how-was-your-day

Have a happy March Break!

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