Macville Online Newsletter
January 2016
In This Edition:
Macville News
Message from the Principal
SciTech Information Evening
Pizza Lunches are Starting
School Council Corner
Wild Turkey Draw
Macville Snack Program
Reading Mentors Needed
Macville Food Drive
Staff/Student Volleyball Game
Board News
United Way
Closing Schools Due to Bad Weather
Kindergarten Registration
Grade 9 Course Selection
Explore High Skills
Extended French and French Immersion Information
Special Technology Offers
Numeracy and Beyond – a Parent Conference
Nutritious Lunches Help Learning
Celebrating Faith and Culture
Faith and Culture Backgrounder Information
Macville News
Message From the Principal
December was a month of giving. Our school community continued to show its
support to our citizens-in-need through our Mitten Tree and Food Drive. It makes us all
feel great when we know that children will be kept warm and fed over this holiday season.
Macville truly understands the meaning of giving. School spirit abounded through our 12
Days of Spirit Days and carried through into our Staff/Student Volleyball game. It was
fantastic to see such a great turnout for our Christmas concert. Our students sang their
hearts out and enjoyed performing. It is always great to see every single child on the
stage and we love watching the proud faces of our parents. Thank you to Mrs. White who,
as always, organized a fantastic concert. A special thank you as well to our music teachers
Ms Brown and Mr. Fisher, Mr. Pachan for his backstage work and Mrs. Dacres for her
support with our younger students. As with everything at Macville all of the teachers
worked to support this a wonderful evening. Our appreciation extends to Bikram and Clark
as well for their role as MC’s.
January will bring new challenges as students work towards their first year of
participating in the Peel
Technological Challenge. We look forward to hearing more
about that. Also, please feel free to share the date for our SciTech Information Evening
with any friends that have students that are currently in Grade 5. This will take place on
Thursday, Jan. 21 at 7:00 p.m. at Humberview Secondary School. I look forward to seeing
all that the new year has to bring.
Kelly Kawabe
SciTech Information Evening
Our SciTech information evening will take place
January 21, 2016 7:00 p.m. Humberview Secondary School
Please spread the words to any friends who may be interested. Applying students must
currently be in Grade 5, going into Grade 6 for September 2016. More information can be
found on our Macville website.
Pizza Lunches Are Starting!
Pizza orders will be coming out on January 4th with pizza delivery starting on
Wednesday, January 13th and finishing on Wednesday, June 22nd.
Please note: If school buses are not running for a snow day, pizza will not be
delivered on this day. Please make sure that you pack a lunch for your child in this
situation. Pizza delivery will be rescheduled in these circumstances.
Pizza orders will be due on Friday, January 8th. Please ensure that if you are
ordering pizza this is in on time.
School Council Corner
All parents are welcome to join the Macville School Council.
Our next school council meeting will take place on
Wednesday, January 13th at 6:30 p.m. We look forward to
seeing you there.
Anyone wishing to contact School Council with questions regarding
volunteer opportunities, ideas, or suggestions may do so at:
macvilleps.council@peelsb.com
Wild Turkey Draw
Congratulations to Evan, winner of the Wild Turkey Draw!
Macville Snack Program
Milk, chocolate milk, healthy cookies, and organic popcorn are available for purchase by
students at lunch time from the Milk Fridge. Sundae Yogurt Cups are available on Fridays
only. Tickets may be purchased by the sheet at a cost of $10.00 for 12 tickets or $1.00
per individual ticket.
Reading Mentors needed!
We are looking for volunteers, as your schedule allows. A police
check and vulnerable sector check must be completed prior to
volunteering.
Macville Food Drive
I would like to express my deepest thanks to all of the Macville families that participated
in the food drive this season. We have never had such an overwhelming response.
Currently, Macville has 240 students enrolled from 179 families. In total, Macville
collected 100 boxes of food and non-perishable items for delivery.
Macville Public School's Helping Hands campaign has been a huge success thanks to
the efforts of these Grade 8 Student Parliament members. These elves were available
to pose at the Mitten Tree along with a mountain of donations for Caledon Community
Services and The Exchange. The Macville community has collected hundreds of nonperishable food items, books, gifts, mitts, hats, and other gifts for the Santa Fund,
already packed into dozens of boxes. Donations came from Macville families, students,
and staff just in time to share the holiday spirit with Macville's neighbours and friends.
Staff/Student Volleyball Game
On Thursday, Dec. 17th, staff challenged the boys and girls volleyball teams to a
game. There was fierce competition and lots of fun was had by all.
Board News
Give what you can on United Way Giving Day – Feb. 9, 2016
At the Peel District School Board, our mission is to inspire success, confidence and hope in each student
– each and every day. Yet we know that there are many needs in our community that we can’t address
on our own, like providing food for families that may go without or supporting communities after a
crisis. That’s why we are holding a board-wide giving day in support of United Way of Peel Region, a key
partner and supporter of Peel families.
This year, the Peel board has declared Feb. 9 as United Way Giving Day to raise much needed funds for
United Way of Peel Region and the network of social service agencies it supports. Whether it’s providing
shelter for a mother and her children in Brampton, matching a child who is at risk with a mentor in
Caledon, or funding a breakfast program in Mississauga for youth that would otherwise go hungry,
United Way of Peel Region offers hope and possibility to thousands in our community.
A donation of:
 $2 may go towards a warm winter coat for a child.
 $10 supports a child with interactive, recreational outings for one year, including healthy snacks and
transportation, to help them build their social skills and self-esteem.
 $25 matches a teen with a caring adult mentor who will meet with him or her several times each
month for fun activities.
This is a completely voluntary campaign and any contributions are welcome. Whether you send a loonie,
toonie or cheque made out to your child’s school, your contribution will make a difference. Pledges of
$25 or more will automatically receive a tax receipt from United Way of Peel Region. To receive a
receipt, you must fill out the pledge form on the back and send it to school with your donation by March
29, 2016.
Thank you for lending a helping hand to those who need it most. Together, we can Inspire Possibility!
Closing schools due to bad weather
During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather.
Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be posted as soon as possible at
www.peelschools.org, on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Peelschools, and on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/peelschools. You can also call in using 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146.
It's time to register children born in 2012 for kindergarten
We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child
was born in 2012, he or she can start kindergarten in September 2016. You can register your child at
any time during regular school hours—just visit the school he/she will be attending to register.
Peel schools will also hold a Kindergarten Registration Week with special registration activities during
Feb. 1 to 4, 2016. Visit Macville Public School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Feb. 1, 2, 3 and 4 and from 5 to 8
p.m. on Feb. 4.
Help your teen plan for grade 9 course selections for 2016-17
Soon, current grade 8 students will select their courses for grade 9. Before they do, we want to
ensure that they have the opportunity to consult with their teachers, guidance counselor, if
applicable, and their parents.
As our partners, families are encouraged to help prepare their teens for course selection. We
encourage you to become familiar with the process by creating a myBlueprint account.
Additionally, parents/guardians and students can review Chart Your Course, the Peel District
School Board’s common course calendar, at
www.peelschools.org/students/commoncoursecalendar. This guide will help you understand
the course selection process and provide information on the courses and programs offered in
Peel secondary schools.
You can also visit www.myBlueprint.ca/Peel, an online planning tool that includes the
following:
 high school planner for course selection
 goal-setting
 career spectrum for finding your learning style
 occupation planner for exploring careers
 post-secondary planner for opportunities after high school
The grade 9 course selection process will be open from Jan. 4 to Jan. 22, 2016. If you have
questions or are looking for course suggestions, please contact your teen’s teachers or
guidance counsellor.
Jump start your future with Explore High Skills, a specialized program
for grade 9, 10 students
Explore High Skills (EHS) is a Peel District School Board pathway program that allows secondary schools
with Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs to offer a unique specialized program choice for grade
9 and 10 students. The program will open with grade 9 only during the 2016-17 school year. Starting
September 2016, grade 9 students will have the opportunity to participate in one of the EHS programs
at any of the following schools:
Explore High Skills Programs 2015-16
Secondary school
Arts and Culture
Cawthra Park
Heart Lake
Business
Harold M. Brathwaite
Meadowvale
North Park
Sandalwood Heights
TL Kennedy
Construction and Engineering
Meadowvale
Health and Wellness
Mississauga
Hospitality and Tourism
Rick Hansen
Turner Fenton
Information and Communications Technology
Castlebrooke
Heart Lake
TL Kennedy
Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services
Harold M. Brathwaite
Manufacturing
Rick Hansen
Sports
Castlebrooke
EHS is a specialized program with unique learning experiences designed to engage grade 9
students as they transition to high school. Students can focus their learning on an area of
interest as they build self-confidence and learn essential skills. Through experiential learning
and certification programs, students develop a sense of belonging in their school community.
There are no program fees and no application fees associated with EHS programs. Busing will
not be provided. This sector-based program is available to grade 9 students at all skill levels and
in all pathways.
Grade 8 students/families can apply online or get additional information at
www.peelschools.org/ExploreHighSkills. The application is open from Jan. 4 to 22, 2016.
Apply for Extended French by Jan. 29, 2016
If your child will be starting grade 7 in September 2016, one of the important choices you will make is
whether you want to consider Extended French (EF). To find out more about the program, visit
www.peelschools.org/French
The application form for Grade 7 EF for the 2016-17 school year will be available online at
www.peelschools.org/French as of Monday Nov. 23, 2015 at 1 p.m.
The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 29, 2016 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will be
placed on the school’s waitlist.
The EF school for our area is Allan Drive. The phone number is (905) 857-9144.
How to get more information
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Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/French.
Call Allan Drive at (905) 857-9144.
Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.
Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 29, 2016
If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2016, one of the important choices you will make is
whether you want to consider French Immersion (FI). To find out more about the program, visit
www.peelschools.org/French
The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2016-17 school year will be available online at
www.peelschools.org/French as of Monday, Nov. 23, 2015 at 1 p.m. The deadline to apply is Friday,
Jan. 29, 2016 at 4 p.m. Applications received after the deadline will not be included in the random
selection process and will be placed on the school’s waitlist.
The FI school for our area is James Bolton Public School. The phone number is (905) 857-2666.
Enrolment cap and random selection process
As there is a grade 1 FI enrolment cap in place, there are a limited number of spots available for
students entering the program. The cap is set at 25 per cent of all Peel students enrolled in grade 1.
Spots are not assigned on a first come, first served basis. A random selection process system is used to
identify students gaining entrance into the grade 1 FI program.
All students who apply by the deadline will be assigned a rank using a computerized random selection
process. Once students have been assigned to all available spots, remaining students will be placed,
again in rank order, on the school's waitlist. Each school has its own waitlist.
How to get more information
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Visit the Peel board website—www.peelschools.org/French.
Call James Bolton Public School at (905) 857-2666
Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/.
Special technology offers for Peel board students, parents and staff
Does your child need a computer or tablet for school? Equity of access to technology is a key priority for
the Peel board. That's why we've worked with a number of technology companies to offer discounted
devices to Peel families and staff.
Renewed Computer Technology (RCT) offers low-cost, quality refurbished computers to families with a
low-income. Qualified applicants can purchase:
 desktop for $60
 laptop for $150
Prices include software, a two-year warranty and tax. For more information, contact RCT directly, call
905-795-0627 or visit their website at www.rcto.ca.
Peel families now have access to the following exclusive offers from VIG Solutions:
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Intel Dual Core, 2GB, 160GB computer with a 17-inch LCD monitor -- $110
10-inch netbook with 1GB ram, 160GB hard drive, Wi-Fi capability and Windows 7 -- $60.
Taxes and shipping will be applied to product costs, and all items come with a six-month warranty. To
purchase products, visit www.refurbitstock.ca/peel and enter peelregion before proceeding.
Microsoft
Microsoft offers reduced pricing on select products. For more information, visit
http://pdsb.me/1X2RtMF.
The Peel board’s initiatives are part of the ongoing effort to create greater equity of access to
technology for Peel students, parents and staff and do not represent an endorsement of any company
or product. For all BYOD information, visit www.peelschools.org/aboutus/21stcentury/byod.
Conference helps parents make a difference in numeracy and beyond
The Peel District School Board is hosting its annual parent conference on Saturday, April 2, 2016, at Rick
Hansen Secondary School in Mississauga. Once again, the conference will focus on numeracy—25 out of
60 workshops help with math. Parents will still have the opportunity to attend workshops on other
topics, including literacy, special education and science.
This free learning event is open to Peel parents of students at all grade levels.
Registration opens February 1, 2016
Stay up-to-date!
For more information, look out for the conference flyer at your child's school or visit
www.peelschools.org/parents/conference.
Nutritious lunches help children learn
Use Canada’s Food Guide to help your child get nutrients and energy needed to have a successful school
day.
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Try to give your child some choice about what to take for lunch. If possible, get your child involved in
preparing meals.
Give your child a variety of healthy choices. 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 a sandwich, it may be
skipped.
Resist the temptation to routinely send sweets, pop, chips and cookies in your child's lunch. Save
treats for special occasions.
Try to avoid fast food or pre-packaged, convenience lunches, which are often high in salt and fat.
Do your best to role model healthy eating behaviours for your family.
To speak to a registered dietitian about healthy food choices, call EatRight Ontario at 1-877-510-5102.
For more information about the policy, visit http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/healthyschools. If you
have questions about how we are implementing the School Food and Beverage Policy, please call the
school.
Celebrating Faith and Culture
January 2016
DATE
CELEBRATION
FAITH AND CULTURE
Month of January
January 1 and 14 (J)
January 1
January 1
January 5
January 6 and 19 (J)
January 7
January 11
January 13
January 13
January 17
January 17
K'aliyee
New Year’s Day
Gantan-sai
Temple Day
Birth of Guru Gobind Singh
Epiphany or Feast of Theophany
Christmas
Seijin-no-hi
Lohri
Maghi
World Religion Day
Sakyamuni Buddha’s
Enlightenment
Month of Sultán
Mahayana New Year
Tu B’Shevat
Aboriginal Spirituality
Christianity and Canada
Shinto
Buddhism
Sikhism
Christianity
Christianity
Shinto
Hinduism
Sikhism
Bahá'í
Buddhism
January 19 to February 6
January 24
Sunset of January 24 to
25
Bahá'í
Buddhism
Judaism
Celebrating Faith and Culture Backgrounder
January 2016
The Peel District School Board is a mosaic of many cultures and faiths from all over the world.
To commemorate this diversity, the board recognizes special faith and culture days of our
communities. January 2016 has several special faith and culture days to celebrate and
remember:
K'aliyee in Aboriginal Spirituality
K'aliyee is celebrated by Nisga'a people of the Nass Valley in Northwest British Columbia. It is
the period of the north wind when prevailing weather blows off glaciers and icecaps that have
lingered from the last ice age.
January 1 - Gantan-sai (New Year) in Shinto
People of the Shinto faith—a Japanese faith practised for centuries—say "Akemashite Omedeto
Gozaimasu!" on this day, which means "Happy New Year!" This is the most important holiday in
Japan. Most businesses are closed from Jan. 1 to 3, and families typically gather to spend the
days together.
For happiness and good luck in the New Year, Japanese people begin to laugh the moment the
Gantan-sai begins, so they will have good luck throughout the year.
January 1 - Temple Day in Buddhism
Buddhists of all schools attend a special service in the temple on this day in dedication of their
faith.
January 1 and 14 - New Year’s Day in Christianity and Canada
New Year’s Day has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for the past 400+ years. It
also holds religious significance for the followers of the Christian faith. In 153 BC, the Roman
senate declared Jan.1 the beginning of the New Year. This holiday was first observed in Babylon
4000 years ago.
Celebrations around the holiday include: making of resolutions, parties on the evening of Dec.
31, and a toast at midnight when the New Year officially begins. On New Year's Day itself, many
people watch football games, parades and spend the day with family and friends.
Followers of Orthodox Christianity celebrate the New Year's Day on Jan. 14 based on the Julian
calendar.
January 5 - Birth of Guru Gobind Singh in Sikhism
Guru Gobind Singh was the 10th and final guru (1666-1708) in the Sikh faith. He created the
Order of Khalsa and declared the scriptures, the Adi Granth, as the only guru after him for
people of the Sikh faith.
Gurpurbs are festivals associated with the lives of the Gurus. Sikhs celebrate Gurpurbs, like the
Birth of Guru Gobind Singh, with an akhand path, a complete and continuous reading of the
Adi Granth, which takes 48 hours and finishes on the day of the festival.
January 6 and 19 - Epiphany or Feast of Theophany in Christianity
Followers of the Western Christian tradition celebrate Epiphany on Jan. 6. This day marks the
journey of three kings to worship Jesus in Bethlehem. Some of the Orthodox churches—like
Greek, Russian, Ukrainian and Serbian— that still follow the older or Julian calendar celebrate
the same tradition as the Feast of Theophanyon Jan. 19.
The term epiphany means to show, to make known or to reveal.
January 7 - Christmas in Christianity
Followers of the Eastern Rite celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus on Jan. 7, based on the
Julian calendar. Some sub-groups observe the day on Jan 6. Traditional celebrations include
singing carols, having holy supper on Christmas Eve and attending church services on Christmas
Eve and the Christmas Day.
January 11 - Seijin-no-hi in Shinto
Based on a Shinto rite of passage known as gempuku, Seijin-no-hi is the Coming-of-Age Day,
which marks the official entry to adulthood for all young Japanese who will have reached the
age of majority (20 years) between April 2 of the previous year and April 1 of the current year.
Declared a national holiday in Japan in 1948, 20-year-old women and men go to shrines,
wearing traditional clothing. Their families announce their adulthood to the kami or spirits, and
pray for their health and well-being.
January 13 - Lohri and January 14 - Makar Sankranti in Hinduism
This festival marks the end of the winter season (when daylight hours begin to increase) and is
primarily a harvest festival. This festival is also called Lohri in Punjab, Pongal in Tamil Nadu, Bihu
in Assam, Kicheri in Uttar Pradesh, Til Sankranti in Maharashtra, and Uttaran in Gujarat, India.
Kite flying and burning sugar cane in bonfires is a couple of the more popular customs for this
celebration. Newly married couples and parents on the birth of their first child particularly
celebrate Lohri in the Punjab. Regional and cultural celebrations of this festival vary in
traditions and customs.
Makar Sankranti is the first Hindu festival of the solar calendar year. It falls at a time when the
sun enters the Zodiac sign of Makar (Capricorn), and when days become longer from this point
on so it is a time for celebration.
January 13 - Maghi in Sikhism
This is the first day of the month of Magh. This day commemorates the battle at Muktsar, a
town in Punjab, India, in which 40 Sikhs (called the Immortal Ones) died for Guru Gobind Singh
in 1705.
January 17 - World Religion Day in Bahá'í
At this annual celebration, representatives of all faiths and traditions are invited to foster interfaith understanding and harmony by focusing on the common beliefs and spiritual principles
underlying all religions.
January 17 - Sakyamuni Buddha's Enlightenment in Buddhism
Siddhartha Gautama, known also as Sakyamuni Buddha, attained enlightenment at the age of
35 while sitting in deep meditation under the Bodhi tree. Followers of the faith commemorate
this day for their founder by holding Dharma functions in the temples and by partaking of
congee (a nourishing milk drink). On this day, Buddhists reflect on the "Middle Path" - a path of
moderation between extreme self-indulgence and self-mortification taught by Sakyamuni
Buddha.
January 19 to February 6 - month of Sultán in Bahá'í
In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an
attribute of God. January 19 is the beginning of Sultán, the seventeenth month of the Bahá'í
calendar, signifying "sovereignty."
The Bahá'í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day.
January 24 – Mahayana New Year in Buddhism
The followers of Mahayana Buddhism celebrate the New Year’s Day on the first full moon day
in January. The observance is a multi-day celebration.
Sunset of January 24 to 25 – Tu B'Shevat in Judaism
Tu B'Shevat, also known as the New Year for Trees, falls on the 15th day of the Jewish month of
Shevat, and celebrations begin after sunset the night before. Each tree is considered to have
aged one year as of Tu B'Shevat, no matter when it was planted during the year. It is customary
for people of the Jewish faith to eat a fruit or plant trees on this day.
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,
Community Liaison Coordinator at 905-890-1010, ext. 2573 or e-mail her
varsha.naik@peelsb.com