Moving to Higher Ground! February 2015 PANTHER PRIDE 7635 Darcel Avenue, Mississauga L4T 2Y2 | 905-677-3802 | http://schools.peelschools.org/1104 Up Coming Events February 2 and 3 Black Inventors Museum at Lincoln February 3 – EcoWorkshops February 5 – Report Cards Home February 5- Black History Month Assembly February 11 – Winter Activity Day February 13 – Watershed Workshop February 16 – Family Day – No School February 18 – School Council and Parent Presentation February 19 – School Dance February 20 – Watershed Workshop February 24 –Girls Basketball Tournament February 25 – Boys Basketball Tournament February 27 – Black History Assembly Principal Mirella Aglio Vice Principal Kervin White Superintendent Patrika Daws Trustee Rick Williams WE Create Change Campaign The Year of EmpoWErment In the month of February, our WE DAY team will be launching a global campaign to help end poverty in Africa, and it all begins with a goat. I know that may seem really weird, but let me explain. The Darcel student body, together with Free The Children, will be collecting toonies for all of February. For every $50.00 in toonies, this will provide a goat for a needy family overseas. One goat over time can multiply into a herd providing an entire family with nutritious milk and sustainable income. That herd enables a woman to start turning her home farm into a thriving business. Because she is provided with business training and financial education, she can earn enough to send her children to school and build a better future for her family. So as you can see, $50.00 for a goat can mean a lot to a needy family overseas. It can provide economic empowerment and hope for a better future. A goat can end the cycle of poverty for a family in Africa. So give your toonies for a GOAT! PANTHER PRIDE Page 2 Black History Month at Darcel Black History Month is an opportunity for Canadians to recognize the significant contributions Blacks have made to the life of Canada in education, medicine, art, culture, public service, economic development, politics, and human rights. In February, students across Canada celebrate Black History Month. Here at Darcel, our students will engage in several activities and celebrate in a variety of ways. These include, assemblies, presentations, workshops, movies, art and craft and a speech competition. Our theme is “I Have a Global Dream.” We would be happy to have you join us for some of these events: February 5, 2015 at 10 :50 am - Guest Artist: Dwayne Morgan - Canadian spoken word artist and motivational speaker February 27, 12:50pm - Speech Competition When you arrive, please feel free to view our bulletin boards as they boast a rich display of students’ art work, depicting their interpretation of Black History Month. Did you know? In December 1995, the Parliament of Canada officially recognized February as Black History Month, following a motion introduced by the first Black Canadian woman elected to Parliament, the Honourable Jean Augustine, MP of Etobicoke-Lakeshore. The motion was carried unanimously by the House of Commons. PANTHER PRIDE Page 3 Girl Talk A brand new initiative between Darcel Middle School, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH), and the Peel District School Nurse is being offered to a group of girls. In this club we will address making healthy food choices (including cooking techniques) and participating in activities which will develop self-awareness, coping strategies and critical thinking skills. The club will meet every Friday at lunch for sixteen weeks. We are looking forward to this learning experience. Darcel celebrates Education Week 2015 Inspire. Greatness. Together. Peel public schools will host hundreds of special activities and events to celebrate Education Week 2015 April 13 to 24. The theme for this year's two week-long focus on education is "Inspire. Greatness. Together." Each year, more than 50,000 parents and community members across Peel attend activities and events during Education Week. We are looking forward to an equally successful week this year. Offence Declaration required for returning volunteers Parents play an important role in the development and education of their children and in the success of the school community. At Darcel, we welcome and encourage the participation of parents and community members, and are grateful for the countless hours our volunteers contribute throughout the school year. To volunteer at our school, you must complete a short interview and a criminal record check. A criminal record check is required for all school volunteers in Ontario. Even if you want to accompany your child on a field trip, you need this record check. Once you have completed the process, you are on file with the Peel District School Board as being a school volunteer. All returning volunteers will be mailed an Offence Declaration Form that must be filled out and returned to the board office each year. You will not be able to volunteer with the Peel board if you do not return this form. Forms will be mailed home in February. Insπre. Gr23ness. 2gether. Everyone is a math teacher, parents included Parents and other adults in our students' lives are important partners in children's mathematics education. By engaging your children in thinking and talking about mathematics, you help support their numeracy success. To help you with this, one great resource is the Ministry of Education's Doing Mathemathics With Your Child. You can find this guide for parents of children in kindergarten to grade online at www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/literacynumeracy/parentGuideNumEn.pdf. For more math tips and tools for parents of kindergarten to grade 12 students, visit ABC 123 at www.edu.gov.on.ca/abc123/eng/tips/ and the Peel District School Board’s Math Help site at www.peelschools.org/parents/helpyourchild/math. _________________________________________________________________________ REGISTER TODAY Saturday, April 18, 2015 – 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Fletcher’s Meadow Secondary School, Brampton Plan to attend our annual, free conference for Peel District School Board parents on Saturday, April 18, 2015. Take one day to enjoy: a powerful keynote presentation focused on math success your choice of 60 practical workshops facilitated by Peel board staff a display area with educational exhibits from local organizations free lunch, sponsored by Kidssentials, and an opportunity to meet Peel parents This year, a large number of morning workshops will provide parents with strategies to help you support math success at home. Flyers are being sent home with Peel students now—look for yours. Register today at www.peelschools.org/parents/conference. PANTHER PRIDE Page 4 Bus cancellation & 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 announced on radio and television stations listed below and posted at www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca. Information will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146. VIRGIN RADIO FM99.9 AM680 CFNY FM102.1/AM640 CFRB AM1010 FM Z103.5 CHIN FM100.7/AM1540 CITYPULSE CHUM AM1050 CJCL AM590 EZ ROCK FM97.3 FM93.1 CBC99.1 GLOBAL NEWS CFTR CHFI FM98.1 CJBC (FR) AM860 FM Q107 CTV One of the following messages will be announced (highlighted text only): Peel District School Board buses are cancelled. This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require busing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual. All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed. This means that all schools and Board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in w schools and board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits. e r All evening programs and permits at the e Peel District School Board are cancelled. This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed. All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled. This means that all activities in schools and Board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed.