"Holidays are about experiences and people, and tuning into what you feel like doing at that moment. Enjoy not having to look at at watch. "
~ Evelyn Glennie
This is our last week before the break. Please remember to call the office if your child will be leaving early. Desks and lockers will be cleaned out this week! We still have a few intermediate students without locks. Please pick up a lock over the break to ensure all items are stored safely in your child's locker.
Grades 3 - 8 will be going to the 905 Raptors game on Tuesday. Dress for the weather as we will be taking TTC.
~ Ms Broderick and Ms Rosenbloom
Dec 19 - 23
The Student Engagement Committee is introducing Spirit Week from December 19 to 23. Mark these dates!
Dec 19 - Mimic Monday- Come dressed as someone else, it could be a teacher, friend, relative or a celebrity
Dec 20 - Vibrant Tuesday- wear your brightest colours that make you shine and don't forget your sunglasses
Dec 21- Wacky Winter Day- wear your wackiest winter outfit to celebrate the first day of winter.
Dec. 22 - Zoom to the Future- Dress like you're a hundred years old
Dec 23 - Jammy Day- Last Day for Winter break- wear your most comfortable jammies and don't forget your winter stuffy
Dear Bessborough Drive Community ,
As you know winter is almost here and snow is not far behind. There are many youths who have no place to call home. There is an estimation of 1000 to 2000 youths looking for shelter on our Toronto streets daily. Covenant House is a non profit organization that offers shelter for youth, aged 16 to 24, unfortunately many are fleeing homes due to abuse and neglect.
Bessborough Drive would like to do their part in helping this worthy initiative by conducting a "Spirit of Caring" benefit. From Monday December 12 to Wednesday December 21 home room classes will be collecting TTC tokens, wallets (male and female), chapsticks, along with $5 and $10 denomination cards to Subway/Walmart, Tim Hortons and Shoppers. For our upcoming school Holiday Concerts, chapstick (lip balms) will also be collected at the Leaside Auditorium doors. Student ambassadors will be showing videos that they have created to continue to raise awareness. In addition, homeroom teachers will also be having rich conversations surrounding our TDSB’s character traits of kindness and caring. We know that our students can help make a difference in this worthy cause.
We appreciate your support.
While your photos are still fresh in your phones and cameras, the Bessborough Yearbook Committee would love you to share them with us. Send in any good quality photos you would like to share from bothHoliday Concerts for the Bessborough 2016-17 Yearbook. We’re always looking for photos, so send any you want to share from any other recent school event too!
Please send your best quality photos to bessboroughyearbook@gmail.com. Be sure to send the largest file size you have (best resolution) or if sending from your iPhone, please send “Actual Size”. For any questions, please email Sue Thurow at susan.thurow@tdsb.on.ca or Corey Ferguson at c.ginou@sympatico.ca.
Check out www.ulmann-canada.com for items to purchase. You can view the attachment for more information.
Bessborough Wellness Group
The Bessborough Wellness group is made up of a group of students and teachers who are interested in building awareness around Mental Health and Well-being. This group's mission is two-fold:
1. To set personal wellness goals, and establish strategies to accomplish those goals, to improve the personal well-being of each member; and
2. To act as leaders, mentors and advocates for the well-being of everyone in our Bessborough community.
The focus during our first week was on kindness. Just a small act of kindness, a helping hand, and friendly smile can serve to brighten someone's day. The Wellness group initiated daily announcements about kindness, reminding all Bessborough staff and students about the importance of kindness to our well-being.
During the second week of announcements, our focus was on confidence. Sometimes it can be difficult to put ourselves out there and participate. Shoring up our confidence can help us meet challenges and try new things.
We also initiated our Mindful Minute practice, which encourages our whole school to take a mental health moment. During our first week, we learned about chair yoga. Follow this link to learn more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO5C2NyZ65Q
During our second Mindful Minute, we played the game "Atoms". Follow this link to learn more. https://drive.google.com/a/tdsb.on.ca/file/d/0B1NbKoxA56eZUW9MOUotZWtqNFk/view?usp=drivesdk
School Clubs
Many staff have dedicated their time to provide opportunities for students to be leaders, have an impact at the school or community. Please see the schedule below for the clubs and times these are available.
Many staff have dedicated their time to provide opportunities for students to be leaders, have an impact at the school or community. Please see the schedule below for the clubs and times these are available.
Name of Club
|
Teachers Involved
|
Student Grade/Division Applicable
|
Location
|
Day of the Week
&
Time of Day
|
Tech Committee
|
Tina S & Caroline
|
5-8
|
library
|
All year - lunch (Mondays)
|
Smoothie Chat (Aka Girls’ Group)
|
Bianca & Karen H.
|
7&8
|
Staff Room
|
Wed All year- before school
|
Movie Making Club
|
Mark K & Tina R
|
6-8
|
Library
|
Wednesday after school starting in January
|
Yearbook
|
Sue .
|
6-8
|
Room 17
|
Wednesdays after school
|
We Club
|
Mirela & Bianca
|
5-8
|
Room 31
|
Every Friday at lunch
|
Folkfest
|
Heather & Nancy
|
3-6
|
Gym
|
Tues lunch Feb - May
|
Primary STEM
|
Karen H. & Mark
|
1-3
|
1
|
Wed October-May
|
Library ambassadors
|
Tina S
|
5-8
|
Library
Room 10
|
Tuesday, all year, lunch
Thursdays, all year, lunch
|
Junior Boys Club
|
Mubarak
|
4-6
|
11
|
Thursdays @ beginning of lunch
|
ECO club
|
Steph G & Kelly
|
1-8
|
Room 2
|
Thursday @ lunch Jan-May
|
Concert Band
|
Justin & Laura
|
7-8
|
Music Room
|
Thursdays after school (3:25-4:25), all year
|
Student Engagement
|
Bianca,Stephanie W& Mirela
|
6 to 8
|
Library
|
Thursday @ Lunch
|
Wellness Group
|
Sarah
|
3-8
|
Library
|
Wednesdays, Lunch
(November-June)
|
Lego Robotics
|
Neil, Ryan, Laura, Jeff
|
6-8
|
Rm 30
|
Tuesdays @ lunch (now-Jan)
|
Junior Girls Club
|
Steph & Melika
|
5/6
|
Rm. 12
|
Tuesdays @ Lunch - 12 pm start
|
Choir
|
Tina R & Ryan D
|
3-8
|
Music Room
|
Wednesday morning
(8:00 am - 8:30 am)
|
Trustee Gerri Gerson - Update
For more information visit http://www.tdsb.on.ca/ward13.
Kindie Yard Update
Thanks to all who voted on the revised financial support to update our kindie yard as a teaching and play space for our 70+ kindies. The proposal was passed, and we can now get the work order into the Board and get the construction scheduled. We will keep you posted on the schedule.
Lots of Drama
But in a really good way! A big THANK YOU to Sarina Condello & Sheila Philcox for their amazing drama and music programming for students in Kindergarten to Grade 6. H&S funds allowed for this extra, curriculum-based arts programming which culminated in our wonderful holiday concerts last week. We’ve had great feedback from kids, teachers and parents in support of continuing this program.
Appreciation Corner
A big THANK YOU also goes out to our Admin and all our Staff for a busy, fun and full fall term. We also want to wish all Bessborough families a very happy holiday! See you in 2017!