"Knowing what's right doesn't mean much unless you do what's right." ~ Theodore Roosevelt
We hope everyone has enjoyed the long Family Day weekend! We hope families had an opportunity to visit some of the events and activities throughout the city.
We have warm weather coming this week including rain to the start of the week. Please have indoor shoes available for your child as well as extra clothes for those walks back and forth from home. We also want to make sure we keep mud outside to keep our school floors clean. We have some new tiles put in some of our junior classrooms.
Don't forget...Pizza lunch on Thursday!
We want to wish our Grade 6's a fun and safe trip to Sheldon Outdoor Ed Center! It will be a great opportunity to bond as a group and get some great activity outdoors.
Have a splendid week!
~ Ms Broderick and Ms Rosenbloom
Parking Restrictions on Bessborough
Safety of our students is our number one concern. We encourage all our students to walk or bike to school and want them to feel safe on their way.
Bessborough Drive is becoming very congested in the mornings due to the cars parking or stopping on the east side of Bessborough. This make it very dangerous for students crossing the street as cars are trying to squeeze by.
Please do not park or stop in front of the school. Please allow time in the morning to park in the designated areas in order for traffic to flow in a safe way. A nice walk in the am is great for everyone!
Designated areas are indicated in red.
This week's Mindful Minute was a Move and Freeze stress release exercise. You can view it here:
During our Wellness Group meeting this week, we watched this video and discussed the best ways to boost our confidence.
This week's announcements will focus on our favourite confidence boosting tips and activities.
A reminder that Wednesday, February 22nd is Pink Shirt Day - the day we will all show our support to end bullying. Please remind your children to wear pink and the importance of continuing acts of kindness and acceptance. The following is a brief overview of how this day came to be.
David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied [for wearing a pink shirt]…[They] took a stand against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new Grade 9 student by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school. ‘I learned that two people can come up with an idea, run with it, and it can do wonders,’ says Mr. Price, 17, who organized the pink protest. ‘Finally, someone stood up for a weaker kid.’ So Mr. Shepherd and some other headed off to a discount store and bought 50 pink tank tops. They sent out message to schoolmates that night, and the next morning they hauled the shirts to school in a plastic bag. As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled. The bullies were never heard from again.”
David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied [for wearing a pink shirt]…[They] took a stand against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new Grade 9 student by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school. ‘I learned that two people can come up with an idea, run with it, and it can do wonders,’ says Mr. Price, 17, who organized the pink protest. ‘Finally, someone stood up for a weaker kid.’ So Mr. Shepherd and some other headed off to a discount store and bought 50 pink tank tops. They sent out message to schoolmates that night, and the next morning they hauled the shirts to school in a plastic bag. As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled. The bullies were never heard from again.”
Winter Activity Day Photos
The Bessborough Yearbook Committee is looking for some photos of the upcoming Winter Activity Day for the yearbook. If any parent volunteers have an opportunity to snap a couple pics this coming Thursday, we would love you to share them with us.
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”. We’re always looking for photos, so send any you want to share from any other recent school event too. For any questions, please email Sue Thurow at susan.thurow@tdsb.on.ca or Corey Ferguson at c.ginou@sympatico.ca.
We are looking for lunchroom supervisors who are willing to come and supply when needed. Supervisors will receive calls prior to 9:00 am to work at 11:40 am. If you are interested or have questions, contact caroline.rosenbloom@tdsb.on.ca.
Parent Presentation - Untangled: Getting Girls Ready for the World
For more information go to
https://www.havergal.on.ca/experience/faculty-staff/hcpd/parent-speaker-series/untangled/
Thursday, February 23 7 – 9 pm
Presenter: Dr. Lisa Damour
Website: https://www.drlisadamour.com
Location: Havergal College, 1451 Avenue Road, Toronto, Canada
Cost: $25 (in Canadian funds)
Dr. Damour will address parents to help them understand:
- The key stages of teenage development;
- How parents can help girls move successfully through the teenage years;
- How to know when to hang back and when to step in with help.
For more information go to
https://www.havergal.on.ca/experience/faculty-staff/hcpd/parent-speaker-series/untangled/
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
|
Ms Surdivall
Ms Collins
Ms Rosenbloom
|
5-8
|
Rm 10
|
All year - lunch (Mondays)
|
Smoothie Chat (Aka Girls’ Group)
|
Ms Angheloni
Ms Ho
|
7&8
|
Staff Room
|
Wed All year- before school
|
Movie Making Club
|
Mr King
Ms Reid
|
6-8
|
Library
|
Wednesday after school starting in January
|
Yearbook
|
Ms Thurow
|
6-8
|
Rm 17
|
Wednesdays after school
|
We Club
|
Ms Ciobanu
Ms Angheloni
|
5-8
|
Rm 31
|
Every Friday at lunch
|
Folkfest
|
Ms Cook
Ms Willoughby
|
3-6
|
Gym
|
Tues lunch Feb - May
|
Primary STEM
|
Ms Ho
Mr King
|
1-3
|
Rm 1
|
Wed October-May
|
Library ambassadors
|
Ms Surdivall
|
5-8
|
Library/
Rm 10
|
Tuesday, all year, lunch
Thursdays, all year, lunch
|
Junior Boys Club
|
Mr Baker
|
4-6
|
Rm 11
|
Thursdays @ beginning of lunch
|
ECO club
|
Ms Gamm
Ms Pornaras
|
1-8
|
Rm 2
|
Thursday @ lunch Jan-May
|
Concert Band
|
Mr McMillan
Ms Collins
|
7-8
|
Music Room
|
Thursdays after school (3:25-4:25), all year
|
Student Engagement
|
Ms Angheloni
Ms Ciobanu
Ms Wong
|
6 to 8
|
Rm 31
|
Thursday @ Lunch
|
Wellness Group
|
Ms Buksner
|
3-8
|
Rm 9
|
Wednesdays, Lunch
(November-June)
|
Junior Girls Club
|
Ms Wong
Ms Azodi
|
5/6
|
Rm 12
|
Tuesdays @ Lunch - 12 pm start
|
Forest of Reading Program
Our library literacy program continues to be a huge success! Students from every age group are loving the Forest of Reading program and are continuing to build a lifelong love of books, with an emphasis on Canadian authors and stories. Check out some amazing photos posted by Ms. Surdivall that capture the excitement and enjoyment of the students on Bessborough’s Forest of Reading Twitter account: @Bessborough_FOR or on the Forest of Reading library site:
Pizza Party!
The next Pizza Lunch is THIS Thursday February 23rd. So no lunch packing needed that day if your kids are signed up. Hooray!
The next Pizza Lunch is THIS Thursday February 23rd. So no lunch packing needed that day if your kids are signed up. Hooray!
Thank You Class Parents & Reps!
Invitations have gone out already, but just in case you missed it: Please join us for some cheer in honour of all the work you do as Class Parents and Divisional Reps on Wednesday March 1st, 2017 from 7-9pm. Check your e-vite for more details, RSVP to suzysharples@live.com.
New Instruments
Our Home & School purchased instruments have arrived! Ms. Collins sends along news that the egg shakers are a particular hit so far. Look forward to hearing more from your kids about their fun in music class.
Appreciation Corner
Thank you to all the parent volunteers and staff who took part in this year’s Winter Activity Day! It was a wonderful day for students to get active outside and celebrate winter with their friends. But it couldn’t happen without your support so THANK YOU!
Visit www.bessboroughhomeandschool.com now for details on all of this and more!