Dear Parents and Caregivers,

The 2023-2024 school year is off to a tremendous start!  We have already completed two successful months and are looking forward to November.

November brings our Calling All Three Year Olds event (kindergarten registration). It will take place on Monday November 6th in the morning. Children who will be 3 years old by December 31, 2023 are eligible for junior kindergarten and children who will be 4 years old by December 31, 2023 are eligible for senior kindergarten. Do you have a child in your home who is eligible?  If so, call the school and Ms. Cook will be happy to help you follow the process.  Please spread the word to your family and friends; we want to get to know as many children and families on this important day.

Our Remembrance Day Assembly will take place on Friday, November 10th at 11:40 a.m. You are welcome to join us!

The Progress Reports for students in grades 1-8 and the Communication of Learning Reports for JK and SK students will be sent home on Monday November 13th and interviews with you, parents and caregivers who are vital partners in education, will take place on Thursday November 16th after school and in the evening as well on Friday November 17th during the first half of the school day.  Details will follow.

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week takes place in November, the One Stop Shop fundraiser continues until November 19th, but the Rheo Thompson portion of this fundraiser is due by November 13th in order for this company to be able to meet the overall deadline.

Thank you for everything you do that adds to the daily and overall success of your children.  It is noticed, necessary and appreciated.

As always, if you have any concerns, suggestions, or questions please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected] or by calling 519 529 7900.

Respectfully,

Angela Cowley

Principal

Brookside Public School

 

Progress Reports and Communication of Learning Reports - November 13th

 As you read over your child’s Progress Report and/or your child’s Communication of Learning report please keep in mind that these are progress reports.  The “Progress” report is meant “to take a pulse” of how the students are progressing early in the  school year. All of our students are working at different levels and will continue to grow and learn over the course of the school year. We encourage our families and students to think in terms of “not yet” versus “I can't do it”. Please consider the following clever kernel of advice:

 

“Popcorn is prepared in the same pot, in the same heat, in the same oil, and yet, the kernels do not

pop at the same time. Don’t compare your child to other children. Their turn to pop is coming.” -

author unknown

 

PD Day and Parent Teacher Interviews

Just a reminder that parent/teacher interviews are scheduled for Thursday November 16th afternoon/evening and the morning of the PD day, Friday, November 17. There will be interview sheets sent home for you to request a time for an interview. Your interview time will then be communicated/confirmed to you by your child’s teacher(s). If you are unable to come for an in person interview, teachers will reach out to you by phone or email.

Please keep your copy of the progress report but sign and return the envelope to the school.

Safe Arrival Absence Reporting

  Continue to use the Safe Arrival reporting system for reporting absences of your student. There is an app called School Messenger that you can also download to your personal device to complete reporting. 

Please use the following ways to report absences.  

Link: http://go.schoolmessenger.ca/

Phone: 1-844-518-5459

Email: [email protected]

 

CATYO

It is time to register for Kindergarten 2023/2024! This year, our Kindergarten

“Calling All Three Year Olds” event is in-person at our school on Friday,

November 6th from 9-11:00. Please contact the school to book an appointment

and begin the registration process.  

Phone: 519-529-7900

Email: [email protected]

 

Courage & Remembrance Day

Our character attribute this month is courage. On Friday, November 10th, we will honor the courage of our past and present veterans who have given us the freedom that we enjoy today.  Our Legion members will be present. We will also have a Brookside PS wreath placed at the Lucknow cenotaph.

 

Cross Country and Soccer 

Intramural and Intraschool sports are back and in full swing. These would not be possible without our staff volunteering their lunch breaks to coach our teams. We appreciate this and the opportunity for our students to be on a team and travel and represent Brookside at Regional events. Mrs.Luiting took our cross country team to Huron Centennial on Tuesday, October 4th. We had many students achieve personal bests and also had amazing results at the District meet as well. Our junior and senior soccer teams also were able to travel to Goderich District Collegiate Institute and Clinton Public School for  tournaments. For a lot of our athletes this was their first time participating in a school tournament. We are so proud of the way they all represented our school showing determination, sportsmanship and positive attitudes. Thank you to Mrs Cook, Mrs Liddle, Mrs Johnston and MsYoung for their work with our soccer teams.

 

Brookside School Council: Mental Health Liaison Update 

Hi Brookside Families,

I hope this message finds you well during this cozy November season. This month, from November 13th-November 17th, we observe Bullying Awareness Week, a vital time for our community to come together and reinforce the values of kindness, empathy and respect. Feel free to incorporate these activities and books into your family time this month. 

Why Bullying Awareness Week Matters:

Bullying Awareness Week is a dedicated time when we focus on teaching our kids about empathy, acceptance, and supporting one another. Together, we can create an environment where every child feels safe, respected, and valued. 

Book Suggestions: 

1, “The Juice Box Bully: Empowering Kids to Stand up for Others” by Bob Sornson and Maria Dismondy

2. “Chrysanthemum” by Kevin Henkes
3. “Restart” by Gordon Korman
4. “Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon’ by Patty Lovell 

Activities:

Kindness Rocks: Get creative by painting rocks with uplifting messages. Once finished, send these rocks to school, where they’ll find a new home in the front flower bed, brightening our surroundings. 

Arts and Crafts: Make friendship bracelets, anti-bullying badges or pledges, or create a collage representing kindness and acceptance. 

Compassion Jar: Create a compassion jar where family members can write down acts of kindness they’ve witnessed or performed. 

Board Games: Play board games that require teamwork and cooperation. 

November Caregiver Lunch & Learn:

Join Shannan de Vries from The Salvation Army and Justice Services virtually on November 8th at 12:00 as she delves into the restorative justice approach to conflict resolution and showcases the services in Huron and Perth County. She’ll emphasize caregivers’ role in teaching children health conflict resolution skills, fostering positive relationships. Please see attached poster for the registration link. 

Throughout the month of November, we encourage you to wear BLUE to symbolize unity against bullying. Share pictures on social media using the hashtag #BrooksideCares to spread the special message. 

Hannah DeBruyn
Brookside Parent Council 

Mental Health Liaison 

Cultivating Character: We are a school focused on student learning and cultivating character. We teach our students about social responsibility and the HOAP process (Honesty, Ownership, Apology and Plan).

Avon Maitland District School Board, 62 Chalk Street North, Seaforth, ON N0K 1W0

(519)-527-0111 www.yourschools.ca

 

Indoor Shoes -As we head into more wet and muddy weather, we ask that you please make sure that your child has clean indoor shoes for indoor class times. Clean, dry shoes help us to keep our classroom floors clean and ensure our kids can move about in classes and to the gym safely. 

Thankyou for your help!

 

Emergency Drills - Each year we practice emergency preparedness drills. We have fire drills, weather drills and hold and secure drills. The students know about these drills ahead of time as they are practice and awareness and we walk through them together in a non threatening, calm, and safe manner.

 

Student Nutrition Program

Our snack and lunch supplement program has always been an important part of our school day. As educators, we recognize that students learn best when they are fueled and well rested. We do our part by providing access to fresh, healthy foods. Growing bodies are hungrier some days than others, we all run late now and again and sometimes we just need something to crunch or munch on to help us to focus. We have the support of the Ontario Student Nutrition Program in providing healthy snack options, for example, fresh fruit and vegetables. We then supplement the program with cheese and crackers, bagels, applesauce, granola bars, etc. We are hoping that this will support our students who find themselves eating the contents of their lunch at first break or wake up a bit late with no time to grab breakfast or for those days when lunch is forgotten. If you would like to donate to support our Student Nutrition Program, monetary donations can be made through school cash online.

**Looking for more parent volunteers to help out with preparing snack bins.  Email [email protected] or call 519-529-7900 if you are interested in volunteering some time.

School Council

Our School Council has dedicated great time and effort to raise funds so that our students are provided with a wide variety of extended technological, academic and well being opportunities. We are always looking for new members. Brookside School Council is committed to engage in fundraising to enrich our outdoor learning and play spaces and to provide additional resources and technology for all students.

School Council Executives 2023-2024

Chair - Miriah Drennan,

Vice - Chair - Anne Marie Kraft, 

Secretary - Natalie Miltenburg

Treasure-Jessica Beyersbergen

One Stop Shop Christmas Fundraiser - School Council

"It's not quite Christmas yet, but we want to make sure you have everything to start your holiday season off right." School council has put together a fundraiser that is a “One Stop Shop for Christmas Giving”. They will offer Rheo Thompson Chocolates, Coastal Coffee, Greyhaven Gardens , Robinsons Maple Syrup, and The Big Box Cards. Rheo Thompson will be due earlier on November 13th and all other orders are due November 19th.    Delivery is scheduled for December 5th. We hope by offering the same pick up date for all four vendors that you will be able to easily put together your gift baskets or hostess gifts or just have some treats for your own home over the holidays. All orders will be submitted through School Cash Online. Order forms have been emailed, but please reach out to the school if you need paper order forms to track your sales.

CKNX Relief Truck

  North Huron Community Food Share will be partnering with Montgomery Bus lines to pick up our donations right at our school.  November 27th is when students can start bringing in items if they wish to help out with some donations.   Here are some items that they are looking for along with non-perishable food items; personal hygiene items such as toothpaste,brushes,soap, deodorant & shampoo.  The items will be scheduled for pickup on Friday December 8th.  Thank you for all your support and donations to this event. 

Upcoming Events:

November 6th - Calling All Three Year Olds registration

November 5 -11th Treaty Recognition Week

November 9th - Fresh From the Farm Deliver-Time Will be announced through a school messenger

November 10th - Remembrance Day Assembly @11:40am

November 13th - Progress and Communication of Learning Reports Go Home

November 13th - One Stop Shop Rheo Thompson Closes on School Cash-NO Late Orders

November 13-17th - Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week

November 16th - Grade 7 Immunizations HHPH

November 16th - Parent Guardian Interviews 4pm-7pm 

November 17th - Parent teacher conferences 8am-11am

November 17th - PD day - No school

November 19th - One Stop Shop rest of fundraiser closes - NO Late orders

November 24th - Spirit Day - Wear your Brookside Blue!

November 27th -  CKNX Christmas Hampers Food Drive Starts

 

Save the Date:

December 4 - Photo Retake Day

December 4 - HPPH Dental Screening

December 12th - Kindergarten to Grade 3 Concert - more details to follow

Before and After School Program 2024-2025 Survey 

Avon Maitland District School Board is committed to helping make the school day as seamless as possible for families.

 

To help us determine the potential need for Before and After Programs, we ask parents/guardians to share their tentative childcare needs for September of the next school year (2024) by completing an online survey before December 8th, 2023.

 

Survey link on the AMDSB website: www.amdsb.ca Click "Our Programs" Click "Elementary"  Click "Before and After School Program" Or access it here https://bit.ly/BandASchoolSurvey24-25

 

We appreciate your assistance.  By completing the survey, this information will help us determine the feasibility of offering before and after school programs at AMDSB school locations.

 Bus Route and Weather Cancellations

Route and weather cancellations can occur at any time. Please use the following sites to stay informed. Be sure to subscribe to BusPLanner App as well as Schoolmessenger.  Text YES to number 978338 to sign up to receive text messages from the school. Follow Brookside Facebook and Instagram too.  

Huron Perth Transportation Services Website: www.ourschoolbuses.ca

Bus Planner Alerts Page: https://hpsts.mybusplanner.ca/alerts

BusPlanner Delays APP: Indicates if the cancellation is AM or PM or All Day. As soon as a notification is posted to the BusPlanner Website, it appears as a notification on the app.  If you are using the App just remember to turn on your notifications in your phone settings.