April Newsletter 2024

Principal’s Message

Hello Parents and Caregivers,

Welcome to April 2024. I hope you and your family had a terrific March break and enjoyed the Easter weekend too.

April brings a number of things. I imagine that you are well aware that the PD Day has been moved to April 8th so that students are not at school on the day of the solar eclipse. April 2nd is World Autism Awareness Day. Here is a link to a video that will be shared with the students. You might enjoy it too: World Autism Awareness Day. There is a School Council meeting on April 10th. Will you consider joining us?

There is a new and exciting event too. Our School Council applied for a Parents Reaching Out Grant for a Family Games Night. It will take place on April 25, 2024. See the details within this newsletter. Join us! It will be fun.

Our junior and senior boys and girls are looking forward to their basketball tournament and all students are waiting for the playground equipment to be opened.

Brookside continues to be a great place to be for everyone. Thank you for all that you do to add to its success.

Respectfully,

Angela Cowley

Principal

Brookside Public School

Spring Weather

We look forward to using the tarmac and grass fields to play our outdoor sports and games! Parents, please remind your children to wear boots on rainy or muddy days and have an indoor and outdoor pair of shoes if possible. Just like at home, we do not want outdoor shoes tracking in mud. Also please remember to label your children’s items. We have a lot of winter items that have been collected in the lost and found. If you are stopping by to pick up your child(ren) please come in and visit our lost and found to have a look and see if you are missing any items.

Safety Drills

As per Ministry of Education guidelines we are required to complete a number of safety drills before the end of the year. Over the next few weeks, our students will take part in fire drills, a severe weather drill and a lockdown drill.

Volunteers

With field trips and excursions coming up, as well as the daily repetitions our students need to consolidate their learning in reading and math, we are reaching out to parents or family members that may have time in their schedules to volunteer during the day. Contact the school office for a letter so you can provide it for your vulnerable sector check.

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 519-529-7900

April is Autism Awareness Month

On Tuesday, April 2 we will #celebratethespectrum to highlight World Autism Awareness Day. We encourage our school to wear a spectrum of colors (tie dye) to mark the day or Brookside blue to show we are all a part of the same community as we celebrate neurodiversity.

May Pizza and Milk Orders

They are due Wednesday April 17 please go on www.schoolcashonline.com and make sure you have completed your order correctly. There will be no late orders accepted.

April School Council Meeting

Our next School Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday April 10th at 6:30 p.m. Everyone is always welcome and if you have not attended before you are still welcome to join us.

Brookside School Council brings you: Family Game Night at Brookside

Mark your calendars and round up the family because Family Game Night is happening at Brookside Public School on Thursday April 25th from 6:00 to 8:00 pm!

Join us for a free evening of fun, laughter, and friendly competition in the Brookside gymnasium. Here's what's in store:

Games Galore: We’ll have a variety, but feel free to bring your family favorite.
Refreshments and Popcorn
Family Trivia
Music
Crafting
Prizes and More

Bring your whole family and let's make memories together. See you there!

April SEL Focus: Positive Motivation & Perseverance

Encouraging positive motivation and perseverance in children is key to helping them tackle life's challenges with confidence and optimism. These skills empower them to keep pushing forward, even when things get tough. Here's how you can support your child at home:

Notice and Express Gratitude: Encourage your child to take a moment each day to reflect on what they're thankful for.
Practise Optimism: Help your child see the bright side of situations by reframing negative thoughts into positive ones. For example, if they're feeling discouraged about a difficult assignment, remind them of past accomplishments and the progress they've made.
At-Home Activities: Engage your child in activities that promote perseverance, such as puzzles, building projects, or learning a new skill.
Book Recommendations: Foster a growth mindset by reading books together that highlight the importance of perseverance and positive thinking. Some suggestions include “Salt in His Shoes: Michael Jordan in Pursuit of a Dream" by Deloris Jordan and Roslyn M. Jordan, “Ish" by Peter H. Reynolds, "Malala's Magic Pencil" by Malala Yousafzai.

Teaching perseverance shows students that overcoming challenges leads to success.

April’s Lunch and Learn is one you don’t want to miss. Join the Huron Perth Centre on April 10th from 12:00-12:30 for a virtual visit as they discuss “Building Resilience in Youth”. They will guide caregivers through Unger’s “9 Things All Young People Need” to help kids grow strong and handle life’s challenges better. See the attached poster for more information and the link to register.

Best,
Hannah DeBruyn
Brookside School Council
Mental Health Caregiver Liaison

AMDSB Community E-flyer

This site contains links to information and resources in the community that may be of interest to Avon Maitland District School Board students and families. You can find links to local events and activities, camps and sports, extracurricular activities, scholarships, competitions for students and much more. Check it out at

https://www.amdsb.ca/apps/pages/community

April Calendar of Events

April 1- Easter Monday No School!

April 2- World Autism Awareness month kicks off - Wear tie dye or a wide spectrum of colors or Brookside Blue to show we are all a part of our school community as we celebrate our differences.

April 8- PA Day due to Solar Eclipse

April 10- School Council Meeting at 6:30pm

April 16- Senior Girls and Boys Basketball @CHSS

April 19- Spirit Day-Wear what makes you Happy Day!

April 22- Earth Day!-Dress in Blue or Green

April 24- Jr Girls and Boys Basketball @GDCI

April 25- Games Night provided by School Council 6:00-8:00pm

Looking ahead reminder:

Wednesday May 1- Classroom Photos with Edge Photography

Wednesday May 15- SK Vision Screening

Monday May 20-No school. Victoria Day!

Tuesday May 28- Gr 7 HPPH Immunizations