March Newsletter 2024
Principal’s Message:
Hello Parents and Caregivers!
Welcome to March 2024. I hope you are well. Brookside continues to be a great place to be. Students are happy and busy learning, just as they should be. Staff remain committed, hard working and resilient.
You are doing a great job too as parents and caregivers. Packing lunches, ensuring your children are dressed appropriately for the ever-changing weather, and getting them on the bus in time each day takes a lot of organization and commitment.
I learned that it is possible to organize a nearly school-wide field trip (grades 1 -8) and that there are many of you who would help by volunteering. The cancellation of the tubing trip was disappointing for everyone. Thank you for your understanding about this.
March break is just around the corner. I hope it provides a break for you, even from those fairly mundane tasks such as packing lunches.
Thank you for reaching out if you have any questions, concerns or suggestions. I encourage you to keep doing this. Communication is key, something I know you appreciate.
With Respect,
Angela Cowley
Principal
Brookside Public School
Social Emotional Learning ( SEL)
Social-Emotional Learning Day or SEL day is on March 8th and across AMDSB, we are celebrating it. Here are some resources to better understand what SEL is and how you can support it at school, at home and within the community.
Understanding SEL for Caregivers
What is SEL and why does it Matter?
Character Trait: Optimism
This month’s character trait is – Optimism – You are showing optimism when you:
- Notice good things as they happen.
- Train your mind to believe you can make good things happen in your life.
- Don't blame yourself when things go wrong.
- When something good happens, and you give yourself credit.
- Remind yourself that setbacks are temporary.
Mental Health and Wellness:
Hi Families,
This March, the SEL focus is on self-awareness and the exploration of identity. Self-awareness is the invaluable ability to perceive oneself clearly and without bias, embracing every facet that shapes who we are. AMDSB’s aim in honing these skills is to empower students in:
- Assertive communication
- Advocating for their needs
- Understanding oneself
- Celebrating cultural heritage
- Feeling valued
- Fostering a sense of belonging
Stay tuned for our Feel Good Friday posts on social media, where we'll share tips on how you can demonstrate, teach, and provide opportunities for your children to cultivate these essential skills within your homes.
Caregiver Lunch and Learn: Developing a Positive Relationship with Food and Body.
This month, Huron Perth Public Health will be presenting “Developing a Positive Relationship with Food and Body”.Join Amy MacDonald (RD, Public Health Dietitian) and Shannon Edmonstone (RD,Public Health Dietitian) on March 6th from 12:00-12:30 as they discuss how to support your children to appreciate all body shapes and sizes, dispel myths about health and body size, and develop a positive relationship with food.
Click here for further information to see the attached poster and to register for this months Lunch and Learn.
All the Best,
Hannah DeBruyn
Brookside School Council
Mental Health Caregiver Liaison
Attendance Tips:
Please do your best to have your child(ren) to school on time every day. It's an important part of their routine to enter school with the rest of the students. Encourage your child to attend every day even if school routines and programs vary. If your child’s sleep routine changes during holiday times, you can help by gradually re-establishing regular bedtimes and wake up times prior to coming back into regular school days. If your child(ren) have excessive absences there will be letters sent home in regards to those absences.
March Break:
Just a reminder that March Break is scheduled to start from Monday March 11th to Friday, March 15th . Have a safe and enjoyable break!
March 21,2023:
Rock your Socks Day for Down Syndrome Awareness
Every year on March 21, people all around the world come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by wearing brightly colored, mismatched socks. March 21 is symbolic because people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome. Socks were chosen because the karyotype of Ds chromosomes actually looks like mismatched socks! Brookside will wear our mismatched socks on Thursday March 21st.
Purple Day-Epilepsy Awareness:
Tuesday March 26th Purple Day is an international grassroots effort dedicated to increasing awareness about epilepsy worldwide. On March 26th annually, people in countries around the world are invited to wear purple and host events in support of epilepsy awareness. Brookside will do our part in bringing awareness to all! Students are invited to wear purple on Tuesday March 26th!
Food Orders:
April Pizza and Milk orders will be due on March 19, 2024. No Late orders will be accepted.
Intermediate Girls and Boys Volleyball:
On February 20th our Brookside intermediate girls’ and boys’ volleyball teams headed to CHSS along with Mrs.McDonald and Mr.Beddow as their coaches. Both teams displayed great sportsmanship and teamwork against other schools in our region.
Public Speaking:
Brookside Public School held its annual public speaking competition on Tuesday, February 6 and what a success it was! There were many first time speakers in the gym this year. What a great experience for them and for the audience. This worthwhile event led up to the competition at the Royal Canadian Legion Branch 309 on February 22, 2024. Thank you to the Royal Canadian Legion for continuing this important event for the students. There were 12 speakers in the primary division, eight in the junior division and three in the intermediate division. Brookside had winners in each of the divisions and we have two speakers going on to the next level of competition.
Coldest Nights of the Year Walk:
Many thanks to our awesome Brookside Bulldogs team who participated in the Coldest Night of the Year Walk, donated and raised $2699.00 toward Huron homelessness initiatives! #bulldogsgiveback #brooksideproud You are amazing!
Bus Safety:
Just like the rest of us, our bus drivers will definitely be looking forward to Spring. Better conditions will certainly make driving a bit easier. Students are reminded that they must follow the bus rules and the requests of the drivers in order to guarantee the safety of everyone. Students who are not following the rules will draw the driver’s attention away from the road. Please review the rules of being a safe passenger with your child and remind them to follow the instructions of the drivers.
School Council:
Our next school council meeting will be held Wednesday, March 6th at 6:30pm in the Brookside Library. Everyone is welcome to attend. Any questions please reach out to School Council Chair: Miriah Drennan at [email protected]
Dates to Remember
March 4, 2024- Spirit Day-100’s Day- Dress like you are 100
March 5, 2024- Spirit Day- Hat Day
March 6, 2024- Elmira Chicken delivery day. Time for pickup will be sent by school messenger.
March 6, 2024- Spirit Day- Jersey Day
March 7, 2024- Spirit Day- Comfy Cozy/PJ Day
March 7, 2024- Great Big Crunch OSNP Program
March 8, 2024- Spirit Day-Vacation Ready Day
March 8, 2024- Social Emotional Learning Day
March 6, 2024- School Council Meeting
March 10, 2024- Spring Ahead Time Change. Remember to change your clocks!
March 11-15, 2024- March Break!
March 17, 2024- St. Patrick’s Day
March 19, 2024- April Pizza and Milk Orders close on SchoolCash
March 21, 2024- Rock Your Socks Day for World Down Syndrome Day
March 26, 2024- Epilepsy Awareness day - Wear purple
March 29, 2024- Good Friday No School!
April 1, 2024- Easter Monday No School!
Update for the PA Day in April Due to Solar Eclipse:
On Monday April 8, 2024 a rare total solar eclipse will occur. While Huron and Perth are not in the Path of Totality, residents in the area will experience a partial eclipse starting around 2 pm and ending after 4:30 pm. According to Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH), there are 2 significant concerns for this event:
- Individual damage to vision – It is not safe to look directly at the sun during a total or partial solar eclipse. Health impacts include retinal burns, blurred vision and loss of eyesight (immediate or delayed onset). Be aware that there are no nerve endings in the retina, so people looking at the sun will not experience pain as a deterrent and may not be aware that damage is occurring. Staff should be aware of this and ensure they are not looking at the sun if they are outside or traveling during this time.
- Mass gatherings - residents gatherings, distracted motorists, etc.
In consultation with HPPH and our coterminous school board, we have weighed the potential risks primarily associated with the timing of the eclipse and the potential logistical challenges that might impact the safety of our students and staff. We have made the decision to move the scheduled April 19 PA Day to April 8.