Owen Online Newsletter: Owen Family Update

Hello Owen Families,

Happy Hanukkah to our families celebrating the Jewish Holidays! Here's to a bright and festive Hanukkuah during the Festival of Lights. Thank you Ms Tobin and Olivia for putting together this beautiful display at school. Our Gr 1s loved playing the Dreidel Game.

We are in our last week before the holiday break. We hope our Owen families have an opportunity to spend quality time during the break. As the lockdown continues in the city, we hope that all our parents who are front line workers are able to have some special time with their families. We appreciate all that you are doing to keep the rest of the community healthy and safe, and providing us the ability to access necessities we need for our own families. Thank you!

If you are extending your break or require a quarantine after the holiday break, please email our safe arrival at owenps@tdsb.on.ca.

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Holiday Hampers: Final Day!

Every year Owen has put together Holiday Hampers for St. Vincent de Paul to support some of our Owen families and families within the community. During this pandemic holiday season, we will continue to support these families with gift cards to various retailers to help them through the holiday season.

If you’d like, you can donate gift cards from any of the following places. You can donate in denominations of: $10, $25 or $50. You can also donate multiple denominations. Fundraising will end Monday December 14th, 2020.

Thank you for sharing the holiday spirit and lending a helping hand!

~ Owen Office Staff

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Middle Immersion French Program

From January 4-29, 2021, current grade 3 students, not already enrolled in Early French Immersion, can apply to start Middle French Immersion in September 2021, their Grade 4 year. Information about this NEW program is available in 22 languages here.

Middle French Immersion offers 100% French instruction in grades 4 and 5. In grades 6-8, 75% of the instruction is in French with English and Science taught in English. If necessary, for timetabling, specialist subjects, like gym, may be taught in English. In high school, Middle and Early French Immersion students will be in the same immersion program and will do 10 credits in French.

Middle French Immersion is being offered at 40 elementary schools across the TDSB. All on-time applicants are guaranteed a placement in the program but are not guaranteed a specific school. Bussing or TTC tickets are provided for elementary students according to TDSB transportation policy and procedures.

Apply here.

Virtual information sessions are being held January 14, 21, 27, 2021. Details here.

Step 1: Apply between Jan 4-29, 2021

Step 2: Check the email you provided on the application regularly, including junk mail folders, for an offer of placement. Carefully note the deadline for responding in the offer of placement email.

Step 3: Accept the placement by the deadline.

Further French program information is here.

Note: the grade 4 entry Extended French program is no longer being offered. During January 2021, current grade 6 students can apply to enter the Extended French program in September 2021, their grade 7 year. Applications are made directly to the Extended French grade 7 school. Watch for details here.

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Apply for Support for Learners Funding

Several parents have contacted the school to confirm school data about their child. If there are any changes to address or name changes, please let the office know. In some cases if information does not match our school system, this may have an impact of your applicaiton.

For more information click on the Support for Learners link.

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Tamil Heritage Month: Poster Challenge

The month of January is recognized by the TDSB as Tamil Heritage Month. This coincides with one of the most important festivals celebrated by Tamils in South Asia and all over the world. Traditionally, during this month, Tamils, irrespective of their religion, celebrate Thai Pongal, a harvest festival that offers prayers of thanks to the sun and nature for giving bountiful crops.

A poster challenge is being organized for all TDSB students to participate in. Please see the attached document for FULL details.

Deadline: All entries must be received by Thursday, December 17, 2020 by 3:00 pm to tdsbtamilheritagemonth@gmail.com

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Student News!

See what our students have been up to lately at Owen!