Thank you everyone for your participation in Bell Let's Talk Day. This past week generated a lot of discussion at school and at home about mental health and wellness. Here are what was said from our some of our Grade 3 students had to say.
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Welcome Baby Emma Claire!
Congratulations Mme Hammond! We are very excited to introduce another Owen family member. Emma arrived one week before her due date on January 15, 2021 at 4:37 pm, weighing in at 7 lbs 7 oz and measuring 20 inches long! Happy parents are in love! We can't wait to meet her.
Everyone is doing well and they are loving every moment!
The TDSB is providing support for families who may be having difficulties with helping their child navigate through their online learning. By clicking the link below, you can gain access to support on using google classroom and Brightspace, logging into a student account, tdsb device support, and live web chats.
If you have photos, student work or family activities you would like to share on the Owen Online for next week, please email them to jamie.parkes@tdsb.on.ca by Thursday of this week.
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Please click here for the latest updates and newsletters.
We hope you all had an opportunity to enjoy the sunshine this weekend as a family. This is a busy week for staff as they will be finishing report cards. Report cards will be available on Thursday February 11th and interviews will be around that time. Your teacher will send out a sign up for their interview schedule soon.
There are great resources around Mental Health and your Child that would be fun to do as a family. Please check it out below. These align with Bell's Let's Talk Day this Thursday.
Just a reminder to parents to email staff to schedule a meeting if you have questions or concerns about your child. Please do not use the chat in the Google Classroom or go on the Google Meet/Zoom during class. We want the classes to continue with minimal disruptions to instructional time as we would normally when students are in school.
Thank you to our Lunch Supervisors, Educational Assistant and Special Needs Assistants for providing extra support for small group and individual reading and activity time. This extra support is very much appreciated!
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Spirit Day: Disguise Day - January 29th
Friday January 29th is Disguise Day. Can you dress up to look like someone or something else and conceal your identity? Here are some examples:
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Mental Wellness and Your Child
During the pandemic, regular routines have changed for students and can be difficult for students to know when things are bothering them. We are constantly looking at ways to change our programming and online environment to adapt to student needs. Here are some tips and resources to help your child with remote learning. Feel free to watch some of the videos/audios with your child. It would be a great fun family activity.
Bell Let’s Talk Day is January 28 and Owen will be joining in to help create positive change for mental health. On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Bell will donate more towards mental health initiatives in Canada by contributing 5¢ for every applicable text, call, tweet or TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, social media video view and use of the Facebook frame or Snapchat filter.
The pandemic has affected every aspect of our lives, including mental health. When it comes to mental health, now more than ever, every action counts. There are many actions big and small that we can do to improve our own mental health and the lives of people living with mental health issues. Stay tuned to the announcements for a new action each day leading up to Bell Let’s Talk Day.
Together, the students at Owen can join in to help create positive change. Remember that our teachers, counsellors and principals are here to listen and provide you with support.
Try as many of the Self Care Activities as a family. It's fun to do and bring the family closer together!
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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.
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.
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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Family Tech Support for Online Learning
The TDSB is providing support for families who may be having difficulties with helping their child navigate through their online learning. By clicking the link below, you can gain access to support on using google classroom and Brightspace, logging into a student account, tdsb device support, and live web chats.
Community Living Ontario is partnering with PooranLaw to host a free webinar to showcase the updated Inspiring Possibilities: Estate Planning Guide 2020.
Brendon Pooran will be presenting and answering questions related to estate planning as part of a series of informative sessions geared to families. The guide covers all aspects of the tax, trust, and estate planning process for people who have an intellectual disability and their families.
Please click on the registration link below and join us on Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 7-8:30 pm.
If you have photos, student work or family activities you would like to share on the Owen Online for next week, please email them to jamie.parkes@tdsb.on.ca by Thursday of this week.
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Please click here for the latest updates and newsletters.
As we have recently heard, TDSB will be extending the remote learning experience for another few weeks. For now, we expect our return to be on Thursday February 11th, 2021.
In the meantime, we will continue on our schedule as we have. If you have any questions about your child's timetable, please contact your child's teacher.
Though we are following our regular timetable, students may need a short break. To help students handle remote learning:
have your child take a 10 min break
the student should let their teacher know, then turn off the screen and mic
during the break - have them stretch, go to the washroom, have a snack, to 10 jumping jacks or lie down for 10 mins
after 10 mins, have your child return to their class and be ready to participate
make sure the break is short and effective
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Spirit Day:
Monday is Hockey Day! Wear your hockey jersey/shirt or Owen shirt today to show your Owen Spirit!
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Attendance:
Attendance is taken during morning announcements and right after lunch. Once attendance is submitted, the automated system will call out as per our safe arrival process. If your child is
- late
- absent for the day or half a day
- leaving class early,
please email owenps@tdsb.on.ca or leave a message at school. Talia and Elizabeth will follow up with attendance and make changes to the system. Please keep in mind that you will receive a call if your child is late and attendance have already been submitted. Just access the call when you receive it.
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Contacting Staff:
Schools are closed to staff and students. Phone calls are not answered at school. Most staff are working remotely. Talia and Elizabeth will be retrieving phone messages. If you would like to contact staff, please email staff directly. Teachers are busy teaching all day and may not be able to retrieve their messages until after school.
Office/registration questions:
erzsebet.balint@tdsb.on.ca
talia.nathan@tdsb.on.ca
Tech questions/other:
caroline.rosenbloom@tdsb.on.ca
jamie.parkes@tdsb.on.ca
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Online Code of Conduct:
Please review the full Decision Guide in the COVID-19 Guidance link for a full explanation when students present symptoms. Please note that if students show symptoms at school, students will come to our wellness room for observations and parents/guardians will receive a phone call from the office.
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Sikh Heritage Month: Invitation to Participate in Planning Committee
This is a call-out for individuals to join the Sikh Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee to develop system-wide activities for students, staff and the TDSB community. The mandate of the volunteer planning committee is to provide learning opportunities for students, staff and the TDSB community, as well as to enrich the curriculum resources through a collaborative approach of TDSB staff, community members and Trustees.
Details of the first Sikh Heritage Month Planning Committee meeting is noted below. We hope you will be able to be part of our planning committee.
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.
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.
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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Art with Lupita
Our resident Artist and lunch room supervisor Lupita will be offering her learn to paint lessons online again. Have fun learning about famous artists and creating beautiful works of art using oil pastels and watercolour techniques.
If you are interested contact Lupita at lupita_romo@yahoo.com or by phone: 647 888-8239
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Student News!
If you have photos, student work or family activities you would like to share on the Owen Online for next week, please email them to jamie.parkes@tdsb.on.ca by Thursday of this week.
________________________________
Please click here for the latest updates and newsletters.
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