Administration Team:

Principal Vice-Principal Vice-Principal Vice-Principal A. Daniel A. Gheewala D. Heron S. Maharaj

October 25, 2019

To the parents/guardians of «First_Name» «Last_Name»,

Diwali, or Deepavali, is the Hindu festival of lights, which is celebrated every autumn in the northern hemisphere. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil and knowledge over ignorance." During the celebration, temples, homes, shops and office buildings are brightly illuminated. The preparations and rituals for the festival typically last five days, with the climax occurring on the third day coinciding with the darkest night of the month Kartika of the Hindu calendar.

In the lead up to Diwali, celebrants will prepare by cleaning, renovating and decorating their homes and offices. During the climax, Hindus adorn themselves in their finest clothes, illuminate the interior and exterior of their homes with diyas (lamps and candles), offer puja (prayers) to Lakshmi – the goddess of prosperity and wealth, light fireworks and partake in family feasts, where mithai (sweets) and gifts are shared. Diwali is a major cultural event for all members of Hindu and Jain faiths.

Sincerely,

A. Daniel, A. Gheewala, D. Heron, S. Maharaj

Middlefield C.I.

*Please note: Our next School Council Meeting will take place on Monday, November 4th, 2019*

Our meeting will take place in the MCI School Library, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and guardians to learn about the college and university application process with special guest Paul Stephenson, Head of the Guidance and Career Studies Department. We hope that you will be able to join us on November 4th. Stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks! Character Matters Trait of the Month: Responsibility

“In dreams begin responsibility.” – WB Yeats Next week @ MCI…

October 27 Diwali

October 29 Awards Breakfast

October 31 Halloween

Looking Ahead:

November 4 School Council Meeting

November 6 Take Our Kids to Work Day/Bring our Grade 8’s to MCI Day

November 7 Student Progress Interview Night/MCI Post Secondary Fair, Canadian Open Math Challenge

MCI HIGHLIGHTS

Non-Sanctioned Events

Dear MCI Parents/Guardians, It has come to our attention that there are semi-formal dances being organized in the community, which are not an MCI events. Examples include Soca on Lock Down in October and Venaam Machan Venam in November The administration and staff of Middlefield CI have not organized a semi-formal event this school year. If we do organize a dance, information will be communicated in our weekly e-bulletin. For events organized in the community, school staff have not been involved in the planning and will not be supervising or participating. Staff supervision will not take place at these events. It is strongly recommended by the school and Board that parents and guardians review with their child all aspects of these events when making a determination on attendance. This review should include pre- and post-activities, possession or use of alcohol and or illegal drugs, transportation to and from the event and appropriate behavior. Thank you, MCI Administration Team

Interim Reports & Student Progress Interview Night

Just a reminder that Interim Reports were handed out to students during homeroom on Wednesday, October 18th. Student Progress Interview Night (SPIN) will take place Thursday, November 7th, 2019 from 6:30pm – 8:30pm. This is an excellent opportunity to meet with your child’s Semester 1 teachers. We will also be having our Post-Secondary Fair taking place in the Rotunda and Cafeteria. This is a fantastic opportunity to have a look at some Post-Secondary options as well as to have your questions answered by representatives from a number of Universities and Colleges. Do not miss out on this incredible event! Your child will bring home an Interview Request Form very soon – on Tuesday, October 29th. Please ask your child to schedule interview times with their teachers. We look forward to seeing you Thursday, November 7th, 2019!

** Parent refers to parents/guardians/caregivers. If you are unable to make it on Thursday, November 7th, please contact your child’s teacher by email or by phone in order to arrange an alternate time to discuss your child’s progress.

MCI’s Thankfulness Tree

As Thanksgiving was approaching, Middlefield Christian Fellowship decided to create a Thankfulness Tree which involved everyone contributing ways in which we felt blessings in our lives. We found it to be such a positive activity, we wanted to share it with the rest of the school. With that in mind, on the Friday before the Thanksgiving long weekend, we created 2 more trees with our Middlefield Family during lunch so that everyone would have an opportunity to share what they were thankful for. They are now posted by the parking lot doors so we can collectively be reminded of our many blessings, both big and small. Research coming out of UCLA’s Mindfulness Awareness Research Centre finds that having an attitude of gratitude makes us healthier and happier, less reactive and resistant, hence, more at peace. So counting our blessings, makes us more healthy and well-adjusted individuals.

Way to go MCI Business!

On Saturday, September 28, Grade 10 student Irtiza Ahmed was recognized for his achievement at the Ontario Business Educators Association Luncheon. Irtiza won first place in the Desktop Publisher Junior Division for his creative and innovative Microsoft Publisher skills and design last June. Well done, Irtiza!!

ELL Guardians Tea

On Thursday, October 17th, 2019, the ESL

Department held their Annual ELL Parent/Guardian Tea. Ms. Chan's EPS3OL presented information about ESL courses, credit requirements, graduation requirements, volunteering, and additional information for students to be successful at MCI. In addition, youth settlement workers and youth mentor program members presented their programs to the parent/guardians, further showcasing support available to ELL students.

Parenting, Media, and Everything in Between!

OYAP Open House Information

Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (Accelerated OYAP) Information Session Hello parents/guardians and students, We invite you to the Accelerated OYAP information sessions outlined below to find out more information about the exciting apprenticeship opportunities available through YRDSB our college and training center partners. The skilled trades offer excellent employment opportunities, training in state of the art facilities and higher than average career satisfaction. We hope to see you there.

SHSM Cyber Security Certification

SHSM Business and ICT students participated in the Toronto Police Services Cyber Security Certification on October 22nd at George Brown College. Students heard from speakers from Toronto Police Services about the importance of internet safety. Students were led through an activity to identify fake emails and how to detect phishing scams. Students also went to work in the computer lab to solve real cyber security issues.

2019-2020 School Year Math Contest Dates

We are the Champions!

The Raptors rung in the new season in style, this past Tuesday night as they celebrated their championship season with the unveiling of their banner and spectacular rings. As part of the festivities, all fans who attended the season opener received a replica championship ring. Here is our very own Abilaash Balathasan showing off his bling…go Raps go!

More Math!

Beyond Islamic Heritage Month!

RCT is Back!

Attention Parents!

INFORMATION ITEMS – MODERNS DEPARTMENT

On Wednesday November 13th, the grade 10 French classes will be heading to the Toronto International Film Festival to watch an authentic French film. The students will have an opportunity to practice their listening skills while viewing “Intouchables” in a private screening. We will then discuss the film in class the following day, focusing on plot and character development as well as the major themes depicted throughout. The students will have the chance to talk about their favourite part of the movie, the character they related to the most, and why, as well give their personal opinion on the film as a whole. This allows them to equally practice their oral communications skills in class, with their peers. This is a culturally enriching learning opportunity that our French language students (and teachers!) enjoy immensely.

UPDATES FROM THE GUIDANCE DEPARTMENT

There is a positive relationship between regular attendance and success in school. Students at MCI are required to attend regularly, to be punctual, and to participate in all scheduled classes.

VALID ABSENCES include illness, bereavement or family emergency.

AUTHORIZED ABSENCES include dentist/doctor appointments, driver’s test, and court appearances.

EXCUSED ABSENCES refer to field trips and school sanctioned events. Students are still considered to be at school.

EXTENDED ABSENCES of four days or more require the completion of a “Special Leave” form at least one week in advance of the leave. This form may be obtained from the Main Office. A parent/guardian signature is required. It is the student’s responsibility to catch up on all work missed.

DO NOT plan absences or family vacations during culminating and exam periods as the evaluations CANNOT be rescheduled.

Type of Absence Parent/Guardian Responsibility Absent for a Full Day Phone the school with a valid reason the same day or send a note

upon return

Absent for One or More Classes Phone with valid reason indicating the time of absence or send a note with the student

Leaving Before the End of the Day Student signs out in attendance office with a note from the parent/guardian

In the Event of an Emergency Contact the office as soon as possible.

For safety reasons, students who have signed out must leave the building as they will not be directly supervised.

Dear parent/Guardian of «First_Name» «Last_Name»,

Please review the following attendance report. The report includes semester lates and absences from September 3rd, 2019 – October 24th, 2019, as well as Community Service Hours submitted to date.

Course Period Teacher Total Absences

Semester 1 Total Lates Semester 1

«Course_A» «Period_A» «Teacher_Last_A» «Absence_A» «Lates_A»

«Course_B» «Period_B» «Teacher_Last_B» «Absence_B» «Lates_B»

«Course_C» «Period_C» «Teacher_Last_C» «Absence_C» «Lates_C»

«Course_D» «Period_D» «Teacher_Last_D» «Absence_D» «Lates_D»

«Course_E» «Period_E» «Teacher_Last_E» «Absence_E» «Lates_E»

«Course_F» «Period_F» «Teacher_Last_F» «Absence_F» «Lates_F»

«Course_G» «Period_G» «Teacher_Last_G» «Absence_G» «Lates_G»

Totals «Total_Abs» «Total_Lates»

Community Service Hours Submitted to date for «First_Name» «Last_Name» «Community_Servi» This report lists the dates of each absence and the coding (ill, medical, truant).

Want more information about student attendance? Students under 18 and/or their parents can pick up a detailed attendance report from the main office.

ATTENDANCE REPORT

MIDDLEFIELD C.I. PHONE EXTENSION LIST

MIDDLEFIELD C.I. SCHOOL LINKS

Middlefield C.I. Webpage: http://www.yrdsb.ca/schools/middlefield.ci

York Region District School Board: http://www.yrdsb.ca/

Y.R.D.S.B. Guide to the 2019-2020 School Year: Guide to the School Year

SHSM: http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/morestudentsuccess/SHSM.html

Teacher's Name (Last Name, First Name)

VM # Teacher's Name (Last Name, First Name)

VM # Teacher's Name (Last Name, First Name)

VM #

Afsharnejad, Fatemah 4600 Harvey, Walter 4683 Murray, Stephen 4657

Arsenault, Michelle 4613 Heron, Deanna 159 Nasreen, Tahira 4666

Atcha, Saeed 4654 Ho, Sonia 4624 Ng'Ong'Ola, Neps 4667

Bakshi, Shirleen 4605 Hobbs, Andrew 4627 Nguyen, Vincent 4641

Balakumar, Vithyani 4607 Hoult, Sarah 4675 Okongwu, Ngozi 4669

Baldassini, Susanna 360 Hunte, Camille 4611 O'Neill, Jeremy 4703

Bell, Catherine 4656 Huryn, Karolina 4629 Patras, Sofia 4302

Blanchard, Dan 4608 Hytman, Barry 4640 Pawlicki, Barb 4628

Boy, Martina 4609 Istanbul, Martha 4631 Pownall, Alyson 4625

Boyd, Morgan 4653 Kapustina, Elena 4622 Prinsloo, Heather 4658

Brijmongal, Ganesh 4610 Khandaker, Shopan 4661 Puri, Tanu 4697

Brown, Tonya 4606 King-Sewell, Rockell 4701 Reid, Rebecca 4676

Chan, Laura 4614 Korres, Vasiliki 4612 Rosenberg, Eric 4634

Chang, Mary 4649 Kumar, Rita 4615 Rueckert, Jennifer 4645

Chiejina, Pat 4619 Ladas, Niki 4665 Rutherford, Claudette 4673

Dabas, Jogender 4616 Lane, Janine 4699 Sadacharan, Skanda 4677

Dadar, Mehdi 4693 Lawrence, Grace 4700 Sanchez, Rodolfo 4621

Daniel, Aline 158 Li Kam Cheung, Priscilla 4651 Stephenson, Paul 161

Del Rosario, Melissa 4648 Liau, Sandra 4662 Suganthan, Piraveena 4636

Derry, Joyce 4637 Lloyd, Jonathan 4650 Sukhera, Sabrina 4682

Dornai, Angie 4678 MacPherson, Alison 4685 Tamber, Kamal 4617

Duffy, Michael 4601 Maharaj, Susan 157 Tang, Iris 4626

Escoffery, Nigel 4624 Markandaier, Shiva 4644 Thakrar, Sandeep 4688

Falzarano, Janet 4633 Mavridis, Peter 4659 Thompson, Reginald 4689

Ferguson, Alexandra 4679 McLoughlin, Dawn 4639 Tsui, Ada 4643

Firsat, Heera 4680 McMullen, Dan 4642 Tyler, Pamela 4668

Gauthier, Melanie 4663 Mein, Andrew 4660 Van Den Kroonenberg, Anna 217

Geronikolos, Lazaros 4603 Mobilos, Cathy 4630 Wong, Jack 4694

Gheewala, Amol 156 Mogilevskaya, Vera 4638 Woo, Rajvinder 4684

Glass, Jamie 4632 Moore, Lara 4620 Zissopoulos, Dimitra 4686

Gordon, Jacqueline 4695 Morin, Mike 4664