Parkway Public School 24 Duncan Bull Drive

Brampton, ON L6W 1H4

Phone: (905) 451-8440

FAX: (905) 451-4729

Principal, Acting Mr. T. Moscone Vice Principal

Ms. A. Carnegie Office Manager Mrs. H. Trivedi

Superintendent M. Stubbings

Phone: (905) 451-2862

Trustee Kathy McDonald 905-796-8163

Student Transportation

Phone: (905) 890-6000

Bus Companies:

Switzer Carty (905) 595-1261

First Student

(905) 857-4370

Our annual Spring Fair is coming up on Thursday June 6th from 4:30-8:00 pm. Buy your tickets in advance at School Cash online and save 20%. Advance ticket sales are available until May 31, 2019.

VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED to help run spring fair shifts are from 4:30-6:30 or 6:30-8:30. Each volunteer will be 5 free tickets as a thank you. See Flyer for details on who to email to sign up.

Bake sale items, sweets and cakes can be dropped off at Parkway during school hours on Wednesday June 5th and Thursday June 6th. We appreciate your donations to make the Bake and Sweets Sale, and cake walk a success.

Please see the flyer (insert following) for full details of spring fair including the FREE shuttle bus.

THANK YOU for your support of Parkways big-gest fundraiser of the year!

Volunteers School Council is seeking volunteers for our up-coming 2019-2020 school year. Volunteers are es-pecially needed to assist with Pizza days every other Thursdays in each month. Hours are from 9:30-1:00, as well as some lifting is required. Please go to parkwaycouncil@pdsb.com to get more infor-mation.

Asian Heritage Month Asian Heritage Month for 2019 was a huge success! The students participated in activities that brought culture from the continent of Asia, here at Parkway Public school. Students were able to buy samosas, and apply henna on their hands. Students partici-pated in the Bhangra activity, in which leaders were teaching students how to perform the specified Indian folk dance. In the mornings, we were able to commit to making Asian Heritage month announce-ments. We also had Asian music playing around the school, for students to feel the strong sense of this culture. In conclusion, Asian Heritage Month, turned out to be an amazing experience for the staff and students!

Staffing Updates There are a few staffing changes at Parkway. We would like to extend a warm welcome to Ms. Sidhu who is currently completing a Long Term Occa-sional (LTO) teacher position in Mrs. Dourmissis grade 3 class. Also to Ms. Ghuman who is currently working as an LTO and has taken over Ms. Zavarel-la music, drama and dance classes until the end of the school year. We are happy to have them join our Parkway family. Mrs. Cava who teaches Grade 1 will be on leave for the rest of the school year. Ms. Gravina will be working as the LTO in Ms. Cava’s absence. A big welcome back to Mrs. Pineda, our Head Custodian! Jessica is recovering quickly from her recent accident.

Good News & Farewell: Mr. David Abela has recently retired from the board effective June 30, 2019. The Parkway family would like to take the time to thank Mr. Abela for his years of service to public education and his contributions to working with students and families at Parkway. The board has confirmed Acting Principal Tony Moscone as the new Principal of Parkway effective August 31, 2019. Mr. Moscone is excited to join the Parkway family and he brings with him many years of expe-rience serving students and families in Peel. We would also like to say farewell to Ms. Carnegie who is leaving us at the end of June. Ms. Carnegie really enjoyed her time at Parkway getting to know and work with staff, students and families. We wish her well in her new school. Ms. Vida Gardener who is currently Vice-Principal of Sir John A. McDonald Public school will join us as the new 1.0 Vice-Principal of Parkway. Staff Changes 2019-2020 The following staff members will be leaving at the end of June 2019: Mr. John Kenny (0.5) BTA will be leaving at the end of June. Ms. P. Sekyi will join us as the 0.5 BTA in the new school year. Good bye and big thank you to Ms. Mishaiel (LTO) for her work in our grade one class this year. Also to Ms. Monteque, Teaching Assistant in our Kindergarten program. We also wish Mrs. Hickman and Mrs. Hibbard well during their leave of absence.

Retirements: Thank you to Ms. Imineo, Ms. Gahagan and Ms. Jeffery on their retirement and for their years of service working with students and families in the Peel Board. All the best as you begin a new chapter!!

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL NEWSLETTER

June 2019

Hiring Lunch Room Supervisors Parkway is seeking lunch room supervisors during the 2019-2020 school year. Please speak with the office staff for more information.

Upcoming Dates: Cross-Country Meet June 6 Report Card Writing Day / No school for students June 10

Grade 5s to Fletcher’s Creek June 12 Peel Village Track & Field June 18 Grade 5 Farewell June 24 Gr. 4 & 5 Belfountain Conservation Area June 25 Report Cards go home June 26 Last Day for Students June 27  

New Sept. 2019 We are excited to announce that the very popular Karate Kids program will be coming to Parkway P.S. this upcoming September! This 30-minute class will run during the morning nutrition break on Friday’s in the fall in the gymnasium. The program combines fun fitness activity, character education les-sons and non-contact basic martial arts movements. The class is designed to build self-confidence, self-discipline and fitness lev-els in a safe, non-competitive environment. Offered to grades 1 – 4 for the fall term, the 16 class program will run every Friday starting September 20th until January 31st. Enrolment forms will be handed out to the students in the second week of Septem-ber. This is a popular program that is currently running in over 85 schools across Ontario. You are invited to visit their website for more detailed information at www.karatekids.ca or call 416 482-8198.

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

Parkway Public School celebrates Na onal Indigenous History Month  In 2009, the House of Commons officially recognized June as Na onal Indigenous History Month following a unanimous mo on.   The flag of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Na on will be raised at all Peel schools throughout June to demonstrate that Peel schools are safe, inclusive and welcoming environments where students, staff and families who iden fy as Indigenous are accepted and supported.  Staff and parents from across Peel will par cipate in a number of ac vi es in June to recognize and celebrate the many con-tribu ons of First Na on, Inuit and Mé s communi es across Canada. 

Parkway Public School celebrates Pride Month  Pride Month takes place in June to celebrate and recognize the impact the 2SLGBTQ+ community has had on the world, as well as the struggles it has faced and con nues to face.   The Pride flag will be raised at all Peel schools throughout June to demonstrate that Peel schools are safe, inclusive and welcoming environments where students, staff and families who iden fy as 2SLGBTQ+ are accepted and supported.  Staff and parents from across Peel will par cipate in a number of ac vi es in June to recognize and celebrate the many contribu-ons of 2SLGBTQ+ Canadians. 

Peel board recognizes Crossing Guard Appreciation Day on June 11 The Peel board will recognize the contribu on of school crossing guards on Crossing Guard Apprecia on Day, June 11. The board encourages students, parents and staff to take a moment to thank the neighbourhood crossing guards who help to ensure a safe journey to and from school for thousands of students every day.  

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

Promo ng Wellbeing in Your Children This Summer: The Importance of Structure From the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team 

Summer vaca on  is almost here! Children can barely wait to put away their backpacks and spend their days free. Alt-hough this might be true for many, children and parents rely on structure to help guide the day, even  in the summer. Structure holds kids and allows them to feel safe, knowing what to expect throughout the day and the week. Although it is crucial for children to have unstructured, free  me each day, it is important for there to be some rou ne and struc-ture (however you define it) to help children manage their emo ons. Parents and children should sit down and discuss the summer plans, whether it is camp every day or mul ple weeks off in a row, kids need to know what to expect.  Things to consider: Know your child. Is your child someone who does be er with structure or unstructured  me? How do they respond 

during school year vaca ons and summers past? Think ahead about summer plans based on who they are.  Create structure somewhere and communicate  it. Children do be er when they know what to expect and under-

stand the overall plan.  Structure doesn’t have to mean commi ng to camps or organized ac vi es but it can include doing expectable ac-

vi es like reading in the a ernoon, a ending regular events (story hour at the library on Wednesdays), and having regular days to play with friends. 

Although not vital, many children do best when they par cipate in some organized ac vity.  Make sure your child is ge ng plenty of  me to eat, sleep, read, and play - with peers, with family, alone, and out-

side.       What to look out for: Loneliness. O en, when children  lose the structure of school, they can become socially  isolated and  lonely, which 

can  lead to poor mental health. Stay tuned  in to whether your child  is maintaining regular, healthy social contact with peers. 

Increased anxiety. Many people (especially children) experience  increased anxiety when structure  is  lost. Look for symptoms of irritability, excessive worry, preoccupa on, trouble sleeping, change in appe te (more or less), change in energy (more or less), trouble concentra ng, and physical symptoms (belly aches, headaches, etc.). 

Increased  screen  me. O en  children  turn  to  the  screen  (television,  computer, or video games)  to help manage boredom over the summer. Although this moderate screen  me is reasonable, excessive screen  me can create oth-er psychological and physical issues. 

 For  updates  and  to  follow  along with  the work  of  the  PDSB Mental  Health  Resource  Team,  find  them  on  Twi er @MHRTPeel. 

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes  Do you know an adult who is interested in improving their English language skills for work, study or daily life?    Through the Con nuing & Adult Educa on department, the Peel District School Board offers a wide variety of English language classes that help adult learners experience success in Canadian English in both listening/speaking and reading/wri ng. Courses are designed for a range of basic, intermediate and advanced English (Levels 1 to 8) as well as the more experienced learner needing to prepare for an IELTS exam.    

Classes are ongoing ‐ Register any me.  All learners who complete a session will earn a cer ficate of learning from the Peel District School Board. Cer ficates of comple on at Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 and greater can be submi ed as proof of language proficiency for Canadian Ci zenship applica ons.    Classes operate from six loca ons in Brampton and Mississauga with three specially designed adult centres at: 

Bramalea ‐ Adult Educa on Centre – Bramalea Secondary School, 510 Balmoral Dr, Brampton, Door #33

Brampton ‐ Adult Educa on Centre - #300 - 7700 Hurontario Street, Brampton

Mississauga ‐ Adult Educa on Centre - 100 Elm Drive West, Mississauga, Room 117   

To learn more or to register, call 905‐270‐6000, then press 2  Also visit www.peelschools.org/adulteduca on or follow us on Twi er: @PDSBLearnESL 

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

Summer ac vi es that boost learning

Kindergarten to grade 4 Sor ng and stacking – Teach classifica on skills with dinnerware. Ask your child to match and stack dishes of similar sizes and shapes. Also have your child sort flatware – forks with forks, spoons with spoons. This is like recognizing the shapes of le ers and numbers.  Comic strip wri ng – Use comic strips to help with wri ng. Cut the segments of a comic strip apart and ask your child to arrange them in order. Then ask your child to fill in the words of the characters (orally or in wri ng).  Float and sink – Encourage hypothesizing (guessing). Use several objects – soap, a dry sock, a bo le of shampoo, a wet sponge, an empty bo le. Ask your child which objects will float when dropped into water in a sink or bathtub. Then drop the objects in the wa-ter, one by one, to see what happens.  

Grades 5 to 8 Follow the news – As a family, choose an important news event to follow for a day or two. Ask each person to find as much infor-ma on on the topic as possible – read newspapers, look at online news webpages, listen to the radio and watch TV news. Then talk about what everyone learned.  Pro and con: what do you think? – Make a family game of discussing a special issue. For example, "Teenagers should be allowed to vote," or "There should never be any homework." Ask your children to think of all the reasons they can to support their views. Then ask them to think of reasons opposing their views. Which views are most convincing? For variety, assign family members to teams and have them prepare their arguments pro and con.  Stretch, run, walk – Ask your child to do at least one kind of exercise every day. For example, run or walk briskly for 10 minutes. Walk, when possible, instead of driving, for any distance less than a mile. Have your child make a week-long exercise plan. Try to think of a modest reward for s cking to the plan and exercise with your child.   Let your voice be heard – Promote good ci zenship. Help your child write a le er to the editor of the local newspaper about an is-sue affec ng children – for example, suggest that a bike path be built near the school or that a city event be planned for youngsters. Children are ci zens, and their ideas are worth hearing.   

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

Summer Well‐being

Summer break is around the corner! The psychological and physiological benefits of summer are hard to beat. However, while sum-

mer allows for a break from the rou ne and structure of the school year, for some children and youth, it can be stressful to be away 

from school. So, while the stressors change when the last school bell signals summer, they don't disappear.  

Here at a few ps for summer well‐being to keep everyone safe and having fun in the sun!

Get outside. With longer and warmer days, try to spend more  me outdoors which increases our vitamin D intake and allows 

us more  me to exercise and connect with nature. A minimum of 60 minutes of daily physical ac vity is recommended for all 

children and youth. Healthy body = healthy mind.

Always stay hydrated. Replace sugary sports drinks & sodas with water; add slices of fresh fruit like strawberries, lemons, limes or watermelons to your water for a delicious flavor. Staying hydrated prevents heat related illness: symptoms are head-ache, cold sweats, exhaus on, nausea and/or vomi ng, and diarrhea. 

Get plenty of rest. During the hot summer heat, making sure you get plenty of rest is important to prevent heat exhaus on. While playing outside, take frequent shaded breaks and use sunscreen. Ge ng 8-10 hours of sleep every night is important for recupera on and growth. 

Wear safety gear. Whether you are riding your bike or swimming in a pool always wear the recommended safety gear. Being safe reduces stress for everyone! A good rule is that if you are not doing an ac vity safely; you will not be allowed to do it. 

Be safe on‐line.  Some students will stay in-touch over the summer primarily on-line. Remember that some people will use 

electronic media to embarrass, harass, or threaten their peers. When there is cyberbullying occurring remember to save it, re-

port it, and block it. If the incident is criminal call Peel Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477). 

Constant communica on for the win! Using open ended ques ons with children and youth can help iden fy fears, anxie es 

and concerns. Ask ques ons like, “How are you feeling about going to summer camp?” In addi on, communica ng expecta ons 

about what is going to occur during the summer will help to ease transi ons. Saying, “I am invi ng rela ves to stay with us in 

July” or saying, “You will need to be in bed by 9 pm on weekdays this summer” allows children and youth  me to adjust to what 

will occur. 

 Over summer break remember that HELP is always available: 

Peel Children’s Centre maintains a Crisis Response Service (24/7/365) if your child is experiencing a serious mental health prob-lem at 416-410-8615  Kids Help Phone is Canada's only na onal 24-hour, bilingual and anonymous phone counselling, web counselling and referral service for children and youth. 1-800-668-6868. 

 

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

  

We Welcome the World Centres The Peel District School Board’s We Welcome the World Centres located in Brampton, Malton and Mississauga, are the first point of contact for all newcomer families to become familiar with the educa onal system in Peel. The centres are open all year—including the summer months— from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.   In addi on to providing literacy and numeracy assessments, the We Welcome the World Centres provide newcomers with a host of services including: recep on, orienta on, interpreta on and referrals.  

At each centre, parents/guardians and students will discover: se lement service informa on age and grade appropriate educa onal and related program resources informa on about various community supports  transla on of materials to support the recep on and assessment process computer portals— providing informa on on Peel resources 

 For more informa on about the We Welcome the World Centre and the services they provide, call 905-366-8791.   

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

Preparing for the summer sun

Excessive exposure to the sun can lead to health concerns such as sunburn and skin cancer. As summer ap-proaches and the weather gets warmer, it is necessary to apply sunscreen to protect ourselves from too much sun damage and burns.   In summer, we are exposed to higher levels of ultraviolet (UV) rays. This exposure is a risk factor for develop-ing skin cancer and cataracts later in life. The UV index is the measure commonly used in Canada to assess the strength of the sun’s UV rays risk on a given day.  What is the UV Index? The index scale ranges from 0 to 10. The higher the value, the more intense ultraviolet rays.   The UV index is calculated daily by Environment Canada using ozone and weather informa on. It can vary from day to day with changes in the ozone layer – the thinner the ozone layer, the higher the index reading.   How to protect your family from the sun?

Wear a hat (preferably with a broad brim), sunglasses and protec ve clothing on sunny days. 

Use sunscreen with a SPF of 15 or greater whenever you're outdoors. 

Encourage your children to play in shady areas if they are outside for a long period of  me. Remember that sunburn can occur even on a cloudy day, as up to 80 per cent of UV rays can penetrate light clouds, and 40 per cent of UV rays can bounce back from sand, water or concrete.   

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

On the road again—how to keep your cyclist safe Here are some  ps you can review with your child to ensure bike season gets off to a great start:  The right fit

children should be able to straddle the bike with both feet on the ground a bike that is too big or too small can be a safety hazard the helmet should fit—if it's too loose, it could fall off, if it's too  ght, it's uncomfortable Get no ced

a young child's bike should be equipped with a bell and reflector older riders should have a light and/or reflectors Follow the rules

no riding on busy streets no riding at night stop for all STOP signs Ac ons that cause injuries

driveway ride out—not stopping and looking both ways before entering the street running the stop sign turning without warning cycling in the dark following the leader—one child goes through a stop sign or misses a parked car but the second cyclist doesn't   

PARKWAY PUBLIC SCHOOL

PARKWAY SPRING FAIR THURSDAY, JUNE 6TH, 2019

4:30 PM – 8:00 PM

Talent Show – 5:30 PM

Activities Include:

Bouncy Castles & Inflatable Boot Camps, Air Brush Tattoos,

Carnival Games, CandyCorner, Cake Walk, Fire Truck,

Cookie decorating, Market Place, Wheel Chair Sports

BBQ, Samosas and Bake Sale

New this year Silent Auction!!!

Everyone is welcome! See you at the Fair!

Presale tickets on SchoolCash Online until May 31, 2019

Save on Tickets by purchasing in advance

Sweets and Bake Sale - Donations of sweets, cakes and baked

goods can be dropped off at the school on Wednesday June

5th or Thursday June 6th during Parkway School Hours.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED - We Need YOU!

Parkway Spring Fair CANNOT RUN without the support of parent volunteers. Shifts run from 4:30-6:30 or 6:30-8:30pm Older siblings welcome to volunteers as well (community service hours!) Tasks include ticket collecting for Inflatables, Carnival Games, Assisting with Wheel Chair Sports, Cookie Decorating or Cake Walk games.

Volunteer for a shift at Spring Fair and get 5 FREE Tickets as a thank you Please email Council at parkwayps.council@peelsb.com or message on Facebook or return this form

□ YES I would like 5 free tickets and to volunteer at Spring Fair Name(s): ________________________ Email address: ______________________ Shift: □ 4:30-6:30 or □ 6:30-8:30 THANK YOU for your support

June 2019 Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

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2 3

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6

Sub Day

7 8

9 10

No School

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13 Pizza Day

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Sub Day

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24 25 26 27 Pizza Day

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LAST DAY

SUMMER BREAK

Begins

Celebrating Faith and Culture June 2019

DATE

CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

June Strawberry Moon Indigenous Worldview (First Nations)

June National Indigenous History Month Indigenous Worldview (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit)

June 4 ● Eid ul-Fitr Islam June 5 to 23 the month of Núr Bahá'í

Sunset of June 8 ○ to June 10 ●

Shavuot Judaism

June 9 or 16 (J) Pentecost Christianity June 16 Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev Sikhism June 17 Poson/Asalha Puja Day Buddhism June 21 ● National Indigenous Peoples Day Indigenous Worldview (First Nations,

Métis, and Inuit) June 21 ● Litha/Summer Solstice Wicca

June 23 (J) All Saints Day Christianity June 24 to July 12 the month of Rahmat Bahá'í

June 24 St. Jean Baptiste Day Christianity and Canada June 27 Multiculturalism Day Canada June 29 to July 3 Ghambar Maidyoshem Zoroastrianism

Celebrating Faith and Culture Backgrounder June 2019 The Peel District School Board is a mosaic of many cultures and faiths from all over the world.

To commemorate this diversity, the board recognizes the special faith and culture days of our communities. June 2019 has several holy days and holidays to celebrate and remember.

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June - Strawberry Moon in Indigenous Worldview (First Nations) The sixth moon of Creation is called Strawberry Moon by the Anishinaabe people. In order to

honour reconciliation medicine associated with the strawberry, the Indigenous communities hold feasts during this period.

June – National Indigenous History Month in Indigenous Worldview (First Nations, Métis, and Inuit)

In 2009, June was declared National Indigenous History Month, following the passing of a

unanimous motion in the House of Commons. The rich heritage and contributions, both historical and current, that Indigenous communities have made and continue to make to Canada are recognized, celebrated and observed through a variety of events and activities during the course of the month.

June 4 - Eid ul-Fitr in Islam

Eid ul-Fitr is the first day of the 10th month (Shawwal) in the Islamic calendar and follows

Ramadan, the month of fasting. It is a time of rejoicing. Eid is a day of peace, forgiveness and thanksgiving when Muslims assemble to celebrate and to offer their gratitude to Allah. June 5 to 23 - the month of Núr in Bahá'í In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attribute of God. June 5 is the beginning of Núr, the fifth month of the Bahá'í calendar, signifying "light".

The Bahá'í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day.

Sunset of June 8 to June 10 - Shavuot in Judaism

Shavuot, also known as Pentecost, marks the conclusion of the period of seven weeks that

follows Pesach (Passover). Shavuot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The observance of Shavuot begins at sunset on June 8 and is celebrated for one or two days based

on the adherents' beliefs. Specific scriptures are read in the synagogue to commemorate Shavuot.

June 9 or 16(J) - Pentecost in Christianity In western Christian churches, Pentecost commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus' disciples following his ascension. It is often referred to as “The Birthday of the Church.” As the name suggests, it falls on the 50th day after Easter. It is a traditional day for baptism and confirmation of new Christians.

June 16 - Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev in Sikhism Arjan Dev was the fifth Sikh Guru (1563-1606) and the religion's first martyr. He laid the foundation of the Harmandir (temple), in which Sikhs could meet for worship, in the town of Amritsar, India. The temple was constructed with entrances in all four directions to emphasize that the Sikh way is open to all, regardless of caste, creed or race. This temple is also known as the Golden Temple. Sikhs remember Arjan Dev for contributing to and compiling the Sikh

Scriptures Adi Granth, also known as Guru Granth Sahib.

June 17 – Poson/Asalha Puja Day in Buddhism

The Poson festival commemorates the anniversary of the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka

by Buddha's disciple Mahinda (son of Emperor Ashoka) in 3rd century B.C. The festival is celebrated annually on the full moon day in June.

June 21 - National Indigenous Peoples Day in Indigenous Worldview (First Nations, Métis, and

Inuit)

June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First

Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. The Canadian Constitution recognizes these three groups as Aboriginal peoples, also known as Indigenous peoples.

Although these groups share many similarities, they each have their own distinct heritage,

language, cultural practices and spiritual beliefs.

In cooperation with Indigenous organizations, the Government of Canada chose June 21, the

summer solstice, for National Aboriginal Day, now known as National Indigenous Peoples Day. For generations, many Indigenous peoples and communities have celebrated their culture and

heritage on or near this day due to the significance of the summer solstice as the longest day of the year.

June 21 – Litha/Summer Solstice in Wicca

Litha (also called Midsummer's Eve) sabbat takes place on the summer solstice, when the sun is at the height of its power, creating the longest day of the year. Feasts may include berries, veal,

new vegetables and honey wine. Sunflowers are used to decorate the home during this festival. June 23 - All Saints Day in Christianity (J)

All Saints' Day began as the Feast of All Martyrs on May 13, 609 A.D. All Saints' Day is a feast that honours and remembers all Christian saints known and unknown. What Eastern churches do on the Feast of All Saints differs widely.

June 24 to July 12 - the month of Rahmat in Bahá'í In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attribute of God. June 24 is the beginning of Rahmat, the sixth month of the Bahá'í calendar, signifying "mercy." The Bahá'í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day.

June 24 - St. Jean Baptiste Day in Christianity and Canada

St Jean Baptiste Day celebrates the birth of John the Baptist for French speaking cultures in Canada. King Clovis of France made it a religious celebration. St. Jean Baptiste is considered a

patron saint by French Canadians. The celebration is now known as the Fête Nationale in Quebec.

June 27 - Multiculturalism Day in Canada

Canada celebrates Multiculturalism Day on June 27. The day recognizes the contributions that

diverse communities have made in building Canada as they settled and continue in the present to enrich Canadian society socially, economically, politically and spiritually. The day also

celebrates our country's unity, cultural richness and diversity.

June 29 to July 3 - Ghambar Maidyoshem in Zoroastrianism

Ghambar Maidyoshem, also known as the mid-summer feast, celebrates the creation of water,

the sowing of the summer crop and the harvesting of grain.

Ideas for celebrating special faith and cultural days in your school If you have a colleague who celebrates one of these days, don't forget to offer them best wishes! If you have students in your school who are followers of any of the listed religions: - Make sure the dates are included on your school calendar - Have your principal announce the day over the PA system - Hold an assembly to talk with students about the importance of these days - Include a mention of these days in your school newsletter - Include information on your school website

- Display student artwork announcing these days or depicting their ideas about these days - Invite a member of a local faith group to come in and discuss the significance of this day with students - Have class discussions about these days - Ask some of your students who celebrate certain holidays to write a short essay on how they celebrate this day at home. Have them read it to the class to share this celebration with the other students. - Have parents offer a cultural session

Questions? If you would like additional information on how to celebrate these days, please call Ashley Bigda, Community Relations Office at 905 890 010 (or 1 800 668 1146) ext. 2573 or e-

mail her at Ashley.Bigda@peelsb.com mailto:varsha.naik@peelsb.com