Some families have asked questions about how our schools and our region are dealing with the reports of the coronavirus. Please note that our school board has a close working relationship with York Region Community Health Services and takes advice regarding public health matters from them. Community and Health Services have established a website where you can find the attached and updated information as it becomes available: York.ca/coronavirus. Please be assured student and staff safety is our priority and we will continue to provide you with information as requested by Community and Health Services. At this time, there is no cause for concern or need to take additional measures, however, we appreciate your support in reinforcing the importance of regular hand washing and staying home if feeling unwell.

Happy Lunar New Year!  We wish all staff, students and community celebrating Lunar New Year a happy and joyful celebration in the company of family and friends.

January 31^st will be a Board Professional Development day.  There will be no school for students on this day.

Term 1 Report Cards:  We know that teacher assessment and evaluation of student learning and achievement are important components of the teaching and learning process. As part of its work-to-rule job sanctions, the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has directed teachers not to create comments for report cards and not to complete the electronic entry of grades. Teacher’s electronic submission of grades and the verification of those grades and comments are required to complete the report card process. As such, at this time, we will be unable to provide students and families with Term One report cards.

Tamil Parents Network Free Yoga and Parenting workshops- In partnership with Family Services for York Region Indigenous and International Languages Program Inclusive School and Community Services When: Every Thursday, January to May, 2020 Time: 5:45 pm — 8:00 pm Where: Cedarwood Public School 399 Elson Street, Markham  Contacts: Initha Subramaniam,York Region District School Board initha.subramaniam@yrdsb.ca,905 884 2046 ext 228

January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This year, the international community commemorate the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. This date was designated by resolution of the United Nations General Assembly in November 2005. The day is an international memorial day for the victims of the Nazi holocaust, which saw the murder of 6 million Jews, 2 million Roma people, and 15,000 people who were LGBTQ. January 27 was selected because it is the date when the Nazi concentration and extermination camp of Auschwitz-Birkenau was liberated by Soviet troops in 1945.  Please visit yrdsb.ca for more information regarding resources for students and parents.

The Difference Makers will continue to collect new hats, mittens and scarves for children in need. Please donate new items in the front foyer. There will be a bin labelled Warm In Winter. We will be collecting new hats, mittens and scarves from January 7th- 31^st, 2020. Thank you for helping make our world a better place!

Reminder, all extra-curricular activities and field trips are cancelled.  As you know from previous communications, changes to work-to-rule strike sanctions by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) were announced. These sanctions are a result of the bargaining process at the provincial level, and Board employees are required to follow the direction of their provincial federations.  Although at this time these sanctions are not affecting classroom instruction, they are affecting our ability to support and accommodate extra-curricular activities, field trips and some events.

SAFETY REMINDERS In order to ensure student safety, we are reminding parents / guardians that students cannot be dropped off to school earlier than 8:15am, as there is NO supervision before 8:15am. Students are also reminded that they must go home right at dismissal time. Parents / guardians must inform the office & classroom teacher, if there are any changes in dismissal routines. Please do not park in the staff parking lot, particularly during entry and dismissal times. Please drive slowly in the pick up /drop off loop. This will help support student safety.

Please remember to send your child to school every day with appropriate winter clothing for outdoor play. Students spend approximately 60 minutes a day outside. Please label all items with your child’s name on it. Thank you for your ongoing support and cooperation! For students to stay warm, they can wear a: Winter jacket / hat / mitts / boots; Neck warmer or scarf; Snow pants.