January 31- February 4

On By Parkview PS

** Reminder** – February 4 is a PA Day.  – No School

Lunar New Year – February 1, 2022

Lunar New Year is a cultural and religious celebration for many Chinese, Korean and Vietnamese communities.

Many rituals are associated with this festive occasion. They include cleaning houses, paying off debts, settling old arguments, and other means of making a “fresh start.” To celebrate, people may light firecrackers, hang poetry, enjoy a family feast (oranges and apples are considered lucky fruits), exchange gifts (adults may give children lai see, red envelopes filled with money), and buy new clothes or new shoes.

Schools will acknowledge this occasion through various activities that promote sharing and understanding.

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

Black History Month – Celebrating Black Excellence

The Celebration of Black History Month has been a part of Canadian society since the 1950s. Lieutenant Governor Hal Jackman declared February as Black History Month in Ontario in 1993, and in 1995, the Honourable Jean Augustine made the same declaration in the House of Parliament in Ottawa. 

These declarations set the stage for acknowledging the contributions of Black people of African Heritage to the cultural, economic, political and social fabric of Canada dating back to the early 1600s. They have also increased our awareness that people of African and Caribbean Heritage are an integral part of Canadian history. During the month of February, we deliberately reflect upon the legacy of African history in all its diversity, and we join all Canadians in celebrating Black History Month. 

During this month we are able to appreciate the significance of African people in world history by centering people of African, Caribbean, and Canadian heritage, famous and not so famous, who have influenced the nation and the world through their ideas, words and actions.

Please see the Community News, Events and Supports section below for upcoming Black History Month events and activities. 

School Photos

School Photo packages have arrived and were sent home with face to face students.  Remote families will receive an email about booking a time to come to the school to pick up their photo packages on Friday, February 4, 2022.  If you are ordering school photos, the order deadline is  February 14.  Orders can be placed online following the directions provided by lifetouch photography in your student package.

Daily Screening Reminder

Thank you for your ongoing support. Keeping Parkview safe is a shared responsibility. It is important that each morning, families:

  1. Screen your child prior to sending them to school using the Covid School & Childcare Screening Tool.
  2. Once this is done please complete the daily screening confirmation.
  3. If your child is at home due to illness, please ensure that you follow the isolation guidelines outlined by Public Health before sending them back to the school. Please inform the school if your child is displaying Covid Symptoms. Students will be permitted to return once isolation has been completed along with a School Attestation Form.
  4. PLEASE DO NOT SEND YOUR CHILD TO SCHOOL IF THEY ARE SICK.

We have created QR codes for both websites for ease of access.

Symptomatic Individuals

Anyone who is sick or has any symptoms of illness, including those not listed on the chart below, should stay home and seek assessment from their health care provider if needed.

If an individual is symptomatic with one or more major symptoms, or two or more other symptoms in the  Table, are presumed to have Covid 19 and must isolate regardless of vaccination status. Household members must isolate as well.

Self-Isolation Requirements if Symptomatic or Confirmed Case

Possibility of Pivoting to virtual Learning

As staff members are required to isolate with increased cases of COVID-19, schools may encounter challenges obtaining replacement coverage. Please be aware that there may be occasions when classrooms or schools are required to close to in-person learning and move to virtual learning for a period of time.  Families will be notified the day before through email and again in the morning, if a school or classroom closure needs to occur.  Families are asked to develop a routine of checking email regularly at the start and end of every day for important communication from the school and Board given our circumstances.

Inclement Weather

When an inclement weather day is declared, all elementary and secondary schools will be closed to students.  Please have alternate childcare arrangements planned for inclement weather days. All student learning will be remote and asynchronous. School closures will be announced by 6:00 a.m. and information will be communicated through:

Winter Clothing

Please ensure that your child/children are coming to school dressed appropriately for the weather (hats, mitts/gloves, boots, winter coats, snow pants, etc.,).  They should also have a pair of indoor shoes and a change of clothes, including extra socks. Please remember to label all items. Windows will also remain OPEN at Parkview, therefore it is important that your child dresses in layers. 

Message from Our Trustee

Dear families, 

Thank you for your patience and support as schools closed to students and we moved to remote learning in January for two weeks after the winter break, following direction from the Government of Ontario. 

It has been almost two years since the pandemic was declared and schools closed to students for the first time. Since then, we have all experienced significant changes and challenges in the way we live, work and learn. As a school board, we continue to be guided by public health advice and guidelines, our values as an organization and the goals set out in our Multi-Year Strategic Plan, all of which centre the well-being, learning and achievement of our students. We remain committed to sharing information with you as it becomes available. We also continue to update the Board website with resources and information, at www.yrdsb.ca/school-reopening. 

On the website, you can also find information about the Board of Trustees, including more about my role as your trustee, committee meeting dates, and information about public participation and how you can attend public board meetings. Following a review completed earlier this year, trustees approved some changes to committee structures and delegation process to create a stronger governance model. As a Board, we are committed to good governance, serving the needs of our community and upholding the values of York Region District School Board. 

With winter well underway, I want to remind families that this year schools will close when an inclement weather day is declared. This is as a result of the pandemic and the importance of adhering to public health guidelines. 

There is much to look forward to in the months ahead. 

This month, students in Grades 5 to 11 will have an opportunity to vote for the students who will represent their voices next school year, during the student trustee elections. Student trustees play an important role in our system, including participating in board and committee meeting discussions. The election process also gives students an opportunity to learn more about and participate in the voting process. Learn more at www.yrdsb.ca/studenttrustees. 

Throughout February, we recognize Black History Month. In addition to recognizing the contributions of Black Canadians throughout history, we are continuing to Celebrate Black Excellence in our own community. I encourage you to read or watch the stories of some of the many outstanding individuals in York Region, or nominate someone. You may also be interested in some of the episodes available on our TuneIn YRDSB podcast, exploring Black History Month and beyond. 

Later in February, our schools will become a sea of pink as we acknowledge Pink Shirt Day and stand together against bullying. Learn more about our work to prevent and address bullying and create equitable and inclusive learning environments. 

Family Day and March Break are also approaching, and I wish you and your families a healthy, restful and enjoyable break.  

As we move closer to the spring and summer months, many families who have children graduating this year are beginning to wonder what graduation ceremonies will look like in June. We all want to be able to celebrate this important milestone with our graduating students in person. It is a special occasion, recognizing their years of achievement and hard work. We recognize that it has been deeply disappointing to students, families and staff that we have not been able to hold in-person ceremonies as we have done in the past, as we adhere to health and safety guidelines. School board staff continue to meet regularly with public health and to review provincial guidelines, and as more information becomes available, we will continue to provide you with updates. 

In closing, I want to acknowledge that as an education community, although we have faced many challenges and changes in the past few years, we have also seen our community come together in many ways to support our students and one another. I am proud to be part of this community and I want to thank our students, families and staff for the effort and care they have demonstrated. 

Ron Lynn

Trustee, Markham Wards 2, 3 and 6

Student Mental Health and Addiction Newsletter

Please click on the PDF version below  to access live links

february2022mhnewsletterDownload

Community Events, News and Supports

Please click on the PDF version below  to access live links

yrdsb-active-school-travel-newsletter-january-2022Download

Please click on the PDF version below  to access live links

sc-helping-families-manage-stressDownload

Please click on the PDF version below  to access live links

so-they-remember-author-presentation-1Download

Fundraising

This year we are fundraising to support the following initiatives:

  • Technology- purchasing more iPads and Chromebooks for students 
  • Literacy- investing in diverse books and levelled books to support guided reading
  • Well Being- indoor recess activities and more outdoor recess equipment 

Since we are limited with the type of fundraising we can engage in,  we are asking that families consider making a donation through School Cash Online.  The donations collected will go directly to supporting our students this year. Donations of $20 or more are fully tax-deductible and receipts will be provided through School Cash Online.  

All amounts are greatly appreciated. Thank you for your ongoing support! 

Please click on the PDF version below  to access live links

indigo-fundraiser-2021-2-4Download

Upcoming School Holidays/PA Days

February 4, 2022 -PA Day

February 21, 2022 – Family Day

Upcoming Faith Days

For faith observances this month, please see the YRDSB Multifaith Calendar located on the new revised YRDSB School Calendar page.

School Communication

All communication from the school comes via:

We would like to remind all of our families that our goal is to work together to support the well-being of all our students. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions or concerns. We look forward to working in partnership with our Parkview Community.

Please visit our School Website for all up-to-date school information.