Diwali is fast approaching! We would love to create a display in the front office to celebrate this festival! If you have any decorations or artifacts that you are willing to lend to our school for the month of November, we would greatly appreciate it! Please send artifacts, labelled with your child’s name and teacher, to sripriya.rajan@yrdsb.ca
Additionally, if you are celebrating Diwali at home and if you are interested in sending us a very short video of how you engage in the celebrations, please forward your videos to sripriya.rajan@yrdsb.ca . Let us know if we have your consent to include your family name with the video.
Lunch Assistants
We are in need of Lunch Assistants at Beckett Farm Public School. This is a paid position.
If you are interested, please call Mrs. Khan at our office 289-746-3276 by 3:00 pm on Tuesday, October 26th.
Thank you to all Families for participating in our 2021 BFPS Curriculum Night. It was great to see you all during our visits to the classroom presentations. Please join us in thanking our staff for hosting highly informative sessions to share with you about the curriculum your child/ren are engaged in. We encourage you to continue to communicate with your child/ren’s teacher to support their learning and well-being needs.
We appreciate your partnership.
Halloween Reminders for Families
The health and safety of our students remains a top priority. For students who wish to celebrate Halloween at school, please keep these reminders in mind:
· When planning costumes that no replica weapons of any kind are allowed.
· Costumes should be respectful of others. Symbols or objects representative of a person’s culture or religious beliefs should not be worn as a costume.
Due to COVID-19 precautions, please be aware that:
· Students will continue to wear their Public Health protocol mask. Non-medical or cloth masks are required for all students in Grades 1 to 12 while inside the school unless directed by staff.
· Costumes should be of simple design (to limit personal items being brought to school)
· Treats cannot be shared.
We will be sending you more information as it becomes available to us.
Cleaning of devices
1. If devices are shared in a classroom, what is the disinfecting protocol between usage?
The General Cleaning and Disinfection Requirements indicate that Shared Technology will be ‘cleaned’ by students/classroom staff, between users or cohorts.
Note: 70% isopropyl alcohol in the form of a wipe is to be used to clean technology items such as computers, tablets, phones etc.
2. Who is responsible for disinfecting classroom devices?
Classroom staff (i.e., teacher, EA, DECE) and students are responsible for disinfecting classroom technology devices before and after use and in between cohort usage in the classroom.
We wish all those who are celebrating, a very happy Thanksgiving! Wishing all families Happy and Safe long weekend!!!
Social Media Trends
At our school, we recognise that some students may have social media accounts (e.g., Instagram, TikTok). Social media has many benefits including helping us to stay connected. Unfortunately, it also can be used in ways that spread hurt, misinformation, and dangerous trends. While we have engaged in lessons about online safety, we suggest that families support this learning and have ongoing discussions about social media presence and how to act online. To help support these discussions we encourage families to look at Media Smarts Social Media Tip Sheet and Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada 12 Quick Privacy Tips for Parents.
Covid 19Attestation Form
Please note that if your child is away from school due to illness, you are required to complete the Parent Attestation following child illness form. Details are provided in the link included in this message.
Congratulations on your success so far!!! All school online fundraising links will continue to remain open should your event be taking place this week or at any other time in the school year. We hope you’ll continue to share Terry’s message of hope with your school community. Here’s a sample message to copy and share with your school community for this upcoming Thanksgiving weekend
On Wednesday, October 13th, you are invited to join us for Beckett Farm’s Virtual Curriculum Night.
Each family will be invited by their child’s teacher(s) to a Google Meet where they will have an opportunity to meet the teacher, hear about the upcoming year, and have an introduction to the curriculum, including the new Ministry Math Curriculum.
You will receive an email from your child’s teacher with information about how to join the virtual event. For security reasons please join the Meet using your child’s gapps account only.
A stable internet connection is needed to join.
Each teacher will present during two times –
Rotation 1: 6:00 PM-6:30 PM
Rotation 2: 6:45 PM-7:15 PM
Please join one of the sessions offered by your child’s teacher. If for some reason you are unable to attend the event, please connect with your child’s homeroom teacher to schedule an appointment on a mutually agreed day/date.
We hope you have a great evening learning about all the incredible learning experiences that our teachers bring into their classrooms daily!
October is here! Please take the time to enjoy the Fall colours that this month brings.
Student Attendance
If your child is away from school due to illness or absence, we asked that parents/guardians complete the Parent Attestation Following Child Illness or Absence – Return to School/Child Care form. The completed form should be emailed to beckett.farm.ps@yrdsb.ca before the student returns to class or can be printed and sent back to school with the student in their backpack.
Virtual Program for Students ages 12-15 – Gender Galaxies Fall 2021
This is a virtual program for youth exploring their gender identity and/or expression.
The topics covered include : Self-care, Self -Advocacy, Media, Dysphoria and Body Image, Coming Out,Gender Affirming Care, and Intersectionality.
The program is offered through Family Services York Region. Please encourage your child/ren to register by clicking on the link below.
It is important to us that we provide a caring, safe and inclusive environment in our school that supports the academic achievement and well-being of all students. We held classroom presentations this week to talk about some of the important elements of a caring and safe school. You may want to have a conversation with your child about what they learned and discussed. Please click on the link below to review the information that was shared with your child/ren at school this week.
COVID-19 has presented unprecedented issues and concerns for our community, our country and the world. As we focus on keeping ourselves healthy and containing the spread of COVID-19, we must also keep ourselves mentally well.
Our website yrdsb.ca includes information and resources which will support students and their families during these challenging times
Curriculum Night
Save the date : Wednesday, October 13, 2021 Virtual Curriculum night between 6-7 PM. Please stay tuned for more information
The purpose of this memo is to provide important updates regarding Indigenous Languages and International Languages (ILIL) Programs. Due to the continuance of the pandemic, ILIL classes for SK to Grade 8 students will take place online. Please note that the program delivery model may change from online to face-to-face during the school year depending on circumstances. Teachers will teach live language lessons in real-time using Google Classroom to provide both synchronous and asynchronous learning opportunities during the regularly scheduled language classes. All program updates will be made on our Board ILIL program homepage.
Islamic Heritage Month
Islamic Heritage Month is recognized across Canada in October. In honour of this month, we would like to learn and celebrate the Muslim history, culture and religion and its contributions within our community and around the world.
We are planning to organize a display for Islamic Heritage Month at the school’s front foyer so classes can visit, and would love our families to participate in its contributions.
We are kindly asking families to bring any artifacts that they would like to share for our school display. If you are able to contribute, please drop off your items at the office with your child’s name and teacher’s name so we can return to you at the end of October.
Our school population has grown significantly over the past year. We now welcome close to 850 students at Beckett Farm Public School. As a result of the changes that have taken place between June and September in our school’s enrolment and in order to comply with the Ministry of Education’s Class Size Compliance requirements, we have created an additional Grade One class, due to increased enrolment. All changes to student placements will take effect MondaySeptember 27, 2021.
At this time, model change options will be available again in January.
School Council
On behalf of the Beckett Farm PS School Council, we would like to extend a warm welcome to all our in-person and virtual learners to the Beckett family! The School Council is a great way for parents to partner with the school to create a safe and positive learning environment for our children. By sharing common goals and helping support the school wherever possible, parents play an important part in enriching the experience of our young learners. If you have the passion to help, then please join us in the first School Council meeting for the year on Wednesday, Sep 29 at 6:30 pm. Please use your child’s school gapps account to access the google meet. (Your child will be able to provide this for you).
YRDSB is committed to creating and maintaining caring and safe environments where students, staff, parents/guardians and others feel safe at school and at all school-related events and activities. The Caring and Safe Schools mandatory student start-up presentations are a way to establish such environments at the start of the school year.
During the week of September 27-October 1, teachers at Beckett Farm Public School will be sharing the presentations with their students and also lead a discussion on key areas of care and safety as identified by York Region Public School Board
● Inclusion of mental health content for returning to school
● More direct messaging when it comes to discrimination and racism
● Details about caring and safe online environments and in-person learning for the hybrid model
● Emphasis supports and/or/maybe consequences to address inappropriate behaviour (progressive discipline) in addition to suspensions/expulsions
We will share the content that was presented with you in our next Blog (October 1, 2021) so may discuss the topic with you child/ren at home.
Zero-Waste Initiative
In an effort to reduce waste at Beckett Farm, we are encouraging all students to bring reusable containers in their lunches and limit their use of one-time plastics. Likewise, all students are encouraged to take their waste home to dispose of.
Orange Shirt Day
Orange Shirt Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation is on Thursday. In honour of these events, our school will be hosting virtual read alouds for students that feature stories or resilience and perseverance of children who attend residential schools. See your child’s teacher for more details.
Humans of Beckett Farm
Over the next few weeks, intermediate students will be taking portraits of K-8 students so that we can line our hallways with all the humans of Beckett Farm! It is our hope that we can include a photo of every child so that they can feel a sense of belonging in our school.
Virtual Students: Families of virtual students are encouraged to take part in this initiative by taking a portrait (headshot) of their child and email the photo to Ms. Angel (natasha.angel@yrdsb.ca). We will then print the photo and display it on our school walls.
Face to Face Students: If you do not want your child to take part in this initiative, please email Ms. Angel (natasha.angel@yrdsb.ca) with your child’s name, teacher and grade. Thank you!
Triple P (PositiveParenting Programme)
Triple P is a parenting program, but it doesn’t tell you how to be a parent. It’s more like a toolbox of ideas. You choose the strategies you need. You choose the way you want to use them. It’s all about making Triple P work for you. Please find more information about how to access this programme by clicking on the link below:
We are pleased to announce that we are settling in well to the new school year. We have welcomed many more students into Beckett Farm Public School this year. Our population is now close to 850 students. Though it will take us some time to establish routines, we are all working diligently to abide by the new protocols and procedures to ensure we are catering to the needs of our staff, students, and school community. Please note that on Friday, September 17, 2021 we will hold Fire Drills at our school. In order to be consistent with Ministry guidelines during Covid 19, the drills will be held in rotations. We thank you for working with us through these changing times and thank you for reviewing the information that is sent home to you in order to keep you informed of school processes. We look forward to opportunities to engage with your more deeply as the school year progresses. Please see some important items below:
DAILYCOVID Screening
Every student, staff and visitor to the school MUST complete a DAILY COVID SCREENING. Please see steps below:
If you wish to request a model change (e.g. from virtual to in person learning or vice versa), please submit your request in this FORM: https://forms.gle/ss9MiTH7iDm9LMFZ6by noon on Friday, September 17.
Access to the School Building
As per Health & Safety Protocols, we ask that you Do Not enter the school unless you have an appointment or you are an authorized visitor. Please ring the doorbell to speak to office staff. Once in the building, all visitors must be logged in at the office.
Terry Fox School Run
For this year’s Terry Fox School Run, we will #TryLikeTerry! Just as Terry had to try every day and push himself to overcome obstacles, our students will try to challenge themselves everyday with their own #TryLikeTerry challenge. Due to safety measures, the run will take place over several days between September 27 – October 1. Please donate to our online fundraising page http://www.terryfox.ca/BeckettFarmPSUnionville to support your child’s classroom efforts to reach their goal and raise funds for cancer research.
We are thrilled to be back at Beckett Farm Public School for another year of learning together. We welcome our in person and virtual learners as they embark on their journey this year. Our committed staff are working diligently to ensure safe and inclusive spaces for learning. We thank you for your patience as we settle into new routines.
We’re so pleased to share that our start up was a smooth one. Our school population has grown to just over 850 students! You will notice that we have more portables on site (8 in total) to accommodate everyone. We will be identifying more ways to also use our outdoor spaces to immerse our students in a variety of learning experiences.
We welcome the following new staff to our school this year:
*Kindergarten: Ragun Visuvanathan (LTO) for Niketa Rustagi
*Grade 1: Larizza Bannag (LTO) for Jennifer Chad
*Grade 3: Farheen Ahmad (LTO) for Katrine Khalil-Brown
*Grade 3: Maria Belavejian (LTO) for Justine Hunt
*Grade 5/6: Hannah Baek (LTO) for Ines Rizzi
*Primary SERT: Rumana Vhora (LTO) for Melissa Cheng
*Primary/Junior Prep: Thomas Rissis (LTO) for Marco Ursi
Please stay in touch with us. We will keep you informed of happenings at Beckett Farm through regular communication various modes of communication. Be sure to review the information recently sent to your email address regarding health & safety protocols at the school.
Please check your email regularly for updates and find information about our school at:
We have reached the end of the 2019/2020 school year. It has been a tumultuous year to say the least. We thank you for your continued partnership, resilience through the many challenges that presented themselves, and trust in us as we worked to serve our scholars to the best of our ability. If you weren’t able to join us at the virtual assembly, please enjoy the creativity and cherised moments at the following link. Thank you to all who contributed to this virtual event and to Ms. Signer, Ms. Angel and our BFPS student tech crew for all their efforts to make this event possible!
After studying a variety of different media techniques used in effective Public Service Announcements, the grade 7 scholars’ final media literacy task was to choose a current issue they are passionate about (LGBTQ rights, the environment, Black Lives Matter, COVID-19, smoking, bullying etc.) and create their own PSA. Check out the amazing work that some of our scholars were eager to share with the community!
For more amazing Talent and Creativity by our Beckett Scholars and Staff, please visit our:
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DAILY COVID Screening 
Terry Fox School Run
