We are very pleased to see the smiling faces of our students every day at the Farm. Our students are being engaged in their learning through a variety of activities that spark their creativity and inquisitiveness. Please join us in thanking our caring and supportive staff for enriching our students’ learning and fostering a safe and welcoming environment at Beckett Farm!
Winter Clothing Drive
Families are invited to join in this activity by donating winter clothing items. Details about how you can contribute are included in this link: https://adobe.ly/3xsM8nl
Grade 8 Virtual Open House
Pierre Elliot Trudeau High School is hosting a virtual grade 8 open house. Follow the link to access the flyer for details.- https://adobe.ly/3FPh9Vn
Online Safety:
The York Region District School Board recognizes the inherent value that technology can bring to support student success and foster well-being, business excellence, and staff development. The acquisition of knowledge, skills, and attitudes for Digital Literacy will support inclusivity, positive and meaningful relationships, innovation, engagement, responsibility, and optimism.
It is expected that technology and technology products and services supplied by the Board will be used in an appropriate, responsible manner. Please review our Board’s appropriate use of technology policy by clicking on the following link: https://adobe.ly/3nUjUid
To protect your children from engaging in unsafe behaviours online please go over the following PowerPoint presentation with them and discuss the importance of safe online practices: https://adobe.ly/312MOn4
Also, please take a moment to review this social media rules tip sheet. https://adobe.ly/3CSdu7n
Family Services York Region (FSYR):
Please visit the link to get information about workshops and programmes offered during this winter by FSYR.
We are pleased with the progress that our students are making so far this year. Our online and in person learners are engaged in many different opportunities to immerse deeply in their learning including through enriched inquiries into various topics; opportunities to research topics of interest; and through virtual visits with various guests including the latest visit from the David A. Robertson, author of The Barren Grounds and On the Trapline.
We are in an age of ever-increasing reliability on online tools and devices to enhance and enrich our students’ learning. While this is an extremely valuable experience, it comes with some challenges when applied inappropriately.
Online Safety:
Online Safety
The York Region District School Board recognizes the inherent value that technology can bring to support student success and foster well-being, business excellence and staff development. The acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitudes for Digital Literacy will support inclusivity, positive and meaningful relationships, innovation, engagement, responsibility and optimism.
It is expected that technology and technology products and services supplied by the Board will be used in an appropriate, responsible manner. Please review our Board’s appropriate use of technology policy by clicking on the following link: https://adobe.ly/3nUjUid
To protect your children from engaging in unsafe behaviours online please go over the following powerpoint presentation with them and discuss the importance of safe online practices: https://adobe.ly/312MOn4
Also, please take a moment to review this social media rules tip sheet. https://adobe.ly/3CSdu7n
Trustee Greetings
Please find a letter from our Trustee Ron Lynn to the community at the following link.
Families are invited to join in this activity by donating winter clothing items. Details about how you can contribute are included in this link: https://adobe.ly/3xsM8nl
Grade 8 Virtual Open House
Pierre Elliot Trudeau High School is hosting a virtual grade 8 open house. Follow the link to access the flyer for details.- https://adobe.ly/3FPh9Vn
Grade 3 Gifted screening:
Grade 3 parent, gifted screening will take place between November 29 and December 1 at Beckett Farm
If your child/ren attend grade 3 at Beckett Farm, please read the attached letter for detailed information about the screening.
We hope that you all found the Parent/Teacher Interviews with your child(ren)’s teacher informative as you learn more about the progress that is made so far this year and ways that collectively we can support each of our students to reach their goals this school year.
Covid 19 has had a major impact on our health and well-being. We are aware of the increasing need for support in the area of mental health for our students. In an effort to support this need, our Board has put together the ABC’s of mental health which focus on three key aspects: Acknowledge, Bridge, Connect.
Please click on the link below for more information about the ABC’s of mental health.
Beckett Farm Public School is thrilled to announce that it has started up its GSA this year. As a reminder, the GSA is a club for students who identify as 2SLGBTQ+ and for students who want to be allies, supporting the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The club is supervised by teacher advisors.
Our school and the York Region Board of Education believe that all students must be treated with respect and dignity and all students must have access to schools where they feel safe, welcomed, accepted and included.
At Beckett Farm, we are committed to eliminating harmful biases and prejudice that lead to discrimination and exclusion of our 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff and families. Having a GSA at our school not only provides a safe place for our 2SLGBTQ+ students and their allies to meet, discuss topics of interest, and work on important initiatives, it also signals to all students that we will not stand for bullying of any kind, including bullying against 2SLGBTQ+ students.
We are committed to upholding the principles outlined in the following:
· Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
· Ontario Human Rights Code
· The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
· Bill 157: Keeping our Kids Safe at School
· Policy 119: Developing and Implementing Equity and Inclusive Education Policies in Ontario Schools
· YRDSB’s Equity and Inclusive Education Policy
· YRDSB’s Caring and Safe Schools policy
· YRDSB’s Equity Action Plan
· The Director’s Action Plan
We also recognize the diversity within our 2SLGBTQ+ communities and acknowledge the intersectionality of other often marginalized identities (e.g. indigenous, racialized, disabled, etc.).
Thank you for your support of this extremely important club which will only serve to make our school a safe place for all!
Gifted screening for grade 3 students
If your child/ren attends grade 3 at Beckett Farm, please read the attached letter for detailed information about the screening.
On December 8, 2016, the province of Ontario designated November as Hindu Heritage Month as outlined in the Hindu Heritage Month Act. Hindus first arrived in Canada at the beginning of the 20th century. During various waves of immigration, Hindus from all parts of the world continued to make Canada their home from the 1960s to the present day. There are many Hindus who have settled in the Greater Toronto Area, including York Region.
“By proclaiming the month of November as Hindu Heritage Month, the Province of Ontario recognizes the important contributions that Hindu Canadians have made to Ontario’s social, economic, political, and cultural fabric. Hindu Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about Hindu Canadians and the important role that they have played and continue to play in communities across Ontario.”
Families are encouraged to share this information with their child/ren. For more information on Hinduism, observances, and festivities, consult the following resources:
Progress Reports and Parent-Teacher Interview/Kindergarten Interview
Your child’s Progress Report Card will be distributed electronically during the week of November 15, 2021, using their Gapps account.
Parent-Teacher Interviews for grades 1-8 will be held on November 18 and 19.
Please check the letters which were also sent via email to your account for specific details about the Progress Report, Parent Teacher Interview, and Kindergarten Interview.
Picture day will be held on November 17, All Day for students attending face to face. Typically, we will begin with Kindergarten classes first and then move our way up to the higher grades.
Our remote learners can have their pictures taken on the 19’th. Further details regarding scheduling the time will be provided early next week.
Donation
Our School Council is supporting the needs of the school through an online donation fundraiser.
Please find information in the two documents attached:
Beckett Farm is a growing school and we are always welcoming new families who join us from Canada as well as from across the globe. In order to make our newcomers feel welcome, we’d like to establish a Parent Ambassador program. In this role, you will be directing our new families to the appropriate contacts and resources available within the school.
Thank you to all the parents who already signed up to be a Parent Ambassador @BFPS.
For all those families who are still interested, please fill this form: https://bit.ly/3C7y2Zb
Parent/Guardian Interests Form
Parents, Guardians, Family Members! We are interested to know what skills, talents, and hobbies you have so that we can share your expertise with our students.
Thank you to all the parents who already completed the form. We encourage more parents to join this initiative by completing this form.: https://bit.ly/3F228iK
Disability Parking Spot
It has been noticed that some parents are parking in the Disability Parking spots. Please note that these spots are reserved exclusively for those with a disability permit. We request that you please refrain from using the spot if you don’t have the permit.
Drop-Offand Kiss and Ride Procedures
Please use the Kiss n Ride to drop off children in the morning. Drive around the parking lot to the right and stop at the Kiss N Ride area located at the pavement to the left of the parking lot entrance. Release your child only to the staff on duty and proceed out of the parking please follow the signs in the parking lot (see picture above)
We had an amazing week at Beckett Farm. Below is some information about upcoming events….
Picture day
Please note that Picture Day is on November 17, all day for face-to-face learners. Our online learners may have their pictures taken on November 19, between 12:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Stay tuned for more details…
Progress Reports
Electronic copies of Progress Reports will be distributed to families during the week of Nov 15, 2021. If you do not receive your child’s report card by the end of the school day on Wednesday, November 17, please let your child’s teacher know as soon as possible so that we can have one sent to you.
Parent-Teacher Conference
Virtual Parent/Teacher interviews and/or conferences will be held on November 18 and 19. WE have assigned 15-minute time blocks for each student. You would have received the details regarding how to access EDSBY to book an interview time with your child’s teacher. Please let us know if you require translation for the interview to your
Parent Ambassadors
We invite you to become a Beckett Farm Public School Parent School Ambassador.
We are seeking a variety of Parent School Ambassadors to represent the richness of the cultures at Beckett Farm Public School. You are best positioned to engage in outreach, share information about community resources, invite other parents in and address the language and cultural barriers that so often impede a variety of parents to engage with the school, especially those new to Canada.
Your involvement can be as little or as much as works for you.
You will act as someone to who newcomer parents can reach out to in order to get more familiar with our school and community.
Please complete the information in this form by Thursday, November 11th.
Families are invited to join us for the Remembrance day service on Thursday, November 11 at 10:30 am. Please use Google meet Nickname: BFPSREMEMBERS to join the service.
As part of a partnership between YRDSB and Renewed Computer Technology (RCT), families with children enrolled in our Board have the opportunity to purchase quality refurbished computers at a reduced cost.
In order to qualify for this purchase the devices Applicants,
·must live in Ontario,
·have a student enrolled at the school
·either receive government assistance payments or qualify as a limited income earner under the limited income cut-off standards*.
Please check the attached letter for further details regarding the cost, and the application process.
Please use the Kiss n Ride to drop off children in the morning. Drive around the parking lot to the right and stop at the Kiss N Ride area located at the pavement to the left of the parking lot entrance. Release your child only to the staff on duty and proceed out of the parking please follow the signs in the parking lot (see picture above)
Parent-Teacher Interviews
Parent-Teacher Interviews will be taking place virtually on Thursday, November 18 (evening) and Friday, November 19. Families will be able to book interview times through Edsby starting on Thursday, November 4.
Please visit the following site if you need support connecting to EDSBY and/or to create a parent account. https://bit.ly/2ZwBAGP
Once families have booked interview times, teachers will contact families with interview links.
Parent Ambassadors
Beckett Farm is a growing school and we are always welcoming new families who join us from Canada as well as from across the globe. In order to make our newcomers feel welcome, we’d like to establish a Parent Ambassador programme. In this role, you will be directing our new families to the appropriate contacts and resources available within the school.
Please fill this form to indicate your interest in joining the Parent Ambassador programme.
Parent/Guardian Interests Form
Parents, Guardians, Family Members! We are interested to know what skills, talents, and hobbies you have so that we can share your expertise with our students. Please fill in this form to share your interests. Thank you!
Unlearn Mural
We have an opportunity to include a new mural at Beckett Farm PS and would love your input. Please use this form to share your top picks for a mural for our school. 🙂
Remembrance Day Poppy Fund Donations
In honour of Remembrance Day, we invite you to donate to the Poppy Fund. Through your generosity, the Legion helps all of Canada’s Veterans and their families. Go here for more information on how to donate.
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.
School Council Meeting – October 27 6:30pm – 8:00pm
Please join us for our virtual meeting at the following Google Meet Nickname: BFPScouncilOct27 Please use your child’s gapps account to sign in.
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!
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Beckett Farm P.S. News 