Edenrose Public School April Newsletter

Transcription

1 Edenrose Public School April Newsletter Principal: Ms. Anup Sidu 1342 Edenrose Street, Mississauga, ON. L5V 1K9 Vice Principal: Ms. Marsha Forbes Phone: (905) Superintendent: Mr. J. Robertson (905) Fax : (905) Trustee: R. Crocker (416) SAFE ARRIVAL Contents Principal s News 1 Edenrose in the Community 2 Spotlight on Edenrose 3 Reminders 4 Peel District School Board Enclosures Principal s News As we turn the pages of another month, the action continues at Edenrose! I hope this newsletter finds you doing well. The past month has been a wonderful time for Edenrose to celebrate and showcase all of the terrific things that students and staff are working on. We have had Duffle Bag theatre come in and perform The Three Little Pigs/ Les Trois Petits Cochons, our Grade 3 s attended the Swim to Survive Program, Edenrose hosted a Basketball tournament for our feeder schools, our School Council hosted a community workshop on Self-Regulation, and the entire Edenrose community have been diligently designing their rock for our Only One You Rock Garden. Our Rock Garden is inspired by Only One You by Linda Kranz storybook. This book is available in our school library for students to read. Education Week is an annual event which always brings our community together. This year we had a few great events planned for the community. Some of the key highlights will be the celebration of Edenrose s 25 th Anniversary, Fun Fair, Multilingual Literacy Day, unveiling of our Rock Garden, Award Assembly s, staff and student hockey and volleyball games, Move-a-thon and much more. Hope to see you all there! I would like to remind all parents and caregivers that our Kiss n Ride lane is meant to be a convenient and safe way to drop off and pick up students in the mornings only. Please remember that cars must never be parked in the Kiss n Ride lane. There is no Kiss n Ride lane after school to ensure students safety. Please support us in order ensure safety for everyone in our community. We have kicked off our Move-a-thon! The goal for the Move-a-thon is to fundraise for upgrades to our school in terms of technology, school performances and our rock garden which benefit all students at Edenrose. We hope that all our Edenrose families will help to support the students' efforts to make the Move-A-Thon a huge success. Every cent counts so please support our Move-athon. We have great prizes, such as: Principal for the Day for the top fundraiser McDonald s lunch with Ms. Sidhu & Ms. Forbes, top fundraiser from each grade level Class that raises the most money in their division will get a set of new DPA equipment for their class Ms. Sidhu

2 Page 2 of 5 Edenrose Public School April Newsletter Edenrose Community Popcorn and Cookies Fridays are popcorn and cookie sales! Only $2.00 for each item! Move-a-thon Once again, this year our major fundraiser will be our Move-athon. It will be a fun and active event being held on Tuesday, April 24th, Please consider pledging your child and encouraging friends and family to do the same. All funds raised go towards enriching education at Edenrose (e.g., purchasing technology, providing special performances for students, grade 5 yearbook, etc.). The best way to donate is by using SCHOOL CASH ONLINE. Go to peelschools.schoolcashonline.com/fee/index and scroll down to find the Edenrose P.S. Movea-thon link. We are also accepting cash donations. Please submit all money and pledge forms by Monday, April 23, Tax receipts will be issued for donations of $25 or more. Education Edenrose Tue. April 24th: Move-A-Thon Wed. April 25th: Multilingual Literacy Day: We welcome parent volunteers to sign up by April 23rd Thu. April 26th: Teachers Vs Students Hockey Game - Edenrose 25th Anniversary Celebrations Fri. April 27th: Teachers Vs Grade 5 Students Staff Volleyball Game/Awards Assembly

3 Edenrose Public School April Newsletter Page 3 of 5 Spotlight on Edenrose Report from Student Council Autism Awareness Day by Dionne Le and Dave Grewal Grade 5 This April 2nd is Autism Awareness Day. We will be celebrating Autism Awareness Day on April 3rd at Edenrose, by wearing a blue shirt. People with autism have different ways to express their feelings, for example some kids with autism show they re excited by flapping their arms. Not all children with autism are the same, for instance some may be more social than others and might have different reactions to a variety of scenarios.this doesn t make them weird, instead they just have a unique way to express themselves and can be great friends! Day of Pink By Noor and Arjun 5 Day of Pink is a day to show that pink isn t a girl or boy colour. Anybody can wear pink. Day of Pink is has been celebrated for about 6 years. For the past few years, people have been wearing pink to show support for anti-bullying. We think that bullying is a problem at schools, workplaces and over the internet. On April 11th is Day of Pink. Don t forget to wear something pink to support diversity and anti-bullying! Edenrose s 25th Anniversary By Sayumi and Jade Edenrose is celebrating its 25th anniversary on April 26th, from 5 7pm. In the Gym there will be a special presentation about Edenrose s 25th anniversary. The first principal of Edenrose Mrs. Belford and current principal Ms. Sidhu, will be talking. There will be a BBQ and ice cream food truck for the whole family. Items from the time capsule will be on display in the showcase across from the library. Do you know why we are painting rocks? To celebrate our 25th anniversary we are creating a rock garden. Once you are finished your rock it will be placed in the courtyard beside the office. Edenrose was inspired to make the rock garden by the book Only One You. Help Give the Gift of Sight By Mme Sikka s Classes, 4D and 4C are undertaking the opportunity to help others in developing countries. Together they have decided their name will be Les Opticiens D Edenrose. Opticiens D Edenrose are helping people to improve the vision of others less fortunate. Their goal is to collect as many glasses as possible. They are connected with an organization called the Lions Club. While Les Opticiens D Edenrose collect glasses, Lion Club will deliver them to developing countries and others who might not be able to afford them. You can help by donating your old glasses that are just lying around at home and bringing them to Edenrose to support this initiative!

4 Page 4 of 5 Edenrose Public School April Newsletter Edenrose will host its Annual Move-a-thon on April 24th! We are seeking volunteers to help make our event a success. If you are interested in giving your time to support our annual fundraiser please contact Alison Grimshaw at: ag@agtutoring.ca During Education Week at Edenrose we host a Multilingual Literacy Day! Parents and community members are invited to spend time at our school on April 25th, to read to Edenrose students in a language of your choice, or tell a cultural tale like a Crick Crack story or Anansi Fable. If you are interested in participating, (giving an hour of your time), please contact Alison Grimshaw at: ag@agtutoring.ca Edenrose will celebrate its 25th anniversary on April 26th! We are currently looking for volunteers. If you are interested in volunteering at the 25th anniversary celebrations we would love to hear from you! This will require a recent police check. Please contact Alison Grimshaw at: ag@agtutoring.ca (If you require a police check please contact Ms. Forbes for more information)

5 Page 5 of 5 Edenrose Public School April Newsletter Early Pick Up From School From time to time early pickup of students is required, (e.g., to attend an appointment). We ask that any student that requires early pick up from school be signed out from school no later than 3:00 pm, (unless it has been recorded in Safe Arrival before the start of the school day). Sign up for bus notifications Parents with students riding the bus, we encourage you to sign up for late bus notifications with Stopr. Please visit with your child s OEN number, which can be found on their latest report card. Parking Lot Safety Playground Supervision Student safety is of the utmost importance at Edenrose. In the morning we have a number of large and small busses dropping students off and we have parents, entering and exiting the school to drop of their children. When using our Kiss & Ride remember the following rules: honour the Bus Lane, Kiss & Ride, and Passing Lane reduce your speed entering and exiting the school refrain from making a left turn into the school We need everyone s cooperation in this matter because we want everyone to be safe! Morning playground supervision begins at 8:40 a.m. If your child/ren is not bussed, please do not drop off your child/ren before 8:40 a.m. Also, at the end of the day staff are on duty supervising dismissal from 3:25 3:40 p.m. Students who are not picked up at this time will be brought to the office After School Pickup Just a reminder, at the end of the school day there will be no Kiss & Ride to help accommodate the many buses that come to Edenrose. The parking gate is closed at 3:00 pm. If you have a child with special needs the parking is available to you after 3:00 & a special parking pass has been issued to you. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

6 Thursday, April 12 th 6:00 PM You are invited Parents of Grade 5 students moving to Middle School in Sept are invited to HMC to hear about all of the great things that are happening at HMC including: School hours and daily routines Music/Instrumental program and rentals/payment Athletics and Extracurriculars Lockers BYOD Plus an opportunity to ask questions and see the school! We look forward to seeing you there!

7 ParentConnect Online parent portal to access important student information The Peel District School Board is excited to announce the launch of ParentConnect, an online parent portal to access important student information. The pilot program was introduced at select schools and phased in to all Peel schools on Feb. 23, What is ParentConnect? ParentConnect is a safe and secure website, created by the Peel District School Board, that acts as a single point to stay informed and to access all electronic services provided to Peel board parents and legal guardians. The parent-friendly website will allow you to: view school-based alerts and information access real time absence reporting view current and historic elementary report card information get up-to-date busing information review secondary school credit history and diploma status and more To learn more about the benefits of ParentConnect, visit our school website or

8 Important changes coming to SafeArrival system in May 2018 The Peel District School Board is currently using the SafeArrival system by Synervoice Technologies. As Synervoice has been sold to West Communications, there will be slight changes to our SafeArrival system and how you will report your child s absence from school. The phone number to report your child s absence will stay the same, but there are a few other changes. Beginning May 14, 2018, all elementary school parents/guardians need to report their child s full-day absences, late arrivals and/or early departures from school via our new School Messenger SafeArrival system. The phone number will stay the same: Website has changed to: go.schoolmessenger.ca Download a new app: School Messenger App (from Google or Apple) (please be sure to delete the old Safe Arrival app after May 11) Please continue to use our current Synervoice system until Friday, May 11, The new School Messenger SafeArrival will be live on Monday, May 14, Important to note: The transition to a new company and system will require parents to set up a new account with School Messenger SafeArrival as data will not be transferred from the old system to the new. More information on how and when to set-up your new account will be coming in the next month.

9 Raising Resilience Resilience is an important part of well-being. It is being able to bounce back from difficult times, setbacks, and other significant challenges. It includes being able to deal effectively with pressure, and get through tough times. Raising Resilience Tip: Accept children & youth for who they are Children and youth are more likely to be resilient if they feel accepted for who they are. Acceptance means we must resist the temptation to judge and criticize. When people feel validated they feel worthy and valued, which means when they encounter setbacks they will have the confidence to try again. Letting children know specifically what you love about them or why you are proud of them can bolster resilience. I am so proud of how you treat others with respect. The way you encouraged your classmates outside the school this afternoon made them feel so special! You worked so hard at that activity today. I know you didn t come first, but all that matters is that you tried hard and it looked to me like you gave it everything you had! When we let people know we accept and care for them, and offer them specifics, they feel like they can conquer anything!

10 Celebrate Administrative Professionals Day Wednesday, April 25, 2018 Peel schools will pay tribute to administrative professionals on Administrative Professionals Day on April 25, The day will be celebrated with special activities and events that provide teachers, students and parents an opportunity to thank the administrative staff who help support student success each and every day. The Peel board appreciates the important job administrative staff do each school day and April 25 provides an opportunity to give these individuals the recognition they deserve.

11 Edenrose Public School goes pink on April 11 On Wednesday April 11, 2018, Peel District School Board schools will recognize Day of Pink. Unlike Pink Shirt Day, which is meant to combat all forms of bullying, we celebrate Day of Pink in Peel to specifically combat homophobia and transphobia. Equity and inclusion is something that all Peel schools teach throughout the year and discuss with students daily it is embedded in everything we do, says Peter Joshua, director of education. Day of Pink is just one more way for us to ensure students and staff learn, work and develop in environments that are safe, equitable, inclusive, respectful and nurturing for all. Day of Pink began when a high school student in Cambridge, Nova Scotia, was bullied with homophobic language because he wore a pink shirt to school. The next day, hundreds of students at his school stood up to bullying and wore pink to school to show their support for equity and inclusion. On this day, students, staff and families from across Peel may wear pink.

12 Peel board celebrates public education during Education Week April 23 to 27 Peel public schools will host hundreds of special activities and events to celebrate Education Week To give schools plenty of time to hold activities, this celebration of education will be held from April 23 to 27. The theme for this year's focus on education is We Inspire. In addition to inviting parents and community residents to visit their classrooms during the week, Peel schools are hosting open houses, plays/musicals, storytelling, environmental activities, awards assemblies, talent shows and much more. One of the highlights of Education Week is the presentation of Awards of Excellence. The award recipients are students, volunteers, staff and community partners who have made outstanding contributions to public education in Peel. The awards will be presented to 33 deserving recipients at the Showcase of Excellence ceremony on Monday, April 30 at 7:30 p.m. in the boardroom, HJA Brown Education Centre, 5650 Hurontario St., Mississauga. More than 1,000 individuals will also be honoured during Education Week with Awards of Distinction for their contributions to their school or workplace.

13 Peel public schools celebrate Education Week Peel public schools will host hundreds of special activities and events to celebrate Education Week 2018 from April 23 to 27. The theme for this year's week-long focus on education is We Inspire. Tue. April 24th: Move-A-Thon Wed. April 25th: Multilingual Literacy Day: We welcome parent volunteers to sign up by April 23 rd Thu. April 26th: Teachers Vs Students Hockey Game - Edenrose 25th Anniversary Celebrations Fri. April 27th: Teachers Vs Grade 5 Students Staff Volleyball Game/Awards Assembly Each year, more than 50,000 parents and community members across Peel attend activities and events during Education Week. We are looking forward to an equally successful week this year.

14 April - Earth Month Earth Month encompasses the international celebration of Earth Day on April 22, This is the most celebrated environmental event worldwide. Initiated in 1970, this event has been considered the birth of the environmental movement. Each year, more than 6 million Canadians join 500 million people in over 180 countries in staging events and projects to address local environmental issues. In Canada, Earth Day has grown into Earth Week and even Earth Month to accommodate the profusion of events and projects. Here are some ways that you can celebrate earth week with your family: create a backyard or schoolyard habitat plant a garden or tree start a recycling program at home organize a carpooling campaign in your neighbourhood to reduce air pollution pick up trash in your neighbourhood read a book about an endangered species make a visit to your local zoo, aquarium or museum visit a local park, wildlife area or farm to provide a fun opportunity to learn about the environment and life

15 Keeping children safe in and around storm sewers, waterways Rising and fast moving water in lakes, ponds and creeks is increasingly likely during spring. Children playing in and around storm sewers and watercourses, entering storm sewers through the outfalls, and entering storm sewers through access covers is dangerous. The following information will help keep children safe: water flows in storm sewers and watercourses are unpredictable and may change quickly toxic gases may be present in and around storm sewers and watercourses access is restricted, making rescue attempts are difficult tragic falls could take place Please review this information with your children and let them know how dangerous storms sewers and waterways are.

16 Help us to encourage and enhance parent involvement in Peel Apply for a position on the board's Parent Involvement Committee The Peel board s Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) meets regularly throughout the school year to review the board s plans for parent involvement as they relate to parent, family and community engagement, and to make suggestions to schools, councils and the board regarding additional parent outreach. As mandated by the ministry, the purpose of Peel board's PIC is to: support, encourage, and enhance meaningful parental involvement within schools and across the district, including, outreach to parents who find involvement more challenging work collaboratively with the school board to support student success seek out the advice and ideas of school councils, and other parents and partners as they plan and implement strategies to involve more parents at the regional level develop strategies for enhancing parental engagement and outreach Parent application packages will be made available by April 11,2018 at

17 Summer School 2018 Secondary School full credit and 55-hour session classes will be offered at 12 high schools throughout the Board this summer. Peel elearning-summer classes, two-credit Co-operative Education, ESL and Summer Study/Travel programs are also available. Please visit for more details.

18 Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes Do you know an adult that is interested in improving their English language skills for work, study or daily life? Through the Continuing & Adult Education department, the Peel District School Board offers a wide variety of English language classes that help parents experience success in Canadian English in both listening/speaking and reading/writing. 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 anytime. All learners that complete a session will earn a certificate of learning from the Peel District School Board. Classes operate from six locations in Brampton and Mississauga with three specially designed adult centres at: Bramalea - Adult Education Centre - 25 Kings Cross Road, Unit 3 Brampton - Adult Education Centre - # Hurontario Street Mississauga - Adult Education Centre Elm Drive West, Room 117 To learn more or to register, call , then press 2 Also visit or follow us on

19 What is Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) is a legislated committee that makes recommendations to the board on matters affecting the education programs and services for students with special needs. SEAC meets monthly during the school year and consists of three trustees and representatives from organizations within Peel. An important focus for SEAC members is to bring forward the views of their organizations and assist parents in navigating the school system. You can reach out to your trustees or the appropriate organization to discuss any matters regarding special education or join us at one of our monthly meetings. All meetings are open to the public and includes a set time for questions from the community. For more information about SEAC and the meeting schedule visit,

20 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 educational 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 addition to providing literacy and numeracy assessments, the We Welcome the World Centres provide newcomers with a host of services including: reception, orientation, interpretation and referrals. At each centre, parents/guardians and students will discover: settlement service information age and grade appropriate educational and related program resources information about various community supports translation of materials to support the reception and assessment process computer portals providing information on Peel resources For more information about the We Welcome the World Centre and the services they provide, call

21 Celebrating Faith and Culture April 2018 DATE CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE April Mmaal and Sucker Moon Aboriginal Spirituality April 1 or 8 (J) Easter or Pascha Christianity and Canada April 1 (J) Palm Sunday Christianity Sunset of March 31 to Pesach (Passover) Judaism April 6 April 2 or 10 (J) Easter Monday Christianity and Canada April 2 to 6 (J) Holy Week begins Christianity April 4 or 7 Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva s Birthday Buddhism April 5 (J) Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) Christianity April 14 (J) Good Friday (Holy Friday) Christianity and Canada April 8 Farvardegan Zoroastrianism April 9 to 27 Month of Jalál Bahá'í Eve of April 11 or 12 to Isra and Mi raj Islam April 12 or 13 April 11 to 12 Yom HaShoah Judaism April 13 or 30 Theravada New Year Buddhism April 13 or 14 Vaisakhi or Baisakhi Sikhism and Hinduism April 13 or 14 Saka and New Year s Day Buddhism and Hinduism April 18 Akshaya-tritiya Jainism Sunset of April 20 to May 2 Ridvan Bahá'í April 24 Zarathosht-no-Diso Zoroastrianism April 28 to May 16 Month of Jamál Bahá'í April 30 to May 4 Ghambar Maidyozarem Zoroastrianism

22 Celebrating Faith and Culture Backgrounder April 2018 The Peel District School Board is a mosaic of many cultures and faiths from all over the world. To commemorate this diversity, the board recognises special faith and culture days of our communities. April 2018 has several special faith and culture days to celebrate and remember: April - Mmaal and Sucker Moon in Aboriginal Spirituality Mmaal is celebrated by Nisga'a people of the Nass Valley in northwest British Columbia. It is the season when rivers again become accessible after winter. The Nisga'a people can launch their canoes and resume travel on the Nass River. The fourth moon of Creation is called the Sucker Moon by the Ojibwe people. It is believed that Sucker goes to the Spirit World to receive cleansing and teachings for this world during this period. April 1 or 8 (J) -Easter or Pascha in Christianity and Canada Easter, also known as Pascha, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians attend special church services to celebrate the resurrection. In Eastern Christianity, the oldest and most important festival of the Christian year, it initiates the fifty-day period culminating in Pentecost. In Eastern Orthodox churches, the church year begins with Pascha. The holiday's name is derived from Pesach, the Hebrew name of Passover. While its origins are religious, many Easter customs are less serious and have more to do with celebrating the beginning of spring: Some of the traditional celebrations include: painting eggs in bright colours and pretty designs arranging/participating in Easter egg hunts giving and receiving chocolate Easter bunnies April 1 (J) - Palm Sunday in Christianity Palm Sunday is the first day of Holy Week leading up to Easter for Eastern Orthodox churches who follow the Julian calendar. It celebrates the story of Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem, where people spread palm branches and clothing before him. During Palm Sunday services, many churches distribute cut palm leaves, sometimes woven into the shape of a cross.

23 Sunset of March 31 to April 6 - Pesach (Passover) in Judaism Pesach, or Passover, commemorates the liberation of the Jews from Egypt and slavery. It is celebrated for eight days. Pesach begins at dusk (before sundown) on April 10 th. The first and last two days of the festival are full holidays - work is not done by followers. A highlight is the Seder (meaning "order") meal held in each family s home on the first evening of Pesach, when the story of their deliverance is recounted as narrated in the Haggadah (the Telling, the Story). Matzah (unleavened bread) is eaten throughout the festival, as are other foods that contain no leaven and are symbolic to the struggle. There is a great spring cleaning in the home before the festival to ensure that no trace of leaven is left in the home during Pesach. April 2 or 9 (J) - Easter Monday in Christianity and Canada Easter Monday is the day following Easter and is celebrated as a holiday by followers of Christianity. Adherents celebrate it with many traditions depending on their country of origin. Egg rolling competitions and dousing each other with water are a few of the traditional celebrations. April 2-6 (J) - Holy Week begins in Christianity Holy Week is the period from Holy Monday to Easter Sunday. In Eastern Orthodox Christianity it is also known as Great Week. It is the last week of Lent. Each of the days of Holy Week has its own traditions of services. April 4 or 7 - Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva's Birthday in Buddhism This day is celebrated by followers of Mahayana Buddhism as the birthday of the enlightened one who is most compassionate like Buddha and is known as Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva. The celebrations include visiting the temples and offering prayers. April 5 (J) - Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) in Christianity Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) is remembered as the time Jesus ate a final meal together with his followers. On the evening of Maundy Thursday, Christians remember Judas' betrayal of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The end of Lent is observed differently by the various Christian denominations. Followers of the faith mark this period with prayer, fasting and abstinence.

24 April 6 (J) Good Friday (Holy Friday) in Christianity and Canada Good Friday commemorates the execution of Jesus by crucifixion. It is a day of mourning for followers of the faith. During special Good Friday services, Christians meditate on Jesus' suffering and death on the cross, and what this means for their faith. April 8 - Farvardegan in Zoroastrianism Zoroastrians following Fasli calendar celebrate this ten day Farvardegan or Farvardingan festival honouring the dead. Followers of the faith believe that guardian angels of humans and spirits of departed souls (fravashis) return to earth during this period and accept the hospitality of relatives. April 9 to 27 - the month of Jalál in Bahá'í In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attribute of God. April 8 is the Feast Day for the beginning Jalál, the second month of the Bahá'í calendar, signifying "glory." The Bahá í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day. Eve of April 11 or 12 to April 12 or 13 Isra and Mi raj in Islam Mi`rãj al-nabiy commemorates the journey of the prophet Mohammed from Mecca to Jerusalem and his ascension to the heavens on the night of 27 th of Rajab (seventh month of the Hijra calendar). This festival is also known as Lailatul-Miraj, Isra Miraj, Isra, Me'raj and Laylat al-mi'raj. On his return Mohammed imparted this knowledge to mankind. It was in this Ascent that five daily prayers (salat) were made obligatory for Muslims. The holyday will be observed from the eve of 22 nd or 23 rd. Sunset of April 11 to 12 Yom HaShoah in Judaism This Holocaust remembrance day is a Jewish holiday. Shoah" is the Hebrew word for destruction and is another name for the Holocaust. The anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising of 1943 is the date chosen to commemorate the six million Jews who died during World War II. In Israel, a morning siren sounds stopping all activity, and people stand in honour of those who died. Jews around the world hold memorials and vigils, often lighting six candles in honour of the six million Holocaust victims. Many hold name-reading ceremonies to memorialize those who perished.

25 April 13 or 30 - Theravada New Year in Buddhism In Theravada countries, Thailand, Burma, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Laos, the New Year is celebrated for three days from the first full moon day in April. In Mahayana countries the New Year starts on the first full moon day in January. However, the Buddhist New Year depends on the country of origin or ethnic background of the people. For example, Chinese, Koreans and Vietnamese celebrate late January or early February according to the lunar calendar, whilst the Tibetans usually celebrate about one month later while the Burmese, Cambodian, Sri Lankan and Thai Buddhists celebrate their New Year on this day. April 13 or 14 - Vaisakhi or Baisakhi in Sikhism and Hinduism Celebrated throughout India, Vaisakhi has special importance for Sikhs. On this day in 1699, Sikhs believe that Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth Guru, created the Order of the Khalsa and gave the five articles (kes, kara, kirpan, kangha, kachha) of the faith for amritdhari or initiated Sikhs. This is the holiest day of the year for followers of Sikhism. Sikhs celebrate this day by visiting gurudwaras and distributing kada prasad. Processions led by the Panj Piaras or the five religious men, are taken out. Kirtans and recital of passages from the Granth Sahib are also organized in gurudwaras. On this day, the farmers also commence cutting their harvest.the day is celebrated with Bhangra and Gidda dances in Punjab. Vaisakhi, the first day of the Hindu solar year, is celebrated differently in the many regions of India. The farming communities in the northern states of India celebrate it as an agricultural and harvest festival. For people in Himachal Pradesh, it is a religious celebration and for many others - Bengal and southern states it is the New Year's Day with its distinct customs and traditions. April 13 or 14 - Saka and New Year s Day in Buddhism and Hinduism The Saka calendar s New Year s Day is a religious and cultural celebration for Sri Lankan, Indian, Burmese, Kampuchean, Laotian and Thai Buddhists. The Saka calendar is a lunar calendar based on the Hindu astronomy of the holy Vedas. This New Year's Day is celebrated also by Hindus in many Southeast Asia countries, such as India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Cambodia over two days. The exact date of celebration is determined by astrologers. New Year's Day observations, traditions and customs vary based on adherent's country however

26 common to all are feasts, gift giving, religious ceremonies and spending time with family and friends. April 18 - Akshaya-tritiya in Jainism Akshaya-tritya (Immortal Third) celebrates the day when Lord Rishabha broke his first year-long fast by drinking sugar cane juice. Jains who fast on alternate days for six months, or a year, break their fast by sipping fresh sugar cane juice. People who perform the austerity of Varsitap (fasting for a year on alternate days or longer period at a time) complete the austerity on this day by taking sugar cane juice. This day is considered to be very auspicious for going on a pilgrimage to Shatrunjay (located in Gujarat, India). Sunset of April 20 to May 2 - Ridvan in Bahá'í The festival of Ridvan, considered the "most great festival" in Bahá'í, is a 12-day celebration that starts at sunset April 20 and runs until sunset May 2. The most important date on the Bahá'í calendar, Ridvan (pronounced "Riz-wan") commemorates the public declaration of the prophethood of Baha'u'llah, the acknowledged founder of the Bahá'í faith. The first (April 21), ninth (April 29) and 12 th (May 2) days of Ridvan are all major Bahá'í holy days. Bahá'ís suspend work on the ninth day (April 29). April 24 - Zarathosht-no-Diso in Zoroastrianism In April each year, Zoroastrians following the Qadimi calendar, commemorate the anniversary of the death of Prophet Zarathustra (Zoroaster), the founder of their faith. Scholars say he lived between 1500 and 1000 BCE in northeast Iran. April 28 to May 16 - the month of Jamál in Bahá'í In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attribute of God. April 28 is the Feast Day for the beginning of the third month of Jamál, which signifies beauty. The Bahá í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day.

27 April 30 to May 4 - Ghambar Maidyozarem in Zoroastrianism Followers of Zoroastrianism celebrate six seasonal festivals, known as the Ghambars. These are associated with agricultural seasons. Ghambar Maidyozarem, the mid-spring feast, celebrates the creation of the sky and the harvesting of the winter crop. 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 any more information on how to celebrate these days, please call Ashley Bigda, Community Relations Officer at , ext or her Ashley.Bidga@peelsb.com