News from the Peel District School Board May 2016

Transcription

1 News from the Peel District School Board May 2016 The following articles are included: Shelter Bay puts the spotlight on Asian Heritage Peel schools honour police officers during Police Appreciation Week May 1 to 7 is Emergency Preparedness Week The safety of our students is our top priority On the road again: How to keep your cyclist safe Keep your child safe around train tracks Register today for Adult ESL or LINC classes Celebrating Culture and Faith Backgrounder May 2016 Shelter Bay puts the spotlight on Asian Heritage In December 2001, the Senate adopted a motion proposed by Senator Vivienne Poy to officially designate May as Asian Heritage Month in Canada. In May 2002, the Government of Canada signed an official declaration to designate May as Asian Heritage Month. Throughout May, students, staff and parents from across Peel will participate in a number of activities that promote the understanding of the many contributions made by Asian Canadians. On May 19, we will host a Bhangra Dance Workshop and Indian Dance Presentation.

2 Celebrating Faith and Culture Backgrounder May 2016 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. May 2016 has several special faith and culture days to celebrate and remember: May - Yansa'altt in Aboriginal Spirituality Yansa altt is celebrated by Nisga'a people of the Nass Valley in northwest British Columbia. It is the season when the woods are filled with fragrance of berry blossoms that yield the fruit in the summer. May 1 (J) - Easter or Pascha in Christianity Easter, also known as Pascha, commemorates the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Christians following Julian calendar 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 May 1 - Beltane in Wicca Celebrated by Wiccans, Beltane is one of the four major sabbats (seasonal days of celebration). Beltane is a word that refers to the 'fire of the Celtic God of light.' This sabbat is the last of the spring fertility festivals, when nature is blooming and full of life. Beltane has also been known as May Day, as it is traditionally celebrated on May 1 with May pole dances. Another custom is to make a small bel-fire (a bonfire, or light a few candles) and either leap over the flames or walk between two bonfires for fertility and prosperity. May 1-12 th Day of Ridvan in Bahá'í

3 The 12 th Day of Ridvan concludes this important Bahá í festival. The festival of Ridvan, considered the "most great festival, is a 12-day celebration that starts at sunset April 19 and runs until sunset May 1. The most important holyday 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, ninth and 12th days of Ridvan are all major Bahá í holy days. These days are marked by communal prayers and celebrations and are days when work is suspended by adherents. May 2 (J) - Easter Monday in Christianity Easter Monday is the day following Easter and is celebrated as a holiday by followers of Eastern Orthodox 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. Eve of May 3 to May 4 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 3 rd Sunset of May 4 to 5 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. May 5 - Ascension in Christianity Forty days after Easter, Christians celebrate Jesus' ascension from Earth into heaven. The day is observed with worship, including prayers and music. In the Eastern Orthodox Church, Ascension, also known as analepsis, is one of 12 great feasts and will be observed on June 9 th. May 9 - 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

4 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). May 14 - Sakyamuni Buddha's Birthday in Buddhism On this day, Buddhists celebrate the birth of the founder of their religion. Siddhartha Gautama was born in the sixth century BCE, a prince of a north kingdom in ancient India. According to Buddhist scriptures, he was so concerned about the inequities of human life that when he was 29, he gave up his royal position, left home and strove to live a virtuous life. At age 35, he attained enlightenment and became Sakyamuni Buddha. He died at the age of about 80, and left a number of his students who continued to study and spread Buddhism all over the world. Buddhists celebrate this day by visiting temples to make offerings of prayers, incense, fruits, flowers and donations. May 15 - Pentecost in Christianity In western Christian churches, Pentecost commemorates the coming of the Holy Spirit upon Jesus' disciples following his ascension. It is often referred to as The Birthday of the Church. As the name suggests, it falls on the 50 th day after Easter. It is a traditional day for baptism and confirmation of new Christians. May 16 - the month of 'Azamat in Bahá'í In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attribute of God. May 16 is the Feast Day for the beginning of 'Azamat, the fourth month of the Bahá'í calendar, signifying "grandeur." The Bahá'í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day. May 21 - Wesak Day/Buddha Day in Buddhism For followers of Buddhism, mainly in Sri Lanka, Wesak is the major festival of the year, celebrating the birth, enlightenment and death of the Buddha on the day of the first full moon in May (except in a leap year when the festival is held in June). Adherents visit temples and pay homage to the Buddha with candles, flowers and incense. Chanting and prayers are important part of the day. May 21 Nisfu Sha'ban in Islam Nisfu Sha'ban is observed on the fifteenth day of the eight month, Shaban in the Islamic calendar. The adherents observe prayers through a night long vigil, read the Quran and ask for forgiveness on this holyday. Eve of May 22 to May 23 - Declaration of the Báb in Bahá'í Siyyid Alí Muhammád declared himself to be the Báb, or "Gate of God," at two hours and eleven minutes after sunset on the evening of May 22, 1844 in the Persian city of Shiraz. Members of the Bahá'í faith believe that the Báb was the herald and forerunner of Bahá'u'lláh, the messenger of God for this age. The date of his

5 declaration marks the beginning of the Bahá'í faith and calendar. Every year on this date, Bahá'ís around the world gather to commemorate this event. They abstain from work on this day. May 23 - Victoria Day in Canada Canadians celebrate Queen Victoria's birthday on the Monday proceeding May 24 which is the actual birthday of the Sovereign. The holiday was declared by the Legislature of the Province of Canada in May 24 - Zarathosht-no-Diso in Zoroastrianism On May 25, Zoroastrians following the Shenshahi 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. May 28 - Ascension of Bahá'u'lláh in Bahá'í This date commemorates the death in 1892 of Bahá'u'lláh, the founder of the Bahá'í faith. This anniversary is a day of rest and is often observed by prayers and readings. Bahá'ís suspend work on this day.

6 Peel schools honour police officers during Police Appreciation Week The Peel District School Board will pay tribute to police officers by holding Police Appreciation Week from May 15 to 21, Peel students and staff will show their appreciation for the tremendous job being done by police to protect schools, homes and communities. Police Appreciation Week coincides with National Police Week. National Police Week pays tribute to the work of police officers across Canada. "The Peel board appreciates the dedication and commitment of police officers who work to keep our schools and communities safe," says Janet McDougald, Peel board chair. "Police Appreciation Week is our way of thanking officers who dedicate themselves to protecting our community. It's also a way to give these officers the special recognition they deserve." During this week, students, staff and parents in schools throughout Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga will honour the work of police officers and thank them for enhancing public safety and security.

7 May 1 to 7 is Emergency Preparedness Week What is Emergency Preparedness Week? The first full week of May of each year is Emergency Preparedness (EP) Week. This year, we will celebrate EP week May 1 to May 7. EP Week is a nation-wide initiative to increase awareness about individual and family preparedness, emphasizing how the public can reduce the risks and consequences of an emergency by being better prepared. During this week, we promote, educate and bring about awareness concerning emergency management planning and personal preparedness. What is the purpose? The purpose of EP Week is to educate students, parents and the community about the importance of being prepared in the case of an emergency. The safety of our students is our top priority Throughout the school year, incidents in our school communities happen. Our staff take precautions to emphasize street-proofing skills with your child. However, we feel that it is important that you take an opportunity to review safety procedures with your child. Peel Police have provided the following safety guidelines if your child encounters a stranger: Tell your children to never go anywhere with a stranger, not to talk to strangers and never take anything from them. You also have to teach them what a "safe stranger" is in case they need help. A safe stranger includes a police officer, a cashier, a fire fighter, etc. Remind your child to never walk alone always walk with a group. Develop a "what if" game for the kids to get them thinking of how they would respond if they felt threatened or afraid. Know who your children play with and where they go. This includes keeping a list of their friend's addresses and phone numbers. Remind your children not to take short cuts through parks, ravines, or other secluded areas. Your child's body is private. Tell your child that no one may touch the area their bathing suit covers. If someone does or tries to touch them, they should advise you immediately. Teach your children to talk to you immediately when someone does anything that makes them feel strange or uncomfortable. Listen when your children are trying to tell you about something that bothers them and provide them with support and understanding. Tips for riding the bus: Take a seat as quickly as possible, put belongings under the seat and stay seated. Never stick anything out of the window, including part of your body. Refrain from eating on the bus. If a choking incident occurs, the driver may not be able to help immediately. Wait until the school bus stops before standing up to exit the vehicle. Tips for exiting the bus: When getting off the bus, take two large steps away from bus. If you have to walk in front of the bus, do so at least three metres (10 giant steps) away from the bus. The driver must be able to see students exiting the bus and will give a signal when it is safe to cross. If more than one student is crossing in front of the bus at the same time, they should cross in single file. Children must never reach for something that is under the bus without the driver s permission. Let the driver know that something is under the bus or wait until the bus moves out of the way. Tips for walking to school: Help your child establish a safe, direct route to school. Avoid potential safety hazards such as train tracks, busy intersections, and reinforce what safety precautions to follow. Stay on sidewalks whenever possible. If there is no sidewalk, walk on the left side of the road and walk facing traffic. Cross streets at intersections and at crosswalks and learn to look to the left, the right, and the left again before proceeding. Wait until traffic comes to a stop before crossing. Make sure drivers see you before you cross. Don't assume the driver will stop for you.

8 On the road again: How to keep your cyclist safe Here are some tips you can review with your child to ensure bike season gets off to a great start: The right fit children should be able to straddle the bike with both feet on the ground a bike that is too big or too small can be a safety hazard the helmet should fit if it's too loose, it could fall off, if it's too tight, it's uncomfortable Get noticed a young child's bike should be equipped with a bell and reflector older riders should have a light and/or reflectors Follow the rules no riding on busy streets no riding at night stop for all STOP signs Actions that cause injuries driveway ride out not stopping and looking both ways before entering the street running the stop sign turning without warning cycling in the dark following the leader one child goes through a stop sign or misses a parked car but the second cyclist doesn't Keep your child safe around train tracks Trains are often closer and are moving faster than most motorists and pedestrians perceive. That's why all members of a family should be are aware of the importance of rail safety. Safety steps for children Playing on railway tracks and bridges is dangerous. Find safe, supervised and open areas (e.g., neighbourhood parks) in which to have fun. The only way to safely cross a rail track is to use designated railway crossings. If you must cross railway tracks, for example on your way to and from school, stop, look and listen before crossing. It is against the law to trespass on railway property. Safety steps for adults Be prepared to stop at a highway/ railway crossing. Listen for warning bells and whistles of an approaching train. Turn off, or turn down distracting fans, heaters, music/radios. Obey the signals. Never attempt to drive under a gate as it is closing or around a closed gate. If the gate begins to close while you re underneath, keep moving ahead until you clear the crossing. If a police officer or a member of the train crew is directing traffic at the crossing, obey their directions. If your vehicle stalls on the tracks, get out quickly and away from the vehicle and tracks. Move in the direction that the train is approaching from to avoid being hit by debris. Your vehicle will be swept forward by the momentum of the train.

9 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 7) 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 Also visit or follow us on