Good morning Brownridge Families of students in grades 4 and 5,
Is your child interested in learning through the arts? The arts@Baythorn allows students to explore Dance, Drama, Visual Arts, and Music integrated into their learning each and every day in a collaborative and cooperative learning environment. Please see the attached arts@Baythorn Flyer for the 2022-2023 school year.
Grade 1 French Immersion Information Sessions and Registrations: What is French Immersion?
In French Immersion, students receive instruction in French in a variety of subjects from a teacher who speaks French fluently.
The French Immersion program begins in Grade 1 and is designed for children whose first language is not French.
In Grades 1, 2 and 3, all subjects are taught in French. Starting in Grade 4, time is shared equally between French and English instruction.
The French Immersion program continues in high school.
Secondary school students must earn at least 10 French Immersion credits to qualify for the French Immersion Certificate upon graduation.
Important Considerations
For the first few months of Grade 1, the children do not acquire skills identical to those learned by children in an English program as the focus is on learning in French.
There may be certain lags in English Language Arts skills in the first few years of the program, but by the end of the elementary grades, successful French Immersion students perform as well as their peers in a regular English program.
Communication with parents/guardians is in English including, but not limited to, report cards, newsletters and parent-teacher interviews.
Reading to a child at home in a child’s native language can strengthen literacy skills. Research studies confirm that children achieve greater academic success when parents read frequently (daily) to them.
There is only one entry point into French immersion in YRDSB; Grade 1.
Information Sessions
This year our Information session for Grade 1 entry into the French Immersion (FI) program will take place virtually on January13, 2022. A link will be shared with you via email where you will be able to view a pre-recorded information session which includes commonly asked questions and answers.
Registration
FI registration will begin on January 14, 2022. Parents or guardians of Senior Kindergarten students entering Grade 1 in2022, and wishing to enroll in the FI Program, can email or call their home school office and indicate their intention to enroll. The home school will notify the French Immersion school, and the French Immersion school will contact you by phone or email to collect any necessary information. You are asked to register by February 4, 2022. Registration during this period is not first come, first served.
Late Registrations
Late registrations are those submitted after February 4, 2022. Late registrations will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis and will be considered subsequent to registrations received during the registration period should over flow be necessary.
Accommodation Plan
YRDSB’s FI Accommodation Plan provides long-term consistency and equity of access to all students in York Region and will enable YRDSB to continue to offer the FI program to all who wish to enroll. The FI program will be offered in Dual Track or Single Track settings, in a variety of configurations. In order to meet community needs and optimize available space in our schools, a community’s Grade 1-8 FI program may be provided over more than one school during the course of a student’s FI education. Space requirements at some schools may mean that siblings are in different schools for primary dual track French Immersion programs due to differing grade structures. Like any of our schools across the Board, changes to school boundaries, and/or the accommodation model for the French Immersion program may need to be considered when new schools open, a school experiences enrolment growth, and program changes occur. This will allow flexibility in addressing community needs and the opportunity to use existing space in schools.
More information is available on the Board’s website: www.yrdsb.ca. Please note: Some of the FI accommodation plans will require facility modifications or the development of new schools and will require short-term transition plans that might include over flow while we work toward the long-term vision. Over flow refers to situations in which the Board directs students to attend a school other than their community school or optional program for a specific period of time, as defined in Policy #108.
We are excited that spirit days are taking place at Brownridge this week before the winter break. See the schedule below for the fun ways your child can show their Brownridge enthusiasm!
Here is the schedule:
MON, DEC 13
TUES, DEC 14
WED, DEC 15
THURS, DEC 16
FRID, DEC 17
WEAR A HOLIDAY HAT/WINTER TUQUE
WEAR A HOLIDAY SWEATER
WACKY HAIR DAY
WEAR SCHOOL COLOURS (BLUE AND WHITE)
PYJAMA DAY
HOLIDAY HEROES CAMPAIGN
Thank you to all of the families of have made a donation thus far. Our boxes are filling up with items that will bring joy and relief to those in need. But we still need your help! There is still time to participate in the Holiday Heroes Campaign in collaboration with the York Region Police Services. Despite being a small school, we have the opportunity to make a big impact in our community. This year, we will be running the campaign from November 15th to December 15th. We are asking students and families to donate gift cards and new, unwrapped toys and clothes. There are boxes in the front foyer of the school where items can be placed. Gift cards should be brought to the office. Monetary donations can also be made online through the secure website at http://www.yrp.ca/hhdonate.
Let’s continue the school theme of being #unstoppable!
RAPID ANTIGEN TEST KITS – SENT HOME ON DECEMBER 10
Take-home Rapid Antigen Testing Kits have been sent home with all in-person students at Brownridge. A communication about the kits was emailed to families on December 8th. It is included below for your perusal. Please review the important information prior to returning to school on January 3rd.
COVID SCREENING
This is an important reminder to complete the COVID screening prior to your child coming to school or Daycare. Screening must be completed daily by using the online COVID-19 screening tool; parents must not send children to school or child care if they are showing any symptoms of COVID-19. If your child presents with a Covid-19 symptom(s) at school, they will go to the isolation room and you will be called to pick them up. They will then require a PCR test (NOT a rapid antigen test) or they will need to remain home for 10 days. (If the PCR test is negative, they may return to school with an attestation form). UPDATE- Beginning January 3rd, upon completion of the self-assessment, Parents/Guardians will complete the response to the question: “Have you completed the self-screening tool?” in the Confirmation Form, using their child’s GAPPS account login information.
SPIRIT WEEK- DECEMBER 13-17
We are excited to announce that spirit days are taking place at Brownridge next week before winter break. See the schedule below for the fun ways your child can show their Brownridge enthusiasm!
Here is the schedule:
MON, DEC 13
TUES, DEC 14
WED, DEC 15
THURS, DEC 16
FRID, DEC 17
WEAR A HOLIDAY HAT/WINTER TUQUE
WEAR A HOLIDAY SWEATER
WACKY HAIR DAY
WEAR SCHOOL COLOURS (BLUE AND WHITE)
PYJAMA DAY
SCHOOL COUNCIL MEETING- JANUARY 10TH AT 6:30PM
Join us for our next School Council meeting taking place on January 10th at 6:30pm. A link will be sent home to families to register and a meeting link will be emailed to you.
RAISING CONFIDENT COMPETENT CHILDREN – MONDAY DECEMBER 13, 2021
See the attachment for further details about this upcoming virtual parenting session.
WINTER BREAK
Winter Break runs from December 20-December 31. Schools re-open on January 3rd.
YRDSB EMAIL TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS RE: COVID-19 VACCINATION CLINICS FOR CHILDREN AGES 5 – 11
Please see this message from York Region Public Health regarding school and community COVID-19 vaccination clinics for children ages 5-11 and eligible family members. PLEASE NOTE- Some parents have reached out to me to express concern that we, at Brownridge, will be vaccinating students. Rest assured, we, at Brownridge, will NOT be vaccinating students.
If you are travelling outside of Canada over the Winter Break, please ensure you follow the direction of York Region Public Health and current COVID-19 travel protocols upon your return and prior to returning to school. Let’s work together to keep everyone safe.
HOLIDAY HEROES CAMPAIGN
Thank you to all of the families of have made a donation thus far. Our boxes are filling up with items that will bring joy and relief to those in need. But we still need your help! There is still time to participate in the Holiday Heroes Campaign in collaboration with the York Region Police Services. Despite being a small school, we have the opportunity to make a big impact in our community. This year, we will be running the campaign from November 15th to December 15th. We are asking students and families to donate gift cards and new, unwrapped toys and clothes. There are boxes in the front foyer of the school where items can be placed. Gift cards should be brought to the office. Monetary donations can also be made online through the secure website at http://www.yrp.ca/hhdonate.
Let’s continue the school theme of being #unstoppable!
WINTER IS COMING
As the weather continues to shift to colder temperatures, please be sure to dress your children to stay warm. Please be sure to send with your child:
indoor shoes (if they don’t already have)
hat, mittens, scarves
boots
warm coat and snow pants
INCLEMENT WEATHER DAYS
In the event that the weather makes road conditions unsafe, The York Region District School Board may declare an Inclement Weather Day. This year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, our Inclement Weather Day Procedure will be adjusted as follows.
For the 2021-2022 school year, in the event school bus transportation is cancelled, the following Inclement Weather Days will be in effect:
All YRDSB Schools will be CLOSED to students
All student learning will be remote and asynchronous
Office staff will mark all students using the attendance code of BC (Bad Weather/Bus Cancellation)
Before and After Care programs will NOT run
The decision to declare an Inclement Weather Day will be made by 6:00 am. Families will receive an email notifying them that schools will be closed to students due to the weather. This will also be announced on local media (tv and radio), websites and twitter (@brownridgeps).
Lunches/water bottles/School items/clothing/etc.
Please work with your child(ren) to ensure that indoor/outdoor clothing, snacks, school supplies, lunches and water bottles are packed either the night before school, or the morning of school. Drop-offs between school hours cannot occur due to the current COVID protocols as per Public Health.
LETTER FROM THE GOVERNMENT OF ONTARIO
Good evening Brownridge Families,
This letter is being sent on behalf of the Government of Ontario
In an effort to promote a safer return to the classroom after the winter break, on behalf of the Government of Ontario, the YRDSB will be distributing take-home rapid antigen screening kits to every child who attends a publicly-funded school in Ontario.
Our school will be sending the rapid antigen screening kits home on December 10, 2021. Please check your child’s backpack for the kit. Use of the screening kits is voluntary.
The rapid antigen screening kits are intended for use by any child who attends a publicly funded school, regardless of their vaccination status. Rapid antigen screening kits are to be distributed to students who participate in in-person learning. This testing option will not be available to students who have been learning remotely since September 2021.
Please note, your child’s participation in this rapid antigen screening is voluntary. Students are not required to participate in order to return to the classroom after the winter break.
While providing students with rapid antigen screening kits is an important tool for managing the spread of COVID-19, vaccination remains the most effective protection against the virus and its variants. Ensuring that children and youth are vaccinated will provide them with a strong level of protection and help to keep schools open and as safe as possible.
It also is important to remember that we all need to continue with key public health advice, including staying home when sick, getting tested if you have symptoms, washing your hands frequently and wearing a face covering as required.
Please read the important information below prior to using the rapid antigen screening kit.
When to Use the Rapid Antigen Screening Kit (distributed prior to the winter break):
For students who choose to use rapid antigen screening kits, it is recommended students conduct the rapid antigen tests every 3-4 days over the holiday break, on every Monday and Thursday beginning December 23, until all five tests have been used.
Rapid antigen screening kits are only to be used when a child is asymptomatic (i.e. does not have any symptoms of COVID-19 and has not had any exposure to a confirmed case of COVID-19).
Anyone with symptoms or who is identified as a close contact of a case should still get PCR testing. Rapid antigen screening tests should not be used as a substitute for PCR tests for people with symptoms or for people who are close contacts of cases.
Using the Take-Home Rapid Antigen Screening Kit:
The BTNX Rapid Response™ can be performed using anterior nasal swabbing (per the package insert, as approved by Health Canada) or using deep nasal swabbing (as recommended by Public Health Ontario in this document, given higher sensitivity compared to anterior nasal swabbing). Both types of specimen collection can be performed using the NP swab provided with the kit.
Please follow the instructions provided with the kit.
Important note: Parents or guardians may choose to administer this screening on children who may need help (i.e., younger children).
What to do after your test:
You will know the outcome of the test within 15 minutes. If test results conducted so far are negative, your child may return to school as usual. Even if your child tests negative, they should continue to adhere to all relevant public health guidance, such as guidance on gathering, distancing, and masking.
A positive result on a rapid antigen screening test is considered a preliminary positive. A child that receives a positive result on a rapid antigen screening test should seek a confirmatory PCR test as soon as possible (ideally within 48 hours) at a local testing site or pharmacy that offers testing and isolate themselves until the result of that confirmatory PCR test is known.
If you have any questions, please call Public Health.
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