Claude Watson School for the Arts Weekly Update Friday October 26, 2018 Upcoming Events October 29 School Council October 30 Trip to the TSO (students in Grades 6, 7 and 8) October 31 Pizza Lunch Halloween November 6 Photo Re-Take Day November 9 Remembrance Day Assembly Uniform Day November 12 CWSA Information Session @ Earl Haig starting at 7pm November 13 Progress Reports go home November 15 Parent Teacher Interviews (4:00pm 8:00pm) November 16 PD Day Interviews November 19 School Council CWSA School Council The Claude Watson School for the Arts School Council will meet on Monday October 29, 2018 starting at 7:00pm in the staff room. Toronto Symphony Orchestra Trip (Grades 6 8) On Tuesday October 30, 2018 CWSA students will be travelling to Roy Thompson Hall to see the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Red Sky Performance in The Adizokan Suite. The Adizokan Suite is a new Canadian piece written to celebrate the evocative culture of the Indigenous peoples. This performance will include Indigenous singing, dance and multi-media performances. Students will leave CWSA at 9:00am and travel by TTC to Roy Thompson Hall. The concert will start at 10:30 am and will last approximately 1 hour. Students will then travel back to CWSA. We expect our students back for the second lunch period. On Tuesday October 30 we will be switching lunches around. Students in Grades 4 and 5 will have the early lunch (11:45 12:25). Students in Grades 6, 7 and 8 will have the late lunch (12:30 1:15). Students in Grade 8 will continue to have off-campus privileges. All students attending the TSO performance are required to be in their CWSA performance uniform on the date. We have a large number of blue polo shirts available for purchase from our online store. Any family needing support to purchase a performance uniform is encouraged to contact the CWSA office. For more information on the Adizokan Suite families can check out the TSO website at: https://www.tso.ca/education/schoolconcerts/intermediate-senior Pizza Lunch Wednesday October 31, 2018 The first pizza lunch of the 2018 2019 school year will take place on Wednesday October 31, 2018. We hope all students enjoy their lunch. We thank all the volunteers for their help and organization. Claude Watson School for the Arts Page 1
Hallowe en at CWSA On Wednesday October 31, 2018 CWSA will be celebrating Hallowe en. A number of events have been planned for the afternoon. Here is the important information: CWSA has made alternative arrangements for any student who does not celebrate Hallowe en. If your child does not wish to participate please contact their core teacher who will help get your child to alternative programming. CWSA will only be celebrating Hallowe en in the afternoon (starting at 1:15pm). The morning and lunch schedule will remain the same. If students select to come to school in Hallowe en costumes they will be required to fully participate in all aspects of the morning curriculum (dance and physical education included) Here is the timeline for the day: o 1:15pm Students in Grades 7 and 8 go to their core class. Students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 will go to the gym for the dance. o 2:15pm Students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 will go out for recess. Students in Grades 7 and 8 will go to the gym for the dance o 2:25pm Recess ends and students in Grades 4, 5 and 6 go to their core class o 3:30pm school dismissal The CWSA Student Council has planned most of the day and has a number of activities for the children. The Student Council is encouraging students to come in a costume. Please remember the following costume suggestions o CWSA does not encourage costumes with excessive/graphic gore (i.e. blood etc.) o CWSA does not encourage costumes with realistic weapons (guns or knives) o As your child prepares their costume please remember the impact of cultural appropriation. All of October we have had a section in our weekly update about considering the consequences of dressing in a way the reduces Dressing in a way that reduces a culture to a caricature suggests that that culture is less important than others. We are including this section in this week s newsletter for your reference. From the Student Council Hallowe en & Food Drive 2018? The CWSA Student Council is running a food drive this Hallowe en. All items collected will be donated to Corvette Junior Public School in the TDSB. Corvette JPS runs a food bank for families at their school. They have told us they really need toilet paper, toothpaste, toothbrushes, laundry detergent and shampoo. All donations are going to a really good cause. DIY Costume Contest: This year, we are continuing the tradition of the DIY Costume Contest. Your costume must be put together by yourself. Store bought items will not count, unless you have modified them or added them onto your handmade costume. There will be a prize for each class winner, and participation prizes. We will be taking a picture of the winners, which will be on the weekly update after Halloween. Claude Watson School for the Arts Page 2
CWSA Phoenix Update This week has been a wonderful week for athletics at Claude Watson School for the Arts. Both our Senior Boys Soccer Team and our Cross Country team were in action at their respective finals. Cross County Update On Thursday October 25, 2018, the CWSA Cross Country team competed at the City of Toronto finals at Centennial Park in Etobicoke. Congratulations to all students who participated. Here are our results: o Odin - 5-1 (43 rd place) o David - 6-2 (15 th place) o Yuan - 6-2 (29 th place) o Michael - 7-1 (80 th place) o Elliot - 7-1 (124 th place). Thank you all for representing Claude Watson in all the cross country meets this year. Fabulous runs! CWSA Boys Soccer Update A BIG CONGRATULATIONS to the CWSA Boys 7/8 Soccer Team on making it to the Finals and winning Silver! The team played with a lot of heart and determination, competing in the rain and cold to bring home a banner for Claude Watson. Congratulations to Elliot J., Ethan K., David Z., Ray M., Ryley P., Allan H., Dean C., Michael L., Gary W., Brody A., Jason K., Jonathan A., Ryan C., Souren K., Mark W. and Ms. Kotwal. Your hard work at practices and excellent teamwork resulted in victory for CWSA! GO PHOENIX GO!! Dumbledore s Army Cancelled October 29, 2018 Dumbledore's army will NOT meet on October 29th. We look forward to seeing everyone on November 5th. Any questions can be directed to nichola.mackay@tdsb.on.ca Math Club Cancelled October 30, 2018 Math Club is cancelled on Tuesday October 30, 2018. Math Club will resume in November. Claude Watson School for the Arts Page 3
CWSA Performance Uniform Day CWSA will be having a performance uniform day on Friday November 9, 2018. On this date all CWSA students are expected to be at school in their performance uniform for the full day. Complete details on the performance uniform are available below. Students are able to bring a sweater/sweatshirt to wear in class as required. CWSA Performance Uniform Claude Watson School for the Arts has a performance uniform that students must wear when the school is performing (Celebrations, Reflections and other opportunities). Students might also be required to wear their performance uniform during trips to concerts, galleries or performances. Each autumn CWSA has a performance uniform day to ensure all students have the required uniform for upcoming performances/school trips. We have 2 dates in November where students need to have their uniforms: Friday November 9, 2018 Full Uniform for Check Day/Remembrance Day Assembly Thursday November 22, 2018 Grade 5 students must wear their uniform on their trip to the theatre Here are details about the uniform: Each student is required to wear the CWSA blue navy blue polo this is only available from CWSA and can be purchased using School Cash Online Each student is required to wear Khaki pants or a khaki skirt. We do not sell the khaki pants or skirt here at CWSA. We strongly recommend families use Old Navy to purchase the pants or skirt. The Old Navy colour we use is rolled oat Here are links to the correct items: o Boys:(https://oldnavy.gapcanada.ca/browse/product.do?cid=3 3970&pcid=5924&vid=1&pid=284361013) o Girls: Pants (https://oldnavy.gapcanada.ca/browse/product.do?cid=36684 &pcid=36516&vid=1&pid=656300003 ) o Girls: Skirt (https://oldnavy.gapcanada.ca/browse/product.do?cid=36689 &pcid=36516&vid=1&pid=223441013) Students who wear pants must wear a black belt Students who wear a skirt should have navy stockings or tights please note: no leggings please Students should have black socks and black dress shoes Please contact the office if you have any questions about the uniforms. Claude Watson School for the Arts Page 4
Uniform Support CWSA requires all students to have a performance uniform. Please contact the office if you need any assistance getting the required uniform items. We are committed to ensuring all children in our school have the items they need to successfully participate in all aspects of our program. A Reminder about Hallowe en Costumes Dressing up for Hallowe en is fun and exciting, but this day also provides an opportunity to discuss costume choices with our children. Dressing in a way that reduces a culture to a caricature suggests that that culture is less important than others. We ask that parents and students be sensitive as they select a costume to wear at school. In 2015 the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada published their recommendations to help all Canadians address the impact of residential schools on First Nations peoples across Canada. We are reminded of the important role First Nations peoples have in the continued development of Canada. The truth is that wearing an authentic Indian costume for Hallowe en caricaturizes significant regalia such as headdresses and jingle dresses, negating the fact that the right to wear these must traditionally be earned. Hallowe en Safety Tips Hallowe'en provides an opportunity for parents and children to spend time together creating costumes, carving pumpkins, planning trick or treat activities and participating in family parties. Hallowe'en is a big event at schools and provides opportunities for parties, creative activities, art programs and impromptu history lessons. Hallowe'en is also a time for students, parents, and schools to take extra care to ensure safety and security. TRICK OR TREAT SAFETY If parents are concerned about trick or treating, here are some basic safety rules to follow: Children should NEVER eat any treats until parents have had a chance to go through them and inspect them. Parents should look for tampering of packages and discard any they believe to be unsafe or unknown. Have your child carry a flashlight. NEVER go into a stranger's house. NEVER trick or treat with people you do not know. Trick or treat only at homes you know. Children should always stay in groups if no parent is present. Younger children should ALWAYS be accompanied by an older person. Accompany your child when trick or treating. Claude Watson School for the Arts Page 5
If you can not accompany your child then know the route your child will take. Flame resistant (retardant) costumes are in order. Keep costumes short and remind children to stay away from pumpkins with candles in them. Remind children to stay away from pets they do not know. Remind children of road safety rules. Cross only at corners. Do not criss-cross the road. Go up one side of the road and down the other side. Never cross between parked cars. Walk facing on-coming traffic if there is no sidewalk If adults are driving their children, drive slowly, with lights on and be cautious when pulling to the side of the road. Children should wear their own shoes when trick or treating. Wearing costume shoes/boots can be dangerous and uncomfortable. Remind children that not everyone celebrates Hallowe'en, and to avoid any homes that have no lights on. Also remind children not to run through neighbours yards or gardens. With older children, be sure to know what other events (such as parties) they plan on attending. Set time limits when children should return home. Claude Watson School for the Arts Page 6