Each year, Black History Month is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of Black communities in Canada, listen to their stories, and learn more about their history and contributions to Canadian society. Last February, 2024, the Municipality proclaimed February to be Black History Month in Port Hope, and our Grade 5/6 classes attended Town Hall to witness this occasion. At Beatrice Strong, we have raised our Pan-African Flag for the month of February to symbolize our commitment to honoring Black history and heritage.

To launch Black History Month, Neskens Jr Dorcelus will be back at Beatrice Strong this coming Wednesday, February 5th to deliver his keynote presentation: "Redefining Black History: Strength, Innovation, and the Power of Diversity."

This keynote focuses on:

· Addressing the Misconceptions of Black History

· Embracing the Benefits of Diversity

· Discovering the Rich History of Resilience & Applying It Today

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSca2eA9leRGvruh_wQaejcX43YEJnt-sq_AnL5Hi4xbk5_-Pg/viewform

Mental Health and Well-Being is one area of focus as part of our School Improvement Plan.

PPM 169 (link below) provides information on Ontario's 3-year Mental Health Strategy and at KPR our Mental Health Committee is working hard to ensure our schools are meeting the needs of our students and families.

Classroom Tools for us to start the new year off right, by putting wellness at the forefront!

https://deptsites.kprdsb.ca/en/staff/supporting-student-well-being-and-mental-health.aspx

Click on the Link to KPRDSB's page and navigate the resource options!

Our Dance-a-Thon was an absolutely huge success! Our students had a fabulous time! Thank you so much to our Parent Council and Volunteers for all of your support and coordinating this Event for Beatrice Strong! A huge thank you to our families and school community for all your generous donations of funds and prizes! Our school community raised over $10,311.35!

Here is the link to our Indigenous Education focus for February: ART

https://sites.google.com/kprdsb.ca/passporttoreconciliation/site-map/truth-and-reconciliation/passport-to-reconciliation/art

https://www.kprschools.ca/learning-and-programs/kindergarten/

Beatrice Strong will be hosting a Welcome to Kindergarten evening for parents/guardians. The date for this will be coming very shortly.

Also, on this night we will host a French Immersion information session, for students entering SK or Grade 1. Here is a Link for information about our French Immersion Program

KPRDSB's Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Department works extremely hard supporting our schools and staff with strategies and resources to ensure our school communities are safe, inclusive, and foster a sense of belonging! Here are some fabulous January Resources...

A huge thank you to our parents/guardians for your generous donations of crochet and knitting supplies! We have had such an overwhelming, positive response from our students who can't wait to create! Merci Madame Currell for providing this opportunity to our students!

https://kprdsb.schoolcashonline.com/Fee/Details/4/100/false/true?school=575&initiative=3

Our school is in need of some Playground upgrades! We would love to replace the pea gravel in the Kindergarten Yard with safer EWF (engineered wood fibre), and also add a Funnel Ball hoop to our Primary Yard. We would also love to re-paint the designs on our pavement areas. School Council is supporting us with this initiative. We have added a Link to SCO (school cash online) whereby families, community members, and staff, can make donations to this great cause! Above, is a link which will be open all year round.

When you donate through this link, you will automatically receive a Tax Receipt as it’s a charitable donation.
Donors do not have to have a School Cash Online Account with the new Credit Card Online Payment Option – you can log in as a guest.
Donations received through this link will be held at the Board Office in a Beatrice Strong Charitable Donation G/L 86-916-1-105-965. We appreciate any donations! Thank you!

If you have a change in dismissal routine for your child, at the end of the school day, it is very important to call the office first! We will then communicate this change to the classroom teacher. Thank you!

Also, please try to avoid buzzing the office and picking up your child(ren) between 3:15 - 3:30 each day. This is our busiest and most hectic time of day with busses being loaded and organizing students for Kiss and Ride. Thank you for your consideration.

Happy Monday

Staff Meeting 3:45

SCC Meeting 6:00

Healthy Hunger - Boston Pizza

Girls' Volleyball Tournament

Neskens Jr. Dorcelus - Black History Month Assembly 9:30 / 10:15

Healthy Hunger - Papa's Pizza Land

Reports/IEPs Due to Office

• February 7 - Reports/IEPs Due to Office (Overview sent via email)
• February 10-12 Candy Gram school foyer, 2nd Recess
• February 12 - MFT meeting
• February 14 - Valentine's Day
• February 17 - FAMILY DAY (no school)
• February 20 - Term 1 Reports/IEPs go home
• February 24 - Primary Skating at JB 9:30-11:15
• February 25 - Junior Skating at JB 9:30-11:15
• February 26 - Pink Shirt Day
• February 26, 27, 28 - classroom Wellness presentations (HKPR District Health Unit)
• March 8 - International Women's Day
• March 7 - 16 March Break

As you may have already heard, new provincial government legislation has resulted in changes to the use of personal mobile devices in schools (laptop, cellphone, tablet or smart watch).

In order to ensure a focused and engaging learning environment, all personal mobile devices are to be out of view and powered off during the entire instructional day (9:10 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.) including both Nutrition Breaks.