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Great Lakes P.S. 1 A Message from the Administration Team We look forward to Education Week at Great Lakes April 8- 12. The theme this year in our school board is #WeInspire. We will celebrate throughout the week with a variety of activities for our students and their families. Education Week Highlights April 8 Award of Distinction Assembly 9:25 a.m. April 10 Day of Pink/Inclusion Assembly 9:25 a.m. & School Open House 1:45-2:45 pm (Parents are welcome to attend activities on April 8 th & 10 th ) April 12 Paul Davis: Internet Safety Presentation & Miguel Martinez 5210 Wellness Workshop Be sure to follow us on Twitter @1GreatLakes2013 School Success Our school has been involved in an ongoing project to remodel our computer lab to be a collaborative learning Maker Space. Recently, we had D tables installed (pictured below) to allow for students to more easily gather in groups and engage in collaborative learning. Over the past few weeks, our students have had an opportunity to participate in Maker Space sessions with their teachers, teacher librarian and our instructional coach, linking their work with the Forest of Reading series to design and technology activities. Great Lakes P.S. Home of the Grizz Math Tips Encourage a variety of problem-solving strategies: • guess and check • look for a pattern • make a diagram or model • act it out • work backwards • simplify the problem • eliminate possibilities 285 Great Lakes Drive, Brampton, ON L6R 2R8 Phone 905.793.8632 Fax 905.793.1860 Principal Mrs. Vokey Vice-Principals Mrs. Slimati & Mrs. Raybould Office Manager Mrs. Mihkelson Trustee Ms. Balbir Sohi Superintendent Mr. Michael Logue APRIL 2019 EDITION

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Page 1: Great Lakes P.S.schools.peelschools.org/1476/Lists/SchoolNewsLetters/April Newsletter 2019.pdf• guess and check A Message from the Administration Team ... homophobic language because

Great Lakes P.S. 1

A Message from the

Administration Team

We look forward to Education Week at Great Lakes April 8-12. The theme this year in our school board is #WeInspire. We will celebrate throughout the week with a variety of activities for our students and their families.

Education Week Highlights

April 8 – Award of Distinction Assembly 9:25 a.m. April 10 – Day of Pink/Inclusion Assembly 9:25 a.m. & School Open House 1:45-2:45 pm (Parents are welcome to attend activities on April 8

th & 10

th )

April 12 – Paul Davis: Internet Safety Presentation

& Miguel Martinez 5210 Wellness Workshop

Be sure to follow us on Twitter @1GreatLakes2013

School Success

Our school has been involved in an ongoing project to remodel our computer lab to be a collaborative learning Maker Space. Recently, we had D tables installed (pictured below) to allow for students to more easily gather in groups and engage in collaborative learning. Over the past few weeks, our students have had an opportunity to participate in Maker Space sessions with their teachers, teacher librarian and our instructional coach, linking their work with the Forest of Reading series to design and technology activities.

Great Lakes P.S.

Home of the Grizz

Math Tips

Encourage a variety of problem-solving

strategies: • guess and check • look for a pattern • make a diagram or model • act it out • work backwards • simplify the problem • eliminate possibilities

285 Great Lakes Drive, Brampton, ON L6R 2R8 Phone 905.793.8632 Fax 905.793.1860 Principal – Mrs. Vokey Vice-Principals – Mrs. Slimati & Mrs. Raybould Office Manager – Mrs. Mihkelson

Trustee – Ms. Balbir Sohi Superintendent – Mr. Michael Logue

APRIL 2019 EDITION

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What's Happening At Great Lakes?

Character Trait Theme:

Inclusion

Welcome and engage others

Treat everyone with respect and value

Approach situations free of prejudice

Reach out to others in a fair and equitable manner

Respect differences

Great Lakes P.S. Goes Pink on April 10 On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, 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, transphobia and biphobia. “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.

Day of Pink and Inclusive Assembly – Wednesday, April 10th at 9:25 a.m.

Bus Delays, Cancellation Information Available on STOPR Website

At the Peel District School Board, we are committed to providing safe and efficient transportation services for our students to and from school every day. Transportation staff do their best to ensure that buses arrive and leave on time, but sometimes, delays happen.

Information about delays may not always be available through the school, especially if they happen outside of the school day. The best place for finding information about bus delays and cancellations, as they happen, is the Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR) website at www.storpr.ca. To find information specific to your child's bus, you will need the bus route number.

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What’s Happening in Kindergarten

at Great Lakes?

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What’s Happening in Kindergarten

at Great Lakes?

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Peel board celebrates public education during Education Week – April 8 to 12 Peel public schools will host hundreds of special activities and events to celebrate Education Week 2019. To give schools plenty of time to hold activities, this celebration of education will be held from April 8 to 12. 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 and Education Champion. 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 34 deserving recipients at the Showcase of Excellence ceremony on Monday, April 15 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.

Peel public schools celebrate Education Week Peel public schools will host hundreds of special activities and events to celebrate Education Week 2019 from April 8 to 12. The theme for this year's week-long focus on education is We Inspire.

Education Week Highlights

April 8 – Award of Distinction Assembly 9:25 a.m. April 10 – Day of Pink/Inclusion Assembly 9:25 a.m. & School Open House 1:45-2:45 pm (Parents are welcome to attend activities on April 8

th & 10

th )

April 12 – Paul Davis: Internet Safety Presentation\ &

Miguel Martinez 5210 Wellness Workshop 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.

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April - Earth Month Earth Month encompasses the international celebration of Earth Day on April 22, 2019. 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

Great Lakes goes pink on April 10

On Wednesday, April 10, 2019, 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, transphobia and biphobia. “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 and participate in a number of activities. Here is a list of events happening at our school:

April 10 – Day of Pink/Inclusion Assembly @ 9:25 a.m. (Parents are welcome to attend)

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Celebrate Administrative Professionals’ Day Wednesday, April 24, 2019 Peel schools will pay tribute to administrative professionals on Administrative Professionals’ Day on April 24, 2019. 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 24 provides an opportunity to give these individuals the recognition they deserve.

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, http://peelschools.org/parents/specialed/specedac/Pages/default.aspx

ParentConnect

Online parent portal to access important student information

Last year, the Peel District School Board launched ParentConnect, an online parent portal to access important student information.

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 www.peelschools.org/parentconnect

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Did you know that 1 in 5 students in Peel Region face barriers related to poverty that prevent

them from fully participating in school.

In partnership with the Peel District School Board, the Peel Learning Foundation was created to enable Peel board students to achieve personal excellence by providing resources to help them overcome barriers.

In its first year, the foundation will support Peel board students through:

Student Emergency Needs program Depending on the need, the foundation will support individual students with food and clothing, medical supplies, eyeglasses and transportation costs, or where there is an emergency situation that requires a compassionate response.

Student Backpack program The foundation will provide backpacks filled with school supplies that students need to fully participate in regular classroom work. The backpacks will be provided to students in need in a respectful and confidential manner. They are tailored for students in kindergarten to grade 3, grades 4 to 8, and grades 9 to 12.

Individuals or organizations who are interested in learning more about and supporting the foundation can visit www.PeelLearningFoundation.org. You can also follow the foundation on Twitter (@PeelLearningFDN) and Facebook (www.facebook.com/PeelLearningFDN), and use the hashtag #CreateHope to join the conversation.

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Using social media safely With the growing number of social media sites, it is no surprise that social media is the most common form of communication for children and teenagers. Posts, status updates, comments, instant messages, video uploads, tweets and texts have become a regular part of their lives. While there are many positive benefits to using social media, including staying connected with friends and expressing your interests, students must be cautious in their use of these networks. Among the most popular social media platforms used are Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, YouTube and Whatsapp Messenger. Many of these platforms are free and are available on smartphones and other electronic devices. These platforms are easy to navigate and often allow information to be shared instantly, not only with friends, but with strangers. On social media, it is important to remember that the world is watching.

Here are some tips, provided by the Canadian Safe School Network and GetSafeOnline.org, to keep your children safe and help them make smart choices when using social media:

Set some boundaries for your child before they get their first ‘connected device’ (mobile, tablet, laptop

or games console). Once they have it, it can be more difficult to change the way they use it or the

settings.

Have a conversation about what is appropriate online behaviour and what actions could have huge repercussions that could damage their reputation and be harmful to others.

Talk to your child about the kind of websites they look at. Encourage them to speak to you if they come

across something they find worrying or upsetting on websites, games or social media.

Discuss with your child what is safe and appropriate to post and share online. Written comments,

photos and videos all form part of their ‘digital footprint’ and could be seen by anyone and available on

the internet forever, even if it is subsequently deleted.

Explain to your child that being online doesn’t give them anonymity or protection, and that they shouldn’t do anything online that they wouldn’t do face-to-face. Users should only accept people they know in order to protect themselves from spammers, strangers and others who may be using social networking sites to commit crimes.

Unlike when they’re meeting someone face-to-face, children don’t always know who they’re actually

‘talking’ to online, even if they think they do. Tell your children they must never email, chat, or text with

strangers, and it’s never okay to meet a stranger in the real world.

Ensure your children set their privacy settings appropriately. Take the time to learn how privacy settings

work on your children’s favourite sites, and teach them how to control their privacy.

Tell your children never to share personal and private information with anyone online. This includes, but is not limited to, his or her full name, age, birth date, address, phone number, social insurance number, credit card information and parents’ full names.

Limit the amount of time that your children spend on social media platforms and talk about the importance of healthy and appropriate use of technology.

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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.

Celebrating Faith and Culture April 2019

DATE

CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

April Mmaal and Sucker Moon Aboriginal Spirituality

Eve of April 1 or 2 to April 2 or 3

Isra and Mi’raj Islam

April 5 Vasant Navratri and New Year’s Day Hinduism

April 8 Farvardegan Zoroastrianism

April 9 to 27 Month of Jalál Bahá'í

April 13 or 14 Vaisakhi or Baisakhi Sikhism and Hinduism

April 13 or 14 Saka and New Year’s Day Buddhism and Hinduism

April 14 Theravada New Year Buddhism

April 14 or 21 (J) Palm Sunday Christianity

April 14-20 or 22-26 (J) Holy Week begins Christianity

April 17 Mahavir Jayanti Jainism

April 18 or 25 (J) Holy Thursday (Maundy Thursday) Christianity

April 18 or 20 Nisfu Sha’ban Islam

April 19 or 26 (J) Good Friday (Holy Friday) Christianity

Sunset of April 19 to 27 Pesach (Passover) Judaism

Sunset of April 20 to May 2 Ridvan Bahá'í

April 21 or 28 (J) Easter or Pascha Christianity

April 22 or 29 (J) Easter Monday Christianity and Canada

April 24 Zarathosht-no-Diso Zoroastrianism

April 28 to May 16 Month of Jamál Bahá'í

April 30 to May 4 Ghambar Maidyozarem Zoroastrianism

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Celebrating Faith and Culture Backgrounder April 2019 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 2019 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. Eve of April 2 or 3 – 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 27th 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 April 1st or 2nd. April 5 - Vasant Navratri and New Year’s Day in Hinduism Chaitra Navratri (April 5 to April 13) begins from this day. This festival is observed twice a year, in the month of Chaitra and then in Aswayuja (September/October). It lasts for nine days in honour of the nine manifestations of goddess Durga. During Navratri (the word literally means "nine nights"), devotees of Hinduism observe a fast and undertake religious activities like puja. This day is also the beginning of a New Year 2074 for Hindu followers of Vikram Samvat Calendar. The New Year’s Day celebrations and festivities vary amongst the many denominations of the faith. Gudi Padwa will be observed on this day and Ugadi will be celebrated on the 6th. 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.

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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. 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 common to all are feasts, gift giving, religious ceremonies and spending time with family and friends. April 14 - 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.

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April 14 or 21 (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. April 14-20 or 22-26 (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 17 - Mahavir Jayanti in Jainism Mahavira-Jayanti is the festival to commemorate the birth of Lord Mahavira, who was the 24th and the last Jain Tirthankara (enlightened soul). He was born on the 13th day of the rising moon in the month of Chaitra (March/April) in 599 BCE in India. Jain temples all over the world are decorated with flags for the occasion. On his birth anniversary, the followers of the faith observe the day by visiting temples, offering prayers, reaffirming their beliefs, meditating and listening to discourses on Mahavira's life and teachings. Mahavira-jayanti is celebrated not only to mark the birthday of Mahavira, but also to inculcate his teachings in one’s life. Mahavira preached that right faith (samyak-darshana), right knowledge (samyak-gnana), and right conduct (samyak-charitra) together is the real path to attain the liberation of one's self. April 18 or 25 (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. April 18 or 20 – 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.

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April 19 or 26 (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. Sunset of April 19 to April 27 - 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 19th . 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. 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 12th (May 2) days of Ridvan are all major Bahá'í holy days. Bahá'ís suspend work on the ninth day (April 29).

April 21 or 28 (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

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April 22 or 29 (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 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. 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

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Questions? If you would like any more information on how to celebrate these days, please call Ashley Bigda, Community Relations Officer at 905-890-1010, ext. 2573 or e-mail her [email protected]