SWL Community Weekly Time Lion Oct.28-Nov.1

Community Update October 28-November 1

Community Weekly Time Lion Hear us Roar October 28 – November 1 Somalian Heritage Month Latin American Heritage Month Women’s History Month Islamic Heritage Month
Monday, October 28	Day 3	·       12PM Shelter in Place Drill ·       3:45PM V-ball Junior Girls
Tuesday, October 29	Day 4
Wednesday, October 30	Day 5	·        1st Break Positive Space
Thursday, October 31	Day 1	·       Diwali ·       Fall Festivities or Halloween celebrations for those choosing to celebrate (see messaging below)
Friday, November 1	Day 0	PA Day – No School for Students Educators will engage in Islamophobia, Anti-Muslim Racism and Anti-Palestinian Racism Training during the morning of the day.  During the afternoon educators will review wellness activities and explore diagnostic reading assessment tools.  Educators will plan for next instructional steps to support student reading success.

Upcoming Events

Student/Parent Art Night run by School Council November 14, 4:30-6:30PM

Progress Reports Go Home November 19

Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences November 21&22

Shelter in Place Drill

In a Shelter in Place emergency, students and staff must remain inside the school building due to a concern outdoors (i.e., environmental concern, weather related hazard).  Limited movement around the building occurs, however students continue to participate in routine learning, besides remaining indoors.

We will practice this procedure in a drill on Monday around 12PM. The drill will take about 15 minutes.

You can also learn more about HWDSB’s secure schools’ protocol at https://hwdsb.info/secureschools.

 

November – Months of Significance

The Month of November acknowledges and recognizes a few different Heritage Months and Months of significance:  Indigenous Heritage Month (Treaties Recognition Week); Albanian, Hindu and Lebanese Heritage Months.

Indigenous Education

The purpose of acknowledging and learning about Indigenous Education and Treaties Recognition Week in November, is to intentionally continue to unlearn and relearn true histories.  The purpose of Treaties Recognition Week is to recognize the importance of treaties and increase awareness of the treaty relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities in Ontario.

The best way to celebrate and learn about Indigenous peoples is to listen to First Nations, Inuit and Métis through their own voices, by reading a book, watching a film or video, or listening to music created by Indigenous people.

Albanian Heritage

The Albanian community has made and continues to make significant contributions to the Hamilton community and beyond. In respect and celebration to these contributions, Albanian Heritage Month has been proclaimed in Ontario since 2015, and nationally in 2023. November represents a multitude of culturally significant dates for those of Albanian heritage and descent, including their declaration of independence on November 28th, 1912, and liberation from Nazi Germany on November 29th, 1944.

HWDSB recognizes the diverse array of contributions the Albanian community has made to Canada, Ontario and Hamilton communities and cultures. During November, and throughout the year, we reflect, celebrate, and educate about the role Albanian Heritage plays in our communities.

Hindu Heritage

November has officially been recognized as Hindu Heritage Month by Ontario since 2016 and proclaimed by the federal government since 2022. This is a time to recognize and celebrate the outstanding contributions of Canadians of Hindu heritage across all fields, including politics, arts, business, science, education, and medicine.

During the month of November and throughout the year, HWDSB remembers, educates, and celebrates the past and present contributions of Hindu Canadians to our social, economic, political, and cultural fabric. We also recognize there is still work to be done to reduce barriers, respond to systemic inequalities and create a more equitable and just society.

Lebanese Heritage

Lebanese Canadians have for generations made significant social, economic, cultural, religious, and political contributions to our social fabric. As such, the Legislative Assembly of Ontario proclaimed the month of November as Lebanese Heritage Month in 2017, with the federal government following suite in 2023. November provides a key opportunity to reflect upon the many significant contributions of those of Lebanese heritage.

HWDSB celebrates the traditions, culture, and languages of the Lebanese community. We recognize the contributions in areas such as- but not limited to art, music, and cuisine, made by Canadians of Lebanese heritage during the month of November and throughout the year. We also want to ensure that we provide equitable spaces that remove any sort of discrimination, ostracization or xenophobia in our classrooms and community.

Entry/Dismissal – Hardtop at Back of School

As we continue to support student independence at school, we are requesting during morning drop off and end of day pick up, families remain on the field area or edge of hardtop near field.

Supervision occurs during 8:35AM-8:50AM and 3:10PM-3:25PM to support student safety.   As all our students are now aware of their class line ups, we ask that parents/guardians do not wait in line with their child due to congestion on our hardtop and ensuring safety for all students.  Students can manage this skill independently throughout the day.

Families walking with older students (i.e., Grades 4 and up) should drop off/pick up at end of the city pathway near the hardtop entrance to also help lessen traffic on our hard top at entry and end of day.

At pick up, we ask families of younger students continue to wait at edge of hardtop and field area.  Your child’s teacher will dismiss your child to you in this area.  Older students can meet families at the city pathway near the hard top entrance.

Thank you for your understanding and helping us limit congestion during these times.

Spirit Wear

SWL Spirit wear is available once again.  Orders will be open until November 1^st for families interested in ordering.  Deliveries are expected to be completed by the end of November.  See link below. 
https://westendsportshamilton.ca/store/ 

Fall Celebrations

We appreciate that some of our student community will want to celebrate Halloween or fall festivities at school on Thursday, October 31st.  We appreciate that some students may not wish to participate in these activities.  The choice will be respected, and activities planned in class will not interfere with your child’s schooling.   Diwali is also celebrated on this day this year as well.

Thursday, October 31

Students wishing to celebrate fall festivities or Halloween on Thursday, Oct. 31 at school are welcome to wear costumes.  Students can wear costumes to school as per prior years practice (e.g., no cultural appropriation, no offensive and insensitive costumes, no weapons, no costume masks that might impede vision, no inappropriate images, etc.).

 

Costumes that are based on people’s culture are offensive, harmful and insensitive. The following are suggested questions, to reflect on when choosing a costume to avoid being disrespectful or offensive.

• Is my costume making fun of a group of people, their culture, religion and/or belief systems?
• Does my costume reinforce jokes and stereotypes about certain groups, cultures, religions and/or belief systems?
• Am I altering my skin colour, facial/body features to make it like a particular race, ethnicity, or cultural group?
• Am I dressing up as a culture or borrowing from a religion that is not my own or is not part of my background?

No Food Items Please

We ask families do not send in food items on this day due to many allergy conditions in our building.  There are alternative items (e.g., pencils, fun erasers, stickers) should you feel the need to share a Halloween treat with your child’s class.  Classrooms may be planning celebrations in which students can bring their own treat items.  Your child’s homeroom teacher will communicate this information.