Rainbow Schools celebrate Education Week from May 7 to 11, 2018

Rainbow Schools will mark Education Week from May 7 to 11, 2018. “Education week provides a wonderful opportunity to celebrate teaching excellence, student achievement, parental involvement and exceptional community support in Rainbow Schools,” says Norm Blaseg, Director of Education for Rainbow District School Board. This year’s theme is Equity in Action.

Alexander Public School
Students at Alexander Public School will take part in a variety of large and small group activities for Education Week. Parents/guardians of Grade 2 students will take part in a math Escape Room followed by a showcase of projects from around the world to demonstrate how students are learning about diversity. Parents/guardians of students in Kindergarten are invited to share and teach their unique talents, passions, hobbies, and occupations. Students will engage in various STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, mathematics) activities. Classes will take part in an Author’s Fair, where students and their parents/guardians will enjoy writing about equity using a variety of technology. Grade 4 students will perform dramatic scripts they wrote for parents/guardians, which will include Adobe Spark stories related to equity. Students in Grade 6 will read the book, “The Best Parts of Me”. Intermediate students and their parents/guardians will take part in an activity focused on positive body image and embracing differences. Students will study, “What Differences Does a Name Make?” They will also analyze gender and race language bias. Students will continue to work collaboratively on the school’s Equity Board, which will be displayed in the main foyer. Students will also take part in Music Monday on May 7th.

Assiginack Public School
On Monday, May 7th, junior and intermediate students will play in the Island Soccer Tournament. On Tuesday, May 8th, students will participate in the Battle of the Books competition at Central Manitoulin Public School. A Scholastic Book Fair will take place from Tuesday to Thursday. On Wednesday, May 9th, a Grade 3/4 class will take part in a presentation by Hydro One to celebrate Arbour Week. Families of children starting school this fall are invited to a Kindergarten orientation session that evening from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Parents/guardians and community members are invited to the school on Thursday, May 10th from 3:30 pm to 7:30 pm to take part in an Escape Room/Coding for Parents evening. Baked goods will be available for purchase. Interested family members are asked to contact the school to book a time for the Escape Room Jungle. On Friday, May 11th, Grade 7/8 students will travel to Manitoulin Secondary School to take part in We Day activities.

Charles C. McLean Public School
On Monday, May 7th, junior and intermediate soccer teams will take part in the Island Soccer Championships. On Tuesday, May 8th, students will travel to Manitoulin Secondary
School to watch a special performance of Aladin by The Classic School of Dance. Students will visit the Ojibwe Cultural Foundation in the afternoon. On the same day, several junior students will participate in the Island Battle of the Books competition in Mindemoya. Tuesday evening, families of children starting school this fall are invited to a Kindergarten orientation session from 5 pm to 6 pm. Throughout the week, students will continue their yoga sessions as part of the school’s “Nourishing Mind, Body, and Spirit” Speak Up grant. On Friday, May 11th, Grade 7 and 8 students will visit Manitoulin Secondary School to participate in WE Day Manitoulin. The Grade 1 class will host a rummage sale at the school.

Chelmsford Public School
In celebration of Education Week, students at Chelmsford Public School will take part in various fun and exciting activities including a Scholastic Book Fair. On Tuesday, May 8th, the school will host a school-wide assembly Jump Rope for Heart kick-off event. On Wednesday, May 9th, students will entertain their family and peers during the annual Talent Show. New Kindergarten students and their parents/guardians are invited for an orientation session on Thursday, May 10th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. Everyone is welcome. Students and staff will celebrate their mothers and special mother figures at the Mother’s Day Tea on Friday, May 11th from 12 pm to 2 pm.

Copper Cliff Public School
At Copper Cliff Public School, the entire school community will recognize the contributions of students, parents/guardians, teachers and education workers in Ontario’s education sector. On Thursday, May 10th, students will take part in Zumba from 9 am to 10 am in the schoolyard. Parents/guardians and community members are invited to participate. Healthy snacks will be available. In the event of inclement weather, the event will take place indoors. Grade 7 students will visit Lockerby Composite School to take part in the Hygge Conference with keynote speaker Wali Shah. Students will have an opportunity to develop resiliency skills and ways to navigate the world around them. Grade 8 students will prepare for the Board-wide Entrepreneurship Fair with a special showcase of their business products/services for staff and students on Friday, May 11th from 10 am and 2 pm in the school gym. Products will be available for purchase. Intermediate students will challenge staff during a friendly doubles badminton tournament during their second nutrition break. Throughout the week, students will have the chance to purchase their favourite books at the Scholastic Book Fair in the library.

C.R. Judd Public School
Staff and students at C.R. Judd Public School are excited about the upcoming Education Week activities. On Monday, May 7th, staff and students will gather in the gym at 11:30 am to celebrate Music Monday. All parents/guardians are invited to attend. On Tuesday, classes will partner with their Buddy classes for a school-wide Read-Aloud of “Good Morning, Canada,” by Andrea Lynne Beck. A Book Swap will take place in the library where students who have brought in gently used books will be given tickets to exchange for other recycled reading material. On Wednesday, May 9th, Intermediate classes will partner with the Capreol Lions Club for the annual Spring Community clean-up. On Thursday, May 10th, Errol Lee will visit with students for a HERO Club concert at 9 am. The theme for the event is kindness and respect as a form of caring. Kids will learn to be confident in who they are, the importance of standing up for yourself and others, and the pitfall of being a bystander. The event supports inclusion, character education, bullying prevention and the zones of regulation. The founder of Caring Concerts, Errol Lee is a multi-award winning singer-songwriter and advocate for youth. He believes it is cool to care! On Thursday, the entire community is invited to join staff and students for a “Walk For Wellness,” as they endeavour to end the stigma around mental illness. To culminate the week’s events, on Friday, May 11th, students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 will celebrate the important women in their lives during a Mother’s Day Tea. The tea will take place in the school gym from 1:30 pm to 2:30 pm.

Cyril Varney Public School
Education Week promises to provide a full and exciting week for the students and staff at Cyril Varney Public School. To kick-off the week, students will plant seeds at the Twin Forks Community Garden with volunteers from Cultivate Your Neighbourhood. The entire school community will wear green on Monday to show support for child and youth mental health. The school will also launch a school-wide collaborative art project that will run throughout the week, from class to class, culminating with an unveiling of the final product and tree planting on Friday, May 11th. Staff will welcome the next generation of Varney Victors during a special Kindergarten orientation session on Tuesday, May 8th from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. A Scholastic Book Fair will run from Tuesday, May 8th to Friday, May 11th. On Wednesday, May 9th, staff and students will welcome author Emil Sher to the school. Emil will share his love for writing through three different presentations. The school’s Cooking Club will cook dinner for their families on Wednesday, May 9th at 5 pm. On Thursday, May 10th from 2 pm to 3 pm, students and staff will take part in the annual Jump Rope for Heart Kick-Off assembly. Students will learn how to stay heart healthy during the annual fundraising event for the Heart and Stroke Foundation. Later that evening, the school will host their annual Family Dance from 5:30 pm to 7 pm.

Jean Hanson Public School
Staff and students at Jean Hanson Public School will celebrate Education Week with a school- wide reading buddies activity on Tuesday, May 8th. All students will participate in a Spring Dance on Friday, May 11th. Students will continue to work on preparations for the “Coffee House”, a multimedia art/talent show scheduled for the end of the month.

Lansdowne Public School
On Monday, May 7th, students at Lansdowne Public School will take part in read alongs, with a special focus on books that highlight themes of equity. Students will also take part in door decorating that reflects equity themes, using the Rainbow District School Board’s diversity posters as a guide. Parents/guardians are invited to a Lunch & Learn event on Tuesday, May 8th where they will have the opportunity to eat and participate in math and literacy activities with their children. On Wednesday, May 9th, the school will host a Kindergarten orientation session for parents/guardians and children starting school this fall. There will be two sessions offered to families – the first from 12 pm to 1 pm and the second from 5 pm to 6 pm. Students from Grades 4 to 6 will take part in a Wellness Fair at the school on Thursday, May 10th. During the event, students will be given a variety of resources, tools and strategies to help support mental health and wellness. On Friday, May 11th, students will participate in a community cleanup to help beautify the schoolyard and surrounding community.

Larchwood Public School
On Monday, May 7th, the entire school community will celebrate Music Monday with a variety of fun musical activities. A special assembly will take place at 10:15 am in the gym. Students will sing the Music Monday anthem “Sing It Together” and will share musical performances. Representatives from Public Health Sudbury & Districts will visit students on Tuesday, May 8th to discuss the positive impact of a growth mindset. Grade 7 and 8 students will showcase their products and business plans during the school’s Entrepreneurship Fair on Thursday, May 10th.

Levack Public School
On Monday, May 7th at 1:30 pm, Levack Public School will host a musical celebration in the school gymnasium for Music Monday. Music Monday will showcase members of the Levack Rock Band who sing and play their own musical instruments. They will be joined by the Levack Choir. There will also be performances by individual classrooms led by retired music teacher and volunteer, Nicole Rocheleau. All members of the community are welcome to attend this musical presentation. On Tuesday, May 8th, the Grade 7/8s will participate in an Entrepreneurship Fair in the gym. All students will be invited to visit the exhibits and purchase items from 11:35 am to 3 pm. Parents are welcome to attend the Entrepreneurship Fair from 11:35 am to 1:05 pm and 1:50 pm to 2:50 pm. On Wednesday, May 8th, the intermediate students will visit the Wellness Fair at Chelmsford Valley District Composite School. On Thursday, May 9th, there will be a Best Start Playgroup for pre-school aged children and families in Room 124 from 9:30 am to 11:30 am. On Friday, May 11th, Education Week will wrap up with a Character Trait Assembly in the gym at 2 pm. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend. Certificates will be awarded to students for demonstrating the virtues of April’s character trait, acceptance. At the assembly, students will be introduced to the character trait for May. A large banner will be unveiled highlighting what it means to show courage.

Little Current Public School
On Monday, May 7th, junior and intermediate soccer teams will take part in the Island Soccer Championships. On Tuesday, May 8th, primary students will travel to Manitoulin Secondary School to watch a special performance of Aladdin by The Classic School of Dance. On the same day, students are thrilled to take part in workshops with guest writer and storyteller Emil Sher. Several junior students will participate in the Island Battle of the Books competition on Tuesday. The school’s Jump Rope for Heart event will take place on Wednesday, May 9th and on Friday, May 11th, Grade 4 students will travel to Espanola to take part in Swim to Survive. Grade 7 and 8 students will visit Manitoulin Secondary School to participate in WE Day Manitoulin. Throughout the week, students will take part in Mental Health Week with morning announcements, classroom activities, and tree planting in the playground as a symbol for mental health and well-being.

MacLeod Public School
Intermediate girls will attend the Skills Canada Young Women’s Conference on Monday, May 7th. Participants will explore rewarding careers in the skilled trades, and will engage with dynamic tradeswomen to hear about their inspiring stories. On Tuesday, May 8th, the school will host a Kindergarten orientation session for parents/guardians and children starting school this fall. There will be two sessions available for families – from 12 pm to 1 pm and from 4 pm to 5 pm. Everyone is welcome. Students and staff will host two teachers from the Netherlands who will learn about the education system in Ontario. The entire school will take part in the city-wide Reading Town Reading Rocks the North Event. Students will swap a gently used book for another on Wednesday, May 9th. Grade 7 students will attend the Hygge Conference at Lockerby Composite School on Thursday, May 10th. The event will feature interactive workshops about resiliency, mental health, and the transition to secondary school. Grade 1 and Grade 8 students will visit Science North on Friday, May 11 to explore robotics and cells.

Markstay Public School
On Monday, May 7th, students at Markstay Public School will celebrate Music Monday. Each class will perform a musical number using various instruments. On Tuesday, May 8th, all classes will read “Lily and the Paper Man” by Rebecca Upjohn, which focuses on social justice. Students will host special guest Error Lee on Wednesday, May 9th, where he will share his message of inclusion and character education. On Friday, May 11th, students will take part in a community clean-up.

Monetville Public School
Staff and students at Monetville Public School will celebrate Education Week with various activities. On Monday, May 7th, students will enjoy a special visit from Randy Moratz, a community member who will discuss birds and butterflies native to the French River area. A group of students will represent the school at the Ontario Technological Skills Competition in Toronto. In the afternoon, families of students starting school this September are invited to a Kindergarten orientation session from 1:30 pm to 3 pm. Everyone is welcome. On Tuesday, May 8th, staff from Science North’s Outreach Program will lead two workshops with students, “Constellations” and “Catch-a-Star”. All classes will take part in the city-wide Reading Town Reading Rocks the North Event with the book “Good Morning, Canada/ Bonjour Canada” by Andrea Lynne Beck. The school’s Science Showcase, in partnership with Kikendawt Kinoomaadi Gamig, will take place on Wednesday, May 9th in the gym. The school will host its annual Fun Fair on Thursday, May 10th from 5 pm to 7:30 pm. Everyone is welcome. The week will culminate with house family activities on Friday, May 11th. The theme will be equity, and activities will help students develop their understanding of acceptance and diversity.

Northeastern Elementary School
On Monday, May 7th, Northeastern Elementary School will host its eighth annual Awareness Day. Students will participate in exciting informative sessions and workshops that highlight various abilities. Throughout the day, students will be reminded to embrace one of Northeastern’s best attributes, openness for inclusion and a steadfast belief in one another. Students will be asked to actively engage in the understanding of things that make us unique and special, things that make us different, and most importantly, the things that unite us all. Parents/guardians are invited to join their children during the sessions from 9:10 am to 12:50 pm. On Tuesday, May 8th, students will participate in activities that celebrate how we are all wonders. A morning assembly will highlight the reading of the children’s book, “We’re All Wonders” by R.J. Palacio. On Thursday, May 10th, the school will host a Family Zumba Night in the gym from 5:45 pm to 6:45 pm. Refreshments and light snacks will be served. On Friday, May 11th, students will take part in a Character Education Assembly to culminate Education Week. The event will focus on the character trait co-operation. The junior/intermediate assembly will take place at 9:30 am, while the primary students will gather at 10 am. Parents/guardians are welcome to attend.

Princess Anne Public School
Princess Anne Public School welcomes families with children starting school this fall during their Kindergarten orientation session on Monday, May 7th from 5 pm to 6 pm. Everyone is welcome. On Wednesday, May 9th, the school will host a special Spring Music Concert. Junior students will visit Science North for a day of robotics and coding on Thursday, May 10th. Junior students will travel to the Heritage Fair at Laurentian University on Friday, May 11th.

Redwood Acres Public School
Throughout the week, staff will help students develop an understanding about their place in the community in which they live. Students will take part in a variety of activities including Music Monday, a Pirate Math Day, an Hour of Code, a Litterless Lunch day, and a Grandparents’/Veterans’ Day of reading. An Itinerant Teacher of the Blind will provide and teach Braille to all interested classes. Mayor Brian Bigger will visit with students to read a story about perseverance. Students will also enjoy a visit from Indigenous community partners to learn about their traditions and culture.

R.H. Murray Public School
Throughout the week, the Keke Palmer song “We Are” will be included in all morning SPARK fitness sessions. The lyrics will be shared during online morning announcements as part the school’s literacy program to further promote everyone’s sense of belonging. On Tuesday, May 8th from 4:30 pm to 7 pm, members of the local community are invited to a spaghetti dinner. The theme for the dinner is “We all belong – our community, our village”. Errol Lee will visit with students on Wednesday, May 9th at 2 pm. This Cool2Care concert will focus on “I’m somebody, you’re somebody, we’re somebody.” On Thursday, May 10th, students will visit Lively District Secondary School for a celebration of the arts Music Monday concert at 2:15 pm. The school’s Kiwanis winning performers, along with special guests, will showcase their talents during a Mother’s Day Tea on Friday, May 11th at 1:30 pm. The Lively Hawks Robotics team will demonstrate their technology skills during a presentation on Friday, May 11th at 9:45 am.

R.L. Beattie Public School
Throughout the week, students will be challenged to solve a daily mathematics problem. For those who answer the problem correctly, their name will be entered into a draw for a classroom pizza party. On Monday, May 7th, students will celebrate Music Monday in the gym from 11:40 am to 1:10 pm. On Tuesday, May 8th, students from Kindergarten to Grade 2 will be joined by Tammy from the city-wide Reading Town Reading Rocks the North Event. On Wednesday, May 9th, all students will take part in a Math and Science Olympics event. On Thursday, May 10th, a Scholastic Book Fair will take place all day in the gym. Staff and students will host a volunteer luncheon from 12 pm to 1 pm. A special robot demonstration will take place at 4 pm. On Friday, May 11th, the Book Fair will continue and students are invited to participate in Zumba in the afternoon.

S. Geiger Public School
Students at S. Geiger will be involved in a variety of activities during Education Week. On Monday, May 7th, all students will learn about opportunities in agriculture during Dairy Day. On Tuesday, May 8th, families of students starting school this fall are invited to a Kindergarten orientation session from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Students will have the opportunity to participate in electives. On Wednesday, May 9th, all students will engage in activities with their reading buddies. Junior students will participate in Swim to Survive. On Thursday, May 10th, students will engage in presentations from Public Health on “Coping with Stress.” They will also enjoy presentations from the Learning Disabilities Association of Sudbury. On Friday, May 11th, the Child and Family Centre will host a series of activities related to nature and well-being. The intermediate Indigenous students will travel to Espanola High School to participate in cultural learning and secondary school readiness activities.

Walden Public School
Students at Walden Public School have been writing poetry throughout the month of April. Many poems have been entered into the school’s annual poetry contest. Winning poems will be read by the poets during announcements. On Tuesday, May 8th, Grade 4 students and their Kindergarten reading buddies will visit Finlandia Village to take part in the city-wide Reading Town Reading Rocks the North Event. Students will read the book, “Good Morning, Canada” by Andrea Lynne Beck with residents. A Scholastic Book Fair will take place on Wednesday, May 9th. Families are invited to share in the celebration of literacy and donate items to the local PetSave. Items in need include clumping cat litter, can cat food, javex, dishsoap, paw fleece blankets, laundry soap, marrow bone treats, dryer sheets, and Canadian Tire money. The school will host a special concert in celebration of Music Monday. All classes will be paired with another to perform a song. The school Choir, Ukulele Club, and Clarinet Group will perform. To culminate, the entire school will sing the Music Monday theme song, “Sing It Together”.

Westmount Public School
Westmount Avenue Public School students will continue to develop an awareness for equity. Grade 1 and 2 students will act as reading buddies for Kindergarten students, and will read an equity themed book to them.

Barrydowne College
On Friday, May 11th from 10 am to 1:30 pm, students from Barrydowne College will create original works of art at St. Andrew the Apostle Church with ministers, priests and representatives of the Northeast Ministerial Association. Completed art will be auctioned off on Saturday, May 12, 2018 at 3 pm. Proceeds will benefit the art program at Barrydowne College, and the young artists to help support their talents. A special thank you to Gerry Lougheed Jr., who has generously volunteered to be the auctioneer for the event.

Chelmsford Valley District Composite School
Chelmsford Valley District Composite School will host its second annual Positive Healthy Living Fair and Makers Market on Wednesday, May 9th. The event will feature speakers and activities on various topics, including stress, addictions, yoga/meditation, and therapy dogs. The purpose of the day is to promote positive mental health by offering a variety of coping strategies, lifestyle choices and options for help. Students will see how mind, body and spirit all lead to a lifetime of well-being.

Espanola High School
Espanola High School has many activities planned for Education Week and Mental Health Awareness Week from May 7 to 11. These activities are intended to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and encourage students to feel comfortable accessing the supports that are available to them at the school and in the community. During lunch, students will be able to visit information booths provided by community partners such as the Child and Family Centre, Espanola Police Services, Manitoulin Family Resources, Canadian Mental Health Association, Cambrian College, TG Innerselves, Northern Dragons Martial Arts, and local Yoga instructors. As well, lunch hour activities for students include theme days, courtyard games, lunch and learn sessions, Conscious Ink Tattoo sessions (temporary tattoos with motivational and inspirational messages), and an Expressive Art Project. The Child and Family Centre will present its “Safe Talk” program and local yoga instructors will provide a “Create the Life You Want” session incorporating yoga, meditation, and art journaling. Espanola High School has been able to schedule these special activities for the school community with support from local partners Winkel’s Your Independent Grocer, Espanola Tim Hortons and Giant Tiger, and funding from Wolves/United.

Lively District Secondary School
During Education Week, Lively District Secondary School will celebrate Music Monday with a concert on Thursday, May 10th from 9:30 am to 11 am. Students from Grades 4 to 8 from Lively District Secondary School, Walden Public School, and R.H. Murray Public School will perform. Lively District Secondary School will also host a concert on Thursday, May 10th from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. The event will feature the Grade 7 and 8 Concert Bands, and the Grade 8 and 9 to 12 Rock Bands.

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Media Contact:

Nicole Charette, Senior Advisor,
Corporate Communications and Strategic Planning,
Rainbow District School Board, 705-674-3171 ext. 7217