Earth Rangers

On Thursday, Earth Rangers visited our school with their animal ambassadors.  The program celebrates biodiversity, speaks passionately about the need to protect it and introduces students to real-life conservation projects across Canada.  But most importantly, it inspires students to get involved. 

Please speak with your children about the animals they saw and what they learned in the presentation.  

Indigenous Festival

Immunizations 2017~2018 School Year

In the 2017/18 school year, York Region Public Health will visit all  elementary schools to provide school immunization clinics to Grade 7 students. The clinics offer vaccines for Hepatitis B, Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) and Meningococcal A, C, Y, W-135 at no cost.

Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, meningococcal vaccine is required for school attendance, unless an exemption is filed with public health. Hepatitis B and HPV vaccines are recommended, but not required for school attendance.

Parents of students entering Grade 7 in fall 2017 will receive consent forms in the mail in June. Please complete the consent form and return it to York Region Public Health to allow your child to participate in the immunization clinics. Detailed instructions can be found on the forms and accompanying letter. If the consent form is not completed, your child will not be able to receive vaccines at the clinic.

Parents and guardians who do not consent should still complete the forms and return them, indicating that you do not authorize York Region Public Health to immunize your child.

Visit york.ca/immunizations and click on School Immunization Clinics for more information.

Did you know? If your child has missed a required vaccination on Ontario’s routine immunization schedule, he/she can receive the vaccine at one of York Region Public Health’s Community Immunization Clinics. These evening clinics are offered throughout the summer, giving students the opportunity to catch up before returning to school. Visit york.ca/immunizations and select Community Immunization Clinics to learn more.

Congratulations to our math team!

On Wednesday, four of our intermediate students, Jessica, Elijah, Amelie, and Mathiew represented Silver Stream at the York Region Math Olympics.  After 3 hours of challenging math problems, Silver Stream walked away with a Silver Medal!  Good luck to our team at the Provincial Math Olympics at the end of May.  Go Falcons!

They even work to solve the problems during dinner!

Fostering Future Leaders ~ Asian Heritage Workshop

Ridvan

On behalf of the staff at Silver Stream PS, we would like to wish all of our families who celebrate Ridvan,  a very happy celebration.

Ridvan (pronounced Riz-wan) is a twelve-day festival, the most important one of the Baha'i year.  Ridvan, which means "paradise", is the name of the garden in which Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith, proclaimed His identity as a Messenger of God. This happened in 1863 as Baha'u'llah was about to be exiled from the city of Baghdad. 

Thank you School Council

It was wonderful to see so many of our parents who attended the workshop for parents on "Supporting Math Learning at Home" last night.  Thank you to School Council for your support.  Consider becoming more involved with School Council initiatives.  Next meeting is May 16 at 7:00pm.

Silver Stream Parent Ambassadors

Asian Heritage Community Celebration

TONIGHT! Math Workshop for parents

School Field Closure

We have had some inquiries about why our schoolyard is closed to students during recess.  This is a direction that we receive from Plant Services to ensure our fields have a chance to grow and can withstand all of the activity.  We are hopeful that the field will be open soon.

Silver Stream Maker Space

You can follow what our students are doing during our maker space time by following on instagram: Search SilverStreamaker .

• Each Makerspace station has materials and a challenge for students to try.
• Most of the challenges have to do with either creating, breaking, or building things.
• Students are encouraged to use their creativity to take the materials in a different direction.

We are always looking to replenish our materials using recycled items such as cardboard rolls, empty kleenex boxes, styrofoam, plumbing pieces...etc.

If you have any lego that you no longer need, we are also appreciative of those donations.

Thank you for supporting our creative minds!

Math Workshop for Parents ~ TUESDAY! Please RSVP

 RSVP: https://goo.gl/forms/oIWw0J743XwWvbnP2

Happy Easter ~ No School on Friday and Monday

On behalf of the staff at Silver Stream, to our families celebrating Easter, enjoy your time with family and friends.  Happy Easter!

News from the Music Room!

On Wednesday, April 12, the Intermediate Band from SSPS performed at the Music Alive Festival at the Newmarket Theatre.  Our musicians performed two pieces and received feedback from a professional adjudicator which will help us improve in the future.  Our students played very well and earned a Silver for their performance.

Once again our school will be participating in Music Monday on May 1.  Music Monday is a nation-wide initiative designed to promote Music education in schools.  In addition to hearing a variety of different performances during our concert, we will conclude with singing the Music Monday song "Sing It Together" simultaneously with all other students across Canada.  

Parents and family members are invited to see all the hard work our Intermediate students have done during the evening of May 1 as a part of a Arts Night Performance, starting at 6pm.

Vaisakhi

On behalf of the Silver Stream staff, we would like to wish our families who celebrate Vaisakhi on either April 13th or 14th,  a very happy celebration.

Vaisakhi, the Sikh New Year, is celebrated in April every year. Vaisakhi is also celebrated in some other parts of India, particularly in some of the northern and eastern states. For Sikhs, Vaisakhi celebrates the birth of the Panth Khalsa order (the Order of the Pure Ones) established by Guru Gobind Singh. It is at this time that Guru Gobind Singh gave the Khalsa order the five distinct symbols of purity and courage which would make Sikhs identifiable: the Kesh (unshorn hair); Kangha (the wooden comb); Karra (the iron bracelet); Kirpan (the sword) and Kachera (underclothing). Some of the ways that this day is traditionally honoured include visiting a place of worship, participating in a mela (fair), indulging in mithai (sweets), fruits and lassi (a sweet yogurt drink), and taking a ritual bath or renewal. 

Math Workshop for Parents TUESDAY

                           RSVP: https://goo.gl/forms/oIWw0J743XwWvbnP2

Wear PINK on Wednesday and Say No to Bullying!

York Region schools will be a sea of pink on April 12, 2017!

Students and staff will recognize the International Day of Pink by wearing pink and taking part in activities that promote anti-bullying. They will join communities across the country in celebrating diversity, working toward equity and inclusivity by raising awareness about forms of bullying.

The International Day of Pink began in Nova Scotia when two high school students witnessed a gay student being bullied because he was wearing a pink shirt. The two students intervened but wanted to do more to prevent homophobic & transphobic bullying. They purchased pink shirts and encouraged their peers to show their solidarity by wearing pink to school. The result was that an entire school joined together to take a stand.

Join YRDSB students in their efforts to prevent bullying.  Show your commitment to equity and inclusivity and support for diversity and antibullying by wearing pink on April 12!

Upcoming Art Programs with McMichael Art Gallery

April 18 - Water Quilt

WATER QUILT PRINTMAKING STUDIO GRADES 1 – 3, 4 – 6 Inspired by Joyce Wieland’s Water Quilt, students create a collective artwork incorporating handmade stencils representing various plants and species from our fragile wetland environment. This studio invites students to explore the art of printmaking while addressing the impact of climate change on our immediate natural environment. 

April 21 - Landscape

LANDSCAPE PAINTING STUDIO GRADES 1 – 3, 4 – 6 Inspired by the Group of Seven’s legacy, this painting studio takes students from an initial compositional study to a final painting, all while discovering the modernist take on the landscape genre. Exploration of colour gradation and space is an important part of this process-oriented studio as students learn the tricks and tips for painting perspective, focal points, and working with a traditional Canadian palette.

April 25 - Water Quilt - same as above

Say No to Bullying. WEAR PINK on Wednesday!

York Region schools will be a sea of pink on April 12, 2017!

Students and staff will recognize the International Day of Pink by wearing pink and taking part in activities that promote anti-bullying. They will join communities across the country in celebrating diversity, working toward equity and inclusivity by raising awareness about forms of bullying.

The International Day of Pink began in Nova Scotia when two high school students witnessed a gay student being bullied because he was wearing a pink shirt. The two students intervened but wanted to do more to prevent homophobic & transphobic bullying. They purchased pink shirts and encouraged their peers to show their solidarity by wearing pink to school. The result was that an entire school joined together to take a stand.

Join YRDSB students in their efforts to prevent bullying.  Show your commitment to equity and inclusivity and support for diversity and antibullying by wearing pink on April 12!

Passover

On behalf of our staff, we would like to wish our families who celebrate Passover,  a very happy celebration.

Passover is celebrated for eight days with special prayers and symbolic foods at home. It is a "festival of Freedom" to remind Jews of how God released their ancestors from slavery and brought them to freedom in a Promised Land. Passover begins at sundown on April 10th. Passover is celebrated by more Jews than any other holiday on the Jewish calendar - perhaps because it is so essentially and uniquely a family holiday. The Seder (SAY-der) -- the traditional meal held on the first night of this eight day holiday -- is often attended by complete extended families. In Canada, many families also have a Seder on the second night. Also, because charity and community are such important elements of the holiday, it is common for families to invite to their seder people who, for whatever reason, are not able to have one of their own. 

Conference for Students aged 13 plus

YRDSB Student Led Group L.I.G.H.T -  Lead-Inspire-Grow-Hope-Transform, in partnership with the Markham Race Relations Committee is hosting a powerful one day Social Justice Conference on Saturday April 29^th from 9:30-4:30 at the Markham Civic Centre. Open to youth ages 13-18. Inspiring Key note speakers, performers and workshops will get students on their journey to creating positive change in their own communities. Register for this Free Conference at https://eventbrite.ca/e/visions-via-voices-tickets-31898900470

More information about the day’s agenda can be found on the eventbrite link. Here is a brief summary about what students can expect at the conference: Visions Via Voices is a one-day FREE youth-led conference that works to bring together youth aged 13-18 from diverse paths to learn about youth homelessness, mental health, and equity through a race relations lens. Delegates will engage with community leaders and organizations through meaningful discussions, stimulating hands-on activities, and passionate expert speakers; delegates will also be walked through creating a personal action plan. We are committed to empowering youth with the right tools and relationships to help make their visions a reality.

Workshop for Parents about MATH ~ April 18 at 7pm

Mark your calendars... Professor Laura Gini-Newman will be facilitating a session for parents at Silver Stream on the topic of  math instruction today and how parents can help their children at home.  There will be background information provided but also an opportunity for parents to engage in activities and tasks that will help them understand what to do at home.  Stay tuned for a flyer... 

Child care will be provided. 

Evening Showcases in May

Parents/Guardians:

You are invited to attend some evening events at Silver Stream in May.  Two of our events cooincide with Education Week in Ontario.  What a wonderful way to celebrate learning!

 Please mark your calendars. 

Monday May 1:   Our Intermediate students (Gr 7 & 8) will be performing or showcasing their work in the arts.

Thursday May 4:  Our Primary students (JK to Grade 3/4) will be performing their musical theatre numbers. 

Wednesday May 17:  Our Junior students (Gr 4 to 6) will be showcasing their work for parents. 

Fostering Confidence in your Children ~ Workshop

Mental Health Symposium

York Region Science Fair Results

On Saturday, April 1, 2017, 159 students from 40 schools from around York Region participated in the York Region Science and Technology Fair.   Two of our students who participated, were very successful! 

·         

J      Junior Innovation Award ($120) - Marcus C., The Ultimate Dryer

The students from Silver Stream PS listed below are award winners of the 2017 fair and are Canada Wide Science Fair finalists who will be representing York Region May 15-20th in Regina, Saskatchewan. In addition, leading up to the Canada Wide Science Fair, they will also be receiving mentoring from Innovation York.

·         

      Gold Medals were awarded to: 

o   Brandon H., Fuelling our Future with...Waste?

o   Marcus C., The Ultimate Dryer   

A huge congratulations to these students and a thank-you to Ms. Mavis Daryanani, Grade 8 teacher,  for all her support and encouragement!!

School Climate Survey for Parents

We will be inviting parents/guardians to participate in a survey May 1-19, 2017. This survey provides an important opportunity for parent/guardian voice. Results will be used to guide planning to support student achievement and well-being.

You may complete the survey online or on paper. The online survey will be available in English. Paper surveys will be available from the school office in English, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Farsi, Gujarati, Hebrew, Korean, Punjabi, Russian, Sri Lankan Tamil, Urdu and Vietnamese.

We value your input and encourage you to complete the survey. The information you provide will be anonymous, considered confidential and kept in strict accordance with all relevant legislation.  

Information about how to access the online survey will be sent home with students at the end of April. Please contact the school if you have any questions.