Brownridge Public School

The York Region District School Board is committed to championing equity and inclusivity. In response to continued evidence of anti-Black racism in Canadian institutions, including in education, the Board has co-developed an anti-Black racism strategy.

The Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy: Creating anti-racist and Black-affirming learning and working environments was co-developed by York Region Black community leaders, YRDSB staff and in consultation with students. The launch of the strategy marks a coordinated effort to address anti-Black racism at the Board.

On March 8, 2021 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. students, staff and families are invited to the virtual Dismantling Anti-Black Racism Strategy launch event featuring guest presenter Robyn Maynard.

The program will examine anti-Black racism in educational institutions and unveil the Board’s strategy. The strategy is designed to dismantle anti-Black racism in all its forms in our schools and workplaces.

The systemic nature of anti-Black racism requires that school boards act proactively to support equitable access to quality education and opportunities for all students, and to challenge the marginalization of Black students, staff and families.

Please visit www.yrdsb.ca for more details and to register for the event.

CAPES FOR KIDS– SUCH A WORTHY CAUSE! Brownridge is embarking on another journey of kindness and community outreach to build on our Holiday Heroes Campaign. Over the next couple weeks, we will be fundraising for Holland Bloorview with Capes for Kids! Our goal is to collect $1000 in this amazing school wide initiative. To celebrate, we are encouraging all students to wear a cape to school on March 5th, 2021 to recognize the heroic potential in all of us. The funds raised will go directly to helpings kids with disabilities discover their super powers at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital, in Toronto. Families will be provided with a link where they can make a donation. Additional information can be found at https://fundraise.capesforkids.ca/capes2021/brownridge-p.s.-

Join Ms. Large and Ms. Braiantsis tonight at 6:30pm to learn how to make a cape. A link was sent yesterday to all families. #makeadifference #beahero

brownridge-capes-for-kids-2021Downloadcapes-for-kids-poster-virtual-cape-creating-event-2021-1D

PINK SHIRT DAY- FEBRUARY 24- Pink Shirt Day is a globally recognized day in support of anti-bullying, up-standing behaviour and simple acts of kindness. On February 24, 2021, we are encouraged to practice kindness and wear pink to show that we do not tolerate any form of bullying. #makeadifference #beahero

CAPES FOR KIDS– SUCH A WORTHY CAUSE! Brownridge is embarking on another journey of kindness and community outreach to build on our Holiday Heroes Campaign. Over the next couple weeks, we will be fundraising for Holland Bloorview with Capes for Kids! Our goal is to collect $1000 in this amazing school wide initiative. To celebrate, we are encouraging all students to wear a cape to school on March 5th, 2021 to recognize the heroic potential in all of us. The funds raised will go directly to helpings kids with disabilities discover their super powers at Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Canada’s largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital, in Toronto. Families will be provided with a link where they can make a donation. Additional information can be found at https://fundraise.capesforkids.ca/capes2021/brownridge-p.s.-

Join Ms. Large and Ms. Braiantsis on Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30pm to learn how to make a cape. A link will be sent to all families shortly. #makeadifference #beahero

Good afternoon Brownridge Families! We are very excited to see you this evening for our free virtual Yoga community event. Join us at 6:30pm for some physical and mental well-being! The Zoom link was sent to families this morning.

Dear Brownridge families:

Your child’s Term One Elementary Report Card will be distributed electronically with instructions on how to access the report between February 18 – 24, using their GAPPS accounts.  

The Elementary Report Card provides you with information about your child’s achievement of the curriculum expectations across subject areas. The report card grade represents a student’s achievement of overall curriculum expectations, as demonstrated to this point in time.

For all Reports, our board will include the following statement: “This reporting period reflects learning that has occurred in a modified learning environment, as required by the provincial public health guidelines.” Overall, these reports provide you information about your child’s achievement during the first term. 

We hope that this report will encourage your child while supporting conversations about learning at home. 

Sincerely,   

Joe Gold

Due to inclement weather conditions, school bus and taxi transportation has been cancelled and all York Region District School Board schools are closed to students today, February 16, 2021. (The building is closed and classes will run online as they have been)

Synchronous learning will continue today for secondary as well as for elementary, as students have been learning synchronously due to the school closures. Once students return to in-person learning, previously communicated inclement weather day procedures will be followed. We will re-communicate these procedures once students return to in-person learning.

For elementary students, the regular timetable will be followed for synchronous learning throughout the day.

Stay safe.

Dear Brownridge Families,

Happy Family Day! Welcome back to all students who are returning to face to face (in the building) learning. Brownridge staff and I are looking forward to seeing you back in the building. Please remember that students in grades 1-8 are required to wear a mask and students in Kindergarten are strongly encouraged to wear a mask. Please be aware of the following information.

1. SELF-SCREENING TOOL- LET’S TAKE CARE OF ONE ANOTHER– Once you have completed the self-screening tool for your child, if your child has ONE symptom of COVID-19 based on the York Region Public Health school screening tool they are required to stay home from school and child-care and get tested for COVID-19 at an Assessment Centre. If anyone in your household is sick and has not tested negative for COVID-19, or does not have an alternative diagnosis from a health-care provider, all others in the household must stay home from school and child-care until the results are known or an alternative diagnosis is provided.
2. INCLEMENT WEATHER– When an inclement weather day is declared, school transportation will be cancelled and schools will be closed to students. If an inclement weather day is declared, please do not send your child to school. Students who are learning face to face (in-school) will be provided with asynchronous learning and staff will be available to support in the day. Students in EVS will continue with their online learning.
3. RETURNING OF BORROWED TECHNOLOGY– Students who are returning to in-school learning (face to face in the building) are being asked to return borrowed technology (Chromebook and charger) on Tuesday, February 16 to their homeroom class. Tech will be collected, disinfected and redistributed to classrooms for student use. Tech should be returned in the same condition it was loaned.
4. VIRTUAL YOGA– Join us on Thursday, February 18 at 6:30pm for a Free Virtual Yoga class. See the flyer for details.
5. VIRTUAL CAPE MAKING– Join Ms. Large and Ms. Braiantsis virtually on Wednesday, February 24 at 6:30pm to make an awesome cape. Brownridge is again participating in “Capes for Kids” – everyone can be a hero campaign supporting Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital. See the flyer for details.
6. GRADE 8 COURSE SELECTION– Grade 8 students will be exploring their Pathway Planner again on Thursday, February 18 with their teachers as they consider their course selection for grade 9. We are encouraging grade 8 students to discuss their course selection with you (parents/guardians) prior to submission (Course selection must be submitted by February 24).
7. LEARNING MODEL SWITCH– Students switching their model of learning (Virtual or Face to Face in the building) will begin in their new model of learning on Wednesday, March 3, 2021. We have already confirmed switches with all families who completed the Learning Model Switch form.
8. Follow us on Twitter @brownridgeps.

Have a wonderful day!
The Brownridge Team

Dear families, 

This year, we are doing many things differently in our schools to help reduce the spread of COVID-19 and support the health and safety of our students, staff members and families. As we enter the colder months, we have also reviewed what it will look like when inclement weather days are declared and school transportation is cancelled. 

We usually try to keep schools open as much as possible, and in previous years, schools have remained open when school transportation is cancelled. This year, however, given the importance of adhering to our health and safety guidelines, we have made the decision to close schools to students when an inclement weather day is declared and school transportation is cancelled. Please do not send your child to school when an inclement weather day is declared. We are unable to guarantee appropriate coverage for students on inclement weather days when school transportation is closed and classes cannot be combined. 

Please take the time to make plans in the event of an inclement weather day school closure. Please note that before and after care programs will not be operating on inclement weather days. For on-site, full-day child care, please confirm with your childcare operator. We recognize that this may be an inconvenience for some families. This decision was not made lightly and made to prioritize the health and safety of students, staff members and families. 

There are also rare occasions when school transportation is cancelled due to extreme cold weather and not road conditions, and schools will remain open for students. 

Student learning will continue:

• Students attending elementary school in person will be provided with learning activities for the day through their Google classroom and teachers will be available online to support students. 
• Students attending secondary school in person will shift to virtual learning for all of their classes for the day. 
• Elementary and secondary virtual schools will operate as normal. 

Communication to families

Decisions about school transportation and school closures will be made as early as possible and no later than 6:00 a.m. We will do our best to notify families in advance. Our priority continues to be the safety of our students, staff members and families. If you have any questions, please speak with your school principal.

Transportation cancellations or school closures will also continue to be communicated through:

• Student Transportation Services website: www.schoolbuscity.com
• Student Transportation Hotline: 1-877-330-3001
• Board website and school websites
• @YRDSB Twitter account
• Radio and TV media outlets

Families who have provided the school with their cell phone will also receive a text message, unless you have opted out of this service. Please contact your school if you have any questions. 

For more information on inclement weather days, please visit our website www.yrdsb.ca. 

Sincerely, 

Louise Sirisko

Director of Education

Good morning Brownridge Families,

By now, each family should have received an email from the Board informing families about updates shared by the Ministry of Education.

Please note that within the email important information regarding a model change request was included. THE MODEL CHANGE REQUEST FORM WILL REMAIN OPEN FROM FEBRUARY 1-FEBRUARY 8. THIS WILL BE THE LAST OPPORTUNITY FOR A LEARNING MODEL SWITCH.

For your reference please note what was shared:

“On January 27, elementary families received an email regarding requests for elementary model changes. Elementary families received a follow up email with access to a form for the model change request. This email is being sent directly to your child’s Google account. As a reminder, only families requesting a school model change will need to complete this form.”

Please check your child’s Google account to access the model change request form and fill it out ONLY if you are interested in changing formats.

Thank you and stay healthy!

The Brownridge Team