Middlebury Matters

Inside this issue

Middlebury Student Wellbeing Zone …………..….….….2

Bus cancellation & closing schools for bad weather .......................4

Winter bus safety ..…….....….....5

Help your family stay warm .....6

Report child’s immunizations to the Region of Peel online .….....7

Tips to help prevent the flu .....8

Time to register children born in 2016 for kindergarten ……..…..9

Keep your child’s eyes healthy……………………………….. 10

Peel Region High Performers Program ...………………………..….11

Regional Learning Choices .....12

Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 31, 2020 …...…………....……14

Peel Learning Foundation…....15

Understanding Mental health & Mental illness……………………….16

Celebrate Faith & Culture ......17

December 20th, 2019 Dear Middlebury Families, The Holiday Festive Week at Middlebury was enjoyed by students and staff alike as well as by the many visitors to our school. To the delight of everyone, the creative outfits ranged from outrages holiday socks and hats to fancy dresses and suits. Be sure to follow us on twitter @MiddleburyPS to see pic-tures of all the fun holiday celebrations. Additionally, we had many fun cele-brations during the month of December including our Character Assembly presentations hosted by some Kindergarten, Grade 3 and 4 students high-lighting our Peel Character traits of being Responsible and Honest. Similarly, earlier this week our gym was filled with excitement during our Holiday Fun assembly where students and staff had a chance to engage in sing-a-along songs as well as in a friendly skating competition. Finally, today, now a Mid-dlebury tradition, everyone had a chance to enjoy the magic of the season by watching the Grinch movie. A heartfelt thank you to our staff for creating these special events and memories for our school community. During this festive and fun time, we are humbled by the generosity of our parent community. We collected over 700 food items and cash donations for our local Eden Food Bank as well as over 100 new toys for the Toys for Tots toy drive sponsored by Peel police. Your generosity will provide comfort and joy to many families and children.

Finally, like every year, for many of our Mid-dlebury families this will be their first winter in Canada. Since the beginning of the school year, we have welcomed new students to our school many of whom have never seen snow. We are so grateful to all of our parents who have offered their support and reached out to welcome our new families over the past couple of months. Often, a simple gesture of saying hello in a familiar language and a warm smile means the World to a person.

Wishing you all a wonderful and safe holiday season as well as a prosperous and happy New Year! We look forward to seeing you all back on Monday, January 6th, 2020!

S. Budetic Principal

December 20, 2019 Volume 4 Issue #5

5482 Middlebury Drive, Mississauga, ON, L5M 5G7

T 905-821-8585 F 905 821-8996

Principal: Suzana Budetic Vice-Principal: Darren Batt

Superintendent: Nina Jaiswal Trustees: Nokha Dakroub 289-914-0214

Mississauga Field Office 905-366-8800 Robert Crocker 416-528-1312

MIDDLEBURY STUDENT WELLBEING ZONE 7 Tips for Teaching Kids How to Set Goals (And Reach Them!)

To encourage perseverance, teach preteens how to set goals and work to meet them. By Marie Faust Evitt

Start Small Help your child think of a fun goal she could achieve within a short time. Maybe she could finish a book she started or complete a craft project. "Little goals are the best way to get kids moving toward big goals," says Jim Wiltens, a leadership-training instructor in the San Francisco-area schools. "Meeting a goal gives kids an incredible surge of energy."

Let Them Choose As much as you might want your child to make the honor roll, it's best to let your kid decide what she wants to achieve. Then you can help her make a plan. Obviously, some goals require more input from you. If learning to fig-ure skate is your kid's dream, you're going to have to help her set and achieve her targets. "If parents find they're nagging or getting angry that their child isn't working hard enough to meet a goal, that's a signal they need to back off," warns Edward L. Coyle, PhD, a clinical psychologist in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Be Alert to Possibilities I f your child says, "I wish I could win a prize in the science fair this year," use it as an opportunity to assist him in creating a plan. "Help him write down specific action steps and a timetable for accomplishing each of them," says John Bishop, author of Goal Setting for Students. Then check in with him from time to time to help keep him fo-cused on his targets.

Show Them How "Adults have a much greater sense of what it takes to accomplish goals," says Virginia Shiller, PhD, author of Re-wards for Kids! Ready-to-Use Charts & Activities for Positive Parenting. So include your child in your own goal-setting to show her how the process works. Say you want to create a garden. Get your child involved in everything from researching plants to turning the dirt. "Adults know how to break a goal down into steps, and that's some-thing kids need to learn," Dr. Shiller says.

Provide a Reality Check Children often underestimate how hard it can be to meet a goal, and then they get frustrated and discouraged when they fall short. If your child decides he wants to play the guitar, for instance, be encouraging but realistic. Point out the challenges and the dedication it will require. The idea isn't to make the goal seem too daunting, but rather to share in the seriousness of the undertaking by helping plan it out.

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Applaud Effort As your child begins to set goals and work toward them, don't forget the compliments. Say something like, "I'm really impressed. When you care about something you really go after it!" advises Dr. Shiller. That's what Candy Shugart did when, in fourth grade, Zach set a goal of learning to play the clarinet and worked hard to master the instrument. "I never said, 'Go practice,'" Shugart says. "Zach did it himself. I just gave him lots of acknowledgment." After that success he set increasingly more ambitious goals. And his discipline carried over to schoolwork too. "Zach, who's 12 now, says things like, 'I can't cram for this test. I have to start earlier,'" his mom notes. "The change is phenomenal."

When Kids Fall Short So your child wanted to improve in math, but he got another C on the latest test. Now what? Try these steps.

Review the goal with your child. Maybe it was too vague or too ambitious.

Ask your child for suggestions. Children are more likely to follow through on their own ideas about what else they can do.

Help envision the benefits. Ask: "What do you think it will feel like to do better on the next test?"

Share your childhood frustrations. Your child might feel better when you tell him about your diffi-culties learning fractions.

Compliment him. Even if your child doesn't get the A he hoped for, make sure to praise him for trying ("I'm so proud of how hard you studied!").

Don't use threats or bribes. Offering a video game in exchange for an A, or a punishment for a D, won't help your child's follow-through in the long run.

Just Do It! A Five-Step Plan Jim Wiltens, author of Goal Express, outlines steps to set -- and meet -- any target.

1. Write it down. Become a better baseball player, for example.

2. Make it specific. "I want to be able to get a base hit once each game."

3. Consider Pros and Cons.Pros: It will be much more fun and much less embarrassing to be on the

team.Cons: I already have practice twice a week. Extra practice will cut into my free time.

4. Define small steps by asking the Three W's. "Who can help?" A coach, parent, or friend, for ex-

ample. "What do I need to do?" Practice more, go to batting cage. "When?" 30 minutes twice a week.

Monitor Progress. Have my parents videotape my swing. Get feedback from my coach.

Adapted from Parents Magazine

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Bus cancellation and closing schools due to bad weather

During the winter months, we may need to cancel buses or close schools because of inclement weather. Information regarding details of cancellations or closures will be announced on radio, television stations and will also be available on Twitter @Peelschools, Twitter @STOPRinfo, Facebook at www.facebook.com/peelschools, www.peelschools.org and www.stopr.ca or by calling 905-890-1010 or 1-800-668-1146. One of the following messages will be announced: Peel District School Board buses are cancelled This means that schools remain open for students and staff, but buses are cancelled. Bus cancellations could occur in all or parts of municipalities. Buses will remain cancelled all day. All activities that require busing will also be cancelled. Permits, night school classes, child care and other activities in schools will operate as usual. All Peel District School Board schools and board offices are closed This means that all schools and Peel board offices are closed to students and staff. All activities in schools and board offices are also cancelled, including child care, night school and permits. All evening programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled This means that all activities in schools and Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events. The buildings will be closed. All weekend programs and permits at the Peel District School Board are cancelled This means that all activities in schools and Peel board offices are cancelled, including continuing education courses and events.

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School

Visitors

All parents, volunteers and visitors are requested to sign in at the office when they first enter the school.

Lunch & Treats

Information

Pizza days for Winter term

are Mondays and run

January to March

Cookies days in

January: 8, 15, 22 & 29

Popcorn days in

January: 10, 17, 24 & 31

Please note ALL food will need

to be ordered through the

School Cash Online system.

More information will follow.

Winter bus safety

The following winter school bus safety tips will help to keep your

child safe throughout the winter months.

· Allow extra time to get to your bus stop.

· Wear bright clothing so the bus can see you in the early morn-

ing and late evening.

· Stand away from where the bus stops. Buses need extra room

to stop when there is snow and ice.

· Use the handrail when boarding or exiting the bus to prevent

slipping on wet or icy steps or road surfaces.

· Dress appropriately—winter clothing, hats, and boots will keep

you warm.

· Don't throw snowballs at the bus or other children waiting for

the bus.

· Don't slide on the snow or ice patches in driveways or on the

street.

· Don't push or shove around the bus. Someone could fall down

on the ice and get hurt.

Talk to your child about what to do if the bus is late. Here are

some suggestions:

· When possible, wait with your child for the bus.

· Make sure your child knows a phone number where he can

reach you or another trusted adult.

· Teach your child how and where to get help. Talk to your child

about what a "safe" stranger is.

· Help your child set up a bus stop buddy system so your child

has someone to wait with for the bus.

Kindergarten Arrival and Dismissal

We kindly ask that parents drop their children off at the gated entry to the Kindergarten enclo-sure.

For the safety of our students and to establish important entry and dismissal routines, we would ask that parents DO NOT ENTER the Kindergarten enclosure area at any time. We thank you for help-ing your child develop independ-ent skills.

Should a family member require assistance, a member of the Mid-dlebury staff will be able to help

Bringing Treats to School

From time to time, parents like to bring treats to school for their child's class. While we all like treats, we would appreciate any treats brought to school be non food items e.g. pencils, stickers, book marks etc. We thank you for your cooperation and under-

standing.

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Help your family stay warm this winter

Canada Safety Council recommends the following tips for staying comfortable and preventing

hypothermia when working or playing outdoors:

· Wear a warm hat—most

body heat is lost through

the head. Children should

keep an extra hat at

school.

· Wear layered clothing.

Layers allow warm air to

stay trapped around the

body.

· Protect your feet and

hands. Wear loose water-

proof boots. If the boots

have liners, carry an extra

pair to replace damp ones

or take an extra pair of

socks. Invest in thick socks

to keep your feet warm.

Mittens are warmer than

gloves. Carry an extra pair

of mittens to school, on

outings, etc.

· Prevent dehydration and exhaustion, which can lead to hypothermia. Drink plenty of

fluids and pace yourself when doing vigorous activities.

· Stay fit by exercising and eating well—people who are fit are less susceptible to hypo-

thermia.

· If you stay indoors, avoid moving from a hot environment to a cold one. Excessive

sweating caused from an extreme change in temperature increases the risk of develop-

ing hypothermia.

· Eat high-energy food such as nuts and raisins. A balanced diet will also help keep you

warm and healthy in the winter.

· If you are travelling (on the road or in the wilderness) carry emergency supplies.

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Lunch Arrangements

Students who remain at school over the lunch peri-od are expected to remain on the school property for the duration of the lunch hour. Students who normal-ly eat lunch at school should bring a note for those rare occasions when they have alternate lunch arrange-ments. Thank you for your cooperation.

Report your child’s immunizations to the Re-

gion of Peel online

When registering for school for the first time, parents and

guardians are required to provide up-to-date immunization

information for their children. This includes registering for

kindergarten.

You can update your child’s immunizations online. The

online immunization tool allows you to attach a photo of the

immunization record. When reporting online, an Ontario

Health Card is required.

Report immunizations online at: www.peelregion.ca/

immunize

After you report your immunizations online you will be given

a reference number. Keep this number for your records. You

will need to give this number to your child’s school when

registering.

If you do not have online access or your child does not have

an Ontario Health Card, take a copy of the immunization rec-

ord to the school. Make sure your child’s name and date of

birth are visible on the record.

Call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 if your child does not

have an immunization record or if you have any questions

about immunization exemptions.

For more information, visit www.peelregion.ca/immunize

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Peel Public Health shares tips to help prevent the flu

It’s flu season and we want to make sure students stay as healthy as possible this year! Influenza (flu)

spreads easily from one person to another and Peel Public Health has some tips to help reduce the risk

of catching the flu and spreading it:

Get your annual flu shot: The flu shot is your best defence against the flu. There are many lo-

cations across Peel where you can get your flu shots:

Family Doctors’ offices

Walk-in clinics

Pharmacies

Peel flu clinics

Keep children home when they’re sick: If your child develops flu-like signs and symptoms

(fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue), keep them home from

school. Contact your health care provider if symptoms are severe.

Practice good hygiene: Help your child get into the habit of covering their nose and mouth

with a tissue when they cough or sneeze and throw tissues in the trash. Cough or sneeze into a

sleeve or elbow, if they don’t have a tissue. They should also avoid touching their eyes, nose or

mouth. This is how germs are spread.

Wash your hands: Encourage your child to wash their hands often with soap and water or use

hand sanitizer, especially after they cough or sneeze.

For more information, call Peel Public Health at 905-799-7700 or visit www.peelregion.ca/flu.

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It's time to register children born in 2016 for kindergarten

We inspire success, confidence and hope in each student…and it all starts in kindergarten! If your child was born

in 2016, they can start kindergarten in September 2020. You can register your child at any time during regular

school hours—just visit the school they will be attending to register.

Peel schools will also hold Kindergarten Registration Week from Jan. 13 to 17, 2020. Visit Middlebury PS from:

Jan. 13 to 17, 2020 – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Jan. 16, 2020 – from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m.

What you will need to bring to registration

Proof of child's age (one of the following)

Canadian birth certificate

Canadian passport

citizenship card/certificate

Permanent Resident Card

confirmation of permanent residence

work permit

refugee permit

Proof of address (one of the following)

Ontario driver's license

utility bill

bank statement/client slip (directly from financial institution)

credit card statement

federal government forms (e.g. Social Insurance Number, Service Canada documents)

purchase agreement

Proof of custody – children must live with their parent(s) unless provided documentation supports an alternate

living arrangement.

Proof of immunization – proof that your child has been immunized/vaccinated.

Peel Public Health shares tips to help prevent the flu

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Keep your child’s eyes healthy Did you know that vision problems in children often go unnoticed because kids don’t know any different? As many as 10 per cent of preschoolers will have vision difficulties that can affect the development of their sight if not treated. However, if caught by the age of 5, treatment will be most effective. The Region of Peel recommends regular eye exams for your child to help find eye problems early and get the right treatment. The best way to ensure good eye health is to have your child’s eyes checked by an optometrist. Yearly eye exams for children 19 and under are covered by OHIP. What to expect at your child’s eye exam An optometrist will complete: General vision testing in both eyes. Eye muscle testing.

Eye coordination testing. A general health assessment of the front and back of the eyes.

If needed, the optometrist will write a prescription for glasses for your child.

For information on overall vision health, common signs of a possible eye problem and the pro-grams available to you within Peel, visit www.peelregion.ca/vision-health

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Train More. Rehearse More. Learn More. Peel District School Board program offers flexible school options for

student athletes, artists

Does your child/teen have an intense sports or arts training and competition schedule that

makes it difficult to attend school regularly? The Peel District School Board’s Peel Region High

Performers Program will offer flexible timetabling to accommodate student athletes and

artists with demanding practice, competition, rehearsal and/or performance schedules.

The Peel Region High Performers Program is available to students in grades 4 to 12 at Britan-

nia Public School, Dolphin Senior Public School and Mississauga Secondary School.

Applications are open

For more information and applications, visit www.peelschools.org/HighPerformers.

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Regional Learning Choices programs

unlock passions

Regional Learning Choices Programs offered by the Peel District School Board empower stu-

dents by providing them with opportunities to develop and explore skills in a particular area of

interest. Regional programs are open to all students who meet the criteria for acceptance.

Transportation is not provided for students in regional programs. If students have been ac-

cepted into a regional program and they live within the school boundary, they are eligible for

busing only if they meet the distance criteria outlined in the board’s Transportation Policy #39.

All regional programs include annual fees, including a non-refundable $40 application fee.

Students and their families are encouraged to attend the information night for the program

of their choice to receive more information about the program and application details.

Important dates to note:

Applications open Applications close

ELEMENTARY Jan. 27, 2020 at 8:30 a.m. Feb. 10, 2020 at 3 p.m.

SECONDARY Applications for secondary region-

al programs are closed

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For more information about program information nights, busing, fees and the application process, visit www.peelschools.org/RegionalPrograms

Programs Schools offered at Starts in grade:

6 7 9

Actively in Motion (AIM) Royal Orchard MS

Advanced Placement Central Peel SS, John Fraser SS

Arts Earnscliffe Sr. PS (starts in grade 6), Queen Elizabeth Sr. PS (starts in grade 7), Cawthra Park SS, Mayfield SS

Arts and Technology Morning Star MS

Graphic Design Management T.L. Kennedy SS

International Baccalaureate Bristol Rd. MS, WG Davis Sr. PS, Erindale SS, Glenfor-est SS, Harold M. Brathwaite SS, Turner Fenton SS

International Business and Technology

Allan A. Martin Sr. PS, Lisgar MS, Williams Pkwy Sr. PS, Meadowvale SS, North Park SS, T.L. Kennedy SS

International and Executive T.L. Kennedy SS

Regional Skilled Trades Judith Nyman (starting in September 2020), West Credit SS

SciTech Centennial Sr. PS, Macville PS, Tomken Rd. MS, Chinguacousy SS, Port Credit SS

Sports Applewood Heights SS

Strings Central Peel SS, Port Credit SS

Transportation Engineering and Technology

Bramalea SS

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Apply for French Immersion by Jan. 31, 2020

If your child will be starting grade 1 in September 2020, one of the important choices you will

make is whether you want to consider grade 1 French Immersion (FI).

The application form for grade 1 FI for the 2020-21 school year are available online at

www.peelschools.org/French. The deadline to apply is Friday, Jan. 31, 2020.

Applications received after the deadline will not be included in the random selection process

and will be placed on the school’s waitlist.

The FI school for our area is Castlebridge P.S. The phone number is 905-812-7906.

Applying for Grade 1 French Immersion

The Peel board has a limited number of spaces available for grade 1 French Immersion. They

are not offered to students on a first come first served basis. A computerized random selection

process randomly ranks all applications that are received by the deadline and assigns the avail-

able spaces in rank order. Once available spaces are filled, the remaining students are placed

in rank order on a school’s waitlist. Each school has its own waitlist.

Students must apply to and, if accepted, attend the French Immersion school based on the

home address. Flexible boundaries are not available for Grade 1 French Immersion.

How to get more information

For more information about French Immersion and how you can support your child:

Visit www.peelschools.org/French

Call Castlebridge P.S. at 905-812-7906.

Visit the Canadian Parents for French website at http://on.cpf.ca/

Visit www.stopr.ca to determine if your child is eligible for busing and for information on bus stops and routes.

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Our work has just begun.

Did you know that 1 in 5 students in Peel Region face barriers related to poverty. That’s more than 27,000 Peel board students.

The Peel Learning Foundation’s mission is to raise funds to enable Peel District School Board students to achieve personal excellence by providing resources that help them overcome bar-riers. To date, we have supported more than 500 students through the Student Emergency Needs and Student Backpack programs. The support we provide can be as simple as providing funds for food or transportation, a winter coat, or a backpack filled with school supplies.

This type of support can enrich a student's school experience and help them achieve success. Any teacher, staff or support person can speak confidentially to their school’s principal, vice-principal or supervisor when they encounter a student in need, who will then reach out to us to ask for help. There are many ways that you can support the foundation. A gift will help us achieve great things for students. To learn more, visit www.peellearningfoundation.org/how. You can help us create hopeful tomorrows. www.PeelLearningFoundation.org l 905-890-1010 ext. 2461 l foundation@peelsb.com

@PeelLearningFDN l /PeelLearningFDN

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Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness

From the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team

Many people think that when we talk about mental health, we are talking about mental illness – however, alt-

hough they are related concepts, they are not the same. Mental health is like our physical health: both are im-

portant parts of our overall well-being.

Mental illnesses are conditions that affect our thinking, mood and behaviour and they can negatively impact how

we function day to day. Examples of mental illness include depression, generalized anxiety disorder, and schizo-

phrenia (1). Mental health, relates to our ability to enjoy life and to manage it in ways that help us reach our

goals and cope with stress. It is a sense of spiritual and emotional well-being. This means, mental health is more

than the absence of mental illness (2).

The “dual continuum model” (3) helps illustrate

the relationship between mental health and

mental illness. On the mental illness continuum,

one end runs from severe mental illness to no

mental illness. On the mental health continuum,

one end runs from poor mental health to good

mental health.

This model shows that a person without a men-

tal illness is not necessarily mentally healthy.

They may be feeling down or experiencing a

high level of stress because of life circumstanc-

es. It also shows us that we can all strive for

good mental health; that even individuals with

mental illness can experience a high level of mental health.

To learn more, watch this brief YouTube video: “Promoting Mental Health: Finding Shared Language” bit.ly/UnderstandingMH_MI. For updates and to follow along with the work of the PDSB Mental Health Resource Team, find them on Twitter @MHRTPeel. References:

1. Public Health Agency of Canada. 2015. Mental Illness. Available from: http://www.phac-

aspc.gc.ca/cdmc/mi-mm/index-eng.php

2. Public Health Agency of Canada. 2015. Frequently Asked Questions: What is Mental Health Pro-

motion? Available from: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/mh-sm/mhp-psm/faq-eng.php

3. Keyes, C.L. (2002). The Mental Health Continuum: From Languishing to Flourishing in Life. Journal

of Health and Social Research. Vol. 43: 207-222

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Celebrating Faith and Culture

January 2020

DATE

CELEBRATION FAITH AND CULTURE

Month of January Spirit Moon Indigenous Worldview (First Nations)

December 31 to January 1 Ghambar Maidyarem Zoroastrianism

January 1 ● Temple Day Buddhism

January 1 and 14 (J) ● New Year’s Day Christianity and Canada

January 1 Gantan-sai Shinto

January 2 Sakyamuni Buddha’s Enlighten-ment

Buddhism

January 5 ● Birth of Guru Gobind Singh Sikhism

January 6 and 19 (J) Epiphany or Feast of The-ophany

Christianity

January 7 (J) ● Christmas Christianity

January 10 Mahayana New Year Buddhism

January 13 Lohri Hinduism

January 13 Seijin-no-hi Shinto

January 13 Maghi Sikhism

January 14 Makar Sankranti Hinduism

January 19 World Religion Day Bahá'í

January 19 to February 6 Month of Sultán Bahá'í

January 25 ● Lunar New Year/Maitreya Bo-dhisattva’s Birthday

Buddhism

January 29 Vasant Panchami Hinduism

The expectation is that Peel schools and worksites not schedule events on significant holydays (as marked with a ● or ○ on the calendar) that would exclude observing staff and students from participating. ● = Do not schedule events at any time on these days ○ = Do not schedule events on the evenings of these days Dates in bold lettering are approved holy days according to the Peel District School Board Leaves of Absence poli-cy #23 and O.P. HRS #42

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Celebrating Faith and Culture Backgrounder

January 2020

The Peel District School Board is a mosaic of many cultures and faiths from all over the world.

To commemorate this diversity, the board recognizes special faith and culture days of our

communities. January 2020 has several special faith and culture days to celebrate and remem-

ber:

Spirit Moon in Indigenous Worldview (First Nations)

The Anishinaabe people recognize and celebrate the first moon of Creation also known as the

Spirit Moon as it heralds the new spiritual year.

December 31 to January 4 - Ghambar Maidyarem in Zoroastrianism

This five-day winter festival known as Ghambar Maidyarem celebrates the creation of animals

and is a time for an equitable sharing of food.

January 1 - Temple Day in Buddhism

Buddhists of all schools attend a special service in the temple on this day in dedication of their

faith.

January 1 and 14 - New Year’s Day in Christianity and Canada

New Year’s Day has been celebrated as a holiday by Western nations for the past 400+ years.

It also holds religious significance for the followers of the Christian faith. In 153 BC, the Roman

senate declared Jan.1 the beginning of the New Year. This holiday was first observed in Baby-

lon 4000 years ago.

Celebrations around the holiday include: making of resolutions, parties on the evening of Dec.

31, and a toast at midnight when the New Year officially begins. On New Year's Day itself,

many people watch football games, parades and spend the day with family and friends.

Followers of Orthodox Christianity celebrate the New Year's Day on Jan. 14 based on the Julian

calendar.

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January 1 - Gantan-sai (New Year) in Shinto

People of the Shinto faith—a Japanese faith practised for centuries—say "Akemashite Omede-

to Gozaimasu!" on this day, which means "Happy New Year!" This is the most important holi-

day in Japan. Most businesses are closed from Jan. 1 to 3, and families typically gather to

spend the days together.

For happiness and good luck in the New Year, Japanese people begin to laugh the moment the

Gantan-sai begins, so they will have good luck throughout the year.

January 2 - Sakyamuni Buddha's Enlightenment in Buddhism

Siddhartha Gautama, known also as Sakyamuni Buddha, attained enlightenment at the age of

35 while sitting in deep meditation under the Bodhi tree. Followers of the faith commemorate

this day for their founder by holding Dharma functions in the temples and by partaking of con-

gee (a nourishing milk drink). On this day, Buddhists reflect on the "Middle Path" - a path of

moderation between extreme self-indulgence and self-mortification taught by Sakyamuni Bud-

dha.

January 5 - Birth of Guru Gobind Singh in Sikhism

Guru Gobind Singh was the 10th and final guru (1666-1708) in the Sikh faith. He created the

Order of Khalsa and declared the scriptures, the Adi Granth, as the only guru after him for peo-

ple of the Sikh faith.

Gurpurbs are festivals associated with the lives of the Gurus. Sikhs celebrate Gurpurbs, like the

Birth of Guru Gobind Singh, with an akhand path, a complete and continuous reading of the

Adi Granth, which takes 48 hours and finishes on the day of the festival.

January 6 and 19 - Epiphany or Feast of Theophany in Christianity

Followers of the Western Christian tradition celebrate Epiphany on Jan. 6. This day marks the

journey of three kings to worship Jesus in Bethlehem. Some of the Orthodox churches—like

Greek, Russian, Ukrainian and Serbian— that still follow the older or Julian calendar celebrate

the same tradition as the Feast of Theophany on Jan. 19. The term epiphany means to show,

to make known or to reveal.

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January 7 - Christmas in Christianity

Followers of the Eastern Rite celebrate Christmas and the birth of Jesus on Jan. 7, based on the

Julian calendar. Some sub-groups observe the day on Jan 6. Traditional celebrations include

singing carols, having holy supper on Christmas Eve and attending church services on Christ-

mas Eve and the Christmas Day.

January 10 – Mahayana New Year in Buddhism

The followers of Mahayana Buddhism celebrate the New Year’s Day on the first full moon day

in January. The observance is a multi-day celebration.

January 13 - Lohri and January 14 - Makar Sankranti in Hinduism

This festival marks the end of the winter season (when daylight hours begin to increase) and is

primarily a harvest festival. This festival is also called Lohri in Punjab, Pongal in Tamil Nadu,

Bihu in Assam, Kicheri in Uttar Pradesh, Til Sankranti in Maharashtra, and Uttaran in Gujarat,

India. Kite flying and burning sugar cane in bonfires is a couple of the more popular customs

for this celebration. Newly married couples and parents on the birth of their first child particu-

larly celebrate Lohri in the Punjab. Regional and cultural celebrations of this festival vary in

traditions and customs.

Makar Sankranti is the first Hindu festival of the solar calendar year. It falls at a time when the

sun enters the Zodiac sign of Makar (Capricorn), and when days become longer from this point

on so it is a time for celebration.

January 13 - Seijin-no-hi in Shinto

Based on a Shinto rite of passage known as gempuku, Seijin-no-hi is the Coming-of-Age Day,

which marks the official entry to adulthood for all young Japanese who will have reached the

age of majority (20 years) between April 2 of the previous year and April 1 of the current year.

Declared a national holiday in Japan in 1948, 20-year-old women and men go to shrines, wear-

ing traditional clothing. Their families announce their adulthood to the kami or spirits, and

pray for their health and well-being.

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January 13 - Maghi in Sikhism

This is the first day of the month of Magh. This day commemorates the battle at Muktsar, a

town in Punjab, India, in which 40 Sikhs (called the Immortal Ones) died for Guru Gobind Singh

in 1705.

January 19 to February 6 - month of Sultán in Bahá'í

In the Bahá'í calendar, there are 19 months of 19 days each. Each month represents an attrib-

ute of God. January 19 is the beginning of Sultán, the seventeenth month of the Bahá'í calen-

dar, signifying "sovereignty."

The Bahá'í day starts and ends at sunset. The first day of each month is known as a Feast Day.

January 19 - World Religion Day in Bahá'í

At this annual celebration, representatives of all faiths and traditions are invited to foster inter

-faith understanding and harmony by focusing on the common beliefs and spiritual principles

underlying all religions.

January 25 - Lunar New Year/Maitreya Bodhisattva’s Birthday in Buddhism

Followers of Mahayana Buddhist tradition from Tibet, China, Vietnam, Japan, Korea and other

parts of the world celebrate their New Year after the new (dark) moon for the year 4718 - the

Year of the Rat. They visit the local temple or monastery in the morning. In the afternoon, they

distribute food to the poor. The day will conclude with evening chanting of the Buddha's

teachings and meditation.

New Year's celebrations vary throughout East Asia:

New Year is one of the traditional and most important Chinese holidays. It is celebrated

on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, which is usually the day on

which the second new moon after the winter solstice occurs. The Chinese New Year is

celebrated over 15 days. The Chinese greeting is "Kung Hei Fat Choi," meaning

"Congratulations and be prosperous." Traditionally, red packets ('hong bao' 'lai see' )

are passed out on New Year's Eve, and the New Year is celebrated with firecrackers, as

well as dragon and lion dances.

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The Vietnamese New Year is celebrated for seven days. The greeting is "Tet Giap

Than," meaning "Best Wishes." A special ceremony called Le Tru Tich is held at mid-

night (Giao Thua) on New Year's Eve. The ritual involves firecrackers and gongs and

other festive items that make loud noises to usher out the old and welcome the new.

Family members exchange gifts and pay homage to the Kitchen God. They also visit lo-

cal temples to pray for prosperity and good health.

Vietnamese families plant a New Year's tree called Cay Neu in front of their homes. A

bamboo pole is often used as a Cay Neu.

The Korean New Year's greeting is "Say hay boke-mahn he pah du say oh," meaning

"Many New Year's blessings to you!"

Tibetan Buddhists celebrate Losar, or New Year's Day for the year 2147 in the Tibetan

calendar. The last two days of the old year are called Gutor and are spent preparing for

the New Year. The custom that day is to make special noodles called guthuk. Everyone

exchanges the traditional greeting, "Tashi delek."

January 29 - Vasant Panchami in Hinduism

A North Indian celebration, Vasant Panchami is celebrated in honour of Saraswati, the God-

dess of Learning and Lakshmi, the Goddess of Wealth.

The fifth day of the bright fortnight of the lunar month of Magh is Vasanta Panchami and the

first day of spring. Hindus celebrate this festival by holding ceremonies to venerate Saraswati,

goddess of wisdom and knowledge. People dress in yellow and get together with their fami-

lies. Marigold flowers are featured in religious services. Symbolically, the education of children

in their first year begins on this day.

Celebrating special faith and cultural days in your school

Consider the following:

- Include dates 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

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- 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

Questions?:

If you would like any more information on how to celebrate these days, please call Ashley Big-

da, Community Relations Officer at 905-890-1010, ext. 2573 or e-mail her Ash-

ley.Bigda@peelsb.com.

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