Monsieur Hugo might’ve had winter on his head, but we definitely had it surrounding us this past week while we yearned for a little springtime warmth! While we made it through this deep freeze relatively unscathed, we were reminded that we are no match for winter’s deep cold days. Spring is still a long way away!

We remind families who drive to school that the area of the street closest to the school is absolutely not a parking area, and should be used for drop-off only. Please respect our neighbours, as well as our school bus drivers, and do not leave your car parked here. There are areas further down Wakunda where temporary parking is available and much less problematic. 

Remembering and Acknowledging

Tomorrow, Monday, January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day 2025. This year marks the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and honors the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, including 2.5 million children. We also reflect on the survivors and the ongoing impact on their families and the larger community.  

Wednesday, January 29 is the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia, honouring the six lives lost in the 2017 attack at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City. This tragic event forever impacted families, injured many, and deeply affected Muslim communities everywhere. 

Our schools must be spaces where everyone feels they belong, are valued, and can thrive. At O’Connor, we aspire to be this school and community every day through our equity-focused work in classrooms and staff learning. We hope we can count on your support with these efforts at home as well, by reinforcing the need and expectation of acceptance, kindness, and inclusion for all. 

Lunar New Year

On January 29, 2025, the Chinese, Korean, Japanese, Thai, Tibetan, Malaysian, Vietnamese, Singaporean and other communities in Canada and around the world will celebrate the Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival (Chinese), or Seollal (Korean), or Tết (Vietnamese). This holiday is celebrated by over two billion people worldwide. Families and loved ones will come together to give thanks, exchange gifts, and welcome the arrival of the Year of the Snake, a symbol of wisdom, intuition, creativity, prosperity, and longevity. We send our best New Year wishes to all those who will be celebrating, and we encourage any students who wish to do so, to wear red and gold / yellow to school on Friday in recognition of Lunar New Year this week!

The Lunch Lady on School CashOnline / Lunchbox 

We have a tasty update to our Lunchbox program on School Cash Online! We’ve recently added a new vendor, The Lunch Lady, to our menu. Have a look at the meal options below and be sure to access Lunchbox through School CashOnline. Creating an account will allow you to order items for any Tuesday delivery, as long as the order goes in online by the Sunday before. This is the same online spot that our pizza lunches and Subway Wednesdays can be ordered.  

Winter Walk Day + Walking School Bus = February 5

Mark your calendars! On Wednesday, February 5th, join O’Connor and hundreds of schools across Canada for Winter Walk Day (WWD), an annual celebration of staying active in the winter! We will be moving the date of our monthly Walking School Bus to combine it with this event. We encourage as many families as possible to join WINTER WALK DAY and walk to school with us on the morning of February 5! Come meet us along the route, and if you normally drive to school, consider driving to the community centre instead, so that you can park and participate in the walk! Let’s take a stroll to school together on Feb. 5th. See our meet-up times below:

• 8:20 am -- 45 Sunrise Ave.
• 8:30 am -- 25 Sunrise Ave.
• 8:40 am -- O’Connor Community Centre
  
  

EQAO Math Night for Parents and Guardians

January 28 or February 18 at 6:30 p.m. EST 

A free live webinar where EQAO staff will discuss math questions that Ontario students encounter. Staff will also share valuable insights from the past three years of assessment results, which can help parents and guardians support their children’s math learning.


TDSB celebrates Family Literacy Day 2025!

January 27th, 2025, is recognized in Canada as a special day dedicated to family literacy, encouraging families to read, explore, and learn together.  Family Literacy Day is organized by ABC Life Literacy Canada and celebrated annually. This year, the theme of Family Literacy Day is “Learn to be Green, Together,” which is an excellent opportunity to combine literacy with learning about sustainability as a family.

Please visit Family Literacy Day to learn more about this important day and access relevant resources. Additionally, please note programs being offered in Toronto Public Library locations across the city at Family Literacy Day: Toronto Public Library.

Special Education and Inclusion Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Sessions 

Special Education and Inclusion is pleased to offer a variety of drop-in and topic-specific sessions for parents, guardians, and caregivers throughout the 2024-2025 school year. These sessions provide valuable information, resources, and support to help families navigate special education programs and services.

Drop-In Sessions-Families

Parent Engagement Sessions-Families

Important Upcoming Dates

Jan. 29:  Lunar New Year
Jan. 31:  Pizza lunch
February  African Heritage Month and Chinese Heritage Month
Feb. 4, 11, 18:  “Swim to Survive” for classes of Mr. Kauk and Mr. Messiha
Feb. 5 :  WINTER WALK DAY
Feb. 11:  Term 1 Report Cards go home
Feb. 13:  Parent-Teacher Conferences in the evening
Feb. 14:  PA Day for Parent-Teacher Conferences in the morning (NO SCHOOL for students)
Feb. 17:  FAMILY DAY (School closed for public holiday)
Mar. 10 - 14:  March Break (NO SCHOOL)