Holiday frenzy hits Peel schools
Students, staff and parents plan activities, events to help others
Schools across the Peel District School Board are busy preparing for the holidays. Staff and students are also thinking of others as they take time to collect personal items, food and toys for families in need.
Grade 4 students at Northwood Public School in Brampton have been participating in the school's 'Survivor' project since September. They have collected daily essential items for less fortunate people living in the community. The project originated through activities and discussions during the first week of school. The project was named after the popular television series "Survivor."
"The students have been very excited about this project since they began collecting items in the fall. They have filled almost 25 shoeboxes with personal items," says Krista Smith, teacher at Northwood. "Students feel good about helping others in the community. They are currently busy decorating the shoeboxes which will then be filled and delivered to local shelters."
The students at Credit View Public School in Cheltenham have organized a food drive for the week of Dec. 18. Parents, staff and students attending the school's winter concert on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. are encouraged to bring a donation for the food drive as admission.
"Our goal is to help those in need," says Patti Shutak, principal at Credit View. "The winter concert will allow parents to enjoy an evening of their children's performances while also contributing to our food drive." Collected food will be sent to the Salvation Army.
The student activity council at Clarkson Secondary School in Mississauga is helping to make the holidays special for younger students. On Dec. 14, the SAC is once again sponsoring its "OAC Kids Christmas" event. Grade 1 students from Elmcrest and Willow Glen Public Schools will come to Clarkson by bus and will be teamed with an OAC/senior student buddy for a morning of holiday activities including crafts, singing, games and a magic show. Younger students will enjoy a snack and a small gift before they return to their schools in time for lunch.
"This is a wonderful opportunity for senior students to take on a leadership role with the elementary children," says Charmaine Meyer, vice-principal at Clarkson. "All students get to celebrate the holiday in a creative and fun way."
Media Contact: Krista Smith, Teacher, Northwood Public School, (905) 451-6464
Patti Shutak, Principal, Credit View Public School (905)838-2121
Charmaine Meyer, Vice-Principal, Clarkson Secondary School (905) 822-6700, ext. 206
Reference: Sapna Goel, Communications Assistant, (905) 890-1010, ext. 2652
Note to media: A list of school events/activities is attached with a school contact name and phone number.
Brampton
Arnott Charlton Public School students from grades 1 to 5 will ring in the holidays with staff and parents on Dec. 20 from 6 to 8 p.m. The celebration will include performances by three student choirs as well as the Arnott Charlton Staff Orchestra. The event will also feature a book fair and bake sale. Contact Kyra Kristensen-Irvine, principal, at (905)456-3159.
Birchbank Public School is hosting a family evening of singing Christmas carols on Dec. 20 from 7 to 8:15 p.m. All members of the community are welcome. Coffee, hot apple cider and cookies will be served. Contact Christine Higgins, principal, (905)793-7984.
Centennial Senior Public School's grade 7 students will host their second annual skate-a-thon for children living in Brampton on Dec. 20 at the Brampton Memorial Arena. Proceeds from this event will support the Peel Toys for Tots program. Contact Tony Mancini, teacher, at (905)459-5200. Also, proceeds from candy gram sales at the school are being used to purchase 240 stuffed lions for the Paediatric Ward of Peel Memorial Hospital. The grade 7 and 8 band and the choir will perform at the school on Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. On Dec. 11 and 12 at 11 a.m., the grade 8 band performed at Shoppers World Brampton. Contact Kevin Dobson, vice-principal, at (905)459-5200.
Clark Boulevard Public School will host a concert on Dec. 13 at 1 p.m. and the evening of Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. One hundred grade 2 students will present songs and poems and the school choir will present the mini-musical Why Mosquitoes Buzz. Contact Ann Divitt, teacher, at (905)793-6060.
Dorset Drive Public School will host a seasonal performance by all kindergarten students on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. Staff and students will sing Christmas carols on Dec. 18 and 19 at 9 a.m. and on Dec. 20 and 21 at 1 p.m. On Dec. 21 at 7 p.m., students will perform "The Snowman." Contact Kathy Filkin, vice-principal, at (905)793-5210.
Earnscliffe Senior Public School held a winter concert on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. Performances included the school choir, the grade 7 and 8 bands, the cheerleading team, solos and duets. Contact Laura Stockwell, teacher, at (905)793-2903.
Folkstone Public School will hold a concert on Dec. 14 from 7 to 8 p.m. During the week of Dec. 18, students and staff will sing carols in the gym. Contact Holly Harris, principal, at (905)792-2266.
Goldcrest Public School will have a seasonal sing-along each day during the week of Dec. 18. The school is also hosting an evening of music, poems and skits presented by students in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2 on Dec. 21. Contact Jan Richardson, principal, at (905)791-8558.
Great Lakes Public School will host an arts evening entitled "Festival of Lights" on Dec. 21 from 7 to 8 p.m. at Birchbank Public School. There will be art displays, solo presentations and singing by students in grade 1 and the primary and junior choirs. Contact Mary Haslett, principal, at (905)793-8532.
Madoc Drive Public School is collecting new mittens and hats for children who need warm clothing during the winter. Staff and students are also collecting non-perishable food items for the Salvation Army. On Dec. 12, the school council and staff hosted a "Sounds of the Season" evening at 7 p.m. The council provided hot chocolate for everyone who attended. On Dec. 15 at 1:15 p.m., the school council is hosting Ken Whitely's "Winter Concert" for all students.
During the week of Dec. 18, students in each grade will share a song during the Songs of the Season presentation. Performances include grade 5 students on Dec. 18 at 9:15 a.m., grades 2 and 4 on Dec. 19 at 1:15 p.m., morning kindergarten and grade 3 on Dec. 20 at 9:15 a.m., afternoon kindergarten, grades 1 and 4 on Dec. 21 at 1:15 p.m. and a final Songs of the Season on Dec. 22 at 9:15 a.m. Contact Donna Beatty, principal, at (905) 457-3440.
Morton Way Public School is holding an assembly on Dec. 15 from 1 to 2:15 p.m. Students will celebrate the traditions and customs of their families including Christmas, Diwali, Eid-ul-Fitr, Hanukkah and Kwanzaa through poetry, songs and skits. Contact Kathy Cunnington, vice-principal, at (905)452-6116.
Sir John A. Macdonald Senior Public School is presenting a concert on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. The concert will feature two bands, a choir, classroom chorus and small ensemble performers. Contact Michelle Guyon, teacher, at (905)457-5535.
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Public School began its third annual "Hang a Stocking" campaign on Dec. 4. Staff and students collect new socks, stockings and long johns for children of all ages to be donated to the Salvation Army. Also, the annual winter concert will be held on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. Contact Jennifer Travis, principal, at (905)451-1415.
Westervelts Corners Public School, in co-operation with St. Cecilia Elementary School, has organized a food and toy drive from Dec. 1 to 15. Donations will go to the Salvation Army and St. Anne's Church. On Dec. 14 from 7 to 8:30 p.m., students from Westervelts Corners and St. Cecilia will combine carol singing and musical performances in "An Evening of Song." Contact Terje Refling, principal, at (905)459-3456.
Caledon
Herb Campbell Public School students will present a Christmas concert with various songs and plays from around the world on Dec. 13 and 14 at 7 p.m. Contact Colleen Bailey, teacher, at (905)838-3952. On Dec. 20 at 7 p.m., the band/ensembles will play seasonal selections at the school. Contact Wayne Peeters, teacher, at (905)838-3952.
Mayfield Secondary School students presented A Morning of Music on Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. for Peel board middle school students. The school's performance of A Winter's Afternoon for the community was held on Dec. 8. Contact Lesley Scott, teacher, at (905)846-6060 ext. 711.
Mississauga
Allan A. Martin Senior Public School is hosting its annual "Allan A. Arts Alive Festival: A Celebration of the Arts" on Dec. 13 at 7 p.m. Students will participate in dance, drama, visual arts and music throughout the school. Drama vignettes and dance teams will perform with small ensembles of musicians (instrumental and vocal). Students from the school-wide businesses "Biz Kidz" and the "Allan A. Art Shoppe" will sell crafts and art products to raise money for needy people over the holidays. "Café Martin" will serve food and beverages while offering a French flair with singers and dancers as the entertainment. Contact Catherine Standring, principal, (905)278-6104.
Barondale Public School's junior choir sang at the inaugural meeting of the new board of trustees on Dec. 4 at 7 p.m. They will sing again in the atrium of the Peel board office on Dec. 15 at 1 p.m. On Dec. 21, the junior choir and students in grade 3 will present It's December In Our Town. Contact Susan Willster, teacher, at (905)502-1880.
Castlebridge Public School students will perform It's the Holiday's Mr. Grinch on Dec. 19 at 1:15 p.m. and at 7 p.m. The staff and school council will host a silent auction during the day of the concert. Proceeds will go to new school programs. The school will collect canned goods, unwrapped toys and clothing to donate to a community organization. Contact Kathy Konior, principal, at (905)812-7906.
Fairview Public School's holiday performance on Dec. 21 at 7 p.m. will feature students in kindergarten and grades 1 and 2. Contact Andrea Burdick, principal, at (905)277-0281.
Forest Glen Public School's students from grades1 to 3 will present a holiday concert to their parents on Dec. 14 at 7 p.m. at the school. On Dec. 2 at 7 p.m., the junior choir performed Christmas Toonies: Festive Family Concert with the Etobicoke Community Concert Band. The concert was held at the Humber College auditorium. The choir also performed at Glenforest Secondary School on Dec. 6 as part of the Glenforest Holiday Concert. Contact Jane Shiells, principal, at (905)625-1462.
Garthwood Park Public School will hold their Winterfest concerts on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. Holiday celebration concerts will include all students singing, playing and reciting. Contact Karen Salvatore, principal, at (905)607-0800.
Kenollie Public School students will be performing "A Jazzy Holiday" concert for the community on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. As part of the music program, students have been studying the influence and importance of jazz, learning how to connect the past and the present through song and instrument improvisation. A Jazzy Holdiay is a convergence of musical muses from around the world. Contact Mary Siegrist, principal, and Joan Hayhoe, teacher, at (905)278-8991.
Lakeview Park Public School's holiday musical will take place on Dec. 19 at 7 p.m. and will feature all students and staff. Contact Catherine Standring, principal, at (905)278-4197.
Lancaster Public School will host the holiday concert December in our Town on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. Students will perform songs about several holidays including Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Las Posadas. Contact Mary Cuylle, teacher, at (905)677-5844.
Mineola Public School's grades 5 and 6 students performed a selection of seasonal songs in an intergenerational concert with the Cawthra senior citizens choir on Dec. 10 at 2:30 p.m. at the Cawthra Senior Citizens Centre. The students and seniors exchanged letters of introduction during the two weeks prior to the concert, and then met for the first time at the concert. Contact Virginia McKinnon, teacher, at (905)278-3144 and Chris McDougall, teacher at Settler's Green Public School and conductor of senior citizens' choir, at (905)826-4947.
Munden Park Public School will hold a holiday concert on Dec. 20 at 7 p.m. Students in the junior choir, kindergarten and grades 1 to 3 will share, through song, their favourite part of the holiday season. Contact Lynda Honsinger, principal, at (905)279-9251.
Plowman's Park Public School will hold its junior winter concert on Dec. 14 at 7:30 p.m. and the primary winter concert on Dec. 21 at 7:30 p.m. Contact Jan Mitchell, teacher, at (905)821-4973.
Ray Underhill Public School performed It's a magical time of the year, a musical about how the Grunch, not the Grinch, stole Christmas. The musical took place on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. at the Mississauga Gospel Temple. During the week of Dec. 18, students and staff will sing carols. Every class is contributing to a basket for a needy family. Each basket will provide enough food for the holidays and special items for one of 10 families being sponsored by the school. Contact Jennifer Luxmore, teacher, about the musical and Judy Bardon, teacher, about the baskets at (905)826-1742.
Trelawny Public School will hold their first Olympic concert on Dec. 19. Trelawny students will perform many enchanting and exciting events related to the Olympics with a Christmas twist. Students from grades 1 to 3 and the primary choir will participate in the first Trelawny Olympic concert. Contact Natasa Mikic or Annesia Khan, teachers, at (905)824-0360.
Whiteoaks Public School is collecting stuffed animals for the Hospital Teddy Bear Drive, local shelters and group homes. The Teddy Bear Drive as well as a food drive take place from Dec. 4 to 15. All donations will be picked up for distribution on Dec. 18. On the evening of Dec. 13 and 14, students in the primary grades will perform the musical Magic in the Toyshop. Contact Anne Harmen, teacher, at (905)822-0451.
