Boxwood Public School
Encyclopedia
Boxwood Public School is a JK-8 elementary school located in the Town of Markham, Ontario
, Canada
. It is under the York Region District School Board
. The school is named after Boxwood Crescent, the street on which the school is located.
Boxwood Public School was opened on September 5, 2000. However, its official opening date was April 5, 2001. It celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2010.
It has 17 regular classrooms, three kindergarten
classrooms, three student support centres, a self-contained special education
classroom. In the centre of the school building, there is a well equipped library and double gym with stage. There are currently three portables containing four portable classroom
s at the back of the school. These two portables were installed in the summer of 2009 replacing the old ones. A third was installed during the summer of 2010. The school also has a childcare centre, which is owned and operated by Family Day.
Upon graduation
from Boxwood PS, most of the grade 8 students will normally go to Markham District High School
to study grade 9. It is because Boxwood is one of MDHS's feeder schools.
http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/pdfs/w/schools/boundary/427Boundary.pdf
. There is no any retail
activity. Most buildings are single-family detached homes. The school is sandwiched between two golf courses. To its southeast, about 600 metres, is the Remington Parkview Golf Course. To its north, about 500 metres away, is the Markham Green Golf Course. Less than two kilometres away, the Cedar Brae Golf and Country is at the south. About two kilometres away at its northwest are the Milne Dam Conservation Park and the Rouge Park
. Boxwood is surrounded by green belt
. Because of the Highway 407 to its north, the power corridor to its southwest, the Rouge River
to its east, the neighbourhood
where Boxwood locates is basically cut-off from other subdivisions
.
2006 census
data, in municipal election Ward 7 where Boxwood PS is located, 86% of its total population
were visible minorities. Out of the total population, 46% were South Asians. 23% were Chinese. Out of the total population, 68% of their mother tongues were neither English language
nor French
. The rest were English language.
The population in this area is well educated, 46% of the total population aged 15 and over had post-secondary education.
program in September 2006 to students classified as Exceptional/Gifted by the grade 3 psychological screening. The other new gifted school in the eastern portion of the York Region District School Board
is John McCrae Public School. The reason for the expansion of the gifted program to Boxwood Public School was that the need for gifted instruction kept growing in York Region. The original gifted program offered by Roy H. Crosby Public School
and William Berczy Public School
could no longer satisfy the demand.
In September 2006, Boxwood only offered grade 4 gifted program. It is now expanded to grade 5, 6, 7 and grade 8. As of September 2009, there are six gifted classes with about 150 gifted students, roughly about 30 percent of the school population.
Since the demand for gifted instruction remains strong, York Region District School Board announced in January 2010 that the elementary gifted program was once again expanded. From September 2010, a new grade 4 gifted program will be commenced at Parkland Public School. A grade will be added each year until full implementation of the gifted program in 2014.
Students who are considered to be Exceptional/Gifted from Aldergrove Public School
, Armadale Public School
, Highgate Public School, Milliken Mills Public School, Parkland Public School, Randall Public School, and Wilclay Public School will no longer go to the gifted program at Boxwood PS. They will instead go to Parkland PS.
This new program is in addition to the program at Boxwood. It is not replacing Boxwood's gifted program. Students that are currently attending Boxwood PS gifted program will remain at Boxwood.
Upon graduation at grade 8, Boxwood gifted students usually go to Markham District High School
or Markville Secondary School
to continue their secondary school gifted program, depending on the student's home location. They can also choose to return to their original home school.
, Mustang, and Ranger. These names were adopted in November 2009. All students and staff are assigned to a Spirit House. Collectively, members of each Spirit House will earn recognition for their respective Spirit House when they participate in different kinds of school activities. Spirit Houses also provide a structure to easily and quickly divide students into groups for special events and house league activities.
, vice president
, secretary
, treasurer
, publicity
, sports & clubs, and one representative from each class.
Members of student council help organize school dances, fundraisers, spirit days, and popcorn days. This year the president is Johnny Anagnostopoulos. His brother Teddy Anagnostopoulos was also president in 2009 - 2010.
computers in Boxwood, including 15 new ones purchased in 2010. These laptops are supported by wireless network
in the school. Moreover, the school has upgraded over seventy older computers in the school.
and book series
collection. Many books are in both languages, like English
/Tamil
, English/Urdu
, English/Arabic, English/Chinese
.
teachers. Character traits of each month are:
These Character Matters Assemblies and the promotion of related character traits are parts of the Character Education http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=ICM000002 emphasized by the York Region District School Board.
A commemorative plaque
named "The Golden Dustpan" is given to the cleanest classes(One for kindergarten and junior division, another for intermediate division) of that month at the end of both character matters assemblies. The school's staff determines the winning classes based on how well they keep their classroom, the hallway their lockers are located in and the outside fields.
I promise to do my share in keeping our Earth a clean, healthy and livable world. I will do my best not to waste, but to conserve; Not to throw away, but to recycle; not to pollute, but to treat our planet with kindness and respect.
of the school. The newsletter is distributed to all students to bring home for their families. It is also available on-line at the school’s website. The newsletter usually starts with the Principal's Message on the front page. It contains many useful information, like School Council News, Student Council News, the Honour Rolls of the Character Matters Awards, Intermediate Division News, Primary Division News, Dates to Remember, Special Announcement, and many interesting news that tell the readers what’s going on in the school. What’s special is that most of the articles are written by students and teachers.
Starting March 2011, Newsletters were no longer printed and distributed, and rather posted only on the website, to try to help the environmental. Hard copies continue to be available for pickup at the main office for parents without access to a computer.
September 2009
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
February 2010
Primary Division
January 2010
March 2010
Junior Division
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
February 2010
Intermediate Division
October 2009
November 2009
December 2009
January 2010
March 2010
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is under the York Region District School Board
York Region District School Board
The York Region District School Board, also known as YRDSB, is the English-language public school board for York Regional Municipality located in Ontario, Canada. The York Region District School Board is currently the province's third largest school board, with an enrollment of over 115,000 students...
. The school is named after Boxwood Crescent, the street on which the school is located.
Boxwood Public School was opened on September 5, 2000. However, its official opening date was April 5, 2001. It celebrated its tenth anniversary in 2010.
It has 17 regular classrooms, three kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
classrooms, three student support centres, a self-contained special education
Special education
Special education is the education of students with special needs in a way that addresses the students' individual differences and needs. Ideally, this process involves the individually planned and systematically monitored arrangement of teaching procedures, adapted equipment and materials,...
classroom. In the centre of the school building, there is a well equipped library and double gym with stage. There are currently three portables containing four portable classroom
Portable classroom
A portable classroom A portable classroom A portable classroom (in Australian English a demountable and often referred to as a demountable, a "Terrapin" or a "Portakabin" (after the two companies) in the UK and called a prefab in Ireland (not to be confused with a prefabricated building) is a...
s at the back of the school. These two portables were installed in the summer of 2009 replacing the old ones. A third was installed during the summer of 2010. The school also has a childcare centre, which is owned and operated by Family Day.
Upon graduation
Graduation
Graduation is the action of receiving or conferring an academic degree or the ceremony that is sometimes associated, where students become Graduates. Before the graduation, candidates are referred to as Graduands. The date of graduation is often called degree day. The graduation itself is also...
from Boxwood PS, most of the grade 8 students will normally go to Markham District High School
Markham District High School
Markham District High School is a public high school in the town of Markham,Ontario, Canada. It is one of 29 high schools in the York Region District School Board....
to study grade 9. It is because Boxwood is one of MDHS's feeder schools.
School Boundary
South of Highway 407, West of Rouge River, North of the railroad track just south of 14th Avenue, East of Markham Road.http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/pdfs/w/schools/boundary/427Boundary.pdf
Surrounding Area
Boxwood PS is located in a quiet suburban subdivisionSubdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
. There is no any retail
Retail
Retail consists of the sale of physical goods or merchandise from a fixed location, such as a department store, boutique or kiosk, or by mail, in small or individual lots for direct consumption by the purchaser. Retailing may include subordinated services, such as delivery. Purchasers may be...
activity. Most buildings are single-family detached homes. The school is sandwiched between two golf courses. To its southeast, about 600 metres, is the Remington Parkview Golf Course. To its north, about 500 metres away, is the Markham Green Golf Course. Less than two kilometres away, the Cedar Brae Golf and Country is at the south. About two kilometres away at its northwest are the Milne Dam Conservation Park and the Rouge Park
Rouge Park
Rouge Park will become an urban national park located along the border of Toronto and Pickering, Ontario, Canada. It will be Canada's first national park within a municipality....
. Boxwood is surrounded by green belt
Green belt
A green belt or greenbelt is a policy and land use designation used in land use planning to retain areas of largely undeveloped, wild, or agricultural land surrounding or neighbouring urban areas. Similar concepts are greenways or green wedges which have a linear character and may run through an...
. Because of the Highway 407 to its north, the power corridor to its southwest, the Rouge River
Rouge River (Ontario)
The Rouge River is a two river system. Little Rouge and Rouge River are in the east and the northeast parts of Toronto and begin in the Oak Ridges Moraine in Richmond Hill and Whitchurch-Stouffville...
to its east, the neighbourhood
Neighbourhood
A neighbourhood or neighborhood is a geographically localised community within a larger city, town or suburb. Neighbourhoods are often social communities with considerable face-to-face interaction among members. "Researchers have not agreed on an exact definition...
where Boxwood locates is basically cut-off from other subdivisions
Subdivision (land)
Subdivision is the act of dividing land into pieces that are easier to sell or otherwise develop, usually via a plat. The former single piece as a whole is then known in the United States as a subdivision...
.
Neighbourhood profile
According to Statistics CanadaStatistics Canada
Statistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
2006 census
Census
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
data, in municipal election Ward 7 where Boxwood PS is located, 86% of its total population
Population
A population is all the organisms that both belong to the same group or species and live in the same geographical area. The area that is used to define a sexual population is such that inter-breeding is possible between any pair within the area and more probable than cross-breeding with individuals...
were visible minorities. Out of the total population, 46% were South Asians. 23% were Chinese. Out of the total population, 68% of their mother tongues were neither English language
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
nor French
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
. The rest were English language.
The population in this area is well educated, 46% of the total population aged 15 and over had post-secondary education.
Mission of Boxwood Public School
"To work with all members of our school community to maximize learning for our students."Boxwood Touchstone
The Boxwood PS administrators and teaching staffs use the Boxwood Touchstone “as an overarching guide” to direct and support their decisions and actions for improvement. The Boxwood Touchstone says, “At Boxwood, we are active participants in our own learning and we persevere to reach our goals. We recognize our own success and the successes of those around us. We are responsible for what we say and how we act. We treat others the way we want to be treated. We celebrate the diversity of our community. At Boxwood, every voice is heard.”Gifted Program
Boxwood began to offer a giftedGifted education
Gifted education is a broad term for special practices, procedures and theories used in the education of children who have been identified as gifted or talented...
program in September 2006 to students classified as Exceptional/Gifted by the grade 3 psychological screening. The other new gifted school in the eastern portion of the York Region District School Board
York Region District School Board
The York Region District School Board, also known as YRDSB, is the English-language public school board for York Regional Municipality located in Ontario, Canada. The York Region District School Board is currently the province's third largest school board, with an enrollment of over 115,000 students...
is John McCrae Public School. The reason for the expansion of the gifted program to Boxwood Public School was that the need for gifted instruction kept growing in York Region. The original gifted program offered by Roy H. Crosby Public School
Roy H. Crosby Public School
Roy H. Crosby Public School is a York Region District School Board public elementary school in the town of Markham, Ontario, Canada. Roy H. Crosby Public School is connected to Milne Dam Park, and the Milne Outdoor Education Centre...
and William Berczy Public School
William Berczy Public School
William Berczy Public School is a public elementary school in the town of Unionville, Ontario, Canada. It is a public school in the York Region District School Board. The school's name comes from William Berczy, who founded the town in which the school is located...
could no longer satisfy the demand.
In September 2006, Boxwood only offered grade 4 gifted program. It is now expanded to grade 5, 6, 7 and grade 8. As of September 2009, there are six gifted classes with about 150 gifted students, roughly about 30 percent of the school population.
Since the demand for gifted instruction remains strong, York Region District School Board announced in January 2010 that the elementary gifted program was once again expanded. From September 2010, a new grade 4 gifted program will be commenced at Parkland Public School. A grade will be added each year until full implementation of the gifted program in 2014.
Students who are considered to be Exceptional/Gifted from Aldergrove Public School
Aldergrove Public School
Aldergrove Public School is a school located in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It is a school to about 650 students and is part of the York Region District School Board.It teaches from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8....
, Armadale Public School
Armadale Public School
Armadale Public School is a public elementary school located in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It is located north-east of the major intersections of McCowan Road and Steeles Avenue, near the Toronto district of Scarborough. The school is part of the York Region District School Board...
, Highgate Public School, Milliken Mills Public School, Parkland Public School, Randall Public School, and Wilclay Public School will no longer go to the gifted program at Boxwood PS. They will instead go to Parkland PS.
This new program is in addition to the program at Boxwood. It is not replacing Boxwood's gifted program. Students that are currently attending Boxwood PS gifted program will remain at Boxwood.
Upon graduation at grade 8, Boxwood gifted students usually go to Markham District High School
Markham District High School
Markham District High School is a public high school in the town of Markham,Ontario, Canada. It is one of 29 high schools in the York Region District School Board....
or Markville Secondary School
Markville Secondary School
Markville Secondary School is a public high school located in the town of Markham,Ontario, Canada. It is known for its exceptionally high academic standards, with consistently high rankings on standardized provincial tests.It is one of 32 high schools administered by the York Region District...
to continue their secondary school gifted program, depending on the student's home location. They can also choose to return to their original home school.
EQAO (Education Quality and Accountability Office) Performance
Percentage of all students at levels 3 and 4.| Subject | Grade | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mathematics | 6 | 78 | 75 | 80 | 72 | 77 | 92 | 90 |
| Reading | 6 | 78 | 83 | 80 | 74 | 87 | 94 | 93 |
| Writing | 6 | 72 | 73 | 80 | 81 | 87 | 94 | 95 |
| Mathematics | 3 | 75 | 72 | 74 | 72 | 80 | 77 | 78 |
| Reading | 3 | 57 | 63 | 72 | 72 | 76 | 69 | 68 |
| Writing | 3 | 56 | 69 | 76 | 90 | 83 | 79 | 81 |
Spirit Houses
There are four Spirit Houses in Boxwood Public School. They have the names of different breeds of horses – Pinto, PalominoPalomino
Palomino is a coat color in horses, consisting of a gold coat and white mane and tail. Genetically, the palomino color is created by a single allele of a dilution gene called the cream gene working on a "red" base coat...
, Mustang, and Ranger. These names were adopted in November 2009. All students and staff are assigned to a Spirit House. Collectively, members of each Spirit House will earn recognition for their respective Spirit House when they participate in different kinds of school activities. Spirit Houses also provide a structure to easily and quickly divide students into groups for special events and house league activities.
Student Council
The annual Student Council election is held in October. Students from grade 6 to grade 8 are eligible to vote and get elected. Before the vote, student voters will hear the candidates’ speeches about their respective election platform. After the speeches, students return to their classrooms to vote. Available positions include: presidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
, vice president
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
, secretary
Secretary
A secretary, or administrative assistant, is a person whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, communication & organizational skills. These functions may be entirely carried out to assist one other employee or may be for the benefit...
, treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
, publicity
Publicity
Publicity is the deliberate attempt to manage the public's perception of a subject. The subjects of publicity include people , goods and services, organizations of all kinds, and works of art or entertainment.From a marketing perspective, publicity is one component of promotion which is one...
, sports & clubs, and one representative from each class.
Members of student council help organize school dances, fundraisers, spirit days, and popcorn days. This year the president is Johnny Anagnostopoulos. His brother Teddy Anagnostopoulos was also president in 2009 - 2010.
Technology at Boxwood
There are 30 laptopLaptop
A laptop, also called a notebook, is a personal computer for mobile use. A laptop integrates most of the typical components of a desktop computer, including a display, a keyboard, a pointing device and speakers into a single unit...
computers in Boxwood, including 15 new ones purchased in 2010. These laptops are supported by wireless network
Wireless network
Wireless network refers to any type of computer network that is not connected by cables of any kind. It is a method by which homes, telecommunications networks and enterprise installations avoid the costly process of introducing cables into a building, or as a connection between various equipment...
in the school. Moreover, the school has upgraded over seventy older computers in the school.
Library
Boxwood’s library has a good collection of books, including an expanded graphic novelGraphic novel
A graphic novel is a narrative work in which the story is conveyed to the reader using sequential art in either an experimental design or in a traditional comics format...
and book series
Book series
A book series is a sequence of books having certain characteristics in common that are formally identified together as a group. Book series can be organized in different ways, such as written by the same author, or marketed as a group by their publisher....
collection. Many books are in both languages, like English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
/Tamil
Tamil language
Tamil is a Dravidian language spoken predominantly by Tamil people of the Indian subcontinent. It has official status in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and in the Indian union territory of Pondicherry. Tamil is also an official language of Sri Lanka and Singapore...
, English/Urdu
Urdu
Urdu is a register of the Hindustani language that is identified with Muslims in South Asia. It belongs to the Indo-European family. Urdu is the national language and lingua franca of Pakistan. It is also widely spoken in some regions of India, where it is one of the 22 scheduled languages and an...
, English/Arabic, English/Chinese
Chinese language
The Chinese language is a language or language family consisting of varieties which are mutually intelligible to varying degrees. Originally the indigenous languages spoken by the Han Chinese in China, it forms one of the branches of Sino-Tibetan family of languages...
.
Character Matters Assembly
Every month at Boxwood, selected students from each class are recognized at two Character Matters assemblies, one for kindergarten and junior division, another for intermediate division. At the assemblies, awards would be presented to students who exhibited the character trait of that month and nominated by their homeroomHomeroom
Homeroom or advisory is the classroom session in which a teacher records attendance and makes announcements. It can also be called Registration or Planning Period...
teachers. Character traits of each month are:
| Month | Character Trait |
|---|---|
| January | Fairness |
| February | Initiative |
| March | Perseverance |
| April | Courage |
| May | Integrity |
| June | Optimism |
| September | Respect |
| October | Responsibility |
| November | Honesty |
| December | Empathy |
These Character Matters Assemblies and the promotion of related character traits are parts of the Character Education http://www.yrdsb.edu.on.ca/page.cfm?id=ICM000002 emphasized by the York Region District School Board.
A commemorative plaque
Commemorative plaque
A commemorative plaque, or simply plaque, is a plate of metal, ceramic, stone, wood, or other material, typically attached to a wall, stone, or other vertical surface, and bearing text in memory of an important figure or event...
named "The Golden Dustpan" is given to the cleanest classes(One for kindergarten and junior division, another for intermediate division) of that month at the end of both character matters assemblies. The school's staff determines the winning classes based on how well they keep their classroom, the hallway their lockers are located in and the outside fields.
Healthy School
Boxwood was recognized as a “Healthy School” by the Ontario Ministry of Education’s Healthy Schools Recognition Program for three reasons:- Prevention of Bullying - Boxwood brakes the bullying cycle by setting up a Boxwood Active Team which was made up of students, parents, teachers and public health nurse. Confidential drop boxes were set up for students to report bully incidences. Grade 5 and 6 students attended the CAYRE conference.
- Promotion of physical activities – With the help of the Boxwood Active Team, the school set up a Jump Club for lunch recesses.
- Promotion of healthy eating habit – The Morning Munchies encourages students to eat healthy snacks at Monday morning recess.
School Bus Service
About 300 Boxwood students take school bus to school every day. There are six bus routes in the morning as well as in the afternoon. The school bus services are provided by the school board at no costs to the students.Boxwood's Green Pledge
Boxwood encourages students to take actions, not only to protect, but also to enhance the environment. This is their pledge to do good for the environment:I promise to do my share in keeping our Earth a clean, healthy and livable world. I will do my best not to waste, but to conserve; Not to throw away, but to recycle; not to pollute, but to treat our planet with kindness and respect.
Co-curricular activities
There are many co-curricular activities at Boxwood provided voluntarily the teachers. These activities include:- Boxwood/Legacy Ski Club - This is a new thing organized by the teachers for 2010. About 70 students go skiing every Monday during the cold winter months.
- Choirs
- Cross country running team
- Grade 6-8 bands
- Intermediate basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team
- Intermediate volleyball team
- Intramural badminton
- Intramural flag footballFlag footballFlag football is a version of Canadian football or American football that is popular worldwide. The basic rules of the game are similar to those of the mainstream game , but instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier to end...
- Intramural volleyballVolleyballVolleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
- Junior basketballBasketballBasketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
team
- Junior volleyball team
- Spelling Bee
- Track and fieldTrack and fieldTrack and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
team
Spirit Day
There are all kinds of interesting Spirit Days throughout the school year. Its purpose is to promote the school spirit and the coherence of the Spirit House. Each person, student or staff, who participates adds a point to their Spirit House. Some Spirit Days include:| Spirit Day | What is the fun? |
|---|---|
| Pajama Jam! | Students can go to the school in their pajamas Pajamas Pajamas, also spelled pyjamas , can refer to several related types of clothing. The original paijama are loose, lightweight trousers fitted with drawstring waistbands and worn in South and West Asia by both sexes... , bring a stuffed toy, or wear their cozy slippers. |
| Crazy Hair Day | Everyone comes out with all their crazy hair styles! |
| Tie Day | Put on tie, ties, or anything looks like necktie Necktie A necktie is a long piece of cloth worn for decorative purposes around the neck or shoulders, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat. Variants include the ascot tie, bow tie, bolo tie, and the clip-on tie. The modern necktie, ascot, and bow tie are descended from the cravat. Neck... , to school. |
| Multiples Day | Students and staff members dressed up similar to a friend or peer and looked like fabulous multiples! |
| Career Career Career is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as a person's "course or progress through life ". It is usually considered to pertain to remunerative work .... Day |
Students dress up like a police, farmer, a pop singer or any career which they would like to be when they are older! |
| Opposite Day | Students put their clothes bakwards, speak the opposite or walk backwards. |
Boxwood Broncos
Boxwood Broncos is the monthly newsletterNewsletter
A newsletter is a regularly distributed publication generally about one main topic that is of interest to its subscribers. Newspapers and leaflets are types of newsletters. Additionally, newsletters delivered electronically via email have gained rapid acceptance for the same reasons email in...
of the school. The newsletter is distributed to all students to bring home for their families. It is also available on-line at the school’s website. The newsletter usually starts with the Principal's Message on the front page. It contains many useful information, like School Council News, Student Council News, the Honour Rolls of the Character Matters Awards, Intermediate Division News, Primary Division News, Dates to Remember, Special Announcement, and many interesting news that tell the readers what’s going on in the school. What’s special is that most of the articles are written by students and teachers.
Starting March 2011, Newsletters were no longer printed and distributed, and rather posted only on the website, to try to help the environmental. Hard copies continue to be available for pickup at the main office for parents without access to a computer.
Annual Events
- Annual Bridge Construction Design Challenge It is part of the activities to celebrate the National Engineering Week. The challenge was to design the strongest bridge using the least amount of materials, LegoLegoLego is a line of construction toys manufactured by the Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of colorful interlocking plastic bricks and an accompanying array of gears, minifigures and various other parts...
or K'NexK'NEXK'Nex is a brand name of a construction toy system invented by Joel Glickman, designed and produced by Industries of Hatfield, Pennsylvania, USA. Currently Michael Araten is the president of the organization. The name is, presumably, a phonetic variation of connects, and is pronounced the same way...
. Boxwood’s boys came in fifth out of 20 in the Lego competition. Boxwood’s girls came in tenth out of 20 in the K’Nex competition.
- Area East basketball tournament – Boxwood’s Broncos reached the semi-finals before losing to Legacy Public School.
- Arts Carousel Open House – This annual event usually held in Late April to Early May. It provides an opportunity for students to showcase their visual, dramatic, and musical talents at an evening assembly.
- Cardboard Boat Races - The Annual Cardboard boat raceCardboard boat raceA cardboard boat race, sometimes known as a boat regatta, is a common school-spirit competition for students of high school and college age.The earliest documented cardboard boat regatta was the result of a design problem created by Davis Pratt at Southern Illinois University in 1962...
is hosted by Skills CanadaSkills CanadaSkills Canada is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of careers in technology and trades. One of their major activities is the presentation of the annual Canadian Skills Competition. This is an Olympic-style competition which actively promotes careers in the technology and trades...
. The latest one was held on January 25, 2011 at Black River Public School. Boxwood's two teams was composed of eight students, with six girls and two boys. One boat has a basketball theme, calling themselves the "Boxwood Basketball Broncos". The other has a Hawaii theme, calling themselves the "Kokonuts". The "Kokonuts" team ended up winning the weight challenge for building a boat that held the most weight.
- Celebration of Winter or Winter Activities Day - Students participate in activities such as skiingSkiingSkiing is a recreational activity using skis as equipment for traveling over snow. Skis are used in conjunction with boots that connect to the ski with use of a binding....
, skatingSkatingSkating may refer to:*Freestyle slalom skating*Ice skating and various sub-forms:**Figure skating**Speed skating**Tour skating*Inline skating and sub-forms:**Aggressive inline skating**Inline speed skating*Road skating*Roller skating...
, snowboardingSnowboardingSnowboarding is a sport that involves descending a slope that is covered with snow on a snowboard attached to a rider's feet using a special boot set onto mounted binding. The development of snowboarding was inspired by skateboarding, sledding, surfing and skiing. It was developed in the U.S.A...
, tobogganing, bowlingBowlingBowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
.
- Spring Celebration or Spring Activities Day - Due to the success of the Winter Activities Day, the school planned a Spring Activity Day, on April of 2011, the activity day offered many activities, such as a babysitting course, cookingCookingCooking is the process of preparing food by use of heat. Cooking techniques and ingredients vary widely across the world, reflecting unique environmental, economic, and cultural traditions. Cooks themselves also vary widely in skill and training...
, rock climbingRock climbingRock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
, horseback riding, skatingSkatingSkating may refer to:*Freestyle slalom skating*Ice skating and various sub-forms:**Figure skating**Speed skating**Tour skating*Inline skating and sub-forms:**Aggressive inline skating**Inline speed skating*Road skating*Roller skating...
, bowlingBowlingBowling Bowling Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule Bowling (1375–1425; late Middle English bowle, variant of boule...
and gymnasticsGymnasticsGymnastics is a sport involving performance of exercises requiring physical strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and balance. Internationally, all of the gymnastic sports are governed by the Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique with each country having its own national governing body...
, .
- Flag footballFlag footballFlag football is a version of Canadian football or American football that is popular worldwide. The basic rules of the game are similar to those of the mainstream game , but instead of tackling players to the ground, the defensive team must remove a flag or flag belt from the ball carrier to end...
house league - Participated by the Intermediate boys and girls. Compete in May and June. With the playoffs beginning in early June.
- Gauss Math Competition – Students from grades 6, 7 and 8 participate in the Gauss Math Competition commissioned by the University of WaterlooUniversity of WaterlooThe University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
. In 2009, four Boxwood student were placed in the top 25 percentile.
- Grade 8 OttawaOttawaOttawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
Trip
- Heart & Stroke Jump Rope for Heart - To support the Heart and Stroke Foundation of CanadaHeart and Stroke Foundation of CanadaThe Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada is a registered Canadian charity. The foundation's purpose is centered around educating individuals about the prevention and management of heart disease and stroke, and to fund medical research regarding the causes of these conditions...
.
- Holiday Concert
- House League - Students are divided into different teams and are scheduled to play during certain recesses. Intermediate students can play floor hockey. Junior students can play indoor soccer. Each student who participates in house league earns points for their spirit houses each time they attend a game.
- Junior and Intermediate Area Track & Field
- Legacy 5K Walk/Run – Boxwood Broncos raised over $700 for the Markham Stouffville Hospital in the Legacy 5K Run in May 2009.
- Legacy Run - To support the Markham Stouffville Hospital.
- Markham FairMarkham FairMarkham Fair is one of Canada's oldest country fairs, an annual event established in 1844 and hosted by the Markham, Ontario and East York agricultural society...
- Mathletics – Mathletics is a competition sponsored by the York Region District School Board and the Professional Engineers OntarioProfessional Engineers OntarioProfessional Engineers Ontario, PEO, is the self-regulatory body that governs Ontario's 73,000 professional engineers, and sets standards for and regulates engineering practice in the province. It has a statutory mandate under the Professional Engineers Act of Ontario to protect the public interest...
. It is opened to all York Region students. Participants have to answer scientific and engineering problems using mathematics. The last competition took place on November 12, 2009.
- Primary Play Day
- Regional Track & Field
- Remembrance Day Assembly - Students performed singings, read poems, or art plays related to Remembrance DayRemembrance DayRemembrance Day is a memorial day observed in Commonwealth countries since the end of World War I to remember the members of their armed forces who have died in the line of duty. This day, or alternative dates, are also recognized as special days for war remembrances in many non-Commonwealth...
in the assemblies.
- South Asian Month - Takes place in May every year. It is to celebrate South Asian Heritage. Activities such as sang songs from various South Asian cultures, set up display showcase in the school library, students learn BollywoodBollywoodBollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Hindi-language film industry based in Mumbai , Maharashtra, India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the total Indian film industry, which includes other production centers producing...
jazzJazzJazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
and TamilTamil peopleTamil people , also called Tamils or Tamilians, are an ethnic group native to Tamil Nadu, India and the north-eastern region of Sri Lanka. Historic and post 15th century emigrant communities are also found across the world, notably Malaysia, Singapore, Mauritius, South Africa, Australia, Canada,...
dancing. There is a South Asian Assembly in mid-June when students can show off their dancing and singing skills.
- Special Needs Track and Field Meet
- Terry Fox Run/Walk - No matter walk or run, Boxwood students and staff support the Terry Fox RunTerry Fox RunThe Terry Fox Run is an annual non-competitive charity event held in numerous regions around the world in commemoration of Canadian cancer activist Terry Fox, and his Marathon of Hope, and to raise money for cancer research....
, or walk, every fall. Since the school established in 2000, Boxwood has contributed over $27,000 for cancer research. The school raised $1,700 in 2009 alone. The school raised $820 during their most recent Terry Fox Run in October 2010.
- Volunteer Breakfast – Usually hold in the month before the school year finish. It is for the school staff to show their appreciation towards the volunteers who contribute to the school.
Events in 2009-2010
Whole SchoolSeptember 2009
- On Thursday, September 24, 2009, the Principal and the teachers met with parents at the annual Curriculum Night.
- School Council held its annual election on September 28, 2009.
October 2009
- On Wednesday, September 23, 2009, Boxwood staff and students participate at the annual Terry Fox Run/Walk event. Many students also created Hearts of Remembrance, Terry Fox Socks and Posters that would be entered into the national poster competition. The school raised about $1300 this year.
- The School Council kicked off its annual Chocolate Fundraiser in an assembly on Friday, October 2, 2009. The oldest child in a student’s family at Boxwood brought home thirty bars of chocolate that he/she could sell to friends and family for $2.00 each. Sales and donations this year exceeded $ 6,500.
November 2009
- At the Character Matters assemblies, on Thursday, December 17, 2009, Boxwood recognized students who best demonstrate character trait of Honesty.
December 2009
- On December 10, 2009, the Boxwood students and staff came together to put on a holiday concert, The Sounds of the Season.
- In December, Boxwood continues its tradition and collect non-perishable items to donate to the Markham food bank for the less fortunate families in Markham.
- At the Character Matters assemblies, on Thursday, December 17, 2009, Boxwood recognized students who best demonstrate character trait of Empathy.
February 2010
- Friday, February 19, 2010 is Boxwood’s Winter Elective Day, a.k.a. Celebration of Winter. Students participate in activities such as skiing, skating, snowboarding, tobogganing and bowling.
- At the Character Matters assemblies, on Thursday, February 25, Boxwood recognized students who best demonstrate character trait of Initiative.
Primary Division
January 2010
- The Kindergarten classes had their Teddy Bear Picnic on January 27 and 28, 2010. Grade 1 students had their Teddy Bear Picnic on Friday, January 22.
- Boxwood’s grade 2 classes welcomed the Mad Scientists in mid-January. They’re working on a science unit about Matter and Materials.
- The grade 3 students had the stage 1 of the Gifted Screening. The test determines eligibility for the Grade 4 Gifted Program.
March 2010
- On March 24, 2010, Ms. Sen's grade 1 class and their reading buddies in Ms. Dundani's grade 6 class put together a production of The Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of OzThe Wonderful Wizard of Oz is a children's novel written by L. Frank Baum and illustrated by W. W. Denslow. Originally published by the George M. Hill Company in Chicago on May 17, 1900, it has since been reprinted numerous times, most often under the name The Wizard of Oz, which is the name of...
at the Character Matters assembly to emphasize the importance of courage.
Junior Division
October 2009
- On Thursday, October 1, 2009, grades 1 to 6 went to the Markham Fair.
- Grade 6 students visited the Whitchurch-Stoufville Museum’s brand new First Nations Program on Friday, October 30, 2009. They participated in a workshop where they learned the characteristics of First Nations cultures in this region, including their close relationship with the natural environment. They also had the opportunity to become “junior archaeologists” and study the life of the Huron people by investigating artefacts from the Museum collection.
November 2009
- Boxwood students participated in the annual Mathletics competition on November 14, 2009 at the Markham Council Chambers. They were challenged to answer scientific and engineering problems by using mathematics.
December 2009
- On December 17, 2009, Boxwood’s Student Council traveled to the Markham Civic Centre to watch the Olympic torch as it was carried through Markham.
January 2010
- On Friday, January 22, 2010, the grade 6 students organized volleyball game, sold hot chocolate and donuts to raise money for people affected by the Haitian earthquake. All the events raised $1676.50.
- The Junior Volleyball team finished their season at David Suzuki P.S.
- On January 29, 2010, the grade 5 students visited the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) to see the King Tut artefacts exhibition.
February 2010
- On February 3, 2010 the grade 6s from Ms. Dudani and Ms. MacLean’s class participated in a workshop with a scientist. Students learned to discover “The Tree of Life” while worked as a taxonomist. They learned to identify a variety of animals using the Linnaean Classification System. They examined a microscopic world of protists and bacteria by matching their similarities and differences.
- On February 12, 2010 the grade 4 classes went to the Royal Ontario Museum to study Medieval Times artefacts. They also went to the adjacent Gardiner Museum to see all kinds of ceramics.
- February 24, Miss Lounsbury’s grade 4 class took part in a ceramic workshop with Colour Me Mine. They painted ceramic ornaments including soccer balls, hearts, and holiday ornaments.
Intermediate Division
October 2009
- On October 29, 2009, the intermediate staff and students went to Roy Thompson Hall to hear the performance of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra. After the concert, the students went to visit the St. Lawrence Market.
- On Thursday, October 22, 2009, the grade 5 students went to the Ontario Science Centre to learn about the human body.
November 2009
- November 2–6, 2009, the grade 7 students went to an outdoor education centre called Professor E.A. Smith Natural Resources Centre, also known as “Scanlon Creek.”
- On Wednesday, November 11, 2009, the students of Boxwood participated in a Remembrance Day assembly.
- The whole school took their class and individual photographs on November 12–13, 2009.
December 2009
- The intermediates performed at Markham District High School’s annual winter concert, at Markham District High School.
- On December 11, 2009, staff from York Region’s Water for Tomorrow program visited Boxwood’s grade 8 classes to show students how to use water wisely.
January 2010
- On Tuesday, January 26, 2010, two teams and eight girls from Boxwood’s intermediate division participated in the Annual Cardboard Boat Races, hosted by Skills Canada at Black River Public School.
March 2010
- Canadian author Marina Cohen gave a presentation to grade 6, 7 and 8 students on Monday, March 29, 2010. She talked about her journey from being a non-reader to an avid reader and writer.
- The Intermediate Boys Basketball Team participated in the Area Tournament on March 1, 2010. The team won all of their four games and entered the semi-finals. However, they lost a game by two points in overtime in the semi-finals. They won the fourth placae.
- The Intermediated Girls Basketball Team participated in the Mumba tournament held at Pierre Elliott Trudeau High SchoolPierre Elliott Trudeau High SchoolPierre Elliott Trudeau High School is a public, bilingual English and French-immersion secondary school in Markham, Ontario. It was named in honour of the 15th Prime Minister of Canada, the Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau.-History:...
. The Girls Basketball Team also participated at the Area Tournament held at Legacy Public School. They played with great determination and effort but did not enter the finals.