Dear Parents and Guardians,

We are now in the final days of the 2020-2021 school year. It has been a school year like no other, and through the challenges, we celebrated a lot of successes and engaged in rich learning opportunities! We would like to take a moment thank you for your continued support of our initiatives, as well as all the support you have provided your children to navigate our new way to learn. Students have demonstrated such resiliency and perseverance. We are so proud of their continued efforts as well as yours- we could not have done it without you!

On Friday, June 28th, we will be holding a very special assembly for Mrs. Brusselers to thank her for her incredible service to our school community. We are grateful for her leadership and wish her well as she begins her new adventure.

The end of year also means a couple of staffing changes at Viola Demond. We would also like to wish Ms. Antonucci all the best as she transitions to the role of Early Years Coach at the School Board! We look forward to hearing good news soon from Ms. Laing as she awaits her little one. Our sincere appreciation to Ms. Parreira, Ms. Patel, and Mr. Teminski for the excellent work and support of our Defenders!

We welcome Mr. Syed, who will become our new principal on June 30th. Viola Desmond will benefit from his years of administrative experiences, commitment to equity and inclusive education, as well as parent engagement initiatives.

As we look ahead to the 2021-2022 school year, we will continue to set strategic goals to ensure our programming continues to focus on student success and achievement, equity, human rights and well-being. While we do not know what the year will hold, we know as a school community will continue to build and grow on its strong foundation.

Our school office remains closed at this time. Should you need to contact our secretaries, Mrs. Gill or Mrs. Hindle, or admin, please email us at Violadesmondps@ddsb.ca. Response time will be delayed for messages left on the school's voicemail.

Wishing you a wonderful summer holiday with your family! Stay well and be safe!

Have a fantastic week!

Mrs. Thomas - Vice Principal

June is:

June is Indigenous History Month

“National Indigenous History Month is a time to honour the contributions, sacrifices and advancements Indigenous Peoples’ have made throughout the creation of the country that is now called ‘Canada.’ This is also a time to reflect and remember those we have lost in the fight for acknowledgement of our Inherent, Treaty and Human Rights.

This is also a time to celebrate and share our heritage, cultures, languages, songs and dance of the many First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people across this land. By sharing our history and traditions with Settler-Canadians, we develop shared respect and bond over this land that we now share.

I now invite you to take the time to learn more about our true shared history and the many Indigenous people and organizations throughout Canada that have and are bringing awareness to ensure our culture thrives, our people and ways are protected, and the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada are respected.

June is Italian Heritage Month

June 1st marks the beginning of Italian Heritage Month in Canada, where we honour and celebrate the exceptional contributions of Canadians of Italian origin in shaping our society.

Canada is home to more than 1.5 million Canadians of Italian descent, which makes it one of the largest Italian diasporas in the world. Italian Heritage Month is the perfect time to recognize and showcase the rich culture and heritage of Italian Canadians, as well as their ongoing contributions to building a stronger, vibrant and more inclusive Canada.

National Indigenous Peoples Day - June 21st

June 21, 2021 marks the 25th annual National Indigenous Peoples Day, an opportunity for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage and diverse contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

We highlight the art, culture and achievements of Indigenous people in Toronto and across the country, and encouraging Canadians everywhere to keep the conversations, learning and celebrations going all year long.

Gahambar Maidyoshem (Zoroastrianism) - June 22nd

It’s the Zoroastrian Gahambar (seasonal festival) of Maidyoshem that celebrates the creation of water, the sowing of the summer crop and the harvesting of grain. Zoroastrians observe this Gahambar with a community meal, but we all can learn something from Maidyoshem. Why? Because we all are affected by the global shortage of usable water.

St. Jean-Baptiste Day (Quebec) - June 24th

Held annually on 24 June, the Fête nationale du Québec (formerly known as Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day) has been a statutory holiday in Québec since 1925. Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day has been celebrated in North America since the early days of New France. Originally a religious celebration, it took a more patriotic turn in 1834 with Ludger Duvernay. The first Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day parade took place in Montréal in 1843. Since 1984, the Mouvement national des Québécoises et Québécois (MNQ) has organized the festivities of the Fête nationale du Québec. Various francophone communities across Canada also celebrate Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day.

Multiculturalism Day (Canada) - June 27th

June 27 is Canadian Multiculturalism Day! Discover the various cultures that bring Canadian society to life by participating in the virtual activities happening across the country! Learn more about the importance of multiculturalism in Canada.

“I raise up my voice-not so I can shout but so that those without a voice can be heard...we cannot succeed when half of us are held back.”

― Malala Yousafzai