Copy of ESL Book 2018 - Final Draft (2)

Voices of Crescent Town          Written and Illustrated by Crescent Town ES Students  TDSB, 2018 

                           

  “Perhaps we are all immigrants, trading one home for another,   in search of a better life…   Some of us just happen to leave entire countries.”   - Rupi Kaur            Voices of Crescent Town      Written and Illustrated by Crescent Town ES Students  TDSB, 2018 

About the Authors    This  book  is  written  by  students  coming  from  different  parts  of  the  world,  residing  within  the  Crescent  Town  Community.  These  students  range  from  Grades  1  to  4,  and  they  wanted  to  share  their  lived  experiences as newcomers  and as Canadian-born children to immigrant parents.      

Foreword  We feel extremely fortunate to be writing the foreword for this wonderful book and resource that  honours the voices and stories of our students. Crescent Town is a school that is enriched greatly by   the many languages and cultures that comprise this unique community. Each one of the student   authors offers a great deal of richness in imagination, creativity and culture in their own unique way.    It is what makes our school such a vibrant place of learning where student voice is at the forefront.    We are extremely proud of our newcomer students for putting forth such insightful perspectives into this  book.   Congratulations to all of our students involved in creating such a wonderful piece of literature that will   be read by those locally in the Crescent Town community as well as the many visitors from around the  world.    This book was made possible through the hard work and tireless leadership team of Mrs. Hasan,   Mr. Cartaya, and Ms. Thompson. We also want to thank Ms. Khandaker and her students for their  efforts throughout the process of putting this book together. To our young student authors, thank you  for sharing your unique stories and experiences.   With sincere appreciation,  H. Ghuman H. Myrvold  Principal Vice-Principal  Crescent Town School Crescent Town School 

Hi my name is Kaangkhita. I am 8 years old. I am in Grade  2. I speak Bangla and English. My family came from  Bangladesh. We came to Canada in March 2017. It was cold  when we arrived. It was the first time I saw snow and I got to  play in it. I like Canada. I like to go to Niagara Falls with my  family. Canada is very different from Bangladesh. We are very  happy here. I miss Bangladesh and my Grandma too. At my  school I made many new friends. My friends and my teachers  help me with English.     My name is NOURI. I am from Syria. I speak Arabic and   English. I came to Canada 1 year ago. I like Canada because   it is safe for my family and safe for me. I like to go shopping   with my dad and my mom. I miss my grandmother and my   grandfather. I am having a lot of fun at my new school. The    teachers are very nice. They help me a lot. I am learning to   read and write. In Canada the winters are cold. You can  slide in the park and make a snowman. It is beautiful!  

Pizza Lunch by Zarif, Grade 3 I like pizza lunch! Every month we have pizza lunch in our classroom at 11:30 am. Then I go to my afternoon classroom from my morning ESL classroom to eat pizza lunch in my regular classroom. Then my teacher looks at the list and sees that if I ordered or not. Then I eat my delicious pizza. Then I go out for recess. When I come back, my friends and I say to the teacher, “We enjoyed the pizza lunch!” I feel excited when I have pizza lunch because I get my favourite food!   Crime Scene by Arisha, Grade 3 I remember one time on the weekend. I went to Metro and when we were done shopping, someone stole chickens. There were ten chickens. He was a young man and he put chickens under his shirt. My mom and dad were with me. Then a man customer saw the young man stealing ten chickens. So he called the police. Then the police came in very soon. When he was trying to run away but he fell down and the police caught him. I said to my mom and dad, “I am scared!”

   

Sliding in the snow by Mohammed, Grade 2 I remember when I was sliding down the hill. It was a cold winter day. My hand was freezing! The ice was bumpy. There were lots of kids. We all were playing. Then I fell on my legs. It was so windy. So never slide without your snow pants. Sliding is the best thing ever! Hurray!     Making snow angels by Huziahfah, Grade 2 This winter I was playing in the snow with Muaz in the school yard. It was a snowy winter day! Muaz asked, “How do you make snow angels?” I showed him how to make snow angels. First we lay down on the snow. Then we moved our arms and legs on the snow. We had to wear our snow pants or our pants would get wet. Finally we could see our snow angels on the snow. I love to make snow angels! 

 

 

My First Day at the School by Mahmoud, Grade 4 My name is Mahmoud. I came from Syria. I speak Arabic. I came to Canada in 2016. On my first day in the school, I came with my mom and dad to the school’s office first. Then my dad brought me to the classroom to meet the teacher. At the beginning, I was crying and scared of school. Then, my mom and dad came to school to take me home during the lunch time. Now I feel happy to go to school. I miss school.     Ayesha Sadia , Grade 2 My name is Ayesha. I came from Bangladesh. I speak Bangla.I came to Canada in October, 2017. I like my school in Canada. I like my teacher because she is nice. She helps me. I have a friend and her name is Raina. She is in grade one. She came from Bangladesh. Raina plays with me inside and outside. I like snacks like grapes and carrots. I like shapes in math.  

Coming to Canada    My name is Arina. I am in Grade one. I am from Nepal. I   speak English and Nepali. I like to write and draw. I came   to Canada in November 2013. I was 5 years old when me and   my family came. The school is different here in Canada. In   Nepali schools, everyone speaks Nepali. In Canada, we speak   English in school. I have new friends at Crescent Town. We   play together at recess time. I like Canada because the trees   are nice. I like the winter because I can make snowballs and   snowmen. I can also make a snow angel.       My Life in Canada  My name is Diana. I am 6 years old. I was born in   Ukraine. I came to Canada with my family. I like   my school because I have new friends. I like Canada   a lot. I enjoy playing and rolling in the snow.  

 

My first day at school by Vedika, Grade 1 I went to school with my mom and dad. I went to grade one. My teacher is nice. I made new friends. I played with blocks and magnets. I feel happy at school and at home. I feel happy in Canada.       Coming To Canada By Prajeet, Grade 4 My name is Prajeet. I came from Bangladesh. I speak Bengali. I came to Canada in 2017. I went to school with my mom and dad. At school I felt happy and nervous. My new teacher was Ms. Stefanescu. She said,” Do you need any help?” Zarin sat with me. She was helping me to study. Irtiza showed me where the washroom was. I am not nervous anymore. I am happy now.  

 

   

Getting ready for Concert by Theet, Grade 3 I remember when my mom came to my class to help me with Tamil song. We were getting ready for the concert. The teacher played Tamil song on the computer. My mom showed me how to dance to the song. I said to my mom, “I feel happy because you are helping me!” My mom said, “Welcome!” and I felt happy.     First time skating by Jebin, Grade 3    I went to skate for the first time last Sunday with my   mom dad. It was far away from my house. I was nervous  and excited. The skating shoes were weird. The shoes had    blades. The skating ground was so slippery and covered   with snow. First time I couldn't stand. I fell down lots   of time but I did not give up. I kept on trying. Finally   I skated without any help. That night my mom gave me oil   massage. I said to my mom, “Thanks a lot!” 

 

PLAYING SOCCER WITH MY FRIEND by Ayaan, Grade 3 On my first day of school, my mom took me to my classroom. I sat with my new friend Theet. I was in class and I was doing my work with my new friend. My new friend took me to recess. I played soccer with my friends and my friend got a goal. We won the race in soccer game. I was the goale. When I was going to catch the ball, I was so scared! My teacher said, “Go to your classroom.” My teacher told me to work on Science. I am not scared anymore because I could speak English now.   First Time Seeing Snow By Kaleb, grade 4    I saw white snow for the first time in Israel. I was so scared   and confused because I was thinking the snow come down   from the sky, “ how can the snow come down from the sky?”   0ne day when I was 4 years 0ld my dad took me and my sister   to the pizza place. Then I saw snow for the first time in my life!    When I touched the snow, it was very scary and I ran back to   my dad. He said” What happened?’’ I said, “that white thing is   so cold!” He said , “This cold thing is snow’.” Then my dad gave   me gloves and I played with snow for all day. I like snow because   it is hard, you can make snowballs and slide down the hill. It was   so fun to slide down the hill. Now I live in canada. I am not scared   of snow any more!  

 

Canada is my New Home    My name is Jana. I am 8 years old. l am from Syria.   I can speak Arabic with my friends. I like to draw   at school. I like to play with my friends. We go on the   slide. We walk in the school. We go home together.   At home I play with my sister. I like living in   Canada because I like to speak English.      Canada  I am Sina. I am 9 years old. I came to Canada   from Eritrea. I speak English and ​Tigrinya.​ When my    family and I came we went to a new home. It is a big   building! When we moved to our new place we met people  from many different countries. I love Canada!   The people are very nice. At school I have friends from  Bangladesh and Syria.  

 

My first day in class by Aprasha, Grade 3   My first day in classroom was exciting. I walked with my mom and aunt to the school. I felt nervous and happy! My teacher asked my name. The teacher's name was Mrs. J. My first friend was Arisha. Arisha said, “Do not worry Aprasha.” I sat with my small group. In my group, there were Arisha, Jaicenta, Lamaya and Umar. First I did math work. I also did art. I cut papers to make buildings. Now I do not feel nervous. I feel happy because I have friends.     FIRST TIME I RIDE MY BIKE   By Sami, Grade 3  One day I was in the big park. My dad held me  because I would fall from the bike.I have a new   black bike. I was fast when I learned how to ride   my bike. I was happy. My dad said, “Good job!”   

     

Newcomers Poem By: Rohan, Ayaan, Shamila My parents came from Bangladesh to Canada. They came for a better life and a better community. When they came they did not understand what to do or say. Instead of going back, they stayed in Canada. My parents eventually learned enough English to buy a home and find a job. They are still learning English so we help them when we can.    

                   

    Voices of Crescent Town, 2018