March 3, 2017: Panther Press

UPCOMING DATES  Parent Council  March 6th, 9am  March Break - no school  March 13th - 17th  School Dance  March 31th, PM  Parent Council  April 24, 7pm  Kindergarten Orientation (for new students)  May 1st, 3:30pm-4:30pm  Junior Concert  May 11th, 9am  EQAO (for grades 3&6)  May 24th - June 1st (please refrain from  booking appointments during this window)  Grade 6 Graduation Ceremony  June 15th - 1pm  Kindergarten Celebration  June 28th, 9am

"SMALL BUSINESSES" It has come to our attention that a number of our students are attempting to conduct business exchanges - sales of bracelets, slime, balls etc. - on school property. While we appreciate the spirit of entrepreneurship, these are not activities that we can support in the school or on the school yard. Please remind your children of this while continuing to encourage them to keep their creativity alive!

SUMMER SCHOOL Please see the information attached regarding a summer school program that is being offered at Deer Park, as well as the registration form. All questions and registration forms should be directed to Deer Park P.S.

Mr.D PRESENTS... PRESTIGE SWIM ACADEMY    Have you heard the news? Prestige Swim Academy is coming to Brown PS for an after school swim program! With a successful start at Deer Park, offering both Intro to Competitive Swim, & Stroke Development classes, Prestige is coming to Brown for an 8 week Spring Session. Focus will be in the area of Competitive Swimming with emphasis on strength, conditioning, & style. Mr.D & fellow swim instructor/coach Mr.Neil (from Deer Park) have created an After School swim program which follows their philosophies in stroke development with an emphasis on FUN! Starting Wednesday March 29th Prestige will be offering Intro to Competitive Swim 101. Open for all students Grades 1-6. Minimum requirement is to be able to swim a length of Brown's pool without stopping. For more details & sign up information please check the website or e-mail info@prestigeswimacademy.com.

THANK YOU!    We cannot thank you enough for your generosity and kindness! Your food and treats were a HUGE hit and made the Staff Appreciation Day absolutely incredible! Thank you for always thinking of us and for your positive energy and spirit that you bring to us each day!

THIS SUNDAY, MARCH 5 - ANOTHER SKATING PARTY!    Mark your calendars! We have scheduled the next skating party for Sunday, March 5 from 4-6 pm at Ramsden Park, 1020 Yonge Street (just by Rosedale subway station).      Brown Junior Skating Party at Ramsden Park This is a free event and everyone is welcome! We hope to see you there!

NEEDED: COMMUNICATIONS CO-CHAIR Join a fun and dynamic team of parents in helping get the "news out"! We are looking for someone to join our communications team. The team works in tandem to coordinate with other committees and administration to send out email blasts and the weekly Panther Press. Technology background necessary. Ideally an active volunteer in Brown Parent Council and available for Parent Council meetings. Training is provided.   The full description of roles and responsibilities can be found as Item 18 here:  http://brownschool.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/Parent-Council-Roles-and-Responsibilitiesv2-1.pdf Please contact Amanda Demers (mandademers@gmail.com) or Joanna Onoszko (onoszko.joanna@gmail.com) for more information.

ATLANTIS SWIM SCHOOL - LESSONS AND FREE SWIM SESSIONS     Atlantis Swim School runs swim programs at our own Brown School Pool.   SWIM LESSONS From bubbles to butterfly, they teach children 4 months and up how to safely swim in small, fun, and dynamic classes, and evaluate them using the criteria put forth from the Red Cross swimming program. Since 1986, their classes have taught children the essentials of swimming, how to stay safe in and around water, advanced techniques for competing or eventual life guarding, and everything in between. Next Swim lesson sessions begin March 20th. For more information, please click on the following link:   https://pedalheads.com/AtlantisSwim/locations/Ontario/toronto-brown-junior-public-school FREE SATURDAY SWIM Saturday, February 4 @ 11:00 am - Sunday, May 28 @ 1:00 pm   Atlantis and Pedalheads is hosting a Free Swim every Saturday from 11:00am to 1:00pm for children of any age! Parents are welcome to enjoy the free swim with their child as well. We will have life guards and highly qualified instructors on site during the free swim as well. Come out and enjoy a free swim on us!

CROSSING GUARDS    Calling all Grandparents, Retirees, or anyone interested! Toronto Police Service School Crossing Guard Association is looking to hire school crossing guards! If you know grandparents and/or retirees in the neighborhood who are interested in helping out and getting some fresh air throughout the school day, please have them contact: Officer Wai Lau P.C. #3765 School Crossing Guard Coordinator 53 Division Toronto Police Service 416-808- 5327

KISS AND RIDE    Please keep the following in mind during morning drop-off:   This is a gentle reminder that Kiss & Ride is a drop off zone, on Poplar Plains Road, for students grades 1-6 only. Kindergarten children must be walked to their classrooms.   This program is staffed completely by Brown parent volunteers, from 8:25-8:40am.    A few reminders for all parents: There is no parking in the designated Kiss & Ride drop off area, or in the school bus zone between 8:25am and 8:40am for ANY reason.   When using Kiss & Ride, drivers must stay in the vehicle; volunteers will open the doors for your child(ren) on the passenger side of the car. If you must enter the schoolyard or your child is not able to walk in alone you need to park on one of the side streets where parking is permitted.  Parking in the Kiss'n'Ride zone is NOT permitted. For safety reasons, the Avenue Road Driveway is only to be used by TDSB Facilities staff, and Brown Administration. Please note that the parking lot off Poplar Plains is for Brown School Staff only. Our program relies on volunteers. Please be courteous with our Kiss & Ride volunteers!               Morning Parking is available in the neighbourhood in these areas: 10 minutes parking on Lynwood between Avenue Rd. and Poplar Plains on Warren Road VERY LIMITED parking on Poplar Plains near Lynwood on Balmoral Ave East and West of Poplar Plains, and East of Avenue Road On Clarendon Avenue.