Parent Council News - June 2012

Message from Lisa Bernstein, Chair

Wow! Who can believe its June already?

Another great year at Brown School!!

I wanted to take this opportunity to thank all of the incredible parents that have volunteered in so many different ways this past year to enhance our great school. I also want to thank Gina Christakis for joining our school and working so hard as well to make Brown so special for our children.  Of course, we cannot forget all of our staff give so much extra time for our kids!

I will also take this opportunity to remind you about our AGM which will take place on September 20th. We will be filling vacant positions on the parent council executive at that time.  All parents and caregivers are invited to attend!

Finally. I thank you all for my experience as chair of the Parent Council for the past three years. It has been an honour to serve the Brown Community in this way and I look forward to working with the new chairs in September!!

Have a great summer and see you in September.

-- Lisa

 

Communications

The Communications Committee is comprised of parent volunteers who work closely with the school administration, staff, Parent Council and employ a variety of media including the Brown Bulletin, the www.brownschool.ca website, the email blast system, and the Handbook to help keep you in touch.

Special thanks go to Jennifer Martin, Principal Christakis, Vice-Principal Litner, Dorothy Hunt, Lisa Burk, Lisa Bernstein, Monica Junco, and Maggie Lane for helping to keep communication running smoothly and efficiently. Communications will go quiet over the summer but we look forward to reconnecting in September!

Garden Fete Was a Huge Success!!

Thank you to everyone (all 250 of you) who contributed so much to make Garden Fete a huge success.  Your time, salads, baked goods and prize donations were greatly appreciated!  Thank you to all of our great class parents for enthusiastically forwarding requests for more help.  We couldn’t have done it without all of you.

Special thanks to the following organizations:

• Whole Foods – buns and condiments
• Starbucks (Craighurst and Roxborough locations) - Coffee
• Fiesta Farms – cake mix, biodegradable liners, tomato plants
• Treasure Island Toys – Discount Toys
• The Healthy Butcher – Organic meat
• Unicorn Daycare – Free Planting station, Body Artist, One Week Camp Prize
• Avenue Road Arts School – Free Plant Pot decorating station, One Week Camp Prize
• Sportplay - Mascot, Classroom raffle, Sportplay station
• Lytton Park Tennis – Tennis station,
• Jen Bibassis – Official Garden Fete Cake
• Steve Thuringer – Hand built water station, Waste bins, Lemonade++
• Ian Carmichael – Buns and condiments
• Fabricland – Burlap tablecloths and backdrop
• KIK Operating Partnership D/B/A KIKCanada - Cash Donatiion

Finally - thank you all for your committment to making Garden Fete GREENER THAN EVER! We generated only two bags of waste - not quite our original goal, but less than ever before!

Parent Council News - May 2012

As this year draws to a close, the Parent Council is already looking ahead to next year.  The continued support and generosity of the Brown Community has been instrumental in enriching the school experience for all our children.  Parent support and involvement is a critical component of that success!

Anyone interested in contributing their time and talents for the 2012/13 school year should contact Lisa Bernstein at bernstl@lao.on.ca or come out to the next parent council meeting on May 16th at 9:00 a.m. in the Meeting Room.  Looking forward to seeing new faces at the next meeting!


Volunteer needed!

The Communications Committee of the Parent Council needs a volunteer to edit and produce the Brown School Bulletin starting in September, 2012. This role requires connecting with the school principals, teachers and Parent Council at the beginning of each month to request submissions, putting those submissions into the Bulletin format each month, and then working with the Parent Council and the Office to obtain final approval of the text before sending it out by email blast to the Brown School community. If you are interested in this opportunity please contact Nina Moritsugu, Communications Chair, nmoritsugu@cognitionllp.com.

The Parent Council wishes to extend its heartfelt appreciation to Jennifer Martin, who is stepping down from her position as editor of the Brown Bulletin after many long years of volunteer service to Brown. We thank Jennifer for her ability to keep deadlines and maintain her patience and a sense of humour in the face of last-minute submissions, while producing a highly readable and interesting monthly bulletin.  Jennifer spearheaded a fabulous upgrade this year to the blogosphere, enabling parents to access the Bulletin on their handheld devices for the first time. During Jennifer's tenure the Bulletin went from being a paper newsletter distributed monthly on yellow paper in every student's knapsack to the current eco-friendly electronic format.  Jennifer has also been responsible for compiling the Student Showcase newsletters that go out a few times per year highlighting students’ art and writing accomplishments.  Thanks, Jennifer!

Parent Council News - Apr 2012

Upcoming Parent Council Meeting

Please note that the next Parent Council meeting will be on Wednesday, April 18 at 7:00pm in the Library. All are welcome to attend!

Garden Fete May 23, 2012 - Greener Than Ever!

Garden Fete, Brown's annual outdoor fun fair, is fast approaching! In fitting with our Platinum Eco Schools status, this year's Fete  will be "greener than ever".

We are seeking volunteers from each class, donations for the prize table, and gently used toys and games for our always popular Loot Bag table.

Please contact brownvolunteers@gmail.com with any questions!

Parent Council News - Mar 2012

Please note that the next Parent Council meeting will be on Thursday, March 29 at 9:00am in the Meeting Room. All are welcome to attend!

Parent Council News - Feb 2012

As usual, there is so much going on around school! 

We are always looking for people who want to join in and share their ideas and skills on the parent council. We meet every month to discuss upcoming events and initiatives that make Brown School a special place for our kids.

We have a special guest joining the next parent council meeting: Trustee Shelley Laskin will be attending the meeting on February 22nd at 7:00 p.m. in the library.  Come on out!  All parents/caregivers welcome.

As always, if you wish to volunteer in any way, you can always contact me at bernstl@lao.on.ca or Jenifer Glover at jeniferglover@rogers.com.

Lisa Bernstein, Chair

Parent Council News - Jan 2012

Welcome Back! Hope everyone is well rested and looking forward to all kinds of fun at Brown School this term!

Reminder: All parents/caregivers are welcome to all Parent Council meetings! Our next meeting is Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00pm in the Library. 

If you wish to help out in any way and volunteer in any way, please contact me at bernstl@lao.on.ca or Jenifer Glover at jeniferglover@rogers.com

Lisa Bernstein, Chair

Parent Council News - Dec 2011

WHAT A FANTASTIC START TO THE YEAR!!!

Fall has been such a busy time with so many volunteers – parents, teachers and staff - all working together to make Brown School a great place for our children. A HUGE THANK YOU to all of our Committee Chairs for their hard work and dedication and all of the support of our parents and staff in our fall fundraising efforts. The Fall Fling, Wrapping Paper/Chocolate Sales and the Calendar sales were incredibly successful. Looking forward to having as much fun and success in the months to come!!  Congratulations, Brown School!

Don’t forget, there is a parent council meeting this Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00 p.m. in the Library. As always, please feel free to contact me at bernstl@lao.on.ca or Jenifer Glover at Jeniferglover@rogers.com if you are interested in participating in any of the parent council initiatives.

Lisa Bernstein, Chair

Reminder: Fall Fling Art Calendars will be available for pick-up at the Winterfest Concert. 

Update on Pool & Programming Cuts

While the picture is still vague, the budget cuts proposed for 2012 include the elimination of programs at the Brown CC, however, swim programs at Brown are NOT affected at this time.   Other proposed cuts that would have impact on our neighbourhood include:

Davisville Public School: Reduction in Student Nutrition Program funding

Central Eglinton Community Centre: Staffing level reduction that will cause a reduction in programs offered to community

Deer Park Public Library – reduce the number of hours from 62 to 56 hours per week, a 6 hour reduction (equivalent to two mornings)

Northern District Public Library – reduce the number of hours from 69 to 59.5 per week, a 9.5 hour reduction (equivalent to approximately three mornings)

Forest Hill Public Library – reduce the number of hours from 62 to 56 per week, a 6 hour reduction (equivalent to two mornings) AND

Hillcrest CC - elimination of City programming including swimming

It is unclear how cuts to other programming would impact the swim programs.  It is clear however, that the proposed cuts at Brown & Hillcrest would have an incredibly negative impact on all of us. At Brown, we have enjoyed a cooperative and supportive relationship with Community Centre staff to the point where it is virtually seamless to the students as to who belongs to what.  They contribute to much of what

enriches our children's experience from coaching sports teams to helping out with Garden Fete.

The loss of Hillcrest's pool and programs would also have a widespread negative effect on all of us.  It's difficult to imagine no more Primary Swim Meets.

Three years ago when the TDSB threatened to close school pools, the community rallied.  Show your support by contacting your local Councillor, for St. Paul's Ward 22 that is Josh Matlow, and Ward 23 Joe Mihevc as well as the Budget and Executive Committee Members.

Write, Email, Call.  Get your children involved in writing letters and drawing pictures.  It's time to rally.

If you have any questions, please contact Yvonne Maclean-Howard at yvonne@maclean-howard.org 

Parent Council News - Oct 2011

Message from Lisa Bernstein, Chair

WHAT A MONTH!!

Wow! September has passed and it is hard to believe how much we packed into one month.

The New Parent Breakfast / AGM was a success! A big thanks to Katharine Lake Berz and all the parents who helped out with baking, coffee pick-up and all the many other tasks that made this event so great. Thank you to Mr. Ellis for the use of the music room and the many teachers for coming out as well!

The Parent Council is always looking for new parents to come out to meetings and provide some fresh ideas for Brown.

The next meeting will take place on Wednesday, October 19th at 7:00 p.m. in the library. All parents/caregivers are welcome.

We also wanted to welcome Gina Christakis as she has now officially set up shop. We are looking forward to a great year.

...And finally, a BIG thanks to Jane Giuliani for stepping in as interim Principal  for the month of September.

Deadline for Wrapping Paper & Chocolate Orders is Friday, October 21

Parties and presents galore make wrapping paper an essential item year-round. Reminders for ordering:

• Order online at www.stanbridge-innisbrook.com; Brown School code is 124849
• Print the payment voucher and return to school along with cheque payable to Brown Parent Council. NO CASH PLEASE.
• Helpline for orders: 1-877-525-5608.
• Remember - the more you sell, the more prizes you earn! Happy selling!

The Fall Fling Needs Your Donations!

A great way to highlight your products or services to the Brown School community - donate an item for auction at this year's Fall Fling Silent Auction!  What can be donated?

• Tickets for sporting events: Got season tickets but know you will be missing a game because of travel?  Donate your tickets and become a hero (tickets are ALWAYS fought over at the auction!!).
• Free consultation: Opened up a new business?  Want a new client?  Donate a free consultation of your time and expertise!  It's a great way of getting your name out there at a very reasonable cost!
• Show us what ya got!  Are the parents or kids at Brown school part of your core target market?  By donating your product you can get fabulous exposure (and gratitude!) from the Brown community. 
• Have fun: Do you have access to something one of a kind?  Can you invite a kid to shadow a vet for the day?  Do you know a celebrity that could record someone's answering machine message as a prize?  Do you know a chef who could cater a party of 8?  Do you know a magician or clown that wants to break into the birthday party circuit?  These one of a kind items are priceless and make a big impression at the auction.

All donations will be highlighted in the Brown website and in a catalogue sent out to all families prior to the event.   Money raised at the event will DIRECTLY benefit YOUR CHILDREN.  It's a win-win situation and we hope you'll be a part of it!

For any questions or with help putting donations together don't hesitate to contact Bettina Hoar (hoarhouse@gmail.com) or Sophie Lamoureux (solam22@hotmail.com).

Brown School Clothing On Sale Now!

Easy as 1-2-3 Online!

Brown School Hats, Scarfs, Sweat Shirts, Long and Short Sleeve T-Shirts are now available online! Please view the catalogue at http://brownschool.ca/documents/forms/Brown%20School%20Merchandise.Oct%2011%20update.pdf. After that?

1. Send your order via email to Connie Dingle at brownmerchandise@gmail.com 

2. Send your payment to school. Cheques should be made out to Brown Parent Council.

3. Your merchandise will be delivered to you via your classroom. Easy! 

Parent Council News - Sept 2011

Message from Lisa Bernstein, Chair 

On behalf of the Brown Parent Council, I'd like to welcome all new and returning families to Brown Junior Public School. I'd also like to extend a warm welcome to our new Principal, Gina Christakis, who will be joining us permanently at the end of September.  We cannot thank Jane Giuliani enough for joining Brown School on an interim basis and facilitating a smooth transition for our new Principal!

The Brown Parent Council is gearing up for a fun filled and exciting start to the new school year. We have a number of events and activities already planned to enrich the student experience at Brown! Thank you to the volunteer efforts of so many of our incredible Brown parents, who are essential to the success of these events and activities.

The Brown Parent Council invites all parents to attend a New Parent Breakfast on Wednesday,

September 28 at 8:00 a.m. in the Gym. This is a great way to meet and mingle with parents who are new to Brown School. The gathering will give “new” parents an opportunity to meet and chat with “old” Brown Parents, teachers, Principals Gina Christakis, Jane Giuliani and Vice Principal Sonja Litner. Everyone is welcome! 

All interested parents are invited to attend the Brown Parent Council Annual General Meeting, which will follow the New Parent Breakfast. The AGM starts at 9:00 a.m. and will take place in the Gym. All interested parents are invited to attend the AGM to learn more about the school and to find out about exciting opportunities to get involved. The first Parent Council Meeting will follow immediately after the AGM. All parents are welcome and are encouraged to attend.

Please contact me at bernstl@lao.on.ca if you are interested in discussing any parent council issues or have questions about how you can help out.

Looking forward to a great year at Brown!

- Lisa Bernstein, Chair

The Brown Communications Network

Student Agenda – Be sure to establish close communication with your classroom teacher. Regularly checking the student agenda is a common way to be kept up to date on school work and activities in the classroom and in the school.

Brown Bulletin – The monthly bulletin is sent out electronically. Please make sure that you are on our email list by signing up at http://www.brownschool.ca/news.asp?ID=173  If your email address has changed, please be sure to sign up again with the new address.

Brown Website – School news bulletins, sports schedules and events, archived Bulletins, forms and other important information can be found on our website:  www.brownschool.ca.   Please check back often!

Brown Handbook – Our Handbook outlines Brown’s staff roles, classes, special activities and policies to help give families an overview of the school. The 2011-2012 edition will be sent home in October.

Class Parents – Parent Representatives of each class help connect parents with their child’s teacher, the administration, and with the Parent Council. Please speak to your teacher if you are interested in being a Class Parent.

We hope you will feel connected with Brown School this year. Please contact Nina Moritsugu at nmoritsugu@cognitionllp.com if you would like to help with Brown Communications.

We can't wait for the Fall Fling! Save the Date - it's on November 17th! 

Welcome Brown families to the 2011-2012 school year! 

The Fall Fling is Brown’s major fundraiser: a sizzling silent auction.  Save the date of November 17th! If you’d like to help out gathering donations or planning the event – WE’D LOVE TO HAVE YOU ALONG.  It’s a ton of fun and a great way to meet other parents.  Please contact Bettina Hoar (hoarhouse@gmail.com) or Sophie Lamoureux (solam22@hotmail.com) if you’d like to know more.

Parent Council News - June 2011

Summer’s Here… 

Wow – where did the time go…again? Another fantastic and exciting year at Brown is winding down. Everyone has been so busy with all of the important activities that we do at our school. With all of our amazing fundraisers and initiatives, this has been another year to remember!!

On behalf of the entire Parent Council, I would like to extend a huge thank-you to the many parents who devoted so much of their time and energy to making Brown an extraordinary place for their children to attend. I would also like to thank the Administration and Staff who work tirelessly throughout the year to create a positive, caring and nurturing environment for our students.  

Brown Parent Council always welcomes new parents, volunteers and interesting new ideas! We are open to hearing anyone’s thoughts on new programs to implement and encourage anyone to participate, however they choose. Check the website and Bulletin to see how you can get involved for next year, or contact me at bernstl@lao.on.ca. 

Wishing you all a safe and happy summer! Lisa Bernstein, Chair, Parent Council