November 11, 2016: Panther Press

UPCOMING DATES   French Immersion SK applications due by December 1st (online) Progress Report Cards go home November 15th PA Day/Interview Day November 18th Fall Fling  November 23rd PA Day December 2nd Primary Concert (Grades 1-3) December 8th - 9am School Dance December 22nd Last Day before the Holidays December 23rd First Day Back at School January 9th

PARENT TEACHER INTERVIEWS  As many have you have heard already the teachers will be setting up, for November, parent/teacher/student conferences or parent/teacher interviews with you. If you would also like to meet with one of your child's specialty teachers (Phys. Ed., Music, Drama, Dance etc...) please set that up via your child's agenda or by phoning the school and asking to set up the interview. You are also welcome to e-mail your classroom teacher or the specialty teacher directly to set up the interview. We are all happy to meet and discuss your child's progress.

GRADE 6 LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES This year we are offering our Grade 6 students the opportunity to 'give back' to our Brown School Community and at the same time practise their leadership and mentorship skills. If your children are in Grade 6 and interested in these opportunities please remind them that the sign-up sheets are outside the office.

DRAMA PERFORMANCE  All parents are welcome to see the following performances.   Mr. MacDonald's class will be doing a retelling of The Loathsome Dragon. A tale about a princess who is transformed into a dragon and needs her brother's help to return to her former self.   Mr. Pare's class will be doing a retelling of Stone Soup. A traditional tale about a group of monks who help bring a village that has being going through hard times, together.    These performances will be December 7th at 9am.

PRIMARY SWIM TEAM UPDATE   We have had a great couple of weeks of practice and it is all coming together! The dates are set for our upcoming swim meets, and are as follows: Friday December 9th at Brown with a 9:45am start. This meet will run until lunchtime. Tuesday December 13th will be at Hillcrest and will begin at 10am and will run until lunchtime. Students will be walking to Hillcrest so please be sure to dress warmly and pack a lunch. We have placed an order for team t-Shirts & team caps. This year we have gone with Royal Blue (Blue Jays Blue) with white lettering. Please note: This year, we have offered team shirts for the members of our "Training Team" as well. Stay tuned for more updates, Your Coaches.

SPEAKER SERIES AT COTTINGHAM    Please see the attached about a Speaker Series at Cottingham. They have invited Dr. Dixon to come and speak and you are all welcome to attend.

PHOTO RETAKE DAY    Photo Retake Day will be November 23rd, beginning at 9am.

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

FRENCH  Applications for Early French Immersion (for a Junior Kindergarten aged child), must be completed online between November 1, 2016 and December 1, 2016. Applications for Junior Extended French must be completed online between January 9, 2017 and February 2, 2017. These applications are done online. Please visit the TDSB website.

FALL FLING - TICKETS NOW ON SALE - NOVEMBER 23RD, 6:30 PM   Mark your calendars for Wednesday, November 23. Join us at The Rosehill Bar and Lounge at 6 Rosehill Ave. at 6:30 pm for our annual Fall Fling. This is the Brown School community's biggest fundraising event of the year!    Run by parent volunteers and supported by the Brown School administration and teachers, the Fall Fling is an entertaining event that raises much needed funds used to enhance your child's education.    Your ticket includes delicious hors d'oeuvres and access to the amazing Silent Auction where one-of-a-kind items and experiences go to the highest bidder! The auction includes donated items, a wine garden, and artwork created by the children of Brown School.   100% of money raised goes to the school. This year a special emphasis will be placed on the following: STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), Upgrading the technology in the classrooms, and Athletics    For more information go to our website.   To purchase tickets please click here.

FALL FLING - WINE GARDEN DONATIONS NEEDED   Calling All Parents! -  Wine Garden Donations Needed   Brown Junior Public School is preparing for our annual Fall Fling and we are hoping that you would consider contributing to our silent auction.  In addition to the regular silent auction we have every year, this year we are focusing on a silent auction Wine Garden.   Do you have a bottle of wine taking up space on your counter? Or Too much of the 2004 Beringer Napa Valley Cabernet or the 2005 Hess Allomi Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon in your cellar and know you need to drink it now but can't because you want to get into the Bridesmaid Red instead?   Well, please consider donating it to our wine garden!   Thank you for your generosity! We hope to have the privilege of setting up a great spot for it on our auction table at the Fall Fling.   All wine donations should be dropped off in the principal's office for safekeeping, or please contact the fall fling committee to arrange for pick up! Please note: students should not be transporting wine to the school.