March 24, 2017: Panther Press

UPCOMING DATES  Beach Day Assembly  March 31st, AM  School Dance  March 31st, PM  Program Area Review Public Meeting, Hodgson Public School  April 3rd, 6:30pm  Parent Council  April 24th, 7pm  Kindergarten Orientation (for new students)  May 1st, 3:30pm - 4:30pm  Junior Concert  May 11th, 9am  Dance Share (Grades 4-6)  May 19th  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 26th, 9am (NOTE: DATE CHANGE)

OFFICE DROP OFFS After the March Break we will be trying something a little bit different! If your child has forgotten something at home, such as their lunch or their project - we will ask that you drop it off in the office and place a sticky note on the item with your child's name.   As we would like to avoid calling into classrooms and interrupting learning time, we ask that you tell your child to check for said items at a convenient break in the day (e.g. recess or lunchtime).

PROGRAM AREA REVIEW As you know Brown is working through an Area Review. There is a public meeting being held at Hodgson on April 3rd, at 6:30pm. You are all welcome to attend.   For information on the review please follow the link below.   http://www.tdsb.on.ca/aboutus/strategyplanning/searchallreviews.aspx    Under 'Program Area Reviews' > 'Brown Junior Public School and Deer Park Junior and Senior Public School' > 'Helpful Information'   As always we are here if you have any questions.

COMMUNICATIONS CO-CHAIR NEEDED    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.

LUNCH TIME AND AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS  Please see the attachments if you are interested in signing your child up for Act One (Beauty and the Beast), Hatch (coding & keyboarding programs), Chess and/or Mad Science. Please see the link below to sign up for Explore It All Programs:  http://www.exploreitall.ca/registrations/brown-public-school

PRESENTATION     Please see the attached flyer regarding a Social Media Presentation for parents and caregivers. The presentation is being held at Cottingham Public School on Wednesday, March 29, 6:30-7:30pm and is open to all families at Brown P.S. as well.

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.