Important Safety Reminders
Yard Supervision
Yard Supervision for Grades JK to 6 begins at 8:35 AM and ends at 3:45 PM. Afternoon Kindergarten supervision begins at 12:45 PM. Parents are responsible for their children’s safety and conduct in the yard before and after these times.
Visitor Sign-In Book
Visitors are requested to sign in at the main office and wear a ‘visitor sticker’. This is a safety measure to ensure that visiting adults are recognized and encouraged to feel welcome in our school. Thank You!
Visitors are requested to sign in at the main office and wear a ‘visitor sticker’. This is a safety measure to ensure that visiting adults are recognized and encouraged to feel welcome in our school. Thank You!
Kiss N' Ride
Do not use the Avenue Road driveway as this is the school bus pick up and drop off area for our students.
Please pick up and drop of your children at the Kiss N’ Ride designated area on Poplar Plains.
Do not use the Avenue Road driveway as this is the school bus pick up and drop off area for our students.
Please pick up and drop of your children at the Kiss N’ Ride designated area on Poplar Plains.
Community Issue
Our neighbours have recently been concerned about cars blocking their driveways during drop off and pickup times. Please ensure that you are not parking in front of anyone's driveway, as they need to be able to get in and out of their own driveway safely and promptly.
There is one-hour parking on Balmoral in the event that you have to come into the school. We do everything we can to cooperate with our neighbours and would appreciate this is taken into consideration.
Safe Arrival Program
Our neighbours have recently been concerned about cars blocking their driveways during drop off and pickup times. Please ensure that you are not parking in front of anyone's driveway, as they need to be able to get in and out of their own driveway safely and promptly.
There is one-hour parking on Balmoral in the event that you have to come into the school. We do everything we can to cooperate with our neighbours and would appreciate this is taken into consideration.
Safe Arrival Program
The Safe Arrival program is used by parents/guardians and schools to account for any student’s unexplained failure to arrive at school. Please call the school safe arrival number 416-393-1557 before 8:55 AM or 12:30 PM (for an afternoon absence) if your child will not be attending school or plans to be late. This line is available 24 hours a day with voice mail. If your child is absent and we have not heard from you, we will make every effort to contact you using the information provided on the Emergency Form. The name and telephone number of an emergency contact is absolutely essential.
Principal’s Message from the Office of G. Christakis & S. Litner
It is February and we have not had the winter we thought we would. Despite the fact we have not had much snow, it is still cold out there. We ask that parents remind their children about dressing warmly for the cold weather as they are outside frequently over the course of the day. Of course, on bitterly cold days, we will have indoor recess.
As we sometimes have wet snow or rain in the yard, we remind the children to wear boots to school. Many children continue to wear only running shoes and often have to sit with wet feet in class. When children wear boots, they also need indoor sneakers/shoes. In an emergency, or even for a fire drill, the children would have to go outside in sock feet; there would be no time to allow for putting on boots. It is also unpleasant for them to sit or walk around with sock feet on floors that are often wet and/or cold.
Thank you for your help in ensuring your child is comfortable, warm and hopefully (!) dry.
Lost and Found
Our Lost and Found area has a number of unclaimed articles. Please check for any lost items that may belong to your children.
Flu Season!
The flu virus spreads quickly and easily among children at school and at play. The flu is spread by coughing and sneezing and from touching contaminated surfaces like toys, doorknobs and computer keyboards after someone with the flu has touched them. Children should be reminded to wash their hands frequently during the day and to cover their nose and mouth when coughing or sneezing.
Our caretakers work hard to keep the student washroom soap dispensers filled but occasionally they get misused by students and are left to drain empty. We will try to be vigilant in keeping them filled and ready, but we ask you to remind your children about proper behaviour in the washrooms.
TERM 1 Report Card; Parent/Teacher Interviews
First term report cards will be sent home between February 13-15. The first term report cards communicate your child’s strengths, weaknesses and next steps as it relates to achievement of the curriculum expectations for each subject area as well as their achievement of the learning skills.
In addition, parent-teacher interviews will occur on the evening of Thursday, February 16 and on the morning of Friday, February 17. Parents are encouraged to schedule a time with the homeroom teacher for this term's parent/teacher interviews.
Pages 3 and 4 of the report card provides parents/guardians and the student with an opportunity to comment on student achievement, goals and home support. The response form links formal reporting to the process of assessment, reporting and communication about the student’s learning that continues throughout the year.
Learning is a partnership and we encourage you to continue to be involved in your child’s education.
Parent-Teacher Interviews will be held:
Thursday February 16 - 3:45 PM-8:00 PM
Friday February 17 - 9:00 AM-12:00 PM (PD Day - no classes for students)
Teachers have sent home forms requesting interviews. If you have not received a form and would like an interview, please contact the school at 416 393-1560.
February is…Canadian Heritage Month, African Heritage and Black History Month
This month we honour the culture and background of many of our students. We are a diverse school community with wonderful opportunities to learn from each other, particularly at these special times of the year.
Family Heart Healthy!
February is also Heart Month. Three things that will keep your heart strong and healthy are healthy eating, physical activity and not smoking or being around smoke. As parents you can start teaching your children these three messages at a young age to help them become healthy adults.
How can you do this?
- If you smoke, think about quitting and make your home smoke-free
- Have fun with your children and plan family activities like cycling, walking, swimming and ice-skating
- Buy, prepare and enjoy healthy foods
During February, teachers will have the chance to teach your children heart health. Contact your school Liaison Public Health Nurse for more information or resources.
Safety on www…. aka the Internet
The best way to ensure your child’s safety on the Internet is to be there. Of course, that is not always possible. Just as you teach your child rules about dealing with strangers outside the home, you must provide rules for communicating online.
Teach children that not everything they see or hear may be true. Some sites may be trying to sell them something or contain inaccurate information. Remember, the vast majority of Internet sites are perfectly safe. But, like the real world, the virtual world contains some sites with content that may not be appropriate for children.
If you have a home computer, a number of software filters are available to block Web sites you may not want your child to visit. Parents need to understand that filters are not perfect. They cannot block everything you might not want your child to see and they may block information that is helpful. Even if filters were 100 percent effective, this software is no substitute for parental guidance.
We strongly recommend that you supervise your son/daughter’s internet use at home. It’s a good idea to place computers in the kitchen, family room, or living room so that you can see your child using it.
For additional information and resources:
Parents may also visit http://www.protectchildrenonline.org/.
Students can visit: www.cybertip.ca/app/en/respect_home.
