Fern Ave. Public School Blog

March 6, 7:00 pm, Fern auditorium. All welcome! Please come out and have your say on the development of a set of proposed By-Laws for the Fern School Council . Rather than take up valuable time at Council meetings debating meeting procedures, your Council has decided to propose a set of basic by-laws, in keeping with provincial guidelines, for the operation of Council meetings. This will cover such issues as: (A) the makeup of the Executive; and (B) voting rights and procedures in the event of controversial decisions. As those of you who have attended Council meetings in the past are aware, the Council generally operates on consensus and has a good track record for tackling difficult issues. However, disagreement and controversy do sometimes arise and it is important that we have pre-agreed-upon procedures in place. I know this doesn't sound like an exciting topic but it is important! Please consider coming out to have your say. If you cannot make the meeting and want to share you

A big thanks to all who participated in our Homework Survey! Our school will be making a presentation at the Ward 7 Education Council meeting on Tuesday, February 26 . Since this is a special meeting on the subject of the Board's Homework Policy, up to six parents from each school can attend. We have two parents already planning to come. If you are interested in joining our contingent, please contact Catherine Marjoribanks at wordplay@sympatico.ca . The meeting is at 7:00, Tuesday February 26, in the cafeteria at Western Technical-Commercial School, at 125 Evelyn Crescent (north of Bloor, east of Runnymede).

Fern Families with children in the Day Care, Parenting & Family Literacy Centre and Junior Kindergarten - Grade 2 are cordially invited to join us for stories and songs at a “Teddy Bear Picnic” on Tuesday, February 26th. Children are invited to bring their teddy bears and wear their pyjamas! Subsequent to family story and music time, the children will be escorted to various classrooms where they will listen to trained parenting staff read wonderful stories. The parents will remain in the auditorium for a presentation on literacy and the importance of reading with your children. *Cookies and juice will be provided to the children* Pizza will be available in the cafeteria, before the event begins, at a cost of $2.00 a slice or as a combo meal (pizza, raw vegetables and a beverage) for only $3.00. Pizza must be ordered and paid for in advance. Pizza Available (5:15 – 5:45 p.m.) in the cafeteria Teddy Bear Picnic (6:00 – 7:30 p. m.) in the auditorium

Dear Parents and Guardians We have received information from the police and the TDSB that a convicted child sex offender, recently released from jail is living somewhere in the Toronto area. The Toronto Police Service is supervising this man. More information about him is available on the World Wide Web at: http://www.torontopolice.on.ca/ and the accompanying media release. While we know some information about this particular person, he is not the only source of concern in this or any neighbourhood anywhere. Our children need to have on-going reminders of personal safety strategies and street proofing concepts. We will continue to review such important safety concepts on a regular basis. Safety is always of concern to us as educators and as parents ourselves. We will continue to review safe smart strategies with your children on an on-going basis. In the meantime, if you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to call me. Sincerely, Craig Tsuji Principal

A reminder ... Those parents interested in Crestwood P.S., the new arts middle school in Toronto's west end, should note that applications are due by noon on Friday, February 22 . The school is accepting applications from students who will be entering Grade 6 or Grade 7 in September. For more information about the school, and to download an application form, go to: http://www.tdsb.on.ca/crestwood Posted by Catherine Marjoribanks , Ward 7 rep.

Trustee Atkinson has provided us with new, up-to-date information concerning recommendations for the 2008-2009 budget. Kindergarten Educational Assistants: Staff has withdrawn the proposal to reduce regular kindergarten Educational Assistants by $23 million (approximately 600 positions). What will be before the Finance Committee Thursday, February 21, are the following two, somewhat less drastic options. Option 1: Status quo approach, with a reduction of 27 positions due to attrition and declining enrolment. Staff is recommending this. Option 2: 1/3 reduction of Educational Assistants. Reduction of 182, leaving 409 remaining. Swimming Pools: The City is proposing that the following Ward 7 pools be rented by the City for Parks and Recreation programs: Parkdale P.S. Swansea PS Runnymede C.I. There has been, however, no interest in renting the pools at: Fern, Humberside, Keele, Parkdale C.I., Western Tech, and Ursula Franklin Academy. The Board approved a motion in June 2007 that called

February 21, 2008 - 7 pm to 9 pm in Fern school auditorium (childcare provided) This meeting features a discussion of the upcoming TDSB budget decisions. Come and express your opinion and help the council develop its position – should we endorse cuts? If so, which cuts? We will work towards reaching our own consensus agreement so we can provide our Trustee, Irene Atkinson, with direction from the Fern Parent Council to take to the Board. For more information about the TDSB budget – see the posting below. Agenda Items 1. Approval of Agenda 2. Approval of Minutes from January 24 meeting 3. Chair’s Report (John Richmond) including the following topics: Homework guidelines – materials distributed and received, analysis to be posted on website and presented at next council meeting Dance-a-thon – report on how it went 4. Toronto District School Board Budget Cuts (Catherine Marjoribanks): Discussion on upcoming possible budget cuts to develop a consensus position to provide to our Trustee

The TDSB is moving towards making its budget decisions for the 2008-2009 school year, and anticipates having to address a shortfall of roughly $40 million. In order to deal with this, Board staff is suggesting that Trustees consider a number of potential cuts to school programs and services, which will be considered at the March 5 Board meeting. Trustee Atkinson is looking for input from parents, and the Fern School Council will be discussing this issue at its meeting on Thursday, February 21. The staff-recommended cuts are outlined below, and your School Council wants to know: What is your position? Do you support these cuts? Some, but not others? Do you endorse a no-cuts position? If you would like to join the discussion, please come out to the meeting at 7:00 pm on February 21 – all parents are welcome, and childcare is provided. If you can’t attend the meeting, please e-mail your ideas to me, Catherine Marjoribanks at wordplay@sympatico.ca . I will consolidate comments from Fern

I want to extend a big "thank you!" to everyone who made the Dance-a-thon such a success today. Especially our DJ, Gord Way, a parent at Fern who has been involved with Fern in many different capacities for many years. We are very fortunate to have Gord at Fern. And also the main organizer of the Dance-a-thon - Paula Larrondo. Thank you also to Andre, Estaban, Joanne, Katarina, Amy, Nancy, our Principal Craig Tsuji, and the students from Ms. Kearns' class who helped to clean up. Stay tuned to find out how much we raised! Posted by John Richmond , Chair, Fern Parent Council

TIME --------------------- GRADES 9:05-9:35 ------------All am JK/SK Students 10:05 - 10:50 --------All grade 1-3 Students 12:50-1:20 -----------All pm JK/SK Students 1:30-2:25 -------------All grade 4-6 Students 2:30- onwards --------All grade 7-8 Students (Approx. end 3:30PM)

Fern auditorium will be pulsating tomorrow to music, as all the kids dance to songs chosen by their class. (There are rumours that we will even have a disco ball.) Parents are welcome to join in on the dancing! Please return pledge envelopes to the school (if possible, please send a cheque instead of cash). The dance-athon is a major fundraiser for our school. The money collected in pledges helps the School Council to support programs like Scientist in the School, the arts committee, buses and referees, greening initiatives and playground improvements, reading initiatives and science club activities, and Grade 8 Grad. Again this year, 10% of the money raised will go to Project Love, which gives Fern youngsters the opportunity to act as global citizens in a program that sends educational materials to students and teachers in developing countries. (See www.codecan.org/projectlove .) The class in each division that raises the most pledge money will win a pizza party. Cheques should be ma

Here’s a subject every parent has an opinion about … HOMEWORK! What do YOU think? The Toronto District School Board is looking at homework practices in our schools in order to review its homework policy ( www.tdsb.on.ca/pandp/ppdocs/docs/p/P036%20CUR.pdf ). The Fern Avenue P.S. School Council would like to hear from you, so that we can forward your ideas to the TDSB. Here’s how. We’ve posted the survey online at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=tFGT1QJiu9iq2gCrvsslxQ_3d_3d Please complete the survey before Thursday, February 14 . If you have more than one child at Fern, you can complete the survey more than once, with each child in mind. Results will remain anonymous and will be compiled by the School Council so that we can take your opinions forward to the TDSB. Thanks very much for taking the time to voice your opinions! Catherine Marjoribanks, School Council, Ward 7 Rep

THANK YOU AGAIN for supporting our magazine fundraising campaign this past fall. Your tremendous support has made this a very successful fundraiser for our school! By now your subscriptions should have started or should be starting very shortly (some seasonal magazines do not publish as frequently as others and are therefore slower to start). If you ever have a question regarding your order , please call QSP Customer Service at 1-800-667-2536. Posted by Katarina Berin , parent

On behalf of Dave Rowan and Penny Maidens: "We are continuing to monitor the weather. The latest update indicates the intensity of the storm is increasing throughout the afternoon with the potential of freezing rain and higher winds. The safety of our students and staff remains our highest priority. With the anticipated deterioration of weather conditions, we are requesting that Principals facilitate an early dismissal this afternoon for students and staff, if possible. Elementary students must be released to a parent or caregiver. Please begin telephone contact with them immediately, including your afternoon Kindergarten families. Appropriate (age, ability) secondary students must also be released to their parents or caregiver to ensure their safety. The Principals are requested to facilitate a staggered dismissal of staff as long as appropriate student supervision is ensured. If you have questions or concerns, please contact your Superintendent of Education."