Fern Ave. Public School Blog

The Fern community is working hard to "be the change" as 292 Fern students (and one teacher!) took the Vow on November 30th. This year 126 Junior and Senior students took the Vow for the school day or a more ambitious 24 hours. They were joined by 166 students in JK to Grade 3, who took mini-vows in their individual classes, with the support of their teachers. When reflecting on the day, students talked about how difficult it was not having a voice for a day, let alone a lifetime. So far the students have collected $1,674.50 for our Health Care Project in Kenya. Here are some of the Vow Participants' testimonials: “This morning when I remembered it was the Vow, I started to feel like I couldn’t breathe” “I think that it is an amazing experience to step into another’s shoes and I cannot imagine being silent for my whole life.” Abby “I think that we are blessed to live in conditions like (in Canada).” Athanasia I feel like no one understands me. It’s li

General interest classes for adults are now available in our neighbourhood! NEW this winter, West Toronto CI, located at 330 Lansdowne Avenue just north of College Street, is hosting Toronto District School Board Learn4Life programs. There are a number of courses offered including Bridge, Egyptian Belly Dancing, French, Painting, Digital Video, Interior Design, Sushi Making, Yoga, and Zumba, to name a few. Parents/guardians and any adults 18 years and older are welcome to join us. Classes run during daytime hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and begin the week of January 9, 2012. This program offers you an opportunity to relax, get fit, create a work of art, or learn a new skill or language. It's a great way to have fun and meet new people. Visit: www.learn4life.ca to register online or call 416-338-4111 for more information. West Toronto CI is once again offering Adult ESL Classes! Beginning January 9, 2012 the Toronto District School Board is offering an ESL Literacy Cla

The Fern Arts Committee would like to invite everyone to come out and see our special guest Katherine Wheatley at this year’s Holiday concert on Thursday, December 22 at 6 p.m. Katherine is a singer songwriter who works with students to compose and record songs over a one-week period. She brought her Youth Songs program to Fern for the last week in November and worked with 12 classes (302 students) to produce 8 songs. The students practiced the following week and then, in early December, the students recorded their songs. They were edited and mixed to produce our very own Fern music CD! You may have heard your children singing their song at home and so can share in our excitement about having it recorded. We will be selling the CDs in January for $5.00. The response the arts committee has received about Katherine has been amazing. Her patience and expertise made it a pleasure for the teachers to work with her. Her inspiration and enthusiasm made it fun for the students. We hope

Click here to download the January newsletter.

Please note that a REVISED holiday flyer was sent out Tuesday December 6, 2011 promoting the upcoming Holiday Swing Concerts. There will be two concerts: Kindergarten Concert 5:30pm, Auditorium Tuesday December 20, 2011 and Primary/Junior/Senior, Band Concert 6:00pm, Auditorium Thursday December 22, 2011 With special guest Kathrine Wheatley. Leading the" Youth Songs" workshop students in a performance of their own written and produced songs !!! We look forward to having you celebrate the holiday season with us.

Please note that our Grade 8 girls will recieve their HPV vaccinations on January 30, 2012 during the morning of the school day. A third clinic for Hepatitis B-dose 2, and HPV-dose 3 will be scheduled between March and June 2012. Only students with parental consent will receive these vaccinations. If you have any questions related to the vaccinations, you can contact Toronto Public Health at 416.338.7532.

Dear Parents/Caregivers, Our Fern Falcons grade 7/8 hockey team is geared up to play another great hockey season. This hockey season we were lucky enough to get free ice time for our practices at MasterCard Centre (located at 400 Kipling Avenue in Etobicoke). Please note intially we were to practice on December 12th from 9-10am this time slot has now been changed to THURSDAY, DECEMBER 15th from 9 to 10am. Below is a list of other practise times... Monday, Decemeber 19, 2011 from 9 to 10am Monday, January 16, 2012 from 9 to 10am Monday, January 30, 2012 from 9 to 10am Our games will be played on the following dates... Thursday, January 12, 2012 from 2 to 3pm Thursday, January 19, 2012 from 2 to 3pm Thursday, January 26, 2012 from 2 to 3pm Thursday, February 9, 2012 from 11am to 12 pm. If possible we are asking as many parents to assist us with driving to and from MasterCard Centre during our practises and hockey games. All help is greatly appreciated! Thanks, Coach Vera

This year’s Arts Committee is made up of all new members. This year with the support of the Parent Council, the Arts Committee has been able to hire in-classroom artists for every class. Many of these artists come from the Artist in Education Program subsidized by the Ontario Arts Council . There are two songwriting artists, a visual artist, poet and a textile artist booked. We are bringing in the Fit 2 Dance program, a one-day dance workshop for the whole school. To read more on the Arts Committee and other upcoming activities in the spring, please visit the School Council page. We would love to have you join or support the Arts Committee at Fern: Join our committee!   Volunteer your artistic skills on a project or in a classroom.   Ask artist friends (musicians, potters, painters, photographers, graphic artists, etc.) to volunteer their time.   Let us know if you have any supply contacts (printing, building and paint supplies, craft supplies). Taya Kozak-Goebel Ch

Come celebrate the specifically Kindergarten sights and sounds of the season at Fern Avenue Public School on Tuesday, December 20, 2011, beginning at 5:30 pm .  For children in Grades 1 and older, join us for the swinging sounds on Thursday night, December 22, beginning at 6:00 pm .  In both cases we will gather in the auditorium on the first floor. Our hope is that this way, we will be able to accommodate our school community’s enthusiasm more effectively than last year. Look out for information from this year’s School Advisory Council when you are in the auditorium. We are requesting a non-perishable food donation , if at all possible, from our guests which will be forwarded to the food bank. Many thanks!

Information from the last Ward 7 Parent Council meeting; http://www.tdsb.on.ca/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=174&menuid=4645&pageid=3973 Next meeting will be sometime in February. Highlights include Budget consultations regarding how the TDSB will cover its budget deficit for next year.

If you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to sign up for January’s menu of hot lunches. To order your lunches for January, download the application form and drop off your payment at room 103 by Monday, December 12th.  If you have already signed up for three or more months, there is no need to do anything more. We will e‐ mail you a reminder when your child’s last paid month is approaching. To check out our menu, download it here , or browse through it on the online School Calendar. To learn more about Fern’s in-house lunch program, click here .

The minutes for meeting of the School Council that took place on November 24th are now available for download from the School Council page.

Please note that a REVISED holiday flyer was sent out Tuesday December 6, 2011 promoting the upcoming Holiday Swing Concerts. There will be two concerts: Kindergarten Concert 5:30pm, Auditorium Tuesday December 20, 2011 and Primary/Junir/Senior,Band Concert 6:00pm, Auditorium Thursday December 22, 2011 We look forward to having you celebrate the holiday season with us.

Is your child an elite athlete? Do they perform at the provincial or national level in their sport? St. Andrew’s JHS offers a High Performing Athletes program for Grades 5 to 8. The HPA program is an academic program designed to accommodate athletes with heavy training schedules. The program features a supportive learning environment, full core curriculum including optional courses, flexible timetables, a chance to work with other athletes from a variety of sports and online contact with teachers to allow for lessons during out of town training or competitions. Interested parents and students should attend the information evening to learn more about the program. When: December 8, 2011 Where: St. Andrew’s Junior High School 131 Fenn Ave., Toronto Time: 7 p.m. Location: Library Applications for 2012/2013 will be available at the information night. For further information please contact: Michael Drukarsh at michael.drukarsh@tdsb.on.ca or 416-395-3090.

Shopalicious just got BIGGER and BETTER! Now over 12 STORES along Roncy will contribute a portion of their sales to our school, so shop along Roncy this Friday and Saturday (December 2nd and 3rd) and tell them you're a Fern parent. Support the community, support your school! Our Wonderful Supporters! Another Story, Balluchon, Frock, Green Light, Lit, Imelda's, Mabel’s, Mercantile, Pizza Flora, Planet Kid, Rowe Frams, Scooter Girl, Sweet Thrills, and Sweetpea’s

Dear Parents/Caregivers, It has come to the attention of the Fern office staff that parents/caregivers have been emailing the Fern email address listed on the TDSB Fern Avenue PS website. We are asking that you kindly NOT use this email address as a means of reporting your child absent but rather call the Safe Arrival telephone number listed in our Fern parent handbook (416-393-9130) and leave a message. We appreciate your ongoing support and if you have any further enquires please feel free to contact Vera in the office. Thank you. Vera

General Interest Classes for Adults Now in the Neighbourhood! NEW this winter, West Toronto C.I., located at 330 Lansdowne Avenue just north of College Street, is hosting Toronto District School Board Learn4Life programs. There are a number of courses offered including Bridge, Egyptian Belly Dancing, French, Painting, Digital Video, Interior Design, Sushi Making, Yoga, Zumba, to name a few. Parents/guardians and any adults 18 years and older are welcome to join us. Classes run during daytime hours on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and begin the week of January 9, 2012. This program offers you an opportunity to relax, get fit, create a work of art, or learn a new skill or language. It's a great way to have fun and meet new people. Visit: www.learn4life.ca to register online or call 416-338-4111 for more information. West Toronto C.I. is once again offering Adult ESL Classes! Beginning January 9, 2012 the Toronto District School Board is offering an ESL Literacy Classes for Adults. Cla

Applications are now being received on-line at www.tdsb.on.ca/pars   for Grade 4 Extended French programs around the TDSB. Packages have been sent to all schools, and then on through to the grade 3 students/ families.  The information has been distributed to all Grade 3 students in English program at Fern. Please note: The deadline for applications is 15 December 2011.   This is not a process that is controlled by the school.  The deadline is non- negotiable.  

Click here to download the December newsletter.

This year, the School Council has put together an amazing package for our Holiday Shopping Fundraiser with the help of Planet Kid, Sweet Thrills, and Scooter Girl.

It may not feel like winter, but it has snuck up on us nevertheless with Maggie’s new winter menu —full of comfort food favourites—starting on Thursday, December 1. Don’t worry though, popular items such as pizza, sausages and chicken wings will have your child(ren) full, satiated and bursting with energy. We apologize for the short notice of introducing the new menu and appreciate your patience and support during this year’s pilot program. To learn more about the lunch program, click here or contact Tracy Kett at tracykett@rogers.com or 416-535-0205.

Please join us in our new location, Room 216 on Thursday evening, November 24 th from 6:30 - 8:00 pm. We promise to keep this meeting short and sweet! Some of the topics we will be discussing are: Fundraising Goals for this year Upcoming Arts Committee programs Scooter Girl -- Holiday Fundraiser. Shopping days are December 2 and 3. Holiday Concert Staff Appreciation We look forward to seeing you there.

The Communications Committee are the people who maintain this blog and send out the school's weekly e-mail newsletter. And now, to make sure we're doing the best job we can, we're conducting a super quick survey of parents and teachers. But we haven't heard from you. You can fill out the survey online by clicking the following link: http://tinyurl.com/fernsurvey2011 Teachers should fill out the following staff survey instead: http://tinyurl.com/staffsurvey2011 If you've filled out a paper copy of the survey, please return it to the office. All responses are due by November 25.

Hallowe’en for Hunger Did you know that this year Fern Avenue Public School (that’s you) brought in 886 pounds of non-perishable food!?! The food collected will be donated to a local food bank and given to people in need. Great job Fern! Vow of Silence - I Am Silent FTC invites grades 4-8 to take part in Fern’s third annual Vow of Silence on November 30th 2011. The Vow is our chance to “stay in solidarity with children who are silenced by the denial of their rights.” Last year 102,493 youth took the Vow of Silence in 57 countries. This year Fern students will have the choice of being silent for either 24 hours or the whole school day. Wanna participate? Sign up on November 23rd at 12:30 in room 211. Plum and Gwen Members of Fern’s FTC

Sorry for the delay in the results but there was a correction which needed to be made by TDSB before we posted the results. On a cold and wet October 20, Fern AVE PS had 11 students representing us at the City Finals held in Centennial Park. With the wind blowing in their faces, and the field slippery and wet, the students did a great job representing Fern Ave PS. Our results are below: Grade one team -- 5th, Grade one girls -- 10th, 43rd, 61st and 78th Grade 2 boys -- 56th Grade 3 boys -- 14th and 100th Grade 4 girls -- 103rd Grade 4 boys -- 124th Grade 6 Girls -- 5th and 72nd Congratulations to the runners! You did a great job representing Fern Ave PS. The Coaches would also like to thank all Cross Country runners for a wonderful season. See you next year. Roz Geridis Fern PS

Topics: The Individual Education Plan (IEP) & The Identification, Placement and Review Com ite (IPRC) Date: Tuesday 22 November 2011 Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Locations: EAST REGION 140 Borough Drive Council Chambers, Main Floor WEST REGION 1 Civic Centre Court Boardroom, Main Floor Registration: NOT required Parking: Available at both locations If an interpreter or child minding is required, contact the number indicated at least one week prior to the event: East: 416-396-9039 or 416-396-9003 West: 416-394-7406 or 416-394-7413 Special Education Information Sessions for Parents/Guardians of TDSB Students

This is just a reminder that on-line applications for extended french (the entry point is grade 4) close on December 15, 2011. Please refer to the TDSB website for further information.

Grade 8 Visit Day to PCI: Friday, December 2, 2011 Interested Grade8 students and their teachers may visit PCI in the morning from 9:30am to 11:00am or in the afternoon from 1:00 to 2:30pm. Grade 8 Parents and Students Open House : Thursday, December 8, 2011 Grade 8 students and their parents can tour our facilities, meet the teachers and learn about the programs from 7:00 to 9:00pm. IB Information Night for Grade 8 Parents and Students: Tuesday, December 6, 2011 Students and parents interested in the International Baccalaureate Programme can learn about the programme and application procedures from our I.B. Coordinator and teachers.

Homework Help & School Support has arrived! The Ministry of Education and the Toronto District School Board have partnered to expand an exciting free online initiative to support all students registered in grades 7-10 at TDSB schools. Do you have a child registered in grades 7-10 who struggles to understand how to find slope? Maybe your teenager is struggling with ratios? Extra help is now available. Free Online Math Tutoring Available In the evening, your child can get math support at Homework Help (https://homeworkhelp.ilc.org). Your child can now log in to Homework Help Sunday-Thursday, 5:30pm to 9:30pm, for one-on-one math tutoring. There are interactive discussion rooms for each grade where students can view a current lesson, watch tutors draw on the whiteboard — and then type their own question. Other math resources on the Homework Help website include videos of teachers leading students through the 20 most commonly asked math problems, interactive math tutorials and highligh

It is with great sadness that we inform you of the sudden death of one of our Howard students’ parents, Jenna Morrison, in a tragic bicycle accident on Nov. 7th. These few days have been a difficult time for the Howard PS community as they mourn this tragic loss of life. As a Family of Schools, we are seeking to initiate a Loonie for Lucas campaign to support this young man through life. Fern Avenue PS would like to support the Morrison family with a Loonie for Lucas day. Student’s who bring in a loonie, are to give it to their classroom teacher. All loonies will be collected and then brought down to the school office. We ask that all Loonies be sent to the school no later than Friday November 25th. Once all loonies donated have been handed in, we will forward them to the family on behalf of the Fern school community. Thank you for your support.

There will be a meeting for Grade 7 parents this Tuesday, November 15 at 7pm for an Information Night regarding their children’s upcoming 3-day, 2-night, overnight Leadership Trip. We will convene in our staffroom on the second floor, in the newer wing. Mr. Jay Haddad will be speaking. He is the activity leader for the experience. Please attend with any questions you may have. Thank you. Mr. A. Moy, Principal Fern Avenue Junior and Senior Public School

This is a picture of the GREEN TOMATO MUFFINS which we recently enjoyed from our harvest of the last of our AMAZING tomato crop! Twenty-four lucky staff at FERN AVE PS got to try these muffins and the response from most was, "WOW, THIS IS AMAZING.... WHAT IS IT?" Most were very surprised that they were sweet muffins made from tomatoes. The response was so great that we have been asked to share the recipe. Thanks to Natalie Celuch for making the muffins and giving us the recipe !

Fern Avenue Public School is holding a Scholastic Book Fair during the week of November 14th to 18th in the Music Room, across from the Main Office. Funds raised during this event will help to support the literacy initiatives of the school library, including the Boys’, Girls’ and Intermediate Book Clubs, the Silver Birch and Red Maple Reading Programs, and the Get Caught Reading Program. It will also make it possible to put the most up-to-date resources urgently needed by teachers and their students. The Scholastic Book Fair will be open - 12:15 pm - 4:00 pm Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday 8:30 am - 11:45 am Wednesday 4:00 pm - 7:00 pm Thursday evening We are looking for adult volunteers who might be able to give us a couple of hours to help out with manning the desk during this fund-raiser! No experience necessary! If you would like to help with the Book Fair, please speak to Ellen Douglas, in the library, or call or e-mail me! Many thanks! Ellen Douglas Fer

We are missing some FERN green t-shirts. They were loaned out for the cross country meets, but some have not returned. If you have any green FERN t-shirts at home, please return them to the office before Friday. Thank you, Cross Country Coaches

The Communications Committee is conducting a super quick survey to help us improve communication between Fern Avenue Public School staff, parents, and the community. You may have already received a paper version of this survey, but if you'd prefer, you can take it online by clicking the following link:       http://tinyurl.com/fernsurvey2011 Teachers should fill out the following staff survey instead:       http://tinyurl.com/fernstaffsurvey2011 Paper copies should be returned to the office. All responses are due by November 25. You feedback is appreciated.

Dear Fern parents, We have been receiving positive feedback from students and parents alike praising both the delicious, nutritious meals and the convenience of not having to scramble around to pack lunches, which often come home uneaten. Our daughter “is very picky about what she will eat, but she will eat most things prepared at the school,” one parent says. Another parent adds, my son “was also getting too skinny from not eating well at lunch and coming home starving,” however now he is getting a well‐balanced meal and “he LOVES the food and says it's really yummy.” If you haven’t done so already, you still have the opportunity to sign up for Fern’s hot lunch program. (If you have already signed up for three or more months, there is no need to do anything more. We will e‐mail you a reminder when your child’s last paid month is approaching.)

If you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to sign up for December's menu of hot lunches. To order your lunches for December, download the application form and drop off your payment at room 103 by Tuesday, November 15th. To check out our menu, download it here , or browse through it on the online School Calendar.

In light of the recent passing of a Howard Park PS Parent: Please join Carla and friends to honor Jenna. Jenna has touched our hearts in many ways, and she will be missed! Jenna a mother from Howard, a Thai Massage therapist and a Yoga instructor for Centre for Well Being and other locations. Please take part in this Celebration of Light held at:      Centre for Well Being      480 Roncesvalles Avenue      Friday November 11 at 7:30 pm Please RSVP by email at Centreforwellbeing@bellnet.ca or call 416-760-9210

http://www.tdsb.on.ca/wwwdocuments/Trustees/Ward_7/docs/E28_W7_Council_Update-2011-10-18.pdf Let me know if you have an interest in attending the next Ward 7 Parent Council meeting held at Runnymede PS, Tuesday November 29th, 7pm. Adam adameizinas@gmail.com

It is a busy, but exciting time for Grade 8 students and their parents! Our Parent Information Nights at Parkdale PS and Carleton Village PS on Transitions to 9 were a success. Students and their parents are now visiting Secondary School Parent Nights. Please be sure to go over the Choices for 9 brochure your child brought home. There is key information and dates in it. Students were just told their home schools and are starting to decide where they would like to apply. Please note that optional attendance forms will be available in January and the deadline to submit them is February 1. We are looking forward to our trip to Western Technical-Commercial School on November 15 and our trip to Parkdale Collegiate Institute on December 2. We also look forward to Andrew Lin, co-ordinator of the Pre-IB program at Parkdale Collegiate coming to talk to our students on November 22 and we also are having a representative from the TOPS program at Bloor Collegiate Institute come as well. I

A MESSAGE FROM LUISA BROWN #86829 & Vicky Deol #82144 11, 12 & 13 Division Crossing Guard Co-ordinators 200 Tretheway Drive 416.808.1235/416.808.1061 Each year both Safe Kids Canada and Fedex collaborate to lauch this contest. Last year the contest was won by one of the Crossing Guards in Toronto. The Crossing Guard was so proud, as was the school she represented. Generous awards and media exposure are given both to the nominating school and the Crossing Guard. Nominations can be put forward by students, teachers or parents. Nomination forms for this contest along with further information can be found at the website http://www.safekidscanada.ca. We encourage your participation in such a commendable program. Please keep in mind that the final day for nominations is Friday November 25, 2011. Good Luck!

Once again the FERN AVENUE Hooded Sweaters are back and for sale. Buy a hoodie and show your Fern Spirit...hoodies are now available for our younger students as well. Please see Vera if you have any questions concerning sizing. Hoodies are $30.00 (taxes included), if paying by cheque please make them payable to Fern Avenue Public School. Thank you!

Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute will be having the TOPS (Talented Offerings for Programs in the Sciences) Information Night for Grade 8 students and parents, on Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. To find out more about the program and the entrance process please plan to attend this information meeting. If you would like to reach the TOPS Program or would like more information please call Mrs. Wismer at 416-396-2410 ext. 20000 or visit www.topsprogram.ca. The entrance exam is scheduled for Friday, November 18, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. at Marc Garneau C. I. Students who wish to gain entry to the program will be required to write a 3 hour entrance exam comprised of mathematics, science and English components. To register for the TOPS Entrance Exam please visit www.topsprogram.ca.

Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts Grade 8 Parent Information Nights will be held on Wednesday, November 16 with a focus on Performing Arts and Thursday, November 17 with a focus on Visual and Media Arts. There will be a course information carousel for a variety of Wexford's courses, subject areas, and student leadership groups starting at 6:30 p.m. followed by a presentation in the auditorium at 7:00 p.m. These Information Nights are for both our neighbourhood families and for those who have students interested in auditioning for our specialized Performing Arts or Visual and Media Arts programs. Although the Information Nights focus is on Grade 8 to Grade 9 Transition, students who are interested in applying for Special Programs in Grade 10 - 12 are also welcome. Audition packages will be provided at the Information Evenings or may be picked up in the Guidance office beginning November 19. Application packages will also be available on our website http://www.wexfordcsa.ca/ sta

Click here to download the November newsletter.

Meet & Greet at Fat Cat Tuesday, November 8, 7-9 pm Please join us for a social evening of idea sharing and networking at Fat Car Wine Bar, 331 Roncesvalles Avenue (Roncy and Grenadier) on Tuesday, November 8th from 7-9 pm. We can't think of a better way to introduce ourselves and get to know each other than over a casual glass of wine! This is a great opportunity to learn more about your Parent Council, what we have planned for the year and build community spirit. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP to wilson.pamela @sympatico.ca before November 4th.

Our sincere apologizes Room 203 Mr. Sy's class trip to City Hall initially booked for Friday, November 18, 2011 is CANCELLED as that is a Professional Development Day and there is NO School. The trip has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 23, 2011. Please note a new excursion form will be sent home today. Thank you, Vera

Please note that Fern's Halloween Parade will commence at 10:45am NOT 11:00am on Monday October 31st, 2011. This correction is in an effort to accommodate the kindergarten children who are dismissed from their program at 11:30am. Additional information regarding activities and programming on October 31st will be provided in the school newsletter. All other inquiries are to be directed to your child's classroom teacher. Happpy Halloween!

CyberARTS Open House & Application Process The CyberArts program at Charles H. Best M.S. will be holding an open house information night on November 16th at 6 p.m. CyberARTS will be accepting applications from Grade 6 students for the 2012-13 year. CyberARTS is a TDSB specialized program and offers an enriched education for students with an aptitude in visual arts and interest in multimedia and technology. At the grade 7 and 8 level, CyberARTS is integrated with the provincial grade level curriculum. Information and application package available at: www.cyberarts.ca Alpha Open House Alpha II is a TDSB Grades 7-12 alternative school where students self-direct their learning based on what they personally value in life while becoming part of a community created through consensus where each person's voice counts in developing that consensus. Alpha II is located in Kent Senior Public School directly across from the Dufferin Street subway station. For students and

15 members of Free the Children attended We Day on Sept. 27th. The speakers and entertainers empowered and inspired us to change the lives of others. The kids from FTC had many great things to say about We Day. “We Day was an amazing opportunity” Gwen “I loved seeing such talented amazing people” Plum “Craig shook my hand!” Joseph “It nearly made me cry” Margeaux “It was a very special moment” Jackie By Gwen and Plum, FTC

Free the Children is running its second Hallowe'en for Hunger food drive. We are asking for donations of canned food from October 24-31. All donations will go to a local food bank. Please help us make hunger history!

On Monday October 31st, 2011 most of our students will be celebrating Halloween with Fern’s annual costume parade. To accommodate other planned activities within the school, the parade will take place at approximately 11:00am. Students will gather at the Wright Avenue entrance with their classroom teachers and then proceed toward Roncesvalles, to Fern and back onto school property. Our afternoon JK/SK classes will participate in am ‘in-school’ walkabout to display their costumes. All students will be dismissed at the appropriate lunch time after the parade. We welcome families and friends to take part and cheer on our students as they make their way around the neighbourhood. Please note that individual classrooms will host parties, Halloween activities and other planned events. For more information about your child’s classroom, please speak with your child’s teacher. Here are details about the Grade 1-3 classrooms: The primary classes will be celebrating together in a Halloween Carouse

The Eco Club is starting an initiative this month that involves the collection of old/used up batteries. In each classroom there will be a container for students to put their old batteries from home. On the last day of every month the batteries will be collected and taken to a site where they will be disposed of appropriately. We want to bring students attention to the need to prevent harmful chemical leakage into the landfills.

On a beautiful October 11th we had approximately 30 runners participate in the semi-finals. We are happy to celebrate the successes of all the runners. Congratulations to a job well done. Fern will have 11 runners at the City finals on October 20th, rain or shine. Congratulations to: Grade 1 Girls (4) (as a Team came second) Grade 2 Boys (1) Grade 3 Boys (2) Grade 4 Girls (1) Grade 4 Boys (1) Grade 6 Girls (2) Last week, information forms did go home. Transportation is limited and we really need the parents help to transport students to the park and back to school. We do not need you all day. If you are available to drive some students, please return the form or see Ms. G. in room 201 on Wednesday. Thank you, Cross Country Coaches

Click here to find a summary of all sport teams and house leagues offered at Fern Avenue Public School.

The Junior Girls played a great tournament just before the Thanksgiving weekend and came in 5th overall. Our pitcher's Laura and Nicole both did an outstanding job for the team. Congratulations girls.

You are invited to see what a vibrant Parent Council can do for your child’s education at Fern. Learn what the Arts Committee, Foodies, Communications Gang, Eco Team, Fundraisers and the brand new Science Club have planned for this year. Get involved in decisions that affect your child and help us build a stronger Fern community! Please join us (and feel free to bring some friends too): When: Thursday, October 20 Time: 6:30 until about 8:00pm Where: Fern Auditorium

A reminder to please send in the tear-off section of the flyer for Secondary School Parent Information Nights. The nights will be at Carleton Village PS on October 19 or at Parkdale PS on October 25 at 6:45 Etobicoke School of the Arts has earlier deadlines then other specialized schools. Students who are interested in ESA have been given information on the key dates including a notice asking parents to arrange their own transportation for their child if they are attending the infomation session Thursday October 25 from 1 to 3:15. Please send a permission note letting us know if your child plans to attend. Thursday October 27 is their Open House for parents and students and their application deadline is December 2. Friday January 20 will be their Audition Day. Please go to www.esainfo.ca for more information. Rosedale Heights also has an information afternoon for students on November 24 from 1:00 to 2:45 pm. Parents are asked to arrange transportation to and from Rosedale H

Fern Photo Re-take day will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 2001 from 9:00am-11:45am. Parents of kindergraden students in the afternoon, if you wish a retake please bring your child in the morning. Don't forget to bring your smiles!

The kids are talking and the word is that Maggie’s lunches are “fantastic!” So, if you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to sign up for November's menu of hot hunches. To order your lunches for November, download the application form and drop off your payment at room 103 by October 17th. Full details are included on the application form. To check out our menu download it here or browse through the online School Calendar.

The October menu we distributed last month did not have lunch listed for Monday, October 31, but now it can be told: Turkey Sausage  Scalloped Potatoes  Corn Red Pepper Sticks Honeydew If you want a copy of the revised menu to print out, click here .

Grade 8 students will receive audition information at the school during the Grade 8 Information Afternoon on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend the Parent Information Evening on Thursday, October 27, 2011 starting at 6:00 p.m.  To accommodate the large number of parents visiting Etobicoke School of the Arts on Thursday October 27, 2011, two information sessions/performances will be held in the auditorium at 6:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. As part of our eco-schools initiative, we will no longer be distributing application packages at the information sessions. Instead, all forms in the application package will be available on our website on the week of October 27, 2011 ( www.esainfo.ca ). All online applications must be submitted by Friday, December 2, 2011. Completed applications must be submitted to ESA postmarked by Friday, December 2, 2011.  Auditions will be held Friday, January 20, 2012.  For further details, please refer to our w

Interested in information on the Etobicoke School for the Arts?   Click here  for application deadlines and  how to obtain additional information.

My name is Dara Schwartz and I am your child’s Guidance Counsellor. I can be reached at  dara.schwartz@tdsb.on.ca    I am usually at Fern Avenue all day Monday and alternating Wednesdays. I would be happy to meet with you and discuss Secondary School options for your child if you would like. We have a Parent Information Night coming up either on October 19 at Carleton Village or October 25 at Parkdale PS.   I strongly encourage you and your child to attend one of these nights.    Click here for additional information .  Your child has received this flyer.    Please click on the follow links for additional information on  optional attendance procedures ,  specialized program information and  information nights for other secondary schools .

Click here to download our first newsletter of the school year.

Thanks to so many parents who turned up for the first council meeting of the year! It is great to see so many folks getting involved in the committees and nice to see some new faces. I would like to welcome Adam Eizinas and Lori Lyn Adams who will be taking over as Ward 7 Representative and Treasurer for this school year. Liz Leason will be returning as Secretary - so a big thanks to Liz as well for her continued support of the school and the council. Unfortunately Nick Szymanis is unable to commit time to the council this year, but has assured us he will be back to help with the spring fling - so again, a big thanks to him. The position of Chair (and Co-Chair) are still available on the Executive so if you feel this is something you may be interested in and you want make a bigger contribution to the Fern School Community then I would encourage you to look into this. We will be once again be holding elections for these positions at the next council meeting. For those of you ne

The Claude Watson School for the Arts offers an enriched arts education for students in grades four through eight who reside within Toronto and have demonstrated a talent in music, drama, dance and visual arts. Entry to the Claude Watson program is by audition only. Information sessions will be held for parents interested in applying to the program on October 18 and 19 beginning at 6:30 p.m. Registration is not required. Claude Watson School for the Arts 130 Doris Avenue Toronto, ON Further information and applications are available at claudewatson.org .

Please note, that the Seniors will be participating in the Terry Fox Run in the afternoon at Fern Avenue PS , and not at Sorauren Park. Thank you and regards, Eric Dibon-Smith

Please note, Fern’s school-wide Photo Day will take place as scheduled, this Friday, September 30th. We have made arrangements with our photographer, that we will take additional full class pictures during Photo Retake Day on November 1st , so children who are absent on Friday will be included in their class photo and have individual photographs. We did try to re-schedule from the 30th, but their booking circumstances and production timing made that impossible. Thank you. Mr. A. Moy

Practice on Friday, September 30th has been cancelled. First Race day is this Monday, October 3rd -- we are looking for volunteers. Forms went home today. Thank you, Roz Geridis Fern PS

If you would like to join the Fern mailing list please enter your information here.   You will receive an email that asks you to confirm your subscription , you will not be able to join the list until you confirm. Please look for the email it may be sent to your junk mail. Thank you.

2011/2012 TTC Student Discount Card Progrm will be at Fern Avenue PS on Tuesday, September 27th in the a.m. Students in grade 7 and 8 who are 13 years of age or will turn 13 during this school year are also encouraged to have their photographs taken. The price of the 2011/2012 TTC ID card will be $5.25 per student. Please send the exact amount on the photo day with your child. Should you require additional information do not hesitate to call Vera in the main office. Thank you.

The following are the next Parent Council (SAC) meeting dates at Fern Avenue PS. Meetings take place in the school auditorium at 6:30pm (time is subject to change). October 20, 2011 November 24, 2011 December 15, 2011 January 26, 2012 February 16, 2012 March 22, 2012 April 19, 2012 May 17, 2012 June 21, 2012 Your interest in attending is most welcome. The council looks forward to having you participate.

There is a newly mounted television screen located in our main entrance foyer. This will be a monitor connected to our newly installed solar panel array on the roof and is meant to indicate the amount of energy being generated and sent back into the electrical grid. It is a project awarded to the school when we achieved Platinum status according to the Eco School assessment conducted by the TDSB and is one of the first five to be constructed in the TDSB.

Our annual Terry Fox Run will take place on Wednesday September 28, 2011. Our primary classes will run in the yard during the morning. The junior classes will run during the morning at Sorauren Park. Our senior students will participate in the afternoon at Sorauren Park. Should we encounter inclement weather conditions, we have scheduled a rain date on: Thursday September 29, 2011.

We welcome our Fern Community to our Curriculum Night on Wednesday October 5, 2011 from 6:30-7:30pm. Families and friends are welcome to visit classrooms and meet our teachers during the evening. We look forward to seeing you all there.

FREE THE CHILDREN Newsletter September 2011 FTC CLUB Fern’s Free the Children (FTC) Club is up and running! FTC is the largest network of children helping children through education. There are more than one million youth worldwide involved in innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. FTC was founded in 1995 by international child rights activist Craig Kielburger. This year, our members will continue their important work raising both awareness and funds to help improve the lives of deserving young people all over the world. WE DAY On September 27th, 15 students and staff from Fern will be attending We Day. This all day event is being organized by Free the Children to address top social issues of the day. The host of speakers and entertainers will empower, inspire, and celebrate the power of young people to change the lives of others. This all day event will encourage our members to continue their important work raising both awareness and funds to help

Our first Parent Council meeting of the year will be taking place on Thursday, Sept 22 at 6:30 pm in the auditorium. We will be looking to elect new members to the Executive Council, has well as find new volunteers for the committees. There will also be an update on the new lunch program at the school.... so come on out and show your support. Find out what will be happening at the school this year and get involved! If you have any questions please email LDOOHER@rogers.com.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2011 is PHOTO DAY at Fern Avenue Public School. For best results wear bright colours and don't forget to bring your SMILES :)

Forms were handed out today for the Junior and Senior Cross Country Team. We will practice every Monday and Wednesday. Practice begins Monday, September 19 at 8:15 am in the junior yard. Permission forms should be handed on Friday, September 16 or brought to the first practice.

On Monday, Sept. 19 , we have a guest speaker, Andy Thibodeau, addressing our Intermediate division students for the afternoon. The talk is titled, Share your Care! , and will be followed by a leadership funshop. His website is www.andypresentations.com , and he is on www.youtube.com/andyspeaks . On Tuesday, Sept. 20 , we are collecting donations for east African relief, as part of a TDSB-wide initiative. Any amount is appreciated. We encourage everyone to wear their Fern clothing or colours to show our school spirit that day. Curriculum Night will be held on October 5, 2011 from 6:30- 7:30pm. We look forward to hosting parents as they tour their children's classrooms. Thank you. Mr. Moy

The October lunch order deadline is this Thursday, September 15, and we're sure you don't want to miss Maggie's delicious lunches! Click here to see the menu for October, click here to read the information letter, then download the order form and follow the instructions. Due to unforeseen circumstances, the deposit box has not been installed yet, so please hand in your order at the school office. If you have any questions about the lunch program, please contact Tracy Kett at tracykett@rogers.com or (416) 535-0205. We've added the October menu to the calendar on the right, or you can click here to download it as a PDF.

Brightpics will be at our school on Friday, September 30th taking individual and classroom photographs. Please remember to bring your smiles:)

Congratulations again to all the staff, caretakers, students and volunteers who make our Platinum Eco team such a success. We want to draw your attention sky-wards this week as the much anticipated SOLAR PANELS are being installed on the roof! The Student Eco team meetings will recommence next week, we will be making Bird Seed Feeders. We will also be collecting plant seeds from our garden beds for next spring. Look out for our amazing TOMATOES, CARROTS AND ZUCCHINI which are growing out the front of the school!

The Fern Ave PS Food Committee is pleased to announce that Maggie’s delicious and nutritious hot lunches will be available to all Fern students starting in October 2011. By popular demand, Ferncliff Daycare and After School Group and the Fern Avenue PS Food Committee, composed of volunteer parents, have collaborated to run a lunch program that will be prepared in-house for the whole school. Please see the attached information letter and order form to sign up, and stay tuned for more information on October's menu. PLEASE NOTE - orders and payment must be handed in by the 15th of the month.

Dear Fern parents, As you are likely aware, Fern's hot lunch program went through some upheaval over the 2010/2011 school year. That's why we are thrilled that we are very close to finalizing a school based hot lunch program for the entire school again starting in September. However, we have an avalanche of details to work out before then, which is why we are turning to you in the middle of summer to ask for your feedback on some of the key elements of the program. We want to make sure the program meets the needs of as many Fern parents as possible. We have put together a short, 9-question survey to gather input from the Fern community. The link is here: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/VJGYF3L It shouldn't take you more than 5 minutes to complete it. Please also forward the link to anyone you know who is a Fern parent, and watch out for more details regarding the lunch program in the coming weeks! Thanks so much, The Fern Lunch Committee

Hello Fern Parents, Hope you are having a terrific Summer. The Fall Registration is now available online. Please click on the link for the Fern Pool Schedule. http://www.jackofsports.com/locations/west/fern/index.php Jack of Sports will be providing online report cards for the Fall Session. Please forward the PDF to friends interested in high quality, one hour swim lessons. Warm Regards, Larry Tobin Jack of Sports 416-489-4777 www.jackofsports.com

Tomorrow is a PA Day so have a happy and safe summer holiday and see you back at school on September 6, 2011. 

Our Freedom Fest was a big hit, raising $400.82!! We had an excellent turn out, selling out of baking and lemonade before the end of lunch. All stations were well attended, with hundreds of water balloons flying through the air. Thanks to the Fern staff, students and their families, we have now reached our goal of $5000.00!! Fern will be building a clean water project in Kenya! Hillay from Free the Children was here to accept a cheque from Fern on behalf of FTC. I am very proud of the efforts of this amazing club. A special note of thanks to Fern's ECO club for their support. They sold out of Fern water bottles by the end of lunch! All proceeds were graciously donated to FTC! Countless thank yous to the staff and parents, who baked, purchased, supported, encouraged, supervised and cleaned up. Fern's FTC club could not have done it without you! We are "Be(ing) the Change!" Karen Ashforth and Susan Hoenhous Staff Advisors

Congratulations to the Fern Avenue PS students who proudly represented our school at the TDSB City Track and Field Finals. Our students placed 4th , 9th and 10th in a very fast 1500m race, among 14 finalists from 15 different schools across the city! For many of our students, this was their last participation in their final elementary year, having participated year after year, and loving the sport. Also, thanks to our teachers who had shown great leadership and supported the students at the event and at practices on their own time, sometimes at 7:15 a.m. Congrats all - we're very proud of your accomplishments!!

As our final year comes to an end, we pause to reflect upon the many memories which have brought us tears and joy. We came to this place together to learn, to grow, to share. Time and space may separate us but wherever our pathways lead us we will always be the Class of 2010-2011 from Fern Avenue Public School. We invite you to share in our happiness at our Graduation Ceremony. Monday, June 27th, 2011 4:30 – 6:30 p.m. Parkdale Collegiate Institute 209 Jameson Avenue Dinner and Dance will be at LULA Lounge (located at 1585 Dundas Street West) From 7:00-10:00pm, supervision by chaperonEs Please note, Dundas Street is under construction and there is no parking. When dropping students off please use side streets. Feel free to contact Vera Ciric if you have any questions at 416-393-9130

Recently, changes have been made regarding the mandatory 40 hours of community involvement requirement for all Secondary School students. Effective Summer 2011, all incoming Grade 9 students who complete approved community involvement activities will have those volunteer hours count towards their Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD) requirements. All students have received a “Fact Sheet” and “Community Involvement Manual” that contains useful information regarding volunteer involvement and community hours. Please review this information with your child. If your child needs some ideas of how to get involved this summer, they can visit the following website for information and suggestions: http://40hours.ca/ It is advised that after completing the community involvement activity, you: ¡ obtain a verification letter from the agency/individual, detailing type of activity, date and hours completed, and contact information for the agency, ¡ submit the signed letter to the guida

Congratulations to the junior boys and girls soccer team for an outstanding season! The grade 6 junior boys soccer team faced some tough opponents and were also missing a few key players due to injuries. They did not manage to qualify for the playoffs; however our Fern Falcons played with a lot of heart and never gave up regardless of the result. Also, our grade 4 boys displayed a lot of talent during practices. Although they did not go to the grade 6 tournament we are certain that they will make their mark in the years to come. The grade 6 junior girls placed second in all of TDSB. Our road to the TDSB City Finals was bumpy, but after winning a tough game against Humber Valley Village powerhouse (2:1) the girls became West Conference Champions. At the city finals we won our semi-final game (4:1) against Cedarbrook. The girls lost in the finals against Blythewood (5:2). We had some amazing passing and scoring opportunities and the score does not indicate how close the teams were t

Join us for the final parent council meeting on Thursday June 16th at 6:30 pm in the auditorium.

A VERY SPECIAL THANK YOU to all the parents who made the Fern Avenue School Gratitiude Staff Luncheon such a big success. The food was delicious and everyone had a wonderful time. A special THANK YOU to the set up and clean up ladies. Please pick up your dishes and utensils in the staff room. Sincerely, Evangeline Adams

Fun Fair photographs will be on display in front of the office on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 4” x 6” photos are $1.50 each or 3 for $4.00 Deadline for orders – Friday, June 21, 2011 Enlargements available on request through Ann Wright Photography – ann@wright-stuff.com

The members of Free the Children are busily planning our last event of the year. Our Freedom Fest will focus on “Free from Thirst”. This one-day event will be held on Wednesday, June 22, at noon (rain date June 23) and will focus on the global issue of water, while raising the remaining $220.00 for our clean water project in Kenya. Our local focus is to raise awareness about water conservation here at home. This event will be run with the support of Fern’s ECO Club. Activities will include: - Water Trivia (25 cents) - Water Relay (25 cents) - Water Balloon Toss ($1.00/three balloons) - How Much H2O? (25 cents) - Bake Sale (all items $1.00) - Lemonade Stand (50 cents) Thank you in advance for supporting our Freedom Fest. Be the change, Ms. Ashforth & Mrs. Hoenhous Staff Advisors

March and April 2011 School Council meeting minutes are now available for download from the School Council page.

Fern Fun Fair Bakers & Volunteers THANK YOU! The Fun Fair Bake Sale was a tremendous success! The Fern community certainly knows how to get their Sweet On! We smashed all previous sales records with sales of $1,800.00! All proceeds from the Bake Sale will benefit Fern Parent Council future initiatives. We were delighted to meet many new Fern families and to be reacquainted with our faithful bakers and volunteers. The vast array of baking and the enormous wealth of talent among our Fern community is astounding and was definitely appreciated by all who visited the sale. Thank you to all who baked and also to those who joined us behind the Bake Sale table as volunteers. Unclaimed serving dishes and utensils are located in the Staff Room (Room 216) for your pick-up. Please pick them up as soon as possible. Our sincere thanks again and have a great summer! Karen Mondok, Pamela Wilson and Kelly Mansell Bake Sale Co-ordinators

Packing List » Please check the weather forecast for your destination while packing, weather is generally colder than Toronto in Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec. Clothes one change of underwear per daychange of socks per dayone set of pajamasa shirt for each day on tour1 or 2 sweaters or sweatshirtsPants (2 pairs should be enough on a 4 day tour)Shorts (2 pairs should be enough on a 4 day tour)One outfit to wear to your dance or other more formal eventRain JacketBath robe or shower out fit (if staying at a university residence with communal bathrooms) Shoes Good walking shoes (running shoes are acceptable)One pair of shoes to wear to your more formal event (these could be the same ones as your walking shoes)Shower shoes (if staying at a university residence with communal bathrooms) Toiletries ShampooHair BrushTooth Brush and Tooth PasteTowels and Soap (if staying at a university residence with communal bathrooms) Additional Items UmbrellaKnapsackCamera (with extra film or batteries)Sun Sc

Click here to download a printable version of the Grade 8 trip itinerary.

Day 1 Wednesday June 15, 2011 Bus: 1 7:00 AM Arrival at your school of a «Bus Supplier» washroom equipped, climate controlled, highway motor coach. Load your luggage and prepare for departure. Total # of coaches: 1 x 47 passenger & 1 x 29 passenger Charter #: 14299 Dispatch #: 1-800-387-6787 7:30 AM Board your motor coach, depart for Montreal! En route, your Tour Leader will get to know the students on a first name basis and lead discussions. 8:30 AM Participate in The Sparktacular Adventure!

Our Fern T-Shirts have arrived both for the GRADUATING CLASS of 2010-2011 and for our Fern Community. T-Shirts were created by one of our own graduating students and the cost is $20.00. Please help us in supporting our current and future graduates. T-shirts will be sold in the main office, come see Vera. Thank you for your support!

FERN AVENUE PUBLIC SCHOOL STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON FRIDAY, JUNE 10/11 If you are able to contribute your favourite dish and/or HELP with Set-Up or Clean-Up Please Contact Evangeline Adams (416) 532-2000 or Evangeline.adams@hotmail.com Please drop off your dish (labelled with your name) in the staff room before 11:00a.m. on Friday morning. If possible, please provide serving utensils. Dishes may be picked up from the staff room any time after lunch. Thank you in advance for your support!

Congratulations to all our staff, students, parents and caregivers who are a part of our GREAT GREEN FERN school community on achieving Platinum status again. This prestigious award was a direct result of everyone's hard work and inventiveness to Recycle, Compost, "Turn the Lights Off" and include the Environment in everyday life at Fern Ave PS, Ferncliff Daycare, the Parenting Centre, the School Council and the Cafeteria. Every student that attends Fern has had a chance to learn more about the importance of our environment; the Primary division are currently growing and planting vegetables, some classes of the Junior division have produced and sang their own song about Recycling, others have been studying nature, solar panels and went for 2 nights to Island School. The Senior division combined science projects with environmental themes; Organic versus Inorganic - which will last longer; Which Oils separate from Water more easily; and all classes have been helping raise

Today  - Friday June 3, 4 - 8pm Join us for the Fern School Fun Fair!!

Come and get your Sweet on! The Fern School Community is jam packed with extraordinarily talented Bakers who will be offering their delectable culinary delights to one and all at tomorrow’s Fun Fair! Please drop-by and sample Serena’s Candy Kabobs, Lorrie’s Lemon Loaf, Shannon’s Gooey Bars or Kate’s Spring Cupcakes in addition to lots of other delicious treats. Perhaps you’d like to take home one of James’ infamous Strawberry Rhubarb pies! I’ve heard that he delivers them to the sale still warm from the oven. Whatever you fancy – you’re sure to find something to indulge your sweet tooth at the Bake Sale. Remember to bring your own re-usable container to take some treats home for Spring entertaining. It’s not too late to donate. Please contact Karen Mondok at karenmondok@hotmail.com to add your creation to the feast or to volunteer at this fun community event! Karen, Pamela & Kelly Bake Sale Co-ordinators

As the 2010- 2011 academic year draws to a close, Ms. Tasevski and I reflect on how far we have come in so short a span of time. School Council is to be acknowledged for their compassion, diligence and determination to put the needs of all children first in an equitable way. Teachers, and this would mean all the variety of TDSB employees who work with our children everyday, have embarked on the breathtaking journey of continuous improvement, moving outside their historical comfort zones and have displayed a willingness to take on new challenges and try new approaches to teaching. Students have been enthusiastically involved in our new initiatives and genuinely seem to want to construct a more just and civil society, both at school and at home. Many times we have been touched by the small demonstrations of gentle humanity between young individuals in the classroom and on the playground for no other reason than it was the right thing to do. We are heartened by this experience. We eager

Make sure the Fern Fun Fair is in your calendar for this Friday, June 3rd from 4:00pm - 8:00pm.   It's a great event for the entire family. Tickets will be sold for 50 cents. You will need to purchase tickets for food and beverages. Baked goodies are priced individually Pizza Slice - $2.00 (4 tickets) Water - $1.00 (2 tickets) Juice Box - $0.50 (1 ticket) Freezies – $0.50 (1 ticket) Starbucks Coffee – $1.00 (2 tickets) Candy Floss – $1.00 (2 tickets) Cakewalk – $1.00 (2 tickets) For $10 you can purchase a wristband that gets you on all of the bouncy castles (4 in total).   Volunteers will be going to the classrooms on Friday morning to hand out Fun Fair wristbands.  Send $10 with your child and we will put their wristbands on and give them 6 tickets to get them started. The Senior Girls' Entrepreneur club will be selling their beautiful creations at the Fun Fair.  Earrings, necklaces, and head bands are some of the things you'll find!  Look for their booth

Click here to download the June 2011 newsletter.

The entire school is participating in Jump Rope for Heart on Tuesday, May 24 th .  All donations and forms are due to the main office or homeroom teacher by Monday, May 30 th .  By encouraging your child to fundraise and participate in Jump Rope for Heart, he or she learns the importance of physical activity, healthy eating and giving to others.   Check out http://www.jumpropeforheart.ca/  for more information and to start fundraising.    

Attention Fern Bakers: The Fern Fun Fair is less than a month away and your fun and fabulous bake sale co-ordinators are calling on all aspiring Jamie Kennedy's and Martha Stewart's to contribute to our annual Bake Sale! For those of you who have not experienced the Fern Fun Fair Bake Sale, you are in for a treat! Our vintage-inspired celebration of all things sweet features a 20-foot long table laden with your favourite decadent delights. Serving up these offerings are apron clad Moms and Dads waiting to fill your plate OR bring your own reusable container for Spring entertaining! We are looking for single-serving contributions of nut-free squares, cookies, cupcakes, loaves, cakes and pies. Whole contributions of pies, cakes and loaves are also welcome and will be sold as such. All proceeds benefit the Fern Parent Council. Contributors are asked to deliver their desserts - complete with labelled dish and serving utensil to the Fun Fair by 3:30pm on Friday, June 3. Please conta

A Note to Grade 7 Parents & Guardians: The Grade 8 Graduation Committee is looking for Grade 7 parents willing to provide a dessert for the June 27 graduation gala. Its been a long standing Fern tradition to invite Grade 7 students and families to participate in the rite of passage that will honour their Grade 8 classmates and friends. We are looking for bite-size contributions of nut-free, squares, cookies, cupcakes or fruit. Contributors are asked to deliver their desserts - complete with labelled dish and serving utensil to Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas Street, W., at Brock Avenue) by 6:oo pm on Monday, June 27. Please contact Karen Mondok at karenmondok@hotmail.com for more information or to contribute your dessert. Thank you.

We are hoping to fill in the westernmost stretch of the Fern garden this summer.  If you are splitting or thinning any of your plants this weekend, please bring a plant donation to Fern on Monday May 9th. In particular we are looking for: -Ferns -Hosta -Wood Anemone -Solomon's Seal -Trillium -Wild Ginger -Sedge -Colombine -Strawberry

The English Kindergarten classes have created a tree using recyclable materials and it will be displayed in the front hall, along with other trees, at the concerts this week.  To further our eco involvement, we are asking for families to bring a children's book, they have enjoyed and wish to pass on, to the concert.  There will be a box under our tree and we are encouraging families to give a book and then take another book home.  Any leftover books will be passed along to a charity.  Our sharing books initiative will run until Friday.  Thank you for your support.

Dear Grad Parents and Guardians: This letter is to update you on the plans for this special day and to request your financial support for the planned events. Graduation day is Monday, June 27, 2011. There are two separate events planned for this day: · The graduation ceremony will take place at Parkdale Collegiate Institute (209 Jameson Avenue) from 4:30 – 6:30 pm. In addition to watching the grads receive their diplomas, this event will feature a photo montage of the students at various events throughout the year. Parents, siblings and other family members are invited to attend this event. Following the ceremony, a group photo of the grad class will be taken. Each grad will be provided with a copy of the group photo free of charge. · Following the ceremony, the grads are invited to a reception at the Lula Lounge (1585 Dundas Street West) from 7:00 – 10:00pm. The reception includes a dinner and dancing. This event is for the grads only, but will be supervised by Fern staff. The Fern Pa

Pizza Lunch Keeps Going! Every Wednesday for rest of the year The pizza lunches will continue until (and including) the last day of school as a fundraiser for the parent council Here’s what you need to know: • You do NOT need to order in advance. • Please send money with your child on pizza day. • Slices will cost $3 each, or 2 slices for $5. • Milk will be provided at no extra charge. • Pizza is from Pizza Flora on Roncesvalles. This is separate from the Lunch Lady. Please do not attempt to order your pizza lunch from the Lunch Lady. If you have already ordered pizza lunch from the Lunch Lady, please contact Liz Phillips at 416-535-3198 or lizannephillips@me.com

This year Fern Avenue Public School will be hosting two Spring Concerts. This is in an effort to accommodate our growing school community. The first concert will be on Wednesday May 4, 2011. All Kindergarten to Grade 3 students will participate in a variety of presentations commencing at 6:30pm in the auditorium. On Thursday May 5, 2011 our Grade 4 to Grade 8 classes will be welcoming families in the auditorium for their spring presentations. Prior to the junior concert, the Grade 4 Extended French classes will host a FRENCH CAFE in the school cafeteria from 5:00pm to 6:00pm. We look forward to this upcoming event.

Crêpes? Did anyone mention crêpes? Mais, oui! The Grade 4 Extended French Classes will be hosting a French Café in the cafeteria from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. on May 5th. Enjoy delicious food and atmosphere before our Junior Spring Concert.

Tuesday May 31 to Friday June 3, 2011: Grade 3 EQAO Testing Tuesday June 7 to Friday June 10: Grade 6 EQAO Testing

Think We Speaking Tour On March 1st, Corrine and Larissa from “Think We” speaking tour visited Fern. They gave a multimedia presentation to the Junior Division, focusing on local issues and the world’s biggest challenges. They shared ideas for actions to create positive social change. Tejas summed up it up well when she said “I learned that in the world things aren’t always even or equal or easy”. After the presentation, the members of Free The Children participated in an all day workshop. As Athanasia explained “the inservice was really amazing. We got to learn how we could help with our talents and raise money (and awareness) for people who are less fortunate than us”. Youth in Action Summit On Saturday, March 5, five members of Free The Children went to the Youth in Action Summit. They were Claudia, Tony, Tejas, Daniela and Lena.  The theme of this year’s Summit was "Free From…”   They participated in four workshops with the theme "Free from: Disease, Exploitation, Thi

Click here to download the May 2011 newsletter.

FERN AVENUE PUBLIC SCHOOL STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCHEON FRIDAY, JUNE 10/11 If you are able to contribute your favourite dish and/or HELP with Set-Up or Clean-Up Please Contact Evangeline Adams (416) 532-2000 or Evangeline.adams@hotmail.com Please drop off your dish (labelled with your name) in the staff room before 11:00a.m. on Friday morning. If possible, please provide serving utensils. Dishes may be picked up from the staff room any time after lunch. Thank you in advance for your support!

Yes, it’s that time of the year where the big buzz around Fern Ave. P.S. , and for athletics in particular, revolves around track and field. The weather might not necessarily agree, however, this year’s early track dates have us already preparing for making our school’s track team. Our goal is to also challenge each of our students trying for their personal best and enjoying participating in athletic events such as track and field. For these reasons we have planned track and field days at our school for our primary and junior students. Our primaries already had their track and field day on Thursday April 14th, a day filled with fun and excitement. Our junior students have their track day on Tuesday April 19th during the afternoon part of our school day with Thursday April 21st being the rain date (we still might have to re-schedule for the following week if weather conditions make it unfeasible). Finally our seniors will have track and field try-outs afterschool during the week of Apri