Pine Crest Camp Bus Arrival

Dear Parent/Guardian,

The Pine Crest bus with our grade 7 students will be arriving this afternoon at approximately 3:45 PM. Buses will unload on Wright Avenue.

Thank you,
Vera

Get Ready for Fern Photo Day

Info Regarding Grade 7 Overnight Trip to Pine Crest

Dear Grade 7 Parents and Guardians,

A few reminders for Monday September 18th to Wednesday September 20th:

Students going to Pinecrest will be meeting in their homeroom classroom at 9:00  a.m. on Monday. Please do not forget to pack a nut-free lunch for the first day. 

We expect to be back around 4:00 p.m.  on Wednesday, September 20th.

Please do not call the school but rather check our fernblog, Vera will be posting on Wednesday around 2:00 p.m. for an updated time of arrival. 

If you are picking up your child on Wednesday, please do not park in the bus area on Wright Avenue. We need space for 3 busses that need to park and drop of the students.

Students not going to Pinecrest will be with Ms. Elslander in room 309. 

Regards,

Bogdan Nikolajevic

Dental Screening

Dear Parent/Guardian:

Toronto Public Health provides dental programs to children from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8.

To identify children with oral health problems, a screening program is offered to students in accordance with the Ontario Ministry of Health requirements for mandatory health programs.
The screening is an assessment by a dental hygienist using sterilized instruments.  The dental hygienist will access the need for topical fluoride, scaling, sealant and any other obvious dental needs.

As a follow up to the screening, only parents whose children are identified as requiring dental services will be notified. A note to that effect will be sent home with your child/ren for your information and action.  You may also receive a phone call from Toronto Public Health dental staff to assist you in accessing care.

Please be advised that this screening assessment does not replace the dental examination done by a licensed dentist.

If you do not wish you child/ren to be screened please inform the school.

For additional information, please contact 416-392-0988 or visit http://www.toronto.ca/health/dental/children_youth.htm

DENTAL SCREENING WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE FOLLOWING DAYS AT FERN AVE 

OCTOBER 31, NOVEMBER 2, 3, 6,7, 9. 10 AND 13th.

Thank you.

Refrigerator Wanted

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Do you have a little or big refrigerator lying around the house or cottage and would like to donate to our school.  We would be happy to take it and provide a good home for it here in our office.
Please contact Vera Ciric at 416-393-9130.
Thank you!

After School Programs

Come join the fun!

Sign up is this Wednesday for great after school art and soccer programs that start September 26 and 27.
Art Garden

Soccer Skills and Training

Registration forms can be found here.

PHOTO DAY IS COMING!!!

PHOTO DAY is at Fern Avenue PS is on MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 25, 2017

It's the start of a new school year and time for fall school portraits!
Edge Imaging is happy to help you capture this timeless tradition in your child's life.

Students will be bringing a flyer home giving you instructions on how to sign up for online proof notifications, please visit edgeimaging.ca/photoday
Please enter the school code:  FER

You can also order your school photos online at order.edgeimaging.ca
Portrait and Pass Codes will be provided on your child's photo proofs.  Proofs will be sent approximately two weeks after photo day.

Please remember to bring you SMILES :)

Grade 7 Vaccination Clinic-November 13, 2017

Dear Parents/Guardians,

Toronto Public Health will visit our school twice a year to provide free vaccinations against three diseases. to all GRADE 7 students.  School clinic dates may change based on school events, however, please mark down Monday, November 13, 2017 as our first vaccination clinic date.
The vaccines available at the school clinics are not free at the doctor's office.  Protect your child against meningitis and cancer. 

Consent forms have been given to the homeroom for your child to bring home, kindly fill out the information and return to the homeroom teacher by Friday, September 22, 2017.

Should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact Public Health directly at 416-392-1250.

Thank you,
Vera

Fern Falcons T-Shirts Now on Sale

Back to school and a chance to purchase your Fern Avenue Falcons T-shirts and technical athletic shirts.
Support  your athletic department and purchase one today.   Ready for pick up before the cross country meet on October 2nd.

Please follow the link below and begin your shopping adventure.

https://fernavenue.itemorder.com/sale

Stay tuned for more items on sale later on in the school year!

Just forget about it!

Are you having a difficult time deciding what to pack for your child’s lunch, finding the time to do it, or even remembering to make one before you get to school? It may be hard to settle into back-to-school routines but some Fern families have relieved their stress and time by enrolling in the hot-lunch program.

If you haven’t already signed up, your family can still participate in Fern’s lunch program starting in October. Download the order form and check out October’s menu -- featuring everything from Red Lentil Soup, Shepherd’s Pie, Country Chicken Burger, and Vegetarian Lasagna -- on the website’s School Calendar. The deadline is Monday, September 18 for lunches beginning Monday, October 2nd.

For more details about the lunch program, please click here.

If you have any further questions about the lunch program, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions on the school blog or contact the Student Nutrition Program Co-ordinator at fernlunchprogram@gmail.com.

Thanks,

Fern Food Committee

Cross Country

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The cross country season is starting next week and we are excited to begin running with our students in preparation for the first cross country event at Ashbridges Bay on October 2nd.  This year, the coaches are asking for any parent volunteers who are able to help out with organizing rides for our runners on the competition dates.

Transportation to and from the event requires volunteer drivers as we cannot always rely on the bus.  In addition,  event times for cross country vary for different competitor groups.

Ideally, we would have at least one parent volunteer from each division (Senior, Junior and Primary) to manage the transportation of each runner.  

The parent volunteer would work with each coach who will provide them with a list of names, contact info, etc.

As always, parents are welcome to come out and run with our students during any of the practice times.

If you are able to help out with coordinating rides please contact the respective coach via email (see below).

Thanks for your support and look forward to seeing you out on the circuit.

Senior cross country practices will be held on Tuesday and Friday from 7:50 - 8:30.  Practices will begin this Tuesday, Sept. 12th.  Please meet outside the school office doors. Chris Enticknap will be coaching the senior team

Junior cross country practices will be held on Tuesday and Thursday from 8:10-8:45am at Sorauren park.  Practices will also begin this Tuesday, Sept. 12th. Sarantos Katsihtis will be coaching the junior team.

The primaries will be practising at the school yard on Tuesday and Thursday mornings starting at 8:15am, and at Sorauren park on Friday morning (optional). Kerry Heller, Jenny Flengeris, Zoe Centeno, and Miya Oda will be coaching the primaries.

Have fun everyone!

Please take note of the following important dates and mark your calendars:

Mon., Oct 2nd - 1st meet @Ashbridges Bay

Fri., Oct. 13th - South Conference Final @Ashbridges Bay

Thurs., Oct. 26th - City Finals @Centennial

Grade 7 Pinecrest Camp Trip

Dear Parents/Guardians of Grade 7 students at Fern,

Welcome to the Senior Division at Fern!

An overnight trip at the beginning of the year has been part of our Grade 7 tradition for many years. This September we are going back to Pinecrest Camp from September 18^th to September 20^th. It is a great opportunity for Fern students from the English, Extended and Immersion programs to get to know each other outside their regular classrooms.

Fern staff has found that outdoor education is instrumental in establishing and reinforcing positive relationships throughout the school. Your child will be involved in cooperative games and physical activities at the camp. The program is specifically tailored to focus on developing leadership and teamwork skills. This trip is an early proactive approach towards the students’ well-being and lays the foundation for a strong inclusive Fern Gr 7/8 community.

Camp Pinecrest is a YMCA camp that has hosted numerous TDSB schools on overnight trips. Some of the outdoor activities offered and lead by experienced staff include Canoeing, Archery, High and Low Ropes, and Nature Walks. The site has heated cabins where our students will sleep in groups of 10. All of the meals at YMCA Camp Pine Crest are pre-approved by a nutritionist and accommodate all dietary concerns. The estimated cost of the trip including transportation is around 225 dollars. The final cost of the trip will be indicated in the forms.

For further information about the camp or our trip please look at the YMCA web-site: http://www.ymcagta.org/en/camps/overnight-camps/pinecrest-overview/index.html

Permission forms with detailed information will be handed out on Monday the second week of school. There is a short time to get this trip organized as we were waiting to get approved for this trip. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.  

We would like all Grade 7 students to join us on this trip; financial help may be available if needed. For additional inquires about the trip or if you have any financial concerns please e-mail me at or you can reach me by phone at the school (416-393-9130).

Sincerely,
Bogdan Nikolajevic
Fern Ave. P.S.

Curriculum Night & Welcome Back BBQ - September 14th

Dear Parents and Guardians,

We hope that the first week of school has been a successful one for your child(ren) and they are getting more comfortable with their fellow students and teachers of the school each passing day. Please mark next Thursday, September 14 on your calendars to attend our Curriculum Night and School Advisory Council Welcome Back BBQ. 

Curriculum Night will be the first event and it starts at 5:30 pm in your child’s classroom. The first rotation of presentations or drop-ins will run until 5:50 pm followed by a 5-minute movement break and a second presentation/drop-in from 5:55 to 6:15 pm. Afterwards from 6:15 to 7:15 pm please join us outside the school where, for a nominal charge, we will be offering a simple meal of hot dogs or veggie dogs with a drink and a fruit. 

We are hoping that those of you with a sweet tooth can contribute something to our potluck dessert table for all to enjoy. There will be a table ready for your treats to be donated starting at 4:30 pm.

As we are a Gold Eco School, we are asking for your cooperation for the BBQ portion of this event. In order to minimize waste for this large gathering of people, we are asking if families can bring a plate, cup and napkin for each participant. We will have three receptacles outside for this event – garbage, green bins and recycling – so that the right waste goes to the right place. Thank you in advance for this small extra effort.

We look forward to seeing you on Thursday afternoon and please stay after Curriculum Night to get to know your Fern community better. Let’s hope for some end-of-summer great weather for this event.