Fern Avenue Public School

March 
16-20  March Break

April
01   STEM Day
02   STEM Night, 5:30-7:30pm (presently on hold)
10   Good Friday (no school)
13   Easter Monday (no school)
28   Fern Open House for incoming Gr. 7's & Extended French Students (pending work action)

May 
02   Spring Fling
12   Grade 7 Vaccination clinic

Spark your creativity this Spring at Fern with Art in Action.  Join us to create projects inspired by famous artists such as Walter De Maria, Renee Magritte, Frida Kahlo, Edouard Manet and more.   This art enrichment program is geared for success with approachable step-by-step projects. Create a new piece each week! 
Thursdays at lunchtime, April 9 - May 288 weeks, $140, this includes all suppliesOpen to students in grades 1 - 8
To register please go to Art in Action. Questions? Please email us at artinactiontoronto@gmail.com

Please note that a decision has been made to postpone this conference until fall 2020. The current labour context has made it difficult to ensure that the conference will maintain the breadth of options and offer participants a similar experience to previous years and concerns about coronavirus (COVID-19) may negatively impact attendance.

The planning team is committed to hosting another comprehensive and rewarding conference in fall 2020.

More information can be found here: https://www.parentsaspartners.ca/

Toronto Public Health recommends that when students and staff experience flu-like symptoms, they are sent home and do not return to school until they are no longer infectious. Therefore, ill students and staff should be symptom-free (especially from vomiting and diarrhea) for at least 48 hours before returning to school.

The primary concern is for the health and safety of all students and staff. Please note that no special measures are required when there is a case of influenza in a school or daycare. However, everyone should do their part to stop the spread of the flu. As parents, you can also assist by:

-reminding children to wash their hands often especially after using the washroom and before and after eating
-reminding children to cover their sneezes and cough
-watching for symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and /or high fever
-informing the school if your child is ill

For more information, please visit the Toronto Public Health website www.toronto.ca/health, contact…

Important Notice: Safe arrival calls are very important.

If you receive this call from our school, please follow the prompts and respond directly to the call or call the office at 416-393-9130. If you believe the call is an error, please contact the main office to let us know.

Thank you for your help in this matter.

Due to the upcoming walkout on Thursday, March 5th, please be aware of updated information session times regarding bell start and end times. Please click on the link below for this new information:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1-WN679TrReKNQUF7NtVbJaHPAxiFzfEE/view?usp=sharing

A few of the TDSB's Outdoor Education Centres offer exceptional summer camp opportunities for students.

This year we will be running a day camp at Hillside Outdoor Education School, and overnight camps at the Island Natural Science School and Camp Kearney at the Scarborough Outdoor Education School.

More information and on-line registration and payment options are available through the websites of the associated camps listed here.
-Camp Kearney
-Hillside Nature Camp
-Island Summer Camp

All parents are welcome!

This free conference planned by parents, for parents, includes a variety of workshops and resources that will help any parent support their child in their achievement and well-being at school and at home.

This year’s keynote speaker is Kim Katrin, an internationally acclaimed award winning educator, writer, artist & consultant. With a focus on student life, Kim explores how intersections of race, sexual orientation, and gender impact mental wellness. Emphasizing these connections allows for an inclusive discussion and a holistic focus on mental wellness and community engagement.

Technology micro-sessions are also being offered to help parents develop their computer literacy as well as bring them up to speed on many applications used by TDSB students.

Transportation, food and translators are all provided, as well as free day camp for children ages 4-12 to support participants attending the conference. Registration opens mid-February at https://www.parentsas…

Please be advised that our Monday after school program for grade 7 and 8 students is now postponed until further notice.

Thank you for your understanding in these times.

Please click on the links below for updates from the City of Toronto on COVID-19.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YBFrknKhNWhxQF8HWgh2cEjNRaEnbxHQ/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xCtwZHc3O6UAf5LZM3dQi6_7HcWz20U8/view?usp=sharing

Please click on the link below for information on changes to Fern's start and end times starting September 2020.

As of September 2020, the start and end times of Fern will change to:
-Start time (morning bell): 9:15 a.m.
-End time (afternoon bell): 3:45 p.m

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1ZwyZvseO-U48kOSgmIfC1-T0RAj1-kI6/view?usp=sharing

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The Grade 7 student vaccination clinic is scheduled on Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

The following vaccines will be given:

Second dose of hepatitis B and human papillomavirus vaccines to Grade 7 students

The Public Health nurses will also immunize Grade 7 and 8 students who missed their hepatitis B, meningococcal, and human papillomavirus vaccines during the 1st clinic.

Should you have any further questions related to immunization, please feel free to call the Toronto Public Health Immunization Information Line at 416-392-1250.

There are many families not in compliance with the Immunization of School Pupils Act. Public Health has sent letters to families requesting updated immunization information to their home address.

Please report your child's immunization to Toronto Public Health online at toronto.ca/studentvaccines. The system is secure, fast and easy to use.

Homework is an out-of-class learning experience assigned by a teacher to enhance student learning. The purpose of homework is to ensure it is both effective in promoting high quality student learning and achievement and it nurtures a desire for students to keep learning.

In the TDSB Effective Homework:

Is curriculum based and meets the developmental and individual needs of the student through differentiation and modification.
Wherever possible, homework shall be assigned to be returned using blocks of time so that families can best support completion by balancing the time required to complete homework with extra-curricular activities scheduled outside of the school day and activities that support personal and family wellness.
May be used to provide feedback to the student.
Is designed to require no additional teaching outside of the classroom and is engaging and relevant to student learning.
Has a direct link to the topic or skills that have been taught in class.
Ensures that student…

Deadline for ordering is February 28th , 2020.
You must order your hoodie through School Cash Online.
Students have been shown sample hoodies at school and all hoodies will be delivered to Fern.

The School Council meeting has been rescheduled for this Thursday, February 20, 6:30pm, Staff Room. All parents, caregivers, and community members welcome. No password required. Please join us. We’d love to see you.

If you have an item to add to the agenda, please email us at fernaveschoolcouncil@gmail.com.

New childcare policy: we'd love to provide childcare, but need to know if you’re coming (otherwise we pay for childcare for no children). So, please RSVP for childcare by 3pm on Thursday, February 20th.

Look forward to seeing you Thursday.

Best,
School Council Exec

Due to ongoing job action, the TDSB has directed that we are unable to hold meetings on strike days.

We will reschedule once we find out the strike plans for next week.

Best,
School Council Exec

We have been advised by the TDSB that due to ongoing job action, certain evening permits have been suspended. Therefore, we are unable to hold our movie night scheduled for February 13, or host other events until further notice.

We are still able to hold School Council meetings, so the meeting scheduled for Wednesday, February 12 will go ahead as planned.

Best,
School Council Exec

Dear Parents/Guardians.

It has come to our attention that parents/guardians are sending emails to the Fern Notice Board containing personal information meant for teachers or office staff.

All Safe Arrival Information/Attendance should be either called into the Safe Arrival Telephone Line and/or sent in writing to the office staff. Personal emails regarding students should also go directly to the home room teacher and/or Administration.

Should you have any further questions please feel free to contact Vera Ciric at 416-393-9130.
Thank you.