Fern Ave. Public School Blog

You may hear from your children, or through community sources, about an incident that occurred at Humberside C.I. this morning, which resulted in a one-hour lockdown at that school. We want to inform you that both staff and students at Humberside are safe. This incident arose as a result of a conflict between two students. Emergency personnel were on site at the school within minutes and there were no life-threatening injuries. One student was arrested immediately. Please be assured that we were always kept aware of the situation at Humberside.

Please do not park in the school parking lot when there is a snow storm. The parking lot will be locked at night when there is a chance of a snow storm. This is to allow the plows to remove the snow.

Put some fire in your February! Another Community Arts Event, organized by the Arts Councils of Fern, Howard, Garden & St. Vincent de Paul, is coming up Friday, February 8 at Fern Ave PS , 7:00 p.m. Violin sensation Chris McKhool presents his show "Fiddle Fire" that uncovers the fundamentals of music and explores several different musical styles. Audiences scat-sing, become a rhythm section & join Chris on stage to play rare percussion instruments from around the world. It's going to be a lot of fun for everyone! Tickets are $5 per person & can be purchased in advance at Scooter Girl, 187 Roncesvalles or through Susan Anthony - 416-538-6204. Limited tickets at the door.

We are looking for a few volunteers to help refine a set of protocols around what is suitable (or not) for posting to this web site . This initiative need not take much time, and perhaps just one meeting. It mainly requires thoughtful input in order to set commonsense parameters for site administrators to follow. Some things are obvious (like no defamatory comments), but others are more subtle. A few examples: - We would probably all agree that commercial advertising is off limits, but if a local store offers a fundraising initiative, is it acceptable to promote that? - The site will include announcements of arts performances at Fern school, but what about arts performances that are of interest to the school community but not directly related (eg Canadian Opera Company performances for students)? - Should the site include any personal announcements such as births, deaths? If you have an opinion on any of this and are willing to volunteer some time, please email . Posted by Amy...

The teachers and parents of the School Council are delighted to be working together to celebrate FUN and LOVE and ENERGY with another DANCE-ATHON on February the 14th. Fern auditorium will be pulsating all day to music and every kid will get a chance to MOVE IT!! The money collected in pledges goes right back into our school. For example, School Council helps to support programs like Scientist in the School, artists, dancers, and musicians in the school. We contribute money for buses and referees, greening initiatives and playground improvements, reading initiatives and science club activities, and Grade 8 Grad, too. And that is something the kids can feel good about: contributing to their community. For the last few years, we have been donating 10% of the money raised 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. Another way for Fern students to help...

This year, the Toronto District School Board created a system for online registration for the Grade 4 Extended French program. If you registered for this program online and you have feedback concerning the process, the French as a Second Language Advisory Committee (FSLAC) would like to hear it. Please send your comments to me at wordplay@sympatico.ca , and I will forward them to the FSLAC. Posted by Catherine Marjoribanks , Ward 7 rep

Parents who are interested in how the Ministry of Education is supporting environmental education might be interested in a new resource: "Ready, Set, Green!" This new booklet from the Ontario Ministry of Education lists successful Green projects that have been undertaken by Ontario schools. It also lists 30 quick, simple, and fun activities and projects for students, and a "Toolbox" section listing government websites and groups involved in environmental projects. "Ready, Set, Green!" is a 63-page document, and is available as a downloadable pdf file on the Ministry of Education website at: www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/document/policy/readySetGreen.pdf Posted by Catherine Marjoribanks , Ward 7 rep

A message from Ferncliff Daycare and After School Group : There are two vacancies in our School Age Program (ages 6-12) effective February 1, 2008. Our School Age program runs from 7:30-9:00, 11:45-12:45 (lunch supervision) and 3:30 - 6:00 on school days. We are open 7:30 am until 6:00 on PA Days, March Break and summer break. For more information and costs, please contact Tracy in the daycare office, Room 103 on the main floor of the school, or call 416-588-1463. If space allows, we provide care on a temporary basis. Administrator’s note: Ferncliff shares space within the Fern school building, but is not part of Toronto District School Board.

Fern Public School - January 24, 2008 - 7 pm to 9 pm (Childcare provided) Agenda Items 1. Approval of Agenda 2. Approval of minutes from previous meeting 3. Dress code - John Richmond / Craig Tsuji - A TDSB discussion of dress code and issues related at Fern School. 4. President's Report - John Richmond 5. Treasurer's Report - Amy Stein 6. Committee Reports: Arts Committee Greening Committee Science & Technology Fundraising (Dance-A-Thon) 7. Principal's Report - Craig Tsuji 8. Ward 7 Report - Catherine Marjoribanks 9. Communication - John Richmond / Amy Stein - Website/email (usage/protocols) 10. Winter Solstice discussion

The TDSB is looking for parent input towards reviewing its Homework Policy. A meeting will take place on Monday, February 11 , for representatives from our area (trustee, 7 parents, 6 teachers, 4 principals) to provide feedback. Ward 7 Council will also be holding a meeting on February 26 in which each of our School Councils will have an opportunity to present their views to Board staff. The Fern School Council will be discussing a strategy for consulting with parents on this issue at our January 24 meeting . Click here to download the current Homework Policy. Posted by Catherine Marjoribanks, Ward 7 rep.

The Ward 7 Education Council is a forum for representatives from each School Council in our ward to meet with Trustee Irene Atkinson to be advised concerning matters before the Board, to discuss school issues in our area, and to provide feedback to our trustee. The Council met on Tuesday, January 15, and grappled with a very full agenda, including: The Ministry of Education's Character Development Initiative The TDSB's Homework Policy Review The report of the School Community Safety Advisory Panel (the "Falconer Report") The TDSB's upcoming Budget Decisions For more information on these topics, click here to download the council's full report. If you have any questions, comments, or feedback, please feel free to contact Catherine Marjoribanks, Ward 7 rep for Fern Ave. P.S., at wordplay@sympatico.ca .

January 29, 2008 at 6 p.m. The TDSB's Program and School Services Committee (PSSC) is holding a special meeting to discuss the Africentric school issue. This meeting will provide community partners and members of the public with the opportunity to discuss the issue. This special committee meeting will be the only opportunity for members of the public to be heard on this issue. The report on Africentric schools will be posted on the TDSB public website ( www.tdsb.on.ca /) in advance of this meeting. All persons wishing to speak to the issue must register as delegations prior to the special committee meeting by contacting Board Services at: david.tomczak@tdsb.on.ca . For more information for the procedure on delegations, go to http://www.tdsb.on.ca/_site/ViewItem.asp?siteid=88&menuid=310&pageid=239 . Posted by Catherine Marjoribanks, Ward 7 rep.

Tuesday, January 22, 7 to 9 p.m. Information session concerning the Individual Education Plan (IEP) and the Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC). Bloor Collegiate Institute (1141 Bloor St, corner of Dufferin and Bloor). No registration required. Posted by Catherine Marjoribanks, Ward 7 rep.

Parent Information Night 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, January 29, 2008 Where: Gym, Norseman JMS 105 Norseman Street (east of Islington, between Bloor and Queensway) Who: Interested Parents of students entering grade 6 and grade 7 in September 2008 and anyone else interested in this exciting new school. Is your grade 5 or 6 son or daughter excited by the arts? Are they looking for a middle school experience in an enriched arts environment? Next September, middle school students interested in the arts will have another educational option available to develop their skills. On January 29, join TDSB staff and Trustees for a Parent Information Night to learn about this new school for the arts opening in South West Toronto for students from across the city. Qualified teachers with special arts training will deliver the Ontario curriculum through a program that will focus on visual arts, drama and movement, and vocal music. Located in the former Crestwood Public School, 60 Berl Avenue, the new arts-fo...

Dear Student and Parent/Guardian: Today, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) announced the launch of the pilot Student Safety Line, 416-395-SAFE (7233). Although we always encourage students to talk to an adult they trust, the TDSB established the Student Safety Line as a proactive measure to help students report school-related or personal safety concerns. The TDSB Student Safety Line is a confidential reporting line for TDSB students. All messages are anonymous, unless the student chooses to leave his/her name or personal information. All information will be dealt with in a confidential manner. Students can leave a voice message on the Student Safety Line without anyone knowing or finding out who they are. School administration will be informing students about the importance and purpose of the TDSB Student Safety Line. More information about the TDSB Student Safety Line is available in school offices and on the TDSB website at www.tdsb.on.ca/395SAFE. There will also be an opportu...

Parent volunteers are needed to help get planning underway for the Grade 8 Grad. We need to start now! Please call John Richmond , School Council Co-Chair, at 416-570-2245, if you are interested.

Dear Parent/Guardian: Due to the media’s premature release of the draft Final Report on school safety from the School Community Safety Advisory Panel (SCSAP), the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has moved up the official release of the report to today. The School Board commissioned this Report as part of a proactive response early last June to examine the events leading up to the tragic death of Jordan Manners in one of our schools in May. The Report examines in great detail the topic of violence in schools and its impact on students, staff and communities. The Report makes many recommendations to the TDSB, to Police Services, as well as to the City and Provincial Governments. We will work together to take action to address the issue of violence in our communities. Although youth violence is a societal issue, the Board is committed to doing everything we can to ensure that all our schools remain safe and caring places for our students. We will study this Report and its recommendat...

Music By The Lake is an eight day residential instrumental and vocal music camp for TDSB students in Grades 6 - 8. It will take place Saturday May 31 through Saturday June 7, 2008. The application information and paperwork was mailed on January 8, 2007 to the attention of ''The Principal'' in all schools having Grade 6, 7, and 8 students. The mailing consists of:  Principals’ Information Package;  Teacher Guidelines;  Parent/Student Information Package, which includes the medical and application forms (see attachment);  School Recommended Priority List This is the prioritization which will be used should there be a need to wait list students. The deadline for student camper applications is February 20, 2008 If you would like a package, please ask in the office.

On 11 October 2007, the Government of Ontario announced the creation of a province-wide statutory holiday known as “Family Day”. This day will occur on the third Monday in February of each year, beginning 18 February 2008, for the purpose of emphasizing and celebrating the importance of families taking time to be together. In January the Regulation 304 was amended to permit a one-time reduction in 2007-08 in the number of instructional days in the school year. As a result of this change, the Toronto District School Board's school year calendar for 2007-08 will now reflect the new statutory holiday. The new calendar will be posted on the TDSB website by the Communications and Public Affairs Office.

The next performance in the BMO Financial Group Student Dress Rehearsal Series is Puccini's Tosca scheduled for Wednesday, January 23 , at 7:30pm. A full synopsis for this opera is available at www.coc.ca . All dress rehearsal performances take place at the Four Season Centre for the Performing Arts. Please note that tickets are sold in a 1:2 adult to student ratio. Tickets are $14.00 each. Payment must be received in advance of the performance. Please contact Karen Mondok at karenmondok@hotmail.com for additional information and to reserve tickets.

Hi, Fern parents, and welcome back! Happy New Year! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday. The next Fern Parent Council meeting will take place Thursday, January 24, at 7:00 . Childcare provided. Please let me know if you want to add anything to the agenda. Among the items we will be discussing: - the Winter Solstice event - TDSB's Character Development proposals - fundraising Please take the time to attend the Council meeting if you can - parent participation is very important. Thanks. John Richmond ( smarty_panz@yahoo.com ) Co-Chair, Fern Parent Council