Fern Ave. Public School Blog

You are invited to the workshop, Raising Anti-Racist Kids, presented by Rania El Mugammar. Wednesday, March 22, 2023, 6:00-8:30 via ZOOM This is the first in a two-workshop series presented by Rania El Mugammar, hosted by the Fern Avenue Public School Equity and Inclusion Committee. Sign up here by March 15, 2023: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScxdcapv6jfq5bgxZjrhR1_2IJoE8fe6hVS5DZHrdEZPcW4-w/viewform Only the first 25 registrants will be accepted. If needed we will create a waiting list. ABOUT THE WORKSHOP: This workshop is designed for parents, guardians, caretakers, educators, and anyone with a vested interest in raising race conscious children. The session grounds itself in an evidence base of sociological research, and uses practices and case studies to develop strategies for understanding and addressing racial bias, being accountable for harmful behaviour, and building a capacity for solidarity. Appropriate language and topics of discussion for toddlers to teenagers ar...

The Equity, Anti-Racism, and Anti-Oppression Department is offering Kindergarten to Grade 6 TDSB students, families, as well as Staff, the opportunity to attend the virtual session, In My Mosque: Love and Belonging in Community Spaces.  Two sessions are available, one for Staff and students; and one for families/guardians/caregivers, on Tuesday, Jan 24, 2023 . Both sessions commemorate the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia. M.O. Yuksel and Hatem Aly, the author and illustrator of the book, In My Mosque, will facilitate an interactive storytelling session focused on love and belonging in community spaces.  The Staff/student session will take place from 12:45 p.m.-1.45 p.m . To register, sign up via myPATH .  The community session will take place from 5 - 6 p.m . To register for the community event, please complete this Google Form .  For more information, please contact Salima Kassam, salima.kassam@tdsb....

The Equity and Inclusion Committee is hoping to add new members who would like to contribute to this important work at Fern. Last year saw many initiatives undertaken by the administration and staff that were supported by the committee. We worked with a group of neighbourhood schools to apply for a PRO Grant*. Through these relationships we facilitated a combined anti-Black Racism workshop for the Howard Park and Fern Avenue communities. Speaker Leroi Newbold** presented the first of two planned workshops, and this year Ayan Kailie*** will facilitate the second. We also supported the students with their Pride celebration last year.  Our goals for this year are to: 1) support student equity initiatives  2) provide workshops, speakers, and resources to support anti-oppression, reconciliation and anti-Black racism training for parents and the Fern community at large, and,  3) support teachers with their anti-oppression, reconciliation, and anti-Black racism curriculum i...

Hi Fern families and friends!  Do you like to bake? That's great!  The Parent Equity Committee is supporting students in GSOWA (Gay Straight Or Whatever Alliance) who are organizing a Pride celebration at school on Wednesday, June 22nd . GSOWA is wondering if we can help them out by baking approximately 650 cupcakes in the 11 colours of the progress pride flag!  Sure, we can, right? If you'd like to help, please sign up here:  https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1p11C88BAyKyMwmGjJ_N0aDAAjwbBE1FUS2vxfzixu-0/edit#gid=0 If each volunteer could bake 12 cupcakes each it would be appreciated.  Drop off will be on the morning of June 22nd at the school. If you'd like to help out but ingredient costs are a barrier, please email vkostyniuk@gmail.com

June is Pride month in Canada and throughout the month Fern students and staff will be raising awareness with many planned activities. There will be a  Pride Parade on June 22nd  with Raising of the Flag and entertainment as we all join in nurturing the call to build a safe and inclusive learning environment where every student, staff and member of our community is welcomed, valued and respected.  More details on the parade and other activities to follow from our Fern GSA and Parent Equity Committee.

Who: LeRoi Newbold, Freedom School  When: May 17, 2022 at 6pm  Where: Virtual, via zoom, link to follow  How: Register here   Join us for a two-workshop series co-sponsored by the Howard Park and Fern Avenue Public School Equity and Inclusion Committees. Through these workshops we will discuss ways that we can work together to address and challenge anti-Black Racism and support our students in and out of the classroom. We will also focus on how we can build a network of solidarity to show up and fight anti-Black racism in our larger community. Students, parents, community members and staff are invited to participate in these interactive zoom sessions.  The first workshop will be held on May 17, 2022 at 6pm facilitated by LeRoi Newbold, co director of Freedom School Toronto. Freedom School Toronto is a youth and parent driven initiative that intervenes to fight against anti-Black racism in the school system and to create educational alternatives for Black childr...

Who : LeRoi Newbold, Freedom School  When : May 17, 2022 at 6pm  Where : Virtual, via zoom, link to follow  Join us for a two-workshop series co-sponsored by the Howard Park and Fern Avenue Public School Equity and Inclusion Committees. Through these workshops we will discuss ways that we can work together to address and challenge anti-Black Racism and support our students in and out of the classroom. We will also focus on how we can build a network of solidarity to show up and fight anti-Black racism in our larger community. Students, parents, community members and staff are invited to participate in these interactive zoom sessions.  The first workshop will be held on May 17, 2022 at 6pm facilitated by LeRoi Newbold, co director of Freedom School Toronto. Freedom School Toronto is a youth and parent driven initiative that intervenes to fight against anti-Black racism in the school system and to create educational alternatives for Black children. This session is a fo...

On behalf of the Fern Parent Equity Committee and Fern School Council:  Save the date: May 17th  Join us for a two-workshop series co-sponsored by the Howard PS and Fern Avenue Public School Equity and Inclusion Committees. Through these workshops we will discuss ways that we can work together to address and challenge anti-Black Racism and support our students in and out of the classroom. We will also focus on how we can build a network of solidarity to show up and fight anti-Black racism in our larger community.  Students, parents, community members and staff will be invited to participate in these interactive zoom sessions. The first workshop will be held on May 17, 2022 at 6pm facilitated by LeRoi Newbold, from Freedom School Toronto.  Freedom School Toronto is a youth and parent driven initiative that intervenes to fight against anti-Black racism in the school system and to creative educational alternatives for Black children. They will focus on practical w...

  TODAY!!   We are very excited that  Ontario's first Poet Laureate, Randell Adjei, is coming virtually to Fern Ave. P.S!!  Tuesday, June 8, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Zoom login (more zoom details below) https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/98659286970?pwd=Uk04L3ZhUkZWT0hOaTNwaW41RnpIQT09 Meeting ID: 986 5928 6970 Passcode: 405734 
   Randell is really inspiring with an amazing story to tell. He is making a huge impact on our city and the city’s youth.  If you can, jump on this zoom with your kids for an hour today! You won’t regret it.  

   Presented by the School Administration and the School Council's Equity and Inclusion Committee 
   Regardless of our age, gender, orientation, beliefs or class, we all face adversity. Adversity does not discriminate. But, what do we do when adversity comes in our lives? How do we maneuver when we feel stuck? This conversation will focus on the role of resilience in our lives and how the growth mindset developed Randell's...

Prepare to be inspired!  Join us 6:30-7:30, Tuesday, June 8, for an interactive event with Ontario's first Poet Laureate, the incredibly talented artist and community activist, Randell Adjei.  Brought to you by the School Administration and the School Council's Equity and Inclusion Committee, Randell's presentation will be a family event, for kids and parents alike.  For more information about Randell, please visit https://www.randelladjei.com Watch the blog and your email for more details, but meanwhile, mark it in your calendar today. Yours in partnership,  R. Sardella Principal / Directrice

Thank you to those who attended Rania El Muggamar's fantastic workshop, Raising Anti-Racist Kids. If you missed it, here is the link to the  recording  which can be viewed until Sunday at 12pm. You can also view Rania's presentation  here .  Rania has also provided us with some insightful and enormously helpful anti-racism resources which you can access  here .  If you attended the workshop, you can submit a feedback  form .  For more information about Rania’s work in anti-oppression, please visit  this page . Rania’s upcoming events are  here  and  here . If you use the code “bincfamily” you get 15% off. You can stay in touch with Rania via her  Newsletter ,  Instagram  and  Twitter . You can also  become a member through Patreon  for access to discount codes, early access tickets, tools and resources as well as intimate Q&A and discussions.  And finally, save the date! On June ...

Fern Ave. P.S. and the Equity and Inclusion Committee bring you: Raising Anti-Racist Kids   Presented by Rania El Mugammar, anti-oppression consultant and liberation educator.   A workshop for Fern parents, caregivers and teachers to cultivate anti-racist practices and solidarity.    Monday, May 17th 6:30 - 7:45pm Zoom link (scroll down for dial-in options): https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82947859520?pwd=VHU0eXdiQWR4TUJtdlM0R1FlZUptZz09 Meeting ID: 829 4785 9520 Passcode: 885223   Normally this workshop costs approximately $55/person but we’re able to offer it to our Fern community for FREE thanks to a TDSB PRO grant.    This workshop is designed for parents, caregivers and educators with a vested interest in raising race conscious children. The session grounds itself in an evidence base of sociological research, and uses practices and case studies to develop strategies for understanding and addressing racial bias, being accountable for ...

In recognition and celebration of Black History Month, and awareness year round of Black lives and futures, below are some event listings and resources (including some great reading lists) put together by Fern’s parent-run Equity and Inclusion Committee.  To get in touch with us please email equitablefern@gmail.com . And save the date!  May 17th 6:30p.m. Raising Anti-Racist Kids , a free online event for Fern parents facilitated by Rania El Mugammar.  EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES   CBC Kids: A brief history of the Black Lives Matter movement (short video) https://gem.cbc.ca/media/cbc-kids-news/season-1/episode-116/38e815a-012cef2b32e   CBC Kids: White privilege, systemic racism explained (short video) https://gem.cbc.ca/media/cbc-kids-news/season-1/episode-123/38e815a-012d9e6dc7b   Plus more CBC Kids Black History videos for kids here .  NFB/ONF: Black Communities in Canada - a collection of films by Black filmmakers https://www.onf.ca/selection/nfb_celebr...

Fern’s parent-run Equity and Inclusion Committee stands in solidarity with Black and Indigenous community members and those fighting for Black and Indigenous lives across Turtle Island and in our communities. We mourn for George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor and for Regis Korchinski-Pacquet, the 29-year old Black woman who died in police presence in our own riding of Parkdale-High Park. We commit to moving our sadness and anger into action. We stand in solidarity with those rising up against anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism and the legacies of slavery and colonialism. We support the Movement for Black Lives week of action happening now. As we enter Indigenous History Month, we stand with Indigenous students and the Indigenous community and support efforts to end anti-indigenous and anti-Black racism and strengthen equity and justice for Indigenous and Black communities. When school resumes, the work of our parent-run Equity and Inclusion Committee will continue, in...