Fern Ave. Public School Blog

Our November Newsletter is hot-off-the-press! Please click the link below to read all about Fern Avenue Public School! Also, parents have been given an option to receive a hard copy of the newsletter. We ask parents to return the form (that was sent home November 25th) indicating this preference with their child as soon as possible. Enjoy reading this lengthy newsletter! uploads/NOVNEWS.pdf

Please click the link below if you are interested in attending any open houses for grades 6 and 7. uploads/OpenHouses.pdf

This week at Fern Avenue it is Spirit Week. Mark your calendars for these upcoming fun days: Monday November 24th: Pyjama Day Tuesday November 25th: 70's Day Wednesday November 26th: Great Leaders Day Thursday November 27th: Crazy Hair or Hat Day Friday November 28th: Sport Day/Girls Basketball Team vs Teachers We value your participation!

Jump Rope For Heart Kick-Off will take place on April 6th, 2009 Fern Avenue Public School will have their official whole-school event on April 24, 2009 More information will be provided closer to the date in the new year!

We understand that there are concerns regarding the frequent closing of the pool. We must close the pool when it is not up to health standards. The pool filters and plumbing (pipes) are in need of repair and we are doing everything we can to keep the pool open. TDSB plumbers have checked the system and cannot give us any short term solution except intermittent closure. Please understand that the filters and plumbing are an on-going issue and the cost to repair and replace them is cost prohibitive. Therefore thank you for your understanding as we continue to do our best to maintain the pool.

In order to accommodate for the Dec 1st issue date of Term One Report Cards, the ESA application deadline has been extended to Fri Dec 5th, 2008. We hope that this extension will allow students to include a copy of their Term One report cards with their applications. If a report card is not available by Dec 5th, students should still submit their application and forward the report card to ESA when it becomes available. All students who submit an application package by Dec 5th, 2008 will receive an audition. Students will be telephoned with their audition time between Jan 5 – Jan 11, 2009. For more information please contact ACL Student Services, Etobicoke School of the Arts at 416-396-6910 ext 2004.

Thursday, November 20, 2008 7-9pm, school auditorium Approval of Agenda, 2 min Approval of October 16, 2008 Minutes, 2 min Report from Chair (John Richmond), 5 min Report from Treasurer (Sally Brady), 5 min Report fromWard 7 Rep (Paula Larrondo), 5 min Principal’s Report and discussion (Craig Tsuji), 30 min French as a Second Language (Lise Snelgrove), 5 min Committee Reports, 20 min --- Communications Committee --- Math, Science and Engineering --- Greening Committee --- Playground Committee --- Arts Collective --- Food Committee --- Fundraising Other Business: --- Christmas Concert --- Food Drive for Parkdale Food Bank --- December meeting?

Story Staircases is a breathtaking art piece found on five stairwells at Queen Victoria Public School. 190 grades 3 and 4 students have transformed these stairwell walls into vivid allegorical paintings reflecting fables and mythology that express universal values of love and friendship, loyalty, trust, compassion and integrity. The 100+ feet of winding and climbing art introduces us to brilliant leopards, spiders, snakes, frogs, turtles, rabbits, woodpeckers, deer, monkeys, swans, roosters, hoopoe birds and humans too-all interacting with each other and with their natural world. These are the children's visual interpretations of the many stories told to the students: Jataka tales from South Asia, narratives from Africa and Europe, from Jewish and First Nations traditions. The project took six weeks to complete and involved many collaborators – including arts education partners Inner City Angels, Mariposa In The Schools, Ontario Trillium Foundation (funder) and education partner Yo

Just a friendly reminder that photo retakes are tomorrow. Bright Pics Photography will be at Fern at 9am. If your child(ren) absolutely need a retake or did not have photos taken this is the time to have them done. Thank-You!

LEAD VOLUNTEER NEEDED There are some senior students who would love to start a photography club, and are looking for someone to lead it for them. Fern has the equipment needed, and it could be held in Room 308. A teacher will be present to help, and expenses will be shared by the members. It is best to run this as an after school extra curricular activity. If you have any expertise in this area, and can spare the time, and are keen to inspire, please contact Ms. Basu at 416-393-9130.

The Fern Food Program is looking for new members for the volunteer steering committee. Steering committee members represent the community that benefits from the food program - this includes the school and the daycare. Help us think creatively about how to ensure the longevity of the program. The food program provides nutritious hot lunches for the daycare and the school, as well as healthy snacks for the kindergarten classes. The steering committee provides oversight for the food program so it can meet its goals: - ensuring no Fern child goes hungry at lunch - ensuring that the staff can perform their jobs in the most effective way possible - ensuring the program stays on budget Interested? Contact Kate McPherson ( kathryn@yorku.ca ) More on the committee and the food program - The steering committee is composed of representatives from the Fern School Council and the daycare, and includes the Principal of Fern is an ex-officio member. The committee monitors the monthly progress o

Please click on the links below to read more about continuing education opportunities. uploads/parentletter.pdf uploads/Flyer.pdf

This notice is to confirm that vaccinations for our grade 7 & 8 students is set for Wednesday December 3, 2008 at 1pm. Public Health has had to re-schedule several times and apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. We thank you for your understanding and patience.

Fern Avenue Public School distributed poppies to their students as a sign of remembrance on Tuesday November 11, 2008 Remembrance Day. They asked for a small monetary contribution to support the Canadian Veterans. Cash donations were received and totaled $313.56. These donations were forwarded to the Canadian Veterans on behalf of our Fern Community. As well, Ms. Basu’s class hosted a solemn whole-school assembly on November 11, 2008 in remembrance of those men and woman who served our country.

Garden Avenue Public School is hosting a craft sale this month. Mark your calendars and check out all of the possibilities at this sale. Click the link below to read their flyer. uploads/CRAFTSALE.pdf

Due to scheduling difficulties, we have had to re-schedule the Grade 7 & 8 vaccinations, again. Public Health will be visiting Fern Avenue on Monday December 1, 2008. We will confirm the time of day as soon as we are notified. We apologize for the change.

One of neighbouring schools is hosting a bazaar. We hope that you will be able to attend. Please click the link below for more details. uploads/Bazaar%20Flyer%2008-3%20%282%29.pdf

Please be advised that Toronto Public Health has re-scheduled vaccinations for our grade 7 and 8 students. The vaccinations will take place at Fern Avenue P.S. on Monday November 17, 2008 at 1pm. We informed our senior students of this change earlier this afternoon. Thank you for your understanding!

Remembrance Day, November 11, 4 pm - 6:30 pm . Bring the kids and help tidy up the school. Donations of bulbs and plants are welcome and can be dropped off at the office. Thanks, Jo Somers , parent and EcoSchool team member

How exciting is this news!! We can now be called Champions! Please click the link below for more information on our Fern Falcons! uploads/CHAMPIONS.pdf

Click the link to read about our very own Fern Falcons in yesterday's Star: http://www.thestar.com/Sports/Football/article/531555 Submitted by Carol Pauker , School Council Secretary

Springhurst LINC offers full-time English instruction for adults. Please click the link below and read more about their services: uploads/Springhurst.pdf

Fern Avenue is asking for donations. Please read the link below for further details: uploads/POPPY.pdf

Are you interested in playing HOCKEY! Are you ready to lace-up your skates! This might be exactly what you are looking for! Please be advised that we have made a correction on the flyer posted last week. uploads/HOCKEY.pdf

Fern Avenue is looking for coat hangers and a volunteer to help organize their Lost & Found area. Would you be interested? uploads/LOSTandFOUND.pdf

Dear Parents and Caregivers, As you are probably aware, Fern Ave P.S. has been very involved with eco-friendly projects, such as the lunch-time composting program and the shut down of computers. We are all very proud to again be recipients of the GOLD CERTIFICATE 2007-2008 from the Ontario EcoSchool board! We have many projects at the school that you and your children can be involved in. Click here to read more: uploads/Eco-newsletter-Nov08.pdf Cheers, Jo Somers , Fern EcoSchool Team