Fern Ave. Public School Blog

For those of you who have trouble keeping track of what "day" it is, starting today, Day 5, we'll be adding the current day to the school calendar. If anyone has been subscribing to these calendars through Google Calendar, you will have to resubscribe to the Lunch schedule.

We've posted the minutes for the February 25th council meeting on the School Council page. The next meeting will be on Thursday, April 21.

The April lunch menu is now available from the Lunch Lady and for download here . Hand in your forms by Wednesday, March 30, or contact the Lunch Lady directly if you miss the deadline. Please note that the last three Wednesdays of April (April 13, 20, and 27) will NOT be catered by the Lunch Lady. Instead, we will be bringing back pizza lunch Wednesdays! You will NOT have to pre-order lunch for those days - just send money with your child to pay cash on that day. We will send out reminders and further details well in advance.

Click here to download the April 2011 newsletter.

To the attention of the parents who have received an offer of placement letter for Senior Kindergarten, French Immersion: In order to confirm your child’s place, you must contact Fern Avenue Public School at 416- 393- 9130 no later than March 25, 2011, 3:30pm. March 25, 2011 is the last day to confirm. Call the school, leave a voicemail message, or come in person to the Office. If you miss this deadline, your child will be automatically placed on a waitlist instead, with no guarantee of placement in the program.

Toronto Public Health provides dental programs to children from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8 and will be providing a free screening assessment at Fern Avenue from April 27, 28, 29th and May 3rd and 4th. Should you require more information, please contact Toronto Public Health, Dental & Oral Health Services at 416-328-4220.

Earth Hour is a simple reminder of how much we rely on electricity. It gives us a chance to look at where we can cut back. And it is special because even our youngest students can participate. Schools become more creative each year in finding ways to use less. Every kilowatt of electricity saved means fewer climate‐changing greenhouse gases produced! During the 2010 TDSB Earth Hour schools and offices reduced their electricity use by a very impressive 23%. Can your school help us match that goal? Or exceed it? What does it involve? For the TDSB Earth Hour on Friday, March 25th, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., our schools and offices will, wherever possible: turn off all interior lighting except necessary emergency lights, log off workstations and allow them to go into standby mode, and minimize fan use. For the official global Earth Hour on Saturday 26 March 2011, 8:30 p.m. ‐ 9:30 p.m., all schools and offices will follow the same steps wherever possible. Caretakers have been sent special inst

We are kindly asking our Fern Avenue students to bring in a TOONIE on Tuesday March 29th in a board-wide effort to support the unfortunate devastation in Japan. Many of our staff, students, families and community members still have loved ones who are safe and unharmed in Japan, but need immediate assistance. We are asking our Fern community to pull together to support the aid and recovery effort in any way they can---please take action!

Tommorrow’s council meeting will be starting early at 6:30. The monthly Parent Council Meeting will be held in the auditorium on Thursday, March 24, from 6:30 to 8:00. Drop by for an update on the lunch program, the Eco Team, and the upcoming Spring Auction.

The monthly Parent Council Meeting will be held in the auditorium on Thursday, March 24, from 7:00 to 8:30. Drop by for an update on the lunch program, the Eco Team, and the upcoming Spring Auction.

Fern Avenue PS would like to extend a restful and enjoyable MARCH BREAK to all of our students, parents and caregivers. Please remember that school will resume Monday March 21, 2011. Be safe and take care!

Faustwork Mask Theatre is coming to Fern! "The Mask Messenger" will be performing 2 shows on Wednesday March 23rd.The morning audience will consist of Kindergarten students through to grade 4. and the afternoon will entertain and delight grades 5 through 8! and the afternoon kindergartens'. "Le Masque est le Message" will perform for the French Immersion and Extended French students on Thursday April 14th.Kindergartens through grades 4 in the morning, and afternoon students grades 5 to 8 and Kindergartens will have the chance to experience the performance. -Make sure your kids don't miss it, and there may be room for interested parents and staff to stand at back!check out their website for more info, www.faustwork.com

We've posted the minutes for the November and January council meetings on the School Council page. There was no council meeting in December.

Following this morning’s devastating earthquake and ensuing tsunami in northeast Japan the Toronto District School Board extends its deepest condolences to the thousands of members of Toronto's Japanese community. The news from across the Pacific is indeed horrific. Hundreds of people have already lost their lives, thousands of residents have been told to evacuate their homes and towns and many coastal areas have sustained major damage to crops, houses and vehicles. Here in Toronto, a significant number of our students, staff and families in our school communities are awaiting news of friends and family living in the devastated coastal areas. We share in your grief and sadness and send our thoughts and prayers to those trying to connect with loved ones in Japan. The federal Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade has set up an emergency line at 1-800-387-3124 for those needing information on friends and family in Japan. We will continue to monitor the situation thr

Please note date change for next parent grad meeting...Tuesday, March 29th at 7:00pm, still at Vera's home. Email me if you need more information. Vera

The Toronto District School Board invites interested members of the community to apply to become Community Representatives on the TDSB Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), for the term ending November 2014. SEAC is an advisory group whose primary role is to make recommendations to the board in respect of any matter affecting the establishment, development and delivery of special education programs and services for exceptional students in the TDSB. Meetings are Monday evenings, once a month in the boardroom at 5050 Yonge Street. As outlined in Regulation 464/97, SEAC, applicants must be: Canadian citizens aged 18 or older who are public school electors residing within the jurisdiction of the TDSB and not employed by the TDSB in any capacity. In addition to these requirements, the TDSB board of Trustees has decided that up to eight Community Representatives may be appointed, taking the following factors into consideration: Diversity Equal representation across the four geographic

You must register with Parks and Recreation TODAY (March 9) to ensure that your child is enrolled in the Sorauren league. Registration is open from 7:00am until 7:00pm by contacting 416-392-6679 or by visiting:       http://www.toronto.ca/parks/torontofun/ Additional registration information can be found at       http://www.toronto.ca/parks/torontofun/  The first week of the 2011 Season is : Monday May 2.

The Fern Avenue Parent Graduation Commitee is up and running with fabulous ideas and suggestions if you are interested in joining our committee please take note our second meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 29th at 7:00pm at Vera's house. (please email me personally and I will provide you with my address). Also if you are interested in being on the committeee we are looking to create an email tree or phone tree, please provide me with this information by emailing me directly at vera.ciric@tdsb.on.ca Thank you, Vera

As posted last Friday, today is Pyjama Day at Fern! This is how Fern Avenue PS is celebrating Spirit Week the rest of this week: Tuesday: Sports Team/Jersey Day Wednesday: Neon Day Thursday: Rock Star Day (must comply with Code of Conduct) Friday: Green Day/Fern Colours/St.Patrick's Day We look forward to having you participate!

CONGRATULATIONS FERN FALCONS HOCKEY TEAM!!! On behalf of myself and Miya Oda we would like to congratulate the Senior Fern Falcons Hockey Team. The team played an awesome season demonstrating amazing skill, determination and overall teamwork. Our victories led us all the way to the finals where unfortunately in a shoot out we were defeated 1-0 by Parklawn PS., and even though the banner we brought home read Conference Finalists we know we are the CHAMPS!!! A HUGE thank you goes out to each and every team member for your dedication and leadership it was a pleasure to have coached you and watched you grow as athletes. To the parents who also volunteered their time and vehicles we thank you, without you it couldn’t have happened and finally to the man who deserves recognition for his outstanding coaching ability, his loyalty, and leadership we as a team thank SIMON COTTER for bringing us this far. Thanks to everyone who supported us in one way or another. Vera & Miya.

Next week is SPIRIT WEEK at Fern Avenue PS. Monday is Pyjama Day! Keep checking the BLOG for further information on how to prepare for Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week! Please accept our apology for the late notice.