Fern Ave. Public School Blog

Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute will be having the TOPS (Talented Offerings for Programs in the Sciences) Information Night for Grade 8 students and parents, on Thursday, November 3rd, 2011 at 7:00 p.m. To find out more about the program and the entrance process please plan to attend this information meeting. If you would like to reach the TOPS Program or would like more information please call Mrs. Wismer at 416-396-2410 ext. 20000 or visit www.topsprogram.ca. The entrance exam is scheduled for Friday, November 18, 2011 at 8:30 a.m. at Marc Garneau C. I. Students who wish to gain entry to the program will be required to write a 3 hour entrance exam comprised of mathematics, science and English components. To register for the TOPS Entrance Exam please visit www.topsprogram.ca.

Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts Grade 8 Parent Information Nights will be held on Wednesday, November 16 with a focus on Performing Arts and Thursday, November 17 with a focus on Visual and Media Arts. There will be a course information carousel for a variety of Wexford's courses, subject areas, and student leadership groups starting at 6:30 p.m. followed by a presentation in the auditorium at 7:00 p.m. These Information Nights are for both our neighbourhood families and for those who have students interested in auditioning for our specialized Performing Arts or Visual and Media Arts programs. Although the Information Nights focus is on Grade 8 to Grade 9 Transition, students who are interested in applying for Special Programs in Grade 10 - 12 are also welcome. Audition packages will be provided at the Information Evenings or may be picked up in the Guidance office beginning November 19. Application packages will also be available on our website http://www.wexfordcsa.ca/ sta

Click here to download the November newsletter.

Meet & Greet at Fat Cat Tuesday, November 8, 7-9 pm Please join us for a social evening of idea sharing and networking at Fat Car Wine Bar, 331 Roncesvalles Avenue (Roncy and Grenadier) on Tuesday, November 8th from 7-9 pm. We can't think of a better way to introduce ourselves and get to know each other than over a casual glass of wine! This is a great opportunity to learn more about your Parent Council, what we have planned for the year and build community spirit. If you are planning on attending, please RSVP to wilson.pamela @sympatico.ca before November 4th.

Our sincere apologizes Room 203 Mr. Sy's class trip to City Hall initially booked for Friday, November 18, 2011 is CANCELLED as that is a Professional Development Day and there is NO School. The trip has been rescheduled for Wednesday, November 23, 2011. Please note a new excursion form will be sent home today. Thank you, Vera

Please note that Fern's Halloween Parade will commence at 10:45am NOT 11:00am on Monday October 31st, 2011. This correction is in an effort to accommodate the kindergarten children who are dismissed from their program at 11:30am. Additional information regarding activities and programming on October 31st will be provided in the school newsletter. All other inquiries are to be directed to your child's classroom teacher. Happpy Halloween!

CyberARTS Open House & Application Process The CyberArts program at Charles H. Best M.S. will be holding an open house information night on November 16th at 6 p.m. CyberARTS will be accepting applications from Grade 6 students for the 2012-13 year. CyberARTS is a TDSB specialized program and offers an enriched education for students with an aptitude in visual arts and interest in multimedia and technology. At the grade 7 and 8 level, CyberARTS is integrated with the provincial grade level curriculum. Information and application package available at: www.cyberarts.ca Alpha Open House Alpha II is a TDSB Grades 7-12 alternative school where students self-direct their learning based on what they personally value in life while becoming part of a community created through consensus where each person's voice counts in developing that consensus. Alpha II is located in Kent Senior Public School directly across from the Dufferin Street subway station. For students and

15 members of Free the Children attended We Day on Sept. 27th. The speakers and entertainers empowered and inspired us to change the lives of others. The kids from FTC had many great things to say about We Day. “We Day was an amazing opportunity” Gwen “I loved seeing such talented amazing people” Plum “Craig shook my hand!” Joseph “It nearly made me cry” Margeaux “It was a very special moment” Jackie By Gwen and Plum, FTC

Free the Children is running its second Hallowe'en for Hunger food drive. We are asking for donations of canned food from October 24-31. All donations will go to a local food bank. Please help us make hunger history!

On Monday October 31st, 2011 most of our students will be celebrating Halloween with Fern’s annual costume parade. To accommodate other planned activities within the school, the parade will take place at approximately 11:00am. Students will gather at the Wright Avenue entrance with their classroom teachers and then proceed toward Roncesvalles, to Fern and back onto school property. Our afternoon JK/SK classes will participate in am ‘in-school’ walkabout to display their costumes. All students will be dismissed at the appropriate lunch time after the parade. We welcome families and friends to take part and cheer on our students as they make their way around the neighbourhood. Please note that individual classrooms will host parties, Halloween activities and other planned events. For more information about your child’s classroom, please speak with your child’s teacher. Here are details about the Grade 1-3 classrooms: The primary classes will be celebrating together in a Halloween Carouse

The Eco Club is starting an initiative this month that involves the collection of old/used up batteries. In each classroom there will be a container for students to put their old batteries from home. On the last day of every month the batteries will be collected and taken to a site where they will be disposed of appropriately. We want to bring students attention to the need to prevent harmful chemical leakage into the landfills.

On a beautiful October 11th we had approximately 30 runners participate in the semi-finals. We are happy to celebrate the successes of all the runners. Congratulations to a job well done. Fern will have 11 runners at the City finals on October 20th, rain or shine. Congratulations to: Grade 1 Girls (4) (as a Team came second) Grade 2 Boys (1) Grade 3 Boys (2) Grade 4 Girls (1) Grade 4 Boys (1) Grade 6 Girls (2) Last week, information forms did go home. Transportation is limited and we really need the parents help to transport students to the park and back to school. We do not need you all day. If you are available to drive some students, please return the form or see Ms. G. in room 201 on Wednesday. Thank you, Cross Country Coaches

Click here to find a summary of all sport teams and house leagues offered at Fern Avenue Public School.

The Junior Girls played a great tournament just before the Thanksgiving weekend and came in 5th overall. Our pitcher's Laura and Nicole both did an outstanding job for the team. Congratulations girls.

You are invited to see what a vibrant Parent Council can do for your child’s education at Fern. Learn what the Arts Committee, Foodies, Communications Gang, Eco Team, Fundraisers and the brand new Science Club have planned for this year. Get involved in decisions that affect your child and help us build a stronger Fern community! Please join us (and feel free to bring some friends too): When: Thursday, October 20 Time: 6:30 until about 8:00pm Where: Fern Auditorium

A reminder to please send in the tear-off section of the flyer for Secondary School Parent Information Nights. The nights will be at Carleton Village PS on October 19 or at Parkdale PS on October 25 at 6:45 Etobicoke School of the Arts has earlier deadlines then other specialized schools. Students who are interested in ESA have been given information on the key dates including a notice asking parents to arrange their own transportation for their child if they are attending the infomation session Thursday October 25 from 1 to 3:15. Please send a permission note letting us know if your child plans to attend. Thursday October 27 is their Open House for parents and students and their application deadline is December 2. Friday January 20 will be their Audition Day. Please go to www.esainfo.ca for more information. Rosedale Heights also has an information afternoon for students on November 24 from 1:00 to 2:45 pm. Parents are asked to arrange transportation to and from Rosedale H

Fern Photo Re-take day will be held on Tuesday, November 1, 2001 from 9:00am-11:45am. Parents of kindergraden students in the afternoon, if you wish a retake please bring your child in the morning. Don't forget to bring your smiles!

The kids are talking and the word is that Maggie’s lunches are “fantastic!” So, if you haven’t done so already, don’t forget to sign up for November's menu of hot hunches. To order your lunches for November, download the application form and drop off your payment at room 103 by October 17th. Full details are included on the application form. To check out our menu download it here or browse through the online School Calendar.

The October menu we distributed last month did not have lunch listed for Monday, October 31, but now it can be told: Turkey Sausage  Scalloped Potatoes  Corn Red Pepper Sticks Honeydew If you want a copy of the revised menu to print out, click here .

Grade 8 students will receive audition information at the school during the Grade 8 Information Afternoon on Tuesday, October 25, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Parents are welcome to attend the Parent Information Evening on Thursday, October 27, 2011 starting at 6:00 p.m.  To accommodate the large number of parents visiting Etobicoke School of the Arts on Thursday October 27, 2011, two information sessions/performances will be held in the auditorium at 6:15 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. As part of our eco-schools initiative, we will no longer be distributing application packages at the information sessions. Instead, all forms in the application package will be available on our website on the week of October 27, 2011 ( www.esainfo.ca ). All online applications must be submitted by Friday, December 2, 2011. Completed applications must be submitted to ESA postmarked by Friday, December 2, 2011.  Auditions will be held Friday, January 20, 2012.  For further details, please refer to our w

Interested in information on the Etobicoke School for the Arts?   Click here  for application deadlines and  how to obtain additional information.

My name is Dara Schwartz and I am your child’s Guidance Counsellor. I can be reached at  dara.schwartz@tdsb.on.ca    I am usually at Fern Avenue all day Monday and alternating Wednesdays. I would be happy to meet with you and discuss Secondary School options for your child if you would like. We have a Parent Information Night coming up either on October 19 at Carleton Village or October 25 at Parkdale PS.   I strongly encourage you and your child to attend one of these nights.    Click here for additional information .  Your child has received this flyer.    Please click on the follow links for additional information on  optional attendance procedures ,  specialized program information and  information nights for other secondary schools .