Fern Ave. Public School Blog

Dear Parents/Guardians and Staff: I am writing to provide an update regarding the decision-making process for the Attendance Boundary Review that was discussed with you this past fall.  As you may recall, a public meeting was held on September 30, 2014 and an additional working meeting involving community representatives was held on October 21, 2014. I would like to thank all of the parents/guardians and community members who dedicated their valuable time and participated in the review process. After careful consideration of all options, TDSB staff will be moving forward with their recommendations to deal with overcrowding at Garden Avenue Jr PS.  Staff is proposing to change the boundaries with Parkdale Jr & Sr PS, an adjacent school with surplus capacity, to reduce the enrolment at Garden Jr PS (for 2015-16).  Other minor boundary changes in the area are being recommended that will impact two other schools-Alexander Muir/Gladstone Avenue Jr & Sr PS and Fern Avenue Jr &

Additional community consultations are being scheduled to give the public more time to voice their opinion on the Wilson report and the Minister’s directives. You may find the information here: http://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/WilsonReport.aspx There are currently 2 meeting dates on the list. The number may increase as more meetings are scheduled. Thank you.

Click here for a flyer regarding the January 26th Consultation Board Meeting. Requests to depute should be sent to Denisse Para at denisse.parra@tdsb.on.ca by Friday Jan 23rd by 10am .

Dear Parents/Guardians, Once again, we are getting ready to photograph the Graduating students. Photographs are going to be taken on Thursday, February 05, 2015 beginning at 9:00 AM. Graduation gowns, props and school colours will be provided to our students by Bright Pics, we do recommend a white blouse for the girls and a white collared shirt and dark tie for the boys.  Graduates will be able to purchase a wonderful keepsake to have, a 11x14 Class Composite with a vinyl folder.   Your child will be provided with a class composite order form.  Please complete the order form, enclose your payment of $22.00 and ensure that the payment is received by the photographer on the day of photos.  Please call Vera at 416-393-9130 if you have any further questions. Thank you.

Thank you Fern community! Many thanks to everyone who contributed food items during the Annual Fern Food Drive. More than 18 large boxes were collected and donated to the Daily Bread Food Bank, which distributes food to those people in need within our community. To learn more about the issues surrounding the increasing need of food banks or to find out how you can help, you can visit www.dailybread.ca .

Please click here for information on an open house at Delta Senior Alternative School.

Dear Parents/Guardians, Please note the junior division skating trip initially scheduled for Friday, February 6th will now take place on  all day on Wednesday, February 4, 2015. Thank you!

Click here for the January 2015 Free the Children newsletter.

Greetings, I would like to share with you a upcoming school safety event. Details as follows: SAFETY IN OUR SCHOOLS COMMUNITY FORUMS 15 JANUARY 2015 (6:30 PM - 8:30 PM) The work of the Safety in Our Schools committee has been ongoing as a result of the tragic murder of student Hamid Aminzada inside North Albion CI in September 2014. In addition, the TDSB have received increasing concerns related to violence in our schools and “near misses” (potential or actual injury but not fatality). As part of this review, the Safety in Our Schools Panel will be holding a Community Forums on 15 January 2015. The purpose of the forums is to hear from parents, students and communities their perspectives on school and community safety and suggestions to improve safety in our Toronto schools. 15 January 2015 Thistletown Collegiate Institute 20 Fordwich Cres, Etobicoke, ON M9W 2T4 6:30 pm – 8:30 pm Please contact 416-395-8155 if you require an interpreter or childcare at the meet

Inviting all grade 7 & 8 parents to be part of the Graduation Committee. Come and brainstorm ideas on fundraising and making this  a special memorable day and evening for our 2014-2015 Fern graduates!  Please email Vera at Vera.ciric@tdsb.on.ca if you wish to be part of this great team.  Thank you!

Dear Parents/Guardians, The Grade 8 Graduation has been booked for Monday, June 22, 2015. Ceremony to be held at PCI, reception to follow at LULA Lounge. Please stay tuned for more details or feel free to call Vera Ciric @ 416-393-9130.

Kindergarten at Fern Avenue PS At Fern Avenue PS we look forward to opening our doors to your family.  Our kindergarten program provides young students with a rich and safe learning environment  designed to give them the best possible start. At the TDSB your child will have many opportunities to learn, build new skills and make new friends. Stating Kindergarten is a very exciting time.  We are here to support you and your child in getting ready for school. Registration To qualify for Junior Kindergarten, children must be four years of age by December 31 of that year. Fern Avenue PS Junior Kindergarten  Registration will take place from Monday, February 09th to Thursday, February 12th, 2015. In order to register your child the office staff will require you to bring the following documentation: Child's birth certificate or Passport Child's Health Card Child's Immunization Record Two pieces of identification with your home address (for example: gas bill, pho

Dear Parents/Guardians, The Junior Division will be participating in a skating trip to Harbourfront , all day Friday, February 6th, 2015. Thank you.

Dear Parents/Guardians, Public Health will be at Fern Avenue PS on Wednesday, January 14. 2015 beginning at 9:15 am to administer the second dose of the HPV vaccine to our grade 8 girls . Please call Vera in the office should you have any questions or concerns. Thank you.

Please click here for information on City View Alternative School’s Open House, Thurs. Jan. 15, 2015 at 6:45 pm .

Fern extends a very warm welcome to head cook Sally and the rest of her TDSB Nutrition Services team. While students are missing Maggie, the lunches that TDSB has been serving up since her retirement have been met with positive reviews. Although change can sometimes be tough for students, they are embracing the new menu (which continues to provide delicious -- and nutritious -- lunches) and look forward to savouring their midday meals. We thank parents for their ongoing support for the program. For more information about the program, please visit http://fernavenuepublicschool.blogspot.ca/p/lunch-program.html . Fern Food Committee

Please click here for information on the High Park Alternative School Open House on January 20th 2015 .

Please click here for information on the Equinox’s Open House, Thurs. Jan. 22, 2015 at 6pm.

MESSAGE FROM DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION, DONNA QUAN and ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS, LOU VAVOUGIOS, CARLA KISKO AND GEN LING CHANG Communication regarding the Safe Schools and Engaged Communities Forum taking place on 13 January 2015 at David and Mary Thomson CI and 15 January 2015 at Thistletown CI will be sent out today to parents/guardians. The information will communicated centrally by Synervoice through the Academic, Research & Information Services Department. Please click here if you require more details regarding the forum.

The Fern Arts Collective presents another Live Music Event at Fern, Thursday, January 22nd . Creason, a Quebec duo, combines reuse and recycling to the concept of original instruments. Hockey sticks, tin cans, pans and bicycle tubes are incorporated to create unique musical instruments. The duo is extremely captivating with their unique compositions along with their injection of their own brand of humour that will be appreciated by children and adults alike. Dinner will be available staring at 5:30pm. Barque is providing Barque Boxes-a kids meal that includes a hot dog, homemade hickory sticks and vegetables all in one box. For adults, Barque Brisket Sandwiches will be available with your choice of toppings. There will also be a selection of baked goods provided by our lovely Fern Parents. Don't miss this incredible Live Show. Tickets will sell fast so make sure you pick up your tickets at the office or from one of the friendly Arts Collective members. The show is $5.00, the

Please click here for information on a Garden Ave fundraiser for grown ups January 17 at Howard Park Emmanuel Church. Luke Jackson and Eli Klein have organized a night of entertainment hosted by Susan the Psychic.

Dear Families, Please note the application process for the French Extended opened on January 05, 2015 and closes on January 29, 2015. There will be an information session for interested parents this T hursday, January 8, 2015  in the Fern auditorium at 7:00 PM. Thank you!

A warm welcome to head cook Sally and her team from TDSB Nutrition Services, who take over the kitchen following Maggie's retirement in December. They began cooking and serving up delicious meals for all lunch program and Ferncliff participants. The menu includes burritos, stir-fried rice, curries, pastas and more -- all with yummy vegetarian alternatives. (Click here to see the February menu.) Ready to sign up? Simply download the order form , fill it out and submit by Thursday, January 15. NO exceptions will be given. Thanks, Food Committee

Hello all: In response to constituent feedback she has received concerning the numerous changes occurring in our schools, our MPP Cheri Dinovo is hosting an Education Town Hall hosted on January 22nd 2015, (7-9PM) at the Parkdale Library Auditorium. You are invited to attend. With a focus on Ward 14 issues, the agenda will involve a panel discussion and an opportunity to ask questions. Cheri has pulled together a panel that will include myself, a representative from the Ministry of Education, MPP Peter Tabuns (Education Critic) & Krista Wylie of the grass roots organization, Fix Our Schools ( www.fixourschools.ca ) As well, local community organizations have been invited to set up information tables. Please pass this information on to your parent communities. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact Cheri's office. Hope you will be there. Regards, Robin Pilkey Trustee - TDSB Ward 7 Parkdale High Park