Fern Ave. Public School Blog

Click here for a tentative rehearsal schedule for 2017's Lost in Round Corners.

The Eco Team has been working hard and we as a school will be starting up Boomerang lunches after the holidays. Click here for information from the EcoSchool team on Fern's Boomerang lunch program starting January!

Please click here for the winter sports schedule at Fern Avenue P.S. The schedule/table includes school teams and house leagues, practise/play times, and coaches for the months of January and February. Our ice hockey team and swim team will post separate schedules for their upcoming season.

Dear Parents/Guardians, Grade 7 Extended French programs are intensive French programs developed for students who do not speak French at home.  They are designed to provide more experience in the French language than offered in the Core French program but less than total immersion.  The Extended program includes French and additional subjects taught in the French language. Students enrolling in the Extended French program are expected to have successfully completed the Grade 6 Core French program. After Grade 8, students continue the Extended French program at designated secondary schools. Students who successful complete the secondary program will receive a Certificate of Bilingual Studies in Extended French. To find the Extended French school for your area, please visit the following website and enter the name of your English school in the designated search window: www.tdsb.on.ca/ElementarySchool/SchoolChoices/FrenchPrograms How Do you Apply? Locate your designated Ex

Dear Parents/Guardians, We need your help.  With the construction to the roof the west side of the building is closed to our students, staff and parents.  We have observed students and parents walking through the parking lot, that is a very dangerous situation and not paying attention may cause a serious accident.  The Fern Avenue School parking lot can be an incredibly busy place in the morning when staff arrive and in the afternoon when it’s dismissal time.  We are please asking parents and students to NOT walk through or play in the parking lot. Please use the appropriate exits and please stay safe. Thank you.

Dear Parents/Guardians of Children in Grade Three, Fern Avenue Public School will be holding an information meeting  for the Junior Extended French Program on Thursday, January 12, 2017 at 6:00 PM. The meeting will be held in the auditorium just across from the main office. Please feel free to contact Vera Ciric should you have any further questions.

Dear Parents/Guardians of Children in Grade Three, You have a choice to make about French programming for your child.  Grade 4 is the only time your child can begin a Junior Extended program. Junior Extended French: Grade 4, 5, 6 -half of the day is in French and half of the day is in English.  The subjects taught in French are Language, Social Studies and The Arts. -the subjects taught in English are English Language Arts, Math and Science. Applications to the Junior Extended French are made the year your child is in Grade 3 for entry in September of Grade 4.   It is an entirely online process .  All communication will be sent via the email address you provide. Please visit the application site www.tdsb.on.ca/pars You will need your child's date of birth and OEN.  The OEN is a 9-digit number found on any report card from the TDSB.  for non-TDSB students, please select the "Non-TDSB Student" option and follow the steps to generate an identification number.  

Bonjour from Kristina Laperle, Parent Co-chair French as a Second Language Advisory Committee In this issue: 1. Grade 4 & 7 Application Deadlines 2. TDSB Library Anywhere, Anytime! 3. Reading at Home – Quick Tips 4. Welcoming English Language Learners in FSL 5. Growth Mindset: Je Suis Capable 6. Parent Survey: Special Education 7. Broadlands FI Students on CP24 8. A Big Thank You – Un Grand Merci 9. Save the Dates – FSLAC Info Link for tweeting, posting electronically or printing this newsletter: http://www.tdsb.on.ca/Portals/0/docs/FSLAC%20Newsletter-Dec%202016.pdf

Click here for information on upcoming new after school programs in Art and Soccer at Fern!

The winter concert is coming up rapidly! Just a quick reminder that the Winter Concert is taking place this Wednesday (December 14, 2016) at 6:30pm. Students are to arrive to their homeroom class at 6:00pm. The Kestrels are to meet in the Music Room. Band is gathering in room 109 and the Strings are gathering in room 108. In front of the office, Free the Children will selling baked goods, crafts and rafikis. They will also have a wishing well. Funds generated will go towards a school build in Kenya and homeless youth in Toronto. We look forward to seeing you!

Fern Shopping Days at Scooter Girl Toys coming up this Friday Dec. 9 and Saturday Dec. 10! Scooter Girl will donate 15% of your total purchase to the Fern School Council Fundraising team. Plan your shopping now. Remember to tell them that YOU'RE A FERN PARENT. Check it out!

Next week Fern's Free The Children club will be selling hand-made items in support of our local and global initiatives. All items will be for sale at the Junior Concert (Dec. 14 6:00-7:30pm) and in the front hall during lunches on December 14-16 (12-12:45pm). Locally we support Toronto’s homeless and street-involved youth through Light Patrol . We will be selling “reindeer” hot chocolate, mugs and baked goods and raffling off an A5Lux Razor scooter .                                    Globally we support FTC’s initiatives in Kenya. We will be selling Rafiki Friend Chains for $11. Rafikis help a mama in Kenya earn and living and send her children to school. We will also be selling wishes for the Wishing Well for $1 each. The five potential wishes are as follows: - Principal for 1/2 a day - Movie and snack for your class - Free swim for 1 period - 2 Rafikis for you and a friend - LIT coffee and mugs “Be the Change You Wish to See in the World” Gandhi

LOST in ROUND CORNERS, this year's musical will will hold auditions at lunch Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday next week (Dec 12-14th) in the music room. Auditions pieces for main cast will be available Friday morning.  Auditions for the Musical Band will be held December 18 and 19th at lunch in the Music Room. Thank you, Mr. Brooks

Fern’s Free The Children is hosting a Movie Day on Tuesday December 20th at 1pm for all primary students We are raising funds to help Free The Children Build a School. By improving access to schools, and providing additional resources like teacher training and supplies, Free The Children’s Education initiatives brings long-term sustainable education opportunities to communities who need it most. We are asking for a suggested donation of $5 per child for the movie, popcorn and a drink. A tax receipt will be issued for donations of $10 or greater. Forms will be coming home shortly. Please submit all donations to your child’s teacher. Thank you in advance for your support. Fern's FTC

We had a successful day with Santa at Willem and Jools Flowers on Roncesvalles this past weekend. Fern Ave Events raised over $700.00 for Fern P.S! A big thanks for hosting our little event goes out to Joanne Winklear at Willem and Jools, and all of the organizers/helpers: Allison Macrae, Jill Macnaughton, Trish Bentley, Jackie Dale and two Fern students, Kether Cape and Ella Morais, who did a fabulous job calling out to each passerby to come sip cider, munch on cookies and make a donation. We also extend our gratitude to talented parents such as Kathryn Maxfield for her artistic contribution and the intrepid, talented photographer Lindsay Barrowcliffe, who captured each special moment with Santa. As well, delicious cookies were generously donated by Eden Hertzog of New Moon Cookies and an amazing "Cloudlight" was raffled courtesy of Jenna Lam at Early Bird and Worm. And, of course, we couldn't have done it without our dancing, jolly Santa: Monte Burris. Here's t

This Friday staff and students can wear any hat they want in support of the TDSB United Way Campaign. We are asking for a donation of a loonie or a toonie to support the campaign. Here are some facts from last year about how United Way helps in the Toronto and York Region: In 2015-16 the United Way supported the following: ·209 programs and services that supported children and youth at every stage of their development. ·46,000 counselling/mentoring sessions that put youth on the path to a promising future. ·Over $17.1M that is invested in child and youth programming across Toronto and York Region. ·Over 45,000 children and their families got a good start in life together by participating in programs that encouraged children’s healthy physical and social development, and helped get them ready for school. ·Over 28,000 one-on-one counselling sessions that put youth on the path to a promising future. ·Over 60,000 youth got the support they needed to finish school, find jobs and lo

Dear Parents and Guardians of Grade 8 Students,  Our Montreal Information night with Brightspark Travel will be on Thursday, December 15th from 5:30 to 7:00 PM in the school auditorium.  We are planning a 3 day excursion from June 21st to June 23, 2017. You can expect an information letter and excursion form to be handed out by the end of this week. Regards, Bogdan Nikolajevic 

Winter Fun Week:  Monday, December 19th to Friday, December 23rd. Monday, December 19th:  Door Decorating Contest Tuesday, December 20th:  Wear Your Ugly Christmas/Holiday Sweater Wednesday, December 21st:  Seniors at the Review watching Home Alone                                                 Santa Hat Day  (or just wear your hat) Thursday, December 22nd:  BAKE SALE Friday, December 23rd:  Spirit Day:  PAJAMA DAY

KAREN KAIN SCHOOL OF THE ARTS There is still time to apply to Karen Kain School of the Arts! FOR: All interested parents/guardians of students entering Grade 6 in September 2017. Is your Grade 5 son or daughter excited by the Arts? Is he/she looking for a Middle School experience in an enriched Arts environment? Visit and bookmark http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/karenkain/home.aspx to learn more about Karen Kain School of the Arts curriculum and the application process! To find out more about admissions please visit: http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/karenkain/Admissions.aspx To complete the online application to Karen Kain School of the Arts please visit: https://sprs.tdsb.on.ca/public/welcome.aspx

The whirlwind of the holiday break may sweep you up and before you know it, school begins and you need to find the lunch box and thermos again! Why not alleviate your stress, energy and time and sign your child(ren) up for January’s lunch program? Better yet, sign up for the rest of the year and you won’t have to worry about uneaten lunches coming back home. The menu features everything from chicken curry, teriyaki noodles, to soup, kale salad, fish tacos and other delicious (and nutritious, but you don’t need to tell your kids that) lunches. Ready to sign up? Please fill out, detach and submit the form with your payment in a sealed envelope. The wall-mounted secure deposit box is conveniently located on the main floor between rooms room 103 and 104. The deadline for your order is Friday, December 16th to begin lunch on Monday, January 9. No extensions will be given. Have a peaceful and restful holiday!