Fern Ave. Public School Blog

Our annual DANCE-A-THON is on Tuesday February 14 . What a fabulous way to celebrate Valentine's Day and help support your school. This event is run by the School Advisory (Parent) Council and is one of our major fundraisers of the year. Money raised will help support additional programs at Fern (Arts, Science, Sports and Special Events). All classes will be dancing for a designated period of time in the auditorium and parents are welcome to come and help out. If you are available to volunteer, please email Pamela - wilson.pamela@sympatico.ca . The class that raises the most money (in each division) will be rewarded with a Pizza Party. We also have a GRAND PRIZE for one individual student that collects the most money, a unique opportunity to step in to Mr. Moy's shoes and be Principal for a Day. We appreciate your support and look forward to seeing you ON THE DANCE FLOOR! The Dance-a-thon Committee

Looking for a summer camp that includes sports, drama, arts & crafts and nature and is close to home? Check out the TDSB Island Summer Camp on Centre Island. Camps are offered in July 2012 for ages 9-13. Check out the TDSB website for additional information.

Help support a local school and vote for the Perth Ave Public School/St. Luigi Catholic Schoolyard Project to win 1 of 4 $50,000 grants through the Team Up Foundation Fund. Voting Starts January 30th until February 20th, 2012. One vote allowed per day. Click here to vote .

Dear Parent/Guardians, Our Itinerant Music Instructor for Band, Mr. Mills teaches band to our students on Days 1 and 3 from 2:30 pm to 3:15pm. If you have any questions please feel free to contact our main office. Thanks.

Dear Parent/Guardians, As mentioned in a previous blog graduation pictures for grade 8 students will take place on Thursday, February 9th at 9:00am. GRADUATION PHOTO TIPS: Graduation gowns, props and school colours will be provided at our school on photo day. For your graduation photos, the photographers recommend a white blouse for the girls and a white collared shirt and dark tie for the boys. PLEASE remember if you wish to purchase a 11x14 Graduation Class Composite with a vinyl folder please send $20.00 with your child in the envelope provided. If you have any questions please feel free to call Vera in the main office at 416-393-9130.

This year’s Holiday concert was an amazing show! We were so pleased with all the kids who sang and performed. We were also very lucky to have Katherine Wheatley come out and lead her students in an inspiring performance of the songs they wrote in her "Youth Songs" program that came to Fern in December. We had 12 classes (302 students) write, sing and record eight amazing songs. Katherine’s enthusiasm, patience and teaching skills made this possible. Our students and teachers really enjoyed working with Katherine and we hope she will come back again next year to work with the rest of the school. With Katherine's help we have put together a CD with all eight songs, sung by our very own Fern students! The CDs are only $5.00 and include the lyrics to all the songs so kids can practice at home! Look for order form envelopes coming home this week so you can order your very own FERN FEST 2011 CD! Orders are due by February 1st.

Are your children on Facebook?   Did you know that most students in Grade 5 & up are on Facebook and their average "Friend List" count is 175?    If you would like to learn more about Facebook and how to manage your child's Facebook use, attend the session at Humberside Collegiate Institute on February 1st and review these Privacy Tips .   Additional information can be found at this link .  

Spidey is trying to “catch” new Parents. We need you at the next School Council Meeting!      Thursday, January 26th—6:30 PM      Room 216 Please join us this coming Thursday as we celebrate the start of 2012 and review plans for our: Annual Dance-thon on February 14 Winter Art programs Future live productions Spring Fling Get involved and help build a stronger Fern Community. We look forward to seeing you there!

Maggie’s delicious and nutritious lunches have been receiving rave reviews since October, thanks to a partnership between Ferncliff Daycare and the Fern Food Committee to run the hot-lunch pilot program. In order for the Food Committee to better assess and improve the program and carry out its commitment to the school board to undertake a program review, we would appreciate your feedback. With this information we will be able to examine if we are able to continue the lunch program next school year. We are asking all Fern families to share your thoughts regarding the lunch program, whether you are participating in it or not. We would greatly appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to answer our survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/3B2VJ7C by Monday, February 6. Thank you. The Fern Food Committee

The guitar club will begin on Monday January 23 from 3:30 to 4:15. If you wish to join you need to come and get a permission form from Mr. Cline or Mr. Morra and bring in your guitar for next Monday. The club will be running every Monday from 3:30 to 4:15 and meeting in Room 205.