News

News, announcements, and reminders from the council, school, and community.

Garden News

Posted: 
Sunday November 15

Thank you so much to Ms Lawson for her leadership in heading up our moving Remembrance Day Assembly. Thank you to Ms. Zampiero for the primary choirs spectacular singing of "Home" and for Ms Chawla’s poignant grade 5/6 letters written in thanks to our Canadian soldiers.

Concerns have been raised around safety during student entry in the morning/recess and at lunch.  As a team we have designed a new Entry Procedure which will  begin this week. Thank you to our Character Education/entry team for your leadership. Please see as follows:

Recess Line-Ups and Transitions

  • all classes are accompanied to the recess exit by their teacher
  • students are dismissed outdoors only after a staff member on duty has arrived outdoors

Entry Line-Ups

  • students going to the second floor will make one line following along the bricks
  • students going to the main floor will make one line following along the fence
  • students will enter the school once their line is in single file and calm
  • only the teachers on duty may decide when the doors open to allow students to re-enter
  • students must walk upon entering the school
  • students going to the second floor will hold the handrails, using both sides of the staircase
  • students will be admitted to their classrooms once they have formed a quiet, single file line outside of the classroom

Let me know if you have any questions.

Ms. Hardy

When you show deep empathy towards others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it. That's when you can get more creative in solving problems
- Stephen Convey

File(s): 
Parent Week at a Glance - Week of November 16-20

School Letter - Solar Roof - School yard off limits on Friday Nov 13

Posted: 
Thursday November 12

To Parents/Guardians:

On Friday November 13, 2015 (P.A. Day - NO SCHOOL) the school yard will be off limits as a team of workers will be using a crane to lift equipment on to the roof of the school for the installation of the solar panels. There will also be a small fenced off area on the north/east side of the building where they will store their equipment for the extent of the project; they will also have a porta potty on site.

The projected time is 6-8 weeks. They have assured us that there will be little impact on the school day beyond hearing foot traffic on the roof. 

Ms. A. Hardy
Principal

File(s): 
School Letter - Solar Roof

Chess Club is coming to Garden!

Posted: 
Thursday November 12
Tags: 

Children will...

  • Develop creative and critical thinking skills through an exclusive use of the Chess World curriculum
  • receive chess lessons with built-in character education
  • Strengthen memory and concentration
  • participate in confidence-building exercises and activities
  • gain a life long love for chess!

Beginner to advanced - All skill levels welcome.
Open to children in JK and SK and Grades 1 to 6.

Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school, 3:30 - 4:30 p.m.
Grade 1-6 club: November 24, 2015 - March 1, 2016 (12-week program)
JK-SK club: November 25, 2015 - March 2, 2016 (12-week program).
Room: 103, 104
Cost: $156.

Register for chess club now at:
www.chessinstitute.ca

File(s): 
Chess Club Flyer

TDSB Letter - December Progress Reports and Labour Update

Posted: 
Friday November 6

The TDSB has released a letter with new details on the December Progress Reports as well as an update on labour negotiations: "A tentative agreement has been reached with the Government of Ontario, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO). With this tentative agreement, ETFO has agreed to end its province-wide job action. Progress reports for elementary students will also be issued on December 10, 2015, pending ratification of the tentative agreement with ETFO." For more information consult the TDSB site.

File(s): 
TDSB Letter - December Progress Reports

Recall of Allerject brand epinephrine auto-injectors

Posted: 
Monday November 2

Many of you will already know that Sanofi issued a recall of its Allerject brand of epinephrine auto-injectors on 28 October. For more details consult the Health Canada recall notice.
 

Happy Halloween from the Staff at Garden!

Posted: 
Saturday October 31

Happy Halloween from the staff at Garden!

Garden staff in halloween outfits

Garden staff in halloween outfits

Cyberbullying Doc at Revue Cinema Wednesday October 28

Posted: 
Tuesday October 27

No Place to Hide: The Rehtaeh Parsons Story, official selection of 2015 Hot Docs, will have an exclusive screening and Town Hall Community Event at The Revue on Wednesday, October 28 at 7pm. This film, dealing with the tragic story of Rehteah Parsons, explores the devastating consequences and pernicious forms of cyber-bullying. See flyer for details.

File(s): 
Flyer for No Place to Hide

Halloween at Garden - a Primer

Posted: 
Monday October 26

Just a quick note in case you're not clear on the Halloween protocol at Garden. Kids are invited to don their costumes after lunch, which means they are asked to bring their costumes in a bag in the morning and change at lunchtime. Weapons (swords, guns, etc.) are not permitted. At 1pm, as mentioned in Principal Hardy's note, there will be a Halloween Parade on the front lawn to which all parents and caregivers are invited. 

Get Your Pumpkins Here!

Posted: 
Monday October 26

It looks like neighbourhood Halloween decorations have ramped up this year. How about adding a patch of pernicious puking pumpkins to your front lawn and one-up your neighbours' zombie graveyard (while teaching your children about alliteration). Lucky for you, we still have some pumpkins available for purchase! Pick one up from the front foyer of the school and leave $10 with Celia in the office! All proceeds are going to some excellent programming for our kids. On that note, why not pop by the School Council meeting on Thursday evening (6:30 in the library) to hear about how the money will be spent - or to share your ideas! 

School Council Meeting - Thursday October 29, 6:30-8:00pm

Posted: 
Monday October 26

Please join us at the Garden School Council meeting this week (Thursday, October 29) from 6:30-8:00 in the library.  Childcare will be provided.

Some highlights of the agenda include:

  • Update from our Principal on what’s going on with the school in light of the current labour climate;
  • Discussion of both the school and school council budget (i.e., how much money we have, and what we’d like to do with it);
  • How to ensure inclusive and equitable access to activities and outings for all grades; and,
  • You never know what else pops up at these meetings! 

Please consider coming to this meeting to learn about the inner workings of your child’s school – and, if you like, share your ideas on what you’d like to see change. Everyone is very welcome.  

If you are coming, and you need childcare, please let us know by emailing: gardenavenews@gmail.com

TDSB Letter - Important Labour Update

Posted: 
Friday October 23

On 23 October, the TDSB distributed an Important Labour Update that includes information about student progress reports.

Additional information about the labour negotiations is available from the TDSB website, including an FAQ (see link below).

File(s): 
TDSB Letter - Important Labour Update

ETFO Media Release on Escalating Strike Action

Posted: 
Thursday October 22

The ETFO published a media release on 22 October: "ETFO escalates strike action to compel OPSBA, government to return to the central bargaining table."

Kinder Coffee postponed until November

Posted: 
Thursday October 22

The Kinder Coffee scheduled for Friday 23 October is cancelled. There will be another Kinder Coffee scheduled in November.

School Council Meeting Postponed to October 29

Posted: 
Thursday October 22

Due to sudden illness, we are unable to hold our School Council meeting tonight. The meeting will be held instead on Thursday October 29.

Sorry for any inconvenience - and we'll see you next week!

Natasha
Garden School Council Co-Chair

Thank You for the Garden Pumpkin Patch!

Posted: 
Monday October 19

What a wonderful event our "Garden Pumpkin Patch" was!! The weather was gorgeous. The pumpkin pie and hot chocolate were delicious. The kids were thrilled with the games and face painting. I want to extend a huge thank you to a parent for organizing the event and to all of the parent volunteers for showed up and volunteered their time. Thank you to all of the grade 6 students who volunteered at each station. I also want to thank our amazing caretaker Mr. Morris who helped out and made sure that our school and the grounds were spotless for Monday. There is a large box of pumpkins in the front foyer. If you still need your Halloween pumpkin please stop by the office. They are only $10 a pumpkin.

File(s): 
Buy a Pumpkin Flyer

See you at the Pumpkin Patch on Saturday!

Posted: 
Friday October 16

Don't forget to come to the Garden Pumpkin Patch fundraiser tomorrow (Saturday 17 October) from 11am-3pm in the school yard. It's a great chance to have some fun (face painting, sack races, and colouring), grab some food (hot dogs, hot chocolate, and pie), and of course to pick up a pumpkin for your house. Dress warmly because the forecast says it will be chilly - all the better to enjoy the hot chocolate!

Join us at Fern Arts' Collective Spooktacular Halloween Show

Posted: 
Thursday October 15

Join us at Fern Avenue P.S. on Thursday, October 29th for Professor Wick’s Incredible Magic Factory!

This show is a wonderful blend of mechanical wizardry, music and comedy delivered by an outlandish cast of “steampunk” characters! The magic carpet ride starts at 6:30 pm in the school auditorium! Tickets are $5 and can be purchased in Fern's office or at the door the night of the show! A light dinner and home-baked desserts will be for sale in the foyer beginning at 5:45! Bring Your Own Water Bottle! Invite your friends and neighbours!

“How many impossible things have you believed in lately?” - Professor Wick

Garden Pumpkin Patch Volunteers Needed!

Posted: 
Sunday October 11

We need volunteers to help out with the Garden Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser this Saturday. If you are available to help anytime from 10am - 4pm on Saturday 17 October, please reach out. Thanks!

Thursday is Blue and White Day!

Posted: 
Wednesday October 7

In honor of our Toronto Blue Jays beginning the playoffs, tomorrow will be blue and white day. If you have anything blue jays or anything blue or white wear it. GO JAYS GO!!!!

Garden's Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser

Posted: 
Sunday October 4

Buy your Halloween pumpkin at Garden's Pumpkin Patch fundraiser!
on Saturday, October 17 from 11am to 3pm (Rain date: Sunday, October 25).

Support Garden Avenue Public School by making our Pumpkin Patch your Halloween pumpkin(s) destination! Not only will there be choice giant gourds for you to bring home to adorn your stoop, but we'll also have a pumpkin colouring competition, pumpkin pie, hot dogs, hot chocolate, face painting, sack races and more!

File(s): 
Garden's Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser Poster

Garden News

Posted: 
Sunday October 4

Well the Gym is finished and looks absolutely gorgeous! Thank you for all your patience with this project. I appreciate all the teachers (especially Ms. Cox and Mr. Goetz) who took their students outside for gym. I also want to thank the amazing lunchroom supervisors for supporting the students with outdoor lunch for the week.

This week there have been numerous incidences in the yard around students playing “rough” games and also students feeling not included. Please find 5 minutes to review our school rule of “keeping your hands and feet to yourself”. Next week I am going to begin to emphasize an additional rule around “there is always room for one more” in any game that we play.  Feel free to incorporate both these school rules in your discussions.

I want to welcome Lorna Blackwood to our Staff. She will be the new ECE joining Mrs. Murray in JK/SK Room 109. Lorna comes to us with a wealth of experience from both the YMCA in High Park and also Indian Road Crescent Public School. I am thrilled that she will be joining our Staff.

Alana

One's philosophy is not best expressed in words; it is expressed in the choices one makes... and the choices we make are ultimately our responsibility. 
-- Eleanor Roosevelt

TDSB Letter - Update on Job Actions

Posted: 
Tuesday September 29

The TDSB has released a letter addressed to parents/guardians "with an update about job action being taken by teaching staff represented by the Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represent support staff." Download the PDF file to read the letter in full.

File(s): 
TDSB Letter on Job Actions

October 8 - Fall Potluck Dinner

Posted: 
Wednesday October 7
Tags: 

Thursday, October 8th at 6 pm in the gym

Garden's first community potluck of the year is coming up! Everyone is welcome. Bring a dish to share with old and new friends. Please list ingredients and remember - no peanuts! 

If you have no time to prepare something at home, feel free to pick something up on your way over.  

Please bring your own plates & cutlery if possible to help us work together as an Eco School.

Toronto Public Health Head Lice Fact Sheet

Posted: 
Monday September 28

On Monday, the school distributed a Head Lice Fact Sheet from Toronto Public Health. You can download it below.

File(s): 
Toronto Public Health - Head Lice Fact Sheet

Reminder: Monday is Photo Day!

Posted: 
Sunday September 27

Don't forget that Monday is Photo Day at Garden School.