Fern Ave. Public School Blog

On Friday January 31, 2014, a strong odour was detected in the North West yard of the school during our afternoon recess. Enbridge and the Fire Department were called and checked the premises of the school. Certain classes (classroom and daycare) were relocated within the school as a precautionary measure. The school was deemed safe after all parties investigated the odour. School resumed as normal as per the direction of the fire department and Enbridge. Students and staff responded to the situation effectively and appropriately. We thank everyone for responding positively to the situation.

Join your Fern community on Thursday, February 13th as we proudly host Ballet Creole, an exuberant presentation of African and Caribbean dance set to lively drumming and percussion! Ballet Creole is a not-for-profit Contemporary Afro-Caribbean Dance Company that combines traditional and folkloric dance styles from places such as Benin, Jamaica and Haiti to create a festive and carnival atmosphere typical of the Caribbean. Tickets are $5 per person and can be purchased in the Main Office or through one of the Arts Collective members starting February 5th. Tickets will also be available at the door the evening of the performance. Join us for a slice of gourmet Cherry Pie by Sugar Pie Honey Bunch and homemade cookies baked by the Arts Collective. Dessert and coffee will be served in the main foyer at 6pm. The show will begin at 6:30pm sharp! For more information about Ballet Creole, please visit www.balletcreole.org

EMAIL SENT ON BEHALF OF TDSB CHAIR AND WARD 10 TRUSTEE CHRIS BOLTON: Please click here for information regarding this event on February 3, 2014, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at Central Technical School, Room 208.

After a route audit, there are revised bus route times. Students received a hard copy of this information today to go home in their backpacks. Please click here for the revised schedule effective 29 January 2014 . Please review as your bus may be arriving at a different time than previously.

Canadian Parents for French (CPF) is a national association promoting French as a Second Language and offering supports to parents whose children are enrolled in core, extended or French immersion programs. The association provides online homework help, a resource referral service, French learning tools and websites for high school students studying French. If you could benefit from these resources, see the CPF website here .

Click here for information on an upcoming Special Education Session on 25 February 2014.

Our long awaited Fern athletics apparel is on sale again! Choose your favourite Fern Ave. athletics merchandise with our school's falcon logo on them from our order form , and place your order with cheque (cash in envelope) in our box in the office, by Vera's desk. Samples for display and fitting will be in the gym for the next two weeks. Our cut-off date for the Fern apparel order will be Monday, February 10th . Show your school spirit and get in some Fern athletics clothing!!

Thanks so much to everyone who came out for the dinner and a movie event on January 23 in support of the "Spread the Net Student Challenge" at Fern, to the student council for all of their hard work, the many parent volunteers, and to Mr Moy for making the event such a great success. The food at the pot luck was fantastic and the kids had a great time at the movie. It was a great evening of community and fun in support of a good cause that helped to raise $555 . Thank you again and stay tuned for further updates on our progress with Spread the Net as we get closer to the finish line.

Please be reminded that tomorrow is a PA Day. There is no School Friday January 24, 2014.

Please click here for the Fern January Newsletter.

Hello all, Please click here for information on Guidance Timelines for Grade 8. Thanks, Ricardo A. Rodriguez Itinerant Guidance Counsellor WR7 Fern P. S. 416 393 9130

Please click here for the latest Free the Children newsletter.

Our apologies for falling behind, but the minutes for the first three meetings of the School Council are now available for download from the  School Council Minutes  folder on Google Drive. There was no meeting in December, and the minutes for January’s meeting will not be finalized until our next meeting on February 18.

Click here for information on an Homework Strategy workshop sent on behalf of Trustee Atkinson.

Join Fern’s Student Council and Food Committee on Thursday, January 23 for dinner and a movie in support of the Spread the Net Student Challenge . Potluck Dinner @ 5:30 p.m. Savour the flavours! Please join us in the cafeteria for a delicious potluck before the movie. Taste the cuisines from Fern’s family community and mix and mingle with friends and new acquaintances. This is also a great chance to meet the volunteers behind the food committee and hot lunch program. If you’re interested in participating in the nut-free potluck, please contact Pamela LaPierre at pamlapierre@gmail.com as soon as possible to let us know what you’ll be bringing and the main ingredients in that dish. Also, if you’d like to volunteer at the event please contact Pamela. Movie @ 6:15. Following dinner, head to the auditorium to see the feature film, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. Tickets are only $5 each (which includes popcorn) and all proceeds go towards Spread the Net. Tickets wi

Student report cards will be sent home on Wednesday February 12, 2014 . In the past, interviews took place the Thursday evening and Friday morning of the same week that report cards were distributed. Friday February 14th is not a PA Day , therefore no interviews will be held during that morning. The evening of Thursday February 13, 2014 will remain an interview night. Teachers will notify families of children they would like to discuss. Should a family that has not received an interview want to discuss the progress/concerns of their child, they are asked to contact their son/daughter(s) teacher to schedule a mutually convenient interview time/day.

A practice lockdown was conducted at Fern Avenue JS PS today. The school reacted extremely well, both the staff and the students. There was no foreknowledge. There were some slight deficiencies noted through the process which will be addressed immediately. Afterwards, I did announce to the school that the lockdown was for practice purposes today, however some children may not have heard that clearly, so I ask that you please re-assure them that this was the case. There will continue to be more practices in the future. Thank you. Mr. A. Moy Principal Fern Avenue Junior and Senior Public School

Thank you Fern! Many thanks to everyone who contributed food items during the Annual Fern Food Drive. More than 10 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 the Spectrum Alternative School Open House Flyer. Our open house will be held on Wednesday, January 29th, 2014. The evening will consist of 4 separate info sessions: 6:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m., 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.

Supporting Healthy Communities, Locally and Globally The Food Committee, Student Council, and School Council are teaming up in support of the Spread the Net Student Challenge to host a community potluck and movie night at Fern School on Thursday, January 23 starting at 6:00 p.m . Details on the dinner and movie will follow later this week, but mark your calendar now for a fun evening with your kids of home-cooked food and companionship with other Fern families!

Click here for information on the upcoming Open House at Spectrum Alternative School on 29th January.

The following has been sent on behalf of Trustee Irene Atkinson: Start the new year off right with a free evening event devoted to family well-being! On Tuesday, January 14th at 7PM , Swansea PS welcomes Dr. Audrey Huberman to the Swansea Rec Centre to share her noted presentation on Skills for Living. Dr. Huberman is a professional counselor and faculty member at the School of Early Childhood Education at Ryerson University. In this practical and insightful and workshop, she will teach participants how to cultivate social, emotional, and behavioural skills for themselves and their children with the goal of fostering a greater sense of well-being for families. In the words of one attendee, “Our goal was to be given the right tools, and to learn how to utilize these tools, in order to maintain a peaceful and productive environment at home. Not only was this goal achieved, but it far surpassed our greatest expectations.” (Parent of three – aged 12, 9, and 4) There is no cost

Dear Parent/Guardians, Individual Graduation Photographs for grade 8 students will take place on TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4th at 9:00am. (date initially scheduled was Feb. 06th) 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  $22.00  with your child when the BrightPICS order form comes home.   Payment will need to be provided in order to secure the order.   If you have any questions please feel free to call Vera in the main office at 416-393-9130.

Due to the holiday break, we slipped up (we’ll blame it on the ice storm) with the lunch program menu. The weekly rotation started this week with week 1, not 2, as posted earlier. To download a copy of the revised January menu, click here and for the February one, click here . The menu on Fern’s Google calendar is correct. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Thanks, Food Committee

Please click here  to access the High Park Alternative School Information Night flyer.

Dear Parents/Guardians, Please note the hockey practise initially scheduled for Friday, January 24th   at Master Card Arena has been cancelled . Please feel free to contact Vera if you have any questions. Thank you!

Dear Parents/Guardians: Kindergarten is the first step in a lifelong journey that will see your child learn, grow, achieve, and succeed at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). We look forward to sharing this journey with you and your child. Please visit Fern Avenue PS to register your child for the 2014-2015 school year during the week of  Monday, February 10-Friday, February 14, 2014. (during school hours 8:00am-4:30pm) In order to register your child at Fern Avenue PS we will need you to bring the following documentation: Child's Birth Certificate and or Passport Ontario Health Card Immunization Record Two Pieces of the Parent/Guardian's address verification (example Gas, Telephone, Lease agreement etc.) Should you require any further information please feel free to contact Vera or Helena in the main office at 416-393-9130. Thank you, Vera

Dear Parents/Guardians of students in grade 7 & 8, The  Parent Graduation Committee is requesting you send your email addresses to Vera Ciric at vera.ciric@tdsb.on.ca so that I may add you to our email distribution list. If you are not available to attend our meetings,  the email distribution list is a great opportunity to keep you posted of  meetings, information, decision making, fundraising events  and a means to welcome your input and suggestions. Please feel free to call me personally or email me should you have any questions. Thank you! Vera

FERN FALCONS HOCKEY TEAM SCHEDULE OF PRACTICES & GAMES 2014 Practices: Friday, January 10th, 2014 7:00 am @ McCormicks Arena, please be there by 6:45am Friday, January 17th, 2014 8:30-10am @ MasterCard Arena please be at arena by 7:45am Wednesday, January 22nd, 2014 8:30-10am @ MasterCard Arena please be at arena by 7:45am Friday, January 24th 8:30-10am Please note this day is booked but is a PA Day…we will keep you posted. Games: Wednesday, Jan.15th 8:00-9:00am — Fern vs King Edward @ Forest Hill Arena Tuesday, January 28th 8:00-9:00am — Fern vs Westwood @ Bill Bolton Arena Wednesday, January 29th 8:00-9:00am — Fern vs Jesse Ketchum @George Bell Arena Tuesday, February, 11th 8:00-9:00am — Fern vs Annette @ George Bell Arena Drivers please transport the players to the games by 7:00 am. If you have any questions or concerns please call Vera or Miya at 416-393-9130. Thank you!

Just a reminder that Fern is hosting its Senior Kindergarten French Immersion Information Night in the Auditorium at 7pm tonight . For those unable to attend, please visit the TDSB website and look under French to gain further insight into the application process.

Dear Parents/Guardians, The Coaches and Senior Fern Falcons Hockey Team will have their  FIRST hockey practise this  Friday, January 10th at 7:00am at McCormicks Arena, located at   179 Brock Avenue. We ask that parents please drive the players over to the arena at 6:30am, if this is not possible please call Vera or Miya to arrange other transporation. , Thank you. , 

Dear Parents/Guardians, Toronto Public Health will be visiting Fern Avenue PS on Friday, February 7, 2014 in the morning to administer the HPV Second Dose to the grade 8 female students only. The third clinic for both grade 7 students, and grade 8 female students, will be scheduled between April to June of 2014. Vera Ciric will inform you of the date for this immunization clinic in March. More immunization resources are available at http://www.toronto.ca/health/immunization_children/index.htm Thank you.

Welcome back to school! Winter weather has settled in and there’s nothing like a hot lunch to fuel the rest of your child’s school day. Comfort foods such as Sloppy Joes, Vegetarian Lasagna and Chicken Noodle Soup are sure to satisfy Fern’s hungry students. If your family has not signed up for the program and your child is not enrolled in Ferncliff Daycare’s before and after program, you still have the opportunity to register for Maggie’s hot lunches. To save more time, sign up for the rest of the year right now! Simply fill out and submit the order form with your payment. A secure deposit box is located outside the Ferncliff Daycare office (Room 103). Click here for the February menu. The deadline for February order forms is Friday, January 17 to begin lunch on Friday, February 1, 2014 .