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!

Neighbourhood Get-together MEET SANTA brought to you by Fern Ave Events: When:  Saturday, December 3rd from 2-5 pm Where:  Willem & Jools (125 Roncesvalles Ave) What:  Meet Santa and take a picture with him. Hang out with people in the community while eating homemade cookies and warming up with fresh steaming cider. Beautiful Willem & Jules trees for sale and chances to win local product from Early Bird & Worm. Come one, come all!

Thank you to everyone for supporting our school! We raised $2167 for our children at Fern. You can order all year long and earn more money for our school by going to http://www.QSP.ca and entering our online ID: 4713723. There are lots of ideas for great holiday gifts! (Please click here for more information)

Our Fern Avenue ONLINE STORE will remain open for three more days....your last chance to buy the Fern Hoodie and surprise someone with a special gift has been extended. Shop and order online here , store closes on Monday, November 28, 2016 . We will be back again in March. Thank you everyone for your on going support! Vera

At the November 6th Annual OSCA conference, our Itinerant Guidance Counsellor, Ricardo Rodriguez, received the Marion Axford Award for Outstanding Contributions to Elementary Guidance in Ontario. The OSCA, (Ontario School Counsellor Association), confers this award. Mr. Rodriguez was nominated with 8 letters of support from Teachers, Principals, Parents and Students. We are proud of our Itinerant Guidance Counsellors and the great work they do for our students in preparing for secondary school.

Dear Parents/Guardians, Winter is coming and so is the Fern Winter Concert. The Junior students as well as the Senior Band and Strings students will be showcasing their talents on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 beginning at 6:30 PM . All students involved in the concert are asked to please be at Fern at 6:00 PM. The Kindergarten Concert will take place on Friday, December 16, 2016 from 2:15 to 3:15 PM. Spring hopefully won't be too far behind and we would love to welcome it with our Spring Concert. The concert will take place on Wednesday, March 8, 2017 beginning at 6:30 PM.  Our PRIMARY students who are taking part are asked to please meet at Fern at 6:00 PM. Thank you!

Fern P.S School Council is proud to bring you this video featuring students and teachers thanking parents for their continued support of programs not funded by the TDSB. What makes Fern so great is the community that surrounds it, so please watch and share. Oh, and don't forget to donate ;) 

Join us for a Holiday Concert on December 11 at 4pm. Tickets are only $15 and a portion of the admission will be donated to the Canadian Cancer Society and Fern Avenue Public School.

Toronto Police has vacancies near your school at either Waller Avenue and Windemere Avenue (Swansea P.S.) or Roncesvalles Avenue and Howard Avenue. Please click here for more information.

Our first Fern Avenue Public School  ONLINE STORE offering Fern hoodies, hats, t-shirts is now available online. Please click here and place your order. Not sure about a size, colour come this evening Thursday, November 17 beginning at 5:30PM and check out our samples.  If you can't make it this evening, not to worry drop by and visit Vera in the main office. Thank you!

At Fern Ave PS some of the enriching activities and resources that benefit our school are funded by the School Council, and more specifically, by you, the parents.  Please help us keep these programs alive by making a direct donation to the school. You can either write a cheque payable to Fern Avenue PS or you can donate online here . Donations by cheque must be received by November 30, 2016 and those greater than $25 will receive a tax receipt. Donations made online must be submitted by June 30th and those greater than $5 will receive a tax receipt. Thank you, Vera

Dear Parents and Guardians, Please read the attached letter regarding an upcoming facilities project at Fern. There is an information meeting for the community on Monday November 21 from 5:30-6:00 pm in the staffroom to speak with TDSB Facilities staff involved in the project. Thank you, Principal Szonyi

Progress Reports for SK students-Grade 8 are being distributed today and you may notice that the envelopes are different this year. As Fern is an Eco School, we hope families will support our Eco initiative by signing and returning the envelope. This way it can be reused for the next round of reports coming out in February. Thank you.

On behalf of the Caring and Safe Schools Committee, I am pleased to announce that we have opened up three single stall washrooms in the school and designated them as All Gender Restrooms‎. One stall is at the front doors, another is on the main floor in the newer wing and the third is in the newer wing on the second floor. All three washrooms have the signage indicated here . Fern values all students regardless of their gender identity or gender expression and seeks to provide a safe space for them. The committee has taken this measure in an effort to ensure that Fern is a safe and caring school, and because we want Fern to be positive space. Principal Szonyi

Dear Parents/Guardians, Should you need to pick up your child during the instructional day kindly notify the teacher in writing ahead of time. This will avoid any interruptions to the student learning time. Thank you for your cooperation.

Fern spirit wear is now available for sale. You can purchase your items online in 3 easy steps. Click here to check out the great merchandise and place your order. The online store is open until November 25th . Please order your size carefully, there are no exchanges. Item pick up with Vera in the office will be on December 14, 2016. Click here for the flyer.

Save December 14th in your calendars for the Fern Winter Concert. Junior grades and senior strings and band will be performing. Further details to follow.

Hello I am the Yukon director of the feature documentary film All The Time In The World - an inspiring, humorous and family friendly film that explores the theme of disconnecting from our hectic and technology laden lives in order to reconnect with each other, ourselves and our natural environment. The film chronicles life's natural unfolding when a family tries to let go of the control that is required in our time-based world and live by the seasons, rather than by the clock. Featuring the insights of three children (aged 10, 8 and 4), the family spends 9 months living in the remote wilderness of the Yukon - leaving modern conveniences and digital technology, including all clocks and watches, behind. All The Time In The World will be having a special screening at the Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Ave) on Nov 15th at 6:45 pm (doors open at 6:15) followed by a conversation/Q&A with myself (coming from the Yukon) and Toronto author Christina Crook ("The Joy of Miss

High School Soccer Team sends thanks to Fern Avenue!  You may remember that Room 202 organized a mini-carnaval for Primary students in June.  We raised $816, and donated it to a high school team who was planning a trip to Attawapiskat. We received a letter of thanks in July, and the above certificate of appreciation just last Friday Nov. 4th at a celebration held at the high school. Here are some highlights from the letter, written by teacher and coach Paulo Pereira: "On behalf of our Attawapiskat team of staff and student-athletes, I would like to send you many thanks to all involved  . . . (on our trip) we made amazing connections and new relationships. We worked with over 200 children and youth every day, running three sessions per day at the elementary school, one session at the high school, and then worked with the community until way past bedtime. . . Our next step is to bring 12 youth from Attawapiskat to Toronto at the start of 2017 and, in May or June, return there

This year each class has a representative responsible for communications from the parent council. Click here for the list of class representatives. If you have not heard from your class rep as yet, please feel free to reach out to make sure you are on the class distribution list. If your class does not have a representative yet and you are interested in taking on the role, contact Denise Figueiredo at denise.priya.figueiredo@gmail.com.

We are launching a Fern Ave Events Facebook page to share information about school events and local happenings through a new channel. LIKE our page:  https://www.facebook.com/fernaveevents/   and get the latest news.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2106 IS SPIRIT DAY AT FERN AVENUE PS Support the spirit day and our Senior Student Council by dressing like a twin, dress alike with a friend or somebody you just would like to be a twin with for the day.

The Fern STEM Committee is compiling another list, this time of parents who may be available to help with tech setup and support during school hours. This could range from unpacking, inventorying, and wiring up new tech, to setup of LEGO Mindstorms, to training or one-on-one support for staff. We hope to have a list of parents to contact as these issues arise, and a STEM Committee member will act as coordinator between parents and staff. Please email to add your name and contact info to the list!

Take a look at the visual minutes to find out what happened in today's school council meeting!

Bloor will be holding its Grade 8 Open House on Wednesday, November 9. In order to accommodate the growing interest in the school and its programs, the evening will go as follows: The school will be open for self-directed tours from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Students will be hosting various events and activities in different areas of the school. This is a great time for grade 8 students to ask questions about our programs, the school culture and extra-curricular programming. Families are encouraged to attend information presentations in our Auditorium: New this year, we will be hosting an “early” TOPS on Bloor presentation, starting at 5:30 p.m. Mainstream Program Presentation 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. 2 nd  TOPS on Bloor Presentation 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. The 2 TOPS on Bloor presentations will be identical and families should only attend ONE of the sessions. We encourage families that are able to arrive at the school earlier to attend the first TOPS on Bloor presentation. The families

Dear Parents/Guardians, The Downtown Vocal Music Academy of Toronto is hosting a OPEN HOUSE on.... DATE:   November 10, 2016 at 6:30PM              January 12, 2017 at 6:30 PM WHERE:  96 Denison Avenue                  Toronto Learn more about the DVMA! Take a tour, meet staff and students. Building Community Through Music! Email:  DowntownVocalMusicAcademyofToronto@tdsb.on.ca

Dear Parent/Guardians, Student Information Night for KKSA Arts-Integrated Middle School will take place on: DATE:  Thursday, November 10, 2016 TIME:  6:00 PM AT:  John English Junior Middle School         95 Mimico Ave, Toronto, ON M8V 1R4 FOR:  All interested parents/guardians of students entering Grade 6 in September 2017. The application process is open for Grade 5 students only. Learn more about the school, curriculum and application process---students are welcome to attend too! Find out more about admissions at: http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/karenkain/Admissions.aspx

QSP Campaign EXTENDED to October 31 st !  Although prize eligibility will end on Monday, any orders made throughout the year will still be allocated to Fern! Looking for the perfect gift that is delivered for free anywhere in Canada?  Choose a magazine subscription from the 500 choices available – great deals! We all know that kids love to receive mail and you'll be encouraging reading at the same time.   Every subscription order generates an average of $11 profit for Fern School.  Not interested in a subscription but still want to support our school campaign?   There are hundreds of other products available and 40% of your purchase cost goes back to Fern.   Just click http://www.qsp.ca/4713723   to support our children. Click  here  for information for more information.  F antastic student rewards can be found  here .

Sign up for December hot lunch! Orders are due by Thursday November 17th. The Lunch Fall menu can be found here .

The Kindergarten classes will be parading across Wright Avenue, down Roncesvalles and back to Fern Avenue. We will leave shortly after morning recess, around 10:30am. In the spirit of Halloween, we hope that everyone will join us, either to cheer us on or to parade with us.

There is a Senior Halloween Dance on Monday October 31 from 1:00 to 3:00 in the Auditorium.

Find the scheduled team sports practices and gym house league games for November-December here .

Many of the students will benefit from using Google Talk which will transform their speech to text.  I t can be used at both home and school. Below are the steps of how to install google talk feature. Google Voice to Text Open or create a Google Doc file. Under the TOOLS menu, select  VOICE TYPING. Allow access to your computer’s microphone (all laptops have built-in mics, but if you have a desktop, plug in a USB microphone or headset). Click the Microphone icon, and speak your sentence. You can choose the language of your choice (English or French or other) in the menu above the Microphone icon. Happy Writing! 

Our next School Council meeting is on Wednesday November 2nd from 6:30pm to 8:15pm in the Staff Room on the 2nd Floor.  Draft agenda below.  C hildcare is available.  Proposed Agenda: Call to Order (2 min) Review Agenda (3 min) Review Minutes (re-attached for reference) (10 min) Principal's Report (10 min) Student Council Report (20 min) Budget Approval (50 min) Interactive Brainstorming Activity: Building Community at Fern Ave PS (9 mins) Co-Chair Update and Housekeeping Items (1 min) Next Scheduled Meeting Adjournment

Parents/Guardians of Children in Junior Kindergarten, You have a choice to make about French programming for your child.   Senior Kindergarten is the ONLY time your child can begin the Early Immersion Program. Applications to the Early French Immersion program are made the year your child is in Junior Kindergarten for entry in September of Senior Kindergarten.  It is an entirely online process. All communication will be sent via the email address you provide.  Please check this email regularly. 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.  You must them return to the PARS site and follow the application procedure with this number, Please select Early French Immersion from the drop-down menu and complete t

Dear Parents/Guardians, Claude Watson School for the Arts is a TDSB grade 4-8 school focused on the arts. Each year they audition Grade 3 students for entry into their Grade 4 program.  Parents of students who are interested in auditioning for CWSA are encouraged to attend one of the information sessions. Claude Watson School For The Arts  Parent Information Sessions  Monday, November 7, 2016                      or  Tuesday, November 8, 2016. 130 Doris Avenue (Yonge and Sheppard) 7:00 PM Please Note:  Parking is limited.

Our fifth annual food drive, We Scare Hunger is just around the corner! Your children can drop off canned goods to the box in their classrooms,  starting Monday October 24th running to Monday October 31st . Food Banks Canada has suggested a few key items: •canned fish •canned meat •canned stew •canned soup •canned beans •canned fruit •canned vegetables Food banks are an important method of addressing hunger in Canada. Each month, close to 850,000 people turn to food banks for help; more than one-third are children and youth. The class that collects the most canned goods will receive a movie and popcorn in their classroom. Thanks for supporting We Scare Hunger! Members of Fern's FTC

Dear Parents/Guardians, The Grade 7 staff and students returning from Pinecrest Camp are scheduled to arrive at Fern Avenue PS anywhere between 4:20pm and 5pm this afternoon Friday, October 21st. Thank you, Vera

Click here for information on an upcoming 2-session program that helps parents better understand stress in children [for ages 4-9]. Space is limited so please contact Principal Szonyi on 416.393.9130 to hold your spot.

Click here for information on Garden Avenue Public School's Pumpkin Patch Fundraiser this Saturday October 15th from 10am to 3pm.

Click here for information on a Fern Avenue fundraiser offering magazines and more! Our goal is for each student to sell three items. Information on fantastic student rewards can be found here . Shop now - sale ends October 28 2016! Thank you for your support, The Fern Fundraising Team

Dear Parents/Guardians, Do you have a little or big refrigerator lying around the house or cottage and would like to donate to our school.  We would be happy to take it and provide a good home for it here in our staffroom. Please contact Vera Ciric at 416-393-9130. Thank you!

Dear Parents and Guardians, Our Pinecrest overnight trip for the Gr. 7's has been confirmed and a package has been sent out this afternoon (October 6th).  If your child has been away you can pick up the form this Friday from the office or next Tuesday. The trip is from Oct 19 to Oct 21st. 

A Ward 7 update letter from Trustee Pilkey can be found here .

Phew! Has your family finally settled into a routine? School, homework, hockey, gymnastics, music lessons….Let us take care of one meal for you with a heathy, nutritious - and delicious - hot lunch every day. The Fern Food Committee has been receiving positive reviews from the lunch program participants, after some menu changes took effect this Fall. Items such as vegetarian pita pizza, chicken cacciatore, and cod fish nuggets have been popular. Simply sign up for Fern’s hot-lunch program for lunches starting in November. To save even more time, sign up for the rest of the year right now! Click here to download the order form and here for the menu. Hard copies are also available on the bulletin board outside of room 103. The deadline for your order is Monday, October 17th to begin lunch on Tuesday, November 1st . If you’d like to learn more about Fern’s lunch program, click here or contact fernlunchprogram@gmail.com .

The document found here indicates all information meetings for all secondary schools. Our Learning Centre is LC4. Please note the Parkdale and the Bloor meetings in October are general information meetings for grade 8 students from the surrounding schools – Queen Victoria, Fern, Parkdale. The meeting dates in the document under Learning Centre 4 are specific information nights for the respective schools. More information will be coming to all our grade 8 students through the Itinerant Guidance Counsellor Mr. Rodriguez and their classroom teachers. The 8 to 9 Transitions Information Evenings will be at: Parkdale CI December 6, 6:15 pm to 7:30 pm and Bloor CI November 9, 6:15 pm to 7:30 pm .

Dear Parents/Guardians, PHOTO RE-TAKE DAY will take place on Wednesday, November 2, 2016 beginning at 9:00 am. Due to re-organization in the French classes this will also be an opportunity for the new class to have their "new" class group photographed. Please feel free to contact Vera in the main office if you should have any further questions.

Dear Parents/Guardians, Toronto Public Health will be visiting Fern Avenue School twice this year to provide important immunizations to Grade 7 and 8 students to protect them against illness and disease caused by hepatitis B virus, meningococcal bacteria, and human papillomavirus. Our first immunization clinic will take place on Tuesday, October 11, 2016 all day. Beginning in September 2016, Grade 7 boys and girls will now be able to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine for free.  Girls in Grade 8 will continue to receive the HPV vaccine in 2016-2017 at school. The HPV vaccine prevents cancer.  It is safe and effective.  For most students, the HPV vaccine is given with two injections, six months apart,  For those who receive their first dose after age 14, the HPV vaccine is given with three injections over six months. Grade 7 students will also be offered meningococcal and hepatitis B vaccines to protect from other serious diseases.  Please note, the meningococcal v

CHOICES FOR NINE Fern P.S. Grade Parents and Guardians are invited to attend an information evening regarding the transition from Grade 8 to 9 Where:  Parkdale C.I. 209 Jameson Avenue When:  Thursday, October 6, 2016 at 6:00p.m. AGENDA: 6:00 p.m.  Registration and Sign-In 6:15 p.m   Welcome Address 6:30 p.m.  Presentation "Choices for Nine"                  By Ricard A. Rodriguez and Chi Le LC 4 Guidance Councellors                  Question and Answer Period                  (School and Street Parking Available) SEE YOU AT PARKDALE C.I.!!!!!! Please return the form sent home by your child's home room teacher by October 3, 2016

Grade 7 and 8 families: please click here for information on free online math homework help.

High Park Public library is inviting you to their upcoming centennial celebrations, taking part throughout the month of October. Click here for the poster highlighting some of this special programming. In particular, they'd like to invite you to the 100th birthday celebration on Saturday October 1st . There will be a Heritage Toronto plaque unveiling that day, a Heritage Toronto community walk through the neighbourhood, and an open house complete with: emerging technologies and gadgets, a fire truck, a magician, live music, and even representatives from the Mounted Police. As you may know, each year the library is mandated to see all Kindergarten and grade 4 students within their catchment areas as part of the Toronto Public Library's school outreach initiatives. Consequently they've set up special visits for grade four classes that will provide opportunities for students to interact with new and emerging technology such as: 3D printers, arduinos, Makey Makeys and mor

Parents! Fern Avenue School now has an organizing committee to help celebrate more Science, Technology, Engineering and Math in the classroom and in extracurricular activities. You can meet us on Thursday September 22 at Orientation Night . 2016-17 ‎is our pioneering year, so we're focusing our efforts on two areas where we could use your help. 1. STEM Parents In The Classroom: Do you have a background in a STEM subject? Would you be prepared to present your knowledge to a classroom this year?‎ Then let us know what you know. We'll have a sign-up sheet for parents who can volunteer ‎- even just once is great! We can help match your knowledge to the right class and curriculum, and discuss how to keep your presentation engaging for the kids. 2. Hands-On Science: We're looking for volunteers to help with an after-school celebration of all things STEM. We're hoping to hold several of these events during the school year, starting with one in late fall. Each Hands-O

We are currently having a Fern Falcons t-shirt sale for our students and staff. The t-shirts are great for school spirit but are also very useful for athletics (i.e. gym, cross-country, track and field, field trips. Therefore we are encouraging parents to purchase a shirt for their child. In this round only t-shirts are included on the form. There will be a second round in late November with a variety of clothing such as hoodies, sweatpants and hats. The final day for bringing in the forms is Monday September 26th . Forms are to be dropped of in the yellow box for t-shirt orders in the office. Please click here for the order form. Thank you.

Every September, schools review actual student enrolment as compared to initial projections from last April, and reorganize classes where required.   As a result of changing student enrolment at Fern, we will need to reorganize the French immersion classrooms from grades 1 to 4/5 to best support our students.   Click here for more information.

Each September the Fern School Council holds elections.  All executive roles are open for election however there are some roles that have no incumbents this year.   Click here for an overview of School Council roles and application form.   

Fern Ave. P.S. is holding its annual Terry Fox Run on Wednesday, Sept. 28 (with a rain date of Thursday Sept. 29). This is a great opportunity to learn about Terry Fox and his story, and to use his examples of perseverance, dedication and empathy to follow. As well, it is a great time to discuss aspects of healthy lifestyles which can help to reduce the risk of cancer. Running Schedule: The JK/SK students - morning Grade 4-6 - 1:30 to 2:00 Grade 1-3 - 2:20 to 2:40 Grade 7&8 - 2:45 to 3:15 Family members who are available and interested are welcome to join their child/children for this event. Please just check in with Vera Ciric in the office when arriving. All Fern students will participate and donations are optional. Families who wish to donate the Terry Fox Foundation can do so online at www.terryfox.org . Families who have collected pledges or who wish to make a small donation can drop it off directly in the office. Otherwise, students can give their donations and pl

As many parents know, Fern School is really fortunate to have a hot lunch and kinder snack program that serves healthy and delicious food every day of the school year. The Fern Food Committee is comprised of parent volunteers who have the opportunity to help shape and implement this key program for students today and for years to come. As we start the school year the food committee is in need of new parent volunteers to help keep these programs going. In particular, the committee is seeking a volunteer for the Chair position. The chair position provides an amazing experience for a parent to provide leadership on behalf of the parents and students, working closely with the school community and TDSB nutrition services, to ensure Fern students have access to healthy and nutritious meals and snack every day. Please contact fernlunchprogram@gmail.com if you are interested in volunteering!

IT'S  PHOTO DAY AT FERN AVENUE P.S For Best Results BRING YOUR BEST SMILES on  Friday, September 30, 2016 For more information on how to order your child's photos please check the flyer that is coming home with your child, or call Vera in the main office at 416-393-9130.

Did you know that your child can get help from their school library even when they are not at school? The TDSB Virtual Library has carefully selected resources, to enhance your child's learning, that can be accessed online anytime, anywhere. Click here for more information.

Additional details can be found here .

September 13, 2016 Dear Parents/Guardians of students affected by school bus disruptions: Please note as of Wednesday, September 14, 2016 Attridge Bus routes will be modified and a route has been established for our inbound students. As more drivers become available the routes will return to their original format.  At this time we are NOT experiencing disruptions to our afternoon routes.  If you choose to transport your child to school due to work or other commitments, supervision by school staff will be provided starting at 7:30 am in the junior yard.  Please drop off your child on Wright Avenue and ensure that the supervisor has marked the attendance of your child. The following route CAR0162-Attridge Bus will pick up and drop off of the students as follows: Pick Up From Humberside Dr. & Indian Road CR (Indian Road PS) at 09:03 AM Departing From Indian Road PS to Queen Victoria PS at 09:08 AM Arriving Queen Victoria PS at 09:32 AM- Departing Queen Vic

Click here for the 2016/17 Physical Education Guidelines at Fern.

Welcome to a new school year!      Physical education and athletics are integral and essential components of education at our school and in TDSB. Physical activity and sports provide kids the opportunity for fun, challenge, and interaction. Our program consists of activities that create opportunities for development of skills, knowledge, health-related fitness, and ultimately, the confidence to enjoy an active, healthy lifestyle. We also want to encourage you to continue participating in your child’s physical development and fitness. Participation in physical activity should not end when the school day is over. There are a number of ways to get this aerobic workout--walking, biking, swimming, roller-skating or inline skating, jumping rope or any number of low-organized games and activities. You and your child most likely will discover that exercise can be both fun and rewarding. At Fern Ave. P.S. we pride ourselves for offering many sports and athletic opportunities for our s

Our school athletics will be starting this week with cross country. Primary cross country running practises will be held Tuesday, Thursday and optional Fridays. Practises will be in the mornings at school, Friday at Sorauren park. Start date will be announced shortly by primary coaches. Coaches: Primary teachers: Kerry Heller and Danielle Gaudet. Junior cross country will be held on Tuesday, Thursday and optional Fridays. All practises will be in the morning at Sorauren park. We are starting on Thursday, September 15th at 8:15am. Coaches: Sarantos Katsihtis, Kerry Heller. Senior cross country practices will be in the morning at High park on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Meeting place is at the front of the school at 7:55 am, starting Thursday September 15th . Coach: Chris Enticknap Further details will be provided through individual coaches and permission forms. Cross –Country Dates and Locations: • Qualification Meets – TBA @ Woodbine / Kew Beach • Conference Fina

Welcome to the 2016-2017 school year at Fern Ave. PS. I am excited to begin my second year here at Fern and together with my Vice Principal, Ms. Lindita Guffin, and all my staff, look forward to a successful year for all. This email coincides with my telephone message through the School Connects system. Hopefully the school has both an updated email and a phone contact for you and that is why you are receiving this message. If you only received one of these messages, please call the school office at  416 393 9130  so we can verify your information. We will be sending out a formal Verification Sheet next week.  Please look over the parent package which will be coming to you in hardcopy sometime next week. You do not need to fill anything out at this time, but please read my welcome letter and the information about the hot lunch program. There are three additional items that I need to share with you at this time: One is to inform you that Fern will be implementing a cellphone pol

Fern’s hot-lunch program served more than 20,000 lunches last year to students from JK to grade 8, teachers and staff. The lunch program will continue in the 2016-2017 school year with the Food Committee handling the administration of the lunch orders. This year, we are pleased to continue to offer a 4-week menu rotation featuring items such as chicken cacciatore, teriyaki noodles, burger with oven fries, chicken noodle soup, panko-breaded sole, kale caesar salad, chicken tikka masala and pita pizza! Parents who wish to start the next school year off with healthy and tasty lunches for their children may do so by submitting their lunch orders by Friday September 16th, 2016 to begin lunches on Thursday, October 3rd, 2016. To sign up, check your child’s backpack for more information, or simply download the order form and drop it off in the secure black mailbox at Fern, located outside the Ferncliff Daycare office (room 103; enter the school, turn left and it’s about halfway down the