Runnymede Public School Council

February 1st is an important day in Runnymede’s history: on that day in 1916, Runnymede Junior and Senior Public School opened its doors for the first time. As we prepare for our HUGE centennial celebration in 2016, we will mark each February 1st.

Runnymede’s Original School Crest

At this year’s celebration assembly, we will be unveiling our new school crest and the winning entry to our school motto contest. Last year, with the help of the Senior Student Parliament, the seniors were asked to submit motto suggestions. The Student Parliament then narrowed these to their top 5 choices, and students were asked to vote in an online survey in the library. The selected motto and new crest will be on display on our brand new school banners on Wednesday! Check back here for details as well.

To get you in the centennial mood, here are some photos from the archives, collected by the Centennial commitee (part of the School Council).

W.A. (Wes) Fydell - Runnymede's First Principal

 

This is the earliest known photo of Runnymede (1916). The man in the photo is George Marsden, the masonry contractor for construction of the original wing.

Ursula Franklin Academy is hosting a Parenting Workshop:  “Working Through Teen-Parent Conflicts,” Presented by Gary Furlong

Tuesday, January 24th, 6:30-8:00 pm

This event is open to everyone and is FREE!

Reminder to all interested Runnymede families.  Friday, January 13 is our good luck night as the Runnymede Family Swim Club swims at Humberside Pool.  We’d like to keep celebrating the new year with an invitation to Bring a Friend For Free evening.  We are waiving the $5 one-time visitor fee and encouraging you to invite a friend or family member to join us and try out the fun family swim night as our guests.  We have the whole pool for swimming, diving and playing from from 7:00 to  9:00 pm.  Hope you can make it!

A note from Runnymede administration:
Head Lice Screening Day: Grades JK-6
Thursday, January 12, 2012

 Head lice and their eggs (nits) are a nuisance that can infect any of us. If you have experienced them, you know how frustrating and time consuming it is eliminating the lice and nits from your child(ren), and your home.

 The classroom screening for head lice and nits will take place at our school on Thursday, January 12, 2012,for all classes in Grades JK-6.

 If a child is found to have lice or nits, the parent or guardian will be informed through the office. Children will not be informed in the classroom in order to maintain confidentiality.

 In accordance with TDSB procedures, if a child is identified as having head lice or nits, the parent will be required to make arrangements for treatment and to keep the child at home until the problem is cleared. Nits must be removed before the student returns to school. The student will be re-admitted with a form signed by the parent indicating the treatment used and confirming that all nits have been removed. A Treatment Instruction Sheet will be provided to each parent or guardian of an infected child.

 Parents who do not wish their child(ren) to participate in this screening must inform their teacher in writing by Monday, January 9, 2012. Parents whose children do not participate in the school screening are expected to do the lice check themselves. If your home lice check reveals the presence of lice or nits, do not send your child to school. Please inform the school right away and we will send you the appropriate information and instructions.

 Thank you for your co-operation and support.

 Sincerely,
Amelia Dennis, Principal
Rob Hochberg, Vice-Principal

City Councillors Sarah Doucette and Gord Perks have prepared this website, www.letsmakewaves.ca, opposing proposed budget cuts to pool funding. The website features a petition you can sign online, or you can print this  hard copy petition, sign and/or gather signatures, and send in. The issue at hand is: ”The City of Toronto 2012 Budget proposes to cut funding for the following Ward 13 and 14 children’s services: The Runnymede C.I. Pool, the Lambton Arena, the Keele Community Centre, the Mazaryk-Cowan Community Centre, the Warren Park Breakfast Program, and St. Mark’s Daycare.”

We have been asked to share the following notice from Irene Atkinson’s constituency office:

Over the past year there have been many parents voicing concerns over the current methods of teaching math to elementary students. In order to help parents understand the new methods and tools we have arranged with Central Board staff to host an Elementary Math Curriculum night.

The event will be held at the Western Tech cafeteria on Tuesday, January 31, 2012 at 7:00 pm.

Thank you and congratulations to everyone who had a hand in all of Runnymede’s amazing holiday concerts and charitable efforts, helping us to kick off the holiday season in style. On behalf of the Runnymede School Council, we wish the entire Runnymede community the very best of the holidays. We look forward to seeing everyone back on January 9, 2012!

Mark your kids’ calendars for these fun spirit days sponsored by the student parliament — one every month, all on Fridays:

• December 23rd – REALLY Red, WONDERFUL White and GEORGEOUS Green Day
• January 20th – PERFECT PEACEFUL PJ Day
• February 24th – MAD ABOUT PLAID DAY (come wearing any combination of plaid)
• March 30th – BALMY Beach Day
• April 20th – GRASSY GROOVY Green Day / Earth Day
• May 25th – Crazy Hair Day
• June 22nd – ROARING Runnymede Spirit Day (Wear Orange and Black and Runnymede clothes)

Dear Parents/Guardians,
Runnymede is sharing the spirit this year by inviting all students to
participate in Runnymede Schools’ Parliaments gift-giving initiative. Each class in the school will be asked to create two gift boxes for children in need, (one boy and one girl) to whom these gifts will be given. Each gift will be put into a wrapped box to be given to the child for the holidays. Runnymede students are asked to donate one small gift for the box value not exceeding five dollars; gently used gifts are welcome as well. Gifts can be given anytime between December 3^rd and December 19^th.  They will be picked up Monday December 19^th from each class by members of Parliament for distribution.

The giving goes on…..Runnymede Parliament is also organizing a can drive. This will begin on December 1^st and will end on the 21^st. All proceeds will be donated to the Canadian Food Bank. Classes’ can collection will be monitored by members of parliament, and the class which donates the most cans in each division will win a pizza party.  Good Luck Runnymede and Parliament thanks you for your Generous Runnymede Spirit.

Runnymede thanks you sincerely for your participation and if your
child/children have any questions please encourage them to ask a member of Student Parliament.

Hailey Radigan
Minister of the Environment
Runnymede Student Parliament

Tomorrow night is Chapters Night for Runnymede! Tuesday, November 29, 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 pm., Chapters at Bloor/Runnymede. The evening will include many talented musical performances from Mr. Fraser’s, Mrs. McLeod’s and Mme. Kling’s students.

Coffee and home-make cookies will also be provided. Don’t miss out!

If you make a purchase and advise the cashier you are supporting Runnymede Public School, 15% of your purchase will be donated to the school in the form of gift cards.

Come on out tomorrow night and support the students of Runnymede Public School. See you at Chapters!

Please note: All purchases under any discount programs, including the iRewards program as well as the purchase of gift cards will not contribute to the 15% donation to Runnymede Public School.

We have established a carefully-screened list of vendor affiliates that will give a percentage of the money you spend back to Runnymede. The list was getting so long we had to create a separate page to house the links.

Check out our affiliates page to find custom links for Amazon.ca, QSP Magazines, and Mabel’s Labels, and make sure your shopping dollars go the extra mile this holiday season. A link is also available in our Hot Topics list to the right.

Did you know that on Feb 1, 2016, Runnymede is turning 100?  On Feb 1, 2012, we will commemorate this important event with a four-year countdown.  At this time, Runnymede will unveil its new school motto and crest. A contest is on for senior students to create a unique motto for the school that signifies what Runnymede has strived for in the past, strives to be today, and strives to be in the future.  

Questions for students to think about:

• Why is the symbol of a lion on our school crest and how can we tie the meaning of this symbol to our motto?  (The symbolic meaning of a lion is pride, courage and strength).
• What makes Runnymede unique? (arts, sports, languages)
• What character traits are important to your success in school and in your life?
• What motivates you to do your best at Runnymede?
• Runnymede is nearly 100 years old!  How is the history of our school important today?

Motto examples:

• Proud to lead
• Wisdom grows with study
• Knowledge is power
• Creating a future worthy of our past
• The best of the old and the new

Mottos of other elementary schools in Toronto:

• Learning together
• Every day is new
• Small in size, large in accomplishments

The top five mottos will be chosen and grade 1-8 students will vote online for the winner in December.

Students can submit their motto entries to their school parliament representative by Friday, Nov 25.  Mottos must be 2-8 words in length to qualify.  Students should be sure to include their name on their entries – a Chapters gift card will be awarded to the student with the winning motto!

At our last meeting, the Council approved this year’s budget. Did you know council raised over $50,000 last year, and has already raised nearly two thirds that amount this year (primarily through your direct donations – thank you!)? Wonder where the money goes? Check out our “where does the money go?” page for some of the amazing ways that this money goes back into improving our childrens’ school experience, as well as a link to the full budget.

Your child should have brought home their progress Report Card this evening. Don’t forget to sign and return the report card envelope to your child’s homeroom teacher as an acknowledgement that you have received the report. If you have not arranged for a parent/teacher conference you may do so by sending a note to your child’s homeroom teacher. Parent/teacher interviews will take place the evening of Thursday November, 17 and the morning of Friday November 18, 2011.