Author Archives: jess.shulman

• Tuesday, February 21
• 7:00 p.m.
• Runnymede School Library

The TDSB has targeted $80 million in reduced spending in next year’s budget. Many may have significant impacts to Runnymede. Parent Councils will be asked by way of their Ward 7 representatives on February 28 to provide feedback to our trustee, Irene Atkinson, at a Ward 7 meeting. This feedback directs how the trustee should vote on March 6 at a meeting where the TDSB is to vote on the potential budget cuts. After that date, the staff reduction notices will be promptly sent out, so this is the only opportunity to provide feedback into the process.

At next week’s meeting, we will review proposed budget cuts and determine which we can live with and which we should direct our Ward 7 representatives to fight against and recommend the Ward 7 trustee, Irene Atkinson, should vote against at the TDSB budget meeting on March 6.

The parent consultation period should have been much longer, but the TDSB took longer than they had planned completing the budget. We need your input to make a difference!

Join Parkdale parents for an evening workshop with guest speaker Sabrina Gonsalves, school social worker, TDSB.

The teen years can be a difficult transition for our children. There are many issues that affect them and it can be difficult to know how to support them. Sabrina Gonsalves has worked with parents across the community bringing both her extensive professional experience and her own experience as a parent. She can help you support your child in dealing with issues such as stress, anxiety, peer relationships, and self‐esteem.

•  Presented by Parkdale Collegiate School Council
•  Thursday February 23, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
•  Parkdale Collegiate Institute, 209 Jameson Ave in the library
•  Light refreshments will be served.

All parents are welcome.

The February issue of the school newsletter, The Rapport,  is now available, and it’s chock full of photos of our kids! Check it out to find out lots about all the great goings on at Runnymede, in sports, arts, library, and more!

One correction to the Rapport: the March pizza lunch is on March 30.

Mr. Rodriguez in guidance has asked us to share the following timelines for grade 8 students.

• February 15: Parents/guardians and students will be informed of the status of application for Optional Attendance.
• February 2 to 24: Grade 8s complete Course Selection Sheets. For questions about course recommendations, contact Mr. Rodriguez or teachers. The Choices for Nine booklets will be distributed.
• February 24 : Course Selection Sheets due to Mr. Rodriguez.
• March 1: Course Selection Sheets due to all secondary schools. (Mr. Rodriguez will deliver the Course Selection Sheets.)

Questions? Contact Mr. Rodriguez.

The latest grade 2 art project (one of four the kids will do this year as part of the Arts Enrichment program) had our kids channelling Kandinsky and his famous concentric circles.

Here are some more photos of our recent arts enrichment activities. Check out their concentation!

Runnymede’s new motto — “Let Out Your Inner Lion” — and school crest were unveiled yesterday to kick off the four-year countdown to our centennial. What a great new look! A big thank you to the senior students who suggested mottos and voted for their favourite. Also unveiled was the great banner that you see at the top of our webpage – you can see a full-size version hanging at the school. Exciting times for Runnymede!

Check out these great pictures of our kids enjoying their Arts Enrichment activities last week. Children from K-3 will receive 4 hours of professional arts instruction this year.

Check out our Ward 7/TDSB page for an information booklet the Ward has asked us to share, which includes information on Good News at Schools, fundraising, marijuana use stats among grade 8s and much more. Also a reminder that tomorrow night is the Ward’s Math Curriculum info night (the flyer is also on the Ward 7/TDSB page).

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.”