Runnymede Public School Council

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.

Click the image to open the flyer about this important community event.

Just over a week ago, a group of dedicated volunteers offered up their muscle power on a Saturday morning to install a stone wall/seating space in our Kinder-Garden.
The seating now provides an outdoor classroom for primary division teachers.

We have lots more planned for this special garden space, but it is really starting to take shape and it is really exciting that it is now fullly functional for outdoor teaching.
Thank you to all our great volunteers for this amazing work.

Every year, our kids and teachers work very hard to put on a great series of holiday concerts for us. Don’t miss out on these must-see events. Mark your calendar today!

• JK / SK – December 20 – 10:30 a.m. / 2:30 p.m.
• Grades 1 – 3 – December 20 – 9:15 a.m.
• Grades 4 – 6 – December 14 – 7:00 p.m.
• Grade 7 – 8 – December 8 – 7:00 p.m.

Ghouls, goblins, mummys and zombies marched the halls of Runnymede (and that was just the teaching staff!), as our community enjoyed another great Halloween Parade on Monday. Thank you to all the teachers who looked great in their costumes and to the kids whose broad smiles were matched only by those of proud parents. Runnymede, you outdid yourselves again this year. Way to go!

A big thank you to everyone who volunteered to help with our recent pizza lunch. Volunteers truly got into the Hallowe’en spirit and made this a really fun day for the kids. Check out these hilarious shots. The next pizza lunch is November 25th.

Grade 8 students and their parents are invited to these upcoming sessions about specialized high school programs in the area.

 TOPS on Bloor: Talented Offerings in the Programmes of Sciences is an enriched High School experience pioneered by the staff of Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute and available to qualified students at both Marc Garneau C.I. and Bloor C.I. Students need not be recognized as “gifted” to enrol. TOPS on Bloor students are highly motivated and have a broad range of interests. Course work is enriched in a variety of ways depending on the strengths and interests of students and teachers.

• Info session: Thursday, November 24, during the lunch hour (starts at 11:35 am)
• Room 115
• Ms. Moldawa

Parkdale Collegiate Institute’s International Baccalaureate Program: Recognized as the leader in international education, the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme fosters the knowledge, skills and attitudes that enable students to excel in university. It is a rigorous university-preparation program designed to equip students with the skills necessary for a 21st century workforce. The IB regularly reviews its curriculum to keep up to date with trends and best practises.

• Info session: Friday, November 25, during the lunch hour (starts at 11:35 am)
• Library
• Mr. Rodriguez