John Fisher Squawk for October 27, 2011

October 27, 2011

Halloween Is Coming!

Monday is Halloween and we will be holding special events here at the school. Starting at approximately 1:20 p.m., we will have a short parade/walk in the community. All classes from SK to Grade 6 will gather in the back of the field according to Fire Drill lin es. We will then ask 6A to lead the parade and have 6B be the tail end of the parade. The classes will proceed west on Keewatin, south on Yonge Street and east on Erskine back into the school yard. (The walking excursion form filled out in September covers this short excursion into the community.) We will then gather in a circle on the field and dance to the Monster Mash. Some classes may also sing songs. Thanks to Stefanie Cepuch (scepuch@rogers.com) and Arliss Collins (acollins01@rogers.com), our School Council chairs will be coordinating parental supervisors for the walk on Yonge Street. Please contact them if you can be of assistance. • reminder about our school food policy.

Parents, please ensure that any Halloween costumes are appropriate. The students should leave any weapons or anything that can be turned into or perceived as weapons at home. Please ensure clear visibility for your child if he/she will be wearing a mask as part of the costume.

If it rains on Monday, the classes will parade through the school and parents may watch by standing in the hallways. Please sign in at the office and wear a visitor badge/sticker.

School-wide Food Policy Reminder

This very important reminder about our school-wide food policy is being sent due to upcoming class Halloween parties as well as other celebrations for which you may be sending snacks/treats to school to be shared amongst the students.

Please ensure that for class events and/or cultural celebrations:

• Only purchased food that is in the original wrapping and clearly labelled nut-free can be brought to the event.

• Fruit or vegetables cannot be cut or otherwise prepared at home. They may be brought to the school whole to be washed and cut using school-supplied utensils and cutting boards.

• Teachers have strict control at school events to ensure any foods are nut-free and follow the above guidelines.

John Fisher works very hard to be an allergy safe zone because there are a number of children and adults at the school who have life-threatening allergies to nuts that can be triggered by exposure to trace amounts of the allergen.

To minimize the risk of exposure the rules noted above regarding food for class events and/or cultural events applies as well as the following:

• No nuts or foods containing nuts are to be brought into the school.

• Children should not share their lunches or snacks.

Thank you for your consideration of the safety of our children by adhering to these rules.

UNICEF Fundraiser

For many years, UNICEF Canada has been involved at Halloween in raising funds for needy children in other parts of the world. The tradition continues here at John Fisher with a Toonie Fundraiser. Next week, we encourage you to send in $2 or more with your child. All money collected will go directly to UNICEF. Ten dollars buys pencils and books for 20 children. $32 will provide children with a soccer ball and pump and the chance to build their skills. A bicycle can be purchased for $86. Please see www.unicef.ca/oct31 for further information. Our fundraiser will run Oct. 31 – Nov. 4.

After 4 – October 31st

Parents Please Note: Halloween is Monday October 31st and After 4 would like to give all your goblins a chance to get home and get ready for trick or treating. As a result, After 4 will be cancelled on Monday October 31st and made up on Monday December 12, 2011. Happy Halloween! – After Four Committee

School Council Update

At our meeting last night, the 2011/12 budget was unanimously approved. The Finance Committee considered many things to prepare this budget including: budget submissions, funds available, historical spending, student impact, and educational benefits. We have included a short note with each item, but please fell free to ask for more information. This is not the complete budget, but more of a highlight of how the money raised is allocated this year.

Committee/Activity	20011/12	Comments
Athletics & Physical Education	$6,990	Uniforms, supply teachers, buses, banner, events.
Character Development	$1,490	Continuation of Future Aces program
Cultural Enrichment	$3,141	French performances
Carnaval	$2,600	Supplies
Dance	$1,692	Intensive dance workshop
Drama Club	$2,455	Workshops, supply teachers, school production
Finance	$350	Necessary banking expenses
Graduation Committee	$3,000	Year end event to honour graduating students
Green / Playground Committee	$2,765	Tree planting, greening playground, eco-club, new tarmac games, sensory garden
Technology	$12,183	Director’s Cut, Mimio, Elmos, whiteboards, projectors and training
Music	$5,160	Accompanist fees, buses to performances, Kiwanis, repair instruments
Music Program (band & strings)	$2,500	Instrument rental
Scientist in the School	$9,360	Two Scientists in each classroom
Social Studies in the Class	$2,000	Grades 3-6 have visiting professional to add to curriculum – Blades of Glory
Special Education	$1,200	Teacher training
Teachers Discretionary Fund	$6,925	$250 per teacher, $500 JK/SK
Welcoming and Recognition	$1,100	Staff appreciation, welcome back event, etc.

Total	$64,437
Amount Available	$64,437
Surplus	$0

Once again, we would like to thank Dorothy Carson for her hard work and expertise throughout the budget process. We cannot stress the amount of work and commitment that she puts into our budget each year. Also, thanks to all Committee Chairs, teachers and staff who submitted budget requests. Our asks always outstrip the available funds, but the Finance Committee spends a great deal of time considering each request, and discussing how best to accommodate it.

We also discussed the recently releases EQAO scores, and how they relate to student achievement at John Fisher.

Our next School Council meeting is Thursday, November 24, at 7:15 pm. Among other things, we will be discussing the philosophy that we, as parents, would like to follow at John Fisher. Please join us in the library; all are welcome.

Arliss Collins and Stefanie Cepuch, Co-Chairs, School Council 2011-2012 acollins01@rogers.com and scepuch@rogers.com

Neptune Now Open

After some necessary repairs, the play structure known as the “Neptune” is now available for play during and after school hours. Parents, please supervise your children on this structure when playing after school. We recommend only students in Grades 4 – 6 play on this structure.

Bike Safety

Students and adults should walk rather than ride their bikes through the school yard. Once at school, students walk their bikes to the bike rack and on the way home, students should walk their bikes to the sidewalks on either Erskine or Keewatin.

Dismissal at 3:25

All students should be going directly home upon dismissal. Any students in the school yard must be supervised by a parent or another adult guardian. Students waiting for the arrival of a parent/guardian should remain with the teacher on duty in the yard until their pick up person arrives.

Bus students need to go directly to their waiting bus at 3:25 p.m. There is no time to play in the yard or take extra time in the school. If parents are picking up bussed children, please inform the teacher with a note in the planner. If this hasn’t been done, please speak to one of the bus monitors on duty. Thank you.

John Fisher Excels at Cross Country City Finals

On Thursday, October 20th, 22 runners from John Fisher travelled to Centennial Park to take part in the TDSB Cross Country City Finals. Our team showed tremendous strength and determination all season and as a result had fantastic results. Despite cool temperatures and wet and super muddy conditions, our runners dominated the course. Of the 22 runners who participated, 16 received metals and banners. Congratulations to all our runners who had an extremely successful season.

Our grade 2 boys finished 1st and returned to school with a first place banner and first place medals (Ryan M., Pierson K., Matthew B., Kynan L., and Bayo A.)!

Our grade 5 girls also finished 1st and received a first place banner and medals (Lauren H., Meredith W., Beatrice A., Elizabeth H., Allison S. and Isabella E.)

Our grade 6 girls finished 2nd and received a second place banner and medals (Quinn J., Julia M., Aurora R., Megan A., and Allegra O.).

Other top ten finishers include Wyatt J. (grade 3 boys) who finished 1st , Rawley L. (grade 4 girls) who finished 6th and Nate K. (grade 5 boys) who finished 5th. Other honorable mentions include Caleb O. (grade 4 boys), Jasmine V. (grade 4 girls) and Roland B. (grade 5 boys) who performed to the best of their abilities.

Much thanks and appreciation must be extended to our parent coaches and drivers for their support this season: our program could not be possible without you. – Emilie Adams, Vanessa Gagné, Jean-Aimé Lalonde & Jacinthe Marchand

Grade 6′s Learn About Africa and Art

On Friday, October 21st, the Grade 6 students had an opportunity to learn more about Africa and art all at the same time! Mme Gagné’s mother (Caren Gagné) came in for the day to share her African adventure with the students. In July 2010, Caren did some missionary work in Kenya and shared with the students how they can help others as well. This topic tied beautifully in with our social studies unit – Global Connections.

The students also learned about different art techniques and applied them in their painting that was inspired from Caren’s presentation. We have displayed the works of art on the second floor, please come and visit if you have a chance.

Thank you Caren for inspiring our students.

Character Education Assembly –

Grade 6 students give their views on responsibility

6A gave a wonderful performance today during our assembly. Through poetry and drama they gave some marvelous observations about what it means to be responsible!

Following this presentation, we learned about next month’s Character Trait – Empathy. Please emphasize this trait in the coming month.

Spirit Day: November 4th

All students are invited to come to school next Friday with their craziest hairdos. Our grade 6 students had a crazy hair/hat fashion show during the assembly on Thursday, giving all the students some ideas of how they may want to dress next Friday!