Administrator Update
Newsletter Updates
The Administrator Update, Transition from Grade 8-9 and Kindergarten Registration pages are updated in this newsletter.
September 2017 - January 2018: We're on our Way!
We are so pleased to offer a wide range of programs for students both in the classroom and outside of the classroom. Check out the summary below of what we have been up to so far. We are excited to continue growing programming at Northlea.
Athletics
Gr.5/6 Boys' Soccer
Gr. 5/6 Girls' Basketball
Gr.5/6 Girls' Soccer
Gr.5/6 Boys' Basketball
Co -Ed Rugby
Gr. 7/8 Girls Basketball
Gr. 5/6 Boys' Volleyball
Gr. 7/8 Girls Basketball
Gr. 7/8 Boys Volleyball
Gr.5/6 Co-Ed Ice Hockey
Gr.5/6 Girls' Volleyball
Gr.7/8 Co-Ed Ice Hockey
Gr. 7/8 Girls' Volleyball
Gr. 4-8 Swim Team
Cross Country
- As well, soon, our hockey teams will represent Northlea in the 2nd Annual Leaside Hockey Cup Tournament and we will be hosting the Wheelchair Basketball program later in January.
Community Fundraising
SickKids Fundraiser
Toonies for Terry
Holiday Hamper Program - Thank you letter from the YWCA
Book Drive for Newcomers
Sarah and Claire's Food Drive
- Arts Programming
- Dear Edwina - Grade 7/8 School Musical
- Junior Choir - Performances @ Sunnybrook War Veterans' Unit, CBC Canadian Music Challenge
- Intermediate Honour Band
- Indian Percussion Program
- Tribal Visions
- Winter Concert
- Garage Band Composition with composer Chris Thornburrow
- Community Building Student Leadership
- Me to We - Grades 7 & 8
- Be the Change - Grades 4-6
- Gay-Straight Alliance - Grades 1-8
- Student Leadership Committee - Grade 7 & 8
- Intermediate classes preparing the Snowflake Festival
- Best Buddies partnerships with our students in large class settings and congregated Developmental Disability settings.
- Peer Helper presentations to Grades 1-3 (Room 101)
- Mentor Meetings - Learning Buddies program with partnered classes across the ages.
- Girls' Group - Grades 6-8
- Yearbook
- Office Helpers
- Curriculum Connections
- The Global Read Aloud
- Orange Shirt Day
- Canada's French Public Speaking Contest - Le Concours et festival d’art oratoire: Grades 4-8
- Grade 7 & 8 Math Contest
- The Forest of Reading Program
- The Roots of Empathy Program
- Peace By Peace York University Partnership
- MOPS - Online Problem Solving Group
- Logics Academy
- Scientist in the School
- Scholastic Book Fair
- Grade 7 and 8 Wellness Day
- Early Literacy Project
- Leaside and Bessborough Transitions and Well-Being visits
- Field Trips
- Grade 6 Sheldon Outdoor Education Experience
- Harbourfront
- Queen's Park
- Fort York
- WE Day
- Swimming at Sunny View
- Ripley's Aquarium
- High Park
- Brooks' Farms
- Evergreen Brickworks
- Variety Village
Northlea students make their way around Toronto and we are proud of our staff, students and parents who work so diligently and collaboratively to bring all of these opportunities to our school.
Home and School Extracurricular Programs
Thank you to Monika Scholte , the Home and School Association, Ms. Wadden and Ms. Saraglou for coordinating the above programs and the chess program.
Family Fun Night
Mark your calendars for Thursday, March 1st for Family Fun Night. The Home and School Association will share more information in the coming weeks but be sure to set aside the evening to join in the fun!
"Be the Change" Student Group
Our Junior students were so inspired by the Grade 7 & 8 'Me to We' student leadership initiatives that they have started an additional student leadership group called 'Be the Change' and all students in Grades 4-6 are invited to join. We are so proud of their initiative and can't wait to see these emerging leaders launch community-building efforts this year.
Indian Percussion Program - Grades 5-6
Northlea is proud to host the Indian Percussion Program this year. The Indian Percussion program introduces the rhythmic languages, and playing techniques of Karnatic and Hindustani music. The program includes creating compositions as part of the learning. The kits are loaned to schools for eight- week sessions. The Indian Percussion kits consist of dholaks, kanjiras, ghungroo, manjira, and set of tabla. Stay tuned about upcoming performances this spring.
Home and School Association Meeting & Ward Forum
Please join us on Tuesday, February 6th at 6:30 PM for Northlea's Home and School meeting. Please also mark your calendars for the Ward Forum meeting on Tuesday, January 23rd at 7:00 pm. More details can be found below in the Ward Forum flyer.
Kindergarten Corner
1. Please mark Thursday, January 25th from 6:30-8:00 pm (pls. note the revised start time) in your calendars to join Jana Leggett, our speech and language pathologist, as she walks Kindergarten parents through strategies to support early readers.
2. AM Entry Reminder - Quick reminder that we ask parents to walk their children into the yard and that you please close the gate behind you. Thank you for your assistance.
3. Please see the new Kindergarten Registration section for updates about February Registration.
2nd Annual Leaside Hockey Cup Tournament
An Update from Coach Resnick and Coach Browne:
The Leaside Cup is a tournament organized to celebrate school level hockey in the Leaside and local community. Both the grade 5/6 and 7/8 co-ed teams will be participating. The 5/6 team will play on Wednesday January 17th and the 7/8 team will play on Thursday January 18th at Leaside Memorial Arena. The winner will be awarded the Leaside cup. There are six schools in total participating including ourselves on each day.
Check out the schedule below for more details. Go Knights!
Heating Update
We are very fortunate to have received a brand new heating and air conditioning system this year. We have identified a few additional updates that will enhance our building's heating system. One of the heating controls is going to be replaced and the TDSB has ordered 4 new heating pumps. The new pumps will be more efficient. As we wait for those items to be installed, we have provided a few classes with portable heaters if they find that their rooms need additional heat. Staff have also been asked to notify the office and work with administration to find an alternate space if the temperature in a classroom becomes too cold. With the exception of Monday, January 8th, the majority of rooms at Northlea consistently have sufficient heat. Please be assured that we are monitoring and optimizing the conditions of the building carefully. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Ms. Sandler.
Kiss N' Ride Reminder from Home and School
We have a wonderful Kiss N' Ride Program running daily on weekdays southbound on Sutherland Avenue from 8:35-8:45am. This is a volunteer-driven program that allows parents to save time and keep all kids safe on their way to school. We encourage families to either park legally or use this amazing valet service. We also would love to have more parents sign on to help with this wonderful initiative.
Please consider volunteering 15 minutes of your time weekly/biweekly to help keep the program at Northlea! You can sign up to volunteer by clicking here.
A few reminders about Kiss n' Ride:
- Students should only be dropped off inside the orange safety pylons, where they will be assisted by a volunteer. This ensures a safe drop off & minimizes back ups. Parents should not be getting out of their cars to help their kids.
- When you enter the KNR, please wait for a volunteer to open your car door.
- Please ensure that all students are ready to go when the car door is opened such as shoes/ boots are on feet and backpacks are ready to go (on backs or laps). Also please ensure that all hats and mitts are on before drop off.
- All students MUST exit the car on the passenger side ONLY, exiting on the driver’s side is extremely dangerous as others cars may be passing the drop off zone.
- Once your students have exited the car, please wait for the car in front of you to advance and continue on. Please DO NOT attempt to "pass" or "merge" with other cars in the drop off zone.
- Safe drop off should take LESS THAN 60 SECONDS but sometimes with weather, construction, volume of cars, and/or only one volunteer on duty, it shouldn’t take more than just a couple of minutes.
Servery Lunch Club - Registration for February
Please see below for the menu and registration timelines for the February lunch club. The final date to register is February 1, 2018.
Pizza Lunch Update from Home & School
We want to remind participating families that Pizza Lunch is coming up in just two weeks, on Friday, January 26th! Please remind your children to bring their own water bottles as drinks are not provided.
Daycare Parking Lot Reminders
In an effort support pedestrian safety on and around the school grounds, past practice (from the 2016-2017 school year) with the daycare lot continues. The daycare school lot will not be available between 8:30 am - 9:00 am. We appreciate your understanding and support.
School Cash Online
As noted in our first newsletter, we are moving to an online payment system for school related items such as field trips and agendas. You can register at: https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/. As we migrate to this system, we are working out glitches. Thank you for your patience and your help in letting us know if you are not able to access this site properly.
Please follow the instructions below for step by step instructions.