Administrator Update
Northlea is Proud to be an OPAL School
Newsletter Updates
The Administrator Update and Dates to Remember sections have been updated with new information.
Stay Connected with Northlea
Be sure to follow us on Twitter @NorthleaTDSB. You can also check out our website at www.northleaschool.ca.
Parent-Teacher Interviews
As you are aware, report cards will not be distributed. There will, however, be a full day available on on Friday, February 14th for parent-teacher interviews. Parents are always welcome to request an interview.
Dance-a-Thon
Our 2nd annual dance-a-thon is this Thursday, February 13th, 2020! Classes have been signed up for a time slot and each class will have the opportuntiy to come down to the gym and join the party.
Fundraising forms have been distributed to every child. Students can return forms to the main office. One of the current job sanctions includes teachers not being able to handle forms and money. To support this event, we also encourage families to use the online fundraising platform: https://www.professorjamz.com/northlea
Parents as Partners Conference 2020
This all-inclusive conference is organized by TDSB parents for TDSB parents, guardians and caregivers. Participate in workshops, network with parents and community agencies and learn new strategies to support your child’s success. Registration opens in 2020! Register early as there is limited space in each workshop!
Who:
- ALL parents/guardians/caregivers of TDSB students are invited and welcome to attend.
What:
- Parents as Partners Conference 2020 is a FREE conference. Whether your child is just beginning on their educational journey in elementary school or closer to graduation and planning for the future, there are informative and empowering sessions for parents/guardians/caregivers of students of all ages and stages of education.
Where:
- Toronto Congress Centre, 650 Dixon Rd, Etobicoke, Ontario
Why:
- The Parents as Partners Conference 2020 is planned by parents, for parents and we are so pleased to be able to offer a selection of sessions that cover a broad range of topics to provide parents with useful information and resources to help your child improve their achievement and well-being at school and at home.
Joint Ward Forum With Trustee Chernos-Lin
Thank you to everyone who was able to join last week's Joint Ward Forum hosted by Trustee Chernos-Lin and Trustee Laskin. It was a very informative evening. Director John Malloy and local superintendents, including our superintendent Andrew Howard, shared updates about program reviews and other current issues. The discussion was rich, varied and valuable.
Hygiene During Flu Season
In addition to the annual flu season, we are also mindful of the coronavirus that has originated in China and has been receiving significant media attention over recent weeks. Toronto Public Health has drafted the attached letter for Torontonians. Please know that the TDSB is continuing to monitor the situation closely and are working with public health officials. The Toronto District School Board takes it lead from public health officials, which have not advised organizations, such as the TDSB, to take any additional precautions at this time.
The City of Toronto has prepared a webpage with up to date information: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/diseases-medications-vaccines/coronavirus/
You can also refer to the Ontario webpage: https://www.ontario.ca/page/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-2019-ncov
It’s important to remember that this is also flu season in Toronto. We are advising staff and students to take the usual measures such as washing your hands frequently, covering your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze and staying home if you are ill.
We ask for your support with the following:
1. Please speak with your children and remind them to wash their hands thoroughouly with soap and water after going to the washroom and throughout the day. Please also let them know about the hand sanitizer in the classroom.
2. Please remind your children that they should report any concerns about the washrooms to their teacher or to the office right away so we can address issues promptly. While our caretaking team check and clean the washrooms numerous times a day, we are not always informed if supplies have run low before the next washroom check.
3. Please remind students to use the washrooms responsibly. At times, some students can get silly in the washroom and misuse resources. We need everybody's help to maintain the washrooms.
4. Please keep children home if they are ill. If children are sick at school, we will be calling and asking families to take their children home until they are feeling better.
Valentines For Vets
Many of our classes have been preparing Valentine's cards for veterans. What is also quite special is that numerous classes have made the cards together with their learning buddies. How wonderful for students to build relationships together in support of making connections with veterans to whom we owe such gratitude!
Northlea Let's Talk
We were proud to host many important discussions and activities in support of 'Northlea - Let's Talk' which takes place during Bell Let's Talk Day.
Global Play Day
Last week, Northlea participated in Global Play Day. It was so much fun to watch students playing in and outside of the classrooms. From boardgames, to blocks to basketball and beyond - students enjoyed playing as they pleased. It was a day full of student-led play and it was a joy to behold.
Yearbook - Parent Volunteer Call-Out
Our parent team is almost complete. We are looking for one or two more people to join. If interested please email yearbook@northleaschool.ca. Parent involvement in the yearbook has always been a pivotal part of the yearbook's success. The students love the yearbook and it has been a tradition at Northlea for the past 20+ years.
Kindergarten Registration
We will start booking appointments on January 16th, 2020 and begin actual registrations on Feb 3rd, 2020.
Please call Northlea at 416-396-2395 to schedule an appointment starting on January 16th, 2020 for children who are eligible to start Junior Kindergarten in September 2020. Children who will be four by December 31, 2020, can start Junior Kindergarten in September 2020. We will commence with registrations on February 3rd, 2020.
In order to complete the registration you will require the following items: Birth Certificate, Health Card, Immunization Record, and a Property Tax Bill or Rental Agreement & one other piece of proof of residency (utility bill: Hydro, Enbridge, City of Toronto). NOTE: Property Tax Bill or Rental Agreement is Mandatory
The link below has detailed information about TDSB Kindergarten programming:
More detailed information about registration can be found here: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/EarlyYears/KindergartenMonth
Regardless of which process caregivers select, all registrations require a visit the local school to validate registration information.
Save the date for our Welcome to Kindergarten Orientation on Tuesday, June 9, 2020 from 9:10-10:10 am beginning in our school library.
Public Health has shared several informative documents about supporting readiness for Kindergarten:
Optional Attendance
Students who reside within the City of Toronto have the right to attend a school which is designated to serve their residential address. The "Find Your School" section of the website identifies the designated schools for each residential address.
Students also have the opportunity to access schools outside of the school that is designated to serve their residential address by applying on optional attendance. Acceptance at these schools is subject to space availability and program suitability. The procedures, conditions and timelines relating to optional attendance are described in the Optional Attendance Policy and the Optional Attendance Operational Procedure
Each year in December, schools are classified as limited or closed to optional attendance based on the space they have available for the upcoming school year. A school classified as limited can accept students on optional attendance. A limited school is not obliged to accept all students who apply on optional attendance. Acceptance is conditional upon space being available in the appropriate grade and program. A school classified as closed cannot accept any students on optional attendance. Only students residing within the school's attendance area will be accepted. If a school is classified as limited, and you are interested in applying to that school, please contact the school's principal.
Please note that the optional attendance status is updated every December for admission in September of the coming school year. Many schools that are limited have their available spaces filled in the spring. Please confirm if a limited school has space available by calling the school directly.
Please Note the Following:
1. Priority of placement in the requested school will be based on a lottery if applications exceed the space available at the requested school.
2. If admitted, a student is expected to continue at the requested school until graduation.
IMPORTANT DATES FOR SCHOOL ADMISSION BEGINNING SEPTEMBER 2020
ELEMENTARY Form
Applications must be received by Friday, February 14 2020.
A lottery, if necessary, will be held to determine the successful applicants.
Parents/guardians will be informed of acceptance or non-acceptance no later than March 6, 2020.
Parents/guardians must inform the requested school of their acceptance of the offer by Friday, 20 March 2019.
SECONDARY Form
Applications must be received by Friday, January 31 2020.
A lottery, if necessary, will be held to determine the successful applicants.
Parents/guardians or students 18 years of age or older will be informed of acceptance or non-acceptance prior to Friday, February 14 2020.
Parents/guardians or students 18 years of age or older must confirm the offer of admission by completing a course selection sheet by Friday, 28 February 2020.
No student will be admitted into all secondary grade levels through optional attendance after Friday, 28 February 2020 unless the student does not have a timetable at another school.
Note: It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to deliver the application to the school or schools of choice.
Home and School Meetings
Below please find our list of Home and School meetings for this school year:
- Wednesday, February 19th @ 2:30 PM - RESCHEDULED** The meeting on February 6th - 2:30 PM @ Northlea in the School Library has been rescheduled to Wednesday, February 19, 2020. The meeting will run from 2:30 pm -3:20 pm.
- April 6th - 8:35 AM @ Northlea in the School Library
- May - Date TBD - 6:30 PM @ Northlea in the School Library
- Annual General Meeting - Time TBD - Post or pre volunteer breakfast perhaps.
Trustee Corner
Please visit Trustee Chernos Lin's website for updates about Ward 11: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/ward11/
You can also find the latest newsletter in full here:
https://t.e2ma.net/webview/yfx8xc/827a85a3639f7f3dd1111b2569c7f660
Community Coffee Meetings . . . A Message from Trustee Chernos-Lin
UPCOMING COFFEE MORNINGS
Mark your calendars! The following coffee mornings have been set:
- March 10, 2020, 9:15-11:15, Leaside Longo's
- April 14, 2020, 9:15-11:15, Leaside Longo's
- June 16, 2020, 9:15-11:15, Leaside Longo's
"Community Coffee" meetings are informal gatherings where parents and constituents are invited for a round table-style discussion of information sharing, best practices and interesting conversation related to education in our ward. We often have superintendents and sometimes even principals who drop by, so these are fun and engaging events. These meetings are usually held at Longo's Leaside (93 Laird Drive), unless stated otherwise. I hope you can join us at one of upcoming dates below!