Rainy day = caution needed in bus loop

Just a reminder to please, please, please exercise caution in the bus loop.

When it's rainy, more people drive and it's more difficult to see. Walking your children across the bus loop is dangerous. For the safety of your children, please use the footpath to walk around the bus loop.

Holiday Concert Dec 15

A reminder that Clairlea's holiday concert is on Thursday December 15, 6:30pm at SATEC. Admission is one canned food item.

Performers should arrive by 6:15pm. The concert goes until 8:30pm.

The following classes are performing:

• Mme Fahim AM/PM
• Mme Pare
• Mlle Angelevski
• Mrs Hawkins
• Mme Kakinoki
• Mme Camara
• M. Ndikumana
• Mlle Francis
• Miss Lowen
• Mr. Mitkovski
• Choir, Band, Recorder Club, Drama Club

Any classes not listed above will perform at the Spring concert instead. 

Holiday baskets

Every class will be preparing a holiday basket to be raffled at the Holiday Concert. Everyone is asked to send a $5 item for their class's themed holiday basket. Items are due on Dec 5. Thank you for your donations!

A letter went home today with each class's theme.

Report card on schools reveals new struggles for boys

From today's Globe and Mail:

Report card on schools reveals new struggles for boys
By Kate Hammer, Education Reporter
November 28, 2011

Canada’s report card on schools will be handed out to the provinces Monday, revealing mixed marks for Quebec and growing struggles in science and reading for boys across the country.

Once every three years, the Pan-Canadian Assessment Program, or PCAP, measures the reading, math and science proficiency of Grade 8 students in every province and the Yukon. Though the latest results are strong overall, when pulled apart, they identify weak spots for Canadian schools. 

Read the full article

Last week's School Council meeting

A few notes from last week's School Council meeting:

• Hunger continues to be a problem at Clairlea and Mr. McGilvray is looking into funding for a snack or breakfast program. Rebecca has also been researching this and will bring in a speaker in January to provide us with more information. In the meantime, the organizers of pizza lunch decided to put $100 from each pizza lunch toward the purchase of healthy snacks for when students don't have anything to eat at lunch. 

• Rebecca and I are going to take a stab at drafting some bylaws for the School Council. Please email me if you'd like to join our little subcommittee. Any lawyers out there? 

• Clairlea's holiday concert will be on December 15 at SATEC. Stay tuned for a list of classes that will be performing (the rest will perform at the Spring concert). 

• The Halloween Howl was a huge success! Congratulations to everyone involved. $2,200 raised.

• Through the Caring & Safe School team, the staff are working on progressive discipline and on yard and lineup routines. The playground and fields have been divided into zones by grade so that kids can play safely with others of the same age. Grs 7&8 have been given "ready-entry" privileges, which means they don't have to line up before entering the school. They are also allowed to use the Edge Park playfield for sports only.

• Mr. McGilvray identified the following needs, which School Council agreed to pay for: 
• Clairlea shirts for new staff members 
• 4 new projectors and (I think?) 3 DVD players
• balls for outdoor/recess play

• Ms. Gousis reported on lots of great extra-curricular and sports activities underway at the school. Special thanks to her for coming to the meeting even though she was not feeling well. 

• Instead of a holiday Fun Fair in December, there's a plan to host a Holidays-in-May fun fair on Saturday May 26. Hold the date and stay tuned for details. 

More details in the minutes which the chair/secretary will circulate before next meeting. 

Ice rink at Clairlea?

Is anyone interested in having an ice rink at Clairlea this winter?

The City will help make it but we need FIVE VOLUNTEERS who are willing to maintain it. See application here and email me if you're interested.

Does Clairlea have Canada's favourite crossing guard?

If you love Clairlea's crossing guard, please consider nominating him for Canada's Favourite Crossing Guard: http://www.safekidscanada.ca/Professionals/Safety-Information/Pedestrian-Safety/Crossing-Guard/Crossing-Guard.aspx

From Safe Kids Canada's web site:

Students, teachers and parents across the country are invited to nominate their favourite crossing guard during “Canada’s Favourite Crossing Guard Contest”, which runs from September 2011 to November 25, 2011.

Help us promote the importance of pedestrian safety by encouraging your kids and their schools to participate.

Tell us about your favourite crossing guard:

How have they kept the children safe?

Why are they a good role model?

Remember to include photos or pictures!

The winning crossing guards will receive an engraved plaque. The contest winner’s school will receive $1,000.
Click for contest information and a nomination form.

Deadline for entries: November 25, 2011.
Winners will be notified the following week.

It's Bullying Awareness Week

This news is admittedly a little late, but...

It's Bullying Awareness Week. 

It's also worth visiting the Red Cross's Stand Up to Bullying site. 

School Council agenda & minutes

The agenda for tomorrow's School Council meeting is here.

The minutes from last month's meeting are here.

As a reminder, we have not yet approved the draft minutes from September.

School Council meets Wed Nov 16

The School Council meets next Wednesday, Nov 16, 7:00 pm at the school. All welcome. Childcare in the gym. If you are a voting member, please make every effort to attend, as a quorum of 50% +1 is required. (Unfortunately I have a meeting and can't be there!)

Upcoming events in our ward

Here are some upcoming events in our ward, pulled from Councillor Berardinetti's newsletter. In particular, note the parks survey below. If you have time, click on the survey link and let the city know that you value Toronto's parks! If you are listing which parks your family uses regularly, note that the one behind the school is Edge Park and the one just east of Pharmacy is Clairlea Park. The public consultation is tonight.

Monday, November 7th – 7pm – 9pm
Parks Plan Public Consultation
Warden Hilltop Community Centre
25 Mendelssohn Street
*If you can’t make it, a survey is available online. http://www.toronto.ca/parks/parksplan

Friday, November 11th – 10:45 am
Remembrance Day Wreath Ceremony
Scarborough Cenotaph
(Kingston Road and Danforth Avenue)
*Reception to follow at the Oakridge Legion

Saturday Nov. 12th 8am - 1pm
43 Division Car Seat Clinic
Attendance is by appointment only.
Please contact the car seat clinic line at 416-808-4324 or by email, amin.hafiz@torontopolice.on.ca to make a reservation for any of our upcoming clinics.
4331 Lawrence Avenue East

Friday November 18 - 12:00 Noon – 2:00 pm
Family Skate Day
Heron Park Recreation Centre
*Donations of gently used skates needed!

Wednesday, November 23rd – 7pm - 9pm
Homes First Shelter Community Meeting
(Shelter located at St. Clair and Danforth Road)
Corvette Public School
30 Corvette Avenue

Saturday, November 26, 2011
Cavalcade of Lights
First Lighting Celebration at Nathan Phillips Square