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Fix Our Schools "aim to continue to build our network and, in doing so, capture the interest of more politicians and lobby those in power to work together to ensure that all Ontario students attend school in buildings that are safe, health and well-maintained."

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Edge Park Cleanup - Saturday April 20

Ward 35 city councillor Michelle Berardinetti has organized a multi-park cleanup on Saturday April 20 from 10am-11am. Edge Park is on the list - that's the park just beyond Clairlea's schoolyard. Volunteers, please meet in the park at 10am. Bags and gloves will be provided.

Chair's update

A message from School Council chair Irit Hartman:

Dear Clairlea Families,

I hope that you are having a safe and happy March Break.  There are a few things coming up that I've listed below.  Please find attached the minutes and treasurer's report from our last council meeting in February. [click here for attachments - draft minutes & treasurer's report]

Next Council Meeting:

Our next meeting will be held on Wed March 20th at 7pm.  Please see the agenda below.  A couple of things to note for March's meeting: I was contacted by Councillor Michelle Berardinetti's (Ward 35 Scarborough Southwest) asking if she could attend our March meeting as she wanted to see how we are doing and answer any questions or concerns that any of you may have.  So if you have questions or you just want to meet her please come out to the meeting.  She will be there at 7pm.  The agenda listed below may change to reflect a question and answer period at the beginning of the meeting with the councillor and the remaining items will be pushed back respectively.  Secondly to all of you that ordered frozen cookie dough it will be ready for pickup at 7pm at the meeting.  As we do not the facilities to store a large amount of frozen goods please ensure that you or that you've arranged for someone to pick up on your behalf at the school on March 20th at 7pm.  Any items that have not been picked up on the night will be eaten :)

As a side note: I will not be in attendance for the March meeting as I will be away but I leave you in the capable hands of our Vice Chair Christina Auger who will be running the meeting as well as the rest of the council executive.

March School Council Meeting Agenda:

6:45 – 7:00pm - Selling 50/50 tickets to be drawn at the end of the meeting (optional)

7:00 – 7:10pm - Introduction and voting in the past minutes (Christina)

7:10 – 7:35pm - Administration Report (Mr. Mcgilvray and Ms. Harroun)

7:35 – 7:45pm - Treasurer’s Report (Tina)

7:45 – 7:55pm - Fundraising Report (Karen)

7:55 – 8:25pm - Open Discussion (All)

8:25 – 8:30pm - 50/50 draw and wrap up (Christina)

Spirit Wear:

The spirit wear orders have been sent in and are being completed as you read this email.  We expect the orders to come in at the end of March.  I'm sorry but no more late orders will be accepted.

Thank you to everyone that provided feedback on the pizza lunch suggestions for the next year.  The consensus seems to be at this point that once a month is enough or at most twice a month.  We will also continue to look into other avenues for healthy food choices available in the school in addition to the pizza days.  Keep the ideas and suggestions coming.

Best Regards,

Irit

Clairlea School Council

clairleacouncil@gmail.com

Community meeting re residential towers at Pharmacy & Eglinton

Those who live in the Clairlea neighbourhood might be interested in attending a public consultation on the proposal to build five 30-40-storey residential towers on the south-east corner of Pharmacy and Eglinton. 

Thursday March 7

7:00pm - 9:00pm

Warden Hilltop Community Centre - multipurpose room

25 Mendelssohn Street

Clairlea neighbourhood Town Hall meeting

Those who live in the Clairlea neighbourhood might be interested in attending Councillor Michelle Berardinetti's neighbourhood town hall meeting this Wednesday, November 7. Details below. 

Clairlea Neighbourhood
Town Hall Meeting
Wednesday, November 7
6pm to 8pm
Our Lady of Fatima
Public School
3176 St. Clair Avenue East

(source: her email newsletter.)

TTC Information Night - Wed April 4

Ward 35 councillor Michelle Berardinetti is hosting a TTC Community Information Open House on Wednesday to answer our questions and hear any concerns about transit in Scarborough - particularly the above-ground rapid transit line that is planned for Eglinton Avenue.

TTC Community Information Open House
Wednesday April 4 - 5pm to 8pm
Warden Hilltop Community Centre, Gymnasium
25 Mendelssohn Street (just north of the Warden subway)

Development at Pharmacy & Eglinton - MEETING MAR 26

A large new development is being considered for the corner of Pharmacy & Eglinton.

Right now, the application is for re-zoning from industrial to mixed-use residential, but eventually the developer will apply for permission to build five apartment/condo towers ranging in height from 30 to 40 storeys, for a total of 1,640  new residential units. 

You can find the details of this application at http://app.toronto.ca/DevelopmentApplications/searchPlanningAppSetup.do?action=init; select Ward 35 from the drop-down menu and click "submit."

This many new residents in the area will certainly affect our schools. In response to our inquiries, City Councillor Michelle Berardinetti will host a meeting at Clairlea P.S. on MONDAY MARCH 26 from 6:30 to 8:00pm in the Library. City of Toronto Planning and Development staff and the project developer will be there to answer our questions. Please do your best to attend, as we need to become informed and engaged in this process. 

Help keep school pools open

In a continuing effort to keep school pools open, the Aquatic Working Group (AWG) has secured Board, Provincial and City commitments to fund certain Toronto school pools and to defer the decision to close others. The AWG reports that there is interest by various agencies and organizations in generating revenue for the pools. Potential partners include the YMCA, the Toronto Community Foundation, the Toronto Catholic District School Board and the private sector. What's needed now is for everyone interested in using the pools for any kind of club or event to apply for the time they want at specific pools, based on $50/hr – any pool, any user group. The AWG's recommendation to change the permit fees will be before the TDSB Board on May 27th. They expect it to pass, effective for July 1st, 2009. Summer permits will be issued shortly thereafter. All users have been asked to submit their requests for the summer and next year. Even if you don't know the exact hours you'll need, request the permit now and make adjustments later if necessary. They are asking people to register at permits@tdsb.on.ca or contact the permit department at (416) 395-7666. All different kinds of groups are welcome. It's important to register for permits now, because the usage and registration levels will help them decide whether it's feasible to keep the pools open.

Swimming pools in Toronto schools

Parents are invited to attend the City of Toronto Community Development and Recreation Committee Meeting on the future of the swimming pools in Toronto schools. A group called Let's Make Waves (www.letsmakewaves.ca) will ask the City to work with the Toronto District School Board to develop an aquatic strategy for the City’s 2.5 million residents before any pools are closed. The meeting is at 9:00 AM on Thursday, April 16th at City Hall, 2nd Floor, Committee Room 2. 100 Queen Street West, Toronto.