Author: Howard Jr PS - Home and School Council

by

Calling all Volunteers!

We are only 4 sleeps away from Fall Fete and in urgent need of volunteers. 

 So click the button below and sign up for a 2 hour shift at Chez Howard,  the Haunted House or the good ole’ Toilet Toss.  Please don’t make us beg again tomorrow!

 Sign Up Now!

And don’t forget to contribute to these fun Fete activities as well:

 

WINE RAFFLE:   The wine raffle is the easiest way to contribute to the Fall Fete. Drop off a bottle of wine (suggested minimum of $15) to the office.

 

BASKET RAFFLE: One of the highlights of the Fall Fete is our Basket Raffle and we need donations as soon as possible.  You can drop these items off outside the Office.  Ideas include:  cooking or kitchen items, spa or bath items, fun games or kids activities.

 

BAKE TABLE: Bring your nut-free goodies to be sold at the ever-popular bake table.  Squares, cupcakes, cookies – all welcome.  We would love gluten-free offerings as well. Drop off baked goods on Friday evening or before 9am Saturday.

 

Any questions, please contact us at Fall Fete

Thank-you,

Fall Fete Co-Chairs
Olivia Burgess & Nancy Collett

 

by

Fall Fete is almost here…

Have your kids been talking non-stop about the Fall Fete? It’s fast approaching – Saturday, October 19th from 10am to 2pm.

We still need many volunteers and the bins outside the office for basket raffle, fish pond and the wine raffle have been bare!   We need your help.  Please consider donating items for the following:

WINE RAFFLE!
Have an extra bottle left over from Thanksgiving? The wine raffle is the easiest way to contribute to the Fall Fete. Drop off a bottle of wine (suggested minimum of $15) to the office to be assembled into cases to be won.

BASKET RAFFLE
One of the highlights of the Fall Fete is our Basket Raffle. It takes a lot of time to organize and assemble the baskets so we need donations as soon as possible.

Please think about picking up a few new items for the baskets. We really need items related to: men’s items, women’s items, gourmet food & kitchen items, health & exercise, home spa and beauty items, gardening, and items for a movie night or a rainy day.
You can drop these items off in the basket outside the Office (the sooner, the better).

FISH POND
Our fish farm is not well stocked – We need TONS more lures.  Make a reel difference! Tackle your annoying toy clutter!  Cast out your small unbroken items for the Fall Fete Fish Pond.  Think about items no larger than a deck of cards, things that aren’t broken and please no plush toys. Please send with your child to the tackle box just outside of the school office.

VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED!
We still need many volunteers to make sure the Fete is a success.  If you haven’t already; please sign up for a shift by clicking the link below.  Many hands make light work!

Sign Up Now!

BAKE TABLE
Bake an extra pie or a dozen cookies for the Bake Table! Gluten free options welcome.  Drop off bake table items at the nurses office Friday Oct 18th or by 9am on Saturday Oct 19th.

Any questions, please contact us at Fall Fete

Thank-you,

Fall Fete Co-Chairs
Olivia Burgess & Nancy Collett

by

Oct 16 – Parent Council annual BUDGET MEETING

Please join the Parent Council meeting on Wednesday, October 16, at 7pm, in the school library. All welcome! This is the annual budget meeting, so if you want to contribute to the discussion about how fundraising dollars are spent, this is the meeting for you! This year it’s an especially important and exciting meeting, as we’ll be discussing the Playground Survey results.

Here is the agenda for the meeting:
7:00 to 7:05 – Executive member introductions
7:05 to 7:10 – Approval of September meeting minutes
7:10 to 7:15 – Approval of October meeting agenda
7:15 to 7:20 – Principal update and EQAO survey results
7:20 to 9:00 – Parent survey results and budget setting

Here are the Minutes Sept 2019, for your review in advance of Wednesday.

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

— Howard Parent Council Executive

by

Healthy Hunger Update/Reminder

On a weekend when we are thinking a lot about food already, don’t forget to sign up for your Healthy Hunger Friday lunch program.
JUST ADDED! Burrito Boyz … choose from a selection of delicious burrito flavours, with flour or gluten-free wraps.
Go to: www.HealthyHunger.ca  and sign on to order.
Next lunch: Friday October 18
Burrito Boyz
DEADLINE: Sunday October 13, midnight!
Many thanks and Happy Thanksgiving!
by

Playground Survey – Results

Hello Howard Community,

We are pleased to let you know that we had great participation in the school council budget survey with 310 responses!  Thanks for giving us your input!
We are excited to share the results as the following :
SURVEY QUESTION: HOW DO YOU WANT TO USE THIS SCHOOL YEAR’S BUDGET? 
 
Stay the course – Set this year’s Council budget (aprox. $65K) without regard to the playground.  Allocate any residual funds to the playground project.  This will likely result in minor playground improvements.
 
 50% Reduction – For the year ahead, reduce Council budget by 50%.  Remaining funds will go the the playground project.
Prioritize the playground – For one year only, direct 90% of Council funds to the playground project.  Set a 10% Council budget for limited initiatives.  This will give the best chance for major playground improvements but also means many activities we normally support will not happen this year.
SURVEY RESULTS: 
1st  Preference: 
53.9%  Prioritize the playground
26.8% – 50% reduction
19.4% – Stay the course
2nd Preference: 
59.4% – 50% reduction
22.3% – Prioritize the playground
18.4% – Stay the course
These results will be used to set the budget at the Council meeting on Oct 16th at 7pm.
Thanks again,
Howard School Council
by

Fall Fete Needs YOU!

As you prepare for Thanksgiving celebrations this weekend, please think about Fall Fete. The Fall Fete is just over ONE WEEK AWAY – Saturday, October 19th 10am to 2pm.

Here’s a recap of what we need:

BASKET RAFFLE
One of the highlights of the Fall Fete is our Basket Raffle. It takes a lot of time to organize and assemble the baskets and we need donations as soon as possible.
Please, if you are out shopping this weekend, think about picking up a few new items for the baskets.  Here are some ideas: gourmet food & kitchen items, health & exercise, home spa and beauty items, gardening, and items for a movie night or a rainy day.
You can drop these items off in the basket outside the Office (the sooner, the better).

WINE RAFFLE
Heading to the LCBO for weekend provisions?
Plan to pick up an extra bottle of wine for the Fall Fete Wine Raffle.
Last year’s wine raffle raised over $2,000 for our kids!
Drop off wine donations in the school office any time from now until Friday, October 18th.

FISH POND
Make a reel difference! Tackle your annoying toy clutter!
Cast out your small unbroken items for the Fall Fete Fish Pond. Think about items no larger than a deck of cards, things that aren’t broken and please no plush toys.
Just one week left to help bait our Fish Pond hooks!  Our donation tackle box is outside the office.

BAKE TABLE
While you’re in the kitchen this weekend preparing turkey feasts, please think about what you might whip up to donate this year for our bake table. Baking is a great activity to enjoy as a family!

Drop off your nut-free goodies in the nurse’s office across from the music room on Friday night (October 18th) or Saturday morning (October 19th) before 9:00am. Gluten free offerings too please!

CAKE WALK
Our oh-so-popular cake walk needs your nut-free cakes! Drop them off outside the office by lunch time on Friday, October 18th. We’re looking for the most creative cakes ever! Go scary, go beautiful, go wild, some fantastic prizes will be awarded!!  Cakes will be judged by Alison Fletcher (from Cookery on Roncy).

Sign up for a shift and recruit your neighbours. It takes an army of 150+ volunteers to make the Fete magic happen. Please sign up (link below) for a shift to keep this event running like a well-oiled machine.

Sign Up Now!

Any questions, please contact us at Fall Fete

Thank-you.

Fall Fete Co-Chairs,
Olivia Burgess & Nancy Collett

by

Walk-In for Education TOMORROW (October 10)

WALK-IN CUPE Image

 

HELLO HOWARD!

Where: On the sidewalk outside the main school doors 30 Marmaduke Ave

When: Thursday, October 10, 2019, starting at 8:15 AM

Why: Because our kids and teachers matter!

Does public education matter to you? Do you want to show your support for our wonderful teachers and oppose further cuts to education?

This Thursday’s Walk-in is more important than ever! October 10th will be a powerful province-wide family day of action to pressure this government to reverse cuts to our schools. The Walk-in at Howard is one of nearly 700 taking place at schools across the province, including within our own neighbourhood at Fern Ave PS, Parkdale Jr. & Sr, Garden Ave PS, and Queen Victoria PS.

Families demonstrated their solidarity with CUPE and as a result, we saw cut funding restored, a strike averted and an infusion of new funding that will result in more supports for our students.

As the teachers’ union negotiate their contracts, we need to stand firm in our collective opposition to cuts to education. These proposed cuts include:

  • Removing class caps for grades 1-3
  • Removing teachers from kindergarten
  • Removing sick days and short-term disability leave for teachers

At our own school, we’re hearing that SEA Claims are on hold, and class budgets will be shrunk, leaving our kids without sufficient materials to work with, like notebooks and pencils. Teachers urge parents and caregivers to start these conversations with them so that we all clearly understand the day-to-day effects.

How Can You Get Involved?

Leading up to October 10:

  • Forward this email or write your own message to your child’s class list so that our full community knows about this!
  • Donate sidewalk chalk and materials for signs.
  • Share info across social media!
  • Host a sign-making party with your kids and their classmates! Or just make a sign with your kids to bring to the Walk-in!
  • Bake something (nut-free please) to share tomorrow morning.
  • Leave sidewalk chalk messages of support across the length of Marmaduke this afternoon and evening.

On October 10th:

  • Families will gather beginning around 8:15 AM outside the main entrance to Howard PS (30 Marmaduke Ave). (We will be mindful not to be on school property).
  • We will have lots of sidewalk chalk, boards and markers for folks who want to add to their own messages.
  • We welcome contributions of nut-free baked goods and/or coffee to share with the community.
  • We will show our teachers in attendance that they’re supported by the Howard community.
  • At 8:45 AM we will cheer the teachers into the school and then have kids lead a march and chant around the block with their signs. When the bell rings, families will cheer students into the school.
  • We will video the sidewalk art and tweet with #walkinforeducation to the Ministry of Education and the Premier.
  • Please use your social media presence on October 10 to amplify the event and its message. Use hashtags: #walkinforeducation #nocutstoeducation #cutshurtkids #ONpoli
  • If you are a journalist, please consider covering the event for your outlet.

We can help make this Ontario-wide Walk-in a powerful united action to express our collective — and ongoing — support for public education!

 

Feel free to reach out directly with your questions and comments.

Thanks, friends!

Erin, Jenny, Mandy and Midori

midori.c.miyamoto@gmail.com