Hello all,

The Home and School Council hopes that as many family voices can be documented via the survey sent out by Principal McKenzie as possible.

In case you missed it, here is the link again: Parent Council Playground Survey 

The survey takes 2-3 minutes, helps inform you of the decisions ahead and gives you the chance to express your priorities for fundraising and how the funds are allocated. Please participate at your earliest convenience to best inform the decision-making process!

Hello Howard families,

Would you kindly return any Howard running shirts worn by kids in your household at last week’s cross-country meet at your earliest convenience? (If your child qualified for the next competition, they can keep the shirt until after the next meet.)

And while you are at it, could you please check to see if you have any extra from previous years? The Howard Home & School Association bought a new set of shirts recently so that every kid who runs for Howard could have a school shirt to wear, but the numbers have been dwindling and we are close to not having enough.

Thanks,

Kathy Narraway

Howard Home & School Sports Council

What: A “walk-in” event showing support for our students and educators

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

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

Why: Because our kids and teachers matter!

HELLO HOWARD FAMILIES!

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

A parent group at Howard is organizing a Walk-In Event to show support for public education, our teachers, and our students on Thursday, October 10, before the start of school. Similar events will be taking place all over the province of Ontario with more than 300 schools already registered, including Fern Ave PS, Parkdale Jr. & Sr, Garden Ave PS, and Queen Victoria PS.

We had a wonderful turnout for our previous Walk-In Event on June 6 and we’d love to redouble our efforts and show our teachers we continue to care about the state of public education. Their working conditions become our kids’ learning environments, and we all have a stake in this.

While this speaks to our current political reality, Walk-Ins are intended to be non-partisan events. The Walk-In at Howard, and at all schools, are held slightly off school property. Walk-Ins have been an effective way to win significant gains in movements for public education. It’s an easy and empowering way to rally together as a community, lend our support to our educators and show our kids that we value their education.

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.
• Join the organizing committee (email Midori, address below)
• 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 the morning of!
• On Wednesday, October 9th (weather permitting), leave sidewalk chalk messages of support across the length of Marmaduke.

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 to not 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.

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

Thanks, friends!

Erin McCaughan, Mandy Moore, Midori Miyamoto

midori.c.miyamoto@gmail.com

Attention Howard families! Are you excited about The Lion King, this year’s school musical? Do you have questions about the show or the process?

Our director, Julia Gallagher, will be in the music room during curriculum night tomorrow (Wednesday 6-7pm) so feel free to drop by and have a chat!

Thanks to all of those who came out for our first School Council Meeting last Wednesday evening. It was a great meeting with lots of new faces and some amazing parents have already stepped up to volunteer for the Executive as well as other council committees.  Thank you!! The minutes of the meeting will be sent out in the coming days.

We are still, however, very much in need of a Treasurer for this school year. This is an S.O.S call for anyone who is good with numbers who may be able to help us!  The treasurer tracks money coming in and out of the school council account and reports back to the parent community.  The superstar parent who takes on this role will have advice from past Treasurers in how to get up and running and the full support of the Executive.

If spreadsheets are your specialty and you are interested in saving the day please email erin.mccaughan@gmail.com

Thank you!!

Dear Howard Jr. P.S. community,

I am looking for parent volunteers to help out with the upkeep of the school library. Duties may include shelving, cataloging books, making displays and helping with Book Fairs.

If you are able to volunteer any of your time, please contact me at the school or by email at anne.serazin@tdsb.on.ca

Thank you,
Ms. Anne Serazin

HOWARD EATS.2019-2020_new Sched

This year we have two new options to choose from in the expanded Friday Lunch Program, with four different restaurant options rotating each month in the following sequence:

• Alimentari Italian Grocery (on Roncesvalles) will offer a choice of homemade pasta *new
• Subway sandwiches
• Burrito Boyz *new
• our traditional monthly Pizza Days managed by our amazing Pizza Granny Kathy Narraway, on the last Friday of each month

Pizza lunches are arranged separately. For the three other vendors (Alimentari, Subway and Burrito Boyz), you can find them all at Healthy Hunger. All you have to do is sign up for an account at www.HealthyHunger.ca

If you wish to sign up for the first Alimentari pasta day, this Friday October 4th, the deadline is this evening!

• Create a profile so that  you can get reminders ahead of sign up day.
• Your previous orders will be stored there (by child name) so that each time you order, it’s only a few quick clicks.
• You can also go all in and sign up for the whole year at once. Pay up front and don’t’ think about Friday lunches again.
• Please note that Burrito Boyz will be added to the system in the coming days. Check back soon to see the menu!
• All Healthy Hunger orders are due by the Sunday prior, no exceptions. Unfortunately, we cannot offer refunds if your child happens to be away that day.

Go to HealthyHunger.ca  and sign up today! We got your back….Friday lunch is covered.