Join Your School Council

DEADLINE IS TOMORROW

Howard’s School Council is our parent community hub for organizing events, making improvements to our school, and communicating our needs to the principal and TDSB.

Participating in School Council is a great way to be involved with your child’s school and education. At Howard, School Council serves the community in two ways: advising and enhancing. School Council advises the school principal and the Toronto District School Board on administrative and planning matters; and School Council enhances the school experience by serving as the hub for parent-led and parent-supported extracurricular opportunities, social events, and school improvements.

Our School Council includes 20 Parent Representative members. These members are elected by Howard parents and serve for one year. All parents/guardians with children at Howard are eligible to be elected to the School Council. If you would like to nominate yourself or another parent, please submit a nomination form to the office by Friday, September 30th. Candidates will be announced on Monday, October 3. Elections will be held by secret ballot on Tuesday, October 11. The first meeting of the new Council will be on October 12; at this first meeting, elected members will select Chairs, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.

Council Members are expected to:

  • attend and participate in all monthly School Council meetings;
  • solicit and represent the views and opinions of the broader parent community;
  • participate on School Council committees;
  • participate and help facilitate events organized by School Council and related committees.

Key dates:

  • Friday, September 30: candidate nominations due
  • Monday, October 3: candidates announced
  • Tuesday, October 11: elections
  • Wednesday, October 12: first meeting of your new School Council (meeting is open to all parents so plan to attend whether you’re on council or not)

To nominate yourself or another parent, submit a nomination form, available for download here: https://howardpublicschool.files.wordpress.com/2022/09/2022-howard-school-council-parent-nomination-form.pdf 

If you are unable to download or print the nomination form, you can pick up a printed copy from the school office.

More information about school councils is available at https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Community/How-to-get-involved/School-Councils

If you have questions, please email our School Council at sc.howardjuniorpublicschool@tdsb.on.ca 

We hope to attract parents from all grades and from both the English and the French programs. A diversity of opinions and experiences makes for a strong School Council so please step forward if you know you can contribute!

September School Council Meeting

Meet our new Principal, Lovenia Gorman!

When: Wednesday, September 21 from 7:00-8:00pm
Where: School Library or remotely using Zoom
Childcare will be provided in the school

Zoom Meeting Link: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/92257729178?pwd=Y2o5Tk5xc3Z0aHBrY0JOYkRMTVd5QT09

Agenda Highlights:
  • Meet Your New Principal: We welcome Lovenia Gorman to Howard! Don’t miss this chance to hear about her plans for our school.
  • School Council 101: Learn about what Council does and the various ways you can get involved and stay informed.
  • Fun is back!: With COVID restrictions eased, we can host the fun events and extracurricular activities that make our school a welcoming hub for our community. We’ll discuss what was done in the past and invite you to think about how you’d like to shape our future.
  • Fall Fête: The October funfair is our premier community event but has not been possible for two years. Let’s make it happen this year! We need new leaders and an army of volunteers.

If you cannot attend or prefer to ask questions anonymously, please submit your questions here.

View the full agenda on our website.

Subscribe to the School Council Calendar

School Council Meeting Today

Stay informed and share your ideas!

Online on Wednesday, May 25 from from 7:00-8:30pm.

Zoom meeting link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/88564027165?pwd=bEthUm1DTk9mcXR6ckJQU1dLTmpRdz09

Agenda Highlights:
  • What’s Happening at Howard: Graduation and the return of activities
  • Staffing Updates
  • Addressing Pandemic-Related Learning Gaps: Find out what is being done and what resources are available to you and your child.
  • Howard’s First Pride Parade: Mark your calendars for June 1!
  • How to Get Involved: This year is just about over so we’re planning for the 2022-2023 school year.

If you cannot attend or prefer to ask questions anonymously, please submit your questions here.

View the full agenda on our website.

Subscribe to the School Council Calendar

Anti-Black Racism Workshop for Parents & Guardians

WHO: LeRoi Newbold, Freedom School
WHEN: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 at 6:00 pm
WHERE: Virtual via Zoom; register here

Join us for a two-workshop series co-sponsored by the Howard and Fern Avenue Public School Equity and Inclusion Committees. Through these workshops we will discuss ways that we can work together to address and challenge anti-Black racism and support our students in and out of the classroom. We will also focus on how we can build a network of solidarity to show up and fight anti-Black racism in our larger community. Students, parents, community members and staff are invited to participate in these interactive Zoom sessions.

The first workshop will be held on May 17, 2022 at 6pm facilitated by LeRoi Newbold, co-director of Freedom School Toronto. Freedom School Toronto is a youth and parent driven initiative that intervenes to fight against anti-Black racism in the school system and to create educational alternatives for Black children. This session will focus on practical ways to support students in our west-end community through Black liberatory practices.

We ask that this remain a safe space for all participants and speakers and that questions and interactions remain respectful and sincere. Let’s do this Ward 7!

Please register here to receive the Zoom link.

School Council Meeting Today

Become a member and have a vote!

Online on Wednesday, April 20 from from 7:00-8:30pm.

Zoom meeting link: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87829805203

Agenda Highlights:
  • Become a Voting Member: School Council meetings are open to all parents/guardians, and all are welcome to comment or ask questions, but only members get to vote on decisions. To have a vote, volunteer to be a Parent Representative.
  • New Chair Election: Once we have welcomed our new Parent Representatives, we will hold an election for a new Chair or Co-Chairs. If you are interested in being Chair, first volunteer to be a Parent Representative, then nominate yourself to be Chair. To learn more about what School Council does and how it operates, you can review the TDSB pages, starting here.
  • Addressing Pandemic-Related Learning Gaps: As part of the Principal’s Update, there will be an update on the TDSB-wide effort to identify and close learning gaps. Find out what is being done and what resources are available to you and your child.
  • Anti-Black Racism Workshop: The date is set for May 17. Find out how to participate.

If you cannot attend or prefer to ask questions anonymously, please submit your questions here.

View the full agenda on our website.

Subscribe to the School Council Calendar