We are excited to give an update on the Howard Playground Revitalization Project!

This is the year we’re designing and fundraising for school yard enhancements.

Many of you will know about this project. For those who don’t, have a look at the attached presentation.

Playground Presentation!

In a nutshell: Our field has been designated as among the worst in Toronto and is being replaced with turf. When that happens, we have the chance to do a school yard renovation. The field is entirely funded by the TDSB. Work to the rest of the yard will be paid for by parent-led fundraising.

We are reaching out to ask if you’ll consider getting involved.

We need a lot of different types of people (see list below), but the bottom line is this:  if you’re motivated, you can help.

This is a chance for us to build social infrastructure for our kids, our friends’ kids, and the broader community. It’s a chance to pay it forward.

If you’re interested in lending a hand, will you please email HowardPlayground@gmail.com with your name and preferred role?

Thanks,

Howard Playground Steering Committee

ps follow us on FB!

A list of some of the skills and tasks we’re looking for help with: video making, social media, copy writing, branding, advertising, graphic design, volunteering, IT, corporate communications, grant writing, researching, sales, emailing, organization, corporate social responsibility, legal, small business, government, construction, engineering, architecture, physical education…

Positions open:

Engagement lead

Social media manager

Branding and design lead

Videographer/video producer

Graphic Designer

Communications coordinator (2)

Fundraising lead

Fundraising outreach – small business (3)

Fundraising outreach – corporate (3)

Event planner (2)

Grant researcher

Design lead

November 4, 2019

Dear Parents and Families,

The Scholastic Book Fair will be at our school next week and you are invited to share in this celebration of literacy with us! Our Book Fair theme for Fall 2019 is Arctic Adventure Book Fair, Snow Much to Read. A blizzard of books is headed your way on November 11th — venture deep into the ice-cold polar regions to the coolest reading expedition ever! 

Now more than ever, reading is vital to leading a better life. Knowing how to read is just the beginning. Motivating young people to keep reading, comprehend what they read and develop the ability to think creatively are the end goals. Scholastic Book Fairs have the books to motivate more reading. With your involvement, we can inspire children to practice reading and read more often. Together, we can make a difference in their lives that will last a lifetime. 

Book Fair dates: Monday November 11 to Thursday November14th 

Shopping hours:

• Before school, 8:30am – 8:50 am: everyone welcome
• Primary students: morning recess  
• Junior students: afternoon recess  
• Lunch: everyone welcome
• After school on Thursday November 14th, from 3:30pm – 6:30pm: Special Family Event including a door prize!

*We accept cash, cheques made payable to our school. Visa, MasterCard and American Express are welcome, too.

Book Fair is one of our school’s biggest fundraisers that brings new books to our classrooms and the school library. One great way to ensure our children get started with reading and keep on reading all year long is with the Classroom Wish List program.  Each teacher was asked to fill-in their “book wish list” prior to the Fair. Look for your child’s teacher’s name on the display. All teachers took great care in selecting the best and most appropriate books to meet their students’ reading levels and learning needs. It is their wish that these books become a permanent part of the classroom library. Every generous gift you make will be recognized with a special bookplate, identifying your family or child as the donor.

Your support can help our school blossom with new and exciting adventures in reading, stimulating young minds for years to come. And we are still looking for volunteers! Please consider the attached letter from best-selling children’s author Gordon Korman on the impact Scholastic Book Fairs made on his career!

Sincerely,

Anne Serazin

Teacher-Librarian

Howard Public School

GKorman_VolunteerLetter_2019_BF

Thank you to everyone who came out to the October meeting to discuss the Parent Council budget for 2019-2020. It was a passionate and sometimes challenging discussion, and we appreciate how committed the parent community is to our school! Here are the minutes from that meeting:
October 2019 Meeting Minutes

These minutes will be officially approved at our next Parent Council meeting, which takes place on Wednesday, November 20, at 7pm, in the library. We’ve got some exciting topics on the agenda, including updates about the Howard Social, the scooter rack for under the main stairs, a turkey fundraiser in advance of the winter holidays, and more! Full meeting agenda here:
November 2019 Meeting Agenda

All welcome, and see you then!