Save the Bouncy Castles…

We still need more than 100 volunteers to run Fall Fete. Please consider signing up for a 2 hour shift or we may have rioting children on our hands when they arrive at Fall Fete to see deflated bouncy castles…

At this time we still need volunteers for the following activities:

Friday 4-6pm Setup
Most Games
Haunted House
Bake Table

And we can’t forget Chez Howard! We are still in need of many helping hands to feed the masses.

Please keep in mind this is a primary fundraiser for Howard and funds many of the “extra’s” that our kids love and benefit from. If we cannot get volunteers for these activities by Thursday we will be forced to cancel certain activities.

Please sign up today so we can make this event a huge success.

We are also in great need of small toys and baked goods for these key events:

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.

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.

CAKE WALK: Don’t forget to submit your scary, fun, creative cakes for this years’ famous Cake Walk. Cakes must be dropped off outside the office by 9am Friday Oct 21st.

Any questions, please contact us at Fall Fete

Fall Fete Co-Chairs

Sima Gandhi & Yvonne Gimbert

Fall Fete Needs You!

The Fall Fete is just over ONE WEEK AWAY – Saturday, October 22nd – 10am to 2pm.

Here’s a recap of what we need:

VOLUNTEERS
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.

WINE RAFFLE
Heading to the LCBO for weekend provisions?
Plan to pick up an extra bottle of wine for the Fall Fete Wine Raffle.
In 2019 the wine raffle raised over $2,000 for our kids!
Drop off wine donations in the school office any time from now until Friday, October 21st.

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, 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 21st) or Saturday morning (October 22nd) 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 22nd. We’re looking for the most creative cakes ever! Go scary, go beautiful, go wild, some fantastic prizes will be awarded!!

Any questions, please contact us at Fall Fete

Thank-you.

Fall Fete Co-Chairs,

Sima Gandhi & Yvonne Gimbert

October School Council Meeting

Find out how to bring your ideas to life!

When: Wednesday, October 12 from 7:00 to 8:30pm

Where: School Library or remotely using Zoom

Childcare will be provided in the school.

Zoom Meeting Link: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/98707529450?pwd=WnFQSmJwVC9yanBXbU1EU25BLzJRdz09

Agenda Highlights:

Your New School Council: We have more open positions for Parent/Guardian Representatives than we received nominations so we did not need to hold an election. But it’s not too late to become a voting member of Council; if you are interested, come learn what’s involved and how to join. The new Council will select its executive.
Principal’s Update: Updates will include the science of reading, inclusion, and improvements to our schoolyard.
How to get involved: The bulk of parent-led experiences and improvements are organized by committees. These committees are supported and coordinated by School Council but you don’t have to be a Council member to form a committee or to contribute to one. Come learn about how committees are organized and funded — and bring your ideas!
Fall Fête: Our premier community event is on (!!) and set for October 22 from 10am to 2pm. While organization is well underway, it will take a village of volunteers to run the event. Find out how to volunteer… then sign up!

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

Fall Fete is Back! Volunteers Needed

Saturday October 22nd,

10:00am-2:00pm

Come join us for an amazing day of fun, laughter, prizes and community building. We’ve got bouncy castles, games, slime, STEM and the famous Howard Cake Walk!

**We need YOU to make this event a success.**

Donate your time: have a resolution to get more involved at your child’s school this year? It takes a small army to run the Fete and our work starts now! We are looking for over 100 volunteers to help make this event a tremendous success. Sign up for a 2 hour shift on event day and your kids will be thrilled! Sign up through the link below (click the “SIGN UP!”)

Donate items: We need small toys for the fishpond, wine for the wine raffle and loads of baked goods for the bake table.

Drop off small toys (no plush or broken) and wine ($15 min) at the office throughout the week. Bring your baked goods (gluten and nut free needed) to the office on Friday October 21st or before 9am the morning of the Fete.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Fall Fete Chairs

Sima Gandhi & Yvonne Gimbert

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!