June 2023 School Council Meeting

Preparing for 2023/24

When: Wednesday, June 21 from 7:00 to 8:20pm

Where: School Library or remotely using Zoom

Childcare WLL NOT be provided in the school (usually it is).
All Howard parents/caregivers are welcome.

Zoom Meeting Link: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/94039659443?pwd=aER2dlNPbWJBais5eUZuZ2pKdEdBdz09

Highlights

  • Principal’s Update: Every School Council meeting includes an update from our Principal with time for questions. It’s casual and informative and a great way — especially for new families — to understand how the school runs and how to get information and help.
  • Year-End Summary: We’ll take stock of what we accomplished, how we used our funds, and record things we learned so we can carry the knowledge forward to the next school year.
  • Planning for 2023/2024: We’ll identify programs and initiatives that need attention as soon as the new school year begins, so that we can be ready to work on them before the first School Council meeting in September and the formation of the next School Council on October.

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

Agenda

Chair: Alfredo Cabeza                                       

Administration Rep(s): Lovenia Gorman

Welcome & land acknowledgementAlfredo / TBD7:00 – 7:05
School Council member roll call Mallory7:05 – 7:07
Acceptance of last meeting’s minutesAlfredo7:07 – 7:10
Principal’s updateLovenia7:10 – 7:25
Year-End financialsDanna7:25 – 7:45
Back to school planningAlfredo7:45 – 8:00
Committee updatesCommittee Reps8:00 – 8:20
Adjournment – See you in September!Mallory8:20
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Dance-a-thon May 19th

We are holding our annual Dance-a-thon this coming Friday, May 19th!!

This is a really fun event, where the kids come to the gym with their classes and take turns having a dance party in the gym.  It’s great exercise, supports both our Daily Physical Activity and Physical Education programs… and the kids love it!  We need a few parent volunteers to make this event work.  Please have a look at the schedule and let us know if you can come dance with us for an hour!

Our goal is for every child to raise $25 – 50 (or more if possible!) so if you can, have your kids make some calls to grandparents, aunts and uncles this week to see if they will sponsor them!  The money raised goes directly to enhancing our kids’ educational experience at Howard – whether its for tech, the arts, gym equipment or books for the library!

MAKING A DONATION IS SUPER EASY:

1.  You can sponsor your child via Cash Online – an email has been sent already;

2.  or you can send cash or cheque (made out to “Howard Home and School Association”) in the envelope that came home last week;

3.  you can also contribute by e-transfer to sc.howardjuniorpublicschool@tdsb.on.ca and just put “Dance-a-thon” in the memo! 

Kids can make song requests on the Professor Jamz website! https://www.professorjamz.com/music

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Please email erin.mccaughan@gmail.com if you have questions or can volunteer for an hour – your kids will love having you there 😉

Dance-a-thon Schedule: Friday, May 19th, 2023 

TIMEAREAS
9:10-9:5026, 27, 28
9:55-10:2511, 12, 22
10:35-11:1537, 38, 40
11:15-12:15lunch
12:30-1:1523, 24, 25, 39
1:25-1:40recess
1:40-2:30 31, 32, 14

Howard Social – Saturday, May 27th

🦅 Calling all Howard Hawks! 🦅

Howard parents, caregivers and guardians:

In the immortal words of Vanilla Ice, we are asking you to Stop, Collaborate and Listen!

The Howard Social is Saturday, May 27 at St Casimir’s Hall, 156 Roncesvalles Ave.

This is the biggest fundraiser of the year for Howard, so we need your help:

  1. Buying tickets to attend or making a donation – www.thesocialhoward.com/product/big-shiny-social-ticket/1
  1. Donating items/experiences/services for the silent auction. This is critical to the success of our fundraising efforts so please be creative and as generous as you can be – https://feedback.achievers.com/PollPopupContent.php?short_link=hYf1ux4.1
  1. Volunteering! As little as 1 hour of time helps to make the magic happen, and is a great way to get involved at the school – https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0944a4a72ba7ffcf8-howard#/

This year’s theme is 90’s Much Music Video Dance Party. In addition to supporting School Council led initiatives for Howard students, events like this one create and strengthen our amazing Howard parent community.

Pop in, stay the whole night, volunteer or make a donation. Whatever you can do to help is much appreciated and helps to make this event fun and successful!

Thank you on behalf of the Howard Social Planning Committee 

May 2023 School Council Meeting

Featuring: The Science of Reading Workshop

When: Wednesday, May 17 from 7:00 to 8:30pm

Where: School Library or remotely using Zoom

Childcare will be provided in the school. All Howard parents/caregivers are welcome.

Zoom Meeting Link: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/94039659443?pwd=aER2dlNPbWJBais5eUZuZ2pKdEdBdz09

Highlights

  • Science of Reading Workshop: TDSB Speech and Language Pathologist, Kirstin Boucher, will explain what the Science of Reading is, how Howard staff are applying it when teaching our kids, and ways we can support our kids’ literacy development at home.
  • Principal’s Update: Every School Council meeting includes an update from our Principal with time for questions. It’s casual and informative and a great way — especially for new families — to understand how the school runs and how to get information and help.

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

Agenda

Chair: Alfredo Cabeza                                       

Administration Rep(s): Lovenia Gorman

Welcome & land acknowledgementAlfredo / TBD7:00 – 7:05
School Council member roll call Mallory7:05 – 7:07
Acceptance of last meeting’s minutesAlfredo7:07 – 7:10
The Science of Reading with Kirstin BoucherKirstin7:10 – 8:00
Principal’s updateLovenia8:00 – 8:05
Financial update and budget allocation voteDanna / Alfredo8:05 – 8:10
Back to school planningAlfredo8:10 – 8:15
Committee Updates8:15 – 8:20
Pizza Potluck Picnic planning Alfredo8:20 – 8:25
Staff appreciation lunch planningAlfredo8:25 – 8:30
Adjournment – next meeting is on June 21Mallory8:30
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Hawk’s Nest Calming Space

A New Space for Student Well-Being

The Mental Health & Wellness Committee and Howard School Council are excited to announce the opening of the Hawk’s Nest Calming Space, a dedicated onsite space designed to support student mental and emotional health.

The Hawk’s Nest features various areas including a book nook, an art station, a stretching corner, and a music space. Collectively, the areas create a calming and energizing environment that all students will be encouraged to use as part of an accommodation, when feeling overwhelmed, or when in need of a quiet space for self care.

Thank you students and teachers for sharing your ideas and feedback. All of your voices are important and helped to design a space that is inclusive and accessible.

The development of this space was lead by Howard parent, Ashley Wood-Suszko; staff member, Ivana Simanic; and Principal Lovenia Gorman. Thank you for your vision, energy, and time!

The Hawk’s Nest Calming Space was funded by the generous donations of Howard families. Your participation in fundraising events and programs like Fall Fête, Pizza Lunch, and the Spring Social make exceptional projects like this one possible. Thank you!

We are also sincerely grateful for the items generously donated by local businesses. Thank you to: