Fairmount Public School

Welcome to Fairmount!

February 11, 2022

On Tuesday of next week, students will bring home their first

term report cards. Ideally, all students are progressing well and

achieving their personal best, and enjoying school. However, we

also recognize that, for various reasons, some students may be

struggling with the academic demands and social complexities of school

at this time. Parent/Teacher interviews/conferences following the February report card are usually reserved for students who are at-risk for promotion to the next grade or are experiencing difficulty meeting provincial standards or if their achievement has declined significantly. However, it is also possible that the degree of communication that you have had with the teacher on an ongoing basis, or a recent conversation you have had would make this interview superfluous. Notwithstanding these points, any parent can request an interview with the teacher if you would like one. Your child’s teacher will be contacting you with information regarding interviews. A reminder that Friday, February 18^th is a PA Day so no school for students on this day.

This week we have had a total of 4 reported Covid cases (two sets of siblings) at our school:

Room 12 (Kindergarten) – 1 case

Room 14 (Grade 1) – 1 case

Room 4 (Grade ¾) – 1 case

Room 21 (Grade 6/7) – 1 case

Please continue to adhere to the screening tool each and every morning as you sign your child’s health pass prior to the start of school. News reports indicate that there are other provinces and countries that are starting to lift their mask mandates, Ontario’s remains in effect and our students and parents who are on school property must continue to adhere to the board’s mask procedure as developed in consultation with Toronto Public Health. We all look forward to the day when masks are no longer necessary.

Traffic Complaints

This week we received a few complaints from some of our neighbours. These included our parents’ not adhering to the parking signage along Sloley and blocking peoples’ driveways. Please do your best to adhere to the bylaws that are in place.

Kindergarten Registration 2022

Kindergarten registration for all TDSB schools is now open. We look forward to welcoming our new students and any new families to our school in September!

To attend Junior Kindergarten in September 2022, children must turn four years old by December 31, 2022. To register for Senior Kindergarten, children must be five years old by December 31, 2022. For more information about the Kindergarten program and registration requirements please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten. If you are interested in booking online or would like to book a virtual face-to-face registration, please click here or call our office staff at 416-396-6240 and we will be pleased to help you.

School Council Meeting

Our next School Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, February 16^th beginning at 6:45 PM. All are welcome to attend via this Zoom link:

Join Zoom Meeting https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/93120919346?pwd=QWxzMEo5bDl3MU9jckptQUtSZE1zdz09

Meeting ID: 931 2091 9346

Passcode: 517719

Updated Music Guidelines

This message does not apply to all students at this time but the TDSB has announced that a plan has now been developed to support the safe and gradual re-entry of singing and wind instruments in elementary and secondary schools. The plan has been approved by Toronto Public Health and as with all other activities, the first priority is ensuring the appropriate health and safety measures are in place.

Over the coming weeks, schools may slowly restart singing and the use of wind instruments, within a cohort. Singing may be reintroduced indoors with masks and within cohorts. Wind instruments will slowly return beginning the week of February 14^th, within cohorts.

Mental Health and Well-Being

While we will continue to focus on supporting our students at school, there may be information or supports that are of use to you in the following links:

Mental Health and Well-Being (TDSB)

Parent/Caregiver Mental Health Tool Kit

Information on where and how to reach out for help is also in the Winter-Well Being Guide.

Our Professional Support Services team offers weekly virtual drop-in times where you can connect directly with a staff member to help answer questions and provide support to help you and your child.

Virtual office hours will resume on January 11, 2022.

•Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Join Tuesday's session on Zoom:

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/93004338438?pwd=ZmJTZEFTRlNqK203YXVjYVY4VnVWUT09

•Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Join Thursday's session on Zoom:

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/98920693610?pwd=RmVXQ1pRWXBZSUY4YmI3eHJ5T3QyQT09

Ask a Teacher Librarian!Virtual Library Help for Parents

Do you have questions about digital resources that are available for learning?Want to know how to find resources and use the Virtual Library to support learning at home?You are invited to join Digital Content coaches from Library Learning Resources at parent/caregiver drop-in sessions exploring the Virtual Library and supporting families learning at home. Please see this link for days, times and the Zoom link.

Invitation to Bettina Love February – Guest Speaker

The Pursuit of Educational Freedom for Black and Racialized Students, with Dr. Bettina Love

Thursday, February 17, 2022

6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Dr. Bettina L. Love is an award-winning author and the Athletic Association Endowed Professor at the University of Georgia. Her writing, research, teaching, and educational advocacy work meet at the intersection of education reform, anti-racism, carceral studies, abolition, and Black joy. She is the author of We Want to Do More Than Survive: Abolitionist Teaching and the Pursuit of Educational Freedom. Learn more at www.tdsb.on.ca/conversation

School Donations – Tax Receipt

Thank you to the families that donated to the school after this message appeared in one of our December newsletters. If you are interested in donating to our school, you can donate directly to the school and get a tax receipt. You can also contact the school directly to have your donation used as you would like (For example, if your child likes sports, you could ask for the donation to be directed for more sports equipment!)To donate directly to our school, visit the TDSB School Cash Online site. Indicate the amount you want to donate, select Fairmount PS from the School drop-down menu and add a note about the purpose of the donation in the “Message to the school board” field (optional). As a donor, you will automatically receive tax receipts through email for donations of $1 and over. For more detailed instructions on making a donation online, please see the step by step instructions.

Getting Ready for High School

Grade 8 course selection becomes available on July 31^st which means that we will begin working with students to select their courses for September. So, if you haven’t had an opportunity to explore the resources below, now is the time.

A Grade 8-9 Transition information session that covered topics such as course selection using myBlueprint can be viewed here.

See this excellent Transitions and Pathways Infographic with links and information.

Information about all high schools can be found here.

Information about specialized schools and programs can be found here.

Optional Attendance

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Video

Choices Course Selection and Planning Guide

Secondary School Information Guide

February is African Heritage Month at the TDSB

During the month of February, the Toronto District School Board proudly recognizes African Heritage Month. It is an occasion to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of peoples of African descent to Canada and the world. The chosen theme for 2021-2022 is NIA: Walking in Our Purpose.

An artwork created by students from Downsview Secondary Schools in 2020 has been updated to showcase this year’s theme NIA: Walking in Our Purpose. Five principles of Kwanzaa are presented in this painting:

*Umoja (unity) the tattoo

*Nia (purpose) the logo on the shoe

*Kuumba (creativity) the logo on the shirt

*Imani (faith) the brand tag on the hijab

*Kujichagulia (self determination) found in the fabric of one of the shirts.

There were almost 1.2 million Black people living in Canada in 2016. The Black population is diverse and has a long and rich history in Canada. This dates back as early as 1608 with Mathieu De Costa who came from Holland to Canada to work as a French interpreter. There was also a large settlement of Blacks in New French in and around 1734 with Marie Joseph Angelique. During the 1850’s and 1860’s many Blacks fled to Canada from the United States seeking refuge from enslavement because of the Trans Atlantic Trade.

Among the Black population born outside of Canada, the source countries of immigration have changed over time. More than half of this population who immigrated before

The African Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee continues to name, notice, and disrupt anti-Black racism through their organized initiatives shared throughout the TDSB and commitment to hold space for Black students, staff, parents, and families, to heal, to celebrate and to thrive. We are excited to share more information about African Heritage Month.

During the month of February, several activities are planned including the establishment of a scholarship fund, called Know Your Worth Scholarship. The African Heritage Month Committee’s goal is to award three scholarships annually, specifically, the first award, named “Kujichagulia”; which means “Self-determination”, celebrates students who accomplish academic excellence. The second financial award is titled “Kuumba”; which means Creativity. The students use art, in its many forms, including environmental stewardship, to express themselves. The third financial award, Umoja; which means “Unity”, calls for us to strive for and maintain unity in the family, community, nation, and race. This award allows for student applicants to demonstrate their leadership at school or in their community. Supporting our students in a substantial and meaningful way in their first year of life at a post-secondary institution is important to us. Your donation to the Know Your Worth Scholarship fund is welcome, and all on-line donations are tax deductible. Additionally, all cheque donations of $25.00 and greater qualify for tax receipts.

Additional activities for students include: Know Your Worth “Black Youth Empowerment” Conference: Standing in Our Truth and the further expansion of the Black Student Alliances across our schools including a celebration of students for their exceptional work! For our staff, a Know Your Worth Educators’ Conference - Resilience: Building Visions of Black Excellence has been organized.

February is Chinese Heritage Month at the TDSB

he Toronto District School Board is proud to recognize Chinese Heritage Month (CHM) during the month of February.

This year CHM coincides with one of the most important Chinese celebrations, the Lunar New Year which began on Tuesday, February 1st. Lunar New Year is also known as the spring festival and begins with the first new moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar 15 days later. This year’s Chinese Heritage Month theme is YEAR OF THE TIGER– Brave, Compassionate, Adventurous, and Optimistic.

To learn about Chinese Heritage a power point was created highlighting the symbolism for various foods that are shared at festivals celebrated by Chinese Canadians.

Please follow us on twitter @tdsbChineseHM

Attachments with this Week’s Falconer

- Raise a Reader Workshop – March 1^st

- African Heritage Month Guest Speaker – Tisha Nelson – February 16^th

Calendar

- Monday, February 14 - Day 5

- Tuesday, February 15 – Day 1 – Report Cards Go Home

- Wednesday, February 16 – Day 2 - Magha Puja Day/Lantern Festival - Buddhism

- Thursday, February 17 – Day 3

- Friday, February 18 – Day 4 – PA Day No School For Students

February 4, 2022

On Wednesday evening, TDSB Trustees approved a motion to

purchase Level 3 medical grade masks for TDSB students. While

students may continue to wear their own mask, one medical mask

per day will be made available to all students until the end of the

school year should they wish to wear them. We will move forward with

ordering and distributing these masks as soon as possible.

This week we have had a total of 5 reported Covid cases at our school:

Room 14 (Grade 1) – 1 case

Room 4 (Grade ¾) – 1 case

Room 9 (Grade 5/6) – 1 case

Room 7 (Grade 6) – 2 cases

Note that Room 21 (Grade 6/7) reported 1 case but fortunately it turned out to be a false positive.

Please continue to adhere to the screening tool each and every morning as you sign your child’s health pass prior to the start of school and remind your child(ren) to follow the mask procedure and remain in their class/cohort at lunch and recess.

Kindergarten Registration 2022

Kindergarten registration for all TDSB schools is now open. We look forward to welcoming our new students and any new families to our school in September!

Mental Health and Well-Being

While we will continue to focus on supporting our students at school, there may be information or supports that are of use to you in the following links:

Mental Health and Well-Being (TDSB)

Parent/Caregiver Mental Health Tool Kit

Our Professional Support Services team offers weekly virtual drop-in times where you can connect directly with a staff member to help answer questions and provide support to help you and your child.

Virtual office hours will resume on January 11, 2022.

•Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Join Tuesday's session on Zoom:

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/93004338438?pwd=ZmJTZEFTRlNqK203YXVjYVY4VnVWUT09

•Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Join Thursday's session on Zoom:

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/98920693610?pwd=RmVXQ1pRWXBZSUY4YmI3eHJ5T3QyQT09

Character Education Assembly

Thank you to our hosts for this month’s assembly, Leo Penheiro and Halle Purcell and to those classes and students who contributed to this month’s assembly

The character trait that was the focus for January was teamwork. The students were recognized for doing a great job during the month of January, demonstrating this trait and/or for their effort to improve in this area.

Grade 1

Frederick Loch Christian MandasNicholas Martin

Mariyum Ullah

Grade 2

Aiden Wong

Grade 3

Rayyan Khan Lucas TianMadeline Vogel

Grade 4

Grade 5

Colton Cormack Allan Gonzales MonteroHayden Rahbar

Jake Rinzler Zoe SmithSean Winkie

Grade 6

Lucas Ali Bentley CummingsRemi Flikweert

Zachary McDonald Rehan RahmanMarlon Robinson-Santana

John Sayeg Isabelle ZielinskiSantino Zuza

Grade 7

Wahi Ahmed Luke HenkenhafLeah McGuire

Siyam Noori Kennedy PurcellKayden Sanders

Daniel Winter-Minott

Grade 8

Sushmoy Chowdhury Emerson MurrayStephan Pirocchi

Michael Robinson-Santana Manarat Sikder

The character trait that is the focus for February is fairness.

Ask a Teacher Librarian!Virtual Library Help for Parents

Invitation to Bettina Love February – Guest Speaker

This link leads you to an invitation to TDSB families in recognition of African Heritage Month, jointly hosted by the TDSB's Parent and Community Engagement Office, the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee, and the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement

We are excited to kick off our Join the Conversation series for 2022. TDSB families are invited to join us for a series of engaging and informative conversations on topics we heard you want to learn more about. Hear from leading experts and participate in question and answer sessions online. This month’s speaker is Dr. Love. Spots are limited please do not delay.

School Donations – Tax Receipt

Getting Ready for High School

A Grade 8-9 Transition information session that covered topics such as course selection using myBlueprint can be viewed here.

See this excellent Transitions and Pathways Infographic with links and information.

Information about all high schools can be found here.

Information about specialized schools and programs can be found here.

Optional Attendance

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Video

Choices Course Selection and Planning Guide

Secondary School Information Guide

February is African Heritage Month at the TDSB

*Umoja (unity) the tattoo

*Nia (purpose) the logo on the shoe

*Kuumba (creativity) the logo on the shirt

*Imani (faith) the brand tag on the hijab

*Kujichagulia (self determination) found in the fabric of one of the shirts.

Among the Black population born outside of Canada, the source countries of immigration have changed over time. More than half of this population who immigrated before

February is Chinese Heritage Month at the TDSB

he Toronto District School Board is proud to recognize Chinese Heritage Month (CHM) during the month of February.

To learn about Chinese Heritage a power point was created highlighting the symbolism for various foods that are shared at festivals celebrated by Chinese Canadians.

Please follow us on twitter @tdsbChineseHM

Attachments with this Week’s Falconer

- COVID-19 Decision Tool for School Students, Staff, and Visitors

- Scarborough Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic – David and Mary Thompson C.I – February 6th

Calendar

- Monday, February 7 - Day 5

- Tuesday, February 8 – Day 1

- Wednesday, February 9 – Day 2

- Thursday, February 10 – Day 3

- Friday, February 11 – Day 4

January 28, 2022

Please continue to adhere to the screening tool each and every morning as you sign your child’s health pass prior to the start of school.

Scarborough Health Network - COVID-19 Vaccine Information

The Scarborough Health Network has asked that the following information be shared with school communities:

Why is it important to have your child vaccinated?

Although we are seeing lower rates for COVID-19 in children and youth compared to adults and seniors, it is still possible for them to:

Get sick from COVID-19

Get sick from COVID-19 and require hospitalization

Get infected and not have symptoms

Spread COVID-19 to others

Experience long-term effects of COVID-19 if they do get infected

Children and youth that have certain underlying conditions are at a higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccines have been proven to help the body fight off the virus in both adults and children.

How many children have been vaccinated in Scarborough?

The Scarborough Vaccine Team has vaccinated almost 20,000 children, with more being vaccinated each day!

What if I have questions? What resources are available?

The VaxFacts Clinic at Scarborough Health Network was created during the pandemic to meet the unique needs of the Scarborough community. Scarborough Health Network developed the clinic to allow members of the community an opportunity to speak with a physician regarding their questions or concerns related to the COVID-19 virus and/or vaccine. We have attached the flyer for the VaxFacts Clinic as well as some frequently asked questions for your reference. VaxFacts also has written information available in several languages which can be located using this link.

Our excellent team of physicians also hosted a virtual town hall event in November of 2021 that helped answer many Scarborough parents’ questions and concerns. The recording of that town hall can be found at this link.

How do I book an appointment for a child?

SHN hosts multiple clinics across many Scarborough neighbourhoods, many of which offer vaccines for children. We encourage you to use this link to book an appointment to have your child vaccinated at a location near you. The link will also have more information related to vaccine resources within Scarborough. We host “pop-up” vaccine clinics regularly in community settings and public spaces in case these re-occurring clinics are not within your area.

The attachments that accompany this week’s Falconer includes a promotional flyer for the Super Supportive and Accessible COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic on January 31 from 2:00-8:00 pm at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

Walk-ins welcome. No appointment is needed. No OHIP card is needed.

Supports available for those who:

• Have a fear of needles

• Need a quiet space to get vaccinated or somewhere to sit down while waiting

• Need a companion with you as you get vaccinated

• Need an ASL interpreter

School Council Meeting

Thanks to the parents who were able to attend this week’s School Council meeting.

All Councils across the system are being asked to ensure that they have By-Laws in place governing the conduct of its affairs and that every School Council shall make the following By-Laws:

By-Laws that govern election procedures and the filling of vacancies in the membership of the School Council;

By-Laws that establish rules respecting participation in School Council proceedings in cases of conflict of interest;

By-Laws that, in accordance with any applicable policies established by the Board that established the School Council, establishes a conflict;

Resolution process for internal School Council disputes.

To support this process, the TDSB has updated the School Council By-Laws template, which is one of the attachments with this newsletter. We will complete at a subsequent meeting. As always, you are welcome to join any of the meetings but if you have any input you would like to provide, you can email our co-chair Amanda.Wesson@tdsb.on.ca.

Our next Council meeting is scheduled for February 16^th at 6:45 PM.

The Minutes from this week’s meeting is one of this week’s attachments

School Donations – Tax Receipt

Device Returns

A reminder to anyone who has not yet returned a device that was borrowed for the two-week remote learning period that these need to be returned to the school for use by our students. As you may know, grade 5 and 9 classes across the system are part of a 1:1 device initiative that we are hopeful will continue for years to come. As part of this program, these students have had the opportunity to borrow a Chromebook from the TDSB for their exclusive use at school and at home and will continue to use this device throughout their school years. While we continue to try to augment our school’s complement of Chromebooks, please know that your child is not restricted to using one of the school’s devices as they are welcome to bring their own device to and from school, which will be used for their exclusive use.

Kindergarten Registration 2022

Kindergarten registration for all TDSB schools begins in February. We look forward to welcoming our new students and any new families to our school in September!

Specific information about registration at our school will come out in the coming weeks.

Mental Health and Well-Being

Wednesday was Bell Let’s Talk Day, which raises awareness and encourages discussions about mental health. Mental health stigma is one of the biggest hurdles and Bell Let’s Talk Day reminds us that talking is the best way to start breaking down the stigma. While we will continue to focus on supporting our students at school, there may be information or supports that are of use to you in the following links:

Mental Health and Well-Being (TDSB)

Parent/Caregiver Mental Health Tool Kit

Our Professional Support Services team offers weekly virtual drop-in times where you can connect directly with a staff member to help answer questions and provide support to help you and your child.

Virtual office hours will resume on January 11, 2022.

•Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Join Tuesday's session on Zoom:

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/93004338438?pwd=ZmJTZEFTRlNqK203YXVjYVY4VnVWUT09

•Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Join Thursday's session on Zoom:

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/98920693610?pwd=RmVXQ1pRWXBZSUY4YmI3eHJ5T3QyQT09

Toronto Public Library – Wi-Fi Hotspots

Did you know that TPL loans out hotspots for 6 months at a time?

Please pass this on to your community.

You will need the following information

oFirst and Last Name of individual to sign for the hotspot

oTPL Library Card number

oSigned loan agreement

You can also visit their website that provides more information on the program: https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/using-the-library/computer-services/wifi-hotspots/

Getting Ready for High School

A Grade 8-9 Transition information session that covered topics such as course selection using myBlueprint can be viewed here.

See this excellent Transitions and Pathways Infographic with links and information.

Information about all high schools can be found here.

Information about specialized schools and programs can be found here.

Optional Attendance

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Video

Choices Course Selection and Planning Guide

Secondary School Information Guide

Optional Attendance

You should have received an email on Wednesday evening outlining the requirements for those who are interested in applying to a school for September that is outside of the area in which they live.

Process:

The parent/guardian can complete the Optional Attendance form (paper or digital version Elementary or Secondary) and can email the completed form to the current school principal. If they are accepting hard copies, the form can then be taken to the school to which you are applying or it can be emailed to the school from the current school principal.

Forms for secondary schools must be received by 4:00 p.m. January 28, 2022, and for elementary schools by February 11, 2022.

Elementary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:

February 11, 2022 - Optional Attendance forms due at elementary school

March 4, 2022 - Deadline for parents/guardians to be informed of the status of the application request

March 25, 2022 - Parents/guardians must inform the requested school of their acceptance of the offer

Secondary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:

Today - January 28, 2022 - Optional Attendance forms due at secondary school

February 11, 2022 - Deadline for parents/guardians of students to be informed of the status of the application request

February 22, 2021 - Parents/guardians must inform the requested school of their acceptance of the offer via email and submit course selections via MyBlueprint

Please use the link below for more information regarding Optional Attendance.

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Find-your/School/Optional-Attendance

Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 Entry)

Applications to the Middle French Immersion program may be submitted, on behalf of students in the English program, the year the child is in Grade 3 for entry in September of Grade 4. It is an entirely online process. All communication will be sent via the email address you provide. Please check your email regularly, including junk mail folders.

Please visit the application site www.tdsb.on.ca/pars

You will need your child’s date of birth and OEN. The OEN is a 9-digit number found on any report card from the TDSB.

Please select Middle French Immersion from the drop-down menu and complete the application process.

On-time applicants will be offered a placement via the email address you have provided. You MUST take action to reserve a spot by the deadline requested when you are offered a placement.

Offers of placement will be ongoing through the weeks and months following the close of the application period.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Application process opens: January 3, 2022

Deadline for applications is today: January 28, 2022

Please note:

While every effort will be made to place students in the school identified as their area Middle French Immersion school, this is not always possible. In cases where the number of applications in a given area is greater than the number of allotted program spaces in the school, students may be redirected to schools with available program space.

Placements are made based on the child's primary home address of record prior to the application deadline. If the address changes between the application deadline and the fall of the Grade 4 year, there is no guarantee of placement in the new area.

Important Information for Families of Gr. 6 Students - Extended French Application Process – Grade 7 Entry

Grade 7 Extended French Program – Application Process and Timelines

For families interested in the Grade 7 Extended French Program (begins in Grade 7 September 2022) hosted in only 14 TDSB schools, applications must be completed and submitted electronically directly to the Extended French School between January 3 and January 28, 2022.

For more details, please see the attached information package.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day

January 27 is designated by the United Nations General Assembly as International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD). Since 2005, the UN and its member states have held commemoration ceremonies to mark the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau and to honour the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust and millions of other victims of Nazism.

The purpose of International Holocaust Remembrance Day is two-fold: to serve as a date for official commemoration of the victims of the Nazi regime and to promote Holocaust education throughout the world. It is important to recognize that the antisemitism that laid the foundation for state sanctioned persecution and the escalating stages of genocide still exists today.

We must all stand up against antisemitism and anti-Jewish racism, alongside all other forms of hate and discrimination, to truly create and model safe and inclusive TDSB schools.

Attachments with this Week’s Falconer

- Vax Facts for Parents

- Vax Facts for Kids

- Family Roll Call Vax Weekend

- Covid Vax Clinic Accessible

- School Council Meeting Minutes

- School Council By-Laws Template

- Healthy Eating Workshop Series

Calendar – Return to In-Person Learning

- Monday, January 31 – Day 5 – Character Ed Assembly

- Tuesday, February 1 – Day 1 – Happy Lunar New Year!

African Heritage Month Begins

Asian Heritage Month Begins

Children’s Mental Health Week Begins – World Health Organization

- Wednesday, February 2 – Day 2

- Thursday, February 3 – Day 3

- Friday, February 4 – Day 4

January 14, 2022

Thank you for your patience and support over the past couple of weeks

as we have all tried to support the shift to remote teaching and

learning. We think that the distribution of devices to those who

do not have access at home and the troubleshooting of tech issues

has now been resolved, just in time for a return to in-person learning on Monday.

There may possibly be additional safety measures for us to implement but for now, we will continue to cohort our students and do in fact have HEPA filters in all of our instructional areas. Please help us keep everyone safe by reminding your child(ren) about the importance of wearing a mask properly, to remain in their cohorts, and for those who must stay for lunch to refrain from talking while their mask is removed.

As of January 7^th, Toronto Public Health has updated the daily screening tool, the second page of which contains information related to self-isolation requirements for students. Please take the time to read through the screener carefully and do not send your child to school if he/she or anyone in your family is experiencing the symptoms listed. If your child received a box of rapid antigen tests prior to the break, and you still have any left, consider using it prior to the return to school on Monday.

*Answers to questions regarding the return to school on Monday can most likely be found in the TDSB email that you received last night or the Toronto Public Health letter to parents/guardians that was embedded in that email and also attached with this newsletter.*

One of the concerns that have been expressed by parents and through the media is that positive Covid cases will no longer be reported directly to parents. However, in the TDSB, when we are made aware of a positive rapid or PCR test, we will communicate via email to the parents of students in that cohort that a positive Covid case has been reported in that class. The students in that class will not need to be dismissed. This means that it is much more important for us to be vigilant when conducting the daily screening because the answers to those questions will dictate whether or not someone needs to stay home and isolate. Public Health is currently saying that being in the same class as someone does not necessarily qualify someone as a ‘close contact’ provided students have been following the required safety measures. (See above for the important reminders for students.)

One of the attachments is the revised daily Health Pass for parents/guardians to sign each morning, indicating that your child has been screened for symptoms. We will give a hard copy to students at school on Monday.

We look forward to seeing everyone back at school on Monday.If you have borrowed a device from the school, please ensure that it also gets returned as soon as possible.We need all of our devices back in classrooms.

Requests for Switching Between Learning Models

The switch between learning models will not take place until February 22^nd but if you have requested a change either to remote from in-person or to in-person from remote, you can expect a phone call from our school at some point next week to confirm your decision.

Kindergarten Registration 2022

Kindergarten registration for all TDSB schools begins in February. We look forward to welcoming our new students and any new families to our school in September!

Specific information about registration at our school will come out in the coming weeks.

Mental Health and Well-Being

Mental health and well-being are always a priority for us but attention to this is something that we are all that much more mindful of during times of remote teaching and learning. We know that the change to virtual learning is challenging for many of our students and their families.Please know that we will continue to focus on supporting the individual needs of our students academically and emotionally. There may be information or supports that are of use to you in the following links:

Mental Health and Well-Being (TDSB)

Parent/Caregiver Mental Health Tool Kit

Our Professional Support Services team offers weekly virtual drop-in times where you can connect directly with a staff member to help answer questions and provide support to help you and your child.

Virtual office hours will resume on January 11, 2022.

•Tuesdays from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Join Tuesday's session on Zoom:

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/93004338438?pwd=ZmJTZEFTRlNqK203YXVjYVY4VnVWUT09

•Thursdays from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Join Thursday's session on Zoom:

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/98920693610?pwd=RmVXQ1pRWXBZSUY4YmI3eHJ5T3QyQT09

Getting Ready for High School

A substantial amount of information and resources have been made available to support families of Grade 8 students to prepare for the transition to high school in September.

This is a recording of the TDSB transition information session webinar that was previously available for parents and students to attend.

While teachers will go over this with students in class, this video explains the process for course selection in TDSB high schools.

See this excellent Transitions and Pathways Infographic with links and information.

Information about all high schools can be found here.

Information about specialized schools and programs can be found here.

Optional Attendance

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Video

Choices Course Selection and Planning Guide

Secondary School Information Guide

Lost and Found

Only two items were left over from before the break – lost and found.

Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 Entry)

Please visit the application site www.tdsb.on.ca/pars

You will need your child’s date of birth and OEN. The OEN is a 9-digit number found on any report card from the TDSB.

Please select Middle French Immersion from the drop-down menu and complete the application process.

On-time applicants will be offered a placement via the email address you have provided. You MUST take action to reserve a spot by the deadline requested when you are offered a placement.

Offers of placement will be ongoing through the weeks and months following the close of the application period.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Application process opens: January 3, 2022

Deadline for applications: January 28, 2022

Please note:

For more information about the Middle French Immersion (Grade 4) application process, please join us for a Virtual Webinar Session on one of the following dates:

DATES, TIME & LINK TO WEBINARS

ALTERNATE WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

January 17, 2022 – 7 pm

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON JANUARY 17

Webinar ID: 998 7090 8992

Phone one-tap: Canada: +16473744685,,99870908992# or +16475580588,,99870908992#

Dial: Canada: +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588

Important Information for Families of Gr. 6 Students - Extended French Application Process – Grade 7 Entry

Grade 7 Extended French Program – Application Process and Timelines

For more information about the Grade 7 Extended French Program, Application Process and Timelines, virtual information sessions are scheduled in January 2022 at each of the host Extend French schools. For more details, please see the attached information package or contact the specific school directly.

Summer Employment - Students

Some older siblings of some of our students may be interested in this summer employment opportunity. The TDSB has launched a new Recruitment platform for Caretaking and Grounds Student Summer Employment opportunities. You must be a minimum of 16 years of age prior to start of employment, though some positions may require students to be a minimum of 18 years of age.

Click here for more information.

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRBC)

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care. This applies if their school, regular program, or facility is closed or unavailable to them due to COVID-19, or because they are sick, self-isolating, or at risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19. The CRCB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

If you are eligible for the CRCB, your household can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for each 1-week period.

If your situation continues, you will need to apply again. Each household may apply for up to a total of 44 weeks between September 27, 2020, and May 7, 2022.

January is Tamil Heritage Month at the TDSB

Tamil Heritage Month is proudly recognized during the month of January at the Toronto District School Board.This year our theme for Tamil Heritage Month is:Our Histories.Our Legacies.Our Homelands.(எமது வரலாறுகள். எமது மரபுகள். எமது தாயகங்கள்).

Each one of us carries a unique story and experience that we either bring into this country or is shared to us by our families.As Canadians from many facets of life these identities shape who we are and build the foundation of this great nation.Our Histories/எமது வரலாறுகள் speaks to the lived or shared history each of us carry. Our Legacies/எமது மரபுகள் addresses what we either left behind in our native country or have created for ourselves that sets us apart from others. Our Homelands/எமது தாயகங்கள் recognizes that each one of us can have more than one homeland and each lived experience makes us stronger.

Toronto has the largest Tamil population outside of the South Asian subcontinent with thousands of TDSB students and staff members identified as Tamil.The importance of building awareness, creating a strong self and collective identities, and understanding one's own roots and rights are important objectives of the Tamil Heritage Month volunteer planning committee.

For further information about Tamil Heritage Month, please view this power point on interesting facts on Tamil customs and traditions.

Attachments with this Week’s Falconer

- Revised TDSB Health Pass

- Revised TPH COVID-19 Screening Tool and Self-Isolation Requirements

- COVID-19 Vaccination Information Session – January 20^th

- Supporting the Anxieties in Our Students – Part 2 – January 19^th

- Navigating Grade 8 to 9 Transitions – Part 2 – January 18^th

- Model Schools’ Parent/Caregiver Workshops 2022

- TPH Letter to Parents Regarding the Return to School

Calendar – Return to In-Person Learning

- Monday, January 17 – Day 5

- Tuesday, January 18 – Day 1

- Wednesday, January 19 – Day 2

- Thursday, January 20 – Day 3

- Friday, January 21 – Day 4

January 7, 2022

Happy New Year!

The most frequently asked question over the past few days is

whether or not we anticipate being back in-person on January 17^th.

The short answer is that your guess is as good as ours at this point

as we all continue to monitor the news and government announcements.

There has been talk in the media about the importance if implementing appropriate safety measures upon our return to school. As you know, in the TDSB we were already cohorting our classes and have HEPA filters in all instructional areas. We may learn of other measures to implement but there will be an updated COVID-19 screening tool that all students (parents) and staff complete prior to coming to school each morning.

While this initial shift to remote learning may only end up being comprised of 7 school days, we recognize that it is possible that it will extend longer and we are prepared for this as we have all been in this situation before. Thanks for your patience and understanding this week as getting everyone up and running does present some challenges. Fortunately, so far, we have been able to accommodate all requests for devices out of our school’s own complement of Chromebooks. We know that for some families arranging/scheduling for a device for your child may not have been easy but it is a appreciated as we would not likely have been able to accommodate all requests if the requests were based solely on convenience rather than need. As a system, there are 20,000 devices that were borrowed last year that still have not been returned. These devices were locked centrally but have now been temporarily unlocked so those who did not return a device in the spring will be able to access it during this period of remote learning.

For Student Virtual Learning Technical Support, please click on the link below for answers to commonly asked questions:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1o2qPvYkLNGZoucHB_BmNTKJjDWsqlsv7yJXU8jCp3oE/edit?usp=sharing

Alternatively, please call the Parent Support Line at 416 396-9110.It is open 8:30-4:30 Monday to Friday.

Note that next week is a four-day week for students as Friday, January 14th had already been scheduled as a PA Day for staff.

Requests for Switching Between Learning Models – Due Today!

Prior to the Winter Break, you should have received an email from the TDSB that included the form for you to request a switch of learning model, from in-person learning to remote or vice versa. You have up until midnight tonight to request a switch, though the move will not occur until February 22nd. If you are not requesting a switch, then you do not need to take any action as no response means that your child will continue in their current method of instruction. If you have already submitted a form but have changed your mind, you can resubmit the form and the submission with the most recent date will be the one that is accepted. (It is likely that schools will be asked to contact all of those who are asking for a switch to verify that this is indeed their request.)

A link to the Switch Form can also be found on the TDSB website at www.tdsb.on.ca/switchform.

Mental Health and Well-Being

Mental Health and Well-Being (TDSB)

Parent/Caregiver Mental Health Tool Kit

Character Education – Kindness & Caring (December)

The character traits that were the focus for December were “kindness and caring”. The following students were recognized for doing a great job during the month of December demonstrating this trait and/or for their effort to improve in this area.

The character trait that is the focus for January is teamwork.

Grade 1

Abrar Khan

Grade 2

Ava AmiripourSadie BeitchmanSona Krishna

Sloane Pringle

Grade 3

Ashilee Ewing

Grade 4

Evelyn Sam

Grade 5

Joan HuntZoe StergiosAnna Taylor

Grade 6

Anna AmiripourAdriano AradaZafeera Hossain

Noah Lindley ScolaMaddyx Robinson

Grade 7

Tyson GuceLuke HenkenhafLevente Orgovan

Kayden SandersMia Wilson

Grade 8

Tara MitevJamie PialisCharlotte Trudeau

Savannah Youngberg

Getting Ready for High School

A substantial amount of information and resources have been made available to support families of Grade 8 students to prepare for the transition to high school in September.

This is a recording of the TDSB transition information session webinar that was previously available for parents and students to attend.

While teachers will go over this with students in class, this video explains the process for course selection in TDSB high schools.

See this excellent Transitions and Pathways Infographic with links and information.

Information about all high schools can be found here.

Information about specialized schools and programs can be found here.

Optional Attendance

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Video

Choices Course Selection and Planning Guide

Secondary School Information Guide

School Council Meeting Update/Donations with Tax Receipt

The Fairmount Parent Council wants to hear from you! We meet every month on Zoom and use Facebook as our main communication method. Find us on Facebook at Fairmount Public School Parent Council (Toronto). Our next meeting is Tuesday, January 25 at 6:45 pm. The link will be sent out in the Falconer as added to the FB group in early January.

The minutes from the December 14^th meeting are attached.

Next meeting: Tuesday, January 25 @ 6:45 pm.

Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 Entry)

Please visit the application site www.tdsb.on.ca/pars

You will need your child’s date of birth and OEN. The OEN is a 9-digit number found on any report card from the TDSB.

Please select Middle French Immersion from the drop-down menu and complete the application process.

On-time applicants will be offered a placement via the email address you have provided. You MUST take action to reserve a spot by the deadline requested when you are offered a placement.

Offers of placement will be ongoing through the weeks and months following the close of the application period.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Application process opens: January 3, 2022

Deadline for applications: January 28, 2022

Please note:

For more information about the Middle French Immersion (Grade 4) application process, please join us for a Virtual Webinar Session on one of the following dates:

DATES, TIME & LINK TO WEBINARS

ALTERNATE WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

January 13, 2022 – 1 pm

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON JANUARY 13

Webinar ID: 965 0951 9491

Phone one-tap: Canada: +6475580588,,96509519491# or +16473744685,,96509519491#

Dial: Canada:+1 647 558 0588 or +1 647 374 4685

January 17, 2022 – 7 pm

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON JANUARY 17

Webinar ID: 998 7090 8992

Phone one-tap: Canada: +16473744685,,99870908992# or +16475580588,,99870908992#

Dial: Canada: +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588

Important Information for Families of Gr. 6 Students - Extended French Application Process – Grade 7 Entry

Grade 7 Extended French Program – Application Process and Timelines

Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit (CRBC)

The Canada Recovery Caregiving Benefit gives income support to employed and self-employed individuals who are unable to work because they must care for their child under 12 years old or a family member who needs supervised care. This applies if their school, regular program or facility is closed or unavailable to them due to COVID-19, or because they are sick, self-isolating, or at risk of serious health complications due to COVID-19. The CRCB is administered by the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

If you are eligible for the CRCB, your household can receive $500 ($450 after taxes withheld) for each 1-week period.

If your situation continues, you will need to apply again. Each household may apply for up to a total of 44 weeks between September 27, 2020 and May 7, 2022.

January is Tamil Heritage Month at the TDSB

For further information about Tamil Heritage Month, please view this power point on interesting facts on Tamil customs and traditions.

Attachments with this Week’s Falconer

-Local Mental Health Services and Agencies

-Anxiety Services and Resources

-Children 5-11 Vaccine Clinic – January 13^th 4110 Lawrence Avenue East

-Red Cross Baby-Sitting Course (Grades 5-8)

-Red Cross Stay Safe Course (Grades 3-5)

-School Council Meeting Minutes – December 14^th

Calendar – Remote Learning Continues

- Monday, January 10 – Day 1

- Tuesday, January 11 – Day 2

- Wednesday, January 12 – Day 3

- Thursday, January 13 – Day 4

- Friday, January 14 – PA Day – No School for Students

December 10, 2021

While the holiday season is something that many of us look

forward to and enjoy, it also a time for us to be particularly

attentive to those who are struggling and for whom the season

can exacerbate the difficult situation one might be experiencing.

Please share this attached TDSB Winter 2020-2021 Well-Being Guide

with anyone who may find it of use.

Join the Fairmount FlipGive Team

Our School Council has set up a FlipGive account as a fundraising opportunity for our school. It is very simple and similar to Rakuten in that if you use this app to make your purchases at participating stores, the school will get cash back. All you have to do is go through FlipGive to shop and use the Fairmount code when you make your purchases. It is completely virtual and contactless, just shop anytime with the stores and brands that you already like such as Home Depot, Walmart, Sport Check, Indigo, Old Navy, Apple, Esso, and Loblaws.

Join our team now and you’ll get a $5 bonus the first time you shop: https://flipgive.app.link/teams/join?joincode=QJMR57

Or enter this code: QJMR57

Check out this minute video to learn more.

Requests for Switching Between Learning Models

You should have already received the form to request a switch to remote learning from in-person learning or vice versa. You have up until January 7^th to request a switch, though the move will not occur until February 22^nd.

While all parents/caregivers should have received this form, it is only necessary for those who are requesting to make a switch in the method of instruction. (The default for those who do not respond will be for the student to remain in their current method of instruction.)

A link to the Switch Form can also be found on the TDSB website at www.tdsb.on.ca/switchform.

Getting Ready for High School

A substantial amount of information and resources have been made available to support families of Grade 8 students to prepare for the transition to high school in September.

For those who were not able to attend Wednesday’s transition information session, a recording of the webinar can be found here.

See this excellent Transitions and Pathways Infographic with links and information.

Information about all high schools and dates for their respective open house and information session dates can be found here.

Information about specialized schools and programs can be found here.

Optional Attendance – Note that Optional Attendance forms are now available.

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Video

Choices Course Selection and Planning Guide

Secondary School Information Guide

School Council Meeting

The next School Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 15^th at 6:45 PM. All parents and guardians are welcome to attend at the following Zoom link:

https://tdsbca.zoom.us/j/98678065046?pwd=cURVakV4d054RjNXZC9Pa0poSEdpUT09

Fairmount Virtual Book Fair

The virtual book fair will run through Sunday. Scholastic has developed a Virtual Book Fair to provide an opportunity for our students and families to experience the joy of reading together.

A portion of the profits will go right back into our library to purchase books for our students to enjoy.

Visit our school’s Virtual Book Fair site using this link:

https://virtualbookfairs.scholastic.ca/pages/5169105

Ministry of Education Announcements

All Ontario public school students will be sent home with five rapid COVID-19 tests to use over the holidays and throughout the return to in-person learning.

Travel Policies – Families are reminded to review the established federal international travel policies – including the guidelines for unvaccinated, school-aged children – in advance of the December break in an effort to prevent absences in January related to post-travel requirements.

Rapid Antigen Tests

As noted above, Covid-19 rapid antigen tests will be going home with your child this week. If your child will not be here for the full week and you haven’t yet received your tests, please let us know so we can ensure that you get a kit.

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zVDiI-rZ-k9wH-nE34Ze1wgftuRjQc3iAOaEjqKOQLg/edit#slide=id.g1031d70bbb9_0_9

Clothing Drive

For this upcoming week, the table and surrounding area in the front foyer will be designated for our clothing drive collection. If you have any clothes that you would like to donate, please feel free to drop them off or send them to school with your child.

Covid-19 Vaccination Information

The TDSB’s COVID-19 Vaccines web page is a comprehensive page that includes links to information, appointment bookings and resources such as webinars and letters from Toronto Public Health. The page also includes information on the voluntary disclosure of vaccination status for students aged 12 and older, and details on the implementation of the COVID-19 Vaccination Procedure for staff with data that is updated at least once weekly.

Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 Entry)

Please visit the application site www.tdsb.on.ca/pars

You will need your child’s date of birth and OEN. The OEN is a 9-digit number found on any report card from the TDSB.

Please select Middle French Immersion from the drop-down menu and complete the application process.

On-time applicants will be offered a placement via the email address you have provided. You MUST take action to reserve a spot by the deadline requested when you are offered a placement.

Offers of placement will be ongoing through the weeks and months following the close of the application period.

IMPORTANT DATES:

Application process opens: January 3, 2022

Deadline for applications: January 28, 2022

Please note:

For more information about the Middle French Immersion (Grade 4) application process, please join us for a Virtual Webinar Session on one of the following dates:

DATES, TIME & LINK TO WEBINARS

ALTERNATE WAYS TO PARTICIPATE

January 6, 2022 – 10 am

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON JANUARY 6

Webinar ID: 957 9470 9338

Phone one-tap: Canada: +6473744685,,95794709338# or +16475580588,,95794709338#

Dial: Canada : +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588

January 13, 2022 – 1 pm

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON JANUARY 13

Webinar ID: 965 0951 9491

Phone one-tap: Canada: +6475580588,,96509519491# or +16473744685,,96509519491#

Dial: Canada:+1 647 558 0588 or +1 647 374 4685

January 17, 2022 – 7 pm

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE WEBINAR ON JANUARY 17

Webinar ID: 998 7090 8992

Phone one-tap: Canada: +16473744685,,99870908992# or +16475580588,,99870908992#

Dial: Canada: +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588

Attachments with this Week’s Falconer

-Toronto Kids Vaccine Day – Sunday, December 12th

-Sick-Kids Covid-19 Saliva PCR Testing and Vaccination Drop-In Session

-Pop Up Vaccine Clinics for Children Aged 5-11 – December 7-30

-Winter Well-Being Guide

-Local Mental Health Services and Agencies

Calendar

- Monday, December 13 – Day 1

- Tuesday, December 14 – Day 2

- Wednesday, December 15 – Day 3

Pajama Day

- Thursday, December 16 – Day 4

- Friday, December 17 – Day 5

Red, Green and White Day

Winter Showcase Assembly

Cram the Cruiser Toy Drive

Thanks to all of those who were able to contribute to our Cram the Cruiser Toy Drive in support of 43 Division’s annual campaign for children of all ages. (The toys pictured below are only a small portion of what was donated.) Our students were thrilled to see the toys getting picked up yesterday by officers from the Toronto Police Service.

A special thank you to Ms. Misner, her class and the entire Toy Drive Committee for organizing this initiative during this month of kindness and caring.

November 26, 2021

Join the Fairmount FlipGive Team

Our School Council has set up a FlipGive account as a

fundraising opportunity for our school. It is very simple and

similar to Rakuten in that if you use this app to make your purchases

at participating stores, the school will get cash back. All you have to

do is go through FlipGive to shop and use the Fairmount code when you make your purchases. It is completely virtual and contactless, just shop anytime with the stores and brands that you already like such as Home Depot, Walmart, Sport Check, Indigo, Old Navy, Apple, Esso, and Loblaws.

Join our team now and you’ll get a $5 bonus the first time you shop: https://flipgive.app.link/teams/join?joincode=QJMR57

Or enter this code: QJMR57

Check out this minute video to learn more.

Requests for Switching Between Learning Models

All TDSB students had the opportunity to begin the year in either in-person or virtual learning with the understanding that there would be a chance to switch between learning models in February. While the official date of the switch will be on February 22^nd, following the first term report card, the window of opportunity to request a switch will be available between December 3^rd and January 7^th.

Parents/caregivers of students who wish to switch between in-person and virtual learning for February 2022, must complete the form that will be made available. Families and students who do not wish to make a change do not need to complete a form or take any action.

The form should be available here beginning on December 3^rd.

Math Resources

The time immediately following progress reports or report cards is often when parents are looking for additional resources to support their child’s learning.

Here is a link on how you can support your child’s math learning at home:

https://www.ontario.ca/page/support-your-childs-math-learning#section-2

Knowledgehook is an online math site where students can access math practice questions that are aligned with the Ontario curriculum expectations.

More resources targeted to families where children are learning virtually can be found at: https://www.ontario.ca/page/learn-at-home

Getting Ready for High School

A substantial amount of information and resources have been made available to support families of Grade 8 students to prepare for the transition to high school in September.

This is the recording of the November 1st information session that the board put together for parents and students:

TDSB Grade 8 Information Session for Families

See this excellent Transitions and Pathways Infographic with links and information.

Information about all high schools and dates for their respective open house and information session dates can be found here.

Information about specialized schools and programs can be found here.

Optional Attendance – Note that Optional Attendance forms are now available.

Grade 8 Teachers/School Administration to share Beyond 8 resources to families

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Video

Choices Course Selection and Planning Guide

Secondary School Information Guide

Ministry of Education Announcement

Yesterday, the Ministry of Education shared a number of updates intended to support the health and safety of students and school communities across Ontario. The full media release can be viewed here but some of the key highlights are:

•Secondary schools are able to return to a regular semester model, starting in February 2022.

•All Ontario public school students will be sent home with five rapid COVID-19 tests to use over the holidays and throughout the return to in-person learning.

The Ministry also reminded staff and families to review the established federal international travel policies in advance of the December break in an effort to prevent absences in January related to post-travel requirements.

Cram the Cruiser Toy Drive/Clothing Drive

It is hard to imagine that next week marks the beginning of December! In keeping with the theme of kindness, caring, and giving, we have two initiatives to share should you wish to participate.

Our toy drive begins next week and will continue until December 9^th when 43 Division will send cruisers to our school for students to ‘cram’ with the donated toys. Please consider donating new and unwrapped toys for us to donate for those less fortunate during the holiday season.

This drive will be followed by a week of clothing donations during the week of December 13^th.

Fairmount Virtual Book Fair

Mark your calendars! The fun and excitement of a Scholastic Book Fair is

coming. Scholastic has developed a Virtual Book Fair to provide an opportunity for our students and families to experience the joy of reading together.

Our Scholastic Virtual Book Fair will take place from Monday, December 6th to Sunday, December 12th.

When it’s time to shop, visit our school’s Virtual Book Fair

site using this link:

https://virtualbookfairs.scholastic.ca/pages/5169105

Before the Fair begins, you can click the link to:

• Watch videos of popular new titles

• Preview our Featured Books

Lost and Found Items

Many of these items still have not been claimed.

Guitars and Ukuleles

If you happen to have an old guitar or ukulele that you are no longer using and don’t anticipate using again, please consider donating it to our school to support our music program.

Message from Toronto Public Health

Health Canada approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 pediatric vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years old. Vaccines are now available at clinics in Toronto. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect your child, your family, and your community. It is a safe and effective way to reduce the risk of getting, spreading and becoming seriously sick from COVID-19.

Preparing children to get vaccinated: Parents/guardians are encouraged to speak to their child about getting vaccinated including the benefits of the vaccine and how to prepare for the clinic visit, including tips to ease any fears. See How to Talk to Kids about Getting Vaccinated (French) to guide your conversation. Parental/guardian consent will be required.

Vaccination Clinics for children: Clinics will be available in many locations including at City-run locations, schools, hospitals, pharmacies and some pediatric and family physicians' offices.

Booking an appointment: bookings for 5 to11 year olds will be open at the city-run clinics through the province's online registration system or by calling 1-833-943-9300, including in multiple languages. To book an appointment online, children must be turning five years old by December 31, 2021 (born in 2016).

Upcoming education sessions for parents and caregivers: Toronto Public Health (TPH) invites parents and guardians to upcoming town halls about COVID-19 vaccines for this age group. For information on how to join or past recordings visit: Benefits of Being Fully Vaccinated - Learn from the Experts.

Parent/guardian/caregiver resources available:

COVID-19: Children & Vaccines: Information about the risks of COVID-19 in children, vaccine safety, benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine and more
Kids Health First: COVID-19 Vaccine information for Ontario children aged 5 and up.
Max the Vax: Learn all about the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11
Fact Sheet: COVID-19 Vaccines and Children Aged 5 to 11: Information on COVID-19 risks, benefits of vaccinating your child, and vaccine safety
SickKids COVID-19 Consult Service: Speak to a pediatric Registered Nurse about the COVID-19 vaccine
SHN VaxFacts Clinic: Book an appointment to speak to a doctor to answer your vaccine questions

Child-friendly resources to help cope before and after vaccination:

A Message from the Scarborough Health Network

Scarborough Health Network (SHN) is continuing to create and maintain the safest possible environment for our patients, their families, and our healthcare team. In order to achieve this, SHN will be updating our Visitor Policy for Essential Visitors/Care partners to include a vaccination requirement.

Starting November 29, 2021, all visitors to our SHN hospitals must:

Show full proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Only Health Canada approved vaccines (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca/COVISHIELD, or 1 dose of Janssen/Johnson & Johnson) will be accepted.

Must be at least 14 days since the final vaccine was administered

A valid government-issued photo identification.

Pass screening, practice hand hygiene, and wear a mask at all times on the hospital property

Visitors may present a paper or digital copy of the vaccination receipt as proof, and must continue to schedule all visits in advance with their loved ones’ healthcare team.Paper or digital vaccination receipts are available at here.

For information about who is eligible as an Essential Visitor/ Care Partners and any limited exceptions, please visit www.shn.ca/visiting.

Attachments with this Week’s Falconer

Kids 5-11 Vaccine Clinic – Centenary November 27-28

Calendar

- Sunday, November 28

Hanukkah Begins

- Monday, November 29 – Day 1

- Tuesday, November 30 – Day 2

- Wednesday, December 1 – Day 3

World Aids Awareness Day – United Nations

- Thursday, December 2 – Day 4

International Day of the Abolition of Slavery – United Nations

- Friday, December 3 – Day 5

International Day of Persons with Disabilities – United Nations

November 19, 2021

This week you should have received your child’s Progress

Report or Communication of Learning for kindergarten students.

This report, and the conversation with your child’s teacher, is a

time for you to find out, or affirm, how he or she is doing and ensure

that they are on the right track and ensure that you, the teacher and

the student is all working collectively toward common goals with a plan to move forward.

Photo Retake Day – Thursday, November 25^th

Edge Imaging will come to our school for photo retake day on the afternoon of this coming Thursday. As usual, we will begin with the classes with our youngest students and work up to the Grade 7 and 8 students.

If you would like your child to have a photo taken but are not sure that she/he will respond appropriately when the class is asked if there is anyone who is having their picture taken, please let the teacher know that you would like for your child to go for a photo.

Safety Patrol

This week we had a visit from a retired police officer, working on behalf of CAA, who is training students for the role of safety patroller. We had a number of grade 6 students volunteer for the training and we are looking forward to them beginning very soon.

Road Safety

A reminder now that it is getting darker earlier and road conditions will soon worsen, to be particularly careful driving and walking in the Fairmount community. As you know, many of the roads do not have sidewalks and can be potentially dangerous, especially at high car/pedestrian traffic times like just before or just after school. Our patrollers will continue to do their best to ensure the safety of students crossing Sloley in front of the school during these times but there are many surrounding streets that are also very busy, particularly Broadmead, the street at the very end of the field behind the school. Thanks for helping to keep our students and families safe.

School Council Meeting

Our next School Council meeting will take place on Wednesday, December 15^th at 6:45.

Please see the attached minutes from this week’s meeting.

PIAC Annual Conference: Bridging the Gap

Parents, guardians, and caregivers are invited to join a two-day virtual event organized by parents for parents, school councils, students and community members. The event, hosted in partnership by the Parent Involvement Advisory Council (PIAC) and the TDSB is an opportunity to engage with others from across the TDSB to share best practices, reconnect mentally and socially with ourselves, our schools and our communities. Hear from speakers and participate in workshops focused on bridging gaps in our schools in mental health, parent engagement, curriculum and school councils.

Hear from two amazing keynote speakers: Colleen Russell-Rawlins, TDSB Director of Education on Saturday and Dwayne Matthews, innovation evangelist and future of education strategist on Sunday.

Registration is now open! Registration closes on November 25, 2021. Participants must register in advance. See the full Program Agenda and check out the Workshops.

November 27 and 28

10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

www.tdsb.on.ca/piacconference

Lunch at the Plaza

We have spoken to our older students, but if you have a child who goes for lunch at Cliffside Plaza, please have a word to ensure that they put their waste in the garbage cans at the plaza. We have had a complaint from one of the proprietors at the plaza that there are some students from our school who throw their garbage on the ground after eating at Seraphia, adding that the owner of Seraphia has said that he too has spoken to them about this. The complainant has asked for parents to remind their children to ‘respect the community.

TPH Webinar Re: COVID-19 Vaccine for Children aged 5 to 11

Toronto Public Health is hosting a webinar for parents and guardians about the COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5 to 11.

Presented by Dr. Vinita Dubey, TPH Associate Medical Officer of Health, the webinar will cover:

Information on COVID-19 vaccines in children

Facts about vaccines and fertility

COVID-19 vaccination and schools

Tips and approaches to address vaccine hesitancy

No registration is required.

Wednesday, November 17, 2021

4 pm to 5 pm

Click here to join online

Join by telephone: 416-915-6530

Getting Ready for High School

A substantial amount of information and resources have been made available to support families of Grade 8 students to prepare for the transition to high school in September.

This is the recording of the November 1st information session that the board put together for parents and students:

TDSB Grade 8 Information Session for Families

See this excellent Transitions and Pathways Infographic with links and information.

Information about all high schools and dates for their respective open house and information session dates can be found here.

Information about specialized schools and programs can be found here.

Optional Attendance – Note that Optional Attendance forms are now available.

Grade 8 Teachers/School Administration to share Beyond 8 resources to families

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Video

Choices Course Selection and Planning Guide

Secondary School Information Guide

Ministry of Education Announcement

•Secondary schools are able to return to a regular semester model, starting in February 2022.

•All Ontario public school students will be sent home with five rapid COVID-19 tests to use over the holidays and throughout the return to in-person learning.

Toy Drive/Clothing Drive

As we approach the holiday season, Ms. Misner’s class is beginning plans to lead our school in support of the collection of new and unwrapped toys for 43 Division’s annual toy drive. These items will need to be brought in between November 29^th and December 10^th. This drive will be followed by a week of clothing donations l

We will also hold a clothing donation during the week of December 13^th.

More information about this in the weeks to come.

Fairmount Virtual Book Fair

Mark your calendars! The fun and excitement of a Scholastic Book Fair is

Coming. Scholastic has developed a Virtual Book Fair to provide an opportunity for our students and families to experience the joy of reading together.

Our Scholastic Virtual Book Fair will take place from Monday, December 6th to Sunday, December 12th.

When it’s time to shop, visit our school’s Virtual Book Fair

site using this link:

https://virtualbookfairs.scholastic.ca/pages/5169105

Before the Fair begins, you can click the link to:

• Watch videos of popular new titles

• Preview our Featured Books

Lost and Found Items

Check out this week’s new inventory. If anything looks familiar, please have your child come to the front foyer and claim it. (Hanger not included.) Thanks to Ms. Cane for putting doing this for us.

Attachments with this Week’s Falconer

School Council Minutes – November 16^th
Toronto Public Library – Raising Confident Kids: Virtual Workshop for Parents
Supporting Our Students – Supporting the Transition Back to Brick and Mortar
Vax Facts for Parents – Virtual Town Hall
Scarborough Covid-19 Vaccine Clinic - Cedarbrae

Calendar

-Monday, November 22 – Day 1

-Tuesday, November 23 – Day 2

-Wednesday, November 24 – Day 3

-Thursday, November 25 – Day 4

-Friday, November 26 – Day 5

October 29, 2021

Today was spirit day in which students took part in some fun

activities such as dancing to a few fun songs. It was great to see

so many students enjoying themselves and showing school, and

Halloween, spirit. Thanks to Ms. Amentha for initiating and

organizing this for the school.

Thank you to Ms. Thompson-West and students from Ms. Jeffrey’s class for organizing and hosting today’s virtual assembly to highlight this month’s character trait of responsibility.

School Photo Day – Monday, November 1^st

A reminder that Edge Imaging will be at our school on Monday for picture day. They are not allowed to take class photos, only individual pictures. They usually begin with the youngest students and work their way up to the oldest as older students stand a better chance of keeping any special outfits clean and tidy longer. Retake day is booked for November 25^th.

Getting Ready for High School – High School Open Houses and Information Nights

It is hard to believe but it is not too early for our Grade 8 students and their families to start thinking about high school and considering their options.

Each year, every high school hosts an open house for prospective students and their families in order to find out more about the school. The fact that these open houses are now virtual makes this process much more convenient.

Note that the following sessions that may be of particular interest to our students:

RH King – November 18^th

Birchmount Collegiate is inviting parents and students to their information session on November 2, 2021 @ 6:30

Please see their website for link and more information

https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/birchmountpark/Guidance/Grade-8-Information-Night

Information about specialized schools and programs can be found here.

Information about all high schools and dates for their respective open house dates can be found here.

Grade 8 to 9 Information Sessions for Grade 8 Families

To support Grade 8 students and families, the TDSB will be hosting two Grade 8 to Grade 9 Transitions Information Sessions for Families that focus on the Top 10 Tips and Considerations in the Transition to High School. This presentation is designed to augment the virtual secondary open houses and information sessions.

The Grade 8 Information Session for Grade 8 Families will take place on Monday, November 1, 2021.

The session that includes our school will take place from 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. via Zoom. Click here to join the LC2/LC3 Information Session Webinar

In the event that the webinars reach capacity, families can watch the live YouTube stream.

Presenters will highlight the key practical aspects regarding the process of transitioning to high school, including an introduction to course selection, optional attendance, regular programs, specialized programs, alternative schools, key dates, and more.

Early French Immersion Application Process

The entry point to Early French Immersion is currently Senior Kindergarten. However, the entry point will change to Junior Kindergarten for September 2022.

There will be a transition year wherein students who will be entering Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten in 2022 will be eligible to apply to the Early French Immersion program during the November 2021 application period. Moving forward (2023), the only entry point for Early French Immersion will be Junior Kindergarten.

The application to the Early French Immersion program will remain an online process managed by the Central French Department and will take place during the month of November. All information and the online application are available at www.tdsb.on.ca/french website or click on Application Process and specifically Early French Immersion.

A downloadable information package is available here.

An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants.

Applications must be completed online between November 1 and November 26, 2021.

Families with an older sibling currently in a French program and who will be in attendance next year are still required to complete an online application for the new student. Please select the “sibling option” within the online application.

Virtual Information Sessions for the Early French Immersion application and placement process are available in November on the following dates:

November 8, 2021 at 7 p.m.

November 15, 2021 at 10 a.m.

November 23, 2021 at 7 p.m.

November is Indigenous Education Month

November is Indigenous Education Month at the Toronto District School Board. It is important to centre First Nations, Métis and Inuit histories, contemporary realities, and voices.

Truth and Reconciliation is a guiding principle at the TDSB. For classrooms, the upcoming month is an opportunity to centre First Nations, Métis and Inuit histories, contemporary realities, and voices and to learn from Indigenous perspectives on treaties, Indigenous leadership, achievements, resistance, and creativity.

Treaties Recognition Week, November 1 - 5; International Inuit Day, November 7; Indigenous Veterans Day, November 8; Louis Riel Day, November 16.

Attachments with this Week’s Falconer

-Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Session for Grade 8 Families

-Virtual Community Fair Presented by TDSB Social Work

-Stay Safe While Trick-or-Treating During Covid-19

-Safely Hand Out Treats During Covid-19

Calendar

Treaties Recognition Week

Monday, November 1 – Day 2

Tuesday, November 2 – Day 3

Wednesday, November 3 – Day 4

Thursday, November 4 – Day 5

Diwali

Friday, November 5 – Day 1

Remember to turn clocks back

1-hour Sunday morning

October 15, 2021

SickKids COVID-19 Saliva Testing Program

This week we began participation in the Covid-19 saliva testing

program through the Hospital for Sick Children. The hospital has

provided us with pre-packaged saliva kids to be used to test individuals

who are symptomatic and any individual who is identified by Toronto

Public Health as a close contact and/or classrooms and cohorts associated with a positive case.

Testing scenarios are subject to change but right now the kits are available for symptomatic individuals, including students, household members of students and staff. They are also available in the case where there may have been a high-risk exposure to someone who has tested positive with Covid-19. If students are being dismissed due to a positive case, students will be given a kit to take home but kits are available for pick up and drop off at the school. If the individual is at home, an asymptomatic caregiver to pick up and drop off the saliva sample.

Samples will be dropped off at the school, which will then be couriered from the school to the lab at the Hospital for Sick Children.

Each kit contains:

one saliva collection container

instructions on how to collect the sample

instructions on how to access results

a lab requisition form

a specimen label

a biohazard bag

The most important instruction before collecting a sample is that the individual cannot eat, drink, chew gum, smoke or vapor for 30 minutes prior to providing any saliva sample.

Once the sample is collected the individual must take off the funnel CAP and place the blue liquid lid.

To process the sample, you must label your sample with the person’s legal full name and date of birth, both of which must match the person’s health card and lab requisition.

The sample and lab requisition is placed in the biohazard bag and sealed close.

Results will be available in a 24 to 48-hour window Monday through Friday dependent upon the arrival of the sample at the hospital

All results will be accessible online but positive results will receive a phone call from TPH. Note that the school will not be notified; the expectation is that you will notify the school in the event of a positive test result. Negative results will not receive a phone call but can be accessed online through the Covid-19 government website.

Virtual Curriculum Night

Our curriculum night will take place on Thursday, October 21st from 6:30-7:30 PM.

Ideally, we would be able to have you visit the school and your child’s classroom and meet your child’s teacher in person but under the current restrictions, this isn’t possible so a virtual curriculum night is the best we can do. While you have likely already received communications from your child’s teacher, this is an opportunity to hear about what she or he will be learning this year and possibly some more detail about the routines of the classroom. While asking specific questions about your child may not be appropriate in this forum, it is an opportunity for you to ask more general questions about the classroom or the routines.

The evening is divided into two 30-minute sessions. Your child’s teacher will send you a link for you to access either the 6:30 or 7:00 session, whichever one is more convenient for you.

Getting Ready for High School – Open Houses

It is hard to believe but it is not too early for our Grade 8 students and their families to start thinking about high school and considering their options.

Note that the following sessions that may be of particular interest to our students:

RH King – November 18^th

Birchmount – November 2

Wexford School for the Arts – November 17

Information about specialized schools and programs can be found here.

Information about all high schools and dates for their respective open house dates can be found here.

Grade 7 students who may be interested in attending a specialized program may wish to find out more about the program at this year’s open house in order to have a greater length of time to prepare any necessary materials in advance of their Grade 8 year.

Parents as Partners Virtual Conference 2021

Registration is now open for parents and caregivers for this annual conference.

This free virtual conference will take place on October 16 and 17. The conference is full of informative workshops, inspiring keynote speakers and opportunities to connect with staff, experts and other parents. Workshops and microsessions include a variety of topics focusing on learning and literacy; anti-oppression and inclusion; mental health, well-being and social-emotional learning; resilience through transitions; and parent/caregiver engagement and leadership.

You can learn more and register at www.parentsaspartners.ca

School Council Meeting

Our next School Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 20^th at 6:30 PM.

If you would like to attend, please join the meeting using this Zoom link:

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/95663964831?pwd=MDI2NW5xMkVTNzZIczVGZHhBczEyZz09

Early French Immersion Application Process

The entry point to Early French Immersion is currently Senior Kindergarten. However, the entry point will change to Junior Kindergarten for September 2022.

Calendar

Monday, October 18 – Day 2

Tuesday, October 19 – Day 3

Wednesday, October 20 – Day 4

Thursday, October 21 – Day 5

Friday, October 22 – Day 1

October is Women’s History Month

In 1992, the Government of Canada designated October as Women’s History Month, marking the beginning of an annual month-long celebration of the outstanding achievements of women throughout Canada’s history.

This year’s theme for Women’s History Month is Make an impact, in honour of the courageous women and girls who have made a lasting impact as pioneers in their fields. Whether as business leaders, politicians, researchers, artists or activists, they have helped shape Canada into a thriving, diverse and prosperous country through their achievements and desire to make a difference.

October 8, 2021

As you are well aware, the response and protocols related to

managing Covid-19 in schools and ensuring everyone’s safety

is an evolving issue that includes changes to procedures. An example

of this fact is the change to the Student Screening and Health Pass

that is to be implemented immediately. The revised screening tool for

use every morning and the revised Health Pass reflect Toronto Public Health’s efforts to respond to an increase in cases of Covid in schools and an attempt to minimize the likelihood that a student will come to school if they are unwell.

The updates are the addition of:

underlined language to this line: In the last 14 days has the child/student travelled outside of Canada AND been advised to quarantine per the federal quarantine requirements OR was told not to attend school/ child care?

and

“Anyone who is sick or has any symptoms of illness, including those not listed above, should stay home and seek assessment from their health care provider if needed.”

The symptoms that were previously identified as part of the screening that encourages a Covid test remain, other symptoms of illness do not necessarily necessitate seeking a Covid test but do require the student to stay home from school.

Hard copies will be available for students to take home.

Note that we anticipate the delivery of saliva kits for testing from Sick Kids Hospital early next week, which we will be able to provide to students who exhibit any symptoms or for students in classes who have potentially been exposed to someone with Covid.

Declaration of Vaccination Status

Students and staff who are fully vaccinated do not need to stay home from school if there is a positive case in their cohort, provided they themselves do not exhibit any symptoms.

Toronto Public Health is now requesting that the TDSB begin to collect this information recently outlined the way in which the TDSB can collect information via a voluntary disclosure process. Disclosing that your child is fully vaccinated means that they will not necessarily be dismissed upon the discovery of a Covid case in their class. (If you choose to wait to disclose their vaccination status in the event that there happens to be a case in their class, your child can return to school after the proof of vaccination is provided as those who do not disclose their status are considered to be unvaccinated.)

How to Attest to Being Vaccinated via App on your Smartphone:

Log into the TDSB Health Screening App

Click on the “My Vaccination Status” menu item, followed by “Update Vaccination Status”

Carefully read each question and answer appropriately

Upload proof of vaccination* (vaccine dose administration receipts or equivalent documents)

Click on “Add Attachment” to upload proof of vaccination

How to Attest to Being Vaccinated via Health Screening Web Portal:

Access "Safe Return to School and Work" Portal via https://tdsb.service-now.com/tswp

Click on the “My Vaccination Status” button, followed by “Update Vaccination Status”

Carefully read each question and answer appropriately

Upload proof of vaccination* (vaccine dose administration receipts or equivalent documents)

Click on “Add Attachment” to upload proof of vaccination

Copies of your vaccination dose administration receipt are available from most government websites. If you received your vaccine in Ontario, you can download your proof of vaccination through Ontario’s COVID-19 vaccination website.

Vaccine Availability

All Ontarians born in 2009 and earlier are now eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine.

Walk-in vaccinations are available at City-run clinics in Toronto for first or second doses Tuesday to Saturday from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.. Find your closest pharmacy to get your vaccine. Learn more about how to book a vaccine appointment in Ontario or visit Find Your Immunization from Vaccine Hunters to locate your closest available vaccines.

Traffic

In response to at least one complaint from one of our neighbours, a by-law officer was in front of our school on Tuesday giving out tickets. What prompted the neighbour to call the police wasn’t just the traffic and parking but that when he asked a driver not to park illegally, he was sworn at. Some students commented on having overheard at least two of our parents swearing at the officer. The officer said that he’d be back as often as he could so please be mindful of the traffic laws in order to avoid getting ticketed.

Character Trait – Respect

The character trait that was the focus for the month of September was respect.

The following students were recognized for demonstrating this trait over the course of the past month:

Grade 1	Daisy Toms
Grade 2	Carson Hannaford Keira Wilson
Grade 3	Dabin Yang King
Grade 4
Grade 5	Nicholas Carroll Camila Cesar-Ferrino Paisley Gottschalk Larissa Pialis
Grade 6	Lucas Ali Sarah Blanchard Max Campbell Mikhaila Ewing Sophia Gobel Zaceera Hossain Abdul Raheem Khan Ethan Lazarevski John Sayeg Gem Winter-Minott
Grade 7	Austin Battrick Daniyaal Bharwani Hunter Duffy Leah Mcguire
Grade 8	Abrar Ahamed Lucas Browne Sydney Purcell

The character trait for the month of October is responsibility.

Terry Fox Run/Walk

Our school’s Terry Fox run/walk took place today.

Thank you to everyone who donated in support of cancer research and the Terry Fox Foundation. Fairmount's very generous online donations combined with the money raised through the purchase of Terry Fox t-shirts was $2,900!

Parents as Partners Virtual Conference 2021

Registration is now open for parents and caregivers for this annual conference.

This free virtual conference will take place on October 16 and 17. The conference is full of informative workshops, inspiring keynote speakers and opportunities to connect with staff, experts and other parents. Workshops and microsessions include a variety of topics focusing on learning and literacy; anti-oppression and inclusion; mental health, well-being and social emotional learning; resilience through transitions; and parent/caregiver engagement and leadership.

You can learn more and register www.parentsaspartners.ca

October is Islamic Heritage Month

The TDSB Islamic Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee initiated a poster created by photographs provided by author Richard A. Awid with the theme History of Early Canadian Muslims. It will be posted to the TDSB website and shared with all our schools shortly.

During the month of October several Islamic Heritage Month events are being organized for students, staff and TDSB community members throughout the month of October.TDSB secondary and middle grade students will be invited to attend a virtual event with Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir, former American Professional Basketball Player who challenged the International Basketball Federation when informed that she could not participate in the league while wearing a hijab. Bilqis will share the challenges she faced while trying to change this requirement for players.

TDSB community members, students and staff will be invited to a join a virtual event with Master Chef contestant Reem Ahmed and City TV Host Maleeha Sheikh in the upcoming weeks. We will learn about preparing a meal and we’ll hear a candid conversation about Islamophobia and what it's like to be Muslim in Canada. Details will be shared (registration required).

October is Somali Heritage Month

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) proudly recognizes Somali Heritage Month during the month of October. The TDSB has been marking Somali Heritage Month since June 2016, and we continue to expand on the selected theme Educate. Elevate. Excel.

In October 2020, the Government of Ontario proclaimed Somali Heritage Week Act, 2020which will take place on June 25 through July 1.

“By proclaiming the week of June 25 through July 1 as Somali Heritage Week, the Province of Ontario recognizes the economic, political, social and cultural achievements and contributions of Somali Canadians in all aspects of Ontario society. Like many refugees and immigrants who have made Ontario their home, Somali Canadians are proud to be part of diverse communities across the province.”

The attached power point is being shared with you as it provides information about the Somali Heritage.

Attachments

Toronto Public Health Thanksgiving Infographic

My Child Has 1 or More Symptoms of Covid-19 – What to Do

Calendar

Body Confidence Awareness Week

Monday, October 11 – No School

Thanksgiving

International Day of the Girl Child – United Nations

Tuesday, October 12 – Day 3

Wednesday, October 13 – Day 4

Thursday, October 14 – Day 5

Friday, October 15 – Day 1

October 1, 2021

All of our students seem to be adjusting well to being back in

school and managing the required Covid-related protocols and

routines.

We have not had any positive Covid cases reported this week but

symptoms of Covid continue to be a source of concern and frustration for

some as it results in the need for testing. Note that we expect to receive testing kits from Sick Kids Hospital as early as October 11^th, which we will be able to provide to any students to take home if they are exhibiting symptoms, but in the interim, here are some parameters related to testing:

If you have symptoms of COVID-19

Get tested at an assessment centre – the nearest assessment centre to the school is the Shoppers Drug Mart at Cliffside Plaza. You can find the nearest testing centre to any location at this site.

If you are a close contact of someone who has COVID-19, get tested and screen yourself for symptoms every day.

• If you are fully vaccinated, get tested right away and again on or after day

7 from your last exposure.(Fully vaccinated means 14 days or more after a second dose of a COVID-19 vaccine series or as defined by the Ontario Ministry of Health.)

• If you are not fully vaccinated, get tested right away and again on or after day 7 from your last exposure. You will have to self-isolate for 10 days, even if you test negative.

• If you have had a previous recent COVID-19 infection, get tested if recommended by public health. (Previous recent COVID-19 infection means that the person has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last 90 days and has been cleared by public health.)

What to expect when going to an assessment

centre for testing:

• The person being tested may be asked to fill out a form providing their name, date of birth, etc.

• A health card is not required to get tested.

Types of COVID-19 tests

PCR Test (Polymerase Chain Reaction Test)

• Used if you have symptoms or are a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19.

• PCR tests are analyzed at a lab. Results usually come in 24–72 hours and can diagnose a COVID-19 infection.

Types of PCR tests:

º Nasopharyngeal (NP): The swab is inserted to the back of the nose, taken by a healthcare provider.

º Oral-nasal swab: The swab is inserted in the mouth and inside the front of the nose.

º Saliva test: Saliva is collected by spitting in a tube.

• Saliva and oral-nasal swab kits are the ones that are used in take home kits available at schools and child care centres. You will collect the sample at home and drop it off so it can be sent to the lab.

Rapid Antigen Test

• Used for screening purposes only – it cannot diagnose a COVID-19 infection.

• If used for screening, it should be completed a few times a week.

• Do not use if you have symptoms or are a close contact of someone who

had COVID-19.

• If results are positive you must arrange to get a PCR test within 24 hours.

You must self-isolate right away and until you get a negative PCR test result.

Trustee Kandavel

Your child may have come home yesterday mentioning that our School Trustee, Parthi Kandavel visited the school. Along with our Superintendent, Lisa Dilworth, he visited some classrooms and talked to students and staff about teaching and learning. Trustee Kandavel’s ongoing support and advocacy for our school and community are much appreciated.

National Truth and Reconciliation

Our work related to anti-racism in any form will continue throughout the year but this week in particular the focus has been on anti-Indigenous racism as teachers have engaged their students in discussions in an effort to help them better understand the history and legacy of residential schools and the importance of truth and reconciliation.

Cell Phone Reminders

Your child may have a cell phone. However, unless they are being used in the classroom with permission, and under the supervision of a teacher cell phones are not be used at school. This means that they are to be turned off and remain out of sight throughout the school day. Thank you for your support.

Dressing for the Weather

As cooler temperatures approach, please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately to spend time outside not only at recess and lunch but also for times that the class might spend learning outside. Please also consider labeling clothing items such as jackets and sweaters so that they can more easily be returned should they be left behind.

Attachments with this Falconer

Behaviour Training Workshop for Parents
Children’s Speech and Language Development Training Class for Parents
Vaccine Clinic – Cedarbrae Mall
Toronto Public Library – Design a Bookmark Contest

Terry Fox Run/Walk

This year’s Terry Fox Run will take place in our class cohorts throughout the day in our schoolyard on Friday, October 8th!

If you are interested, consider donating online to support Cancer research.

Fairmount Junior Public School Fundraising Link: http://www.terryfox.ca/FairmountJPSScarborough

Calendar

Monday, October 4 – Day 3

Tuesday, October 5 – Day 4

Wednesday, October 6 – Day 5

TDSB Walk to School Day

Thursday, October 7 – Day 1

Navratri Begins

Friday, October 8 – Day 2

Terry Fox Run/Walk

October is Islamic Heritage Month

At the Toronto District School Board, Islamic Heritage Month is proudly recognized during the month of October. In 2016, the province of Ontario established October as Islamic History Month (IHM) through the Islamic Heritage Month Act, “proclaiming a month to be Islamic Heritage Month in Ontario will provide all Ontarians, both today and in future generations, with an opportunity to reflect, celebrate and learn about the rich and longstanding Islamic history in the Province and the diverse roles and contributions of Muslim people in communities across Ontario. This new understanding will, in turn, help combat anti-Islamic sentiment.”

Islamic Heritage Month – Did You Know…

September 8, 2021

As we prepare to open our school tomorrow and welcome back

our students, we will do everything possible to ensure the health

and safety of all school community members, while also providing

the best academic experience possible for our students.

As mentioned in last week’s Falconer, we found ourselves in the position of having to reorganize our classroom organization and reallocate students into classrooms. Everyone should have received an email yesterday indicating the classroom in which their child(ren) will begin the year. (There is still a possibility that we will need to reorganize again or even just shift a few students based on the actual number of students we have this year.)

If for some reason you did not receive a message yesterday, don’t worry. We will be able to let students know their class when they arrive tomorrow morning.

Our classroom organization model, with the corresponding teacher, and entry/exit door is as follows:

Entry/Exit Doors/Location

Class	Teacher	Door
Kindergarten A – Room 12	Ms. Rosekat Ms. Gorecki	Entry - Door 7 in the kindergarten play area at the rear of the school Dismissal - Door 9A – classroom door at the west of the school
Kindergarten B – Room 11	Ms.Friedlander Ms. Sutherland	Door 6A in the kindergarten play area at the rear of the school
Grade 1 – Room 14	Ms. Cheyne	External Door 8 – west end of the school
Grade 1/2 – Room 18	Ms. Johnston	External Door 8 – west end of the school Or Classroom Door 7C
Grade 2/3 – Room 16	Ms. Amentha	External Door 8 – west end of the school
Grade 2/3 – Room 5	Ms. Lyons	External Door 5 or Classroom Door 3C
Grade 3/4 – Room 4	Ms. Cole	External Door 5 or Classroom Door 3B
Grade 4/5 – Room 6	Mr. Markovski	External Door 4 or Classroom Door 3D
Grade 5/6 – Room 9	Ms. Jeffrey	External Door 4 or Classroom Door 4A
Grade 6 – Room 7	Ms. Misner	External Door 5 or Classroom Door 4B
Grade 6/7 – Room 21	Ms. Cane	Entry - External Door 3 – near the parking lot at the east end of the school Exit - External Door 2 – The door at the end of the hall near room 20 that leads to the front of the school
Grade 7/8 – Room 23	Mr. Wood	External Door 3 – near the parking lot at the east end of the school
Grade 8 – Room 20	Ms. Laurin	Entry - External Door 3 – near the parking lot at the east end of the school Exit - External Door 2 – The door at the end of the hall near room 20 that leads to the front of the school

*Kindergarten – we have been told that the construction fence will be removed by the end of the day today so the play area and entry doors will be accessible from the back of the school.

What do I do tomorrow morning?

Entry

Kindergarten

Classes will enter through the doors designated for their class according to the above chart.

Grade 1-8 students

It is not necessary to search for the appropriate entry door as the class will gather on the pavement on the place indicated for their class and the teacher will meet them there and lead them to their class door. (In many of these cases, the classes will use the external door that leads directly into their classroom.)

Room numbers have been painted on the pavement behind the school. Students will stand behind the pylon – facing the school.

The classes are sequential from west to east based on the above chart, beginning with Room 18 (Ms. Johnston’s class).

Students in Room 14 (Ms. Cheyne’s Grade 1 class) will line up at the top of the stairs, along the black chain link fence.

This procedure will be in place each day. When the bell rings, students from each class will line up in the same place each morning and after lunch. Teachers will come to the pavement and retrieve their students from this location. They will check to ensure that each student has their Health Pass to ensure that a parent or guardian has screened them for Covid symptoms prior to coming to school.

Typically, during inclement weather, students would be admitted to the building early. This will no longer happen because we cannot cluster a large number of students in a hallway and they cannot go to their classroom prior to the start of the school day. So, on these days, or any day really, come prepared for the weather and spend time outside.

Teachers will endeavour to take their students outside as much as possible and to provide opportunities for them to take a break from wearing their masks so appropriate clothing for the weather, including rain, is essential.

Entry/Dismissal Locations

See the attached map for class door locations.

School Hours

Morning Entry Time:8:42

Recess – Grades 1-8: 9:55-10:10

Lunch – All Grades: 11:30-12:32

Recess – All Grades: 1:45-2:00

Kindergarten Dismissal: 3:05

Dismissal - Grades 1-8: 3:20

Screening

Parents/guardians are asked to keep students home if they are displaying any symptoms of COVID (fever, cough, difficulty breathing, loss of taste or smell, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea).

If a student displays any of the above symptoms then the student will be escorted to our designated wellness room and a parent/guardian will be asked to pick up the student as soon as possible.

If your child is not exhibiting any symptoms, please sign the Student Health Pass, which the teacher will check prior to entry.

Masks

All students are required to wear a mask upon entry to the school. While students are encouraged to bring their own, one will be provided for any students who do not have one.

Caregivers dropping off or picking up students are required to wear a mask when on school property.

Ventilation

A HEPA filter has been provided for all occupied classrooms and all classrooms have operable windows that teachers are encouraged to keep open whenever possible.

Handwashing

Students should wash their hands regularly with soap. Hand sanitizer will be provided for all classrooms and screening stations. Though we will have hand sanitizer in all the classrooms, you may wish to consider sending a small container of hand sanitizer with your child so that she/he will have convenient access at any time for their exclusive use.

Water Fountains

Toronto Public Health recommends that water fountains are not to be used to drink water but might be used to fill water bottles. Students are encouraged to carry individual refillable water bottles to come filled from home, though we do have two water bottle filling stations in the school.

Recess and Lunch Zones

The TDSB, in consultation with Toronto Public Health, has determined that it is necessary for students to remain in their cohort/class for the day. The means that we are required to restrict students from different classes coming together in order to limit the possible spread/necessary quarantine of classes should a student test positive for the virus. Consequently, the rear of the school will be divided into 11 sections to reflect the 11 Grade 1-8 classes that we currently have. Classes are on an 11-day rotation through each of the zones.

One of our greatest challenges last year was keeping some of our older students in the requisite zone. While the frustration on the part of the students is more than understandable, we all need to do our part to enforce and support these protocols so that we minimize the risk of transmission. Please take a few minutes to discuss the importance of this TPH rule with your child.

Lunch Time

If possible, students are encouraged to go home or make alternate arrangements, for lunch. Lunch will be a time when students who are in the classroom will be unmasked. Due to the risks associated with this behaviour, we have been instructed by Toronto Public Health that students should not be talking while their mask is off. Understandably, this can be a challenge to enforce. After students have finished eating, they will go outside and directly to the section of the property that is designated as their class zone for the day, where they will remain for the rest of the lunch period.

All students, K-8, who stay for lunch will bring a litterless lunch as they will need to take home any uneaten food or packaging materials from their lunch.

If your child is staying for lunch, please be mindful of the weather as students will be outside for an extended period of time. Any students who go home for lunch or who are permitted to leave school property for lunch should try and time their return just prior to afternoon entry.

Until further notice, school pizza lunches are not allowed.

Visitors to the School

All school visitors must:

•Enter through the main entrance and conduct a COVID-19 health screening.

•Wait to be invited into the school office to ensure appropriate physical distance.

•Sign-in and out for safety and contact tracing.

•Physically distance to the extent possible while in the office.

•Wear a mask.A mask will be provided if needed

•In the case where families would like to speak with someone at the school, please call or email the school directly.

•Parents/caregivers who require a meeting with a teacher/school staff to discuss non-emergency issues, will do so by phone or virtually where possible.

Things That Can Help Prepare Your Child for School

• Label all of your child’s belongings with their name.

• Decide what will work best for them to store their mask when they are not wearing one and where to keep a spare mask. They could have a fanny pack that could also include a personal bottle of hand sanitizer or bring 2 Ziploc bags (one marked clean and one marked dirty).

• Ensure to wash masks after daily use.

•Pack lunch in reusable containers as everything from lunch will be returning home

• As always, we will make available school supplies for all students. However, if you choose, you may want to consider sending your child with his or her own personal supplies for their exclusive use. We will have any and all necessary supplies available.

• Be ready to drop off/pick up your child outside of the school so decide where is the best meeting place for you and your child(ren)

The start of any school year is often filled with a mixture of excitement and anxiousness. We recognize that many of our students are returning after being away for quite an extended period, possibly heightening the level of emotion.

that many would feel anyway. Please know that we will be doing everything we can to make their transition as smooth as possible. Please know that we are here to listen, support and navigate this reopening together.Every day we will strive to ensure the physical safety, mental health & wellbeing and academic success of all of our students.

Checklist for Families

Calendar

Thursday, September 9 – Day 1 – First Day of School

Friday, September 10 – Day 2

Monday, September 13 – Day 3

Tuesday, September 14 – Day 4

Wednesday, September 15 – Day 5

Thursday, September 16 – Day 1

Friday, September 17 – Day 2

September 3, 2021

Dear parent(s)/Guardian(s),

We are looking forward to welcoming our students back on

September 9th!

A few weeks ago, parents were emailed a survey to declare whether or not their child(ren) would return to school in-person or as part of a remote learning class. Those who did not complete the survey have been automatically defaulted as in-person learners. The results of this survey and possibly other factors have been used by the board’s planning department to revise our projected enrolment for this year, necessitating changes to the classroom organization that we initially did in the spring.

The result is a new classroom organizational model and the need for us to revisit some of our teachers’ class assignments and student classroom placements for this year.

On either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week all parents/guardians will receive an email indicating the classroom placement for their child(ren).

Note that this classroom organization is based on revised projected numbers. We know that the number of students that we are placing in classes exceeds the projected number so it is possible that there will be reorganization after two weeks of school, based on the actual number of students in our school.

First Day – Thursday, September 9^th

When students arrive for school on the first day, they will find pylons and/or markings on the pavement behind the school. There will be a separate marking indicating the room number for each class. (Teachers for each class will also be there.) Students are asked to line up behind the appropriate marking, facing the school.

The classes will be in order from the primary classes to the intermediate classes with the grade 1/2 class being the farthest west (where there are stairs leading up to entry doors – where the portables used to be.) The grade 8 class will be the farthest east, which is the parking lot side of the property.

*Note that the Grade 1 class. This class will line up at the top of the stairs, along the fence.

We will confirm kindergarten entry doors next week, but it will either be through the new kindergarten play area or at the entrance of the school located on the west side of the building. (It depends if the play area is accessible in time for the first day. As of the writing of this, there is still a construction fence blocking access to the kindergarten play area.)

Entry/Exit Doors/Location

Class	Teacher	Door
Kindergarten A – Room 12	Ms. Rosekat Ms. Tarala	Door 7 in the kindergarten play area at the rear of the school or Door 9A – at the west of the school
Kindergarten B – Room 11	Ms.Friedlander Ms. Sutherland	Door 6 in the kindergarten play area at the rear of the school or Door 9 – at the west of the school
Grade 1 – Room 14	Ms. Cheyne	External Door 8 – west end of the school
Grade 1/2 – Room 18	Ms. Johnston	External Door 8 – west end of the school Or Classroom Door 7C
Grade 2/3 – Room 16	Ms. Amentha	External Door 8 – west end of the school
Grade 2/3 – Room 5	Ms. Lyons	External Door 5 or Classroom Door 3C
Grade 3/4 – Room 4	Ms. Cole	External Door 5 or Classroom Door 3B
Grade 4/5 – Room 6	Mr. Markovski	External Door 4 or Classroom Door 3D
Grade 5/6 – Room 9	Ms. Jeffrey	External Door 4 or Classroom Door 4A
Grade 6 – Room 7	Ms. Misner	External Door 5 or Classroom Door 4B
Grade 6/7 – Room 21	Ms. Cane	Entry - External Door 3 – near the parking lot at the east end of the school Exit - External Door 2 – The door at the end of the hall near room 20 that leads to the front of the school
Grade 7/8 – Room 23	Mr. Wood	External Door 3 – near the parking lot at the east end of the school
Grade 8 – Room 20	Ms. Laurin	Entry - External Door 3 – near the parking lot at the east end of the school Exit - External Door 2 – The door at the end of the hall near room 20 that leads to the front of the school

Staffing Update

Congratulations to Mr. Carr who decided to extend his summer for the foreseeable future. We wish him all the best in his retirement and thank him for his long teaching career, many of which were spent at Fairmount.

We were expecting Ms. Surette to return to us from the Virtual School but she has been given a great leadership opportunity at the central level. She is still officially part of our staff and we expect to see her back at some point in the future.

I know you will join me in welcoming:

Ms. Amentha who is teaching one of our Grade 2/3 classes

Ms. Tarala who is partnering with Ms. Rosekat in Room 12

Ms. Samoojh, an educational assistant who will be working with us in the afternoon

Safety Protocols

The TDSB continues to update our guidance regarding the safe operations of our schools, which we anticipate will continue to evolve through the year. I know and appreciate that the Fairmount community will support and follow all protocols in our effort to keep Covid out and students in.

As you may have seen from the media, the TDSB’s approach from a health and safety perspective will be quite similar to last year in that students will be masked, they will eat lunch in their classrooms and they will socialize in cohorts/classes in zones during recess and lunch breaks. You will see lines designating zones painted next week.

Students will need to show their screening sheet/health pass each morning. Please find attached the Health Pass that will be used each day. The revised screening questions for you to ask your child each morning, as provided by Toronto Public Health, can be found here.

We would suggest the pass be printed and put in a plastic bag that stays in the student’s backpack. We appreciate it if you are able to print this and bring it for the first day, but these will be available to students at school throughout the year.

Finally, if you did not have an opportunity to return devices – iPads or Chromebooks, classroom books or textbooks we would very much appreciate them being returned to the school ahead of Thursday’s start.

School Hours

Morning Entry Time:8:42

Recess – Grades 1-8: 9:55-10:10

Lunch – All Grades: 11:30-12:32

Recess – All Grades: 1:45-2:00

Kindergarten Dismissal: 3:05

Dismissal - Grades 1-8: 3:20

Have a wonderful weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday!September 13, 2021

Dear parent(s)/Guardian(s),

We are looking forward to welcoming our students back on

September 9th!

The result is a new classroom organizational model and the need for us to revisit some of our teachers’ class assignments and student classroom placements for this year.

On either Tuesday or Wednesday of next week all parents/guardians will receive an email indicating the classroom placement for their child(ren).

First Day – Thursday, September 9^th

*Note that the Grade 1 class. This class will line up at the top of the stairs, along the fence.

Entry/Exit Doors/Location

Class	Teacher	Door
Kindergarten A – Room 12	Ms. Rosekat Ms. Tarala	Door 7 in the kindergarten play area at the rear of the school or Door 9A – at the west of the school
Kindergarten B – Room 11	Ms.Friedlander Ms. Sutherland	Door 6 in the kindergarten play area at the rear of the school or Door 9 – at the west of the school
Grade 1 – Room 14	Ms. Cheyne	External Door 8 – west end of the school
Grade 1/2 – Room 18	Ms. Johnston	External Door 8 – west end of the school Or Classroom Door 7C
Grade 2/3 – Room 16	Ms. Amentha	External Door 8 – west end of the school
Grade 2/3 – Room 5	Ms. Lyons	External Door 5 or Classroom Door 3C
Grade 3/4 – Room 4	Ms. Cole	External Door 5 or Classroom Door 3B
Grade 4/5 – Room 6	Mr. Markovski	External Door 4 or Classroom Door 3D
Grade 5/6 – Room 9	Ms. Jeffrey	External Door 4 or Classroom Door 4A
Grade 6 – Room 7	Ms. Misner	External Door 5 or Classroom Door 4B
Grade 6/7 – Room 21	Ms. Cane	Entry - External Door 3 – near the parking lot at the east end of the school Exit - External Door 2 – The door at the end of the hall near room 20 that leads to the front of the school
Grade 7/8 – Room 23	Mr. Wood	External Door 3 – near the parking lot at the east end of the school
Grade 8 – Room 20	Ms. Laurin	Entry - External Door 3 – near the parking lot at the east end of the school Exit - External Door 2 – The door at the end of the hall near room 20 that leads to the front of the school

Staffing Update

I know you will join me in welcoming:

Ms. Amentha who is teaching one of our Grade 2/3 classes

Ms. Tarala who is partnering with Ms. Rosekat in Room 12

Ms. Samoojh, an educational assistant who will be working with us in the afternoon

Safety Protocols

School Hours

Morning Entry Time:8:42

Recess – Grades 1-8: 9:55-10:10

Lunch – All Grades: 11:30-12:32

Recess – All Grades: 1:45-2:00

Kindergarten Dismissal: 3:05

Dismissal - Grades 1-8: 3:20

Have a wonderful weekend and we look forward to seeing everyone on Thursday!

June 25, 2021

Tuesday marks the end of what has proven to be, another, very

unusual school year. Flexibility and resiliency in the face of

obstacles and challenges continued to define our students, staff and

families again this year. As always, thank you for the understanding

and support you have shown throughout the year as we did our best

to adapt to what seemed like an ever-shifting landscape while trying not to lose sight of our primary concern – the social-emotional well-being and academic progress of our students. Our students and community continue to demonstrate that when it comes to adversity, we don’t succumb, we surmount. I wish our students, families and all members of the Fairmount community a very safe, restful and enjoyable summer. We are looking forward to what we are hopeful will be a much more normal year, whatever that even means anymore. We don’t yet know exactly what September will look like, but we are committed to making it a great year.

Report Cards

Report cards are being sent via email beginning today; barring any technical issues, you should receive the report card by the end of the day on Monday. Please let us know if you have not received it by this time. In order to access the report card file, you will need to enter the password, which is the date of birth of the student (MM/DD/YYYY).

The code “I” is used on report cards in place of a grade/mark due to extenuating circumstances such as the current school closure, when there is insufficient evidence to determine a fair and valid grade/mark for report card purposes. It is important to note that this is not a penalty to the student, nor is it a statement about the student's competence or capacity to learn. Comments may still have been included even if the strand/subject was reported as an “I.” Your child’s teacher used their professional judgment to determine which aspects of learning to include in the comments related to what your child has learned, and possible strengths and next steps.

Classes for September

You will see at the bottom of the Learning Skill section, or the last for Kindergarten students, that there is a tentative room placement for September. We considered not including it this year because there is so much that can still change between now and the first day of school on September 9^th. While every year presents the possibility of some reorganization based on a loss or gain of students in relation to the projections, the coming year may require a more comprehensive reorganization if many of our students select the remote learning option when the survey is sent to families in the middle of August. However, we decided that students and parents would prefer to know a tentative classroom for September with an understanding that this could very well change prior to the first day. A reorganization can also result in a change in our teaching staff so it is also possible that a student may not change classes but their teacher may be different from initially anticipated. Adjusting to change is certainly something we have all become accustomed to over the past 16 months.

To this point, we occasionally receive calls from parents regarding their child’s classroom placement for September.I can assure you that a great deal of time and thought has gone into balancing classes and placing students in the class that will provide the greatest opportunity for success.Changing a student from one class to another is not as simple as it might seem and would likely mean switching places with another student from another class and could affect the balance that we have tried to establish in a given classroom. However, to the point above, the keyword for all of our current plans for September is ‘tentative’.

Collection of Devices/School Materials

The collection of school materials (textbooks/books) and devices from those who borrowed a Chromebook or iPad will take place on Monday, June 28^th, Tuesday, June 29^th, Wednesday, June 30^th or Friday, July 2^nd between 8:15 AM and 4:00 PM. Please just come to the front door of the school. When you arrive, there will likely be someone at the door, but if not, please ring the bell to your left.

The person collecting devices will have a list of names of those who borrowed a device but please also attach a note to the device with your child’s name. If you borrowed a device and your child is attending summer school, keep the device for the summer. (Borrowed devices are affiliated with your child’s student number and the board has the student numbers from summer school registration so they won’t, or shouldn’t, remotely lock those devices.)

Eligibility & Opportunities to Get Vaccinated

COVID-19 vaccines continue to be our best protection against COVID-19 and its variants. Everyone 12 years of age and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Youth ages 12 to 17 years of age are eligible to get their first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Clinic partners, led by University Health Network and Michael Garron Hospital, are planning to vaccinate more than 10,000 people on Sunday, June 27th. All people age 12 and older are eligible to book their Covid-19 vaccine first dose appointments. Second dose appointments will also be available for anyone who received a Pfizer or Moderna shot prior to May 9 or AstraZeneca on or before May 1. As of Wednesday, anyone who received their first dose of Pfizer or Moderna prior to May 30 will also be able to book an appointment at this clinic.

Appointments will be required for the clinic. Appointments can be booked by residents through the dark blue “Book a Vaccine” button on www.toronto.ca/covid-19 or by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900.

To easily connect to resources including vaccine appointment bookings, information on vaccines and upcoming telephone town halls, Toronto residents can text “VACCINE” to 1-833-750-0888 or 833-750-0888 for more information.

City of Toronto announces Toronto Vaccine Day at Scotiabank Arena on June 27 – “Our Winning Shot” clinic planning to vaccinate more than 10,000 people – City of Toronto

Grade 8 Class of 2021

Thank you to our Intermediate Division teachers and our Parent Graduation Committee for the planning, time and effort that they have put into making this year’s Grade 8 Farewell special for our graduating class. Graduation ceremonies were required to be pre-recorded with a link sent to families to enjoy. Mr. Wood has put together this video of our graduation that will be shared with you on Monday. We are hopeful that families of our grade 8 students will enjoy this attempt to simulate some of the important elements of a graduation ceremony. Visits will be made to student homes on Monday or Tuesday to deliver certificates and other important items.

Congratulations to our Grade 8 students who are now moving to the next phase of their academic careers. We wish them well in their new schools.

Hello Goodbye

We are saying goodbye and thank you to Ms. Diwan and Mr. McCready. We said goodbye to them at this time last year but we were fortunate enough to have them back with us for most of this year so who knows what next year will hold in store. Regardless, we are thankful that they were part of our staff this year and appreciative of the difference they have made this year in the lives of their students.

We are also saying goodbye to our educational assistant, Mr. Scott who joined us mid-year this year. He may not have been with us for long, but he quickly became part of our Fairmount team and will be missed.

We welcome a part-time educational assistant to our school, Ms. Samoojh who will be at Stephen Leacock Collegiate in the mornings and join us for the afternoons. We are also very happy to welcome back Ms. Keating, Mr. Markovski, Mr. Brown, and Ms. Surette who are, pending any reorganization, rejoining us in September.

Construction

The Kindergarten play area is almost complete. The repaving of the school parking lot is scheduled to begin in July and will be inaccessible beginning on July 9^th.

School Council

Thank you to our School Council Chairpeople. Julianne Lee and Gavan Knox for their dedication and support of our school community. Thank you to all of the parents and guardians who were able to find the time out of their busy schedules to join our Council meetings this year.We know that more screen time was never anyone’s preference, but we appreciate your valuable insight and input that helped us make the best decisions for the school.

Stay connected over the summer.

The Fairmount P.S. SAC is on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

September

Some students have asked questions about whether or not the Student Health Pass, the wearing of masks and the cohort zones in the yard will still be in place in September. We do not yet know if Public Health will require any or all of these to remain in place for September or what it might look like if they were to be in some way modified. This will all be dependent on what the Covid situation looks like at this time. Further to this point, we don’t know if our entry doors will remain as they were this year or if multiple classes will be able to enter through the same door. For this reason, opening day procedures will be communicated to you in September, prior to the first day of school on Thursday, September 9^th.

This is the tentative staff list for September:

Room Number	Grade	Teacher
10	Kindergarten	Ms. Friedlander Ms. Sutherland
12	Kindergarten	Ms. Rosekat Ms. Surette
14	1	Ms. Cheyne
15	1/2	Ms. Johnston
16	2	Mr. Markovski
5	2/3	Ms. Lyons
4	3/4	Ms. Cole
9	4/5	Ms. Jeffrey
6	5	Mr. Carr
7	6	Ms. Misner
21	6/7	Ms. Cane
20	7/8	Ms. Laurin
23	7/8	Mr. Wood
22	Supporting Various Students	Ms. Ravindrarajan Ms. Samoojh (PM)
	French	Ms. Keating
	Various Subjects	Ms. Woodall
	Library/Student Support	Ms. Thompson-West
	Various Subjects	Mr. Brown (PM)

Mindfulness for Anxiety Group

These sessions are for students from Grades 5-8 and will focus on anxiety/worry/stress and learning ways in which to cope using mindfulness and other strategies. Sessions will take place on Wednesdays in July (7, 14, 21 and 28) from 1:00-2:30 PM. Students must sign-up by June 25^th. See the attached flyer

2021 Summer Well-Being Guide

One of this week’s attachments is the TDSB 2021 Summer Well-Being Guide which has a variety of resources, programs, and accessible activities for students and families. Information on where and how to reach out for help is also included. In addition, on page 3 of the guide, there are details and contact information to register for various Summer Groups offered by our Professional Support Services Staff for students and caregivers.

National Indigenous History Month

June marks National Indigenous History month celebrating the deep history and cultural impact of Indigenous peoples; honouring the unique heritage, cultures and traditions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples across Canada.

More information and resources can be found here at the Government of Canada website.

June is Pride Month

June is Pride month celebrating current members, and remembering past members, of the LGBTQ+2S community. Pride is about celebrating diversity and acceptance whilst raising awareness of the history and culture of the LGBTQ+2S community.

“The whole point is to live life and be - to use all the colors in the crayon box.”

More resources can be found here:

https://www.torontopflag.org/

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Innovation/Gender-Based-Violence-Prevention/Pride

Toronto Public Library – Summer Programs

TD Summer Reading Club

The TD Summer Reading Club is Canada’s biggest, bilingual summer reading program for kids of all ages, interests and abilities. This free Club is offered at all Toronto Public Library branches. The Club celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators and stories, and inspires kids to explore the fun of reading, with the goal of building a lifelong love of reading.Kids can visit a Toronto Public Library branch to pick up their free reading kit to track their reading.Visit the TD Summer Reading Club kids website at www.tdsummerreadingclub.ca

For more information see the digital program brochure or the family information letter.

Toronto Public Library Summer Wonder

TPL’s Summer Wonder is a set of virtual programs and activities for children 6-12 and their parents/caregivers. Each feature of Summer Wonder is designed to promote wonder, creativity and discovery, and encourages families to read and learn together all summer long.From June 14 to September 4, kids and families can post a question on the ‘Wonder Wall’, take part in a Creativity Challenge, and access a range of programs including Arts & Performances, Author Visits, Camps & Workshops, French, and STEM. Families can find all of these program listings online at tpl.ca/summerwonder.

For more information see the Summer Wonder flyer.

June 18, 2021

We have one more full week of school to go in what has got to

have been the strangest school year that any of us has ever

experienced. It isn’t over yet but, as always, thanks for your

support and understanding as we continue to navigate this very

challenging year.

We have tried to facilitate the retrieval of belongings for any students who may have left items behind when schools shifted to remote learning. Teachers have been going to the school to facilitate this for their own classes. (I’m sure they also saw it as an opportunity to see some of their students in person before the end of the year.)

The collection of school materials (textbooks/books) and devices from those who borrowed a Chromebook or iPad will take place on Monday, June 28^th, Tuesday, June 29^th, Wednesday, June 30^th or Friday, July 2^nd. Please just come to the front door of the school. If you wish to drop it off earlier, please speak to your child’s teacher or call the school and arrangements will be made if possible. When you arrive, there will be someone at the door with a list of names and the device’s serial number but please attach a note to the device with your child’s name. The person may also ask you if your device was one that was delivered to your home via courier or if it was one that was borrowed directly from the school. If you borrowed a device and your child is attending summer school, keep the device for the summer. (Borrowed devices are affiliated with your child’s student number and the board has the student numbers from summer school registration so they won’t, or shouldn’t, remotely lock those devices.)

The distribution of report cards via email is scheduled to begin Friday, June 25^th but it is quite possible that you will not receive the report card the weekend or on Monday, June 28^th. If you have not received it by Tuesday, please let us know. In an effort to help facilitate a smoother entry on the first day in September, the bottom of the Learning Skills section on page one includes a tentative room number for your child’s class for September. A couple of points about this – please know that a great deal of thought has gone into making the classes. A number of factors are taken into consideration when making the classes, within the limitations related to our class organization that is driven by our projected enrolment. Most people would likely be surprised to know just how much time and discussion goes into this process. The classes may not be ‘perfect’ but we have certainly tried. The emphasis on the word ‘tentative’ is intentional because if we have learned nothing else over the past 15 months, everything is subject to change. Our planning is based on next year being a ‘regular’ year with all students attending in-person and it is unlikely that this will actually be the case, even if there isn’t a ‘fourth wave’. Moreover, we continue to have students arrive and others leave which causes some adjustment of classes and movement of students from one class to another. Students who are part of our school community but are not currently a member of one of our in-person classes will not have their September room number on their report card so we will send that in the near future to the email address we have on file.

Vaccines – 2^nd Dose Eligibility & Opportunities to Get Vaccinated

As vaccine supply in Canada substantially increases and the Provincial Government opens up eligibility in hot spot areas, including all of Toronto, here is some information about what this will mean:

Scarborough Health Network is contacting all of those who received a vaccine through one of their clinics, and who are now eligible for their 2nd dose, by email and/or phone with information about booking their 2^nd vaccine appointment.

They are currently contacting those who received their first dose on or before May 9th at a clinic run by SHN and the Scarborough Ontario Health Team partners. The date will move up incrementally as vaccine supply at clinics becomes available in conjunction with appointment availability.

The email and/or phone call will include information for booking the 2nd dose appointment. This clinic may not be the same clinic where you received your first vaccine.

You must use the booking link in the email to make your 2nd dose appointment or book over the phone with one of their vaccine team members.

DO NOT book your 2nd dose appointment through www.scarbvaccine.ca’s main booking link. This site is for first dose bookings only. Contacting everyone will take time as they reach out to thousands of people in our community.

The eligibility criteria for our pop-up clinics have changed.

Pop-up clinics will now be administering 1st and 2nd doses to those who live, work or go to school in the identified Delta variant ‘hot spots’ M1B, M1G, M1J, M1S, M1K, M1P, and M1E. Hot spot postal codes will be revised as necessary due to any changes or as additional Delta variant information becomes available.

People who live, work, or go to school in Scarborough, and who are 12 and older, continue to be eligible to get their first dose at our pop-up clinics.

Updated information will be shared through their e-newsletter, at www.scarbvaccine.ca, and other social media channels.

Toronto Public Health Virtual Assembly

Yesterday, Toronto Public Health hosted an assembly for our Grades 6-8 classes to discuss the Covid-19 vaccination, the vaccination process, dispel any myths that may be gaining traction on social media and answer any questions students may have.

Covid19 Infographics for Students 12-17:

High School Timetables for September

A change to secondary school timetables for the 2021-2022 school year was announced this week that will affect our Grade, 8 students, in September. In consultation with the Ministry and Toronto Public Health and, the TDSB has decided to implement a modified semester model.

In this model, students will take four courses, two each during alternating weeks. They will continue to be cohorted but will now be part of four cohorts (one for each class). Class sizes will return to the regular class sizes (dependent on grade, level, and subject) and all learning will either be fully in-person or fully virtual, depending on the selection made in August.

The rationale is that the modified semester offers more face-to-face time between students and teachers, encouraging an opportunity to build relationships and support an increased sense of belonging in class. It also offers a slower pace by learning over a longer period of time than the current quadmester model.

Mindfulness for Anxiety Group

Let’s Connect

Let’s Connect is a new mental health and well-being virtual series that allows an opportunity to come together to share ideas and resources. The Let’s Connect series will respond to questions and discuss wellness for parents, caregivers, guardians and students at various times throughout the school year. These conversations will be led by TDSB Professional Support Services staff and Mental Health and Well-Being Leads.

Join the first session:

Transition to Summer

June 22, 2021

6:30 - 8 pm

Let’s connect about mental health and well-being and ways to support children this summer. This session will start with a presentation on the Importance Of Taking Care of Yourself as a Parent/Caregiver/Guardian and will be followed by an overview of the new TDSB Summer Well-Being Guide. The evening will finish with an opportunity to participate in break-out rooms for smaller, more focused discussions.

Learn more at www.tdsb.on.ca/letsconnect

2021 Summer Well-Being Guide

National Indigenous History Month

More information and resources can be found here at the Government of Canada website.

June is Pride Month

“The whole point is to live life and be - to use all the colors in the crayon box.”

More resources can be found here:

https://www.torontopflag.org/

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Innovation/Gender-Based-Violence-Prevention/Pride

Toronto Public Library – Summer Programs

TD Summer Reading Club

The TD Summer Reading Club is Canada’s biggest, bilingual summer reading program for kids of all ages, interests and abilities. This free Club is offered at all Toronto Public Library branches. The Club celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators and stories, and inspires kids to explore the fun of reading, with the goal of building a lifelong love of reading. Kids can visit a Toronto Public Library branch to pick up their free reading kit to track their reading. Visit the TD Summer Reading Club kids website at www.tdsummerreadingclub.ca

For more information see the digital program brochure or the family information letter.

Toronto Public Library Summer Wonder

TPL’s Summer Wonder is a set of virtual programs and activities for children 6-12 and their parents/caregivers. Each feature of Summer Wonder is designed to promote wonder, creativity and discovery, and encourages families to read and learn together all summer long. From June 14 to September 4, kids and families can post a question on the ‘Wonder Wall’, take part in a Creativity Challenge, and access a range of programs including Arts & Performances, Author Visits, Camps & Workshops, French, and STEM. Families can find all of these program listings online at tpl.ca/summerwonder.

For more information see the Summer Wonder flyer.

Summer Camp

City of Toronto summer camp registration and other community resources can be found here.

Summer Programs for Teens – BGC East Scarborough

The Boys and Girls Club has leadership training and team-building experiences available this summer.

Leaders In Training will be held over Zoom Monday – Friday from July 05, 2021 – August 13, 2021, 10:00 am – 2:30 pm; with 3 in-person sessions at Rouge National Urban Park for fun team building activities with Outward Bound.

LIT: http://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/esbgc/Activity_Search/3164

Counselor in Training (CIT), is a program designed to equip youth 15 - 18 with the prerequisites needed for the job application process. CIT puts an emphasis on jobs related to the social service sector and hopes to employ its participants as future ESBGC staff. CIT will be delivered virtually on Mondays and Thursdays, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm starting July 05, 2021 – August 12, 2021.

CIT: http://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/esbgc/Activity_Search/3163

June 11, 2021

Just after last week’s update went out, we received word that

graduation ceremonies in the TDSB would move forward as

originally planned as pre-recorded events that will be shared with

families. (For those who are disappointed, this may have actually

turned out to be a preference as an in-person event would not have

looked like a traditional ‘grad’ held outside.) While not ideal, many staff and parents who are part of the Graduation Committee are working very hard to ensure this farewell for our Grade 8 students is memorable. As enjoyable as possible…under the circumstances, which I believe has been just about everyone’s adage for the past year.

We have not yet heard about whether or not it will be possible, or advised, to have any sort of in-person gathering of each class. Moreover, we also recognize that even if this were to happen, many would not be comfortable attending such an event. We will let you know more if and when there is any news to share. Some students may need to collect belongings and/or drop off a borrowed device. As we get closer to the end of the year, specifics of how to do this will be forthcoming, but it is possible that your child’s teacher may set aside a day to be in the classroom so those students who need to collect personal items can come to the classroom if necessary. However, arrangements can be made regardless if you just let your child’s teacher know that you and/or your child would like to come to the school we will try and arrange a day and time. Borrowed devices could be dropped off at this time but we recognize that this might be too far in advance of the last day of school (June 29^th) so we will begin collecting devices on June 28th.

Vaccines - Dash for Doses: School Marathon

What: pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics for young people in Scarborough and their families

When: June 9-16

Time: 4 – 8 p.m.

Where: Fifteen schools across Scarborough – get vaccinated at your school, or the one closest to where you live:

Wednesday, June 9: Stephen Leacock Collegiate Institute, 2450 Birchmount Rd

Wednesday June 9: Treadway Woodsworth Public School, 2450 Birchmount Rd

Thursday June 10: Wexford Collegiate School for the Arts, 1176 Pharmacy Avenue

Thursday June 10: St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary School, 685 Military Trail

Friday, June 11: St Joan of Arc Catholic Academy, 959 Midland Avenue

Friday, June 11: Mary Shadd Public School, 135 Hupfield Trail

Saturday, June 12: St. Nicholas Catholic School, 22 Amarillo Drive

Saturday, June 12: Ellesmere-Statton Public School, Ellesmere Road

Sunday, June 13: Milliken Public School, 130 Port Royal Trail

Sunday, June 13: Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute, 200 Fundy Bay Bvld

Monday, June 14: Woburn Collegiate Institute, 2222 Ellesmere Road

Monday, June 14 Thomas Lester Wells Public School, 69 Nightstar Road

Tuesday, June 15: Agincourt Collegiate Institute, 2621 Midland Avenue

Tuesday, June 15: Sir Oliver Mowat Collegiate Institute, 5400 Lawrence Ave East

Wednesday, June 16: R.H. King Academy, 3800 St Clair Ave East

How the Dash for Doses: School Marathon clinics work:

These clinics will vaccinate people aged 12+ who live, work, or go to school in Scarborough

All students – from all schools – are welcome!

Vaccine is Pfizer – for first doses only

No pre-booking is required, these vaccine clinics are walk-in using a ticketing system.

Starting on the afternoon of the clinic, tickets are provided to people for same-day vaccine appointments on a first come, first served basis.

You will receive a ticket with a specific time slot for your appointment.

You must bring proof of your address (such as mail addressed to you, your school report card) and a form of ID to receive the vaccine.

No OHIP/health card? No problem

More information on www.scarbvaccine.ca

Toronto Public Health Virtual Assembly

On Thursday, June 17^th at 2:00 PM,Toronto Public Health is hosting an assembly for our Grades 6-8 students to discuss the Covid-19 vaccination, the vaccination process, dispel any myths that may be gaining traction on social media and answer any questions students may have. (See the attached flyer)

Covid19 Infographics for Students 12-17:

Toronto Public Health Updates

Learn From the Experts

COVID-19 Vaccination Town Hall for Parents/Guardians of Students (age 12-17).

Video Recordings with Dr. Vinita Dubey, Associate Medical Officer of Health, provides a presentation and answers your questions. Presentations available here.

Recordings of Past Events

The Black Scientists’ Task Force, in conjunction with several community organizations, including the Black Health Alliance (BHA); Black Physicians Association of Ontario (BPAO); the Canadian Multicultural Inventors Museum and Harriet Tubman Institute; Women’s Health in Women’s Hands, and TAIBU co-hosted a series of free virtual town hall meetings for Toronto’s Black communities. Five Town Hall Meetings available here

Mental Health and Well-Being Resources:

The mental health of our students and families continues to be a priority.

Toronto Public Health Resources are available here. Support is available. It is ‘ok not to feel ok.’

Mental Health Action Toolkit:

Parent, Family and Caregiver Version

Student Version

Primary Students

Junior Students

Family Navigation Project

Parent & Caregiver Well-Being Kit

Student Well-Being Kit

Mindfulness for Anxiety Group

Hello Hope: Battling Loneliness and Isolation – Before, During and After Covid-19

Our friends at Walter Perry Junior Public School are hosting this virtual presentation on Tuesday, June 15^th at 6:00 PM. All are welcome to attend:

meet.google.com/gik-bfjo-nmf

Let’s Connect

Join the first session:

Transition to Summer

June 22, 2021

6:30 - 8 pm

Learn more at www.tdsb.on.ca/letsconnect

2021 Summer Well-Being Guide

School Year Calendar – 2021-2022

The Ministry of Education has approved the TDSB’s 2021-2022 School Year Calendar. The first day of classes for students will be September 9, 2021. This start date ensures that the start of the school year does not conflict with any religious days of significance for students or staff. Visit the TDSB website for the full calendar, including PA days and holidays.

National Indigenous History Month

More information and resources can be found here at the Government of Canada website.

June is Pride Month

“The whole point is to live life and be - to use all the colors in the crayon box.”

More resources can be found here:

https://www.torontopflag.org/

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Innovation/Gender-Based-Violence-Prevention/Pride

Kindergarten Outdoor Play Area

The kindergarten outdoor play area is fast approaching completion.

Summer Camp

City of Toronto summer camp registration and other community resources can be found here.

Summer Programs for Teens – BGC East Scarborough

The Boys and Girls Club has leadership training and team-building experiences available this summer.

LIT:http://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/esbgc/Activity_Search/3164

CIT: http://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/esbgc/Activity_Search/3163

Scarborough Women's Centre Summer Webinar Schedule

This summer Scarborough Women's Centre is offering webinars for women covering topics like Surviving after Job Loss, Going Back to College, Macronutrient-Based Eating, Managing Conflict, Teaching Your Kids about Money, and more. Those interested can view the schedule and register for webinars by clicking here. Women can also register by calling 416-439-7111 x 107. Deadlines are posted in the schedule.

June 4, 2021

As you have likely already heard, on Wednesday Premier Ford

announced that due to the concerns regarding the potential

spread of the Covid virus it would be too great a risk to re-open

schools for in-person learning for the last few weeks of the school

year. While this message that schools will remain closed until

September was not unexpected, but we were taken aback by the news that schools will have separate outdoor graduations for all grades. While we appreciate that students may be excited to switch classrooms in September to begin the next grade, a formal ‘graduation’ or farewell is not something that would typically be held for any grade except for the one that is leaving a school. In our case, schools were informed weeks ago that if they were going to have any kind of farewell or graduation for the class that is leaving the school, this would need to be a pre-recorded event or celebration. Given this announcement, it is safe to say that the TDSB, in consultation with Toronto Public Health and the Ministry of Education, will soon provide further direction to schools. (So, maybe hold off renting that tuxedo for your grade 4 student or the limousine for your grade 1 child until we receive clearer direction on the parameters of what such an event might look like.)

Students who were at school on April 5^th when we received word that schools would close for in-person learning effective the next day were told to take home all of their belongings in case we didn’t return. However, we recognize that many students may have been absent on that day and may still have items at school that they would like to retrieve. We will wait for some further direction regarding the above announcement in case students do return for a short celebration of some sort as we would likely coordinate the retrieval of belongings with such an event. However, some may not be interested in taking part in such an event due to the risk or may prefer to collect their items sooner rather than later. If this is the case, please let your classroom teacher know and we will coordinate a day for you and/or your child to come to collect your belongings. (Don’t forget we will also need to have all borrowed books and devices returned to the school prior to the start of the summer.)

Vaccines for Students 12-17

Pfizer vaccines are available to students ages 12-17.

It seems that there is an abundance of pop-up clinics right now but a more convenient alternative for many if to book an appointment for a vaccination at Centennial College (941 Progress Avenue) through the Scarborough Health Network. The clinic is open from 9:00 – 9:00 seven days a week.

Appointments can be booked through www.scarbvaccine.ca

Note that the telephone number for vaccination clinic inquiries has changed. The new number is: 416-495-2593

Family pop-up COVID-19 vaccine clinics

Saturday, June 5

Where: Chinese Cultural Centre of Greater Toronto, 5183 Sheppard Avenue East

Time: noon – 8 p.m.

Saturday, June 5 and Sunday, June 6

Where: Baitul Mukarram Islamic Society, 3340 Danforth Avenue

Time: 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.

Monday, June 7 & Tuesday June 8

Where: East Scarborough Storefront, 4040 Lawrence Avenue East

Time: noon – 8 p.m.

Clinics will vaccinate people aged 12 years at time of vaccination and older, who live, work, or go to school in Scarborough

Tickets will be provided for same-day vaccine appointments starting on the day of the pop-up on a first-come, first-served basis

First-doses only

Administered vaccine will be Pfizer

People must bring proof of their identity (photo ID) and proof of M1 hot spot address (piece of mail with your name and address on it, rental agreement, letter from landlord, etc…)

No OHIP/health card? No problem!

Toronto Public Health Updates

COVID-19 vaccination for youth aged 12+ infographic

Posted here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-resources/

PDF: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/910a-Covid19-Vaccine-for-Youth-12.pdf

COVID-19 vaccines were carefully studied before being approved infographic

Posted here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-resources/

PDF: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/9880-Vaccination-QA-Twitter-COVID19-Vaccines-were-carefully-studied-banner.pdf

Mental Health and Well-Being Resources:

The mental health of our students and families continues to be a priority.

Need Immediate Help?

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of your local hospital.

If you are not sure if it is an emergency, or just need to talk through the situation, consider reaching out to:

Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000

Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or texting CONNECT to 686868

Mental Health TO

211 – community supports such as food banks, housing and more.

Toronto Public Health

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto

Assaulted Women’s Helpline 1-866-863-0511 or text #SAFE (#7233)

Black Youth Helpline

Indigenous Youth Helpline

Muslim Youth Helpline

What's Up Walk-In® | Mental Health Counselling

Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line

Mental Health Action Toolkit:

Parent, Family and Caregiver Version

Student Version

Primary Students

Junior Students

Family Navigation Project

Parent & Caregiver Well-Being Kit

Student Well-Being Kit

School Council

The final School Council meeting for this year will be held virtually on Tuesday, June 8^th at 7:00 PM. All are welcome to attend. Please email our office administrator at lisa.habenschuss@tdsb.on.ca to request the Zoom link.

National Indigenous History Month

More information and resources can be found here at the Government of Canada website.

June is Pride Month

“The whole point is to live life and be - to use all the colors in the crayon box.”

More resources can be found here:

https://www.torontopflag.org/

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Innovation/Gender-Based-Violence-Prevention/Pride

Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month at the TDSB – June 2021

Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month is proudly recognized during the month of June at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) since 2011. The Province of Ontario passed the Celebration of Portuguese Heritage Act in 2001 and this year marks the 20th anniversary of this Act. This year our theme is Esperança! / Hope!

The contributions of the Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Community to Canada are significant as they include the arts, sports, music, culinary arts, and many professional contributions to educational and medical service areas. Canadians, along with all TDSB students, staff, and its communities and beyond all enjoy the energetic and vibrant traditions that are shared through the customs of this heritage. Over 1,400 TDSB students speak Portuguese as their mother tongue or as a primary language. Internationally, there are 250 million Portuguese-speaking people worldwide, making it the fifth-most spoken language.

Italian Heritage Month at the TDSB – June 2021

Italian Heritage Month is recognized proudly during the month of June at the Toronto District School Board. This year the theme of Italian Heritage Month is Made in Italy.

The Province of Ontario also celebrates Italian Heritage Month since June 2010 when the Italian Heritage Month Act was passed. As stated in the Italian Heritage Act, 2010, “Ontario is home to more than 1,350,000 Italian Canadians. Since the 1880s, the Italian Canadian community has made and continues to make significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of the Province of Ontario.”

Kindergarten Outdoor Play Area

The kindergarten outdoor play area is approximately 75% completed and remains on schedule to finish by the end of June. In addition to the parking lot being redone, we will get new partitions and stall doors in most of the school washrooms this summer. While we don’t anticipate a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the students will appreciate it once they are in.

Summer Programs for Teens – BGC East Scarborough

The Boys and Girls Club has leadership training and team-building experiences available this summer.

LIT: http://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/esbgc/Activity_Search/3164

CIT: http://ca.apm.activecommunities.com/esbgc/Activity_Search/3163

May 28, 2021

Next week the province will begin to implement a tiered

approach to the gradual reopening of the province. Based on

news reports, there seems to be a difference of opinion on the

part of the medical experts as to whether or not schools can safely

reopen and whether or not the benefits to students’ mental health

outweighs the potential risks associated with the chances of contracting the virus.

While we have no information beyond what we have all seen or heard in the media, it is possible that if the number of positive Covid cases continues to fall and the number of people partially or fully vaccinated continues to rise then we could go back to school, even if only for a short period of time. Should this happen, we will, of course, ensure that all safety protocols are re-implemented and enforced. June temperatures in a non-air conditioned school tend to be a little stifling, and even more so while wearing a mask, so utilizing our outdoor space for instructional purposes will likely be something for students to anticipate. Regardless, until we hear otherwise, we will persevere with remote instruction and continue to be understanding, compassionate and flexible and appreciate that you are with us whenever necessary.

Return of Borrowed Devices

Families should have received an email this week regarding the return of devices that have been borrowed in order to support a student’s online learning. The letter stated that these devices can be returned to any TDSB school between June 14^th and July 2^nd.

Please return the device when you no longer require its use. If we were to return to school in mid-June, then, by all means, return it as soon as possible. However, if you need the device to engage in learning until the very last day of school on June 29^th, then plan to return it on the 30^th or July 2^nd.
If the device you received was delivered to your home via courier, in almost all cases this would apply only to people who received a device when we first shifted to remote learning during last school year, then this device can be returned to any TDSB school.
Most people who have a TDSB device borrowed I from our school. If you borrowed a device from our school, then please return it only to Fairmount.

All devices will be administratively locked so there is no benefit in holding them for use in the summer unless you have registered for summer school and need the device for this purpose. If this is the case, please let your teacher know.

Information regarding the process for dropping off devices will be communicated closer to the time.

Report Cards

Second term report cards will be distributed electronically via School Messenger. If all goes according to plan, these will be sent out centrally to the email address on file with the school beginning on June 24^th. This method of distribution will be used whether we are still remote or teaching in person at the end of the month.

Vaccines for Students 12-17

Pfizer vaccines are available to students ages 12-17. To find out more information on how to get vaccinated, eligibility and how to book an appointment, click here.

Appointments can be booked through www.scarbvaccine.ca

Mental Health and Well-Being Resources:

The mental health of our students and families continues to be a priority.

Need Immediate Help?

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of your local hospital.

If you are not sure if it is an emergency, or just need to talk through the situation, consider reaching out to:

Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000

Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or texting CONNECT to 686868

Mental Health TO

211 – community supports such as food banks, housing and more.

Toronto Public Health

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto

Assaulted Women’s Helpline 1-866-863-0511 or text #SAFE (#7233)

Black Youth Helpline

Indigenous Youth Helpline

Muslim Youth Helpline

What's Up Walk-In® | Mental Health Counselling

Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line

Mental Health Action Toolkit:

Parent, Family and Caregiver Version

Student Version

Primary Students

Junior Students

Family Navigation Project

Parent & Caregiver Well-Being Kit

Student Well-Being Kit

COVID-19 Specific Resources:

Noticing Mental Health Concerns for Your Child
Your Child's Mental Wellness and Remote Learning
Culturally-Responsive Mental Health Supports
Helping Your Kids in Changing Times
Tips for Supporting Teens
Coping with Learning from Home

Resources for Caregivers

Helpful Resources for Caregivers

For parents of Special Needs Children: Top 10 Strategies and Resources to Help Your and your Family Cope

Evidence-informed, simple strategies for parents and staff to manage feelings of worry, stress, or sadness during difficult times. Coping Strategies for Caregivers

Coping: Well-Being Visuals through a Language Lens Resource Tip Sheet

School Mental Health Ontario -12 easy and fun mental health practices to try with your children at home (elementary and secondary students.) News and Updates - About Us

TDSB Mental Health & Well-Being YouTube Channel

Short webinar Anxiety 101

Anxiety 101 Part 2 How to Help Children and Teens Cope with Worry

Anxiety 101 Part 3 More Ways to Help Children and Teens Cope with Worry

Kindergarten Outdoor Play Area

The weather has cooperated and the work has continued nicely in our kindergarten play area. This is on schedule to finish by the end of June. The parking lot is set to be completely redone upon the completion of this project. The parking lot will be inaccessible from July 16^th through to at least the middle of August.

Toronto Public Health Updates

(New) COVID-19 vaccination for youth aged 12+ infographic

Posted here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-resources/

PDF: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/910a-Covid19-Vaccine-for-Youth-12.pdf

(New) COVID-19 vaccines were carefully studied before being approved infographic

Posted here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-resources/

PDF: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/9880-Vaccination-QA-Twitter-COVID19-Vaccines-were-carefully-studied-banner.pdf

(New) Does my 12+ child require informed consent to receive their vaccine? infographic

Posted here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-resources/

PDF: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/908c-CovidTeenVaxConsentInfographF.pdf

(New) Need help getting to a City-run clinic for your vaccine appointment? infographic translations in multiple languages

Posted here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-resources/

(New) What to expect after receiving your first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine infographic translations in multiple languages

Posted here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-resources/

(New) COVID-19 Vaccination Town Hall for Parents/Guardians of Students (Age 12-17)

Posted here: https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-benefits-of-getting-vaccinated/?accordion=learn-from-the-experts

PDF: https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/8ff1-Parent-SlidesMay-25-2021.pdf

Recording: https://toronto.webex.com/recordingservice/sites/toronto/recording/9d1441469f941039bdbf0050568f09a5/playback

May 21, 2021

Yesterday Premier Ford announced a three-step plan to safely

reopen the province. Each step of the plan is, of course, predicated

on important targets being met with regard to the number of

vaccinations and infection rates. From a school and school facilities

perspective this means that beginning tomorrow, outdoor facilities

that may have previously been unavailable will now available for community use, with some restrictions. However, permits for outdoor amenities will not be available just yet.

With regard to schools reopening for in-person learning, schools are to remain closed for now with no definitive decision being made one way or the other for the month of June. Premier Ford’s released statement said, “Data will be assessed on an ongoing basis and medical experts, including the Chief Medical Officer of Health, and other health officials will be consulted to determine if it may be safe to resume in-person learning.” One important fact that will certainly support making schools safer for when we do reopen is that Pfizer vaccines are now being made available to students ages 12-17 in targeted hot-spot areas and widely at the end of the month. Currently, anyone who is 18 years of age or older is eligible for the vaccine now. To find out more information on how to get vaccinated, eligibility and how to book an appointment, click here.

Pop-up clinics have started but students such as ours who live in a designated ‘hotspot’ area – postal codes beginning with M1 – can book an appointment for a vaccination at Centennial College (941 Progress Avenue) through the Scarborough Health Network. The clinic is open from 9:00 – 9:00 seven days a week.

Appointments can be booked through www.scarbvaccine.ca

Young people must be at least 12 years old at the time of their vaccination
Young people must bring proof of their identity (health card, passport, PR card) and proof of their residence or work in an M1 hot-spot postal code (letter addressed to them, school report card, etc…) but if the student doesn’t have identification such as this, the parent’s documentation will suffice.

Related to the vaccination of some of our older students and the broader rollout of the vaccine is the issue of the survey for parents to ask for a decision as to whether or not you would like your child to attend in-person school in September or to opt for remote learning. The distribution of the survey to parents is being withheld until mid-August as there are too many unknowns right now, making it somewhat unfair to ask parents to make a decision right now when much could change in the almost four months until school begins in September. This does mean that some of the planning we put in place in advance of the start of school could potentially change but a shifting landscape is certainly something we have all become accustomed to over the past year. Regardless, we remain hopeful that with more and more people being vaccinated, the number of infections will drop to the point where the risk is low enough that few families will feel it necessary to opt for remote learning and we will have almost all of our students, and teachers, back with us in September.

Toronto Public Health - COVID-19 Vaccination Town Halls for Parents/Guardians of Students (age 12-17)

Toronto Public Health invites parents and guardians of students/youth to attend a Town Hall about COVID-19 vaccines.

Dr. Vinita Dubey, Associate Medical Officer of Health, will provide a presentation and answer questions about:

COVID-19 vaccines available in Canada

Vaccine safety and benefits

How to get vaccinated and who is eligible

Ways to reduce COVID-19 spread

No registration required.

Three upcoming session dates:

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3

Tuesday, May 25, 2021

10:30 am to 11:30 pm

Click here to join online

Or join by telephone:

416-915-6530

Access code: 177 660 1355

Wednesday, May 26, 2021

6:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Click here to join online

Or join by telephone:

416-915-6530

Access code: 177 923 4897

Saturday, May 29, 2021

1:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Click here to join online

Or join by telephone:

416-915-6530

Access code: 177 971 0718

Online password (if required): Toronto123

Mental Health and Well-Being Resources:

Need Immediate Help?

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of your local hospital.

If you are not sure if it is an emergency, or just need to talk through the situation, consider reaching out to:

Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000

Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or texting CONNECT to 686868

Mental Health TO

211 – community supports such as food banks, housing and more.

Toronto Public Health

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto

Assaulted Women’s Helpline 1-866-863-0511 or text #SAFE (#7233)

Black Youth Helpline

Indigenous Youth Helpline

Muslim Youth Helpline

What's Up Walk-In® | Mental Health Counselling

Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line

Mental Health Action Toolkit:

Parent, Family and Caregiver Version

Student Version

Primary Students

Junior Students

Family Navigation Project

Parent & Caregiver Well-Being Kit

Student Well-Being Kit

COVID-19 Specific Resources:

Resources for Caregivers

Helpful Resources for Caregivers

For parents of Special Needs Children: Top 10 Strategies and Resources to Help Your and your Family Cope

Evidence-informed, simple strategies for parents and staff to manage feelings of worry, stress, or sadness during difficult times. Coping Strategies for Caregivers

Coping: Well-Being Visuals through a Language Lens Resource Tip Sheet

School Mental Health Ontario -12 easy and fun mental health practices to try with your children at home (elementary and secondary students.) News and Updates - About Us

TDSB Mental Health & Well-Being YouTube Channel

Short webinar Anxiety 101

Anxiety 101 Part 2 How to Help Children and Teens Cope with Worry

Anxiety 101 Part 3 More Ways to Help Children and Teens Cope with Worry

Virtual Elementary Summer School 2021

Given the unpredictability of what the status of the COVID-19 pandemic will be in the summer and the need to begin planning well before that time, the decision has been made to offer all Summer Programs fully remote (online) for summer 2021.

The focus of the Elementary Summer School Program is to support student learning and engagement through the month of July. Programs, embedded in Literacy and Numeracy, are developed by the local summer school principal to reflect the local school focus.Thirty-eight programs are offered to students in Kindergarten to Grade 8, from July 5 – 30, 2021, through virtual instruction.

Registration is now open but many of the programs are already full! Click here for registration information.

May 14, 2021

Yesterday Premier Ford announced that the stay-at-home

Order has been extended until June 2^nd and that remote learning

for schools will continue. Toronto Public Health is reporting that

while case rates of Covid are on a third straight week of decrease

but we are not near a point where we can reopen as the number of cases

currently in hospital remains high and though the emergency break has had a significant effect on projected cases, counts are still high and hospital rates have likely not yet peaked. While there has not been an announcement as to whether or not schools will reopen before the end of June, reports such as this make it seem less and less likely. Regardless, our approach will continue to be one of transitioning back to in-person learning should that become possible but otherwise providing the best possible program remotely with an understanding that we need to ensure that we are responsive to the well-being of our students. Some good news that TPH has shared is that the provincial goal to vaccinate 40% of the adult population was achieved on May 1^st and at the current rate of vaccination we are on track to exceed the goal of 65% getting a single dose of a vaccine by the end of May. The Premier also announced that beginning the week of May 31, youth in Ontario between 12 and 17 years of age and their family members who have not received a vaccine will be eligible to book an appointment to receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in June.

Our School Council ‘Speaker Series’ continued this week with a presentation from Tisha Nelson of York University who spoke to us about Understanding Anti-Black Racism. She not only helped us better understand Canada’s own history of perpetuating anti-Black racism and the socialization process of anti-Blackness but steps we can take to raise anti-racist children and what it looks like to be an inclusive parent vs an anti-racist parent.

Inclusive Parent	Anti-Racist Parent
Teach children that people matter more than their skin colour	Teach children how the meaning attached to skin colour affects how people view us
Make sure their child’s library is diverse	Engage in books that go beyond talking about racism as a historical phenomenon
Share media featuring diverse people	Use media to point out examples of racism
Talk about privilege with their children	Give children examples of their privilege

Resources from the presentation, including an annotated bibliography and suggested videos can be found here. See the attachment for the full minutes from the meeting.

Voluntary Asymptomatic COVID testing hub at RH King Academy - Today

A COVID testing hub is set up at RH King Academy today from 3:00 to 8:00 PM. Students and staff are invited to participate in this voluntary testing. The testing will be conducted by LifeLabs. Attached is a letter with additional information and a consent form for those who are interested.

Mental Health and Well-Being Resources:

Need Immediate Help?

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of your local hospital.

If you are not sure if it is an emergency, or just need to talk through the situation, consider reaching out to:

Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000

Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or texting CONNECT to 686868

Mental Health TO

211 – community supports such as food banks, housing and more.

Toronto Public Health

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto

Assaulted Women’s Helpline 1-866-863-0511 or text #SAFE (#7233)

Black Youth Helpline

Indigenous Youth Helpline

Muslim Youth Helpline

What's Up Walk-In® | Mental Health Counselling

Lesbian Gay Bi Trans Youth Line

Mental Health Action Toolkit:

Parent, Family and Caregiver Version

Student Version

Primary Students

Junior Students

Family Navigation Project

Parent & Caregiver Well-Being Kit

Student Well-Being Kit

COVID-19 Specific Resources:

Resources for Caregivers

Helpful Resources for Caregivers

For parents of Special Needs Children: Top 10 Strategies and Resources to Help Your and your Family Cope

Evidence-informed, simple strategies for parents and staff to manage feelings of worry, stress, or sadness during difficult times. Coping Strategies for Caregivers

Coping: Well-Being Visuals through a Language Lens Resource Tip Sheet

School Mental Health Ontario -12 easy and fun mental health practices to try with your children at home (elementary and secondary students.) News and Updates - About Us

TDSB Mental Health & Well-Being YouTube Channel

Short webinar Anxiety 101

Anxiety 101 Part 2 How to Help Children and Teens Cope with Worry

Anxiety 101 Part 3 More Ways to Help Children and Teens Cope with Worry

EarlyOn Child and Family Centres

EarlyON Child and Family Centres offer free programs for parents and caregivers with children from birth to age six.The centres provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating program where children can play and parents can connect.Activities that encourage children’s exploration, play and inquiry are incorporated into the programming, supported by How Does Learning Happen? Ontario’s Pedagogy for the Early Years.

Click here for more information. The EarlyOn Centres are currently supporting families virtually. A list of centres can be found here.

TDSB EarlyOn Drop-In Program

If you have a young child who is not yet in school, you may wish to join ‘Penny’ in the mornings for fun and interactive music and story time. Access the Google Meet here.

Monday-Thursday 10:00-11:00 AM

EQAO’s Student Engagement Committee

This committee is an opportunity for interested students in Grades 7-12 who have completed at least one EQAO assessment to have an impact on EQAO’s activities and on Ontario’s education system.

To learn more about the committee’s previous work, visit EQAO’s website. You can find the application form at this link: https://forms.gle/a5SHQrDPRRmbbVQi9
Submissions must be received by June 7, 2021, and selections will be announced by the end of June 2021.

Virtual Elementary Summer School 2021

Registration is now open but many of the programs are already full! Click here for registration information.

Kindergarten Play Area

After many years of planning and fundraising by our parent community, the work on revitalizing the kindergarten play area is in full swing. Attached are detailed plans of the work being done if you are interested in learning more.

May 7, 2021

This week the Provincial Government announced that school

boards will offer the opportunity for parents to select remote

learning for their child next year.At this early stage, we do not

yet know exactly what this will look like but it is likely that there will

be a survey emailed to parents/guardians in the near future to gauge

your interest. While there are many unknowns regarding what September will look like many of us are looking forward to schools looking more like they did in years past. Though learning remotely may not work best for all students we recognize that it has worked for some or at the very least there are some elements of it that have worked for some of our students and staff. For example, the enhanced facility and increased comfort with technology that has been inculcated is something that will certainly continue to be supported and employed even as schools gradually move towards a model where that is a choice rather than a requirement.

One of the main concerns that this past calendar year has presented is the uncertainty and stress that it has brought to our lives, including that of our children. One of the major challenges that has come with remote learning is, as you well know, the lack of in-person social interaction for our students. This only highlights the importance of this week’s emphasis on our students’ mental health and well-being. We will continue to try and be as perceptive and responsive as possible when it comes to recognizing and supporting the needs of our students to support their overall well-being while still maintaining high standards for their academic development. The TDSB’s Professional Support Services team has developed a wide variety of resources and has developed a Parent/Caregiver Resource Kit that you can use to help support your child’s mental health and well-being.

Free Virtual Mental Health Counselling

To be connected to a counsellor for a telephone or video session please call MHTO at 1-866-585-6486 Monday to Friday 9AM – 7PM.

Immediate mental health counselling for children, youth, young adults and their families, and families with infants is available at the What’s Up Walk-In Clinic.

School Council Meeting

Our next school council meeting will take place on Wednesday, May 12th at 7pm. This month’s meeting will include a special presentation “Understanding Anti-Black Racism”, by guest speaker Tisha Nelson, a professor in the Education department at York University. Please email Lisa.Habesnschuss@tdsb.on.ca to request the Zoom link. See our social media channels to keep up to date:

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

Kindergarten Play Area Revitalization

The contractor began mobilizing on site today to begin the excavation of our kindergarten play area. We are pleased that it has worked out that this work is going forward right now, especially while our students are at home.

Voluntary Asymptomatic COVID testing hub at RH King Academy on Friday, May 14

As part of the Province’s initiative to increase asymptomatic testing opportunities for students and staff, a COVID testing hub will be set up at RH King Academy on Friday, May 14, from 3:00 to 8:00 PM. Students and staff are invited to participate in this voluntary testing. The testing will be conducted by LifeLabs. Attached is a letter with additional information and a consent form for those who are interested.

Virtual Elementary Summer School 2021

Registration is now open! Click here for a full list of participating schools and registration information.

2021-2022 School Year Calendar

Pending Ministry of Education approval, a draft of the school calendar for next year has been released.

Dates that may be of particular interest include:

First day of classes for students is September 9, 2021

Winter Break - December 20, 2021 – December 31, 2021

March Break - March 14 - 18, 2022

The last day of class for elementary students is June 30, 2022

The last day of class for secondary students is June 29, 2022

ACB Student Focus Group - Grades 7-12 Students

Please find attached a letter regarding a virtual conversation that will be taking place on the 17th of May from 4:00 – 5:30 p.m.This conversation is for Black students who are eager to share their experiences as well as help ground the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement’s mandate and participate in shaping student-driven solutions.Students who wish to participate will be required to register on the link embedded in the memo. Each registered student and their parents will be contacted to get their consent to participate and use their experiences to inform the TDSB’s work via the information that students provided in the registration form.

Audible

Audible is an online audiobook and podcast service owned by Amazon that allows users to purchase and stream audiobooks and other forms of spoken word content. Audible has cancelled the subscription fee for books and audio stories for children and students of all ages as long as schools are closed. Kids everywhere can instantly stream a vast collection of stories, including titles across six different languages. All stories are free to stream on desktop, laptop, phone or tablet via this link:

https://stories.audible.com/start-listen

TVO Mathify

A reminder that there is free 1:1 math tutoring available for students Grades 6-10

www.tvomathify.com/students

May is Asian Heritage Month at the TDSB

Asian Heritage Month is recognized formally throughout Canada through an official declaration that was signed in May 2002. Subsequently, the Province of Ontario passed the Asian Heritage Act (2005), and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) passed a motion to recognize Asian Heritage Month in 2007.

The Toronto District School Board is the largest, and one of the most diverse school boards in Canada. Nearly one-quarter of our students were born outside of Canada and collectively, we speak more than 120 languages. According to the TDSB 2017 Student & Parent Census our students represent 40% with Asian backgrounds.

During the month of May, the Toronto District School Board proudly recognizes Asian Heritage Month by celebrating the numerous achievements of Asian-Canadians and their significant role on the global stage. This year our theme is Discover. Share. Celebrate our Resiliency!

During the month of May we are honoured to share with you several opportunities and resources to learn about the traditions, customs, and significant individuals that this heritage brings. Please see the attached powerpoint.

May is Jewish Heritage Month

This year, the Jewish Heritage Council is pleased to partner with the Asian Heritage Committee for the month of May, Jewish and Asian Heritage months, to present Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup. This program targeted at students in Kindergarten-grade 3, has been described as a “very sweet book and a perfect early lesson on diversity.” As Sophie the main character in the story says about her grandmothers’ soups - “a little different; a lot the same”.

On May 4-9, the JHC is pleased to support Liberation75, a virtual, free, virtual event to commemorate the 75th anniversary of liberation from the Holocaust. This global gathering of survivors, descendants, educators and friends will feature survivor testimony, interactive discussions, performances, films, and exhibits.

April 30, 2021

As we continue to navigate another extended school closure

due to COVID-19, our staff are continuing to work hard to

provide engaging and meaningful online learning for students,

while recognizing the enormous strain on families right now.

Like you, our staff are managing challenging situations at home with

teaching remotely while in many cases trying to support online learning of their own children and/or caring for extended family members. Our current reality is a shared one, and on behalf of the Fairmount staff, we sincerely appreciate your continued support and understanding. The mental health and well-being of everyone in our learning community is always a priority but given that next week is officially ‘Children’s Mental Health Week’, we are particularly mindful of the impact that school closure has on students and the stress that this type of learning can put on some of our students. We will continue to do what we can to support all of our students and make necessary adjustments to support their well-being while still supporting their academic achievement.

You may be interested in these resources from clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Damour, who recently hosted a session as part of the Parent and Family Engagement Office’s Conversation Series:

How to Manage Stress Under COVID-19

How to Manage Anxiety Under COVID-19

As you are likely aware, this year schools have struggled with staffing shortages and this remains true even during remote learning. We may sometimes have situations where staff need to be absent and we do not have an occasional teacher to cover for them. Though this does not present a safety issue we do recognize the importance of synchronous learning, particularly for our youngest learners. While we will continue to try to secure occasional staff who have the ability to provide quality remote teaching, we may need to reassign our own teaching staff to cover a class if the regular classroom teacher is absent. Therefore, you may find that your child’s teacher who normally hands over the class to a prep teacher (e.g., for drama or gym) will instead encourage students to continue with independent activities. This will allow your child’s teacher the daily preparation time they need to plan and organize learning for their class. Students may be encouraged to pursue independent learning activities online, engage in some form of physical activity or movement, or take a break away from the screen to enjoy a more hands-on creative art project or other enjoyable activity.

Classroom Organization for September 2021

Every Spring School Staffing Committees work collaboratively with the Principal of the school to develop and consider an organizational model that will meet the required number of classes and their target enrolment projections. Based on our allocation for the upcoming year, our approved model is indicated below but is subject to change based on the actual number of students who arrive at school in September.

Our tentative model:

ClassNumber of Students

JK/SK25

120

1/220

220

2/320

3/4 23

4/524

525

630

6/730

7/831

Mental Health and Well-Being

Virtual Drop-Ins! – TDSB Professional Support Services

Yesterday marked the official anniversary of the global pandemic that has presented challenges that most of us never thought we would have to face. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of focusing on our own mental health and well-being and that of our students and children. You can access our online resources here.

In addition to these resources, the TDSB is offering virtual drop-ins with a member of the Professional Support Services team every Tuesday and Thursday.

More information is available here.

The links to the sessions:

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Thursdays 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Free Virtual Mental Health Counselling

To be connected to a counsellor for a telephone or video session please call MHTO at 1-866-585-6486 Monday to Friday 9AM – 7PM.

Immediate mental health counselling for children, youth, young adults and their families, and families with infants is available at the What’s Up Walk-In Clinic.

Covid-19 Child Benefit

The Ontario Covid-19 Child Benefit provides financial support to families with young learners to help with additional costs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you applied for this last year then payment should be automatically provided to you beginning on April 26^th, issuing payments of:

$400 for each child or youth up to Grade 12

$500 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs

If you received payment through the Support for Learners program, you do not need to apply for this additional payment.

If you missed applying for the Support for Learners program, you will have the opportunity to apply. Applications will open from May 3, 2021 to May 17, 2021.

Community Resources

Enter your postal code in this search engine, and all essential services can be found that are closest to our school community e.g. vaccine clinics; food banks, emergency services

https://www.google.com/mymaps/viewer?mid=1N73rdqx3XMaN-aA6E7CrMv4TuAPSSxE6&hl=en_GB

This interactive map includes many different support services and resources available in Toronto. You can zoom in to Scarborough for the agencies in the area.

Find COVID-19 vaccination resources in many languages.

https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-protect-yourself-others/covid-19-vaccines/covid-19-vaccine-resources/

Grade 8 ‘Graduation’ Photos – Edge Imaging

It is fairly safe to say that current restrictions will prevent the possibility of Edge Imaging being able to photography at the school this year. Edge Imaging is planning to open popup studios in the summer once Toronto moves into the ‘red zone’. If this happens, they will contact the school as soon as they have a venue and dates established and we will forward a booking link for those Grade 8 parents/guardians who are interested.

Elementary Summer School 2021 – Registration Now Open!

Registration is now open! Click here for a full list of participating schools and registration information.

High School - Continuing Education Summer Credit Summer Programs

Remote Credit Recovery: For TDSB Students ONLY: The Toronto District School Board is offering current TDSB students the opportunity to recover one or two credits for the month of July 2021. Remote Summer Credit Recovery courses are open to current TDSB high school students who have taken the course in the past two years but have not earned the credit. All classes are remote, there are no in-person classes available. Regular attendance in the remote environment is a requirement. Students may enrol in one course either in the AM or PM, or in two courses, one in the AM and one in the PM.

Remote Summer Full Credit Program: Students can enrol in one full credit course that is offered in July only. All classes are remote in the remote learning model. In our Remote Learning model students will be at home learning live with their teacher daily from 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and again from 2:00 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. Students will be able to receive extra help daily from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.

In-Person Hybrid Summer Full Credit Program: Students can enrol in one full-credit course which is offered in July only. Should an announcement be made that only remote learning can take place students need to be prepared to pivot to remote learning. In our Hybrid Learning model students will be following a three (3) day rotating schedule including in-person, synchronous and asynchronous learning.

For complete details about the Continuing Education Credit programs visit www.creditprograms.ca

E-Summer Secondary Credit Summer Programs 2021

The e-Learning Department runs two full summer programs in July and August to meet the needs of Ontario secondary school students. TDSB students have priority in course registration. Detailed information and course offerings are outlined on the e-Learning Summer Programs site. All e-Summer courses are delivered entirely online by teachers who provide their students with a supportive, flexible learning environment. Teachers provide daily lessons that include both synchronous and asynchronous learning.

Comparison of Con Ed. and e-Learning Summer Programs

Ramadam Kareem!

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, observed by Muslims worldwide as a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. It’s important because it is the period of time in which the Holy Quran was revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). Ramadan 2021 began the evening of Tuesday, April 13 and ends the evening of Wednesday, May 12. For Muslim students and educators, this will be the second consecutive Ramadan restricted by social distancing.

For those celebrating and observing, Ramadan Kareem! Ramadan Mubarak!

May is Asian Heritage Month and Jewish Heritage Month

TDSB's Asian and Jewish Heritage Committees Present: Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup

April 23, 2021

We hope that everyone has been doing well and staying safe.

This first week back may have presented some challenges for

some of our students and families, for whom remote learning

can be difficult at time but we appreciate your understanding and

flexibility. We will continue to do our best to support each and every

one of our students. Sometimes you or your child may have an IT issue that your teacher can’t or isn’t available to help with, don’t hesitate to contact TDSB Virtual Learning IT Support for assistance. The question remains as to if and when we will return to in-person learning. Toronto Public Health has said that they believe that schools should be the first thing to reopen, but only when it is safe to do so. Given that Ontario is having a difficult time containing the third wave of Covid in which we find ourselves, the prudent thing is to approach remote learning as if we are going to be teaching and learning in this way for an extended period for what remains of this academic year. On a positive note, places such as the UK already experienced a third wave similar to what we are now and through a combination of strict measures and large-scale vaccination, they have come out the other side.

Fairmount's Spring Break Family Photo Challenge & Scavenger Hunt

Over 30 teams registered, explored, built, posed, donated, laughed, and created during the Photo Challenge and Scavenger Hunt on April 9-11.Your pictures were AMAZING and even the rain on the Sunday didn't slow your teams down.

Many thanks to the Fairmount Parent Council for sponsoring this event and for the fantastic volunteers who created clues, gathered graphics, procured prizes, and managed the website.

Congratulations to the prize winners!

Covid-19 Child Benefit

The Ontario Covid-19 Child Benefit provides financial support to families with young learners to help with additional costs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you applied for this last year then payment should be automatically provided to you beginning on April 26^th, issuing payments of:

$400 for each child or youth up to Grade 12

$500 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs

If you received payment through the Support for Learners program, you do not need to apply for this additional payment.

If you missed applying for the Support for Learners program, you will have the opportunity to apply. Applications will open from May 3, 2021 to May 17, 2021.

Elementary Summer School 2021 – Registration Now Open!

Registration is now open! Click here for a full list of participating schools and registration information.

Mental Health and Well-Being

Virtual Drop-Ins! – TDSB Professional Support Services

In addition to these resources, the TDSB is offering virtual drop-ins with a member of the Professional Support Services team every Tuesday and Thursday.

More information is available here.

The links to the sessions:

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Thursdays 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

April 9, 2021

Given the increase in the number and severity of Covid cases

affecting not just the older segment of our population, Toronto

Public Health chose to close schools in Toronto which was then

followed by the Province enacting emergency and stay-at-home

orders. At this point, the school closure extends until April 18^th with

students and staff returning to school on Monday, April 19^th, following next week’s break. However, there is a very real possibility that this closure could be extended so while you will receive a message from the TDSB should an extension of the closure be announced, please monitor the media in advance of the scheduled April 19^th return date. (Given the short notice of this closure, an announcement about an extension of the closure could come as late as Sunday, April 18^th.) Regardless, please know that we will be ready to either continue remote learning or welcome back our students for in-person learning on April 19^th.

We are hopeful that next week’s spring break provides us with weather that allows for our students to get outside and away from their screens.

Vaccination – Priority Neighbourhood

The East Toronto Health Network had announced vaccine eligibility for those aged 50 and above for individuals who live in priority neighbourhoods that include the following postal codes: M4H, M1L, M3C, M4A, M1K, M1M, M1J.

For more information and to book an appointment, visit the Toronto East Health Network website.

Fairmount's Spring Break Family Photo Challenge & Scavenger Hunt

What will be your team’s strategy for the challenges this weekend?

Better Late than Never - oh good, it's not too late to register?!(Check out the link on the attached poster and register any time during the weekend)
First Out of the Gate - there’s no time to waste, get started on the clues right away!
Plan, Prepare, Prevail - review all of the clues, come up with a solid plan, and execute at your own pace.
Eat the Frog First - do the toughest challenges first to check them off your list!
Do it For the 'Gram - even if it takes multiple tries, each picture will be so insta-worthy, the votes will inevitably roll in.

Whatever your team's strategy may be, we know you will have tons of fun completing the challenges.Clues/challenges will be posted on the event website today so you can start as soon as you want when Spring Break begins!

We’re looking forward to seeing everyone’s pictures!

Covid-19 Child Benefit

The Ontario Covid-19 Child Benefit provides financial support to families with young learners to help with additional costs during the Covid-19 pandemic.

If you applied for this last year then payment should be automatically provided to you beginning on April 26^th, issuing payments of:

$400 for each child or youth up to Grade 12

$500 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs

If you received payment through the Support for Learners program, you do not need to apply for this additional payment.

If you missed applying for the Support for Learners program, you will have the opportunity to apply. Applications will open from May 3, 2021 to May 17, 2021.

Elementary Summer School 2021 – Registration Now Open!

Registration is now open! Click here for a full list of participating schools and registration information.

Mental Health and Well-Being

Virtual Drop-Ins! – TDSB Professional Support Services

In addition to these resources, the TDSB is offering virtual drop-ins with a member of the Professional Support Services team every Tuesday and Thursday.

More information is available here.

The links to the sessions:

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Thursdays 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

School Roof

Young people going on the roof of the school has been an ongoing issue at Fairmount since, probably, the time the school was built. While climbing up and down ends up causing costly damage to the school, an even greater concern is for the safety of the young people who likely don’t recognize that one misstep can cause serious injury. Now that the nicer weather is here, it is likely that this issue and the impromptu parties behind our school will become a bigger issue. (I bet they don’t even wear masks or socially distance either!)

If you see teenagers on our roof congregating behind our school, please don’t hesitate to call TDSB Security at 416-395-4620 or the police at 43 Division 416-808-4300.

Ticks

A parent let us know that her son was fell into a thorn bush along the fence line off the field behind the school and he ended up with a tick. (She thoughtfully wanted other parents to be aware.)

Here are a couple of websites you may wish to reference:

https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/lyme-disease/blacklegged-tick-surveillance-results/

https://torontolife.com/city/a-super-handy-semi-scientific-guide-to-torontos-blacklegged-tick-problem/

April 1, 2021

For the second time in as many weeks, one of our students

tested positive for the virus, which has resulted in one of our

classes (Grade 2) and their siblings to self-isolate. Through us,

Toronto Public Health has informed the families that the students

are to isolate through next Thursday, and may return to school on

Friday, April 9^th. We will continue to implement the required measures and procedures that are in place in order to do our best to ensure that the virus is not spread within the school. As you sign the Student Health Pass each and every morning please remember the important adjustment that was added when we returned to in-school learning in February, which was that a student must remain home if anyone in their household has any of the listed symptoms. The objective of this provision is to make sure that a student who is asymptomatic but may have contracted the virus from a family member does not bring it to school where he or she could potentially spread it to others.

Remote Learning?

The increase in the number of COVID cases, and specifically the variant cases, has led many to speculate as to whether or not schools will close again for in-person learning. While we have no idea as to whether or not this is going to happen, it is important that we prepare for the possibility. Based on today’s announcement, we expect to be in school next week, but we want to make the necessary provisions so that we are all ready to shift to remote learning for when we return to school following the scheduled Spring Break (April 12-16). This isn’t an announcement but rather a ‘better safe than sorry’ scenario. Remember last year when we left for March Break and never returned to in-person learning and had to make arrangements for students to collect their belongings? We don’t want a repeat of that. So, we will ask that all students leave on April 9^th with all of their belongings and everything they will need to continue their learning remotely should it be necessary on Monday, April 19^th.

The fact that we have already done this once this year should make another shift slightly more seamless.

-If you do not have a working device at home and need to borrow one from the school, make sure that your child’s teacher is informed so that one can go home with you or your child before the break. (Note that those students who are borrowing a TDSB Chromebook will need to log in while at school prior to taking the device home.)

-Teachers’ online platform (Google Classroom or Brightspace) is already set-up and your child should already have access to the platform but please login to confirm that this is still the case.

-Please make sure that we have your most up-to-date email address. (Though if you received this Falconer…)

-Bookmark the Student Virtual Learning IT Support page

Fairmount's Spring Break Family Photo Challenge & Scavenger Hunt

Have you registered your team?

What do The Rainbow Chasers, Team Cheetah, and the Super Seekers have in common?They’re among the first teams to register for the photo scavenger hunt that will run from April 9-11.Find the details on the attached poster and on the event website.

MORE TEAMS = MORE FUN... so register by April 8th and spread the word to your Fairmount friends for some friendly competition!

Please see the attached poster for details and go to the event website to register your team for a great way to kick-off!

School Council Meeting

The next School Council meeting will be on Tuesday, April 6^th at 7:00 PM. If you would like to join us, please email lisa.habenschuss@tdsb.on.ca for the Zoom link.

Screenagers – Movie

The TDSB recently hosted a screening and discussion of the hour-long film ‘Screenagers Part 2’. This documentary is a sequel to Screenagers: Growing Up in the Digital Age. In this movie, filmmaker and physician Delaney Ruston examines how teens struggle with their emotional well-being in our screen-filled society and how we as parents and schools empower teens to overcome mental health challenges and build emotional agility, communication savvy, and stress resilience. Interwoven through real stories are insights from brain researchers, psychologists, and thought-leaders that reveal evidence-based ways to support mental wellness among our youth. The impact of social media and other screen time is incorporated in all the topics raised Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER, how it may be impacting our teen’s mental health, and what we can do to help foster youth in the face of struggles.

The TDSB even has passed but the movie is still available for viewing until April 11^th. You will need to register with an email address at this link in order to watch it:

https://watch.screenagersevent.com/tdsb

Elementary Summer School 2021 – Registration Now Open!

Registration is now open! Click here for a full list of participating schools and registration information.

Mental Health and Well-Being

Virtual Drop-Ins! – TDSB Professional Support Services

In addition to these resources, the TDSB is offering virtual drop-ins with a member of the Professional Support Services team every Tuesday and Thursday.

More information is available here.

The links to the sessions:

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Thursdays 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

March 26, 2021

This week we found ourselves in the difficult position of having

to send home to self-isolate one of our classes, the siblings of

these students in our school or any other, and all of the staff

members who work with the affected class. Thank you to the family

of the student who tested positive for informing us immediately

so that we could take the appropriate action as quickly as possible.

I know I speak on behalf of the whole community as I send along our best wishes to this student and their family. Parents of the affected cohort and their siblings were called and then sent a letter, which was then followed by a letter informing all of the families of students in our school. The protocol is designed to ensure everyone’s safety by taking action as quickly as possible. The case in question is then followed by an investigation by Toronto Public Health (TPH), which, if required, would then provide a much more detailed letter to the families of the cohort and the rest of the school with specific information regarding the next steps and applicable dates. In this particular case, TPH was able to initiate their investigation quickly and determined that the positive case did not present a risk of exposure to students or staff while at school, based on the student’s last day of attendance at Fairmount. This would also mean that they were able to determine that it is highly unlikely that the student contracted while at school. As a result, we were able to welcome back this cohort, their siblings, and staff today. From this perspective, certainly not forgetting that we do in fact have one of our students who is positive, we were very fortunate and should recognize that we are not immune to COVID and there are many repercussions that follow even one positive case at our school. First, there is the stress and concern on the families of all of those who were required to self-isolate but this stretched beyond even these families to those who were not deemed to be a direct risk. In addition to the most obvious health-related concerns was the fact that the dismissed class were going to have to pivot to remote learning while their siblings were going to remain at home trying to continue their studies by accessing asynchronous work on their class’ site. There would have also been possible daycare/supervision issues for some families to navigate with students remaining at home. Needless to say, if anything good can come from this it is to remind our students just how serious this is and to take the protocols in place seriously. The case count remains high across the city and the new variants of the virus present a greater risk to all age groups. The only way for us to keep our community safe is for us to remain as vigilant as possible.

Remember:

It is imperative that all parents/guardians complete the Student Health Pass each and every morning and for students to stay home if they exhibit even one symptom. (We have not found that we have students arriving at school with symptoms but we do have a few who come on a fairly regular basis without their pass signed.)

Students need to be reminded to wear their masks even when they are outside if they are within two metres of someone else.

Wear masks at all times when inside the school.

Sanitize/wash hands regularly.

Students in Grades 7 and 8 must remain in their assigned zone so that they are with only their cohort/class. Too often we find students playing closely with students from another class. While understandable on one hand, the risk of this behaviour has been clearly articulated by TPH.

While going home for lunch is certainly the safest way to spend that hour, our intermediate students must remember that cohorts should remain in place at all times, even over the lunch hour. In short, the virus doesn’t care if you just really like playing basketball, or if you are off school property.

Students who stay for lunch should remain seated and refrain from talking while masks are off.

As a matter of clarification, the letters and messages that were sent home this week informing you of the positive case and even the message letting you know of the findings of TPH were all templated so that the communication from schools across the system is as consistent when informing parents. I did go to each of the junior and intermediate classes to give them as much information as I could so that they had an understanding of what was happening as I could give them some details that were not in the letter that may have helped alleviate some concerns or quell the rumours that inevitably start when people start to speculate.

Grade 8-9 Transition Night

On Monday, March 29^th from 6:30-8:30, Trustee Kandavel is hosting a session that will provide an overview for parents who wish to gain a better understanding of what they need to know about students transitioning from elementary school to high school. While most relevant to students currently in Grade 8, parents of students in Grades 6 and 7 will also find this helpful. See the attached flyer for more details.

If you are interested in participating, please complete the following registration form. https://forms.gle/7A5uo2u8JscEPB1v5

Registrants will be sent a Zoom link on Monday, March 29th, 2021.

Fairmount's Spring Break Family Photo Challenge & Scavenger Hunt - April 9-11

Please see the attached poster for details and go to the event website to register your team for a great way to kick off!

We have several themed prizes - a raffle for the teams who register, and winners for most votes across all clues, and top voted photo!

Rainy Day? We've got you covered.

Family Pizza Night? Sounds cheesy, but delicious.

Outdoor fun? I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream!

Your challenge for this week: come up with a fun team name and plan to get registered via the event website on the poster. Join in on the Spring Break fun!

Elementary Summer School 2021 – Registration Now Open!

Registration is now open! Click here for a full list of participating schools and registration information.

Mental Health and Well-Being

Virtual Drop-Ins! – TDSB Professional Support Services

In addition to these resources, the TDSB is offering virtual drop-ins with a member of the Professional Support Services team every Tuesday and Thursday.

More information is available here.

The links to the sessions:

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Thursdays 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

March 12, 2021

Asymptomatic COVID-19 Testing Clinic

The Scarborough Health Network is facilitating COVID-19

testing at St. John Henry Newman Catholic High School in

their gymnasium on Tuesday, March 16th from 11 am – 7:00 pm.

What:COVID-19 Testing Site

Where: Gymnasium, St. John Henry Newman CHS, 100 Brimley Road South, Toronto, M1M3X4

When:Tuesday, March 16th: 11 am-7 pm

Who:Parents/Guardians, Students, Staff

Please bring your Ontario Health Card (if available)

NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED

If you and your children are planning to be tested at this site, please enter directly into the gymnasium from the south parking lot. As always, while lining and during testing inside the gym, all TDSB COVID protocols must be followed. This includes practices around wearing masks, physical distancing, as well as proper hand hygiene—handwashing, sanitizer, etc.

Scarborough has been a COVID-19 hot spot since the beginning of the pandemic. By working together and getting tested we can stop the spread. We look forward to welcoming our students and community to this testing location.

The attached consent form is for you to complete if your child(ren) is being taken to the clinic by someone other than a parent/legal guardian.

The following schools have been invited to participate in this testing:

FairmountRH KingChine DriveJohn A Leslie

Anson ParkHA HalbertSt. AgathaSt. Theresa Shrine

St. BonifaceSt. UrsulaImmaculate Heart of Mary

St. John Henry Newman

The information provided indicates that those invited to attend are “parents/guardians, students and staff” however we have received confirmation that it is perfectly fine for other household members to also go for testing.

COVID Health and Safety

As the weather gets increasingly warmer, it will become even more important for students to remember to bring a water bottle to school. All of the school’s water fountains remain closed but we do have a water bottle refilling station available for use.

School Council

School Council Meeting – Math Talk

At this week’s School Council meeting, we enjoyed an informative and engaging presentation from Marc Husband, Co-ordinator of STEM, Science & Tech and Robotics for the TDSB, and Tina Rapke, Associate Professor of Technology and Math at York University. Drs. Husband and Rapke gave an overview of the new math curriculum and discussed what parents can do at home to help support their child’s understanding and facility with math. A particular area of focus was ‘mental math’.

During the meeting, they referenced a website that parents and teachers may find useful.

Here’s the website link: https://mm4all.thinkific.com/

The minutes from the meeting are attached. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, April 6^th at 7:00 PM

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

Mental Health and Well-Being

Virtual Drop-Ins! – TDSB Professional Support Services

In addition to these resources, the TDSB is offering virtual drop-ins with a member of the Professional Support Services team every Tuesday and Thursday.

More information is available here.

The links to the sessions:

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Thursdays 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Kindergarten Registration for September 2021

Children who will be four by December 31, 2021, are eligible to begin Junior Kindergarten in September. Registration is now open. Please visit the TDSB Welcome to Kindergarten page to find out how to register your child.

Kindergarten Play Area Revitalization

Thanks to the funds raised by our community, we will be moving forward with the construction of a play area for our kindergarten students. The new play area will be within the same footprint as the current kindergarten play at the rear of the building. More information will follow but the work is scheduled to begin, weather depending, toward the end of April and should be completed by the end of June.

Outdoor Learning Portal

The TDSB has launched a new online, outdoor learning portal for staff and families. This portal brings together information, ideas, and resources to help support and encourage learning in the outdoors.

The Family Resources area of the site provides tips for preparing for the weather, resources for why and how to get started as well as a comprehensive list of activities for families to enjoy together in the city.

Youth Summer Employment Opportunities – City of Toronto

The City of Toronto is the biggest youth employer and hires almost 10,000 seasonal workers every year.

Applications for gardeners and park handy-workers for the City’s parks and green spaces will be accepted until March 27. Applications can be made online at: https://jobs.toronto.ca/

Dates and registration information for the virtual information sessions will be available shortly at www.toronto.ca/recjobs.

March 5, 2021

COVID Health and Safety

Thank you for continuing to be so diligent with regard to

completing your child’s TDSB Student health pass every day.

The fact that you are so on top of this makes our screening and entry

procedures so much smoother every morning.

Should you ever have questions or need access to certain forms, Toronto Public Health has much of their school information available to parents here.

Mental Health and Well-Being

Virtual Drop-Ins! – TDSB Professional Support Services

The TDSB is offering virtual office hours for caregivers every Tuesday at 10am-11am or Thursday at 7pm-8pm.

Every session will have 3 representatives from the different PSS Departments including Child and Youth Services, Occupational Therapy/Physical Therapy, Psychological Services, Social Work, and Speech-Language Services.It is not a time for therapeutic intervention, but more an opportunity for parents/caregivers to receive some support in navigating their child’s needs in relation to Mental Health and Well-being. More information is available here.

The links to the sessions:

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Thursdays 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

School Council

Our next School Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, March 9^th at 7:00 PM. This month’s meeting will begin with a presentation on the new math curriculum hosted by Marc Husband, Co-ordinator of STEM, Science & Tech and Robotics and Tina Rapke, Associate Professor of Technology and Math at York University. Dr. Husband and Dr. Rapke will give an overview of the new curriculum and discuss what parents can do at home to help support their child’s development, understanding and facility with math.

If you are interested in joining us, please email lisa.habenschuss@tdsb.on.ca to request the Zoom link.

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

Kindergarten Registration for September 2021

Summer Employment Opportunities – Ontario Public Service

For those of you with older children or who have friends of with secondary school or college/university aged children, the Summer Employment Opportunities (SEO) Program provides up to 5,000 students with the opportunity to gain valuable work experience through supervised summer employment in the Ontario Public Service.Positions for this summer (May to September) are posted now with different closing dates between March 10 and June 1, 2021.To be eligible to participate in the program, students must be:

currently enrolled in a secondary or post-secondary institution
at least 15 years old
living in Ontario during the summer
legally entitled to work in Canada

To participate in this program, students must apply online at www.ontario.ca/careers

Summer Employment Opportunities Program posters:

If you have any questions about the Summer Employment Opportunities (SEO) Program, email SEO@ontario.ca

Character Education

The character trait that we emphasized for the month of February was Fairness.

The following students were recognized for their demonstration of this particular attribute:

Grade 1

Gracie FawcettLucas Mendoza

Grade 2

Maeve HuntGia Karopoulos

Grade 5

Max CampbellTyra NguyenJesse O’ReillyLogan Paisley

Oliver Storey

Grade 6

Austin BattrickSydney BurandtLuke Henkenhaf

Grade 8

Max Rinzler

The character trait for March is Honesty.

Greek Heritage Month

March is Greek Heritage Month. It is an occasion to recognize and celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Greek Canadians to Canada, an occasion to mark and enjoy the history of Greek culture.

Greek immigration to Canada began early in the 19th century. According to the 2016 census, 271,405 Canadians are of Greek origin. Of this number, the majority live in the provinces of Ontario and Quebec.

Visit the TDSB Greek Heritage Month Site 2021

Weekly Calendar

Monday, March 8 – Day 5

International Women’s Day and United Nations Day for Women’s Rights and International Peace

Tuesday, March 9 – Day 1

Wednesday, March 10 – Day 2

Thursday, March 11 – Day 3

Friday, March 12 – Day 4

February 26, 2021

It continues to be wonderful to see the students back in school,

enjoying in-person learning and being with their friends in their

cohort. We appreciate that families have taken the time to discuss

the importance of masking properly with the children both inside

and outside. While masking is less of an issue for us, some of our

older boys need repeated reminders to stay in their zone and with their own cohort. If you are the parent of a grade 7 or 8 boy, please reinforce with them the necessity of remaining with their cohort so that we can all remain in school.

COVID Health and Safety

Please continue to be very explicit and intentional with your child(ren) students and their TDSB Student health pass every day. Please ensure each question is asked and that the form is dated and signed. This will allow us to efficiently begin our day.

As you know, the new updated screening tool now states If anyone in your household has one or more new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19, they should get tested as soon as possible and that everyone in that house will need to stay home if someone in the home exhibits a COVID-19 symptom. The student and adult screening tool from Toronto Public Health indicates what you should do if you have symptoms. More pop-up testing sites are to be made available soon. The back-to-school Attestation-for-Return-to-School form may be used to indicate that a child who was absent is healthy and able to return to school.

Variants of Concern

All parents should have received a letter via email from Toronto Public Health with regards to COVID-19 “variants of concern” that have now been confirmed in 8 schools in Toronto, including 3 TDSB schools. As TPH indicates in their letter, this was not unexpected, however, they are reminding everyone of the importance of following the existing recommendations including:

Limiting your contact to household members only and staying at home as much as possible as social gatherings and playdates outside of the school setting have led to the spread of COVID-19

Going out only for essential outings such as medical appointments, food shopping, school, essential work, or for physical exercise.

Keeping at least two metres (six feet) apart from others outside of your household.

Wearing a mask.

Cleaning your hands frequently, with soap and water for 15 seconds.

Staying home if you are feeling unwell or if you have been told to self-isolate.

Winter Survey Results - How We Are Feeling

Parents/guardians (JK to Grade 12) and students (Grades 6-12) were invited to participate in a check-in survey to help TDSB get a snapshot of how everyone is coping under the current challenging circumstances.

A large majority of parents/guardians and students reported feeling protected from getting COVID-19 because of the health and safety precautions in place at their school. Additionally, a large majority of students reported feeling cared for and supported by teachers.

These initial results show that TDSB staff, students, and families are all doing the best we can during these unprecedented circumstances. We are encouraged to see that parents/guardians and students feel that staff are caring and supportive and the sense that, when followed responsibly, health and safety measures will help keep us all safe. However, it is important to note that the student responses from across the system indicate that they are feeling more anxious, reminding us to remain mindful of the importance of mental health and well-being at all times, but especially now.

Mental Health and Well-Being

Virtual Drop-Ins! – TDSB Professional Support Services

The TDSB is offering virtual office hours for caregivers every Tuesday at 10am-11am or Thursday at 7pm-8pm.

The links to the sessions are:

Tuesdays, 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.

Thursdays 7 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Return of Devices

Thank you to everyone who has already returned a device that was borrowed to support your child during our remote learning time. The vast majority of people have already returned their device but if you haven’t yet, please return it as soon as possible so that our students will have the opportunity to use it to support their learning.

School Council

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

Kindergarten Registration for September 2021

Snowshoeing

Thanks to Ms. Jeffrey for making arrangements to borrow snowshoes from Hillside Outdoor Education School. It was great to see our students making the most of our winter weather and the incredible space and scenery that we are privileged to enjoy in the neighbourhood.

Greek Heritage Month

Visit the TDSB Greek Heritage Month Site 2021

February 19, 2021

It has been so nice to see students and staff back at school and

parents seemed to have an extra skip in their step dropping

them off on Tuesday. Thank you for being so responsive and

diligent with regard to signing your child(ren)’s Health Pass each

day. You will be pleased to know that our students have been very

conscientious this week about wearing their masks at all times, even outside if

necessary, and refraining from talking a lot while eating lunch.

There are some changes to the new Screening Tool that indicates whether or not a student is able to attend school on a given day, or more specifically, if their attending may put others at risk. Changes include staying home if anyone in the household presents with even one (new or worsening) symptom and that if a member of the household needs to self-isolate due to having been identified as a close contact with a positive COVID case, even if that family member does not currently have any symptoms.

Information for parents related to COVID in schools can be found here.

Here are some strategies to reduce the risk of COVID while encouraging outdoor play.

COVID Update and Testing

Toronto Public Health recommends COVID-19 testing when:

1.A Staff/ Student has symptoms consistent with COVID-19

2.A Staff/ Student is a close contact of a confirmed positive case(s) or

3.There is an outbreak and expanded school-wide testing may provide additional information about possible COVID-19 transmission in the school

Testing partners from across the Toronto region have been working with Toronto Public Health to increase access to testing for students and staff. This may even include dedicated hours at a COVID-19 Assessment Centre close by a school, on-site testing in a school, or the provision of take-home test kits.

As you may have heard, with the return of in-person learning, testing is being expanded to include asymptomatic testing of staff and students in schools or if located in a high-priority neighborhood. This testing will help with early case identification to inform public health measures and ultimately prevent the spread of COVID-19 within our schools.

Asymptomatic testing will be made available at pop-up testing centres at schools. These school on-site pop-ups will function as hubs that will serve the host school as well as other nearby schools. They are meant to augment the existing testing locations that are available across the city including COVID-19 Assessment Centres, community pop-ups, and pharmacies (https://covid-19.ontario.ca/assessment-centre-locations ).

Selection of the pop-up school locations will be done based on indicators in the COVID-19 Neighborhoods Composite Index (the Quintiles) which helps to identify areas requiring testing. Any student or staff member who is attending in-person school is welcome to visit a pop-up school site for testing and does not need to be a student/staff at that particular location.

Coping through COVID

Parents and caregivers were invited to join our TDSB mental health professionals to learn and discuss coping strategies to support mental health and well-being through the pandemic. If you were unable to join the Webinar on Thursday, February 11, it is available for viewing here.

Grade 7/8 Cell Phone Update/Request

While we often have challenges with our older students and the use of cell phones, teachers are having a particularly difficult time with this issue right now. Previously, our approach has been one of understanding that many of the students have phones and asking that they be kept out of sight, ideally locked in their locker, during school time. This approach has generally worked but this week many students are struggling to follow this message. We suspect that having access to their phone at all times during the past six weeks of remote learning has had an impact in this area. While there are some legitimate points to be made about why the cell phone could be ‘needed’ or of use during class time, the reality is that it isn’t just being used to check the time or as a calculator. The fact is that they are a distraction. Some students are playing games and texting each other – and not about their science experiment results. Students shared with us that they often used cell phones at home during online lessons, instead of focusing solely on the online lesson.We understand that this is not conducive to a productive learning environment and ask for your support. Students are reminded that if they must bring their phone to school, it needs to be kept out of sight and preferably locked in their locker so that it does not need to be confiscated.

Some students claim that their parents text them during class time and expect them to read these messages and respond immediately. This is a little hard to believe, but if this is true, please try to refrain from texting your child during class time or if you do, please let them know that you don’t expect a response until a natural break in the school day.

Masks

Packing an extra mask or two seems to be even more important right now as more students are wearing them outside, which means that it is more likely to get wet. Some students also require a change in mask following gym class. The qualities of a good mask include being made of at least two layers of tightly woven fabric and, ideally, a middle filter layer. Some updated recommendations on non-medial mask guidelines can be found on the Government of Canada’s website.

Return of Devices

For those who borrowed a device from our school’s complement of Chromebooks or iPads, please return it as soon as possible so that our students have the opportunity to use it to support their learning. (Returned devices will be cleaned and isolated for 72 hours prior to being allowed for use by students.)

Winter Clothing

The winter weather arrived just in time for our return to in-person learning this week. A reminder to ensure that your child comes to school with the appropriate outdoor clothing and with some indoor footwear.

Early French Immersion – Late Applicant Opportunity

The application deadline for Early French Immersion was November 27, 2020. The application numbers were lower than usual this year, leaving space in some areas for late applicants. For that reason, for families of Junior Kindergarten students (the program begins in SK) still interested in the Toronto District School Board's Early French Immersion Program, the online application portal, PARS, remains open until February 26. Consideration for late applicants will be done centrally after all the on-time applications have been accommodated, space permitting. Late applications that cannot be accommodated will be held on a late waitlist by the date of the application. To apply, please click here.

School Council

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

Kindergarten Registration for September 2021

February 12, 2021

By now you should have received your child(ren)’s report card.

I have been told that distribution is continuing but certainly, all

reports should have been sent by the end of the day today. If you

have not received a report, please let your child’s teacher know or

you can inform us in the office and we will see that one gets sent home

either electronically or in hard copy with your child. The process of updating and distributing IEPs and will continue through next week.

Return to In-Person Learning

Our students will return to in-person learning on Tuesday. Schools can be a safe place but only if everyone does exactly what Toronto Public Health is instructing us to do.

Toronto Public Health has provided important reminders to parents to help prepare their child(ren) for school next week. Effective Tuesday, we will use the updated screening tool which states that if anyone in your household has one or more new or worsening symptoms of COVID-19, they should get tested as soon as possible and that everyone in that house will need to stay home if someone in the home is sick with even one of these COVID-19 symptoms.

This new screening tool from Toronto Public Health also includes information as to what you should do if you have symptoms. More pop-up testing sites are to be made available soon. We will continue to make use of the screening sheet and health pass with the students prior to entering the building. If possible, please print this new TDSB Student Health Pass and have your child bring it to school, signed, on Tuesday morning. We will have extra copies available at school on Tuesday.

Masks

Students are always required to wear a mask properly except when having a mask break or eating lunch. Pack an extra mask in case your child needs to change it. Students will now be recommended to wear masks outdoors when they are interacting with each other and ensure that physical distancing is maintained if they are not wearing a mask. (This is not new but please reinforce with your child the importance of this safety measure, particularly with the growing concern of the new variant.) They will be encouraged to take necessary mask breaks only when they are well away from each other. Teachers will also offer masks breaks when they take their classes outside. The qualities of a good mask include being made of at least two layers of tightly woven fabric and, ideally, a middle filter layer. Some updated recommendations on non-medial mask guidelines can be found on the Government of Canada’s website.

Lunch

For those students who must remain at school at lunch, Toronto Public Health has emphasized the importance of being particularly careful at this time of day. This is when students have to take off their masks to eat so we have been told that this should be a ‘quiet lunch’ and remind students to refrain from moving around.

Toronto Public Health Advice – ‘Bubbles’

COVID-19 continues to circulate in our community. If a cohort is dismissed, TPH will do full case and contact investigations, co-ordinate testing and communicate with schools and families about what they need to do. Please note that if a cohort is dismissed siblings will also be required to stay at home.

TPH has said that though schools are being allowed to reopen, students should not gather with others, even those in their cohort. Students should go directly home after

and should not congregate. The previous idea of a ‘bubble’ no longer exists. The only ‘bubble’ is the one with the people in your own household. Please support these measures and discuss them with your children to help us keep the school as safe as possible. Please note the back-to-school Attestation-for-Return-to-School form may be used to indicate that a child who was absent is healthy and able to return to school.

Return of Technology

For those who borrowed a device from our school prior to the break, please bring it back to school as soon as possible, when it is safe to do so. (Meaning, we don’t want it to get accidentally damaged on the way to school.) The sooner the better so that our students can begin to use the devices while at school and bear in mind that we will need to isolate these devices for 72 hours prior to them being used. If you, rather than your child, is dropping it off, it can be left on the table inside the main doors. While we do know who has which device based on the serial number, please ensure that your child’s name is with your device in some fashion. (The device in a bag with the name on a piece of paper would work perfectly well.)

Winter Clothing

We were fortunate with the weather prior to the break but we are certainly not going to be as lucky now that February is here. Please ensure that your child is dressed to be outside in the cold weather. For those who stay for lunch, this means 40 minutes outside. Where possible, it would be great if articles of clothing have your child’s name inside so those lost or misplaced items can be easily returned to the student. We are not allowed to have a typical ‘lost and found’ and if previous years is any indication, it is safe to say that misplaced items will be an issue.

School Council

Thank you to our Council Executive for arranging the special presentation on Wednesday night. “Parenting Your Child Through Challenging Times” hosted by social workers, Crystal Clarke and Randolph Sealy was very informative with reassurances and strategies that we can use. (The slides from the presentation, with resources, is attached. Our next meeting is scheduled for the evening of Wednesday, March 10^th.

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is now on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

Kindergarten Registration for September 2021

March (April) Break

Yesterday the Minister of Education announced an alteration to the timing of this year’s March Break. Originally scheduled for March 15 to 19 — it has now been delayed by approximately a month in hopes of reducing community transmission of COVID-19. On the advice of public health officials, the break is now scheduled for April 12 – 16.

Lunar New Year

Although often referred to as Chinese New Year, the Lunar New Year is celebrated by many different countries and by people all over the world. It's called the Lunar New Year because it marks the first new moon of the lunisolar calendars traditional to many east Asian countries including China, South Korea, and Vietnam. This year, the Lunar New Year celebrations begin today! Happy New Year!

Enjoy the Family Day weekend - hopefully with a little less time on a screen.

See you Tuesday!

February 5, 2021

On Wednesday it was announced that students in the TDSB

will return to in-person learning on Tuesday, February 16^th.

We look forward to seeing our students masked and in-person.

In the days ahead, we anticipate an update with regard to health

and safety measures — both those that are already in place and those

that will be implemented when students return. There will be a change to the Health Pass that students are required to complete prior to arriving at school each day. The symptoms will not change but there will be an amendment to some of the questions.

Some new questions you will be required to answer include:

Does anyone in your household have one or more of the above symptoms?

Has anyone in the household traveled outside of Canada in the past 14 days?

Has anyone in the household been notified that they are a close contact of someone with Covid-19 or been told to stay home and self-isolate?

Updates on Covid cases in schools and child care centres can always be found here.

Switching To and From Virtual School

Last week a message was sent from the TDSB to all parents/guardians across the system who requested a switch in learning model for their child(ren) regarding the status of the process. Families were informed that the decision has been made to move forward with this switching process but that there is no guarantee that all requests will necessarily be met and that priority will be given to students who live in neighbourhoods which are at higher risk for COVID-19, based on recent data from Toronto Public Health. In our case, we have 11 requests to switch to a virtual/remote learning model and 3 requests to return to in-person learning. This letter also indicated that families will be informed of the status of their switch request by their home school Principal by the end of the day on Friday, February 12.

Please visit the Switching web page for more information and Questions & Answers.

School Council

Our next Council meeting is on Wednesday (February 10^th) at 7:00 PM. Our Council has arranged for a special presentation “Parenting Your Child Through Challenging Times” hosted by social workers, Crystal Clarke and Randolph Sealy. This presentation is meant for all parents of school-aged children. (See the attached flyer.)

If you would like to join us, please email our Office Administrator at lisa.habenschuss@tdsb.on.ca and she will forward the Zoom link to you.

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is now on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

Report Cards / Interviews

Report cards will be sent to you electronically beginning on Monday (February 8^th). The process of distribution is the same as it was for June report cards, meaning, you may not receive the report card on Monday as the reports are sent centrally and this is the day that they will begin the process of sending them over the course of the week. Our experience from the spring was that there were a few families who, for whatever reason, did not receive their child’s report card. Given that we are returning to school on the 16^th, this situation will be easily rectified but you will need to inform us that you did not receive the email.

Your child’s teacher either already has or will soon be reaching out to you regarding parent-teacher interviews. For this round of interviews, the focus is on teachers asking to meet with you to discuss your child’s progress should they feel that there is something related to your child’s learning or school experience that they would like to talk to you about. If the teacher isn’t asking you for an interview, this means they either aren’t concerned about your child’s progress or that your ongoing communication is such that you are already aware of whatever it is that they would share with you during this meeting. However, this doesn’t mean that you can’t request an interview if you so choose as we recognize that you may have questions you would like to ask or information that you would like to share with your child’s teacher(s).

Roof Repairs

Work on the roof of our school has been taking place over the past week. Yesterday, work on the parapets as well as scupper repairs was completed. Work continued today with the termination bar and fascia repairs, with metal work scheduled to begin next week. Though the hope is that this work will be complete before students return to school, though if it is ongoing, this should not create any issues for our students or staff.

Kindergarten Registration for September 2021

Children who will be four by December 31, 2021 are eligible to begin Junior Kindergarten in September. Registration is now open. Please visit the TDSB Welcome to Kindergarten page to find out how to register your child.

Optional Attendance

A reminder that the deadline is today for optional attendance forms for Grade 8 students wishing to apply for a high school that is outside of their area.

Elementary school applications are due by February 12^th.

Information about the optional attendance process can be found here.

February is Chinese Heritage Month

This year is the Year of the Ox: Loyal, Honest, Responsible, Hard-Working and Logical. Many Chinese Canadians will celebrate Lunar New Year on Friday, February 12. Lunar New Year is also known as the spring festival and begins with the first moon of the lunar calendar and ends on the first full moon of the lunar calendar 15 days later. Though celebrations will be altered this year because of the pandemic, the spirit and joyfulness will remain the same through virtual events and in-home family-based festivities.

February is African Heritage Month

The month of February is when there is particular focus on recognizing and celebrating the many achievements and contributions of peoples of African descent to Canada and the world. The chosen theme for 2020-2021 is Kujichagulia: Self Determination.

Black people in Canada have diverse backgrounds and experiences, while some can trace their roots in Canada for many generations, others have immigrated in recent decades.

Black Canadians are connected by a common African history and ancestry. The African-Canadian population is made up of individuals from a range of places across the globe including, but not limited to, the United States, South America, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, and Canada.

There were almost 1.2 million Black people living in Canada in 2016. The Black population is diverse and has a long and rich history in Canada.

Weekly Calendar

Monday, February 8 – Day 2

Tuesday, February 9 – Day 3

Wednesday, February 10 – Day 4 –

Virtual School Council Meeting/Presentation 7:00 PM

Thursday, February 11 – Day 5

Friday, February 12 – PA Day – No classes for students today

Lunar New Year. Happy New Year!

January 29, 2021

Yesterday was Bell Let’s Talk Day, a day to raise awareness and

Encourage discussions about mental health. This year, with

COVID-19 affecting every aspect of our lives, many are all feeling

the impact of the pandemic on their mental health. The pandemic

has magnified deep-rooted economic, social and racial inequities and it has disproportionately affected the most vulnerable and marginalized communities. Importantly for us, the Hospital for Sick Children released a report last week in which they indicate that 70 per cent of children and adolescents in Ontario reported worsening mental health since the pandemic began. Much of the impact, the report added, is related to social isolation. We recognize the importance of being flexible, creative and compassionate for the realities our students and their families, and our staff and their families, are facing right now.

Some resources that may be of interest to you or someone you know:

From School Mental Health Ontario - Noticing Mental Health Concerns for Your Child From Children’s Mental Health Ontario - Your Child's Mental Wellness and Remote Learning.

Culturally-Responsive Mental Health Supports - Everyone’s needs are different. Different services are designed to needs of different individuals. People are encouraged to find out more about each service to determine which one is a best fit for their needs.

TDSB Online Survey for Students and Parents/Guardians

You should have received an email/survey from the TDSB on Monday. This survey is for both parents/guardians (JK to Grade 12) and students (Grades 6 to 12) to learn more about experiences to date related to mental health and well-being, student engagement, and learning.

Complete the survey now at: https://tdsb.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_835EiBqHYP7KGWx

Ward 18 Mental Health and Well-Being Forum – February 2^nd

Trustee Parthi Kandavel will be hosting a special virtual Ward meeting on Mental Health and Well Being, taking place this Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at 6:30pm.

Attached is a flyer with additional details.

Those wishing to participate are asked to register for the meeting via this registration form

Parent and Caregiver Engagement Initiatives

During this challenging period for students, staff and parents/caregivers connecting with and supporting parents and caregivers continues to be a priority in the TDSB. One example of this is The Conversation Series, hosted by the Parent and Community Engagement Office and the Parent Involvement Advisory Council. The first session this year is an online forum on How Children Understand Race and How Adults Can Help tomorrow (January 30) at 11 a.m. Erin Winkler, Associate Professor, African and African Diaspora Studies, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, will discuss how to help children understand racial identity, racism, and racial inequities in age-appropriate ways that empower the young children in their lives. Access the Zoom or YouTube link here.

School Council

One of the topics of discussion at Council meetings is what can be done to be more responsive to the needs of our community in order to better meet our families’ needs and interests. To this end, please take a few moments to complete this Fairmont Family Survey.

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is now on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

Report Cards / Interviews

As of this moment, we still anticipate returning to school on Wednesday, February 10^th. However, we have been informed that report cards will be distributed electronically beginning on Monday, February 8^th. For those of you who had children in the system last year, the distribution will be the same as it was in June, being sent to the email address that we have on file for you at school. (It will come to the same address to which this newsletter was delivered.) In November, teachers ‘met’ with all parents/guardians. At this time, teachers will reach out to parents/guardians with whom they would like to meet to discuss a particular student. This doesn’t preclude any parent from requesting an interview but it should mean that if you don’t receive a request from the teacher that she/he isn’t concerned about your child’s progress. It could also indicate that the level of ongoing communication between you and the teacher is such that an interview would be redundant. Specific information regarding interviews from your child’s teacher(s) will be coming soon.

Switching To and From Virtual School

The decision has been made to proceed with a final switching opportunity, where space is available, in February for those families who indicated interest in the December switching survey. The planning is still underway to determine the process and details related to the facilitation of this switch between learning models. The message this week is that the commitment is to meet as many ‘switch requests’ as possible but that more information will be provided to schools and parents next week. If you responded to the survey in December, requesting a switch, no further action is required on your part.

Optional Attendance

A reminder that the deadline is today for optional attendance forms for Grade 8 students wishing to apply for a high school that is outside of their area.

Elementary school applications are due by February 12^th.

Information about the optional attendance process can be found here.

Grade 9 Course Selection

Yesterday, Ms. Cane met with our Grade 8 students to begin to support them through the process of selecting their Grade 9 courses via the MyBlueprint site.

There are 6 mandatory courses and 2 elective courses for students to select. (This process can be completed between now and February 26^th.) If you or your child are interested in exploring this process yourself, these resources may be of interest:

TDSB Course Selection with MyBlueprint video tutorial/instructions

Preparing for Course Selection

Completing Course Selection Webinar

Completing Course Selection Guide

Course Selection for Grade 8 Students

The Toronto District School Board is one of the most diverse school boards in Canada. Nearly one-quarter of our students were born outside of Canada, and collectively, we speak more than 120 languages. Understanding all cultures is essential to the success of our young students today as they transform and transition to be our future leaders of tomorrow.

February is Chinese Heritage Month

February is African Heritage Month

Black people in Canada have diverse backgrounds and experiences, while some can trace their roots in Canada for many generations, others have immigrated in recent decades.

There were almost 1.2 million Black people living in Canada in 2016. The Black population is diverse and has a long and rich history in Canada.

January 22, 2021

We hope that everyone continues to stay well and manage the

often difficult juggling act associated with having students

learning from home. However, it looks like many of our students

are becoming more and more independent and that a few parents

have discovered the benefits of headphones for their child.

For those who are interested, TVO is offering at-home learning supports for anyone interested in supplementing their remote learning.

The mental health and well-being of our students and families is important. Please utilize or share, as you see fit, these resources that have been compiled to support students or the attached community resources.

The Covid-19 vaccine rollout is currently in Phase 1, with Phase 3 being the one in which members of the general public will have the opportunity to be vaccinated. Visit here for up to date information on the province’s vaccine program.

Apply for Support for Learners funding - Ontario

This funding is intended to provide all parents/guardians with essential financial assistance for children and youth to support them with their learning due to unique requirements of this time. (This might be a way to offset the cost of technology for home use - e.g., Chromebook). This program is being expanded to include all students up to and including those in Grade 12. Parents/guardians will receive a one-time payment of $200 for each child.Applications are to open on January 11^th. Please refer to link below for more information.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-learners

TDSB Online Survey for Students and Parents/Guardians

Next week, the TDSB will be surveying both parents/guardians (JK to Grade 12) and students (Grades 6 to 12) during the week of January 25 to learn more about experiences to date related to mental health and well-being, student engagement, and learning. Please watch for an email with a link to the survey and/or check the TDSB website.

School Council

The next Council meeting will be held at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, February 10^th. This slight shift in date is to accommodate a presentation for our families. Information will be provided closer to the date.

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is now on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

Optional Attendance

When students/parents wish to apply for a school that is outside of the area in which they reside, they need to complete an Optional Attendance form, which needs to be signed by the Principal at their home school (the school in the area where they live) and sent to the school that they wish to attend. While this applies to all students, generally, this is likely only something that is of interest to our Grade 8 students who may wish to attend a high school that is outside of the area in which they live. (If you applied for a specialized program prior to the break, you have already completed the necessary form as part of your application.)

For secondary school applications, the due date for submission of optional attendance applications to the high school is January 29^th and for elementary school applications it is February 12^th. (Copies of the forms are attached.)

If you would like to apply to a school out of area, please complete the form and email it to me as a scan, photo or screengrab at jim.carson@tdsb.on.ca and I will forward it to the receiving school.

Additional information about the optional attendance process can be found here.

Extended French Program – Current Grade 6 Student Applying for Grade 7

The Extended French Program offers students who have successfully completed three years of Core French the option to enter into a more intensive program in Grade 7. These students spend approximately 40% of their day in French classes at the Extended French school. Students from our school would go to the program hosted at Charles Gordon Senior Public School located at 25 Marcos Blvd. (off of Midland, south of Lawrence.) Attachments with this Falconer include information regarding the program and an application form.

Charles Gordon is hosting a parent information evening on Wednesday, January 27^th 6PM. Join the Google Meet at this link:

https://meet.google.com/pbo-ouwt-xnf?authuser=0

Grade 9 Course Selection

Our Grade 8 students will soon select their Grade 9 courses via the MyBlueprint site. There are 6 mandatory courses and 2 elective courses for students to select. (This process can be completed between now and February 26^th.) We will help facilitate this process but if you or your child are interested in exploring this process yourself, these resources may be of interest:

TDSB Course Selection with MyBlueprint video tutorial/instructions

Preparing for Course Selection

Completing Course Selection Webinar

Completing Course Selection Guide

Course Selection for Grade 8 Students

January 15, 2021

We appreciate the kind words and support that many of you

have been sharing with your child’s teacher(s). Your recognition

of their efforts means more than you can imagine. Thank you.

This week it was announced that all Toronto schools will remain

closed until Wednesday, February 10^th, so remote learning will continue

until at least this date. First term report cards are scheduled to go home during the week of February 7^th, in our case we were planning to send them home on Tuesday, February 9^th. If it turns out that we are in fact going to return on February 10^th then reports will go home on this date, but if the closure is extended then there would likely be a system plan for the distribution of report cards.

Please know that we do understand the challenge that remote learning presents for some of our families and the frustration that some parents experience at times as they try to juggle their own work in addition to assisting their child with some of their work or tasks. Please know that we understand that there may be times when you and/or your child have reached a point when you are ‘done’ for the day or for the time being. As always, our teachers will continue to do their best to make adjustments and accommodations for individual situations.

The mental health and well-being of our students and families is tremendously important. Please utilize or share these resources that have been compiled to support students or the attached community resources.

Apply for Support for Learners funding - Ontario

https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-learners

School Council

Thank you to the parents and guardians who were able to join us at the meeting this week. Our next School Council meeting will be held virtually at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, February 9^th.

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is now on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

Optional Attendance

If you would like to apply to a school out of area, please complete the form and email it to me as a scan, photo or screengrab at jim.carson@tdsb.on.ca and I will forward it to the receiving school.

Additional information about the optional attendance process can be found here.

Grade 9 Course Selection

TDSB Course Selection with MyBlueprint video tutorial/instructions

Preparing for Course Selection

Completing Course Selection Webinar

Completing Course Selection Guide

Course Selection for Grade 8 Students

For parents of students in the Virtual School, their current virtual school teacher will support them with this process.

Attached is a flyer with a Zoom link for an information session called “Navigating the Grade 8 to Grade 9 Transition Part 2” scheduled for Wednesday, January 20^th from 7:00-8:30 PM.

Mental Health Support – Wellness Together Canada

In response to the rise in mental distress due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the federal government has funded Wellness Together Canada to connect Canadians to mental health and substance use support, resources, and counselling with a mental health professional for youth and adults. These resources can be accessed here: https://ca.portal.gs/

January 8, 2021

Welcome back and Happy New Year to all of our Fairmount

families. We hope you had a restful holiday season and that you

and your family and friends have remained safe and healthy.

As you likely already know, yesterday the Government of Ontario

announced that in-person schools will not be able to reopen on Monday as initially planned due to the spread of COVID-19. As a result, schools will remain closed until at least Monday, January 25^th. During this extended closure, remote learning will continue. As we conclude the end of our first week of remote learning, I want to thank all of our staff and parents/guardians for the work you have been doing to support our students as they transitioned to remote learning. None of us are pleased that we find ourselves in this position, but all of our teachers are doing their very best to ensure that their students are engaged and continue to learn. The positive feedback that many of you have given to your child’s teacher has been much appreciated as our students are not the only ones who are trying to adjust right now. We also recognize that this is very challenging for many of our parents, especially for those of our youngest learners. Our teachers are trying to be understanding and responsive to the needs of their students and make adjustments to the day and programming as required. We understand the genuine strain that remote learning can put on some of our families so please know that we trust your judgement should you need to implement an unscheduled ‘wellness break’ for your child… or you!

As always, we can’t thank you enough for your understanding and support. We know how fortunate we are to have you as partners as we navigate this together.

Prior to the holidays, we tried to ensure that all students would have access to a device should we be required to teach and learn remotely, please let us know if you have any needs in this respect.

If you are experiencing technical issues, you can contact the Student Virtual Learning IT Support page.

Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 Entry) Parent/Guardian/Community Information Sessions

This year, there will be three virtual (online webchat) information sessions for parents/guardians/community members interested in the NEW Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 entry) program.

Please note the following dates/times of the Virtual Information sessions below:

Virtual (online webchat) Information Sessions

January 14, 2021 - 10:00-11:00am

January 21, 2021 - 7:00-8:00pm

January 27, 2021 - 7:00-8:00pm

In order to participate in a live scheduled webchat, please visit the web page below and a link will be available to join on the dates/times outlined above.

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Elementary-School/School-Choices/French-Programs/Information-Sessions

Apply for Support for Learners funding - Ontario

https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-learners

School Council

Our next School Council meeting will be held virtually at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, January 13^th. If you are interested in joining us, please contact our office administrator at lisa.habenschuss@tdsb.on.ca to request the Zoom link for the meeting.

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is now on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

Mental Health Support

Sick Kids Centre for Community Mental Health is offering two free Families First workshops for parents this month: When Worries Seem too Big (for parents of children aged 5 to 9) and Skills to Support Emotional Regulation in Teens (for parents of teens ages 13 to 18). Please click here for more information and to register.

Weekly Calendar

Monday, January 11 – Day 3

Tuesday, January 12 – Day 4

Wednesday, January 13 – Day 5

Thursday, January 14 – Day 1

Friday, January 15 – PA Day

No school for students today

December 18, 2020

Thank you to all of our families for being so supportive and

understanding over the past four months as we have all tried to

do our best to implement and navigate the procedures meant to

keep everyone safe, while not losing focus on our goals related to

equity, achievement and student well-being. We move into this Winter

Break with the expectation that we will return to school on January 4^th but we all have grown used to the fact that the reality of COVID in our city is ever-changing and fluid so we are preparing to begin the new year teaching our students remotely if that should be necessary. The Minister of Education has sent a letter to school boards, who have in turn informed parents that it is possible that we may need to switch to remote learning when we return on January 4^th and to be prepared for that possibility. To clarify some of the language that is being used in the media, it would not be an ‘extension of the break’ in that we would back teaching and learning, but it would be done virtually rather than in the physical school.

In preparation, please consider the following actions:

Ensure you have a working device at home. If you do not, please connect with your child’s teacher.
Login to teacher’s online platform to confirm you have access. Your child should have done this with their teacher.
Bookmark the Student Virtual Learning IT Support page.

For those of you who celebrate Christmas, I wish you a Merry Christmas and celebrations that bring a smile to you and others around you. For those of you who do not celebrate Christmas, I wish safe and healthy opportunities to connect, virtually, with family and friends. A new year brings with it new hope. No matter what has happened in the past and how challenging a year is, the prospect of a new year usually means hope for the future. Certainly, this applies to this past year more than ever. Best wishes to all of you for a restful holiday break and a safe, healthy and happy 2021.

Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 Entry) Parent/Guardian/Community Information Sessions

This year, there will be three virtual (online webchat) information sessions for parents/guardians/community members interested in the NEW Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 entry) program.

Please note the following dates/times of the Virtual Information sessions below:

Virtual (online webchat) Information Sessions

January 14, 2021 - 10:00-11:00am

January 21, 2021 - 7:00-8:00pm

January 27, 2021 - 7:00-8:00pm

In order to participate in a live scheduled webchat, please visit the web page below and a link will be available to join on the dates/times outlined above.

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Elementary-School/School-Choices/French-Programs/Information-Sessions

Public Health

Given the changes/more stringent requirements that Public Health has recently enacted with regard to students who are showing new or worsening symptoms that could be COVID-related, we have had a number of questions from parents who are eager to ensure that they are following the correct Public Health protocol.

A quick summary:

If student has 1 or more new or worsening symptoms they must stay home, self-isolate and recommended to go for testing.
Siblings of students who have symptoms must self-isolate as well and not attend school.

Question: Is there a child in your household who has one or more of the identified symptoms?

If the student is symptomatic, their household siblings must isolate as well.
If the student has symptoms and has an alternative diagnosis, siblings do not need to self-isolate.
If the student has symptoms and tests negative for COVID-19, siblings can return to school.

Changes for Siblings:

If the student has symptoms, does not go for testing and is not a close contact of a positive case, the student and siblings must self-isolate for 10 days.
If the student has symptoms, does not go for testing and is a close contact of a positive case, the student must self-isolate for 10 days from when symptoms started. Their siblings should self-isolate for 14 days as this is how long it can take for symptoms to appear.
If the student has symptoms and tests positive, the student must self-isolate for 10 days, and siblings must self-isolate for 14 days.

Toronto Public Heath has created a COVID-19 Holiday Guide to share with families.

Click here for a list of testing centres.

Remote Learning

Earlier this week a survey was sent to all parents. Please remember to complete this if you are considering a switch to the Virtual School on February 16^th.

Apply for Support for Learners funding - Ontario

This funding is intended to provide parents/guardians with essential financial support for children and youth during these unprecedented times.(This might be a way to offset the cost of technology for home use - e.g., Chromebook).Parents/guardians will receive a one-time payment of $200 for each child up to age 12, or $250 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs.Please refer to link below for more information.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/get-support-learners

Online Donations with Tax Receipt

For those who are interested,

Parents/guardians and members of the community can donate to a school and receive a tax receipt. Simply go to the School Cash Online site and select the school from the drop down menu.

Donors will automatically receive tax receipts through email for donations $1 and over. For more detailed instructions on making a donation online, please see the step by step instructions located here.

School Spirit Wear

Wear it Proud! Today is the last day to purchase Fairmount Spiritwear. Your favourite Fairmount hoodies and t-shirts are available in many colours! Visit the ONLINE STORE to view styles and place your order. When the product arrives, we will arrange for safe pick up or delivery to your front door. You may also choose to pick up your order from the supplier or have your items shipped directly from the supplier to your home for an additional fee. Orders are expected for delivery in early January.

Fairmount Spiritwear Online store link: https://fairmountspiritwear2020.itemorder.com/sale

School Council

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is now on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

School Community Event – Virtual Festive Baking

Thank you to our very own Gavan Knox (Fairmount parent and professional baker) for hosting the Virtual Festive Bake-Along last week. This was a great event and certainly helped get everyone in the holiday spirit.

Food Drive

The Fairmount School Council thanks everyone who has supported this year’s food drive. As always, the outpouring of support from the Fairmount community, in-school and virtual school parents alike, has been tremendous. All donations will be transported to the “FeedScarborough” Food bank located at 2229 Kingston Road.

Mental Health Support – Wellness Together Canada

Winter Blast

Thank you to Ms. Cane and a dedicated, and hearty, group of Grade 8 leaders who organized a day of outdoor activities for each class on Wednesday. Students got to spend a period outside actively engaged in fun team-building activities. Thanks to:

Christian D. Raidaan F. Sydney D. Genevieve Z.

Austin N. Ethan C. Colin B. Naila R.

Liam S. Grace M. Dillon B. Shaheed C.

Kindness & Caring

The following students were recognized for their display of the character traits of kindness and caring over the past month:

Grace M. Raidaan F. Christian D .Lucas B.

Patrick B. Shimaya M.S. Amun F. Sydney P.

Stephan P. Nicholas L. Anders E. Kiele K.

Anya L. Ellie F. Ariel F. Dillon B.

Shaheed C. Tucker W. Ashilee E. Amelia S.

Kayden S. Gabriella F. Shayaa N.-R. Maria T.

Nina P. Katie C.-A .Sydney B .Isabelle M.

Genevieve Z .Sydney D. Naila R. Colin B.

Liam S .Austin N. Jager T. Tara M.

Luke B. Robi U .Harley R. Erica A.

Deanna M. Ethan C.

Benjamin Z.

December 11, 2020

As you know, this week was the first time that one of our classes

has had to self-isolate for 14 days due to a student testing positive

for the COVID-19 virus. Thank you to all the parents of the students

in the class as they were incredibly understanding and supportive.

Last week, Toronto Public Health updated its COVID-19 student

screening tool to prevent further opportunities for virus spread.

As part of this guidance, if a child has one or more new, or worsening COVID-19 symptoms, parents will now be required to:

Keep their child home.
Keep sibling and other children home, even if they do not have symptoms.
Arrange for the child to get tested or contact their health care provider.
Without testing, the child must stay home for 10 days.
Monitor the family for symptoms. Adults must stay home if they have one or more symptom.

Click here for a list of testing centres.

In line with this new direction, the COVID-19 Decision Tool for Schools has also been updated.

Here is the updated TDSB Student Health Pass.

Some additional resources shared with us from Public Health:

Know when to Self-Monitor, Self-Isolate or Send your child to school:

https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/96e8-COVID-19-School-Scenarios.pdf

How to self-monitor if someone tests positive for COVID-19

https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/9712-How-to-Self-Monitor-Fact-Sheet.pdf

Who is a close contact at school?:

https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/8e84-Who-is-a-Close-Contact-at-School.pdf

Who is a close contact at work?

https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/8e69-Who-is-a-Close-Contact-at-Work-FNL-Banner.pdf

Who is a close contact?

https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/986b-Who-is-a-Close-Contact-Banner-FNL.pdf

In the news as of late has been speculation as to whether or not schools will remain closed for a couple of weeks following the Winter Break. We are operating under the assumption that we will indeed return on January 4^th. However, should there be an announcement that we are not returning on this date, our teachers will be ready to pivot to the virtual platform for a few weeks. Please remind your child to take home all their personal belongings by the end of next week.

Online Donations with Tax Receipt

For those who are interested,

Parents/guardians and members of the community can donate to a school and receive a tax receipt. Simply go to the School Cash Online site and select the school from the drop down menu.

School Spirit Wear

Wear it Proud! The Fairmount Spiritwear Sale is back for a limited time until DEC 16th. Your favourite Fairmount hoodies and t-shirts are available in many colours! Visit the ONLINE STORE to view styles and place your order. When the product arrives, we will arrange for safe pick up or delivery to your front door. You may also choose to pick up your order from the supplier or have your items shipped directly from the supplier to your home for an additional fee. Orders are expected for delivery in early January and will not be available before the holidays.

Fairmount Spiritwear Online store link: https://fairmountspiritwear2020.itemorder.com/sale

Virtual Book Fair

Our Scholastic Virtual Book Fair officially end today. Please see the attachment for details.

School Council

Stay connected as a community. The Fairmount P.S. SAC is now on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

School Community Event – Virtual Festive Baking

Join Gavan Knox (Fairmount parent and professional baker) tonight at 6:30pm for our first Fairmount Virtual Festive Bake-Along. Everyone who attends will be entered in a draw to win a prize!

He'll be making some delicious treats for the festive season and you're invited to "drop-in" with the family and join the baking! Register for your ticket and we'll let you know the details & ingredients you'll need beforehand.

Limited participant capacity so don't delay!

Snap a picture of your decorated treats and send to chef@mrmoms.kitchen to take part in our fun competition! The mega-talented Megan Stasiewich (from The Great Canadian Baking Show) will judge the most creative efforts for a chance to win a wonderful prize!

Baking along is not required. Feel free to tune in and see some festive foodie ideas!

Recipes from the session will be made available online after the event at https://mrmomskitchen.wordpress.com

Registration is limited so don’t delay. Click Here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fairmount-virutal-festive-bake-along-tickets-130130256099

Grade 8 to 9 Transition

This past week parents of Grade 8 students were invited to attend a virtual information session to further explain the Grade 8 to 9 transition process. The session can be viewed here on YouTube.

For parents of Grade 8 students in the Virtual School, the Virtual School will be facilitating the course selection process for your child. However, if a student is applying for a high school through optional attendance, the form still needs to come to Fairmount for a signature.

Food Drive

The Fairmount School Council will be holding a food drive in advance of the festive season break. Food insecurity is a huge issue exacerbated by the pandemic and food banks are experiencing a 15% increase in use each week. Many families are in need and we hope you are able to help.Donation boxes to collect non-perishable are in the front foyer of the school. The drive will go up to Friday, December 18, 2020.Below is a picture of what has been collected thus far. The donations have been great but we know we can do even better over the next week. Fairmount virtual school families are welcome to drop off donations at the front door of the school.All donations will be transported to the “FeedScarborough” Food bank located at 2229 Kingston Rd. Thanks in advance for anything you can provide. Every little bit helps!

December 4, 2020

Important Public Health Update

Toronto Public Health just announced today it is has updated

its COVID-19 student screening tool to prevent further opportunities

for virus spread. The TDSB follows direction from Toronto Public

Health and the new screening tool will be effective starting

Monday, December 7th.

As part of this guidance, if a child has one or more new, or worsening COVID-19 symptoms, parents will now be required to:

Keep their child home.
Keep sibling and other children home, even if they do not have symptoms.
Arrange for the child to get tested or contact their health care provider.
Without testing, the child must stay home for 10 days.
Monitor the family for symptoms. Adults must stay home if they have one or more symptom.

Click here for a list of testing centres.

In line with this new direction, the COVID-19 Decision Tool for Schools has also been updated.

Here is the updated TDSB Student Health Pass.

One of the challenges for us this year is the fact that we haven’t been able to engage in many of the activities that make school fun and exciting for the students. While the classroom lessons are, of course, riveting, many students look forward to various extra-

curricular opportunities, field trips, sports teams etc. and many of these traditional activities are not happening this year due to the Public Health restrictions. However, we still want to do what we can to ensure that our students feel part of a community and make school fun. To this end, we are going to have some ‘school spirit days’ for our students to join in. Today was ‘jersey day’ and next Friday will be ‘beach day’, with the following Friday designated as pajama day. We are also starting a door decorating ‘contest’ in which each class will decorate their classroom door in a different ‘winter theme’ of their choice. Our student leaders in Grades 7 and 8 are planning a ‘Winter Blast’ for some outdoor fun for all our students – details to follow in next week’s Falconer.

In September of every year, schools traditionally host a Curriculum Night for parents and guardians to come to the school and hear about a given grade’s areas focus from their child’s teacher. As important as communicating the curriculum is, we also recognize that one of the great things about this evening is the opportunity to connect with our families and that it gives our parents a chance to not only meet their child’s teacher but see the room and school where their child will spend so much time over the course of the year. Our teachers have come up with the idea of sending home a ‘virtual open house’ to their students’ families. Over the next two weeks you can expect to receive a slideshow from your child’s teacher that will give you a kind of window into your child’s classroom.

The lack of a Lost and Found this year is a bit of a challenge, as it turns out that even during a pandemic, kids still lose things. We still want to make sure that lost items can be returned to their rightful owner. Please help by labeling your child’s belongings.

Virtual Book Fair

Our Scholastic Virtual Book Fair will take place from Monday, November 30 to Friday, December 11. Please open the attached letter for details.

School Spirit Wear

Get into the Spirit! The FAIRMOUNT SPIRIT WEAR SALE is back, with your favourite Fairmount hoodies and t-shirts! New colours and styles are available. Brand new this year, we have a special ONLINE STORE to view styles and to take all your orders. The sale is on for a limited time, from NOW until DEC 16th. When the product arrives, we will arrange for safe pick up or delivery to your front door. Or you may choose to pick up your order from the supplier or have your items shipped directly from the supplier to your home for an additional fee. The online store is only on for a limited time, place your orders before DEC 16th.

Fairmount Spirit Wear Online store link: https://fairmountspiritwear2020.itemorder.com/sale

School Council Meeting

Thank you to those who were able to join us for Tuesday evening’s Council meeting. See the attached minutes and preliminary budget for this year. One of the questions that was asked was regarding a possible completion date for work that had been started on the school’s roof. The work is currently delayed as there is a process being undertaken to award the contract to a different roofing contractor to complete the work.

As you know, do to the Public Health requirement to keep our classes/cohorts separate, we have sectioned our yard into zones that students rotate through at recess and lunch. One of the consequences of this is that students sometimes find themselves in an area of the yard that they wouldn’t have chosen to go to if they had the freedom to play wherever they want. We are looking at purchasing additional equipment for students to play with when they are outside. It was suggested at our meeting that some families may have some safe items that they would like to donate for use by one of the classes. So, if you have any safe items such as soccer balls, footballs, basketballs, tennis balls, skipping ropes or any other equipment that you think might be fun for the kids to play with during recess, please send it to school with your child for use by their classroom or one of the other classes.

We’re branching out!

More ways for us all to stay connected as a community. Fairmount P.S. SAC is now on Twitter and Instagram

Twitter: @FairmountPS_SAC

Instagram: fairmount_ps_sac

School Community Event – Virtual Festive Baking

Join Gavan Knox (Fairmount parent and professional baker) on

Friday, December 11th, 6:30pm for our first Fairmount Virtual Festive Bake-Along. Everyone who attends will be entered in a draw to win a prize!

Limited participant capacity so don't delay!

Baking along is not required. Feel free to tune in and see some festive foodie ideas!

Recipes from the session will be made available online after the event at https://mrmomskitchen.wordpress.com

Registration is limited so don’t delay. Click Here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fairmount-virutal-festive-bake-along-tickets-130130256099

Grade 8 to 9 Transition

This week parents of Grade 8 students should have received a TDSB email inviting you to join a Grade 8 to Grade 9 transition information session. For our school the date is December 7^th from either 6:00PM – 7:00Pm or 7:30-8:30. This is a virtual session being held via Zoom and is restricted to 3000 families. Given that this means that many likely won’t be able to attend via Zoom, the session is also being live streamed on YouTube at

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC9gvsGUiLZklU8VYSnH-Sbg/

A copy of the event is supposed to be made available following the event. A link will be provided in an upcoming Falconer for those who aren’t available on the 7^th.

Also, for your convenience, here is a link to a two-minute video that has been made by MyBlueprint for the TDSB related to Grade 8-9 course selection.

https://youtu.be/8B_6qoaNU6Q

November Character Trait - Empathy

A number of students were recognized this week for the empathy they have displayed at school over the past month. Congratulations to:

Dillon B.Katie C.-A.Shaeed C.

Joan H.Maelle K.Natasha P.

Halle P.Misha R.Emilia R.-C.

Greg S.Annie T.Madeline V.

The focus for the month of December will be on Kindness & Caring.

Food Drive

The Fairmount School Council will be holding a food drive in advance of the festive season break. Food insecurity is a huge issue exacerbated by the pandemic and food banks are experiencing a 15% increase in use each week. Many families are in need and we hope you are able to help.Donation boxes to collect non-perishable are in the front foyer of the school. The drive will go up to Friday, December 18, 2020.Below is a picture of what has been collected thus far. The donations have been great but we know we can do even better over the next two weeks. Fairmount virtual school families are welcome to drop off donations at the front door of the school.All donations will be transported to the “FeedScarborough” Food bank located at 2229 Kingston Rd. Thanks in advance for anything you can provide. Every little bit helps!

Funding for Families From the Ontario Government

Families can apply for funding for to help offset costs during this school year to ‘get support for learners’. Eligible parents or guardians will receive a one-time payment of:

$200 for each child up to age 12
$250 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs

The deadline to apply is January 15, 2021.

Click here for more information regarding this funding and to see the eligibility requirements.

Weekly Calendar

Sunday, December 6

National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women was established in 1991 by the Parliament of Canada and coincides with the anniversary of the death of 14 young women who were tragically killed on December 6, 1989 at L’Ecole Polytechnique in Montreal because of their gender.

To mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, TDSB flags will be lowered to half-staff.

Monday, December 7 – Day 3

Door Decorating Contest Begins

Grade 8-9 Transition Meeting – See Above

Tuesday, December 8 – Day 4

Wednesday, December 9 – Day 5

Thursday, December 10 – Day 1

Human Rights Day – United Nations

Hanukkah Begins

Friday, December 11 – Day 2

School Spirit Day - Beach Day

November 27, 2020

We continue to do our best to stay safe at school with consistent

reinforcement and messaging to our students regarding hand

hygiene, wearing masks, physical distancing, and remaining

within school cohorts. We truly appreciate all your reinforcement

support as well. As the City of Toronto is now in a lockdown situation,

Toronto Public Health has provided a lockdown guide for residents which includes recommending that no get-togethers or playdates with school friends after school, either inside or outside take place. A full listing of the recommendations can be viewed here.

Toronto Public Heath has also provided recommendations for the type of masks that should be used. You can find the recommendations here.

Finally, Toronto Public Health is encouraging the downloading the COVID Alert app. which will send you an alert if you were in close contact with someone who tests positive for COVID-19.

As always thanks, thank you for your on-going support, cooperation and trust.

Virtual Book Fair

Our Scholastic Virtual Book Fair will take place from Monday, November 30 to Friday, December 11. Please open the attached letter for details.

Food Drive

The Fairmount School Council will be holding a food drive in advance of the festive season break. Food insecurity is a huge issue exacerbated by the pandemic and food banks are experiencing a 15% increase in use each week. Many families are in need and we hope you are able to help.Donation boxes to collect non-perishable food items will be at the front entrance of the school starting Monday, November 30 – Friday, December 11 2020.Fairmount virtual school families are welcome to drop off donations at the front door of the school.All donations will be transported to the “FeedScarborough” Food bank located at 2229 Kingston Rd. Thanks in advance for anything you can provide. Every little bit helps!

School Council Meeting

Our next School Council virtual meeting will be held at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, December 1^st. All are welcome to join. If you are interested in joining the meeting, please email Fairmount_PS@tdsb.on.ca and we will send you the Zoom link.

School Community Event – Virtual Festive Baking

Attached is a flyer for our virtual festive baking event being held on Friday, December 11^th at 6:30 PM. You're welcome to join us for some seasonal fun.

Early French Immersion Program

Application process closes today! For families interested in the Toronto District School Board’s Early French Immersion Program (begins in Senior Kindergarten), there is an online process to apply.

To apply for the Early French Immersion Program (SK entry) for September 2021, applications must be completed online by November 27, 2020.

An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants and will be made in the weeks following the close of the application window.

Please note: Families with an older sibling currently enrolled in the same French program and who will be in attendance next year are still required to complete an online application for the new student. Please select the “sibling option” within the online application. For more information about French as a Second Language programs, the application process and important dates, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/french.

Grade 8 to 9 Transition

If you have questions or would like information about specific high schools, it is best to attend the virtual open houses that each school is holding as they will give information about that specific school. (Information is also likely available on their school website.)

It is important to attend these information sessions if you are applying for a special program or a school that is outside of the area where you live (an application for optional attendance).

If you are applying for a specialized program or a school that is outside of the area, you must complete an Application for Optional Attendance, the form can be found here. Parents are welcome to email requests with form attached and Mr. Carson will sign it and email it back to you, or they can be printed at home and signatures can be obtained by the student while at the school.

If you are interested in attending Birchmount Park CI, information session can be found here. Birchmount's BEAP Program's application deadline is today.Birchmount has offered to help those having difficulties with the new online application process and are able to allow a little flexibility with their deadline.However, they ask that families who intend on enrolling, to email them prior to the end of the day today to let them know. They have offered to make a paper copy available to any family that is unable to complete the online registration, as they do not want their new online system to hinder any student that is expressing interest in the BEAP program.

You may contact:

Jo Grundy

Guidance Curriculum Leader

Birchmount Park Collegiate

416 396 6704 ext. 20044

My Blueprint – How to Use Choices: Secondary School Course and Planning Guide

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Video

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Academic Pathways in the TDSB

Academic Pathways Fact Sheet

Course Types

Virtual Open Houses and Information Sessions

Choices Course Selection and Planning Guide

Choices: Secondary School Course Selection and Planning Guide

Secondary School Information Guide

Optional Attendance

November 20, 2020

Thank you for continuing to do your part to keep our students,

school and community safe.The Toronto Public Health website

has the latest information regarding the current health situation,

guidelines, mental health resources and financial & social supports.

The 13 to early 20’s age group is of particular concern right now with regard to those contracting the virus, so we need to remain vigilant in helping our young people understand the importance of adhering to the appropriate health and safety protocols.

Kindergarten Reorganization

Schools were in the position of reorganizing due to adjustments in enrolment as students who were projected to be in traditional schools opted to learn virtually this year. This necessitated the redeployment of teachers to teach students in the Virtual School. Bricks and mortar schools were recently informed that early childhood educators could also be redeployed to the Virtual School to support the online kindergarten programs, if this was feasible based on the enrolment at a given school. In our case, we were staffed with two designated early childhood educators but our current in-school enrolment only allows for us to retain one. This means that Ms. Surette has been redeployed to the Virtual School for the balance of this year, necessitating the movement of some students between our two kindergarten classes. Thank you to the many parents of students who have had to switch classrooms or have been affected by our requirement to reorganize this year. Your understanding and recognition that adapting to change is a hallmark of 2020 is much appreciated.

Ms. Vignarajah

Our special needs assistant, Ms. Vignarajah, is leaving us. She is a great support to the students in the classes she works with each morning. You may also recognize her from the crosswalk in front of the school where she supports our safety patrollers to help ensure the safety of our students every morning. She currently works between two schools and has been able to secure a morning position at her afternoon school. Her last day with us is next Friday. We wish her all the best.

Grade 8 to 9 Transition

In past years we have had the benefit of a guidance counselor coming to our school to help our students understand and navigate the application process for high schools. This year, all of these guidance counselors have been redeployed to teach at the Virtual School. In the coming months, we will do our best at the school level to ensure that our students and parents are informed as to the high school application process. Below are some links that will help with this process. (The first link is one that wasn’t provided to you previously.)

For those who are simply applying to the high school that is within your catchment area, for our students this is likely RH King, the ‘application process’ will be relatively straightforward and will consist mostly of the course selection process, which we will support our students in completing. For Grade 9, most of the courses are prescribed.

It is important to attend these information sessions if you are applying for a specialized program or a school that is outside of the area where you live (an application for optional attendance). Specialized programs often require the submission of a package of some sort and, like optional attendance applications, have due dates that are earlier than the course selection sheet due date for students that are going to their home (local) school.

There is a general high school information session being planned for families of schools in our area, likely for the evening of Monday, November 30th. Information and a link will be shared as soon as it is available.

My Blueprint – How to Use Choices: Secondary School Course and Planning Guide

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Video

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Academic Pathways in the TDSB

Academic Pathways Fact Sheet

Course Types

Virtual Open Houses and Information Sessions

Choices Course Selection and Planning Guide

Choices: Secondary School Course Selection and Planning Guide

Secondary School Information Guide

Optional Attendance

PIAC (Parent Involvement Advisory Committee) Annual Parent Conference

PIAC invites all parents and caregivers to take part in our 14th annual parent conference – Ready. Set. Engage! Navigating the School Year Together – in partnership with TDSB. Join us in our first-ever virtual conference on November 21 and 22 for two days of workshops for parents and school councils. Connect with others from across TDSB as we adapt to a new educational landscape and school year unlike any we have experienced before. Learn more at: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Community/How-to-Get-Involved/Conferences/PIAC-Conference

November 13, 2020

While we were not able to have our customary Remembrance

Day ceremony, we did gather virtually as a school community

to reflect on the sacrifices made for our freedom. Thank you to

Ms. Cane and Ms. Cheyne and the students who made this possible.

Visit @FairmountPS on Twitter to see some photos from this day.

Progress Reports/Interviews

Progress Reports and Kindergarten Communication of Learning will be sent home on Tuesday, November 17th. While interviews will not be in-person this year, parents/guardians will have the opportunity speak with your child’s teacher to discuss her/his progress to date. Your child’s teacher will contact you directly to arrange an interview time.

The Progress Report does not contain marks but does indicate how a student has progressed in each of the subjects that have been studied thus far. To best utilize the time during the meeting, it is often best to take a forward-thinking approach and see this time as an opportunity to not only celebrate early successes but to explore what can be done to support a student’s ongoing learning and development of the various learning skills. The teacher, parent and student are working together to ensure that each child achieves their personal best. While our concern for mental health and well-being remains crucial, it can still be paramount while we maintain the highest of expectations for all of our students. Care is essential but we must ensure that this is balanced with the recognition that we all need to challenge each student so that they develop to their potential. It can be difficult but as the caring adults in their lives we must not deny them the gift of struggle. This will also ensure that we help support the development of perseverance and resilience, character traits that will help our children to be healthy and successful. “Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child.”

PA Day

Please remember that Friday, November 20th is a PA day – there are no classes for students.

COVID-19

Masks/Physical Distancing

Thank you for reinforcing and supporting the children with adhering to the need to wear their masks properly, i.e. over their mouth and nose properly and continually except when outside with proper distance maintained. While masks with an exhaust valve can make breathing more comfortable for the person wearing it, it can spread respiratory particles into the room and therefore should not be used. Scarves or Neck Gaiters are also discouraged because the reality is the students are more tempted to pull them down. The recommendation from Toronto public health has been to have two layers of fabric and adding a filter such as a coffee filter or paper towel to add further protection. More information can be found here.

We are finding that some of our students are coming to school without their mask so please remind them to bring a mask and a water bottle each day.

Grade 8 to 9 Transition

November is typically the time for our Grade 8 students to begin thinking about and planning for their transition to high school next year. Below are some links to various TDSB resources to help support this transition and answer some questions you may have. Note the link for the virtual open houses that each high school will be offering may be regularly updated so continue to check regularly. Grade 7 parents and students may also wish to take advantage of the fact that these sessions are virtual.

For your convenience, here is a list of the embedded links contained within the attachment:

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Video

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Academic Pathways in the TDSB

Academic Pathways Fact Sheet

Course Types

Virtual Open Houses and Information Sessions

Choices Course Selection and Planning Guide

Choices: Secondary School Course Selection and Planning Guide

Secondary School Information Guide

Optional Attendance

Toronto Public Library (TPL)

TPL continues to reinstate services as part of their Toronto Public Library (TPL) continues to reinstate services as part of our reopening plan. Many of our branches are open for browsing and borrowing of materials, as well as Wi-Fi and computer access. Here are some free services and resources that may be of interest to our students and their families.

Library Card registration Sign up for a library card to access a wide array of materials, both in-branch and online, including fiction, non-fiction, CD’s, DVD’s, and more. TPL Kids Site Explore our site for fun activities like jokes and riddles as well as homework help including research tips, databases to find articles and other reliable sources for school projects and free tutoring help daily from Brainfuse.

Online Programs

From story times to STEM activities, author visits and workshops, explore and discover online programs at tpl.ca/programs and our YouTube channel.

Accessible Reading with CELA

Centre for Equitable Library Access provides free reading material in accessible formats for library customers of all ages with print disabilities (any visual, physical, or learning disability that makes it difficult to read conventional print). Learn more about CELA on our Accessible Collections page.

PIAC (Parent Involvement Advisory Committee) Annual Parent Conference

Registration opens soon!

Families of Junior Kindergarten Students - Early French Immersion Program - Application Information

For families interested in the Toronto District School Board's Early French Immersion Program (begins in Senior Kindergarten), there is an online process to apply. Attached please find an important information package.

To apply for the Early French Immersion Program (SK entry) for September 2021, applications must be completed online between November 2 and November 27, 2020.

An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants and will be made in the weeks following the close of the application window.

For more information about the Early French Immersion (SK) application process, please join us for a Virtual Information Session on one of the following dates:

November 2, 2020, 7 p.m.

November 12, 2020, 7 p.m.

November 19, 2020, 10 a.m.

For more information about French as a Second Language programs, the application process and important dates, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/french.

November 6, 2020

School Council

Thank you to the parents and guardians who were able to join

Us on Wednesday evening for this month’s School Council meeting.

One of the agenda items for this meeting was to determine who

would be official members of Council should there be an item that

requires a vote.

This year’s members are:

Jodie Blazo Alejandra Cabezas Pat Dean

Sanjeev Desai Gavan Kno xLorna Larmour

Barb Lederman Julianne Lee Tanya Meinen

Carolyn Penheiro Diana Pialis Ashley Plona

Sarah Tunney Laura Wilson

The Executive positions for 2020/2021:

Co-Chairs: Julianne Lee & Gavan Knox

Treasurer: Sanjeev Desai

Secretaries: Lorna Larmour & Barb Lederman

As always, meetings will continue to be open to all of our parents and guardians and everyone is most welcome to join us as we focus on working collectively to make our school a great place for all of our kids.

Remembrance Day

While we will not be able to have our customary assembly/ceremony for Remembrance Day in the gym, we are looking at alternative spaces to mark the occasion and support our students’ understanding and respect for Remembrance Day. If the weather cooperates, we are considering the possibility of using the space behind our school so that we can safely come together to recognize the sacrifices that have been made for us.

Reports/Interviews

Progress reports and kindergarten communication of learning will be sent home on Tuesday, November 17th. While interviews will not be in-person, your child’s teacher will contact you to arrange a virtual or phone interview during that week.

Families of Junior Kindergarten Students - Early French Immersion Program - Application Information

To apply for the Early French Immersion Program (SK entry) for September 2021, applications must be completed online between November 2 and November 27, 2020.

An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants and will be made in the weeks following the close of the application window.

For more information about the Early French Immersion (SK) application process, please join us for a Virtual Information Session on one of the following dates:

November 2, 2020, 7 p.m.

November 12, 2020, 7 p.m.

November 19, 2020, 10 a.m.

For more information about French as a Second Language programs, the application process and important dates, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/french.

Grade 8 to 9 Transition

Even though our year has just begun, it is time for our Grade 8 students to begin thinking about and planning for their transition to high school next year. Below are some links to various TDSB resources to help support this transition and answer some questions you may have. Note the link for the virtual open houses that each high school will be offering. The R.H. King session is on November 26^th at 7:00 PM. Grade 7 parents and students may also wish to take advantage of the fact that these sessions are conveniently virtual so it is an opportunity to explore high school options well in advance. This might be particularly useful for any student who is considering a special program as finding out admission requirements well in advance can help in preparation of a portfolio, interview or whatever the expectations may be.

For your convenience, here is a list of the embedded links contained within the attachment:

Sloley Reconstruction at Neilson

From the City of Toronto:

“We are reconstructing Sloley Ave from Gradwell Drive to Scarborough Heights Blvd in 2021. As part of this work we are replacing the asphalt boulevard on the south east corner of Neilson and Sloley with grass as the median is wide enough to support vegetation.This will both increase the permeable ground area adding positively to the public realm and also further differentiate the vehicle road area with the pedestrian sidewalk area.”

Mental Health and Well-Being Resources for reference.

Need immediate help?

If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health or substance use emergency, call 9-1-1 or go to the emergency room of your local hospital.

If you are not sure if it is an emergency, or just need to talk through the situation, consider reaching out to:

COVID-19 Mental Health Resources – City of Toronto

Telehealth Ontario at 1-866-797-0000

Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or texting CONNECT to 686868

Mental Health TO at 1-866-585-6486 for free phone or video mental health counselling for infants, children, youth and families 211 – call 2-1-1 or text 21166 (M-F 7am – 9pm) finding supports in the community such as food banks, housing and more.

Toronto Public Health – (416-338-7600) Up-to-date Covid-19 information for the City of Toronto

Distress Centres of Greater Toronto – (416-408-4357 or text 45645) 24/7 support, 365 days a year, for individuals in crisis

Assaulted Women’s Helpline – (1-866-863-0511 or text #SAFE (#7233) on Bell, Rogers, Fido or Telus). Free, anonymous & confidential 24-hour helpline for women in Ontario experiencing any form of abuse.

Black Youth Helpline What's Up Walk-In® | Mental Health Counselling

Weekly Calendar

Monday, November 9 – Day 4

Tuesday, November 10 – Day 5

Wednesday, November 11 – Day 1

Remembrance Day

Thursday, November 12 – Day 2

Friday, November 13 – Day 3

October 30, 2020

While Hallowe’en will definitely look different this year, it was

great to see so many students embrace the Hallowe’en ‘spirit’

and wear a costume to school. In speaking to quite a few students,

those who are not going trick or treating are really understanding

of the circumstances and seem determined to make the most of the

situation and are genuinely enthusiastic about any alternate plans that they may have to make the day and evening fun.

Celebrating a Safer Halloween

Ventilation

The HEPA air filtration units that were delivered to the school last week are now in each of the classrooms.

New Educational Assistant

As you may recall, Ms. Maria Vandenberg retired in September. Next week we welcome the placement of Mr. Scott, who is coming to us from Queen Alexandra Public School. We look forward to meeting him and to the additional support he will provide for our students.

School Council

Attached to Falconer are two documents. One provides information regarding School Council Elections for this school year and the other is a nomination form should you like to nominate yourself or someone else to be a member of the Council.

Elected council members are expected to attend most meetings, and will vote on council spending and decisions when necessary.The Executive positions (chair/co-chair, secretary, treasurer) will be appointed within the elected council members.

Meetings are not restricted to those who are Council members. All parents/guardians are always welcome to attend meetings and provide input and/or ask questions and get involved to the extent that is convenient for them or suits their current situation. Often, some of the most active parents of our school community aren’t necessarily ‘official council members’ but this doesn’t preclude anyone from getting involved.

The nomination forms are due by Tuesday, November 3^rd, with the next meeting being held virtually on November 4^th. If you are interested in joining the meeting, please email Fairmount_PS@tdsb.on.ca

Families of Junior Kindergarten Students - Early French Immersion Program - Application Information

To apply for the Early French Immersion Program (SK entry) for September 2021, applications must be completed online between November 2 and November 27, 2020.

An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants and will be made in the weeks following the close of the application window.

For more information about the Early French Immersion (SK) application process, please join us for a Virtual Information Session on one of the following dates:

November 2, 2020, 7 p.m.

November 12, 2020, 7 p.m.

November 19, 2020, 10 a.m.

For more information about French as a Second Language programs, the application process and important dates, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/french.

November is Indigenous Education Month at TDSB

In November, we honour Indigenous Education Month at the TDSB. This month reminds us to centre First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives, histories and contemporary realities as we learn about treaties, Indigenous leadership, achievements, and resistance. Over the course of this month, we take the opportunity to deepen knowledge, to learn about our shared history, and to build stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada.

November is Hindu Heritage Month

In 2016, the Government of Ontario declared the month of November each year as Hindu Heritage Month. Further to this, On April 18, 2018, the TDSB Board of Trustees voted to recognize the month of November as Hindu Heritage Month. The theme chosen this year is OM – The Sound of the Universe. The sound OM, or AUM, is energy, a vibration from which all the universe originates. It is believed that form and creation emanate from this vibration. OM symbolizes vibrations of being, life, and consciousness in all worlds and all creatures. By chanting OM correctly, one feels a connection to the creation and transformation of the cosmos. And then, it is traditional to pause, sit in silence, and experience that creative void of complete peace and understanding.

Canadians of Hindu faith have greatly contributed to civic life in Canada for decades, and are a vibrant part of the growth and prosperity of Toronto, Ontario and Canada. November is an opportunity to celebrate the Hindu way of life, examine its impact and contributions to the world culture, and recognize values which promote compassion, tolerance and inclusion – and hey, it is the birthplace of the number zero, without which the binary code in computers could not exist!

Character Education

Character development is about helping students learn and practice positive character attributes. When we build good character, we build strong communities. In the school community, character development is woven into programs and practices. Student success is dependent on a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment where all students feel valued. This starts by teaching our students about the value of character – respecting themselves and each other, making positive contributions to their school and community and thinking critically and creatively. The character trait that will be the focus for the month of November is empathy.

Weekly Calendar

Treaty Recognition Week

Sunday, November 1- Daylight Savings Time Ends – Turn Back Clocks 1 Hour

Monday, November 2 – Day 4

Tuesday, November 3 – Day 5

Wednesday, November 4 – Day 1

Virtual School Council Meeting 7:00 PM

Thursday, November 5 – Day 2

Friday, November 6 – Day 3

October 23, 2020

Thank you again for your on-going support of our routines that

we are following at the school.We feel that our process is

working and we are very grateful to everyone for adhering to mask

guidelines for adults, ensuring the screening pass is completed,

getting tested as needed and ensuring children are well when attending

school. I have participated in meetings with Toronto Public Health and while I have learned many things, one statement that gave me pause was that ¼ of all positive cases in the city cannot pinpoint where they were exposedand that people should assume that everyone we encounter outside of our family is positive. While we don’t want anyone to be overly fearful, this mindset will help ensure we do not let our guards down with regards to physical distancing, socializing outside of households etc. Our students have been terrific inside the building with abiding by expectations with a few friendly reminders. Any additional reminders from families at home regarding physical distancing, particularly outside the building, would be appreciated.

Principal Authority to Dismiss Class Cohorts

As previously indicated, principals have authority to dismiss positive case cohort(s) for self-isolation including classroom, bus, extra-curricular and before/after school programs within the school while waiting investigation from Toronto Public Health. Principals will not ask other staff or students potentially exposed to the positive case outside of the cohort(s) to self -isolate. Any additional dismissals and communication to the school community will be done under the direction from TPH.

Thank you for continuing to use the Revised Screening Pass on a daily basis. As you know, the new pass has categorized symptoms differently.

Those that require self-isolation, testing or an alternate diagnosis immediately (Section 1)
Those that require 24-hour symptom free and can return if one (1) symptom; and isolation, testing or alternate diagnosis if two (2) symptoms

Toronto Public Health has also provided a Back to School Confirmation Form which will allow parent(s)/guardian(s) to confirm that the child is healthy and is able to return to school.

Ventilation

Yesterday we took delivery of 13 HEPA air filtration units which will soon be installed in classrooms throughout the school.

Winter is coming……

We know that winter weather will soon be upon us. This reality will require us to make some adjustments to accommodate additional items such as boots and winter clothing. We will do our best to make adjustments to provide spacing for additional items and prevent crowding indoors amongst students. For now, consider putting a pair of sweatpants in your child’s backpack as we have had a number of students call home this week for a change of clothes as a result of getting wet while playing at recess.

Hallowe’en

We know not everyone celebrates Halloween, but for many, it can be a source of fun for both children and adults.However, due to rising cases of COVID-19, Toronto Public Health does not recommend hosting or attending in-person gatherings for Halloween this year. TPH is also recommending that traditional door-to-door trick-or-treating not take place. While Halloween will look different this year, we still want to encourage a fun way to celebrate with the children if they wish.Students may dress up in a costume if they wish to on Friday, October 30^th with the following guidelines as outlined from Toronto Public Health:

Face masks are still required; a costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask and should not be worn over a cloth mask as ¡t may make ¡t difficult to breathe.

Consider making the cloth mask a part of the costume

Since students are required to wear masks, ¡t is recommended that students not wear costume makeup, from below the eyes to ensure their face coverings are not dirtied.

Candy and treats are not to be brought for sharing – normal lunch and snack procedures will be maintained

The recommendation and guidelines from Toronto Public Health can be found here: Celebrating a Safer Halloween

Trick or Treating Alternatives

Hallo-wise infographic

(The last graphic suggests, ‘Enjoy a spooky dinner at home with people you live with.” This might be a bit of a stretch if this is all you are doing to replace trick-or-treating. Besides, every time I cook it is already considered a spooky dinner!)

Confirmation of Personal Information and Permission Forms

Earlier this month, you should have received an email from the TDSB regarding on-line forms, permissions, media release etc.The subject line would have been TDSB Online Form and you probably received it the first week of October. If you have not had an opportunity to complete the documentation please do so at your earliest convenience.

Switching between Virtual and In-Person Learning

Last week the TDSB adjusted the schedule to request a switch between the two learning

models (in-person and virtual). The next opportunity for elementary students will be offered at the end of January 2021. There will no longer be an opportunity for elementary students to switch in November. This change of the initially communicated plan was done in an effort to maintain current classes and teacher assignments, in both in-person and virtual classrooms, until the New Year to ensure greater consistency and stability.

Parent as Partners Virtual Conference

As advertised on the TDSB Website a virtual Parent as Partner Conference is taking place this weekend. The ‘virtual’ means that the conference itself is presented virtually but it is open everyone; parents of students in the Virtual School and those in the traditional school setting.

https://www.parentsaspartners.ca/

School Council

Elected council members are expected to attend most meetings and will vote on council spending and decisions when necessary.The Executive positions (chair/co-chair, secretary, treasurer) will be appointed within the elected council members.

The nomination forms are due by Tuesday, November 3^rd, with the next meeting being held virtually on November 4^th.

Calendar

Monday, October 26 – Day 4

Tuesday, October 27 – Day 5

Wednesday, October 28 – Day 1

Thursday, October 29 – Day 2

Friday, October 30 – Day 3

Saturday, October 31 – Happy Hallowe’en

Sunday, November 1- Daylight Savings Time Ends – Turn Back Clocks 1 Hour

October 16, 2020

Thank you for your continued understanding and support in

following the health and safety protocols mandated by Toronto

Public Health. I suspect that one of the primary reasons that we

have yet to see a confirmed case of COVID at our school is due to the

abundance of caution that our families have show with regard to

following Public Health guidelines and we appreciate those who have kept their child(ren) home when they are not well and even keeping asymptomatic siblings home ‘just in case,’ even though this is not required by Public Health. Your partnership is appreciated and critical in order to keep our school community safe for everyone.

Daily Health Pass/Symptoms

Please continue to sign the revised Health Pass daily to confirm that your child was screened at home and does not present with any of the identified symptoms. Moreover, having all of the passes signed enables the teacher to begin the school day that much quicker. The new pass categorizes symptoms differently. There are those that require self-isolation, testing or an alternate diagnosis immediately (Section 1). There are those that require 24-hour symptom free and can return if one (1) symptom; and isolation, testing or alternate diagnosis if two (2) symptoms.

The new form acknowledges children who have an existing health condition identified by a health care provider that gives them the symptoms. Those children should not answer YES, unless the symptom is new, different or getting worse. Importantly, look for changes from your child’s normal symptoms.

COVID-19 Decision Tool for School Students

Back to School Confirmation Form

Toronto Public Health has also provided a ‘Back to School Confirmation Form’ which will allow parent(s)/guardian(s) to confirm that the child is healthy and is able to return to school. This form is for students who are sent home from school because of suspected illness or a child identified as a close contact of someone who tested positive for COVID-19. Your child can bring it to school on the day that they return.

Self-Isolation of Cohorts – Principal Decision Guide

The Toronto District School Board follows direction from the Government of Ontario, which has provided a recommended process for school boards to follow in the event of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in a school or administration site. The TDSB also works closely with Toronto Public Health, which is responsible for determining if an ‘outbreak’ exists, declaring an outbreak, and providing direction on outbreak control measures to be implemented as well as supporting contact tracing efforts.

The guidelines that we are to follow are frequently updated and modified to reflect that changing situation. One of these recent updates by Public Health included giving authority to principals to dismiss a positive case cohort(s) for self-isolation including classroom, bus, extra-curricular and before/after school programs within the school while waiting investigation from Toronto Public Health. Attached is an overview of the Decision Guide for principals to follow.

Reorganization

Thank you for your understanding with regard to the reorganization which was just implemented. The loss of two of our classes and two of our teachers (Mr. Markovski and Mr. Brown) had necessitated a fairly large-scale restructuring that affected most students in the school with either a change of class and/or a new teacher, new classmates and, at a minimum, a change in timetable. The TDSB now has some 66,000 students registered in the Virtual School with thousands having just switched between the options, with many more going virtual than returning from the Virtual School.

The next deadline to request a change in educational setting was set for November 6, 2020 but news released today is that, in an effort to bring greater stability, the November date to switch from one form of learning to the other will not be an option.

At this time it would appear that the end of Term 1 in February will be the next opportunity to move to the Virtual School or switch back to in-person learning.

https://www.cp24.com/news/elementary-school-students-can-no-longer-switch-between-virtual-and-in-class-instruction-in-november-tdsb-1.5147778

Parent Conference Opportunity

This year’s virtual conference takes place over two days – Saturday, October 24th and Sunday, October 25th, which will include two amazing keynotes as well as a host of breakout sessions that you can choose to tailor to your own interests and needs. Learn more at www.parentsaspartners.ca

School Council

Last week we held our first School Council meeting of the year. Thanks to those to who were able to join the meeting. The work of the Council will definitely look very different this year, but the support and input are, as always, much appreciated. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, November 4^th. Details will be given closer to that date.

Safety Patrol

Community officers from the Toronto Police Service (43 Division) were here last week to train our students who have volunteered to be part of our safety patrol crew this year. I know that you will support our kids as they work to help keep other students safe.

Terry Fox Run

Last week’s Terry Fox Run was a great success as classes took turns taking part in the run. We raised $570.00 as our donation to the fight against cancer and in celebration of the 40th Anniversary of Terry's Marathon of Hope. If you wish, it isn’t too late to donate at: http://www.terryfox.ca/FairmountJPSScarborough. Receipts are emailed immediately and there is no minimum donation! Every dollar counts!

Outside Learning/Weather

Up to this point, we have been extremely fortunate with the weather as it has enabled us to go outside for recesses and lunch and for teachers to conduct some lessons outside. As we move into soggier weather next week, and colder weather in the weeks and months to come, please ensure your child is dressed to be outside for extended periods of time.

October 7, 2020

Pending Reorganization

Last night parents received an email from the TDSB regarding

pending reorganization in schools. I want to let you know that

this does impact our school. I’m sending this message to you so

that you won’t be surprised if you receive a letter indicating that your

child is affected by our reorganization. Though we don’t have a large number of students leaving our school to go to the Virtual School, we already had some of our classes well below the allowable limit of students per class and given the need to meet the staffing needs of the Virtual School,

We will continue to have 2 kindergarten classes and 3 intermediate classes, but we are losing one primary (grades 1-3) class and 1 junior (grades 4-6) class.

Obviously, losing a class in each of these divisions means that some students will need to move to a different class. However, the implications of this reorganization are a little more far-reaching in that we are also losing a few teachers, based on seniority, which means that almost all of our students are going to be affected in some way. For example, Mr. Brown is one of the teachers we are losing, which means that Ms. Cane will need to teach French to all of our junior and intermediate classes, which necessitates moving one of our other teachers to the intermediate division. So, you may very well receive a letter at the end of this week informing you that your child may be switching to another class and/or getting a new teacher beginning next week. We came into this year knowing that parents and students would have at least three opportunities to move to and from the Virtual School, which could result in reorganization for us. (We may need to consider adding resiliency and flexibility to our list of monthly character traits for 2020-2021.) The next opportunity to request a switch to or from the Virtual School is November 6th, to take effect on November 23rd.

Daily Student Health Pass

Prior to coming to school each day, please remember to screen your child for Covid-19 symptoms and, if they are free of symptoms, sign their Health Pass.

Student Health Screening Assessment:

https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/94e5-Survey-poster-Schools.pdf

Student Health Pass:

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Portals/0/docs/Revised%20TDSB%20Student%20Health%20Pass.pdf

Students who do not have a Health Pass require screening which delays the teacher starting the class or from the student being able to join the class that has already started.

In advance of this weekend, wishing you a harvest of blessings, good health and good times. Happy Thanksgiving!

October 2, 2020

Thank you for your help and support as we know that many

parents and guardians spoke to their children about the

Importance of students staying in their assigned zones at recess

and lunch time and for reinforcing the need to wear masks and

maintain their physical distance. Fewer reminders were needed this

week. Thanks also to the parents for your co-operation in wearing a mask when on school property as this was as Public Health requirement that was announced last week.

Public Health Updates

Our community has been tremendously supportive and understanding with regard to signing the daily Health Pass and keeping their children home if they are showing symptoms of Covid-19 or if they need to pick-up their child from school if they develop symptoms after arriving. Yesterday it was announced that the province is changing the screening guidelines.

https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/58629/ontario-revises-covid-19-screening-guidance-for-schools-and-child-care

Our direction from the TDSB is to continue with the screening that we currently have in place until our processes and procedures can be updated, which should be in the coming days. Importantly, there is the recognition that identified symptoms are new or worsening but also different from your child’s baseline health status or usual state. More detail is provided for some of the symptoms which brings more clarity and not all symptoms carry the same weight with regard to our collective course of action. In the end, if your child isn’t feeling well, like in any other year, you need to keep them home, whereas in previous years we probably would have said you should keep them home.

“My child has a runny nose, what should I do? If your child’s only symptom is a runny nose, you should keep your child home and monitor their symptoms. When they feel better, they are ready to go back to school and no Covid test is required. If they get worse or develop other symptoms, contact your health care provider for more advice.”

A number have parents have asked if a child can come to school if their sibling is being kept at home because they are showing a symptom or symptoms. The answer is that others in the house who are not demonstrating symptoms can go to work or school. Some feel that it is prudent to keep the sibling home to be on the safe side but this is the parent’s choice.

COVID-19 School Decision Guide:

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Return-to-School/Health-and-Safety/COVID-19-Guidance

Know When To Self-Monitor, Self-Isolate or Send Your Child to School:

https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/86cb-COVID-19-School-Scenarios.pdf

Immunization clinics that are provided to Grade 7 students in schools every year have been cancelled for this year as s part of the City’s COVID-19 response.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/ontario-school-vaccine-changes-1.5745898

Vaccinations won’t be provided at school but are available from a student’s health care provider. Vaccines provide individuals with protection from non-COVID-19 diseases. Students visiting their health care providers for scheduled or urgent visits should not delay vaccinations at this time. Parents of Toronto school-aged children must provide their child’s vaccination information to Toronto Public Health.

https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/immunization/get-immunized-children-youth/report-student-immunization/

Reorganization

September 30^th was the deadline for the first opportunity for parents to switch to or from the Virtual School. We did not see a significant decrease in our overall numbers in that 8 students who are with us currently are going to the Virtual School after Thanksgiving and 1 student is returning. We will hear early next week if we need to reorganize some of our classes, which would take effect on Tuesday, October 13^th.

Picture Day

If we are allowed to have a school photo day at all this year it will not be until after the new year.

Grade 8 Graduation – Class of 2020

Sadly, our in-person Grade 8 graduation that was originally scheduled for June 22^nd at Birchmount Collegiate and then rescheduled for October 14^th has had to be cancelled. Details of a virtual graduation celebration, including the time and date, will be coming soon.

School Council 2020-2021

Our first school council meeting this year will be a virtual meeting via Zoom on Tuesday, October 6^th beginning at 7:00 PM. Everyone is welcome, including our families who are currently also part of the Virtual School as, we know, you are still Fairmount families at heart.

If you are interested in joining the meeting, please email us at Fairmount@tdsb.on.ca to request the link.

You can also connect with our community through Facebook at Fairmount P.S. SAC.

If you have any discussion items you would like to add to the agenda, please email one of our co-chairs, Julianne Lee at juliannefrank@gmail.com

This year is the 40th Anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope and Fairmount Public School is proud to be continuing the legacy of one of our greatest heroes.

Our students will be running/walking at various times throughout the day on Friday, October 9th. (Rain date is Tuesday, October 13th.)

Please join us and consider supporting this important cause by donating to: http://www.terryfox.ca/FairmountJPSScarborough.

Together, we can all make a difference.

September 25, 2020

Thank you for your on-going support of the school and your

cooperation with helping to make our start a success.

While things are different, we certainly are getting into more of a

daily routine.

Screening

Thank you for being very explicit and intentional with the child(ren) prior to coming to school each day and signing the required Health Pass on a daily basis. Most students are arriving to school with their pass signed, which greatly expedites the entry process and allows for teaching and learning to begin that much quicker.

Beyond obvious seasonal allergies that are normal for the child, please ensure that your child(ren) are completely symptom free when you go over the questions before school. If they have any symptom(s), ‘new or worsening’, they must be kept home. As much as we might want to, we at school are not in a position to make a judgement as to any of these symptoms and keeping a student home is definitely preferable for all than us having to send them home with one of the identified symptoms. This is a link to Toronto Public Health with the procedure. This link to COVID-19 testing centres and pharmacies that are now providing the testing.

https://www.toronto.ca/home/covid-19/covid-19-what-you-should-do/covid-19-have-symptoms-or-been-exposed/covid-19-assessment-centres/

What To Do If You Have COVID-19 Symptoms

The TDSB has updated the response plan and has provided explicit new guidelines and have made some modifications. The guidelines indicate that symptomatic students must remain home and are advised to seek a COVID-19 test or seek an alternative diagnosis from a health care provider. Students who do not receive a COVID-Test or an alternative diagnosis must self-isolate for 14 days and may return only AFTER the 14-day isolation period and are symptom free. Anyone with a close contact of a positive case (ie sibling, parent) must also self-isolate.

Updated Mask Guidelines

Due to a significant increase in the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Toronto and Ontario, a new expectation that has just been announced is that parents/guardians/visitors, are now required to wear masks outside on school property. Thanks for your cooperation with this.

Students – Zones/Physical Distancing

We need your help. If this were a ‘regular’ year, the overall tone of the school and behaviour of our students has been outstanding. However, we are having issues helping some of our students appreciate the gravity of following the new procedures as directed by Public Health. Specifically, students need to remain in their specified zone with their class/cohort when outside for recess or lunch. The second is that they may remove their masks when they are outside, but only if they maintain the 2 metres physical distance from others. We recognize that this expectation is very much contrary to typical behaviour for all of us, but particularly children who just want to play as they always have. We continue to emphasize the importance of this non-negotiable rule that must be followed in order for us to do our part to prevent any of our students, and their families and extended families, from getting sick. Students who are finding this Public Health requirement too difficult to follow should consider switching to the virtual school in order to keep everyone else safe. To be clear, our youngest students have been the best at following the new expectation. Students in our intermediate division are the ones who are having the greatest difficulty appreciating the risk inherent in such behaviour. While difficulty assessing risk is common for students this age, and the behaviour they are engaging in has never been considered potentially dangerous in the past, times have changed and our practices have to change too if we want to prevent an outbreak at our school and in our community. Thanks for reinforcing this with your child(ren). Your help is appreciated.

School Council

Our First School Council Meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 6th. More details will be sent shortly.

Terry Fox Run

This year is the 40th Anniversary of Terry Fox’s Marathon of Hope and Fairmount Public School is proud to be continuing the legacy of one of our greatest heroes.

Our students will be running/walking at various times throughout the day on Friday, October 9th. (Rain date is Tuesday, October 13th.)

Please join us and consider supporting this important cause by donating to: http://www.terryfox.ca/FairmountJPSScarborough.

Together, we can all make a difference.

Ms. Vandenberg (Educational Assistant)

Just when we thought 2020 couldn’t get any worse… we are saying goodbye and congratulations to our incredible educational assistant Ms. Vandenberg, who will be retiring this week after a wonderful career that has culminated in the last 10 years at Fairmount. We wish her all the best in the next chapter of her life.

Week At A Glance

Monday, September 28 – Day 5

Yom Kippur Ends

Tuesday, September 29 – Day 1

Wednesday, September 30 – Day 2

Orange Shirt Day - a day when we honour the Indigenous children who were sent away to residential schools in Canada and learn more about the history of those schools.
Ms. Vandenberg’s last day
Deadline to inform us that you would like to switch from in-person learning to the virtual school or from virtual to in-person learning. Takes effect on Tuesday, October 13^th.

TDSB Recognizes Orange Shirt Day on September 30, 2020

In 1973, 6 year-old Phyllis Webstad was excited to wear her new orange shirt to her first day of school. Phyllis says of the shirt, "it was so bright and exciting—just like it felt to be going to school!" When she arrived at St. Joseph Mission Residential School, her shirt was taken and never given back. For Phyllis, "the colour orange has always reminded me of that and how my feelings didn't matter, how no one cared and how I felt like I was worth nothing. All of us little children were crying and no one cared."

Established in 2013, Orange Shirt Day recognizes the legacy of the Residential Schools System for First Nations, Métis and Inuit families and communities. By wearing orange, we acknowledge the history of Residential Schools in Canada and we honour Survivors.

(The next opportunity to switch is request deadline November 6^th to take effect on November 23^rd.)

Thursday, October 1 – Day 3

Friday, October 2 – Day 4

September 18, 2020

On behalf of the staff at Fairmount, I would like to thank you for

your patience and flexibility and welcome back all of our families

from last year and extend a warm welcome to the new families

who have joined our community. The last school year was one like no

other and this one has already proven to be one unto itself as well.

We are thrilled to be back in school and are very happy to see many

of our students have returned. We will do our best to make school as interesting and as fun as it should be but there will be many new policies and procedures that we are required to implement for the purpose of keeping everyone safe. Our hope is that these are temporary but following them is precisely the way to best ensure that they are in fact an interim measure. While we, of course, will implement all procedures that are required of us by Toronto Public Health and the TDSB but in doing so we may find that there may need to be adjustments after we put them into practice. I thank you in advance for your understanding and support. While it may look a different this year, I look forward to an exciting and fun year of teaching, learning and exploring. As always, we will make the best of the situation in which we find ourselves. On behalf of the staff we would like to welcome back all of our families from last year and extend a warm welcome to all of the new families who joining our community.

You will soon receive an email from the TDSB with an electronic version of some of the forms that need to be completed each year, specifically those in the larger box below. Please let us know if you do not receive the TDSB email or if you prefer to complete all of the forms in hard copy.

The Lunch Permission form and the Medical Form will go home in hard copy.

Forms Include:

Medical Forms

All applicable sections must be filled in. If a section does not apply, please put a line through it.

Lunch Permission Forms

Complete the section that is applicable to your child. A if they are staying for lunch and B if your child can leave school for lunch

Codes of Conduct Form

Walking Excursion Permission

Student Media Release

Permission to Leave School in Severe Weather Conditions

Use of Personal Email Address

Anti-Spam Legislation

Accepting the Board’s Code of Conduct and On-Line Conduct

This allows teachers to take students off of school property but within our immediate community

One section is for outside media and the other is for our own school use such as photos on our Twitter feed

This applies only to Grades 6-8

Allows us to communicate with you via email

This allows us to send you electronic messages that may promote or advertise if it involves a cost or a fee

Generally, classroom information will be sent to you by your child’s teacher and more school-wide information will be shared through newsletter format of the ‘Falconer’. The information from the Falconer is also on our website, which can be found at https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/fairmount

You can also follow us on our Twitter account - @FairmountPS

The other attachment with this email includes some general school procedures/policies/information that you may find useful. Please understand that changes to some of these routines are possible and even likely if related to our evolving approach to handling issues related to Covid-19. Any changes to any of these items will be communicated as they become known to us or should we be in a position to change our practices in an effort to be more responsive to the needs of our students and community.

Parent/Guardian Information Guide

2020-2021 School Year

Fairmount Public School

ANAPHYLAXIS AND LIFE-THREATENING ALLERGIES

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can be life-threatening. Food is the most common cause of anaphylaxis, but insect stings, medicine, latex, or exercise can also cause a reaction.Ninety percent of serious food allergic reactions are caused by peanuts, shellfish, tree nuts, milk, fish, soy, egg, wheat, sesame, and food additives.

The Toronto District School Board’s Policy and Guidelines for Supporting Anaphylactic students is reviewed annually with school staff, including lunch supervision staff. Working together with parents and students, a key goal is to work towards making the school “Allergy Safe”.Current registration procedures require parents to inform the school of life-threatening allergies and parents are required to assist the school in developing a specific plan for the child.

If your child has life-threatening allergies you must:

supply the school with information regarding the specifics of the life-threatening allergies
make an appointment to meet with the principal, office administrator, or teacher to develop an individual plan for your child
provide 2 up-to-date epinephrine auto-injectors for your child (students, where age appropriate should carry one with them at all times and an extra one should be left with the office)

Ways everyone can help:

NO NUTS PLEASE –please avoid sending peanut butter or products with peanuts, sesame, tree nuts, or other nuts listed in the ingredients
feel free to visit www.tdsb.on.ca for more information.

STUDENT APPOINTMENTS

If you need to pick up your child for an appointment, you can call ahead and we can have your child waiting for you when you arrive or you can pull up to the front of the school and call the office and your child will be called down to the office and sent out to you. If your child is too young for this ‘curb-side pick-up’ or if you don’t have your phone, please use the intercom at the main entrance and your child will come down to the office.

At the end of the day, students will exit the building through their designated dismissal door, not the front door.Please arrange a suitable location to meet your child outside the school building.

ASSEMBLIES

We will not be able to hold our usual monthly assemblies in the gym this year but we will still teach, celebrate and recognize various student achievements and positive behaviour and citizenship through various means, including the awarding certificates.

ATTENDANCE REPORTING

Absence: When your child will be absent or late please call 416-396-6240 and provide the necessary details.Please try to call before 8:30 a.m. to leave morning attendance information and/or 12:30 p.m. to leave afternoon attendance information.When student absences are known in advance please send a note to your child’s teacher with the specific information.

Late Arrival: If your child arrives after their class has entered the building they will need to enter through the front door and go to the main office to sign in, at which time they will be marked late. Students are required to enter the classroom with a late entry slip as an indication of arrival through the office.If you need to pick your child up for an appointment you please call ahead so that we can have your child ready and waiting for you outside the office for when you arrive. Thank you for following our routines as they are in place to ensure the safety of all students.

We remind all parents/guardians/care providers that interruptions in classroom entry and exit cause distractions which require time adjustments and limit the learning experience.Consistent attendance and punctuality are essential in providing a successful education for all students.

SAFE ARRIVAL CALLS FROM THE SCHOOL

When the reason for a child’s absence is unknown, the automated call-out system will contact a parent/guardian, at the first and second contact numbers provided, to confirm that the student is safe.Please ensure you press “2” after listening to the automated message as an indication that you have received the message, otherwise the automated system will continue to call you. If it is not possible to locate a parent/guardian, the emergency contact listed on the student’s information card will be called. Please notify the school immediately if a home, work, or contact number changes during the school year.

CELL PHONES

Your child may have a cell phone. However, unless they are being used in the classroom with the permission, and under the supervision of a teacher cell phones are not be used at school. This means that they are to be turned off and to remain out of sight at all times throughout the school day. This includes texting and social media, even during recess and lunch breaks. This allows students to focus better in class. Students are also not allowed to photograph or video-record schoolmates during school hours unless they are under the supervision of a teacher. Phones not powered off will be held by the teacher or the office for the remainder of the day, with a phone call placed home to inform parents. We ask that all calls to and from the school please be made through the office.

We understand that this can be a contentious issue for some of our older students but we are asking for your understanding and support with this particular issue.We understand that many students may be very responsible with regard to appropriate cell phone etiquette, but the reality is that some students do engage in inappropriate behaviour that lead to issues such as cyber bullying and taking of pictures of others without their consent.

We understand that your child may have a cell phone for safety reasons, such as walking to or from school, but it isn’t required for safety while they are at school. Moreover, despite what some students may feel, a little less ‘screen time’ isn’t going to hurt them as we encourage them to focus on their work, play, and interact with others in person

CODE OF CONDUCT

Students are expected to behave in a responsible and acceptable manner when they are at school or participating in a school event.Behaviour expectations are regularly reviewed throughout the year.

Consequences for infractions are also discussed with students, and parents need to be aware of the policies that govern our consequences.Please read the following sections in your child’s agenda: the Code of Conduct, Student Athletes Set an Important Example, Getting The Most Out of Excursions and Field Trips, Code of On-Line Conduct and Consequences of Inappropriate Student Behaviour Chart,so that you are able to discuss behaviour expectations and consequences with your child and support us as we implement our model of progressive discipline.

Fairmount is a great place to learn. The Code of Conduct is used as a guide for our behaviour.Staff and parents must work together to teach our children how to behave responsibly and appropriately.

The Code of Behaviour guides actions and interactions.It provides a guide for all students and adults to follow while at Fairmount and supports us in teaching students how to behave responsibly and appropriately.

Responsibilities of Students:

help maintain a safe and clean learning environment and dress appropriately
be prepared and ready to work with teachers and other students
respect others by valuing the ideas and efforts of others regardless of race, culture, religion, gender or language and respect the property of others and the school
obey the rules developed in the Safe Schools Policy
report any strangers or inappropriate behaviour immediately to a staff member

Responsibilities of Staff:

be punctual and prepared, and be a positive role model for students
provide a safe, nurturing and stimulating environment for learning
comply with school rules and the completion of assigned duties
communicate information about student behaviour, progress and attendance to student, parents, and administration, and ensure that each child experiences success
help each student develop confidence and a healthy self-image

Responsibilities of Parents/Guardians:

act as a partner with the school and ensure that students attend school regularly and on time
assist in preparing students for school through the provision of a proper, nutritious diet and appropriate dress
ensure that students have adequate sleep and a quiet place to work
maintain communication with the school regarding changes in student circumstances, attendance and other concerns that might affect the student’s progress or behaviour
encourage students to develop a positive and responsible attitude toward education, the school, school staff and school-related activities

Progressive Discipline

The Toronto District School Board believes in progressive discipline, a whole-school approach that uses a continuum of interventions, supports and consequences to both promote positive student behaviour and address inappropriate behaviour. The philosophy of this approach is to use disciple that is in proportion to the severity of the behaviour as well as keeping in mind the previous disciplinary history of the student. The range of interventions or consequences used by the school include strategies such as:

creating contracts with students

time outs/detentions

loss of privileges to participate in specified school activities

individual or group counseling

restorative practices/restitution for damage or stolen property

suspensions

Parents will be contacted and informed of the behaviour so that school and home can work together to implement any necessary interventions. The action of the school will also look at the needs of the individual student (i.e., special education, cultural sensitivity) and meet Board policies on anti-racism and equity.

CONTACTING YOUR CHILD’S TEACHER

Parents are encouraged to contact the teacher(s) if they have any concerns about academic progress or social needs at school.Email is often the easiest way to contact them but alternatively you can call the school or send in a note to arrange a mutually convenient time to discuss your concerns. Unfortunately, face-to-face meetings are being discouraged at this time, so telephone conversations are likely the best way to engage with your child’s teacher.

COVID-19 RELATED ITEMS

Entry

All of our classrooms that are currently in use have sinks so students will wash their hands and/or use hand sanitizer. This process will take place every time a student enters the classroom. While we have hand sanitizer, students may wish to bring some of their own for their exclusive use.

Screening

All people entering the school are required to conduct a COVID-19 (self) assessment prior to entry on a daily basis. Parents are asked to conduct an assessment at home and sign and date your child’s Health Pass each morning in order to expedite the entry process. It is important to keep your child home if they present with any of the symptoms. While we recognize that many of the symptoms are relatively common and do not necessarily indicate the person has the virus but the protocol that we are required to follow for a student who presents with one of the symptoms is quite stringent and, assuming that the student simply has one of the symptoms and it isn’t COVID related, it is far more convenient to keep your child home for a day than to have to take them for a COVID test or, alternatively, keep them home to isolate for 14 days. There is an option to screen with the paper Health Pass or to use the ServiceNow Health Screening App but, for now, we are going to just use the paper Health Pass.

Symptoms

Fever, Cough, Difficulty Breathing, Sore Throat, Trouble Swallowing, Runny Nose, Red Eyes, Loss of Taste or Smell, Not Feeling Well, Tired or Sore Muscles, Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea

(It is best if the screening is done at home as you are in the best position to determine if your child is truly feeling out of sorts. We do probe if screening and asking questions related to ‘being tired’ or ‘sore muscles’ as there tends to be a perfectly logical answer to these questions that have nothing to do with feeling ‘unwell’ but we are not in a position to make a judgement with regard to some of the others if the student asserts that they have any of these symptoms.

Wellness Room

When a student presents with a symptom they will be escorted to our ‘Wellness (Isolation) Room’ where they can comfortably stay while arrangements are made for them to be picked up.

Health and Safety Practices

As outlined by Toronto Public Health
Practice physical distancing of 2m as much as possible
Conduct daily screening of COVID-19 symptoms
Wear a mask or face covering when physical distancing is not possible
Wash hands frequently
Practice respiratory etiquette by covering your cough or sneeze
Avoid touching your face, eyes, nose or mouth

Health and Safety Processes – COVID-19

Protocols are changing with regard to how to deal with someone who is presenting with any of the symptoms. You will be kept updated as to changes.

The most recent updated guidelines stipulate that, “An Employee or Student who is symptomatic with COVID-19 symptoms and does NOT go for testing, must self-isolate for 14 days from the start of symptoms. After 14 days, if well, they can stop self-isolating.”

Staff and Student Scenarios:

-Close contact with a direct person who tested positive – individual is to stay home and will need to get tested. Negative results and they can return to school after 14 days.

-Person has COVID symptoms – individual goes home and is encouraged to get tested. If the test is negative, they can return to school after 24 hours.

-Person has Covid symptoms and the individual chooses not to take a COVID test – the person can return to school after 14 days if they are no longer showing symptoms.

Mask/Face Coverings

Staff and visitors must wear Level 1 or 2 medical masks when indoors and outdoors when unable to maintain a physical distance of two metres.

Students must wear masks or face coverings while in school, but they are not required to be medical masks.

During the school day, teachers will allocate time for students and themselves to have mask breaks, including outdoor time (if possible) where masks can be temporarily and safely removed and stored.

Consideration should be given as to what a student plans to do with their mask while they are outside. Does your child have a pocket they can put it in? Will they wear a fanny pack? It might be a good idea to keep a spare mask in their backpack and possibly two ziplock bags, one marked ‘clean’ and one marked ‘dirty’.

Outdoor Activities & Recess

Teachers are encouraged to extend the learning environment beyond the traditional classroom and into the outdoors on a daily basis.

Students will participate in recess activities with their classmates in accordance with cohorting protocols and procedures. Masks and face coverings are not required while outdoors.

During outdoor activity, physical distancing must be maintained between different classes/cohorts as they should not mix.

Virtual Learning

For students whose parents/guardians have chosen to continue their child’s learning at home, there are Virtual Schools fully online and staffed by TDSB teachers. Students will take part in synchronous (live/online) learning throughout the day.

Managing COVID-19 in a School

The Government of Ontario has provided a recommended process for school boards to follow in the event of a suspected or confirmed case of COVID-19 in a school.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/operational-guidance-covid-19-management-schools

The TDSB takes its lead from Toronto Public Health, who is responsible for determining if an outbreak exists, declaring an outbreak, and providing direction on outbreak control measures to be implemented. It’s important to note that even though an outbreak may be declared in the school, Toronto Public Health will assist in determining which cohort(s) may be sent home or if a partial or full school closure is required based on the scope of the outbreak. Please note the response will depend on the unique circumstances of each case. In the interests of privacy, information provided to school communities will not identify the student or staff member that has received a positive COVID-19 test. If Toronto Public Health advises that a class, cohort or a school should be closed for a period of time, parents, students and staff will be notified immediately.

ELECTRONIC DEVICES FOR LEARNING – CHROMEBOOKS, LAPTOPS ETC.

Students may wish to bring their own device to school for their exclusive use. In the spring, thousands of devices were collected from school across the TDSB and loaned to students who required a device to continue their learning on-line. In our case, 64 of our Chromebooks were distributed to TDSB students who request a device. Given that virtual schooling has continued, these devices have not been collected and returned just yet. We do still have some technology in the school, but some students may wish to bring their own device and may indeed be more comfortable having a device that is for their exclusive use. Teachers will ensure that these devices are safely stored.

DRESS CODE

We encourage all parents to monitor how their children dress for school each day.Clothing that has inappropriate words or pictures (e.g. racist, promoting drugs or violence, etc.) may not be worn at school.In addition, please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the weather, as all students are expected to go outside for recesses.

It is essential that all students wear shoes inside the building at all times. In the event of an emergency such as fire or even a fire drill, students will not be able to stop and put on shoes or boots. The chances of slipping on the floor are also reduced with proper footwear. Running shoes are necessary for all gym classes. We request that all students have two pairs of shoes/footwear for school - indoor shoes and outdoor shoes/boots to help us keep our school clean and safe.

DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP

Kindergarten – all entry and dismissal will be from the same door for both classes. Please remember to maintain physical distancing while waiting outside for your child.

Grades 1-8 - Students will line-up at the designated marking for their class in the morning and the classroom teacher will come to get them and lead them to their classroom door. At the end of the day, the teacher will lead them to this same place and dismiss them from here, recognizing that not all students will necessarily be waiting for an adult for pick-up. At lunch, students will be dismissed from their designated classroom door.

STUDENT EMERGENCY CONTACT AND MEDICAL INFORMATION

It is extremely important that all emergency information kept in the office is accurate and up to date. Please ensure that the school office has:

The correct telephone numbers for parents and/or legal guardians, daycare providers, and emergency contacts
A list of all medical concerns of which the staff should be aware
A spare Epi-Pen or inhaler to be stored in the office if your child normally carries one, and where the child is old enough, s/he will transport the Epi-Pen or inhaler with them.

An information card with contact information will be sent home within the next couple of weeks, please indicate any changes on this sheet, and sign it.Please return it to your child’s teacher.

EQUITY POLICY

The TDSB is committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities for all students. This includes our ongoing commitment to human rights, equity, anti-racism, anti-indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, anti-oppression, and ALL forms of racism and discrimination.

The TDSB values the contributions and engagement of all members of our diverse community of students, staff, parents/guardians, Elders and community groups. Inequitable treatment leads to outcomes that do not accurately reflect the abilities and potential of our students. We acknowledge that equity of opportunity of access to our services and resources are critical to the achievement of successful outcomes for our students and families. The TDSB acknowledges that we must take a focused, explicit, persistent and determined action to identify, challenge and overcome systemic bias, oppression and discrimination. Our school system is built on the principles of non-discrimination, anti-oppression, anti-racism, equitable and inclusive education which is a foundation of excellence in a diverse society and is a fundamental requirement for educational excellence and high standards of student achievement.We are committed to: meeting individual needs, identifying and eliminating barriers, promoting a sense of belonging, and involving the broad community.

The Board and our school are committed to ensuring that:

The curriculum of our school accurately reflects and uses the variety of knowledge of all peoples as the basis for instruction
All of our students are provided with equitable opportunities to be successful in our system
Parents and community groups are provided with equitable opportunities for working with staff and with each other for the benefit of all students
Students, employees, parents and community partners are provided with effective procedures for resolving concerns and complaints which may arise from their experiences of unfair or inequitable treatment within the school system

(from the TDSB Equity Foundation Statement)

HOMEWORK POLICY

The research on homework indicates that some regular work at home can increase student achievement.For primary students in Grade 1 to Grade 3, the effect of homework on achievement is negligible and that the positive effect of homework on achievement increases only as the age of thechild increases. Children from Grade 4 through high

school benefit the most from homework.

Doing homework is an important part of schoolwork.There are four types of assigned homework.Each type has a different purpose.

1)Completing work not finished at school.

2)Practising new skills learned during the day.

3)Preparing work for upcoming lessons.

4)Extension activities that expand concepts or skills.

Most homework will take the form of reading, playing games or having discussions with family members.In the late Primary or early Junior grades, homework may become more independent.

Homework will not be assigned to students who are going away for an extended period (e.g., a trip to another country) or during school holidays.

Please visit www.tdsb.on.ca for more information about the TDSB Homework Policy

PRESCRIBED MEDICATION

The Board authorizes the involvement of designated staff in the essential administration of prescribed medication only when all of the following conditions apply:

the use of the medication is prescribed by a physician;
the medication is essential for a student to continue to attend school;
it is necessary that the medication must be taken during school hours or during school events;
it is not appropriate for the student to self-administer the medication; and
the student’s parent/guardian or other authorized adult is not reasonably able to attend at school to administer the medication.

In order for any student who meets the above conditions to receive medication at school, a parent or legal guardian must give written authorization, with clearly written instructions from a physician. The physician and parent or guardian must complete the appropriate T.D.S.B. form, which can be obtained from the school office. All medication must be given to the principal or office administrator to be stored in an appropriate area. No medication is to be kept in the possession of the student, with the exception of inhalers to control asthma, and Epi-Pens. Students carrying these items must be instructed to never share them with anyone and must know how to use them safely and correctly.

STUDENT ILLNESS

To safeguard the health of others, we ask that any child who feels ill be kept at home.If a student feels ill while at school, parents will be notified to make arrangements for his/her care.If the child has a communicable disease (chicken pox, influenza, pink eye, etc.) or head lice, parents are requested to notify the school as soon as possible. Where serious or persistent health issues are identified or presented, school staff will consult with, and follow directions provided by the Toronto Public Health Department. Minor injuries such as scrapes and bruises will be treated at the school while more serious injuries will result in a call to the student’s parents and/or emergency contacts.

INCLEMENT WEATHER

This year, students will not be admitted early due to inclement weather so please plan your time of arrival and choice of clothing appropriately. Students will, of course, remain inside during extremely cold days, as per board policy, and during truly rainy days but they will be going outside as much as possible as part of their instructional day and to get a ‘mask break’ so please send them to school prepared to spend time outside.

LUNCH ROUTINES

Our lunch hour will look significantly different this year. Students who stay for lunch will eat their lunch during instructional time so that an adult, their teacher, is present. This will look different in different grades but ideally the students will eat while they are working/learning. Students who go home/leave the property for lunch will continue with their work until they are dismissed for lunch at 11:30. At this time, the students who stay for lunch will go outside, to their designated zone for the day. They will remain outside, in their zone, for the entire hour so please make sure that they are dressed appropriately for the weather.

The lunch program has always been for students who have no one at home over the lunch hour and for whom no other arrangements can be made.If there is an adult at home, or if the student is old enough and responsible enough to go home on their own, then a student should go home for lunch.They are welcome to stay on days when they have an extra-curricular activity or on a day when a parent/guardian needs for them to stay.For students who stay on a regular basis, parents must complete, sign and return a Permission To Stay At School for Lunch form to the school before your child is allowed to eat lunch at school.Students staying at school for lunch are expected to stay on school property at all times, unless a phone call or note specifying alternate arrangements is received by the classroom teacher or school office. If you have indicated that your child must stay at school for lunch and it comes to our attention that he/she has not stayed and thus defied your wishes, we will inform you as soon as possible.

Any student who is unwilling or unable to behave in an appropriate manner will have his/her lunch program privileges suspended or terminated.It will be up to the parent to make other arrangements.Please emphasize with your child the importance of good behaviour and a respectful attitude towards the lunchroom supervisors. Please also reinforce with your child the importance of remaining in their designated zone with their class/cohort.

Please ensure that your child’s name is on his/her lunch bag. As well, we ask that students bring litterless lunches, encouraging students to use reusable containers and water bottles. Any uneaten food or packaging from the lunch will be taken home with the student.

Special lunch days (e.g. Pizza Lunch Days) are to be cancelled until further notice. Not that this has happened with students at our school but food delivery services are not allowed at this time.

PARKING LOT

The parking lot on the east side of the school is barely large enough to accommodate school and board personnel, therefore visitors are asked to park on neighbouring streets where street parking is legal. Please help us exercise courtesy with our neighbours by not parking in front of driveways.

RECESS/LUNCH ZONES

One of the many new policies that we have had to implement this year in an effort to keep students as safe as possible is to do what we can to keep classes/cohorts separate from each other. To this end, we currently have 11 Grade 1-8 classes. We have divided our school yard/field into 11 ‘zones’ with each class being assigned a different zone for a given day. (They rotate sequentially each day.)

Students are asked to remain within their zone in an effort to minimize the exposure to other students who are not in their class, thus reducing the overall number of contacts for a student. We recognize that this is restrictive for students and will certainly alter their options during their recess and lunch hour but we are hopeful that they will be able to adapt to this, what we hope, will prove to be a temporary measure. Please talk to your child to help reinforce why Public Health requires us to implement such measures and the importance of remaining in their assigned zone.

REORGANIZATION - SCHOOL/CLASSROOM

In the spring we determine what classes we will have in September and which students will be in each of these classes.This is developed based on our projected enrolment for the upcoming school year.However, sometimes the actual numbers vary from what was anticipated or we realize that we need to better balance our classes by moving some students from one class to another. In a typical year there is one time for reorganization, toward the end of September. This year students/parents have chosen between face-to-face learning in school and attending the virtual school. As a result, our planning that we had done in the spring had to be revised just before the start of school. There will be three opportunities for students to switch from in-school learning to the virtual school or vice versa. This means that we could potentially have to reorganize three more times between now and February. We always try to minimize changes during the reorganization period but a change in our enrolment in addition to the class size limits in all grades will make this more of a challenge. We thank you in advance for your understanding and cooperation should your child be affected by any changes in their classroom placement and ask that you see it as just one more consequence of the pandemic and the impact it has had on all of us.

Opportunity to Change	Deadline for Requesting a Change	Date the Change of Class Would Take Effect
One Month into School	September 30^th	October 13^th (day after Thanksgiving)
Following the Progress Report	November 6^th	November 23^rd
Following the First Report Card	January 29th	February 16^th (day after the Family Day holiday)

Daily Routines and Expectations:

Coming to School
Before Classes Start
Leaving the Building and School Property
Expectations for Yard Behaviour

Students are expected to:

use appropriate language at all times
use recess time to play cooperatively or socialize
respect designated play and out of bound areas
follow instructions provided by lunch supervisors and school staff

Expectation for Using the Washroom and Drinking Fountains

Guidelines for General Courtesy

Students are expected to:

use acceptable forms of language and be aware that slang or street language is not acceptable at school
remember to use words like “please”, “excuse me” and “thank you”

Students are expected to arrive at school ready to learn and should:

be well rested
be dressed appropriately for the weather
have everything they need for the entire day
- (e.g. Lunch, homework, clothing appropriate for outdoor recess, forms, etc.)

Students are expected to:

wait outside until the bell rings
stand clear of the doors and keep doors closed until the sound of the bell
remember that the use of the front doors is not necessary if you are at school on time
enter the building quietly

Students are expected to:

be ready and quiet when the bell sounds for dismissal
walk quietly in the halls at all times
leave the building and school property immediately once dismissed unless they have extra-curricular activities, or require extra help
wait quietly in designated areas if being picked up by a parent or guardian
older siblings who pick up younger siblings must pick them up outside the appropriate doors
students are expected to be picked up promptly at 3:20 pm daily, as this is dismissal time.Your co-operation with this is greatly appreciated.
particularly now as we try to minimize student movement through the hallways, students will not be allowed to congregate or wait on a daily basis in the front foyer. If for some reason students are not walking home on a given day, ensure you have a pre-selected meeting place

Students are expected to:

water fountains are currently unavailable for use, so students are asked to bring a refillable container from home. We do have a refilling station for students to use.
each section of the school has access to their own washrooms. There is a maximum capacity for each of these washrooms which is posted on the door. Students are required to respect this number as it is for their own well-being. They are required to respect the facilities and report any concerns to the office immediately
walk in the hallways and use ‘indoor’ voices

FAIRMOUNT SCHOOL COUNCIL

The School Council is one of several ways that parents/guardians can support their child’s education. It is made up of an elected committee of parents, staff representatives, appointed community members, the principal, and a general membership that includes all parents of children attending the school. The School Council at Fairmount provides support and advisement for the enhancement of students’ education and meets most months throughout the school year.Nomination forms for specific positions will be sent home each year should we have a number of people who wish to hold the same formal position. However, if a ballot does not come home for the position of chairperson, secretary or treasurer it is because only one person came forward to express a willingness to hold this particular position of responsibility, or two people have agreed to share the role. All parents are welcome to attend council meetings. The meetings are usually held in the school library and the specific dates and times are announced in email format but this year, until further notice, meetings will be held virtually. This year’s first meeting will be in October and a code/link to access the meeting will be sent home in advance.

SCHOOL SECURITY

All schools in the TDSB have a buzzer entry system at the front door.This means that our front door will be locked at all times.If you need to gain entry to the school, please push the button and one of our office staff will speak to you through the intercom and/or then unlock the door via a remote release. All other doors to the school will be locked throughout the day and only opened for student entry and dismissal. All schools are discouraging visitors at this time in an attempt to reduce possible exposure to the Covid-19 virus. However, should you need to enter the school, please call ahead and upon entry, you will see a screening table. Please complete the health screening and the contact tracing form, sanitize your hands and a mask if you do not have one of your own. You may then proceed to the main office, which will be on your right-hand side.

If you are simply dropping off something for your child, you can let the office staff know that you are dropping something off for your child and you can leave it on the table and your child will be called down to retrieve it or it will be delivered to your child’s classroom. (If possible, it is best if the item is labeled in some way in case there happen to be multiple items in a short period of time.)

Kindergarten to Grade 8

8:42 am -11:30 amMorning Program

Recess 9:55 -10:10Grades 1-8

11:30 am - 12:32 pmLunch Break

12:32 pm – Afternoon Program Begins

Recess 1:55-2:10Grades 1-8

3:05 pm - Kindergarten Dismissal

3:20 pm - Regular Dismissal Grades 1-8

To foster punctuality and ensure a good start to the day, students should arrive at school a few minutes before the bell. The recommended time is 8:40 am and 12:30 pm.

The paved area in back of the school is the designated waiting area for gr. 1-8 and supervision is provided from 8:27 -8:42 am.The kindergarten students will enter through their classroom doors at the front of the school (Ms. Friedlander/Ms. Sutherland) and at the east side of the school (Ms. Rosekat/Ms. Surette).

TRAFFIC - STUDENT DROP-OFF AND PICK-UP

The traffic in front of the school during peak times of drop-off and pick-up is an ongoing issue in the community as we are concerned for the safety of our students.

As an Eco-school, we encourage walking to and from school, however, if you drive your child to school, please ensure that you do not pull into the school parking lot. If it is absolutely necessary to drive your child to school, please note that the city has restricted parking on Sloley Road in front of the school so make sure that you are legally parked on one of the side streets, but please be mindful of our neighbours who live near our school. Please ensure that your child is using safety practices when crossing the street to and from school, as we do not want students running across any roads without appropriate supervision. Model appropriate manners and respect by paying attention to and following the instructions of our student safety patrollers who are trying to help keep you and your children safe.

VALUABLEs / PERSONAL ITEMS

Your child must leave valuable items such as jewellery, cameras, cash, or hand-held electronic games at home.The school cannot be responsible for any loss or damage done to these expensive items.We are sorry to say but valuable items do go missing or get stolen.As well, the school will not take responsibility for any loss or damage done to bicycles left in the school yard.Clothing items such as jackets, running shoes, boots, and personal items such as lunch bags and backpacks should be labeled with your child’s name to prevent these items from being lost.

VISITORS’ SIGN-IN BOOK

A reminder that parents for our school, and parents for the daycare, are not allowed to enter the building and go to their child’s classroom. This is a rule every year for the purpose of physical safety, but this year it is required for the purpose of Public Health stipulations. If there is a situation where a parent or caregiver needs to enter the school, they will need to sign-in and out so that tracking information is provided and available so Public Health can be given the information as to who was in the building on a certain date and time should it be necessary.

The visitor’s book is located on the front table as you enter the front door of the school.

VOLUNTEERS

Until further notice, we will not be able to have volunteers in the school. We are hopeful that this changes in the near future.

SCHOOL YARD

Teachers and lunch supervisors are scheduled to supervise specified areas around the school at appropriate times throughout the school day.Rules for safe and courteous play are enforced and suitable language is expected.

NO DOGS PLEASE
SKATEBOARDS, SCOOTERS, AND BICYCLES
BASEBALL BATS, HOCKEY STICKS, LACROSSE STICKS, HARDBALLS ETC…

The school grounds and play areas are property of the Toronto District School Board and under school jurisdiction during the school day. Dogs are not permitted on school property at any time unless for a prearranged student educational program (e.g. CNIB, Kindness Club) or with the principal’s permission.

As an ECO school we encourage students to walk or ride to school.Wearing a helmet to ensure student safety is mandatory as it is the law.The items listed above however, should not be used on school property to avoid injuring other students who share the pavement in the yard. Bicycles left at the school are left at students’ own risk as we are not responsible for any damage or stolen bicycles.

These items should not be brought from home unless special permission has been granted from the teacher or school office.

FAIRMOUNT PUBLIC SCHOOL

SIGNIFICANT DATES

AND

HOLIDAYS

2020-2021

The Dates of Additional School Events Will be Communicated When Finalized

Tuesday, September 15 First Day of School – SK, 4, 8

Wednesday, September 16 First Day of School – JK, 1, 7

Thursday, September 17 First Day of School – 2, 3, 5, 6

Wednesday, September 30 Deadline to request change to virtual or in-school

Monday, October 14 Thanksgiving

Tuesday, October 15 Reorganization Takes Effect

Friday, November 6 Deadline to request change to virtual or in-school

Tuesday, November 17 Progress Reports Go Home

Friday, November 20 Professional Activity Day – No Classes

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Monday, November 23 Reorganization Takes Effect

Friday, December 18 Last Day of School

Winter Break - Monday, December 21 to Friday, January 1

Monday, January 4 School Resumes

To Be Announced School Photo Day

Friday, January 15 Professional Activity Day – No School for Students

Friday, January 29 Deadline to request change to virtual or in-school

Tuesday, February 9 Report Cards Go Home

Friday, February 12 Professional Activity Day – No Classes

Parent/Teacher Interviews

Monday, February 15 Family Day Holiday

Tuesday, February 16 Reorganization Takes Effect

March Break Monday, March 15 to Friday, March 19

Friday, April 2 Good Friday

Monday, April 5 Easter Monday

Monday, May 24 Victoria Day

Friday, June 4 Professional Activity Day – No School for Students

Friday, June 25 Report Cards Go Home

Tuesday, June 29 Last Day of School for Students

September 11, 2020

As we prepare to open our school next week and welcome back our students, or welcome those new to our school and community, we are doing everything possible to ensure the health and safety of all school community members, while also providing the best academic experience possible for students, supporting mental health and well-being, and considering the needs of families and staff.

As mentioned in the last Falconer, this week we were using the revised numbers of students who have indicated that they will attend school in person next week to revise our classroom organization and staffing models.

Our new classroom organization model, with the corresponding teacher, and entry/exit door is as follows:

(Revised after October Re-organization)

Class	Teacher	Door
Kindergarten A – Room 12	Ms. Rosekat	Classroom Door #9A at the west side of the building
Kindergarten B – Room 10	Ms. Friedlander/Ms. Sutherland	Classroom Door 9C – at the front of the school

Grade 1 – Room 14	Ms. Cheyne	Main External Door #8 – near the portables
Grade 2 - Room 16	Ms. Thompson-West	Main External Door #8 – near the portables
Grade 3 – Room 5	Ms. Diwan (Ms. Lyons)	External Classroom Door #3C
Grade 4/5 -Room 4	Mr. McCready (Ms. Cole)	External Classroom Door #3B

Grade 5 – Room 6	Mr. Carr	External Classroom Door #3D
Grade 5/6 – Room 7	Ms. Misner	External Classroom Door #4B
Grades 7/8A – Room 23	Mr. Wood	External Door #3 – near the parking lot at the east end of the school
Grades 7/8B – Room 20	Ms. Laurin	External Door #2 –The door at the end of the hall near room 20 that leads to the front of the school
Grades 7/8C – Room 21	Ms. Jeffrey	External Door #2 –The door at the end of the hall near room 20 that leads to the front of the school

Note that, with the exception of our two kindergarten classes, which will line-up at the designated door, Grades 1-8 students will line-up on the pavement at the back of the school. It is not necessary to search for the appropriate entry door as the class will gather on the pavement on the place indicated for their class and the teacher will meet them there and lead them to their class door. (In many of these cases, the classes will use the external door that leads directly into their classroom.

You will receive an email or contact from your child’s teacher, letting you know which class your child is in to start the year.

The first week of school will be a staggered start. Once a grade starts their first day, they will continue to come for the rest of the week.

Date	Grades
Mon. Sept. 14	No Students
Tues. Sept. 15	SK, Gr. 4, 8
Wed. Sept. 16	JK, Gr, 1, 7
Thurs. Sept. 17	Gr. 2, 3, 5, 6
Fri. Sept. 18	All Students

In previous years, schools often have to reorganize or make some adjustments to classes once it is determined whether or not the projected enrolment was accurate. This year may prove to be a year in which there could be a series of reorganizations depending on changes to our enrolment and the need to do our best to meet the provincial caps that have been put in place in all grades to better manage physical distancing. Some families/students have chosen in-school learning and others have selected to begin the year learning virtually. There are three opportunities that have been communicated as the chance for students to switch from one of these formats to the other. These dates are as follows:

Opportunity to Change to Virtual or In-Person Learning	Deadline for Requesting a Change of Learning Platform	Date the Change of Class Would Take Effect (Reorganization)
One Month into School	Wednesday, Sept. 30	Tuesday, October 15
Following the Progress Report	Friday Nov. 6	Monday, November 23rd
Following the First Report Card	Friday, January 29th	Tuesday, February 16th

These ‘reorganization’ dates could possibly reflect changes in classes and/or teachers for our school and for students. While it is far too soon to predict whether or not this could happen, it is important that you know ahead of time that is a very real possibility.

There are many things about this school year that are going to be very different and new to all of us.

School Hours

Morning Entry Time: 8:42

Recess – Grades 1-8: 9:55-10:10

Lunch – All Grades: 11:30-12:32

Recess – All Grades: 1:45-2:00

Kindergarten Dismissal: 3:05

Dismissal - Grades 1-8: 3:20

Entry/Dismissal Procedures

Kindergarten – all entry and dismissal will be from the same door for both classes. Please remember to maintain physical distancing while waiting outside for your child.

For Grades 1-8. Students will line-up at the designated marking for their class in the morning and the classroom teacher will come to get them and lead them to their classroom door. At the end of the day, the teacher will lead them to this same place and dismiss them from here, recognizing that not all students will necessarily be waiting for an adult for pick-up. At lunch, students will be dismissed from their designated classroom door.

School Preparation

Teachers will be spending time in class discussing and reviewing the necessary protocols related to the wearing of masks and appropriate and necessary hygiene reinforcing the importance of hand washing and using hand sanitizer. Students will notice significant signage in the school detailing these important protocols and arrows and decals on the floor reminding them which side of the hallway to walk on to maximize distance from someone moving in the opposite direction. Teachers have done their best to improve physical distancing in the classroom by best utilizing the spacing of desks and tables and removing any items/furniture that is not essential.

Self-Assessment Prior to Coming to School Every Day

All parents/guardians are required to complete a screening at home to ensure that their child does not have any Covid-19 symptoms prior to arriving at school.https://www.toronto.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/94e5-Survey-poster-Schools.pdf

We were anticipating the need to screen students again once they arrive at school but we have just learned that Toronto Public Health has approved the use of a ‘Health Pass’ that is a daily indication from the parent/guardian that a student has been screened by the parent and that they do not exhibit any of the symptoms.

There is an app that can be used or a paper copy that can be brought and shown to the teacher upon entry. We will likely begin with the paper copy of the ‘Health Pass’ and then leave it to the teacher’s discretion as to which method is preferred for their class.

Ventilation

The TDSB has been working over the summer to review building ventilation and filtration systems and is implementing a number of strategies to improve ventilation in our schools and increase the volume of fresh air to the maximum extent possible.

These strategies include:

Ensure that exhaust fans are running and keep them running for additional time at the end of the school day.
Ensure clean filters are installed prior to the start of the school year and inspect regularly to ensure they don’t become clogged, or hinder airflow.
Increase the frequency of filter changes from 4 times per year to 6 times per year to maintain performance.
Follow recommended maintenance measures for air handling systems including inspection and replacement of filters.
In the case of older schools like Fairmount, open windows to provide outdoor air.

Handwashing

Students should wash their hands regularly with soap in either warm or cold water. Hand sanitizer will be provided for classrooms that do not have sinks but our classrooms are indeed equipped with sinks so handwashing can be done in the classroom. While we expect that we will also have hand sanitizer in our classrooms, you may wish to consider sending a small container of hand sanitizer with your child so that they have ready access at any time for their exclusive use.

Water Fountains

Lunch Time

Students are strongly encouraged to go home, or make alternate arrangements, for lunch as the lunch hour will look very different this year than in previous years. All students, K-8, who stay for lunch will bring a litterless lunch as they will need to take home any uneaten food or packaging materials from their lunch. All students (K-8) will eat their lunch in the classroom during instructional time, finishing in time for the 11:30 break. At this time, students who go home for lunch will be dismissed to go home and all students who stay for lunch will go outside and go directly to the section of the property that is designated for their class for that day, where they will remain for the entire lunch period. (The rear of the school will be divided into 11 sections to reflect the 11 Grade 1-8 classes that we currently have.) The outdoor Kindergarten area will be divided in two for those in the two classes who stay for lunch.

If your child is staying for lunch, please be mindful of the weather as they will be outside for the entire hour. Any students who go home for lunch or who are permitted to go out for lunch off school property would be expected to remain off property until just before afternoon entry. Students who have performed the active screening in the morning do not need to be actively screened again upon re-entry during the day.

Until further notice, school pizza lunches are not allowed.

Visitors to the School

All school visitors must:

Enter through the main entrance and conduct a COVID-19 health screening.
Wait to be invited into the school office to ensure appropriate physical distance.
Sign-in and out for safety and contact tracing.
Physically distance to the extent possible while in the office.
Wear a mask.A mask will be provided if needed
In the case where families would like to speak with someone at the school, please call or email the school directly.
Parents/caregivers who require a meeting with a teacher/school staff to discuss non-emergency issues, will do so by phone or virtually where possible.

How can I prepare my child for school?

Practice wearing a mask at home for extended periods of time.Children can practice wearing their mask while on the computer or other devices.
Label all of your child’s belongings with their name.
Decide what will work best for them to store their mask when they are not wearing one and where to keep a spare mask. They could have a fanny pack that could also include a personal bottle of hand sanitizer or bring 2 Ziploc bags (one marked clean and one marked dirty).
Ensure to wash masks after daily use.
Pack lunch in reusable containers as everything from lunch will be returning home
As always, we will make available school supplies for all students. However, if you choose, you may want to consider sending your child with his or her own personal supplies for their exclusive use. We will have any and all necessary supplies available and will do our best to ensure that they are properly sanitized. (Remember when we used to encourage children to share?)
Be ready to drop off/pick up your child outside of the school so decide where is the best meeting place for you and your child(ren)

Checklists for Families

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Portals/0/docs/ACCESSIBLE_ChecklistElementary.pdf

School Council - Two Upcoming Events

Saturday, September 12 - Fairmount Clean-Up Day – 10:00 AM. Bring a leaf bag and gardening tools if you can to help beautify our school property.

Monday, September 14 – Back to School Chalk Art – Anytime – Come by and write a message, create some artwork on the walkways to welcome students and staff back to school

September , 2020

I know that there are a lot of questions that remain about what

our school will look like when we open and what some of the

Procedures will be.

This edition of the Falconer won’t necessarily give you all of the

answers, but I want to let you know where things stand as of this

moment and what you can expect to know and, ideally, when. In a normal year, you would already know ‘everything’ but this year there are still things that we don’t know because we are awaiting the information to make decisions or we are working out logistical issues within the parameters that have been provided to us.

Please know that while we will do our best to put the best possible procedure in place, we may end up changing some things once we put something in practice and find there are things we didn’t anticipate. While we hope this isn’t the case, I want you to know that realistically it not only is probable but is also, though frustrating, a positive thing because we are being responsive and making a change to make the procedure better and more realistic.

Our staff met this week and worked out some general operational/organizational procedures:

Entry and Exit

Each class will line up on the pavement behind the school. This will be marked in some fashion with a pylon and/or markings on the ground. When the bell goes, students from that class will line-up in the same place morning. Teachers will come and retrieve their students from this location. They will need to conduct the Covid screening for the students in their class so if you bring your child to school it is ideal if you can wait until after your child has been screened before you leave in case your child answers ‘yes’ to questions that are part of the screening. At the end of the day, teachers will bring their classes to this same location for dismissal. (The thinking is that we can better ensure that students from different classes are not mingling too closely to each other while in line.)

Teachers will endeavour to take their students outside as much as possible and to provide opportunities for them to take a break from wearing their mask so appropriate clothing for the weather, including rain, is essential.

Students are required to wear at mask when inside so students need to be prepared to put their mask on right from the start of the day upon entry. Masks are not required when students are outside. However, consideration should be given as to what a student plans to do with their mask while they are outside. Does your child have a pocket they can put it in? Will they wear a fanny pack? It might be a good idea to keep a spare mask in their backpack.

Parents Entering The School

A reminder that parents for our school, and parents for the daycare, are not allowed to enter the building and go to their child’s classroom. This is a rule every year for the purpose of physical safety, but this year it is required for the purpose of Public Health Protocols. If there is a situation where a parent or caregiver needs to enter the school, they will need to sign in at the office so that tracking information is provided and available so Public Health can be given the information as to who was in the building on a certain date and time should it be necessary.

For students who exhibit symptoms of Covid-19 or confirm that they have symptoms, they will go to our Wellness Room (isolation room). Parents/caregivers will be contacted and they will need to come to the school and pick-up their child. Note that symptoms include a runny nose and a sore throat, which are also symptoms of the common cold. So, while in previous years you may have very well sent your child to school because it is ‘just a cold’, this year you would need to keep them home because these are also symptoms that are part of the Covid-19 screening process.

Recess and Lunch

While our recess and lunch times will look very different, we are very fortunate to have the give of space behind our school which will make it easier to maintain physical distancing.

Once we know how many Grade 1-8 classes we have, we will divide our yard space into the same number of sections behind our school. (If we have 10 classes then the space will be divided into 10 sections.) When students go outside for recess or lunch, they will be assigned to one of these sections for a given day. It will be an opportunity to go outside but they will be required to stay in the area that is designated for their class.

Students will eat lunches and snacks in their classrooms during instructional time with their teacher where they will remain in their assigned seats. Students need to bring litterless lunches and take home any and all wrappers or packaging. At the start of the official lunch break, students who go home for lunch will go home and those who stay for lunch will go outside for a supervised break in a designated play area for their classroom/cohort. Outdoor play structures will remain closed in all schools.

So, students who stay for lunch will go outside, to their designated area, from 11:30-12:30. You can see why it is encouraged, where possible, for students to go home for lunch. It would be particularly important for students to be dressed for the weather. (Note that the time for lunch cannot be reduced at the present time because a reduction in the lunch hour would necessitate an earlier dismissal at the end of the day and we don’t have an opportunity for a wide enough consultation with parents.)

We expect that the routine for Kindergarten can remain the same, each class has their own lunchroom supervisor so they can eat in their class and take turns using the outdoor kindergarten space.

Parents recently completed a survey declaring whether or not their child(ren) would return to school or go to the virtual school. For our school, 72% are starting the year at school, 23% are beginning the year at the virtual school and 5% did not complete the survey.

In the spring, we went through a classroom organization/staffing process in order to plan for this year. That information will now be revised based on the new information as determined by the results of this survey. Any time now, we are to receive a new staffing allocation sheet that is based on this new enrolment and the classroom/grade cap sizes. This means that next week we will need to create a new classroom organization model.

This could very well necessitate reassigning students to new classes and reassigning teachers to new teaching assignments. (It is possible, even likely, that some of our teachers could be redeployed to teach at the virtual school due to a reduction in enrolment at our school.)

Once this is in place, you can expect a contact indicating your child's teacher's name, room number, entry door number and specific start date, which will be during the week of September 15th.

As soon as we know, you will be informed as to what this new classroom organization model looks like, which class your child is in and what you need to know for the first day of school.

The first week of school will be a staggered start for students.

This means that not all students will start at the same time, but once your child starts, they will continue to come for the remainder of the week.

Monday, September 14^th – No students attend school

Tuesday, September 15^th – First day of school for Senior Kindergarten, Grades 4 and 8

Wednesday, September 16^th – First day of school for Junior Kindergarten, Gr. 7 and 7

Thursday, September 17^th – First Day of School for Grades 2, 3, 5, 6

August 31, 2020

We are excited to start welcoming students back via staggered by grade

beginning on Tuesday, September 15^th (more specific information to follow).

There are many questions and concerns that everyone has right now with regard to what the return to school will look like. The purpose of this message is to give you a preliminary overview and share at least some information with you right now. To help ensure and maximize the safety of our staff and students, there are many routines and procedures that we, as a school, have relied on in the past that will now need to change or be modified. We are asking in advance for your support and patience as we work to make this transition as smooth as possible. It’s important to note that the online registration survey closed August 29, 2020 for parents to indicate their choice for either a physical return or for a return to school via a virtual school. If you did not receive this survey via email, phone calls will be made to families with no record of responses on file as the next step in collecting this much needed data. Note that we have learned that there has been some flexibility built into this process with dates for parents to request a change from one option to the other:

Opportunity to Change	Deadline for Requesting a Change	Date the Change of Class Would Take Effect
One Month into School	September 30^th	October 13^th (day after Thanksgiving)
Following the Progress Report	November 6^th	November 23^rd
Following the First Report Card	January 29th	February 16^th (day after the Family Day holiday)

Below is some of the general changes to anticipate upon your child’s return to school. More guidelines will follow as teachers return to school to help work out additional logistics and determine how to best operationalize the requirements for our specific school.

Before coming to school, all staff and students are expected to conduct a daily self-assessment for COVID-19 Symptoms (use the other attachment to access screening poster). Students will enter through their designed doors, a second screening (with a staff member) will take place. Should COVID symptoms be present (fever, cough, difficulty breathing, sore throat with trouble swallowing, runny nose, loss of taste or smell, sore muscles, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea) the student will be escorted to a designated 'isolation' room and a parent/guardian will be asked to pick child up as soon as possible. (We may need to come up with a better name for this space!) A future email will let you know which are the designated entry/exit doors for which classes/rooms.

Upon entry, all students will be required to wear a mask. It is preferred for students to bring their own mask but if they do not have one, or have forgotten theirs on a given day, one will be provided. (Students are permitted to wear cloth masks.) Students will also need to use hand sanitizer/wash their hands upon entry into the school/classroom.

Visitors are asked to contact the school for an appointment. For everyone’s safety, where possible, meetings/appointments are to be held over the phone or via online video conferencing if appropriate.

Please ensure that your child leaves home in the morning with all necessary items to get through the day (e.g., lunches, indoor shoes, extra clothes, etc.). It will not be as easy for parents to drop by the school to drop off items, moreover, it is discouraged. On the rare occasion that a “drop-off” is absolutely necessary, please call the school first in inform of your intent, wear a mask and leave your labelled item (student name and room # or teacher's name) on the table directly inside the main front doors on the right when entering.

Special lunch days (e.g., Pizza Lunch Days) are to be cancelled until further notice.

All school visitors will need to participate in a COVID screening, use hand sanitizer and be masked prior to entering our main office.

Volunteers will not be permitted at this time.

Students will eat lunches and snacks in their classrooms during instructional time with their teacher where they will remain in their assigned seats. Students are strongly encouraged to bring litterless lunches and take home any and all wrappers or packaging. At the start of the official lunch break, students who go home for lunch will go home and those who stay for lunch will go outside for a supervised break in a designated play area for their classroom/cohort. Outdoor play structures will remain closed in all schools. (This is a general overview of what lunch will look like. The specifics of what this will look like at our school will be worked out with our staff and communicated to you.)

Not that this happens often at our school, but food delivery services are not allowed at this time.

Should your child be able to go home for lunch (which is strongly encouraged), please do not send them back early but instead return them as close as possible to the entry lunch bell. One of the many discussion items we will discuss as a staff this week is the timing of recesses and lunch and what it will look like and facilitating bathroom breaks to help limit or avoid interaction with other class groups.

Water fountains will not be used to drink from directly so students are encouraged to bring clearly labelled refillable water bottles for use during the school day. Our water filling station will still be operable along with opportunities to fill water bottles at drinking fountains.

In the spring, we went through a classroom organization/staffing process in order to plan for this year. This week, we anticipate receiving a revised outline of our enrollment and staffing for this year, based on the number of students who will physically attending the school. This means we will need to work through and possibly change our classroom organization and staffing. Once this is in place, you can expect a contact indicating your child's teacher's name, room number, entry door number and specific start date, which will be during the week of September 15th. We will send you this information as soon as possible but it is unlikely that you will get it before September 8th. "First Day of School' procedures and information will also be sent out in a subsequent Falconer once our logistics are solidified.

Fairmount is very much a community school and is something of a hub for many in the area. Therefore, choosing the virtual school option may have been difficult for some as it means disconnecting from our school. If you have selected the virtual school option but would like to continue to remain connected to this school and receive the Falconer, please email our Office Administrator at lisa.habenschuss@tdsb.on.ca and let her know that you would like to continue .

In the meantime, please have lots of conversation with your child(ren) about what to expect when returning to school, the importance of washing/sanitizing hands regularly and frequently, get them use to wearing masks for extended periods of time and reinforce the importance of physical distancing. One thing we know for a fact is that school life will not look the way it did when students left it in March and it’s important for them to have as much knowledge and information as possible ahead of time with an understanding of why things have changed to help alleviate potential anxiety and best ensure that nobody takes home anything other than their homework.

I know that many of us are feeling anxious but please know that that we are here to listen, support and navigate this reopening together.