View from the Hill.jpeg)
In this issue:
- This Week is Week 2
- Late Start for Students - Wednesday, September 29 – Classes begin at 10:00 a.m.
- September 30th – Wear Orange to Support Indigenous Peoples & Honour the First National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
- Photo Day: Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1
- Student Vote Canada 2021: FHCI Students Elect Liberal Candidate Marco Mendicino
- FHCI – Spirit Week Coming – October 4 though 8
- Anti-Racism Virtual Workshop – All Community Members Welcome - October 6 @ 6:30 p.m.
- Terry Fox Run/Walk – Thursday, October 7 (Rain date Friday, October 8)
- Messages from Guidance – Post-Secondary Information Events & Ignite Volunteer Fair
- Message from Special Education – IEP Consultation Letters
- Message from School Council Chair, Tracy Kowal
- Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
- Worth Mentioning Again this Week
This Week is Week 2
Remember that this coming week is a Week 2. Students will be attending the Week 2 classes. For more support with understanding a student’s timetable, link to How to Read a Student Timetable and our Daily Schedule.
Late Start for Students - Wednesday, September 29 – Classes begin at 10:00 a.m.
The last Wednesday of each month our staff will participate in a Staff Meeting. This will result in a late start for students as classes will begin at 10:00 a.m. on these dates. Course 1/3 will run from 10:00 a.m. to noon; followed by lunch from noon to 12:45 p.m.; and course 2/4 from 12:45 p.m. to 2:45 p.m. Link to Forest Hill PLC & Staff Meeting Schedule/Dates 2021/2022 for more information.
September 30th – Wear Orange to Support Indigenous Peoples & Honour the First National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
Orange Shirt Day is a very important part of Truth and Reconciliation, for the terrible legacy of residential schools in Canada. This year's Orange Shirt Day is Thursday, September 30.
At a time when truth and reconciliation are so important, and in the wake of recent discoveries of unmarked graves at residential school sites across Canada, our students will join a virtual presentation on Thursday to a begin the discussion and broaden their learning journey about residential schools and the Calls to Action by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee.
Our teachers and students are being encouraged to wear an Orange Shirt to show support for Truth and Reconciliation and Indigenous peoples. To learn more about Phyllis' story and Orange Shirt Day visit http://www.orangeshirtday.org.
Thank you to Ms. De Jesus, Ms. Douglas, Ms. Pereira and Ms. Stamatopoulou for their support in organizing this important day!
Photo Day: Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1
We are very pleased to welcome LifeTouch back to our school to have our students and staff photographed for the 2021-2022 School Year! Photo Day will be taking place this week on Thursday, September 30 and Friday, October 1. More detailed information about photo day will be sent out in a separate email tomorrow morning to parents, guardians and students.
The following protocols have been implemented to minimize risk as much as possible:
- A schedule has been created to ensure minimal cohort mingling and teachers will escort their scheduled classes to the cafeteria for photos. Students with a morning spare will have time allocated on Friday, October 1.
- All photographers are trained specifically in COVID-19 safety protocols
- Photographers will undergo a health screening before beginning work for the day
- Photographers will be provided with Personal Protective Equipment
- Photographers will stay a minimum of six feet away from students
- There will be way-finding signage to ensure easy social distancing between students during photography sessions
- Parents and guardians are encouraged to place their photo order online to minimize the number of physical items changing hands. A flyer with details on ordering will be included in tomorrow’s email.
Simultaneous learners will receive instructions as to how they will be included to ensure that their photo is taken. NOTE: our Cafeteria seating area will be closed during lunch over our two photo days. Students can eat their lunch outdoors or in the school’s basement/G Level.
Student Vote Canada 2021: FHCI Students Elect Liberal Candidate Marco Mendicino
On September 20, Forest Hill students participated in the national Student Vote and exercised their democratic rights. Together our students cast 723 ballots and re-elected the local Liberal candidate, Marco Mendicino to represent our riding of Eglinton-Lawrence.
Mendicino of the Liberal Party received 229 votes with Geoff Pollock of the Conservatives and Caleb Senneker of the NDP coming in 2nd and 3rd place with 188 and 118 votes respectively.
It was exciting to see so many of our students participate in the democratic process to exercise their right to vote. When the time comes to make their voices heard in future elections, hopefully civics class has inspired them to continue to be excited about democracy and voting.
Thank you again to Mr. Billinghurst and his grade 10 civics class!
FHCI – Spirit Week Coming – October 4 though 8
We are very pleased to announce FHCI Spirit Week! Our students and teachers are planning some exciting events beginning on Monday, October 4 through to Friday, October 8. Events will include pajama day, blue and gold day, and much more! Stay tuned for more information next week.
Anti-Racism Virtual Workshop – All Community Members Welcome - October 6 @ 6:30 p.m.
Forest Hill Junior & Senior Public School and the Community are hosting a virtual Anti-racism Workshop with special guest speaker Selam Debs. Join Salem Deb to hear more about Anti-Black Racism, equity, inclusion, and implicit bias.
When: Wednesday, October 6 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Zoom Link was shared in the emailed version of this newsletter. Please check your email or contact the school for more details.
Terry Fox Run/Walk – Thursday, October 7 (Rain date Friday, October 8)
Given the recent updates by Toronto Public Health with regard to outside activities, our students will now be participating in a Terry Fox Run/Walk on Thursday, October 7.
As most of you know, Terry Fox is a Canadian icon who, after losing his leg to cancer at the age of 18, decided to run a marathon a day with the intention of running across all of Canada. His goal was to raise money to help with cancer research and to find a cure. All our staff and students will complete a few laps on our track on Thursday, October 7.
In the meantime, we invite you to donate in increments of $2 to our campaign: Toonies for Terry. Thank you for supporting Toonies for Terry as we try to reach our goal of $1000!
If you need support to login or set up an cash online account link to: School Cash Online Instructions.
Thank you to our Athletic Council, Ms. Homatidis and Ms. Ibe for leading this campaign.
Messages from Guidance – Post-Secondary Information Events & Ignite Volunteer Fair
Students are encouraged to check the FHCI Guidance Site regularly for updates on post-secondary information, volunteering opportunities, and other events.
Graduating students should pay special attention to the Post-Secondary page to learn more about virtual information sessions being hosted by specific universities and colleges. These virtual sessions begin this week and continue into November.
Upcoming events:
- Friday, October 1 @ 1:30 p.m. – Our guidance department will host a virtual FHCI Post-Secondary Information Session for graduating students during grade 12 classes. Subject teachers of grade 12 will link their class to the presentation. A zoom link will be shared with virtual students and students on spare via their TDSB email.
- Wednesday, October 6 @ 7:00 p.m. – Post-Secondary Information Session for TDSB Families.
- The TDSB invites families f Grade 12 students to attend a virtual session aimed at helping parents, guardians and students better understand the post-secondary admissions process during COVID-19.
- Fllowing a brief overview of the post-secondary application process, participants will have the opportunity to hear from a number of Toronto post-secondary institutions regarding their admissions process and how their institutions are addressing teaching and learning during the pandemic.
- Presenters include: Centennial Cllege, George Brown College, Humber College, Ontario Colleges Application Service, Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program, Ryerson University, Seneca College, University of Toronto, and York University.
- Link t this webinar: https://tdsb-ca.zom.us/s/94708169240
- Families can request interpretatin services for this event in advance, by completing this nline form.
- Saturday, October 9 @ 2:00 p.m. – Virtual Ignite Volunteer Fair
Message from Special Education – IEP Consultation Letters
Parents and guardians of students with Individual Education Plans (IEPs) were emailed Consultation Letters last week. Parental and guardian input into the development of student IEPs is essential for student success. Parents and guardians are encouraged to review and complete the consultation form to assist in creating a learning profile and to develop a program that addresses student needs.
Feedback can be provided electronically or by printing the form and adding written notes. All printed forms should be returned to the Main Office to the attention of Ms. Beattie, the ACL of Special Education, or directly to Ms. Beattie in room 244. If you would like to speak more about the IEP process, or if you require a consultation letter to be mailed or sent home with your student, please email julie.beattie@tdsb.on.ca.
Message from School Council Chair, Tracy Kowal
Please join your School Council for the first meeting of the new school year on Tuesday, September 28 at 7:30 p.m. We will be officially welcoming our new principal, Yvette Duffy, and we are looking forward to seeing new and returning faces. All parents and guardians are welcome. Please rsvp to Tracy Kowal at tracy.kowal@yahoo.ca to receive the zoom details.
The agenda for the meeting can be found here: School Council Agenda September 2021.
Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
Learn more about upcoming events and keep informed by linking to Trustee Laskins Weekly Newsletter.
Worth Mentioning Again this Week
Students Absent and Requesting Simultaneous Access to Classes
Students who are taking a sick day are not permitted to join a class simultaneously. Students should be resting and getting better to allow them to return to in-person learning more quickly. If a student, parent or guardian contacts the teacher directly for a simultaneous link, they will be referred to the student’s Vice Principal. Students quarantining or self-isolating owing to Covid-19 should communicate directly with their Vice Principal: Surnames A to K – Anita Love (anita.love@tdsb.on.ca); Surnames L to Z – Joseph Ghassibe (joseph.ghassibe@tdsb.on.ca).
Welcome Assembly – Thursday, September 23
On Thursday, September 23rd, our students joined our virtual Welcome Assembly. Important school rules and procedures as outlined in the Forest Hill Student Handbook 2021/2022 were shared, along with messages from our Student Council, Athletic Council and Music Directorate. Link to a copy of the Welcome Assembly. Thank you to our students who put together the videos!
Questions about school rules and procedures can be directed to the Vice Principals: Surnames A to K – Anita Love (anita.love@tdsb.on.ca); Surnames L to Z – Joseph Ghassibe (joseph.ghassibe@tdsb.on.ca).
For a printable version of this newsletter, link to: View From the Hill - Issue 5 - Week of September 26, 2021