With the well-deserved Winter Break just days away, students and staff area actively involved in enjoying the season and keeping everyone’s spirits high.
The Golden Falcon Executive was busy this week creating Mistletoe Mysteries. Hundreds of candy canes with personalized messages were sold and delivered to our students and staff. All funds raised will support our school newspaper! A special thank you to Mr. Lee, our staff advisor for The Golden Falcon!
The Music Directorate continues the holiday spirit performing live holiday music each morning in the foyer. Thank you to our talented music department and Ms. Simas for sprinkling holiday spirit with the gift of music!
School Council, with Ms. Pawlowski’s support, is also promoting school spirit by hosting a photo booth in the foyer and celebrating a different spirit theme each day this week.
We would like to take this opportunity to remind our families that all students are expected to be in school on instructional days. In-person students are not permitted to join classes virtually owing to vacation or non-Covid19 related illness. If a family chooses to take a student out of school for an extended vacation and the student misses an evaluation, the student will be awarded a mark of zero as mentioned in the FHCI Student Handbook.
Merry Christmas and Happy Kwanzaa to all who celebrate! May the new year bring all our families much joy, happiness and good cheer. Here’s wishing everyone a restful, relaxing and healthy holiday. Our school office will be closed for the two weeks of Winter Break. Please continue to follow the news and check your email for messages from the TDSB any important updates. See you all in 2022.
Sincerely,
Yvette Duffy, Principal Joseph Ghassibe, Vice Principal Anita Love, Vice Principal
In this issue:
- Next Two Weeks at a Glance
- Student Rapid Antigen Screening Kits - Delivered to Students on Monday, December 13
- Marks Shared with Students This Week
- Late Start – Staff Meeting – Wednesday, December 15
- Winter Spirit Week Is Here!
- Last Call – Holiday Drives & Supporting Others
- Locker Clean Out – Friday, December 17
- Early Dismissal – Friday, December 17th @ 2:00 p.m.
- Spirit Wear Sales – Purchase Yours before January 14 using Cash Online
- March of the Living Information Session – Tuesday, December 14 @ 11:30 a.m.
- Messages from Guidance
- Messages from School Council – Chair Tracy Kowal
- Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
- Worth Mentioning Again…
Next Two Weeks at a Glance
Keep apprised of what is happening by linking to our school year calendar which is live on our school website landing page.
Student Rapid Antigen Screening Kits - Delivered to Students on Monday, December 13
Rapid Antigen Screening Kits for students to take home will be delivered to morning classes on Monday, December 13. Each student will receive one kit which contains five antigen tests, a letter for parents and guardians, and an instruction sheet. Kits will be available in the main office for students who are absent or on spare during period 1 on Monday.
Marks Shared with Students This Week
An up-to-date grade print out will be shared with the students this week. Grade 12 marks will be shared prior to Wednesday, December 15. As mentioned below in the Guidance Messages section, grade 12 students must make a decision by this Wednesday, December 15 to continue in a class or drop a course if they do not want that grade to appear on their transcript.
Late Start – Staff Meeting – Wednesday, December 15
This Wednesday will be a late start to allow our staff to attend our monthly staff meeting. Classes will begin at 10:00 a.m.
Winter Spirit Week Is Here!
Show your winter school spirit this week during our themed spirit days by dressing up! The themes will be:
- Monday – Pajama Day
- Tuesday – Jersey Day
- Wednesday – Plaid Day
- Thursday – Anything but a Backpack Day
- Friday – Twin Day
FHCI is Celebrating Spirit Week! Please view the attached poster for all our wonderful events.
Last Call – Food Drives & Supporting Others
Our food collection boxes are starting to fill. Remember to bring in non-perishable food items to support our School Council objective to raise 500 pounds of food to support the Daily Bread Food Bank. Three collection boxes are available – two in the foyer and one near exit 3.
A Gift Card Donation Box has been set up in the Main Office to collect gift cards to support our FHCI families in need. All donated items will be distributed this week. Please consider giving generously if you are able.
Again, thank you to our Student Council, Ms. Beattie and Ms. Pawlowski who are working to organize and support these kind and thoughtful initiatives.
Locker Clean Out – Friday, December 17
Please encourage students to clean out their lockers prior to the Winter Break. Students should not leave valuables or perishable items in their lockers over the break.
Early Dismissal – Friday, December 17th @ 2:00 p.m.
On Friday, December 17 school will be dismissed at 2:00 p.m. to allow for a Staff Meeting. The schedule for the day is:
Period 1: 9:00 a.m. to 11:10 a.m.
Lunch: 11:10 a.m. to 11:50 a.m.
Period 2: 11:50 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Spirit Wear Sales – Purchase Yours before January 14 using Cash Online
Athletic Council is selling FHCI Spirit wear until January 14. Purchase yours before it is too late! Three different designs are available – a Black Crew Sweatshirt, a White Hoodie and a Vintage Blue Hoodie. Use this link to view images and order: Order FHCI – Spirit Wear.
Thank you to our Athletic Council, Ms. Homatidis and Ms. Ibe for making spirit wear available to us!
March of the Living Information Session – Tuesday, December 14 @ 11:30 a.m.
Jewish Student Union will host a representative from March of the Living on Tuesday, December 14 at 11:30 a.m. This annual Holocaust education program travels to Poland and Israel to learn about the rich Jewish life that existed before the war, the Holocaust, and the establishment and survival of the state of Israel. March of the Living is optimistic that the program will run in April 2022 and is open to grade 11 and 12 students. Registration is due by December 20. Find out more by contacting Witnee Karp at wkarp@ujafed.org or linking to March of the Living.
Messages from Guidance
eLearning & Night School – Semester 2 – Closes Friday, January 28
eRegistration for semester 2 eLearning and Night School opened on Monday, December 6. Students were able to log in to register; however, schools will be granted access early this week to approve student requests. Once approved students will receive a confirmation email from eRegistration. Students can continue to register for eLearning and Night School until 11:00 a.m. on Friday, January 28. More information can be found at: TDSB Night School 2021/2022.
OUAC and OCAS - Important Deadlines Coming Up
All graduating students need to be aware of important deadlines for OUAC and OCAS:
- OUAC – Ontario Universities Application Centre – Deadline for submission of applications is January 13, 2022. Note: OUAC still processes applications received after this date and distributes them to the universities; however, specific university deadlines will apply. Link to OUAC Important Dates to learn more.
- OCAS – Ontario Colleges Application System – Deadline for equal consideration is February 1, 2022. Note: Apply on or before February 1 in order to receive equal consideration for admission to programs starting the following fall. After this date, colleges consider applicants on a first-come, first-served basis until programs are full. Link to OCAS Important Dates to learn more.
Grade 12 – Full Disclosure of Marks – Wednesday, December 15
The Full Disclosure of Marks date has been shifted for all secondary schools to Wednesday, December 15. This will allow students an opportunity to complete approximately 75% of a course prior to deciding whether to continue in or drop a course. If students wish to drop a course, please advise them to complete the FHCI Drop Form which can be found on our Guidance website.
Summer Mentorship Opportunities
The UHN Summer Student Clinician Scientist Program (SSCSP) is a part of the TDSB summer co-op program. The SSCSP is looking to provide paid co-op opportunities for ten Black, Indigenous, and underrepresented youth who are interested in cancer and/or medical research. Students will be working with researchers from Princess Margaret Hospital, and they will earn two co-op credits as part of this experience. Eligible students will be entering grade 11 or 12 in September. Interested students should see Jasmine for more information.
The Summer Mentorship Program (SMP) gives high school students of Indigenous or African ancestry a chance to explore health sciences at the University of Toronto over four weeks in July. Students can find out more or apply through the Summer Mentorship Program University of Toronto.
Thank you to Ms. Ng, Mr. Oosteroff, Ms. Robles Evans for all they are doing to support our students.
Messages from School Council – Chair Tracy Kowal
School Council Meeting – Tuesday, December 14 – 7:30 p.m.
Please join School Council for our third meeting on Tuesday, December 14 at 7:30 p.m. All parents and guardians are welcome. The agenda can be viewed here: School Council Agenda December 2021. Rsvp for the Zoom link by emailing Tracy Kowal at tracy.kowal@yahoo.ca.
Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
Learn more about upcoming events and keep informed by linking to Trustee Laskin's Weekly Newsletter.
Worth Mentioning Again…
Planning An International Trip? Please review the Federal Travel Policies
Families who are planning international travel this Winter Break are reminded to review the established federal international travel policies – including the guidelines for unvaccinated, school-aged children – in advance of the break in an effort to prevent absences in January related to post-travel requirements.
EQAO - Grade 9 Mathematics - Important January Dates
The Ministry of Education has announced that all Grade 9 students who are enrolled in math this school year will write the grade 9 EQAO math assessment. Students currently registered in grade 9 math in Semester 1 will write the mandatory test in January. Student registered in grade 9 math in Semester 2 will write in June. The test consists of two booklets written over a two day period. Please note the following important dates:
- Week 1 Grade 9 Math Classes - Thursday, January 13 and Friday, January 14.
- Week 2 Grade 9 Math Classes - Thursday, January 20 and Friday, January 21.
Note: This assessment will not be counted towards a student’s mathematics grade this year.