Lots happened again last week with the foyer nicely decorated for Valentine’s Day, myBlueprint opening and student computing competitions! Thank you to all our staff who supported with these events!
More will continue this week – with the Black History Virtual Assembly this Tuesday and Pink Shirt In Canada Day this Wednesday – more information follows below for both events. Students will view our Black History Assembly during period 3 on Tuesday and all are encouraged to wear pink on Wednesday to say no to bullying! Stay tuned for a message next week about what to wear for our upcoming Spirit Week.
Hopefully everyone had an opportunity this weekend to spend some time with family, friends or even just had some down time to recharge.
Please note that I will be away this coming week to support a family member. Mr. Ghassibe will be stepping up to be the acting Principal, with VP Love continuing to support in her role. Retired VP Stewart Burns will also be joining our school this coming week to further support our students and staff.
Sincerely,
Yvette Duffy, Principal
In this issue:
- The Next Two Weeks at a Glance
- Short-Term Virtual Learning – Update
- Black History Month: Virtual Assembly - Tuesday, February 22 – Period 3
- Edge Art Show – Celebrate FHCI Visual Art Students – Opens Online Tuesday, February 22
- Pink Shirt In Canada Day – Wear Pink! – Wednesday, February 23
- Late Start – Wednesday, February 23– Classes Begin @ 10:00 a.m.
- Know Your Worth Black Youth Empowerment Conference – Saturday, February 26
- Hockey In-Person Is Back – Other Extracurriculars In-Person Still Paused
- EQAO – Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) – Update
- InspireHer 2022: FREE Speakers Panel & Mentoring for Women & BIPOC Students
- Messages from Guidance
- Messages from School Council – Chair Tracy Kowal
- Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
- Worth Mentioning Again… Covid-19 Positive Case Reporting; March Break
The 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.
Short-Term Virtual Learning – Update
Please note that if a student wants to continue in short-term virtual learning must connect with their Vice Principal to discuss next steps. Vice Principals are assigned to students based on their surnames:
Surnames A to K – Anita Love – anita.love@tdsb.on.ca
Surnames L to Z – Joseph Ghassibe – joseph.ghassibe@tdsb.on.ca
Black History Month: Virtual Assembly - Tuesday, February 22 – Period 3
Our Black Student Alliance has created a video to celebrate Black history and honour Black voices. This will be shared with our students in a virtual assembly on Tuesday, February 22 during period 3.
Thank you to Ms. Haines for all she has done (and continues to do) to support the Black Student Alliance to create this virtual assembly! Thank you as well to Ms. Pawlowski for her technical support!
Edge Art Show – Celebrate FHCI Visual Art Students – Opens Online Tuesday, February 22
For 25 years Arts Etobicoke’s EDGE: Youth Art Show has offered high-school-aged youth a non-juried opportunity to showcase their artwork alongside their peers in a professional exhibition setting. Each year, the show features artwork from hundreds of students and dozens of schools. In addition to exhibiting in a professional space, EDGE: Youth Art Show gives youth the opportunity to meet their peers, get feedback from professional artists, and network in the arts community.
Seventeen of our talented art students will showcase their work at the EDGE: Youth Art Show. The show opens on Tuesday, February 22, with an in-person reception on March 9, and closing on March 14. Link to the virtual show at Edge Youth Virtual Art Show. Check out the show in-person at Artscape Youngplace Hallway Galleries, 180 Shaw Street, Floors 1 to 3 – Monday to Saturday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Sundays noon to 5 p.m.
Thank you to Mr. Conley and Ms. Neumann for all they have done to support our artists!
Late Start – Wednesday, February 23– Classes Begin @ 10:00 a.m.
This Wednesday will be a late start for students to allow for our monthly Staff Meeting. Classes will begin at 10:00 a.m.
Pink Shirt In Canada Day – Wear Pink! – Wednesday, February 23
Now a movement celebrated across the globe, Pink Shirt Day has humble beginnings. Inspired by an act of kindness in small-town Nova Scotia, here is a snippet of a Globe & Mail article detailing the original incident:
“David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied [for wearing a pink shirt]…[They] took a stand against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new Grade 9 student by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school. ‘I learned that two people can come up with an idea, run with it, and it can do wonders,’ says Mr. Price, 17, who organized the pink protest. ‘Finally, someone stood up for a weaker kid.’ So Mr. Shepherd and some other headed off to a discount store and bought 50 pink tank tops. They sent out message to schoolmates that night, and the next morning they hauled the shirts to school in a plastic bag. As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled. The bullies were never heard from again.”
Consider wearing pink on Wednesday, February 23 to show support for anti-bullying and respect for difference. Link to Pink Shirt In Canada Day Poster. Learn more at Pink Shirt Day.
Know Your Worth Black Youth Empowerment Conference – Saturday, February 26
The Know Your Worth Black Youth Empowerment Conference began 6 years ago as a collaboration
between the TDSB’s African Heritage Month Planning Committee and the York University’s Black Law Students Association. It is a yearly conference held in February, inviting Black students across the TDSB to share and learn from each other in a safe space. This is a Student led conference highlighting the experiences of Black students, activists, artists, and professionals in Toronto and the GTA.
Students can register for the conference here: Know Your Worth Conference Registration. Limited spaces are available so please register early. Students will also have the opportunity to participate in a talent show. Students interested in the talent show, can upload pre-taped performances on the registration form or by emailing Koryn Marshall @ koryn.marshall@tdsb.on.ca.
Hockey In-Person Is Back – Other Extracurriculars In-Person Still Paused
As of February 17, the TDSB has given the green light to hockey; however, please note that all other in-person extracurricular activities are still paused at this time. Hopefully more information will be coming soon.
Thank you to Mr. Ketchum and Mr. Doyhenard who plan to get our hockey team back up and running soon!
EQAO – Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) – Update
As mentioned last week, we had planned to electronically deliver the OSSLT results to our grade 11s who wrote the test in November. Owing to technical challenges, all grade 11 students who wrote the test were provided with a hard copy of their results through homeform last Thursday. Thank you to all homeform teachers who supported with the delivery of the hard copies.
InspireHer 2022: FREE Speakers Panel & Mentoring for Women & BIPOC Students
Join a FREE interactive session with women leaders in technology, and 1-1/small group mentoring session for Canadian high school students who identify as woman* or Black, Indigenous, & Person of Colour (BIPOC), brought to you by the Quantius Education Foundation in celebration of Women's History Month.
When: Wednesday, March 1. 3:30-5PM
Where: Zoom (link upon registration)
Who should sign up: high school students who identify as woman, visible minority (Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour), or LGBTQ+
How to sign up: Register: www.quantiusfoundation.com/signup
Students will:
- Hear from women leaders about their success & challenges in their careers
- Learn about exciting career opportunities in technology & innovation
- Receive 1-on-1/small group mentoring & advice from tech leaders in an inclusive setting
Registration deadline: Friday, February 25, 2022. Spots are limited, register today!
Messages from Guidance
New Process for Dropping A Course
Students requesting to drop a course must book an appointment with their guidance counsellor. The google form to request dropping a course is no longer available. Signatures of both the subject teacher and parent or guardian will be required under this new process. The objective in implementing this new process is to increase accountability and ensuring all graduation and post-secondary requirements will be met before dropping a course.
Course Selection for School Year 2022-2023 – Virtual Assemblies & Links
Course selection process for our next school year began last week. Students returning next year had the opportunity to learn about course selection for next year. In addition to covering topics such as graduation requirements and pathways planning, our Guidance Counsellors encouraged students to keep an open mind throughout the course selection process and consider many ideas for the future.
The following materials were shared with each grade:
Current Grade 9s:
Current Grade 10s:
Current Grade 11s:
Course Selection for School Year 2022-2023 – Next Steps for Students & Caregivers
All course selections must be completed using myBlueprint which has opened for all returning students and will close on Friday, March 4. More information about accessing myBlueprint can be found here: myBlueprint Log In Instructions.
Parent Electronic Verification Process
Students and parents must complete these steps to allow the school to schedule the requested courses:
Step 1: Students submit their course selection on MyBlueprint,
Step 2: Students enter the email of their parent/guardian
Step 3: Parents and guardians will receive an e-mail to review the courses submitted
Step 4: Parents and guardians will approve or reject the courses submitted
Further instructions and support can be found at: Parent/Guardian Course Selection Approval Guide.
Additional Guidance Support Available to Students
If students require additional support, they may book an appointment with their Guidance Counsellor via a google form on the FHCI Guidance Site. Students will receive an invitation to a meeting once their Guidance Counsellor confirms the appointment time. Due to the large volume of requests, the wait for an appointment may take longer than usual. Please be patient, all requests will be responded to and all students that require support will receive support prior the March 4 deadline.
Scholarships & More
Are you in need of financial assistance to help with post-secondary? Check out The Scholarship Report to learn about possible scholarships, bursaries and more!
Fred Vanvleet & Rotman School of Business Scholarship For Black & Indigenous Students
The Fred VanVleet Scholarship is to be awarded to an incoming domestic Black student or Indigenous student based on financial need, with preference given to a student with an interest in the Management specialist. Academic merit will also be considered. This award is renewable based on continued enrollment in the Rotman Commerce program and maintaining good academic standing. In addition to the financial support, Fred VanVleet is also committed to mentoring the selected recipient. To be considered for the award, students must first apply to Rotman Commerce and then complete the Awards Profile by logging into join.utoronto.ca and following the Awards Profile link. Value: $57,800, inclusive of tuition and an annual stipend of $1000 for books.
Thank you to Ms. Ng, Mr. Oosteroff, Ms. Robles Evans for all they are doing to support our students through the course selection process.
Messages from School Council – Chair Tracy Kowal
School Council Meeting – Hold the Date – Monday, February 28
Please hold the date of Monday, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. for our fifth virtual School Council meeting. All parents and guardians are welcome. Add agenda items and 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…
Covid-19 Positive Case Notification – Please Advise the School
If your student tests positive for Covid-19 on a Rapid Antigen Test or a PCR test, please call the school at (416) 393-1860 to advise the school. We will keep the identity of your student confidential; however, we will advise all students and staff of possible exposure. The Toronto Public Health directs isolation periods and defines close contact. Find out more information by clicking here.
March Break - Forest Hill is NOT planning any student trips
The office is receiving phone call inquiries about an unsanctioned trip to the Dominican Republic planned for March Break. Apparently, this trip is targeting our grade 12 students and is being promoted as affiliated with our school; however, please know that the school is not involved with any aspect of this trip or any international trips at this time.