We’d like to begin by wishing all our students and families who celebrate Ramadan, a Ramadan Mubarak! To support our students and staff who are required to pray during the school day, we have created a multi-faith prayer room. This room is open to all students all year. See below for details.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank our LEAP Club for their leadership around Earth Hour. They encouraged us all to reduce our carbon footprint by turning off all unnecessary electronics and electricity at 2:00 p.m. on Friday! Thank you as well to Ms. Soneriu for her support.
This is the last call from School Council for donations to support our Silent Auction! The Council has been hard at work organizing the auction will be held online at two upcoming events, Forest Hill Dance Fashion Show and Sounds of Spring Concert. Do you have items such as sports tickets, gift cards or baskets that you could donate? If you do, email Chair Tracy Kowal at tracy.kowal@yahoo.ca. Funds raised will go to support our graduating class, commencement and more.
Commencement will be held on Tuesday, June 27 at 1:00 p.m. at Toronto Pavilion. All potential graduates and their families will receive an email this Tuesday, March 28 with details and a survey to complete to support with the planning of this special day. All potential graduates are requested to keep an eye out this Tuesday for this important email!
Also, please note that there will many disruptions to our school schedule this week:
- Late Start on Wednesday – classes begin at 9:55 a.m.
- Early Dismissal on Thursday – classes end at 12:15 p.m.
- Late Start on Friday – classes begin at 9:55 a.m.
Sincerely,
Yvette Duffy, Principal Maharukh Kootar, Vice Principal Jaime Yamashita, Vice Principal
In this issue:
- The Next Two Weeks at a Glance
- MADD Assembly – Tuesday, March 28 – Period 3
- Late Start – Wednesday, March 29 – Classes Begin at 9:55 a.m.
- Student Leadership 2023/2024 Information Session – Wednesday, March 29 @ Lunch
- Parent-Guardian-Teacher Interviews – Thursday, March 30
- Early Dismissal on Thursday, March 30 and Late Start on Friday, March 31
- Multi-faith Prayer Space for Students
- Ontario Secondary School Literary Test (OSSLT) – Semester 2 – Important Dates
- Callout for Indigenous Students – Are you interested in becoming a TDSB Student Trustee?
- Prom – Mark Your Calendar – Thursday, May 25
- Latin-America History Month at the TDSB: Creative Art Showcase Contest
- Messages from Special Education
- Messages from Guidance
- Messages from School Council – Seeking Auction Items!
- Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
- Worth Mentioning Again…Commencement; March of the Living
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.
MADD Assembly – Tuesday, March 28 – Period 3
MADD - Mothers Against Drunk Driving is a registered Canadian charity that advocates to raise awareness against driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. An assembly will be held for our 12 students on Tuesday, March 28 during period 3 in the afternoon. The objective of this presentation is to support students to make the right choices as they prepare to celebrate their graduations. We will extend this opportunity to our grade 11 classes as well.
Late Start – Wednesday, March 29 – Classes Begin at 9:55 a.m.
Each month our staff hosts our monthly Staff Meeting which results in a late start for students. Classes will begin at 9:55 a.m. on Wednesday, March 29. Link to our Daily & Late Start Schedule for more information.
Student Leadership 2023/2024 Information Session – Wednesday, March 29 @ Lunch
Attention All Falcons! Are you interested in running for Prefects, Music Directorates, Athletics Council, Production Crew, or the Student Activities Council (SAC) for next year? If so, read on!
There will be a very important meeting for those interested in applying to our school’s leadership positions on Wednesday, March 29th at the start of lunch in the auditorium. Our staff sponsors will be sharing new and crucial application information that you don't want to miss. All Falcons are welcome! Consider getting involved and making a difference at Forest Hill. We look forward to seeing you next week!
Parent-Guardian-Teacher Interviews – Thursday, March 30
On Thursday, March 30, our staff will host Parent-Guardian-Teacher Interviews in-person and all parents and guardians are encouraged to attend. There will be an afternoon session from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., followed by an evening session from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. All interviews are scheduled for 5-minutes.
The objective of the Parent-Guardian-Teacher Interview is to gain a better understanding of how students are progressing at this early stage in the semester and to support students prior to mid-semester official report card distribution. Less emphasis is placed on marks and the focus is on student engagement and learning at this time.
The following information about scheduling interviews was shared in an email to parents and guardians last Tuesday:
- Prepare a list with the names of each teacher you would like to meet
- Visit the Forest Hill scheduling website at https://parentinterview.com/s/fhci
- Enter your child's 9-digit student number and click "Sign In"
- Fill in your contact information and click "Continue to Make Appointments"
- Click on the name of a teacher with whom you wish to schedule an appointment
- Click on an "Available" time at which you wish to meet with that teacher
- Repeat Steps 5 and 6 until you have scheduled all the teachers you wish to see
- Click on "My Schedule" (top left of the page)
- Print out, email or copy down your schedule
Should you wish to delete an appointment you have made, click on "Delete" beside the meeting you wish to have removed from your schedule. If you misplace your schedule, you may use your child's student number to retrieve your schedule from the website at any time. If you experience any difficulty using the service, please email support@parentinterview.com.
Please note that if you are unable to schedule an appointment during these times you are welcome to reach out our teachers by telephone to discuss your child’s progress at anytime.
Early Dismissal on Thursday, March 30 and Late Start on Friday, March 31
To support with Parent-Guardian-Teacher Interview set up, there will be an early dismissal on Thursday, March 30 with classes ending at 12:15 p.m. as follows:
Period 1 - 9:00 a.m. to 9:45 a.m.
Period 2 - 9:50 a.m. to 10:35 a.m.
Period 3 - 10:40 a.m. to 11:25 a.m.
Period 4 - 11:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.
Note: Friday, March 31, will be a late start. Classes will begin at 9:55 a.m.
Multi-faith Prayer Space for Students
We are happy to announce that Forest Hill now has an official multi-faith prayer space for students. For students who wish to use this space, please connect with Ms. Yamashita in the main office.
Ontario Secondary School Literary Test (OSSLT) – Semester 2 – Important Dates
All grade 10 students are required to write the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT) as part of their graduation requirement. This year the test will be held in both semesters.
The Semester 2 OSSLT is scheduled for Tuesday, April 25, and Wednesday, April 26. Semester 2 grade 10 English students who are registered in ENG2D1 are required to write the OSSLT on these dates. Previously eligible students will be expected write on these dates as well. Information will be communicated to all eligible students and their families via email in the coming weeks.
To access practice tests and more information, link to: EQAO – OSSLT Practice Test page. Please keep in mind that this test assesses grade 9 curriculum. Thank you to our Literacy Committee and Ms. Yamashita who are working to support the delivery of this mandatory test.
Callout for Indigenous Students – Are you interested in becoming a TDSB Student Trustee?
Are you in Grade 10 or 11 and self-identify as First Nations, Inuit or Métis? Are they interested in student governance and want to represent First Nations, Inuit or Métis students in the largest school Board in Canada? If so, consider applying for Indigenous Student Trustee! Declarations of interest will be accepted until Friday, April 14, 2023.
The Indigenous Student Trustee has a number of responsibilities including but not limited to:
- Attend Board and Standing Committee meetings, along with Board functions
- Participate in discussions on TDSB matters
- Present student voice at public sessions of the Board and Standing Committee meetings
- Uphold and promote the Board's mission and values in the performance of duties
- Attend all TDSB Student Senate meetings
- Have a regular role on the Student Senate agenda to report and seek input
- Inform Toronto Indigenous Youth Council of policies which affect students
- Attend Urban Indigenous Community Advisory Committee meeting
If you are interested or have questions, please contact Isaiah Shafqat, the TDSB’s currently Indigenous Student Trustee at Isaiah.Shafqat@tdsb.on.ca.
Prom – Mark Your Calendar – Thursday, May 25
This year’s Prom will be held on Thursday, May 25 at Liberty Grand, located at Exhibition Place, 25 British Columbia Road. More information about ticket sales will be coming soon!
Latin-America History Month at the TDSB: Creative Art Showcase Contest
The month of April is recognized as Latin-America History Month at the TDSB. An invitation is extended to all TDSB students to submit a creative art piece that reflects on this year's theme: (Decolonizing) Latin-America History Month & Beyond – Honouring & Uplifting the real Hxstories and Multiplicities of Identities. Submissions of creative art may include painting, drawing, architecture, sculpture, literature, music, performance, spoken word, poem, dance, etc. The submission of an image that may be used for a poster during Latin-America History Month promotion is also welcome. The submission deadline is Friday, March 31 by 4:00 p.m. Winners will receive a $100 Indigo gift card. For full details link here.
Messages from Special Education
Virtual Community Fair: Let’s Talk Programs/Services for Children With Special or Complex Needs
All TDSB families of students with special and complex needs are invited to meet with Community Partners to discuss important transition planning that needs to occur while in high school to prepare for graduation, adult programs, and plan for life after high school. Guests include Developmental Services Ontario (DSO), Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) and Passport Funds.
When: Monday March 27, 2023 at 5:30 pm
Where: Virtual Zoom Meeting
Zoom Link: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/98367378226?pwd=MW9yaDZTYnBoUTRmZEpGaXVmMVAxdz09
Meeting ID: 983 6737 8226 and Passcode: 969515
This is Part 1 of a 2-Part Series. The second part in this series will be hosted April 17th and repeated on April 24th. For more information, email virtualfairinfo@tdsb.on.ca.
World Autism Awareness Day – Sunday, April 2
World Autism Day will occur on Sunday, April 2, 2023. This day is dedicated to raising public awareness by recognizing individuals around the world living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). In the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), we acknowledge this important day each year as we work to gain a better understanding of neurodiversity.
According to Autism Ontario, 1 to 2% of the Canadian population is on the spectrum, which means there are approximately 135,000 autistic people in Ontario. Autism diagnoses are prevalent in childhood. Approximately 1 in 66 Canadian children and youth (ages 5-17) are diagnosed with ASD.
Let’s help support TDSB students on the spectrum and increase awareness and understanding of autism by wearing blue on Monday, April 3. Find out more about World Autism Awareness Day and Autism Ontario www.autismontario.com.
Messages from Guidance
E-Learning Summer Registration – Opens April 4
e-Learning will be offering two eLearning opportunities to obtain full credit courses during the months of July and August. All information, including course offerings, is posted on the TDSB e-Learning page. Registration begins Tuesday, April 4.
Summer School Registration – Opens April 18
Continuing Education will be offering full credit courses in-person and remotely, as well as credit recovery remotely, during the month of July. Information can be found here. Registration begins Tuesday, April 18 at 10:00 a.m. Link to Summer School key dates to learn more.
Scholarship Information
Now is a great time for grade 12 students to look for scholarships. Here is information to support students in researching and applying for scholarships that interest them. There are scholarships aimed at specific groups or people in specific situations. If you fit such criteria, apply! There are scholarships that are specific to universities or colleges, others are specific to a certain pathway, but many can be used for university, college, or trades, equally. Many post-secondary institutions offer entrance scholarships based on your graduating marks. You do not apply for those as they are automatically provided. Here is some advice from your friendly guidance counsellors:
- Consider spending time to research. It can be financially worth it.
- Apply for a lot of different scholarships, large and small. The more you apply to, the better your chances of obtaining a scholarship is. There is no limit to the number of scholarships you can win, or a maximum amount of money you are allowed to receive.
- Apply for the small ones. Lots of people will pass over the smaller ones, which means there’s a smaller pool of competition for you!
- Most scholarships will want something from you, such as an essay. Use your life experiences or incorporate what makes you special. Talk about your volunteering experience! Don’t know what makes you special? Ask people who love you and you trust to share that with you! And as a bonus, you’ll feel great finding out what they have to say about you!
- You may be able to reuse or ‘upcycle’ some parts of one scholarship application for another.
- Be aware of scholarships that seem to want to ‘use’ you. If a company wants you to promote their product to be eligible to win a scholarship, that’s more like a job than a scholarship. There isn’t a lot of oversight on that.
Here are three websites to get you started:
Note: the above are private companies and not monitored by the school or TDSB. Guidance does not have a comprehensive list of all scholarships available to students. We use the same websites and post-secondary resources as students.
myBlueprint & Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation - Bursaries Available
myBlueprint has partnered with Canadian Scholarship Trust Foundation to give away $150,000 in bursaries! The Canadian Scholarship Trust supports students facing financial barriers to help them access post-secondary education by providing 25 bursaries valued at $6000 each. The bursaries are for current Grade 12 students whose parents did not attend post-secondary education. Students are encouraged to apply who demonstrate strong character: resiliency, community-mindedness, and commitment to excellence. The deadline to apply is Friday, April 14. Click here to learn more.
RBC Summer Tech Labs – Innovation Developer – Applications Due March 27
RBC is offering a great summer opportunity for students interested in Business, Technology and/or Entrepreneurship. RBC Summer Tech Labs is an eight-week paid internship for students in grades 11 and 12. Throughout July and August, students will collaborate in small teams to grow their technical and professional skills, while solving real RBC business challenges. RBC High School Summer Tech Labs 2023 applications are open until 11:59 pm March 27.
Thank you to Ms. Ng and Mr. Oosterhoff for their support of our students!
Messages from School Council – Seeking Auction Items!
Our School Council is raising funds for Forest Hill C.I. And we need your help! We are organizing a Silent Auction that will be held in May at two upcoming events, i.e. the Dance Fashion Show and Sounds of Spring Concert. Do you have new items that you would like to donate to the auction?
What kind of items you ask? Sports tickets, gift cards, gift baskets, home items, and more!
To donate items please contact Chair 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…
Commencement – Tuesday, June 27 @ 1 pm
Please note that the grade 12 Commencement date is Tuesday, June 27 at 1:00 p.m. Our Commencement will be held at Toronto Pavilion, 190 Railside Road. More information will be shared via email directly with graduating students and families on Tuesday this week.
March of the Living – Extended Absence Form Required
March of the Living is a journey to Poland and Israel to learn about the Jewish community that once flourished in Europe, the tragedy of the Holocaust, and the establishment and survival of the State of Israel. As this event is organized by a private organization, students who are planning to participate must complete the extended absence form which can be picked up in the Main Office.
Land Acknowledgement: We, the students and staff of Forest Hill Collegiate Institute, acknowledge that we are hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis, and the Inuit peoples.