Hillstock was a huge success on Friday! Weather was excellent and the barbeque and activities were enjoyed by all! Students competed to remain standing on the Eliminator, while others sought to beat their opponent on the Ultimate Rush obstacle course! And 24 student groups entertained us with their live musical performances!
Hillstock marks the coming end of term and this week we will shift to end of year culminating activities. Final examinations will start on Monday, June 19. All students are encouraged to plan their time accordingly and review the Examination Schedule and record important dates in their calendars.
Commencement is fast approaching and we are gearing up for our first June ceremony. All graduates should keep an eye out this week for an email outlining how to pick up gowns, caps and tickets. We would like to congratulate Cihad K who was chosen by the graduating class to be the 2022/2023 Valedictorian!
Please note that there will be construction occurring on the FHCI property this summer and into the fall to replace the deteriorating asphalt in the parking lots and play areas. Construction is planned to start on Monday, June 15 and is targeted to be completed by mid-September. Fencing to support this project will be placed on the perimeter of the north side of the school starting on Thursday, June 12. See below for further details.
Our last School Council meeting will be Tuesday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. in the library. All parents and guardians are welcome. Thank you to Tracy and Cindy who volunteered on behalf of School Council to serve lunch to our staff last week during the Staff Appreciation Luncheon.
Best of luck to all our students this week on culminating activities,
Yvette Duffy, Principal Maharukh Kootar, Vice Principal Jaime Yamashita, Vice Principal
In this issue:
- The Next Two Weeks at a Glance
- Hillstock – A Great Success!
- Construction on FHCI Property This Summer
- PA Crew Tryouts – Tuesday, June 6 – Main Office @ 3:30 pm
- Sports Update – We are Proud Falcons!
- Commencement – Cap, Gown and Ticket Pick Up – Week of June 19
- National Indigenous History Month & National Indigenous Peoples Day
- June is Pride Month
- Italian Heritage Month at the TDSB: June 2023
- Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month at the TDSB
- Culminating Activities Begin – Monday, June 5
- Semester 2 Exam Schedule & Moratorium
- Exams & Culminating Activities – Vacation Planning & Summer Employment Expectations
- Future Students Welcome Reception – Tuesday, June 13 @ 4:30 p.m.
- Message from our Business, Experiential Learning & Computer Science Department
- Messages from Student Success – Vaping Webinar – Tuesday, June 6 @ 7 pm
- Messages from Guidance
- Messages from School Council
- Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
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.
Hillstock – A Great Success!
As mentioned at the top of this newsletter, Hillstock was a blast on Friday. It was the work of many that made this event such fun! Thank you to our Prefects, School Council and Music Directorate for all the effort that went into making this day possible!
A special thank you as well to all the staff that supported in the background:
- our office staff who helped behind the scenes – Ms. Delos Reyes, Ms. Sourasis and Ms. Zammit
- our staff who worked the barbeque for hours – Mr. Dinsmore, Ms. Ibe and Mr. Oosterhoff
- our student organizers – Ms. Homitidas, Ms. McKinnon, Ms. Pawlowski and Ms. Simas
- our caretaking staff who helped with set up and tear down – Mr. Grey, Mr. Kis, Ms. Lima, Mr. Maughan and Mr. Pollard
- all our staff who supported with supervision – there are too many to list here!
Construction on FHCI Property This Summer
An upcoming construction project for Paving Replacement in Play Areas and Parking Lots at Forest Hill is planned for mid-June assuming permits are granted and the weather cooperates. The majority of the work will be completed during the summer. The scope of work includes improvements to the north of the school building, all parking lots and the turning circle at the front, along with all student gathering areas on the north and south sides of the building.
The work will include upgrades to the north of the school including the installation of a new basketball court and a turfed area for soccer, the creation of an armour stone seat wall and the construction of new gathering spaces for students. The courtyard will also be upgraded to allow for better accessibility, the creation of sun shelters, and the installation of an irrigation system to allow for new plantings. At the front of the school, the circular drive will be repaved, an additional flag pole will be installed, the parking area will be revamped, and the student gathering areas will be upgraded.
Fencing of the north end of the property may begin this Thursday, June 12. Access to the beltline will only be available from the east side of the school using the driveway that runs along the tennis courts. The circular drive will not be accessible starting in July.
PA Crew Tryouts – Tuesday, June 6 – Main Office @ 3:30 pm
Are you interested in having your voice heard – literally? This Tuesday we will be hosting PA Crew Tryouts after school. What is the PA Crew? This is a group of dedicated students who will be responsible for morning announcements and our opening ceremonies for 2023/2024! Here are some of the qualities we are looking for in PA Crew members:
- Comfortable having their voice broadcast throughout the school
- Speak clearly so listeners can understand
- Have a passionate attitude and positive energy
- Be a team player and supporter of others
- Willing to make a commitment to arrive to school by 8:45 a.m. most days
If this is you, then head to the Main Office at 3:30 pm on Tuesday for the try outs.
Sports Update – We are Proud Falcons!
Baseball: Congratulations to the Baseball Team that had a great season and proudly represented Forest Hill! A special thank you to Mr. Billinghurst for coaching our team!
Tennis: Our tennis team had a successful season too! Thank you to Mr. Ketchum who supported our co-ed players towards success!
Ultimate: The Ultimate team made it to the finals tied at the end of the regulation game, but lost by one point in sudden death overtime! Way to go, Falcons! Thank you to Ms. Brown for sponsoring this team!
Commencement – Cap, Gown and Ticket Pick Up – Week of June 19
Commencement caps, gowns, and tickets will be available for pick up beginning Monday, June 19 until Friday, June 23. Students must bring a copy of their emailed receipt as proof of payment. More details will be shared by email directly with our graduates.
Commencement is being held at the Toronto Pavilion, 190 Railside Road, on Tuesday, June 27. All graduates are asked to note these important times:
- 12:15 p.m. – Doors will open for all guests & all graduates arrive dressed in gown/cap
- 1:00 p.m. – Ceremony begins
National Indigenous History Month & National Indigenous Peoples Day
National Indigenous History Month is a time to celebrate and learn from First Nations, Métis and Inuit people about the diverse cultures, histories, experiences, creations, perspectives, and achievements. The TDSB will kick off the month on June 13th with Elder Blu Waters for TDSB students and staff. All month long, the Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC) will be hosting several events and celebrations along with Two-Spirit & Indigiqueer Pride. Find out more by following the UIEC on Twitter.
During the month of June, the TDSB recognizes National Indigenous Peoples Day on Wednesday, June 21. Many First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples celebrate the Summer Solstice on this day when the Sun travels along its northernmost most path and is the longest day of the year. It is a time that reminds us to remain grounded, humble and appreciative.
June is Pride Month
During the month of June, the TDSB proudly celebrates Pride to raise awareness among all staff and students of the rich diversity and culture of the 2SLBGTQ+ community. Our school is proudly flying the Pride flag throughout June and will be hosting events this month. Thank you to our GSA for all they plan to do in June!
Italian Heritage Month at the TDSB: June 2023
Italian Heritage Month is proudly recognized during the month of June at the TDSB. 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. This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Christie Pits riot that took place in Toronto in August 1933. To commemorate this moment in history, the TDSB’s Jewish Heritage Committee in collaboration with the Italian Heritage Committee provided a chance to learn about the largest race riot in Canadian history. This program is part of the committees’ commitment to plan annual educational opportunities to enrich curriculum and celebrate the diverse cultures of individuals within our schools and communities. Please follow Italian Heritage Month @ItalianHer1
Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month at the TDSB
Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month is proudly recognized during the month of June at the TDSB. This year the theme is Alegria/Joy. The contributions of the Portuguese-Speaking heritage 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 communities 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.
Culminating Activities Begin – Monday, June 5
Students will begin working on the Culminating Activities next week. Some activities will be completed in class while others will be taken home. The value of the tasks ranges from 10% to 30% and some in place of examinations. Thus, all students are expected to be present for all in-class components of these activities and are reminded that a mark of zero will result for missed activities. Any concerns or questions should be directed to the classroom teacher or the appropriate Vice Principal.
Semester 2 Exam Schedule & Moratorium
Please link to the Examination Schedule to review expectations and important dates. All students are reminded that a missed exam will result in a mark of zero and thus attendance is mandatory.
During the Moratorium period which begins on Monday, June 12 and runs until Friday, June 16 and all classes that have exams will not introduce new material/concepts, nor run tests or quizzes. Homework considered part of the systematic review and examination process, such as sample examination questions or take-home practice tests/quizzes, may be assigned. Note: For classes not running an examination, in-class culminating tasks may be completed during the moratorium. No sports or excursions will take place during this period.
Exams & Culminating Activities – Vacation Planning & Summer Employment Expectations
The 2022-23 School Calendar is available on the TDSB website which indicates that the last day of school is Friday, June 30. Vacations and summer employment are not considered legitimate reasons for absences from culminating activities and/or exams. Please avoid scheduling such during school time. Culminating activities and exams that are missed owing to vacation or summer employment will receive a mark of zero. The school cannot support requests for individual student accommodations during scheduled culminating activities and exams owing to vacation and/or summer employment. FHCI Important dates can be found on live calendar on our school website.
Future Students Welcome Reception – Tuesday, June 13 @ 4:30 p.m.
Forest Hill will be hosting a welcome reception for students new to our school on Tuesday, June 13 beginning at 4:30 p.m. This evening will host our incoming grade 8s and students new to Forest Hill to learn more about our school and meet our administration, teachers, student leaders, School Council and more!
Thank you to our Prefects – and their staff sponsors Ms. Homatidis and Ms. McKinnon – who will provide tours of our school to our future students. And thank you to the student representatives of the following councils who will be on stage sharing their Forest Hill experiences: Student Council, Athletic Council, Black Student Alliance, COPE Council, Jewish Student Union, Filipino Student Union, Music Directorate and Prefects!
Message from our Business, Experiential Learning & Computer Science Department
As the school year wraps up, the Business, Experiential Learning & Computer Science department would like to congratulate the graduating, current, and incoming Forest Hill CI Business SHSM students. We'd also like to share some student work from Ms. Stefani's marketing class who participated in a Makey Makey project and used circuit boards to develop, market, and pitch products that turned ordinary objects into computer keys and controllers. Link here to view the excellent student work. Nicely done!
Messages from Student Success – Vaping Webinar – Tuesday, June 6 @ 7 pm
In partnership with mid-town schools, Assistant Professor Adam Cole from Ontario Tech University will be hosting a webinar Is Your Student Vaping? How to know and why it Matters on Tuesday, June 6 from 7:00-8:00 PM for parents and guardians. Forest Hill CI parents and guardians are invited to attend this informative webinar to learn the signs of vaping and strategies to support young people who are vaping. No Pre-Registration is required for this event. Parents and guardians should link to https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/s/99911354295 to join this webinar.
Messages from Guidance
Community Service Hours – Grade 12 Volunteer Forms – Due Friday, June 9 @ 4 pm
Grade 12 students are reminded to submit any outstanding community service hours to the Guidance Department by Friday, June 9 at 4 pm to allow the Guidance department to process these hours in time for graduation. The Ministry of Education requires all students complete 40 hours of community service during their high school career. Students cannot graduate without completing and submitting documentation confirming completion of these hours. Access the Volunteering page of the FHCI Guidance website to learn about volunteer opportunities and to download the Community Involvement Form.
OCAS & OUAC Transmission Dates
External credits will be added to a student’s record only when an official report card is received. The deadline for receiving final reports for external credits is Friday, June 22 for these to be entered by Forest Hill CI on a student’s record in time for July upload to OCAS/OUAC. Our Guidance department closes on Friday, June 30 and our Guidance Counsellors are not available in the summer. Therefore, it is important that students who require external credits to be entered by the school submit these by June 22. Credits taken in the summer within the TDSB will be managed by the TDSB Summer or eLearning Guidance departments. External credits need to be managed by the private company delivering the credits. Please note the following important OCAS/OUAC dates:
- OCAS transmission dates are: July 7, August 4 and August 31
- OUAC transmission dates are: July 6, August 4, & August 31
Messages from School Council
School Council In-Person Meeting – Tuesday, June 13
Our last School Council Meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 13 at 7:30 p.m. All parents and guardians are welcome to join us in the Forest Hill library. Add agenda items and rsvp by emailing Tracy Kowal at tracy.kowal@yahoo.ca.
Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
Keep informed about happenings in the TDSB by linking to Trustee Laskin's Weekly Newsletter.
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.