Welcome to all our students and families! We are very excited to begin the new academic year at Forest Hill this Tuesday, September 5 at 9:55 a.m.
Please take a moment to read through these important items:
- As mentioned last week, if you are NOT planning to attend Forest Hill Collegiate this school year, we ask that a parent or guardian email our Office Administrator, Soula Sourasis at chrisoula.sourasis@tdsb.on.ca with the subject line: DEMIT followed by the first and last name of the student who wishes to be demitted. Please indicate in the body of the email where the student will be attending school in September.
- Semester 1 student timetables were shared through the TDSB Connects App last Friday. Students who could not access their timetables through the TDSB Connects App will be able to pick up a hardcopy of their timetable in the main foyer on Tuesday. See below for more details about timetables.
- If you are a newly registered student, your timetable will be available for pick up in our Guidance Office at 8:45 am on Tuesday. Upon arrival, our new registrants will be introduced to our Prefects who will show our new students around our school before classes begin.
- The $60 Student Activity Fee is due this week via School Cash Online. We respectfully request that all families pay this fee as this will ensure that we can offer a richer experience for our students. Please link to FHCI Student Activity Fee to pay. See below for further details.
Our staff have been working hard to ensure a great start this coming week. We are very excited to welcome all our students on Tuesday 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
- First Day of School – Tuesday, September 5
- TDSB Connects App – Download Now
- Student Password Information
- Student Timetables
- Code of Conduct
- Start of Year Forms 2023/2024 – Permission Click
- Attendance & Safe Arrival Call Out
- Cafeteria Service Begins – Wednesday, September 6
- Student Activity Fees –$60 Requested
- Outstanding Textbooks & Other Items – Call for Return!
- Student Parking – Limited Spaces Available
- School Calendar & Vacation Planning 2023/2024
- Addressing Concerns and Questions You May Have – Who Should Be Contacted
- Head Start to High School – A Huge Success!
- Messages from Guidance
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.
First Day of School – Tuesday, September 5
The first day of school is on Tuesday, September 5. The schedule for the day is a Late Start Day 1 as follows:
9:55 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. - Period 1
11:05 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. – Period 2
12:05 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. – Lunch
1:10 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. – Period 3
2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. – Period 4
Click on our Daily Schedule & Late Start Dates to review the school schedules. Link to our live school calendar on our school website landing page for more daily events.
TDSB Connects App – Download Now
All students are expected to download the TDSB Connects App via Google Play or the Apple App Store. This app will provide students with access to their timetable, the daily school calendar, the Student Handbook, and a fillable agenda that will allow them to organize their important dates and events. Once the app is downloaded, students can log in using their TDSB credentials, i.e. 9-Digit Student Number, and their TDSB network password.
Student Password Information
New Students: Students new to TDSB will have their password set to the Shared Secret Password. This is a combination of the last 4 digits of your Student Number, followed by 2 digits for your day of birth, and 2 digits for your month of birth, followed by “@Tdsb” (case sensitive and 13 characters in total). The infographic provides the formula to the Shared Secret Password.
If a student has forgotten their password, they can attempt to reset it by following these instructions: Student Password Reset. Our teacher-librarian, Ms. Legrow, will be available in the library on Tuesday to help support students who are having log in issues.
Student Timetables
Semester 1 student timetables are now available through the TDSB Connects App. After signing into the TDSB Connects App, students should click on the Update Timetable Settings menu item. They will then be taken to a screen where they can change the default date to September 5 to view their Semester 1 timetable.
If students wish to change their semester 1 schedule, please use the FHCI Semester 1 2023 2024 Timetable Change Request Form. Our Guidance department will be monitoring the form and will prioritize student needs and begin to meet with students on Tuesday. Our Guidance department will attempt to meet student requests; however, please note that many of our classes are currently full. Students must follow their original timetable unless directed otherwise. This will allow our Guidance department to locate students when a meeting is required to discuss a change.
Code of Conduct
Administration will be hosting our Welcome Assemblies this week. During this assembly, the administration will outline school expectations for students. Students will be expected to review the Student Handbook and abide by the rules and procedures outlined in this Handbook. This handbook will be available on the TDSB Connects App and the school website.
Start of Year Forms 2023/2024 – Permission Click
An automatic email will be sent to the parent or guardian email address on file requesting that a host of digital forms be completed. Completing this package of forms will ensure that the school has the most current and up-to-date student information. Please keep an eye out for an email from noreply@tdsb.on.ca. This email will direct you to Permission Click, a secure site, to complete and submit the required school forms.
Attendance & Safe Arrival Call Out
Attendance is recorded in each period daily. Attendance, punctuality and active participation will lead to success. Safe Arrival calls are automated calls that will be made during Period 1 for students who have not yet arrived at school. For absences and lates in Periods 2, 3 and 4, automated calls will be made in the evening. Please ensure that the Forest Hill school number is not blocked to allow us to communicate more effectively about your student. A separate email will be sent directly to the parent and/or guardian emails on file at the school providing directions as to how to report student absence and lateness.
Cafeteria Service Begins – Wednesday, September 6
Cafeteria service will be up and running on Wednesday, September 6. We are pleased to offer our students the opportunity to purchase a hot lunch each day during the school year.
Student Activity Fees – $60 Requested
Each year schools collect a student fee to support costs that are not covered by the Ministry or the Board to provide an even richer school experience for our students. This year our school is requesting a Student Activity Fee of $60.
Our school activity fee will support the Arts, Athletics, Clubs, and many other co-curriculars. The fee also covers the cost of our wonderful yearbook that will be delivered to our students in June and sundry other items that are not covered by the funding provided to schools. The fee will cover the following:
$30 - Forester Yearbook (colour printed)
$10 - Academic programming (FHCI Photo ID card and student printing costs)
$5 - Athletic programming (teams and Intramural for students)
$15 - Student programming (Student Council, Clubs, Hillstock, nutrition for students in need)
Link to FHCI Student Activity Fee to make this payment using School Cash Online. If you have not already registered for School Cash Online, please do so. Please visit and select “Register”. Once registered, you will receive email notifications when items become available for purchase online.
If you have any questions, please reach out to the school. Thank you for supporting student engagement at Forest Hill. Note: In the event of financial hardship for a student or family, please speak with an Administrator to request waiving this fee. Confidentiality will be respected. If you have any further questions regarding the Student Activity Fee, please contact the school.
Outstanding Textbooks & Other Items – Call for Return!
Loaned textbooks and other loaned items can be returned directly to the school. Please print and complete the FHCI Textbook & Loaned Items Return Form before arrival at the school to allow for a quick and smooth drop off of borrowed textbooks and loaned items to the Main Office.
Student Parking – Limited Spaces Available
Student parking is limited and all vehicles parked in our lot must have a FHCI Parking Pass. Prior to parking, student drivers must apply for a parking pass by connecting with Vice Principal Yamashita beginning September 11. Parking Passes are non-transferable. Unauthorized and non-permitted vehicles may be ticketed and/or towed.
School Calendar & Vacation Planning 2023/2024
The 2023-24 School Calendar is now available on the TDSB website. Please link to TDSB Secondary School Calendar 2023/2024 for important exam and holiday dates. Please note that we will be scheduling final Exams and culminating activities for the 2023/2024 school year in both January and June. A reminder that vacations are not considered a legitimate absence from instructional days or exam days. Every effort should be made to avoid scheduling family vacations during school time. In the event of a missed evaluation due to a family vacation, teachers are not required to provide an alternative form of evaluation or Exam and a mark of zero may be assigned.
Addressing Concerns and Questions You May Have – Who Should Be Contacted
Our staff are here to support students and want to hear from you if there is a concern or question. We make every effort to address concerns quickly.
For classroom and specific academic concerns, the classroom teacher is the first point of contact. Please remember when contacting a teacher that the teacher is in class for most of the school day teaching and cannot respond immediately. Our service excellence culture is to return calls or emails within 24 hours and all staff will attempt to do their best to adhere to this timeline.
If you would like more information about student schedules, academic pathway or post-secondary planning, or course selection, please reach out to our Guidance Counsellors:
Andrew Oosterhoff – Surnames that begin with A to K – andrew.oosterhoff@tdsb.on.ca
Rosemarie Reid – Surnames that begins with L to Z – rosemarie.reid@tdsb.on.ca
If you need support with other student matters, please contact our Vice Principals at:
Jaime Yamashita – Surnames that begin with A to K – jaime.yamashita@tdsb.on.ca
Maharukh Kootar – Surnames that begin with L to Z – maharukh.kootar@tdsb.on.ca
Head Start to High School – A Huge Success!
On Tuesday, August 31, Forest Hill opened our doors to our grade 9s to welcome them with Head Start to High School. It was great to see our grade 9s getting to know our school and each other, while participating in team building exercises led by our Prefects.
Thank you to all our Prefects who did a fabulous job! Thank you, as well, to our teachers who gave up a Tuesday of their summer break to welcome our new students: Ms. Amygdalidis, Mr. Billinghurst, Mr. Ketchum, Ms. Ibe, Ms. Kukar, Ms. Ramundi, Ms. Saba and Ms. Wilk. And a very special shout out to Ms. Homatidis who organized the day!
Messages from Guidance
eLearning Registration Begins on Wednesday, September 6
Registration for e-Learning Day School for grade 11 and 12 courses will begin on Wednesday, September 6, 2023. Please link to the TDSB eLearning Information site for a list of courses.
Course requests approvals by our Guidance Counsellors will be completed by Tuesday, September 12, 4:00 p.m. An orientation for students will take place on Thursday, September 14. Courses will begin on Monday, September 18. Registration will continue until Friday, September 22, with final guidance approvals completed Monday, September 25, 4:00 p.m. More information can be found on this information flyer and poster. Please note that an eLearning course must fit in your schedule. You cannot add an eLearning course if you already have a full course load of four courses this semester.
Students who cannot fit a course offered at FHCI, into their regular schedule OR want to take a course that is not offered at FHCI are the ideal candidates for enrolling in an eLearning course. Note: You must make an appointment with your guidance counsellor if you would like to register in an eLearning course.
Night School
Registration for Night School opens on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. and closes on September 29, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. Please link to the TDSB Night School site for more information.
With night school courses, you are able to add a course to your existing schedule. Also, credit recovery courses are being offered in night school. You must make an appointment with your guidance counsellor if you would like to register for a night school course.
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.