We want to begin by thanking everyone for their patience last week as the TDSB experienced many issues with our various software applications. We realize that it was challenging to access the Excursion Management Application, School Cash Online, Permission Click and more.
We would like to apologize on behalf of the TDSB for any confusion and frustration that this may have caused – especially to our parents and guardians who were trying to sign up and pay for their grade 9 student to attend our Grade 9 Leadership Trip, as well as to the ones who were trying to approve their student to participate in various team tryouts. Our understanding is that all applications are now functioning.
That said – we are very excited about our annual Grade 9 Leadership Day! Thank you to our Prefects and our lead teachers, Ms. Homatidis and Ms. Ibe, who have been working hard to make sure this is a fabulous day for our grade 9s! Thank you as well to our grade 9 teachers and staff who will help support on Monday: Ms. Burnip, Ms. Cimera, Ms. Chreppas, Ms. Cole, Mr. Ketchum, Mr. MacDonald, Ms. Pawlowski, Ms. Ramundi, Ms. Saba, Ms. Simas and Mr. Sinevici.
Lots more is planned for the coming weeks:
- Grade 9 Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 28 @ 6:00 p.m.
- School Council First Meeting on Thursday, September 28 @ 7:30 p.m.
These are just a few of the items that are worth reviewing below. For all our Jewish families who will be observing Yom Kippur this week - Chag Sameach.
Sincerely,
Yvette Duffy, Principal Maharukh Kootar, Vice Principal Jaime Yamashita, Vice Principal
In this issue:
- The Next Two Weeks at a Glance
- Grade 9 Leadership Day – Monday, September 18
- Student Council – Calling All Grade 9 Representatives
- New Grade 10, 11 & 12 Students to FHCI Luncheon – Tuesday, September 19 @ Library
- Late Start for Students – Wednesday, September 20 – Classes Begin at 10:00 a.m.
- Student Parking – Passes Will Be Distributed on Wednesday, September 20
- Club Charter Applications – Due Thursday, September 21
- Caring and Safe School Committee Meeting – Thursday, September 21 @ 11:45 am
- Grade 9 Curriculum Night – Thursday, September 28 @ 6:00 pm
- Messages from Special Education
- Messages from Guidance
- Messages from School Council – Introducing Chair Paul Matos
- Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
- Worth Mentioning Again...
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.
Grade 9 Leadership Day – Monday, September 18
As mentioned in the multiple emails sent out last week, all our grade 9s will be attending our annual Grade 9 Leadership Day on Monday, September 18. Our objective for the day is to help build leadership skills, connect with new friends, build school spirit and create a sense of belonging to the school. After an in-school assembly, students will be organized into groups and depart from the school at 9:30 a.m. for Earl Bales Park and will return to the school for dismissal at 3:15 pm.
If you need more information about this event, permission forms or payment options, please link to Grade 9 Leadership Day – Email to Parents/Guardians.
Student Council – Calling All Grade 9 Representatives
Our Student Council is calling all grade 9s! We need grade 9 representatives on our team. If you are a dedicated and responsible grade 9 student who wishes to act as the voice of all our grade 9s, you are encouraged to apply to be a Grade 9 Rep on our Student Council. Applications will be available on Monday, September 18 and will be due on Tuesday, September 26. This is a great opportunity for students to get involved in the FHCI community!
New Grade 10, 11 & 12 Students to FHCI Luncheon – Tuesday, September 19 @ Library
Calling all Grades 10, 11 and 12 students who are new to FHCI! If this is your first year at Forest Hill and you are in grades 10, 11 or 12, you are invited to join the New Students to FHCI Luncheon on Tuesday, September 19 at 11:40 a.m. in the library. Pizza will be served and you will have a chance to meet other students! Stay tuned for more information on the morning announcements.
Late Start for Students – Wednesday, September 20 – Classes Begin at 10:00 a.m.
This Wednesday, September 20 there will be a late start for students to allow our staff to engage in professional learning. The schedule for the day is a Late Start Day 1 as follows:
9:55 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. - Block A
11:05 a.m. to 12:05 p.m. – Block B
12:05 p.m. to 1:10 p.m. – Lunch
1:10 p.m. to 2:10 p.m. – Block C
2:15 p.m. to 3:15 p.m. – Block D
Click 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.
Student Parking – Passes Will Be Distributed on Wednesday, September 20
The Student Parking application form for Semester 1 has now closed. There are only eight available spaces for students this semester and there were 34 applicants. Ms. Yamashita will reach out to the eight students who will be provided with a parking pass on Wednesday of this week. Parking passes must be displayed on the dash of the vehicle and are not transferrable. Please note that students who do not have parking passes are not permitted to park in our school parking lots as we need the spaces to allow our staff to park. Cars that park without passes will be tagged and/or towed at owner’s expense.
Club Charter Applications – Due Thursday, September 21
Do you want to start a club? Are you the leader of a club that is running this school year? We hope that lots of clubs will run! It is the clubs that keep our school spirit and community alive. A few things to keep in mind:
- every club needs a staff sponsor
- each club must have a different mandate or reason for existing
- each club is entitled to funding that is raised through our Student Activity Fees
Once you have found a staff sponsor, please take a moment to complete this 2023/2024 FHCI Club Charter Application by the end of the school day on Thursday, September 21 to let us know about your club. Remember you can advertise your club at our Clubs Fair on Wednesday, October 4!
Caring and Safe School Committee Meeting – Thursday, September 21 @ 11:45 am
Each school must have in place a safe and accepting school committee responsible for fostering a safe, inclusive, and accepting school climate that should include at least one student and must include at least one parent, one teacher, one non-teaching staff member, one community partner, and the principal or designate. In the TDSB this committee also includes the school’s positive space representative and school equity representative.
The Caring and Safe Schools Committee will:
- work together to ensure a positive and peaceful school
- develop prevention strategies and peaceful problem solving
- support police outreach through Crime Stoppers and other police-community involvement
- encourage students to help each other through programs such as peer mediation, counselling, theatre performances and classroom discussions.
Our first in-person meeting will be held on Thursday, September 21 at 11:45am in the conference room. The option for Parents and Guardians to join virtually will be provided. If you are interested in joining this committee, please email Jaime Yamashita jaime.yamashita@tdsb.on.ca.
Grade 9 Curriculum Night – Thursday, September 28 @ 6:00 pm
All grade 9 parents, guardians and students are asked to please mark your calendars for our Grade 9 Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 28 at 6:00 p.m. The evening is designed to provide parents and guardians with important information about our school and to introduce our curriculum leaders. It will be an opportunity to share what will be learned this year in our grade 9 classes, see our classrooms, and answer any questions about the first year of high school.
Please note that this evening will not be an opportunity to discuss individual students as individual concerns should be addressed directly to the student’s teacher. Parent-Guardian Teacher Interviews will be held on October 26.
Messages from Special Education
Individual Education Plan (IEP) development has begun for the 2023-2024 school year
Families of students with IEPs should have received a copy of the IEP Parent Consultation Letter throughout the week of September 11 to September 15, by email.
If a student in your household has an IEP and you did NOT receive a Parent Consultation Letter, OR you required a hard copy of the letter sent home, please reach out to the Assistant Curriculum Leader of Special Education, Sarah Hammond at sarah.hammond@tdsb.on.ca.
As noted in the Parent Consultation Letters, please return all letters to Ms. Hammond's attention within two weeks of receipt.
Messages From Guidance
Semester 1 Course Change Requests Completed
Please know that all course change requests for Semester 1 have been completed. We are unable to accommodate any requests for changing teachers or moving an existing course to other period as our classes are full. Thank you for your patience and understanding.
Ontario University Information
Student Hyperdoc: a nice graphic that guides students through how to get started when looking to attend an Ontario University.
Connect With Ontario Universities Hyperdoc: outlines the ways students can connect with Ontario universities throughout the entire application process - from starting their research with OUInfo to applying through the OUAC.
Ontario University Fair - October 21 and October 22 form 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., daily at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. This event is fair style with booths from Ontario universities and offers an opportunity to gather information and chat with representatives one on one.
In-person Regional Fairs: Various dates and locations from September 26-October 27. Ontario's university representatives are coming to Toronto with the return of the in-person Regional Fairs. These events are fair style and offer an opportunity to speak directly with university representatives.
Virtual Information Sessions: September 26 and November 22 from 5pm to 8 pm. Each event is divided into 4 timeslots, where students can learn about the universities of their choice and ask questions.
Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
Learn more about upcoming events and keep informed by linking to Trustee Laskin's Weekly Newsletter.
Worth Mentioning Again...
Student Activity Fee - $60 Requested
All families are respectfully reminded of our $60 Student Activity Fee which is due via School Cash Online. This fee ensures a richer experience for our students. All monies collected go to support student engagement in sports, clubs, the arts and co-curricular events. For example, these fees are used to support:
- A team that needs equipment or uniforms
- A club or council that require supplies to operate
- A club, council or group that wants to run a celebratory event, such as Hillstock
- Student ID Cards
- Toner and paper to support student printing
This fee also provides paying students with a yearbook. Each year many students are surprised to learn that they are unable to receive a yearbook in June. The yearbook goes to print in March and the number of yearbooks that are ordered are based on the number of students who paid the Student Activity Fee in the fall. Please link to FHCI Student Activity Fee to pay now. See below for further details.
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.