Our annual Grade 9 Leadership Day was a hit! Thank you to our Prefects and all our grade 9 teachers and staff who worked hard to ensure the day was a success!
Grade 9 parents and guardians are welcome to join us this week for our Grade 9 Curriculum Night on Thursday, September 28 @ 6:00 p.m. Grade 9 parents and guardians are invited to join us to learn about our curriculum, see our classrooms and meet some of our teachers.
Afterwards, please consider staying to meet other parents and guardians at our School Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. in the library on Thursday. Hear what our Council has planned for the upcoming year and meet the parents who have volunteered to be on the Council Executive. More information about both events is shared below.
Saturday, September 30 is National Truth and Reconciliation Day. Our students and staff are encouraged to wear orange to show support for Canada’s Indigenous peoples and Truth and Reconciliation on Friday, September 29.
Looking forward to this week,
Yvette Duffy, Principal Maharukh Kootar, Vice Principal Jaime Yamashita, Vice Principal
In this issue:
- The Next Two Weeks at a Glance
- Student Council – Grade 9 Representative Applications – Due Tuesday, September 26
- Late Start for Students – Wednesday, September 27 – Classes Begin at 9:55 a.m.
- Grade 9 Curriculum Night – Thursday, September 28 @ 6:00 pm
- Truth & Reconciliation Day & Orange Shirt Day – Friday, September 29
- Student Parking
- Club Charter Applications – Next Steps
- Spirit Week & Pep Rally – First Week of October!
- PA Day – No School for Students – Friday, October 6
- Messages from Special Education
- Messages from Guidance
- Messages from School Council – Chair Paul Matos
- 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.
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! All candidates who apply will be expected to attend an All Candidates Meeting on Thursday, September 28 @ lunch in the 3rd Floor Conference room.
Late Start for Students – Wednesday, September 27 – Classes Begin at 9:55 a.m.
This Wednesday, September 27 there will be a late start for students to allow our staff to engage in our monthly Staff Meeting. 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.
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.
Truth & Reconciliation Day & Orange Shirt Day – Friday, September 29
In addition to being the 10th annual Orange Shirt Day, September 30, 2023 will be the third National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Together we recognize the legacy of Canada’s residential school system and continue to learn the many truths of these institutions.
At Forest Hill Collegiate, we will be wearing Orange Shirts to commemorate this day. Orange Shirt Day is an Indigenous-led grassroots commemorative day intended to raise awareness of the individual, family and community inter-generational impacts of residential schools, and to promote the concept of Every Child Matters. The orange shirt is a symbol of the stripping away of culture, freedom and self-esteem experienced by Indigenous children over generations. We will also be engaging in other activities to deepen our knowledge, raise awareness and honour and celebrate our First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children and communities.
Student Parking – Only students with permits may park
Students who received a parking pass are reminded that 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. Applications for Semester 2 will be provided in January 2024.
Club Charter Applications – Next Steps
Forty-six applications for clubs were submitted by our students! Clubs applications will be reviewed, staff advisors contacted and an email will be sent to the executive members indicated on the applications. All clubs that run this school year will be expected to set up a display at our Clubs Fair on Wednesday, October 4! More information will be shared with executives by email this week.
Spirit Week & Pep Rally – First Week of October!
The week of October 2nd, our Athletic and School Councils will host Spirit Week! The week will kick off with our annual Pep Rally. Students are encouraged to show their school spirit by wearing Blue & Gold on October 2! More information about spirit days will be shared next week! Stay tuned.
PA Day – No School for Students – Friday, October 6
On Friday, October 6, 2023 there will be no school for students. Our staff will engage in professional development.
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 the main office 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.
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.
Messages from School Council – Chair Paul Matos
All parents and guardians of Forest Hill Collegiate are invited to join our first School Council Meeting this Thursday, September 28 at 7:30 pm in the school library, room 108.
As we embark on a new academic year, we extend our warmest greetings and a heartfelt invitation to all parents and guardians to become voting members of the Forest Hill Collegiate Institute (FHCI) School Council.
At FHCI, we believe in the power of collaboration and parental involvement in education. Our School Council is comprised of volunteers who are parents, guardians, administration, and staff members at FHCI. Your active participation in the School Council is an invaluable contribution to the growth and success of our school community. As parents and guardians, your involvement not only benefits your child's education but also enhances the overall educational experience for all students. Become a voting member to have your voice heard by linking to and completing the FHCI School Council Voting Member Self Nomination Form and submit it in person at our first School Council meeting or email it to: fhcischoolcouncil@gmail.com.
Trustee Laskin’s Weekly Updates
Learn more about upcoming events and keep informed 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.