Upcoming Events
March 30th- Day 3
March 30th- Purdy's Chocolate Fundraiser order pickup date
March 31st- Pizza Lunch
March 31st- Mr. BH's last day
April 1st- Ms. Larosa starts at John Wanless
April 2nd- Earth Hour 2:15-3:15pm
April 3rd- Good Friday: School is closed for students
April 6th- Easter Monday: School is closed for students
It was great to see our students return after the March Break! During the course of the week tryouts started for our badminton teams. Our Spelling Bee participants continued working with their coaches. Houseleagues continued to run as well. Our Grade 3 & 4 students were very fortunate to be able to spent time with a visiting author on Thursday- sessions like these are very inspirational for our young writers! During the course of the week we have also conducted a number of our mandatory safety drills as well. We have two fire drills remaining for the year.
The coming short week will bring our next Pizza Lunch on Tuesday. The week will also bring an administrative change to John Wanless as I will be retiring from my current role effective Tuesday. Please join us in welcoming back Ms. Larosa who will be covering our school until the end of the academic year. All parents are reminded that the school will be closed on Friday.
On a personal note, I would like to thank the entire John Wanless Community for the support you have provided to me and our team over the past decade. During this time and with your help and support, we were able to build on past excellence and it is my sincere hope and expectation that this trend continues long after my departure. It has been my privilege to serve this community and to help guide your children. The school and the broader community will always be at the forefront of my thoughts and I will definitely continue my association with the team, albeit in a different capacity.
I wish your children continued success and your families the very best,
Mr BH
Staffing Updates
We would like to let our community members know that Ms. Sedighi has returned from her leave. We welcome her back! We would like to thank Ms. Wolk for her support of John Wanless' students in Ms. Sedighi's absence.
Notes from the Library
This week our grade 3 & 4 students enjoyed a visit from author Maria Birmingham to talk about her book Chomp-o-Rama which is nominated this year for the Silver Birch Express Award. Our students have been participating in the Forest of Reading Program since early January and are working their way through the 10 nominated titles. Our grade 5&6s will be meeting author Emily Deibert, writer of Bea Mullins Takes a Shot on April 16th. Her book is nominated in the Silver Birch Fiction category. We are still working to schedule a Blue Spruce author visit with our younger readers.
On April 8th our K-1s will visit with local author Phyllis Bordo who will share the newest book in her Lilly Esther series, Lilly Esther Rescues her Park. It's the perfect book to kick off discussions leading up to Earth Week later this month.
Performing Arts Festival
Our biannual PAF (Performing Arts Festival) will be held on Wednesday, April 15th at 6pm. PAF is a variety show with students in the Junior grades who have been preparing their performances since January. The music committee will be emailing the parents of the performers with ticket information in the coming days. We will be prioritizing tickets for families of performers (4 tickets max. per family) before opening it up to the rest of the JW community. Participating students were sent home with a letter indicating parents did not need to reserve tickets-apologies for the confusion. Tickets will be required.The dress rehearsal for the whole school will be in the afternoon of April 14th. Looking forward to the show
Reminder to all Parents/Caregivers:
In light of the fact that Influenza seems to be affecting both students and staff harder than usual this year,
we would like to remind all parents to please keep your children home if they wake up in the morning feeling very ill. This will benefit and accelerate their recovery as well as protect the health of other members of our school community.
Parking Lot:
Parents and Caregivers are kindly asked not to park in the school lot in the mornings when dropping children off. Many thanks for your support!
Eco Team Update
This is a reminder that we will no longer be collecting empty pet food packaging or snack wrappers because they can go into your recycling bins at home! We will continue to collect dead markers and dead batteries outside room 212. Thank you to everyone who wore blue on Monday to help celebrate World Water Day. Come and look at the display outside the library to see our sea of water protectors! This weekend is Earth Hour. Earth Hour is celebrated throughout the world on March 28 from 8:30 - 9:30, so let's unplug and work together to make the world a better place! We will be having Earth Hour at school on Thursday, April 2nd from 2:15-3:15.
Facilities Update
With the Childcare Buzzer entry system completed, all parents with children in Childcare and Childcare staff are reminded to use Exit #8 at the NW corner of the school. Please note that the buzzers located at Exits #1, 5 & 7 do not ring in the Childcare office. We would like to remind all parents dropping off and picking up their children via Exit #8 to please not walk through the parking lot but rather use the pathway on the side to ensure that safety is not compromised especially with moving cars.
Absence Reporting Reminder to Parents:
If your child is going to be absent from school, we ask that you kindly use the Absence Reporting Line number to register the absence. Number to call is 1-833-250-2290. We also ask that if you e-mail the classroom teacher to let them know about an extended absence, you kindly include our office staff as well.
From our Equity Committee
April is Sikh Heritage Month in the TDSB. We are seeking Sikh JW families to share their experiences and perspectives.
As a family, we are asking you to create a slide, video, or written announcement. We would like for the child/family to introduce themselves and share one thing they want us to know about Sikh heritage. Videos should be 30-45 seconds long. Creativity is encouraged!
Submissions will be featured on the morning announcements. They can be sent to wanlessheritage@gmail.com. If you have any questions please reach out to Ms. McCrimmon (morgan.mccrimmon@tdsb.on.ca
John Wanless School Advisory Council News
ANNUAL SILENT AUCTION - MAY 1 - 8
Our Fundraising Team is busy preparing for this year's Silent Auction which will take place May 1 - 8th. If you have a product or service that you would like to highlight in this auction (new items only), please reach out to johnwanlessfundraising@gmail.com
NEW: THE LUNCH LADY ON MONDAYS!
Due to incredible demand, The Lunch Lady will be offering service on Mondays, starting on February 23. Follow the link to order today!
HOT LUNCHES ARE BACK!
Are you already tired of making lunches and throwing out uneaten food?! Then order from our amazing lunch programs!
Pizza Lunches will run every other Tuesday. Order at: www.sagoto.com/jwpc/pizza
Subway Sandwiches will be delivered on opposite Tuesdays. Order at: www.sagoto.com/jwpc/subway
The Lunch Lady is available every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Order at order.thelunchlady.ca
WOODWARD MEATS
Use and share our custom link with family and friends and support our fundraising efforts: https://www.woodwardmeats.com/fundraisers/John-Wanless-SAC/
SAVE THE DATES - Our School Council team is busy planning this year's social calendar. Mark your calendars for the following events:
100th Anniversary Event: Saturday, May 30
Fun Fair: Friday, June 12
Don't want to miss a School Council reminder? Follow us on Instagram @johnwanlessschoolcouncil
Other Important Information
School Day Schedule for 2025-26
8:41 Am
Entry for all students- Lines for each class (Grades 1-6) will be identified in
the yard
8:45-9:25
Period 1
9:25-10:05
Period 2
10:05-10:20
Recess for all Grade 1-6 students
10:20-11:00
Period 3
11:00-11:30
Period 4
11:30-12:27 Lunch for all Grade 1-6 students (Students
in grades 4-6 eat in their classrooms from 11:30-11:50 and then proceed outside
to play; students in Grades 1-3 eat in the lunchroom from 11:30-11:50 and then
proceed outside to play. Teachers on duty will supervise from 12:12-12:27. Students
will be picked up by their respective teachers from their respective outside
class lines at 12:27 as we have done so this year (except in case of inclement
weather).
Please note that kindergarten lunch will
run from 11:15- 12:27. Students who stay at school during lunch will eat in
their classrooms.
12:27 PM Entry for all students
12:30-1:10
Period 5
1:10-1:50
Period 6
1:50-2:05
Recess for all students
2:05-2:45
Period 7
2:45-3:15
Period 8
Dismissal for all Grade 1-6 students is at 3:15PM
Dismissal for Kindergarten students is at 3:00PM.
Staff List
Classroom Locations Grade RoomMs. George JK/SK A 101 Ms. Klug JK/SK B 113 Ms. Kussner JK/SK C 115 Ms. Stamatiou JK/SK D 111 Mr. Burton 1 A 104 Ms. Flemington 1 B 103 Ms. Talesnik 1C 109 Ms. Hood 1/2 110 Ms. Almanova 2A 201 Ms. Grant 2B 102 Ms. Passmore-Svastal (for Ms. Maharaj) 2C 207 Ms. McCrimmon 2/3 205 Ms. Dempsey 3A 204 Ms. Jaklitch 3B 203 Ms. Rendell-Dean 3C 202 Ms. Zarpellon 3D 206 Mr. Gaunt 4B 217 Ms. Tweyman 4D 213 Ms. Tucci 4C 216 Ms. Spencer 5A 220 Mr. Sherman 5B 211 Ms. Chau 6A 215 Ms. Ng 6B 221 Ms. Gottesman 5/6 218 Ms. Reis- Bertini Res. Sppt & ESL 214A Ms. Labell Resource Support 219 Ms. Hunter Lib & Prep LIB Ms. Sedighi ISP 214 Ms. Sherwood Health/Phys Ed GYM Ms. Blaney Health/Phys Ed GYM Ms. Lowe French &Prep Sppt 212 Ms. Willingham Music 222 Ms. Yousefi French 209 Ms. Lawson 0.5 Resource AM/VP PM Ms. Moher DECE 115 Ms. Foscarin DECE 113 Ms. Zhang DECE 101 Ms. Lau DECE 111 Mr. Douglas CYW Ms. Rouhani EA Ms. Fatima EA-ISP 214
Ms. Thomas SNA-AM 115
Ms. Rocci LRS
Ms. Chen LRS Ms. Shobi LRS
Ms. Cappella LRS
Ms. Dong LRS
Ms. Juma LRSAll other LRS TBD Mr. Frazer Head CaretakerMr. Di Tomaso CaretakerMr. Armatowski Caretaker
Mr. Assetin Caretaker
Ms. Marsella Office AdministratorMs. Rocci Office Secretary (AM)Ms. Lawson Vice-Principal (PM)Ms. Larosa Principal