John Wanless Junior Public School

Upcoming Events

March 16th- 20th March Break
March 23rd- Day 3
March 23rd- World Water Day- Please wear blue!
March 23rd- Week 3 of Houseleagues
March 24th- SUB lunch
March 24th- Badminton Team Tryouts 
March 25th- Badminton Team Tryouts
March 25th- Pediculosis Check #3

March 30th- Purdy's Chocolate Fundraiser order pickup date

We had a number of events take place during the past week just prior to the March Break. Our School Advisory Council met on Tuesday evening- many thanks to all who attended!. Our Caring & Safe Schools Committee also met on Thursday morning. Our primary students were fortunate to be able to enjoy a presentation by the Dufflebag Theatre on Thursday morning-it was quite an exceptional performance. Our School Advisory Council also had the third Popcorn Day yesterday- we greatly appreciate the time invested by parent volunteers. Many of our junior students also spent time working with their respective Spelling Bee coaches in preparation for upcoming contests. As we break for next week, we would like to remind all students to please take personal items home for the break. This will make it easier for our caretaking staff to perform a thorough cleaning of the building.

The week after March Break will see preparations start for a number of athletics teams-please see the information below for the badminton team. Our Spelling Bee participants will also continue working with their coaches. Tuesday will bring our next Sub Lunch. Houseleagues will continue to run next week and the week after. We will also be conducting a number of our mandatory safety drills as well.

Badminton Team Tryouts

Your child  has shown an interest in trying out for the Grade 6 Badminton Team. Tryouts are open to all girls and  boys in grades 5 and 6 only. The tryout process is tournament-style, where players need to earn their spot on the team. Candidates will be split into 2 separate groups and 3 players from each tryout session will qualify for the school team.

Tryout Dates

STUDENTS WERE INSTRUCTED TO CHECK POSTED LIST OUTSIDE THE BIG GYM AND CIRCLE THEIR DESIGNATED TRYOUT TIME.

Tryout Sessions

Boys: Tuesday, March 24th @ 7:40 a.m. OR Wednesday, March 25th @ 3:15 p.m.

Girls: Tuesday, March 24th @ 3:15 p.m. OR Wednesday, March 25th @ 7:40 a.m.

.An online permission form MUST be completed in order for your child to try out. This is done through the TDSB’s online excursion site (EMA). 


  1. Go to the following link to login.

https://parent.ema.tdsb.on.ca/

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 week we have been preparing John Wanless for World Water Day!  It will be celebrated the day we return from the March Break - March 23rd.  Please try to remember to wear blue.  After the March Break, we will no longer be collecting empty pet food packaging or snack wrappers because, with the new and improved recycling program at the city of Toronto, you can put them into your recycling bins at home!!!  Please see this chart for all of the items the city of Toronto is now recycling: https://www.circularmaterials.ca/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/FINAL-ON-Detailed-Material-List-1.pdf


Facilities Update
Please note that although our caretakers do an exceptional job clearing snow and salting, many areas of the yard can still be slippery. Please proceed with caution at all times. Please note that our staff monitor yard and field conditions as well as the outdoor temperatures each day on a regular basis in order to ensure student and staff safety.

On the facilities side, the buzzer entry system for the Childcare was 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
March is Greek Heritage Month in the TDSB. We are seeking Greek 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 Greek 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              Room
Ms. 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. 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. Wolk ( for 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                                                       LRS
All other LRS                                                TBD
 
Mr. Frazer                                                  Head Caretaker
Mr. Di Tomaso                                            Caretaker
Mr. Armatowski                                          Caretaker

Mr. Assetin                                                  Caretaker                                

Ms. Marsella                                                  Office Administrator
Ms. Rocci                                                       Office Secretary  (AM)
Ms. Lawson                                                    Vice-Principal  (PM)
Mr. Boross-Harmer                                        Principal
 





Welcome to John Wanless Public School

John Wanless Public School is located north of Lawrence Avenue, between Yonge Street and Avenue Road. Our TDSB mission is to enable all students to reach high levels of achievement and to acquire the knowledge, skills, and values they need to become responsible members of a democratic society. This includes:

  • a strong commitment to student achievement and success;
  • a strong commitment to ensuring that student voice is incorporated in all that we do;
  • a strong commitment to ensuring that equitable practices permeate all that we do within our school community
  • a safe and caring learning environment;
  • continued commitment to ongoing professional learning for staff;
  • encouraging life-long learning; and
  • collaborative partnerships with parents and the school community.