Leslieville Newsletter – December 2022
Principal’s Message
On Wednesday December 21st, we had a wonderful school concert, it was great seeing a full house of students and families. The last time we had a concert goes way back to December 2019. For some of the students, it may have been the first ever performance in front of a large audience but they shined through with flying colours. A special thanks to Ms. Spencer and Ms. Hurl for leading and organizing an amazing concert.
Our school community have truly come together once again “as one” to help support and to provide gift card donations to those families in need during this holiday season. Thank you to the students, staff, and parents for raising over $2,195 in donations to help 12 families in need. The families receiving the gift card donations are very appreciative of the support from our school. A special thanks to all the families who brought in non-perishable food items that will help families in the Leslieville community. Thank you, school council and Mrs. Vahidy, for organizing the food drive.
On behalf of the Leslieville JPS staff, we really appreciate the kindness and generosity of the Leslieville parent community and School Council for organizing a spectacular and delicious lunch. The Potluck lunch had a variety of dishes and treats that staff have enjoyed over the past few days.
It is very important for student/parent (s) to be aware of respecting homeowner’s property in the neighbourhood. Please remind your children NOT to walk through people’s gardens or front lawns within our Leslieville community.
Please remember that the last day of school is Friday December 23rd and first day back is Monday January 9th, 2023.
We wish all our Leslieville families a wonderful season no matter what you celebrate. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Happy Kwanzaa, and Happy New Year!
I look forward to seeing you all on Monday January 9th, 2023.
Cheers
K. Yee
Holiday Break
The Winter Holidays are from December 26 – January 6th, 2023. Parents, the first day back to school is Monday January 9th, 2023.
Reducing Spread of Respiratory Illness
A reminder of the number of steps that can be taken to help keep children and others safe from an increase in respiratory viruses among children, including Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), Influenza and COVID-19. Please note that Toronto Public Health, together with Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, strongly recommend the wearing of a well-fitted mask in indoor public settings, including in schools and childcares.
Dressing for the Weather
A friendly reminder to the parents of our Kindergarten to Grade 6 students, particularly if your children stay for lunch to put on winter coats, snow pants, boots, mitts, and hats. By taking some time at home to have your child develop these independent, self-help skills, they will feel more confident in getting themselves ready for outdoor play at recess time. Also, many children have similar outdoor clothes that make identifying their own belongings difficult. Labelling your child’s shoes, boots, coats etc. with his/her initials is helpful. Please send an indoor pair of shoes to be kept at school since all children must have shoes on at all times for safety. This is extremely important in case we have to suddenly evacuate all students must wear shoes at all times inside the school.
Winter Weather and Student Transportation
From time to time, it may be necessary to cancel student transportation, classes and/or programs because of severe weather. On rare occasions, severe weather makes it necessary to close schools, administrative offices or sites.
With approximately 235,000 students in 583 schools, any decision to cancel buses, classes and/or programs or to close sites can have a significant impact on thousands of families across Toronto. This decision is not taken lightly. When schools remain open on days with inclement weather, parents/guardians make the final decision on whether to send their children to school and they can keep children home from school if they so choose. For more information, please see: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Severe-Weather/Snow-Cold-Weather
Traffic Safety Trips: Help This Winter to make it safe
As winter approaches, we know that severe weather will be part of our daily lives for the next several months. While traffic safety is an important matter all year long, this is a particularly good time to review what we can do to keep students safe.
The need to be aware and alert at all times, on any road, and even in the most routine circumstances is key to traffic safety. This applies to students and drivers alike. Road conditions can be challenging in the winter months. So to those of us who drive, please take extra care on the roads and in parking on the streets (Leslie St., Curzon St. & Sproat Ave.) especially in areas where the street is narrow and children might be present.
School staff periodically review street and traffic safety with students. Parents can help reinforce these safety messages with children at home. Below are some tips that might be helpful to review.
• Stop, look, and listen for traffic.
• Only cross at corners and crosswalks.
• Make eye contact with drivers.
• Walk on the right side of the crosswalk.
• Wear appropriate footwear to reduce the chances of slipping.
• Never run into the street.
• Obey crossing signals.
• Cross only if clear.
• Walk on sidewalks.
• Where there are no sidewalks, walk as far away from traffic as possible, facing traffic.
The safety of our students is always a top priority. Let’s work together to make the winter season safe so we can enjoy all it has to offer.
French Programs Application Deadline - Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 Entry)
Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 Entry) Application Deadline - For families interested in the Toronto District School Board's system-wide French Immersion Program, we offer an online process to apply for Middle French Immersion (begins in Grade 4). An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants. Families with an older sibling currently in an Middle French Immersion program are still required to complete an online application for the new student.
The timeline to apply to the program for September 2023 is:
Middle French Immersion: Applications must be completed online between January 9 and February 3, 2023.
For more information about Middle French Immersion, Virtual & In-Person Information Sessions or the Application Process.
Cheers
Kent Yee
Principal
Leslieville JPS
416 393-9480