Dear Manhattan Park Families,
I want to thank everyone for working in partnership to make this school year such a successful one. With only a few weeks left of school, we are still packing in as much learning and fun as possible. We met our newest members at Manhattan Park on our Welcome to Kindergarten afternoon, which took place a few weeks ago. The Spring Concert on May 28 was a huge success as students entertained families with a great show. Thank you, staff, for preparing our students and supporting all the behind-the-scenes work required for the special night. The Bake Sale from the Parent Council was also a huge success, bringing in slightly over $700 for the school!
Webinar for Parents & Caregivers: Screen Time & Academic Achievement on EQAO Assessments - June 9
EQAO is pleased to welcome the TARGet Kids! Research Team as they present their work examining the relationship between children’s screen time and other health behaviours and academic achievement over time on EQAO's large-scale assessments of reading, writing, and mathematics. Team members from EQAO and TARGet Kids! will answer participants’ questions about this important research. The session takes place on June 9 at 6 p.m. Please use this link to register.
A day of fun for Rooms 2, 3, and 5 is on June 4, when our students can participate in physical activities at Variety Village for the annual Barrier Free Games for our students with Special Needs. Their final Bam Dance session is on June 8. The Best Buddies Friendship Club supports the inclusion of all students through a variety of integrated activities. The Dance Fest is on June 9 for students in the Dance Club. Thank you, Ms. Skrivanos, Ms. W, and Ms. Amanda, for organizing these amazing curricular activities for our students.
A special event for our Senior Kindergartens will take place on June 19 at 2:00 p.m. as we celebrate their completion of the Kindergarten program. That same afternoon, starting at 4:00 p.m., we will have a Farewell Ceremony to wish our Grade 6s well as they transition to Grade 7 at their new school. We wish them all the very best in this very important milestone!
June is National Indigenous History Month, and June 21 is National Indigenous Peoples Day, a time to celebrate and learn from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples about the diverse cultures, histories, experiences, creations, perspectives, and achievements. This is a day of significance for many Indigenous peoples in the country we call Canada today. It marks the day when the sun is closest to the Earth. It is the longest day of the year and the shortest night. Many First Nations, Métis and Inuit celebrate the summer solstice. It is a time that reminds us to remain grounded, humble and appreciative. Throughout the year, teachers have embedded and integrated Indigenous perspectives and awareness into the various subject areas.
Sharing the many ways in which we identify with our heritage can provide powerful and meaningful learning opportunities that celebrate who we are, where we've come from and where we may be going. Below are some of the celebrations that are happening in June.
In June, the TDSB marks Pride Month across all TDSB schools and sites. Pride Month is a time to celebrate 2SLGBTQIA+ communities and reflect on the important work that must continue to make our schools and workplaces more inclusive, welcoming and affirming for all.
Italian Heritage Month is also recognized during June. Maintaining Italian traditions and customs from generation to generation is very important, and elderly members within families and communities are the key to preserving the vibrant culture of the Italian heritage. There are many exciting stories from Italian ancestors whose contributions helped shape our Canadian cultural mosaic, reaffirm identity, unite future generations, and create new customs and traditions for us to embrace.
Additionally, Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month is proudly recognized during June at the TDSB. The contributions of the Portuguese-speaking heritage to Canada are significant, as they include the arts, sports, music, culinary arts, and many professional contributions to educational and medical service areas. Canadians, along with all TDSB students, staff, and their communities and beyond, enjoy the energetic and vibrant traditions that are shared through the customs of this heritage.
The month of June serves as a platform for raising awareness about the distinctive challenges encountered by individuals with an identified dual sensory loss. Deafblindness, a combination of sight and hearing loss to varying degrees, profoundly impacts communication, mobility, learning, and access to information. Those who are deafblind often rely on alternative communication methods, such as tactile sign language, braille, or assistive technology.
Please join me in saying "thank you and goodbye" to Mr. Canner, Ms. Kapilan, Mr. Chen, and Ms. MacNeill, who will teach at another school for the 2026-2027 school year. We wish them all the very best and thank them for their service here at Manhattan Park. Wishing Ms. Alexa a joyous year with her new baby as she continues her Maternity Leave. We also want to show appreciation and say thank you and farewell to our Long Term Occasional Teachers, Ms. Sahibzadi, Ms. Zhang and Ms. Habidi, who have supported Rooms 3, 5 and 6, respectively. Finally, we also appreciate Ms. Charania's work in supporting our Diagnostic Kindergarten class. We wish her well at her new school. Thank you to all staff for their dedication and commitment to student success!
As the school year comes to a close, families may feel a mix of excitement and the need for extra support. The TDSBSummer 2026 Well-Being Guide is here to help, offering culturally responsive and identity-affirming resources to support the mental well-being of both students and families throughout the summer. From mindfulness practices and creative activities to physical movement and access to local programs, the guide includes a wide range of tools to help every family enjoy a healthy, balanced summer. Please also take a look at the Oakridge PS - Summer School Flyer.
Students at Manhattan Park will be having a Fun Day on June 23 (rain date 24th)! In the morning, we will turn our gym into a theatre as the entire school will watch a movie together. In the afternoon, our Dance Club will perform some dances outside in the field (parents of Dance Club members are welcome to come and watch their children dance). Then, Ms. Shepherd's Steel Pan group will play music while the school participates in some simple outdoor activities. Thank you, Parent Council, for providing ice cream for all, and the staff for helping to organize!
The last day of school is Thursday, June 25. Your child's teacher/class/room for the 2026-2027 school year will be posted on the windows of doors #1 and #4 on the first day of school, which is Tuesday, September 8. If your address and contact information will be changing over the summer, please call/email the school so that records can be updated. From the Manhattan Park staff to all students and families, we wish everyone a safe, healthy and happy summer.
Warmly,
Ms. Lin
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June 5 - P. A. Day - No school for students
June 11 at 6:30 p.m. - Parent Council Meeting - CANCELLED
June 11 at 6:15 p.m. - Dance Fest at Cedarbrae CI for Dance Club
June 23 - Fun Day for Students - Movie (morning); Dance Club performs/Steel Pan (afternoon)
June 23 - Report Cards go home
June 25 - Last day of school for students
HAPPY SUMMER!!!!
September 8 - First day of school for students for 2026-2027