Ms. Hazelton

Last night we learned that Ms. Hazelton has been promoted to vice-principal of Bloordale Middle School. We are sad that Ms. Hazelton is leaving the LKS community as she has brought many strengths to the intermediate staff and program.

We are very pleased to have Ms.Walker join our staff as Ms.Hazelton's replacement. Ms. Walker is an experienced teacher who is very excited to be working with the intermediate staff and students. She has been a supply teacher at LKS and many of the students already know her as a past teacher.

This promotion came upon us rather quickly as does Ms. Hazelton's departure as of the 4th. We wish you much success in your new role as vice-principal.

Kids on the Block

Today we had a wonderful presentation for our students in grades 1-3. Through the group, The Kids on the Block, the kids learned about disabilities, and that we should treat each other the same, regardless of our differences. Thank you kids for beings such a great audience!

Crestwood PS: South West Arts School

Tonight was the open house for the new Arts Focused Middle School for South West Toronto. We mentioned this before to our LKS community, particularly to our grade 5 parents and students as next year is the first year it will be open for grade 6. If you are in grade 5 and interested in attending this unique school, please visit the website: www.tdsb.on.ca/Crestwood or email SWartSchool@tdsb.on.ca (you can pick up an application from the latter email). The application is due Feb. 22nd!

Week Ahead

Today is Family Literacy Day and I do hope that you are enjoying it together as a family. This special celebration began 10 years ago with the hopes that families would enjoy literacy together So, we hope you take some time today to read, sing, play games etc. together as it is just one more way to support our family bonds, and literacy!

We would also like to welcome Michelle Hoffman to our staff. She is officially replacing Dr. Grant for the remainder of the year. She will be teaching our grade 5 afternoon class and music from grades 1-6. Welcome Michelle to our LKS community!

We have a very busy week ahead:

29th-Special Education Reviews continue; Jr Boys BB @ Marchant
30th-Kids on the Block Presentation for Grades 1-3 in the afternoon; Sr Hockey practice @ 7:00 a.m.; Grade 5 classes visit the Science Centre; Sr Boys BB Tourney @ LKS all day
31st-Grade 6 & 7 Reviews; Jr Girls VBall @ Hilltop

February:
5th-Sr Hockey Practise @ 7:00 a.m.; Ms. Malobabic and Mrs. Younger at Science Centre
6th-Course Selection sheets due for grade 8 students; Jr Hockey Game @ Humbercrest
7th-Sr. Hockey Game @ George Bell; Jr Girls Vball-John G @ LKS; Special Education Reviews
8th-100th Day!
11th-Jr Hockey Game @ Runnymede; Grade 8 Media Presentation; Parent Council @ 7:30 p.m.
12th-Student Council Presentation-Free the Children; Mrs. Adair's class has art workshop all day; Spec Ed Reviews
13th-Grades 6-8 Video Dance
14th-Happy Valentine's Day
15th-PA Day-no school and 18th-no school as it is Family Day!
19th & 20th-Community Officer presents to classes
20th & 21st-Kindergarten Presentations
21st; Kiwanis Festival for grades 6-8 Instrumental
22nd-Scientists in the School visits grade 3 classes
26th-Parent Night: Please come out to learn about the Wild, Wild Web-more details to follow shortly
28th-Ski Day!
29th-Sharing Assemblies-changed from the 22nd!

March Break: Week of March 10th
Report Cards: Go Home April 1st; Parent Teacher Interviews: April 4th

Student Safety Line

TDSB has launched a pilot Student Safety Line for students to call and report school-related or personal safety concerns. A parent letter has been placed on our website, under Safety if you are interested in more details. We will also be sharing the information with the students when more materials are sent to the school.

Week Activities

School Improvement Plan

Last week our Leadership team (grade reps) met to continue work on our writing plan. One of our goals in our School Improvement Plan, was to work collaboratively within grades to look at how we teach a variety of genre. Even though the Ontario Curriculum dictates our Expectations at each grade level, we want to be consistent with our content, resources and assessment and evaluation. The first genre we worked on was the narrative, followed by report writing. This week staff will also be working together in grade teams and assessing narrative pieces produced in the various grades. This exercise allows us, as educators, to become more consistent in our assessing and evaluating.

Week at a Glance

21st-Literacy Day; Sr Hockey @ George Bell; Scientists in the School with Ms. Moser and Ms. Kim; Junior Sharing Assembly @ 9:00
22nd-LKS Junior Girls VB @ John G.; Scientists in the School with Mr. Blais
23rd-Jr Boys Hockey practise @ 7:00; Jr. Boys BB @ LKS (vs Rockcliffe)
24th-Boys BB @ LKS (vs Portage)

Staffing

Just to let you know that we have been told that we can hire a full-time teacher to replace Dr. Grant, who is on maternity leave. We have had to replace Dr. Grant with a few LTO positions over the last four months, but we can now hire a full-time teacher until June. We will be interviewing and hiring over the next couple of weeks, and hopefully start for January 28th, if not sooner. We will inform you when we "officially" hire. Thank you.

New Superintendent

We would like to wish Kathleen Meighan, our superintendent, best wishes in her new position in the Board. She will be working with the Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat. Usha Finucane will be taking over as Superintendent for the South West Family of Schools until the end of the school year.

January Parent Meetings

The Final Safety Report for TDSB was released in the media last week. If you are interested, please go to our website, under Safe Schools, and download the parent letter from the TDSB. The letter indicates a website you can go to if you are interested in reading the whole report.

Here at LKS, the students in grades 4-8 completed a bullying survey in the fall. The data has been collected and it will be shared with our safety committee and class reps during the month. The committee, including parents, students and staff will now analyze the collected data. We will present our findings at the next parent council meeting and we'll also put the results on the website. Our committee will also be hosting a poster contest for the kids related to anti-bullying or TRIBES and also, our community police officer will be in over the next month or two to present to the classes. We will give details later.

Just a reminder to our grade 5 parents that there is an information session on January 29th at Norseman if you are interested in learning about the new South West Arts School that will be opening in September 2008. More information is on our website, under Curriculum.

Also under Curriculum, on the website, is a flyer indicating a Special Education information night on January 22nd.

Welcome Back!

A warm welcome back to all the students and parents. After visiting the classrooms, it seems that most of the kids really had a great holiday visiting with family and friends. Some seemed to get in lots of skiing, shopping and/or just "hanging out". That's what it is all about! I'm glad they are learning to relax and enjoy life early.

We do have a few things on the go for second term. Mr. Page is busily organizing our ski trip and skating, now that the rink is open. More details will follow regarding both events. We are also busy with hockey and basketball.

We had a special presentation for the grade 4-8 classes on Wednesday. Representatives from Kids Help Phone came out to the school to talk about their service. Just a reminder to the kids that their counselling service can be accessed by telephone @ 1-800-668-6868 or by website: kidshelpphone.ca Thank you to Ms. Forte for arranging this presentation.

Ms. Forte also wants to remind all grade 8 students and their parents that High School course selection sheets are due to Ms. Forte on Feb. 6th. Please advise her of your choice of school whether it be in the TDSB or any other Board. Her number is 416-394-7890 if you need to contact her.

The office was also moved over the holidays into our new home. We've been unpacking boxes and putting all the rooms together over the last three days. The construction crew will now begin work on renovating the new classroom in the old space. We are hoping that all construction, including moving the computer lab into the new space will happen before March Break!

We look forward to a wonderful second term. Thank you for all the warm wishes over the holidays. Kelly Caddel