Thursday, October 30, 2014

Thank you to those who came to the Parent Council meeting on Monday. It was great seeing so many new parents at the meeting. It looks like we have lots of volunteers for the committees. Ms. Norton and I presented part of the School Improvement Plan. The TDSB template consists of 4 parts, namely Literacy, Math, Pathways and Community. Staff will be working on the following goals in the areas of math and literacy. We will present the other two at the next meeting. 

LKS Literacy Goals
-Students will show measurable improvement in reading and writing based on our current assessments (i.e. EQAO, DRA,CTBS, CASI and Report Cards)
-All senior kindergarten children will meet the reading expectation as measured by DRA 
-Students will be engaged in higher level thinking 
-Students will continue to be actively engaged in collaborative inquiry 
-Identified Special Needs students will successfully meet individualized goals as outlined in their IEPs 

LKS Math Goals
-Increase in grade 6 EQAO math by 10% 
Students will show measurable improvement in math 
based on our current assessments (i.e. EQAO, DRA,CTBS, CASI and Report Cards)
-Students' basic computational skills will improve
-Students will acquire an understanding of complex math processes 
-Identified Special Needs students will successfully meet individualized goals as outlined in their IEPs 

On Wednesday, we hosted our final Terry Fox Assembly. The LKS community raised just over $21, 000. Staff and students celebrated through a variety of games, including Mrs. Norton and I dressing up as Human Hot Dogs! The ketchup, mustard and relish tasted great! Congratulations everyone! 

Don't forget to check the Parent Bulletin this week as it has the code required to book your on-line teacher interview. 

Hope to see you at the Parade in the morning. We usually start around 9:15 a.m. Please line up outside. 

Have a great weekend. 


November 2014
6-Parent Interview Booking Closed
10-Report Cards Go Home
11-Remembrance Day Assembly
12-“Grow Assembly”-Junior Presentation 
14-PA Day
17th-Officer Rich visits grade 5 & 6 
18th-Scientist in the School visit Ms. Kim, Mrs. Younger and Mrs. Gibson 
19th-Scientist in the School visit Mrs. Olson 
20th-Huddle Up Meeting at lunch 
21-Kindie Sharing Assembly
24-Parent Council Meeting
25-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly; Scientist visits Mrs. Tyndall 
30th-Grade 4-6 sing at Marlies Game 

December 2014
1-Grade 7 & 8 Vaccines
2-Grade 1-3 to Young People's Theatre 
4th-Kindergarten Trip 
5-PA Day
9th-Grade 5 to Queen's Park 
10th-Grade 1-3 Concert @ 6:30 p.m. 
11th-Grade 6-8 Concert @ 6:30 p.m. 
12-Kindie Sharing Assembly; Pizza Lunch 
15th-Grade 8 Girls sing at Raptors Game 
16-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
22-Holidays Begin

January 2015
5-School Begins
9th-Grade 7 & 8 MADD Presentation 
19-Parent Council Meeting @ 7:00 p.m; Science Fair 
22nd-Scientist in the School visit Mrs. Gibson and Mrs. Zappi  
23-PA Day
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
28-Kindie Sharing Assembly
29-Parent On-Line Interview Bookings Open

February 2015
5-Parent On-Line Booking Closed
9-Report Cards Go Home
10 and 11-Kindergarten Registration
13-PA Day
16-Family Day
19-Kindie Sharing Assembly
20-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
23-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

March 2015
16-20-March Break
24-Kindie Sharing Assembly
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
30-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

April 2015
3 and 6-Good Friday and Easter Monday
20-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
21-Kindie Sharing Assembly
28-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

May 2015
18-Victoria Day
20-Kindie Sharing Assembly
25-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

June 2015
5-PA Day
12-Grade 8 Graduation
15-19-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
17-Kindie Sharing Assembly
19-Grade 1-7 Sharing Assembly
24-Report Cards Go Home
25-Day 0; Student Assembly; Lunch on Lawn

Thursday, October 23, 2014

Thursday, October 23, 2014

On Wednesday, we heard the sad news from Ottawa as you all did. We sent home a letter through the grade parents on behalf of the Director. It indicated ways in which you could speak to your children about the events. These tips were also shared with staff who no doubt will be  answering questions, especially in the older grades. Please let us know if we can support you as more news unfolds. 

I've heard about some incidents regarding "strangers" in nearby neighbourhoods stopping some kids. Nothing has come from police services, but I encourage  you to have those discussions at home around street proofing-again tips can be found on our website. 

Our flood is getting cleaned up. A big thank you to our caretaking staff. The library has been open for classes, but we've had to take down some books waiting for the drywall to dry. The computer room has been closed and classes rescheduled, again waiting for material to dry out. We also have to have another safety report back (i.e. mould growth) before letting classes resume. New computers have been ordered to replace damaged ones. We are hoping this gets cleared up in the next week. LKS is now scheduled to have roof replacement for November. 

During a recent conversation at the school, a comment was made that all of our LKS students will continue their post-secondary education at the university level. I thought I would comment on this because as educators we know that this is simply not true. We have very high expectations of our students and we want them to be successful at whatever level of education they and their families choose once leaving high school. As educators, we know that all students learn at different rates and they all have different passions and styles of learning-university will not be for everyone.  The aforementioned ideology undermines what we as educators have worked hard to achieve for a long time; that all kids should be supported at whatever level they are working at in order to achieve academic successes. Obviously, educators and the system at large still have some work to do in this area of communication and I hope I've helped clear up some misconceptions. Thank you. 

I hope everyone has a great weekend. 


October 2014
27-Parent Council; Cross-Country City Finals; Elections in the gym 
28-Photo Retakes
29th-Terry Fox Celebration Assembly; ESA open house for grade 8s  
30-Mrs. Olson and Mrs. Gibson visit Outdoor Ed Centre; Grade 8 Haunted House  
31-Hallowe’en Parade; Parent Interview Bookings Begin 

November 2014
6-Parent Interview Booking Closed
10-Report Cards Go Home
11-Remembrance Day Assembly
12-“Grow Assembly”
14-PA Day
21-Kindie Sharing Assembly
24-Parent Council Meeting
25-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

December 2014
5-PA Day
12-Kindie Sharing Assembly
16-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
22-Holidays Begin

January 2015
5-School Begins
19-Parent Council Meeting @ 7:00 p.m 
23-PA Day
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
28-Kindie Sharing Assembly
29-Parent On-Line Interview Bookings Open

February 2015
5-Parent On-Line Booking Closed
9-Report Cards Go Home
10 and 11-Kindergarten Registration
13-PA Day
16-Family Day
19-Kindie Sharing Assembly
20-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
23-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

March 2015
16-20-March Break
24-Kindie Sharing Assembly
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
30-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

April 2015
3 and 6-Good Friday and Easter Monday
20-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
21-Kindie Sharing Assembly
28-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

May 2015
18-Victoria Day
20-Kindie Sharing Assembly
25-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

June 2015
5-PA Day
12-Grade 8 Graduation
15-19-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
17-Kindie Sharing Assembly
19-Grade 1-7 Sharing Assembly
24-Report Cards Go Home
25-Day 0; Student Assembly; Lunch on Lawn

Friday, October 17, 2014

Friday, October 17, 2014

I'd like to extend a big thank you to Mrs. Kidd, Mrs. Fuda, Mrs. Moorhead, Mrs. Keogh, Mrs. Riach, Mrs. Miller and Mrs. Clarke for organizing our wonderful Welcome Wagon yesterday. It was a big hit and I especially loved the goats and Beaver Tails!

As I am writing this, our school is being cleaned up after last night's rainstorm. Mrs. Norton's office, library and upstairs computer lab was flooded.  The task force is here helping Mr. Kalinowski, our caretaker, deal with the water and others will be coming to look at the damaged equipment, including the roof.  

As many of you know our grade 3- 8 students write the Canadian Test of Basic Skills (CTBS), a standardized test, in the fall and spring. The teachers use the scores as part as their diagnotistcs throughout the year. I'll talk about this at the next Parent Council meeting, but the following is a brief summary of the results. The scores are grade equivalent and reflect reading, language and math respectively: 

Grade 3: 3-9, 4-3, 3-9
Grade 4: 6-1, 6-0, 6-4
Grade 5: 7-2, 7-4, 8-0
Grade 6: 7-6, 9-9, 8-7
Grade 7: 9-0, 10-5, 11-0
Grade 8: 10-1, 12-0, 12-6

I hope everyone has a great weekend! Get your sweaters out....

October 2014
20th-Officer Rich visits grade 1 and 2 
23-Kindergarten Sharing Assembly; Jr Boys Softball 
24-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
27-Parent Council; Cross-Country City Finals; Elections in the gym 
28-Photo Retakes
29th-Terry Fox Celebration Assembly 
30-Parent Interview Bookings Begin; Mrs. Olson and Mrs. Gibson visit Outdoor Ed Centre 
31-Hallowe’en Parade

November 2014
6-Parent Interview Booking Closed
10-Report Cards Go Home
11-Remembrance Day Assembly
12-“Grow Assembly”
14-PA Day
21-Kindie Sharing Assembly
24-Parent Council Meeting
25-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

December 2014
5-PA Day
12-Kindie Sharing Assembly
16-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
22-Holidays Begin

January 2015
5-School Begins
19-Parent Council Meeting @ 7:00 p.m 
23-PA Day
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
28-Kindie Sharing Assembly
29-Parent On-Line Interview Bookings Open

February 2015
5-Parent On-Line Booking Closed
9-Report Cards Go Home
10 and 11-Kindergarten Registration
13-PA Day
16-Family Day
19-Kindie Sharing Assembly
20-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
23-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

March 2015
16-20-March Break
24-Kindie Sharing Assembly
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
30-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

April 2015
3 and 6-Good Friday and Easter Monday
20-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
21-Kindie Sharing Assembly
28-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

May 2015
18-Victoria Day
20-Kindie Sharing Assembly
25-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

June 2015
5-PA Day
12-Grade 8 Graduation
15-19-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
17-Kindie Sharing Assembly
19-Grade 1-7 Sharing Assembly
24-Report Cards Go Home
25-Day 0; Student Assembly; Lunch on Lawn

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Friday, October 10, 2014

This week IEPs (Individual Education Plans) will be sent home.   IEPs are working documents that outline accommodations and/or modifications to a student's program. Students who have been identified with a Ministry Identification (i.e. gifted or Learning Disability) will have an IEP. Teachers and parents consult throughout the year when completing the plan. 

Teachers will also be contacting parents shortly if they have any concerns about a student's academic,  emotional and/or social progress. We don't want there to be any surprises for you when it comes to your child's education. It's best to start working as early as possible on any interventions necessary. 

Just to let you know that TDSB will be launching an automated Safe Arrival program in the near future. Basically, if we have an "unexplained" absence for your child, the system will be calling your home and/or cell three times until we get confirmation that you know your child is absent. An unexplained absence does not happen often, but when it does we will keep calling until we know the whereabouts of a child. For this reason, it is imperative to inform the school (the office in particular) if your child will be away for any reason. 

A quick message about lice. We have been pretty lucky so far in that not a lot of kids have had lice. A school lice check was done a couple weeks back, but it is essential that you keep checking your household each week and to inform the school if your child has lice. If we know, then we can notify others. Thank you for your support in this area. 

Just a friendly reminder that dogs are not allowed on school property nor should they be tied up along our fences. Thank you in advance.  

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving Weekend with your family and friends. Enjoy the sunny weather. 


October 2014
14-Book Fair Begins; Jr Boys Football game; Mrs. Wilson visits Outdoor Ed Centre 
15th-Grade 8 Parent Night-Secondary School; Sr Girls and Boys Football game 
16-Parent Council Welcome Wagon-4:00 p.m. -6:30 p.m.; Grade 3-6 Cross Country Conference Finals 
17th-NED Assembly! 
20th-Officer Rich visits grade 1 and 2 
23-Kindergarten Sharing Assembly; Jr Boys Softball 
24-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
27-Parent Council; Cross-Country City Finals; Elections in the gym 
28-Photo Retakes
29th-Terry Fox Celebration Assembly 
30-Parent Interview Bookings Begin; Mrs. Olson and Mrs. Gibson visit Outdoor Ed Centre 
31-Hallowe’en Parade

November 2014
6-Parent Interview Booking Closed
10-Report Cards Go Home
11-Remembrance Day Assembly
12-“Grow Assembly”
14-PA Day
21-Kindie Sharing Assembly
24-Parent Council Meeting
25-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

December 2014
5-PA Day
12-Kindie Sharing Assembly
16-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
22-Holidays Begin

January 2015
5-School Begins
19-Parent Council Meeting @ 7:00 p.m 
23-PA Day
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
28-Kindie Sharing Assembly
29-Parent On-Line Interview Bookings Open

February 2015
5-Parent On-Line Booking Closed
9-Report Cards Go Home
10 and 11-Kindergarten Registration
13-PA Day
16-Family Day
19-Kindie Sharing Assembly
20-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
23-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

March 2015
16-20-March Break
24-Kindie Sharing Assembly
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
30-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

April 2015
3 and 6-Good Friday and Easter Monday
20-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
21-Kindie Sharing Assembly
28-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

May 2015
18-Victoria Day
20-Kindie Sharing Assembly
25-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

June 2015
5-PA Day
12-Grade 8 Graduation
15-19-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
17-Kindie Sharing Assembly
19-Grade 1-7 Sharing Assembly
24-Report Cards Go Home
25-Day 0; Student Assembly; Lunch on Lawn

Friday, October 3, 2014

Thursday, october 2, 2014

It was a fantastic day for our first Cross-Country Race. We have some pretty fast runners at this school and many of our students will be advancing to the Conference Finals. Practice will continue next week as regularly scheduled for those moving on. I'd like to congratulate all the students who participated on the team this year-around 140 in total! You all showed great dedication, perseverance and sportsmanship. You have made Mrs. Wilson, Mr. Ellerker and myself very proud. Thanks to Mr. Blais, Mrs. Norton and all the parents who attended today's meet. 

Lately, a few of our older students have been darting into the streets and "jumping" over curbs etc on their scooters and skateboards. We've spoken to the students about this safety issue and ask you to do the same at home. There is so much traffic around the school that we need to do everything we can to prevent any accidents. 


On another safety note, I've asked Mrs. Miller, our mom who organizes the weekly Parent Bulletin, to include some Street-Proofing tips for you to go over with your children. They can also be found on our website for the future. 


I'd like to thank all the parents who attended the Parent Council Meeting on Monday night. Mrs. Kidd and Mrs. Fuda, Co-Chairs, welcomed the parents and gave an introduction to Council. We hope to see you out again on the 27th. Mrs. McGee also showed how parents can navigate the TDSB Virtual Library.  Bookmarks and instructions on how to navigate the library were sent home. You can access it by going to tdsb.on.ca and then "Find Your School". The virtual library has some amazing resources for the students. It's really worth looking at. 

Another great resource for students in grade 7-10 is "Homework Help". It's a free online math tutoring program available every Sunday to Thursday from 5:30 pm to 9:30 pm. You can access it at Ontario.ca/HomeworkHelp.  

I hope everyone has a great weekend! 

October 2014

9-IEPs go home; Grade 6 students to Science Centre; Jr Girls Football game 
13-Thanksgiving
14-Book Fair Begins; Jr Boys Football game
15th-Grade 8 Parent Night-Secondary School; Sr Girls and Boys Football game 
16-Parent Council Welcome Wagon-4:00-7:00; Cross Country Conference Finals 
17th-NED Assembly! 
20th-Officer Rich visits grade 1 and 2 
23-Kindergarten Sharing Assembly; Jr Boys Softball 
24-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
27-Parent Council; Cross-Country City Finals; Elections in the gym 
28-Photo Retakes
30-Parent Interview Bookings Begin; Mrs. Olson and Mrs. Gibson visit Outdoor Ed Centre 
31-Hallowe’en Parade

November 2014
6-Parent Interview Booking Closed
10-Report Cards Go Home
11-Remembrance Day Assembly
12-“Grow Assembly”
14-PA Day
21-Kindie Sharing Assembly
24-Parent Council Meeting
25-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

December 2014
5-PA Day
12-Kindie Sharing Assembly
16-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
22-Holidays Begin

January 2015
5-School Begins
19-Parent Council Meeting @ 7:00 p.m 
23-PA Day
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
28-Kindie Sharing Assembly
29-Parent On-Line Interview Bookings Open

February 2015
5-Parent On-Line Booking Closed
9-Report Cards Go Home
10 and 11-Kindergarten Registration
13-PA Day
16-Family Day
19-Kindie Sharing Assembly
20-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
23-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

March 2015
16-20-March Break
24-Kindie Sharing Assembly
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly
30-Parent Council meeting @ 7:00 p.m.

April 2015
3 and 6-Good Friday and Easter Monday
20-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
21-Kindie Sharing Assembly
28-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

May 2015
18-Victoria Day
20-Kindie Sharing Assembly
25-Parent Council @ 7:00 p.m
27-Grade 1-8 Sharing Assembly

June 2015
5-PA Day
12-Grade 8 Graduation
15-19-Grade 8 Quebec Trip
17-Kindie Sharing Assembly
19-Grade 1-7 Sharing Assembly
24-Report Cards Go Home
25-Day 0; Student Assembly; Lunch on Lawn