Looking for Holiday Gifts?

Now that Holiday in the 'Hood is over (and what a great event it was!!), if you still have more gifts to buy, you might want to check out the Today's Parent Website.

It was has some great resources for the holidays, including:

• Detailed Gift Guides for everyone in the family (including pets!)
• Holiday Crafts 
• Delicious sounding recipes 

Earl Beatty's Girls on the Run Program Seeks an Assistant Coach

Are you looking for a worthwhile activity this spring?

An Assistant Coach is needed to help run the Girls on the Run Program at Earl Beatty.

Girls on the Run Ontario is a 10-week program for girls ages 8–13 that is run in schools around the province. The focus of the program is to combine confidence-building and positive approaches to life with the healthy activity of running. The program culminates in a 5 km event. 

Commitment Details:

• April to June 2013 
• Tuesdays and Wednesdays after school for 1.5 hours
• Coaching and mentoring between 8–5 Grades 3 to 5 girls

Registration for participants will happen in January.

Click here for more information on the program.

View a short YouTube video on Girls on the Run International.

A coach is needed ASAP. 

Please e-mail Doris at Doris.Nagorski@gmail.com for more details.

Community Town Hall on Dec. 5

Join Trustee Cathy Dandy for a Community Town Hall to discuss the TDSB Labour issues that have been affecting our schools & students.

Wednesday December 5^th 2012

7 - 9 p.m.

RH McGregor Gymnasium

555 Mortimer Ave, Toronto

Childcare will be available.

For more info, please contact Cathy Dandy at cathy.dandy@tdsb.on.ca.

Ethnocultural Community Network

What is the Ethnocultural Community Network?

The Ethnocultural Community Network (ECN) is an umbrella group for ethno-cultural communities within the TDSB. The mandate of the ECN is to work with ethno-cultural communities and the TDSB staff to develop and support the implementation of a plan of activities that will enhance the successful integration and academic success of children of parents of the ethno-cultural communities represented in the Network in TDSB schools.

The ECN volunteers & support staff meet several times a year to discuss issues of interest to parents from ethno-cultural communities whose children may not be succeeding in school as well as they should be and those who are succeeding.

Discussion topics include:

• Settlement issues
• English as a Second Language
• International Languages and Cultural Programs
• Academic Success for Minority Students
• Other topics of interest to the Network

For more information, visit the ECN website at http://www.tdsbecn.ca/ or e-mail ethnoculturalcn@gmail.com

The next meeting of the ECN will be held on Tuesday, November 27 starting at 6:30 with a light dinner. The meeting will begin at 7:00 pm.

Childcare is provided . Translation can be provided if requested.

Holiday is the 'Hood is This Friday and Saturday!!

Don't Miss Out On This Great Event! Bring the Family!

Special Education Inclusion Town Hall Meetings

While the Special Education Inclusion Town Hall Meetings have now wrapped up, parents/caregivers who were unable to attend are encouraged to email SpecialEd@tdsb.on.ca or call 416-393-9999 no later than November 22, 2012 with their response to this question:

Imagine that you and your child are in 2014.  Describe in detail what has changed from 2012 to 2014 that has contributed to achieving this vision (see below).  What new and different inclusive practices are in the classroom, in the school, and in our communities?

Vision:

"To achieve excellence, we must be inclusive.  To be inclusive we must be equitable.  We have a vision that in two years, in 2014, students with varying abilities are working together, supporting each other and valuing everyone's contribution in a more inclusive environment."

from Dr. Chris Spence, Director of Education, TDSB

NB* Emails should be no longer than 2 pages; phone messages should be no longer than 2 minutes.

Questions About EQAO?

On behalf of the EQAO Support and Outreach Team, please consider this invitation to a regional parent forum in Toronto for boards of education in the Greater Toronto Area on Saturday, December 1, 2012, 10:00 a.m.– 2:00 p.m. The parent forum will be held at the Ramada Plaza Hotel, 300 Jarvis Street, Toronto, M5B 2C5. 

 The forum is composed of two sessions. The first session, “Answering Parents’ Top Questions About EQAO Assessments,” will be delivered by members of the EQAO School Support and Outreach Team. This presentation will describe EQAO’s province-wide assessment program and will inform parents about the EQAO assessments and how parents can work with the school to support their child’s learning.

The second session features an educator and author from Queen’s University, Dr. Lynda Colgan, who will talk to parents about the importance of mathematics and how parents can encourage their child to see the value of mathematics in everyday life. 

An agenda for the day is attached.

EQAO will cover the following for each participant:

• continental breakfast, refreshments and lunch
• mileage, according to Government of Ontario guidelines
• accommodation, if required, according to Government of Ontario guidelines (participants travelling more than 160 kilometers round trip). Participants requiring accommodation should contact the hotel  at (416) 977-4823 or http://www.ramadaplazatoronto.com/  directly to make reservations
• Expense forms will be available to participants on the day of the forum and the process for reimbursement will be explained at that time
• Participants will be reimbursed directly after the expense forms and original receipts have been submitted to EQAO

Please register by Monday November 26, 2012 at outreach@tdsb.on.ca  and indicate in subject EQAO Parent Forum. Please ensure that you provide your first and last name and the school your child/ren attend.

Ward 16 Rep Needed for FSL Committee

Volunteers are needed for the role of Ward 16 representative on the French as a Second Language Committee.

Responsibilities of FSLAC Ward 16 Rep:

(1) attend FSLAC meetings (held every 6 weeks at TDSB, 5050 Yonge Street)

(2) make inquiries/provide input re French programming on behalf of Ward 16 Council Members

(3) report in person or in writing at Ward 16 Council meetings (held every 4 weeks at various Ward 16 school locations)
 

If interested please contact Laura White (lecreelman@hotmail.com) or

Cathy MacKenzie
Constituency Assistant to Sheila Cary-Meagher
5050 Yonge Street, 5th Floor
Toronto, Ontario  M2N 5N8

Office: 416-395-8413
Email: cathy.mackenzie@tdsb.on.ca

Holiday in the 'Hood Reminders

Earl Beatty Public School & Beatty Buddies presents Holiday in the 'Hood

Fri. Nov. 23, 3:30 pm - 8 pm & Sat. Nov. 24, 9 am - 1 pm

We've had a great response so far to Holiday in the Hood!

We are still looking for:

• Vendors for the craft fair (50% of the tables are taken!)
• Bakers to donate nut free goods for the Earl Beatty Cafe.
• Volunteers to help with setup, take down, Santa Photos, and general assistance on event days

Also, we are hoping to borrow:

- a comfy and "photogenic" chair for Santa to sit on for Santa photos

- Christmas tree and ornaments for the Santa photos

- a curtain or backdrop for the Santa photos

- bistro tables (can be the outdoor kind) for the Earl Beatty Cafe and colouring center

If you would like to help out please contact:
Sheila Philcox
416 975 4753 
sphilcox@rogers.com

or 

Jody Parekh
647 225 8286 
jodyparekh@gmail.com

EBSAC Meeting This Week!

Don't miss the November Earl Beatty SAC meeting this Thursday!
Click here for the agenda.

Upcoming Ward 16 Meetings

Ward 16 November 1st Meeting Notices:

Aquatic Working Group Meeting

This meeting will be of particular interest to parents with children who attend and/or regularly use Ward 16 schools with pools.

November 5, 2012
5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Metro Central YMCA, 20 Grosvenor Street

Proposed Agenda:1. Pool Captain Tool Kit
- description of the role (City pool/Toronto Lands Corporation pool)
- promotional flyer
- data collection template2. TLC Proposed Permit Fee Increase for 2013
3. Recruitment of Pool Representatives
4. Other Issues
5. Next Steps

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Active Parents Meeting (re TDSB 2012-2013 Budget)

This meeting will be of interest to all parents.

Currently, the Operating budget is $40 million short this year. The Capital budget is frozen for all projects except full day Kindergarten projects.

November 5, 2012
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Toronto District School Board, 5050 Yonge St., Committee Room B

Proposed Agenda:

1. Welcome and Introductions2. Approval of Minutes
3. Budget Impacts Survey
4. Strategy Presentation
5. Discussion

NB* If you would like to attend this meeting and would like to see minutes of previous meeting, please drop me a line.
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K-12 Strategy Consultation Meeting

This meeting will be of interest to all parents.

The goal is to present ideas for what you want education to look like in 10 years time.

November 7, 2012
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute, 800 Greenwood Avenue
NB* Registration advised.  Please contact Susan Stead at susan.stead@tdsb.on.ca or 416-397-3205.

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Special Education Inclusion Town Hall Meeting

This meeting will be of particular interest to parents with children who are enrolled in TDSB Special Education programs.

November 8, 2012
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
RH King Academy, 3800 St. Clair Avenue East
  

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For more information, please contact:

Cathy MacKenzie
Constituency Assistant to Sheila Cary-Meagher
5050 Yonge Street, 5th Floor
Toronto, Ontario  M2N 5N8

Office: 416-395-8413
Email: cathy.mackenzie@tdsb.on.ca