Summit Heights Public School

Secondary Program Review and Optional Attendance

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is undertaking a review of secondary schools to ensure all students have equitable access to programs and opportunities, as close to home as possible. As part of the Secondary Program Review, the TDSB is reviewing the Optional Attendance policy (P013), which allows students to apply to schools other than their designated school by home address.

A public consultation process for both the Secondary Review and P013 started in November 2019. Please visit the TDSB website for more information and opportunities to provide feedback: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/High-School/Secondary-Program-Review.

If you have any questions and/or comments, please email SecondaryReview@tdsb.on.ca

Labour Update (as communicated by the TDSB on Jan 15)

January 15, 2020

Dear Elementary Parents/Guardians,

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has announced today that, should there be no progress in negotiations, its members will conduct a one-day walkout (full withdrawal of services) at a number of school boards, including the Toronto District School Board, on Monday, January 20, 2020. They will return to work on Tuesday, January 21.

Should the walkout take place, the TDSB would have no other option but to close all elementary schools (JK to 8) to students as there would not be sufficient supervision to ensure their safety. As a result, parents/guardians should begin making alternate arrangements for their children.

Childcare centres located in elementary schools will be permitted to stay open. Please contact the childcare provider directly for more information.

ETFO is in negotiations with the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) to achieve a new collective agreement for elementary teachers.

Should there be any significant updates, we will communicate directly with parents/guardians. As always, for ongoing labour updates, please visit the TDSB website and follow @tdsb on Twitter.

Pizza Lunch – Rescheduled IF there are no classes on Monday, Jan 20

Please note, Monday’s pizza lunch will be re-scheduled to Tuesday, Jan 21st IF there are no classes on Monday, January 20th due to the possible one-day walk-out by the ETFO.

Kindergarten Registration

Registration for “new to” Kindergarten students takes place in February.  The in-person portion at Summit Heights PS takes place on Wednesday, February 19th.  Please call the school (416-395-2920) and ask to speak to Ms. Magnani to select an appointment time for February 19th.

More information about the registration process can be found at the following web site: www.tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten

Thank you,

Mr. B. Mah,
Principal.

Barbara Reid, Author/Illustrator:

Join award winning author and illustrator Barbara Reid for a presentation about her unique artwork, followed by a hands-on workshop where kids can create their own plasticine stories and artwork.

Supplies will be provided.

For children ages six and up.

Parents/caregivers are welcomed and encouraged to stay to assist. Registration is required. Tickets available at Eventbrite.ca
Armour Heights Library | 2140 Avenue Road | 416-395-5430

ETFO Labour Update (Cancelled Field Trips)

January 10, 2020

Re: Update on ETFO Job-Action

Dear Summit Heights Parents/Guardians,

As you may know, the public Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario (ETFO), which includes all teachers at Summit Heights Public School, are in a legal strike-position.  They are currently in a job-action status as part of their strike-position.

Starting on Monday January 13, 2020, part of the struck-work includes “not participating in field trips”.  As such, planned field trips including the Sheldon Outdoor Education Centre and Forest Valley have been cancelled.

At this point, cancelled field trips will unlikely be re-scheduled.  Should the ETFO and the Provincial Government come to a contract agreement before the planned excursion, we will revisit the possibility of attending the excursion and communicate with you again.

Fees for cancelled trips will be refunded to you, however please allow us time to process these refunds.

Please also note, school open houses (our teachers may have shared flyers of upcoming open houses at various other TDSB schools) are also cancelled at this point.

You can find more information, as well as a complete list of ETFO job-action at https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Labour-Negotiations

Sincerely,

Mr. B. Mah,
Principal

Dear Summit Heights Families,

Happy Holidays!  We want to wish you and your family and friends… best wishes for a happy, enjoyable, relaxing, memorable and safe holiday season!  We hope that when we see you in 2020 (on Monday, January 6th), your child and you are rested and smiling ear to ear, excited for school to resume. 

On the note about excitement, December was an exciting month for our school, despite only being 3 weeks long. 

For the second year in a row, Mr. Chen’s Robotics club competed in the First Lego League competition.  This year’s tournament was held on Saturday, Dec. 14th.  Against twenty other teams from across the TDSB, our team worked together building robots and code, impressing the judges, scoring 140 and 155 points for the “robot games” (compared to last year’s score of 65!).   Summit Height’s Robotics club solved the teamwork challenge as well! We’re very proud of the team and Mr. Chen’s dedication to the club! Well done everyone! 

This year marked the welcomed return of a school basketball team!  Mr. Khaja and Ms. Irvine coached a dedicated group of girls who represented our school with spirit, skill and good sportsmanship!  In fact, the team participated in a new format of basketball for TDESAA (thanks to Mr. Khaja’s work), where the team competed in a skills competition, then games.  Congratulations to the entire team and coaches Khaja and Irvine for an excellent season! The boys’ team had tryouts during the last week before the holidays, we’re looking forward to seeing their success and growth!  Go Stingrays go! 

We’re pleased to announce that our newly formatted Winter Concert was well received!  Unlike in previous years where all classes performed in their classroom (or perhaps the gym or library), half of our primary/junior school performed a song in our gym in two mini-concerts.   Both concerts were packed with smiling parents and family members! A huge thanks to Ms. Shapiro and the staff for organizing and preparing our students for this event. Classes that didn’t participate this time will have their chance in the Spring (so stay tuned for more information!). 

The Scholastic Book Fair returned to our school in December as well.  Reading is such a worthwhile activity, so thank you parents for allowing your child(ren) to buy from the fair.  Thanks to Mrs. Greco for coordinating this very successful week-long event. 

Our Kindergarten and grade 1 students were treated to a special presentation from our local Toronto Firefighters this month.  Students learned a great deal about safety, fire-safety and what to do in fire-related emergencies. We’re very thankful for the Toronto Firefighter Services and their time in visiting our school. 

Mrs. Bower, Mrs. Powell and Mr. Chen’s classes organized and presented December’s character education assembly.   December’s character trait was Kindness and Caring. Our students were treated to a very heartfelt and warm assembly about caring for others and being kind.   A number of students, from each class, were given the character education award. Congratulations to the presenting classes and all of the award winners!

December is a festive month, and many of our classes held holiday-related activities.  For example, Ms. Bates’ and Ms. Bernstein/Eisen’s classes created gingerbread houses! A number of classes also held celebrations before the holidays.  Finally, the annual Beach Blast trip for our junior classes was held on the last day of school (thanks to Mrs. Mercer for organizing this yearly event).  All in all, December was a great month at our school. 

January Events:

January is Mindfulness month @ Summit Heights!  

Jan 6 – Classes Resume

Jan 6 – Mindfulness: Exercise over the PA system (pm)

Jan 7-10 – Eschle & Irvine/Schonberger’s classes at Sheldon Outdoor Education Centre

Jan 8 – Head Lice Screening

Jan 13 – Mindfulness: Yoga

Jan 13 – 17 – Anton/Brck & Cabacungan’s classes at Sheldon Outdoor Education Centre

Jan 17 – PA Day (no classes)

Jan 23 – SAC Meeting (7-9pm)

Jan 20-24 – Mindfulness: Student-lead lessons in class

Jan 27-31 – Mindfulness: Xmovement program

Jan 31 – Mindfulness: Bell Let’s Talk Assemblies

Jan 31 – Walk to School day