The Runnymede STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) Committee will be hosting their first meeting Tuesday October 20th at 8:30 pm. Please join us to learn more about STEM at Runnymede and how parents can help.  No STEM expertise required – all are welcome.

Click HERE, on Tuesday October 20th at 8:30pm, for the Zoom Meeting link

It’s that time again; the first Parent Council meeting of the 2020/21 school year is scheduled for Wednesday October 7th, 2020 from 7:00pm to 8:30pm. It will take place virtually through Google Meet. Please use this link to join: https://meet.google.com/zgh-hehk-rjg

At this meeting, Council will…

• Summarize how Council works
• Introduce Executive Committees (Arts, STEM, Green, Spirit, Communications)
• Vote on 2020/21 Executive Committee Chairs (see additional detail later in this email)
• Present the annual Co-chair and Treasurer reports 
• Take parents questions, including any regarding COVID safety protocols at Runnymede P.S.

Any questions that parents would like tabled at the meeting should be submitted via email no later than October 5th to runnymedeps@gmail.com

We are always looking for new Executive Committee Chairs and Volunteers!

Parent Council is an excellent way for parents to get involved in their children’s education. Council advises the principal and the Board on a variety of issues and activities relating to student achievement, curriculum goals and priorities, school budget priorities, school safety, renovation plans, after-school activities, and criteria for selection of new principals. To that end, we are always looking for new volunteers and new Committee Chairs.

If you are interested in getting involved, leading an Executive Committee, or volunteering to support our committees, please send an email to runnymedeps@gmail.com no later than October 5th.

As always, if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Parent Council via email at runnymedeps@gmail.com

We hope to see you online, on October 7th!

To celebrate our kids’ return to school, we have launched this year’s Runnymede Spiritwear sale!

Old favourites like the Runnymede orange T is back, as well as our always popular hoodies and hats. Also, new this year, we have added Runnymede masks!

Items can either be delivered to your home or can be picked up from parent council coordinated socially distanced pick-up sessions in the neighbourhood (more details to come).

Deadline to order is September 30th

 Click HERE to access the Spiritwear sale site

Bonus: To ensure you order the correct size, we will also be setting up a sizing rack at 370 Runnymede Road on Tuesday September 22nd and Friday September 25th. (Click here for Google Maps):

Thank you Runnymede!

Our School Community is as important as ever, and we hope everyone is healthy and safe during this extraordinary time.

As this school year comes to an end, School Council would like to extend a BIG thank you to:

Grade 8 students for 10 years of hard work at Runnymede. Congratulations; we wish we could send you off in person and are wishing you the best as you move on to High School!

Principal Hochberg along with Vice Principals Ms. Kahn-Fitzpatrick and Mr. Gelinas for their continued partnership and leadership during the remote learning time period; we will miss Ms. Kahn-Fitzpatrick next year and wish her all the best as the new Principal at Perth Avenue Public School.

All of the incredible, dedicated Runnymede Teachers and Staff for inspiring our students this year and for their dedication and creativity during this remote learning experience;

The amazing Runnymede caretakers for their continued efforts to make a 100-year old school work for 1,000+ students, even through a pandemic;

All School Council Members and Committees for spending countless hours working to raise money and deliver the enrichment programs our kids love;

All of the Parent Volunteers who donated their time in the classrooms, at pizza lunch, and all of the school events we were able to hold earlier this year;

To everyone who donated to School Council this year; your direct donation contributions totaled $53,000 this year!  There was also an overwhelming response to the School Council food drive in May with hundreds of pounds of food donations and $1500 raised for the daily bread food bank!

A special thank you and warm farewell to School Council member, Sarah Frame, who has been chairing the Green (Yard) Committee for 10 years and for spearheading the Runnymede Yard renovation project; Sarah’s efforts have made an enormous difference toward Runnymede’s outdoor spaces which enhance student’s experiences every day.  We will miss you!

Council’s Executive Committee included the following people this year:
Co-Chairs: Erin Meana and Andrea Santos
Treasurer: Helen Berhane
Secretary: Jessica Smith
Communications Chair: Carlos Santos
Spirit Committee Chairs: Alex Whately and Kira Goodman
STEM Chairs: Tasha Balla-Boudreau, David Begleiter and Anne-Marie Nowina
Green Chairs: Sarah Frame, Helen Williams, and Ryan Lockhart
Arts Chairs: Ivana Barbieri, Sabrina Musa, and Bianca Colle
Ward 7 Representative: Kathleen Hyatt

We encourage anyone who would like to be actively involved in council next year to consider joining the Executive Council.  It is a great way to learn more about Runnymede, work closely with teachers and administrators, be involved in important decisions that affect all students and work with some amazing, dedicated parents!  If you are interested, please contact: runnymedeps@gmail.com

---

IMPORTANT: Impact of MAR 14 to APR 5 School Closure

Due to the Ontario Government’s announcement to close all public elementary and secondary schools for two weeks post March Break (March 14th through April 5th), the following events at Runnymede PS have been impacted.

March Pizza Lunch: March 27th Pizza Lunch will be re-scheduled for a Friday in June (exact date TBD).

Hot Lunch Program: If you have already placed orders for Hot Lunch for March 24th, 26th, 31st and April 2nd, please contact Rose Reisman Kids Lunch directly in order to cancel those lunches and receive a refund.  

March Parent Council Meeting: Parent Council Meeting scheduled for March 26th has been postponed and re-scheduled for Tuesday, April 28th at 6:30pm in the School Library; more details and agenda to follow closer to the new date.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact Runnymede PS Parent Council at runnymedeps@gmail.com, should you have any questions, or concerns.