Runnymede Council and its Committees are happy to welcome you (back!) to Runnymede. The following information will also be sent out by email; make sure you are signed up to the Runnymede classroom email communication system to receive important updates like these throughout the year.

Please check out the following links for all the info you need as a Runnymede parent this fall:

• You are here: www.runnymedecouncil.org is our council website and is updated regularly –  bookmark this site and visit throughout the year
• Key Council & Committee Dates for Fall is a great link to print out and post on your fridge
• Runnymede Parent Handbook provides information on safe arrival, lunch hour and dress code policy
• How Do I Get Involved? outlines the many ways you can get involved at the school and in your child’s education at Runnymede
• The Arts at Runnymede provides details on the music, drama and fine arts programs available at the school

Important notes for the fall:

• Fundraising at Runnymede: The Spirit Committee’s simplified fundraising strategy was a big success last year, so our primary fundraiser this year will again be the donation envelopes, distributed in early October for parents to return with a recommended per-child donation of $50. We thank you and look forward to your continued support of our simplified fundraising approach this year.
  There will be no formal fundraising drives selling third-party merchandise this year, but  the school continues to receive a % of sales from QSP Magazines, Mabels Labels and Amazon.ca. So if you need magazines, labels, or books, please visit the school website under Hot Topics to make your purchase and support the school at the same time.
• Runnymede Family Swim Club @ Humberside C.I Pool: Join us in the pool for a fun, family-friendly swim! Exclusive to Runnymede families, we will have one swim night a month starting in early October at Humberside C.I. Check back here for dates shortly! One low price covers the entire school year for one family. We have a life guard on duty, tons of pool toys and beach music! For more information, please contact Erin Carroll or Robert Dunford.
• Lost & Found Process: Lost & Found is located on the main floor outside of Room 126. We encourage you to please label all items –especially lunch bags – with your child’s name and classroom number. The Spirit Committee needs additional people to help with Lost & Found. Please contact Terri Pickering to help!

On Wednesday, September 5, make sure that your kids line up at their ENTRY door, which may be a different spot than their first-day entry indicated on the map below. Check this list for entry doors!

The big day is almost here. Check the map below for the entry door for your child’s grade. Click to enlarge the map. See you next week!

Update: A few other tidbits about the first day procedure:

1. Consult this list for a complete list of teachers, rooms, and entry/exit doors.
2. There will be Runnymede parent volunteers (wearing orange shirts) throughout the school yard to help students and their families find class line-ups etc. 
3. All senior students – grades 7 and 8 – will enter through Exit #6 in the Runnymede Yard at 8:50 a.m. and proceed directly to the senior gym.
4. In case of heavy rainfall on the first day of school, all students will proceed directly to their classrooms.  Parent volunteers will be stationed at school entrances.  
5. JK students: your placement letter indicates your child’s start day, which may be Tuesday or Wednesday. This staggered start reduces the number of completely-new kids starting on the same day — makes it easier on our little ones! Also, review our information sheet for other helpful tips on starting JK.

School starts in a week! Here’s wishing you all a wonderful last week of summer, and a fantastic start to another school year.

To help kick it off with a bang, our Fall Yard Day will be a little earlier than usual this year — mark your calendars.

• Yard Work and Kids’ Activities (art, face-painting) 9:00 – 11:30
• BBQ Lunch 11:30 – 1:00 (Rowe Farms hotdogs – $2, Veggies – $1)

Watch this spot for more information.