Welcome Back 2019, From Principal Hochberg

Dear Parents and Guardians,

Welcome to the 2019 / 2020 school year! Our staff is looking forward to sharing many enriching learning opportunities in the months ahead. The beginning of each school year is always an exciting time as students develop new friendships and reacquaint with old friends. It is also a time when our teachers review the rules and routines and assist their students in setting goals for the school year: all of which are important tools to set them up for success.

Our office staff (Ms. Waicus, Ms. Roberts, and Ms. McCrimmon), our Caretaking Staff, and our Teachers have been working tirelessly to ensure that the school is ready for the first day.

In order for each student to reach their full potential, it is important that we work in
partnership and emphasize open communication between home and school. Although we are one of the biggest schools in the TDSB, we value each individual student, and support each family to meet the needs of your children. Our teachers will communicate with you throughout the school year on an on-going basis. Please don’t hesitate to contact your child’s teacher if you need information to support your child. Parents are encouraged to follow the TDSB parent concern protocol if any issues of concern arise.

While teachers at Runnymede do have high academic expectations, they also focus on social skills, learning skills, mental health and well-being. Our teachers also imbed multiple layers of character development in their programming. To do their part, it is very important that students make an effort to develop positive relationships with one another, and arrive to class on-time and ready to learn.

Staffing Update – We welcome the following staff who will be starting assignments at
Runnymede PS as of Tuesday, September 3, 2019:

Room 111 – Grade 1/2 F.I.- Mme A. Ceni
Room 239 – Grade 2 F.I. – Mr. Tsilfidis (O.T.)
Room 352 – 5A F.I. English – Mr. L. Rose (O.T.)
Room 126 B – ECE – Ms. J. Austin (O.T.)
Room B82 – ECE – Ms. Costanzo (O.T.)
Head Caretaker – Mr. Julio Silva

Over the summer, the School Board has had contractors working on updating the air conditioning unit in the Library, installing a new air conditioning unit in the Senior Gymnasium, and working on the South Parking Area (Adjacent to the front doors of the school) to ensure it is a safer walk-way for our community to get to and from the Kindergarten Adventure Yard. If this work is not completed by the start of school, Kindergarten children and their parents/guardians can enter the Adventure Playground using the Colbeck stairs or via the school’s North entrance between the senior wing and the portables.

We encourage parents to get involved in the activities that take place at Runnymede. The best way to be involved is through school council. Our first school council meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 25th at 6:30 in the Library. Curriculum night is scheduled for Thursday September 12th, 2019. More details to follow.

Please register on-line for our cashless payment system. All payments for any purchases or activities must be made through the online system. Teachers will no longer be collecting any money. The link to register is: https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com

Please see the below diagram for our first day routines.

Reminder: Runnymede PS has many students with life threatening allergies. Please be mindful when packing snacks and lunches for school. Any food that contains tree nuts or peanuts is prohibited in snacks or lunches. Please do not send any treats to your child’s classroom without the permission of the classroom teacher.

The first day of school is very busy, and we do our utmost to have all students in the building promptly to start the day. Our staff will be focused on ensuring that all students are accounted for and settled in their classrooms. Our teachers will not be able to engage in long discussions this first morning as their focus will be on your children. Thank you for your understanding.

On behalf of the Runnymede PS Staff, best wishes for a successful school year,

Rob Hochberg        Luc Gélinas               Waheeda Khan-Fitzpatrick
Principal                 Vice Principal           Vice Principal

Entry Map 2019

Illuminations – Thursday June 13th, 4:30 – 7:30pm

Illuminations Banner.png

Students have been busy creating and practicing, and are excited to host their families & friends for the first ever Runnymede Illuminations event!

Event Info
It is an open house style celebration of the arts similar to Nuit Orange.  Expect dazzling displays of musical, visual and dramatic arts.  If the weather cooperates, many of the performances, art displays and activities will be outside.

What to Expect

  • 4 fun arts-based activity stations for kids of all ages
  • Food trucks on site for those who would like to enjoy dinner or snacks at the event
  • Grade K – 5 artwork is on display throughout the school, and 6 – 8 visual artwork is displayed in the breezeway
  • Grades 6 to 8 music and drama performances throughout the school

Here is the list of Activity Stations and Food Trucks at the event:

Activity Stations will be running from 4:30p to 7:30p:

    1. Soaring Selfie – located just south of the Runnymede yard play structure
    2. Oodles of Doodles – located near Door 2; sponsored by Sidorova Inwood
    3. Let’s Dance – located on the basketball courts; run by Swansea School of Dance and sponsored by Babiak Team
    4. Obliteration – located just inside Door 5

These great Food Trucks will be located in the staff parking lot, serving food from 4:30p to 8:15p:

    1. Mustache Burger
    2. Naansense
    3. GYOT (get your own taters)
    4. GTA Softee Ice Cream Truck

     

    Please look for an email from the school this week for the official program and a detailed schedule of performances.  We hope to see you there!

Parent Council Vacancies for 2019/20

At Runnymede Public School we are very fortunate to have an active and thriving Parent Council.  Council is involved in many fun activities throughout the school year, whether they’re for fundraising or community-building.

help-wanted-2We cannot run a great Council without great parents!  At this time, we have a number of Council positions becoming vacant as the current members are reaching the end of their terms.

Below is a list of the available positions. We encourage you to consider a role, and please feel free to speak to the outgoing member, to get a better sense of what is involved.

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL POSITIONS:

Co-Chair, Parent Council
The Chair or Co-Chair(s) will be responsible for conducting all Council & Executive Council meetings; will report annually to the school community via the website, email and annual report; will be an ad hoc member of all Council committees; and will perform all other duties required of the office. The goal is to provide a respectful forum to discuss and address Council-relevant topics, to ensure meetings are conducted in a timely manner and to liaise with school administration.  We are seeking two Co-Chairs for the 2019-2020 school year
(Time commitment: 6-8 hours per month)
For more information, please speak to incumbents:  Anh Truong or J’bai Deschamps

Treasurer 
Responsible for the handling of Council money, keeping accurate accounting records, expense reimbursements and payment to suppliers.  The Treasurer will prepare an annual budget, report on Council finances at each Council meeting, prepare and file annual reports and prepare charitable tax receipts.
(Time commitment: 4 to 12+ hours per month)
For more information, please speak to incumbent: Shirley Suurdt

Communications Committee Co-Chair
Communications works behind the scenes, keeping Runnymede parents up-to-date on what’s happening at school.  We run the website, e-mail program and produce the monthly newsletters.  We are seeking two (or more!) Co-Chairs who would be willing to lead the communications team next year.
(Time commitment: 6 hours per month)
For more information, please speak to incumbent: Ingrid Larsen

STEM Committee Co-Chair
Main role is to maintain and run current Science, Technology & Math initiatives at the school. This includes the Math Amazing Race and First Lego League.  Seek new initiatives where possible.  We are seeking one Co-Chair to work alongside Tasha Balla-Boudreau.
(Time commitment: 2 hours per month; 10 hours in June for Math Race)
For more information, please speak to incumbents: David Begleiter or Tasha Balla-Boudreau

Spirit Committee Co-Chair
Main Role is to manage all aspects of fund-raising programs, social events, solicit volunteers, and report to Exec & Council with summary of each event.  This is a busy role, and is currently run with two Co-Chairs.  We are seeking two Co-Chairs to lead the committee next year.
For more information, please speak to incumbents: Erin Meana or Allison Madigan

Yard Committee Co-Chair
Main role is to lead Eco/Nature and Recess related council initiatives at the school. This includes Yard Days (September/April), recess equipment distribution (Fall/Spring) and the Green Teacher Program (Fall/Winter/Spring). Seek new initiatives where possible, or where brought forward by parents/teachers. We are seeking one Co-Chair to work alongside Helen Williams.
(Time commitment: 6-8 hours per month; 10 hours in September and April.)
For more information, please speak to incumbents: Helen Williams or Sarah Frame 

GENERAL POSITIONS:

Lost & Found Volunteer
Join a small team of parent volunteers who collect and sort lost items around school property.  At designated times (once per month) arrange for items to be donated to local charity.
(Time commitment: 1-2 hours per month)
For more information, please speak to coordinator: Anh Truong

Committee Members
All of our Parent Council committees welcome new members with great ideas and a willingness to help.  Meet fellow Runnymede parents and find an occasional role that matches the number of volunteer hours you have to give.  Read more about volunteering at the school here.

This is a school-wide callout for Parents to join any one of these roles.  You do not require experience; simply a desire to get involved and in return, you get to be part of a great team at your child’s school!

Thank you,

Chair Anh Truong
Co-Chair J’bai Deschamps

Staff Appreciation Lunch

Runnymede’s Annual
Staff Appreciation Lunch
will take place on Friday June 21st!

Thank you logo

The Spirit Committee will be hosting its much anticipated Staff Appreciation Lunch in celebration of Runnymede’s amazing teachers, administrators, office staff & caretakers.  Staff members will be invited to enjoy a potluck lunch – catered by our school’s parents – in the Senior Gym.

There are several ways you can contribute:

Volunteer at the Event

Help is needed during the following time slots:

  • Accepting Food at Drop-Off – 8:30-9:00
  • Decorating – 9:00-11:00
  • Set-up – 9:00-11:30
  • Serving – 11:30-12:30
  • Clean-Up – 12:30-2:00

Donate a Food Item to the Potluck

Everything should be nut-free, and a variety of foods and flavours are appreciated

  • Appetizers
  • Salads – greens, pasta, vegetables
  • Main Dishes – including vegetarian items
  • Desserts
  • Drinks

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