To read FAQs about the Direct Donation Campaign visit: https://runnymedecouncil.org/school…/direct-donation-faq/
To read “Where does the money go?” visit: https://runnymedecouncil.org/sch…/where-does-the-money-go/
BEFORE SEPTEMBER 30th
Orders must be in by September 30th for your child to get pizza on our first pizza day of the year on Friday October 4th!
Click HERE for dates, details and to order!
All are welcome to attend, and the first one is September 25th @7pm in the school library! Childcare will be available. Check the Runnymede calendar for zoom links for the hybrid option.
WE NEED VOLUNTEERS to help out on all the amazing HSA committees that
create, plan and execute our wonderful community building events;
organize and facilitate the extra STEM, ARTS, and GREEN learning opportunities throughout the school that our kids love;
and drive the fun, fundraising and enrichment at Runnymede!
Visit the Council website for more information about the HSA committees, volunteer opportunities, and to find the Calendar: http://www.runnymedecouncil.org
Join the Runnymede Community to watch a fast-paced, exciting hockey game live then enjoy a post-game skate on the ice. Everyone is welcome to this fun event!
2 kids from Runnymede will be picked to ride the Zamboni!
A small portion of ticket sales goes to Parent Council initiatives.
Ticket sales end on October 25th
September 11, 202
Hello Runnymede Families,
On behalf of Runnymede’s new parent-run Home & School Association (The Runnymede HSA), welcome to a new school year! We hope you had a great summer break and have enjoyed the first weeks of school.
We know that parents may have questions about what’s coming up this year, and we encourage you to explore the website for the most current information about the fun, fundraising & enrichment activities that we all know and love!
Also, read more about the new HSA, how we are excited to work in partnership with the school Admin & the SAC, and how to get involved (including the committees and executive positions that we need volunteers for!)
You will also find TONS of helpful news and information about everything going on at Runnymede:
Please reach out if you have questions, and let us know if you would like anything added to the website! runnymedecommunications@gmail.com
RUNNYMEDE SAC & RUNNYMEDE HSA COUNCIL MEETINGS – SEPT 25
This year, we will be moving many of the committees you are familiar with (Green, Fun & Fundraising, STEM, Arts, Communications) to the Runnymede Home & School Association (HSA) umbrella. (We are also interested in adding an Athletics committee if anyone is interested in taking that on!)
The first Runnymede School Advisory Council (SAC) & Home & School Association (HSA) meetings will be Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 7 pm – 9pm in the library and we hope you can join us. Meetings will run one after the other, and will also be available via Zoom.
THE RUNNYMEDE CALENDAR HAS ALL MEETING DATES & ZOOM LINKS LISTED HERE
As always, elections for the Runnymede Council (SAC) executive are held in September at the first meeting. This year we will be holding both SAC and HSA meetings and having elections for executive positions at that time, and welcoming any new members who want to volunteer.
Runnymede SAC – 3 committees that remain under the SAC umbrella that are open to parent/guardian and school council participation include:
I. Safe & Caring Schools Committee (PPM 144, 145 & Operational Procedure PR. 703)
II. Staffing Committee
III. School Improvement Plan (SIP)
If you are interested in joining these committees please reach out and come to the first meeting!
We also need Class/Grade Representatives and a Graduation Committee so please reach out if you want to get involved!
VOLUNTEERS – We need your help!
We encourage anyone wanting to be actively involved in their child(ren)’s education to consider joining our Executive team! The HSA team is made up of a group of parents who volunteer to lead the committees that run all the special FUN, FUNDRAISING & ENRICHMENT activities to help support teachers and bring the school year to life.
There are openings on ALL our committees so please find out more HERE
No experience is necessary!
Joining our exec team 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 in learning more, visit Runnymede Home & School Association (HSA) or please contact us: runnymedeps@runnymedecommunications
THE RUNNYMEDE GEAR SALE IS ON NOW!
The link to purchase Runnymede shirts is open!
https://runnymedefallsports.itemorder.com/
This sale is for the orange athletic tech shirts only and the sale will close on Thursday, September 19th in order for the shirts to arrive in time for the first cross country meet.
If you have any questions, please reach out to erin.meana@sbcglobal.net
KINDERGARTEN MEET & GREET – SEPT 28
An informal Kindergarten meet & greet playdate will be held at Beresford Park (between Colbeck and Ardagh) on September 28th @ 10am until they’re tired out! Come for a play, a chat, some coffee & timbits and to meet other Kindergarten families at Runnymede. We hope to see you there!
WELCOME BACK BBQ & CURRICULUM NIGHT! – SEPT 18
This year’s Curriculum night is on September 18th and the HSA team is going to take care of your dinner plans!
We will be selling hotdog / veggie dogs with chips and a drink for $3!
Food will be served between 5pm – 6:15pm
Curriculum night is 6pm – 7:30pm
All Meal Deals include one main, one small bag of chips & a drink!
Please pre-order for your family if possible so we know how many of each to purchase! Limited extras will be available for purchase on site.
Order options are for a meal deal with either a :
– BEEF hot dog
– VEGGIE dogCost is $3/per HOT DOG meal deal
We will also have a limited number of Mr Medley’s famous Texas style smoked brisket sliders with a meal for only $4 so order early!
CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER YOUR FOOD
CLICK HERE TO HELP OUT AT THE BARBEQUE!
We will have a bin at the BBQ/Curriculum night, where you can donate any used Runnymede Gear (t-shirts, hoodies, hats, music polos) – so these items will be available for sale at the Costume Sale in October! Proceeds go to the Runnymede HSA for school initiatives!
THE PIZZA ORDERING LINK IS NOT OPEN YET – we’ll send a reminder when it’s ready to go!
We are moving to the FIRST Friday of each month, so we will have NINE Pizza days this year.
Orders must be in by September 30th to make sure your child gets pizza on our first pizza day of the year : Friday, October 4th
For details, all pizza dates, how to volunteer, and to order when the link is open, click HERE
FALL YARD DAY – OCTOBER 5
Runnymede families are welcome to come out and join in this great RPS tradition! Fall Yard is a school-based “community clean-up” morning where we weed and tidy the nature gardens / outdoor classroom at the school. We’ll collect litter, trim invasive plants and weeds, sweep and tidy. And to make it fun there are activities planned for the kids too!
Apple peeling, and a nature craft will be set up in the Adventure Yard (rear of school). We’ll also have nut-free baking snacks to share, and coffee for the grown ups! Stop by for an hour to help out, or come for the whole morning!
If you’re interested in helping with Yard Day or other YARD committee events, please reach out HERE!
Curriculum Night: Save the Date / Sept 18th
Families will be invited to a curriculum night on Sept. 18th. The times to be determined and published as soon as confirmed. Our staff will share information regarding routines and procedures and the curriculum your child(ren) will learn this year. This will be an opportunity for families to see the school, visit your child(ren)’s classroom, meet the teachers and other educators. We look forward to seeing you then.
Interruptions to the School Day:
We would like to keep interruptions to the children’s school day to a minimum. Please make every effort to book appointments and extra-curricular activities outside the school day. When that is not possible, and you need to pick up your child(ren) from school at a time other than regular dismissal times, we kindly ask that you write a note to the child’s teacher or a note to the office. When our office staff need to call a student down from the classroom, we are interrupting instructional time for the entire class. Letting the teacher know about early dismissal helps us minimize distractions and allow students to maintain their focus on their learning. We thank you for your assistance with this request.
Cell Phone/ Mobile Device Use at School:
Below is a summary of the requirements for cell phone/mobile device use in schools, effective Sept 1, 2024.
All members of the school community:
All members of the school community must not use personal devices during the instructional time except under the following circumstances; for educational purposes ( as directed by an educator) , for health and medical purposes , to support special education needs
Students in Grades 6 and below:
Students’ personal mobile devices must be stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode throughout the full instructional day, except when their use is explicitly permitted by the educator under the circumstances outlined above.
If an educator sees a personal mobile device that is not stored out of view, they must require the device be handed in for the instructional day and the device must be placed by the student in a storage area in a location designated by the Principal.
Students in Grade 7 and 8 :
Personal mobile devices must be stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode during instructional time, except when their use is explicitly permitted by the educator under the circumstances outlined above.
If the educator sees a personal mobile device that is not stored out of view, they must require the device be handed in for the instructional period and the device must be placed, by the student, in a storage area in a location in the classroom designated by the educator.
Volunteers Needed:
Our volunteers are very important to us! In so many ways, our volunteers are the heart and soul of our school. We hope that you will consider volunteering your gifts and talents at some point during our school year. If you are interested in volunteering at Runnymede for the 2024-2025 school year, we ask that you obtain a Vulnerable Sector Screening ( VSS) through Toronto Police Services. If you already have one on file, you can complete the Declaration Form ( which is online) indicating that you have had no convictions since your last screening. Please contact the school office and we will help you if you have any questions. All volunteers , both new and experienced must have an updated police reference check on file at Runnymede. Check the Volunteer page on the website!
Student Enrolment:
Please note that we are a growing and changing community ( 990) students, we anticipate class and staffing changes right up to the first day of school and perhaps after the first couple of weeks into September. Please note that class lists are tentative until after the first couple of weeks of school as student numbers are changing daily. Thank you for your understanding in this matter.
A Note about Combined Grades: ” Split Grades”
Many schools have combined classes and Runnymede is no exception. Due to the continued changes in enrolment, it will be necessary to reorganize some classes this year. Combined classes sometimes cause concern for families. Recent research in Ontario concluded that students in split grades perform as well academically, emotionally and socially as students in straight grades. Combined classes require that the teacher is highly organized, but they do not mean that your child(ren) receive less care and attention. Class lists are made under stringent criteria in order to ensure the best possible placement for your child. We want all our students to achieve success and be happy in school, and our class organization reflect this. Thank you for your trust in us!
Lunch Protocols:
Families are asked to provide their child(ren) with a nut free lunch and snacks in the morning before students enter the building. Unless your child(ren) are enrolled with the lunch program with RAC.
Lunch Lady : Hot Lunch Program / Starts Sept 24th
The lunch lady will be providing a hot lunch option to our families starting Tuesday Sept. 24th for the 2024-2025 school year. If you are interested please order directly with Lunch Lady. See below.
The Lunchlady Hot Lunch Program
Delivered every Tuesday
Starting Sept 24th
Facility Update: Roofing and Windows
Our building is receiving a significant upgrade. The upper and lower flat roofs above the gym are being repaired and replaced , and we will also be getting all new windows in the gym. Over the summer, we got a lot of painting done and will continue to have more painting of hallways, doors and classrooms. I would like to extend my thanks to the caretaking team for their hard work in ensuring our school is ready to receive our students on Tuesday, Sept 3rd.
School Council:
With a new school year comes a new School Council, and an opportunity to build on what is already an amazing community, a community that embraces and celebrates each other, with a strong foundational relationship between home and school!
Each year families are invited to join our School Council and be a voice for the hopes and needs of the school community.
If you are interested, please reach out to the Runnymede School Council or HSA for information on how to get involved or contact the school office.
Code of Conduct:
At Runnymede we encourage our students to be on their best behaviour always and everywhere. To this end, there is a code of conduct that appears in the front pages of each school agenda. Students will gather for an assembly during the first week of school in order to familiarize themselves with the expectations in the code of conduct. All adults and students are expected to abide by the code of conduct when on school premises and in the school building.
Thank you for you help in this matter.
Important Dates:
Sept. 3rd – First day of school and Senior Welcome Back Student Assembly ( period 1 &2)
Sept 6th – Assembly for Gr 1-5
Sept. 18th – Curriculum Night / Times to be determined
Sept 23rd – School Council meeting
Sept. 24th – Photo Day
Sept. 27th – PA Day / no school for students
Sept. 30 th – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation ( Orange Shirt Day)
Oct 9 th – Grade 8 Graduation trip information night / Transitions
Oct 11th – PA Day / no school for students
Oct. 14th – Thanksgiving Day Holiday
Oct . 30th – Photo Re-Take Day
Oct. 31st – Halloween
Nov. 4th – Grade 7 Immunization Clinic
Nov. 11th – Remembrance Day assembly
Nov. 12th – Progress Report Cards go home
Nov. 14th – Parent/Guardian/ Teacher evening interviews
Nov. 15th – PA Day / no school / Parent/Guardian /Teacher Interviews AM
Nov. 29th – PA Day
Dec. 2 – 6 – Grade 6 students to Island School overnight trip ( more details to come)
Dec 20th – Last day of school before Winter Break
Hello Runnymede Families:
We are looking forward to welcoming our students back to Runnymede PS.
In order to prepare for the transition back to school, we have several reminders and procedures to share with families.
Our school is committed to providing a quality education that is flexible and engaging.
We look forward to creating and maintaining a strong sense of community and welcoming spaces in our school.
School Office Hours:
Our school office will be open from Monday, August 26th to Friday August 30th, 2024 from 8 am to 4 pm.
School Hours and Bell Times:
Kindergarten:
Grades 1-5:
Grades 6-8:
Class Placements :
Class placements for 2024-2025 school year will be emailed to families starting on Monday , August 26th via school messenger.
A Note Regarding Class Placements:
The goal for the class placement process is to achieve the most balanced and practical combination of student groups, which may result in students not being placed with a preferred peer.
For families rather than look upon a class placement as a challenge, use each new opportunity as a chance to form new friendships, meet new educators, and gain resilience from a placement that your child(ren) may not have overly preferred. When children find themselves in circumstances that weren’t their first choice , families should support them to look at the positive aspects of each new grade they encounter as this teaches our children perseverance and resiliency. Please accentuate the positive aspect of your child(ren)’s placement this year and take advantage of the opportunity to build intangible skills with your child(ren).
With your trust in our professional judgment , we will continue to provide all students with the best possible learning environment. Please understand that class placements can change depending upon Ministry of Education or Board Directives, and fluctuations in school population.
Thank you for your understanding and support in this matter.
School Cash Online:
Runnymede is a cash-free school and uses School Cash Online for families to pay for your child(ren)’s school fees. All you have to do is register an account, attached your child(ren) and in no time you will be able to make payments online. You can sign up at SchoolCashOnline.com or contact the school office.
Medical Perils:
If your child has a medical plan of care, please bring all medical items ( ie. epi-pens, inhalers etc.) to the school office prior to the commencement of classes. Our school office is open beginning Monday, August 26th from 8 am to 4 pm. Please contact the school to drop off medical items. .
Thank you for your help in this matter.
Safe Arrival:
The purpose of Safe Arrival Program is to ensure that your child arrives safely at school. We appreciate your co-operation in calling the school to let us know if your child will not be attending or will be late.
Lunches and Snacks:
For the health and safety of our students and school community, families are asked to please choose carefully when sending lunches and snacks to school as we have many students with severe allergies. Please be extra vigilant to avoid sending those foods/treats that may contain nuts or trace of nuts. Thank you for your help in ensuring the safety of all our students.
Runnymede Tip: Tips to consider to help prepare your child for return to school
During the week leading up to school (August 26 – August 30)
The night before school:
The morning of school:
Read the entire article here: https://activeforlife.com/how-to-get-kids-back-into-routine/
Upcoming Important Dates:
Sept 3rd – First day of School
Sept. 24th – Photo Day ( BrightPics)
Sept. 25th – Rowan’s Law Day
Sept. 27th – PA Day / No school for students
Sept. 30th – National Day for Truth and Reconciliation
Oct. 5th – World Teacher’s Day
Oct 11th – PA Day / No school for students
Oct 14th – Thanksgiving Day Holiday
Oct 30th – Photo Re-Take Day
Oct 31st – Halloween
Nov. 15th – PA Day
Nov. 29th – PA Day
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Wishing you all a great week ahead!
Yours in partnership,
R. Sardella
Principal/Directrice
Runnymede Home & School Association 