Hi Parents and Caregivers!

Essex and Hawthorne will celebrate the Lunar New Year (Rooster) with a special event and celebration on Wednesday, February 1 2017. As part of the celebration, we will have:

• A Lion Dance:  9:15 a.m. in the gym.  Please join us!
• Celebration Lunch:  11:35 a.m. in the gym.  Food: $4.00, Drink: $1:00.

Ticket sales begin Thursday, January 26, 2017, every lunch hour outside the school office.

We’re seeking food donations and volunteer servers:

• For each donated dish, there is one free food ticket.
• Please make sure the dishes are PEANUT-FREE AND SHELLFISH FREE.
• Volunteers are also needed to help serve the food during lunch.

Please find attached the Event’s form. It’s going to be a wonderful celebration!

Hello Parents and Caregivers,

In celebration of African Heritage Month, the TDSB will host a special Opening Celebration event in their offices on February 1, 2017 from 5:30 – 7:30pm.

Please see the attached poster for the event’s details.

Hello Parents and Caregivers,

The TDSB is celebrating a special event to commemorate Tamil Heritage Month on Saturday, January 28 – 1-5pm at the Woburn Collegiate Institute.

Please find their poster attached.

All TDSB Parents/Caregivers are invited to attend a public consultation being held on Thursday, 2nd February from 6:30pm to 8:30 pm at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts.

Presented by the TDSB Mental Health & Well-Being Parent Partnership Committee, this event is an opportunity for all TDSB families to provide their input and feedback to the Ministry of Education on how to enhance and support the well-being of Ontario students.

The evening will include a special presentation on Mindful Parenting & Resilient Children/Youth.

Childcare and light refreshments are provided. Please see the this poster or visit our Event page to learn more and register.

For more information, please email Heather Johnson, Social Worker, Mental Health & Well-Being System Support or call 416-570-3310.

Do you have old skates and/or helmets in your house that no longer fit your children?  Please consider donating them to the Essex/Hawthorne skate drive.

We are in need of several pairs of skates for the children to go skating at Christie Pits.  We are especially in need of skates that would fit grade 2 and up.

If you have any questions, please e-mail leslie.tumangday@tdsb.on.ca

Thank you for helping our youngsters learn to skate!

Hello Parents and Caregivers,

Essex Parent Council Meeting Agenda for Wed. Jan. 25, 2017 6:30 pm

• Welcome and introductions – All
• Principal’s Report – Harry Quon
• Treasurer’s Report – Nicole Belcourt and David Wood
• Model Schools Update – Lynette Bacon/Mike Papathanasakis
• Parent Link Update – Lynette Bacon
• Parent Council planning for next year – Jean Hammond, Nicole Belcourt
• Fundraising Committee Work and Update – Bingo Night Planning, Spring Fling Meetings – Jean Hammond
• Inclusion Committee Work – Scholarship Criteria – Leslie Tumangday/Jean Hammond
• Equitey Committee Update – Marlon Merraro
• Other Business – All

Essex Book Club for Adults – Wed, Jan 25, 6:00pm, in the library

• The Dolphin Way by Dr. Shimi K. Kang
• Please join us for a great conversation about how to raise happy, healthy and motivated children
• It’s ok if you didn’t finish the book … or even start … it’s about the great talk!

Upcoming Events

Bingo Night – Friday, Feb. 24, 6:00-8:00 pm

• All welcome – parents, students, grandparents, community members
• Pizza and bake sale
• Who will go home with the Blue Jays tickets and a visit to the Sportsnet Broadcast Booth? Show Choir Canada tickets?  Fiesta Farm gift certificate? … and many more amazing local prizes to be won.

Important Reminders:

• Monkey Bunch Concert has been cancelled (was to have been Jan. 31)
• Dance-a- thon – Thursday April 20 (during school day)
• Spring Fling – Friday June 2 (Time TBC)

Volunteer Opportunities:

• Pizza lunch, Bingo Night, Spring Fling Planning, Dance-A- Thon, Gardening Committee, Caring &
• Safe Schools Committee, Ward Representatives
• If you are interested, please email parentcouncil@essexpublicschool.com or sign up on the board outside the main office.

Requested – Items in Need:

• Skates in larger, adult sizes (6+, men’s or women’s)
• Books for the book sale Feb. 24 th – Kids books and DVDs especially needed
• Tier One prizes for Bingo Night – Certificates for local businesses, tickets to events, etc.
• Baked Goods for Bingo Night bake sale Feb. 24

Upcoming Parent Council Meetings:

• February 21, 2017 at 6:30pm
• April 27, 2017 at 6:30pm
• May 24, 2017 at 6:30pm
• June 22, 2017 at 6:30pm
• Spring Fling Planning
• Mon. Feb. 13, 1:30 – 3:00pm
• Mon. Mar. 6, 1:30 – 2:30pm
• Mon. Apr. 10, 1:30 – 2:30pm
• Mon. Apr. 24, 1:30 – 2:30pm
• Mon. May 8, 1:30 – 2:30pm
• Mon. May 29, 1:30 – 2:30pm
• Wed. May 31, 1:30 – 2:30pm

Hello Parents and Caregivers,

The Toronto Police Service is looking for dedicated adults to work as School Crossing Guards. Please find attached the brochure provided to us from the TPS that can provide some additional information about this extraordinarily important employment opportunity.

Drop in to share Books and Activities with your family

• Friday, January 27, 2017.
• 9:00 – 10:30 AM

Make Books; Design book marks; Read on line books, Write a story; Bring a blanket and have a Teddy’s Picnic.

All are welcome! Parents, Guardians, Aunts, Uncles, Grand-parents, Brothers, Sisters, Cousins

And receive a Certificate of Participation in the Library.

Little Jammers Guitar Program is coming to Essex & Hawthorne.  Students can learn to play notes and chords on the guitar.  They develop strumming techniques and teach age appropriate pop songs.

This is an 8 week program, which runs once per week at Essex & Hawthorne school

Dates:     Fridays  from February 3rd to April 7, 2017
(No class Feb 17 & March 17)
Time:      Lunchtime

Registration forms will go home in January
There is a cost to the program.
This activity is an optional extra-curricular activity and equipment will be provided by Little Jammers.
Additional information and updates will be provided with the registration forms.