Hi Parents and Caregivers!

We are looking for a school Ward Representatives for Essex PS. As you may know, trustees are elected to represent specific political entities called wards. Ward council meetings provide an opportunity for parent representatives from schools in the ward to meet with their local school trustee to discuss issues of common concern. Ward council meetings are also an opportunity for the school trustee to inform parents about matters under consideration by the Board and get their feedback.

We’re looking for a parent or caregiver to represent Essex PS at our school ward meetings. Ward council meetings are held an average of four times per school year.

If you, or an Essex parent or caregiver you know, is interested in representing Essex Safe at our local ward meetings, or have any questions at all, please email parentcouncil@essexpublicschool.com.

Thank you!

Hello Parents and Caregivers!

We are seeking parents and caregivers to join the Essex PS Safe and Caring School Committee.

The purpose of the team is to help our school foster a safe, inclusive, and accepting school climate that ensures a positive learning environment. The goal is to bring together representatives of our school’s administration, teachers, students, and parents reps, who together help conceive prevention strategies – and can help develop peaceful problem solving solutions.

If you, or an Essex parent or caregiver you know is interested in joining the Essex Safe and Caring position, or have any questions at all, please email parentcouncil@essexpublicschool.com

Thank you!

Hello Parents and Caregivers!

We hope you have been enjoying the autumn season!

Below, please find the Agenda for the upcoming Parent Council Meeting that will take place on Wednesday October 19, 2016 at 6:30 pm in the Library.

As always, child care will be provided.

Meeting Agenda

• Welcome
• Principal’s Report – Harry Quon
• Treasurer’s Update – David Wood & Nicole Belcourt
• Cultural Celebrations Proposal – Marlon Merraro
• Ward Rep & Model Schools/Parent Engagement Committee Chair required – Allison Venditti
• Communications/Parent Link Committee Report Update – Lynette Bacon
• Fundraising Committee Update – Jean Hammond & Nicole Belcourt
• Gardening Volunteers/Committee – Jessica Haber
• Health and Wellbeing Committee – Report and Planning – Milisa Burns
• Other Business – This will include any questions, comments or suggestions from Parents and Caregivers who would like to contribute to the Council’s agenda

Important Upcoming Dates

• Monster Mixer Potluck with Hawthorne Fri. Oct. 28
• Next Parent Council Meeting – Wednesday Nov 23, 2016 (6:30 – 8:00) in the library

Interested in volunteering? Please send an email to parentcouncil@essexpublicschool.com or sign up on the bulletin board outside the front office.

Volunteer opportunities include: Pizza day volunteers, Monster Mixer (various roles), Fresh From Farm food distribution (date TBA – late November)

Hi Everyone,

Just a friendly reminder that in our next Book Club for the Essex Grown-Ups, we will be discussing the first half  The Optimistic Child: A Proven Program to Safeguard Children Against Depression and Build Lifelong Resilience by Martin Seligman.  Please note this is a Read What You Can Book Club, so come regardless of what you have managed to read!

The book club meeting will meet at 6pm on Wednesday October 19, just before the Parent Council meeting at 6:30.  

If you have any questions, please contact Milisa Burns at milisa.burns@gmail.com

See you on the 19^th!

Warmly,

The Health and Well-Being Committee, of the Essex Parent Council

Lunchroom supervisors are needed for the Essex and Hawthorne lunchrooms.  We’re looking for candidates who are available Monday through Friday, 11:30-12:45, and who enjoy working with children.

If you, or anyone you know may be interested, please contact Leslie via email at Leslie.tumangday@tdsb.on.ca

Only a couple of days left to place your order with Fresh from the Farm fundraiser!

Our second annual “Monster Mixer” Halloween Costume Party is 2 weeks away!

Who: The Essex & Hawthorne community

What: Halloween Costume Dance Party & POTLUCK

When: Friday October 28th 5:30-7:30pm

Where: School gym

Why: a chance to meet up with friends, eat some tasty food, show off your costume, and dance to the DJ’s party mix!

Volunteers needed for various jobs in 3 shifts

• 5-6pm Help set up gym, decorate, manage potluck table, & general supervision
• 6-7pm Help manage potluck table, clean as needed, & general supervision
• 7-8pm Help manage potluck table, general supervision, tear down, & clean up

We can not run this event with out your help! There is a sign up sheet out side the Essex office. Please add your name to your preferred shift, Thanks

If you are not in the building very often you can email parentcouncil@essexpublicschool.com and your name will be added to the sign up sheet.

Potluck food info:

• Please bring a NUT FREE family friendly dish to share (ingredient card is helpful).
• Please label your serving trays or better yet use a reusable/recyclable one.
• Don’t forget to bring serving utensils for your dish.
• If you have your own containers to eat from please bring them if not paper plates and cutlery will be available.
• Bring your water bottles for thirsty kids :)

Start planning your spookiest recipes and creating your scariest family costumes… Can’t wait to see you there!

Hello Parents and Caregivers,

Please find below the minutes from the most recent (September 22) Parent Council Meeting. The next Parent Council Meeting will be held on Wednesday, October 19th at 6:30pm in the library (2nd floor); child minding will be offered.

Welcome and Introductions

• We had a wonderful turn out at our first Parent Council meeting of the new school year. Parents represented students from JK to Grade 8

Principal’s Report – J. Harry Quon

• TDSB welcome their new Director, John Malloy
• Mike Gallagher is our new Superintendent
• We are pleased to welcome our new staff: Krista Burgess is Grade 6, Jenn Penman in Music/Resource, Elsa Carmargo in Primary MID
• Real Food for Real Kids (hot lunch program) has begun. You can register via their website if interested.
• International Language Classes are beginning soon
• Our students will participate in the Terry Fox Run on October 6th
• Our Cross Country and Baseball teams have been training hard (X-Country preliminaries on Sept 30)
• Curriculum Night is on Sept. 29, beginning in the gym at 5:45pm followed by classroom visits
• Students in Grades 2-8 have been writing the Model School’s Cat4 tests this past week. Results will be provided to teachers along with teaching/learning strategies to support students’ needs.
• All students in Grade 3 (with signed parental permission) will be taking part in the Gifted Screening test next week
• Grade 4’s are involved in Project Give Back – “a passion based program designed for elementary students to develop empathy, build character, and ignite community minded citizens”.
• Essex is currently in a re-organization process – rebalancing of numbers in specific classrooms (all parents and students involved have been notified)

Treasurer’s Report

• Last year’s fundraising efforts raised: $6,500 from pizza, $2,000 from Bingo Night, $7,300 from Spring Fling (shared with Hawthorne), $450 from book sales
• We are proud to report last year’s Dance-a-thon raised $3,000 to sponsor a Syrian family with Hawthorne
• Money raised went towards: Scientists in School (2 per class), Artists in School (1 per class), $200 for each classroom, skating equipment, Lice Checks, etc.
• Right now we are beginning the year with $8-10,000. Essex Parent Council is committed to spending all of the money raised each year, sending it back into enriching our children’s education and everyone’s overall health and well-being while at learning at Essex P.S.

Communications Report

• Currently in the process of organizing a class parent rep for each classroom.
• Discussions around role of the parent rep and how communications to all families will be concise and bi-weekly is in the process.

Fundraising Committee

• A new fundraising event will be introduced soon, “Fresh from the Farm”. Students sell fruits/veggies to their families. Pick up day will be in Nov. All Ontario produce, money raised goes back to the local farm and to our school.
• Pizza lunch volunteers needed! Do you have 45 minutes during the day you can volunteer once a month? Volunteers are asked to arrive at school for 11:30am on their assigned day. Duties include helping to sort the pizza by names/class and then distribute to students. All volunteers will receive a free pizza lunch!
• Our annual Monster Mixer is coming soon, Friday, October 28. Come out for a night of silly costumes, a wonderful community potluck supper, a DJ to entertain the kids, and a chance to meet your neighbours with a clown nose on!

Health and Wellbeing Committee

• Committee was created to address the health, well-being, and inclusivity of all students at Essex PS
• Past Successes – Recess Buddies (leadership opportunity for older students to help bring children together for play), Lunch Buddies (inspired by a program at UCC), Buddy Bench (children introduced to the bench last year in an assembly – if you do not have anyone to play with you sit on the bench and someone will come invite you to play), Book Club (half hour meeting before parent council related to parenting, emotional intelligence, and growth mindset)
• Looking for new members and fresh ideas this year

Nominations and Elections for Parent Council 2016-2017

1.  Co-Chairs – Nicole nominated Allison Venditti and Jean Hammond, Dave seconded, all supported
2. Treasurer – Jean nominated Nicole Belcourt and David Wood , Milissa seconded, all supported
3. Secretary – Jean nominated Lynette Bacon, Nicole seconded, all supported

Clusters

• A Clusters Program is being introduced in both of our Kindergarten classrooms this year. Parents may contact their Kindergarten teacher if they wish to volunteer to teach a specialty skill to a small group of students.

The next Parent Council meeting will be on Wednesday, October 19th at 6:30pm in the library (2nd floor). Child minding will be offered. Please come and meet new parents in our community and add your voice and ideas to the conversation.

We are excited to announce our next book for our Book Club for the Essex Grown-Ups!

The next meeting will be at 6 pm on Wednesday October 19, just before the Parent Council meeting at 6:30.   

We will be discussing the first half  The Optimistic Child: A Proven Program to Safeguard Children Against Depression and Build Lifelong Resilience  by Martin Seligman.   Aim to read the first half (10 chapters) but please note this is a Read What You Can Book Club, so come regardless of what you have managed to read!

There will be two copies of the book at the school library as of next week.

If you have any questions, please contact Milisa Burns at milisa.burns@gmail.com

See you on the 19^th!

Warmly,

The Health and Well-Being Committee, of the Essex Parent Council