Bowmore September newsletter now online!

CORRECTION: The School Council meeting will be on the originally scheduled date, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 29, 6 - 8 PM. Meetings take place in the 2nd floor staff room, with pizza & childcare provided. ALL PARENTS WELCOME! We apologize for the confusion regarding the dates.

What's in this month's newsletter: Link here

• Welcome back to Bowmore!
• Reminders regarding Code of Conduct, student drop-off/pick-up, safe arrival & punctuality
• Bowmore is a peanut-free school, with several children in the school severely allergic
• Tips on packing a litterless lunch
• Library news: Governor General Award-winner Deborah Ellis to visit!
• Guidance news: Grade 8 parents look for high school information sessions in one month!
• Extracurricular fee-based programs at Bowmore: Theatre, dance & karate
• Terry Fox Day coming Wed September 28! Be sure to show Bowmore spirit by wearing black & red!
• Junior Cross Country Run Team practices M,W,F 8 - 8:30: Parents welcome to run too!
• School Council News- First meeting to be held September 29; look for election results September 26
• Pizza lunches: We need volunteers for this important school fundraiser
• Bowmore Gardening Group: Join us as we beautify our school
• Parenting & Family Literacy Centre - Great resource for parents of children 0-6 yrs
• Education Day: Provincial All-Candidates Meeting September 20
• MedicAlert's "No Child Without": If you have a child with an allergy or serious medical condition, you need to know about this!
• Grade 7 trip to Camp Wahanowin
• Movie Night: Mars Needs Moms - September 23

MARK YOUR CALENDARS:

• Sept 20 - Education Day (Secord PS)
• Sept 23 - Movie Night
• Sept 28 - Terry Fox Run
• Sept 29 - QSP Magazine Fundraiser begins
• Sept 29 - School Council Meeting
• Oct 3 - 7 - Scholastic Book Fair
• Oct 4 - TTC student ID photos
• Oct 5 - Curriculum Night
• Oct 10 - Thanksgiving (no school)
• Oct 11 - 13 - Grade 7 trip

Read the newsletter here

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Movie Night Friday September 23: Mars Needs Moms

"Mom needs a little space!"
Starring Joan Cusack and Seth Green
Watch a video preview
WHEN: Friday, Sept 23 - 6 pm doors open / 6:30 pm movie starts
WHERE: Bowmore Junior Gym (use the side entrance, under "the bridge")
SUGGESTED DONATION: $2
Pizza, snacks and drinks will be sold for a modest cost. Remember to bring camp chairs!
A fun & inexpensive family night out that supports enriched learning experiences at Bowmore.

Bowmore / Fairmount Park Shared Pool Update

The current review of the City of Toronto budget may have a serious impact on our Bowmore pool. At the end of 2011, the lease is due to expire on the 33 TDSB pools currently being leased by the City of Toronto, including Bowmore. The lease has temporarily been extended for a few months to allow for further discussion. If the City of Toronto decides not to renew the lease, our school pool programs will be in jeopardy and all swim programs offered through Fairmount Park will cease.

Read a recent news article about the risk to our swim programs at Bowmore

Four parents have volunteered to act as "Pool Captains" to lobby for renewing the lease, and to find alternate funding if the need arises to source private funds for pool programs at Bowmore/Fairmount Park. Kyle Duncan, Elizabeth Grundon, Maureen Boles and Susana Molinolo have kindly agreed to act as our advocates.

You can speak up for our swim programs, and many other vital issues facing Ontario families!
On Tuesday September 20, a delegation from Bowmore will attend the TDSB All Candidates Debate for Beaches East York. WE NEED YOU TO JOIN US AND SPEAK UP FOR BOWMORE KIDS as we ask the candidates where they stand on vital public funds for swim programs in our province.

In addition to the pool issue, this is a chance to find out where our candidates stand on the need for affordable and high-quality child care; quality of school buildings and facilities including playing fields; challenges facing special education, and many other issues impacting children and parents in Ontario.

The Beaches East York Riding debate takes place at Secord Public School, 101 Barrington Ave. 7:00pm.

Please attend and show our candidates that we care about the future of education in Ontario!

This year's School Council meetings schedule

School Council will meet on the third Thursday of every month

(PLEASE NOTE: THIS MONTH'S MEETING WILL BE ON SEPTEMBER 29 AS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED)

We will not meet in December.

We offer free pizza and childcare at each meeting, so you don't have to worry about dinner or babysitting!

We send agendas to all parents on our email list a few days in advance. We also publish minutes on our school bulletin board and on our blogsite following each meeting.

THIS YEAR'S MEETING DATES WILL BE:
Thursday, September 22 29, 6-8 pm
Thursday, October 20, 6-8 pm
Thursday, November 17, 6-8 pm
Thursday, January 19, 6-8 pm
Thursday, February 16, 6-8 pm
Thursday, April 19, 6-8 pm
Thursday, May 17, 6-8 pm

Even if you choose not to become a member of the School Council Executive, you are always welcome at any School Council meeting. All parents who attend get a voice and a vote at meetings. Please join us!

Nominate yourself for School Council- deadline this Friday!

SELF-NOMINATION FORMS DUE FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16

If you would like to be part of a dynamic, engaged group of parents who believe passionately in making our kids' school as great as it can possibly be, please nominate yourself for a School Council Executive role. It's easy! Just fill out the form below, and return it to the school office no later than 4 pm on Friday, September 16.

While every parent is a member of School Council and gets a voice and vote at meetings, the School Council Executive perform a variety of defined roles that have a powerful impact on the well-being of our school.

To learn more, please send us an email. And remember to submit your form on Friday!

Download Self-Nomination Form Here (PDF)