Tuesday, September 13, 2011

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)

Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Welcome back to Bowmore next week- we're serving up coffee!

BellRingCan you believe summer's nearly over???

With school starting next week, here's a heads-up on what's in the works for September:

DaisyCOFFEE'S ON DAISY! Bowmore School Council is pleased to be hosting a "Welcome Back" coffee on the first day of school, Tuesday, September 6th, 8 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. in the school yard. We'll be serving up coffee, juice and light snacks, courtesy of our soon-to-be neighbourhood coffee shop, Lazy Daisy's Cafe (opening soon at the corner of Coxwell & Gerrard). Many thanks to Bowmore mom and entrepreneur Dawn Chapman for her generosity!
  • First day back to school: Tuesday, September 6 (But JK/SK entry days are staggered- check with the school about the day your kindergarten child starts if you aren't sure).
  • Remember that school supervision starts in the schoolyard at 8:30 a.m. each morning, and ends at 3:25 p.m.
  • Forget your child's teacher's name? Look up teacher/classroom assignments here (download the June newsletter and scroll to page 2)

LitterlessLunch

Make that lunch litter-free please!

Bowmore students, teachers and parents worked hard last year to earn our school an "Eco-Gold" certification!

School lunches are a major source of waste in Ontario with the average student’s lunch generating a total of 30 kilograms of waste per school year. This means that an average of 8,500 kilograms (18,700 lbs) of waste is trucked to landfill from each school every year- that's the weight of two full-grown elephants!

Please help by ensuring that your child brings a litter-free lunch to school each day. Avoid ziplock bags and foil-wrapped individual packaging: Reusable containers, washable cloth napkins, refillable bottles and simple metal cutlery are healthier & cheaper over time. Save money, and the planet too!

Click here for more tips on how to reduce waste in your child's lunch.

Movie NightMovie Night 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.

VaccinesNew vaccine schedule for Ontario children

This summer, three new vaccines were added to the schedule of publicly-funded vaccines available in Ontario:
Do you know if your children's vaccines are up to date? Remember that the TDSB requires records for all enrolled children, and that Ontario children are required by law to be immunized against measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, and polio, as well as for pertussis (whooping cough) before age six.  Students between the ages of 14 and 16  require one needle for diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis. Read the TDSB fact sheet on immunization here.

If you have any doubt about your child's immunizations, please consult with your doctor.

Ontario's new immunization schedule, updated this month, is available here.

Friday, July 8, 2011

Join us July 12 to talk about saving our pool!

You can make a difference in our community, by helping to keep our Bowmore PS / Fairmount Park CC shared-use pool open! 

PLEASE JOIN US!

WHEN: Tuesday, July 12, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
WHERE: Fairmount Park CC

Kids welcome!

At the last meeting, we discussed creating a Fairmount Park CC Advisory Group. This meeting will be an opportunity to further define the role of this group in supporting community centre programmers (both aquatic and recreational) over the long haul, and to plan action NOW to protect our pool.

We know you're busy enjoying the summer! But this issue can't wait...
We've learned that the City of Toronto Community Development and Recreation Committee will debate the renewal of the lease at their September 14, 2011 meeting, and make their recommendation to Council. Deputations will be permitted. We need to make plans now to do whatever it takes to save our pool and community centre! Please join us.

Click here to read the Community Development & Recreation Committee's Background Document



Why we're worried about our pool - When 31 school pools were nearly shut down in 2008, it was community activism that kept them open. Today we face a similar crisis, as the City’s lease of 33 TDSB school pools...INCLUDING OUR BOWMORE / FAIRMOUNT PARK POOL...expires in December. Toronto City Council will decide whether to renew the leases in September. The leases are needed to keep the pools & community centres open. ASK YOURSELF:
  • How does your family benefit from this pool?
  • Will our community’s kids be safe swimmers without it?
  • Is it important to our neighbourhood?
  • Will this community centre be sustainable without the pool?
You can help to protect our pool by spreading the word: Forward this email, post on Facebook, talk to friends and neighbours! And please join us Tuesday July 12!
If you have any questions or suggestions, please contact us at bowmoresc@gmail.com

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Emergency Update on Fairmount Park / Bowmore pool

Please join us:
Thurs, June 23, 6:30 - 8 p.m.
Fairmount Park CC meeting room

An opportunity to meet the Fairmount programming staff, to find out what their challenges are, and to learn how Bowmore parents can help by promoting the facility and ensuring that the programs that are offered are of maximum benefit and use for our community.

The two other Community Centre/TDSB leased pools in the area (SH Armstrong and Earl Beatty) both have "Advisory Councils." Fairmount used to, but it was abandoned years ago. To protect our pool and community centre, we may need to reestablish such a group - and quickly.

If you love our pool, please join us for a short and  informative exchange of ideas.

June newsletter now online- Have a wonderful summer!

SunOnly nine school days left! Last day of school is June 29.

What's in this month's newsletter:
  • Teacher room and grade assignments
  • Swim Team results & Super Swim Meet June 21/2
  • Gr 2 student essay on butterfly project
  • Great response to launch of Bowmore's first-ever cricket team!
  • Kids' perspective on the meaning of hope (grab your hankies!)
  • Mathematica results: Bowmore's kids aced it!
  • Bowmore students honoured at the Regional Heritage Fair
  • Bowmore student appointed to Minister's Student Advisory Council (only two kids from entire TDSB!)
  • Cyberbullying: Do you know the warning signs?
  • Local Grade 9 Orientation Dates
  • Library update: Governor General's Award-winning author visiting Bowmore next year!
  • Our local library has summer kids' programs!
  • Results of Primary/Junior & Senior Area Track Meets (the kids wore their new jerseys & rode buses paid for by parent fundraising!)
  • Bowmore Dance Party: We raised over $4,000 to pay for Bowmore Athletic needs! Thank you to our volunteers who worked so hard!
  • May Eco-Hero: Claire G!
  • Bowmore has achieved Gold certification in our EcoSchools Audit! Way to go, students & staff!!!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS:
  • TODAY! Friday, June 17- FINAL Movie Night: Gnomeo & Juliet!
  • Tuesday, June 21- Primary Swim Meet
  • Wednesday, June 22 - Junior Swim Meet
  • Thursday, June 23 - Fairmount pool discussion / meet the staff
  • Friday, June 24 - Gr 8 Graduation
  • Tuesday, June 28 - Gr 6 Graduation
  • Wednesday, June 29 - Last Day of School
  • September 6 - Back to School!
Read the newsletter here

Neighbourhood Family Events This Summer:
We now have THREE Farmers' Markets in the neighbourhood! -
A fun way to get yummy, fresh and locally-produced foods. Sundays: Leslieville Farmers' Market (NEW!) / Tuesdays: East York Farmers' Market / Thursdays: East Lynn Farmers' Market
Beach Ribfest This Weekend June 17 - 19
Beach Sandcastle Contest  June 26
Red, White & Vinyl Festival, Fireworks at Ashbridges Bay July 1
Beach Jazz Festival July 15 - 24: Lineup just announced!
Festival of South Asia, Gerrard India Bazaar July 16 - 17
Taste of the Danforth August 5 - 7
Tommy Thompson Park Butterfly Festival August 27