Kimberley P.S. – Beaches Alternative

Friday September 30th, 2011

There are students with severe and life-threatening allergies to peanuts and nuts: Please do not use peanut or nut products when sending food into the school or on field trips.

PRINCIPAL'S REPORT

We are off to a great start this year as staff, students and parents are getting into the routines of back-to-school. I would like to extend a very warm welcome to all of our brand new parents, as they become members of our Kimberley/Beaches family. I saw many of our Kimberley families at Curriculum night and many of the Beaches families at the General Meeting earlier this month.

In the next short while, we will be having a practice lockdown and fire drill. All schools must have 2 lockdown drills and 6 fire drills in the school year. While we hope that we never have a real emergency, we are required to make sure the children are prepared for any eventuality.

Unfortunately, some dog-owners are walking their pets in the Kindergarten yard and the main yard and are not stooping and scooping. Many of the children have come into the school with running shoes covered in dog dirt. In addition to a health hazard, the school is private property and as such dogs are not allowed in the school yard. If you do see visitors in the area with dogs, please remind them of this policy.

We have had to do some reorganizing at Kimberley and I would like to thank all parents for their understanding throughout this process. We welcome Sara Woodward as a contract teacher in our afternoon JK program in room 104. We also welcome Kelly Bonisteel who will be teaching Grade 1 / 2 in room 203.

Our Snack program will be starting on October11th and will now be offered three days a week: Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. If you are able to help with this please call Tessa Abdull in the Beaches office at 416-393-1451.

·  Reference Checks

In the interest of the safety of our students, the Board requires that all volunteers, who assist four or more times a year with a variety of activities, have a Police Reference Check. Volunteers may pick-up a form from either the Beaches or the Kimberley offices. This form is then signed by the principal and sent to be processed by Employee Services. The cost of this is $16.95 in the form of a certified cheque or money order payable to “Toronto Police Services”. Returning volunteers need to complete an on-line offence declaration.

·  Cross Country

Ms. Mummery has been working with about 70 runners in the Running Club. They have been running every morning and afternoon, Monday through Thursday, since the first week of school. The Area Finals are on Monday, October 3rd. Good Luck Runners!!!!

·  K/B Choir Notice

The Kimberley/Beaches Choir will have its first first practice will be Thursday, October 12th. All grade 3 – 6 students are welcome. Mrs. Comeau and Mrs. Cullen are looking forward to a terrifically tuneful 2011-12 season!

·  Big Thank You

On Tuesday, September 20th, all TDSB schools hosted “Toonie Tuesday” to aid the people of Africa who are dealing with a serious drought. Our schools raised $415.34 for this worthy cause.

·  Physical Education

Check out Miss Mummery’s blog for information about things going on in PE. www.missmummery.edublogs.org

·  Terry Fox

Terry Fox is a Canadian hero whose dream we are keeping alive. On Friday September 16th in the morning everyone went outside to walk/run in support of Terry Fox’s dream. We have raised over $2,000. Eight staff members and one celebrity were duct taped to the gym wall at our assembly this afternoon.

·  Newsletter Draw Winner!

The winner is Cameron from Room 204. Congratulations!

·  Boys Slo-Pitch Team

The boys slo-pitch team is underway. Big thank you to their coaches, Bruce Taylor and Jimmy T. Good luck to our Slo-Pitch Team!

·  Kimberley School Council

Kimberley School Council meetings are open to all parents and community members to provide a regular forum for collaboration and discussion in order to support learning and growth within our student body. Our council this school year are: Vee Prip, Chair; Romaine Hill, Secretary; and Wendy Leeder, Treasurer. We hold regular monthly meetings on the last Monday of every month at 7:00pm in the library.

·  The Kimberley/Beaches After-School Band & Strings Program is Here!!!

Elite Music Academy will be running the Kimberley/Beaches Band & Strings After School Program. We thank all the families who responded to our flyer last June and throughout the summer. Your input really helped to shape the program. Some of our Grade 5/6 students participated in Elite Music’s Rock Band camp in the summer and had a great time! All grade 3-6 students have been given flyers and a letter to take home to their parents about program details.

Classes begin after Thanksgiving--- Wed., October 12th in the school library at 3:45 PM sharp! Sign Up Now! To Register call Elite Music Academy at 416-406-5355 ext 1. Ask for Vasilis, Elite’s Owner, to arrange instrument rentals prior to the first class.

Grades 3-6--Tuesdays, Beginner Violin Class

Grades 4-6--Wednesdays, Beginner Woodwinds Class (flute, clarinet)

Grades 5-6--Thursdays, Rock Band class (some experience preferred

Fundraiser for Beaches and Kimberley

If you are planning on getting orrenewingany magazine subscriptions in the next while, please check out the sitewww.QSP.CA. Our schools are registered with the QSP plan. Get your regular subscriptions and a portion of the proceeds go directly to our schools. The money we raisewill help fund our children's classrooms, fieldtrips, and other activities. If you go to the QSP site, you cantype in ourschool number before shopping:

Beaches School number is 9256

Kimberley School number is: 9182.

REMINDER TO PARENTS/GUARDIANS/VISITORS

It is crucial that you pick up a visitor’s identification badge to wear when you are going to be in the school or in the yard during the day. Please pick up one in the office.

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