St. Andrews Junior High News

Interim Reports

On Friday, October 17th, students will bring home their Interim Report Card indicating subjects in which students are progressing well and subjects where improvement is needed. Please ensure that your child returns one signed copy of the Interim Report to his/her Homeroom teacher by Wednesday October 22.

If your child received any N’s (Needs Improvement) on this Interim Report, please ensure that both you and your child are clear about what needs to be done for improved results. All St. Andrew’s teachers are available to provide extra help to students. An “Extra-Help” schedule is included with the report. As always, feel free to contact any of your child’s teachers, Ms. Lam (guidance), or administration if you would like more information about working together for student success.

Bark Lake Leadership trip: Correction

Please note that the correct dates for this trip are: October 29th to October 31st.

School Council

Halloween Bake Sale

One of our students’ favourite events, the Halloween Bake Sale sponsored by the grade 7’s, is coming up on Tuesday, October 28th! We are sending out a call for nut-free baked goods for Tuesday, October 28th. In addition, we are requesting peanut-free candy donations to be sent in by Thursday, October 23rd, to be made up into great raffle prizes for the kids! See flyer for more information.. We need people to help out at the bake sale on the 28th. If you’re available to help over the lunch hour please e-mail Leslie Routhier.

Birthday Book Program

Click on picture

We are starting what we hope will be a wonderful tradition of inviting you to make a donation in your child’s name toward the purchase of library books. In recognition of your generosity, your child’s name will appear on a special birthday bookplate in the book that our Teacher-Librarian, Ms. Greenspoon, chooses.

It’s a great way to contribute to the quality of our library, while leaving a lasting legacy at St. Andrew’s. Please look for more information to be sent home in the month of your child’s birthday! If your child’s birthday was in September or October, you will be receiving a note home soon.

Claude Watson School for the Arts Admission and Information Evenings

The Claude Watson School for the Arts will be holding open auditions for students who attend a school within the City of Toronto. Each year the Claude Watson School for the Arts auditions students for admission to the school. There are 60 places available in the grade four year. Auditions will also be held for any vacancies in grades 5-8.

The screening process is a series of studio experiences in dance, drama, visual arts and music. Auditions take place at the school, located near Yonge St. and Sheppard Ave. A team of adjudicators, both professional artists and teachers conduct the auditions. The auditions for students will be conducted during the months of January, February and March.

The school will be holding two information meetings at the Claude Watson School for the Arts, 130 Doris Avenue on Thursday, October 23, 2008 and Tuesday, October 28, 2008 at 7:00 p.m. Parking at the school is limited so please allow sufficient time to find street parking. This meeting is to inform parents of the school’s programs, to review the application process and to provide parents with an opportunity to ask questions. Application forms will be available during the meetings, on the school webpage (www.claudewatson.org), or at the school.

Friday, December 12, 2008 at 4 p.m. is the deadline for all applications to be handed in at Claude Watson School for the Arts, 130 Doris Ave.

Scented Product Awareness Program

Scented products have an impact on everyone. For most people, perfumed, scented or fragrant products are enjoyed, but for those who have asthma, allergies or environmental sensitivities, exposure can result in illness, absence from work and even hospitalization.

“We want the Toronto District School Board to be a clean and safe environment for all of out staff, students and visitors”, says Chris Broadbent, Manager of Occupational Health and Safety at the TDSB. To help achieve that, we are launching a Scented Products Awareness Program encouraging the TDSB community to reduce the use of fragrances and scented products.

Using fragrances is a personal choice. However, by their very nature, they are shared, says Broadbent. The chemicals vaporize into the air and are easily inhaled by those around us. Today’s scented products are made up of a complex mixture of chemicals which can contribute to indoor air quality problems and cause health problems.

This awareness program will do just that: “increase the awareness within our community about the impact of fragrance on health, wellbeing and productivity of those impacted by scents.”

It also provides proper steps to respond to scent-related issues, he says. If you experience a scent-related problem, please contact your supervisor to discuss options.

For more information and a list of fragrance-free and unscented products, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca

What can you do to help?

• Be considerate of those who are sensitive to fragrance chemicals.
• Avoid using scented products and use scent-free alternatives, instead.
• If you do use scented products, use them sparingly. A general guideline for scented products is that the scent should not be detectable more than an arm’s length away from you.
• Do not apply scented products in a public area.
• Avoid using laundry products or cleaning agents that are scented.
• Air out dry-cleaned clothing before wearing.

Sports News

Boys and Girls Cross Country

Through the torturous winds, the cold, and the cries of those who lost, the St. Andrew’s Cross Country team braved the weather to participate in this year’s North Conference Championship. Our Grade 8 Girls and Boys were first-place champions this year. Congratulations to all of our runners! Good luck in the Cities Conference next week!

Warm Clothing

A reminder from our Physical Education and Health Department – please encourage your children to bring sweatshirts and sweatpants for gym class since department activities will be held outside the school until late October, assuming no rain or snow. In addition, please remind your children to wear warm clothing because they often go outside during break and lunchtime.

Magazine fundraising

Great magazine sales!

Congratulations St. Andrew’s! Be proud! We raised almost $8,800.00 for our school. The following classes won a pizza party for highest overall sales: 7B, 8G and 9C. Student Abigail Diano won the 5-pound chocolate bar. Now the contest is over, so please do not bring in any more orders.

Thank you to our wonderful parent volunteers Cathy Poole and Alice Pelegris and to the tremendous student, parent, family and community support with this important fundraiser.

Safety and Security

Please remind your child to be sure to check that his/her lock is safely fastened in place on his/her locker before leaving it.

Also, please remind your child to leave valuables at home whenever possible.

Important Dates

• October 22: Parent Information Evening: Keating Tours
• October 23: CN Tower Stair Climb (in support of United Way)
• October 24: Professional Activity Day – no school for students
• October 28: Parent Council Grade 7 Bake Sale
• October 29 – October 31: Grade 8 Bark Lake field trip
• October 31: School Dance – Periods 6 and 7
• November 3: Photo re-takes and group photos
• November 18: HepB and HPV Immunizations