Parent Workshops - building empathy at Lord Lansdowne and Da Vinci

We must remember that intelligence is not enough. Intelligence plus character--that is the goal of true education
— Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Building a Culture of Empathy at LLPS: Invitation to Parent Workshops

Empathy is gaining attention as an important component of emotional intelligence and as a way to strengthen conflict resolution skills. When a person learns to understand and share the feelings of another, the pro-social behavior that results shows up in better relationships, closer friendships and stronger communities.

In order to better equip our children with these pro-social skills, LLPS is partnering with Se Brancher Coeur and
Play in the Wild to offer a new program to build a culture of empathy at LLPS for students, staff and families. From January through April 2017, the program will include teacher training, three in-class sessions for each LLPS classroom and three evening workshops for parents.

Three Evening Workshops for Parents

Please join fellow parents to learn what our children will be learning and how we can support them at home
while acquiring new strategies for families.

When:	Tuesday January 17, Tuesday February 21 and Tuesday April 4, 2017 All workshops are from 6:30pm to 8:00pm Parents are requested to attend all 3 workshops to experience the full benefits of the program
Where:	LLPS Library
Who:	For LLPS and DaVinci parents. Adults only. Free on-site childcare will be available (for toilet-trained kids only.)
Overview:	Learn the practical tools, vocabulary and skills to foster a culture of empathy at home and school, including how to nurture honest expression and empathic listening and offer boundaries that create safety, trust and respect for all. These workshops will include interactive games and practices -- with lots of room for questions.
Facilitators:	Mélanie Whitham, Certified Teacher, Founder Se Brancher Coeur, Co-founder Play in the Wild Catherine Cadden, Certified Teacher, Founder Temba School and Co-founder Play in the Wild Arielle Prince-Ferron, Animator at Play in the Wild and Se Brancher Coeur
Cost:	Free for participants, funded by the LLPS Parent Council (Your fundraising dollars at work!)
Registration:	Space is limited. Reserve your spot at https://buildingacultureofempathyatllps.eventbrite.ca

Kids Have Stress Too - Take 2!

Kids Have Stress Too!Seminar for all parents of 4-9 year old kids

As part of our school’s commitment to enhance our children’s physical, mental and emotional well-being, LLPS is partnering with Toronto Public Health to host a free, two-part seminar for parents to help their kids learn positive coping strategies to deal with stress.

The Kids Have Stress Too! seminar was developed using evidence-based psychological knowledge and experts in psychology, early childhood development, education and stress. It is designed to help parents of 4-9 year old kids understand childhood stress and provide their children with the tools to deal with it effectively. 

Kids Have Stress Too!
When:	Tuesday, Dec 6th and Tuesday, Dec 13, 2016  6:30pm to 8:30pm Parents are required to attend both sessions
Where:	Lord Lansdowne PS, Room 106
Who:	Parents of 4-9 year old kids from LLPS and da Vinci Childcare will be available (for kids who are toilet trained only, please)
Description:	Even the most nurturing home and school environment includes a range of stressors that can both challenge and motivate children. While stress is a necessary part of development and learning, too much stress makes it more difficult for children to get along with others, interferes with children's ability to focus, think and ultimately learn, and has a profound effect on children's physical, emotional and mental health. The good news is that building emotional health and resiliency can help children concentrate, learn, interact more successfully and deal with stressors they may face in their lives. This highly-informative and interactive seminar will provide parents with the knowledge, awareness and skills to help their 4-9 year old children become healthier and more resilient through learning how to manage their stress.
Instructor:	Dakota Marcotte City of Toronto Public Health Nurse Healthy Child Development Program
Cost:	Free for participants, paid for by the City of Toronto
RSVP:	Space is limited so register asap at:https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/kids-have-stress-too-second-round-tickets-29063834712 Please enter password: stress Or for more information, please contact lordlansdowneschoolcouncil@gmail.com

PARKING UPDATE

From the office of Joe Cressy, Raymond Ngu sent the following update today:

I wanted to send a quick note to confirm that the pick-up/drop-off zone is on the agenda for this week's Toronto and East York Community Council (TEYCC). You can find a link to the item here. My apologies for the late notice.

We don't anticipate any issue with getting this passed at TEYCC, especially given Transportation staff's positive recommendation. That being said, you are welcome to submit any comments/letters of support to teycc@toronto.ca.

Again, this will need approval by the full City Council at their next meeting.

Kids Have Stress Too - Upcoming Parent Workshops - register to attend!

This workshop is now full. For those who are still interested in attending, we encourage you to join the waitlist (password: stress) and more sessions can be added to meet the demand. People on the waitlist will be notified of future workshop dates. 

Kids Have Stress Too!
Seminar for all parents of 4-9 year old kids

As part of our school’s commitment to enhance our children’s physical, mental and emotional well-being, LLPS is partnering with Toronto Public Health to host a free, two-part seminar for parents to help their kids learn positive coping strategies to deal with stress.

The Kids Have Stress Too! seminar was developed using evidence-based psychological knowledge and experts in psychology, early childhood development, education and stress. It is designed to help parents of 4-9 year old kids understand childhood stress and provide their children with the tools to deal with it effectively.

Kids Have Stress Too!
When:	Tuesday, Oct 25 and Tuesday, Nov 8, 2016 - NOW FULL 6:30pm to 8:30pm Parents are required to attend both sessions
Where:	Lord Lansdowne PS, Room 106
Who:	Parents of 4-9 year old kids from LLPS and da Vinci Childcare will be available (for kids who are toilet trained only, please)
Description:	Even the most nurturing home and school environment includes a range of stressors that can both challenge and motivate children. While stress is a necessary part of development and learning, too much stress makes it more difficult for children to get along with others, interferes with children's ability to focus, think and ultimately learn, and has a profound effect on children's physical, emotional and mental health. The good news is that building emotional health and resiliency can help children concentrate, learn, interact more successfully and deal with stressors they may face in their lives. This highly-informative and interactive seminar will provide parents with the knowledge, awareness and skills to help their 4-9 year old children become healthier and more resilient through learning how to manage their stress.
Instructor:	Dakota Marcotte City of Toronto Public Health Nurse Healthy Child Development Program
Cost:	Free for participants, paid for by the City of Toronto
RSVP:	WORKSHOPS NOW FULL, join the waitlist at: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/kids-have-stress-too-tickets-28629516655 Please enter password: stress Or for more information, please contact lordlansdowneschoolcouncil@gmail.com

Reminder - Community Builders workshop on Tuesday!

Hello all - just wanted to remind again about this workshop coming up on Tuesday 7th of June - that's this Tuesday coming. The workshop starts at 5pm with light supper - pizza - before at 5-5.30pm.

We really believe that this will be a helpful resource to to learn how to combat and prevent bullying or anti-social behaviour. It was carefully researched and we think it will be really beneficial.

Drop an email to lordlansdowneschoolcouncil@gmail.com to let us know if you will be there and whether you need pizza and/or childcare (no diapers please!). Looking forward to seeing you there and maybe at the school dance this evening too!

Community Builders - anti-bullying workshop for parents

You may have seen the invitation to this event in the newsletter or on the school run blog but here it is on the council blog now too!

Some parents on the school council who are particularly passionate about relationship and community building within the school formed a sub-committee to research and choose a relationship building program to help stop bullying at Lord Lansdowne. You can read more about the Community Builders here. The workshop, on the 7th of June at 5.45pm (free pizza dinner beforehand, 5pm to 5.30pm) aims to help parents support children in building positive relationships. We think it will be very interesting and worthwhile and hope to see you there! Please RSVP and let us know if you need childcare (no children in diapers, please) and if you will be at dinner - email lordlansdowneschoolcouncil@gmail.com to let us know.

Here is the blurb about the workshop from Community Builders themselves!

BUILDING POSITIVE PARENT RELATIONSHIPS: Raising confident, healthy and resilient children
Community Builders has been helping communities with issues of inclusion for two decades.  This 2.5 hour workshop will not only help parents relate better to each other and to their children, but also give them tools to help their children relate well to their peers.  Whether a parent is building relationships with other parents, their children, or school staff these ideas will be valuable:

• Why it is important for everyone to take pride in their identity and background
• How cultural differences and oppression issues like racism and classism can get in the way of relationship-building
• A mental model called “The Heart of the Child” that can help everyone keep an empathetic perspective towards other
• Effective listening skills for finding out what is really going on below the surface in our everyday dialogues

Fundraising AND you get a Date Night?! Read more...

We are delighted to announce our newest fundraising partnership - fundraising with DateNight Babysitting!

This ticks lots of boxes - supporting a new, Toronto-based business founded by a Lord Lansdowne parent, giving you some child-free time AND fundraising for the school - what more could you ask for?!

Founded by an LLPS parent, DateNight is a leading web- and mobile- app for connecting parents to experienced, local babysitters. With over 300 babysitters pre-interviewed on their roster and thousands of dates booked in Toronto -- DateNight make the process of meeting, interviewing and booking with a great babysitter easy.

Join by June 30 with DISCOUNT CODE:

LLROCKS 

and enjoy 10% off and an additional 10% will be donated to LLPS!

www.weneeddatenight.com

Restorative Parenting Workshops

From Da Vinci!

Hi Lord Lansdowne Community,

I'd like to take this opportunity to invite you to our 2016 Restorative Parenting Workshops.  Our next one is this Wed 20th from 6-8pm.  We hope to lay the groundwork for this initiative to be continued throughout the school with the support of our teachers and administration.  Our hope is to use this as part of an anti bullying conversation.  But first we start at home.   Please join us for a series of evenings for some open and frank discussions.   These will be facilitated by the animated Rick Kelly.

More information here

(note that the session on Wed 23rd March was cancelled - you have not missed anything!)

April council meeting cancelled

Unfortunately, as several council members are unable to make the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, we have had to cancel the council meeting scheduled for Tuesday.

The next meeting will be on  Tuesday, 3rd of May, 6pm. We hope to see you there.

Building Better Schools Meeting

Peyton Leung asked me to share this with parents as some of you might be interested in attending.

The meeting is on Sunday, 21st of February, 1.30pm to 3.30pm at the Lillian H. Smith library.
Issues to be discussed include overcrowding at schools, cuts to special programs and school closures.

There is a Facebook group for the event HERE and the flyer can be viewed HERE

Help with French homework - upcoming presentation!

TDSB French as a Second Language Advisory Committee presents:

“Help with French Homework - even if you don’t speak French!”

Lord Lansdowne Jr & Sr Public School

         

     

Thursday, February 4^th, 2016

6:00pm to 7:00 pm - pizza dinner/Council mtg

7:00 - 8:30 - presentation

**Childcare is provided (no diapers please) – please RSVP to lordlansdowneschoolcouncil@gmail.com

One of the most frequent questions of parents who have a child in a French program is, “How do I help them if I don’t speak French?”.  This session will introduce you to organizations such as Canadian Parents for French, and committees such as FSLAC, which were created to ensure your child’s experience in French is a success. The rest of the workshop will focus on some tips and strategies to help your kids with homework as well as tools and resources available in the community and online.  The end of the presentation will include a list of recommended fun and educational websites and apps for tech-savvy families that love learning on their tablets and mobile devices.

Guest Speaker:  Kristina Laperle, B.A., M.Ed.

TDSB French Immersion Graduate

Parent Co-Chair, FSLAC – French as a Second Language Advisory Committee

President, CPF Toronto North – Canadian Parents for French

UPDATED: Meeting regarding BUILDING BETTER SCHOOLS

On Wed Jan 13, 2016, from 6:30-8pm, the Building Better Schools Initiative is holding a planning meeting at the Victory Cafe (581 Markham St in the Mirvish Village). They would love to have ONE PARENT REPRESENTATIVE from Lord Lansdowne to help brainstorm ideas on how to further engage parents in the community so that they can organize and take action towards Building Better Schools together. Please email Peyton Leung to RSVP if you are going. (Peyton DOT Leung AT gmail DOT com ).

The overall idea is to invite parents to come out and speak with teachers and other parents about issues in Toronto's elementary schools, such as overcrowding, cuts to special programs and school closures. This planning meeting is meant to get ideas on how to engage more parents in taking action together and figure out when we can have an open meeting with many parents from local schools in the area.

I hope somebody will attend.

Also HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Report Cards coming this week! Useful information

You might find the information below about "progressing with difficulty" on report cards useful*:

“Progressing With Difficulty” in French Immersion

French immersion parents of students in Grades 1 through 6 will soon be receiving Elementary Progress Report Cards from their children's schools. These reports provide parents with an understanding of their child's learning skills and work habits, based on classroom teachers' observations during the first few months of school. They also give parents an indication of how well their child is progressing towards the achievement of Ontario's curriculum expectations in all subject areas. 

Reports indicating "Progressing With Difficulty" simply mean that some improvement is needed in order to meet the provincial standard in one or more subject areas. If this category is checked on your child's Progress Report Card, next steps for improvement will need to be planned to increase your child's opportunities for success.

DO:

• Request an interview with your child’s classroom teacher
• Collaborate with the teacher to set goals for improvement in one or more subject areas
• Decide upon strategies that will promote achievement of these goals
• Ensure that responsibilities for strategy implementation are shared by the teacher, you, and your child
• Arrange a follow-up meeting in 4 to 6 weeks to evaluate progress and plan additional support

DO NOT:

• Worry that you will be asked to withdraw your child from the French immersion program
• Assume that “Progressing With Difficulty” means that French immersion is not a good fit for your child
• Conclude that your child would have been more successful in the English-only program, as most academic/behavioural/social difficulties exist regardless of the language of instruction in the classroom

* Information provided by NANCY WISE, PH.D., FRENCH IMMERSION EDUCATIONAL CONSULTING INC. (nwise@frenchimmersionconsulting.com ) . This is not an endorsement of services provided by this company.

Weekly update - Indigo adopt a school, work to rule, blogs and newsletters

HELP WIN BOOKS FOR OUR SCHOOL
If you are on the internet most days, in particular for the next 2 weeks or so, please consider adding this link - https://adoptaschool.indigo.ca/eng/schools/743#.VgLvlni2NdA.facebook - to your favourites and making sure you click every day! The top 3 schools in the province will win books for their school and each click really makes a difference - we went from 101st to 84th in a matter of hours with only a few clicks. You can also make a donation of $12 to get an extra 10 "adopts" but you don't get more for bigger donations.



EFTO AND WORK-TO-RULE
Just an anecdotal update really about this. Firstly, I was chatting to Miss Mills (the principal) earlier in the week and she mentioned that the situation within the school feels pretty tense with the teachers having to be careful not to step outside the boundaries set for them by their union which, at times, is frustrating for everyone including the teachers themselves. I have spoken to several of the teachers and they definitely are doing their best to get things done within the confines of what the union rules are currently allowing. It's great to see the cross country practices, for example, have not been curtailed. It's not easy for everyone and though things from the playground seem relatively smooth, there is a lot of work going on inside the school to keep it all ticking over!

In terms of next steps, the union rep is going to a meeting on Tuesday (29th) for further discussions and I hope to hear from her soon after that and will keep an eye on the news also. Let's all hope for a resolution to it all sooner rather than later so everyone can concentrate on getting on with learning and teaching!

SCHOOL COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS & NEWSLETTER
At the moment, I have not been sending out newsletters- partly because I have had busy work weeks and feel I am still settling in to the new school term but also because we are working to compile the email list and class lists from the forms that have been returned. We have had a pretty good return rate on those forms so thank you so much for that! It's also better late than never so please feel free to send them back if they got pushed to the bottom of the pile - you can drop them off in the office if you get to the playground or ask your child to do so if you don't. Some teachers are just putting them in a pile in the classroom if they get returned to class so they should eventually get to us! We think class lists will be really helpful for all parents and are delighted to have had a good response.

Cross country start time update

Hello all, as Mme Aradj posted here, Thursday's cross country was excellent - perfect weather and a huge turnout! Really, really lovely.

The start time has now been updated to 8am so you get an extra 15 minutes to sleep or eat breakfast!

In other fitness and sport-related activity, we are hoping to get the Fitness Fridays initiative up and running. Please contact the school council if you have a little time before school on Friday to volunteer or help with getting our children moving in the morning and starting the school day with a burst of activity. There was information about this on the forms that went home but we understand that there are mountains of forms to get through and it's easy to miss something!


School council email: lordlansdowneschoolcouncil@gmail.com

Program Area Review - where will all the students go?!

As most of you will be aware, the English stream in Lord Lansdowne, grades JK to 6, will be taking up a new home in Kensington Community School in the autumn. Many of you will also be aware that this was a solution arrived at with the involvement of parent councils from Da Vinci, Kensington and Lord Lansdowne schools. In fact, the original proposal included the Da Vinci school moving to Kensington to allow for expansion but this part of the proposal - mainly for financial reasons, we are told - was not accepted.

However, the Program Area Review has been reconvened to further sort out the issues of accommodating growing numbers of students in the area, the supposed under-utilization of Kensington and so on. Kensington has been under threat of closure!  Lord Lansdowne has been bursting at the seams! Parent input and community involvement is really valuable to this process.

If you would like to review the documents regarding this and send some feedback, if you have any, you can read them here (documents relating to the upcoming meeting on the 28th of April) and also here (broader information about the topic and more documents!) and send feedback to Miriam, our council chair here.

If you are totally confused but quite interested in it all, you may be interested in attending Ausma Malik's SPACE FORUM on the 30th of April at Ryerson from 6pm to 9pm, childcare will be provided. (If the link doesn't work at first, try right clicking and "open in a new tab" on your computer...)

French as a second language resources

Did you know about FSLAC - the TDSB French as a Second Language Advisory Committee?

They have regular newsletters, the latest of which you can find here as well as links and other resources which you can find on their main page.

This website also has a French resources page as befits Lord Lansdowne school as a French hub!