WFSA - Wedgewood Jr. Public School

FUNFEST 2024 is just a couple of weeks away!

We still need volunteers for activities, inflatables and ticket-taking. If you can help us out for an hour on Saturday May 25th, please sign up!

https://signup.com/group/277005245531700070

THIS FRIDAY NIGHT: Movie night is back, with a special outdoor showing of Encanto!

Bring your blankets, stuffies, pillows and whatever else you need to get cozy and enjoy the first big WFSA event of the season!

Hello Wedgewood families!

[I know this looks like a long email. But it's the last WFSA email you'll get until September!]

If you can believe it, last week was the final WFSA meeting of the 2021-22 year. With just a couple of weeks left until the end of school, we wanted to take a moment to let you know what we've done this year - and share some thank-yous and shoutouts.

(You can read the full meeting minutes here:https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/Portals/wedgewoodjs/docs/WFSA%20Meeting%20Min_May30%202022_.pdf )

THE RECAP
Even though the year had a slow start in terms of social distancing and whatnot, we still managed to do a lot this year:
Outdoor toy drives
Water and snack donations
Completed school statement of needs + updating bylaws
Spirit wear
Oliver's Labels fundraiser
Basket raffle fundraiser
Food bank drive (2 huge bins)
Winter sock drive (500+ pairs of socks donated!)
Cupcake fundraiser
Outdoor scavenger hunt
Staff Appreciation lunch
Cookie days fundraiser for running club
Brought back Pizza Days!
The first Fun Fest since 2019!
WHAT DID ALL THAT FUNDRAISING DO?
Scientist in the School for every classroom
Virtual magic show for all classes
Movie/tv license for entire school
Online parent/caregiver workshop
Classroom enhancement funds for every teaching staff member
RazKids subscriptions for JK-3 classes
Running Club supplies
Grade 5 graduation support (celebration + trip)
Books for Welcome to Kindergarten
Ad hoc support for students
We're all set for fall 2022!
Thanks to your enthusiastic support, especially over the past couple of months, we've been able to set aside funds for the 2022-23 school year - and to start planning for things like Movie Nights, Fall Fest and so much more!

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
We've had a couple of special sponsors who we'd like to thank:
Mike at Six Points Dollar, who has donated 25+ sets of sand toys for the grades 1&2 play area
Piccolo Parties, who did that fantastic Fun Fest balloon pillar (part of which you can see in the header above)

A HUGE THANK YOU TO WFSA CHAIR STEPHANIE HOLDEN
Taking on the WFSA chair role is time-consuming at the best of times, but this year was particularly challenging. Between finding creative ways to fundraise and encourage involvement, coming up with workarounds for events that had to stay distanced, as well as managing the TDSB's new requirements for family & school associations, Stephanie has also done virtually all the graphic design for the posters, flyers, images, etc. we use. And yet she somehow always manages to stay positive!

Stephanie, thank you so much not only for taking on the chair role, but for also giving it 110%, the whole time. You're a big reason why we're closing the year on such a high!

A SAD FAREWELL TO PINAR AND HEATHER
Both Heather Schnurr and Pinar Ozyetis, longtime WFSA members and officers, are graduating from Wedgewood this year (well, their kids are). Thank you for everything both of you have done over the past 7+ years - and we're looking forward to seeing you at Fun Fest 2023!

WE'LL SEE YOU IN SEPTEMBER!
Again, thanks for your support: Whether you volunteered for Pizza Days, dropped off a case of water to the office, remembered to send in a couple of pairs of socks, bought an indecent amount of Basket Raffle tickets, stood in line for an inflatable, or just rolled your eyes as you contributed to one more thing on CashOnline - we appreciate you. And you've been part of the reason Wedgewood is such a fantastic school and community, even through these pandemic times.

Thank you!
- WFSA team
(E&O [email protected])

Wedgewood Family & School Association



MEETING MINUITES
Monday, April 25th, 2022
6:30pm - Virtual Meeting via Zoom

1. Welcome and Attendance - Steph & Farah (2 minutes)

Staff: Ms. Crljen, Mr. Keil

Parents: Sarah Kelleher, Pinar, Stephanie Holden , Heather Schnurr, Brittani
Jarvid, Melani O’Leary, Audrey, Sarah Welstead, Farah Hasham-
Mackinnon, Delynn West, Ashley

2. Update on Takeaway Items from Last Meeting - Steph (3 minutes)

● Spring Outdoor Toy Drive: Thank you to everyone who donated outdoor toys to our school at the beginning of April!

● Bike Lane Meeting: Sooky, Stephanie and two parents attended the WebEx call about the construction anticipated for the new bike lane. The City will continue to have public meetings and send out a notice to the area. We highly encourage families to have their voice heard on this topic - particularly the potential reconfiguration of the Swan & Martin Grove intersection.

The city is contemplating making portions of Martin Grove - 1 way – this could be problematic during pick- ups and drop offs. Sooky and Stephanie voiced concern.
Another solution is to add speed bumps .
Please enter your feedback in the survey link below to let your voice me heard!
Click on feedback - and it goes to the survey.

○ Learn more, particularly on “Proposed Design - Burnhamthorpe to Wedgewood Park (Swan Avenue)” at https://www.toronto.ca/MartinGroveBikeway
○ Register for the Public Consultation on May 4th at 6:30pm at the link above
○ Take the feedback survey - please help provide feedback on the survey at the link above
○ If you would like more information, please contact: [email protected]

● April Snack Donations: Thank you to everyone who donated snacks to the office. We really appreciate the support! If you would like to donate snacks and/or water, please sign up here: http://signup.com/go/wedgewood

3. Principal’s Report - Principal Crljen (15 minutes)

Inserting Principals Report:

Outdoor Toy Donation Drive
Thank you to families who donated outdoor toys for students to use at recess and lunch hour. Kids love new toys to play with!

Grade 5 Update
Tues. May 3 -Grad Photos @ 8:30 am (wear white shirt with collar for best sash & gown photo effect)-one time use gown provided, sash worn over and is sanitized between use, following Covid health & safety protocol
Fri. June 10- morning - Bloorlea Visit
Thurs. June 16 -Grad Trip
Tues. June 28 @ 1:30 pm - Graduation

Welcome to Kindergarten
May 31-June2 or week of June 6-10 (dates tbd) - Office will schedule new JK family visit dates and times
Each Kinder teacher will host visits following a set schedule during the school day
Note: The host teacher and room location has not been determined for September 2022. The visits are a way to familiarize the JKs and families to the kindergarten program, not the specific teacher or room location.
Families will be given Welcome Bags with learning materials, school & WFSA information and Kindergarten FAQ booklet
Kindergarten families will know the teacher and room number the week before school starts in September.

Grade 3 Provincial Assessment EQAO -June 13-17, 2022
NEW!!! Online format this year
Info letters to parents will be sent home May 9, 2022
Test must be completed in-person @ school
Only in-person class students will complete EQAO this year. Virtual class grade 3 students will not complete EQAO.

2022-2023 School Organization (Subject to Change due to September 2022 Re-organization)

TDSB System Trends & 2022-2023 Staffing Allocation
-declining enrolment, many schools reduced in teaching allocation and Vice-principals 10, 179 students Toronto District School Board (moved out of the city) -lowest enrolment since TDSB amalgamation
Total: 27. 5 Teachers (reduced 0.5 from spec. education resource allocation 2021-2022)

NEW! 0.5 VP with 0.5. teaching responsibilities
No virtual classes will be hosted at Wedgewood- all in-person classes in September
Staffing Committee consultation- mostly straight grade classes

JK/SK (5 classes)
Gr. 1 (3 classes)
Gr 1/2 (1 class)
Gr 2 (4 classes)
Gr 3 (3 classes)
Gr 3/4 (1 class)
Gr 4 (2 classes)
Gr 5 (2 classes) = 21 Homeroom Teacher Allocation
______________
1.0 Prep- French
1.0 Prep- JK/SK classes (reportable subject(s) TBD)
1.0 Prep –Gr 1-3 Music
1.0 Prep- Gr.1-3 Health and Physical Education
0.5 Library
1.0 ESL
1.0 Spec. Ed. Resource/EMPOWER Reading = 6.5 Non-homeroom Teacher Allocation

Extracurriculars
Gr 3-5 Football Skills Club
Gr 1-5 Running Club
Gr 2-5 track and Field (Starting soon. Date TBD)

Upcoming dates:
May 3 -Grad Photos -am
Starts this week! Pizza Wednesdays May 4, 11, 18, 25 & June 1, 8, 15, 22
Starts this week! Cookie Thursdays- May 5, 12, 19, 26
May 23- Victoria Day- No school
Sat. May 28- Funfest, 11 am – 2 pm
June 3- PA Day (Report Cards and Assessment)
June 10- Gr 5 Bloorlea Middle School Visit- am
June 13-17 Grade 3 EQAO Week
June 16- Grad Trip
June 28- Graduation @ 1:30 pm
June 28- Report Cards sent home (emailed to virtual class families)
June 30- Last day of School

Other dates – TBD- Welcome to Kindergarten Visits

Additional comments:

Mr. Keil shared that the excitement around running club was high and majority of the school is participating.

Also that the football club has a good ratio of girls to boys!

They will also be continuing with the Empower program

Grade 5 camp trip will likely be at Camp Tamarack in Bracebridge – day trip.

4. TDSB School Councils Update - Steph (5 minutes)
a. Bylaw Update: Stephanie submitted the selections voted on at the March meeting on March 29th via the portal. Stephanie followed up for the final by-laws for distribution – The TDSB PCEO (Parent and Community Engagement Office) have advised that they are engaged in some minor edits based on feedback they received and it is expected that we will receive an update by the end of April.
b. New Election Form: WFSA Election Form

Elections happen soon after school start. Will send out form end of year and beginning of year. Descriptions of duties helpful for new students’ families.

c. TDSB Email Account for Council: In September 2022, we will fully switch from our current Gmail address to:
[email protected]
SC stands for: school council.

i. Email: Stephanie has access now to through her individual TDSB account. In future, any Chairs, Co-Chairs and Vice Chairs will have their individual account(s) set-up each year to be able to access the shared “SC” mailbox.

Will likely start new email in September

ii. Zoom Account: Stephanie is working with Sooky to set-up the account.
iii. School Messenger: Stephanie has set this account up. Please note the TDSB standards for workflow here (on Page 3).
iv. Social Media: Let’s aim to centralize all of our Social Media (Facebook, Instagram, Twitter) logins to the above email address so that it’s easy for future Council members to do any password resets. - Sarah W and Stephanie.
Look at the passwords to set up password reset to live on.
v. Sign-Up: Let’s also switch over the account information of our Sign-up profile to be under the new email address. - Will and Stephanie

5. Treasurer’s Report - Heather & Brittani (10 minutes)

Staff Appreciation – we raised $1700.00!! Will be catered by Pie Commission and Bake Sale and any left over funds will be used to purchase something nice for the staff. Thank you all!

Monthly Cash Flow & Remaining Allocations:
i. Grade 5 Graduation - Second Allocation
We originally allocated $1000 at the start of the year and we will discuss an additional allocation to help support the graduation ceremony and graduation day trip
Grade 5s will also be fundraising at the FUN FEST to help with the grad
festivities.

ii. Silent Auction Prize Donation for Approval
2 sets of class freezies for “30 minute outdoor play with freezies for the class” - estimated at $25 for jumbo freezies for two classes - we will use the funds raised from Oliver’s Labels.
Zoom Voting: all attendees (one per household) can vote when voting is called for
○ For - no action required
○ Against - raise hand via Zoom
○ Abstain - write “abstain” in chat

6. Health & Safety Update - Sarah K. (2 minutes)

a. Bike Lane Meeting: During the call, we reiterated our need for crossing guards, zebra striping and speed reduction signs on Swan. They will try to include the crossing guard and zebra striping as part of the project scope.

7. Fundraising & Initiatives Update (20 minutes)

a. Oliver’s Labels update - Steph
$47.72 (no change)
Stephanie will request the cheque after our May meeting

b. Staff Appreciation Lunch (May 3rd) – Led by Sarah

c. May and June Pizza Days (Wednesdays)
Leaders: Ashley and Melani
Committee: Brittani, Sarah W, Steph and Will
i. Volunteers Needed! Please sign up here: http://signup.com/go/wedgewood
We are going with Pizza Nova this year.
First Pizza Lunch - be patient as we work out the kinds due to different lunch times! Next year- lunches will be at the same time for school.

d. May Cookie Days (Thursdays)
Leader: Steph
Committee: Heather and Ashley

e. Mini Fun Fest (Sat May 28, 11am-2pm)
Leader: Heather
Committee: Steph, Sarah W, Sarah K, Farah and Will
Next Committee Meeting is Wednesday, May 11th at 7pm
i. Proceeding with 3 inflatables, Silent Auction, Food Trucks and a DJ. We will offer a “jump all day” bracelet for the inflatables for $15 per child in advance on CashOnline and $20 at the door.
ii. We will offer drinks and chips for a fee to be added as a Combo to the BBQ Food Truck. All funds raised from the drinks/chips will go to Grade 5 Graduation.
Confirmed Food Stations: Ice Cream truck, Firehouse Grill, Shawarma Gate

iii. Volunteers Needed! Please sign up here: http://signup.com/go/wedgewood
iv. Donations of Bottled Water & Juice Boxes Needed! Please sign up to donate: http://signup.com/go/wedgewood
v. If you would like to donate to the Silent Auction, please email [email protected]
vi. If you would like to Sponsor an inflatable, please email
[email protected]
Fundraiser – Grade 5s to sell water and chips!
DJ confirmed
Sponsors for the inflatables. – 2 confirmed.
Volunteers – Grade 5 – supplement volunteers
Silent Auction – 18 listings!! It will be a good one!!

Any carry over donations, will carry it over to Grade 5 Grad.

f. June Grade 5 Graduation Update - Pinar & Alyson
i. 46 in-person and 2 virtual graduating students
ii. Grad Photos - Tuesday May 3rd
iii. Graduation Ceremony - Tuesday June 28th at 1:30pm
● Volunteers (set-up, water in coolers, possible clean-up)
● Donations (water, ice, coolers)
● Looking to engage Grade 4 parents, will use Sign-Up.com
● Expenses: cupcakes (Cakes by Robert) and balloons
● Note: Fun Fest Silent Auction - 4 sets of Front Row Seats for 2
iv. Gift - will continue with Locks as a gift (Gr. 5 teachers have ordered and received them already, ordered 50 locks for $468.84)
v. Grad Trip TBC - Looking at booking a full day trip with a Coach bus to Camp Tamarack 7:45pm-7pm with lunch and snack included (parents may be asked to contribute between $60-80, previously was $350 for a three day trip)
vi. Bloorlea Visit - Fri. June 10, 2022 - am

g. Healthy Snacks for the Office - Ashley and Melani –
Would like to pilot healthy snacks initiative – Possibly fresh fruit. An idea to supplement the pre packaged food and find a good balance – need to determine the cost and what healthy options. Stay tuned!

8. New Business (5 minutes)

● Next Meeting Date - May 30th at 6:30pm - last meeting of the school year
○ Proposing to stay on Zoom for the May meeting as we will have the in-person Fun Fest on the Saturday before the meeting.
● Elections and First Meeting of 2022 - Monday September 26th at 6:30pm

9. Adjournment

Martin Grove Road Cycling Connections A Virtual Public Event is scheduled for Wednesday May 4, 2022 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Participate to learn more about the project, ask questions and provide feedback. Register Provide your feedback on the proposed Martin Grove Cycling Connections April 25 – May 18, 2022. Review consultation materia...

Hello Wedgewood families!

MARCH WFSA MEETING WAS KIND OF AWESOME
Honestly, the March WFSA meeting was a bouquet of possibilities: For the first time in a long time, we're starting to be able to plan some of the fun (and fundraising) activities that have been on hold for so long!

Meeting minutes can be foundhttps://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/Portals/wedgewoodjs/docs/WW_Agenda_Mar28.pdf, but in the meantime here are some of the highlights:

Our Cupcake Fundraiser raised almost $500 for Scientists in the School

Our March Scavenger Hunt was a VERY popular event. Even though it was designed as a sort of 'COVID-era workaround event', we're going to keep it on our roster of events going forward

It looks like we'll be able to do some activities around Grade 5 graduation for the first time in 2 years. More details to come.

Our popular 'Cookie Days' fundraiser will be returning in May!

Pizza Days are returning in May and June!

A working committee has been put together to organize a sort of 'Fun Fest Lite' in May. (For new parents: May's Fun Fest used to be our biggest annual event, with carnival games, bouncy castles, silent auction, Cake Walk - and a whole lot more - on the last Saturday in May.)

You should also take a look at the meeting minutes for more info on some changes to WFSA bylaws and voting rules, in line with TDSB regulations and feedback from the WFSA members/attendees.

(And here I do want to give a shoutout to WFSA President Stephanie Holden, who has been really good about drilling down into the weeds on this stuff so the rest of us can spend our time thinking about the fun stuff like Pizza Days and Fun Fest.)
​
OUTDOOR TOY DRIVE
If you have a new or gently used outdoor toy hanging out in the garage or basement, consider donating it to the school. Just send it in with your child or drop it off at the office and it will be available during recess and lunchhours.

SNACK AND WATER DONATIONS
WFSA stocks the office with individually-packaged snacks and bottled water to have on hand for kids who may need them (because kids sometimes forget their water bottles, amirite?). You can sign up online or just drop them off at the office.

STAFF APPRECIATION LUNCH
Every year, WFSA hosts a special Staff Appreciation Lunch for all Wedgewood teachers, administrators and support staff. It's one of the ways we say 'thank you' for going above and beyond every day. This year, the fully-catered event will be happening on May 3. We rely on donations from Wedgewood families to make this a great event, so we hope you'll consider contributing. (More details to come next week.)

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP!
Okay, I know that there have been some cases of COVID at the school this week, and that recovering from the past couple of years is more gradual than revelatory. But still! Spring is coming and we'll be doing some fun things, and if the pandemic has taught us anything, it's to appreciate the small things!

Thank you, as always, for your support!

- WFSA Team

Spring Toy Drive runs this week!

Send new and gently used outdoor toys in with your child, for use at the school this spring.

COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDER MEETING: Not a WFSA event but something that many Wedgewood families will be interested in.

TOMORROW NIGHT! - Please join us Wednesday, April 6th @ 6:30 pm to 8:30pm for a special community stakeholder virtual meeting for the Martin Grove Bikeway. This is a meeting dedicated to our Wedgewood families to learn about this construction project -proposed cycling and road safety improvements that will affect the Wedgewood JS and Wedgewood Park areas - and to provide feedback on the project. See you there!
• Meeting link: https://toronto.webex.com/toronto/j.php?MTID=mc71c344a71ee6c1285f6e019701ed3a3
• Meeting number (access code): 2464 550 1818
• Meeting password: 4sD2cbQwyn3

Meet virtually with Cisco Webex. Anytime, anywhere, on any device. Simple, modern video meetings for everyone on the world's most popular and trusted collaboration platform.

Mr Zalameda and everyone at Wedgewood have made a fantastic holiday video. Enjoy!

Virtual Wedgewood Holiday Presentation Wedgewood Holiday Presentation

It's back, baby! The famous WFSA Basket Raffle is now on!

Visit your CashOnline account to buy raffle tickets!

Hey everyone!

Some people asked for sizing and size charts for the Wedgewood Spiritwear, so here it is!

Hello Wedgewood families!

Due to the pandemic, Wedgewood students will continue to have more time outdoors than in previous years.

With that in mind, if you have any new or gently used outdoor toys hanging out in the garage or the basement, please consider donating them to the school for use by students.

Just send the items in with your child this week and they'll be appropriately sanitized and quarantined, for use throughout the year!

Hello Wedgewood families!

Just a quick reminder that the first WFSA meeting of the 2021-22 school year is on Monday evening, and we're hoping you'll join us. This one will be virtual (Zoom-based) and login information is below.

WFSA EXECUTIVE: JUST SOME MORE INFORMATION
As we mentioned, we generally elect people to our executive positions during this first meeting, and I know some of you have expressed interest - but aren't sure whether to throw your hat into the ring without a little more information.

Here are the positions on the executive that we normally look to fill:
• Chair (the point person between WFSA and the school, and the person who sort of oversees everything)
• Co-chair/Vice-chair (similar to the Chair)
• Secretary (takes meeting minutes, documentation, etc.)
• Treasurer (manages the money stuff for fundraising & disbursements)
• Communications (you're reading what I do right now, also some social media)
• Health & safety rep (coordinates with school officials)
• Pizza day coordinator (TBD) (manages pizza days when they are running)
• Spirit wear coordinator (TBD) (manages orders for Wedgewood clothes when they are being sold/distributed)
• Grade 5 graduation coordinator (new this year) (coordinates the activities and events around the grade 5 graduation)
We will take some time during Monday's meeting to provide more information on the positions, but if you are at all interested, please do send us an email at [email protected] before the meeting. (It's not committing you to anything!)

PLEASE NOTE: There are LOTS of ways you can participate and be a regular volunteer without actually having an 'official' position! And of course all Wedgewood families are welcome at all WFSA meetings.

WFSA MEETINGS START SEPTEMBER 27
We will continue to have our monthly meetings virtually for the foreseeable future. Save the date for our first Zoom meeting on Monday, September 27th at 6:30pm.
Zoom link: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/95265899913 Please log in and wait to be admitted.
We really do encourage you to attend the meeting - it's a great way to feel connected to the Wedgewood community!
- WFSA team
(this is written by Sarah Welstead, and you can often reach me faster at [email protected])