Wilcox Word: May 26, 2023

The TDSB Student Census is an opportunity for students to share their voice and provide valuable information to help improve our schools and system.

Based on opt-out and consent information, all Census surveys have been sent to students or families. JK to grade 3 families and grade 4 to 8 families (completing the Census at home) check your emails for TDSBStudentCensus@qemailserver.com. Consider completing the Census.

If you missed the grade 4 to 8 consent window and now want your child to complete the Census at school, email your child’s teacher.

For more information, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/census and read the Student Census Questions and Answers.

Special Education and Inclusion Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Session #3

Tuesday, May 30th, 2023 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM LC1 and LC4

If you require a language interpreter, please send in your request by Mon., May 22nd to

SpecialEd@tdsb.on.ca.

This session will focus on summer transitions and will include ideas to engage students during the summer months such as home activities, library resources and information on how to use Read & Write Gold at home. Information on community agencies will also be shared.

There will be an opportunity for parents/guardians/caregivers to ask

questions about these processes. The sessions will be facilitated by

Special Education and Inclusion staff. Please click the link below to join the

webinar for LC1/LC4:

Zoom Link for May 30, 2023 at 07:00 PM

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/96753209262

Upcoming dates

May 29-June 9: EQAO Admin Dates
June is Indigenous National History Month; June is Pride Month; June is Italian Heritage Month
June 2: PA Day
June 9: Volunteer Appreciation
June 15: Wilcox HOWL
June 22, 4 pm: Grade 8 Grad in the Gym
June 27: Field Day
June 30: Last Day!

Pizza Lunches: May 26 (last pizza lunch this year)

Council Meetings: May 30

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

The TDSB Student Census is an opportunity for students to share their voice and provide valuable information to help improve our schools and system.

If you missed the grade 4 to 8 consent window and now want your child to complete the Census at school, email your child’s teacher.

For more information, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/census and read the Student Census Questions and Answers.

Toronto Student Day at the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Game on Sunday, June 4, 2023

Please join us!

Toronto students, staff, and families are invited to enjoy a free baseball game featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Club on Sunday, June 4, 2023.

This event is one of several initiatives organised by the TDSB to commemorate the 90^th anniversary of the Christie Pits Riot, the largest race riot in Canadian history that involved people from Toronto’s Jewish and Italian communities. The riot happened during a baseball game. Now, 90 years later, we invite you to come and show everyone that Baseball Builds Bridges.

Event details:

The commemorative event and baseball game will take place at Dominico Field in Christie Pits Park. The field is located at the northeast corner of the park at Christie Street and Barton Avenue, a short walk from Christie subway station.
Please arrive by 1:30 p.m. for a special pre-game program that will include student performances. The baseball game featuring the Toronto Maple Leafs vs. the Hamilton Cardinals will begin immediately afterwards at 2:00 p.m.

What to know before you come:

You are responsible for your own transportation to the event.
You must supervise your children.
You are welcome to bring snacks or buy them at the park.
You also want to bring a blanket, hat, and sunscreen.

If it Rains on Sunday, June 4, 2023:

If it rains on Sunday, June 4, 2023, the event will be rescheduled for Sunday, June 11, 2023 at 1:30 p.m.

We hope you will join us for an afternoon of fun!

If you have any questions, please email planning@tdsb.on.ca.

Asian Heritage Fair

Thank you School Council for the wonderful movie night and community event!

Upcoming dates

May is Asian Heritage Month and Jewish Heritage Month
May 22: Victoria Day (school closed)
May 24/25: Grades 4-8 Fleck Dance Recital
May 29-June 9: EQAO Admin Dates
June is Indigenous National History Month and June is Pride Month
June 3: PA Day
June 9: Volunteer Appreciation
June 15: Wilcox HOWL
June 22, 4 pm: Grade 8 Grad in the Gym
June 27: Field Day
June 30: Last Day!

Pizza Lunches: May 26 (last pizza lunch this year)

Council Meetings: May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: May 5, 2023

Lots happening this week at JR Wilcox!

Congratulations to the winner of our Heritage Fair. Students attended the TDSB-wide event today.

Talking Circles: Heart to Heart

Students participated in a school-wide activity where students were divided into groups across the school with teachers. This is aligned with our belonging goal and our Indigenous Education focus.

Learning Goals:

Build community – Meet and get to know the names of students and teachers from other classrooms
Understand the purpose of a Community Circle
Explore an Indigenous story (book / video)
Connect to Mental Health week and emphasise talking, sharing, communicating with others for the sake of wellness
Use ideas/leadership and input from our Difference Makers

Upcoming dates

May is Asian Heritage Month and Jewish Heritage Month
May 12: TPH Grade 7 Vaccine Clinic in Library
May 15/16: Forest of Reading Festival
May 18: Movie Night
May 19: Asian Heritage Fair
May 22: Victoria Day (school closed)
May 23/24: Grades 4-8 Dance Recital
May 29-June 9: EQAO Admin Dates
June 9: Volunteer Appreciation
June 15: Wilcox HOWL
June 22, 4 pm: Grade 8 Grad in the Gym
June 27: Field Day
June 30: Last Day!

Pizza Lunches: May 26, June 16

Council Meetings: May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: April 5, 2023

Chag Pesach Sameach! Happy Easter! Ramadan Mubarek! Happy Spring!

With this season of holy days we wish blessings as you gather to celebrate and observe your traditions.

Kathy Kacer Author Visit: Grade 6-8

Author Kathy Kacer spoke to students about the Holocaust and her family’s history in the country known as Czechoslovakia.

Outdoor Education Summer Camps:

The Toronto District School Board’s Outdoor Education Centres are once again excited to offer overnight camps at the Scarborough Outdoor Education School (SOES), in Kearney, and at the Island Natural Science School this summer.

For dates, rates, and more information, please visit: https://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/toes/Summer-Program-Opportunities

The focus of the 2023 Elementary Literacy and Numeracy Summer School Program is to continue student engagement through the month of July. Programs, embedded in Literacy and Numeracy, are developed by the local summer school principal to reflect the local school focus.

Programs are offered in-person to students in K to Grade 8, from July 4 to July 28, 2023. This year, one remote program will also be available.

Registration Information

Program Dates: July 4 to July 28, 2023
Registration is online. To fill out an application, please click on the registration form link for a school below.
Most classes run for three (3) hours from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., except for four (4) full day sites that run 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. which include: Greenholme JMS, Oakridge PS, Rose Avenue JPS and Yorkwoods PS.
The remote (online) program is NOT associated with a particular school. Students who are registered will be grouped by grade and assigned an online teacher.

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/about-us/innovation/elementary-summer-school

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

April: Hispanic Heritage Month
April: Latin-America History Month
April: Sikh Heritage Month
April 5-13: Passover
April 7: Good Friday (school closed); April 10: Easter Monday (school closed)
April 11-14: Jungle Sport (April 12 and 13th evenings for families)
April 12: International Day of Pink
April 20-21: Eid
April 27: Heritage Fair in Gym (Grades 4-6)
April 28: Jump Rope for Heart
May 1-5: Mental Health Week
May 2: Welcome to JK!
May 12: TPH Grade 7 Vaccine Clinic in Library
May 18: Movie Night
May 22: Victoria Day (school closed)
May 23/24: Grades 4-8 Dance Recital
May 26: Asian Heritage Fair
May 29-June 9: EQAO Admin Dates
June 15: Wilcox HOWL
June 22, 4 pm: Grade 8 Grad in the Gym
June 30: Last Day!

Pizza Lunches: April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: March 31, 2023

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Programs are offered in-person to students in K to Grade 8, from July 4 to July 28, 2023. This year, one remote program will also be available.

Registration Information

Program Dates: July 4 to July 28, 2023
Registration is online. To fill out an application, please click on the registration form link for a school below.
Most classes run for three (3) hours from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., except for four (4) full day sites that run 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. which include: Greenholme JMS, Oakridge PS, Rose Avenue JPS and Yorkwoods PS.
The remote (online) program is NOT associated with a particular school. Students who are registered will be grouped by grade and assigned an online teacher.

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/about-us/innovation/elementary-summer-school

Upcoming dates

April: Hispanic Heritage Month
April: Latin-America History Month
April: Sikh Heritage Month
April 5-13: Passover
April 7: Good Friday (school closed); April 10: Easter Monday (school closed)
April 11-14: Jungle Sport (April 12 and 13th evenings for families)
April 12: International Day of Pink
April 20-21: Eid
April 27: Jump Rope for Heart
April 28: Heritage Fair in Gym (Grades 4-6)
May 1-5: Mental Health Week
May 2: Welcome to JK!
May 12: TPH Grade 7 Vaccine Clinic in Library
May 18: Movie Night
May 22: Victoria Day
May 23/24: Grades 4-8 Dance Recital (Anna to share details)
May 26: Asian Heritage Fair
May 29-June 9: EQAO Admin Dates (Grade 6 week 1; Grade 3 week 2)
June 15: Wilcox HOWL
June 22, 4 pm: Grade 8 Grad
June 30: Last Day!

Pizza Lunches: April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: March 10, 2023

New Acting Office Administrator

Welcome Ashely Beazley to the role of OA! We are thrilled to have you join our office team.

Wilcox Talent Show!

Thank you to our amazing students who participated in today’s talent show and to Ms. Rath for organising the event. What a wonderful way to celebrate the start of the March Break and to create the spirit of belonging!

Book Fair Update

The book was a huge success. Thank you to our Teacher-Librarian’s for inviting in Another Story to share such rich and equity-focussed books. The school is now able to purchase $500 worth of books from Another Story with recommendations for purchases coming directly from the kids! Stay tuned for new titles on the shelves.

Upcoming dates

March is Greek Heritage Month
March 13-17: March Break
March 23: Grades 6-8 Author Visit Kathy Kacer
March 24: Grade 8 Grad Photos
April 11-14: Jungle Sport
May 12: TPH Grade 7/8 Vaccines

Pizza Lunches: March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: March 3, 2023

Bernice Hune, Author: On Feb. 27 and 28, Bernice Hune came to the JR Wilcox library to do storytelling celebrating Chinese Heritage Month. Our K-6 students loved hearing Chinese folktales, and seeing Bernice’s many artefacts, passed down through her family over many generations.

Another Story Bookshop Book Fair, March 8-9:

Please visit our book fair March 7-9th (times below). Students are invited to purchase books during the school day. Parents, guardians and caregivers are invited from 8-9 am and Wednesday March 9th from 3:30-6:30 pm. Please sign in at the office and then proceed to the Library.

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

March is Greek Heritage Month
March 7-9: Book Sale
March 10: Talent Show
March 13-17: March Break
March 23: Grades 6-8 Author Visit Kathy Kacer
March 24: Grade 8 Grad Photos
April 11-14: Jungle Sport
May 12: TPH Grade 7/8 Vaccines

Pizza Lunches: March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: February 24, 2023

Today we had an extraordinary celebration of BLACK JOY! Thank you to all parents, caregivers, staff and students who worked together to create such an inclusive and special event. All students participated in interactive centres that focussed on: Black mental health and resilience, Eritrean food and culture, Black Futures presentations, Black-Canadian achievement, Poetry Slam, Caribbean culture, Nigerian dance, flag identification and more! Special thanks to Ms. Paymaster and Mr. Clement for leading the organisation of this event, and for the Difference Makers from Deer Park who came to support the event.

Another Story Bookshop Book Fair, March 8-9:

Field Trip/ School Event Subsidy:

School Council has generously offered funds to subsidise school field trips and school activities Should you require financial assistance for a specific field trip or activity (e.g. Scientists in the School) please do not hesitate to let your child’s teacher know in order to access the subsidy. Thank you School Council!

How to Register for Kindergarten:

Registration for English Kindergarten programs begins in February. We look forward to welcoming you and your child! You may choose to register using the online registration system or by booking a face-to-face meeting directly with your school.

Only parents or legal guardians can register a child.
There is a separate process to apply for out-of-area admissions. Please contact alternative schools or elementary academies directly for more information about requirements and the registration process.

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/EarlyYears/KindergartenMonth

Tissue Drive: We have many runny noses during the winter season and we run out of tissues quickly. We are collecting boxes of tissues to distribute to classes. Please consider donating a box or two today!

Student Nutrition Program Donations: We are accepting donations to our nutrition program. Funds will be used to supplement our snack program and to provide additional snacks to students with food insecurity. Please make checks payable to: JR Wilcox Community School Snack Program.

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

February 27 and 28: Bernice Hoon Author Visit K-6
March 1: Grades 1- 3 trip to Young People’s Theatre
March 7-9: Book Sale
March 10: Talent Show
March 23: Grades 6-8 Author Visit Kathy Kacer
March 24: Grade 8 Grad Photos
April 11-14: Jungle Sport
May 12: TPH Grade 7/8 Vaccines

Pizza Lunches: March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: February 17, 2023

WISHING YOU A WONDERFUL FAMILY DAY WEEKEND!

Field Trip/ School Event Subsidy:

Grade 6 Valentine’s Day Fundraiser: 400 muffins sold to raise money for field trips

How to Register for Kindergarten:

Only parents or legal guardians can register a child.
There is a separate process to apply for out-of-area admissions. Please contact alternative schools or elementary academies directly for more information about requirements and the registration process.

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/EarlyYears/KindergartenMonth

Pizza Lunch Reminder:

The deadline for pizza day orders is Monday, February 20 at 8pm. We want everyone to be able to participate in pizza day so if anyone is unable to afford pizza this month please fill out the form (https://forms.gle/rrTDRU42BQGYHxLS6) and we’ll make sure your child receives pizza. Please double check your records and make sure you aren’t paying for multiple orders. If there are any issues in this regard please contact Ginette Talpash at bluerumm@gmail.com.

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

February 24: AHM event (see flyer)
February 27 and 28: Bernice Hoon Author Visit K-6
March 1: Grades 1- 3 trip to Young People’s Theatre
March 23: Grades 6-8 Author Visit Kathy Kacer
March 24: Grade 8 Grad Photos
April 11-14: Jungle Sport

Pizza Lunches: February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: February 10, 2023

Dr. Jill Andrew, MPP on Why Representation Matters:

Jill Andrew spoke with students this week during African Heritage Month on her leadership journey from the perspective of representation and Black excellence!

Ms. Rayner’s Grade 4/5 Class – African Heritage Month Assembly Reflection

On Tuesday, February 7th, J.R. Wilcox Community School welcomed Benjamin de Graaf, leader of the Love Music Initiative in Toronto. He led students and staff through an entertaining assembly about African culture, with a focus on music and dance. This assembly related to our learnings about and celebration of African Heritage Month.

During the assembly, our school learned the names of drums like the “Djembe”, and more. We learned that African cultures traditionally use these drums for many purposes, such as communicating with each other, making music, and simply having fun! When they dance, they dance in a circle while using the drums.

Fun Fact: To make the drum sound sharper, you can tie the string on the drum tighter.

The most enjoyable part of the assembly was when they chose volunteers from the audience to learn how to do the “baby scratch” and the “reverse scratch” on the DJ’s switchboards. Mrs. Cape even tried it – she could be a DJ! Our key takeaway was that all music is good music.

Girl’s Volleyball:

On Thursday, Feb.9, the Grade 6-8 girls volleyball team went to Annette PS for a tournament and came 2nd place! Our awesome team will advance to the semi-finals this month! Way to go Wilcox Wolves!!!

Term 1 Report Cards:

Term 1 report cards will be sent home with students on February 14th. Teachers and students are looking forward to sharing your child’s progress this year. Interviews are scheduled directly by teachers for the evening of February 16th and the morning of February 17th. Interviews are generally offered in the following circumstances:

Students who are or may be at risk for promotion to the next grade
Students whose progress and/or achievement has declined significantly
Students whose placement in an alternative setting is being considered (e.g. special education)

Parents and caregivers who have questions or concerns about their child’s progress may also request an interview.

How to Register for Kindergarten:

Only parents or legal guardians can register a child.
There is a separate process to apply for out-of-area admissions. Please contact alternative schools or elementary academies directly for more information about requirements and the registration process.

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/EarlyYears/KindergartenMonth

Parent and Caregiver Evening:

Raising An Anti-Racist Child

Michelle Munroe, Central Co-ordinator, Parent and Community Engagement

Monday February 13th 6:30-8:30 pm

Zoom: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/93930177692

Teams and Clubs:

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

February is African Heritage Month and Chinese Heritage Month
February 14: Term 1 Report Cards Home
February 16: PM Interviews
February 17: AM Interviews/PA Day
February 20: Family Day Holiday
February 24: AHM event (see flyer)
February 27 and 28: Bernice Hoon Author Visit K-6
March 1: Grades 1- 3 trip to Young People’s Theatre
March 23: Grades 6-8 Author Visit Kathy Kacer
April 11-14: Jungle Sport

Pizza Lunches: February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: February 3, 2023

Term 1 Report Cards:

Students who are or may be at risk for promotion to the next grade
Students whose progress and/or achievement has declined significantly
Students whose placement in an alternative setting is being considered (e.g. special education)

Parents and caregivers who have questions or concerns about their child’s progress may also request an interview.

How to Register for Kindergarten:

Only parents or legal guardians can register a child.
There is a separate process to apply for out-of-area admissions. Please contact alternative schools or elementary academies directly for more information about requirements and the registration process.

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/EarlyYears/KindergartenMonth

Parent and Caregiver Evening:

Raising An Anti-Racist Child

Michelle Munroe, Central Co-ordinator, Parent and Community Engagement

Monday February 13th 6:30-8:30 pm

Zoom: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/93930177692

Special Education and Inclusion:

Below are the links to our Parent Engagement Session #2. Learn about Special Education and Inclusion with a focus on Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) reviews and Transitions

Tues. Feb. 28th flyer:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1i-FmmZ–1pP-Gf17s8GBfJLrc7CAuqql/edit#slide=id.p1

Wed. Mar. 1st flyer:

https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1NBtRSFJL_AFe-rzpFaboDcx71dRt-ohD/edit#slide=id.p1

Valentine’s Day Fundraiser: On Feb. 8, 9 and 10 students will have the chance to buy a Valentine’s Day cookie for a special loved one (or for yourself!). Cookies will be homemade by the Grade 6 class, and will be nut free. Cookies will be $1 and will be delivered to you in your classroom in the afternoon on Tuesday, February 14th!

Wet Clothes: A reminder to send spare clothing with your child, including socks, underwear and pants. Students often get wet or fall in mud while playing outside and require dry clothing.

Teams and Clubs:

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

February is African Heritage Month and Chinese Heritage Month
February 7: AHM assembly K-8 im gym
February 8: “ My journey as an MPP. Black Lives Experience… #RepresentationMatters” Talk with Jill Andrews, MPP
February 14: Term 1 Report Cards Home
February 16: PM Interviews
February 17: AM Interviews/PA Day
February 20: Family Day Holiday
February 24: AHM event (see flyer)
February 27 and 28: Bernice Hoon Author Visit K-6
March 1: Grades 1- 3 trip to Young People’s Theatre
March 23: Grades 6-8 Author Visit Kathy Kacer
April 11-14: Jungle Sport

Pizza Lunches: February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

2023 will be open from Monday, January 16 at 4 p.m. to Thursday, February 16, 2023, at
4 p.m.
Elementary alternative schools will hold information sessions and/or open houses for students and
parents/guardians/caregivers in January and February. More information is available on the
Elementary School Open Houses and Information Nights web page. There will also be two
Elementary Alternative Schools live webinars during the week of January 16, including one daytime
and one evening session. Registration is required and a recording of the webinars will be posted on
the website.
The registration link for the January 16 webinar, which starts at 1:00 p.m., is
https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hsF5GNhxQXKdpwBs6m5Uqw.
The registration link for the January 18 webinar, which starts at 7:00 p.m., is
https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DPnKsAXWTTuIbQf5Hfw7fg.
Middle French Immersion Application Process: Grade 4 Entry
The application process opens January 9th and closes on February 3rd. It is an online process. Please
see the link for further information about the program.
Join a Middle French Immersion info session
Submit a Middle French Immersion application for your child
Wet Clothes: A reminder to send spare clothing with your child, including socks, underwear and
pants. Students often get wet or fall in mud while playing outside and require dry clothing.
The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/
Upcoming dates
● January is Tamil Heritage Month
● January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day
● January 31: Grades 6-8 Holocaust Education performance
● February 7: AHM assembly K-8 im gym
● February 14: Term 1 Report Cards Home
● February 16: PM Interviews
● February 17: AM Interviews/PA Day
● February 20: Family Day Holiday
● February 24: AHM event (see flyer)
● February 27 and 28: Bernice Hoon Author Visit K-6
● March 1- Grades 1- 3 trip to Young People’s Theatre
● March 23: Grades 6-8 Author Visit Kathy Kacer
● April 11-14: Jungle Sport
Pizza Lunches: February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17
Council Meetings: January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)
Wishing you a wonderful weekend,
-The JR Wilcox Staf

Wilcox Word: January 20, 2023

February is African Heritage Month

Calling community members to help us celebrate Black success, culture and history! It is an occasion to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of peoples of African descent to Canada and the world. During the month of February, several activities are being planned and we want your perspective and voice represented. We are also seeking those interested in sharing your culture, stories and heritage with us throughout the month and on February 24th.

Please contact Adam Clement to join in the planning of African Heritage Month: adam.clement2@tdsb.on.ca

Parent and Caregiver Evening:

Raising An Anti-Racist Child

Michelle Munroe, Central Co-ordinator, Parent and Community Engagement

Monday February 13th 6:30-8:30 pm

Zoom: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/93930177692

African Heritage Month at the TDSB: Save the Date – Invitation to Virtual Launch February 1st, 2023

During the month of February, the TDSB proudly recognizes African Heritage (Black History) Month. It is an occasion to celebrate the many achievements and contributions of peoples of African descent to Canada and the world. The chosen theme for 2022-2023 is Black Joy.

The theme of Black Joy was selected this year by the African Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee. Joy is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as the emotion evoked by well-being, success, or good fortune or by the prospect of possessing what one desires. This academic school year, “Joy” is one of TDSB’s two overarching priorities. The priority being the importance of joy, engagement and belonging in our schools as a foundation for academic achievement and student success; and the second priority being the elimination of disproportionate outcomes for students. Black Joy emulates how Black People have been able to thrive academically, socially, and emotionally as a People and as a Community, despite the systemic barriers and oppression faced.

To kick off African Heritage month at the TDSB, we are excited to extend an invitation to all students, staff, and the TDSB community to join us in marking this significant month with entertainment, and noteworthy speakers. Announcements about several educational opportunities that are being planned throughout the month of February and beyond will also be shared at the African Heritage Month Virtual Launch.

We’ll be thrilled to have you join us! Details are noted below.

African Heritage Month Virtual Launch
Date: Wednesday, February 1st, 2023
Time: 10:00 am – 10:45 am
Zoom Webinar Link: To be shared in a future issue.

Elementary Alternative Schools Online Application Update

As you know, the TDSB has a wide range of elementary alternative schools available to students. This year, the application process is being managed centrally (in the past it has been managed by individual schools) and includes an online application form. The online application for admission for September 2023 will be open from Monday, January 16 at 4 p.m. to Thursday, February 16, 2023, at 4 p.m.

Elementary alternative schools will hold information sessions and/or open houses for students and parents/guardians/caregivers in January and February. More information is available on the Elementary School Open Houses and Information Nights web page. There will also be two Elementary Alternative Schools live webinars during the week of January 16, including one daytime and one evening session. Registration is required and a recording of the webinars will be posted on the website.

The registration link for the January 16 webinar, which starts at 1:00 p.m., is https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_hsF5GNhxQXKdpwBs6m5Uqw.

The registration link for the January 18 webinar, which starts at 7:00 p.m., is https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_DPnKsAXWTTuIbQf5Hfw7fg.

Middle French Immersion Application Process: Grade 4 Entry

The application process opens January 9th and closes on February 3rd. It is an online process. Please the link for further information about the program.

Join a Middle French Immersion info session

Submit a Middle French Immersion application for your child

Pizza Day Reminder

Just a reminder that pizza day is Friday, January 27th. The deadline for pizza day orders is Monday, January 23rd at 8pm.

We want everyone to be able to participate in pizza day so if anyone is unable to afford pizza this month please fill out the form below and we’ll make sure your child receives pizza: https://forms.gle/ea7SVmcrzuj53Jvd6

Please double check your orders as we have noticed multiple orders for some children. We want to make sure you aren’t paying for multiple orders. If there are any issues in this regard please contact Ginette Talpash at bluerumm@gmail.com.

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

January is Tamil Heritage Month
January 22: Lunar New Year
January 23 and 25: Bullying workshops classes 1-8 (75 mins each; schedule to follow)
January 31: Grades 6-8 Holocaust Education performance
February 7: AHM assembly K-8 im gym (AM)
February 14: Term 1 Report Cards Home
February 16: PM Interviews
February 17: AM Interviews/PA Day
February 20: Family Day Holiday
February 24: AHM event
February 27 and 28: Bernice Hoon Author Visit K-6

Wilcox Word: January 13, 2023

February is African Heritage Month

Please contact Adam Clement to join in the planning of African Heritage Month: adam.clement2@tdsb.on.ca

Parent and Caregiver Evening:

Raising An Anti-Racist Child

Michelle Munroe, Central Co-ordinator, Parent and Community Engagement

Monday February 13th 6:30-8:30 pm

Zoom: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/93930177692

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is January 16:

Every third Monday of January, communities celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday in the United States. This day commemorates the life experiences and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent civil rights leader.

As we reflect on the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., along with the importance of deepening our understanding of the global impacts of racial discrimination, more specifically in Canada, Wilcox students will join the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement and Ms. Itah Sadu for a K-12 Storytelling session on January 16, 2023 from 10 – 11 AM.

Holocaust Memorial: January 27th

The Holocaust (1933–1945) was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million European Jews by the Nazi German regime and its allies and collaborators. The Holocaust is also sometimes referred to as “the Shoah,” the Hebrew word for “catastrophe.”

Observed on January 27, Yom ha-Shoah marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. It is a time to reflect on and educate about the enduring lessons of the Holocaust and to reaffirm a commitment to uphold human rights. The TDSB is honoured to have Holocaust Survivor Pinchas Gutter join us in conversation with Shari Schwartz-Maltz.

Please join with the TDSB Jewish Heritage Committee to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day by watching the interview virtually on Friday, January 27th from 10:15-11:00am by clicking on the following link: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/stream/Livewebcast-2023-01-27.html. Follow us on Twitter @TDSB_JH.

Middle French Immersion Application Process: Grade 4 Entry

The application process opens January 9th and closes on February 3rd. It is an online process. Plese the link for further information about the program.

Join a Middle French Immersion info session

Submit a Middle French Immersion application for your child

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

January is Tamil Heritage Month
January 31: Grades 6-8 Holocaust Education performance
March 1: Grades 1- 3 trip to Young People’s Theatre
April 11-14: Jungle Sport comes to Wilcox

Pizza Lunches: January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: December 23, 2022

Thank You!

A very special thanks to all who have contributed to make our school a space of learning and belonging to all. Thank you to all students, parents, guardians and caregivers for your endless collaboration and support. Thank you students for enriching the learning for your friends and peers. Thank you to all of the volunteers who support school initiatives, committees, trips and activities. A tremendous thank you to our School Council for your ongoing work to raise funds and enduring support for one and all.

Mittens

For the 30th consecutive year, former Wilcox parent Chris Gregory and her mother, Bessie Dunham, have knitted a pair of mittens for each Kindergarten student! Chris decided to knit a pair for the K classes when her son Ben was in Junior Kindergarten, and this dynamic knitting duo just never stopped! They finished the last pair a few days ago, so they’ll take a few weeks off. In January, they’ll get started on the mittens for 2023! We know many Wilcox students will remember receiving a pair or two over the years. If your child is in Kindergarten, you’ll see a colourful pair any day now. Thanks, Chris and Bessie, for all your hard work on such a cozy tradition!

Middle French Immersion Application Process: Grade 4 Entry

The application process opens January 9th and closes on February 3rd. It is an online process. Plese the link for further information about the program.

Join a Middle French Immersion info session

Submit a Middle French Immersion application for your child

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

December 25: Christmas
December 26: Kwanzaa begins
December 26- January 6th: Winter Break (school closed)
January 31: Grades 6-8 Holocaust Education performance
March 1: Grades 1- 3 trip to Young People’s Theatre
April 11-14: Jungle Sport comes to Wilcox

Pizza Lunches: January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: December 16, 2022

Candy Grams and Guess the Gelt? Guess the number of gelt and candy canes for $1.00! Candy grams are a dollar too. Help raise money for recess activity bins!

Wilcox Food Drive and Food Bank:

All year we will be collecting non-perishable foods for our very own food bank located just outside the office. Drop off items at any time. This is accessible to all students and families at any time. Please also feel free to speak confidentially with Ms. Cape should you have questions or require assistance. Looking for grocery assistance https://feeditforward.ca/

Recess Soccer:

In an effort to support sportsmanship and safety at play, student leaders are busy at work organising soccer zones, age and grade-based teams, clarifying rules for all and a clear code of conduct while on the field. Students will be asked to agree to the rules and code of conduct. We will be reviewing these next week with students. Thank you to all of the students who have assisted in creating soccer teams and zones. Your leadership has been instrumental in helping everyone have FUN!

From the International Languages Program Staff:

We currently offer Hebrew and Spanish every Tuesday at 3:30pm to 6:00pm. To meet the needs of the community, we would like to survey the parent community to ensure languages offered reflect language of interest of the parent community.

Also, we are surveying interest for an African Heritage program at your school.

The survey is conducted through Google Form. The Google Form link can be forwarded to parents. Survey can be completed by clicking here https://forms.gle/ftQHYeAV4i51PqmW8. The last day to complete the survey is January 6 2023. Survey results will be shared with parents who complete the survey at the end of January 2023.

Winter Clothing Drive:

Thank you to all who donated to our winter clothing drive. If you need anything, please ask. We have numerous items in various sizes to fit most children. Make an appointment to go through the selection of items through the office.

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

December 18: Hanukkah begins
December 22: Concert 10:30 AM in gym
December 22 & 23: Dance party in the gym
December 25: Christmas
December 26: Kwanzaa begins
December 26- January 6th: Winter Break (school closed)
January 31: Grades 6-8 Holocaust Education performance
March 1: Grades 1- 3 trip to Young People’s Theatre
April 11-14: Jungle Sport comes to Wilcox

Pizza Lunches: January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: December 9, 2022

Wilcox Food Drive and Food Bank

Students in Ms. Paymaster’s class are leading our food drive. They are passionate and have started a large inquiry project examining food insecurity in Toronto. Yesterday they had a virtual visit to the Daily Bread Food Bank and spoke directly with the CEO, Neil Hetherington. Please donate nonperishable foods from December 7th-22nd. Some items will be given to Wilcox families, and other items donated to local food banks.

Holiday Concert

Celebrate the holidays with us by attending our holiday concert on Thursday December 22nd at 10:30 am in the gym. Students from all classes will perform. If possible, bring a non-perishable food item for the JR Wilcox food bank.

Recess Soccer

The World Cup has generated a great deal of passion and excitement at the school. There are many soccer fans across the school. In an effort to support sportsmanship and safety at play, student leaders are busy at work organising soccer zones, age and grade-based teams, clarifying rules for all and a clear code of conduct while on the field. Students will be asked to agree to the rules and code of conduct. We will be reviewing these next week with students.

Winter Wellbeing Guide

Please find links below to the Winter Well-Being Guide for 2022-23 created by the Mental Health and Well-Being Committee. This guide promotes mental and physical wellness during the winter months and includes identity affirming and culturally relevant resources for students, caregivers/guardians, families and school communities (resources for students with complex needs are also included). The guide has been translated into the top 20 spoken TDSB languages. Please distribute this guide to others as you would like.

Well-Being Guide & English Version

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

December 14-16 Grade 6s away at overnight
December 7-22: Wilcox Food Drive
December 15: Grades 7&8 Leadership Building
December 18: Hanukkah begins
December 22: Concert 10:30 AM in gym
December 22 & 23: Dance party in the gym
December 25: Christmas
December 26: Kwanzaa begins
December 26- January 6th: Winter Break (school closed)

Pizza Lunches: December 16, January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: December 2, 2022

Wilcox Food Drive:

Students in Ms. Paymaster’s class are leading our food drive. Please donate nonperishable foods from December 7th-22nd. Some items will be given to Wilcox families, and other items donated to local food banks. Please reach out to Ms. Cape for a confidential conversation if you require assistance through our food drive.

Student Survey:

Students are completing surveys along the theme of belonging and identities/lived experiences so that staff can develop next steps and to promote inclusion, wellbeing and safety using student voice .

The Get REAL Movement (https://www.thegetrealmovement.com/)

We hosted two workshops for students grades 5-8 that highlighted human connections to promote 2sLGBTQ+ allyship and the impact we all have. We unlearned harmful language by two facilitators who shared their own lived experiences and identities.

On Thursday afternoon, we participated in a workshop from a group called Get Real. There were two speakers, Rachael and Cal. We talked about how everybody is unique, which is awesome. Rachael and Cal each shared a bit about themselves. We heard them say that when people have allies that support them, no matter what, it makes it easier for each of us to accept who we are and to love ourselves. We talked about how we should not judge each other for being different from anybody else because we are all unique. And we talked about how awful homophobic language, for example “That’s so gay,” can make people feel. (Mr. Smolkin’s Grade 5 class)

Five Tips for Being an Ally: https://youtu.be/_dg86g-QlM0

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

December 14-16 Grade 6s away at overnight
December 7-22: Wilcox Food Drive
December 15: Grades 7&8 Leadership Building
December 18: Hanukkah begins
December 22: Concert AM (Watch out for a invitation to attend)
December 25: Christmas
December 26: Kwanzaa begins
December 26- January 6th: Winter Break (school closed)
January 31: Grades 6-8 Holocaust Education performance
March 1- Grades 1- 3 trip to Young People’s Theatre

Pizza Lunches: December 16, January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: November 25, 2022

Thank you Hetal Bhatt:

Hetal is moving to a school much closer to home. Her last day is Friday December 2nd. Thank you Hetal for all you have done for us! We will miss you. Ms. Cape is in the process of seeking a new Office Administrator.

Morning announcements:

Each morning students lead virtual announcements for the school. Through our announcements much learning happens aligned to our equity and indigenous education goals, as well as promoting belonging and community. Please see the attachment for a peek into our announcements.

nov.23morning-announcements-2022-2023-Download

Excursions and Excursion Management Application (EMA):

The TDSB has an online excursion management system for all trips. When your child’s teacher schedules a trip and creates an online permission form, you will automatically receive an email notification from tdsb.excursions@tdsb.on.ca when an excursion is planned with their child’s class.

The first time parents/guardians receive an email from EMA, you will need to register. Go to: https://parent.ema.tdsb.on.ca/#/

The following are some resources to assist you:

Parent/GuardianNote: These resources can be shared with parents/guardians	EMA Parent/Guardian Account Creation & Login Reference Guide
EMA for Parents/Guardians Login Guide (PDF)
Parent/Guardian Account Creation and Login Video (Training Video)
EMA Parent/Guardian Permission for Excursion Form Reference Guide
EMA Medical Information Form Reference Guide
Excursion Management Application (EMA) Parent/Guardian FAQs

SchoolCash Online is an easy to use and safe way to pay for your school excursions or other fees. All you have to do is register an account, attach your children and in no time you will be able to make payments online. SchoolCash Online accepts many different payment forms so come in and check us out!

https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/

Warm Clothing Drive:

Thank you for your donations!! If your child requires warm outdoor clothing for the winter please speak with your child’s teacher and school staff will seek to distribute appropriately sized items to you and your child.

Volunteer Screening:

At Wilcox volunteers are so appreciated! Once you have received your ‘cleared’ police screening, you must give the original to Deanna in the office. Unfortunately, volunteers will not be able to provide services in the school until the office has reviewed the paperwork and logged it with the school board. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation. Volunteers, we are so grateful for all you do!

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

November is Hindu Heritage Month and Indigenous Heritage Month

December 1: The Get REAL Movement Workshops students Grades 5-8
December 2: PA Day
December 5-7 Grades 7 and 8 away at overnight; Dec 14-16 Grade 6s away at overnight
December 7-22: Wilcox Food Drive
December 15: Grades 7&8 Leadership Building
December 18: Hanukkah begins
December 22: Concert
December 25: Christmas
December 26: Kwanzaa begins
December 26- January 6th: Winter Break (school closed)

Pizza Lunches: December 16, January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: November 29, December 20 (TBD), January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: November 18, 2022

Plan to Combat Anti-Black Racism:

Currently, Ms. Cape is seeking voice and input to be responsive to the needs of Black students. Any caregiver with a child that self-identifies as Black at JR Wilcox is invited to participate in the development of a school-based action plan to combat anti-Black racism. Ms. Cape will be joined by Jeff Caton, Centrally Assigned Principal of the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement.

Please join in the conversation on either:

Tuesday November 22nd at 10:30 am in the JR Wilcox Library (virtual if schools closed)
Thursday November 24^th at 6:30 pm via Zoom: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/91589742558

Please register in advance at: https://forms.gle/1iYkYgH1JVh8Jv2w6

If neither date nor format is convenient for you, please do not hesitate to contact me directly to capture your voice and perspective at an alternative time.

Library Requests:

We are seeking your input on new library acquisitions. Have a say!

https://forms.gle/Cmqc9GC2dk3wbdkR6

Excursions and Excursion Management Application (EMA):

The first time parents/guardians receive an email from EMA, you will need to register. Go to: https://parent.ema.tdsb.on.ca/#/

The following are some resources to assist you:

Parent/GuardianNote: These resources can be shared with parents/guardians	EMA Parent/Guardian Account Creation & Login Reference Guide
EMA for Parents/Guardians Login Guide (PDF)
Parent/Guardian Account Creation and Login Video (Training Video)
EMA Parent/Guardian Permission for Excursion Form Reference Guide
EMA Medical Information Form Reference Guide
Excursion Management Application (EMA) Parent/Guardian FAQs

https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/

Warm Clothing Drive:

We’ll be collecting warm clothing in good condition including winter jackets, snow pants, gloves, hats, scarfs, sweaters, pants, boots for kids and adults of all sizes. You can drop off your items now^,in the office. Please be mindful and only donate items in good to great condition; clean, no rips, no stains, functional zippers and buttons. The items will be made available for those in our school community.

If your child requires warm outdoor clothing for the winter please speak with your child’s teacher and school staff will seek to distribute appropriately sized items to you and your child.

Volunteer Screening:

Pizza Lunch:

Final reminder, our next pizza day is Friday, Nov 25^th, you can now pay on cash online. Orders are due Sunday, Nov 20^th at 8pm. We are committed to ensuring all children can participate in pizza, if financial support is required, please submit your order here.

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

November is Hindu Heritage Month and Indigenous Heritage Month

December 1: The Get REAL Movement Workshops students Grades 5-8
December 2: PA Day
December 5-7 Grades 7 and 8 away at overnight; Dec 14-16 Grade 6s away at overnight
December 7-22: Wilcox Food Drive
December 18: Hanukkah begins
December 22: Concert (Dress rehearsal will be the 21st in the afternoon)
December 25: Christmas
December 26: Kwanzaa begins
December 26- January 6th: Winter Break (school closed)

Pizza Lunches: November 25, December 16, January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: November 29, December 20 (TBD), January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: November 11, 2022

National Indigenous Veterans Day and Remembrance Day

November 8^th was National Indigenous Veterans Day and today, November 11th, Remembrance Day. As a school we participated in an assembly to honour and pay tribute to all veterans and those who served. In particular we paid tribute to Indigenous veterans and the role of women so that their contributions are not forgotten.

Plan to Combat Anti-Black Racism

Please join in the conversation on either:

Tuesday November 22nd at 10:30 am in the JR Wilcox Library
Thursday November 24^th at 6:30 pm via Zoom: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/91589742558

Please register in advance at: https://forms.gle/1iYkYgH1JVh8Jv2w6

If neither date nor format is convenient for you, please do not hesitate to contact me directly to capture your voice and perspective at an alternative time.

Toronto Public Health Vaccination Clinic and Webinar

I’m sharing a link with you that can be provided to parents that may not have had the opportunity to have their child vaccinated today. There are many city run clinics that parents can attend to get the same vaccines + COVID-19 vaccines if they’re interested. Parents must click on “Student Immunization Program Clinics” and the link to book appointments for all vaccines (HepB, Meningococcal, HPV, and COVID-19) is at the very bottom of the page: https://www.toronto.ca/community-people/health-wellness-care/health-programs-advice/immunization/toronto-public-health-appointment-booking-system/ .

Toronto Public Health will be hosting a webinar for parents/guardians on keeping kids up-to-date with vaccinations on Monday November 14^th from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The webinar will be presented by Dr. Vinita Dubey, associate medical officer of health, and moderated by Nicole Welch, director and chief nursing officer (see attached flyer).

Special Education and Inclusion is offering dedicated engagement sessions to parents/guardians/caregivers of TDSB students to learn about Special Education and Inclusion processes through an equity lens.

For Session #1, the Special Education and Inclusion team will be discussing Individual Learning Plan (ILP), In-School Support Team (IST), School Support Team (SST), Individual Education Plan (IEP), and Identification, Placement and Review Committee (IPRC) processes.

Please share the following link in your communication to parents/guardians/caregivers that outlines further details to the session:

For schools in LC1/LC4: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1AqpyCWLatC6IaO38ymSeH2f5Vjx8V4Vk/edit?usp=share_link&ouid=102386464265606144113&rtpof=true&sd=true

Thank you to all members of the Wilcox community who have volunteered time towards the Student Nutrition Program. The children thank you!

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

November is Hindu Heritage Month and Indigenous Heritage Month

November 15: Progress Reports home; Photo retake day
November 17/18: Interviews
November 18: PA Day
December 2: PA Day

Pizza Lunches: November 25, December 16, January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: November 29, December 20 (TBD), January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: November 4, 2022

Communication Core Board

Kindergarten parents may have noticed a new communication feature in the playground. The waterproof core board is used to promote communication and literacy, particularly for students that develop expressive language with the assistance of visuals. Check it out!

November is Indigenous Education Month

Throughout November, students, staff, and community members honour a number of important days to deepen knowledge, to learn from our shared history, and to build stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples.

Treaties Recognition Week is the first full week of November, November 7th-11th.
November 7 is International Inuit Day.
November 8 is National Indigenous Veterans Day.
November 16 is Louis Riel Day in Ontario.

The attached poster has a link to resource documents to support student and staff learning. Click here for more information. Please see the Schedule of Events.

Student Code of Conduct Assembly:

This week we held school assemblies to review our Code of Conduct and to directly address expectations in order to continue to create a culture of belonging for all identities. For example we will review:

Expected practices for addressing discrimmination
Inclusive and harmful language
Online Code of Conduct and use of devices
Conflict mediation, and problem solving
Respectful play and appropriate/inappropriate physical contact

Please have a follow up conversation with your child regarding this very important topics.

Reminder for Parents, Guardians and Caregivers of Grade 8 Students:

JR Wilcox is hosting a virtual information evening on Tuesday November 8th at 6:30 pm to assist you and your child with the transition to high school:

https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/98528834284?pwd=WVdNZEdNM1dzUUR1K1YvcFlBbWgxUT09

Meeting ID: 985 2883 4284

Passcode: 502573

To further support students and families with the application process, central TDSB staff will be hosting three (3) Centralized Program Admissions Support Sessions to answer any questions that students or families may have when completing the Centralized Program Application. Live, online support will be available on the following dates:

November 8 – 4:00pm – 5:30pm (LINK)
November 15 – 7:00pm – 8:30pm (LINK)
November 24 – 4:00pm – 5:30pm (LINK)

The Virtual Secondary Alternative Schools Fair, taking place on November 9, 2022, will introduce families to the Alternative schools in the board that offer Grade 9 to 12 programming. Alternative schools are highly engaged, smaller school environments. They use non-traditional hands-on approaches to learning. Each school has a distinct identity and focus, such as democratic education, holistic learning, physical art, mindful living, entrepreneurship, social justice, community outreach and more. These schools are ideal for students seeking an alternative to mainstream education and who want to take an active role in their own learning.

Webinar Details:

The Preparing For High Schools Series webinar details, including the link to register and request an interpreter, can be found here. Additionally, families can join the webinar link via Zoom or via the Parent & Community Engagement Office YouTube channel.

Resources:

To view the Secondary School Open Houses and Information Sessions, please visit https://www.tdsb.on.ca/OpenHouses
For more information about transitioning from Grade 8 to 9 in the TDSB, please visit https://www.tdsb.on.ca/High-School/Going-to-High-School/Beyond-8
For more information about the Centralized Student Interest Programs in the TDSB, please visit https://www.tdsb.on.ca/High-School/Going-to-High-School/Secondary-Centralized-Programs

For more information about Alternative Schools in the TDSB please visit https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Find-your/School/Alternative-Schools

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

November is Hindu Heritage Month and Indigenous Heritage Month

November 8: Grade 8 Transition to High School Night
November 9: Grade 7 and 8 Vaccination Clinic
November 11: Remembrance Day
November 15: Progress Reports home; Photo retake day
November 17/18: Interviews
November 18: PA Day

Pizza Lunches: November 25, December 16, January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: November 29, December 20 (TBD), January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: October 28, 2022

Halloween 2022: Cultures Are Not Costumes

Each year, Halloween is marked in a variety of ways in school communities across the TDSB. Students can choose whether or not to participate in Halloween related activities.

As TDSB schools prepare for this day, there are often questions and concerns about Halloween costumes. To support safe, welcoming, and dynamic learning spaces, educators are encouraged to engage students in critical conversations about cultural appropriation, stereotypes, and caricature. This includes reminding students and staff that certain costumes are viewed as offensive, inappropriate and/or discriminatory to many different cultures/peoples, and as a result can cause harm to members of that community and the TDSB community.

Additionally, school communities are reminded that it is important to be aware of the potential negative and triggering impact violent images and/or scenarios can have on students and families with varying lived experiences and backgrounds.

Halloween at JR Wilcox

We will not be having a school-wide celebration of Halloween. Each teacher may make individual choices by class. We do not encourage sharing of large amounts of candy following Halloween. Should students chose to wear a costume to school, please note that the current TDSB student dress code, allows students to wear any dress (including Halloween costume) as long as it (1) does not expose groin, buttocks and nipples; (2) does not send/include offensive/violence/discrimination/racism, etc. message; (3) conforms with established health and safety requirements, and does not obscure the face.

NO NUTS REMINDER

There are a number of students with anaphylaxis to nuts and nut products. Please do not send these to school. If your child eats a nut alternative that looks like peanuts/nuts, please label it for school staff. Please ensure all Halloween candy is nut free.

Student Code of Conduct Assembly:

We will be having a whole school assembly this upcoming week to review our Code of Conduct and to directly address expectations in order to continue to create a culture of belonging for all identities. For example we will review:

Expected practices for addressing discrimmination
Inclusive and harmful language
Online Code of Conduct and use of devices
Conflict mediation, and problem solving
Respectful play and appropriate/inappropriate physical contact

Please have a follow up conversation with your child regarding this very important topics.

The Caring and Safe Schools Committee is seeking a parent/guardian/caregiver member: Each school must have in place a safe and accepting schools team responsible for fostering a safe, inclusive, and accepting school climate. If you are interested in lending your voice to this committee please contact Deanna.

Grades 5-8 Math Tutoring

Parents/guardians of students in grades 5-8 have already received this communication. The Ministry of Education has provided school boards with funds to support student learning as part of pandemic recovery. We are fortunate to be able to offer math tutoring with Mr. Smolkin and Ms. Lynch-Stuanton for students in grades 5-8 after school beginning next week.

This program is to address number sense math gaps in students with unfinished learning. Your child must commit to both tutoring days each week. Space is limited. We are offering:

Grades 5 and 6: Monday and Tuesday 3:30-4:30 pm Room 21 (November 1- December 20)
Grades 7 and 8: Monday and Thursday 3:30-4:30 pm Room 207 (November 3 – December 22)

Please register using the following link until October 31st, 2022: https://forms.gle/ctBCgCdkXygK4cPr5

Pick up is promptly at 4:30 pm at the main doors.

Please also see the fact sheet from the TDSB for information regarding additional supports.

Harvest Moon Dance

Thank you to Ms. Winston for organising today’s dance. All classes participated throughout the day as we celebrated a brilliant harvest, Fall and experienced joy together.

Cross Country

Congratulations to the cross country team and thanks to Ms. Rath and Mr. Clement for coaching the team. Congratulations to Jad in grade 7 and Zak in grade 8 for competing in the cross country finals for the city of Toronto! Jad placed 104th and Zak placed 88th in the entire city of Toronto! JR Wilcox is very proud of you!

Football

The Grade 6-8 Co-ed football team did a great job at their tournament yesterday! Some epic touchdowns and flag-clipping defence! Way to go Wilcox Wolves!

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

November 9: Grade 7 and 8 Vaccination Clinic
November 11: Remembrance Day
November 15: Progress Reports home; Photo retake day
November 17/18: Interviews
November 18: PA Day

Pizza Lunches: November 25, December 16, January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: October 25, November 29, December 20 (TBD), January 31, February 28, March 28, April 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: October 21, 2022

Helping the people of Eastern Canada Affected By Hurricane Fiona

Grade 4’s in Mrs. Paymaster’s class are making different types of bracelets to sell at school to raise money to help the people in eastern Canada affected by Hurricane Fiona. We will donate the money to the Canadian Red Cross who is helping the people there.

We have been reading newspaper articles that were brought in by students from the Toronto Star related to Hurricane Fiona. The students read articles in groups and wrote jot notes of important information regarding the hurricane. Students created posters to hang around the school to make students aware of the hurricane’s impact and for media literacy they made announcements to be read to the whole school during morning announcements. For math, students were gathering data from the articles regarding the 15 worst hurricanes in North America and they illustrated their understanding of various information and the effects of hurricanes. To demonstrate the importance of Hurricane Fiona students created a bulletin board that shows all the information to all the students at JR Wilcox that demonstrates their understanding of the hurricane and its impact.

Please support Room 202 on Oct. 27 by purchasing locally made bracelets to help victims of Hurricane Fiona in eastern Canada.

Thank you JR Wilcox for your support!

Mrs. Paymaster

Fall 2022 Professional Learning Opportunities for TDSB Staff, Students and Families on Addressing Islamophobia

The Equity, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression Department, which includes the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement is collaborating with the National Council of

Canadian Muslims to offer ongoing professional development series for TDSB staff, students and families.

Each session is co-developed with TDSB Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression team and the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement and focuses on centering the multiplicities of experiences and identities of Muslims, promoting anti-Islamophobia/anti-Muslim racism education and exploring concrete strategies within schools communities and classroom environments.

For a full list of sessions and to register, please visit the Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression and the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement websites.

For the upcoming student, staff, family and community sessions, kindly see the attached flyer with registration details:

Families, Caregivers & Community Learning Opportunities:

October 25, 2022: Building an Understanding of Anti-Black Islamophobia
November 24, 2022: Storytelling: Reclaiming our Narratives

Football Team: On Wednesday the gr 5/6 football team travelled to Carleton Village to play in a touch football tournament. The team played hard and represented our school well. Well done Wolves!

Soccer Tournament: On Thursday, Oct. 20th, the grade 7 and 8 Wilcox girls soccer team hosted a tournament against 3 other schools. The Wilcox team learned a lot over the course of the soccer season and they put their heart and souls into playing their best at this tournament. While they did not win, they were fierce and determined competitors! Well done team! You progressed so much and did a fantastic job! I am proud of your efforts!Mrs. Winston

Diwali and Introducing Hetal Bhatt

This year Diwali is celebrated on October 24th. The most significant and holy festival of Diwali, ia also known as Deepavali. Hindus celebrate this auspicious festival to observe the victory of light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, good over evil and hope over despair. Hetal Bhatt, JR Wilcox’s Office Administrator, is celebrating and shared a favourite photograph from her temple celebration last year. To those who celebrate, Happy Diwali.

Grade 2: STEM in ACTION

Pizza Lunch Reminder- Orders Must Be In by October 22nd!

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

October is Somali Heritage Month and Islamic Heritage Month
October 28: Pizza Lunch and Fall Ball Dance Party
November 9: Grade 7 and 8 Vaccination Clinic
November 11: Remembrance Day
November 15: Progress Reports home; Photo retake day
November 17/18: Interviews
November 18: PA Day

Pizza Lunches: October 28, November 25, December 16, January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: October 25, November 29, December 20 (TBD), January 31, February 28, MArch 28, APril 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: October 14, 2022

Early French Immersion Application Process

The entry point to Early French Immersion for September 2023 is Junior Kindergarten. The application to the Early French Immersion program must be completed online between October 31 and November 25, 2022. An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants.

Visit the TDSB website for more information about Early French Immersion, Virtual & In-Person Information Sessions or the Application Process.

The Lunch Lady is coming to Wilcox!

Thank you to everyone who filled out the survey last week. There was lots of interest and so the Lunch Lady will be starting service at our school effective Monday October 24th. The lunch service is available each week on Monday.

To set up your account and place an order go to https://order.lunchlady.ca

You must place your order by Thursday Night.

So for the first week, orders must be placed by Thursday October 20th.

The Lunch Lady program offers hot and cold lunches that are available for purchase in advance through their online portal. Their menus are nut-free, kid-approved, and full of all their favourites prepared in a healthier way which honours school food guidelines. They can modify meals to accommodate allergies, sensitivities, and food preferences so that everyone can participate.

Please see the attached flyer for more information.

TDSB’s Parents and Caregivers as Partners Conference

Join us on Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23, 2022! This year, you can attend either virtually or in person.

The TDSB’s Parents and Caregivers as Partners conference is scheduled for Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23, 2022! This year, you can attend the conference virtually and also join pre-conference sessions in person. This year’s conference has 3 themes of Affirming,

Belonging and Connecting.

Admissions to Central Student Interest Programs (Elementary and Secondary)

In order to improve access to specialized schools and programs new applications processes are in place. Applications for central student interest programs (e.g. Arts, International Baccalaureate) open on November 7, 2022 and close on November 25 at 4:00 p.m.

The following programs have finalized their application details and are now available online:

Elementary Arts schools – no supplemental application required
Elementary Elite Athlete programs – coach’s letter and training schedule required
Secondary Elite Athlete programs – coach’s letter and training schedule required
Secondary Math Science and Technology programs – no supplemental application required
Elementary CyberARTS – no supplemental application required
Secondary CyberARTS – one Creative Work and a description

Volunteer Screen:

If you submitted a volunteer screening application last year and received your screening from the Toronto Police, please give the original to Deanna so that it can be entered in the database.

High School Information Sessions for Grade 8 Families

TDSB will be hosting a series of Preparing for High School Information Sessions. Students and families are welcome to attend. Follow linked information to register. The series includes:

The Grade 8 to Grade 9 Transition Information Session, taking place on November 1, 2022, will share the Top 10 Tips and Considerations in the Transition to High School. This presentation is designed to augment the work already taking place through secondary open houses and at the Grade 8 schools.

The Student Interest Programs Information Session, taking place on November 3, 2022, will help students and families learn more about local programs, Facilitated Access to Skilled Trades programs, out-of-area admissions and applying to centralized programs and schools.

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

October is Somali Heritage Month and Islamic Heritage Month
October 28: Pizza Lunch
November 9: Grade 7 and 8 Vaccination Clinic
November 15: Progress Reports home; Photo retake day
November 17/18: Interviews
November 18: PA Day

Pizza Lunches: October 28, November 25, December 16, January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: October 25, November 29, December 20 (TBD), January 31, February 28, MArch 28, APril 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: October 6, 2022

Seeking Supply Lunchroom Supervisors:

We are seeking lunchroom supervisors to assist at lunch. If you’re interested in filling this role, please contact Deanna at deanna.cape@tdsb.on.ca

Volunteer Screen:

If you submitted a volunteer screening application last year and received your screening from the Toronto Police, please give the original to Deanna so that it can be entered in the database.

School council is considering bringing the Lunch Lady program to J. R. Wilcox:

The Lunch Lady program would offer hot and cold lunches once a week. They would be available for purchase in advance through their online portal. Their menus are nut-free, kid-approved, and full of all their favourites prepared in a healthier way which honours school food guidelines. They can modify meals to accommodate allergies, sensitivities, and food preferences so that everyone can participate. Meals and snacks are individually packaged and would be delivered to the child’s classroom.

There is a minimum number of orders needed each week for the Lunch Lady program to operate sustainably at the school. As such, we are looking to understand the level of interest among parents and caregivers– please complete this survey.

Grades 4-6 Trip to TDSB Outdoor Education Centre- Forest Valley:

Photo Day Reminder:

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

October is Somali Heritage Month and Islamic Heritage Month
October 10: Thanksgiving
October 11: Photo Day, Retake Day is November 15
October 28: Pizza Lunch
November 9: Grade 7 and 8 Vaccination Clinic
November 15: Progress Reports home
November 17/18: Interviews

Pizza Lunches: October 28, November 25, December 16, January 27, February 24, March 31, April 28, May 26, June 17

Council Meetings: October 25, November 29, December 20 (TBD), January 31, February 28, MArch 28, APril 25, May 30, June 20 (TBD)

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: September 30, 2022

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation:

As a school we observed the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day tomorrow, on Friday September 30th. Students, staff and visitors joined in a quiet walk around the yard to honour this day with a public commemoration of artwork, messages and acknowledgements from students of all ages. All tied ribbons on our fence to honour the children who never returned home as well as survivors of residential schools, their families and communities.

Mental Health and Well-Being Parent Partnership Committee:

The committee is supported by our MH leads and always looking for new parents/ caregivers to join. Next meeting is October 17, 2022 and the Zoom is hyperlinked in the flyer.

Drop Offs and Safe Arrival:

Students are exercising increased independence at drop off and pick up time. We encourage you to drop off your children at school gates once school staff supervise the yard, beginning at 8:45 am.

If you know that your child will be away or arriving late, please call our main office phone number at (416) 394-2388 and press #1 to report an absence. This line is available 24 hours a day. If the school has not been notified of your child’s absence, the automated system will call until an appropriate response has been entered.

Seeking Supply Lunchroom Supervisors:

We are seeking lunchroom supervisors to assist at lunch. If you’re interested in filling this role, please contact Deanna at deanna.cape@tdsb.on.ca

Photo Day Reminder:

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

October is Somali Heritage Month
Oct 7: PA Day
October 10: Thanksgiving
October 11: Photo Day, Retake Day is November 15

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: September 23, 2022

Construction

A lengthy construction project that has started at the school that involves removing brick to expose structural steel. This project will go until the new year and will impact all sides of the school. Fencing has been erected around work areas with limited impact on the play areas for students. Please contact the office if you have any concerns regarding safety and learning.

School Safety and Visitors in the School

We ask that parents and guardians only enter through the main school doors and report to the office. Should you need to speak with your child’s teacher, please send an email or contact the office. The office can facilitate early pick ups due to appointments and illness and assist with materials dropped off at the office.

Curriculum Night

Curriculum Night was a fantastic opportunity to kick off another school year together and to feel connected as a community. Our focus this year as a school is Belonging. Please see the attached copy of the principal’s presentation. If you missed it and have questions regarding what’s happening in your child’s classroom, please contact your child’s teacher. Staff are eager to share the happenings at Wilcox.

Terry Fox

Ms. Rath’s Grade 7s coordinated our Terry Fox walk on Friday. Students and staff participated in our annual support of this cause and engaged in deeper learning regarding Terry’s spirit, resilience and determination.

To donate: https://terryfox.org/

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day

This week we will be observing the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and ORange Shirt Day on Friday September 30th.

Pizza Day is September 29th!

September 29 – Pizza Lunch!! Please order through School Cash Online SchoolCashOnline.com: Welcome. Cutoff date for pizza orders is September 24 at 6pm. Please note that no orders will be taken after this date. There will be extra pizza available for purchase on the day of on a first come first serve basis. If you would like your child to participate for any reason but they cannot please enter information using the following form: https://forms.gle/xDZfpzD1LiFzWZjM8

Student Nutrition Program has started. Please SignUp by Sunday September 25th 6pm.

To register for the program please use the following link: Student Nutrition Program. Each student must register for the program so the school is aware of any allergies or dietary restrictions.

Thank you to our volunteers for all of your help with this program. We couldn’t do it without you!

Covid-19

It is recommended that students, staff and visitors continue to complete a daily self-screening questionnaire. The TPH has updated their screener as of September 6, 2022.

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

September 25-27: Rosh Hashanah
September 29: Pizza Day
September 30: Orange Shirt Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
October 4-5: Yom Kippur
Oct 7: PA Day
October 10: Thanksgiving
October 11: Photo Day, Retake Day is November 15

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: September 16, 2022

Student Nutrition Program starts September 19th. Please SignUp!

To register for the program please use the following link: Student Nutrition Program. Each student must register for the program so the school is aware of any allergies or dietary restrictions.

Thank you to our volunteers for all of your help with this program. We couldn’t do it without you!

Medical Conditions

Please ensure that your child’s teacher and the office are aware of any medical conditions that may require special attention. This week the office sent home a letter and forms to students who use an EpiPen, inhaler, or require special medications while at school. If you did not receive a letter and forms, please contact the office.

Start of Year Forms

Please complete the start of the year forms that were sent via email to you on September 9th and 10th through Permission Click. If you did not receive an email, please check your junk folder. Contact the office if you have further difficulty with these essential forms.

International Languages at Wilcox

Please see the attachment regarding after school Hebrew and Spanish classes at JR Wilcox. Tuesdays at 3:30pm – 6:00pm, beginning October 11th.

j.r.-wilcox-cs-flyer-2022-23 Download

Fire and Lock Down Drills

Every fall and spring we conduct fire and lock down drills. School staff explain the safety reasons for the drills and prepare students for what to expect. This week we had our first fire drill and students were on point and excited the building safely, quietly and in an orderly fashion.

Covid-19

It is recommended that students, staff and visitors continue to complete a daily self-screening questionnaire. The TPH has updated their screener as of September 6, 2022.

Stay home if you are sick. Stay home until you have no fever and your symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if nausea/vomiting/diarrhea). Anyone who is feeling sick or has any new or worsening symptoms of illness, including those not listed in their screening tool, should stay home until their symptoms are improving and seek assessment from their health care provider, if needed.

In addition TPH recommends following extra measures including wearing a well-fitted mask in all public settings (including schools/child care, unless <2 years of age).for 10 days after the start of symptoms OR a positive COVID-19 test (whichever came first) OR for 10 days after your last close contact with a person who has symptoms or a positive COVID-19 test.

994c-screening-questionnaire-child-care-day-camp-school Download

Agenda and Lockers

All students in grades 3-8 are expected to purchase and use a J.R. Wilcox student agenda. These are to be purchased through SchoolCash Online.

This year students in grades 7 and 8 will use lockers. Dudley locks must be purchased through the school through SchoolCash Online: https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

Upcoming dates

September 20: Curriculum Night (schedule available soon); School Council Elections
September 23: Terry Fox Run
September 25-27: Rosh Hashanah
September 29: Pizza Day
September 30: Orange Shirt Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
October 4-5: Yom Kippur
Oct 7: PA Day
October 11: Photo Day, Retake Day is November 15

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

Wilcox Word: September 9, 2022

Thank you ALL for making our September start lively and memorable. We are a very special school of learners, families and community.

Student Nutrition Program SignUp

Our aim is to begin the snack program the week of September 19th. This year we are fortunate to have a team of parent volunteers as well as a student from Seneca College to assist with the program. We are most grateful to the Toronto Foundation for Student Success and President’s Choice for grants to support this program. J.R. Wilcox also accepts donations to augment the grants in order to provide optimal nutrition for our students.

To register for the program please use the following link: Student Nutrition Program. Each student must register for the program so the school is aware of any allergies or dietary restrictions.

Peanut, Nut and Allergy Awareness

A reminder to not bring nut products to school. We have many individuals with life-threatening allergies, and we are committed to ensuring that all students, staff and volunteers are safe and their well-being is maintained. We ask that you do not send any nuts or nut products to school for lunch or snack. We are a nut free environment. This includes Nutella, chocolate and granola bars with nuts.

School Handbook & TDSB Calendars

Finally, please take time to visit our school website: https://jrwilcox.ca/. You will find links to the school calendar, as well as the Parent and Guardian Handbook.

Agenda and Lockers

All students in grades 1-8 are expected to purchase and use a J.R. Wilcox student agenda. These are to be purchased through SchoolCash Online.

This year students in grades 7 and 8 will use lockers. Dudley locks must be purchased through the school through SchoolCash Online.

Parents/guardians will receive an email with the information to purchase these items. Please register using the following link: https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/.

Kindergarten Reminders

We strongly encourage parents and caregivers to leave after bringing kids to the yard. Please remember to close the gate as it may be left open and unattended. If you child is late for school, please enter through the main door and sign in at the office.

A message from the School Council

Get Involved! A warm welcome to new families and welcome back to our existing families! With the new school year, there are lots of ways to get involved with as little or as much time as parents wish to commit. More involved parents means more awesome events and programs we can bring for the kids!

See attached for ways to get involved, If you would like to be a voting member or executive member on the School Council, you MUST nominate yourself by Sept 16th. and attend all school council meetings. A live voting meeting will take place on Sept 20^thafter curriculum night to vote in the executive team for 2022/2023 school year. All other parent council meetings will be virtual. There will be babysitting provided and cheese pizza dinner for the kids so parents can attend the live meeting on Sept 20^th.

After School and Lunch Time Programs! Watch for more information next week as we’ll be bringing back after-school and lunchtime programs including basketball, chess, science, dance, and languages.

Any questions? You can reach out to the 2021/2022 Chair – Ronit.soroksky@tdsb.on.ca or check out the school council page at www.JRWilcox.ca

No Cars in the Parking Lot Between 8 am – 4 pm

There is no parking lot access between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. in order to maintain the safety of the students and staff. The parking lot is for TDSB staff only. We cannot safely accommodate vehicles in and out of the parking lot between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The Wilcox Word is available on our website: https://jrwilcox.ca/blog-posts/

… for a GREAT first week of school!

Upcoming dates

September 20: Curriculum Night (schedule available soon); School Council Elections
September 23: Terry Fox Run
September 25-27: Rosh Hashanah
September 30: Orange Shirt Day and National Day of Truth and Reconciliation
October 4-5: Yom Kippur
Oct 7: PA Day
October 11: Photo Day, Retake Day is November 15

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

-The JR Wilcox Staff

June 30, 2022

To our departing staff, thank you for all of your contributions to our school. We will miss you and wish you all success in your future endeavours. TDSB is a large family of educators and we sincerely hope we will meet again in support of students, families and communities.

Dylan Dhanasar
Angela Frawley
Karen Gill-Holder
Kieron Hodgson
Sharan Kerr
Suzanne Lee
Kathy Likourezos
Megan McDonald
Jenessa Palmer-Simms
Calecia Powell
Diana Quach
Alyssa Scavo
Erin Snow
Valarie Taitt
Jason Tigert
Shanna Tulloch

Thank you to students, parents, guardians and caregivers for making our school a place of wellbeing and positivity. Every success is OUR success, together.

Playground Committee:

The Playground Committee is seeking representation from the school community. We’d love to hear your voice in the playground planning process. If interested, please contact Lauren laurenklipkin@gmail.com or Deanna deanna.cape@gmail.com

New JK Kindergarten Student Visits:

We are excited to welcome your child to school in September. In preparation and to make the transition to school easier for your child, we would like to offer an opportunity for you to bring your child to J.R. Wilcox to meet with the Kindergarten teachers and visit the classrooms.

You will meet the teachers and look at the classrooms so that your child will have visited the classroom where he/she/they will be. The idea is to give new students some familiarity and also see where the washroom is located, where coats and backpacks are hung along with the layout of the classroom. FYI, each classroom may still be in the process of being set up when you come in as teachers are usually preparing classrooms the week before school begins.

Please save the date!

Date: September 2nd

Time: 9:30-10:30 am

Devices:

Please return devices borrowed for virtual learning to the office Monday July 4 and Tuesday July 5th between the hours of 9 am – 3 pm. Thank you!

Office Hours:

The school office is closed July 11- August 26 and will reopen to the community August 29th. The first day of school is September 7th.

We wish you a healthy and happy summer break!

The JR Wilcox Staff

June 24, 2022

Congratulations Grade 8 Graduates!

Valediction by Savannah Ragasa

Good afternoon teachers, parents, family, friends, and my fellow graduates. As we finish off the school year, I want us to acknowledge all we’ve been through throughout our years at JR Wilcox. You might’ve been here at JR Wilcox for a year, a couple of years, or maybe your entire life. Regardless of how long you’ve been here, I want to acknowledge what we have accomplished and what we’ve been through. Before I move on, I just want to say how proud I am of each and every one of us for making it this far.

I know we can all agree, both teachers and students, that this year and the two years before have been rough because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the switches from in person to online. Right when we were supposed to come back from the winter break, we were told to go online for 2 weeks… but then when we were about to go back we had 2 snow days! During this time, I know a lot of us were struggling because it’s not always easy switching from what was normal to something completely different. Despite all the struggles, we also made a lot of accomplishments through this school year

Of course graduating is one of the accomplishments we’ve made but we’ve done much more. As a group, we have helped Ms. Winston with 2 dances and a field day. It was a fun experience for some of us especially since we got to see the whole school. Some of us even got to join sports teams like track and volleyball. These sports helped us learn how to work together as a team and we also got to make fun memories with each other. I know some students got to participate in things like robotics and from what I’ve heard it was a good experience. Student government members have helped organize 2 fundraisers for Toronto Pflag and our yearbooks. Each of these events were a fun experience that we got to share and accomplish together as a team.

Looking back on this year, I’m going to miss all the memories we made here at this school. I’m going to miss coming in every morning and walking up 3 flights of stairs and sitting down out of breath. Maybe not miss but I will always remember it. I’m going to miss gym classes with Mr. Tigert where he would make it seem like 50 push ups was easy and times in class where he would reward us with candy every time we competed in a game. I’m going to miss times in Ms. Frawley’s class where we would laugh our lungs out and lose track of time. For example that one time in math class where Kioni and I got married in the sound proof room. Not to mention how students like Curtis and Rhys would make funny comments during math class. I’m also going to miss the fun activities we did all together like our Canada’s Wonderland trip and our Camp Kearny trip.

As we go off to high school we sadly won’t have recesses and I’m going to miss recesses because of how we all would connect and socialize with each other during the span of about 15 minutes. Remembering how recesses were at JR Wilcox makes me feel sad because I wont see things like the grade 7s and 8s playing basketball, seeing some students play with a tennis ball, seeing some just socializing, and playing volleyball with the rest of our peers outside. I could go on and on about the memories we made at JR Wilcox but my speech is supposed to be around 5 minutes long and Mr. T and Ms. Frawley probably wouldn’t accept my speech.

When I first came to JR Wilcox this year I was scared that I wasn’t going to make any friends. I was scared because it was a whole different school with different people and I didn’t know anybody. But when I first came I was welcomed by Ms Frawley who then introduced me to Joshua and from that point forward I became friends with a lot of people. JR Wilcox was a good experience for me and I’ll miss the atmosphere it has and I know everyone will agree too. It was somewhere where I could be myself and have fun. I want to thank both Mr. Tigert and Ms. Frawley for teaching me this year and helping me become better in subjects like English and Math. I also want to thank every student here who helped make this year something special and a year I will never forget.

As I wrap up this speech, I know a lot of us will be sad about moving on from this school, which was like a second home, to a completely different and big new school with a lot of new people. We’ve made friends at this school and after this we might not even see these friends. Although we might not see each other I know one day we’ll meet again and when we do we can talk about how our journey is going, because although some might think this is the end, it’s the beginning of a new chapter and a new journey. We’ll come back to this school in a few years time and walk through the same hallways, same classrooms, go down the same stairs and remember all the memories we made together as if we’re watching an old film. We’ll then all meet again at our math classroom together. I want to leave you with a quote by Dr. Seuss which I hope will stop tears from falling.

“Don’t cry because it’s over, Smile because it happened.”

-Dr Seuss

Devices:

All devices borrowed from the school must be returned before the summer. Devices will be locked and inoperable over the summer months.

We are accepting devices at the school office between 9am-3pm:

June 27th-30th
July 4th-5th

The only exception is for students in Grade 5 who have received a Chromebook as part of the one-to-one device program for students in grades 5 and 9. Students can keep the Chromebook over the summer.

If you have any questions, or need to make alternative arrangements, please contact the school office.

Lost and Found:

Items will be placed on tables outside of the school from June 27-30th, weather permitting, and during school hours. Unclaimed items will be donated.

Pride 2022 (TDSB Invitation):

After a two-year break due to COVID-19, we are thrilled to invite students, staff and their families and friends to join the loud and proud TDSB contingent as the Toronto PRIDE parade returns in-person this Sunday, June 26, 2022, rain or shine!

• If you’d like to join us, please gather between 1:30pm and 2:00pm at Asquith Green Park (west side of Church Street, 1 block north of Bloor Street) Please see first map below

• TDSB staff will be waiting at the park to hand out TDSB Pride T-shirts and direct everyone to our mustering point (Ted Rogers Way and Charles Street)

• The parade will begin moving from Bloor and Church St. at 3:00pm. The parade will head west then turn south on Yonge Street. ending at Yonge Dundas Square at 6:00pm. Please see second map below

• Bring water, snacks, sunscreen, and anything that will keep you hydrated and refreshed

• On parade day, follow all the fun via Twitter (#PrideTDSB).

PRIDE Toronto is making attempts to become more environmentally friendly, and is encouraging participants to bike, scooter, rollerblade or use any of other energy efficient mode of transportation!

Upcoming Dates

June 28th- Reports cards home; Virtual Report cards will be shared electronically
June 30th- Last day of school
August 29th- School Office opens

A reminder that class placements will be shared with students and parents/guardians in early September through School Messenger and class lists will also be posted at the school.

rly September through School Messenger and class lists will also be posted at the school.

June 17, 2022

Water Walk, Room 105; National Indigenous History Month

For the past few months room 105 has had the opportunity to work with Mr. Sean Gale the TDSB’s Indigenous Student Success teacher. Mr. Gale led us through an integrated science unit where the students really focus on the importance of clean water and our environment. The students listened to a number of books that highlighted the importance of clean water; We are Water Protectors, Nibi’s Water Song, and The Water Walker. As the lessons went on the class became more and more aware as well as passionate about protecting our water. The class also learned about the Water Walkers, Anishinaabe kwe who walked the Great Lakes in order to honour Nibi (water). In order to help spread awareness and have others understand the importance of keeping our Nibi clean and healthy, the class finished the unit with a Water Walk of their own. They made big, bright and bold posters and carried them on their walk through Cedarvale Park. Along the way they had many people in the community comment on what great work they were doing and how important the message they were sharing was! Overall, the unit and water walk was a huge success for all!

Field Day- Thank you student leaders and staff coordinators!

All students participated in field day this week. Student leaders were on hand to assist students in many activities: obstacle course, races, shoe scramble, cooling zone and more! Students had enormous fun, developed deeper bonds with peers and have fond memories of JR Wilcox.

Upcoming Events:

June 20th- Toronto Public Library presentations to students (Grades 1-8)
June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person; 4 pm)
June 28th- Reports cards home
June 30th- Last day of school

June 10, 2022

Thank you to the School Council, school staff and all volunteers for the tremendous show of school and community spirit on Thursday June 9th. There’s nothing more heartwarming than coming together as a community particularly following many moments of distancing and reduced social opportunities. #wearewilcox

June is Pride Month

Room 104 Reading, Writing and Sharing about Families and Pride Month

June is National Indigenous History Month

June is Italian Heritage Month

June is Portuguese Speaking Heritage Month

Ultimate Book List:

The Museum of Contemporary Art has the ultimate picture book list to engage as many identities as possible. We already have some titles and others have been purchased for use. Thank you to School Council for the funds to complete our set. Please see the attached for the ultimate book list. If you have titles you’d like to suggest for our library, please let us know.

MOCA’s collection of children’s books has been developed in

conjunction with Groundwood Books and Another Story

Bookshop. All of the books listed below can be found within

Jeffrey Gibson’s I AM YOUR RELATIVE , currently displayed on

the Ground Floor. The selection has been created with the idea

that every single MOCA visitor can and should find themselves

represented. If you think a story is missing, please let us know via

learning@moca.ca and we would be happy to explore adding

your suggestion to the list.

– MOCA

If you were out and about in the Wilcox neighbourhood last weekend, you might have seen this amazing group of students. Mason (grade three) hatched a plan to make lemonade and sell it so that Wilcox could have extra money for events and resources. His sister and their friends agreed it was a great idea and got to work. When they ran out of lemonade, they had raised $221 dollars for the school! Thank you to all of the students who gave up their afternoon for a good cause, and to all the generous neighbours who stopped to support our school.

June 17th- PIZZA LUNCH please order through School Cash Online https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/. If you would like your child to participate for any reason but they cannot, please enter information using the following form: https://forms.gle/gpxE3LDqoKd55DJW6

Thank you to Ms. Winston and school staff for orchestrating the DANCE PARTY. Students of all ages participated in the school-wide special event.

Upcoming Events:

Student Government Freezie Sale ($1) at lunch all week. Bring a Loonie!
June 16th- K-8 Field Day (Rain or Shine)
June 17- Pizza Lunch
June 20th- Toronto Public Library presentations to students (Grades 1-8)
June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person; 4 pm)
June 28th- Reports cards home
June 30th- Last day of school

June 2, 2022

Black Student Recognition Awards:

On May 26th, we celebrated a proud moment of excellence amongst more than 600 plus individuals including some of the TDSB Senior Team, school staff, families and community partners. In line with the TDSB Multi-Year Strategic Plan which focuses on students developing an understanding of technology and the ability to build healthy relationships, Jonah Harris and Deston James received the Certificate of Excellence award in the area of S.T.E.A.M. (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts, and Mathematics). We wish them well as their futures look bright as change makers.

Jonah Harris

Jonah is a very curious and meticulous Grade 4 student who likes to figure out how things work by taking them apart and rebuilding them. Some of Jonah’s work includes independently building complex motorized toys such as remote controlled cars involving circuit boards. He has created a mixer that uses a hand crank, a rudimentary car made of cardboard, paper clip and battery that actually drives, and a tiny leaf blower that works!

Jonah is also an aspiring electrical engineer who would like to build and design homes where everything is automated and controlled by voice. He believes that modern homes built with voice control will help people with disabilities feel more independent.

Deston James

Deston is an exceptional Grade 7 student who is a singer/songwriter and performer. He recently wrote and performed an original song at our school’s talent show which tackles issues of bullying. Deston also enjoys writing fictional stories. He aspires to become a recording artist in the future.

Office Updates:

Please welcome Hetal Bhatt, Office Administrator. Hetal can be reached at hetaldhaval.bhatt@tdsb.on.ca or at by phone, 416-394-2388.

Playground Supervision:

Students are encouraged arriving early to school when the yard is unsupervised. The yard is supervised 15 minutes before the bell, beginning at 8:43 am.

Kindergarten Registration:

Please register your school-aged child if you haven’t already at https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Find-your/School/Registration. If you need help with registration, please contact the office.

Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement – Grand Opening Virtual Event

June 13, 2022

6 – 7:30 p.m.

Please register online for this event.

The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement is proud to unveil the new physical space! The creation of the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement originated as part of the Toronto District School Board’s response to dismantling anti-Black racism within the school board. It aims to improve both experiences and outcomes for Black students and is also responsive to the voices of Black communities who consistently advocated for deeper systemic change.

This live-streamed evening is filled with activities including a video tour. There will be the unveiling of artwork developed by artist and creator of the LEGACY posters and Order of Canada recipient, Robert Small, along with award-winning Afrofuturist muralist and cultural curator, Danilo Deluxo.

Performances by:

Coco Collective, Multidisciplinary intergenerational artists specializing in African and Caribbean arts
TDSB students from Africentric Alternative School
Randell Adjei, Ontario’s 1st Poet Laureate

Audiences will hear from Toronto District School Board staff and distinguished community members, including:

Colleen Russell-Rawlins, Director of Education, Toronto District School Board
Karen Murray, System Superintendent, Equity, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression & Early Years, Toronto District School Board
Alexander Brown, Chair, TDSB
Dr. George Dei, Professor, Social Justice Education, OISE, University of Toronto
Dr. Carl James, Professor, Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora, York University
Dr. Njoki Wane, Professor and Chair of Social Justice Education, OISE, University of Toronto
Dr. Nicole West-Burns, CEO of NWB Educational Equity Consulting

The event will be moderated by Itah Sadu, storyteller, author and managing director of A Different Booklist Cultural Centre: The People’s Residence.

Student Nutrition Program Call for Volunteers:

Responses to this survey are due Friday, June 10th. https://forms.gle/PfpnF66F4DGSSEiC7

The purpose of this survey is to engage parents and guardians in the Student Nutrition Program. The Student Nutrition Program is connected to our school foci. Your feedback will be used to shape the student experience for all students. At JR Wilcox promotes healthy eating habits in support of physical and mental health and wellness (focus and attend to learning, ability to manage emotions and access problem solving strategies)

From School Council:

June 9th-Family Event- LINK to RSVP: https://forms.gle/TP1D4cxukBomN8ne7

and see link to order pizza dinner for your family

Upcoming Events:

June 7 and 8th- K-8 Dance Party in the Gym
June 16th- K-8 Field Day
June 20th- Toronto Public Library presentations to students (Grades 1-8)
June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person; 4 pm)

May 27, 2022

Orange Shirt Day T-Shirts- Pre-Order for 2022-23 School Year

The Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC) has collaborated to create its first official t-shirt design for Orange Shirt Day 2022, which is now available to order! Two options- with image and without.

You can pre-order your shirt for 2022-23 in advance of Orange Shirt Day. See the link emailed to you from School Cash Online. https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/

Established in 2013 on September 30 we wear orange shirts to recognize the legacy of the residential school system for First Nations, Métis and Inuit families and communities. We acknowledge the legacy of residential schools in Canada by wearing orange and we honour the survivors. We remember the thousands of children who were murdered and buried in unmarked graves.

Friday, September 30 marks the second annual National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, which was passed by legislation in the summer of 2021 to become a federal statutory holiday.

Student Nutrition Program Call for Volunteers:

Responses to this survey are due Friday, June 10th. https://forms.gle/PfpnF66F4DGSSEiC7

Author Visit: Students Grades 4-8 participated in a moving presentation by Karen Levin, author of Hana’s Suitcase

On May 25th 2022, Karen Levine, author of Hana’s suitcase visited JR Wilcox Community School to give a presentation regarding the tragic but amazing story of Hana’s suitcase. The presentation was filled with emotion and power, while listening to Karen Levine talk about Hana’s story I felt a rhythm of chills dance down my spine, I was unsure whether I should have been amazed, horrified, or emotional. Karen Levine gave a powerful and embracing speech regarding how she worked with George Brady and Fumiko Ishioka to create a book about Hana’s story. Karen Levine stated that she felt sorrow that Hana was only living in George’s memory, so she decided to change that. After Karen Levine was done with her presentation, everybody in the room buzzed with excitement and applause.

“Imagine the amount of unheard stories, let one of millions reveal the truth”…

Asya G

Author Visit: Students Grades 1-2 participated in a fun-filled and educational presentation by Ruth Ohi, author of Choose Kindness. “Today we had the best visit with Ruth Ohi. The kids were just amazed by her illustrations, enthusiasm for art, and ability to transform simple shapes into the most extraordinary characters! So much fun learning and drawing with her- they were mesmerized!” Ms. Thackray

From School Council:

June 9th-Family Event- LINK to RSVP: https://forms.gle/TP1D4cxukBomN8ne7

and see link to order pizza dinner for your family

Upcoming Events:

May 30th-June 2nd- Grade 2 EQAO
May 31- Grades 3-8 Student Vote
June 3rd- PA Day
June 15th 16th (rain date)- K-8 Field Day
June 20th- Toronto Public Library presentations to students (Grades 1-8)
June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person; 4 pm)

May 20, 2022

Heritage Month Updates

Next week we have two visits to JR Wilcox. Students will be sharing reflections next week with you. Karen Levin will be presenting to students in grades 4-7 on her book Hana’s Suitcase, a TDSB initiative during Jewish Heritage Month. On May 27th, students in grades 1 & 2 will hear from Canadian-Asian author Ruth Ohi as she features her book, Choose Kindness.

Addressing Discrimmination and Protecting Human Rights

Please see the TDSB document for you regarding our commitment to human rights and interrupting and eradicating all forms of discrimmination. All forms of discrimination are unacceptable in TDSB environments. The TDSB has outlined Expected Practices for Understanding, Addressing and Preventing Discrimination for staff to assist us to create equitable, and inclusive spaces for all.

The TDSB takes incidents of discrimination very seriously.

All TDSB staff are expected to:

•Stop, interrupt, name and report discrimination

•Address discrimination by:

Providing support for affected individuals to ensure their safety and well-being (through, for example, guidance counsellors, social workers or other relevant school or community counselling services).

Holding people accountable for their discriminatory actions, including by documenting and reporting what happened, and taking appropriate and proportionate disciplinary and/or remedial action.

Examining and, where necessary, restoring the school climate, considering what else needs to be done at the school to prevent discrimination from happening again.

Helping students, parents and staff understand and address discrimination is essential to preventing discrimination. Together, we can create safe, inclusive and respectful school environments where all students are welcome, treated fairly, and can grow and thrive.

NO POKEMON CARDS PLEASE: We are having many challenges at recess with students trading Pokemon cards leading to verbal and physical altercations. Please do not send them to school.

Office Update:

Ms Taitt is currently on medical leave. In her absence, retired principal, Ms. Spence is assisting in the office until the end of the month. Welcome Ms. Noral Spence!

From School Council:

May 31st- School Council meeting with BIG announcement (see separate communication for details)

June 9th-Family Event- please RSVP https://forms.gle/Fw3nDThbKJZgnS7e6 and see link to order pizza dinner for your family

June 17th- PIZZA LUNCH please order through School Cash Online. If you would like your child to participate for any reason but they cannot, please enter information using the following form: https://forms.gle/gpxE3LDqoKd55DJW6

Upcoming Events:

May 23rd- Victoria Day (no school)
May 24th-27th- Grade 6 EQAO; May 30th-June 2nd- Grade 2 EQAO
May 31- Grades 3-8 Student Vote
June 3rd- PA Day
June 15th 16th (rain date)- K-8 Field Day
June 20th- Toronto Public Library presentations to students (Grades 1-8)
June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person; 4 pm)

May 13, 2022

Grade 7 & 8 Overnight Trip to Camp Kearney near Algonquin Park!

Students participated in hikes, orienteering and more on their three day trip to camp. By all accounts, they had an incredible time.

Principal and Vice-Principal for the Day

Thank you to Liliana and Marcus for the great leadership today and support and assistance with the fire drill.

Pizza Lunch

Thank you volunteers for coordinating our first pizza lunch since the start of the pandemic! We appreciate all you do for our school.

No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds

Dogs are not allowed on school property at any time. City of Toronto By-Laws and TDSB Policy prohibit dogs (leashed or unleashed) being on school property. Students sometimes end up with soiled shoes and clothing while playing in the field. Thank you for respecting the rules regarding dogs.

Upcoming Events:

May 19th- Welcome to Kindergarten for new Kindergarten parents and caregivers
May 24th-27th- Grade 6 EQAO; May 30th-June 2nd- Grade 3 EQAO
May 31- Grades 3-8 Student Vote
June 3rd- PA Day
June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person; 4 pm)

May 6, 2022

Happy Eid!

Eid al-Fitr is celebrated to commemorate the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Sending all who are celebrated best wishes to you and your loved ones. Eid Mubarak!

On Fun, Friendly Friday, for Mental Health week, several classes got together for outdoor Ed. and other activities together. Here’s a photo of Ms. Frawley’s Gr.8s buddied up with Ms. Baek’s Gr.2s. The students are enjoying sports in the Cedarvale Ravine and appreciating the beautiful spring blossoms.

For great resources and more information, please click https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Elementary-School/Supporting-You/Mental-Health-Well-being/Childrens-Mental-Health-Week. Follow @TDSB_MHWB Hashtag #CMHW2022

The Gr. 2s in Room 104 are showing much ingenuity creating birdhouses and bird feeders. Full STEAM ahead!

Cell Phones and Personal Devices:

Student devices must be powered off once at school and put away for the duration of the day, unless given explicit permission by a teacher to use a phone/device for educational purposes. There should be no phones outside at recess or lunch.

Warning 1- staff will remind the student of the expectation
Warning 2- staff will ask the student to place the phone/device in a sealed and labelled envelope; the phone will be returned to the child once the parent/guardian comes to pick it up and there is a discussion regarding personal device use at school.

May is Asian Heritage Month

This year our theme is Many Voices United as One.

According to the 2017 TDSB Student & Parent Census 40% of TDSB students self-identified as Asian. During the month of May several opportunities and resources will be offered to our students, staff and to the TDSB community to learn about the traditions, customs, and significant individuals that this heritage brings. Please join us for the Asian Heritage Month Virtual Celebration:

Date: Monday, May 9, 2022
Time: 1 – 2 p.m.

Link: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/94506592022

May is Jewish Heritage Month

On May 25th the author of Hana’s Suitcase will be visiting classes that have read the book as part of Jewish Heritage Month, and to explore the story from the perspective of the author. Follow the Jewish Heritage Committee on Twitter @TDSB_JH and check out resources on the Jewish Heritage Committee website.

Staff Appreciation

Thank you to all who celebrated the extraordinary staff at JR Wilcox with a staff appreciation breakfast, signs, balloons and cards. It was the perfect way to end a week devoted to wellness and mental health. #wearewilcox

Upcoming Events:

May 11th-13th- Intermediate trip to Camp Kearney
May 13th- Pizza Lunch
May 19th- Welcome to Kindergarten for new Kindergarten parents and caregivers
May 24th-27th- Grade 6 EQAO; May 30th-June 2nd- Grade 3 EQAO
May 31- Grades 3-8 Student Vote
June 3rd- PA Day
June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person)

April 29, 2022

Mental Health Week- May 2nd-6th

The past 2 years have been challenging for everyone due to the pandemic, isolation, and disruptions to school. There is a lot of work to do to ensure students and staff and families are connected, communicating and supporting each other’s wellbeing. J.R. Wilcox will recognize and celebrate Mental Health Week with lots of lessons, discussions and activities from Monday, May 2 to Friday, May 6.

We have special themes for each day:

> Mindful Monday

> Talk it Through Tuesday (naming our emotions)

> Walking/Wellness Wednesday (Outdoor Ed)

> Thoughtful/Thankful Thursday (practising gratitude)

> Fun Friendly Friday (connecting with peers for games and community building)

*Please wear your J.R. Wilcox T-shirts on Friday, May 6!

Please talk with your children about what they are seeing, hearing and learning about at school to understand the importance of Mental Health Week.

TDSB Resources to support you and your family:

Student Resources

Parent/Guardian Resources

Track and Field- Thank you to all student participants, Ms. Powell, Ms. Rath and Ms. Kerr for enriching our school with athletics and positive sportsmanship!

Lunch

Beginning May 2nd, students will have a common lunch. All students will eat in their classrooms from 11:45 am -12:05 pm, and then have recess outside from 12:05pm -12:40 pm. Students are demonstrating excellent cooperative play skills with students from other classes and we are looking forward to a whole-school lunch recess together.

Class placement

Shortly students will be placed in classes for next year. A letter was sent home explaining the process and information sources used for placement. If there is additional information regarding your child’s class placement, please share this with the school by completing the following Google Form: https://forms.gle/ZkE9yLpvpC5UC6rG9 . We ask that you share this information with us by Friday, May 13^th. We ask that you not request a specific classroom teacher, instead, the type of learning environment. In addition, you can share names of peers who your child learns best with. We cannot guarantee that we can honour your preferences for class placement.

EQAO

Information was sent to all parents and guardians of children in Grades 3 and 6 regarding the EQAO assessment this year. Ministry of Education links and a video were shared as well. I am offering a Q&A session on Thursday May 5th at 4:30 pm: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/91015299269

Upcoming Events:

May 11th-13th- Intermediate trip to Camp Kearney
May 13th- Pizza Lunch
May 19th- Welcome to Kindergarten for new Kindergarten parents and caregivers
May 24th-27th- Grade 6 EQAO; May 30th-June 3rd- Grade 3 EQAO
June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person)

April 22, 2022

Day of Pink and Pflag Presentation to Grades 3-8

Pflag Canada is a national charitable organization, founded by parents who wished to help themselves and their family members understand and accept their LGBTQ2S children. An important part of Toronto Pflag’s mission is conducting education workshops for students, teachers, staff, and parents on topics that include allyship, gender identity, sexual orientation, coming out and bullying.

This week Pflag presented age-appropriate workshops to grades 3-8. Students participated in discussion on allyship, and inclusive spaces. At JR Wilcox, and in the TDSB, we celebrate diversity and inclusion. Thank you to Mr. Tigert and Ms. Frawley for organizing the presentations and candy jar fundraiser. At last count we raised over $70 to be donated to Pflag.

Just as a recap of our winners for pink day:

– Archer in room 21 won the candy jar guessing game

– Molly in Ms. Heatherington’s class won the pinkest student for primary

– Kyra in Mr. Smolkin’s class won the pinkest student for junior

– Kaleigh-Ann in Ms. Rath’s class won the pinkest student for intermediate

Earth Day

We honour the Earth today and every day. Students participated in various activities and discussions today. Ms. Baek’s class joined together to clean the Cedarvale Ravine.

Pizza Day is May 13th!

Pizza lunches are back at JR Wilcox. Thank you to School Council and volunteers for making this happen. Please register for School Cash Online in order to place your order by May 6th. In order to pay for pizza lunch, please register for School Cash Online at: https://tdsb.schoolcashonline.com/. The order form will be visible until May 6th.

If there is a barrier to your child participating, but would like your child to participate please complete the following confidential form: https://forms.gle/e4LhhxNdwZnisR5q7.

New Books for our Library!

A very special thank you to Ms. Rawana for organizing an opportunity for JR Wilcox to select over 200 new books for our school library. We look forward to getting these books in the hands of the students very soon. Thank you to Mrs. Winston and Mrs. Thackray for going down to the Turn the Page event to select the books.

A Day of Remembrance

April 23 marks the four-year anniversary of the tragedy on Yonge Street. The TDSB marked Friday, April 22 as a day of remembrance for the victims of this terrible event. In acknowledgement, flags in all TDSB buildings and schools were flown at half-mast and a moment of silence was observed. Teachers explained the moment of silence to students in an age-appropriate manner. Your child may have questions. For additional resources for you or your family:

Mental Health and Well-Being Website: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/School-Year-2021-22/Mental-Health-and-Well-Being

Grief, Loss and Coping (for Everyone): https://www.tdsb.on.ca/School-Year-2021-22/Mental-Health-and-Well-Being/Grief-and-Loss-Resources

Upcoming Events:

May 2nd-6th Mental Health Week
May 11th-13th- Intermediate trip to Camp Kearney
May 13th- Pizza Lunch
May 19th- Welcome to Kindergarten for new Kindergarten parents and caregivers
Victoria Day: May 23, 2022
May 24th-27th- Grade 6 EQAO; May 30th-June 2nd- Grade 3 EQAO (Family EQAO Night TBD)
June 3rd- PA Day
June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person)

April 15, 2022

Days of Significance

Passover

The eight-day Jewish holiday of Passover is celebrated in the early spring. Passover (Pesach) commemorates the emancipation of the Israelites from slavery in ancient Egypt. Pesach is observed by avoiding leaven or yeast which makes dough rise, and highlighted by the Seder meals that include four cups of wine, eating matzah and bitter herbs, and retelling the story of the Exodus of the Jewish people from enslavement in Egypt.

To all who observe, we wish you a happy passover, chag sameach, Pesach.

Easter

Easter is the celebration of the resurrection of Jesus. Those who celebrate, believe that remembering the resurrection of Jesus is a way to renew daily hope that we have victory over sin. Easter follows a period of fasting called Lent, in which many churches set aside time for repentance and remembrance. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and ends on Good Friday, the day of Jesus’ crucifixion. To all those who celebrate, Happy Easter.

New Year

Today also marks the Solar New Year in Hinduism, the Tamil New Year and the Sikh New Year. Happy New Year to those who are celebrating.

Right to Read

The Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) recently released its report, “Right to Read: Public inquiry into human rights issues affecting students with reading disabilities.” The report has detailed findings and recommendations for many stakeholders including the Ministry of Education, school boards, and faculties of education. The TDSB is reviewing the report recommendations in order to support literacy instruction in schools.

The OHRC report made recommendations in the following areas:

Curriculum and Instruction
Early Screening
Reading Interventions
Accommodations
Professional Assessments
Systemic Issues

Officer Skelhourne presents to Grades 7&8 on the topics of consent, social media and the law

Upcoming Events:
Good Friday: April 15, 2022Easter Monday: April 18, 2022April 19th- Day of Pink; P-Flag presentations to Grades 3-8May 2nd-6th Mental Health WeekMay 11th-13th- Intermediate trip to Camp Kearney May 13th- Pizza LunchMay 19th- Welcome to Kindergarten for new Kindergarten parents and caregiversVictoria Day: May 23, 2022May 24th-27th- Grade 6 EQAO; May 30th-June 2nd- Grade 3 EQAO (Family EQAO Night TBD)June 3rd- PA DayJune 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person)
Wishing you a great weekend,
J.R. Wilcox Staff

April 8, 2022

Talent Show!

Thank you to Ms. Rath and the Room 208 Talent Crew for creating such an outstanding celebration of talent at our school! Thank you to all the students who auditioned and showed tremendous confidence, creativity and healthy risk-taking in doing so. Also thank you to the performers in the following homerooms:

Room 104: Xavier, Elliot, Quantavion, Nathan

Room 105: Sofia, Lia

Room 106: Shayna, Remy

Room 108: Kim

Room 203: Adian

Room 204: Isabel, Fedeelah, Lydia, Tensae, Anderson, A.J. Yadonai, Mischa, Norah, Zadie, Kaine

Room 208: Deston, Zak, Jacob, Michaela, William, Felix

Room 207: Griffon, Savanna

Room 205: Arturo, Jahzz

Room 202: Porsche

Room 23: Sadie

Student Illness and Rapid Antigen Tests: Rapid Antigen Tests can be requested from the school office should your child be exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms at home. Simply contact the office to arrange for a pick-up time. We will also send tests home if your child develops symptoms at school and is being picked up from the office.

JR Wilcox Staffing for 2022-23:

We have started the staffing process for the 2022-23 school year. As part of the consultation process, please join me to discuss proposed models for next year on Wednesday April 13th at 7pm: https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/97696326697?pwd=NDM0cXFFZEc5clZ2clR2d2dXNFVIUT09

In Person & Remote Incoming TDSB Grade 8 Summer Reach Ahead Opportunity

TDSB Grade 8 students are eligible to register for the TDSB Continuing Education, In Person or Remote Secondary Full Credit Summer Reach Ahead course, GLD2O1. In-Person & Remote Full Credit High School Program: Students can enroll in one full-credit course that is offered in July, either remotely or in person at multiple locations. Should an announcement be made that only remote learning can take place, in person students need to be prepared to pivot to remote learning.

Join the Conversation!

Nurturing Children’s Gender and Identity, with Presenter Vivek Shraya

Thursday, May 19, 2022

6:30 – 8 p.m.

Join at www.tdsb.on.ca/conversation

Parent Reboot Recorded Session with Dr. Shefali Tsabary

TDSB is pleased to be offering parents/caregivers FREE access to this great three hour recording Reboot session with Dr. Shefali Tsabary who will help answer parents/caregivers questions and concerns on 5 stressors for parents/caregivers (1) screen addition, (2)children disrespect (3) lying (4) tantrum and (5)anxiety. The session provides golden nuggets to address the 5 stressors. Visit www.tdsb.on.ca/conversation to sign-up for free access to the recording.

These conversations are jointly hosted by the TDSB’s Parent and Community Engagement Office and the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee and generously supported by the Ministry of Education’s Parents Reaching Out Grants. Learn more at www.tdsb.on.ca/conversation

Grade One, Room 106 Energy Posters

Upcoming Events:April 13th- Officer Skelhorne presentation to Grades 7&8April 19th- Day of Pink; P-Flag presentations to Grades 3-8May 2nd-6th Mental Health WeekMay 11th-13th- Intermediate trip to Camp Kearney May 19th- Welcome to Kindergarten for new Kindergarten parents and caregiversMay 24th-27th- Grade 6 EQAO; May 30th-June 3rd- Grade 3 EQAO (Family EQAO Night TBD)June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person)
Wishing you a great weekend,
J.R. Wilcox Staff

April 1, 2022

Thank you School Council for the outstanding fundraising auction! School Council raised $10,420! #wearewilcox

School Office Changes: Katerina Tsiligiannis, secretary, has accepted a position as a SNA at another school and we are in the process of filling her position. Please be patient as staff become familiar with students, community members and office procedures. Thank you!

Lunch: Students are not to leave the school until 11:45 unless they sign out early in the office. Students that leave for lunch should not return to school until 12:38 pm. Please review this with your child and /or caregiver.

Student drop off: Please continue to build student independence by dropping your child off and the gate in the morning. Students are supervised 15 minutes before entry and can safely play and socialise independently.

Visitors to the school: Parents and caregivers are not permitted in the school and in instructional spaces during the school day. Please contact the office for a scheduled appointment. If dropping off or picking up your child, please wait at the door unless directed otherwise.

Graduation: Graduation is scheduled for Thursday June 23rd. Should you wish to participate in the graduation committee, please contact Deanna Cape at deanna.cape@tdsb.on.ca

Summer School: The focus of the Elementary Summer School Program is to continue student learning and engagement through the month of July. Programs, embedded in Literacy and Numeracy, are developed by the local summer school principal to reflect the local school focus. Programs are offered in-person to students in K to Grade 8, from July 4 to July 29, 2022. This year, one online (remote) summer school program will be available.

Registration Information – Program Dates: July 4-29, 2022 – Registration is online. Program delivery method is in-person this year. One remote (online) program is available. Please see full list of programs.

Track and Field (grades 4-8): Ms. Powell is leading track and field this spring. Training starts April 5th. Students should see Ms. Powell for a permission form.

Ramadan: The first week of April this year marks the start of Ramadan, one of the holiest months in the Islamic Calendar. Muslims around the world abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset for 29-30 consecutive days. As an inclusive school please speak with your child’s teacher or the office should your child require accommodations.

April is Sikh Heritage Month: We are inviting all TDSB community, students, and staff to join our virtual Sikh Heritage Month launch to recognize the contributions of Sikh Canadians. Join us for a remarkable afternoon of information and celebration (see flyer or below for full details).

TDSB Sikh Heritage Month Virtual Launch Celebration
Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2022
Time: 9:30 am – 10:30 am
Link: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/stream/LiveWebcast-Sikh-HeritageMonth.html

April is Latin-America History Month

Please join us! Please follow us on Twitter @TDSB_LAHM

Link: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/stream/LiveWebcast-LatinAmerica-HistoryMonth.html
Date: Wednesday, April 6, 2022

Time: 1:00-2:00 pm

April is Hispanic Heritage Month

Upcoming Events:

April 8- Talent Show in the gym
April 13th- Officer Skelhorne presentation to Grades 7&8
April 19th- Day of Pink; P-Flag presentations to Grades 3-8
May 2nd-6th Mental Health Week
June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person)

March 25, 2022

COVID-19 Measures at the TDSB: Welcoming, respectful and inclusive Spaces

Please read the letter sent to all parents/caregivers on Friday, March 17.

Masking: We will continue to provide medical grade masks for students and PPE for all staff. Please respect everyone’s choice. If you send a mask with your child, we will do our best to remind students to respect your decision to wear one at school.

Note, masks are still required in the following circumstances:

For days 6-10 after a self-isolation period of five days after a COVD-19 diagnosis. Learn more.
If you are identified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19. Learn more.
In public spaces, including schools and childcares, for the first 14 days following travel outside of Canada. Learn more.

Screening: Toronto Public Health has updated its screening for children/students/adults to align with the new direction from the Chief Medical Officer of Health with respect to isolation guidelines and masking requirements following a COVID-19 diagnosis or identification of being a close contact. Please do a daily self-assessment with this screening tool before coming to school and follow the isolation guidelines and other requirements, such as masking, as necessary.

Cohorting changes: As a school team we are working on shifting practices to be in alignment with new guidelines. Elementary students can play and learn together across cohorts, classes and grades, both indoors and outdoors and during lunch and recess. Beginning Monday March 28th students will not be cohorted at recess. Individual classroom teachers are working on making incremental changes to classroom routines to enhance cooperative learning and social skill development during learning.

Parking Lot:

The school parking lot is closed to the public and non-TDSB personnel from 8-4 pm daily.

T-shirt Pick-up:

Virtual students and adults that purchased 100th anniversary t-shirts can contact the school to arrange for pick up. Thank you School Council for purchasing t-shirts for each student.

Upcoming Events:

March 29th- Grad Photos; next School Council meeting
April 19th- Day of Pink
May 2nd-6th Mental Health Week
June 23rd- Grade 8 Graduation (in-person)

Wilcox’s Got Talent! – POSTPONED New date TBD

March 18, 2022

Parking Lot:

The school parking lot is closed to the public and non-TDSB personnel from 8-4 pm daily. Cars in and out of the parking lot pose a safety risk to children and adults. Recently there have been unsafe driving practices resulting in vehicle damage and heated exchanges. Please be respectful and drop your child off safely on a side street or in front of the school on Ava Road.

Extracurricular activities are happening again at our school. The Student Government organised Pyjama Day on March 11th and continues to be a voice for students in the school. Intermediate volleyball and robotics will be beginning after the March Break, and keep your eyes open for an invitation to an Art Club in the Library at recess. Thank you to Ms. Winston for the Wilcox Dance Party held in the gym Thursday and Friday before the break.

Combating Hate and Racism – Student Learning Strategy: From the TDSB Website: “Hate and racism in any form has no place in schools and workplaces and we are committed to interrupting and confronting racism, discrimination and hate, in all of its forms when we see or hear it. We must continue to do everything in our ability to be more precise in our actions and strengthen our determination to eliminate all forms of hate and racism in our schools and our system.

The Student Learning Strategy for Combating Hate and Racism is a proactive and student-centred approach to creating respectful and culturally safe learning environments for all students.

This plan is informed by our own TDSB data which shows us that prejudice and implicit bias are learned beginning at a young age. Most of the incidents of hate, bias and racism reported in the TDSB are carried out by students, and we must therefore focus greater attention on educating students to understand the current and historical roots of hatred, racism and intolerance.

This is urgent work and we must reflect on this reality and prioritize being proactive. Students and staff deserve to learn and work in an environment that is safe, inclusive and welcoming and we as a collective community must do everything in our ability to ensure that happens.”

Read the full report on the Student Learning Strategy as well as the action plan.

Women’s College Hospital Vaccination Clinic:

A big shout out to the JR Wilcox staff who assisted in the preparation of the clinic, and to the hospital pharmacists, nurses, doctors and coordination staff who removed a barrier to vaccination and held a clinic at our school. Thank you!

Ms. Hunt’s Class- Sledding in Cedarvale Park:

“I flew over 5 bumps!” -Kaine

“There was lots of snow blowing in my face and I couldn’t see where I was going!” -Mattias

“It was so fun for my first time sledding. I surprised myself by going down the big hill!” -Fedeelah

“I went so fast. It was very fun. I was sad when it ended.” -Mischa

“It was very fun. I went real fast!” -Yadonai

“It was funny when Ms. Hunt went down the hill on my sled!” -Anderson

“I went on so many bumps and flew through the air. It was fun!” -Isabelle

“I liked going down the hill on the sled. I even liked rolling down the hill!” -Elias

Library Upgrades:

We have been creating and designing a new look in our library space to meet the needs of our school population. Our vision is to create a 21st Century Learning Commons that invites diverse student voice, student inquiry and promotes student engagement and learning. So far, we have added new book shelves, and seating and we are working on creating a STEAM area with a seamless look and movement throughout the library.

Upcoming Events:

March 14-18th – March Break
March 23- Virtual Family Fun Night and Silent Auction (School Council)
March 28th- Grade 8 Grad Photos in the morning (stay tuned for details)
March 29th- next School Council meeting
March 31st- Wilcox’s Got Talent!

February 25, 2022

Dear All,

Thank you for the tremendous support and welcome to your school this week.

Upcoming Events:

March 2th- School Council Family Art Night
March 8th- Vaccination Clinic hosted at JR Wilcox; see separate communication for details
March 10th- TPH Covid-19 Virtual Information Session for parents, guardians and caregivers; details to follow soon
March 14-18th – March Break
March 29th- next School Council meeting

Also see:

TDSB Psychology: See Hearts and Minds February issue (attached)
Celebrating African Heritage Month reflections from Ms. Frawley’s class and Kindergarten with Ms. Taitt and Ms. Bulanowski

Wishing you a great weekend,

Deanna

Our conversation around African Heritage Month and Black History Month

African Drumming with Ms. Taitt and Ms. Bulanowski

Ms. Taitt and Ms. Bulanowski drummed in a call and response pattern with Room 101W. They spoke about how historically djembe drumming was used as a tool for communication. They connected it to math and patterns, as in kente clothing patterns.

Outdoor Fun

Students are having so much fun at recess! From Grade 1 to Grade 8, students are enjoying the challenge of obstacle courses created with our tree stumps. As well, imaginations are running wild with new ways to use them – including this town, complete with wiring (aka skipping ropes) for electricity.

Hallowe’en

On Friday October 29th, students are invited to wear a costume for Hallowe’en. Weather permitting, we will go outside to see each other’s costumes. Please review the guidelines below. We recognize that not all students and families choose to celebrate Hallowe’en. Participation is voluntary. When helping your child choose a costume, please keep the following in mind:

Students are required to wear a mask for COVID-19. A costume mask does not replace the need for a face covering.
Costume masks are not to be worn on top of COVID-19 masks.
There should be no replica weapons or additional accessories brought to school as part of the costume.
Culture is not a costume – costumes should be fun and creative. Please avoid anything that would demean, stereotype, appropriate, or mock different races, genders, religions or cultures. Click here to watch a 5 minute video entitled, “My Culture Is NOT A Costume.”

This year, it is important that students do not bring Hallowe’en treats to share.

Coding

Did you know that the Ontario math curriculum released last year includes coding? Ms. Vieira’s Grade 3/4 students are learning how to code using Scratch, one of the many coding programs available for children.

TDSB Newcomer Services “We Carry New Lives & Other Poems”

Celebrate the launch of a new poetry collection “We Carry New Lives & Other Poems”. This book is a collection of 55 original poems and illustrations by Gr. 6-12 students from TDSB schools through the Community Services’ Welcoming Communities program. Register https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/we-carry-new-lives-virtual-book-launch-tickets-183613231117

Curriculum Night

Join us online Thursday, October 21st at 6:00 p.m. for Curriculum Night. Teachers will be presenting an overview of your child’s curriculum and classroom this year. A second session will be offered at 6:25 p.m. We ask parents to please leave your camera on to create a more welcoming and personal space. Sessions will not be recorded, however, materials will be shared later. Teachers will send out links closer to the date.

Our Office at J.R. Wilcox

Over the past couple of weeks, we have been short staffed in our office, with either one or no secretary. As this may be ongoing for sometime, we ask for your patience when you call the office or ring the doorbell. We may be tending to a student or responding to someone else. To ensure we receive messages, please continue to email us at jrwilcox@tdsb.on.ca. We thank you for your understanding and support.

Anaphylaxis Allergies

Students who have severe allergies to such food substances are exposed to a severe health risk when such products are consumed in their environment or shared with them. As prevention is the best approach, we ask that you speak with your child about not sharing their snacks or lunches with other students and please do not send any snacks or lunches with your child that contain peanuts. Click here for a list of classes with severe allergies.

Improving our Outdoor Playgrounds

Have you gone by the school lately? We are loving our tree stumps generously donated to us. Last week, our kindergarten students were able to enjoy an outdoor game despite the grass being wet. We are excited by the many possibilities outdoor seating provides. If you have ideas for our playground or something to donate, please let us know. We expect to begin a process in the spring to design and upgrade our back playground and will be looking for parent/caregiver input.

School Council

Save the date for our first School Council meeting: October 26th at 7:00 p.m. School Council is a wonderful way to engage in our school community. It allows parents and caregivers the opportunity to provide advice and input on many important school decisions. All parents are encouraged to attend. An agenda and zoom link will be sent closer to the time.

French Programs Application Deadline

For families interested in the Toronto District School Board’s system-wide French Programs, we offer an online process to apply for Early French Immersion (begins in JK and SK, for September 2022 only) and Middle French Immersion (begins in Grade 4). An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants. The timelines for applying for these programs for September 2022 are:
Early French Immersion: Applications must be completed online between November 1 and November 26, 2021.
Middle French Immersion: Applications must be completed online between January 3 and January 28, 2022.
Offers of placement within your chosen program (not a specific school) will be made to all on-time applicants in the weeks following the close of the application window. Families with an older sibling currently in a French program are still required to complete an online application for the new student.
Virtual Information Sessions for the Early French Immersion application and placement process are available in November on the following dates:
• November 8, 2021 at 7 p.m.
• November 15, 2021 at 10 a.m.
• November 23, 2021 at 7 p.m.
For more information about the Virtual Information Sessions, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/Elementary-School/School-Choices/French-Programs/Information-Sessions.
For more information about French programs, the application process and important dates, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/french or click on Application Process.

Reminder: J.R. Wilcox T-Shirts

Our School Council has generously donated funds to provide a J.R. Wilcox t-shirt to every student this year! The logo was created by a student to celebrate our 100 year anniversary. To order your child’s t-shirt, please complete this form to select the correct size. If you have more than one child, you will need to complete a form for each child. We would like to send in our order soon.

Photo Day

We are Hiring for Supply Lunchroom Supervisors

If you have experience working with children and an ability to communicate in English sensitively with our students, parents and others, please consider joining our team.
Your main role will be to ensure the safety and security of our students during the daily lunch period for 1 hour and 15 minutes.
Necessary skills include patience, understanding and the ability to encourage positive relations among students.
If interested, please apply on-line here and and provide a resume to the School

Virtual Community Fair

Voluntary Student Vaccination Disclosure

In the event of an interim cohort dismissal related to COVID-19, students who are fully vaccinated are allowed to continue to attend school as long as they have no symptoms. Fully vaccinated staff and students will still have to pass the COVID-19 screening tool each day, confirming they do not have symptoms. To more effectively manage possible COVID-19 cases and outbreaks in schools, Toronto Public Health is now requesting that Toronto school boards begin collecting the voluntary disclosure of vaccination status by students born in 2009 and earlier. This is intended to minimize disruption to the students and support a more efficient dismissal process. Please note you can choose to disclose or not disclose – it is entirely voluntary. Those who do not disclose their vaccination status will be considered unvaccinated for the purposes of the dismissal process. Learn how to update your vaccination status on the TDSB Health Screening App or on the online web portal.

How to Make a DIY Pencil Holder

Our recent news anchors taught us how to make a DIY pencil holder. Below are the instructions to try it yourself at home. Then snap a photo of your pencil holder and send it to us to see.

Materials Needed:

3 toilet paper rolls (or more)
paper
paint
glue
scissors

Steps:

Glue the 3 toilet paper rolls (or more) together in any way you want.
Wrap the paper around the toilet paper rolls and glue it carefully to secure the paper.
Cut 3 circles to attach to the bottom of each toilet paper roll.
Paint on the paper any way you want. You can also use markers, crayons, or pencil crayons.

Orange Shirt Day and Truth and Reconciliation Week 2021

This year’s Orange Shirt Day was part of Truth and Reconciliation Week, during which students learned more about Indigenous treaties, First Nation, Métis and Inuit land claims, and the residential schools system. Every day on the announcements, Grade 6 students taught us a word in the Ojibway language, such as aaniin which means hello. Some of our Grade 4 students wrote heartfelt responses using the prompt, “I matter because…” on orange t-shirt cutouts, and some Grade 5 students created art inspired by imagining what they would miss if they had been sent away to a residential school. The learning was meaningful and important and will continue outside of this week.

On Orange Shirt Day itself, we had an incredible number of students wear orange. We are grateful to parents and caregivers who help make it possible for students to participate in days like Orange Shirt Day.

School Council 2021-2022

We are pleased to introduce our 2021/2022 School Council Executive members:

Chair: Ronit Soroksky
Co-Secretaries: Maria Tsafaras and Joan Ogunyowa
Treasurer: Rosanne Brown
All parents/guardians of J.R. Wilcox (virtual and in-person) are welcome to join our school council meetings. Details for our first meeting will be shared soon.

Parents and Caregivers as Partners Conference 2021

Join us for a virtual conference and learn strategies to support your child, connect with other parents and hear from our inspirational keynote speaker. TDSB is committed to parent, caregiver, and community engagement as an essential element in our shared efforts to improve outcomes for children throughout their lives. Our role is to help build capacity by successfully engaging parents and caregivers, strengthening home-school partnerships, and aligning our collective efforts. The Parents and Caregivers as Partners Conference 2021 takes place on October 16 and 17 and provides an opportunity to highlight innovation and high-impact strategies for partnering, collaborating, and nurturing parents and caregiversʼ partnerships and alliances. Registration is now open! Learn more at www.parentsaspartners.ca

Terry Fox Run

This past Friday we participated in our Terry Fox Run. Students ran laps around the field, cheered on by our Grade 6, 7 or 8 students. The energy was palpable and it was an event that we have always enjoyed prior to the pandemic so were thrilled we could participate once again. Not only do we enjoy the thrill of the run and the symbolism that we run for people with cancer, but we are also raising money for the Terry Fox foundation. Terry Fox said, “anything is possible if you try.” We are inspired by his amazing example. Please consider supporting us in our try, and help us raise much-needed funds for cancer research. As one donor said, we are “keeping Terry Fox and his message alive!” To date, we have raised $937 thanks to your generosity. To donate, visit our school page.

Keeping Kids Safe

The streets around J.R. Wilcox continue to be very busy before and after school. Drivers are reminded to do their part to keep children safe near school buses.

Drivers should follow these tips:

Stop and never pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing.
Leave space around school buses and avoid blocking school bus loading zones so children can enter and exit safely. Our school bus loading zone is located on the south side of Ava Road.
Be prepared to stop for a school bus at any time, not just during school hours.
Always obey the rules of the road and watch for children, especially in school zones.
Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks and school crossings. We are fortunate to have a new crossing guard at the corner of Ava and Atlas.

Parents can also help keep their children safe by reminding them to be aware of their surroundings when they are on or near school buses.

Bicycle Helmets Available

We love to see students active and riding their bicycles and scooters to school. Did you know that, by law, every cyclist under age 18 must wear an approved helmet? We are happy to provide certified multi-sport helmets to students (size small-medium). Our caretaker Brad, is modelling the helmet here. Let us know if a child in your family needs one and we will be happy to send one home.

J.R. Wilcox T-shirts

September 30th marks Orange Shirt Day & the First National Day of Truth and Reconciliation

Thursday, September 30th is Orange Shirt Day. It also marks the first annual National Day of Truth and Reconciliation which was passed by legislation this summer to become a federal statutory holiday.

Established in 2013, Orange Shirt Day was inspired by Phyllis Webstad, who was excited to wear her new orange shirt to her first day of school in 1973. However, when she arrived at St. Joseph Mission Residential School, her shirt was taken and never returned. From that day forward, the colour orange, for Phyllis, reminded her of that moment, how her feelings didn’t matter, how she felt like she wasn’t worth anything and that no one cared for the children who were crying about it that day.

Now, on this day, we recognize the legacy and impact of the residential schools system on First Nations, Métis and Inuit families and communities. We acknowledge the legacy of residential schools in Canada by wearing orange and we honour the survivors. We remember the thousands of children who were murdered and buried in unmarked graves.

On Thursday, September 30, 2021 wear orange to participate in Orange Shirt Day.

Follow @UIEC_tdsb and @tdsb on Twitter to see how students and staff from across the Toronto District School Board recognize Orange Shirt Day.

For more information, visit the Urban Indigenous Education Centre website. To learn more about Phyllis’ story and Orange Shirt Day visit http://www.orangeshirtday.org

I Am From

At our first staff meeting this year, we read the poem I Am From by George Ella Lyon. In her poem, we learn what made the author who she was – her childhood memories of food and smells, of important events, and people in her life. Staff were then challenged to write their own poems to share their stories. Many of our teachers were inspired to have their students create I Am From poems as a way to learn about each other. Below are some poems written by our students.

School Council

There are many reasons to join the council:

To know more about what’s happening at the school and to have a say in some decisions regarding your children’s school!
To meet more parents at the school!
To have a say in what your kids learn, get to know the teachers, and generally be more involved in your children’s school!

To become a member of School Council, please complete a self-nomination form by end of day September 28th. Please find the form here. What are the roles and what do they mean? (Please note all positions can be “co” as in two people working together on one role)

Chair – Runs the meetings, creates agenda, sends emails out to parents
Treasurer – Manages all finances for the school council
Secretary – takes all notes from our school council meeting
Voting Member – This person is an executive position and votes on school decisions ie where we spend money etc. *Needs to attend all monthly meetings

Voting will take place online on September 30th. Then join us on October 5th for our first School Council meeting of the year. For more information, visit our School Council page.

Parent/Caregiver Check-in

Join Ms. Vine, Ms. Taitt and our school social worker, Suzy Brotman, on Thursday, September 23 at 7:00 pm or Friday, September 24 at 9:15 am for a chat. Bring your questions/concerns about the upcoming school year and/or how your child is adjusting to school. We recognize that multiple parents/caregivers may be in the Zoom meeting, so we ask all attendees to please keep any information private to the session. A Zoom link will be sent out closer to the date.

Fire Drills and Lockdowns

At the beginning of each school year, our students and staff prepare for the year ahead by establishing the foundations for a successful year. One of the ways we know we can help students be successful is to create a safe environment in which to learn. Though no one ever wants to see an emergency happen at a school, it’s important for school staff to be equipped to deal with those situations, should they occur.

The safety of students and staff is a top priority at our school and to that end, as with all emergency drills, it is essential that we are prepared and understand the importance of procedures that will help ensure the safety of everyone in our school.

The TDSB has taken steps to ensure your child’s safety while in school. Each school has developed emergency preparedness plans that include steps staff will take in the event of an emergency, how staff will get students away from possible dangers, and how students’ families will be contacted.

One aspect of emergency preparedness is the lockdown and fire drill. All schools are required to conduct a minimum of two lockdown drills and six fire drills each school year. This week, we held our first fire drill and students practised exiting the building quickly and quietly. Lockdown drills, like fire drills, are an essential component to ensure student and staff safety. It is important that all staff and students are prepared and know how to respond in cases of emergencies. The drills last approximately 5 minutes and ensure plans are effective and can also systematically identify any safety concerns. We will conduct our first lockdown drill this coming week.

Communication is also very important in any emergency situation. The emergency contact information kept on file is important in helping this happen. It lists the people who can pick up a student from the school. If you have not yet provided this information to our school office or have updates to the information on file, please make sure our office staff have that information as soon as possible.

Anaphylaxis – Taking the Necessary Precautions

Anaphylaxis is a serious allergic reaction that can be life threatening. This medical condition can cause a severe reaction to specific foods or other materials, and can result in death within minutes. Although foods such as peanuts, milk, eggs, and sesame seeds are the most common cause of anaphylaxis, insect stings, medicine, or latex can also cause a reaction. In recent years, anaphylaxis has increased dramatically among students. The TDSB, in partnership with Toronto Public Health, is committed to maintaining a safe and healthy learning environment for all students and staff.

As required by Sabrina’s Law, the TDSB has established policies and procedures to prevent and manage anaphylactic reactions and to reduce the risk of exposure to anaphylactic causative agents in classrooms and common school areas.

Although this may or may not affect your child’s class directly, we want to raise awareness about this life-threatening condition. Students who have severe allergies to such food substances are exposed to a severe health risk when such products are consumed in their environment or shared with them. As prevention is the best approach, we ask that you speak with your child about not sharing their snacks or lunches with other students and please do not send any snacks or lunches with your child that contain peanuts.

If your child has health problems of any kind, please inform your child’s teacher or office staff immediately so that the necessary health protection steps may be taken and to ensure everyone’s co-operation for a safe learning environment.

Whether you are living with the allergy yourself, caring for someone who is, or concerned about people in your community, more information about life threatening allergies is available at http://foodallergycanada.ca.

Student Vote

Student Vote is an authentic learning program that provides students with the opportunity to experience the voting process firsthand and practice the habits of active and informed citizenship. On Friday’s Morning News Show, Ms. Frawley’s Grade 7/8 class introduced us to the party leader candidates for the provincial election and taught us about some of their beliefs and promises. On Monday, September 20th, students in Grades 4 to 8 will have the opportunity to cast their ballots. Voting will take place outside so in order to follow health and safety protocols. All schools must submit their ballots by Monday at 5:00 pm. and preliminary results will be shared on election night. Afterwards, the results will be updated daily with any submissions received after the deadline. The Student Vote Canada results will include the seat count and popular vote by party, results by riding and individual school tallies.

A Fond Farewell to Ms. Kontos

Yesterday, we said goodbye to our Acting Office Administrator, Ms. Kontos. She spent nearly a year working in our school and made a great impact on all of us. We wish her well in her new position at Central Technical School. We are happy to share that Ms. Tsiligiannis, who has been working as our morning secretary, will move into the full-time acting Office Administrator position.

It is so wonderful to have students back in the building again. These first two days were about meeting new friends, and saying hello to old ones. We had a school-wide assembly where we had a chance to be together as a community. While it is not the same as gathering in person, we used technology to bring us all back together. Students had a chance to meet new staff, and were reminded of the many health and safety protocols we have in place to keep everyone safe at school. Being safe at school means families are safe at home so we take this responsibility seriously.

Safety at Drop-off and Pick-Up

ntry points are spaced out around our property in order to be able to keep people physically distanced. We are fortunate to have a new crossing guard at the corner of Atlas and Ava Road to help students cross the street safely, however, this week, the sidewalk on Ava Road was so congested that some families had to walk on the road. With school busses and cars stopping to let children out, this is very unsafe. We are requesting that parents of Kindergarten students who are dropping their children at the green gate do so with a wave and then leave the property. This will allow children walking along the street to stay on the sidewalk. If you are driving your children to school, please stop your car on Atlas or Winnett as the school busses do not drive on these streets allowing more space for passing vehicles. Thank you for your cooperation.

Partnering with Women’s College Hospital

COVID-19 vaccination rates are increasing and this is avery good thing. Still we must be careful about COVID-19 and the variants. If your child develops any symptoms of COVID-19 while at school, your child will receive a saliva testing kit to complete at school or to take home and return to school. We will send the sample to WCH and you will receive your test result quickly and confidentially. If your child tests negative, they can return to school more quickly! Click here for more information about the program.

Backpacks, Lunch Bags and School Supplies

We are fortunate to have received some backpacks, lunch bags, school and PPE supplies from the United Jewish Appeal as well as the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Liberal MP. If your child could make use of these items, please email us at jrwilcox@tdsb.on.ca and we will be happy to provide them.

Forms Required

rition Program Registration form gives permission for your child to receive morning snack. The Lunch Form tells us whether your child will be staying at school for lunch or going home. If you haven’t already done so, please complete them.

Morning News Show

Did you know that every Friday we come together as a community and watch the Morning News? It’s an opportunity for student voice – literally, as students are the anchors! It’s also a chance for classes to celebrate what they are learning and doing in school. Use this form to sign up to be a morning news anchor.

Daily Health Screening

Back to School Confirmation Form

Student Virtual Learning Support

2021 School Year

Mental Health and Well-Being Supports and Resources

A Final Word

Thank you to all staff, students and families for your strength and resilience this year. It has been a year like no other. We have pulled together as a community to help keep each other safe, and learn and grow. Our dedicated teachers, educational support staff, caretakers and office staff showed patience, care and compassion. Our educators supported our students both academically and emotionally. Parents/Caregivers, thank you for entrusting us with your children. Our students are the reason we do what we do. We believe in them and are proud of what they accomplished this year. Thank you to our School Council executive who came on board and created a strong community despite never sharing the same space.

Today we had a final assembly in which we honoured our staff members who are moving on. We wished them well and presented them with graduation certificates from J.R. Wilcox. Click here to see the presentation. Then we shared one final laugh together as we danced our way to summer break with Go Noodle’s Celebrate by Blazer Fresh.

We wish everyone a happy and healthy summer.

Today we celebrated National Indigenous History Month with a beautiful assembly filled with many student voices and work. We acknowledged the devastating news of the unmarked graves in Saskatchewan and British Columbia. We also celebrated the many inspiring Indigenous people who have contributed so much. Some of our Grade 4 students learned about Pow Wows and shared beautiful videos. Click here to see the Kindergarten students’ contribution about the 7 Grandfather Teachings and Feather Art. Below you will see some poetry recently written by our Grade 7/8 students.

Device Drop-off and Retrieval of Student Belongings

If you are returning a device and do not need to enter the school, please drop it off at the main doors of the school between 1:00 and 4:00 pm on Tuesday, June 29th or between 8:30 and 11:30 am on Wednesday, June 30th. Please refer to the email sent on June 21st for full details.

Report Cards

Report cards and IEP Summaries are being sent electronically to all families today, Friday June 25th. Students were assessed based on their performance in Term 2, both in person and virtual learning. If you do not receive a report card for your child by the end of the day Friday, please email laura.collins@tdsb.on.ca.

Tentative School Organization and Class Placements

On your child’s Term 2 report card, there will be a statement with their class placement for September. Please see the chart below to identify the room number and teacher. We want to remind you that all placements are tentative at this time. We do not yet know what September will look like and we must be prepared for changes. With that in mind, we ask that the emphasis not be placed on a specific teacher for next year, rather how proud we are that they are moving to the next grade and excited for them to continue their learning at J.R. Wilcox.

School Year Calendar 2021-2022

The school year calendar has now been approved by the Ministry of Education. The official school year calendar for the Toronto District School Board runs from September 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022, inclusive. First day of classes for students is September 9, 2021. Click here for full details.

The June issue of Hearts & Minds is full of resources including recommended podcasts for parents/caregivers and how to make a smooth transition from summer to September. To read the June issue and all issues from this academic school year, click here.

Pride Assembly

Today we came together as a whole school community to celebrate diversity and raise awareness about the rich culture and history of our 2SLGBTQ community. We also watched the raising of our new more inclusive Pride flag.

The significance of the colours of the Inclusive pride flag are: LGBTQ 6 full sized color stripes representing life (red), healing (orange), sunlight (yellow), nature (green), harmony/peace (blue), and spirit (purple/violet)

Hoist: 5 half sized stripes representing trans and non-binary individuals (light blue, light pink, white), marginalized POC communities (brown, black), as well as those living with AIDS and the stigma and prejudice surrounding them, and those who have been lost to the disease (black).

Click here to see Brianna and Bailey raise our flag at J.R. Wilcox. Click here to see some of the pride flags and messages created by our Kindergarten and Grade 7/8 students.

Next week, we are hosting a school-wide assembly in honour of National Indigenous History Month.

Staffing Updates

Every year, as a result of changes in staffing, we have to say goodbye to some amazing educators. Ms. G. Tran will be working at Fairbank Memorial full time and Ms. Aguirre will be joining the staff at Eglinton JPS. Our incredible long-term occasional teachers, Ms. Graham, Mr. Cabacungan, Mr. Tsemo, Ms. Parker, and Ms. Gjoliku, will be completing their assignments at the end of the year. Ms. Bangura, our Child and Youth Worker, and Ms. M. Tran, ECE, have been integral to our Autism and Kindergarten programs. We are fortunate to have had them all on our team and hope to welcome them back again some day.

We would like to give the gift of of gratitude and appreciation to our departing staff members. Click here to access the form to provide your input and appreciation. Then tune in with your children to our final assembly on the last day of school – June 29th.

We are excited to welcome the following staff members back to our team: Ms. Beamish, Ms. Angus, Ms. Diamond, Ms. DiManno, Ms. Vieira and Ms. Frawley. We also welcome new staff: Ms. Baek, Mr. Fithern, Mr. Smolkin and Ms. Glover.

Report Cards

Report cards will be sent home electronically beginning June 24th. Students were assessed based on their performance in Term 2, both in person and virtual learning.

Parent/Caregiver Engagement

These past few weeks have been difficult. We learned that children would not be returning to school this year. We learned about the terrible discovery of children’s remains from residential schools in our own country, and we learned about the hateful murder of a family in London, Ontario. Many of our teachers have been helping students to discuss the impact of racism and discrimination in Canada. At J.R. Wilcox, we are more committed than ever to talk about, teach, and interrupt racism and discrimination. EVERY child and family deserves to feel safe and accepted in our community. #WeAreWilcox

June in the TDSB

June is Pride Month! It’s an opportunity to celebrate diversity and raise awareness among all staff and students about the rich culture and history of our 2SLGBTQ+ community. TDSB school communities are encouraged to hold intentional sessions with their students about issues related to 2SLGBTQ+ communities as well as the impact of homophobia, transphobia and biphobia on TDSB students, staff and community members. 2SLGBTQ+ honours the knowledge of the two spirit, Indigenous and the work of communities to decolonize settlers. Click here for the Anti-Oppression Anti-Racism Celebrating Our Pride Newsletter written by the TDSB Mental Health and Well-Being Committee and the Gender-Based Violence Prevention Team. J.R. Wilcox will be hosting a Pride assembly on Friday, June 18th. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

In June, we also honour National Indigenous History Month with the Urban Indigenous Education Centre. We celebrate and honour First Nations, Métis, and Inuit cultures and perspectives, enjoy Indigenous stories, literature, art and music. Learn from Indigenous people and their experiences. Many of our classes are engaged in deep learning about Indigenous History. J.R. Wilcox will be hosting an Indigenous History Month assembly on Friday, June 25th. Parents and caregivers are welcome to attend.

Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month is proudly recognized during the month of June at the TDSB for the past 10 years since 2011. The Province of Ontario passed the Celebration of Portuguese Heritage Act in 2001 and this year marks the 20th anniversary of this Act. This year the theme is Esperanca! / Hope!

Italian Heritage Month is recognized proudly during the month of June as well. The TDSB passed a motion to recognize Italian Heritage Month in June in May 2012. This year the theme of Italian Heritage Month is Made in Italy. The Province of Ontario also celebrates Italian Heritage Month since June 2010 when the Italian Heritage Month Act was passed.

Upgrading our Outdoor Space

During the recent provincial lockdown, our basketball nets on the east side of the school were removed. The nearby streetlight encourages play late at night that is disturbing to our neighbours and the hoops fixed to the school wall cause damage to the building allowing water behind the brickwork. We needed to relocate our nets and wanted to do so quickly so that children and community members could enjoy the playground. We took the opportunity to meet with TDSB landscapers/facilities personnel and discussed a plan for improving our outdoor space. In the coming weeks, we will have two new basketball nets installed on the lower pavement and one or two triple hoops on the upper pavement. We also began the discussion to have other new landscaping and play features added. We would like to make J.R. Wilcox a truly a special place for our whole community and include features such as an outdoor seating and learning area, as well as added play areas. We will reach out to families in the new year to engage in greater dialogue with the community.

Mental Health and Well-Being

The 2021 Summer Well-Being Guide has a variety of culturally-responsive resources and accessible activities for students and families. Information on where and how to reach out for help is also included. In addition, on page 3 of the guide, there are details and contact information to register for various Summer Groups offered by our Professional Support Services Staff for students and caregivers.

Join the Parent/Caregiver Learning Series Wednesday mornings in July. Topics may include: supporting our kids through difficult times and self-care. Email Joanne.Smith@tdsb.on.ca to register.

The TDSB Psychology Services team is proud to share their spring edition of Hearts and Minds.

Our Greatest Grands is a new group supporting grandparents who are caring for students in the TDSB. Register by July 23rd and meet weekly on Wednesdays in August.

Welcome to Kindergarten

We are excited to meet our new Junior Kindergarten students! If you missed our orientation, click here to see the information shared with our new families. Families will be invited to school to pick up their Welcome to Kindergarten bags at the beginning of July.

Remembering the Children in Residential Schools

Our community stands with others in our grief and sadness at the discovery of the 215 children whose remains were uncovered in a mass unmarked grave in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc this past week. Our flag will be lowered to half-mast in honour of these children. As educators, we know that we have work to do to teach the truth about this shameful and tragic part of Canada’s past. It is only through this work, that there will be reconciliation. As you walk past our school this week, you will also see drawings on the sidewalk that have been put there by staff and families as a way of reinforcing and remembering that EVERY CHILD MATTERS. Tomorrow, we will wear orange to remember the children. Tomorrow, when our teachers share the Land Acknowledgement, they may include this topic in an age appropriate way. If you are looking for resources for your children, please visit this TDSB site of curated resources.

School Council

Last week, we had our final school council meeting of the year. We had a very collaborative and dedicated executive who worked to make a difference for our entire J.R. Wilcox community. Thank you to everyone who attended a meeting, contributed an idea, attended an event, read an email, or visited our website. This year, we have many reasons to be proud, including:

establishing a set of bylaws which govern our council and guide our work
consistently high attendance at meetings
virtual family activity night
fundraising including 2 book fairs and Flipgive
creation of Class Parents
parent/caregiver speakers
a community food pantry
School Council webpage

Parent/Caregiver Speaker Series

The Future of Public Education

Thursday June 3 @ 6:30 p.m.

There is lots of information out there about the future of education, including the role of technology, the choices parents/caregivers can expect from the public system and the challenges and benefits of virtual learning. Tune in to hear from a panel of experts who will provide some insights on virtual engagement and the future of education.

Panelists include:

Join the webinar or by phone at 1-647-558-0588, Webinar ID: 935 2333 5918

Scholastic Book Fair

https://virtualbookfairs.scholastic.ca/pages/5160196

School Council

Join us for our final meeting of the year on Tuesday, May 25th at 7:00 p.m. An agenda with the link will be shared via email. Read the minutes from our last meeting here.

Student Vaccines

This week we hosted an information session for parents to learn about vaccines and children, age 12-17. Dr. Suvendrini Lena, from Women’s College Hospital provided data about the vaccine, it’s use in children, and how consent is given. If you missed this session, click here for the recording. Grade 6-8 students will have their own information session with WCH in class on Tuesday, May 25th. J.R. Wilcox students who are 12 years of age are invited to get their first vaccine at Oakwood CI on Tuesday May 25th and Wednesday, May 26th between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Grade 8 Graduation 2021

Online Learning Experiences

Students, staff, and families were asked to share their feelings about online learning. In this video prepared by Ms. Parker, you’ll learn what Bryan Daniel likes and dislikes about online learning. He also shares a tip to help him focus and some computer shortcuts.

Welcome to Kindergarten Orientation

We Are Authors

Ms. Powell’s Grade 4 students have been hard at work writing and are now published authors. Here is a glimpse into their published book as well as some of their beautiful poetry:

Reminders

May 23rd is the final day for parents/caregivers to provide input into class placements for next year.
May 24 is Victoria Day and there will be no classes.
May 25-27 is the J. R. Wilcox Scholastic Book Fair – Details coming soon
May 25 is our School Council meeting

Black Food Toronto

Black Food Toronto is an Afri-Can FoodBasket COVID-19 Emergency Food Assistance Program. If you are in need of assistance, fill in this form to be put on their waitlist.

COVIC-19 Vaccination Clinic

EarlyON Child and Family Centre

Children’s Mental Health Week

We all need ways to boost our resilience and keep ourselves calm now. Check out what strategies some of our Grade 4s have in their Mental Health toolkits.

Grocery Gift Cards

We recognize how challenging this pandemic continues to be for so many families. It is our hope that we can assist in a small way by offering grocery gift cards to those who request. Click here to complete this form. The information you provide will be treated confidentially.

Coffee and Conversation

Join Ms. Vine and Ms. Collins for Coffee and Conversation on Friday, May 14th at 9:15 a.m. It’s a chance for us to connect as a community, ask questions, and share stories. No agenda, just casual conversation. A link will be sent out closer to the date.

Parent/Caregiver Speaker Series

Humewood School Council invites you to:

When: Monday May 10th, 2021
Time: 7:30-9:00 pm
Click here to learn more / register.

Davisville Jr PS invites you to join them and instructor Tina Carlson, an IMTA certiﬁed mindfulness teacher with UCLA’s Mindful Awareness Research Center for a variety of programming in May.

Thursday May 13 – 6:30 – 7:30 pm JK-Grade 2 – Mindful PJ Party
Thursday May 20 – 6:30 – 7:30 pm Grades 3-6 – Mindful Super Heroes
Thursday May 27 – 8:00 – 9:30 pm – For Parents and Caregivers – Mindfulness and Equity: Natural Partners

To join, please register here –https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfKEy0hgWHQwH_unQM2D34JM0pfWWKC4ifvW6X9Bj-6NOWZxQ/viewform

Elmlea Junior School invites you to:

Parent/Caregiver Speaker Series

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEuceirrzwuHNTW3U9N2wPkDc6-94O8i74P

Equity and Anti-Racism Workshop with Alexis Dawson

West Prep School Council invites J.R. Wilcox families to an interactive workshop led by anti-racism expert, Alexis Dawson. She is an anti-racism trainer, advocate, and former Trustee at the TDSB. She continues to advocate for Black student equity in a variety of roles including as Chair of the TDSB Black Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee, community organizer, and parent. This workshop will explore:

Race, racism, systemic anti-Black racism
Raising anti-racist children and Anti-Black racism in TDSB
What parents/caregivers and school councils can do to confront racism.

Grade 3 Spring Art Show

May is Asian Heritage Month

Asian Heritage Month is recognized formally throughout Canada through an official declaration that was signed in May 2002. The Senate of Canada accepted this motion originally proposed by Senator Vivienne Poy in December 2001. Subsequently, the Province of Ontario passed the Asian Heritage Act in 2005.

We are proud to celebrate the numerous achievements of Asian-Canadians and their significant role on the global stage. This year our theme is Discover. Share. Celebrate our Resiliency! An invitation by the TDSB Asian Heritage Month planning committee is being extended to all TDSB staff, students, and the TDSB community to attend the Virtual TDSB Asian Heritage Month Celebration. Tuesday, May 4, 2021 from 1 – 2 p.m.https://www.tdsb.on.ca/stream/LiveWebcast-Asian-HeritageMonth.html.

Mental Health Toolkit for Parents/Caregivers

This past week, we were fortunate to have our school social worker, Suzy Brotman, and psychologist, Dr. Alison Blakely, join us at our School Council meeting to share resources and ideas to support our children’s mental health and well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here for the Mental Health Toolkit resources shared at the presentation.

Elementary Summer School

The focus of the Elementary Summer School Program is to continue student learning and engagement through the month of July. Programs, embedded in Literacy and Numeracy, are developed by the local summer school Principal to reflect the local school focus. Thirty-eight (38) programs are offered to students in Kindergarten to Grade 8, from July 5 to 30, 2021, in-person or online through virtual instruction.

Registration is now open! Click here for a full list of participating schools and registration information.

It is hard to believe that our first full week of Remote Learning has come to an end. We thank our students and staff for yet another successful transition. During this week, our students continued to engage in rich learning experiences designed by our staff. We have all become more proficient in Google Classroom, Google Meet, Zoom, and email. We thank all in our school community for continuing to come together in support of our students.

We continue to face an unprecedented situation and want to assure you that parents’/caregivers’ and students’ health and well-being is foremost in our minds. Please stay safe and reach out if you need something.

School Council

Join us for our next school council meeting this coming Tuesday, April 27th. We were thrilled to welcome new people to our meeting in March and hope to see more people this month. Click here for the draft minutes from the March meeting. Click here for the agenda for this month’s meeting. Our agenda is light for this meeting, allowing us time to welcome our school social worker and psychologist for a discussion about mental health.

Parent/Caregiver Speaker Series – Mental Health

How can I keep my child or teen mentally well during the COVID-19 pandemic?
What are the signs my child or teen might be struggling with their mental health?
How do I support my child with their mental health?
How can I access help for my child or teen’s mental health?

Children’s Mental Health Week Poster Contest

We invite you to participate in the Child and Youth Services Poster Contest 2021 in Support of Children’s Mental Health Week . A “tool kit” is our own special coping skills we use to be well. This year our theme is “My Tool Kit.” We are asking all students: What coping strategies do you use to stay well? As this year is another unique school year, we want to recognize we are all in various emotional places. Wherever you are is perfectly okay because you are doing the best you can with the coping skills (tools) that you have! Use the hashtag #mytoolkit to tell us what tools (coping skills) you have used throughout the school year to help you stay well. Click here for more details. The deadline for submission is April 30th, 11:59 p.m. and the winners will be announced on May 7th. Prizes to be WON! The winning designs will be made into full size posters, posted on the TDSB Website and social media!

Food Pantry

As we look towards the warmer months, we would like to take this opportunity to share information about the community pantry located near the corner of Ava and Winnett. Feel free to leave what you can, and take what you need. Click here for ideas for most-needed items. Thank you very much!

As we prepare to return to school after a long weekend, we want to remind you to be vigilant in following the protocols that have been put in place as the actions of one impact the health and safety of all in our community.

Toronto Public Health Guidelines – What to do if your child has COVID-19 symptoms

If your child has one or more (new or worsening) symptoms of COVID-19, they should stay at home, self-isolate, and get tested. It is important that you contact us at school to let us know that your child has COVID-19 symptoms. Then make an appointment at an Assessment Centre near you to get tested. Children can get a throat or nose swab. Saliva tests are also available. If a child is at school when they develop symptoms, we have saliva tests available for children to do at school with parental consent.

The siblings or children in the same household as the child with symptoms also must stay home and self-isolate. If the child with symptoms was a close contact of someone with COVID-19, everyone in the home needs to stay home and self-isolate for 14 days.

We recognize that sometimes children are sick for other reasons. If your health care provider has said your child’s symptoms are not related to COVID-19, your child may return to school 24 hours after their symptoms have improved. Siblings can also return to school. For colds or respiratory symptoms, your health care provider cannot rule out COVID-19 without a test.

Coffee and Conversation

We covered a variety of topics during the Coffee and Conversation on April 1st. Thank you to a parent who summarized the highlights below for those who were unable to attend:

Topic: Oakwood Collegiate asymptomatic testing from last month. Larger turnout than ever before. Women’s College Hospital and testing network has since adjusted the framework to reduce waits and exposure. No positive cases at the school uncovered at that testing session.

Topic: Vaccination advocacy for education workers. Apparently phase two (2) of the provincial plan begins in April, and includes teachers. Advocating to have teachers vaccinated over April break to required time off during school hours.

Topic: Next year’s staffing framework was released to Toronto schools this week. Teacher and Parent consultation teams have been set up to look at various models. Estimate 366 students registered for 2021/2022, and expect to operate with all students in-school. In May, school will email families requesting input on best learning environments for their child to assist in planning classes.

Topic: Budget for next year. All school budgets are available online here to see the breakdown of allocated funds. School board has advised that September 2021 will revert to pre-pandemic budget levels, but details are not released yet. School works to optimize funds available. For instance, able to obtain 30 new chromebooks this year for the school without using the school budget.

April is Sikh Heritage Month at the TDSB

Sikh Heritage Month is proudly recognized at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) during the month of April. On March 22, 2016, the Board of Trustees voted to designate April of each year as Sikh Heritage Month, making the TDSB the first school board in Canada to do so. This designation matches the recognition by the province of Ontario that proclaimed the Sikh Heritage Month Act in December 2013. This year our theme is Growing our Future: The Legacy of Sikh Farmers.Sikh Canadians have lived in Ontario since the turn of the twentieth century. They have made significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of Ontario and their traditions and culture continue to be a vibrant part of every aspect of life of Canadians today. This includes many Sikh families who are engaged in farming throughout Canada.We are inviting all TDSB community, students and staff to join our virtual Sikh Heritage Month launch to recognize the contributions of Sikh Canadians. Join us for a remarkable afternoon of information and celebration – Tuesday, April 6, 2021 from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm – click here.

April is Latin-America History Month at the TDSB

During the month of April, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) proudly recognized Latin-America History Month. In April 2016, our TDSB Board of Trustees voted that April be designated as Latin-America History Month. The motion was a result of advocacy on behalf of TDSB students, educators, parents/caregivers as well as community organizations within LAEN-The Latinx, Afro-Latin-America Abya Yala Education Network. Together, hundreds of community members called for the TDSB to take up the work of addressing social inequities harming TDSB school families with ancestry from the Lands that are known in Western mainstream culture as Latin-America.This year’s theme – a “(DeColonizing) Latin-America History Month: Learning together, from the Eagle, Quetzal and Condor about our pasts with our relatives of today,” – braids the different elements of our complex and diverse personal, academic and professional identities, lived experiences, ways of knowing and teaching, social positionality and levels of impact due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We aim to grow stronger as a TDSB community by sharing our stories of resilience, struggle and success, in relation to intentionally honouring and co-creating with the many territories and peoples over which the Eagle, the Quetzal and the Condor fly.Please join us for the Latin-America Virtual Launch Celebration taking place on Wednesday, April 7th from 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm. Click here.

April is Hispanic Heritage Month at the TDSB

During the month of April the TDSB recognizes Hispanic Heritage Month. In March 2010, our TDSB Board of Trustees voted that April be designated as Hispanic Heritage Month at the Toronto District School Board.As stated in the Hispanic Heritage Month Act, (May 5, 2015): “Ontario is home to more than 400,000 first-, second- and third-generation Canadian of Hispanic origin. As early as 1914, Canadians who originated from 23 Hispanic countries began immigrating to the province and today the Hispanic community is one of the fastest growing in Ontario. Hispanic-Canadians represent a dynamic community that has made significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of the Province of Ontario.By proclaiming the month of October as Hispanic Heritage Month in Ontario, the province recognizes the rich contributions of Hispanic-Canadians to our social economic, political and multicultural fabric. Hispanic Heritage Month is an opportunity to remember, celebrate and educate future generations about the outstanding achievements and contributions of Hispanic people in the province.”

Prime Minister’s Awards

Canada’s educators are showing resilience and commitment to students in the face of COVID-19. We have some exceptional educators at J.R. Wilcox. Consider nominating one of them for a 2021 Prime Minister’s Award! This program honours innovative and outstanding elementary and secondary school teachers and early childhood educators who are helping prepare Canadian youth for the challenges of tomorrow. The nomination deadline has been extended for the 2021 competition until April 27, 2021. Looking for inspiration? Check out previous teaching and early childhood education award recipients. 2021 nomination packages are available at www.pma.gc.ca. The nomination deadline is April 27, 2021 at 11:59 a.m. (Pacific Time).

Elementary Summer School 2021

The focus of the Elementary Summer School Program is to support student learning and engagement through the month of July. Programs, embedded in Literacy and Numeracy, are developed by the local summer school principal to reflect the local school focus. Thirty-eight programs are offered to students in Kindergarten to Grade 8, from July 5 – 30, 2021, in-person or online through virtual instruction. Registration is now open! Click here for a full list of participating schools and registration information.

Morning News

Did you know that our announcements take on a different format on Fridays? The Morning News show is created with students and has regular features, such as the Land Acknowledgement, O Canada, and student birthdays. Our news anchors also plan special news segments. Past segments have included book recommendations and interesting facts our students are learning about. Today’s news celebrated J.R. Wilcox students who won awards in the Royal Canadian Legion Remembrance Day Contest. Kymani, Jestina, Therra, Lukas M. and Sofia R. won awards in the poster category, and Leo D. won for his poem in the literary category. It was exciting for students to see themselves celebrated for their work. Each week, we have more and more students volunteering to anchor the news. The link to watch the news at 11:25 on Fridays is on our Google Calendar.

School Council

School Council is looking to drive more attendance and engagement at their meetings so next week, March 31 from 7-8 pm the council will be giving away prizing via Q&A to those in attendance. Click here for the agenda. Additionally, if you have any questions you’d like answered, please log them here so we answers can be provided in the meeting. See you next week!

Thank you to Yael in the EarlyON Centre for sharing this neighbourhood bingo game. All the photographs included were taken in close proximity to the school. Print out thi s page or use the photo above. As you walk around your neighbourhood, try to find each of the items shown on the bingo card. When you have found all of the items, shout “Bingo!”

Coffee and Conversation

Join Ms. Vine and Ms. Collins for Coffee and Conversation on Thursday, April 1st at 9:30. It’s a chance for us to connect as a community, ask questions, and share stories. No agenda, just casual conversation. A link will be sent out closer to the date.

COVID-19 Health Protocols

We appreciate everyone’s support in using the COVID-19 screening tool and following the Toronto Public Health guidelines should a child or family member display COVID symptoms. If your child has been absent from school due to exposure or symptoms and has gone for a COVID test, it is essential that you complete and submit the BACK TO SCHOOL CONFIRMATION FORM. The safety of our students, staff and their families depends on open communication and following the protocols that we have in place.

We Fight Racism

J.R. Wilcox and the Toronto District School Board commit to standing up against discrimination and acts of racism in all of its forms. Anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Asian racism, antisemitism and xenophobia, whenever and wherever they occur. Now more than ever, we need to work together, to build a more just and inclusive world for all of us. This year to honor the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, the United Nations has chosen its theme, “Youth Standing Up Against Racism” using the hashtag, #FightRacism, which aims to foster a global culture of anti discrimination and calls on each and every one of us to stand up against racial injustice. Here is a glimpse into what some of our classes did to #FightRacism.

Mrs. Thackray’s Grade 1 and 2 students read the story *Say Something* by Peter Reynolds and discussed what an important tool our voice is for combating racism. Then, working with the Koffler Gallery, they created miniature posters for their galleries with words that inspired them.

Mrs. Hetherington’s Kindergarten students made signs to #FightRacism

We Miss Our Virtual Students

Is your child in the TDSB Virtual School? We would love to see some of the work they’ve been doing. Consider sending a photo of your child “in school’ or something they are working on and we’ll feature it in a future edition of The Wilcox Word.

Greek Heritage Month

March is Greek Heritage Month at the TDSB. It is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Greek Canadians to Canada, and an occasion to mark and enjoy the history of Greek culture. This year marks the 200th year of Independence for Greece. The theme for this year is: 1821-2021 Freedom and Unity – Ελευθερíα και Ενóτητα Learning From Our Roots…Shaping Our Future. For more information and resources, please visit the GHM website https://sites.google.com/a/tdsb.on.ca/greekheritagemonth/

Parent Engagement Speaker

Screenagers Next Chapter — Uncovering Skills for Stress Resilience Screening

◾Speaker: Screening followed by facilitated conversation with Director Delaney Rushton

◾Thursday, March 25, 2021, 6:30 p.m.

High stress, anxiety and depression are experienced by millions of young people. In the documentary Screenagers, we witness Delaney as she finds her way from ineffective parenting to much-improved strategies. We follow other personal stories of families from an array of backgrounds with a spectrum of emotional challenges. We also observe approaches in schools that provide strategies relevant beyond the classroom setting. Interwoven into the stories are surprising insights from brain researchers, psychologists, and thought-leaders that reveal evidence-based ways to support mental wellness among our youth. The impact of social media and other screen time is incorporated in all the topics raised Screenagers NEXT CHAPTER, how it may be impacting our teen’s mental health, and what we can do to help foster youth in the face of struggles.

COVID-19 Screening Before Students Come to School

Every student must complete a COVID-19 screening before coming to school each day. Toronto Public Health has a COVID-19 screening questionnaire for students JK to Grade 12 that you can use. If your child has one or more symptoms of COVID-19:

Keep your child home, even if the symptoms are mild.
Siblings and other children in the home must also stay home.
Arrange for your child to get tested or contact your health care provider.
Without testing, your child and their siblings must stay home for 10 days. A doctor’s note is not needed for return to school.
Monitor your family for symptoms. Adults must stay home if they have one or more symptom.

For more information, visit: Toronto Public Health’s Information for Parents and Caregivers.

Bedtime Story

Join Ms. Vine for a bedtime story on Twitter , on Sunday March 14th 7:00 p.m. Hop into your pjs, and settle in for a story. Together #WeAreWilcox

A Glimpse Into our Classrooms

Mrs. Saskin’s Kindergarten class focussed on the special women in their lives.

Mrs. Thackray’s Grade 1/2 students studied the art of Daphne Odjig, a Canadian First Nations Artist.

Mrs. Hetherington’s Kindergarten students (left image) and Mr. Clement’s Grade 5/6 class (right image) are talking about racism.

Parent Engagement Speakers

This week, Michelle Munroe, Parent and Community Engagement Coordinator, joined us to talk about how we can better serve our parent/caregiver community at J.R. Wilcox. We had open and honest conversation around race and inclusion, what works on our School Council and what needs improvement. We are always looking at ways to reach more parents/caregivers in our community.

Join us for our next Parent Engagement opportunity on Tuesday, April 27th, when we welcome our social worker, Suzy Brotman, and psychologist, Alison Blakely who will speak with us about Mental Health and Well-Being during this difficult time in our history. This parent engagement opportunity will be the latter part of our School Council meeting.

We have had another busy week of learning and building community at J.R. Wilcox. On Monday, we said goodbye to Roberto Tontodonati, who has been our head caretaker and welcomed Brad Sullivan to the role. We are pleased to have him join us.

On Wednesday, our Kindergarten to Grade 3 students enjoyed meeting Luca Lazylegz Patuelli, who is a dancer and choreographer. He told us he was born with a condition that made his legs weak, taught himself to dance, and then broke his leg at a competition. Nothing has stopped him, however, and he continues to dance and perform. He shared stories of resilience and overcoming challenges and introduced us to his “Ill Abilities” Crew. His message to us all – there are NO LIMITS to what we can do.

On Thursday evening, School Council organized our family activity night, offering programming in yoga, music, nutrition, origami, and dance. Students and their families were able to enjoy family programming, while coming together as a community. It was truly a #WeAreWilcox event!

A Look inside our Classrooms

There has been a lot of discussion around Black History happening in our classrooms. Below are some images from Mr. Clement’s Grade 5/6 class and Mrs. Winston’s Grade 2/3 class.

Mrs. Rath’s Grade 7/8 class made marble runs as part of their learning. Click on the photo below to see how this wall-size run works.

Our Kindergarten students have been working on animal habitats (Ms. Haidarali) , current events (Mrs. Hetherington), and building with 3D shapes (Ms. Saskin).

Parent Engagement

Join us on Thursday, March 11th at 7:00 p.m. when Michelle Munroe, Parent and Community Engagement Coordinator, talks with us about how to build a stronger and more inclusive parent/caretaker community at J.R. Wilcox. Click here to join the conversation.

Join us on Tuesday, April 27th, when we welcome our social worker, Suzy Brotman, and psychologist, Alison Blakely who will speak with us about Mental Health and Well-Being during this difficult time in our history. This parent engagement opportunity will be the latter part of our School Council meeting. Click here to join the School Council meeting and mental health conversation.

Thank you to our families for your diligence in completing the Daily Health Screening. By keeping all children in the household home when one member has a symptom of COVID-19, we are all able to stay healthy.

Stronger Than Hate

This week, our Grade 6-8 students (including Mr. Clement’s Grade 5s) participated in a live virtual program, Stronger Than Hate – A Call to Action. It was a joint presentation by the TDSB’s African Heritage Committee, Jewish Heritage Committee, Liberation75, USC Shoah Foundation, and Peel District School Board. Over 10,000 people/classes joined in the conversation to hear the stories of how the 761st Tank Battalion, the first all African-American Tank Battalion in World War II, helped to defeat the Nazis as well as liberate several concentration camps. We heard stories from Max Eisen, a survivor of the Holocaust, as well as Joe Wilson Jr, son of a member of the 761st Tank Battalion. With the world seeing an increase in anti-black racism and anti-semitism, this conversation helped us consider what we have learned from history and witnesses to genocide, and reflect on how that knowledge can help us take action to counteract hate.

We also want to acknowledge the anti-Asian racism and violence that has increased under the COVID-19 pandemic. J.R. Wilcox condemns racism of every kind, is actively working to be anti-racist, and wishes to offer support to families, students, and staff throughout this very difficult time in our history. Click here for supports available for mental health and well-being. As well, please reach out to us – we are here to support you.

Virtual Family Fun Night – Thursday, March 4

J.R. Wilcox School Council is bringing our community together for a Virtual Family Night this Thursday, March 4th from 6:30-7:30. Register for 2 of 5 sessions, including nutrition, music, dance, yoga and origami. Click here to register and a zoom link will be sent to your email to log on at the scheduled time.

Click the image below to read the full issue.

Midtown’s Got Talent – March 25

We were thrilled to welcome everyone back to school this week! Our students did an amazing job following the routines and procedures put in place to keep everyone safe. We are grateful for the cooperation of our parents and caregivers who continue to be diligent with the daily health screening. We welcomed our Public Health Nurse on Friday as she visited to ensure that we were doing everything possible to ensure the safety of everyone in the building.

Did you know that Toronto Public Health has provided schools with a Decision Tool to assist us in knowing when a student or staff member needs to be excluded from school? If you are unsure what to do if a member of your household has a symptom, tests positive for COVID-19, or is considered a close contact of someone who has tested positive, please reach out and we will assist you.

Parents and caregivers are reminded to send extra masks with their children and review how to store the mask when taking it off to eat or to have a mask break.

Ms. Hunt’s Grade 3 Students Air Their Dirty Laundry

Click the image below to see the creative ways students used clothing to create art while learning virtually at home.

Support for Parents and Caregivers

Virtual Office Hours for Parents and Caregivers will happen every Tuesday at 10am-11am and Thursday at 7pm-8pm. Every session will have 3 representatives from the different Professional Support Services Departments including: Child and Youth Services, OT/PT, Psychological Services, Social Work and Speech-Language Services. While this is not a space for therapeutic intervention, it is a space where parents/caregivers can get some support in navigating their children’s needs in relation to Mental Health and Wellbeing. Interpretation will be available as required.

Morning Drop-off and Pick-up Reminder

Between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., we are unable to provide parking for families as all spots are needed for staff. When dropping off your children, please park along Winnett Avenue or Atlas Avenue. Please do not park along Ava Road as the school busses stop on the south side and congestion builds up on the north. Thank you for your cooperation.

Fun in the Snow! Students Enjoyed our First Big Snow Fall.

School Council

Our School Council meets the last Tuesday of each month. Please join us on Tuesday, February 23rd from 7-8 p.m. for our next meeting. Click here for this week’s agenda.

Returning to School

We are looking forward to welcoming students back to school when in-person learning resumes on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. Further to the message from Toronto Public Health earlier this week, we want to remind you of a few important things we must continue to do to help keep our schools safe and healthy for both students and staff before we come together again.

New TPH Screening Tool for Students

One of the most important things we can do to slow the spread of COVID-19 in our schools is for students to screen themselves daily for symptoms of COVID-19 and also follow the circumstances in which they should stay home. Toronto Public Health (TPH) has revised its screening tool for students.The update is that everyone in a household must now complete the updated COVID-19 screening daily. The TDSB Student Health Pass has been updated with this change. Students will receive a hard copy of the new Health Pass on Tuesday. Specific changes to the school screening tools include the following:

Household member has symptoms: If anyone in the household has one or more COVID-19 symptoms, all children and adults who attend a school setting must stay home from school until COVID-19 has been ruled out. If the household member with one or more symptoms does not go for testing, the children and adults in the home who attend a school setting must stay home for 10 days.
Household member has travelled: If anyone in the household has travelled outside of Canada in the last 14 days, all children and adults who attend a school setting must stay home from school until the person who travelled completes the federally-required 14 days of self-isolation. If the individual is exempt from this self-isolation because they perform an essential job (e.g. truck driver, pilot), the rest of the household can still attend school.
Close contact of someone who had COVID-19: If anyone in the household is self-isolating at home because they were a close contact of someone who had COVID-19, all children in the household will need to stay home from school until the person who was a close contact completes the 14 days of self-isolation. Adults who attend a school setting can still attend school as long as the person who was a close contact does not have symptoms.

Testing for COVID-19
Toronto Public Health recommends staff, students and their household members who have even one mild symptom of COVID-19 get tested. TPH will continue to recommend asymptomatic testing in schools where necessary and will work with testing partners to coordinate testing in high-risk cohorts. We will provide updates on testing as it becomes available.

Continued Health and Safety Practices
Please remind your child of the continued importance of hand washing, physical distancing and mask wearing, which is required for all staff and students. Toronto Public Health offers guidance on the qualities of a good mask, which includes being made of at least two layers of tightly woven fabric and, if possible, a middle “filter” layer.

Masks are required for all adults and students. When outdoors, children should remain physically distant as much as possible. They can play with members of their cohort. Even with members of their own cohort, if they are not able to physically distance, they must wear masks. Staff will schedule mask breaks outdoors throughout the day and take advantage of the outdoor classroom spaces we have designated. Please remember to send extra masks with your child so they can be changed when soiled or wet.

Lunch and Snack Breaks

Students will remove their masks in the school for scheduled lunch and snack breaks. While masks are off for eating and drinking students are reminded to stay physically distanced from others and refrain from talking.

Reminders for Morning Entry and Afternoon Dismissal

All parents/caregivers will be required to wear masks.
Arrive at school as close to the bell time as possible.
Once your child has arrived at their classroom meeting spot parents/caregivers are asked to leave the school property so that we do not have too many people congregated together in one spot.
Teachers will meet students at their line up, check health screening passes, and enter the building through their designated doors.

Please remember that parents and students are not to congregate in the school yard, and, outside of school, students should not gather with others, even with those in their cohort.

Return of Student Devices

Families who borrowed J.R. Wilcox devices the week prior to, or during our recent online learning, are asked to return them so that they can be sanitized and redistributed for use in the classroom. Please return borrowed devices and cords to a staff member who will be located at one of the following places: Ava Road near to the kindergarten gate, Winnett Avenue by the basketball court, or Atlas Avenue at the gate opening to the yard.

Hats Off to Educators

This week, our students showed their appreciation for all the hard work our teachers and support staff have been doing over the past 6 weeks. Class Parents asked students to wear hats in the morning and then remove them after lunch. Thank you to the families who sent in their photos!

Delayed March Break

March Break — originally scheduled for March 15 to 19, 2021 — has now been delayed by approximately a month in the hopes of reducing community transmission of COVID-19. The break is now scheduled for April 12 – 16, 2021.

Reminders

Call-out for parents/caregivers to join our Equity and Anti-Racism Committee

Online Storytime with Councillor Josh Matlow February 15, 2021

February 6, 2021

This week was a busy one in the world of online learning. On Monday, our entire school came together to get fit and have fun with X Movement. On Wednesday, our Grade 4-8 students met Jeff Martin, a motivational speaker who captivated us all with his messages of positivity and empowerment. He referenced influential people like Martin Luther King Jr., Malala, Viola Desmond, Walt Disney, and Canadian fashion model, Winnie Harlow. He asked us to imagine what would have happened if these people had allowed others to dictate their dreams, or value their worth. He reminded us that what we say after, “I am…” is critical to our future (see image below for our students’ responses). Each one of our students was reminded that, “There will never be another you” so when the world brings negativity, believe in who you are!

On Thursday, our Kindergarten to Grade 3s joined with students from Brown JPS and welcomed back X Movement for their second visit. They exercised, learned some dance moves, shared something they liked about themselves, and did some mindful breathing. This week they will have their third and final session with X Movement.

Reminders:

Call-out for Virtual Family Activity Leaders

Our 100th Anniversary Logo Contest ends February 14th

Equity and Anti-Racism Committee: Call for members

J.R. Wilcox is committed to equity and anti-racism. We are looking for parents/guardians to join our Equity and Anti-Racism Committee. It is our hope that the committee will consider applying for funding to build our school’s capacity and commitment.

School Councils may submit one request for supports up to $1,500 to support initiatives/activities that engage parents/caregivers (including virtual), and builds School Councils’ capacity around Human Rights, Equity, Anti-Racism, Anti-Indigenous and Anti-Black Racism. School Councils may collaborate and submit one application, however allocation will remain at a maximum of $1,500 per school. Possible activities include:

Workshops;
Information sessions with guest speakers;
Parent Resource Creation;
Conversation Circles.

Student and staff activities are not eligible.

More information can be found here.

https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Community/How-to-Get-Involved/School-Councils/Parents-Reaching-Out-Grants

Starting school is an exciting time for your child. Our schools provide a rich learning environment for all children to learn and grow. In the Kindergarten program, your child will develop their skills and abilities through inquiry and intentional play-based learning that includes literacy, math, science and the arts. Teachers and Early Childhood Educators work together to plan engaging classroom experiences where children are learning and thinking creatively.

Online Registration is now open. To attend Junior Kindergarten in September, children must turn four years old by December 31. To register for Senior Kindergarten, children must be five years old by December 31.

Please use the link below to register online. For any questions or concerns, email the school office at jrwilcox@tdsb.on.ca A member of our office team will connect with you once they receive your submission.

We look forward to welcoming you and your child at our school in September!

For more information about the Kindergarten program and registration requirements, please visit:

www.tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten

New registrants will be invited to attend a Welcome to Kindergarten session in the spring.

An Example from Math Class

Students in our Primary Autism class were studying data management. They created surveys and one was sent out to widely. They had about 50 staff and students from across J.R. Wilcox participate in the survey. It was great to see the different grades and the way in which they were engaging in online learning. Thanks to everyone for making this project possible!

Thank you to our friends at the Mabin School for inviting us to join in an evening of learning with Dr. Alex Russell (co-author of “Drop the Worry Ball: Parenting in the Age of Entitlement”). His talk on Wednesday, February 10, 2021 at 8:00 pm: “Keeping Them Safe While Helping Them Grow: Supporting Children’s Emotional Growth in Challenging Times” promises to be an informative evening. You can sign up here. Zoom details will be provided closer to the date.

Councillor Josh Matlow will be hosting an Online Family Day Storytime for Young Families on February 15^th at 3 pm live on Facebook with Mabel’s Fables and various authors. For more information, visit www.joshmatlow.ca/storytime.

January 29, 2021

This morning, we launched a new Morning News show. Two of our Grade 3 students anchored the news and shared a special segment recommending a book to everyone. We look forward to including more students in our weekly news show. Interested in being part of the pre-recorded broadcast? Send an email to Ms. Vine.

The Morning News January 29, 2021

X Movement

This week, we brought X Movement to the whole school to support the fitness and well-being of our students. Unfortunately, not all students were able to participate. We will be hosting a new school-wide event with X Movement on Monday, February 1st from 10:30-11:30 a.m. All students are encouraged to participate. When the event ends, students will go straight into lunch and then join their teachers for their regular afternoon program.

Bell Let’s Talk Week

This week, many of our students discussed the importance of mental health. Take a look at how some of our Grade 4s take care of their mental health.

Sick Kids Panel: COVID-19 & Kids — The Sequel

J.R. Wilcox families are invited to join the Mabin School on Thursday, February 4, 2021 at 8:00 p.m. for a dialogue with Sick Kids Hospital panelists, Dr. Ronald Cohn, President and CEO, Dr. Jeremy Friedman, Paediatrician-in-Chief, and Dr. Michelle Science, Infectious Disease Consultant. They will each share their thoughts on COVID-19 and keeping our children safe during the second wave. All are welcome! Spread the word! Zoom link will be provided closer to the event. The session will be recorded. Sign up here.

Creative Cooking

Students in Mrs. Rath’s and Ms. Gjoliku’s Grade 7/s class are learning more than the regular math and language curriculum. Each Friday, they prepare food together. Early on in the week, they get a list of ingredients needed and then set to work in their kitchens on Friday morning. Take a look at some of their creations below – from nachos to salad to pizza.

School Council Virtual Activity Night

We’re hosting a FREE virtual activities night with our kids on March 4th and we’d love you to be a part of it!

What is it? A virtual event where we’ll host a number of online workshops. Your family can select which ones they want to take part in

What Are the Events?: Events may include baking, art, music, yoga, chess, tai chi, web design, etc.

What Do We Need: If you – parents and guardians – have a special talent, we need you to lead the virtual class. For example, if you’re a baker, this will involve you choosing an easy recipe and walking the kids through it on zoom on March 4.

The Ask: Let us know if you have a special talent and would like to lead a virtual activity for our kids. Do you love dance? Art? Music? Yoga? Chess? Tai chi? Graphic Design? Web design? Robotics? Want to run a virtual class? Reach out to your class parent or email jrwilcox@tdsb.on.ca and a member of School Council will confirm next steps.

Family Literacy Day

Family Literacy Day takes place every January 27^th to raise awareness about the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. Since 1999, thousands of schools, libraries, literacy organizations and other community groups have taken part in the initiative. ABC Life Literacy Canada creates free learning and promotional resources for anyone that wants to get involved. Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development, improving a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well.

Bedtime Story with Ms. Vine

To celebrate Family Literacy Day, join Ms. Vine for a bedtime story on Twitter , on January 27th at 7:00 p.m. Hop into your pjs, and settle in for a story. Together #WeAreWilcox

Bringing Arts and Wellness to You

This week we kicked off some upcoming school wide events with a magic show from Magician Tyler. The show was engaging and fun and he even shared some of his magic so we could become magicians of our own!

In the coming weeks, we will be bringing other artists and experts to provide meaningful experiences for our students. In doing this, we have partnered with our friends at Brown Junior Public School, so not only will our students hear about resilience, engage in fitness, yoga, music and spoken word, they will also connect with students at another Toronto School. We have worked in partnership to coordinate the events and each one connects to our goals in equity, achievement, and well-being.

Food for Kids Grocery Cards

We are pleased to share that the Toronto Foundation for Student Success is again able to support students and their families through the Food for Kids program. This program supplies gift cards for grocery stores. If your family would like to be part of the program, please click here to complete this form. The information you provide will be shared with Ms. Vine and the TFSS only.

School Council

Join us this Tuesday, January 26th from 7-8 p.m. for our School Council meeting. Responding to feedback from our recent survey, meetings will be 1 hour in length and the reports will be posted ahead of time so parents/guardians have time to review them. Click here for next week’s agenda and reports. We hope to see parents and guardians from both our virtual and brick-and-mortar families.

Bell Let’s Talk Day

Get ready to join the world’s biggest conversation about mental health on Bell Let’s Talk Day, January 28! Now more than ever, every action counts – On Bell Let’s Talk Day, Bell will donate more towards mental health initiatives in Canada by contributing 5¢ for every applicable text, call, tweet or TikTok video using #BellLetsTalk, social media video view and use of our Facebook frame or Snapchat filter. Messaging volumes directly drive Bell’s donations to Canadian mental health programs at no cost to participants. Visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk to download the Bell Let’s Talk toolkit and other resources.

TDSB families are invited to join in a series of engaging and informative conversations on topics we heard you want to learn more about. Hear from leading experts and participate in question and answer sessions online.

These conversations are jointly hosted by the TDSB’s Parent and Community Engagement Office and the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee.

Saturday, January 30, 2021 @ 11:00 a.m.

How Children Understand Race and How Adults Can Help

Many people avoid discussing race and racism with children because they believe that children don’t see race, or because they’re unsure how to have a conversation about it. Join us to hear from Professor Erin Winkler who will guide parents, families, and educators to help children understand racial identity, racism, and racial inequities in age-appropriate ways that empower the young children in their lives. Click here for more information.

January 16, 2021

With the announcement of the extended school closure, we are continuing to work hard to engage and support all of our students. We are grateful for the feedback we have received and continue to use it to drive us forward.

This week, we moved forward with Week 2 of Remote Learning. We see how hard students, staff and parents/guardians/families are continuing to work to adjust to constantly changing times and new norms. We thank you for your efforts related to this.

We will be putting together some special #WeAreWilcox Events for our students in the coming weeks. Sometimes it will be for the whole school and other times it will be done by division (Kindergarten, primary, junior/intermediate). Our first event is scheduled for this week. On Wednesday January 20th at 1:00 p.m. we are hosting a school-wide magic show with Tyler Fergus, a 3 time Diamond Award winner for Best Family Entertainment and Activities for 2017, 2018 and 2019.

As always, we are always available if you have questions or concerns. Please reach out to us via email at jrwilcox@tdsb.on.ca.

Ontario Government COVID Support for Learners

There is one-time funding to support children, youth and students during the 2020-2021 school year. Eligible applicants will receive a one-time payment of:

$200 for each child or youth up to Grade 12
$250 for each child or youth up to age 21 with special needs

You are eligible to apply if you live in Ontario and are a:

parent or guardian to a child or youth up to Grade 12
secondary school student over the age of 18
parent or guardian to a child or youth that is 21 or younger and has special needs

Find out if you are eligible and how to apply.

The deadline to apply is February 8, 2021.

J.R. Wilcox is continually striving to improve the ways in which we engage our parents and caregivers. Michelle Munroe is a dynamic speaker and will provide an exciting forum for discussion. Click here to register for the forum.

Grade 7 Extended French Program

Do you have a child in Grade 6? The Grade 7 Extended French program offers students who have successfully completed three years of Core French the option to enter into a more intensive program in Grade 7. These students spend approximately 40% of their day in French classes at the Extended French school. While the TDSB has decided to phase out this program, the last cohort to begin the Grade 7 entry Extended French starts in September 2022. The Grade 7 Extended French program is offered in only 14 schools in the TDSB. The attendance area for an Extended French school is created by “associated” English feeder schools and home address.

For more information about the Grade 7 Extended French program, visit the TDSB site here. The application process is now open. Applications are to be submitted electronically to jrwilcox@tdsb.on.ca by January 29, 2021. We are hosting a Virtual Information session on January 20 at 6:30pm.The link to the session is here and on the TDSB site.

Grade 8 to 9 Transition

This week, the TDSB is hosting four (4) Grade 8 to Grade 9 Transition Information Sessions for parents/guardians of Grade 8 students that will focus on the Top 10 Tips and Considerations in the Transition to High School process. This presentation will supplement the work already taking place through secondary school virtual open houses and at Grade 8 schools.

Presenters will highlight the key practical aspects of the process of transitioning to high school, as well as share the social-emotional factors that often surface with Grade 8 students as part of this transition.

Tuesday, December 8, 2020	6 to 7 p.m.	LC1 & LC4 Schools	https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/s/91822966960	ID: 918 2296 6960 Passcode: 751691	3000
Tuesday, December 8, 2020	7:30 to 8:30 p.m.	LC1 & LC4 Schools	https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/s/93533687339	ID: 935 3368 7339 Passcode: 801414	3000

J.R. Wilcox is part of Learning Centre 1

To join by phone, please dial +1 647 374 4685 or +1 647 558 0588 and enter the Webinar ID and Passcode.

The webinar will be available for joining 15 minutes before the start time. Families who require an interpreter can request Interpretation Services for the event.

If you are unable to join the live Zoom webinar due to the capacity limit, please watch the YouTube Livestream. Please note that questions can only be posted from the live Zoom webinar.

January 8, 2021

Our first week of remote learning has now come to an end. We appreciate all that parents/guardians have done to support your children in navigating their digital platforms so they were able to connect with their teachers and classmates. We recognize that this has not been an easy task for you while juggling your own responsibilities. Our staff is working hard to adjust to the new expectations of online learning as set out by the Ministry of Education. Teachers are required to take attendance twice a day, much like we do when students are present at school. Students are expected to take part in synchronous (live/online) learning throughout the day and these times must align with the Ministry of Education guidelines:

Kindergarten	180 minutes
Grades 1-3	225 minutes
Grades 4-8	225 minutes

*This is in addition to asynchronous (independent work) learning time.

As you know, the Ministry of Education has announced that online learning will continue until January 25th. With the news of this new timeline, our teachers will continue to plan how best to connect and make learning meaningful and engaging for your children. This involves reflecting on what has been working well, chatting with colleagues for tips on best practices, and hearing your feedback.

Our goal is to provide a full learning experience for students for the coming weeks. At the same time, we recognize the challenges that this can present for families. We remain dedicated to supporting all students and ask that you keep in touch with your child’s teachers.

School Council Meeting

Please mark your calendars for our next School Council meeting on Tuesday, January 26, 2021. Based on feedback from the parent/guardian survey, the meeting will run for one hour, from 7:00-8:00 p.m. The agenda will be sent to parents next week, along with any reports that will be discussed. We look forward to connecting with you then.

January is Tamil Heritage Month

Tamil Heritage Month is recognized nationally since October 2016, provincially since March 2004 and by the Toronto District School Board since January 2016. The month of January was chosen as it coincides with one of the most important celebrations for Canadians of Tamil heritage, the Thai Pongal harvest festival. Millions of Tamil people around the world irrespective of their religion celebrate Thai Pongal and offer thanks for an abundant harvest.

This year, the chosen theme selected by the volunteer planning committee is உண்மை – உரிமை – ஒற்றுமை: Truth – Rights – Unity. Unmai (உண்மை) recognizes that our lived experiences are our truths and these truths shape our understanding of the world around us. Urimai (உரிமை) examines our right to flourish and shine. Otrumai (ஒற்றுமை) emphasizes our shared lived experiences with other marginalized communities and our shared humanity.

Toronto has the largest Tamil population outside of the South Asian subcontinent with thousands of TDSB students and staff members’ heritage identified as Tamil. The importance of building awareness, creating a strong self-identity and understanding one’s own roots and rights are important objectives of the Tamil Heritage Month volunteer planning committee.

A poster challenge is currently underway, and the TDSB will be posting the two winning designs that reflect this year’s theme in early January. We are proud to share with you this power point that will provide you with information about the Tamil Heritage Month.

A Funny Look at Online Learning from our Grade 7/8 Drama Club

Created by our Grade 7/8 Drama Club during our first week of remote learning

Revised Optional Attendance Procedures for the 2021/2022 School Year

The Toronto District School Board is adjusting the Optional Attendance process due to school closures and the heightened need to reduce potential Covid-19 exposures. Parents/Guardians should have received an email from the TDSB on Friday, January 8th, outlining the revised process. Parents/Guardians are to complete the Optional Attendance form and email the current school principal who will sign and email the completed form to the receiving school. Optional Attendance forms and information regarding can be found here.

December 18, 2020

This week has been a busy one with thoughtful discussions about holidays and health, beautiful art projects, and a special musical presentation for our students and families, both in school and at home. We have ended our 2020 year stronger as a community. We have been recipients of amazing generosity and, at the same time, been able to help people in our own school and the broader community.

This week, the TDSB asked us all to prepare for a possible move to online learning. Today, we distributed devices to families and sent children home with resources. If you received a device, please access our Chromebook Tips for Home Use here. Our goal is to ensure that we are able to resume learning in the best possible way when school resumes on January 4th. We are here to support student learning and well-being.

The staff at J.R. Wilcox wishes all of our families a safe and healthy holiday. We look forward to seeing everyone in the new year.

Covid Safety Episode 3

Today our Morning News show featured a final segment to the COVID-19 Safety Tips. We are so proud of the leadership from our Drama Club in Room 208.

December Hearts & Minds Newsletter from TDSB Psychological Services

Click on image above to read the full newsletter featuring winter activities and mindfulness ideas.

December 13, 2020

Preparing for the Winter Holiday

From Monday, December 21, 2020 to Friday, January 1, 2021 (inclusive), all TDSB Schools will be closed for the Winter Break. This Friday, please send your children with an extra bag so that they may take home their indoor shoes and other items they may need over the holidays or beyond. While we are planning to return to school on January 4th, we want to ensure we are prepared should we need to pivot to online learning. Please be sure you have completed the brief survey regarding your child’s access to technology sent to you by your children’s teachers.

Toronto Public Health has asked us to share their Holiday Planning Guide with ideas for us to safely show our holiday spirit and make this season memorable. To learn more about how to celebrate safely during this holiday season, click here.

Covid Safety Episode 2

Our Grade 7/8 Drama Club created a new segment to their COVID-19 Safety Guide. We first aired it on Friday’s Morning News show.

School Council Survey

If you haven’t yet had a chance to complete the School Council survey, it’s not too late to do so. Click here to share your ideas with council around the best time to meet, ideas for events, and more.

December 2, 2020

This week, we were fortunate to be able to host an on-site testing for COVID-19 for students and families who had been asked to self-isolate, as well as interested staff. We also hosted a Q&A with our school social worker and a doctor from Women’s College Hospital to answer questions that families might have. We know that many of you are concerned about the positive cases at J.R. Wilcox. Our school continues to take all measures recommended by Toronto Public Health to keep students and staff safe. As well, this past week, many of our classrooms received air purifiers to assist in the air flow in the rooms.

On Friday, Toronto Public Health updated the Student Screening tool. Students brought home a green paper that explains the new screening and includes the Daily Health Pass. Please review it carefully and be sure to ask your children these questions on a daily basis.

As part of this guidance, if a child has one or more new, or worsening COVID-19 symptoms, parents will now be required to:

Keep their child home
Keep siblings and other children home, even if they do not have symptoms
Arrange for the child to get tested or contact their health care provider
Without testing, the child must stay home for 10 days
Monitor the family for symptoms – Adults must stay home if they have one or more symptom

All staff also complete a daily health self-assessment and do not enter the building if they have one or more symptoms.

Check out our Grade 7/8 Students’ Public Service Announcement to remind us all how to be safe at school.

Math IXL

We recently purchased a new subscription to IXL! It’s a great platform for students to work on skills at their own level in math and language. All classes and students have been set up with accounts. Not sure how to access it? Talk to your child’s teacher.

School Council News

Be sure to check out the latest events from our School Council, including our Virtual Book Fair this coming week from Tuesday December 8th to Thursday, December 10th.

Have you stopped by the northeast corner of our school and checked out our Little Free Pantry? Feel free to leave some food items and take some food items.

Mabel’s Labels

Did you know we have a Mabel’s Labels fundraiser campaign? 20% of all sales through the school portal are paid directly back to J.R. Wilcox. Go to http://campaigns.mabelslabels.com/ to find the school listing.

Flipgive

There’s a new way to raise money for J.R. Wilcox! Now the school earns between 1%-20%*
when you shop online or buy gift cards. Visit FlipGive.com or download the FlipGive app and use the code 45DBLW. Every time you shop, you will be helping the school raise funds.

Message from our Principal

Please view this short video message from Ms Vine. Then join us tonight from 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. for a Q&A with Dr. Suvendrini Lena, from Women’s College Hospital, and our school social worker, Suzy Brotman. We wish to reassure you that it is safe to send your children to school and will be available to answer questions you may have. Please use the link sent to you in today’s email message. We look forward to seeing you tonight.

November 28, 2020

Health and Safety Reminders

This week, while we had our first positive case of COVID-19, we are grateful that all who work at, and attend J.R. Wilcox, are healthy. Steps have been taken to continue to keep everyone safe and some students and staff are self-isolating at home out of precaution and as directed by Toronto Public Health. We must continue to be vigilant and follow all of the guidance set out by Toronto Public Health. As a reminder, please send your children to school with a number of masks so that they can be changed throughout the day. Don’t have spare masks? We’ve got you covered – literally. We’ll be sure to give children masks who need. Please remind your children to stay 2 metres apart from anyone they do not live with. As well, since Toronto is currently in the GREY-LOCKDOWN category, please refrain from having indoor playdates, even with children in your children’s classes.

Did you know that Toronto has a voluntary isolation centre available for individuals living with others who need a free, safe and comfortable space to self-isolate if someone in the household has COVID-19? Visit ow.ly/vfs650CxoAS to learn more.

Snack Program

The results are in from our Snack Program survey created by one of our Grade 8 students. 77 students (33%) completed the survey. 72% of students responded that they felt satisfied and had more energy after they’d eaten the snack. We’ve shared some of our additional data below. This information will also be shared with the company who supplies our food.

Class Parents

We had a wonderful response to our request for volunteers for Class Parents. Parents who have been selected will be contacted this week. We will send out an email to all parents asking if you would like to share your email address with the class parent so that they may build a distribution list for your class. We are still looking for a class parent for JK/SK B (Ms. Haidarali’s class).

Celebrating 100 Years of J.R. Wilcox Community School

We are gathering memories of J.R. Wilcox from the past 100 years. If you have something to include or know someone who might, please share this form with them. The memories shared may be included in a virtual celebration of our 100 year anniversary.

JOIN THE CLASS PARENT COMMUNITY!!

We are seeking 2 volunteers from each class to be this year’s Class Parents. Responsibilities may include:

Organizing volunteers
Sending reminders to parents
Acting as a volunteer coordinator in support of School Council events
Liaising between the teacher and parents/school council and parents

Note: This job does not require a great time commitment.

Click here to volunteer as a class parent.

This past week, parents/guardians had the opportunity to connect with their children’s teachers around their strengths, areas for growth, and next steps. We recognize that using a virtual format created a different kind of conference, however, learned that for some families it was easier to connect this year. We also recognize that there is not only one way or one prescribed time for parents to connect, so please continue to reach out to staff for updates, progress and how you can continue to support your child at home.

November Hearts & Minds Newsletter from TDSB Psychological Services

211 Ontario helpline

As Toronto heads into another lockdown to curb the spread of COVID-19, we want to ensure that families have access to all forms of support. Knowing the right number to call will help people find the right services for their situation. 211 is answered live, 24 hours a day, every day of the year including holidays, in more than 150 languages. Residents can call, email, or live chat with 2-1-1 for information on community, social and health services, as well as municipal, provincial and federally funded services like housing, employment and mental health and addiction agencies. Residents can also call 2-1-1 for services like food banks or for the non-emergency police number. Residents should always call 9-1-1 for life-threatening emergencies or crimes in progress that require police, fire or paramedic services.

Toronto Public Health Update

Principals continue to meet weekly with Toronto Public Health. We take our job of keeping everyone safe very seriously. This week we were reminded about the importance of students wearing masks even when they are outside, if they are closer than 2 metres for more than 15 minutes. Below are some reminders about when to send your child to school, as well as who is considered a close contact.

Online Donations

Parents/guardians and members of the community can now donate to school fundraising initiatives online. If you would like to donate to our school, please visit our School Cash Online site. Select J.R. Wilcox from the drop down menu and indicate the purpose of the donation in the “Message to the school board” field (optional). Donors will automatically receive tax receipts through email for donations $1 and over. For more detailed instructions on making a donation online, please see the step by step instructions.

Friday, November 13, 2020

This week, we came together as a community to reflect on the meaning of Remembrance Day. While our assembly looked different with classes staying in their rooms, we were able to share the experience of remembering with parents and students in the virtual school as well. Many of our classes wrote postcards to veterans or created art to reflect their learning about the day. Below is a glimpse of some of the work our students created.

Anaphylaxis Allergies

Please take a moment to review the class list of students/staff anaphylaxis allergies. We aim to be a nut-safe school. Please do not send any products containing nuts in your child’s lunches or snacks. We appreciate everyone’s support in keeping all students and staff safe.

Progress Reports (Grade 1-6) and Initial Observations (JK/SK)

Next week, parents/guardians will receive Progress Report/Initial Observations for their children. This reporting period reflects learning that has occurred in a modified learning environment as required by the provincial public health guidelines. It is important to remember that students’ 2019-2020 school year was halted, leading to a very different March through June. Please know that our focus on supporting student safety and mental health and well-being is a priority this year, along with academic learning and growth. Wherever your child is right now, praise them for their strengths and work with them to support their next steps for growth. We are partners in your child’s education. Please ensure you have scheduled a conference with your child’s teachers for this week. Our teachers are committed to provided ongoing communication with you.

Outdoor Learning

This week, many of our Grade 4 to 8 students participated in outdoor learning with the Toronto Urban Studies Centre. Since our students are not attending field trips, the educators from the centre came to us and helped students make connections between their learning and the environment. Want to learn more about Outdoor Education activities you can do as a family from home? Check out the Learn from Home with Outdoor Ed website.

School Council

Did you know School Council has its own page on our website? Check it out and join us this Wednesday, November 18th at 6:30 p.m. for our next School Council meeting. We hope to see our in-school and virtual families there. Click here for the link to our meeting.

Friday, November 6, 2020

This week our new ramp and sidewalk were completed. Parents/Guardians with strollers and people who require barrier free access can now reach the accessible door with ease. We are awaiting TDSB Facilities to come and paint our parking lot with two accessible parking spaces.

Despite the end of week warmth, we had our first bought with cold and snow this year. Masks and cold weather bring extra moisture and students are needing to change their masks more often. Please ensure you send your child with extra masks and wash them regularly. Mittens and gloves also add an extra layer to our routines. Children will still need to sanitize their hands and since they sometimes wipe their noses with mittens/gloves Toronto Public Health reminded us that gloves and mittens need to be washed regularly as well.

Remembrance Day
On Wednesday, November 11th, students and staff at our schools and across the city will mark Remembrance Day. For Remembrance Day, teachers make connections between global events and students’ lives by promoting peace within our school community. On this solemn occasion, staff, students, parents, and the wider community all join together in a call for peace. Parents/Guardians and Virtual School Families are invited to join us on Google Meet for our Remembrance Day assembly Wednesday, November 11th at 9:15 a.m. Click here for the link. Classes will be encouraged to do their own 2 Minutes of Silence at 11:00 a.m. to reflect, honour, thank and remember our fallen soldiers.

Join us for a virtual Coffee and Conversation Thursday, November 12th at 9:15. This is an opportunity to get to know each other, learn more about the school, and ask questions. Click here for the link on Zoom.

UPCOMING P.A. DAY AND PARENT/GUARDIAN -TEACHER CONFERENCES

In-Person students:

Tuesday, November 17th Progress Reports (Grade 1-6) and Kindergarten Initial Observations go home.

Friday November 20th is a P.A. Day. There will be no school for students as teachers will be conducting Parent/Guardian-Teacher conferences. You can expect to hear from your children’s teachers to schedule yours. Conferences this year will take place virtually or by phone.

Virtual School Students:

November 20th will be a regular instructional day for Virtual School Students.

Friday December 4th is a P.A. Day due to Parent/Guardian-Teacher conferences.

Early French Immersion (Senior Kindergarten Entry)

To register for Early French Immersion in Senior Kindergarten – Please visit the application site www.tdsb.on.ca/pars, select the Early Immersion Program (SK) from the drop-down menu, and complete the application process. Deadline for applications: November 27, 2020

Friday, October 30, 2020

School Council

Our first School Council meeting was held on Wednesday night and we had a record 31 people in attendance! We had parents/guardians from both virtual school and in-person. Now more than ever, it is so important to all stay connected. We have an enthusiastic council and look forward to a great year together. A complete explanation of council, positions, bylaws and draft minutes of our meeting will be shared with parents/guardians.

Our next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, November 18th from 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Early French Immersion (Senior Kindergarten Entry)

Applications to the Early French Immersion program are made the year your child is in Junior Kindergarten (or is of Junior Kindergarten age) for entry in Senior Kindergarten. It is an entirely online process. All communication will be sent via the email address you provide. Please check your email regularly, including junk mail folders.

To register – Please visit the application site www.tdsb.on.ca/pars. You will need your child’s date of birth and OEN. The OEN is a 9-digit number found on any report card from the TDSB. For non-TDSB students, please select the “Non-TDSB Student” option and follow the steps to generate an identification number. You must then return to the PARS site and follow the application procedure with this number. Please select the Early Immersion Program (SK) from the drop-down menu, and complete the application process.

Important Dates:

Application process opens: November 2, 2020
Deadline for applications: November 27, 2020

For a downloadable version, please click:

EFI Information Package (Word)
EFI Information Package (PDF)

Please note: While every effort will be made to place students in the school identified as their area French Immersion school, this is not always possible. In cases where the number of applications in a given area is greater than the number of allotted program spaces in the school, students may be redirected to schools with available program space. Placements are made based on the child’s primary home address of record prior to the application deadline. If the address changes between the application deadline and the fall of the SK year, there is no guarantee of placement in the new area.

November is Indigenous Education Month at the TDSB

In November, we honour Indigenous Education Month at the TDSB. This month reminds us to centre First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives, histories and contemporary realities. In classrooms across the TDSB, it is an opportunity to learn about treaties, Indigenous leadership, achievements, and resistance.

Over the course of this month, students, staff and community members recognize a number of important days to deepen knowledge, to learn together about our shared history, and to build stronger relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in Canada. Learn more at https://www.tdsb.on.ca/News/Article-Details/ArtMID/474/ArticleID/1551/November-is-Indigenous-Education-Month-at-TDSB.

Friday, October 23, 2020

The safety of our students and staff is our top priority and I am incredibly proud of the way in which our school community came together this week to keep each other safe. Thank you to the many parents and guardians who have reached out to staff to share their appreciation.

It’s Fall Spirit Week October 26-30

Monday HAT DAY
Tuesday WILCOX DAY – wear your school clothing or our school colours
Wednesday PYJAMA DAY – no stuffies please
Thursday BLACK & ORANGE FALL COLOURS
Friday COSTUME DAY

Thank you to our Grade 7 and 8 leaders who have organized this day for us.

Hallowe’en Costume Day

The final day of our Fall Spirit Week is Costume Day. We recognize that not all students and families choose to observe this celebration and participation is voluntary.

When helping your child choose a costume, please keep in mind:

Appropriate face coverings for COVID are required
A costume mask is not a substitute for a cloth mask or face covering and should not be worn over a cloth mask as it may make it difficult to breathe
All other masks for costumes should be left at home
Since students are required to wear masks, it is recommended that students not wear costume make-up, from below the eyes to ensure their face coverings are not dirtied
No replica weapons or additional accessories should be brought to school as part of a costume
Culture is not a costume – costumes should be fun and creative. Please avoid anything that would demean, stereotype, appropriate, or mock different races, genders, religions or cultures. Click here for a 5 minute video titled, “My Culture is Not a Costume.”

This year it is important that students do not bring Halloween treats to share.

Friday, October 16, 2020

This week, we had a virtual assembly with our Junior and Intermediate students. We focussed on the WE in our #WeAreWilcox hashtag. What makes Wilcox such a great school is the way it brings so many people together. We are a school with students from different races and religions, different neighbourhoods of Toronto, and different needs. We have special programs, such as Extended French, Autism, Learning Disability, Diagnostic Kindergarten and Gifted. We are a microcosm of Toronto and, as such, we have advantages and challenges that go along with that. Students were reminded how to solve problems, how to ask for help, and how to get help for others. In the end, students were given the opportunity to work with me to create a school spirit group. This will be an opportunity for students to lead in a positive way – to come together to create more Wilcox spirit, more good citizenship. I look forward to seeing what our students are capable of doing when they work together. #WeAreWilcox!

Dressing for the Weather

This week, we spent time outside in rainy weather. Most of our students really enjoyed the opportunity to take a mask break and get some fresh air. Many even commented on how much they enjoyed the rain. As a reminder, please be sure to send your children to school with extra clothing and footwear appropriate for the weather.

Start of the Year Permission Forms

An email was sent with Start of the Year Permission forms. Please complete them as soon as possible. The forms provide us with important information about medical concerns, permission for photographs/videos, walking excursions in the neighbourhood and more. Please email the school office if you need the link sent again.

October 13, 2020

TDSB has recently updated their mask guidelines. All students, staff and visitors must wear a mask at all times when indoors, and outdoors when unable to maintain a physical distance of two metres/six feet. Due to the large number of people at school during entry and exit times we are requesting all visitors (including parents/guardians) wear a mask outside. Thank you for your cooperation and support in keeping our school community safe.

October 3, 2020

It is hard to believe we’ve been back in school for three weeks now! Our students have adjusted well to the new routines and procedures we’ve put in place to ensure the health and safety of everyone. Please help to remind your children to keep their masks on at all times (wearing them properly above the nose) and to keep a distance of 2 metres from other students. This continues to be very important.
This week was the deadline to switch between virtual and in-person. TDSB had thousands of students who selected to go virtual for the next date (October 13th). J.R. Wilcox had no one choose to move to the virtual school at this time. We are proud of how hard our staff has been working this year. They have done an EXCELLENT job of making students and families feel safe at school. We are also grateful to you, our families, for the support and encouragement you have given us.