Severe weather warning for Wednesday March 2

Hi Parents, please see the note below from Rippleton's Principal about the upcoming storm and potential cancellation of transportation and, possibly, school. This was emailed to parents as well:
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Dear Parents/Guardians:

Occasionally, severe weather conditions may require the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) to cancel transportation and close schools. This may occur before the beginning of the school day or, if conditions become severe, during the school day. To ensure the safety and welfare of stu-dents and staff during school hours, the Board’s Severe Weather operational procedures will guide decisions and operations.

The safety and welfare of students is a shared responsibility with parents and guardians. In the event of severe weather conditions, please keep children at home if possible. The decision to close schools is made by the Director of Education.

Closure of schools or cancellation of transportation services will be announced on the following stations:

AM Radio
FAN 590
AM 640
CFTR 680
CFRB 1010
CHUM 1050

FM Radio
JACK 92.5
CHFI 98.1
CBC 99.1
VIRGIN 99.9
CFNY 102.1
CHUM 104.5
Q107
Z103.5
EZ ROCK 97.3
FLOW 93.5

TV
The Weather Network
CP24
CTV
CITY-TV
GLOBAL TV
OMNI TV
ROGERS TV

Online
www.globaltv.com
www.thestar.com
www.cp24.com
www.tdsb.on.ca

Information on closure of schools and cancellation of transportation services will be posted on the TDSB website at www.tdsb.on.ca and on the TDSB social media channels.

Thank you for your cooperation. We would ask that you listen to the radio/television station announcements and to the messages via SchoolConnects telephone and email communication to confirm school closure and or cancellation of transportation services. We may not be able to answer the school telephone due to the weather conditions and the volume of calls created if everyone is attempting to call the school for information.

Minutes from RAPT meeting, Feb 1

Minutes Subject to Approval at Next RAPT Meeting                                                                                      Feb. 1, 2016

2015-2016 Council:              Vanessa Appleton, Co-Chair

                                                Krista Sevdalis, Co-Chair

                                                Kelly Pellegrino, Secretary (not present)

                                                Hanna Kamal, Exec Council Member (not present)

                                                Jessica Tinkler, Exec Council Member (not present)

                                                Georgia Panagiotopoulos, Exec Council Member

                                                Christine Shin, Treasurer

                                                Amran Abocar, Exec Council Member

1)    RAPT Welcome

Call to Order at 6:17pm                                 Location: Rippleton P.S. Staffroom

a)      Welcome to all parents and staff.

b)     Georgia motion to approve Nov 25, 2015 minutes, Amran approved

2)    Principal’s Report – Ms. Chadder

●    School Connects operational last week after maintenance for much of January

●    February Activities: Lots of activity planned for February and winter months including the many lunch time programs being run by teachers

●    Report cards go home Feb 10, including for JK. SK will not get one this term. All parents are encouraged to set up interviews with teachers

●    Grade 3: Ms. Tam has taken over Grade 3 till end of school year while Ms Trusca is on medical leave. Report cards for this class will be delayed to before March Break

●    Music Teacher: Ms. Morelli is the new ESL/music teacher, potentially till end of school year

●    Kindergarten registration is Feb 24 & Feb 25; 40 pre-schoolers coming from Childcare to JK, additional 20-25 expected from the community. Rippleton is closed to optional attendance this year due to high current intake

●    New PA Day mandated for April 15

●    Staff Meetings: Monthly Principal and Staff meetings to resume in February

3)    Budget /Treasurer Report

a)      Everything going according to budget plans

b)     Some teachers can still utilize their $500 class allowance, if they wish

c)      Wish list on its way for additional iPads for some classrooms

d)     Danceathon fundraising will be used toward STEM material

4)    RAPT Report

a)      Thank you - On behalf of all parents, RAPT is pleased and grateful to see so many clubs, sports, activities outside the classroom. A big thank you to the teachers and staff

b)     Artists in Classroom - $250 is available for each classroom and if more needed, please ask parents for an additional $2, for example, for the activity

c)      Arts Performance – vote passed to have a capella group Cadence perform two shows on Monday March 7 for the second Prologue Performing Artist Group, after Duffle bags Theatre in December. The cost, $1,586, has been allocated

d)     Safety

●       Every staff member now has a walkie-talkie in the classroom and all doors are buzzered so the Main Office as well as Daycare can let in visitors

●       Key Swipe System - Ms Chadder advises that all teachers have been approved for a potential key swipe system

●       Because of proximity to Leslie St, back door must be kept locked but children can buzz to be let in

e)      Lunch, after school activities

●       There are many new lunch time and after school activities, including guitar. In previous years, RAPT purchased guitars for the school which are being used in the Tuesday program and the kids love it. RAPT also helped some of teachers running clubs purchase some of the supplies needed (puzzles, chess sets, markers, etc.)

●       Volunteers for afterschool programs – RAPT is looking for volunteers to run lunch and afterschool programs. Proposal to poll parents on programs they would like to see in the Fall 2016 and set up a committee of parents to organize and run the activities. Proposed to send notes to parents in Spring about the committee and invite them to attend planning meeting

f)       Fundscrip  - has raised $214 so far. RAPT may keep Fundscrip active for parents to purchase gift cards until the end of the school year, at which time the funds will be collected from Fundscrip. 

g)      Holiday luncheon recap – very successful with a great turnout; leftovers went to a homeless shelter and fed additional 50+ people, thank you to all who participated

h)     Mitten Tree – donations went to New Circles which used them to help new Syrian refugees. Suggestion raised to consider class sponsorship of a family through New Circles or to have the school adopt three families. Tabled for future discussion

i)        Valentine’s Dance-a-thon – Volunteers needed for the day, Feb 11, and to help count donations and issue tickets on Feb 17 afternoon. The top fundraiser from each group gets $50 Indigo gift card from RAPT http://vols.pt/bqfuJc

j)        PROGrant – parent presentation on topic of “Self-Reliance and Resilience” will be Feb 24, 6-8pm in the gym. Event includes coffee, meet & greet time and teachers are welcome to attend. Babysitting available for school age kids

k)      Loveable Labels – fundraiser to begin in April, Rippleton gets 20 percent of all orders

l)        New April 15 PA Day means Friday Sub Lunch is moved to Thursday April 14. If you volunteered that day, please note change in your calendars

m)   Mail Chimp – account has been cancelled and RAPT has switched to Zoho. Experimental blast coming shortly

n)     BBQ – will be held June 4, with a rain date of June 11. All the entertainment we had last year will be paid for by Ecko Jay Realty this year, except for the Photo Booth which will be paid for by RAPT

o)     Grade 6 Fundraising

●       Last movie night raised $250 from Gr 1-3. Tentative date for next movie night is April 14 for Gr 4-6

●       June 20 is graduation, students have rented Breakout Studio for the after party. RAPT paid $500 deposit and fundraising expected to cover remaining $1,000

●       $750 had to be paid to Rippleton Public School for supply teacher to cover Grade 6 trip to Camp Muskoka as school sent third staff member due to numbers

●       Students and staff had a terrific time, enjoying both outdoor and indoor activities

p)     Other Business

●       TDSB Anti-Bully/Pink Day is April 13. Proposal to use $1,500 Prologue funds to stage something around anti-bullying. Group would have to be TDSB approved.

●       It was agreed suggestions would be sent to RAPT council for discussion/selection

●       Lunch Lady feedback – parents aren’t impressed with offerings and suggestions sought for an alternate provide.

●       Pela will email Halpert Catering which supplies Daycare and liaise with RAPT

q)     Items to be tabled until meeting

●       Organizing planning committee for afterschool programs and getting more participation

●       Lunch Lady

●       New Circles sponsorship proposal

Next Meeting Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 6 pm

Meeting adjourned at    7:28 pm

Contact Rapt

●     raptrippleton@gmail.com     Blog: raptreport.blogspot.com       

Facebook: Rippleton Association of Parents & Teachers

Registration for Junior Kindergarten - Feb 24 & 25 at Rippleton

Hi parents, 

A reminder that registration for Junior Kindergarten at Rippleton will be this Wednesday and Thursday, Feb 24/25. 

Children who will be 4 years old (born in 2012) by the end of this year are eligible for enrollment in Full Day Junior Kindergarten for September, 2016. Children who will be 5 (born in 2011) are eligible for enrollment in Senior Kindergarten if not already attending Junior Kindergarten.

If you live in the attendance area or your child attends full time at Rippleton Roadsters Child Care Centre and you wish to register your child, please call to book an appointment for registration day and bring the following original information about your child:

1. Age: Birth Certificate or Baptismal Record or Passport
2. Citizenship: Birth Certificate, Passport, or Record of Landing
3. Address: Three pieces of identification that show your address, such as your insurance statement, telephone bill, hydro bill, income tax form. One must be your rental or lease agreement or proof of purchase agreement or tax bill for your home.
4. Health Card
5. Immunization Record: The card that shows a list of needles your child has received to-date
6. Legal Custody Documents (if applicable)

Registration Dates at Rippleton Public School are:

Wednesday February 24th – 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Thursday February 25th – 8:30 - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 - 3:00 p.m.

or other dates as arranged by appointment.

Call 416-395-2810 for an appointment to register!

You are welcome and encouraged to bring your child with you so JK/SK teachers will have an opportunity to meet with you and your child during registration.

2016 Dance-a-thon Gift Card Raffle Results

Hi parents - many thanks for your terrific support in the Valentine's Dance-a-thon fundraiser and to all the volunteers who helped make this event a success! Here are the results from the Raffle:


GIFT CARD                          Student Name                           Class
Indigo Cards 1                       Joseph C                                  Ormos
Indigo- Card 2                       Lara M                                     Wu
Indigo- Card 3                       Jeffrey B                                  Fitzgibbons
Indigo- Card 4                       Andrew T                                 Tam
EBgames -Card 1                   Caleb W                                   Wu
EBgames -Card 2                   Mason C                                   Wakabayashi
Toysrus -Card 1                     Peter S                                    Meijer
Toysrus -Card 2                     Liam B                                     Pre-school
Toysrus -Card 3                     Elena K                                    Ryckewaert
Cineplex -Card 1                   Mitchell C                                 Fitzgibbons
Cineplex -Card 2                   Raymond N                               Wakabayashi
McDonalds                            Mia S                                        Lucas
Disney Store                         Ashley Z                                    Wilson
Blue Jays                              Charlie A                                  Williams
Ardene                                 Alexandra S                              Ormos
Itunes -Card 1                       Evan G                                     Buck
Itunes -Card 2                       Aleyna                                     Di Cesare

TOP Fundraisers by Division

Kindergarten                                Jacob C                                            SK-Wilson 
Primary                                        Warsame H                                      Gr.3 -Di Cesare 
Junior                                           Hardy W                                          Gr. 4- Ormos 
Pre-school                                    Aidan C

Overall Top Fundraising Class

Mrs. Di Cesare’s Grade 3 Class

Special mention to the Roadster’s Preschool for their

amazing fundraising support

Reminder - Parenting Workshop Feb 24

Hi parents, 

RAPT is delighted to bring you this great workshop on Wednesday February 24, 6-8pm in the Rippleton gymnasium:

Self-reliance and Resilience: Vital Life-skills for Children

Presentation & Parent Workshop

with Beverley Catchcart-Ross

Co-author of “Raising Great Parents”

Letting go can be difficult at any stage, and yet working ourselves out of the job of managing our children’s lives is one of our most important tasks as parents.

Come and learn:

* Discover how you may unknowingly be discouraging your children from becoming self-reliant

* Practical tips for encouraging a child's confidence and ability to be resourceful

* Simple and quick ways to improve a child's independence 

So please come out for a very informative evening. Snacks and refreshments will be served. 

Family, friends, neighbours are all welcome and babysitting for school aged children will be provided by RAPT.

Ward Forum with TDSB Trustee Gerri Gershon - Feb 29

Hi parents,

Trustee Gerri Gerson invites you to attend this meeting to get the latest on the 2015-16 budget as well as the trustee and supervisory officers reports and hear from new TDSB Director of Education, John Malloy.

Where: Sunny View Jr. and Sr. School, 450 Blythwood Rd

 Monday, February 29

6:45-9pm 

Agenda

6:45-7:15 Welcome Principal Sunny View

               Trustee Reports

               Supervisory Officers Report

         

7:15-8:15 Report of the 2015-16 Budget 

               Questions

8:15-9:00 John Malloy

               New Director of Education 

Everyone is welcome at this combined meeting of St. Pauls and Don Valley West.

For more information, please contact gerri.gershon@tdsb.on.ca 

New PA Day on April 15. Volunteers, please note Sub Lunch date change

Hi Parents, 

You will have seen the announcement from the school about a new PA Day on April 15. 

RAPT would like to remind all those who volunteered for the Sub Lunch that day, that it will be moved to Thursday April 14. 

Please note it in your calendars and thanks for volunteering!

RAPT Meeting Agenda - Monday Feb 1

Item	Presenter
1.      RAPT Welcome ·        Motion to Approve Minutes           -from November 25th 2015 Meeting	Krista/Vanessa
2.      PRINCIPAL’S REPORT ·         Recent School Happenings, Sports & Events Report Cards, Teacher Clubs, Kindergarten Registration, Additional P.A. Day, School Wish list items	Lynn Chadder
3.      RAPT TREASURER’S REPORT ·        RAPT Budget Update ·        Spending- items from School Wish List	Christine ALL
4.      RAPT REPORT (Fundraising & Events) ·        RAPT Funded School Activities/Plans-Artists in Classrooms & 2nd Prologue Performance- VOTE ·        Lunchtime/Afterschool Activities ·        FundScrip Recap ·        Holiday Luncheon Recap ·        Mitten Tree Recap ·        Valentine’s Dance-a-thon Fundraiser ·        Parent Reaching Out Grant ·        Loveable Labels	Krista/Vanessa Hanna Kelly Krista/Georgia Vanessa Hanna/Amran/Vanessa Hanna Jessica
5.      Quick Bits… ·        RAPT Email –Mail Chimp UPDATE ·        Sub Date Change in April ·        BBQ –Preliminary Plans	Hanna Krista Krista/Hanna
6.      Grade 6 Grad-Fundraising Report ·        Movie Night(s) ·        Graduation Update	Hanna
7.      Other Business, Comments & Questions ·        TDSB- Anti-Bully/Day of Pink in APRIL	Krista/Vanessa
8.      Call for Meeting Adjournment	Krista/Vanessa