Free math programs for students

TVO's mPower is a free creative online game that teaches fundamental K-6 math skills while enabling students to have fun and learn more about the world around them. Designed and developed in partnership with Ontario students and educators, mPower uses an interactive game setting to foster positive attitudes about math. It is Ontario curriculum-based and supports the development of global competencies. In addition it tracks student progress and responds to learners' needs. Click here for more information. 

Homework Help is a free online math help resource for students in Grades 7-10. Homework Help provides free, live one-on-one tutoring from Ontario teachers Sunday to Thursday from 5:30pm – 9:30pm ET. Homework Help is funded by the Ontario government and administered by TVO's Independent Learning Centre. Parents/guardians can sign up for a guest account. The guest account gives parents/guardians access to math videos, interactive exercises, and a scientific calculator 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can get further information at the Online Help Website.

Creativity needed!

Attn McMurrich Community members: Are you creative? Do you have graphic design skills?

(Or any drawing skills?) If so, McMurrich School Council needs you!! This fall a small group of volunteers are leading the launch of a new line of McMurrich Spirit wear that will include awesome toques, hoodies, t-shirts, track pants and (potentially) even more! We are looking for someone who can help us by re-designing our school logo. If this sounds like something you are able to help us with please email charlene.cressman@gmail.com. Thanks in advance!

Pizza Lunch!

One of McMurrich's most popular fundraising efforts is the regular pizza lunch. Not only do the kids love pizza, it's one less lunch for parents to make, and is a major contributor to School Council's fundraising efforts!

Our 1st pizza lunch of the year is Friday October 28th and we're going on line for ordering and payment! It's a few simple steps that need to be done by Tuesday October 25th.

Instead of filling out a paper order form, we strongly encourage you to place and pay for your pizza lunch orders online using MunchaLunch.com. Aside from saving a lot of paper, this website allows you to track your child’s pizza order and pay for up to 3 months of lunches in advance. It also makes it much easier for our parent volunteers to keep track of orders and payments. Our 1st Pizza Lunch is Friday October 28th. Please have your orders in by Wednesday October 26th.

Online ordering is open as of Wednesday October 19th. Here's how you register:

1) Go to: http://www.munchalunch.com/schools/mcmurrich
2) If you don’t already have an account, click “Register Here” to set one up
3) After adding your child(ren), click the green “Order Lunch!” button
4) Follow the prompts for ordering and payment instructions
5) Next time, just click the “Login Here” button to access your account.
Reminder notices will be sent before each pizza lunch through PEN (Parent Email Network). Please place your child’s order at least 3 days before a given pizza lunch day, or it will not be received. Please note there will be no refunds for days absent.

Other Payment Options
If you prefer to use a paper order form and pay by cash or cheque, you can pick up a paper form in the school office. Please complete the form and leave it in an envelope along with your payment by Tuesday October 25th. Please provide exact change for cash payments. If you would like to request financial assistance for Pizza Lunch, contact Principal Ms. Lee directly; no student shall be excluded.

Pizza Lunch Dates
* October 28
* November 25
* December 23
* February 3
* March 3
* April 7
* May 5
* June 2

Along with pizza from PIZZA PIZZA, students will also receive a juice box of their choice.

Volunteers
Please consider volunteering to help serve pizza. It’s fun and it only takes about a half hour. There’s a volunteer page in the online system where you can select the dates you’ll be available. The pizza lunch coordinators will then follow up. If your plans for the day change last minute and it’s easier for you to just show up that please do so. The more hands the merrier. Please sign-in at the office for 11:00.

THANK YOU!
Funds raised through the pizza lunch program go directly to McMurrich’s Parent Council and its yearly initiatives. Thank you to the McMurrich parent community for supporting this important fundraiser and to our wonderful Volunteers who help make it a success!

If you have questions or need assistance with registration, please contact our pizza lunch co-ordinators:
Catherine ziliotto: shiatsucath@hotmail.com
Alison Mercer: alimer1012@gmail.com
Emily: ab_alto_antiques@hotmail.com

Lego Lunch

One McMurrich parent had a great idea to get our kids' creative juices flowing - bringing Lego to school at lunch!

10th Annual TDSB Parent Involvement Makes a Difference Conference

All TDSB parents and guardians are invited to the TDSB's free conference for an opportunity to make connections and participate in informative and empowering workshops. The event happens Saturday, November 19, 2016, 8 a.m. to 3:45 p.m., at Earl Haig Secondary School, 100 Princess Avenue.

Speaker and Author Jennifer Kolari’s inspirational address – being the parent of “that child” – will provide families with a few more tools for their toolbox that can help your child learn to be part of the team at home, at school and out in the community. By helping your child to understand the context of their behaviour they will learn better coping strategies and build success and resilience.

Other workshops focus on Math, IEP/IPRC, STEM subjects, School Councils, homework help, financial literacy, and more. There is also an information marketplace where you can collect ideas, strategies, and information that will support you and your child’s education. The marketplace will feature an array of community agencies, TDSB programs and services, and vendors offering great educational ideas and giveaways throughout the day.


Child-minding, Interpretation and Busing are available for those who request it when they register. For more information, visit the website.

Volunteers wanted: Silent Auction

With so many committees and activities happening at our school, It can be hard to keep track! Over the course of the year, we will shine the spotlight on each volunteer opportunity in turn. First up is the Silent Auction committee: 

The Silent Auction has existed in one form or another from about 2009. McMurrich Dad Lawrence Calenti has been involved since 2012. It has evolved from a social evening at a local establishment to now taking place during the Fun Fair. The Silent Auction offers parents an excellent opportunity to be directly involved in the McMurrich community through fundraising efforts, but to do so on your time, when it is convenient to you. If you have thirty minutes in the evening or on the weekend, you can do some online solicitation, help enter item bid information online, or create a poster to go out by e-mail or in backpack stuffers.

1. A specific description of the event itself: a silent auction where items ranging from gift cards, services, camps after school activities to original art work is bid upon, with all monies raised going to the School Council.
2. The approximate dates(s) it was held last year: during the Fun Fair, in mid-June. The auction runs from 4 p.m. until just before 7 p.m.
3. The number of parents on the event committee last year: 5 parents contributed a significant amount of time prior to the event and on the day of the event. Many parents were instrumental in helping to fundraise.
4. The amount of money raised last year: approximately $5,500.00.
5. A detailed description of the different tasks/duties expected of committee members:

• Online solicitation;
• Neighborhood, door-to-door solicitation;
• Entering bid information online;
• Creating bid sheets;
• Mounting bid sheets on Bristol boards;
• Setting up on the day of the auction;
• Facilitating and answering questions during the auction;
• Processing payments at the conclusion of the auction;
• Tear down at the conclusion of the auction.

6. The approximate number of hours spent per volunteer last year: from as little as four hours total.

If you would like additional information or to volunteer, please e-mail Lawrence@calentilaw.com

School Council meeting dates for 2016-2017

School Council meeting dates have been set for the year as follows:

Tuesday 18 October
Tuesday 15 November
Tuesday 13 December
Tuesday 17 January
Wednesday 15 February
Tuesday 21 March
Tuesday 25 April
Tuesday 16 May
Tuesday 13 June

School Council meetings take place from 7 to 9 o'clock in the evening, in the school library. All are welcome, and childcare is provided free in Room 103. If you are unable to attend, you can always view the minutes from past meetings, usually posted a week or so after the meeting date.