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.

Agenda for School Council Meeting, 27 September

Our first School Council meeting of 2016-2017 school year is tomorrow evening from 7-9 pm in the library.

On the agenda will be:

1. Principal's Update
2. Overview of Parent Council Roles and Committees
3. Election of Parent Council Members and sign up for various committees

• It looks like we will need committee leads for both the Fundraising activities and communications. The role would be to reach out to the various sub-committees to ensure everything is on track, resolve issues (usually around event timing) etc. and to report back at council meetings on the different activities underway.
• If you want to be a committee lead this does not mean that you are required to organize all the activities/outreach etc. There should be sub-committees with additional volunteers.
• Speaking of fundraising - we need someone to take on the role of leading the Fun Fair this year. It's a lot of work and a lot of fun. There is a lot of knowledge that can be transferred regarding what's worked and what hasn't worked in the past in case you are thinking of taking this on.
• If you are interested in volunteering for an activity related to fundraising, outreach, enrichment, communications etc. and can't make it to the meeting, just let us know and your name will be added to the list.

4. Committee Updates

• Budget
• Overview of last year and current status
• Fundraising
• Signing up for "munch a lunch" online payment system
• Communications
• Outreach
• Enrichment

5. Discussion/Decision on Major Fundraising Initiative for 2016-2017

•  Review Survey Results

6. Setting Council Meeting Dates for 2016-2017

7. New/Other Business

Also, a few documents for everyone that will be helpful as we get ready for another successful year (pdf format):

1. Parent Council By-laws
2. Summary of School Council Regulations (e.g. what is the role of parent council)
3. School Generated Funds Guideline (e.g. what we can and cannot do with funds raised)
4. 2013-2014 Budget Resolution -1 (introduction/history of "major initiative")

Finally - here is a link to helpful information in relation to parent council with links to resources that you may find useful: http://www.tdsb.on.ca/ward11/Ward11/SchoolCouncilInformation.aspx

Looking forward to seeing everyone tomorrow!

Battle of the BBQs!

DATE: September 22, Please join us before Curriculum night for what is sure
to be an amazing event.

TIME: 5:30pm

Our key sponsor, ROAST will be providing burgers and potato salad for the
first 200 people.

A great opportunity to mingle with your kids' community.

We will also have a communal table for those who wish to bring nut-free
potluck items to donate to the BBQ.

Please bring your own plates and cutlery if you can!

A special thanks to our corporate sponsors ROAST, LOBLAW, SOUTH STREET
BURGER, DAVE’s and COSTCO.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Do you live close? We need 8 BBQ’s; if you can wheel
yours to the school and can volunteer to grill please email. We also need
additional volunteers for set up and to help with the event.

Please email: hollyfennell@yahoo.com or RSVP on the Facebook event.

School Council Meeting Tuesday 27th September

Please come out to our first School Council meeting of the year, Tuesday, September 27th, at 7 o'clock, in the McMurrich Library.

School Council meetings are a great way to find out what's happening at McMurrich. There will be discussion about plans for the year to come, committee sign-ups, and an update from the principal.

Refreshments will be available, and free childcare will be provided across the hall in Room 103.

All are welcome. We look forward to seeing you!

Welcome Back!

McMurrich Parent Council would like to welcome all the parents and kids back to school on Tuesday and will have a table set up with complimentary coffee to reward you for getting out of bed, making lunches, and getting the kids to school!

*if you can, bring a mug so we can help reduce waste*

Come Join the TDSB PRIDE Float July 3rd

All members of the TDSB community are invited to join me and the TDSB PRIDE Parade contingent on Sunday, July 3, 2016. Everyone who wishes to march with or ride on the TDSB float should gather at Asquith Green Park at 12:45 p.m. We will then travel as a group to our mustering location (please note that we will not be advised of the exact TDSB mustering location until just before parade day).

If you are unable to make it to the Asquith Green gathering location, but would like to join us en route, please watch for details and updates on Twitter (#PrideTDSB).

Safety over the summer

A woman has been seen at the McMurrich parking lot off Tyrrel as well as at Hendrick/Benson Ave., watching the children in a malicious manner. Several children have reported the incident, and a woman matching her description is known to police, with a propensity for approaching children inappropriately. The woman is described as being in her mid 40s, 5'6" tall, with black bobbed hair, driving a Silver VW Golf. One of the children wrote down the license place number and have it on file. Be cautious if you see this person. If you do happen to see this car/woman, please call Toronto Police 13 Division non-emergency line at 416-808-1300.

McMurrich is working with Toronto Police in order to ensure our kids' safety, but it's important to remind our kids to be careful over the summer, too! Toronto Police has online resources to help teach your kids about safety. Talk to them about that uh-oh feeling, encourage them to speak up when someone makes them feel uncomfortable. Let them know that no one has the right to make them feel uncomfortable by the way that they look at them, talk to them, or touch them, even someone they know!

School Council Survey

McMurrich School Council has put together a short survey that will help guide our fundraising efforts over the 2016-2017 school year. Completing this short survey will help ensure that Parent Council can take your views into consideration in our decision making next year. The survey should take you no longer than 5 minutes to complete and all answers will remain anonymous.

Click here to fill out the survey

Keep in touch!

Summer's almost here, but you can keep in touch with what McMurrich Parents are up to in the community by joining the McMurrich Facebook Group (a closed group, your request will need to be approved) or following @McMurrichParent on Twitter.

Congrats Grade 6 Grads!

Today is the big day! Congratulations to our graduating Grade 6 class!

Let's Celebrate Ms. Vieira!

Forget the black tie it's no formal affair
Just come as you are for that casual flair,
We'll drink tea and laugh as we all reminisce,
It's a gathering for a friend that will surely be missed.

YES it's true! After 47 years of teaching in the McMurrich Jr Public School Community Ms. Vieira has decided it's time to retire.

Please join in our celebrations, and bring a favourite story to share!

Coleen Vieira's Retirement Tea Party will be held Monday June 27th, McMurrich Jr PS Gym, 115 Winona Drive, from 4:30pm - 6:00pm. All are welcome!

TDSB Chair & Director of Education Webcast

TDSB is hosting a year-end live webcast with parents across the city. Please join us on Monday, June 20 from 8:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

The session will begin with a welcome and update on the Learning Centre Strategy, followed by a chance for parents/guardians to ask questions. Learn more at http://www.tdsb.on.ca/learningcentres and stay tuned for more details.

Please join the conversation at the following link:
http://www2.tdsb.on.ca/stream/Director/LiveWebcast.html

McMurrich Playground has a New Look!

Get ready to hop, skip, and jump! "Playground Improvement" was on the School Council agenda in May, and with many thanks to Principal Lee, we have already seen changes start to happen!  Check out our new look!

Bakers needed!

Ms. Vieira, McMurrich's much-beloved librarian, is retiring after 47 years! All are invited to celebrate at a tea party from 4:30 to 6 o'clock on 27 June in the McMurrich School Gym.

We are looking for parents to help out by baking some sweets to serve! If you can help out with nut-free cupcakes, squares, cookies, etc., please contact Colleen Hill at warrior1166@yahoo.com asap!