School Council Newsletter Available Online - March 2016

The most recent edition of the School Council Newsletter, McMurrich Matters, is now available online. Read about upcoming events, enrichment activities, our featured teacher profile, and much more.

Email us if you would like to contribute to our next newsletter. We would love to hear from you.

Have a great March Break!

Don't forget to stay home on Monday! We'll see you next week, on Monday March 21st.

Coding robots?

Yes! McMurrich students have been coding robots thanks to the efforts of our Fundraising Team!

Using an app called Tickle, students had the opportunity to learn how to program a Star Wars BB8 droid, and control it wirelessly. Think of the possibilities!

Even the Kinders have been getting into coding with the help of the grade 6 students. It's amazing the thing kids can learn when they have the tools!

And it's never too late to donate! Subscribe to magazines, or just donate online and receive a charitable donation receipt to use on your tax return. We are $50 away from crossing the $7,000 mark in donations alone! Put McMurrich over the top with your donation today!

• Purchase Magazines by visiting  www.QSP.ca. ENTER OUR ONLINE ID: 3721354
• Make online donation by visiting:  www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/mcmurrich-technology-plan All donations will receive a tax receipt.
• Make donation by cheque. All cheques payable to McMurrich School. Be sure to provide details to ensure all eligible donations receive tax receipts.
• Reach out to friends and families to ask for their support.  They can support our success by purchasing magazines (you can email them from within QSP) or making a donation (eligible for a tax receipt).

School Wide Prizes

• Reach 25% of fundraising goal $4000 – School wide double recess - achieved!
• Reach 35 % of fundraising goal $5600 – School wide double recess - achieved!
• Reach 50% of fundraising goal $8000 – School wide Freezie snack - achieved!
• Reach 75% of fundraising goal $12000 – School wide double recess with Freezie snack
• Reach 100% of fundraising goal – School wide movie afternoon with popcorn and juice boxes, PJs are optional!

Class Prizes

Any class with greater than 75% of students participating wins an Awesome Surprise Box
Top class in each division will receive Super Awesome Surprise Box

Connected Parenting presentation at Oakwood CI

Oakwood Collegiate invites all parents to attend a Parent Presentation by Jennifer Kolari. She will be talking about how to use her CALM techniques as explained in her book, You’re Ruining My Life! (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting.

This presentation will show parents the importance of communication in the parent-child relationship. You can learn more about Jennifer and the CALM parenting techniques on her website, connectedparenting.com.

The event takes place Wednesday, March 30th, 7-8 pm at Oakwood C.I., 991 St Clair Ave. W.  Light refreshments will be provided. Childcare available if requested at youmeweee@hotmail.com.

CANCELLED: McMurrich Welcomes Refugees committee meeting

Tonight's meeting of the organizing committee for McMurrich Welcomes Refugees has been cancelled due to the weather. It is rescheduled for next Tuesday March 8th.

McMurrich Welcomes Refugees

We are looking for parents to help with McMurrich's new refugee initiative!

McMurrich Welcomes Refugees is a newly formed group within McMurrich that aims to sponsor a refugee family from Syria, in partnership with a sponsorship agreement holder organization with first-hand experience with refugee settlement. The initiative is designed to provide a concrete, positive way for McMurrich to make a difference for a family fleeing conflict in Syria, and to allow the school community to get involved.

If you can help in any way, please complete this survey.

Also, the next meeting of the McMurrich Welcomes Refugees committee will be on Tuesday March 1st in the Library. All are welcome! 

Fundraising Update!

We're half-way through the year, and just about half-way to our fundraising goals!

Thanks to families and friends for all you've contributed - volunteering, baking cupcakes, selling magazines, Dance-a-Thon-ing, and making direct donations.

Our goal is to raise $16 000, which will enable us to fund 60-70 devices including: desktop computers for our classrooms and library lab, and mobile computer labs of laptops which can move from class to class.

Some of the devices have already been purchased! Have a look at some of our McMurrich students in action, using the new McMurrich tablets for learning about nutrition and health:

Can't wait till we hit our goals! Your can still contribute!

• Purchase Magazines by visiting  www.QSP.ca. ENTER OUR ONLINE ID: 3721354
• Make online donation by visiting:  www.canadahelps.org/en/pages/mcmurrich-technology-plan All donations will receive a tax receipt.
• Make donation by cheque. All cheques payable to McMurrich School. Be sure to provide details to ensure all eligible donations receive tax receipts.
• Reach out to friends and families to ask for their support.  They can support our success by purchasing magazines (you can email them from within QSP) or making a donation (eligible for a tax receipt).

School Wide Prizes

• Reach 25% of fundraising goal $4000 – School wide double recess - achieved!
• Reach 35 % of fundraising goal $5600 – School wide double recess - achieved!
• Reach 50% of fundraising goal $8000 – School wide Freezie snack - achieved!
• Reach 75% of fundraising goal $12000 – School wide double recess with Freezie snack
• Reach 100% of fundraising goal – School wide movie afternoon with popcorn and juice boxes, PJs are optional!

Class Prizes

Any class with greater than 75% of students participating wins an Awesome Surprise Box
Top class in each division will receive Super Awesome Surprise Box

Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!

The McMurrich School Council Enrichment Committee presents Soli & Rob's puppet show, "Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!"

Soli tries to help Rob overcome his fear of bugs.  Can she do it before they come face to face with the “Bungalow Bugs”? Find out in this musical with puppets all about the insect world.
"Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!" is a 45 minute program that features an original soundtrack, a versatile fabric set and puppets designed by internationally acclaimed puppet maker Ivan Pavlov.  

Past winners of the City Parent Readers' Choice Awards, Soli & Rob have a knack for putting on that rare show that leaves adults and kids smiling for the same reason – it’s great entertainment.

We are pleased to be able to present "Bugs! Bugs! Bugs!" to the kinders and primary students on Thursday morning, February 25th. Thanks to the McMurrich School Council Enrichment Team for organizing, and to the Fundraising Team for all their hard work to make this possible.  

You can learn more about Soli and Rob at soliandrob.com.

Joint Ward Forum

Ward 11 St. Paul's Trustee Shelley Laskin will be joining together with Ward 13 Don Valley West Trustee Gerri Gershon and Ward 14 Toronto Centre-Rosedale for a Joint Ward Forum on February 29th at Sunny View Jr. & Sr. P.S. at 450 Blythwood Road. Director John Malloy will be reporting on the TDSB 2016-2017 budget. The event takes place from 6:45 to 9:00 pm, and childcare will be provided.

School Council Meeting Tuesday, February 23rd

Please come out to our next School Council meeting, Tuesday, February 23rd, 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 updates from council and committees, as well as 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!