Dear Parents/Guardians: As we look back to the month of October we want to congratulate all our students that participated so well with our conference finals in cross-country and soccer. We want to recognize these students for their tremendous efforts and stamina. This involves leadership both in their classes and school community through serving as positive role models for their peers. Despite any outcome, Presteign students demonstrated their personal best, and represented our school with great pride. A critical issue that I’d like to draw your attention to is how we support and protect children with Severe Nut Allergies. To ensure students with such allergies are not at risk in any way, all TDSB schools must ensure a Nut Free environment. We are requesting your support in this regard to ensure that no nut products are sent to the school. We hope you appreciate the serious nature of this and thank you in advance for your support towards a safe learning environment for all children at Presteign Heights. We had a fantastic community event – Monster Mash on October 26th. We had a great time. Thank you to all the parents for organizing this event, but especially Stephanie Kallinikos, Nickey Bekris and Soula Vlahavas. Thank you so much for your efforts.

Our Remembrance Day efforts this year focus on the 100th Anniversary of the World World I Armistice of 1918. One in three, was the proportion of able-bodied Canadian Indigenous men, and able to serve during the First World War. Many Indigenous soldiers lived in isolated areas of the Canada, where the guns of Europe were especially distant. Yet, approximately 4,000 Canadian Indigenous men left their homes and families to help fight an international war that raged in European battlefields. As we head into the month of November, we will be further broaden our learning on Indigenous Education and Hindu Heritage Month which is an important equity mandate of TDSB. From newly purchased books on First Nations communities to storytellers, artists and performers, we will learn collectively as we move ahead with Truth and Reconciliation. On Sept. 17th we had Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Clayton Shirt. He came in to increase our understanding of the Seven Grandfather teachings and the value that they have on daily life. Values such as Integrity and Honesty are Character Attributes that we learn each year in the TDSB. We encourage you to access www.tdsb.on.ca for further information on Indigenous Education and various system initiatives. It is an honour to serve the students, staff and parents of the Presteign Heights Elementary School. Sincerely, Peppi Kondilis-Minos Principal

-Indigenous Education Month

-Hindu Heritage Month 1 All Saints Day Eastern Orthodox & Roman Catholic 1 Samhain* Wicca/Pagan 2 Crowning of Emperor Haile Selassie I Rastafari 5 Photo Retake/ Sibling Day! 6 Sight/ Sound Clinic Screening 7 Diwali Hinduism/ Jainism/ Sikhism 9 Birth of Baha’hu’llah* Baha’i 11 Remembrance Day Canada 12 Gyana Panchami Jain 12-16 Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week Government of Ontario (19-23

rd at Presteign)

14 Birthday of Guru Nanak Sikhism 14 Prakash Sikhism 14 World Diabetes Day WHO 13 Progress Reports go home 16 Louis Riel Day (Toronto) First Nations, Métis 16 P A Day – No school 17 Lokashaha Jayanti Jain 20 Universal Children’s Day UN 20 International Transgender Day of Gwendolyn Ann Remembrance Smith, US Trans Advocate 21 Presentation of the Virgin Mary Russian Orthodox Church 24 Martyrdom of Guru Tegh Bahadur Sikhism 24 National Holodomor Memorial Day Ukrainian Canadian Association 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence UN Against Women 26 Day of the Covenant 26 Parent Council Meeting 6:30-8pm

November 2018

Presteign Heights Elementary School Proud to be a Platinum Eco-School 2570 St. Clair Ave. East, Toronto, Ontario M4B 1M3

T:416.396.2430 F:416.396.2347

Peppi Kondilis-Minos, Principal

Lucy Giannotta, Superintendent

Michelle Arts, Newly Elected Trustee

Email: Presteign@tdsb.on.ca

School website:

http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/presteign/

Our boys' soccer team just finished a very exciting season in which they progressed, game after game to the City Finals. We didn’t win the conference but our boys stood tall and proud. Congratulations to our team who represented our school so well!

G. Cuthbertson & Mr. Caruso

Our girls soccer team finished a super exciting season in which they progressed, game after game to the City Finals. They came in second in the conference finals. Congratulations to our team who represented our school so well!

G. Cuthbertson & Mr. Caruso

Presteign Heights Elementary School

Grade 3 Century Schoolhouse Trip!

Our Grade 3 students went to the Century Schoolhouse. Students are transported back in time to the Toronto District School Board’s Century Schoolhouse, 502 Sammon Avenue. This structure was built as a bicentennial project to commemorate the Borough of East York. The Century Schoolhouse was modelled after the more substantial type of brick schoolhouse built in Ontario between 1860 and 1890. As a reproduction of a typical one room school, the classroom area provides an excellent stage on which to re-enact a school day as it would have been circa 1890 for the children who lived in this once rural community. Thanks to Ms. Alexiou for organizing the trip!! Presteign students loved the trip!!

Cross Country at Presteign!

5 students made it to Semi-Finals. Evangeline M. came in 48th

across the City of Toronto.

We are so proud of her. Congrats!

Sports at Presteign Heights ES

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Parent-Teacher Interviews

Regular parent-teacher communication is an important part of student learning. Parent-teacher interviews are scheduled throughout the year after report cards are sent home, on Tuesday Nov. 13

th, 2018. Teachers will be contacting you to

arrange parent-teacher interviews. These interviews are your opportunity to ask questions about your child's progress and to discuss any issues. In addition to regular scheduled parent-teacher interviews, you can request a meeting at any time during the school year by contacting the school or your child's teacher directly.

French Programs Application Deadline

For families interested in the Toronto District School Board's French Immersion or Extended French programs, we offer an online process for applying to: - Early French Immersion (EFI) which begins in Senior Kindergarten; - Junior Extended French (JEF) which begins in Grade 4 We guarantee an offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) to all on-time applicants. Transportation is provided as per the Board's Transportation policy. The timelines for applying for these programs for September 2019 are: - Applications for Early French Immersion (for a Junior Kindergarten aged child), must be completed online between October 29, 2018 and November 26, 2018. - Applications for Junior Extended French must be completed online between January 7, 2019 and February 4, 2019. Offers of placement within your chosen program will be made to all on-time applicants in the weeks following the close of the application window. Please note: families with an older sibling currently in a French program are still required to complete an online application for the new student. For further information about French as a Second Language programs, the application process and dates for Information Evenings, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/french.

TDSB Recognizes Hindu Heritage Month

In 2016, the Government of Ontario declared the month

of November each year as Hindu Heritage Month.

Canadians of Hindu faith have greatly contributed to

civic life in Canada for decades, and are a vibrant part of

the growth and prosperity of Toronto, Ontario and

Canada. On April 18, 2018, the TDSB Trustees voted to

recognize the month of November as Hindu Heritage

Month.

The theme chosen for the inaugural year is Namaste.

Namaste is a way of showing respect and that you are

equal to one another. It means, the divine in me bows to

Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week

The TDSB recognizes Bullying Prevention and Awareness Week November 12 to 16, 2018. During this week, students, staff and parents work together create school communities and learning environments that are caring, safe, peaceful, nurturing, positive, and respectful where all students are able to reach their full potential. The TDSB takes bullying very seriously. As a system, we focus efforts on prevention efforts and creating a welcoming school community. Staff and students are educated on what bullying looks like and how to report. They are engaged through events, activities and prevention programming and encouraged to take on leadership roles to enhance the school community. Be part of making our schools safer – report bullying • If you are a student who is being bullied, reach out; • If you are a parent/guardian and your child is being bullied, reach out; • If you want to make our schools safer, report bullying.

Presteign gets ready for the holidays!

One of our former students that attended Presteign

many years ago, came back to Presteign to tell us about a

Christmas story that he recently published. Robin Jones,

attended Presteign when the building was being

constructed in 1949. He fondly remembers growing up in

the Parkview Hills area when the roads were not

asphalted and still dirt. He comes from a mixed

background and used to live on Denvale Rd. and

remembers so much of his childhood here. He now lives

in British Columbia but he recently came by to meet us

and tell us about his most recent Children’s story book.

Title: Letter from Santa Claus by Robin Jones

We have a copy in the Presteign Library.

PIAC Annual Parent Involvement Makes a Difference Conference

Registration for the annual PIAC conference is now open! Parents, guardians and caregivers are invited to the free Parent Involvement Makes a Difference conference on Saturday, November 17, 2018. Parents can choose from a variety of workshops including literacy, technology, mental health and nutrition. Walk around the Market Place and learn more about local community supports and visit the School Community Engagement Lounge. Busing, child minding and interpretations can be chosen during registration. The day includes a light breakfast and lunch. www.tdsb.on.ca/parentconference Saturday, November 18 Earl Haig Secondary School 100 Princess Avenue, Toronto

Remembrance Day

On Friday, November 9th, students and staff at our school and across the city will mark Remembrance Day, which falls on Sunday, November 11, with classroom activities and school assemblies. For Remembrance Day, our teachers make connections between global events and students' lives by promoting peace within our school community. On this solemn occasion, our staff, students, parents, and the wider community all join together in a call for peace. If you would like to join us at 10:30 am, we will be having our school assembly. This year's Remembrance Day marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I when fighting stopped on November 11th at 11am in 1918 (the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month). This year is also the 73rd year since the end of World War II. As a point of interest, TDSB’s Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute has the recognized distinction of having the greatest number of students, graduates, teachers, and other staff enlist in the military during the Second World War than any other school in the British Commonwealth. John McCrae In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below. We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders Fields. Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.

Continuing Education - Community Programs

Registration for Winter Learn4Life classes start November 14, 2018. Keep up with your New Year’s fitness goals, learn a language, or even learn to tango! Take up a new sport, or even learn how to make your own jewellery. Register at www.learn4life.ca. Facebook.com/TDSBLearn4Life @TDSB_ConEd Classes begin Saturday, January 12, 2019.

Save the Date:

Holiday Concert for Primary Students

Date: Thursday, Dec 6th

Time: 5:30-6:30pm

December Book Fair at PHS

Dear Families of Presteign Heights,

This is just a quick bulletin from the

PHS library to let you know that the

family buying days during our

upcoming December Book Fair will be

held on Wednesday, December 5th

all day and Thursday, December 6th

in the morning. Specific buying times

will be announced closer to the dates.

The beginning days of the Book Fair

week will be dedicated to student-made

purchases during in-school time. We’re

looking forward to seeing you there!