Pleasant View JHS April 29, 2015

175 Brian Drive, Toronto, ON M2J 3Y8 Main Office: 416-395-3080

L. Nardea, Principal M. Morvillo, Vice Principal Beth Veale, Superintendent Ken Lister, Ward 17 Trustee

Congratulations to the following students who have been recognized for demonstrating Cooperation:

71 – Mahnoor B.

72 – Simon D.

73 – Abdullah N.

74 – Arya B.

81 – Jairus M.

82 - Kevin T.

83 – Reetika N.

84 – Melissa T.

91 – Ameena R.

92 – Jiamin G.

93 – Shahir G.

94 – Hadiya B.

A Message from Mrs. Nardea and Ms Morvillo

We have two months left in the current school year but there are still

curriculum expectations to teach, assessments to administer and projects to

complete. We are working hard to promote success for all students and ask

for your continued support and encouragement.

Grade 9 Exams, ISUs & EQAO A letter went home with all grade 9

students on April 17, 2015 explaining the timelines and expectations related

to EQAO, Independent Study Units (ISUs) and Exams. The Grade 9

assessment of Mathematics (EQAO) will be administered on Wednesday

June 4 and Thursday June 5. During the month of May, our Grade 9

students will be completing Independent Study Units during class time.

Talent Show On Friday May 8th at 2:00 p.m. parents and guardians are

welcome to join us for the Pleasant View Talent Show. Students have

prepared many acts including singing and dancing, for what is certain to be

a very special showcase!

Spring Music Night at PV Our Concert Band and

Orchestra will perform at the annual Spring Music Night

Concert on Thursday May 28 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. The

School Council will also offer a Bake Sale raising funds for

the music program at Pleasant View.

Green Bin Our School is going Green! In 2013-14 the TDSB launched the Green Bin Program and over two hundred schools from across the city got on board. We are pleased that our school has now started a Green Bin Program. Over the past few months our students and staff have been making use of green bin in the kitchens, cafeteria and staffroom. The Green Bin Program will now help us keep more of our waste from going into the landfill. We encourage all students and staff to make use of the green bins by putting fruit and veggie scraps and paper towels in the green bin. Helpful posters are displayed around our school to help everyone become familiar with what can go in. Each of us is responsible for the waste we produce in the spaces at school where we work, learn, and play. Let’s remember, we all win when we use the Green Bin!

Parent E-Mail Distribution Group The school office is developing a parent e-mail distribution group so that we will be able to send the school’s newsletter by e-mail. If you included your e-mail address in your child’s Permission Forms Package you will be placed in the e-mail distribution group. Please call us at 416-395-3080 to update your child’s information at any time. The April 2015 Newsletter will be emailed directly to the families of 93% of our student population! Please help us reach 100% in 2014-2015!

NY Harvest Food Bank On April 10th, the Grade 9 Food and Nutrition group went on a field trip to the North York Harvest Food Bank, a place where they sort and distribute to needy families. The class sorted over 2000 pounds of food, enough to feed over 60 families,

surpassing the 1500 pound goal. Fawad, the man who led our 2-hour endeavor, said we were a very good, cooperative group and he enjoyed our stay. Thanks to everyone who participated, and Thank You, Mrs. Austin, for organizing this fun and amazing trip! And finally, a special Thank You to Andrew for showing us the way when the train had to stop early, with him knowing the TTC map inside out.

Submitted by Umair

PV recognizes International Day of Pink On April 8, 2015, the students and staff from Pleasant View joined students from all over the world to celebrate the International Day of Pink. The Day of Pink is a day for students to celebrate diversity and stand up against bullying of all types. Students were encouraged to wear pink clothing to show their support. In addition, a group of grade 9 students created a large pink banner for the school. Students were invited to sign the banner to pledge their support to stand up and speak out against bullying. This banner will be displayed in the cafeteria. Great work PV! Submitted by Ms

Stirling

French Play Class 93, Rebbeca (81) and Amin (83) are preparing a presentation of Moliere's " Le malade imaginaire" in both languages to be shared with the school on May 7, 2015. The play constitutes the final task for the last unit of Grade 9 curriculum and former enthusiastic French Club members Rebbeca and Amin will join 93 for this fun presentation. Moliere is the greatest play writer of France, like Shakespeare, he is mocking human nature for its folly and weakness. M. Argan is a hypochondriac who needs lots of attention and he would sacrifice his family to get it. During the last scene, Toinette, the trickster maid will plot to get

him cured. Submitted by Mme Fluturel

PV—Mac Mini Music Festival On the

morning of Thursday April 2, PV band students hosted a Mini Music Festival for the first time in recent history. Co-sponsored by the music department from our neighbouring high school, Sir John Macdonald C.I., the festival was a great opportunity for our students to receive detailed instruction from professional musicians

on their instruments. For the first half of the morning, grade 9 students worked in small groups, with clinicians leading workshops for flute, clarinet, saxophone, brass and percussion. Students in grade 7 and 8 band observed the sectional rehearsals. During the second half of the morning, our grade 9 players were combined with the Junior Band from

PV—Mac Music Festival

Mac in a mass rehearsal of two pieces which will be performed later this month as part of Mac's Spring Music Concert on Thursday, May

14.

Music Cases The band program has received four new

instrument cases thanks to the TDSB Music Department's Case Renewal Program. For student success in music, it is very important that students are able to practise their instruments regularly in between scheduled music classes. We are very pleased to have these new hard cases which will make it easier and more secure to transport

instruments home. Submitted by Mr. Millar

Congratulations to our Badminton Team: Grade 8 Conference Finalists, Division 1

Earth Week: Community Clean-up

Gr. 8 Art

Gr. 9 Drama

Presentation

pleasantview@tdsb.on.ca

Safe Arrival - 416-395-3080 We would like to remind parents to call the school office when your child is absent from school. After school hours you can leave a message. The school’s answering service is available 24 hours per day, every day. Please speak slowly, telling us the date, spelling your child’s name and telling us why and how long your child will be absent.

http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/pleasantview Pleasant View JHS

Calendar of Upcoming Events:

Apr. 30: Henderson Music Competi-tion (Gr. 9)

Apr. 30: Camp Muskoka Parent and Student Meeting (6:00 p.m.)

May 1: Graduation Photo Retakes

May 3 to 9: Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week

May 7: French Play presentation (12:30 p.m.)

May 8: Talent Show (2:00 p.m.)

May 11: Short Period Day

May 11: Shakespearience (72)

May 12: Locker Clean-out (8:20 a.m.)

May 13: Gauss Math Contest , Gr. 7

& 8 (8:30 a.m.)

May 14: Grade 9 Track and Field at Birchmount

May 14: Mock Interviews (a.m.)

May 14: Grade 6 Parent Information Evening (6:30 p.m.)

May 18: Holiday (Victoria Day )

May 20: Girls’ Soccer, Zion Heights

May 21: Boys’ Soccer , Zion Heights

May 21: Fit Club 5K, Downsview Park

May 25: Trip to Harbourfront (81/81A, 82)

May 25, 26, 27: Dental Screening

May 27: Spring Music Night Concert & Bake Sale (7:00 p.m.)

Welcoming Communities for TDSB Newcomer Youth & Kids ran another successful group at Pleasant View JHS from January to March each Friday during lunchtime. The group of students that participated in the program were respectful, engaged and participated in team building and interactive activities led by Colin Rome, Ana Goncalves and Belinda Alleyne-Hoppler. We had a consistent group of 25 students each week. The students were able to attend the Cadbury's Chocolate Factory as a field trip where they learned about the history of the factory, see the production of chocolate being made and purchase numerous amounts of chocolate from the store. Levon said "Our tour guide said she would deliver the best tour ever and she delivered her promise". We look forward to coming back again next year and hoping to see some new and familiar faces. Submitted by Ms Duranovich

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Student Attendance and Punctuality Regular student attendance and punctuality are important in order for students to be successful at school. The Education Act states that it is the responsibility of the parent/guardian to ensure that their children attend school regularly. A student's academic progress depends on regular class attendance. TDSB elementary schools practice the Safe Arrival Program that requires schools to perform a school-home attendance check. Notify the school when your child will be absent. Students are expected to fully participate in learning opportunities and complete all homework assignments and tests when they are absent so make sure your child is getting homework assignments when they are absent. You can help ensure that your child is in school and on time for classes by: - being involved in your child's education; - knowing the school's schedule;- communicating regularly with classroom teachers (use your child's planner to send notes to the teacher);- calling the school if your child is going to be absent;- writing a note if your child is late due to an appointment; - ensuring that your child gets a good night's sleep so that they have the energy they need for the next day.

MENTAL HEALTH & WELL-BEING PARENT SYMPOSIUM On 9 May 2015, the first annual Mental Health and Well-Being Parent Symposium, “Parents as Partners – Taking Action Together” will take place at Earl Haig Secondary School, 100 Princess Avenue, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. The day will feature workshops for parents that will: Increase parent engagement in supporting mental health and well-being of their children, Raise awareness regarding mental health issues; Provide an opportunity for parents to gain an understanding of what mental health and well-being supports are available within the TDSB and the community. To register please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/mentalhealth

TDSB Graduation Rates Each year the Toronto District School Board conducts a cohort student and releases a graduation rate for our students. A cohort study follows a group (Grade 9 students) over a period of time (five years) – the time it takes most Ontario students to complete secondary school. This year the 2009-2014 graduation rate for the Toronto District School Board is 84%, an increase of 1% from the previous Fall 2008-2013 cohort. Since the TDSB began tracking graduation rates in 2000 there has been a 15% increase (69% to 84%). Increases year over year demonstrate that the TDSB is making good progress in the areas that directly affect students and their well-being – meaning our Years of Action plan is working. By providing targeted supports for at-risk students, supporting caring adult

programs, expanding partnership opportunities with college, university, government and community agencies, the TDSB is able to connect students with the right programs and supports to help students graduate from high school. We will focus on supporting Student Success Initiatives by providing professional learning opportunities for teachers and administrators and will continue to work with parents/guardians and community members to support learning and success for all students.

Education Week The TDSB is celebrating Education Week from Monday, May 4 to Friday, May 8 with the theme “Innovation at the TDSB” where we will focus on the incredible innovation in technology and mathematics across the system. Every day, TDSB staff and students take part in innovative, cutting-edge and personalized learning – and this deserves a special focus. A number of activities are taking place in schools across the TDSB to celebrate Education Week and highlight the work in math and technology. Visit www.tdsb.on.ca/educationweek for more details TDSB Budget Over the past few years, Trustees have made a number of difficult decisions to address the Board’s structural deficit, changing the way the system is run so that overall operating costs are reduced each year. These decisions have helped put the TDSB on solid financial footing for 2015-16. At a Board meeting on March 11, Trustees approved a balanced budget plan for next year. The plan addresses the Board’s $16.5 million projected deficit, and includes both operating costs and school-based staff decisions. Declining enrolment required a reduction of staffing positions for next year. For the most part, school board funding is based on the number of students enrolled in schools. With fewer students across the province, staff positions are adjusted on an annual basis to reflect any changes. In addition to these changes, the Ministry of Education announced a change to the Special Education funding model last year that reduces funding by an estimated $22.3 million over 4 years for the TDSB. In managing this challenge, the Board held on to 10 Special Education support staff positions, originally included in the budget reductions, to help transition the needs of students across the system. The budget plan also includes a list of revenue generating activities and cost saving measures that have a minimal impact on students and the classroom, including a $3.5M reduction to central department operating budgets and changes to the Facilities Services department. For more information on the budget plan, please see www.tdsb.on.ca/budget