25 Muirhead Road Toronto, ON

M2J 3W3 (416) 395-2710

Safe Arrival Line

Student Absences (416) 395-2718

Principal

Baila Goldfarb

Office Administrator

Mary Judges

Head Caretaker

Brian Sammy

Superintendent

Beth Veale (416) 396-9180

Trustee

Ken Lister ken.lister@tdsb.on.ca

Muirhead Website http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/muirhead/

Principal’s Message: The weather has finally turned and it has

been beautiful. I do have several good

news stories to share.

First, we are getting $45,000 so we can

redo our outdoor kindergarten

space. We will spruce up the courtyard

and use some money for a fenced in area

for the kindergartens to play next year

during recess. The staff and school

council both think it is a good idea for

our kindergarten students to be on the

same schedule as our grade 1 to 6 stu-

dents. So starting in September, kinder-

garten begins and ends the same time as

all the other students and they will be

going out for recess in the morning and

afternoon. I have spoken with several

colleagues who use this model and it

seems to work well. Superintendent

Veale has approved it, and details will

come out in the end of May when the

whole staffing process is complete.

Our grade 5 and 6 students had a won-

derful three days at Claremont. We

were the first group to get to the pond

this year, and the first to see several liv-

ing things.

We couldn’t have asked for better

weather. The students came back very

tired, but happy.

APRIL 2015 Thank you to Ms. Sati, Mr. Brent, Ms.

Da Costa and Ms. Greenspan for mak-

ing this trip possible. What a wonder-

ful tradition we have started!

Our cookbook has been delivered and

it looks terrific. Thank you to Athena

Tsimidis and the school council for all

of their hard work. It was definitely a

labour of love, and it is very much ap-

preciated by everyone here.

With the warmer weather, I start think-

ing about the Fun Fair, I know Joanna

and the school council are looking for-

ward to the big event. It takes a lot of

organization and time. Any volunteers

are greatly appreciated.

As I walk into classrooms, I am so im-

pressed by student speeches. Teachers

have done a remarkable job getting

everyone one ready to present in front

of their class. I am looking forward to

the assemblies next week to hear the

selected speeches. The students have

demonstrated dedication, poise, perse-

verance and creativity in their speech-

es. Thank you to parents for listening

and coaching in the evenings.

As always, it is a pleasure working

with your children. Happy Spring!

Baila

MUIRHEAD NEWS

HELP KEEP OUR PLAYGROUND CLEAN!!

There is a lot of garbage on our school playground after

the winter.

Please remind your child the importance of

putting things in the garbage. This is an im-

portant contribution that children can make

to the environment.

SUNNY DAY PICNIC LUNCHES

Now that spring is here, on warm, dry days, students

who stay for the lunch program will have lunch out-

side.

Attendance will continue to be taken

and students will be supervised by

the lunch supervisors

2015 -2016 SCHOOL YEAR

ARE YOU MOVING?

Believe it or not we are already beginning to plan for

the upcoming 2015-2016 school year!

We are in the process of projecting the number of stu-

dents who will be attending Muirhead Public School

next year.

In order to help us with this process we would appreci-

ate being informed if you know that you

will be moving. If moving, it would be

helpful if you could also give us your

forwarding address, as well as the name

of the new school.

EQAO

Each year students in grades 3 and 6 write provin-

cial assessments in Reading, Writing and Mathe-

matics. These tests come from the provincial Edu-

cation Quality and Accountability Office and are

administered by grade 3 and 6 teachers.

This year, the assessments will take place during

the period from May 26, 27, 28. It is important that

students attend school every day, especially during

the assessment.

If possible, please try to arrange appointments out-

side of the testing period.

We appreciate your cooperation.

OUTDOOR PLAY

Now that the warmer weather has returned we are able

to take full benefit of our playground! Students are not

allowed to bring hard balls or bats to school. Students

are reminded for safety sake that skateboards, scooters

and bikes are not permitted on school property.

The playscape is a fun apparatus for students to use. In

order to ensure that students are safe we ask you take the

time to review the playscape rules with your children

and to make sure that the rules are followed when you

are supervising your child. The playscape is open to stu-

dents during lunch and recess breaks ONLY when they

are supervised by a staff member.

PLAYSCAPE

Students are NOT permitted to use the playscape after

school until 3:25 p.m. The playscape will be closed be-

fore and after school (until 3:25 p.m.). It is due to safety

regulations in regards to supervision that we now need

to have the playscape closed. Children in grades 1 to 6

will have opportunities to use the playscape during the

school day under direct supervision from Muirhead

school staff. In addition, kindergarten children will not

be permitted on the playscape.

The playscape rules are:

Students are able to go on the playscape only if there is a staff person supervising.

No pushing, hitting or touching.

Take turns.

No tag games.

No jumping off higher platforms.

One direction on rings. Do not climb on top of (or sit or stand or kneel) the rings.

No hanging upside down (keep your head above your knees).

Leave a safe distance when climbing up any equipment.

Absolutely no food, balls, or ropes on any equipment.

No access to the playscape when the playscape is wet from rain or snow.

Scarves must be well tucked into coats.

On the slide: go feet first, one at a time, no stopping half-way, down only (no crawling up).

Leave the woodchips on the ground.

Please take a few moments to go over the rules with

your child(ren). Thank you for your support in helping

our students to learn to use equipment appropriately and

play safely.

Monday, May 4th – Friday, May 8th

We are happy to announce that Muirhead will be hosting its

second Book Fair. There are many new and exciting book titles

coming to the fair this time.

Please come by and visit the Book Fair starting

Monday, May 4th.

Students will be able to start purchasing books on Monday, May

4th during afternoon recess. The last day to purchase books from

the fair will be Monday, May 11th.

We look forward to seeing you all there!

….continued from last month

THE DANGEROUS LAGOON IN THE RIPLEY'S AQUARIUM OF CANADA

On March 3, 2015 the primary students went to the Ripley's Aquarium of Canada. We saw cool-looking sea animals

such as sharks. My group went in a tunnel called the dangerous lagoon. I saw Nurse Sharks, Sand Tiger Sharks, Sting-

rays, Green Moray Eels, and lots of fish.

Seeing the Sand Tiger Sharks was my favourite part. I know that it is the 7th deadliest Shark in the world. It has very

pointy teeth. It's teeth were sticking outwards. There were lots of Sand Tiger Sharks. There were millions of fish.

First, we saw a really huge fish about how big a chart paper is. It is called the Goliath Grouper. Then, when we got

into the dangerous lagoon the first fish we saw looked like it had a saw that could cut through glass. It also looks like a

Shark with a saw, but it is a fish called a Green Sawfish. It can actually break through glass. The last I knew that was

there was called a Tapoo.

I had the best field trip ever!

By: Usayd, Grade 1

SEPTEMBER 17

I have read a FANTASTIC book from the Forest of Reading program. The book is September

17 by Amanda West Lewis. The book is about in world war two, England was attacked and the

government authorized a ship named City of Benares in a program called CORB for children and

sent them to other countries. But on the way, the ship was attacked by German U-boats in the

area where everyone thought was safe and far from the attacks. The City of Benares sunk in the

Atlantic Ocean. Members of the crew and children were all terrified and everyone was evacuated

as fast as possible on to the life boats. Even though everyone escaped the ship before it sunk, not

everyone made it home. Other ships came and searched for survivors but in the time people

spent on the small lifeboats, many had not survived. In the end, only thirteen of the ninety chil-

dren of CORB program survived and seventy seven children died.

The book was written in the views of three different children two from the CORB program. First Ken Sparks, a boy

who loved drawing the ships they were sailing with and he saved everyone from lifeboat twelve by waving his shirt. If

he had not done that, the rescue plane would have easily missed them since they are so small compared to the vast

ocean. Second a girl named Elisabeth Walder who everyone calls Bess. On the City of Benares she made a good friend

also named Elisabeth but called Beth. When the lifeboat Bess and Beth was on tipped, Bess grabbed a rope and tied

her and Beth together and swam together until a rescue ship came and found the two girls. Third was a girl named

Sonia who had a brother. She and her family aborted the City of Benares and when the ship sunk, they escaped on to a

lifeboat and made it back.

One thing I really like about this book is that this book uses three different perspectives from three children. Not many

books are written like this which makes it very interesting. Another thing I really enjoy about the book is that the book

is very detailed, and the author use descriptive language for example, “Last Friday when Sonia’s father got home, she

overheard her mother’s strained, frightened voice pleading with him”. The word creates images that shows the story in

your head.

September 17 is based on realistic events and fictionalized story of the terrible tragedy of the lost children. September

17 is a wonderful book and I really enjoyed reading it.

By: Vivian, Grade 6

Friday, April 24

Sub Lunch

Wednesday, April 29

Beach Theme Day

Week of May 4

Book Fair

FOS Speeches

Thursday, May 7

Education Week Open House

Friday, May 8

Pizza Lunch

Monday, May 18

Victoria Day ~ No classes

Wednesday, May 20

Volunteer Tea

Friday, May 22

A Look Into the Future/Careers

Theme Day

Sub Lunch

May 26, 27, 28

EQAO

Wednesday, May 27

Kindergarten Open House

Saturday, May 30

Fun Fair

Thursday, June 4

Pizza Lunch

Friday, June 5

P.A Day ~ No classes

Tuesday, June 9

School Council Meeting

6:30 p.m.

Monday, June 22

SK Graduation

Tuesday, June 23

Grade 6 Graduation

Thursday, June 25

Report Cards go home

Last day of school

Muirhead goes green...Printed on 100% recycled paper

GRADE 5/6 TRIP TO CLAREMONT

From April 13th -15th the Gr. 5’s and 6’s were at Claremont Outdoor Education

Centre, enjoying the fresh air, the company of friends, and getting plenty of exer-

cise! They have made amazing memories that they will cherish and preserve for

always! Here are some of the things that they did:

TEAMWORK ACTIVITES

On our first day at Claremont, we did team building activities. We all swung

across a “vine,” patched up a “spider web,” survived a “zombie” apocalypse,

dragged the sun so it could “set,” went “skiing,” built “bridges” to Russia, and

even kept the “earth” on course. All this by using teamwork!

MURDER MYSTERY

As everyone was gathered together in the lounge, Vickie, one of the staff mem-

bers, came and announced that ‘Headless Hank’ had been MURDERED! Our job

was to solve the mystery by going to our Clue Masters and asking questions.

Some of the crazy things our Clue Masters had us do were; massaging their feet,

acting like a friend, and even proposing to Mr. Brent!

SURVIVAL CLASS

On our day second there, we learned how to build shelters and make fires. After

the fire was up and going, we made hemlock tea, cedar tea and HOT CHOCO-

LATE! Yummy!

POND STUDY

One of the programs was to go to the pond and study the different creatures that

lived there. We found many different creatures such as tadpoles, frogs, damselfly

nymphs and many more. We also found a dead Catfish floating in the water,

brought it to shore and put in a bucket. Johnny tried throwing it back into the

pond but instead threw it over his head and on to Tatjana’s!

CAMPFIRE

On our second night there, we had an AWESOME campfire. We sang songs, per-

formed plays, and told stories. We also roasted DELICIOUS marshmallows…

Yum!

NIGHT HIKE

On our second night, we took a NIGHT HIKE. Since the forest was SO muddy,

lots of people slipped. We also tripped on roots because we couldn’t see very

well. But even if it was a little scary, we all had a blast!

INSTINCTS FOR SURVIVAL

Everyone was an animal, either a carnivore, omnivore, or an herbivore. What

you had to do was…well… basically what a real animal would do. SURVIVE!!

When it was Open Season, teachers could take you out by throwing a ball at you!

They really seemed to enjoy that!

By: Alisa, Oana, Tatjana, Vivian