Wilmington E.S.Wilmington continues to be a wonderful place to work and learn. Our students have been working hard with their teacher’s never ending support to achieve learning goals. Parent/teacher interview night was well attended and I know that our teachers maintain an excellent open line of communication with our parent community. Please ensure that you give your child’s teacher or myself a call of you ever have any questions about your child’s needs.

Wilmington students have been working with their teachers to advance their reading comprehension strategies through Guided reading small group instruction. We are now working on connecting these strategies with written communication. Please ask your child to share what they are writing with you at home.

I am very excited to announce our first ever joint Family math night with CH Best Middle School! We are a fantastic community who share families as well as a desire to support our children’s achievement and well being. Please be sure to come out to both CH Best as well as Wilmington on March 1st to learn more about cool math activities and enjoy working with your family to solve numerical problems! There will be prizes and you can make a difference to support TDSB school nutrition programs by purchasing a Quizno’s sub dinner for your family. Your support is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again to our School Advisory Council for their continued support with all of our initiatives. Much appreciated!

All the best,Diane BaileyPrincipal of Wilmington E.S.

School Contacts:

Office – Diane Bailey (Principal), Wendy To (Office Administrator)

Superintendent of Schools – Jeff Hainbuch, 416 394-2032

Trustee – Howard Kaplan (Ward 5), 416 395-8406

Scientist In SchoolOn January 18, 2012 in the afternoon, my Gr.3 class had Scientists in the School. It was about structures. First we found a stable body position. After that we went to are desks and made structures out of cups. A little action figure tested the structures. Then we had a ruler with string tied around it. I pulled one side and my partner pulled the other side to make the ruler stand. Next I saw how many pennies each paper design could bold. The zig bags were the strongest because they have triangles and triangles are the strongest shape. Lastly we made a bridge that could hold 2 text books. The day was fun and I loved the day!!

~~~Leah G. – Gr.3

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Holiday Sing AlongToday on Dec.23, 2011, my class made a show to the school. We sang Christmas songs like better watchout. Rudolf the red noise rain deer, Santa Clause is coming to town and many more. Then the choir sang 2 songs. After Kenley and I said an Anti-bullying speech. This Assembly was the best. I wish we could do it again. Happy holidays and a happy new year, then at the end some grade 4’s played jingle bells by the flutes and bells. Everybody was clapping including me.

~~~Suzanne F. – Gr.3

ELEMENTARY ACADEMIES NOW REGISTERING

Registration for five new Elementary Academies kicked off, providing exciting new opportunities for students to explore their individuality and creativity within the TDSB.

The five new Academies - including Boys' Leadership, Girls' Leadership, Sports and Wellness, Health and Wellness and Vocal Music - are slated to open in nine schools across the Board this September. These Academies build on the TDSB's record of creating programs that promote excellence and encourage the talents of students in new and innovative ways.

Students attending an Academy will be part of a culture that balances academic excellence with a focus on personal leadership, character development and innovation. They will provide an dynamic array of learning options to follow their own path to success. There are no specific admission requirements - just interest and passion.

For more information or to register, visit www.tdsb.on.ca/academies

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Going to the Downsview Park*By Jason J.*

On Monday, 3 teachers and the kids went to the Downsview Park. First we did hand tag. Then we did everyone tag. Then we played parachute. Next we went to learn about Toronto natures. Like owls, squirrels, pigeons, birds. At last we made a bird feeder. We used Crisco, string, pinecone, and a seeds. I felt I was tired because we needed to walk a lot. Also I felt happy because we got to play soccer.

Wilmington Winter CarnivalWhat an excellent day we had for our Winter Carnival. CH Best Student Council members joined their Guidance Counselor, Mr. Somner in helping our Wilmington students, parents and teachers to create wonderful activities for our students! We had a winter carnival in celebration of the Quebec city Winter carnival. Activities included ring toss, hockey puck shoot, wooden spoon and ice cube races and MANY MORE COOL ACTIVITIES!

Grade four students learn French for the first time this year and led all of the activities in the gym before we went outside. The recorder music was AMAZING! A special thanks goes out to Mrs. Friedman and her organizing committee who worked hard to make this event a success. Thanks School Advisory Council for helping make the afternoon’s events even sweeter by making us hot chocolate and giving us cookies! YAY!

Pick-up and Drop-off

REMINDER

For the Safety or our students, it is essential That:

1. Everyone uses the parking lot for drop-off and pick-up

a. If you are staying in the car, you may wait for a short period of time beside the fence, closest to the field.

b. If you need to leave your car, you must use a “proper” parking space.

c. Please ensure that cars are able to complete a full (counterclockwise) loop to exit.

2. The Front Loop is used ONLY by school buses.

3. All Fire Routes are kept clear of cars. (Please note: The “Student Drop Off Zone” is part of the Fire Route. Therefore, the car may only be stopped there while students are “loading or unloading”)

4. Please ensure that you are respectful of our community neighbours and their parking spaces and driveways.

TDSB 2012

Parent Census SurveyAll parents of students from kindergarten to grade 6 are invited to complete the Parent Census Survey during February 10-29. This survey is the part two of a student data collection research project. The first part, a Student Census for students in Grades 7-12, was recently completed in November 2011.

The first Parent Census, conducted in 2008, provided the school, system and community with valuable information for effective programming for the benefit of all our students.

This Census is conducted every 5 years and is voluntary and confidential. The information you provide will support important program planning for our students. It will also give us your opinion about your child’s school. This helps us to improve our schools for all students. We encourage all parents to complete the survey.

Completed forms are sent directly to the Research Department, and will be used for research purposes only. Your information will not be shared with anyone.

For more information, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/census. Translations of the survey are available from the school or from the TDSB web site. If you complete a translated survey, please write the survey number on the translated survey and return it along with the English survey in the same sealed envelope by February 29.

Fun Science                                                      On Wed Jan 18, Scientist Carol came to Wilmington E.S.

We learned about structures and stability.

Fun facts: Did you know that people put weights on the top of Skyscrapers to keep the wind from moving it? 

Fun activities: You will need a string, a ruler and a partner.

How to do it : Put the string in the hole of the ruler. Pull both sides of the string down with your partner.  See if you can keep it down for ten seconds with compression.

By: Sahar, Joshua, William Grade 3 Room 205

Your Wilmington Elementary School Council Report

We want to take this opportunity to thank all students, parents, teachers and school administration for their ongoing support of school council activities. Pizza lunch Fridays continue to be a hit with parents and students alike.

Because of your support so far this year, our council has been able to fund school buses for field trips, buy books for our reading resource room and support bringing in additional arts programming such as pottery workshops in our classrooms.

We are excited to announce that the focus of our upcoming Chocolate Challenge Fundraiser will be “technology in the school” with funds raised going towards the purchase of netbooks, laptops, ipads and other devices to enhance learning. We are asking that all families commit to selling 1 case to help us reach our goal. Chocolates will be distributed starting March 1st and children will have 3 weeks to sell, sell, sell with prizes awarded for individual and class sales.

Just a reminder that our Council meets the second Thursday of every month at 6:45 pm in the school library. We welcome your involvement and input so please join us soon or contact us at executive@wescouncil.com. !

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FebruaryFairness MonthPizza Lunch every Friday Except PA DayFeb.20th Family Day Holiday – No SchoolFeb.23rd Winter CarnivalFeb.28th Kindergarten at Forest ValleyFeb.29th Chocolate Sales AssemblyFeb.-Mar.-Clay Workshops for students

MarchHonesty MonthPizza Lunch every Friday Except during March BreakMar 1st Math Night @Wilmington & CH BestMar 6th Gr.3 trip to Downsview ParkMar 7th Fairness Assembly @9:15Mar 12-16th MARCH BREAKMar 19th Classes resumeMar 29th Jack & the Beanstalk Performance