Fun Fair
Fun was definitely in the air at Withrow’s annual Fun Fair. We couldn’t have asked for a better day (although a little hotter and we might have had Mr. T in the dunk tank). The Fun Fair committee would like to thank ALL of the parents who generously spent two (or more) hours of their Saturday having their ankles bumped my mini cars, dishing out pulled pork sandwiches or doing one of the other 200 jobs required to make the day a success. FUN was our primary objective, and a second goal of raising funds was also achieved; we estimate clearing over $18 000. We had many local businesses sponsor our event, many of whom attended—which heightens our sense of community. The steering committee is always looking for interested members, so please contact us (through withrowfunfair.ca) if you think you might like to join.
Thanks Withrow! Erin and Darryn
Photo credit: Paul Backewich
Fun Fair Sponsors
Thank you to our sponsors for their generous support!
DIAMOND:
Angela Mandalas, Royal LePage, Johnston & Daniel Division
Claudio Cerrito, RE/MAX Hallmark Realty
LounsBury Real Estate & Construction
PLATINUM:
KJ Duck, RE/MAX Hallmark Realty
David Plaxton, Mortgage Broker, Dominion Lending
GOLD:
Lillian Adamakis, Keller Williams Adv. Realty
Bluebird Montessori School
Broadview Psychology
Danforth Children’s Dentistry
Kitchen Music Studios
Kumon Danforth
Francesca Mackie, Advisor, Sun Life Financial
Lina Risi/Sandra Pate, Royal LePage, Johnston & Daniel Division
Tabule Restaurant
TCEU Local 416
SILVER:
Brian Ross, RE/MAX Hallmark Realty
De Francesca Law Office
BRONZE:
Dentistry on Danforth
In-Kind Donations:
A&W
AdventureMania Inflatables
Artist’s Play Dance
Barker: Sammy Welch
BlueLine Rental
Bulk Barn
Canadian Tire Express
Carrot Common
Dave & Charlotte’s No Frills
DeSantos Martial Arts
Ellas Meat Market
Fish-Fry Music and Sound: DJ Greg
FreshCo, Lakeshore
Higgins Event Rentals
It’s My Party
Mad Dog Café
Marvel Coffee Co.
McDonald’s
Melonheads
Moss
Motimahal
Luke’s Corner Store
Pizza Pizza
Stronach and Sons
Silly Goose
Treasure Island Toys
Walmart
Further yard update
As mentioned in the Withrow Bulletin, the yard work—including irrigation, grass and asphalt track—will begin end of July. The Field Committee will be hard at work over the next few months looking at the climber options for the tree island area. We hope to have a few options to vote on in September. Watch this space!
Staff Appreciation lunch
So perhaps you are not feeling quite the model parent you did in October (“where is that agenda to sign?” vs “no time to sign, let’s just try get to school only 10 minutes late, ok!?!?”). But there is this totally awesome Withrow tradition in which the parents give a fancy luncheon to the staff of the school. There is music, good cutlery, white linens, the works. And best of all—and this is where we need all of you to help—delicious food.
Is there a casserole people go crazy for every time you serve it? A salad that has everyone begging for the recipe? A dessert no one can refuse a second helping of?
Well, here’s your chance to serve it to a very deserving crowd. Share the best of your culinary talents to give the staff and teachers a day where there are no sorry leftovers to be eaten cold in an empty classroom. No soggy sandwiches with questionable cold cuts.
The luncheon is Thursday June 11th. You can drop off your contribution anytime that morning in time for lunch to be served at 11:45. There will be a table set up for contributions in the main lobby. We’ll return the cleaned dishes to the same spot in time for pick-up at 3:30.
Not much of a cook? No problem! How about contributing some sparkling water, cordial or other non-alcoholic beverage? A variety of bread, crackers or cheese? Flowers, even?
Want to do more? We need a few people Wednesday after school to start cleaning up and setting the tables in the staff lounge. And we need people anytime on the day of the event to help set up, serve, and clean up. Let us know if you can help for an hour or two by emailing Susanne at susanne.truelsen@gmail.com
Bike Month
Bike Month officially kicked off across the city on Monday, May 25th. This week was also the official Bike to School Week, and Withrow was there! Several parents organised a “bike-train” group ride to school (withrowbikes.com) 3 trains made their way through the neighbourhood meeting at “Grand Central Perk Station” before making that last leg up Withrow Ave together. The train was a big hit with the kids, pulling together kids of all ages and abilities. Overheard “… can we do this every day?” But this is just the beginning of bike events at Withrow, for 4th, 5th and 6th graders the annual Bike Rodeo is coming up June 18th, and the big Bike Ride is happening June 19th.
Artwork
Don’t forget to get your Withrow Masterpiece Orders in! Take this opportunity to order your child’s classroom’s work of art! Cards, Posters, Puzzles and more! Order forms can be dropped at the office along with payment before June 5, 2015. Your support contributes to the educational experience of Withrow Kids! Order Now! (Withrow Artwork Order)
Elections
Elections for the H&S executive will be held at the next meeting (see below). Our model is to have to have two co-chairs: one standing and one in-coming. And the previous year’s standing co-chair stays on as Advisory Chair so that we have experience and institutional memory. At the end of the school year for 2015, Julie Dabrusin will be retiring from her Advisory Chair position and Susanne Truelsen will take her place. Standing co-chair will be Josette Chen.
So we are looking for a new incoming co-chair. Anyone can stand for election, all that’s asked is that you’re willing to put in a couple of hours a week on average for the school. We organize and chair the meetings, we write this newsletter and manage this blog, we liaison with the administration, and we oversee the committees that organize the various events and activities at the school. And we take all the credit. No, just kidding of course. There are lots of dedicated parents who are always busy making Withrow a better place for the kids and the community, and the co-chairs just get fancy titles in addition. Feel like stepping up? Or know of someone who fits the bill? Please contact withrowhands@gmail.com to nominate someone or to self-nominate. Don’t be shy!
H&S meeting Thursday, June 4th
7–7:30pm Constable Jonathan Morrice of Division 55 will be stopping by to meet the community and discuss ways of managing late-night activity in our school yard, now that it’s been spruced up.
7:30–7:45 Treasurer Vince Minchella will go over the financials of the past year and presents a draft budget for 2015/16 to be voted on.
7:45–8:00 Elections
8:00-8:20 Discussion about School Council,which is the new ministry-mandated model we will be incorporating starting in September.
Greening
CALLING ALL GREEN THUMBS & OUTDOOR LEARNING ENTHUSIASTS!
If you have a passion for supporting environmental initiatives at your school, Withrow needs you! Pauline Stanley and Sonya Goldberg will be stepping down as co-chairs of Withrow’s Greening Committee at the end of the school year and are looking to pass the watering can to folks with fresh ideas.
Current Projects of Interest: maintaining the naturalized garden, composting, supporting the School Grounds Committee in their current initiatives, and possibly working with other teachers on greening/environmental activities).
For more information, please contact withrowhands@gmail.com.
Spirit Wear
We had a big run on the purchase of Withrow Spirit Wear during the Fun Fair, including Claws our wild cat stuffie, water bottles, caps and even toques. Order forms for T-shirts, athletic shirts and hoodies will be in the back-to-school package in September. Thanks for supporting our school. Go Withrow!
Graduation
June 24th is Graduation Day for our grade 6s. As always, the grade 5 parents are involved in organizing the graduation festivities at school. Andrea Bock is organizing and coordinating that so please let Andrea or the office know if you’d like to participate too. We’ve also heard talk of a fancy party with a DJ to follow the reception at school. So grown-up! Congratulations to everyone!
The H&S school always supports the graduation festivities with a small budget for expenses. If anyone else would like to donate food, gift cards or anything else that will help give the students a fantastic send-off from Withrow, please let us know at withrowhands@gmail.com.
withrowparentcouncil.com 