Summer Garden Watering and Maintenance: Volunteers Wanted
It's time to put together our summer garden maintenance team. For anyone new to the group, volunteers mind our garden for one week each during the summer. This typically means watering once, subject to weather conditions.
Community service hours are available for students who participate in summer maintenance.
Send me an e-mail (enid.wray at tdsb.on.ca) indicating which week(s) you would be available to assist. I'll get back to you when we have a tentative schedule put together... by the end of the exam schedule.
Community service hours are available for students who participate in summer maintenance.
Send me an e-mail (enid.wray at tdsb.on.ca) indicating which week(s) you would be available to assist. I'll get back to you when we have a tentative schedule put together... by the end of the exam schedule.
Land Art Project: Update
Grade 9 Visual Art students have begun installation of the first of the artwork in the front gardens… land art painted onto the front walkway in from Royal York Road.
They have also started a longer term project in the grassy area between the Music and Drama hallways. What look like giant crop circles at present will grow and change over time. The initial planting in these plots will take place in the fall of 2015.
See the photos below...
Ms. Wray is also in the process of scheduling a meeting with the folks at StreetARToronto. When the meeting date and time are confirmed, we'll send out an e-mail to see if anyone is interested and/or able to join her at the meeting. Fingers crossed!!
They have also started a longer term project in the grassy area between the Music and Drama hallways. What look like giant crop circles at present will grow and change over time. The initial planting in these plots will take place in the fall of 2015.
See the photos below...
Ms. Wray is also in the process of scheduling a meeting with the folks at StreetARToronto. When the meeting date and time are confirmed, we'll send out an e-mail to see if anyone is interested and/or able to join her at the meeting. Fingers crossed!!
Cram-A-Cruiser: Spring Food Drive
Join SEEDS Me to We as we try to Cram-A-Cruiser full of food on Friday June 5th.
The Cram-A-Cruiser City Challenge is part of the JUST GIVE movement, a kindness initiative with a mission to inspire everyone to give. To learn more go to www.justgive.ca. JUSTGIVE was started by Michael “Pinball” Clemons with the goal of changing the way people think about giving. It’s not about money; it’s about simple acts of kindness that we all have the ability to do. Read the open letter to schools and parents, from Pinball Clemons, below.
The summer months are slow in donations for Daily Bread and client visits increase. Families with children who are now home for the summer need more food on the table to remain healthy and active. Through the Cram –A-Cruiser City Challenge, ESA can help make a significant difference before going into summer vacation.
As part of our ongoing partnership with the Daily Bread Food Bank, SEEDS Me to We launched our spring food drive with our spring Great Soup event. ESA families are encouraged to give generously. Let’s collect enough food to Cram-A-Cruiser on Friday June 5th. Have the student in your house bring food donations to the collection bin in the Library.
The Cram-A-Cruiser City Challenge is part of the JUST GIVE movement, a kindness initiative with a mission to inspire everyone to give. To learn more go to www.justgive.ca. JUSTGIVE was started by Michael “Pinball” Clemons with the goal of changing the way people think about giving. It’s not about money; it’s about simple acts of kindness that we all have the ability to do. Read the open letter to schools and parents, from Pinball Clemons, below.
The summer months are slow in donations for Daily Bread and client visits increase. Families with children who are now home for the summer need more food on the table to remain healthy and active. Through the Cram –A-Cruiser City Challenge, ESA can help make a significant difference before going into summer vacation.
As part of our ongoing partnership with the Daily Bread Food Bank, SEEDS Me to We launched our spring food drive with our spring Great Soup event. ESA families are encouraged to give generously. Let’s collect enough food to Cram-A-Cruiser on Friday June 5th. Have the student in your house bring food donations to the collection bin in the Library.
Bike to School Week: May 25th to 29th
Bike to School Week has arrived.
Reminder to "spot" the students arriving by bike and advise them to bring their bike helmet to the Library to cash in for a healthy snack.
- Announcements are in.
- Posters are up around the school.
Reminder to "spot" the students arriving by bike and advise them to bring their bike helmet to the Library to cash in for a healthy snack.
Spring Garden Party: Saturday May 30th
Spring Walk and Roll to School Day: Wed May 6th
The Anti-idling patrol starts before school on Monday, May 4th, continuing after school, and again on Tuesday May 5th.
Pick up safety vests and print copies of the anti-idling tickets and the promo flyers for "Spring Walk and Roll to School Day" from me in the Library.
Pick up safety vests and print copies of the anti-idling tickets and the promo flyers for "Spring Walk and Roll to School Day" from me in the Library.
Great Soup: Monday April 27th
Congratulations again to all for another great Community Luncheon.
Habitat for Humanity Build Day: Sat April 25th
We were just a little group today. Five (5) in total, Maya and Graeme our only students. Three people had to bail at the last minute on account of schoolwork overload.
- Thanks to the Dad's for coming along to help.
- For now, check our photos from the day below.
Meeting Minutes: Friday April 24th
Wed. April 22nd... Happy Earth Day!!
We're back at it again today.
Meet in the little courtyard after school to carry on with the clean-up.
Before you know it, we'll be ready to start planting and installing the artwork and other special stuff that's going to be a part of this revitalisation process.
Thank you to all of the teachers who have renewed pledges to go paperless with class handouts and student surveys.
Meet in the little courtyard after school to carry on with the clean-up.
Before you know it, we'll be ready to start planting and installing the artwork and other special stuff that's going to be a part of this revitalisation process.
Thank you to all of the teachers who have renewed pledges to go paperless with class handouts and student surveys.
Make Earth Day Every Day
- Everyone is also reminded to Make Everyday Earth Day.
- Take the pledge Earth Day Every Day.
- Track what you're doing to reduce our collective impact on the planet.
City of Toronto Community Clean-Up Day: Friday April 17th
Friday is out designated day to participate in the City of Toronto sponsored School Clean-Up Day.
Drop by the Library at the start of the lunchhour to get yourself some garden gloves and tools, and to help carry out the yard waste bags, garbage and recycling bags.
We'll spend the lunch hour working together in the little Courtyard.
Students with afternoon spares are welcome to stay and help Stella and her crew carry on with the clean-up throughout the afternoon.
The work will continue after school until approx 4pm. Check out this one lonely little photo I got - unaware that my iPhone battery was basically dead. I'll get more another day.
Drop by the Library at the start of the lunchhour to get yourself some garden gloves and tools, and to help carry out the yard waste bags, garbage and recycling bags.
We'll spend the lunch hour working together in the little Courtyard.
Students with afternoon spares are welcome to stay and help Stella and her crew carry on with the clean-up throughout the afternoon.
The work will continue after school until approx 4pm. Check out this one lonely little photo I got - unaware that my iPhone battery was basically dead. I'll get more another day.
Me to We Awards: Nominations Open
Know a student, teacher, friend or community leader who’s making a difference in their neighbourhood, city or around the world?
Nominate them for the 2015 Canadian Living Me to We Awards. Winners will be chosen in six unique categories and will receive a $1,000 donation to the registered Canadian charity of their choice.
The winner in the Free The Children Youth category will win a Me to We Trip! MAKE YOUR NOMINATION TODAY—IT’S EASY.
Nominate them for the 2015 Canadian Living Me to We Awards. Winners will be chosen in six unique categories and will receive a $1,000 donation to the registered Canadian charity of their choice.
The winner in the Free The Children Youth category will win a Me to We Trip! MAKE YOUR NOMINATION TODAY—IT’S EASY.
30 Hour Famine: April 17th and 18th
Hello all. Thanks to those of you who came out to make signs for the 30 Hour Famine last Friday (March 13th) at lunch.
We are registered for the 30 Hour Famine as the group "ESA SEEDS Me to We" and the team links are active.
If you plan to do the Famine, please bring me the signed waiver (embedded below). Once I have the signed waiver, I will give you the rest of the information you need to be able to join our team.
Please note that, as of last year, all Famine fundraising is now done online. Teachers do not handle money at all any more.
We are registered for the 30 Hour Famine as the group "ESA SEEDS Me to We" and the team links are active.
- To work around our Habitat for Humanity Build Date we will do our Famine on Friday April 17th and Saturday April 18th.
- If those dates don't work for you, feel free to do your Famine anytime you like… there are always a few students who have to do the Famine at a different time than the group for a variety of reasons.
If you plan to do the Famine, please bring me the signed waiver (embedded below). Once I have the signed waiver, I will give you the rest of the information you need to be able to join our team.
Please note that, as of last year, all Famine fundraising is now done online. Teachers do not handle money at all any more.
- This means that every participating student MUST create an online donations account.
- I can, and will, provide every student with a Pledge form for keeping track of small cash donations but... if you collect cash you will need to get a parent to submit the monies you raise to World Vision through the 30 Hour Famine website, using a credit card.
- Be sure that your parents are clear about this part, and comfortable with it.
We Are Silent: Thursday April 16th
Join members of the ESA Community on Thursday April 16th as they participate in a day of silence, to raise awareness for those without a voice.
As youth advocate Malala Yousafzai, recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, has stated, “We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.”
All interested students need to register with Ms. Wray in the Library to be on the "official participants" list which goes out to teachers in advance.
As youth advocate Malala Yousafzai, recent winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, has stated, “We realize the importance of our voices only when we are silenced.”
All interested students need to register with Ms. Wray in the Library to be on the "official participants" list which goes out to teachers in advance.
Habitat for Humanity Adopt-A-Day Build Day #2
Hello all. Further to our meeting a couple of weeks ago, we are signed up for a second Habitat for Humanity Build Day on Saturday April 25th.
If you are going to join us:
Reminder that parents are absolutely welcome to join us. Indeed, we're likely to need some parents to help us get everyone back and forth to the build site if we have a full complement of 20 participants.
Cheers
me
*****************************************
Our next Adopt-a-Day booking:
Our next steps are as follows…
1. COMPLETE THIS REGISTRATION LINK http://etobicoke-hfhgta.habitatgta.volunteerhub.com/ or http://vhub.at/etobicoke_hfhgta Registration at this link is mandatory for participation. Upon registering, each member will receive an email containing important information for the volunteer day, including an Adopt-a-Day FAQ sheet and a parking pass, if necessary, that you may print and display on your vehicle’s dash. Please be aware registration for our team will close automatically at 5 p.m. on Friday, April, 17.
(NOTE FOR MINORS: Upon registration, team members below age 18 will be prompted to print a volunteer waiver that must be signed by a parent or legal guardian and brought along with the team member for admittance onto the build site. Habitat regrets that per Ontario Ministry of Labour guidelines, we cannot accommodate build site volunteers below age 16 or ReStore volunteers below age 14.)
2. SUBMIT OUR TEAM DONATION. I have set up an online Team Fundraising page. Send me an e-mail when you have registered, and I will forward you the link to join our fundraising team. Alternately, cash and cheque donations may be made. If you are collecting cash donations, please have a parent write a cheque for the amount and deliver it to me at school with any other monies you have for donation. Habitat for Humanity prefers that I gather all members’ financial contributions and send them together.
They also remind that all funds be accompanied by clearly filled out pledge forms in order to ensure tax receipts are correctly issued to sponsors, where necessary. I have posted a copy of the pledge form for tracking donations below.
Our team’s donation should be made within 14 days after your Adopt-a-Day.
3. ARRIVE ON THE BUILD SITE PROMPTLY AT YOUR SCHEDULED TIME. Attendance at our orientation session at the start of your shift is mandatory, and therefore we cannot guarantee we will be able to accommodate late arrivals.
Participants are reminded to dress in attire appropriate to the environment in which they will volunteer. Long pants and socks are recommended. Please also note that if your group is booked for a build site, your work may be interior or exterior. As such, we stress the importance of dressing for seasonal weather. Habitat GTA is happy to furnish all steel-toe boots, hardhats, other safety gear, tools, and onsite training.
If you are going to join us:
- Complete the online registration link (as per the information appended below)
- Send me an e-mail to tell me that you have registered online
- I will send you a link to set up an online donations page for getting sponsors for your required $100 donation
- Everyone must fundraise their own $100… our SEEDS bank account is not able to help fund this outing
- See me at school for a Field Trip permission form (these will be ready on Tuesday March 24th)
Reminder that parents are absolutely welcome to join us. Indeed, we're likely to need some parents to help us get everyone back and forth to the build site if we have a full complement of 20 participants.
Cheers
me
*****************************************
Our next Adopt-a-Day booking:
- ETOBICOKE SCHOOL OF THE ARTS (20 volunteers)
- DATE/TIME: Saturday, April. 25, 2015 - 8 a.m. sharp to 4 p.m.
- SITE: 8600 Torbram Road, Brampton, ON L6T 5C6
- TEAM DONATION: $2000
Our next steps are as follows…
1. COMPLETE THIS REGISTRATION LINK http://etobicoke-hfhgta.habitatgta.volunteerhub.com/ or http://vhub.at/etobicoke_hfhgta Registration at this link is mandatory for participation. Upon registering, each member will receive an email containing important information for the volunteer day, including an Adopt-a-Day FAQ sheet and a parking pass, if necessary, that you may print and display on your vehicle’s dash. Please be aware registration for our team will close automatically at 5 p.m. on Friday, April, 17.
(NOTE FOR MINORS: Upon registration, team members below age 18 will be prompted to print a volunteer waiver that must be signed by a parent or legal guardian and brought along with the team member for admittance onto the build site. Habitat regrets that per Ontario Ministry of Labour guidelines, we cannot accommodate build site volunteers below age 16 or ReStore volunteers below age 14.)
2. SUBMIT OUR TEAM DONATION. I have set up an online Team Fundraising page. Send me an e-mail when you have registered, and I will forward you the link to join our fundraising team. Alternately, cash and cheque donations may be made. If you are collecting cash donations, please have a parent write a cheque for the amount and deliver it to me at school with any other monies you have for donation. Habitat for Humanity prefers that I gather all members’ financial contributions and send them together.
They also remind that all funds be accompanied by clearly filled out pledge forms in order to ensure tax receipts are correctly issued to sponsors, where necessary. I have posted a copy of the pledge form for tracking donations below.
Our team’s donation should be made within 14 days after your Adopt-a-Day.
3. ARRIVE ON THE BUILD SITE PROMPTLY AT YOUR SCHEDULED TIME. Attendance at our orientation session at the start of your shift is mandatory, and therefore we cannot guarantee we will be able to accommodate late arrivals.
Participants are reminded to dress in attire appropriate to the environment in which they will volunteer. Long pants and socks are recommended. Please also note that if your group is booked for a build site, your work may be interior or exterior. As such, we stress the importance of dressing for seasonal weather. Habitat GTA is happy to furnish all steel-toe boots, hardhats, other safety gear, tools, and onsite training.
February 27th Meeting Minutes and Action Items
Please refer to the minutes posted below.
Reminder... Next meeting date Friday March 13th (!!)
Reminder... Next meeting date Friday March 13th (!!)
Valentine's Candy Grams and Bake Sale
January 23rd Meeting Minutes and Action Items
Please refer to the e-mail sent out... PDF copy of action items embedded below.
First and foremost at present is to fill out the Doodle Poll to advise when you can help out with Valentine's Candygrams: http://doodle.com/pgm4d6cv3vvtt8ta
Cheers
me
First and foremost at present is to fill out the Doodle Poll to advise when you can help out with Valentine's Candygrams: http://doodle.com/pgm4d6cv3vvtt8ta
Cheers
me
Habitat for Humanity: Success!
I’d like to extend public personal congratulations to 5 extraordinary young ladies from our group: Jessye Coleman-Shapiro, Alex Haik, Shanice Pereira, Lauren Wong, and Dana Unninayar. They, along with family members, worked outside – in the cold and wind – all day Saturday at a Habitat for Humanity build site.
At the start of the day they had four bundles of styrofoam insulation and a massive bucket of nails. By the end of the day the styrofoam supply was exhausted, the bucket of nails was closing in on empty, and the exterior of the first floor of a five unit townhouse complex had been insulated on three sides.
They all learned a little bit about construction, but mostly they learned a lot about themselves and each other, and teamwork. A fabulous day all round. Please give them all your best congrats when you see them.
Having had such a great time on Saturday, I think we’re decided that we’re going to do this again. Stay tuned for when we organise again. Bring a friend along. If you know someone who is interested, but is not yet 16, have them get in touch with me so we can put them on the list for next year.
Check out the photos below from our build day.
At the start of the day they had four bundles of styrofoam insulation and a massive bucket of nails. By the end of the day the styrofoam supply was exhausted, the bucket of nails was closing in on empty, and the exterior of the first floor of a five unit townhouse complex had been insulated on three sides.
They all learned a little bit about construction, but mostly they learned a lot about themselves and each other, and teamwork. A fabulous day all round. Please give them all your best congrats when you see them.
Having had such a great time on Saturday, I think we’re decided that we’re going to do this again. Stay tuned for when we organise again. Bring a friend along. If you know someone who is interested, but is not yet 16, have them get in touch with me so we can put them on the list for next year.
Check out the photos below from our build day.
Habitat for Humanity Build Day: Saturday January 17th
Our build day has been confirmed for Saturday January 17th, 2015. Thank you to Dana U for making this happen.
- We are registered for 20 participants. This is the maximum number that can be accommodated on the build site.
- The plan is to meet at ESA and then carpool to the build site. This means that we will need additional drivers.
- If you have a parent who can drive us that day, they are welcome to join us on the build. Be sure to register them when you register yourself.
- Parents do not need to stay for the day. We are just as happy to have a parent who can drive us there, and then come pick us up at the end of the day.
- The build site is in Brampton. Complete address and details will be made available upon registration.
- We may be working indoors and/or outdoors… so dress appropriately.
- General information about Habitat Builds is available at their FAQ’s: http://www.habitatgta.ca/about-us/faqs/adopt-a-day.html. Please be sure that you and your parents have read this before you register.
- Also note that the pledge amount for a school group is $100 per person.
- You will be eligible for 8 community service hours for this build day. I will organise the forms and bring them to the build site for sign-off.
- Once you have registered online with Habitat, see me for a TDSB Permission form. If you have a parent who is volunteering to drive, you will also need to pick up an insurance waiver for them to sign off.
Here are the steps to follow:
STEP 1: Go to http://vhub.at/etobicoke_hfhgta. This will allow you, and or your parent(s) to individually register for your shift(s). Registration will automatically close once the (20) spots have been filled, or on January 9th, 2015.
- It is mandatory for each volunteer to register online prior to arrival on the build site. Once registered, you will receive an e-mail including all necessary information such as parking pass and build day details.
- Remember that if you have a parent who is planning on joining us, they need to also sign up online through this same portal.
- NOTE: You must be 16 years of age to work on the build. Upon registration, team members below age 18 will be prompted to print a volunteer waiver that must be signed by a parent or legal guardian and brought along with the team member for admittance onto the build site. Habitat regrets that per Ontario Ministry of Labour guidelines, we cannot accommodate build site volunteers below age 16.
Step 2: Begin fundraising. Adopt-a-Days are an important funding vehicle for Habitat’s build activity. Our minimum $100-per-person contribution goes entirely to home construction!
- Donations should be made by cheque. Cheques should be made out to Habitat for Humanity GTA. Bring cheques in to me at the school and I will mail all cheques, together, to Habitat in advance of our build day.
- To ensure tax receipts are correctly issued, please accompany these donations with a clearly filled-out pledge form (which you can get from me when you collect your TDSB Permission form).
Looking forward to a great day.
Cheers
Food Drive: Success!
Seasonal Drinks B4 School
Join us before school in the Foyer, the first two weeks of December for hot seasonal drinks. Members of SEEDS Me to We will be serving hot chocolate and tea starting at 8:15am. Home baked goodies will also be available some mornings.
All drinks are organic and/or fair trade certified. Bring your own mug for a discounted price.
All drinks are organic and/or fair trade certified. Bring your own mug for a discounted price.
Candies and... Condoms
SEEDS ME to We was delighted to participate in the various activities happening around the school today, Monday December 1st, World AIDS Day, and the start of a week of intensive activity around the National Day of Remembrance, Dec 6th.
What a great lunchhour. A real theme going on in the Foyer there with our candies and condoms, the wellness apples, and the white ribbons...
"Be safe, take care of yourself, and take care of your partner"... What great messaging! WooHoo! Well done.
We have enough loot bags leftover to set up again at lunch tomorrow for Giving Tuesday: http://givingtuesday.ca/... If you missed out today, come find us tomorrow.
With thanks to our school Public Health Nurse, Cali Kim, for supplying us with the condoms.
What a great lunchhour. A real theme going on in the Foyer there with our candies and condoms, the wellness apples, and the white ribbons...
"Be safe, take care of yourself, and take care of your partner"... What great messaging! WooHoo! Well done.
We have enough loot bags leftover to set up again at lunch tomorrow for Giving Tuesday: http://givingtuesday.ca/... If you missed out today, come find us tomorrow.
With thanks to our school Public Health Nurse, Cali Kim, for supplying us with the condoms.
Explore 150: Digital Storytelling Contest
From Taking it Global... comes a Digital Storytelling Contest.
Share an image and reflection on a Canadian place of inspiration, wonder, culture, belonging or beauty: You could win a $1,000 scholarship and be showcased in Ottawa at Winterlude!
If you submit by Friday November 14th, you'll also have the possibility of being featured as part of an outdoor exhibit at Winterlude 2015 in Ottawa!
One grand prize winner will be awarded with a $1,000 Explore150 Storytelling Scholarship based on the entry's creativity and depth of reflection in the description.
Find the full contest details here.
Share an image and reflection on a Canadian place of inspiration, wonder, culture, belonging or beauty: You could win a $1,000 scholarship and be showcased in Ottawa at Winterlude!
If you submit by Friday November 14th, you'll also have the possibility of being featured as part of an outdoor exhibit at Winterlude 2015 in Ottawa!
One grand prize winner will be awarded with a $1,000 Explore150 Storytelling Scholarship based on the entry's creativity and depth of reflection in the description.
Find the full contest details here.
Meeting Minutes: Fri Nov 7th
Action items from this meeting are:
- Great Soup… sign up to contribute if you have not already let me know what you’re bringing… complete this Google Form
- Ashley O to make a t-shirt for our SESAT Fall Fair gift basket
- SESAT Fall Fair… sign up to volunteer… complete this Google Form
- World AIDS Day and Giving Tuesday… be ready to put the bags together at our next meeting
On Chewing Gum...
Thought about Chewing Gum lately? Or why I, personally, loathe and despise it so much?
You've all seen Garbage: The Revolution Begins at Home in Grade 9 Geography (I trust!). The filmmaker, Andrew Nisker, has a new film which premiers tomorrow night as the Closing Feature Film at Planet in Focus.
You've all seen Garbage: The Revolution Begins at Home in Grade 9 Geography (I trust!). The filmmaker, Andrew Nisker, has a new film which premiers tomorrow night as the Closing Feature Film at Planet in Focus.
- Learn more about the film at the posting on my ESA Library Tumblr blog,including a link to the trailer
- Watch a CBC News clip from earlier in the week
- Buy tickets to the screening at the Planet in Focus website
Roadsworth: Land Art Projects
Further to what is in the minutes... we had a great session with the Grade 9 and 10 Art majors, working with Roadsworth on learning about Street Art and starting to envision installations to go around the school and in the wider local community.
- I'm working on making the contacts and getting the necessary permissions.
- The Visual Arts students will be working on their proposals later in the year.
- We're hoping to get some of the installations in before the end of this school year.
- Stay tuned!!
Meeting Minutes: Tuesday October 27th
Embedded please find the minutes from yesterday's meeting. I have also shared these with you through my TDSB Google Drive.
Meeting Dates for the Year...
- Fridays, Week B... unless there is no school on the Friday, in which case it will be Thursday!
- Meeting dates to be as follows, so you may mark them on your calendar:
- Fri Oct 24th
- Thurs Nov 6th and Fri Nov 21st
- Thurs Dec 4th
- Fri Jan 23rd
- Thurs Feb 12th and Fri Feb 27th
- No meeting in March… we’ll do everything electronically!
- Fri Apr 17th
- Fri May 1st and Fri May 15th
- No meeting in June unless we decide we need to have one
Fall Garden Party: Saturday October 18th
Choosing Our Charities for the year...
Please refer to the embedded file below for a brief description of each of the charities that have been suggested for this year. The file contains a link to the Google Form where you may cast your vote for the charity of your choice. All votes must be in by the end of the school day on Friday October 17th.
Minutes of Meeting: Friday October 10th
Embedded please find the minutes from today's meeting. I have also shared these with you through my TDSB Google Drive.
Think Pink Bake Sale: Wed Oct 8th
Congratulations to everyone for a great bake sale on Wednesday. We raised almost $300. Refer to the minutes of the meeting held on Friday October 10th for details about the disposition of these funds.
EcoSchools Kick-Off, Thurs Nov 4th
EcoSchools kick-off, Thursday November 4th @ Downsview Park. Downsview Park is a dynamic urban park in the north end of the city. This event will be an opportunity to energize our team, build student leadership skills, gather new ideas, learn about key developments in the EcoSchools program, and begin planning for the year.
Permission forms are available in the Library.
Permission forms must be returned by no later than Thursday October 16th.
First come, first served.
Help Make ESA a Waste Free Zone!!
Join the garbage free - zero waste - lunch brigade. Make the commitment to bring a garbageless lunch to school.
Watch for the posters - sample poster below - around the school to learn more about why you should go zero waste. Listen to the announcements for more tips on how to go garbage free.
Watch for the posters - sample poster below - around the school to learn more about why you should go zero waste. Listen to the announcements for more tips on how to go garbage free.
We Day... Important Notice!!
Everyone whose name was drawn to attend We Day must attend a brief meeting at the start of lunch on Monday, September 29th. Meet promptly in the Library and we should be no ore than 10 minutes.
Students who are wait-listed should also plan to be at the meeting.
Students who are wait-listed should also plan to be at the meeting.
Friday Morning Recycling Teams
The final schedule for Friday morning recycling is posted below (see PDF document). Student on shift should:
- drop by the Library at 8:25am
- collect recycling bags, in case you need to leave any replacements for teachers
- make an announcement - from the Main Office - that you are about to be on your way round the building
- collect recycling bags that teachers have left outside their classrooms - provide replacement bags as needs be
- deposit recycling bags in the toters, or garbage boats, conveniently located in the bottoms of the stairwells or at hallway intersections
Meeting Minutes: Friday September 26th
Embedded please find the minutes from yesterday's meeting. I have also shared these with you through my TDSB Google Drive.
Club Fair: Wednesday September 24th @ Lunch
Since our last meeting, we have been invited to participate in a Club Fair being held in the Library at lunch this Wednesday.
We need 3 or 4 people to staff a table - and sell our fundraiser Corn Mugs - during the lunch hour on Wednesday. We have flyers in stock… you just need to talk to people about what we do, and encourage them to get on board and help us with some of our events.
Please e-mail me back and advise if you are able to assist with this.
ALSO... Reminder that we are meeting again this Friday at lunch in the Library. Bring your lunch. Refer to the previous minutes for the agenda items for Friday. I will share a more formal agenda with you on Thursday in advance of the meeting.
We need 3 or 4 people to staff a table - and sell our fundraiser Corn Mugs - during the lunch hour on Wednesday. We have flyers in stock… you just need to talk to people about what we do, and encourage them to get on board and help us with some of our events.
Please e-mail me back and advise if you are able to assist with this.
ALSO... Reminder that we are meeting again this Friday at lunch in the Library. Bring your lunch. Refer to the previous minutes for the agenda items for Friday. I will share a more formal agenda with you on Thursday in advance of the meeting.
Freedom Day 2014: Tuesday September 23rd
Everyone who submitted a permission form to me is on the trip. I am sending out an e-mail to everyone, but I'll cover my bases and post here as well...
All students attending Freedom Day are to leave class 10 minutes early on Tuesday. Meet myself and Mr. Vritsios in the Front Foyer at 10am ready to go.
Be sure that you:
It will be very crowded in Yonge-Dundas Square for the event. They are expecting 3 500 students!! Therefore it would be best if you weren't carrying your big school bag...
You will be travelling as a group so you need to meet in the Foyer promptly.
See you all in the Foyer at 10am on Tuesday...
All students attending Freedom Day are to leave class 10 minutes early on Tuesday. Meet myself and Mr. Vritsios in the Front Foyer at 10am ready to go.
Be sure that you:
- are dressed appropriately;
- have TTC fare for getting there and back;
- have something to eat and drink with you.
It will be very crowded in Yonge-Dundas Square for the event. They are expecting 3 500 students!! Therefore it would be best if you weren't carrying your big school bag...
- if you are returning back to ESA after the event, leave your school bag in your locker.
- f you are not returning to ESA after the event, consider leaving your school bag at home for the day. Just bring what you need for your Period One (HomeForm) class... and leave those items in your locker when you leave for the field trip.
You will be travelling as a group so you need to meet in the Foyer promptly.
See you all in the Foyer at 10am on Tuesday...
Tap Water Project
Meeting Minutes... Thursday September 11th
I have already shared the meeting minutes with you through my Google Drive... but here they are just in case...
Help Wanted: Grade 9 Parent's Night
- Thursday September 11th @ 6pm
- We need 3 - 4 people to staff a sales and information table
- Let people know about SEEDS Me to We
- Sell our famous ESA Corn Mug… 100% compostable travelling hot mug, with the ESA logo screen printed on it
- Community Service hours will be assigned
If you can help out... please send me an e-mail to let me know
First full formal meeting... Thursday September 11th
Normally we will meet on Friday, but since next Friday is the Grade 9 Trip to Centre Island, we'll hold our first full and formal meeting of the year next Thursday, September 11th.
All meetings are held at the back of the Library starting fairly promptly at the beginning of the lunchhour. Library rules are drink but don't eat... except for special events. So, consider this a special event and bring your lunch with you to the meeting next Thursday.
At the meeting we will lay out a plan for our activities and events for the year. You can go back and see most of what we did last year by selecting the "SEEDS and Me to We 2013-14" tab at the top of this webpage.
If you have any particular events, activities and/or charitable causes that you would like to put out for consideration by the group, please bring information with you to the meeting.
Looking forward to seeing everyone next week.
All meetings are held at the back of the Library starting fairly promptly at the beginning of the lunchhour. Library rules are drink but don't eat... except for special events. So, consider this a special event and bring your lunch with you to the meeting next Thursday.
At the meeting we will lay out a plan for our activities and events for the year. You can go back and see most of what we did last year by selecting the "SEEDS and Me to We 2013-14" tab at the top of this webpage.
If you have any particular events, activities and/or charitable causes that you would like to put out for consideration by the group, please bring information with you to the meeting.
Looking forward to seeing everyone next week.
Thursday Sept 4th: Hello and Welcome....
... to everyone who came out to the brief meeting at lunchtime today. The important reminders are:
Freedom Day Permission Forms: Information about Freedom Day, Sept 23rd, may be found at the Simon Wiesenthal Centre website. As noted at the meeting we have 30 student spots to share between SEEDS Me to We and the Equity Group. Handing in the permission form does not necessarily guarantee you a spot on the field trip. If more than 15 people apply for our spots, we will draw names by lottery.
Permission forms are due back to me in the Library by no later than Friday September 12th.
We Day Permission Forms: As above, I anticipate that there will be more interest than there are spots available. Spots will be chosen by lottery, as needs be, as outlined on the online application form.
Permission forms are due back to me in the Library by no later than Thursday September 18th.
SEEDS Me to We Member Information: If you have not already filled out the online information form, please try to get a chance to before our first official meeting next week.
Freedom Day Permission Forms: Information about Freedom Day, Sept 23rd, may be found at the Simon Wiesenthal Centre website. As noted at the meeting we have 30 student spots to share between SEEDS Me to We and the Equity Group. Handing in the permission form does not necessarily guarantee you a spot on the field trip. If more than 15 people apply for our spots, we will draw names by lottery.
Permission forms are due back to me in the Library by no later than Friday September 12th.
We Day Permission Forms: As above, I anticipate that there will be more interest than there are spots available. Spots will be chosen by lottery, as needs be, as outlined on the online application form.
Permission forms are due back to me in the Library by no later than Thursday September 18th.
SEEDS Me to We Member Information: If you have not already filled out the online information form, please try to get a chance to before our first official meeting next week.
We Day 2014
This is an important announcement for all students who wish to attend We Day, at the Air Canada Centre, on Thursday October 2nd, 2014.
Permission forms will be available from Ms. Wray, in the Library, as of Thursday September 4th, 2014.
If you wish to be considered for participation, you must:
If you have any questions about We Day, please see Ms. Wray in the Library, once classes have begun in September.
Permission forms will be available from Ms. Wray, in the Library, as of Thursday September 4th, 2014.
If you wish to be considered for participation, you must:
- be a member of SEEDS Me to We (fill out this Google Form)
- complete the online application form by no later than Thursday September 18th.
- return your signed permission form to Ms. Wray by no later than Thursday September 18th.
If you have any questions about We Day, please see Ms. Wray in the Library, once classes have begun in September.
SEEDS Me to We Membership
Students interested in joining SEEDS Me to We this year should fill out this Google Form.
We will have a brief introductory meeting at the start of lunch on Thursday September 4th, 2014. See everyone then.
All SEEDS Me to We meetings are held at the back of the Library.
We will have a brief introductory meeting at the start of lunch on Thursday September 4th, 2014. See everyone then.
All SEEDS Me to We meetings are held at the back of the Library.