Dear Parents/Guardians:

As we look at back at the final month of 2018, we want to congratulate the many students that were recognized

for demonstrating Kindness and Caring through our Caught you Caring efforts. Many students were caught

caring during our campaign.

Presteign demonstrated Kindness and Caring in a variety of ways in December and we are proud of the ongoing

work of staff and students. The whole school was busy collecting toys for donation, making up gift baskets,

singing carols and holiday songs. All our efforts echoed songs of peace and friendship. The students were

delighted to receive a warm turkey lunch prepared by parent volunteers as part of the Annual Turkey Lunch. All

such acts of kindness exemplify the sense of compassion and care that the school community holds and we were

truly moved by these efforts. We need to continue accepting all students regardless of where they come from,

what they believe, or what they wear. Tolerance, acceptance, inclusion and reconciliation will be our work for

2019.

On December 17th

, Presteign held I Can Day to honour International Day of Persons with Disabilities in support

of creating an equitable and inclusive environment for all. We were honoured to have Unstoppable Tracy

Schmitt from the Rick Hansen Foundation come to Presteign for a very moving assembly. Our ongoing work in

this area will continue to broaden our understanding of persons with disabilities and ensuring that the school is

proactive in providing an inclusive and barrier free environment.

As 2019 is upon us, we look forward to new developments of the school. Please join us at the next parent council

meeting on January 28th

. In the coming month parents will join efforts as part of action teams.

It’s truly an honour to serve the students, staff and community at Presteign.

Sincerely,

Peppi Kondilis-Minos

1 Gantan-sai New Year Shinto 1 New Year’s Day International

Public Holiday

5 Birthday of Guru Gobind Singh

Sikhism 5 Twelfth Night Christianity

6 Feast of the Epiphany/Dia de los

Reyes Orthodox & Western

Christianity

7 Feast of the Nativity

(Christmas) Orthodox

(Julian Calendar) Christianity 7 Ethiopian Christmas Rastarfari

13 Baptism of Jesus Orthodox

Egyptian

8 - 15 Theravada Days of

Mindfulness Buddhism

10 Pancake Lunch

12-15 Mahayana New Year**

Buddhism

13 Punjabi Lohri Hinduism

(Punjabi)

13 Maghi Sikhism

14 New Year Eastern Orthodox

14-17 Thai Pongal Hinduism

15 Makara Sankranti Hinduism

16 Community Skate at Victoria

Village Arena

17 Pausha Putrada Ekadashi

Hinduism

17 Cheese Pie Lunch

18 PA. Day – No School

20 World Religion Day Baha’i

21 Martin Luther King Jr. Day

U.S.A. Fed. Holiday

21-25 No Name Calling Week Gay,

Lesbian and Straight Education

Network

27 International Day of

Commemoration in

Memory of the Victims of the

Holocaust UN

27 St. Sava Devine Service

Orthodox Serbian

28 Parent Council 6-8pm

January 2019

Presteign Heights Elementary School Proud to be a Platinum Eco-School 2570 St. Clair Ave. East, Toronto, Ontario M4B 1M3

T:416.396.2430 F:416.396.2347

Peppi Kondilis-Minos, Principal

Lucy Giannotta, Superintendent

Michelle Arts, Trustee

Email: Presteign@tdsb.on.ca

School website:

http://schoolweb.tdsb.on.ca/presteign/

We had an incredible time at the Holiday Concert and

Caroling with everyone.

Turkey Lunch: A Community Affair

This incredible school event is a traditional parent and community event. Without the countless parents, grandparents and volunteers, this feat could not happen. A huge thank you goes out to Ms. Roussakis for the tremendous effort to host a turkey luncheon. It was very well received by parents, staff and students.

We look back with fond memories about the event. Ms. Minos still can’t get over how co-ordinated, involved and helpful everyone was. Students helped with the potatoe and carrot peeling, parents roasted, and cooked, prepared decorations and gifts to bring in the beautiful season of the holidays. Santa Claus’ arrival was a true highlight.

Holiday Concert & Caroling

We had an incredible time at the

Holiday Concert and Caroling with

everyone.

Girls basketball

The Girls basketball team played so well

this year. Their first game was 20-16 win.

The second game we lost to William

Burgess 9-12 loss. The third game was

against Dundas and we won 16-8. The

last game was at Earl Beatty and we lost

9-26. They played so well and gave their

hearts to represent Presteign Heights.

Thank you to Ms. Ritsakis and Mr. Lorefice

for coaching. Go Presteign Go!

Holiday Concert & Caroling

We had an incredible time at the Holiday Concert and

Caroling with everyone.

Girls basketball

The Girls basketball team played so well this year. Their first game was

20-16 win. The second game we lost to William Burgess 9-12 loss. The

third game was against Dundas and we won 16-8. The last game was at

Earl Beatty and we lost 9-26. They played so well and gave their hearts

to represent Presteign Heights. Thank you to Mr. Caruso, Ms. Ritsakis

and Mr. Lorefice for coaching. Go Presteign Go!

Recess During Cold Weather

Elementary school students are kept indoors for recess and lunch

times for a number of weather conditions such as rain, lightning in

the area, extreme winds and extreme cold. When temperature and

wind chill measure -28C or lower, students are kept indoors.

Recesses and lunch hour may be shortened if the temperature and

wind chill reading is between -20C and -28C.

If a student's medical condition requires further consideration due

to weather conditions, or if parents have other questions or

concerns about how and when weather conditions affect your child's

school day, please contact the school office.

February is Kindergarten Registration Month

Kindergarten Registration Begins in February! Registration for all TDSB Kindergarten programs begins in February. We look forward to welcoming you and your child at our school in September! To attend Junior Kindergarten in September, children must turn four-years-old by December 31. To register for Senior Kindergarten, children must be five-years-old by December 31. Please begin the process online as your first step. Call the school for more information.

For more information about the Kindergarten program and registration requirements, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten. Presteign Heights ES, Feb. 4th-8th and Feb. 11th-15th 416.396.2430

Winter Weather and Student Transportation

From time to time, it may be necessary to cancel student transportation, classes and/or programs due to severe weather. On rare occasions, severe weather makes it necessary to close schools, administrative offices or sites. With approximately 246,000 students in our schools and sites each day, any decision to cancel buses, classes and/or programs or to close sites can have a significant impact on thousands of families across Toronto. This decision is not taken lightly. When schools remain open on days with inclement weather, parents/guardians make the final decision on whether to send their children to school and they can keep children home from school if they so choose. Should a cancellation or closure be necessary, information will be posted on the TDSB website, TDSB social media and provided to local media by 6 a.m. For more information, please see the TDSB's Procedure for Severe Weather: http://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Detail/docId/242

TDSB Recognizes Tamil Heritage Month in January

The TDSB is celebrating Tamil Heritage Month in January 2019 with the theme of “Remembrance. Resilience. Recognition.” In October 2016, the House of Commons voted unanimously to recognize every January as Tamil Heritage Month. This month was chosen as it coincides with one of the most important celebrations for Canadians of Tamil heritage, the Thai Pongal Harvest Festival. Millions of Tamil people around the world, irrespective of their religion, celebrate Thai Pongal, and offer thanks for an abundant harvest. TDSB proudly marked Tamil Heritage Month for the first time in 2016. As Toronto has the largest Tamil populations outside of the South Asian subcontinent, this committee aims to ensure that the objectives of TDSB’s January’s Tamil Heritage month are reflected in the curriculum and learning objectives for students. To explore these themes, the planning committee will be inviting students to learn about the rich culture of the Tamil heritage and how their own respective ancestry can be used to shape their future through essays, original artwork and public speaking contests. The poster for the month was designed by committee member and Wexford CI student, Ganga, and has been shared with schools across the system.

Toy/ Food Gift Drive

Our Holiday Hamper program of toys, essentials,

non-perishable food items, etc. were donated to

Access Alliance. Ms. Ritsakis and Ms. Marcelin

delivered everything to a room which was filled with

volunteers that were working like elves in Santa's

workshop. They were so happy to see so many

generous times donated by Presteign. Thank you to

everyone for all the items and your generosity.

Scholastic Book Sale

Thank you for your support of the book sale. We

surpassed our goal of $4,000 sales and made $4,200.

The proceeds from the sale, approximately $1,500 goes

back to the school so we can buy books for the library.

Making the Best of Winter Weather at our School Principals are often asked how we decide whether it's too cold to allow our students out in the schoolyard for recess. Fresh air and exercise are important for children. It keeps them physically fit, and helps them stay alert all through the school day. Parents can help by making sure their children come to school prepared to spend time outdoors. Hats, mitts, boots and a warm jacket are important to keep students comfortable during lunch and recess. But extreme cold can be dangerous, and parents want to know that their children will be safe. When the temperature is predicted to drop below -15C, the City of Toronto may declare a cold weather alert. Schools are very sensitive to the needs of our students and pay close attention to the weather, especially when the windchill is below -20 C. The TDSB Severe Weather Protocol is flexible, so that every principal can make a decision that meets the needs of his or her school. It sets guidelines for when to allow students outside for recess, when to make outdoor breaks shorter, and when to keep students inside altogether. Canadian winters can be wonderful but when the weather is cold, school staff keep one eye on the thermometer and the other on the needs of our students - a perfect balance of fun and safety.

Welcome TDSB Trustees

On Monday, Dec. 3, the Toronto District School Board welcomed it’s new Board of Trustees for the 2018-2022 term. Trustee Robin Pilkey was acclaimed Chair of the Board for the fifth time and Trustee Chris Moise was acclaimed Vice Chair. Board of Trustees 2018-2022 Ward 1 (Etobicoke North) — Harpreet Gill Ward 2 (Etobicoke Centre) — Dan MacLean Ward 3 (Etobicoke-Lakeshore) — Patrick Nunziata Ward 4 (Humber River-Black Creek) — Christopher Mammoliti Ward 5 (York Centre) — Alexandra Lulka Ward 6 (York South-Weston) — Chris Tonks Ward 7 (Parkdale-High Park) — Robin Pilkey Ward 8 (Eglinton-Lawrence and Toronto-St. Paul’s) — Shelley Laskin Ward 9 (Davenport and Spadina-Fort York) — Stephanie Donaldson Ward 10 (University-Rosedale and Toronto Centre) — Chris Moise Ward 11 (Don Valley West) — Rachel Chernos Lin Ward 12 (Willowdale) — Alexander Brown Ward 13 (Don Valley North) — James Li Ward 14 (Don Valley East) — Trixie Doyle Ward 15 (Toronto-Danforth) — Jennifer Story Ward 16 (Beaches-East York) — Michelle Aarts

Ward 17 (Scarborough Centre) — David Smith Ward 18 (Scarborough Southwest) — Parthi Kandavel Ward 19 (Scarborough-Guildwood) — Zakir Patel Ward 20 (Scarborough-Agincourt) — Manna Wong Ward 21 (Scarborough North) — Yalini Rajakulasingam Ward 22 (Scarborough-Rouge Park) — Anu Sriskandarajah Trustees meet as a Board on a regular basis and also participate on organized standing committees. For more information, including contact details and meeting dates, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/trustees.

Grade 5 Problem of the Week Contest

January is Problem-Solving month in Grade 5! Mme Marcelin and

Ms Ritsakis' classes will have a weekly Problem of the Week to

solve, related to numeration and patterning. We will be looking

at strategies and solutions in class, and students will submit

solutions for a draw. This is a good opportunity for a family

Math activity, as you can help your child at home as well.

Fridays, we will have a draw in each class, and the first student

with a correct answer drawn wins a prize. Happy problem

solving!

Killer Whale Adoption

After reading in French class about the plight of B.C.'s southern

resident killer whales, Mme Marcelin's class wanted to do

something to help. We will be adopting a killer whale through

Ocean Wise, a non-profit organization (associated with the

Vancouver Aquarium) that conducts research into issues

affecting whale populations. Details to follow about our

fundraising bake sale to adopt a whale!

Stay Healthy During Flu Season

Flu season is here again. Ontarians are encouraged to

avoid getting sick this flu season by getting their annual flu

shot.

Toronto Public Health is recommending that whenever

students and staff experience flu-like symptoms, they are

sent home and do not return to school until they are no

longer infectious to others. Therefore, ill students and

staff should be symptom-free (especially from vomiting

and diarrhea) for at least 48 hours before returning to

school.

The primary concern is for the health and safety of all

students and staff. Please note that no special measures

are required when there is a case of influenza in a school

or daycare. However, everyone should do their part to

stop the spread of the flu. As parents, you can also assist

by:

- reminding children to wash their hands often especially

after using the washroom and before and after eating;

- reminding children to cover their sneeze and cough;

- watching for symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness,

and/or high fever;

- informing the school if your child is ill;

- keeping your child at home when he/she is ill.

For more information, please visit the Toronto Public

Health website www.toronto.ca/health, contact your

family doctor, or Telehealth Ontario. 1-866-797-0000.