Owen Online - April 30 - May4

What a performance! Congratulations to the students and staff who put together a wonderful Kindergarten performance and the Arts Cafe event. Lots of hard work came together and the artwork was amazing.

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Upcoming Events

Spring Fling - Save the date! Thursday, June 21, 2018!

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Change of Clothing

We have had a number of students coming into the office with wet and muddy clothing because of the spring weather. Please consider sending an extra set of clothes with your child in a plastic bag just in case! :)

Multi-Year Strategic Plan Consultation
The Toronto District School Board is working on a Multi-Year Strategic Plan and wants to hear from you!

The Multi-Year Strategic Plan will act as a high level statement of intent for the TDSB for the next three or more school years, set direction and identify system goals to support its 246,000 students and 583 schools. We value input from parents/guardians, families, students and staff and invite you to provide feedback on the draft Multi-Year Strategic Plan documents. To learn more and provide input online, please visit: www.tdsb.on.ca/MYSP. 

Windfields JHS Tour for Gr. 5/6
Our students are invited for a tour of Windfields JHS on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 from 9:15-11:15 am. 

Milk Ticket Schedule
May Tickets - on sale April 23-May 2, delivered May 7
June Tickets - on sale May 21-30, delivered June 4

Parents as Partners Conference
Save the date! Join us for the free Parents as Partners Conference – a conference for parents, by parents – on Saturday, April 28!

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SCIENCE RENDEZVOUS IS AN ANNUAL FESTIVAL THAT TAKES SCIENCE OUT OF THE LAB AND ONTO THE STREET!

Science Rendezvous is Full STEAM Ahead! Saturday, May 12, 2018, and you are invited to event sites across the country as we showcase the Art in Science.  This FREE kick-off festival for Science Odyssey week will be the most fun your family will have with science all year!

Science Rendezvous takes science, technology, engineering, art and math (STEAM) research and innovation out of the lab and onto the street for you to discover and experience.  Stage shows, robotics, virtual reality, INVENTours, large-scales experiments and demonstrations, science buskers and Science Chase races are designed to delight and excite the young and the young at heart.  Hands on experiments, make-and-take projects, and demonstrations will allow you and your family to participate, and really get in the action.  Slime, liquid nitrogen ice-cream, fire tornados, walking on water, and explosions are some of our favourite activities!

http://www.sciencerendezvous.ca/about/

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Test or Not to Test EQAO - To Test Or Not To Test Dr. Carol Campbell, an outstanding research and educator, has led a team reviewing the role of EQAO testing in our schools. Among their many recommendations: - phase out the Grade 3 test.  - phase out Grade 9 math test, - phase out the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test, (currently a requirement to earn a high-school diploma) - create and implement a NEW Grade 10 assessment to test literacy, numeracy and other skills (with a recommendation that the new test not be a graduation requirement). The Minister of Education has taken these recommendations under consideration and will begin broad consultations with the public this fall.  Watch this space for further details as they are known.

Talking to Your Child About Tragic Events This week we all experienced shock at the events that occurred on Yonge Street. As adults it is a struggle to deal with the sadness and the closeness of these events. As parents we have an additional responsiblity of supporting our children, both young and old, to enable them to feel safe and loved. This will be an ongoing process for us. Each child will cope differently. Your child may not have questions right away. The TDSB has put together a number of tips that may help you discuss the events of this week.  Please use this link http://www.tdsb.on.ca/News/Article-Details/ArtMID/474/ArticleID/1193/Statement-Re-Events-on-Yonge-Street

To stay informed with Gerri, please sign up for her e-newsletter at www.tdsb.on.ca/gershon and read her Newsletters - Quick Communicator. Follow her on Twitter  @gerrigershon, for all sorts of useful information about education. For system wide news about the TDSB, visit www.tdsb.on.ca/TDSBupdate.