Category Archives: Uncategorized

The Gledhill School Council maintains a Google calendar that we do our best to keep updated with important dates. It has recently been updated with this year’s  Pizza Lunches, Council Meetings and Movie Nights. It also shows the 5 day cycle.

Check it out HERE

If you notice a Gledhill School Wide Event that isn’t yet on the calendar, pop us an email at thegledhillguardian@gmail.com

PIZZA LUNCHES ARE HERE!

Again this year, Gledhill School Council is pleased to coordinate the Pizza Lunch fundraiser for students in grades 1-5 who would like to participate. Proceeds are used to help ALL grades with the cost of programs and resources that enrich the Gledhill School experience such as workshops, Drama with Jeff, and more.

Pizza dates for this school year are as follows:

Friday, October 19th                                           Friday, March 29th

Friday, November 30th                                     Friday, May 3rd

Friday, February 1st                                            Friday, June 21st

Please Order & Pay Online:

http://www.Sagoto.com/gsc/pizza

Or print this form to pay with cash or cheque:

Pizza lunch order form 2018-2019

Orders must to be submitted by THURSDAY, OCTOBER 4TH.  Please note that no pizza will be sold on the day of the lunch.  Refunds will not be made if your child is absent from school on a pizza day.

 If you have any questions please email GSCPizza@gmail.com . School Council would like all students to be able to participate if they wish to do so. There are funds available to cover the cost for students if finances are a concern.

Pizza lunches cannot take place without the help of several parent volunteers. If you can help with the setting up and serving of pizza for 1 or more pizza lunches please email us at GSCPizza@gmail.com.   Thank you!

We welcome all adults to add your own Orange Shirt to the Gledhill School Council’s “Every Child Matters Clothesline” which can be found in the front hallway of the school. Your child may be doing this in the classroom, too!

The template to create your own shirt can be found HERE: 

 Looking for ways to continue the conversation at home? There are many wonderful books available for children of all ages that can deepen understanding of the impact of Residential Schools and promote reconciliation. The following books reflect on the residential school experience and/or reconciliation in different ways; many are available through the Toronto Public Library or through major booksellers. (Note: This list is compiled from various sources.) 

 The Orange Shirt Story, by Phyllis Webstad 

When Phyllis Webstad turned six, she went to the residential school for the first time. On her first day at school, she wore a shiny orange shirt that her Granny had bought for her, but when she got to the school, it was taken away and never returned. This is the true story of Phyllis and her orange shirt. It is also the story of Orange Shirt Day, an important day of remembrance for all Canadians.  

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM3683348&R=3683348 

 Shi-shi–etko, by Nicola Campbell  

Shi-shi-etko is a young girl who has four days before she leaves home for residential school. Her family has many teachings to share with her, about her culture and the land. 

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM254832&R=254832 

 Shin-chi’s Canoe, by Nicola Campbell  

This award-winning book tells the story of six-year-old Shin-chi as he heads to residential school for the first time with his older sister. It is the sequel to Campbell’s Shi-shi-etko. 

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2478119&R=2478119 

 Arctic Stories, by Michael Kusugak  

This trio of stories about a 10-year-old girl named Agatha is based on the childhood experiences of beloved Inuit author Michael Kusugak. The book begins with a tale of Agatha ‘saving’ her community from a monstrous flying object. 

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM369510&R=369510 

Kookum’s Red Shoes, by Peter Eyvindson  

An elderly Kookum (grandmother) recounts her experiences at residential school – a time that changed her forever. The book has been described as running parallel to the story of Dorothy in The Wizard of Oz.  “Her tornado had arrived. It rushed up and slammed to a halt just past the wonder world she had created,” writes Eyvindson. 

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM3267481&R=3267481 

When We Were Alone, by David Roberston 

Winner of the 2017 Governor General’s Literary Award for children’s illustration, this heartwarming story of a grandmother explaining residential schools will bring you all the feels. It’s so beautiful and so gentle, and therein lies its transformative power. Julie Flett continues to dazzle with her highly original illustrations. 

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM3533340&R=3533340 

47,000 Beads, by Koja Adeyoha and Angel Adeyoha 

Peyton loves to dance, and especially at pow wow, but her Auntie notices that she’s been dancing less and less. When Peyton shares that she just can’t be comfortable wearing a dress anymore, Auntie Eyota asks some friends for help to get Peyton what she needs. 

http://flamingorampant.com/product/book-of-the-month/ 

I Am Not A Number, by Jenny Kay Dupuis & Kathy Kacer 

This remarkable story of Dupuis’ grandmother and her family’s journey with residential schools deserves every accolade it’s received since being published. Dupuis is an advocate for community stories and it shows in her vivid book, a volume that has made it into classrooms and homes across the continent, sparking conversation and building reconciliation through story. 

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM3461876&R=3461876 

Fatty Legs: A True Story, by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton  

Margaret, an 8-year-old Inuvialuit girl, wants to learn how to read so badly that she’s willing to leave home for residential school to make it happen. When she gets there a mean-spirited nun known as the Raven is intent on making Margaret’s time at school difficult. But Margaret refuses to be defeated. 

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM2705408&R=2705408 

No Time to Say Goodbye: Children’s Stories of Kuper Island Residential School, by Sylvia Olsen This collection of fictional stories of five children sent to residential school is based on real life experiences recounted by members of the Tsartlip First Nation in B.C. 

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM249928&R=249928 

As long as the Rivers Flow, by Larry Loyie  

Cree author Larry Loyie writes about his last summer with his family before going to residential school, in Northern Alberta in 1944. Lawrence learns things like how to care for a baby owl, and how to gather medicinal plants with his Kokom. Loyie’s story highlights how his education at home was disrupted by the residential school system. 

https://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca/detail.jsp?Entt=RDM156850&R=156850 

A day to learn, commemorate and celebrate Indigenous culture and history

Why Orange Shirts?

Orange Shirt Day grew out of Phyllis Webstad’s story of having her shiny new orange shirt taken away on her first day of school at the St. Joseph Mission residential school, and it has become an opportunity to keep the discussion on all aspects of residential schools happening annually. Hear Phyllis’ story HERE:

Nationally, Orange Shirt Day takes place on September 30^th. This is the time of year in which children were taken from their homes to residential schools, and provides an opportunity to set the stage for belonging, learning, and active reconciliation for the coming school year. It is also an opportunity for First Nations, Metis, Inuit, local governments, schools and communities to come together in the spirit of reconciliation and hope for generations of children to come.

Orange Shirt Day at Gledhill

Activities and lessons are planned in the school that will foster students’ connection to the Orange Shirt Day motto of “Every Child Matters” and increase understanding of the history and impact of residential schools in age appropriate ways.

Staff and students are encouraged to wear an orange shirt to school on Friday, September 28^th (as September 30^th is on a Sunday this year) to commemorate the day. Any orange shirt will do!

Buying Orange Shirts for you and your family

You do not need to buy a special shirt. Any orange shirt will do! If you would like to purchase one locally, Olds Cool General store is currently taking orders. See details below, or email them at oldscoolgeneralstore@gmail.com. (Shirts are $25 each, proceeds to Anishnawbe Health Toronto. Order deadline 2pm on Sunday Sept 23^rd.)

Old ‘s Cool on Facebook

Stay Tuned

Watch the Blog next week for more Orange Shirt Day initiatives and resources.

 Learn more about Orange Shirt Day

A friendly note that if your child is bringing a lunch or recess snack with a disposable wrapper please remind them to pop it in one of the school yard garbage cans when they are done with it. A quick walk through the school yard on Thursday showed a large amount of wrapper litter already. Thanks for your help keeping our school yard litter free!

The School Council has been investigating the lack of a morning crossing guard at Gledhill and Danforth. What we understand so far:

• The job of hiring crossing guards is still the job of the Toronto Police Services
• When vacancies occur due to illness or low numbers of available crossing guards, the City of Toronto, along with the TPS has contracted a third party company Neptune Services to fill in the vacancies. (in the past, uniformed police officers would do it, this is no longer the case)
• A request has been made by TPS to Neptune to fill the vacancy at Gledhill and Danforth.
• Low numbers of crossing guards are an issue
• The police officer in charge of hiring new crossing guards is Sgt Bider 416-808-5433. One of our council chairs spoke to him this morning and he informed her that an additional request will be now placed to fill that spot.
• Both Janet Davis’s  and Mary Margaret McMahon’s offices have also been contacted

We will update as new details become available.

Last year our Gledhill students and staff were able to obtain GOLD Eco School Status – Great work Gledhill! Part of maintaining our GOLD status (and aiming for Platinum) is waste reduction and the best way to do that is to strive for litter-less lunches. Bento box type reusable containers are one way to make litter- less lunches a lot easier. This article has some cool options for inspiration:

www.todaysparent.com/kids/school-age/bento-boxes-for-easy-school-lunches/

We hope everyone is enjoying their summer so far. A few notes as we head toward the first week of school:

1. We would like to welcome our new Vice Principal Craig Budgell who is coming to us from Chester Public School and, we wish Bruce Currie, our Vice Principal for the last two years, the best of luck at his new position at Joseph Brant Senior Public School.
2. Construction is still ongoing at the school, but it is the administration’s intent to have the school office open on Monday, August 27 and to post the class lists outside the office on Wednesday August 29.
3. Mark your calendars: The first Gledhill School Council Meeting and Election is scheduled for Thursday, September 20th at 6pm. There are many different ways to participate in the Gledhill School Council. Check out a list of all the elected positions and committees HERE. New parents are encouraged to get involved or just come for a listen and see what the council is all about.