Vote for the Perth Schoolyard Project

A group of residents is working to improve the playground behind Perth Avenue Public School and St. Luigi Catholic School. The playground is currently covered in paved asphalt. A plan to build a rubberized running track could become a reality this summer if enough people vote to support the initiative in a $50,000 grant competition called ‘Team Up’ offered by Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Voting continues until February 20. You can make it better for all the children in the neighbourhood by showing your support with a vote!

The MLSE Team Up Foundation is introducing a new grant program this year – the Team Up Foundation Fund (TUFF) with a total of $200,000 available across four charitable grants. Four charitable organizations will each receive $50,000 at the end of March. Winners are selected based on VOTES!

With this grant we hope to attain a poured rubber track for approximately 600 students from Perth and St. Luigi Schools as well as 140 children from the Dovercourt Boys and Girls Club. Perth Avenue Public School and St. Luigi Catholic School are a joint TDSB/TCDSB schools servicing students from JK -Grade 8. See more about this project at tinyurl.com/6UOPHC2

Sharon writes:

Perth Public School is having a meeting on Thursday, January 19th at 6:30 to discuss the school's possible extension through to grade 8. Superintendent Curtis Ennis and Trustee Maria Rodrigues will both be in attendance. Even if you don't have kids at the school, come out and show your support!

The Villager / Inside Toronto has an article that touches upon two major community-lead projects in the Junction Triangle: The Junction Triangle Library Project, and the Perth Avenue Public School Playground Revitalization Project.

You can read the article online here.

Some quotes:

Perth Avenue Junior Public School's yard is a bare patch of asphalt, but if Junction Triangle resident Allison Grey's New Year's resolution comes true it'll be well on its way to becoming an urban oasis for sports, agriculture and outdoor learning.
She is just one of many community activists who is looking ahead to January and beyond to build on initiatives they spearheaded in 2010.

Grey, who has lived in the neighbourhood for a decade, was instrumental in launching the Perth Avenue Public School Playground Revitalization Project. She credits Perth P.S. Principal Janice Robinson for inspiring her to kick-start the redevelopment of the yard. Its sorry state has stopped some area parents from enrolling their children in the elementary school on Ruskin Avenue, said Grey.

"We'd love to do a whole big soccer pitch with a track around it, but it'll likely cost thousands of dollars," she said.

The aim is to start with smaller, less costly projects. Already, Robinson has erected two new hockey nets and has plans to purchase other equipment, such as basketball hoops. There are ideas circulating for some artwork like a mural, added Grey.

Meanwhile, Grey's neighbour, Kevin Putnam, the co-founder of the Junction Triangle Library Expansion Committee, is eager to continue efforts to grow the beloved Perth/Dupont branch, one of the smallest in the city.

At a Nov. 22 meeting, Bailao announced a $1.2 million injection of funds toward the project, which includes encouraging local residents to fill out an online survey called 'The 100 Day Survey.' They can do so until the end of February. Its purpose is to gather as much input from as many people as possible. A report outlining the results of the survey and a public consultation process will be submitted to the Toronto Public Library Association before it is released to the public at the end of March, said Putnam, with fundraising to follow.

Information meeting to discuss option of introducing French Immersion option beginning in Grade 4 for Perth Ave P.S. students.

School Board Trustee Maria Rodrigues and Superintendent Curtis Ennis will attend, in addition to other TDSB staff involved in French language program decision making.

All are welcome. This meeting is particularly relevant to parents whose children will begin Grade 4 in 2013 or later, and who live in the Perth Ave P.S. catchment area.

Thank you for your interest in French Language Instruction at Perth Ave Public School.

If you are a parent of children in the Perth Avenue P.S. area, please complete the survey attached at the bottom of this page and return it to one of the locations listed below. For more information on this initiative, keep reading...

A PARENT INFORMATION NIGHT WILL BE HELD CONCERNING MIDDLE FRENCH IMMERSION AT PERTH AVE P.S.
DATE: MONDAY NOVEMBER 7, 2011
TIME: 6:30 PM
LOCATION: PERTH AVE P.S. SCHOOL GYMNASIUM

Join the Perth Avenue P.S. Community as we celebrate our annual Festival

Date: Thursday June 23rd
Time: 3:00-6:00 p.m.
Location: 14 Ruskin Ave
Details: Please join us in the Perth Avenue P.S. playground for festivities that children and their families can enjoy as we celebrate the end of another successful year.

To mention a few of the activities:

• Adopt a Stuffed Animal

• Cake Walk

• Used Book and DVD Sale

Sharon, a parent at Perth Ave. Public School writes:

Perth Public School is looking for donations of hockey helmets for their winter skating program for grades 1-6. They are also looking for donations of old digital cameras to allow classrooms to experiment with photo and video. Cameras are also helpful when the teachers are on outings with their classes and for creating school and classroom newsletters. If you have these items kicking around, please drop them off at the school or let me know and I can make arrangements with you to pick up.

From the Parents Committee at Perth Ave. Public School:

Perth Avenue P.S. is looking for READING volunteers for a few minutes a day in the morning to sit with the children.
If interested, drop into the office and see Janice Robinson the principal.

Perth Avenue Junior Public School invites you to attend a public meeting about adding grades 7/8 and French Immersion programming.

When: Monday, October 18, 2010
Time: 6:00 p.m.
Where: Perth Avenue PS Library

Child care is available.

The following newsletter was forwarded to me from Bob, a resident of Rankin Crescent. You can download a PDF copy of the printed newsletter here.

RANKIN CRESCENT NEWS

Issue #1 – published July 4, 2010 – Printed Circulation: 100

1. Perth Avenue Junior Public School Needs Our Support – Now.

Enrollment numbers are down at Perth Avenue Junior Public School and if we hope to ensure the survival of Perth Avenue J.P.S., we have to show our support for the school. To help boost enrollment, Perth school would like to add French Immersion and grades 7 and 8 to its programming. However, it is up to us, as parents and local residents, to convince the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) that access to these programmes is desirable for the children who live in our neighbourhood. In particular, those of us who have pre-schoolers who we would like to benefit from a French immersion education at a local school, as well as being able to attend Perth school until the end of grade 8 must make every effort to communicate their support for these initiatives to the TDSB, in particular to our elected education trustee: