Please donate your Foodland Turkey Bucks

The Foodland at Thorncrest Plaza is handing out their annual "Turkey Bucks" that can be used to buy a turkey at Christmas time. If you would like to donate your Turkey Bucks, please hand them in to the office and parent council will collect them in early December so that they can be given to families in need during the holidays. Thank you.

Winter Clothing Drive - ends Nov. 7

This week we are collecting clean, gently used winter clothing for an area school with a need for warm outerwear. Items such as jackets, mittens, hats, scarves and boots to fit both children and adults are greatly appreciated. Please leave your donations in bags on the marked tables at the Kindergarten entrance. Many thanks!

Upcoming Events @ HVV

Remembrance Day Ceremony - Nov. 11 at 10:30 - All parents are welcome!
Parent-Teacher Interviews - Nov. 13 & 14
P.A. Day - Nov. 14
Photo Re-Take Day - Nov. 18
Middle School Winter Concert - Dec. 11 @ Etobcioke Collegiate
Primary/Junior Winter Concert - Dec. 16

Parent Involvement Makes a Difference Conference Nov. 15

TDSB and PIAC Parent Conference - Increasing Knowledge and Enhancing Confidence 

Saturday November 15, 2014, 8:30 to 3:45 at Earl Haig Secondary School

Keynote speaker: J. Richard Gentry, Ph.D., is a former university professor and elementary school teacher and author of Raising Confirdent Readers: How to Teach Your Child to Read and Write—From Baby to Age 7.  He hopes to help bring back research-based spelling and writing in elementary school. 

Workshops:
•    Building Skills in Reading and Writing
•    Family Storytelling
•    French...helping your child succeed!
•    Help...I Have a Teenager
•    Human Rights
•    Mental Health and Well-Being
•    Newcomer Supports and Services
•    Postsecondary Planning
•    Running an Effective School Council
•    Secondary Pathways
•    Social Media: Navigating the 24/7 World
•    Understanding and Overcoming Dyslexia
•    What about Math

Free workshops and child-minding. For more information visit: www.tdsb.on.ca/parentconference

November 5 Council Meeting

Our next council meeting is Wed., Nov. 5 from 7:00-8:30 p.m. in the school library. Everyone is welcome to attend. If you need babysitting, please email marleneyip@gmail.com by 5 p.m. on Nov. 3.

Helping Your Kids Succeed in School

New video from People for Education:
Parent involvement in three minutes!

People for Education has a new video for parents—in French and English. It's three minutes long and it illustrates the top 4 things parents can do to help their kids succeed in school. Based on their Parent Involvement that Makes a Difference tip sheet, the video highlights the key research findings on parent involvement and provides concrete tips for parents.

Watch this parent-friendly video on our Youtube channel.

Thanks for another fantastic fun fair!

Thank you to all the children and parents who attended our Fun Fair on Tuesday. It was wonderful to see so many HVV families at our annual community event. Special thanks to our Fun Fair Committee Co-Chairs, Ingrid McGaughey and Paul Nusca, and to their core team of amazing volunteers:  Kelly Bruneau, Lynn Campbell, Mary Dart, Darren Fath, Anika Mahmud, Marie Johnson, Christine Selby-Munro, Wayne Sung, Cheryl Thomas (and family), Larry Toste, Sonia Trevisanello and Marlene Yip. 

And, sincere thanks to our generous local business sponsors, particularly Kristina Caraginakos of the Grenadier Group who cheerfully managed our BBQ once again, and our group of over 90 current and former students, teachers and parent volunteers who staffed this special event. 

We hope you enjoyed yourselves, had a chance to re-connect with friends and neighbours, teachers and staff. Mrs. Barone-Pace observed that rain falling on an event like this is believed to bring good luck, according to a traditional Italian saying. Based on that, we at HVV are in for a lot of good fortune in the coming school year!