Staff and students spilled out of the last day of school into the Roden Summer Send Off, where they could feast on South Asian dinner and pizza, and treats including ice cream from Swag Sisters’ Toy Store. In the gym and outside, they had the choice of burning off their energy with sports offerings from Toronto Athletic Club, Monarch Park Stadium and the Special Olympics all for free, and in the Library they could sign Canada’s birthday card, stick and cut and colour at the craft tables or have their faces painted by our great team of Grade 8s. And later on, there was a chance to throw pies at Mr Walters, Mr O’Shaughnessy and departing Principal, Mr Lasso.
The raffle and silent auction proved popular again, with prizes as diverse as a boat cruise from Lance and Brenda Van der Kolk (Realtors, Re/Max Hallmark Realty Ltd), a giant teddy bear and gift cards for local businesses including Brooklyn Tavern, Occasions Restaurant, Via Mercanti, The Pantry, Eulalie’s Corner Store, Cristiano Health and Fitness, and On the Off Beat Music School. Thank you to all families and businesses who donated prizes. Next year, four students will take a turn at being staff for the day – Noah C (Principal), Sebastian P (Vice-Principal), Asher G (Gym Teacher) and Shane C (Librarian) – while Ian W heads back to Kindergarten for a day in Ms Revoredo’s class. Winners should get in touch with the appropriate staff member from September to make arrangements. Other prize winners should already have been contacted to have your prizes delivered.
In hosting a smaller event this year, we hoped to give our volunteers a rest, so we are very grateful to all those who stepped up to stand behind tables and to carry them before and after the event, to prepare and serve food, paint faces and supervise activities. The winner of the volunteers raffle prize was Eileen G. Over 50 parents, staff, students and former students helped to make the event so successful and our thanks go to all of them – we really couldn’t have done it without you!
Some of our larger sponsors also took a year off, but we are grateful to Kristin Shensel, (Realtor in The Brel Team, Sage Real Estate), Swag Sisters, The Wren, Victoria Whole Foods and Loblaws for their donations of funds to subsidize our expenses.
Our primary purpose this year was “Fun, not Fundraising”, but an initial count suggests that nearly $3,000 will be added to the School Council’s budget for next year. This money goes towards a variety of student opportunities, including the Book Publishing club and Cultural Enrichment performances, and supports the snack & breakfast programs, nitwits checks and sports / music equipment for the school. If you are interested in finding out more about the School Council and/or having a say in how it acts, all parents and friends of the school are invited to attend meetings or to join Council from September.
Thanks to everyone who got involved in the Roden Summer Send Off, in whatever way. Have a happy, healthy and restful summer!