Updates for the Week of December 5

Holiday Plant Fundraiser RESULTS

We are pleased to announce that Roden School Council raised $1537.31 during our holiday plant fundraiser! We hope everyone is enjoying their beautiful greenery and a huge thank you to Bradford Greenhouses for partnering with us on this initiative. The money raised will go to fund STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art, and math) initiatives, with a portion dedicated to Roden School Council’s new Student Equity Fund (see below for more details).

Student Equity Fund

Roden School Council has voted to establish a School Equity Fund: A bucket of funds to ensure equitable opportunities for all students. These funds can be used for food cards, outdoor apparel, and clothing items, extracurricular activities, trips, and programs, and other relevant needs that are identified over the school year. A proportion of all money raised will be dedicated to this fund, with the goal of helping to build a healthy community – one in which every student has what they need to succeed.

Skate Swap

The Great Annual Roden and Equinox Skate Share is BACK! We will be collecting used skates and helmets from December 12 to 15. Bins will be placed at all school entrances. The skate share will take place on Friday, December 16, along the Hiawatha fence. Anyone can come, browse, and take home skates.

Toy Drive

Roden School Council is supporting the Swag Sisters’ Toy Store with their annual toy drive. Purchase a toy from Swag Sisters and donate it to the drive (unfortunately toys from other stores cannot be donated) or send an e-transfer to RSC@roden.ca – Swag Sisters will match every dollar collected and use the money to purchase toys for children in the community. You can even donate your Swag Sisters reward points, which will also be matched dollar for dollar.

The toy drive runs until December 16, 2022, and we encourage everyone who can to take part.

Teacher Wish Lists

We are continuing to work with teachers to generate a wish list of items they would appreciate in their classrooms. We are sharing this list with our school community in case you have some of these items unused at home or in the event you wanted to donate some of these items to your child’s class.

You can find the wish list: here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iA2r8EcUqDydgOEFeQ93MjZzAwxLX8GYuKFDeiYoeuw/edit?usp=sharing.

Please initial any item you’d be willing to donate and email chair@roden.ca so that we can help organize its delivery. 

We’re encouraging teachers to add to this list as they settle into their classes. Please check back, as the list will be updated throughout the school year. 

Mabel’s Labels Discount Code

Mabel’s Labels has offered a holiday discount code that is good until December 20, 2022. Purchase labels for your child(ren)’s clothing, outerwear, backpacks, water bottles, and anything else that ends up in the lost and found and use the code HOLIFUNDOE31K for a 20% discount.

Don’t forget to click “Support a Fundraiser” and enter “Roden” before making your online purchase; Roden receives 20% of every dollar spent.

FlipGive

Fundraise for Roden while doing your everyday/holiday shopping!

Did you know Roden uses FlipGive to raise money for the school? Go to FlipGive.com to create an account; Roden’s team code is BK9X5N. Join the team and make purchases to major through the app; a kickback will be automatically donated to the school and back to the kids. You can even purchase gift cards through the app, which you can spend in store.

Toonie for Toys Pyjama Day

On Thursday, December 1, wear your coziest pyjamas to school and bring $2 for the Swag Sisters’ Toy Store annual toy drive. The Swag Sisters will be matching every dollar collected, and this initiative will have a direct neighbourhood impact. You can also donate by e-transfer at RSC@roden.ca; please put “Toy Drive” in the message box. Thank you for helping us spread holiday cheer to our broader community!

Holiday Plant Fundraiser

Roden School Council is holder a Holiday Plant Fundraiser in partnership with Bradford Greenhouses!

Purchase poinsettias of various sizes and colours or a tabletop arrangement in red or gold and help raise money to fund STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) programs at the school.

A backpack mailer with an order form has been send home with your child and is also available below. We encourage you to solicit orders from your family, friends, and neighbours.

Deadline for orders is November 22; pickup will be on December 5 at Roden. We are accepting cash and cheque.

International Language Instruction at Roden

The Toronto District School Board offers language classes at elementary schools across the city. This year, Roden P.S. is hosting Cantonese classes on Mondays from 3:35 to 6:05 for students of all ages. The cost is $20 for the year; simply fill out the registration form and bring it to the next class. Right now the class has 18 participants, and 23 are required to keep the class going – we encourage anyone who is interested to attend.

As well, Spanish classes may be offered at Roden if there are enough participants. If you child(ren) may be interested in attending, please email Li Gao, Program Officer, International Languages (Elementary), at li.gao@tdsb.on.ca with your child(ren)’s name, current grade, date of birth, contact information, and email. Once 23 students have indicated interest, the Spanish class will be able to open at Roden and parents will be informed of the day and time.

Coffee Social

You asked, we answered! On Friday, October 28, from 8:45 to 9:30 we will be hosting our second coffee social of the school year. Once again, coffee has been generously donated by The Black Pony Cafe and Snack Bar (located on Gerrard St, just down the street from the school). Bring your own mug! (A few paper cups will be on hand for those who cannot.)

We will be set up on the grassy knoll, just outside the kindie-area fence off Hiawatha. This will be a great opportunity to pop into the school library and pick up a few books in support of our Book Fair!

We hope to see you there.