Eastdale Field Trip To Maple Leaf Sports Entertainment Centre

Eastdale CI had their second opportunity to visit the MLSE Launchpad and experience this wonderful facility. The students were engaged in a number of co-operative games and they had the pleasure to play some basketball on the full sized court. The staff at the Launchpad also introduced our students to the new sport of floor curling and the students had a wonderful time on the rock wall where they overcame challenges both physical and mental. Eastdale would like to thank the staff at the MLSE Launchpad for giving our students such an engaging session and a fun time overall.

Blue Jays Challenger Baseball Clinic @ Eastdale

The Toronto Blue Jays Challenger Baseball program ran a baseball clinic on May 11 at Eastdale, 
as part of the Jays Care’s Challenger Baseball in the Schools Program. We’re so excited that Eastdale is part of the program’s pilot year!

This program provided free equipment and a workshop to help teach teachers to run the program.  The workshop was beneficial to educators and simply used baseball as a platform to help students learn, communicate, have fun and much more. A wonderful opportunity! 

STEM Fair Fun!

On May 16th, Eastdale students participated in the Science Technology Engineering and Math Fair (STEM). Over one hundred students from eight 'Exceptional Schools' from across the Toronto District School Board participated in the day long STEM fair at Sir William Osler High School. Mr. Servos's science class focused on how we can help bees and provide them with habitats as shown below with the creation of 'Bee Hotels'.
During lunch, students participated in an 'egg drop' contest. Student representatives from each school tested their parachutes to keep an egg from breaking when dropped from a high distance. As well, each school participated in a 'Tower Design Challenge' to see which school could create the tallest and most sturdiest tower. Students were only allowed to use empty plastic water bottles and tape.

New Leaf Yoga Gala Featuring Eastdale Student Responses

    Once again Eastdale students have the wonderful opportunity to experience New Leaf Yoga every week. Students are guided through the practices of Yoga and Mindfulness. These practices help the students understand how internal and external stimuli can effect their everyday lives and it helps them check in with how they are feeling both mentally and physically.

      New Leaf Yoga runs a Gala every year so that they can raise funds to be able to run these programs at minimal cost to the school or students. For this year's Gala, Eastdale students were asked to write down on a card, what they would like to tell their younger selves. Several of the responses were very heartfelt and moving. Each student had their picture taken with their card which was pre Eastdale was well represented at the Gala, with these pictures being displayed on the main stage.   

       A lot of money was raised at the Gala and Eastdale will continue to have a strong partnership with New Leaf Yoga to help our students battle the daily stressors they face each day.
Thanks to Mr. Nizich and Ms. Johnston for their involvement with New Leaf Yoga.

Mental Health & Awareness Week May 7 - 11

Mental Health & Awareness Week 

Mental health impacts us all. Just as we all have physical health, we all have mental health. Our mental well-being includes our emotions, our thoughts and feelings, our ability to solve problems and overcome difficulties, our social connections, and our understanding of the world around us.At school, feeling safe, engaged and included all contribute to having a positive sense of well-being. Students need our collective support to be healthy individuals and the relationship that students have with each other and adults is an important part of that. 

At Eastdale, students and staff are planning daily activities (see below) to help support and bring awareness for our school community.

In a lead up to Mental Health Week, students from Mr. Laufer's English class haven worked with the Eastdale TV episodes created by Ms. Johnston's class in Semester one and will be leading a screening and discussion with homeroom classes on Tuesday May 1 or Wednesday May 2, focused on one of the three topics:  Racism, Homo/Trans phobia and Sexual Harassment.Students worked hard to create these resources.  The video episodes are approximately 9-10 minutes length and students have prepared discussion questions and will lead the discussions.  These presentations are also part of the presenting students' independent projects for their English credits.

Work Connections Job Fair

On May 2nd, senior Eastdale students were excited to learn about employment opportunities including onsite job interviews at 'Work Connections Job Fair' at the Ontario Science Centre and to meet John Tory, Mayor of Toronto. Thanks to Ms. Brentel for taking the students and providing ongoing support as these students make their transitions to the workplace.