Latest Updates

Your Humbercrest School Advisory Council (SAC) would like to take this opportunity to welcome you back, or welcome you for the first time, to the Humbercrest PS community! We’ve had a great couple of weeks, and it’s been so nice to see students connecting with friends and getting back into their routines.     

Thank you to our Principal, Krista Keirstead, and V.P, Mara De Palma-Terpstra, for a smooth start to the school year. We appreciate all the time and effort you have put into a positive start!

Committee Updates

Some returning members of our SoFun committee are already working on plans for the upcoming year, including revisiting the popular “Parent Social” event in October again. More details will follow soon!

We appreciate Amy Parker Green for managing the Council’s instagram page this year - and appreciate all the updates she’s been sharing there. If you aren’t already, please follow us at @humbercrestparentcouncil. 

And thank you to Yvonne Chan for helping get athletics off the ground by providing Humbercrest t-shirts for purchase and working with staff to find teacher and community coaches to support all our teams.

Meetings

Our first SAC meeting will take place on Tuesday, October 6th at 6:00pm in the school library. Meetings will aim to run for 90 minutes. There will be a space for children at the back of the library if you are without childcare and want to attend in person. Virtual participation is being explored for the upcoming year.

What We Do

Since many of our parents/guardians are new, we want to revisit what the SAC does.

The purpose of the SAC is to improve student achievement and enhance the accountability of the education system to parents. We act as a liaison between the parent community, and provide advice to the Principal and the Board on a variety of issues and activities relating to student achievement, curriculum goals/priorities, school budget priorities, school safety, renovation plans, after school activities and criteria for the selection of new principals and vice principals. We meet regularly to receive updates from our Admin team, teachers, and parent volunteers.

Lastly, we act as a forum for concerned parents to bring forward any issues they would like to discuss openly with the council. The council will meet at least four times during the year, and parents/guardians can find information about events and meeting minutes right here on this website.

Nominations

All parents/guardians of a student at Humbercrest P.S. can self-nominate to become a Member-At-Large of the council, which provides you with voting rights. If you wish to join the council, we ask that you attend at least four of the five meetings, so the council is able to conduct business. If you would like to be a Member-at-Large for the 2026-2027 council term, you must complete the on-line form by the deadline of Monday, October 5th at midnight, and attend our first meeting in person. 

On the form you will see there is an opportunity to volunteer to take on a role within one of our Committees. You can also tell us if you want to return to a role, or if you’re new and want to get involved! These positions are filled based on interest and do not require a separate nomination form or vote. These committees meet separately from the council and report back during the school year.

Executives

The bylaws identify four (4) executive officer positions that must be voted on each term. This year, the SAC executive is seeing a turnover, with the departure of several long-standing executive officers. We would like to thank past Co-Chairs, Heather Sinclair & Shay Benedict, for their years of guidance, as well as long-time Secretary, Tammy Cruji, and past Treasurer, Jay Kantarevic. We wish all of our past executives (and their high-school age kids!) a great year at their new schools.

In terms of new Executives, we’re happy to share that three individuals have confirmed they are seeking election and will be self-nominating for these roles: Charing Wong is seeking re-election as Treasurer; Sara Medeiros is seeking election as Co-Chair, and Olivia Tice as Secretary. We are looking for a second Co-Chair nomination, and continuing conversations with potential candidates over the coming week.

If you wish to self-nominate for one of the four executive officer positions, please complete this online form. Self-nomination forms MUST be received by the school principal by Thursday, October 1st (5 days prior to our vote / first SAC meeting), so that profiles can be circulated to the full school parent/guardian audience. A vote will be held for positions not acclaimed at the first council meeting as outlined in the bylaws.

We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, October 6th in the library. 

Your School Advisory Council

Email: humbercrestpsparentcouncil@gmail.com (please use this email address for all SAC questions/feedback)

Thank you to all of the parents/guardians who attended our first meeting! We acclaimed our new council, which is made up of five executive positions, and over 40 members-at-large that now have voting rights. A big thanks to Tammy Cruji, Charing Wong and Jasmin Kantarevic for volunteering to remain on the council executive with us.

Our treasurers presented a healthy financial statement for the last school year. This year’s spending proposals will be presented and voted on at our next meeting on Tuesday, November 18.

Submit your proposal here! (due Saturday November 15)

All proposals will be posted on the website for review prior to the meeting. Follow us on Instagram @humbercrestparentcouncil for reminders & updates.

🎈 Committee Update — SoFun

SoFun is SAC’s fundraising and event planning group. Events planned throughout the year include holiday breakfasts, dance-a-thons, and year-end school fair Party in the Playground. SoFun also runs Pizza Days, which will be up and running alongside other hot lunch options soon.

To get things started, SoFun is kicking off the year with a parent/guardian social, taking place at the Babypoint Club on October 17th. Flyers were sent home. More details on our Instagram on how to purchase tickets.

✨ Our first SoFun meeting will be held on Monday November 3rd @ 7pm at The Fiddler’s Dell on Annette St. All are welcome to join.

🎓 Committee Update — Graduation

The Graduation Committee is starting to fundraise for our Grade 8 Graduation. We are auctioning off tickets for TWO Maple Leaf hockey games happening NEXT WEEK:

• 2 Seats for Tuesday Oct 14th vs The Predators
• 2 seats for Thursday Oct 16th vs The Rangers

Seats are located in Section 311, Row 12 (Face Value: $300/pair). Bidding starts @ $100 per pair.

Bid on both or either sets of tickets here!

Other Committees

Outside of formal council meetings, SAC also has active groups of parents that volunteer for our different committees. These committees work to improve school climate, engage parents and students, and elevate the school experience for our children.

If you missed our first meeting and are interested in hearing more about any of the committees, please contact the committee chair below to be added to the mailing list for that committee:

• Athletics: Yvonne Chan (humbercrestathletics@gmail.com)
• English/French: Amy Dixon (TBA)
• Environment & Sustainability: Whelena Sainsbury & Georgina (TBA)
• Equity & Inclusivity: Darina Larga (humbercrestequity@gmail.com)
• Graduation: Jackie & Lisa (TBA)
• Grants: Kristen Nugent (humbercrestgrants1@gmail.com)
• So Fun: Heather Sinclair & Shay Benedict (TBA)

Thank you again, and wishing you all a great school year ahead!

Heather Sinclair & Shay Benedict

SAC Co-Chairs

Wishing our Humbercrest staff, students and families a warm welcome back to school! We hope this year is a great success for all, filled with lots of positivity, laughter, learning and growth 🍎✏️

Our first School Advisory Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday October 7, 2025. Stay tuned for more details! Follow our instagram for updates.

Hello Humbercrest Community,

We are delighted to announce that access to tickets for our upcoming production, The Wizard of Oz City is now open. The show will be taking place the evenings of June 4 and 5 at 6:30pm. In order to guarantee seats for the show, you must pre-reserve. 

Please note that tickets are complimentary, however there will be a “pay what you can” donation option at the door. Our production has been made possible due to the support of Humbercrest School Advisory Council and all the amazing fundraising activities and events they run throughout the school year. 

To reserve your tickets, please visit our Eventbrite page (sent via email already!)

We look forward to seeing you there!

The following are highlights from the Ward 7 Council meeting regarding TDSB’s proposed 2025-2026 budget. A copy of the full Budget 2025 - Myths vs Facts presentation can be found here, but our Ward 7 Council representative summarized the key points below:

📌 TDSB Budget 2025–26: Key Highlights

🔸 Projected Deficit:

The TDSB is facing a $58 million deficit for the upcoming school year.

🔸 Proposed Cuts Include:

• Pools & Aquatics Programming: $12.8M
• Itinerant Music Instruction: $4.0M
• Grade 7 Devices (1:1): $4.5M
• Outdoor & Continuing Education: $7M
• Staff Reductions (93 roles): Includes VPs, Social Workers, CYCs, Safety Monitors
• Admin & Central Cuts: $12.5M combined

⚠️ These proposals could directly impact many Ward 7 schools, including Annette, Fern, Keele, Parkdale JSPS, and Humberside CI.

🔸 Trustee Position

• Trustees have not approved these recommendations.
• They’ve asked to delay any cuts until full provincial funding details are released.
• Trustees are advocating to preserve essential student programs and supports.

🔸 Provincial Oversight Announced

• The Ministry of Education has appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers to review TDSB finances.
• A report is due May 30, which could result in provincial control of the Board’s budget decisions.

🔸 Debunking Budget Myths

• TDSB is not “top heavy” – it has fewer superintendents per school than many boards.
• Special Education is underfunded by $38.5M; nearly all boards overspend in this area.
• Sunshine List growth was due to retroactive wage payments (Bill 124 ruling).
• Sick leave plan is provincially negotiated – not unique to TDSB.
• Inflation-adjusted education funding has dropped: ~$1,500 shortfall per student.

🔸 Upcoming Advocacy Opportunities

• May 24: Rally for Education Funding at Queen’s Park
• May 26: Education Town Hall with MPP
• May 27: Phone Zap – Fund Our Schools
• Join the Toronto Education Advocacy Network via this form

View the full Budget 2025 - Myths vs Facts presentation here.

Professor Jamz will take over Humbercrest to facilitate an inclusive and engaging interactive dance party. All JK through grade 8 classes will have at least 30 minutes on the dance floor on Friday May 23rd.

The TDSB is facing a $1,500 provincial funding shortfall per student for next school year so our fundraising is more important then ever. All fundraising $ from this event will go towards school needs proposed by our staff and families at SAC. Some of the approved spending this year funded:

1. The school musical & stunt skipping team
2. Decodeable readers
3. Instruments for the music program
4. New athletic jerseys
5. Track equipment like hurdles, shotput and safety javelins so we could compete in new sports
6. Hydralic arm building kits for senior math classes
7. Author & Environmental Classroom Workshops
8. Teacher stipend to buy supplies for their classroom

Donations can be made using School Cash Online, or students can use the following paper flyer to track pledges. This form can be returned to their teacher with cheques or cash donations.

Please return forms by the 23rd.

Details

• When: Thursday May 29th
• Where: The school gym
• Movie: The Wild Robot (1h42m)
• Time: Doors will open doors at 530pm; Movie starts at 6pm!
• Who: JK to Grade 5 (siblings are welcome to attend)

ALL children MUST be accompanied and supervised by an adult! ALL ATTENDEES need a ticket (including the supervising adults). Students cannot arrive alone.

Students are encouraged to wear their favourite PJs, bring a pillow/blanket/sleeping bag, a stuffy or a Wild Robot toy!

Tickets & Pizza pre-orders:

• School Movie Night tickets will be $5 per person (*only 300 tickets available)
• $15 Medium Cheese Pizza from Pizza Nova
• $20 Medium Gluten Free & Cheese Pizza from Pizza Nova

**No refunds**

Extra concessions will be sold at the event!

Please consider volunteering for this event through the signup shared in Fridays’ newsletter!

Parents and staff have been invited to submit a Spending Proposal Form to the SAC over the last six weeks to be presented at Tuesday’s Council meeting on December 3rd. The proposals can be reviewed here.

Proposals will be presented by the parent/teacher submitting the form or one of the Council Co-chairs if the individual submitting the proposal cannot attend. The proposals will then be voted on by our Members at Large and Executive team.

Order pizza and help raise $ for the school. Slices will be purchased using TDSB’s school cash online.

Our first set of pizza days are November 6, November 27 and December 18.

Pizza day volunteers are always needed. You will need a police check to volunteer. Please look for the signup link in the schools weekly mailing.

Click here to submit a proposal ›

All staff, parents and caregivers can use this form to submit a proposal to spend council funds. All staff proposals will be reviewed by administration beforehand. All proposals will be voted on at the Dec 3, 2024 council meeting.

Please be advised that certain goods and services must be purchased from suppliers approved by the TDSB whose estimated costs may differ from other quotes obtained.

Form closes on Friday November 29th at midnight so submissions can be reviewed before the meeting.