Toronto City Schools
Empowering Students, Strengthening Community
📝 Red Knight Writers Shine at the Festival of Arts! 🍂
This past weekend, 28 Toronto students in grades 6–12 shared their creativity and talent during the THS Poetry Contest at Toronto’s 48th Annual Festival of Arts!
Students were invited to write and submit an original poem and then share their work aloud during the festival. We are incredibly proud of all 28 students who participated! Writing something original takes creativity, and standing before an audience to share your own words takes confidence and courage. ❤️💙
A special congratulations goes to our THS Poetry Contest winners:
🥇 1st Place — Kai Chavez & Lucas Ault
🥈 2nd Place — Maya Rutherford & Scarlett Koehnlein
🥉 3rd Place — Hailey Rutherford & Izzy Fontaine
Thank you to Mrs. Glenn, Mrs. Derrington, our Toronto ELA teachers, and everyone who helped provide our students with this opportunity to showcase their voices and talents as part of a longtime Toronto community tradition.
Congratulations to all of our Red Knight writers! 📝👏
#ProudRedKnight #RKN #EmpoweringStudents #StrengtheningCommunity
Little artists, big imaginations! Miss Huddlestun’s art room has been busy the last few weeks! Kindergarten and 1st grade met "Roy G. Biv" to master their colors, 2nd and 3rd graders listened to The Dot and made their mark with custom dot art for the hallways, and 4th–5th graders painted rocks to add a pop of color to the TES courtyard. So proud of these talented creators!
Mum Sale Reminder! The Toronto Elementary Garden Club fundraiser closes on 9/14 (pickup 10/9 at the school).
Flowers can be ordered directly through any Garden Club student, or use the staff link here to support the club:
https://torontoelementary.sowzer.com/parent-signup_/t24341/p71714-allyson-hammond?step=communication
Thank you Happy Golden House for preparing a lunch for the TES staff yesterday. It was so delicious and we appreciate it!
Check out these AMAZING TES Pax Leaders!!
🧪 Science is better when it's hands-on... and sometimes it even involves bubble gum! 🫧
Mrs. Mosti's 7th grade science students recently reviewed the scientific process through a Bubble Gum Lab. Students worked together to collect and record data while practicing the use of a digital scale to measure the mass of gum before and after chewing.
Activities like this give students an opportunity to put scientific skills into practice while making learning engaging, collaborative, and memorable.
Great job, Red Knights! ❤️💙
#RKN #ProudRedKnight #EmpoweringStudents
Mrs. Mosti's 7th grade science students recently reviewed the scientific process through a Bubble Gum Lab. Students worked together to collect and record data while practicing the use of a digital scale to measure the mass of gum before and after chewing.
Activities like this give students an opportunity to put scientific skills into practice while making learning engaging, collaborative, and memorable.
Great job, Red Knights! ❤️💙
#RKN #ProudRedKnight #EmpoweringStudents
👑 ❤️💙 SHOW YOUR HOMECOMING SPIRIT! ❤️💙
Toronto's Close Up students are inviting the student body to show their Toronto pride and support for this year's Homecoming Queen candidates by purchasing colored beads representing their favorite candidate!
💜 Maddie – Lavender
💙 Josey – Royal Blue
🩶 Bella – Silver/Periwinkle
❤️ Keiara – Red
💚 Kam – Emerald Green
Beads are $1 each and will be available for purchase during lunch or see Mrs. Donohue before or after school.
Sales begin Friday September 4th and will continue through the Homecoming game, or while supplies last.
Grab your candidate's color, wear your beads, and help fill the stands with Toronto pride! 👑🏈
#RKN #ProudRedKnight #StrengtheningCommunity
Toronto's Close Up students are inviting the student body to show their Toronto pride and support for this year's Homecoming Queen candidates by purchasing colored beads representing their favorite candidate!
💜 Maddie – Lavender
💙 Josey – Royal Blue
🩶 Bella – Silver/Periwinkle
❤️ Keiara – Red
💚 Kam – Emerald Green
Beads are $1 each and will be available for purchase during lunch or see Mrs. Donohue before or after school.
Sales begin Friday September 4th and will continue through the Homecoming game, or while supplies last.
Grab your candidate's color, wear your beads, and help fill the stands with Toronto pride! 👑🏈
#RKN #ProudRedKnight #StrengtheningCommunity
Show your support your homecoming candidate!
Please join us in welcoming Mrs. Stephanie Fidak, our new Elementary Physical Education Teacher and Intervention Specialist, to the Toronto City Schools family!
Mrs. Fidak earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Bethany College, along with a minor in Multi-Categorical Special Education and an endorsement in Autism. She began her career in 2010 at Weirton Heights Elementary School before spending the past 15 years at Oak Glen Middle School.
Originally from Kinsman, Ohio, a small community near Pymatuning Lake, Mrs. Fidak has called Toronto home for the past 10 years. After years of being part of the community, she felt the time was right to take the next step in her career and officially become a Red Knight!
For Mrs. Fidak, joining Toronto City Schools is especially meaningful because of her family's connection to the district. She has enjoyed watching her own children experience the many opportunities Toronto has to offer and is excited to now be part of the school system herself.
Outside of school, sports have always been a big part of Mrs. Fidak's life. Whether it's baseball, softball, football, basketball, or just about any other sport, she enjoys watching them all. When she isn't watching a game, she can usually be found keeping busy with her children and puppy.
A few fun facts about Mrs. Fidak: she played piano for eight years, loves iced coffee, and despite her new role as a physical education teacher, she admits that she doesn't know how to swim!
Her personal motto is “Progress Over Perfection,” a philosophy that fits perfectly with encouraging students to keep learning, growing, and trying their best.
And if Mrs. Fidak could instantly master any skill, she would choose something completely outside her current talents, art! She would love to trade what she describes as “zero artistic ability” for the ability to create museum-worthy paintings.
Welcome to Toronto City Schools, Mrs. Fidak! We are excited to officially welcome another member of our community to the Red Knight family! ❤️💙 #RKN #ProudRedKnight
Mrs. Fidak earned her bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education from Bethany College, along with a minor in Multi-Categorical Special Education and an endorsement in Autism. She began her career in 2010 at Weirton Heights Elementary School before spending the past 15 years at Oak Glen Middle School.
Originally from Kinsman, Ohio, a small community near Pymatuning Lake, Mrs. Fidak has called Toronto home for the past 10 years. After years of being part of the community, she felt the time was right to take the next step in her career and officially become a Red Knight!
For Mrs. Fidak, joining Toronto City Schools is especially meaningful because of her family's connection to the district. She has enjoyed watching her own children experience the many opportunities Toronto has to offer and is excited to now be part of the school system herself.
Outside of school, sports have always been a big part of Mrs. Fidak's life. Whether it's baseball, softball, football, basketball, or just about any other sport, she enjoys watching them all. When she isn't watching a game, she can usually be found keeping busy with her children and puppy.
A few fun facts about Mrs. Fidak: she played piano for eight years, loves iced coffee, and despite her new role as a physical education teacher, she admits that she doesn't know how to swim!
Her personal motto is “Progress Over Perfection,” a philosophy that fits perfectly with encouraging students to keep learning, growing, and trying their best.
And if Mrs. Fidak could instantly master any skill, she would choose something completely outside her current talents, art! She would love to trade what she describes as “zero artistic ability” for the ability to create museum-worthy paintings.
Welcome to Toronto City Schools, Mrs. Fidak! We are excited to officially welcome another member of our community to the Red Knight family! ❤️💙 #RKN #ProudRedKnight
All Sports. All Season. Just 47¢ a Game!
T.E.S. Picture Day Information
🦷 THE MOBILE DENTIST IS COMING TO TORONTO CITY SCHOOLS!
Toronto City Schools is pleased to offer in-school dental care for students in Pre-K through 12th grade. The Mobile Dentist will be visiting our district October 14–19.
Parents and guardians have three easy ways to register their child:
📱 Scan the QR code included in the graphic.
💻 Register online at MySchoolDentist.com.
📝 Complete the paper registration form that was sent home with your child and return it to the school.
Once registered, students will be able to see the dentist during the October visit and again in April for a six-month follow-up visit.
The Mobile Dentist can provide services including dental exams, cleanings, X-rays as necessary, fluoride treatments, sealants, and additional care such as fillings when needed.
Questions? Please call 855-481-8639 for additional information.
Help us keep our Red Knights smiling! 🦷❤️💙
#RKN #ProudRedKnight #EmpoweringStudents #StrengtheningCommunity
Toronto City Schools is pleased to offer in-school dental care for students in Pre-K through 12th grade. The Mobile Dentist will be visiting our district October 14–19.
Parents and guardians have three easy ways to register their child:
📱 Scan the QR code included in the graphic.
💻 Register online at MySchoolDentist.com.
📝 Complete the paper registration form that was sent home with your child and return it to the school.
Once registered, students will be able to see the dentist during the October visit and again in April for a six-month follow-up visit.
The Mobile Dentist can provide services including dental exams, cleanings, X-rays as necessary, fluoride treatments, sealants, and additional care such as fillings when needed.
Questions? Please call 855-481-8639 for additional information.
Help us keep our Red Knights smiling! 🦷❤️💙
#RKN #ProudRedKnight #EmpoweringStudents #StrengtheningCommunity
Power has been restored.
The Toronto Elementary School Garden Club is kicking off their mum fundraiser today! Sale ends on 9/14 and pickup will be 10/9 at the elementary school. If your child is in the garden club, please activate their fundraising account by scanning the QR code on the paper they brought home (or from the photo below).
If you are looking to support our club by purchasing mums, you can contact a garden club member you know, and they will send you their link. If you do not have a student to order from, you can use this link from the garden club staff through Allyson Hammond:
https://torontoelementary.sowzer.com/parent-signup_/t24341/p71714-allyson-hammond?step=communication.
If you need any help purchasing or signing up your child, please email allyson.hammond@torontocityschools.com.
Thank you for supporting our garden club!
If you are looking to support our club by purchasing mums, you can contact a garden club member you know, and they will send you their link. If you do not have a student to order from, you can use this link from the garden club staff through Allyson Hammond:
https://torontoelementary.sowzer.com/parent-signup_/t24341/p71714-allyson-hammond?step=communication.
If you need any help purchasing or signing up your child, please email allyson.hammond@torontocityschools.com.
Thank you for supporting our garden club!
Please join us in welcoming Miss. Lexus Melnyk, our new Chemistry and Physics teacher, to the Toronto City Schools family!
Originally from Weirton, West Virginia, Miss. Melnyk earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Franciscan University of Steubenville. After completing her degree, she discovered that education was where she wanted to take her love of science. Now beginning her third year as an educator, she has previously taught seventh- and eighth-grade science, biology, and college and testing preparation.
Joining Toronto gives Miss. Melnyk the opportunity to teach a subject that has always been especially meaningful to her, chemistry! She is excited to share her enthusiasm for the subject with her students while becoming part of a community whose pride in its schools and hometown immediately stood out to her. She says the warm welcome she has received from Toronto's administration, teachers, and students helped make the district feel like the right place to be.
Outside of school, Miss. Melnyk enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Dixie Mae, and she is a big Disney fan. She enjoys watching Disney movies and vlogs while preparing for her own trips to the parks.
Her Disney knowledge even comes with an unusual talent: she can sing “It's a Small World” in four languages: English, Spanish, German, and Chinese! Miss. Melnyk was also the valedictorian of her high school graduating class, where she incorporated one of her favorite Disney quotes into her valedictory address: “A dream is a wish your heart makes.”
And one dream she still hopes to help make come true is her mother's wish to visit Hawaii. Miss. Melnyk hopes the two of them will someday make the trip together and check it off her mother's bucket list.
Welcome to Toronto City Schools, Miss. Melnyk! We are excited to have you as part of the Red Knight family! ❤️💙 #RKN #ProudRedKnight
Originally from Weirton, West Virginia, Miss. Melnyk earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry from Franciscan University of Steubenville. After completing her degree, she discovered that education was where she wanted to take her love of science. Now beginning her third year as an educator, she has previously taught seventh- and eighth-grade science, biology, and college and testing preparation.
Joining Toronto gives Miss. Melnyk the opportunity to teach a subject that has always been especially meaningful to her, chemistry! She is excited to share her enthusiasm for the subject with her students while becoming part of a community whose pride in its schools and hometown immediately stood out to her. She says the warm welcome she has received from Toronto's administration, teachers, and students helped make the district feel like the right place to be.
Outside of school, Miss. Melnyk enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Dixie Mae, and she is a big Disney fan. She enjoys watching Disney movies and vlogs while preparing for her own trips to the parks.
Her Disney knowledge even comes with an unusual talent: she can sing “It's a Small World” in four languages: English, Spanish, German, and Chinese! Miss. Melnyk was also the valedictorian of her high school graduating class, where she incorporated one of her favorite Disney quotes into her valedictory address: “A dream is a wish your heart makes.”
And one dream she still hopes to help make come true is her mother's wish to visit Hawaii. Miss. Melnyk hopes the two of them will someday make the trip together and check it off her mother's bucket list.
Welcome to Toronto City Schools, Miss. Melnyk! We are excited to have you as part of the Red Knight family! ❤️💙 #RKN #ProudRedKnight
Congratulations to the THS 2026 Homecoming Court!
Please join us in welcoming Mr. Jonathan Jurado, our new Spanish teacher, to the Toronto City Schools family!
Originally from Mexico City, Mr. Jurado brings an incredibly diverse background to Toronto. He holds a bachelor's degree in Petroleum Engineering with a minor in Earth Science and spent 16 years working in the oil and gas industry as a field engineer and providing training in quality, health, safety, and environmental protection.
Education has also been a major part of his journey. Mr. Jurado spent more than 15 years teaching in Mexico, where his subjects included math, physics, chemistry, statistics, and theater. An ACTFL-certified Spanish educator, he has spent the past two years teaching Spanish in Ohio and now joins Toronto teaching Spanish I, Spanish II, CCP Spanish I, and CCP Spanish II.
Mr. Jurado hopes to build upon the strong Spanish program established by Mrs. Cuervo while sharing much more than language with his students. He looks forward to incorporating culture, life lessons, and experiences that can make a positive difference in their lives.
Outside of the classroom, staying busy isn't a problem! Mr. Jurado has been involved in theater for 37 years, enjoys collecting and restoring comic book toys and collectibles, co-hosts a podcast with friends, teaches line dancing, cooks, writes short stories, poetry, and plays, and is currently writing a theater production for Dennison, Ohio.
And there is even more to his story! In 1999, Mr. Jurado was ranked #3 worldwide by the National Blackbelt League, has trained in four martial arts, speaks four languages, has appeared in more than 60 shows, and even served as an official Gru impersonator from Despicable Me for radio commercials and theater appearances!
If he could instantly master one skill, Mr. Jurado would choose to become a universal translator and speak every language in the world, something especially fitting for Toronto's newest Spanish teacher!
His philosophy is simple: “Treat people the way you want to be treated.”
Welcome to Toronto City Schools, Mr. Jurado! ❤️💙 #RKN #ProudRedKnight
Our cafeteria will have additional hot pretzels with cheese and freshly squeezed lemonade for $1.50 each on Friday, August 21st. You can send cash with your child or add money to their PaySchools account. I have added instructions for PaySchools to our District Wellness page if you need some help signing up. You can find that here: https://www.torontocsd.org/page/district-wellness
Elementary Garden Club
3rd–5th Grade Families: Sign-up forms are going home in student folders this week! Please complete and return them to Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Mazar, or Miss Huddlestun by Wednesday, August 26th.
3rd–5th Grade Families: Sign-up forms are going home in student folders this week! Please complete and return them to Mrs. Hammond, Mrs. Mazar, or Miss Huddlestun by Wednesday, August 26th.
❤️💙 **TORONTO CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT BACK TO SCHOOL BASH** ❤️💙
📅 **MONDAY, AUGUST 17**
⏰ **5:00–7:00 PM**
📍 **TORONTO JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS**
🔥 **HERE’S WHAT WE’VE GOT GOING ON:** 🔥
🎪 **Vendor Extravaganza** — Come shop, browse, and support some awesome local vendors!
🎟️ **Chinese Auction** — AMAZING baskets and prizes supporting our Toronto students, PK–12!
🏰 **BOUNCE HOUSE** — Because apparently adults aren't the only ones who need to burn off some summer energy! 😉
🌮 **FOOD TRUCKS** — Come hungry! Because every good school event is better with FOOD! 🙌
👩🏫 **MEET YOUR TEACHERS** — Find out who your teacher is, say hello, and let’s get those first-day jitters out of the way!
🏈⚽🏐⛳📣 **MEET THE FALL SPORTS TEAMS** — Come meet our Red Knight athletes and show them some love as they get ready for the season! 🏈⚽🏐⛳📣
🎶 **HEAR THE RED KNIGHT BAND!** 🎶
Come hear our talented band **under the direction of our NEW BAND DIRECTOR, WENDY ZINN!** ❤️💙 👏🎵
🎉 **FAMILY FUN + FOOD + MUSIC + SPORTS + SCHOOL SPIRIT + RED KNIGHT PRIDE = THE PERFECT WAY TO END SUMMER!**
**BRING EVERYONE. LET’S PACK THE CAMPUS!** ❤️💙
🎒 **ONE FAMILY. ONE COMMUNITY. ONE RED KNIGHT PRIDE.**
We’ll see you Monday! 👋
#TorontoRedKnights #RedKnightPride #BackToSchoolBash #TorontoFamily #BackToSchool2026 #GoRedKnights ❤️💙
📅 **MONDAY, AUGUST 17**
⏰ **5:00–7:00 PM**
📍 **TORONTO JR./SR. HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS**
🔥 **HERE’S WHAT WE’VE GOT GOING ON:** 🔥
🎪 **Vendor Extravaganza** — Come shop, browse, and support some awesome local vendors!
🎟️ **Chinese Auction** — AMAZING baskets and prizes supporting our Toronto students, PK–12!
🏰 **BOUNCE HOUSE** — Because apparently adults aren't the only ones who need to burn off some summer energy! 😉
🌮 **FOOD TRUCKS** — Come hungry! Because every good school event is better with FOOD! 🙌
👩🏫 **MEET YOUR TEACHERS** — Find out who your teacher is, say hello, and let’s get those first-day jitters out of the way!
🏈⚽🏐⛳📣 **MEET THE FALL SPORTS TEAMS** — Come meet our Red Knight athletes and show them some love as they get ready for the season! 🏈⚽🏐⛳📣
🎶 **HEAR THE RED KNIGHT BAND!** 🎶
Come hear our talented band **under the direction of our NEW BAND DIRECTOR, WENDY ZINN!** ❤️💙 👏🎵
🎉 **FAMILY FUN + FOOD + MUSIC + SPORTS + SCHOOL SPIRIT + RED KNIGHT PRIDE = THE PERFECT WAY TO END SUMMER!**
**BRING EVERYONE. LET’S PACK THE CAMPUS!** ❤️💙
🎒 **ONE FAMILY. ONE COMMUNITY. ONE RED KNIGHT PRIDE.**
We’ll see you Monday! 👋
#TorontoRedKnights #RedKnightPride #BackToSchoolBash #TorontoFamily #BackToSchool2026 #GoRedKnights ❤️💙