I’m part of the Blake Street Jr Public School community. We are hosting our annual Silent Auction on Saturday, May 25, 2019 at Eastview Neighbourhood Community Centre as a major fundraiser for our School Council. I'm hoping your business can help with a donation of goods, cash or in-kind services to help us support important educational and community-building initiatives for our school.

Blake is a place where students are safe, where they are cared for, and where they can try their best. We’re a growing school of almost 400 students in English and French Immersion and our students are a true reflection of the great diversity of Toronto. We strive to be a place where all voices are heard and valued and where students and families feel welcomed. We are a community that supports local business and we hope you will support us in turn.

Your support goes further at Blake. Our students haven’t always had a beautiful space to learn, new books, sports and music, or even a hot breakfast. Your support helps to level the playing field in your own neighbourhood by providing learning supports and resources, sports, music, art and nutrition programs that will give Blake students what they need to be at their best.

Last year, funds raised by our School Council made a variety of enrichment opportunities possible for our students. This past year, fundraising supported Blake students and families in the following ways:

• Supplemented the breakfast and snack program, which fulfills the needs of students who experience food scarcity in our community in a non-judgemental and inclusive manner. Full bellies, full minds!

• New classroom resources were purchased thanks to the Classroom Resource Fund, which reimburses teachers up to $100 each for new supplies
• New Musical Instruments - through fundraising and grants our Council purchased 2 xylophones and some small handheld instruments which allowed some students their first opportunity to have instrumental music instruction
• Fostered an appreciation for and understanding of plants and the environment through weekly sessions in the school garden with our Garden Educator
• Promoted a love of reading through the Forest of Reading program which includes energizing workshops with authors
• Translators were hired to support students and families at parent teacher interviews
• Field trips were subsidized allowing all students to explore their community outside the classroom walls

Our event is expected to draw residents from across Riverdale, The Pocket, Leslieville and East York. Participating businesses will be prominently featured on the Silent Auction tables, on our online auction platform ahead of the live event and receive a thank you on our school website. All donations are greatly appreciated and are tax deductible.