|  | Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin Chair •Trustee, Ward 11 • Don Valley West
Toronto District School Board
416-395-8787 • Rachel.ChernosLin@tdsb.on.ca |
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Dear friends,
It is with pleasure that I announce my recent re-election as Chair of the Toronto District School Board. Over the past year I have devoted considerable time to building relationships with all levels of government and so many others, and I am excited to build on this foundation to serve students and families to the best of my capacity in my second year as Chair of the Board. Vice-Chair Neethan Shan will continue on in this same role, so we have hit the ground running in year two without missing a beat!
Over my five years as a trustee, one of the repeated concerns I have heard from parents and staff is student attachment to smartphones and personal mobile devices. Data now shows significant negative effects on academic success and well-being for young people. Technically, the TDSB only allows personal mobile use for educational purposes in schools, however, this is not enshrined in policy, only in operational procedure, and as a result, has been challenging to enforce. With all of this in mind, earlier this week Trustee Ehrhardt (Toronto-Danforth) and I brought forward a notice of motion calling for the creation of a Cell Phone/Personal Mobile Device Policy. This Notice of Motion was posted on December 6, and will now move to the Governance and Policy Committee on January 17, 2024. The motion asks the board to begin working on a cell phone policy this school year. As part of the creation of all new policies, we follow a policy development protocol, which includes consultation. Assuming it passes, work will begin on this new policy in the winter and spring of this year and you can expect to hear more about this process and consultation with students, parents, caregivers and staff in the months to come. Stay tuned!
Also from the Boardroom - check out a number of advocacy letters I have sent out on behalf of the Board of Trustees. They cover a variety of topics, including challenges we are facing with the Province significantly underfunding promised capital projects for new childcares in schools, an ask for the creation of a provincial anti-hate strategy, and our Board's commentary on Bill 98 with regard to potential changes to apprenticeship pathways. In addition, as part of our advocacy work, I will be presenting to the Provincial Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs as part of the Province's 2024 Budget Consultations. Of side note to Ward 11 constituents -- our own Don Valley West MPP Stephanie Bowman sits on this Standing Committee.
Save the dates!
Thank you to everybody who joined my first Coffee Morning of the year earlier in the Fall. In attendance were a wonderful variety of returning and new faces and we had a fantastic time learning from each other and from our terrific Ward 11 Superintendents, Roni Felsen and Andrew Howard.
I now have a full roster of Coffee Mornings scheduled for the rest of the school year. Please note they alternate between online and in person. These are casual mornings of conversation about all things education, especially relating to Ward 11. Dates for the rest of the school year are as follows:
- January 17 (virtual)
- February 28 (in person)
- April 17 (virtual)
- May 29 (in person)
While coffee mornings are casual and somewhat unstructured, I am also planning more formal evening Ward Forums, each with a specific topic. We had one already in October on the Multi Year Strategic Plan, but I have a number of other topics I would like to explore with parents, caregivers and community members.
I have tentatively scheduled the following evening Ward Forums as follows:
- February 8 (mathematics)
- March 28 (literacy)
- May 2 (kindness).
I am leaning towards virtual for the evening ward forums, but will confirm closer to the event dates. Registration information will follow in subsequent newsletters, and will be available on my Ward 11 web page at www.tdsb.on.ca/ward11.
Below you will also find much more information regarding upcoming TDSB events, news, community links, and more.
Warm regards,
~ Rachel
Rachel Chernos Lin, TDSB Trustee, Ward 11, Don Valley West
Rachel.ChernosLin@tdsb.on.ca
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Celebrating Good News
I encourage you to read about some of the recent events, initiatives and great things happening across the Toronto District School Board, including:
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Coping During War & Conflict: Video Series and Culturally Responsive Resources
I know our community is going through a period of unprecedented challenges, and we understand that it's crucial to find effective ways to manage our well-being. A video series and related resources have been developed by TDSB staff and expert facilitators to offer coping strategies during war and conflict to support the emotional and mental wellness of students, parents/guardians/caregivers, staff, and the broader community.
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Combatting Hate
In Our Schools
If you are a staff or a student or a parent/caregiver, and you are a victim of or witnessing an incident of racism, bias, or hate in our schools, please report it to the school's principal, who has a duty to investigate any such incidents. Each time an incident takes place in a school, it is to be recorded in this portal which then begins a system response. We have a responsibility to educate against hate. For more information, please visit the webpage for Reporting an Incident of Hate or Discrimination Involving or Impacting Students.
In Our Communities
Report any allegations of hate-motivated crimes to police for investigation at 416-808-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. You can also call 1-800-222-TIPS to Crime Stoppers anonymously.
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Advocacy Letters
Please read the following recent advocacy, advisory, and consultation letters that I (co-)wrote on behalf of the Board of Trustees
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2024 Provincial Budget Consultations now Open
The provincial government has launched its 2024 Pre-Budget Consultations. In addition to an online survey, Ontarians can also submit written submissions by January 31, 2024.We invite you to complete the online survey - please see Question 5 that asks, “When you think about your community, what services or resources could use more government support? Please choose the top 3 priorities that you feel are the most important.” One of the options is “Education supports (like before and after school programming, special education and developmental support programs).” We encourage you to list this priority should you wish to support public education.
The Province's Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs will also be conducting public meetings across the province during December 2023 and January 2024. More information on the list of public hearings can be found here: Ontario Public Hearings
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Ministry of Education Information Sheets on Financial Literacy & Anti-Bullying
The Ministry of Education has created information sheets for parents / guardians / caregivers to keep you informed about important issues or initiatives and to help support your children reach their full potential:
- Financial Literacy: Interactive online lessons for parents to use with their children which covers the value and use of money, managing personal finances such as budgeting and investing wisely.
- Anti-Bullying: The guide, ‘Bullying: We can all help stop it’ has information about bullying, including cyberbullying, what you can do if your child is being bullied, has witnessed bullying or may be bullying others.
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Labour Negotiations Update
School boards and unions share a commitment to public education and work together towards positive labour relations. The collective bargaining framework for the education sector features a two-tier bargaining process, involving both central and local bargaining.
November 21 update: The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) and the Ontario government reached a tentative deal on central terms of a collective agreement with elementary teachers and occasional teachers. The details of the agreement remain confidential until ratified by all parties.
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Literacy Strategy Consultation
I am happy to inform you that the TDSB is developing a Kindergarten to Grade 12 Literacy Strategy which will set the direction, priorities, and goals for learning and teaching literacy over the next three years. And we want to hear from you! I encourage all TDSB parents/guardians/caregivers to share feedback anonymously through the online Literacy Strategy Consultation survey. The survey will remain open until Monday, December 18, 2023.
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Review of Legacy Technical and Commercial Boundaries
As part of the Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy, the TDSB aims to address outdated technical and commercial boundaries that exist in certain areas of the city. These outdated boundaries were established during a time of academic-vocational streamlining, but now hinder equity of access. The Board is proposing the dissolution of these legacy boundaries by September 2025 to provide equal access to all Toronto students. The affected schools include Central Technical School, Central Toronto Academy, Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute, Northern Secondary School, Victoria Park Collegiate Institute, and Western Technical-Commercial School. The proposed changes would not affect current programs.
I encourage you to attend public engagement opportunities, which are scheduled for mid-January 2024 through three virtual meetings, details of which will be provided before the winter break.
Long-Term Accommodation Strategy
Speaking of the Long-Term Accommodation Strategy (LTPAS), On November 1, 2023, the Board of Trustees approved the updated version for 2023-2032. The LTPAS helps the TDSB plan in a city that is always changing. The LTPAS enables the Board to plan studies to balance school enrolments among overcrowded and under-used schools, as well as increase access to programs for all TDSB students. The LTPAS is updated and approved each year.
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TDSB Student Census Results
In Spring 2023, the TDSB conducted its fourth Student Census, which resulted in a response rate of approximately 58% across all grades. The Student Census asks students important questions about school experiences and identities and is an opportunity for students to share their voice and provide valuable information to help improve our schools and system.
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Actual school enrolments
Every school year, actual enrolments for the schools are collected and compiled at the end of each week in September and then at the end of each month for the rest of the year. During the Finance, Budget & Enrolment Committee, staff presented a report to provide the actual enrolments as of September 30, 2023 and contrast it with the projected enrolments for the same time period. Numbers of students are critical to school boards as the majority of grants are based on enrolment
The projected enrolment for the system for September 30, 2023 was 235,717 head count. The actual enrolment for the system as of September 30, 2023 was 237,572 head count. This is above projection by 1,855 head count (+0.79%). This is an increase of 2,427 head count from September 30, 2022 (+1.03%). It is positive news that enrolments are going back up.
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Reduce the Spread of Respiratory Viruses & TPH Vaccination update
Please remember, as we have entered the cooler months and respiratory virus activity increases, I encourage you to review this information from Toronto Public Health (TPH) about how to prevent the spread of infections in schools and communities.
It’s your turn!
The updated COVID19 & annual flu vaccines are now available for anyone 6+ months. Book now at toronto.ca/immunization. You can also get them at some pharmacies & doctors offices.
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Grade 8 to 9 Transitions and Student Interest Programs Info
The Grade 8 to 9 Transitions process started earlier this fall with the Preparing for High School: Grade 8 to 9 Transitions Webinar on November 1, 2023 where nearly 4,300 participants were in attendance. Over 4,700 participants registered to attend the Student Interest Program Webinar held on November 2, which highlighted the wide variety of programs available across the TDSB, including the two new secondary Arts programs and eight new secondary Math, Science and Technology Programs. The application deadline for these Central Student Interest Programs (CSIP) passed on november 24.
More info & resources:
- Beyond 8 Website
contains information, resources, links and dates for the Grade 8 to 9 transition process. - Secondary Central Student Interest Program (CSIP) Website
contains program details and a CSIP Google calendar of Open Houses for schools with Central Student Interest Programs. The link to the online application can also be found on the page.
The Elementary Central Student Interest Program Website contains the same information for the elementary panel. - Out-of-Area Admissions
The status for applying to schools will be available by the end of the first week of November. The Out-of-Area Admissions application will become available online after the Winter break.
Please note: in May, 2023, updates were made to the Out-of-Area Admissions Policy (P013). On November 14, 2023, the revised Operating Procedure, PR545, was approved by Executive Council and will be going to the Governance and Policy Committee and the Board Meeting in January 2024 for information.
The changes in the revised Procedure will be reflected on the various public TDSB Out-of-Area Admissions web pages. When applying for September 2024, applicants may submit one school/program choice in their application. The online application will be available on January 8, 2024.
Families are encouraged to attend Open Houses for school- and program-specific information (see below).
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High School Open Houses and Information Nights
Please join us between November and January for organized open houses and information sessions aimed at aiding your decision in choosing the right school for your child. These events are tailored to provide information for parents/guardians/caregivers and students. I encourage you to visit our website, where you'll find detailed information on dates and times for the upcoming Open Houses and Information Nights.
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Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 Entry) Application (January 8 - February 2)
For families interested in the Toronto District School Board's system-wide French Immersion Program, we offer an online process to apply for Middle French Immersion (begins in Grade 4).
To apply to the Middle French Immersion Program for September 2024, applications must be completed online between January 8 and February 2, 2024. Families with an older sibling currently in a Middle French Immersion program are still required to complete an online application for the new student.
Information sessions will be held January 11 (7:00 p.m.), January 16 (10:00 a.m.), and January 22 (1:00 p.m.).
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Elementary Alternative Schools Online Application
Did you know the TDSB offers a wide range of elementary alternative schools available to students? The application process is managed centrally and includes an online application form. For more information about the online application process, please visit the Alternative Schools web page from December 11, 2023.
The online application for admission for September 2024 will be open from Monday, January 8, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. to Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 4:00 p.m. I encourage you to take part in information sessions and/or open houses for students and parents/guardians/caregivers in December 2023 and January 2024 at our Elementary alternative schools. More information is available on the Elementary School Open Houses and Information Nights web page.
The TDSB is also hosting two Elementary Alternative Schools live webinars, including one daytime and one evening session. Registration is required, and a recording of the webinars will be posted on the website.
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Learn4Life Adult Community Programs - Winter 2024 Registration Now Open
Winter 2024 registration is now OPEN for Learn4Life's Adult General Interest Program with courses in business, languages, art, music, sports, dancing, and more! Open to adults 18 years of age and seniors, the Learn4Life program offers a unique and valuable opportunity for individuals to pursue their interests, expand their knowledge, and engage in lifelong learning with a wide range of courses and activities designed to cater to diverse interests and passions.
New courses this term include:
- Adventures in Photography
- Bringing Stories to Life Through Book Illustrations
- Create Your Own Natural Cosmetics
- De-Stress and Relax
- Pastry Arts for Everyone
- Golf Training Program
- Portuguese Essential Conversation
- Afrobeat Aerobics
- Understanding Landlord Rights and Responsibilities
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New Community Adult Classes in January 2024
I am happy to share that the Community Services Unit-operated programs across the GTA are offering new start dates for various classes starting in January. These free and low-cost services and programs are designed for parents and adults seeking employment, new skills, and better opportunities.
For young adults who are out of school and out of work, the On the Road Construction training program and On the Line Culinary training program will start new sessions on January 1 and 8, respectively. Please note that these programs have very rigorous criteria for enrollment.
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November was Indigenous Education Month
We are proud to celebrate Indigenous Education Month throughout the month of November. Students, staff, and community members are encouraged to honour a number of important days to deepen knowledge, to learn from our shared histories, and to strengthen relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Peoples. It is important to remember to center First Nations, Métis, and Inuit perspectives, voices, histories, and contemporary realities across the TDSB every day.
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November was Hindu Heritage Month
At the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), we are proud to recognize Hindu Heritage Month during the month of November. This is an opportunity to celebrate the Hindu way of life, examine its impact and contributions to the world culture, and recognize values which promote compassion, tolerance, and inclusion.This year’s theme is Vasudhaiva Kutumbakum: The World is One Family.
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Winter Weather and Student Transportation
From time to time, it may be necessary to cancel student transportation, classes and/or programs because of severe weather. On rare occasions, severe weather makes it necessary to close schools, administrative offices, or sites.
With approximately 236,000 students in 583 schools, any decision to cancel buses, classes and/or programs or to close sites can have a significant impact on thousands of families across Toronto. This decision is not taken lightly. When schools remain open on days with inclement weather, parents/guardians/caregivers make the final decision on whether to send their children to school and they can keep children home from school if they so choose.
Should a cancellation or closure be necessary, information will be posted on the TDSB web site and TDSB social media at 6:00 a.m.
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Professional Activity (PA) Days
As you know, during the school year, school staff participate in a number of Professional Activity (PA) Days. Starting this school year, boards of education are now required to publicly share detailed information about PA Days, as outlined in Policy and Program Memorandum (PPM) 151. Please note, all information and details will be posted to www.tdsb.on.ca/PAdays at least 14 days in advance of the scheduled PA Day. Information for today's PA Day on December 8 was posted on the PA Day web page on November 24.
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Winter Break Reminder
As we approach the end of the year, we want to remind you that schools will be closed for Winter Break from December 25, 2023, to January 5, 2024. I hope that students enjoy this well-deserved time off and that everyone has the opportunity to spend time with family and friends. We look forward to welcoming students and staff back on Monday, January 8, 2024.
Wishing you the best of the holiday season, a wonderful Winter Break, and a Happy New Year!
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School Year Calendar 2023-2024
See below for all dates there is no in-school learning. Please note that the first next P.A. (Professional Activity) day is January 19 (elementary schools only).
Updated School Year Calendars for 2023-2024 are available online. These include PA days, exam days for final evaluations, Board and Statutory holidays, and other notable school year details.
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Steps to Address Your Questions and Concerns
Here at the TDSB, we are always open to hearing your questions and concerns and make every effort to address them as quickly as possible. Your child's classroom teacher is the first point of contact, followed by the school's principal, the school superintendent, and me, your Trustee!
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Stay Connected with your school and the boardTDSB Update
Sign-up for TDSB Update and stay informed about recent Board decisions and district-wide news.
Upcoming Meetings
The next Regular Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 31, 2023. For a list of upcoming meetings, including many about the Budget, please click on the meeting schedule and/or the calendar on the main webpage of www.tdsb.on.ca. Board and Committee Meetings can be watched online.
Follow the TDSB
Join the conversations happening on TDSB's social media communities. You'll find the most up-to-date information about us on our Twitter (@TDSB), Facebook (@toronto.dsb), Instagram (@Torontodsb), and Threads (@Torontodsb) accounts
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If you notice anything at a school that concerns you, please call the TDSB 24-hour Call Centre (416) 395-4620, Toronto Police Services Dispatch (non-emergencies via 416-808-2222), and/or Toronto 311.
If you or a family member is in crisis, please contact Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or get support right now by texting CONNECT to 686868.
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