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| Shelley Laskin, Trustee Toronto District School Board Ward 8: Eglinton-Lawrence & Toronto-St Paul's 416-395-8787 Shelley.Laskin@tdsb.on.ca
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In this Issue -- Important Labour Update: Strike Averted Tomorrow
- Hold the Date – Ward Forum December 14
- Congratulations to Newly Elected TDSB Chair Rachel Chernos Lin and Vice-Chair Neethan Shan
- Reminder - Deadline Friday, November 25
- Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
- School Council Operations
- Mental Health and Well Being
- Health and Safety - Updates from TPH
- Committee Meeting This Week
- Policy Consultations
- School Year Calendar 2022-23
- New Invitations - PIAC Ready-Set-Engage: Bridging the Gap - Sunday, November 27, 2022; Learn4Life - Adult General Interest Courses - Winter 2023
- Worth Repeating - Hindu Heritage Month Virtual Screening: Periphery; TDSB Community Support Workers (Model Schools); Learn more about Vaccines; FSWC Speaker's Idol; Youth Climate Action Grants; Winter Clothing Drive; Grade 12 - Postsecondary Information 2022; Useful Links; PSS Virtual Drop-In Hours; Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds; Community Safety & Support
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Important Labour Update: Strike Averted Tomorrow
From @tdsb
"We are happy to inform you that the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and the Government of Ontario have reached a tentative agreement averting a strike. As a result, all TDSB schools will be open as normal tomorrow - Monday, November 21, 2022.
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we have moved through these labour developments. We’d also like to thank all staff for their hard work to prepare the system for a possible strike and possible transition to remote learning."
I'd also like to add my thanks to senior staff for their time spent in preparing contingency plans. Please note that this is a tentative agreement and still needs to be ratified by the Union.
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Congratulations to Newly Elected TDSB Chair Rachel Chernos Lin and Vice-Chair Neethan Shan
The TDSB Organization Board was held last Tuesday and I am happy to let you know Trustee, Ward 11 Rachel Chernos Lin was elected Chair for the 2022-23 term and Trustee, Ward 17 Neethan Shan was elected Vice-Chair. Congratulations Rachel and Neethan!
This year, I am a member of the TDSB's Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee, as well as the Audit Committee, the Director’s Performance Appraisal Committee, the Toronto Lands Corporation and Co-chair of the Alternative Schools Advisory Committee. On Friday, I was also proud to have been elected Chair of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) Policy Development Work Group. I am looking forward to the work ahead in support of student achievement and well-being.
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Reminder - Deadline Friday, November 25
NOTE: Students apply to central student interest programs through an online application that will close November 25, 2022.
When the number of applicants for a program exceeds the number of spaces available in the program, students will be selected through a process that supports the TDSB’s commitment to improving representation among students in central student interest programs that reflect the diversity of the Board and the City. The random selection process will occur centrally and all communication will come from noreplyregistration@powerschool.com. Please do not contact schools directly for selection results.
- December 8, 2022: Acceptances and waitlist status will be sent via email, to all applicants. Offers expire December 14, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. If you do not accept your placement by the deadline, the placement will be automatically declined.
- December 15, 2022: Second round of Acceptances and waitlist status will be sent via email, to all applicants. Offers expire December 21, 2022 at 4:00 p.m. If you do not accept your placement by the deadline, the placement will be automatically declined.
- The waitlist for secondary programs will be maintained until February 22, 2023.
- The waitlist for elementary programs will be maintained until March 22, 2023.
If a spot becomes available for a student before that time, you will receive a placement email with a specific deadline to accept or decline.
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Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
The TDSB recognizes Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week (BAPW) runs from November 20-26, 2022 with school boards across the province. This week is an opportunity to remember the impact that bullying can have on a school community and to talk about the ways we can report, support and prevent bullying in our schools.
As a system, we focus on prevention efforts and creating a welcoming school community – both in-person and online. Staff and students are engaged through events, activities and prevention programming and encouraged to take on leadership roles to enhance the school community. Supporting a positive school climate is one of the most important ways we support students’ well-being. The TDSB is committed to working to strengthen relationships between students and school adults and improving overall school climate to create inviting and engaging learning spaces where student want to be. We have a responsibility to respond to incidents of bullying, to support the affected individuals, hold students accountable and address issues that may have contributed to the situation and help prevent them from happening again.
Learn more about how we support students, bullying prevention programs that we offer and the educational partners we work with to support anti-bullying initiatives in our schools and classrooms. Follow along on social media with #TDSBbekind and join the conversation with stories of kindness.
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School Council Operations
Hybrid School Council Meetings - Hybrid meetings can be held to enhance participation. This handout provides information for a basic meeting set-up.
By-Laws’ Template - Please note the By-Law submission key dates: December 23, 2022 - submission of templates by School Councils making no additions or amendments to the template and January 16, 2023 - submission of By-Laws by School Councils merging previous By-Laws' articles with the template. For further instructions and access to the By-Laws’ template, visit By-Laws.
Email Activation - Each year, following the annual elections of the School Council Chairs and Co-Chairs, Principals are required to activate the TDSB School Council email account. If you have any questions, please speak to your Principal.
School Statement of Needs (SSON) - Superintendents will connect with the School Council Chair/Co-Chair to review the SSON.
Learning Sessions - A series of learning sessions has been scheduled for School Councils. The sessions cover an array of topics for School Council leaders and members.
Messenger - Access to the SchoolMessenger platform is now available for all School Council Chairs/Co-Chairs/Vice Chairs. SchoolMessenger enables broadcast email messages to be sent to the parents/guardians/caregivers of a local school. Principals and School Council Chairs/Co-Chairs/Vice-Chairs should review the procedure before usage to ensure awareness and understanding of user requirements.
2022-2023 School Council Innovation Grant - The 2022-2023 School Council Innovation Grant (formerly PRO Grant) application will be open to all School Councils on November 21st, 2022. To learn more about the grant, please visit School-Council-Innovation-Grant. We will be hosting two virtual information sessions on:
- Wednesday, November 23, 2023, at 6:30 p.m.
- Thursday, November 24, 2023, at 12:15 p.m.
Thank you to every parent/guardian/caregiver and school leader who commits so much to the effective engagement of parent/guardian/caregiver voices via the School Council. Please ensure you email me your meeting dates... thanks again!
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Mental Health and Well Being
Kids Help Phone is available 24/7 for ages 5-29 for anonymous care from professional counsellors. Call 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868.
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Health and Safety - Updates from TPHThe TDSB has always taken its health and safety direction from Toronto Public Health (TPH) and the Ministry of Education. At present, the advice from local and provincial public health authorities is not to make masking mandatory, but rather, to strongly recommend masking in indoor public spaces.
In his most recent letter to parents and caregivers on November 17, 2022, Dr. Kieran Moore, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health said: “I am strongly recommending that all Ontarians, not just those at high risk, wear a well-fitted mask in all indoor public settings, including schools and child care.”
In Spring 2022, we reviewed the mask policies from the school boards that chose to mandate masks. Under those policies, those who do not wish to wear a mask can self-exempt themselves without providing any documentation or reasoning to support their decision. In other words, those who do not wish to wear a mask can choose not to do so. We believe that any possible school-board specific mandate could not be enforced at the school level and would put members of school communities at odds with each other (e.g. some people support a mask mandate and others are opposed).
Schools will continue to be mask-friendly environments inclusive of all staff and students and the TDSB will continue to provide medical masks to students who want to wear one. As with all illnesses, Principals will continue to monitor their school and will share any concerns with Toronto Public Health, who can advise on next steps, if any. You can find a full list of protocols on the TDSB Health & Safety website - including daily screening, rapid tests, ventilation, enhanced cleaning, handwashing etiquette, masking, and supporting vaccinations. It is important to note that TDSB protocols can change based on a change in guidance.
Please continue to follow Toronto Public Health (TPH) guidance - The flu & COVID19 are both circulating in Toronto right now. Take steps to protect yourself & others, including getting both your flu & COVID19 vaccines. Learn more: http://toronto.ca/immunization.
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Committee Meeting This Week
Wednesday, November 23, 2022 - Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee - 4:30 p.m. Electronic Meeting - Agenda
- 5.1. Contract Awards, Operations
- 5.2. Contract Awards, Facilities
- 5.3. Construction Tender Award: Replacement of Dennis Avenue Community School
- 5.4. Construction Tender Award: Building Addition and Renovation to George Syme Community School
- 6. Increasing Revenue Through International Education
- 7. Final Response to the 2023-24 Ministry of Education Budget Consultation
- 8. Overview of Funding and Budget
- 9. 2023-24 Strategic Budget Drivers Consultation Plan
- 10. 2023-24 Budget Schedule for Feedback
- 11. Actual Enrolment as of September 2022
- 12.1. Changing the Toronto District School Board’s Child Care Agreement With the City of Toronto (Trustees Donaldson and Pilkey)
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Policy Consultations
- Sexual Misconduct Policy - To prevent sexual misconduct from taking place and to investigate and respond to incidents and complaints of such behavior in an accountable, timely and effective manner. E-mail comments until January 8, 2023 to Maria.Valente-deSa@tdsb.on.ca
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School Year Calendar 2022-23
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PIAC Ready-Set-Engage: Bridging the Gap - Sunday, November 27, 2022, 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
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Learn4Life - Adult General Interest Courses - Winter 2023
In our efforts to accommodate learners who are not able to register using the online registration system, the Learn4Life team can make arrangements for in-person registration, by appointment only, starting Wednesday, November 23, 2022. Appointments can be scheduled for learners who do not have a credit card and need to pay by cash or cheque by emailing us at communityprograms@tdsb.on.ca with the subject line: In-person Accommodation.
View the accessible program brochure here.
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Virtual Screening: Periphery - Ethnic Diversity in the Jewish Community - Nov 22, 2022
The Equity, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression Department is collaborating with Periphery, No Silence on Race, the Ontario Jewish Archives, and the TDSB Jewish Heritage Committee to provide TDSB students, staff and community with ongoing learning opportunities. These sessions focus on the ethnic diversity within the Jewish community and explore strategies to affirm Jewish identities within school communities and classroom environments.
Join us on November 22, 2022 for a virtual screening of Periphery and conversation with the director/producer Sara Yacobi-Harris, co-founder of No Silence on Race, Akilah Allen-Silverstein, and film participant Tema Smith!
Periphery is an evocative film about ethnic diversity in the Jewish community in Toronto, Canada. Through dance, poetry, and personal narratives, 10 Jews of Black/African, Korean, Iraqi, Indian, and South American ancestry challenge perceptions of who is a Jew. Periphery invites us to appreciate the richness of Jewish identity and cultural expression while illustrating the feeling of grappling to belong.
There will be two screenings offered for the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). To register for the event and submit questions prior to the screening, please follow the prompts below :
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TDSB Community Support Workers (Model Schools)
Special Education and Inclusion presents Special Education and Inclusion processes through an equity lens - Session 1 -
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Learn more about Vaccines
Want to learn more about the Bivalent vaccines? Join us at a Vaccine Town Hall & hear from TPH's Associate Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Vinita Dubey, to find out how you can protect yourself & loved ones this fall/ winter season: November 30th and December 15th.
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Youth Climate Action Grants – Deadline to Apply, December 5, 2022
Calling all TDSB students! City of Toronto grants of up to $1,000 will be available to student groups who want to foster climate action projects in their schools and communities. Applications for grant funding are now open and the deadline to apply is December 5, 2022. The EcoSchools central team is available to support student groups develop their action projects and assist with best practices for grant writing proposals. For more information about the grant program, visit Youth Climate Action Grants.
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Winter Clothing Drive
It's never too early to help families prepare for the winter season. The TDSB holds an annual Winter Outerwear Drive to help ensure that all students have warm winter outerwear to get to and from school, and are prepared to participate in all of the fun outdoor activities winter has to offer. You can support our students and their families by donating to provide warm winter coats, pants, hats, gloves, and boots.
Our need for winter outerwear is greater this year. Canada is welcoming newcomer families from Ukraine & Afghanistan, to name a few, and the TDSB is welcoming many of these newly arrived students into our schools. The newcomer students are adjusting to their first Canadian winter and can benefit from your generous support. The students need proper winter outerwear such as coats, boots, mitts and hats to be able to attend school. This year’s Winter Outerwear Drive will run from October 2022 to the end of February 2023.
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Grade 12 - Postsecondary Information 2022
Please see below dates for upcoming Toronto events with information for postsecondary education, travel, and career options:
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PSS Virtual Drop-In Hours
We are here to help you in any way we can. Our Professional Support Services team offers monthly virtual drop-in times where you can connect directly with a staff member to help answer questions and provide support to help you and your child.
Wednesdays once a month: from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Virtual Drop in Hours
Virtual Drop-In Hours for Students with Special/Complex Needs
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Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
Dogs are not allowed on school property at any time. Many people are surprised to learn that TDSB Policy prohibit dogs (leashed or unleashed) being on school property. Section 6.10 PR523 Access to School Premises prohibits canines on our properties “at any time” (except service animals).
Please respect children’s play spaces.
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Community Safety & Support
If you should you ever see any suspicious activity around school buildings after school hours, please contact 311, Toronto Police Services Dispatch at 416-808-2222, or the TDSB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 416-395-4620.
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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