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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 -- Labour Negotiations Updates
- Enrolment Confirme
- Early French Immersion Application Process begins November
- Changes to Central Student Interest Programs for 2024-2
- TDSB Job Fair on October 28th
- Committee Meeting This Week
- Professional Learning for School Council Chairs/Co-Chairs, Members, Principals and Vice Principals
- New Invitations - Introduction to EcoSchools 2023-24 - October 10 at 1pm; Digital Media Literacy Skills in the Age of AI; TDSB EcoSchools Fall Conference; Youth Climate Action Grants – Deadline to Apply, November 20, 2023; Employment Advancement Skills (EASY) Workshops in Octobe
- Worth Repeating - Registration Open! PCP Conference; Toronto Public Health (TPH); School Council Innovation Grant 2023 – 2024; Bill 98, The Better Schools and Outcomes Act, 2023 - Consultation on Regulations now open; PollinateTO Grants; Take Me Outside Day; Global School Play Day 2024 - Celebrating UNSTRUCTURED Play - February 7, 2024; Fundraising Policy Consultation; Model Parliament for High School Students; Legislative Page Program - Applications Open! Useful Links; We Have a Dog Problem; 2023-2024 Calendar; Community Safety & Support
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Labour Negotiations Updates
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. Learn more about the process.
Information will continue to be updated on the website. There are no further updates this past week.
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Enrolment Confirmed
Year after year, TDSB's planning department estimates enrolment - it is that enrolment we base staffing on. Projections in March, in comparison to our projections for September 30, confirm we are currently 0.6% above the headcount projection in the elementary panel (EVA Unverified Enrolment Report - Elementary by Ward), 1.7% above the head count projection in the secondary panel (EVA Unverified Enrolment Report - Secondary by Ward), and 0.9% above the projected headcount system-wide. Year over year, our enrollment projections are incredibly accurate. Unfortunately, even with this system-wide accuracy, fluctuations in school-based enrolment means reorganization - and we understand that causes disruption for many. We expect a full report on enrolment in November.
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Early French Immersion Application Process begins November 6
All students eligible to begin Junior Kindergarten in September can join the Early French Immersion (EFI) program. Students with varying learning styles and linguistic backgrounds can be successful in French Immersion. Proficiency in multiple languages opens doors of opportunity for students!
The application to the Early French Immersion program for 2004-25 will remain an online process managed by the TDSB’s Central French Department, and applications must be completed online between November 6 and December 1, 2023. An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all eligible on-time applicants. Families with an older sibling currently in an Early French Immersion program are still required to complete an online application for the new student. Interested families can apply via the Application Link.
Please visit the TDSB French website to view a video that provides information about the TDSB French Language programs as well as the application and placement process in the Early French Immersion and the Middle French Immersion programs. More information about the Early Immersion Program is available in 22 languages, or visit the Information Sessions website for related links to join a live Zoom webinar about the application process.
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Changes to Central Student Interest Programs for 2024-25
Programs
Arts: There are two (2) new Secondary Arts Programs starting at Westview Centennial SS and Woburn CI. The former CyberARTS programs now fall under the Arts category of programs. The staff at Etobicoke School of the Arts and Earl Haig SS have structured their program pathways to support more interested applicants. All of the program descriptions can be found on the Central Secondary Arts CSIP webpage.
Math, Science and Technology (MST): To help meet the high level of interest, eight (8) new MST Programs have been established across the TDSB. The programs will better serve the East end of the city. Further details about the new programs will be added to the Central MST website in the upcoming weeks.
Elite Athlete: Elite Athlete programs will continue to provide the scheduling that is needed to support athletes training at high levels of competition. As admission to these programs is entirely based on ability, they will not be included as part of the Central Student Interest Program application and grouping. A separate centralized application is being developed for January 2024.
Applications
Program Choice: Applicants can apply to one program choice. This is called their Primary Choice. Applicants may also include an alternate program choice in their application.
• Example 1: Jamal applies to Etobicoke School of the Arts for their Contemporary Arts program as his primary choice. He then chooses Visual Art at Central Tech as his alternate choice.
• Example 2: Mila applies to TOPS at Marc Garneau as their primary choice. They then choose MaST at Danforth CTI as their alternate choice.
Alternate choices will only be considered after all primary choices from the city of Toronto have been considered. If an applicant is accepted to their primary application, they will not be considered for their alternate application. If an applicant is offered a spot in their alternate choice, they will remain on the waitlist for their primary choice.
Expression of Interest
All applicants are expected to submit an “Expression of Interest” in their application. The Expression of Interest is required for the application to be considered complete. It will be verified for completion centrally. Accepted file formats include: DOC, DOCX, PDF, TXT, RTF, XLS, XLSX, BMP, GIF, JPEG, PNG or a link to an accessible, shared document/video/file.
Priority for Historically and Currently Underserved Groups
First Nations, Métis and Inuit applicants will be placed into their primary choice program when applying for the entry grade. When applying for other grades, First Nations, Métis and Inuit applicants will be considered before all other applicants. Applicants identifying as Black, Middle Eastern and Latina/o/x will be considered for priority seats reflective of their representation within the TDSB.
Resources
The Arts Courses in the Secondary Schools Search Tool shows students and their families the current Arts course offerings available to students at their local Secondary School. Students can search by school or by Arts area.
Staff have developed new webpages on TDSBWeb for Secondary Program and Admissions. Resources, documents, links to PowerSchool/SIS resources and a list of dates and timelines can be found on the pages created for Out-of-Area Admissions, Central Student Interest Programs (Schools with Programs) and Central Student Interest Programs (all sending schools).
Secondary Central Student Interest Programs and Schools: Timelines & Open Houses begin November 1st. Check here for dates/times.
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TDSB Job Fair on October 28th
The Toronto District School Board is excited to host the 2023 TDSB Employment Opportunity Fair! Join us virtually on Saturday, October 28th from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to learn more about the hiring process and meet with recruitment staff to discuss the exciting career opportunities at Canada’s largest and most diverse school board! To register for the TDSB Employment Opportunity Fair, please complete this Google Form.
We’re currently recruiting for the following areas:
- Elementary Teaching opportunities for all areas, with high needs in:
French, Special Education (Blind and Low Vision; Deaf and Hard of Hearing), Native Languages and Native Studies - Secondary Teaching opportunities for all subject areas, with particular needs in: Technological Education, Business, Computer Studies, French
- Support Staff, On-call replacement opportunities are available for:
Special Education programs, Educational and Special Needs Assistants, Deaf and Hard of Hearing Educational Assistants
- Noon Hour Assistants
- Lunchroom Supervisors
- Early Childhood Educators (Regular Programs and Bilingual English/French)
- School Based Safety Monitors
- Office Support Staff
- Aquatics - Lifeguards and Swim Instructors
- Child & Youth Workers
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Committee Meeting This Week
Wednesday, October 11, 2023 - Finance, Budget & Enrolment Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom - Agenda
- 5.1 Contract Awards Operations
- 5.2 Contract Awards Facilities
- 5.3 Update on Honoraria for Trustees
- 5.4 Comments on Regulation Changes Disposition of Surplus
- 5.5 2024-25 Grant for Student Needs Consultation by Ministry of Education
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Professional Learning for School Council Chairs/Co-Chairs, Members, Principals and Vice Principals
Each year the Parent/Caregiver and Community Engagement Office (PCCEO) provides opportunities for School Councils across the system to support the important work of School Councils. Please refer below for all upcoming events and log in details.
Module 1 School Council Chairs: The Basics Leading your School Council begins by understanding the legislation that guides your work. This module will explore what Regulation 612 says about the Council mandate, membership, roles and responsibilities, and the mandatory actions every Council is required to carry out. We will also begin our exploration of Chair as leader by looking at the seven responsibilities of this position. October 10th 7:30-9:00 or November 13 6:30-8:00
Module 2 School Council Chairs: Leading Meetings Chairing a School Council meeting can be stressful or fulfilling - or a bit of both. Building on module 1, we examine how Chairs may lead effective meetings. We begin with agendas, minutes and reports, then move into decision making, working with committees and valuing volunteers. We end with the responsibility many Chairs hope to avoid - dealing with conflict. Here’s a hint: it doesn’t have to be awful. October 11 6:30-8:00 or November 14 6:30-8:00
Module 3 School Council Chairs: Leading an Inclusive Practice School Councils represent the parent/caregiver community, the WHOLE community. But much of their work follows old practices established by the dominant communities. This module looks at those traditions and then begins to disrupt the notion of “the hard to reach” parent/caregiver. Beginning with relationships and communication - the keystones of successful engagement - we will investigate strategies for consultation that “go to the margins”. October 26 6:30-8:00 or November 15 6:30-8:00
Module 4 School Council Chairs: Leading Effective Engagement This series of modules ends where we began - the Council mandate for effective engagement for student achievement. What is meaningful engagement and why is it important? After a brief review of the significance of relationships and communication, we will explore strategies to build the capabilities of your parents/caregivers to support their children’s learning, building connections between school and home, and an interesting way to consult with your community throughout the year. It’s about valuing parent/caregiver knowledge and teacher knowledge. How might Chairs lead this exciting path to collaboration? November 6 6:30-8:00 or November 16 6:30-8:00
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Introduction to EcoSchools 2023-24 - October 10 at 1pm
Want to connect with us live? Get prepared with tips, insights, and best practices to inspire your EcoSchools journey this year! Join our upcoming virtual welcome session facilitated by experienced members of the EcoSchools team. 👉Register here ow.ly/BtmJ50PTZlH
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Digital Media Literacy Skills in the Age of AI - Workshop for parents/caregivers to learn simple skills for verifying online information, in the context of social media platforms and AI.
The TDSB is offering a free online digital citizenship workshop for parents and caregivers developed in partnership with Civix. Civix is the organization that the TDSB partners with to run the Student Vote initiative as they offer a range of programming around the themes of elections, government budgets, elected representatives and digital literacy. TDSB has worked with Civix to modify their Cntrl-F workshop and include content about AI and the spread of hate online as part of our parent engagement efforts to promote positive digital citizenship and build parental/caregiver understanding of how misinformation spreads online. We have 300 spots reserved for parents/caregivers to participate in one of our free Zoom sessions: Thursday, October 12th (6:30 - 7:30PM) or Wednesday, October 18th (6:30 - 7:30PM). Registration is required and on a first come, first served basis.
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TDSB EcoSchools Fall Conference
Join us for the TDSB EcoSchools Fall 2023 Conference on Saturday, October 28 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM at Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, 252 Bloor Street West
A FREE hybrid event for all TDSB educators, staff & the OISE community. Leave this conference with inspiring ideas, strategies & resources to foster CCE in K-12 classrooms! Register here.
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Youth Climate Action Grants – Deadline to Apply, November 20, 2023
Calling all TDSB students! City of Toronto grants of up to $1,000 will be available to student groups who want to take on climate action projects in their schools and communities. Applications for grant funding are now open and the deadline to apply is November 20, 2023. The EcoSchools central team is available to support student groups to develop their action projects and assist with best practices for grant writing proposals.
Toronto has an ambitious strategy to address the climate emergency and accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2040. Achieving net zero emissions will require big changes in how we live, work, and travel. For more information about the grant program, visit Youth Climate Action Grants.
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Employment Advancement Skills (EASY) Workshops in October
All workshops are free with limited space.
- Intro to Word©
- Intro to PowerPoint©
- Intro to Excel©
- Workplace Communication Skills
- SmartPhones & Employment Skills
If interested, please call 416-396-6368 to book for assessment or email upgrading@tdsb.on.ca and please include your phone number
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Registration Open! PCP Conference
Join us at our annual Parents and Caregivers as Partners Conference on October 21 and 22, 2023. Parents, guardians, and caregivers are invited to participate in a weekend of learning, connection, and engagement and to learn strategies to support your child throughout the year.
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Toronto Public Health (TPH)
Everyone has a role to play to reduce the spread of respiratory viruses (such as COVID-19, RSV and the flu). The actions you take will protect you, loved ones and those most vulnerable in our community.
Stay up-to-date with your vaccinations which includes getting all booster doses when eligible. Students in grades 7 to 12 can book for school-based vaccination (opens in new window) appointments (Hepatitis B, HPV and Meningococcal vaccines) being offered at City-run clinics.
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School Council Innovation Grant 2023 - 2024
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Bill 98, The Better Schools and Outcomes Act, 2023 - Consultation on Regulations now open
The Ministry of Education (EDU) is moving ahead on regulations and next steps stemming from Bill 98.
The feedback deadline for the above two postings is October 19, 2023 - OPSBA, the TDSB and the TLC will be submitting. Please feel free to also submit your thoughts.
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Ready, set, plant! City of Toronto opens applications for its PollinateTO Grants
Applications are now open for the City of Toronto’s PollinateTO Grants program. Through the program, the City offers grants of up to $5,000 to support community-led initiatives that result in the creation or expansion of pollinator habitat on public and private lands in Toronto. A priority will be placed on funding projects in Toronto’s Neighbourhood Improvement Areas. Projects eligible for funding include those that create new pollinator habitat in green spaces, such as schoolyards and parks, and those that expand existing gardens with pollinator-friendly plants. Projects that create pollinator pathways (multiple gardens on a residential street) are also eligible for funding. Projects must be visible to the public and educate and/or engage the community. Community groups, not-for-profit organizations, student groups, parent councils, Indigenous groups and other resident-led groups are encouraged to apply. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, October 25.
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Take Me Outside Day
Only one more month until #TakeMeOutsideDay! Did you know each day of the week from Oct 16-20th has a theme? And we have speakers, activities & prizes for all of them!
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Global School Play Day 2024 - Celebrating UNSTRUCTURED Play - February 7, 2024
Register your class/school to show support for GSPD. We will send you an email to remind you of the event and we promise not to share your email! Signing up for Global School Play Day is all about sending a collective message to the world that we believe in the importance of play for every child (and adult's).
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Fundraising Policy Consultation
The Fundraising Policy (P021) is currently being reviewed. It supports the TDSB’s commitment to fiscal responsibility and financial viability and promotes student learning opportunities when planning and implementing fundraising activities. The Policy is aligned with the Education Act and the Ministry of Education’s Fundraising Guidelines.
The objective of the Policy is to outline expectations and provide directions to TDSB staff and members of school communities when planning and implementing fundraising activities.
Please share with us your thoughts, questions and recommendations through the online survey or by email to businessdevelopment@tdsb.on.ca on or before October 10, 2023.
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Model Parliament for High School Students
Are you in Grade 10-12? Are you interested in the Legislative Process? Do you want the chance to debate your own legislation in the Legislative Chamber? Then sign up for our Model Parliament program. Applications will be accepted until October 15, 2023. See our website for more info: ow.ly/h5FE50JNXMA
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Legislative Page Program - Applications Open!
Applications for the spring 2024 term are now open until November 15th, 2023.
This unique educational program for Ontario students enrolled in Grade 7 or 8 at time of application with an academic average of Level 4 or 80 % (or higher). It provides an opportunity to experience the provincial legislature in action and forge new lifelong friendships with peers from all over the province. For more information https://www.ola.org/en/visit-learn/programs/about-page-program.
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We Have a Dog Problem
Current by-law rules don’t work for school grounds. As a result, many dog owners disregard our signage and don’t seem to care that children play on that same grass! With limited resources the TDSB must rely on dog owners to be responsible and unfortunately, so many aren’t.
Please respect children’s play spaces.
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2023-2024 Calendar
Please ensure you check these dates before scheduling events.
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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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