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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 -- Bullying Awareness and Prevention Wee
- Remembering the 90th Anniversary of the Holodomor
- Organization Meeting November 15, 202
- Revised Out-of-Area Admissions Procedure
- Labour Negotiations Updates
- Committee Meeting This Week
- November PIAC POST
- Combatting Hate
- New Invitations - Supporting Youth in our Digital World; More Joy
- Worth Repeating - Virtual Community Fair; Grade 8 to 9 Transitions and Student Interest Programs Webinars and Resources - CLOSES NOVEMBER 24; Early French Immersion Application Process closes DECEMBER 1; Here to Help - Kids Help Line; Winter Outerwear Drive; Useful Links; We Have a Dog Problem; 2023-2024 Calendar; Community Safety & Support
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Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
The TDSB joins school boards across the province to recognize Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week (BAPW) from November 19 to 25, 2023. At the TDSB, we are committed to creating schools that are safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces for all. During this week and always, we must 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.
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Remembering the 90th Anniversary of the Holodomor
National Holodomor Awareness Week will be launched from November 20-26, 2023. On Saturday, November 25, 2023,
the Ukrainian Canadian Congress - Toronto invites you to honor the millions of victims of Russia's genocide against Ukraine as we commemorate the 90th anniversary of the Holodomor. Saturday, November 25, 2023, 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM at the Queen Elizabeth Building, Toronto. Get tickets. To learn more about the Holdomor, please click here.
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Organization Meeting November 15, 2023
Information below is taken from the Summary of Decisions made by the Board - Terms end November 14, 2024 unless otherwise noted. Congratulations to Chair of the Board - Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin and Vice-chair of the Board Trustee Neethan Shan.
Standing Committees
- Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee - 1 Trustee Michelle Aarts 2 Trustee Matias de Dovitiis, Vice-Chair 3 Trustee Liban Hassan 4 Trustee Shelley Laskin 5 Trustee James Li 6 Trustee Dan MacLean 7 Trustee Zakir Patel, Chair - Chair of the Board and Vice-chair of the Board are ex officio members
- Governance and Policy Committee - 1 Trustee Sara Ehrhardt 2 Trustee Dennis Hastings 3 Trustee Patrick Nunziata 4 Trustee Weidong Pei 5 Trustee Yalini Rajakulasingam, Chair 6 Trustee Anu Sriskandarajah, Vice-Chair 7 Trustee Manna Wong - Chair of the Board and Vice-chair of the Board are ex officio members
- Program and School Services Committee - 1 Trustee Alexis Dawson 2 Trustee Malika Ghous 3 Trustee Debbie King, Vice-Chair 4 Trustee Alexandra Lulka Rotman 5 Trustee Farzana Rajwani 6 Trustee Deborah Williams, Chair - Chair of the Board and Vice-chair of the Board are ex officio members
Statutory Committees
- Parent Involvement Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Matias de Dovitiis
Community Advisory Committees
- Urban Indigenous Community Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Sara Ehrhardt 2. Trustee Deborah Williams, Co-chair
- 2SLGBTQ+ Community Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Michelle Aarts 2. Trustee Debbie King, Co-chair
- Alternative Schools Community Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Michelle Aarts, Co-chair 2. Trustee Farzana Rajwani
- Black Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Liban Hassan, Co-chair
- Community Use of Schools Community Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Sara Ehrhardt, Co-chair 2. Trustee Zakir Patel
- Early Years Community Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Deborah Williams, Co-chair
- Environmental Sustainability Community Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Matias de Dovitiis 2. Trustee Manna Wong, Co-chair 3
- Equity Policy Community Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Michelle Aarts 2. Trustee Neethan Shan, Co-chair
- French-as-a-Second-Language Community Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Dan MacLean, Co-chair
- Inner City Community Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Alexis Dawson, Co-chair
Special and Ad Hoc Committees
- Negotiations Steering Committee 1. Trustee Michelle Aarts 2. Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin 3. Trustee Alexis Dawson 4. Trustee Zakir Patel 5. Trustee Neethan Shan 6. Trustee Deborah Williams
Organizations External to the Board
- Canadian National Exhibition Association 1. Trustee Alexis Dawson
- Ontario Public School Boards’ Association Directors 1.Trustee Alexis Dawson 2. Trustee Neethan Shan 3. Trustee Deborah Williams, Vice-president, Enrolment - Alternate Directors 1. Trustee Michelle Aarts 2. Trustee Debbie King 3. Trustee Shelley Laskin - Voting Delegate: Trustee Deborah Williams Alternate Voting Delegate: Trustee Neethan Shan - Alternate Vice-President, Enrolment: Trustee Neethan Shan
- Toronto Lands Corporation Directors (Term ends November 14, 2025) 1. Trustee Liban Hassan 2. Trustee Shelley Laskin (Term ends November 14, 2024) Trustee Dennis Hastings and Trustee Zakir Patel
- Toronto Student Transportation Group 1. Trustee Dennis Hastings (alternate) 2. Trustee Zakir Patel
- City of Toronto’s City-School Boards Advisory Committee 1. Trustee Yalini Rajakulasingam 2. Trustee Neethan Shan
Toronto Lands Corporation: Ratification of John Filion as Chair of the Board of Directors The Board decided that John Filion (Citizen) Director, be appointed to the position of Chair of the Toronto Lands Corporation for a term November 15, 2023 to November 14, 2024.
The Board adopted a schedule of Regular Board and Standing Committee Meetings for 2024 (see page 4).
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Revised Out-of-Area Admissions Procedure
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 websites. 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.
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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.
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Committee Meeting This Week
Wednesday, November 22, 2023 - Special Planning & Priorities Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom - Agenda
- 4. Toronto Lands Corporation Reports
- 4.1 Toronto Lands Corporation Modernization Opportunities: Capital Priority Sites - That the following Toronto District School Board (TDSB) sites be prioritized by the Toronto Lands Corporation in support of the TDSB capital priority submission to the Ministry of Education of and that the Preliminary Work Plan, as outlined in the supporting appendices continued to be explored, with a report back to the TLC board in the second quarter of 2024 on that work. a. 155 Mill Street (Block 9-Future School at West Donlands) - explore options for a new school in a mixed-use development. b. 50 Ethennonnhawahstihnen’ Lane- (Block 20-Future School at Bessarion) - explore options for delivering a new school as part of a mixed-use development. c. 120 & 140 Borough Drive – (Future School at East Education Office Site) - explore options for delivering a school including opportunities for co-location.
- 4.2 Toronto Lands Corporation Modernization Opportunities: Community Partnership Sites - That the Interim CEO of the Toronto Lands Corporation prioritize the Preliminary Work Plan, outlined in the supporting appendices for the following Toronto District School Board sites and report back to the TLC Board in the second quarter of 2024 on that work; a. 34 & 42 Brock Crescent – Joint Venture with Safehaven Community Living b. 301 Lanor Avenue – Disposal to New Haven Learning Centre c. 200 Poplar Road – Potential partnership with Not-for-Profit Consortium
- 5. Staff Reports
- 5.1 2023 Student Census: Preliminary Results - The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Student Census was conducted in the spring of 2023 (April to June). It is a confidential and voluntary survey that asks important questions about students’ school experiences and identities. The Student Census, conducted every five years since 2006, allows school communities to determine what is working well, where change is required, and where support should be focused to improve school environments and help every student succeed.
- 5.2 Climate Action Annual Report, 2023 - In October 2021, the Board established an aspirational goal of net-zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. It also decided that the Director would present an annual climate action plan to the Board, including an update on building-related GHG emissions, and the Environmental Legacy Fund’s revenue and projected expenditures. These annual reports summarize concrete, strategic actions planned for the upcoming school year, designed to help the TDSB respond to the climate crisis.
- 5.3 Math Achievement Action Plan - Progress on the priorities will be detailed in three updates to the Ministry as outlined in the Transfer Payment Agreement. The overarching objective of this plan is to enhance mathematics achievement and success among our students, focusing on curriculum fidelity, mathematics content knowledge for teaching, and understanding our students' unique needs.
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November PIAC POST
The Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) supports parents as partners in education. PIAC POST is your source for current information on Parent Engagement.
The November 2023 Issue of PIAC POST is now out - it includes Mentally Healthy Schools, School Nutrition Programs and School Improvement Process. Thank you to Ward 8 Representatives Kaydeen Bankasingh and Anshu Grover who continue to support the ward at PIAC.
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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 all incidents. Each time an incident takes place in a school, it is to be recorded in a 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. If you experience it, or witness it, report it. Please.
Complaints regarding social media postings should be sent directly to the TDSB's Human Rights Office at humanrightsoffice@tdsb.on.ca. The intake process is being centralizing in the Human Rights Office to ensure for consistency of process.
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. We will not tolerate any intimidation, harassment, or hate-motivated behaviour aimed at specific communities. You can also call 1-800-222-TIPS to Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Toronto Police provide new online option to report hate-motivated graffiti
Toronto Police Service is launching a new option for the public to provide information to police about hate-motivated graffiti in their neighbourhoods. The web form, available on the Service’s website, provides an additional avenue for the public to alert police to hate-motivated graffiti, so officers can attend, gather evidence and arrange for the hate-motivated graffiti to be removed as quickly as possible. This reporting mechanism will be monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Please remember TDSB's Mental Health and Well Being Professional Support Staff (PSS) are here to support your mental health and well-being and to help you navigate the tools and resources you may need. Please see resources on their website.
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Supporting Youth in our Digital World
TDSB Community Support Workers invite you this session on November 23, 2023 at 6:30 PM. Supporting youth in our digital world is designed for adults and parents, and focuses on topics including screen time, gaming, sexting, cyberbullying and more. Click here to register.
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More Joy!
TDSB Community Support Workers invite you to a 30-minute after-school family literacy series. Wednesday's from 4:30-6pm until December 6th.Click here to join.
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Virtual Community Fair
Social Workers are continuing to host the Virtual Community Fairs for Parents/Caregivers of Children, Youth, and Young Adults with Special Needs and/or Complex Needs. Please find the information in the poster about the Virtual Community Fair for the month of November.
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Grade 8 to 9 Transitions and Student Interest Programs Webinars and Resources - CLOSES NOVEMBER 24
The Grade 8 to 9 Transitions process started this week 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, 2023, 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. Both webinar recordings will be available next week on the PCCEO YouTube channel, the TDSB Guidance website and the Central Student Interest Program website.
The new Expression of Interest expectation was reviewed during the webinar. Expressions of Interest must make reference to or be directly connected to the Central Student Interest Program and the type of program(s) you have applied for. Possible options include:
- Written submissions (Examples: blog, essay, opinion piece, poem, short story, script, etc.) that refer to the program(s) OR
- Text-based submissions (Examples: PowerPoint, Canva, Mindmap, etc.) OR
- Audio or video submissions contain student performance that is connected to the program(s) OR
- Photographs/ digital versions of student artwork or projects accompanied by a brief description of the work and/or its meaning.
Expression of Interest Limits Based on Entry Grade - All applicant submissions must adhere to TDSB policies regarding Human Rights, Discrimination and Hate. Expressions of Interest that contravene these policies will be addressed and the applications will be deemed incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The online Central Student Interest Program application will go live tomorrow on Monday, November 6. The same application is used for elementary and secondary programs. The link will be available on both the elementary and secondary CSIP websites but can be most easily found at www.tdsb.on.ca/CSIP.
The application will remain open until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 24, 2023.
Beyond 8 Website - contains information, resources, links and dates for the Grade 8 to 9 transition process.
Out-of-Area Admissions Website - 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.
Recordings of both webinars from November 1 and 2 will be posted on the PCEO YouTube Channel and links will be made available on the TDSB websites listed above.
Support sessions are scheduled for November 14 (4 to 5:30 p.m.) and November 22 (7 to 8:30 p.m.). The links to the online Zoom sessions are available on the CSIP Google calendars on the CSIP website. Applicants are also encouraged to contact their current school for technical support or access to technology. TDSB staff will be available to answer questions about the application should applicants require assistance. Staff will not be able to answer specific program and/or school-based questions.
Families are encouraged to attend Open Houses for school- and program-specific information.
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Early French Immersion Application Process closes DECEMBER 1
The application to the Early French Immersion program for 2004-25 (Junior Kindergarten entry) 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.
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Here to Help - Kids Help Line
As conflict around the world continues, we’re here for anyone who may need support in their language. We offer phone counselling through trained interpreters in over 100 languages including Arabic, Hebrew, Yiddish, Ukrainian, Russian and more by calling 1-800-668-6868. Talking to someone about what you’re going through can be difficult, especially if you don’t use the same language. That’s why Kids Help Phone is providing our phone counselling in over 100 languages, with the help of trained interpreters. It’s all free, confidential and available 24/7 in Canada. No ID required.
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Winter Outerwear Drive
One in every three children lives in poverty right here in our city and too many children come to school without proper clothing to keep them warm during the winter months. In addition, many TDSB students are new to Canada and this may be their first time experiencing a Canadian winter. 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 making a donation to provide warm winter coats, pants, hats, gloves, and boots. This year’s Winter Outerwear Drive will run from October 2023 to the end of February 2024. 100% of all proceeds and in-kind donations go to benefit our students. Tax receipts are available for these donations. Contact the Business Development department at BusinessDevelopment@tdsb.on.ca for more information about how to donate new outwear items. Please donate here.
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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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