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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 -- Central Student Interest Programs - Update
- Tutoring Supports for Students - Update
- Secondary Exams and Course Culminating Activitie
- Committee Meeting This Week
- Mental Health and Well-Being
- Elementary Alternative Schools Online Application Update
- Elementary and Secondary Out-of-Area Admissions Applications Update
- Toronto Public Health
- School Year Calendar 2022-23
- New Invitations - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day; In My Mosque: Love and Belonging in Community Spaces; International Holocaust Remembrance Day; Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement Opportunities; Virtual Community Fair; Raise a Reader; Read to Succeed Workshops; Out of the Cold Program (OOTC)
- Worth Repeating - Tamil Heritage Month at the TDSB; Middle French (Grade 4 entry) Immersion Application Process; OPS 2023 Summer Employment Opportunities (SEO) and Ontario Internship Program (OIP); Do You Work in a School? Participate in a Study; 2023 Prime Minister’s Teaching Awards; Winter Clothing Drive; Useful Links; PSS Virtual Drop-In Hours; Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds; Community Safety & Support
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Central Student Interest Programs - Update
We are pleased to share that the number of applications increased for Central Student Interest programs and that we had a broader diversity of applicants as we engaged new communities in the application process. The chart compares the number of Grade 9 applicants on a program-by-program basis.
Efforts were made to increase the number of program seats/spaces for the 2023-24 school year factoring utilization rates, impact on other schools and the number of applicants. We are pleased that we have increased the number of spaces in over 40% of the programs to provide greater access to students who express interest in the programs.
A random selection process was not required for the Elite Athlete programs and for 2 of the smaller programs. In one additional program, after the second round of offers, all interested applicants were offered placement. All other programs required the use of a random selection process and most programs still have a waiting list. We will continue to move students from the waiting lists into spaces as they become available until late February.
The TDSB’s goal of a more diverse student population in the Central Student Interest Programs is meant to provide equitable access. The TDSB’s 2016 Student Census data, which is our most recent data, tells us that First Nations, Métis and Inuit students as well as Black, Latino/Latina/LatinX and Middle Eastern students make up approximately 20% of TDSB’s student population. The number of students who self-identified as being part of that group of students exceeded 20% in nearly all the programs.
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Tutoring Supports for Students - Update
The Ministry of Education is funding tutoring programs for students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 with a focus on Math, Literacy, and foundational learning skills.
Free school-based tutoring, system-based tutoring, and community-based tutoring is available to students as they continue to develop and learn concepts and skills that may have been disrupted in recent years, particularly due to COVID-19.
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Secondary Exams and Course Culminating Activities
As secondary schools approach the end of semester one, all our secondary students will have end-of-semester activities in each course, known as culminating activities, which are worth 30% of the final mark and can include presentations, assignments, and exams.
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Committee Meeting This Week
Wednesday, January 18, 2023 - Program and School Services Committee - 4:30 p.m. Electronic Meeting - Agenda
- 5.1 Inner City Community Advisory Committee Report, December 15, 2022
- 6.1 2022 Summer Programs
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Mental Health and Well-Being
Winter Well-Being guide for 2022/23 created by the TDSB's Mental Health and Well-Being Committee has been updated to provide ongoing resources and ideas for Families/Guardians to promote mental and physical wellness during the winter months. Resources are culturally relevant and responsive with resources for students with Complex Needs. The Guide is translated into the top 21 TDSB languages spoken which is accessible here (Well-Being Guide).
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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Elementary Alternative Schools Online Application Update
As you know, the TDSB has a wide range of elementary alternative schools available to students. This year, the application process is being managed centrally (in the past it has been managed by individual schools) and includes an online application form. The online application for admission for September 2023 will be open from Monday, January 16 at 4 p.m. to Thursday, February 16, 2023 at 4 p.m.
Elementary alternative schools will hold information sessions and/or open houses for students and parents/guardians/caregivers in January and February. More information is available on the Elementary School Open Houses and Information Nights web page. There will also be two Elementary Alternative Schools live webinars during the week of January 16, including one daytime and one evening session. Registration is required and a recording of the webinars will be posted on the website.
The registration link for the webinar is on Monday, January 16, which starts at 1:00 p.m.
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Elementary and Secondary Out-of-Area Admissions Applications Update
The applications for Out-of-Area Admissions launched at 9:00 a.m. on Monday, January 9, 2023. It is important to note that an application received on the closing date has equal standing with the first application submitted. The application closes on Friday, January 27 at 4 p.m. (secondary) and on Friday, February 10 at 4 p.m. (elementary). Late applications will not be accepted.
Students can apply for Out-of-Area Admissions in Regular programs and Intensive French programs. For more information about accessing Intensive French programs as a TDSB or non-TDSB student, visit the French Programs web page.
The Out-of-Area Admissions application cannot be used to access Special Education Intensive Support Programs (where Identification, Placement and Review Committee placement is required). For more information, visit Special Education and Inclusion.
The Out-of-Area Admissions application cannot be used to access Caring and Safe School Programs or Central Student Interest Programs.
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Toronto Public Health
With the Flu, COVID-19 and respiratory viruses still affecting our communities, it is important to protect ourselves and others with some simple steps:
- Stay up-to-date with your vaccinations including a fall COVID-19 booster and flu vaccine when eligible for the best protection against getting very sick from COVID-19 and influenza.
- Even if you have had a recent COVID-19 infection, staying up-to-date with your vaccinations gives you stronger hybrid immunity.
- It is strongly recommended everyone wear a high quality, well-fitting mask in all indoor public settings, including in schools and childcare settings. It is especially if you are around people who are at higher risk (such as children under 5, seniors or those who have a health condition).
- Socialize outdoors when possible – outdoors is lower risk than being indoors.
- Stay home if you are sick or have symptoms, even if they are mild.
If you have symptoms, get tested for COVID-19 and treatment if you are eligible. - Wash or sanitize your hands often.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow or a tissue
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces
- Choose well ventilated spaces when possible.
- Reduce or limit the number of people you have close contact with, especially indoors and if you are around people who are at higher risk or have a health condition
- Keep a physical distance when possible, especially indoor
Learn more on how you can reduce virus spread when caring for someone or a child who has COVID-19 or another respiratory virus.
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School Year Calendar 2022-23
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Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day - January 16
The TDSB has a long-standing commitment to supporting educators in responding to historical and present-day acts of racism and injustice. Every third Monday of January, communities celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, a federal holiday in the United States. This day commemorates the life experiences and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a prominent civil rights leader.
As we reflect on the life and achievements of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., along with the importance of deepening our understanding of the global impacts of racial discrimination, more specifically in Canada, join the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement and Ms. Itah Sadu for a K-12 Storytelling session on January 16, 2023 from 10 – 11 AM. Staff, please register for this learning opportunity on myPath.
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In My Mosque: Love and Belonging in Community Spaces
The Equity, Anti-Racism, Anti-Oppression Department, which includes the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement is collaborating with the National Council of Canadian Muslims (NCCM) to offer ongoing professional development series for TDSB staff, students and families.
The TDSB is commemorating the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia (January 29) with this virtual session. The author and illustrator of the book, In My Mosque, will host an interactive storytelling session focused on love and belonging in community spaces on January 24. To attend this virtual session, please register now.
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International Holocaust Remembrance Day - January 27 - 10:15am
The Holocaust (1933–1945) was the systematic, state-sponsored persecution and murder of six million European Jews by the Nazi German regime and its allies and collaborators. The Holocaust is also sometimes referred to as “the Shoah,” the Hebrew word for “catastrophe.”
Observed on January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day marks the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi death camp. It is a time to reflect on and educate about the enduring lessons of the Holocaust and to reaffirm a commitment to uphold human rights. The TDSB is honoured to have Holocaust Survivor Pinchas Gutter join us in conversation with Shari Schwartz-Maltz.
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Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement Opportunities
We are excited to share several opportunities now open for registration. The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement is proud to host the following in-person sessions:
The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement invites Black-identifying TDSB students in Grades 10 to 12 to apply to the fifth annual Black Student Summer Leadership Program (BSSLP). This 7-week (July 4th – August 18th) leadership program will provide Black-identifying students with paid experiential learning opportunities to explore academic and career fields traditionally underrepresented by Black professionals. Click Black Student Summer Leadership Program - information session on January 17, 2023.
Join us for a virtual screening of Subjects of Desire and conversation with the writer, director and producer of the film Jennifer Holness on January 25, 2023. Subjects of Desire explores the cultural shift in North American beauty standards towards embracing Black female aesthetics and features while exposing the deliberate and often dangerous portrayals of Black women in the media. Click here to register.
The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement in collaboration with Humber College Faculty of Media and Creative Arts, and Code Black Communicator Network invites Black-identifying students in Grades 11 and 12 who are interested in career opportunities in Public Relations and Communications to register for Pathways to Public Relations in-person Scholarship Support on Tuesday, January 17, 2023. For more information, click here.
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Virtual Community Fair
TDSB Social Work presents a Virtual Community Fair for parents and caregivers with children, youth and young adults with special needs. Join on Monday, January 16 from 9:30am to 12pm or Monday January 23 from 6:30pm to 8pm. To join the Zoom, click here.
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Raise a Reader
Learn strategies to make reading fun, while building fluency and confidence as a reader - for all families including French Immersion. January 24 at 6:30pm. Click here to register.
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Read to Succeed Workshops
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Out of the Cold Program (OOTC)
I've been asked to share the following - Holy Blossom Temple's Out of the Cold launched it last Thursday. Holy Blossom's OOTC program is no longer an overnight service - it's a hot meal, socialization, eventually kid-related supports from 5:00-7:00 pm every Thursday for the next 11 weeks. They hope to welcome families, so please know you are welcome to join in. Holy Blossom Temple is located at 1950 Bathurst St.
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Tamil Heritage Month at the TDSB – January 2023
Further to the Tamil Heritage Month message in last week's update, sharing additional information. Toronto has the largest Tamil population outside of the South Asian subcontinent with thousands of TDSB students and staff members identified as Tamil. The importance of building awareness, creating a strong self-identity, and understanding one's own roots and rights are important objectives of the Tamil Heritage Month volunteer planning committee.
This year's selected theme is: Community. Belonging. Joy. Belonging comes with a sense of acceptance and inclusion for who you are, and there is great joy that comes from knowing you belong within any given community. We are proud to celebrate Tamil Heritage Month at the TDSB through various educational opportunities for students to learn about the history, culture, and traditions. Follow @TDSB_Tamil.
We are pleased to cordially invite you to join us at our Tamil Heritage Month 2023 Reception at TDSB. Date: January 24th, 2023 Time: 5:00pm to 7:30pm Venue: Scarborough Education Centre (Scarborough Civic Centre) Committee Rooms 3 & 4 (150 Borough Drive) Presentations, Cultural Performances and Refreshments Please RSVP to neethan.shan@tdsb.on.ca by January 21st, 2023
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Middle French (Grade 4 entry) Immersion Application Process for September 2023
Application for Middle French Immersion is an entirely online process. All communication will be sent via the email address you provide. Please check your email regularly, including junk mail folders. The online application process opens on January 9, 2023 and closes on February 3, 2023.
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OPS 2023 Summer Employment Opportunities (SEO) and Ontario Internship Program (OIP)
These programs provide students and recent graduates with the opportunity to gain knowledge, develop skills, and build relationships that will strengthen their future employment prospects in the labour market, while contributing to Ontario’s diverse and inclusive public service.
The Summer Employment Opportunities (SEO) Program will have staggered closing dates between January 24th, 2023 and April 10, 2023 depending on the job type. For a detailed listing of closing dates please visit our job ads on the OPS Career Portal. The Ontario Internship Program (OIP) application deadline to apply is January 20th, 2023, at 12 pm (noon). Candidates can apply online. Placements begin in August 2023.
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Do You Work in a School? Participate in a Study
Sinai Health is seeking research participants for a large, remote, epidemiological study on the impacts of COVID-19 on frontline elementary and secondary education workers in Ontario. The purpose of the study is to determine how many people working in the elementary and secondary schools in Ontario develop COVID-19 infection and the risk factors for infection, to describe the changes to antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 over time, the incidence of re-infection, the uptake of vaccines against COVID-19, and the psychological impact of working during the COVID-19 pandemic. For more info: http://tibdn.ca/covid-19/education
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2023 Prime Minister’s Teaching Awards
Do you know a terrific teacher or early childhood educator? Consider nominating them for a 2023 Prime Minister’s Award! This program honours the remarkable educational achievements and commitment of elementary and secondary school teachers, as well as early childhood educators. Looking for inspiration? Check out previous teaching and early childhood education award recipients. For nomination information, see 2023 nomination packages. The nomination deadline is January 27, 2023.
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Winter Clothing Drive
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. Learn more: bit.ly/3gZOwxx
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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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