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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 -- From OPSBA's Legislative Update re CUPE
- Ministry of Education Direction
- Mental Health and Well-Being
- Treaties Recognition Week
- We Will Remember Them
- Holocaust Education Week Continues
- Health and Safety - Updates from TPH
- Policy Consultations
- School Year Calendar 2022-23
- New Invitations - Youth Climate Action Grants; Jean Lumb Awards; FSWC Speaker's Idol
- Worth Repeating - Hindu Heritage Month; Council Professional Learning; Preparing for High School Information Sessions for Grade 8 Families; Early French Immersion Application Process; Useful Links; Grade 12 - Postsecondary Information 2022; PSS Virtual Drop-In Hours; Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds; Community Safety & Support
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From OPSBA's Legislative Update re CUPE
Bill 28, Keeping Students in Class Act - This legislation was introduced on Monday, October 31, 2022, by the Minster of Education, Stephen Lecce. The bill addresses the labour disputes involving school board employees represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) and provides for new collective agreements beginning on the date the Act receives Royal Assent and ending on August 31, 2026. The bill was time allocated and skipped the committee stage. Immediately following the proclamation of the bill, the government filed a submission with the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) in response to CUPE’s strike action. The hearing began Thursday night and continues again this afternoon. Current Status: Royal Assent (November 3, 2022) [Note - the OLRB Hearing ended Sunday afternoon - as of 8:00pm still awaiting ruling on the legality of the strike].
OPSBA statement regarding bargaining with CUPE - Toronto, November 3, 2022 – “It is extremely disappointing that we have not been able to reach a negotiated agreement at this time among CUPE, the Crown and the employer. As a result of the anticipated strike action, schools in many of our member boards will be forced to close to students for in-person instruction tomorrow, and for the duration of this strike action by CUPE members. Where schools are closed to in-person learning it is because they are unable to maintain the healthy and safe operation of schools for students without these critical education workers. We hope this disruption is short-lived and that we can get back to in-person learning as soon as possible.” - Cathy Abraham, President
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Ministry of Education Direction
On November 3, 2022, Directors of Education received a Memo from the Ministry of Education outlining directions on Contingency Planning. The memo included the following:
- If because of the planned withdrawal of services from CUPE staff a school board determines that it cannot maintain the healthy and safe operation of schools for students, school boards must [emphasis added] support students in a speedy transition to remote learning. Remote learning delivery should be synchronous and should align with the minutes of instruction outlined in Policy/Program Memorandum 164.
- Unless other circumstances exist that require closure, schools must [emphasis added] also remain open to staff, who are expected to attend their workplace as usual, and in particular to support synchronous online learning.
- Consideration should be given to planning for students with special education needs.
- All efforts are made to preserve access to full day child care centres co-located with schools.
- Before-and after-school programs will not be permitted to operate.
Based on this, senior staff have communicated to staff, parents and caregivers...While we remain hopeful that an agreement can be reached, should CUPE job action continue into next week, TDSB schools will remain closed to in-person student learning. (Note the TDSB is not involved in the provincial negotiations).
For ongoing updates and the latest information, please continue to check www.tdsb.on.ca/labour and follow @tdsb on Twitter. From the November 4th Update - there is no new information as of 8:00 pm this evening.
Student Learning - TDSB students will begin transitioning to synchronous (live, interactive) learning early next week, if the strike action continues. Additional information around student learning, including details around availability of technology, will be shared as soon as possible. In cases where students cannot participate in live, online learning, they will be supported to continue learning for the duration of the school closure. Parents/guardians/ caregivers, including those of students with complex medical and/or learning needs, will hear directly from their child’s teacher early next week with specific information and details related to their class. [Note - thank you to all teachers who are doing the best they can during these circumstances in support of student learning and to the Principals and Superintendents supporting them.]
Impact on Other Programs and Services:
Students Currently Enrolled in Virtual Learning - All elementary, secondary and adult students currently learning virtually will continue as normal.
Child Care - Third-party child care operators located in TDSB schools will be permitted to remain open on Friday, November 4. More information will be provided should the job action continue into next week.
Authorized Recreations Programs - When schools are closed to students, Authorized Recreation Programs will also be closed.
EarlyON Child and Family Centres - When schools are closed to students, both TDSB-operated and third-party operated EarlyON Child and Family Centres will also be closed.
TDSB Extended Day Programs - When schools are closed to students, TDSB-operated Extended Day Programs will also be closed to all families. This child care service is operated by CUPE employees. Parents/guardians/ caregivers will be refunded for any closure.
Permits - During this job action, all school and community-use permits are cancelled beginning on Friday, November 4, including weekends, until further notice.
Continuing Education - While schools are closed, all in-person continuing education classes are cancelled, including non-TDSB locations where programming is held, until further notice starting Friday, November 4. This includes: Saturday International Languages Secondary Credit, Adult ESL, Community Programs/Learn4Life, and International Languages Elementary/African Heritage. Remote Secondary Credit Night School and Remote Saturday International Languages Secondary Credit will continue to run.
Finally a reminder from me - Employees who are members of CUPE provide critical daily services – they are office staff, caretaking staff, educational assistants, school based safety monitors, special needs assistance and more… their job functions include (but not limited to):
- running the school office;
- building and school ground safety and security;
- building and school ground cleaning and maintenance;
- lunchroom supervision;
- educational support in full-day kindergarten classrooms;
- supervision and support for students with special needs;
- school-based safety monitors;
- washroom and water fountain cleaning;
- ventilation system operations; and,
- safe arrival programs.
They are critical to supporting students in schools.
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Mental Health and Well Being
The pandemic (and the return to virtual learning) has impacted children and youth in different ways. 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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Treaties Recognition Week
Treaties Recognition Week is the first full week of November, November 7th-11th. The week was established in 2016 and came out of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action. Developing a stronger understanding and awareness of the treaty relationships will help move us towards reconciliation.
To mark Treaties Recognition Week, the Government of Ontario has been working with Indigenous partners to offer a series of educational resources and events. A dedicated online treaties resource library ontario.ca/treaties features educational guides, videos and tools developed by Indigenous organizations for teachers and students across the province.
To complement the online resource library, the Urban Indigenous Education Centre is also working with partners to offer a network of Indigenous speakers to share their perspectives on treaties in schools across Ontario.
Join the UIEC for some engaging virtual sessions for students and teachers for Indigenous Education Month - see MyPath to register.
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We Will Remember Them
On the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month... we will remember them... Remembrance Day is observed since the end of the First World War to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty. From the last Friday in October to Remembrance Day, millions of Canadians wear a Poppy as a visual pledge to never forget those who served and sacrificed. On November 11th, we will remember them. See The Poppy.
November 8th is Indigenous Veterans Day, a day to honour, commemorate and reflect on the over 12,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit people who served in WWI, WWII, and the Korean War and to honour those currently serving... we will remember them. See the Remembering Indigenous Veterans Resource Package.
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Holocaust Education Week Continues
November 2-9 is Holocaust Education Week (HEW). The theme this year for Neuberger Holocaust Education Week 2022 is The Future Is Here. Learning about this historical event is critical in countering antisemitism and other forms of hate. Commemorating HEW enables us to:
- Understand key concepts including democracy, dictatorship, collaboration and genocide.
- Acknowledge the dire consequences of hatred and discrimination.
- Better equip us to fight intolerance, prejudice and antisemitism today.
- Recognize the survivors, heroes, and those who lost their lives.
Families and students can access online resources and digital programs through The Holocaust Education Centre. Families and students may also access The Holocaust Education Centre’s online resources for continued learning opportunities for Grades 6-12. Through these virtual experiences, you can:- Hear directly from survivors
- Examine artifacts and objects
- Learn little known facts about the Holocaust
This year’s programming will also feature in-person lectures, panels and live performances. The TDSB is on record to ask the province to make Genocide Curriculum (including the Holocaust) mandatory curriculum - "Genocide Education is known to help students better understand their rights as humans, both individually and as a society, and also provide them with the critical thinking skills needed to better understand racism and intolerance. In return, this prepares students to recognize, report and combat various forms of hate in their own surroundings. For this reason, we believe Genocide Education is critical in our fight against hate and discrimination." We are still waiting.
Please Note - I will be out of the office from November 9-11 as I have the privilege of attending the ADL Conference - NeverIsNow - the world's largest global summit in fighting antisemitism and hate and bias in all forms. I look forward to sharing this learning. I also received approval to attend Hamilton Jewish Federation’s inaugural international conference on antisemitism virtually. The #nomoreantisemitism conference will take place November 19 to 21, 2022. I will be following the educator/administrator track. Click on the above link for more information and to register.
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Health and Safety - Updates from TPHPlease 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.
TPH strongly recommends wearing a high-quality mask that fits well indoors and schools continue to provide medical masks and rapid test for students and staff. 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.
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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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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.
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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Jean Lumb Awards
Applications for the 2023 Jean Lumb Awards are open! Do you know a high school student of Chinese heritage with excellence in: Academics 📚 Athletics 🏀🏸 Arts 🎭 Community Services Defence of the Environment 🌱 Dignity of Life 🧬 Innovation 💡🧑🏻🔬 College Award 👨🏻🎓👩🏻🎓 For more information, click https://jeanlumbfoundation.ca/?page_id=6749
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FSWC Speaker's Idol
Albert and Evelyn Krakauer & Family present: Speaker's Idol. Stand Up. Speak Out. Be Heard. It's that time of year again! We are thrilled to be hosting the 14th Annual Speaker's Idol public speaking competition for students in Grades 6 to 12. To apply: Submit a three minute speech to education@fswc.ca relating to the following quote by Holocaust survivor Simon Wiesenthal: “I believe that there is no other solution than to constantly engage with the past and to learn from it.” Speeches Due: Friday, February 10, 2023 Details for entry can be found at https://www.friendsofsimonwiesenthalcenter.com/education/education-and-diversity-programs#speakers-idol.
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School Council Professional Learning - October and November
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Preparing for High School Information Sessions for Grade 8 Families
To support our Grade 8 students and families, the TDSB will be hosting a series of Preparing for High School Information Sessions. Students and families from any grade are welcome to attend. The series includes:
The Grade 8 to 9 Transition Information Session took place on November 1, 2022, Below are the links that were shared with families:
- Open Houses and Information Sessions
- TDSB Beyond 8 website
- Beyond 8: Transitioning from Grade 8 to 9 video
- Choices: Planning for Grade 9
- Central Student Interest Programs
- Out of Area Admissions
- Alternative Schools in the TDSB
- Community Involvement
- TDSB Grade 8 Course Selection with myBlueprint
- Grade 8 Transition Year - At a Glance
Learn more about each program -
To further support students and families with the application process, central TDSB staff will be hosting three (3) Centralized Program Admissions Support Sessions to answer any questions that students or families may have when completing the Centralized Program Application. Live, online support will be available on the following dates:
- November 8 - 4:00pm – 5:30pm (LINK)
- November 15 - 7:00pm – 8:30pm (LINK)
- November 24 - 4:00pm – 5:30pm (LINK)
The Virtual Secondary Alternative Schools Fair, taking place on November 9, 2022, will introduce families to the Alternative schools in the board that offer Grade 9 to 12 programming. Alternative schools are highly engaged, smaller school environments. They use non-traditional hands-on approaches to learning. Each school has a distinct identity and focus, such as democratic education, holistic learning, physical art, mindful living, entrepreneurship, social justice, community outreach and more. These schools are ideal for students seeking an alternative to mainstream education and who want to take an active role in their own learning.
Webinar Details:
Resources:
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Early French Immersion Application Process
The entry point to Early French Immersion for September 2023 is Junior Kindergarten as it was this year. The application to the Early French Immersion program will remain an online process managed by the Central French Department and applications must be completed online between October 31 and November 25, 2022. An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all 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. Visit the TDSB website for more information about Early French Immersion, Virtual & In-Person Information Sessions or the Application Process. Note registration for regular JK programs happen in February.
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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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