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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 -- Winter Break
- Winter Weather and Student Transportation
- Literacy Strategy Consultation
- Multi-Year Strategic Plan Renewal Next Steps
- Review of Legacy Technical and Commercial Boundaries
- Elementary Alternative Schools Online Central Application Process
- Please Stay Home if you are Sick
- New Community Adult Classes in January 2024
- Revised Out-of-Area Admissions Procedure
- Combatting Hate
- Virtual Ward Forum - February 1, 2024
- New Invitations - TDSB Virtual Community Fair: Introduction to Lead Autism Supports Community Agencies
- Worth Repeating - Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations; Beyond 8; ILEP; Here to Help - Kids Help Line; inter Outerwear Drive; Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline; Useful Links; We Have a Dog Problem; 2023-2024 Calendar; Community Safety & Support
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Winter Break
As we approach the end of the year, we want to remind you that schools will be closed for Winter Break from December 25, 2023, to January 5, 2024. The last day of school is Friday, December 22, 2023. We look forward to welcoming students and staff back on Monday, January 8, 2024.
For those observing Hanukkah (last candle on Thursday, December 14) may this truly be a celebration of light dispelling darkness.
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Winter Weather and Student Transportation
From time to time, it may be necessary to cancel student transportation, classes and/or programs because of severe weather. On rare occasions, severe weather makes it necessary to close schools, administrative offices, or sites.
With approximately 236,000 students in 583 schools, any decision to cancel buses, classes and/or programs or to close sites can have a significant impact on thousands of families across Toronto. This decision is not taken lightly. When schools remain open on days with inclement weather, parents/ guardians/caregivers make the final decision on whether to send their children to school and they can keep children home from school if they so choose.
Should a cancellation or closure be necessary, information will be posted on the TDSB web site and TDSB social media at 6 a.m.
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Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 Entry) Application Deadline
For families interested in the Toronto District School Board's system-wide French Immersion Program, we offer an online process to apply for Middle French Immersion (begins in Grade 4).
To apply to the Middle French Immersion Program for September 2024, applications must be completed online between January 8 and February 2, 2024. Families with an older sibling currently in a Middle French Immersion program are still required to complete an online application for the new student.
Information sessions will be held January 11 (7:00 p.m.), January 16 (10:00 a.m.), and January 22 (1:00 p.m.).
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Literacy Strategy Consultation
I am happy to inform you that the TDSB is developing a Kindergarten to Grade 12 Literacy Strategy which will set the direction, priorities, and goals for learning and teaching literacy over the next three years. And we want to hear from you! I encourage all TDSB parents/ guardians/ caregivers to share feedback anonymously through the online Literacy Strategy Consultation survey. The survey will remain open until Monday, December 18, 2023.
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Multi-Year Strategic Plan Renewal Next Steps
Thank you to everyone in the TDSB community who engaged in the MYSP consultation process to provide feedback and share ideas – we appreciate your time and efforts. Over the course of the extensive consultation process in 2023, input was received from internal and external stakeholders in several formats, including written submissions, via the MYSP online survey, and group discussions. As a next step, information from all engagement opportunities will be considered to identify themes for the renewed MYSP and a final renewed MYSP will be formally presented to the Board of Trustees for approval in 2024. Check www.tdsb.on.ca/mysprenewal for updates as the process continues.
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Review of Legacy Technical and Commercial Boundaries
These outdated boundaries were established during a time of academic-vocational streamlining, but now hinder equity of access. The Board is proposing the dissolution of these legacy boundaries by September 2025 to provide equal access to all Toronto students.
The affected schools include Central Technical School, Central Toronto Academy, Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute, Northern Secondary School, Victoria Park Collegiate Institute, and Western Technical-Commercial School. The proposed changes would not affect current programs.
I encourage you to attend public engagement opportunities, which are scheduled for mid-January 2024 through three virtual meetings, details of which will be provided before the winter break.
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Elementary Alternative Schools Online Central Application Process
As you know, the TDSB has a wide range of elementary alternative schools available to students. The application process is managed centrally and includes an online application form. Information about the online application process will be available on the Alternative Schools website on December 11, 2023. The online application for admission for September 2024 will be open from Monday, January 8, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. to Wednesday, January 31, 2024 at 4:00 p.m.
Elementary alternative schools will hold information sessions and/or open houses for students and parents/guardians/caregivers in December 2023 and January 2024. 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, including one daytime and one evening session. Registration is required, and a recording of the webinars will be posted on the website.
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Please Stay Home if you are Sick
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New Community Adult Classes in January 2024
I am happy to share that the Community Services Unit-operated programs across the GTA are offering new start dates for various classes starting in January. These free and low-cost services and programs are designed for parents and adults seeking employment, new skills, and better opportunities.
- January 9: LINC – Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada starts Citizenship Preparation Classes
- January 12: Enhanced Language Training (ELT) starts new sessions for newcomer professionals who have education and/or experience in Information Technology; Office Admin & Customer Relations; and Health and Wellness sectors
- January 22: Studio500 Hairstylist program starts a new term of Full-Time Hairstylist Apprenticeship program
- January 22: Enhanced Language Training (ELT) starts new sessions for newcomer professionals trained and/or experienced in Engineering and Accounting/Financial Services
For young adults who are out of school and out of work, the On the Road Construction training program and On the Line Culinary training program will start new sessions on January 1 and 8, respectively. Please note that these programs have very rigorous criteria for enrollment.
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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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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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Virtual Ward Forum - February 1, 2024
6:30-7:00 PIAC Election I 7:00-8:30 Discussion on Literacy & Numeracy
Please join me and Superintendents Felsen, Howard & Pividor for Ward 8 PIAC and FSLCAC Elections at 6:30 followed by a conversation on Numeracy and Literacy in our classrooms. Register here.
Election for PIAC and FSLCAC Representatives
We will be electing Ward 8 Co-Representatives for both TDSB Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) and French as a Second Language Community Advisory Committee (FSLCAC).
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TDSB Virtual Community Fair: Introduction to Lead Autism Supports Community Agencies
Monday, December 11th, 2023, from 9:30 am to 12:00 noon and the same information will be repeated on Monday, December 18th, 2023, from 5:30 pm to 8:00 pm.
Join us as we invite Lead Agency Representatives that support students with Special/Complex Needs. These agencies include Autism Ontario, Strides Toronto, Lumenus Community Services, Geneva Centre For Autism, and SAAAC Autism Centre. Get firsthand information about these agencies’ programs and services such as Autism Supports, Behaviour Therapy Supports (ABA Therapy), Service Navigation, Respite and much more. Get the opportunity to connect with these agencies as you continue to support your loved ones.
Speakers: Autism Ontario, Geneva Centre For Autism, Lumenus Community Services, Strides Toronto and SAAAC Autism Centre.
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Ontario Pre-Budget Consultations
More information has been posted regarding the province’s plans for its 2024 Pre-Budget Consultations. In addition to the online survey, Ontarians can also submit written submissions by January 31, 2024. Further, the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs will be conducting public meetings across the province during December 2023 and January 2024.
We ask that you complete the online survey - please see Question 5 that asks, “When you think about your community, what services or resources could use more government support? Please choose the top 3 priorities that you feel are the most important.” One of the options is “Education supports (like before and after school programming, special education and developmental support programs).” We encourage you to list this priority should you wish to support public education.
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ILEP
Did you know that there are International Language Elementary Programs in our Ward? We have 5 sites with 15 classes in total.
- Deer Park Jr & Sr PS: 3 x Spanish
- Eglinton Public School: 1 x Arabic; 2 x Mandarin Simplified; 1 x Russian; 1 x Tamil
- J.R. Wilcox Public School: 1 x Hebrew; 1 x Spanish
- John Ross Robertson PS: 1 x Farsi; 1 x Greek; 1 x Mandarin-Simplified; 1 x Spanish and
- Joyce Public School: 1 x Mandarin Simplified; 1 x Spanish.
At JR Wilcox and Joyce we only have 2 classes and we need to expand to at least 3 classes for program viability. Each class needs 23 students. We are encouraging more parents/caregivers to participate in the program. Please contact shelly.xu@tdsb.on.ca.
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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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Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline
Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Helpline 9-8-8 - On November 30, the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC ) through the Canadian Radio and Television Corporation (CRTC) announced a national three digit Mental Health and Suicide Prevention hotline number, 988. Learn More.
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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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