email : Webview : Laskin Update - Week of February 28, 2016

Week of February 28, 2016

Joint Ward Forum Tomorrow - see flyer below

Trustee Gerri Gershon (Ward 13) and I invite parents, staff and community to join with us and parents, staff and community of Ward 14 for a conversation with Director John Malloy and a presentation with Qs and As on our 2016-17 Budget by Craig Snider. For information on the Budget, please click here. Gerri and I are looking forward to seeing you.

Online Budget Forum - March 3 at 8pm

Should you not be able to join us, the TDSB is hosting an Online Budget Forum to hear from parents, students and the community on the 2016-17 budget. The Online Budget Forum is scheduled for Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 8 p.m. Participants will be able to access the forum through a banner on the landing page of the website or through this link. We have updated our Financial Facts Document. The forum will allow participants to submit questions which will be answered live by Budget staff.

TDSB Appoints First-ever Integrity Commissioner

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Suzanne Craig as Integrity Commissioner. Serving the Board of Trustees, the Integrity Commissioner will provide advice, and conduct inquiries and complaint resolution in an independent manner. She will provide advice on the application of the Board Member Code of Conduct, applicable policies and procedures and provide information with respect to trustees’ obligations under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. Suzanne has an extensive background in both the public and private sectors and has previously worked as Integrity Commissioner for multiple municipalities in Ontario. With over 20 years of legal, policy and management experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the Toronto District School Board and will work to ensure that all conduct by trustees is held to the highest standards of accountability and transparency.

PIAC Appreciation Dinner

It was wonderful to see so many Ward 11 schools represented by active and engaged parents at last week's Parent Involvement Advisory Committe Recognition Dinner. I would especailly like to thank our Ward representatives Rania Saleh and Sana Homsi for their active role in organizing the event. I am especially honoured to be the Trustee Co-Chair in support of active parent engagement and listening to their advice. Among PIAC's mandate is support of School Councils - it's part of my mandate too - and it was wonderful to see School Council Chairs/Co-Chairs/Ward Reps engaging in conversation with each other - sharing ideas, and challenges and learning from each other. I am hoping to organize another opportunity to share with each other later this Spring. In the meantime, please continue to use our e-mail list to communicate with each other.

"Mental Health And Well-Being Belongs To Us" - Monthly Newsletter

We are pleased to provide you with the February edition of the "Mental Health and Well-Being Belongs To Us" newsletter. This month’s publication features “Connection = Kindness + Friendship”. Read the February Newsletter.

New Invitation - TDSB Museum Will Open To The Public for Two Days During March Break 2016 - March 15, 17

The TDSB Museum, Fine Art, Archival and Artifact Collection (located at Eastern Commerce CI, 16 Phin Avenue) will open its doors to the public on Tuesday, March 15 (10 am – 7 pm) and Thursday, March 17 (10 am – 5 pm) for the first time since relocating in 2014.

The two-day opening will run in conjunction with Myseum of Toronto’s first annual festival of exhibits, “Intersections Exhibition/ Festival”, exploring different perspectives on the city’s natural, cultural and historical diversity. Myseum of Toronto is a non-profit organization that tells the story of Toronto’s natural spaces, cultures, history, archaeology and architecture.

The TDSB Museum, Fine Art, Archival and Artifact Collection is the largest public education collection in Canada, containing over one million objects reflecting a range of media and practices, from natural history and archaeological objects, to photographic archives, First and Second World War memorials, and visual art. The Museum's inaugural exhibit, curated by Dr. Duke Redbird (TDSB Curator/Advisor - Indigenous Art & Culture), is entitled “Debwewin” and showcases a visual representation of Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit Cultures. Dr. Redbird will lead a discussion focussing on the artists and their work on Tuesday, March 15 at 6 pm and Thursday, March 17 at 12 pm. Archival Manager Greg McKinnon will provide tours of archival exhibits, school artifacts, and the Governance Room.

New Invitation - Presentation by Jennifer Kolari, March 30, 7-8pm at Oakwood CI, 991 St Clair Av

Oakwood Collegiate invites all parents to attend a Parent Presentation by Jennifer Kolari. She will be talking about how to use her CALM techniques as explained in her book, You’re Ruining My Life!” (But Not Really): Surviving the Teenage Years with Connected Parenting. This presentation will show parents the importance of communication in the parent-child relationship. Her Website is: connectedparenting.com. Light refreshments will be provided. Chilcare available if requested at youmeweee@hotmail.com.

Worth Repeating...

Applications for Parents Reaching Out Grants 2016-17 Now Open

Grant applications for the 2016-17 school year are now open and will be accepted until May 29, 2016. In the 2015-16 school year, the province funded more than 2,200 projects that helped identify barriers to parent engagement and found local solutions to help more parents be engaged in their children's learning. For more information, click on http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/reaching.html

2015-2016 is Hodgson’s 100th Anniversary year! Hold May 13-14, 2016

Hodgson's 100th anniversary celebration is scheduled for Friday, May 13, 2016 and Saturday, May 14, 2016. There will be more information coming about this event, but we wanted to make sure that you marked the dates on your calendar. #Hodgson100th Brandon.Culakovski@tdsb.on.ca (100th Anniversary Committee Chair).

2016 Excellence Awards: Nominations Now Open

We are proud that our staff are among the most dedicated and qualified in the world. Every day, nearly 39,000 dedicated professionals support our students to achieve their very best. Their focus, dedication and commitment help build strong healthy relationships and allow our school communities to thrive.

We want to recognize the great work of outstanding staff across the system. Those who go above and beyond to support our Years of Action plan and our five strategic directions. We invite you – staff, students, parents, community members – to nominate a TDSB staff member or team whose work has made a difference in your life or those around you. Click here for the Nomination Form. Want to know more? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

TDSB Parent Conference 2016: Parents as Partners - April 16, 2016 The Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC), Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), Mental Health and Well-Being Parent Partnership Committee and Model Schools for Inner Cities’ Parent Academies are partnering to bring one INCLUSIVE conference on Saturday, April 16, 2016. Please click http://www.parentsaspartners.ca/.

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