September 8, 2024

The Toronto District School Board is committed to developing opportunities for our wider school community to connect and engage in conversations about education issues. Meetings will be broadcasted live to the public. Click here at the start time to view - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Live-Webcast-of-Meetings.

To submit a delegation request (written for the Trustees to read or oral to present to Trustees) for a Board Committee (delegations are not accepted for Board meetings), please see here - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Delegations and email delegates@tdsb.on.ca. If your request is approved, further details will be provided to you via email. 

Full Agenda and Reports for meetings are available here - click on the appropriate meeting https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Agenda-Minutes

Wednesday, September 11, 2024 – Governance and Policy Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda

As per the approved Policy Development Work Plan, an interdepartmental working group was established along with conducting a pre-consultation phase to develop a draft Policy on Personal Mobile Devise Use in Schools.

During the pre-consultation phase from end of May 2024 to end of June 2024, staff engaged with multiple participants and stakeholders, including the Board’s Community Advisory Committees, parents/guardians/caregivers, students, Student Senate, school councils, Student Equity Collective, Toronto Indigenous Youth Council, unions and professional associations, and expert and reference groups. An accompanying survey was also sent to all TDSB schools, school staff, Student Senate, School Councils, all Community Advisory Committees, Federations, Unions, Staff Associations, and expert reference groups and posted on the TDSB public website. They received more than  22,900 responses, 35% of which were from students and 46% were from parents/ guardians/caregivers. In addition, nine focus groups were held with the key stakeholders identified above.

Below are some of the key issues emphasized during the pre-consultations phase with key stakeholders:  

The key issues identified during the pre-consultation phase, as per above, were reflected in the draft Policy. In addition, in developing the draft Policy, staff also considered legislative requirements, government policy directives, and the Board’s operational requirements. The proposed policy content was also supported and informed through a jurisdictional scan of comparable policies, procedures, and best practices in school boards across Canada and internationally.  

Subject to Trustees’ comments on the draft Personal Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy, staff will initiate public consultations for a duration of 50 days, from September to November 2024, as per the approved Policy Development Work Plan.  

The feedback will be used to inform revisions to the draft. It is expected that the draft Policy will be presented to the Governance and Policy Committee in February 2025 and to the Board of Trustees by the end of February 2025 for final approval. When the consultation opens, I will ensure to inform when it is posted.

School Councils work to improve student achievement and to enhance the accountability of the education system. The School Council is an advisory body, that make recommendations to the principal of the school or the Board on any matter.

They are governed by the Ontario Ministry of Education Regulations 612 and 613, which contain very clear guidelines regarding School Council elections.

Regulation 612 outlines the roles, the responsibilities and the processes for School Councils.  Regulation 613 outlines the responsibility of the Principal in supporting School Councils. As collaborators in education, schools and School Councils recognize that all parents/caregivers have an equitable place in our schools' community, free from racism, classism, and other isms, intentional or unintentional. All schools are required to support annual School Council elections.

Please note you can find information on School Councils on my website here - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/ward8/Ward-8/School-Council-Information. Here are a few things to note:

Please note, there have been many issues with School Council Chair/Co-Chair email accounts in the past. If a School Council Chair/Co-Chair has an account and needs assistance with it (except password resets), they can contact the School Community IT Support team.

If a School Council Chair/Co-Chair does not have an account, or has an account but requires a password reset they should contact their school office. The school office can Log ticket on behalf of School Council Chair/Co-Chair through this ServiceIT form.

I have been communicating issues we have been having with dogs on school property with every update. Now, as part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a safe and welcoming environment on TDSB properties, we would like to update you on the policies and new reporting procedures related to dogs on school grounds.

The TDSB enforces a strict policy regarding dogs on its properties. Dogs are generally not permitted on TDSB grounds, with the exception of service animals as defined by the Student Use of Service Animals in Schools Policy (P096) and the Use of Service Animals by the General Public Procedure (PR604). These guidelines are in place to ensure proper management and support for service animals within our schools.

New Reporting Process for Dogs Off-Leash

To effectively address incidents of dogs being off-leash on school properties, a new reporting process has been established through the City of Toronto’s 311 service. Community members can report such incidents either by phone or online:

Phone Reporting:

Online Reporting:

Reports will be reviewed monthly. Schools with frequent reports will receive proactive patrols in collaboration with TDSB Security, and educational outreach will be conducted to inform dog owners about leash laws and control measures. Please note that immediate responses may not be available. If you provide owner information, a service request will be created, and an Animal Control Officer will follow up within 5 days.

This information is also available on the public webpage here.

The TDSB is committed to helping parents, caregivers and guardians access resources and support to help all students belong, achieve, and thrive. Our Multi-year Strategic Plan and School Improvement Process reflect our commitment to you as key partners in student success.

Please explore the resources that are available (click on the links above) throughout the school year and learn more about our Parent, Caregiver and Community Engagement Office and the services they provide.

Survey: Equipping students with life skills

As announced in May, the Ministry of Education has launched consultations with students, parents, job creators, educators and other stakeholders on the practical life skills students will need to build a strong foundation for future success through modernized home economics education.

Closing date: October 1, 2024

The consultation is now open and available online until October 1, 2024 at 5pm and the survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. This PDF contains the survey questions should you wish to preview and discuss the questions prior to submitting responses and/or submit one response via the online survey link on behalf of your organization, if preferred.  

From OPSBA

Earlier this week, the Government of Canada announced the first National School Food Program provincial/territory agreement with Newfoundland and Labrador.

Newfoundland and Labrador is one of several provinces that have increased their annual contribution to school food. The Ontario Chapter of the Coalition for Healthy School Food is establishing meetings with key stakeholders and MPPs to discuss their Ontario proposal to accept federal funding and increase the provincial investment. OPSBA will also be working with the Coalition to support its advocacy efforts.

OPSBA supported this federal announcement - https://x.com/OPSBA/status/1831691441300463687

Welcome back, TDSB! We’re celebrating the launch of the new TDSB Virtual Library, which has been refreshed with your feedback. VL resources have been added, retired, or refreshed with new content all summer long. We hope you enjoy exploring the VL this new school year.

Did you know the TDSB offers Continuing Education Programming in our communities?

Explore learning opportunities available for children, families, adults, and visitors at the TDSB this fall:

International Languages Elementary & African Heritage Program, Secondary Credit Night School, Learn4Life - Adult General Interest Programs and Adult ESL.

As I repeat in every update, the TDSB collects data through the Bias and Hate (RBH) Portal, and the increase in antisemitic incidents is also being experienced in our schools - on my website I have excerpted from all our public reports on the data - TDSB Public Reports with RBH Portal Data 2018-2023. Principals and Superintendents are being reminded of their responsibilities in documenting incidents and educating against them. All students and staff - all students and staff - must be safe in our schools and free from discrimination, harassment and hate. 

You can read more on TDSB's Combating Hate and Racism Strategy on our website. It is important that there is accurate information about Board updates and decisions as they relate to combating hate and racism. Questions and Answers have been prepared to provide additional information - should you have any additional questions, please email me. 

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 the portal I previously referenced 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. If you are concerned your complaint is not being taken seriously after you follow the Parent Concern Protocol, please let me know.

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 centralized in the Human Rights Office to ensure for consistency of process.

If you witness something inside the community, report any allegations of hate-motivated crimes to police for investigation at 416-808-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. The Police state they 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.

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.

As you may be aware, during the school year, school staff participate in a number of Professional Activity (PA) Days. On these dates, students remain at home and schools are open for staff to engage in professional learning. As per Ministry requirements, detailed information about planned activities will be posted to the TDSB public website at least 14 days in advance of each scheduled PA Day during the 2024-25 school year. I encourage you to visit the PA Day web page to learn more and check back throughout the school year. 

Note: the first PA Day for the 2024-25 school year in on September 27, 2024. Information will be posted to the webpage on September 13, 2024. 

Please ensure you check for Days of Significance before scheduling student and community events - as the TDSB is currently reviewing ours - for 2024-25, the TDSB will only publish a Faith/Creed-Based Holy Days Calendar and an Indigenous Days of Significance Calendar. For now, please check the Multi-Faith calendar available online https://multifaithcalendar.org/cal/index.php.

MusiCounts

Applications for 2025 School Music Funding Programs are now open! Get up to $20,000 in instruments & resources through the MusiCounts Band Aid Program or MusiCounts Slaight Family Foundation Innovation Fund. Final deadline is Dec 3, 2024 - Apply here.

Congratulations to TDSB school communities on receiving a 2024 MusiCounts grant - Alexander Stirling PS, George Peck PS, Hodgson MS, Jarvis CI, John McCrae PS, Pape Avenue PS and Winchester Jr/Sr PS.

Since 1997, the MusiCounts Band Aid Program has been providing under-resourced schools with grants to keep school music programs alive. 

Save the date for the 2024-2025 Virtual Parents and Caregivers as Partners Conference (PCasP) taking place on Saturday, November 16, 2024! 

This year's theme is: "Journey to Joy, Wellness, and Wholeness."

Join us to explore Equity and Truth and Reconciliation, break down barriers, and build inclusive communities. Learn from experts and discover how every student, parent/guardian/caregiver can experience joy, wellness, and wholeness in education. Registration details will follow soon.

We are inviting you to submit proposals for virtual workshops, micro-sessions, and panel presentations. The PCasP will run from 10:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.  We are welcoming submissions from school districts, universities, schools, School Councils, administrators, educators, community organizations, researchers, and parents/guardians/caregivers.

To apply as a presenter, please complete the application form no later than, October 1, 2024.

Learn4Life!

Registration for Learn4Life's Fall 2024 term is NOW OPEN! Hundreds of courses available in categories like art, crafts, dance, fitness, food, languages, music, self development and more. Try something new this fall!

Register now ▶ http://learn4life.ca

Please Note - A minimum number of registrants is required to open a class. The Toronto District School Board has the right to make the final decision to open or close a class or to revise the fee structure.

TDSB Backpacks & School Supplies Drive

We know that backpacks and school supplies can be expensive and represent a difficult purchase for some students and families. I encourage you to participate in TDSB’s Backpack & School Supplies Drive. 

The drive will run until the end of September. We are accepting donations of new products, including backpacks (gender neutral coloured with no commercial logos preferred), lunch bags, crayons, calculators, notebooks and basic school supplies. If you are interested in supporting this great cause, please complete an online donation form. Contact BusinessDevelopment@tdsb.on.ca.

Model Parliament for High School Students

The High School Model Parliament program at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario is designed for civic-minded Ontario students in grades 10 to 12, who are interested in current events and provincial issues. This unique experience brings together students from across the province for a three-day Model Parliament Program in Toronto.

Students will have the opportunity to play the role of a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and learn how parliament works through a series of workshops and presentations. They will meet key figures in Ontario’s Parliament as they forge new friendships with like-minded students. Applications will be accepted from August 7 to October 6, 2024.

The upcoming Model Parliament dates are February 19 to February 21, 2025 (onsite in Toronto). The virtual component of the program starts in November 2024. The first mandatory virtual meeting will take place on November 7, 2024.

For more information, click on https://www.ola.org/en/visit-learn/programs/model-parliament-high-school-students.

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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