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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 -- Ward Forum on Literacy and Math across our schools rescheduled to February 1, 2024
- Happy Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas
- Anti-Bullying Week
- Labour Negotiations Updates
- Organizational Board - November 15 at 6pm
- Combatting Hate
- 2024-25 Grants For Student Needs (GSN)/Education Funding
- Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy 2023-203
- Capital Priorities Business Cases are Now on the TDSB Public Websit
- Parent-Teacher Interviews
- New Invitations - Virtual Community Fair; Learn4Life; Sensory & Regulation Q&A
- Worth Repeating - Black Student Post-Secondary Engagement Symposium; Grade 8 to 9 Transition and Central Interest Programs - closes November 24; Early French Immersion Application Process closed December 1; Professional Learning for School Council Chairs/Co-Chairs, Members, Principals and Vice Principals; Youth Climate Action Grants – Deadline to Apply, November 20, 2023; Legislative Page Program; Here to Help - Kids Help Line; Winter Outerwear Drive; Useful Links; We Have a Dog Problem; 2023-2024 Calendar; Community Safety & Support
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| PLEASE NOTEWard Forum on Literacy and Math across our schools rescheduled to February 1, 2024
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Happy Diwali and Bandi Chhor Divas
Diwali, or Dipawali, is India's biggest and most important holiday of the year. The festival gets its name from the row (avali) of clay lamps (deepa) that Indians light outside their homes to symbolize the inner light that protects from spiritual darkness.
As Hindus celebrate Diwali beginning Sunday, Bandi Chhor Divas is celebrated by the Sikh community - these festivals are always celebrated together - Diwali is a festival honoring the goddess of prosperity and good fortune, Sikhs on this day are encouraged to think about freedom and justice.
The holiday reminds me to live into the example of Guru Hargobind by recommitting to calling out bigotry and hate speech, no matter who it’s targeting or who is saying it. I recommit to being an upstander, not a bystander, so that when injustice occurs, I feel empowered to address it in whatever way I can. - Sandeep Singh
At this time, more than ever, such an important message... there is so much more that unites us than divides us.
Happy Diwali and Happy Bandi Chhor Divas to all celebrating!
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Anti-Bullying Week
Anti-Bullying Week, November 13-17 is a nationwide initiative that highlights the issue of bullying and encourages individuals to take action against it. It emphasizes the importance of fostering a culture of respect and support, where bullying is not tolerated, and every person is valued. From the TDSB Website - Bullying is aggressive behaviour that is typically repeated over time. It is meant to cause harm, fear or distress or create a negative environment at school for another person. Bullying can take on a number of different forms: physical, verbal, social or electronic, often called cyber-bullying. All forms of bullying are taken seriously in the TDSB.
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Labour Negotiations Updates
School boards and unions share a commitment to public education and work together towards positive labour relations. The collective bargaining framework for the education sector features a two-tier bargaining process, involving both central and local bargaining. Learn more about the process.
Information will continue to be updated on the website.
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Organizational Board - November 15 at 6pm
The Organizational Board for the second year of our 4-year term is this Wednesday, November 15th at 6pm in the Boardroom. The majority of trustee leadership roles in the Board are for one year only.
During the meeting, we will elect the Chair and Vice-Chair of the Board for the coming year; establish and review Committees of the Board, Statutory Committees and Community Advisory Committees; appoint members to Committees of the Board; elect the Chair and Vice-Chair of Standing Committees of the Board; appoint members to represent the Board on external organizations; and adopt an annual schedule of meetings (including meeting times) of the Board, Planning and Priorities Committee, and Standing Committees. For the full agenda, please click here - https://pub-tdsb.escribemeetings.com/FileStream.ashx?DocumentId=16248
You can watch live here beginning at 6:00pm https://www.tdsb.on.ca/stream/boardmeetings/livemeeting.html
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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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2024-25 Grants For Student Needs (GSN)/Education Funding Consultation Guide
(From OPSBA)
OPSBA provided its submission regarding the 2024-25 Grants for Student Needs to the Ministry of Education. Our document also included the Association’s responses to the ministry’s Education Funding Consultation Guide. OPSBA’s Policy Development Work Group met this week to review a final draft and consider the additional feedback provided at the recent regional meetings regarding Student Transportation and Special Education.
As previously noted, the province has announced preliminary details regarding 2024 Budget Consultations. The online survey will launch on November 14 and close on January 31, 2024. Written submissions are also due January 31, 2024. OPSBA will be sharing a modified version of our GSN submission for these consultations and will be encouraging members to participate in the online survey.
Note: TDSB Staff presented their preliminary response to the FBEC on October 11. Staff will include Trustee feedback received at FBEC into the final response to the Ministry of Education which they submitted on October 27, 2023 and will report back to the Special FBEC meeting on November 29, 2023 with a copy of the submission.
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Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy 2023-2032
The Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy (LTPAS) document approved by the Board of Trustees on November 1, 2023 has been posted on the TDSB’s website. The LTPAS document can be found on the TDSB’s public website.
Parents/guardians/caregivers and community members can find the names of schools that could be involved in future reviews by looking at the following sections of the LTPAS document:
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Capital Priorities Business Cases are Now on the TDSB Public Website
Capital funding to support new schools, replacement schools, and additions to existing schools is provided to school boards by the Ministry of Education through the Capital Priorities program, a process where school boards submit business cases to the Ministry for funding consideration for their most urgent pupil accommodation needs.
On August 14, 2023, the Ministry announced the Capital Priorities program for 2023-24. On September 30, 2023, the Board of Trustees approved a list of capital priority projects to submit to the Ministry. Staff prepared detailed business cases for the projects and submitted them to the Ministry by the deadline (October 20, 2023). The business cases are now available on the TDSB public website in the Capital Priorities section.
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Parent-Teacher Interviews
Parent/Caregiver teacher interviews/ conferences are opportunities for parents and teachers to talk together about how to help each child succeed in school. They are very short – usually 10 or 15 minutes. It’s important to prepare before the interview to make the best use of that short time. If you need more time, schedule another appointment.
1. Prepare - Read your child’s report card. • Make notes about your questions and concerns. •Talk to your child about the report. • What do you want to ask the teacher? Make a list.
2. Ask Questions - Arrive on time. Bring your list of questions. The teacher will review your child’s report card or show you samples of his or her work. Tell the teacher what your child likes and dislikes about school. Let the teacher know if you think there is too much or too little homework. Parent-teacher interviews are strictly confidential. Share personal information that might be affecting your child’s progress or behaviour at school (e.g., family illness, job search). This information will help the teacher understand your child better. • What does my child do well? • What skills do they still need to develop? • Is my child getting extra help? In what subjects? • What is your homework policy? • How much time should my child be spending on homework? •How does my child get along with the other students? • How can I help my child at home? • What is the best way to contact you if I have more questions? • Take notes so that you can share the comments with your child.
3. Follow Up - Talk to your child. Stress the positive things the teacher said. Talk about how you and the teacher are going to help with the things that need to be improved.
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Virtual Community Fair
Social Workers are continuing to host the Virtual Community Fairs for Parents/Caregivers of Children, Youth, and Young Adults with Special Needs and/or Complex Needs. Please find the information in the poster about the Virtual Community Fair for the month of November.
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Learn4Life
Learn4Life winter courses are now LIVE to view on our website and registration is set to open Wednesday, November 15 @ 8:30am. ❄️ From your favourites to a variety of new courses go to ➡️learn4life.ca
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Sensory & Regulation Q&A
TDSB's Occupational & Physiotherapy Services invites you to join our Sensory and Regulation Q&A For Parents on November 15, 2023 from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM. Do you have questions about sensory processing? Do you want to learn more about co-regulation? Come chat with our amazing OTs! Join here.
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Black Student Post-Secondary Engagement Symposium
Learn more about university & college programs that engage, support, and celebrate Black students. The TDSB Black Student Post-Secondary Engagement Symposium is an opportunity for institutions to connect with Black students in the TDSB to share programs, interest groups, clubs, communities, and services that affirm Black students’ lived and historic experiences, support their sense of belonging in post-secondary spaces, and connect them to culturally relevant programs and resources. Join us on Wednesday November 15, 2023 from 7:00 - 9:00PM at John Polanyi Collegiate Institute (640 Lawrence Ave W). Register here.
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Grade 8 to 9 Transitions and Student Interest Programs Webinars and Resources - CLOSES NOVEMBER 24
The Grade 8 to 9 Transitions process started this week with the Preparing for High School: Grade 8 to 9 Transitions Webinar on November 1, 2023 where nearly 4,300 participants were in attendance.
Over 4,700 participants registered to attend the Student Interest Program webinar held on November 2, 2023, which highlighted the wide variety of programs available across the TDSB, including the two new secondary Arts programs and eight new secondary Math, Science and Technology Programs. Both webinar recordings will be available next week on the PCCEO YouTube channel, the TDSB Guidance website and the Central Student Interest Program website.
The new Expression of Interest expectation was reviewed during the webinar. Expressions of Interest must make reference to or be directly connected to the Central Student Interest Program and the type of program(s) you have applied for. Possible options include:
- Written submissions (Examples: blog, essay, opinion piece, poem, short story, script, etc.) that refer to the program(s) OR
- Text-based submissions (Examples: PowerPoint, Canva, Mindmap, etc.) OR
- Audio or video submissions contain student performance that is connected to the program(s) OR
- Photographs/ digital versions of student artwork or projects accompanied by a brief description of the work and/or its meaning.
Expression of Interest Limits Based on Entry Grade - All applicant submissions must adhere to TDSB policies regarding Human Rights, Discrimination and Hate. Expressions of Interest that contravene these policies will be addressed and the applications will be deemed incomplete. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
The online Central Student Interest Program application will go live tomorrow on Monday, November 6. The same application is used for elementary and secondary programs. The link will be available on both the elementary and secondary CSIP websites but can be most easily found at www.tdsb.on.ca/CSIP.
The application will remain open until 4:00 p.m. on Friday, November 24, 2023.
Beyond 8 Website - contains information, resources, links and dates for the Grade 8 to 9 transition process.
Out-of-Area Admissions Website - the status for applying to schools will be available by the end of the first week of November. The Out-of-Area Admissions application will become available online after the Winter break.
Recordings of both webinars from November 1 and 2 will be posted on the PCEO YouTube Channel and links will be made available on the TDSB websites listed above.
Support sessions are scheduled for November 14 (4 to 5:30 p.m.) and November 22 (7 to 8:30 p.m.). The links to the online Zoom sessions are available on the CSIP Google calendars on the CSIP website. Applicants are also encouraged to contact their current school for technical support or access to technology. TDSB staff will be available to answer questions about the application should applicants require assistance. Staff will not be able to answer specific program and/or school-based questions.
Families are encouraged to attend Open Houses for school- and program-specific information.
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Early French Immersion Application Process closes DECEMBER 1
The application to the Early French Immersion program for 2004-25 (Junior Kindergarten entry) will remain an online process managed by the TDSB’s Central French Department, and applications must be completed online between November 6 and December 1, 2023. An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all eligible 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. Interested families can apply via the Application Link.
Please visit the TDSB French website to view a video that provides information about the TDSB French Language programs as well as the application and placement process in the Early French Immersion and the Middle French Immersion programs.
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Professional Learning for School Council Chairs/Co-Chairs, Members, Principals and Vice Principals
Each year the Parent/Caregiver and Community Engagement Office (PCCEO) provides opportunities for School Councils across the system to support the important work of School Councils. Please refer below for all upcoming events and log in details.
Module 1 School Council Chairs: The Basics Leading your School Council begins by understanding the legislation that guides your work. This module will explore what Regulation 612 says about the Council mandate, membership, roles and responsibilities, and the mandatory actions every Council is required to carry out. We will also begin our exploration of Chair as leader by looking at the seven responsibilities of this position. November 13 6:30-8:00
Module 2 School Council Chairs: Leading Meetings Chairing a School Council meeting can be stressful or fulfilling - or a bit of both. Building on module 1, we examine how Chairs may lead effective meetings. We begin with agendas, minutes and reports, then move into decision making, working with committees and valuing volunteers. We end with the responsibility many Chairs hope to avoid - dealing with conflict. Here’s a hint: it doesn’t have to be awful. November 14 6:30-8:00
Module 3 School Council Chairs: Leading an Inclusive Practice School Councils represent the parent/caregiver community, the WHOLE community. But much of their work follows old practices established by the dominant communities. This module looks at those traditions and then begins to disrupt the notion of “the hard to reach” parent/caregiver. Beginning with relationships and communication - the keystones of successful engagement - we will investigate strategies for consultation that “go to the margins”. November 15 6:30-8:00
Module 4 School Council Chairs: Leading Effective Engagement This series of modules ends where we began - the Council mandate for effective engagement for student achievement. What is meaningful engagement and why is it important? After a brief review of the significance of relationships and communication, we will explore strategies to build the capabilities of your parents/caregivers to support their children’s learning, building connections between school and home, and an interesting way to consult with your community throughout the year. It’s about valuing parent/caregiver knowledge and teacher knowledge. How might Chairs lead this exciting path to collaboration? November 6 6:30-8:00 or November 16 6:30-8:00
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Youth Climate Action Grants – Deadline to Apply, November 20, 2023
Calling all TDSB students! City of Toronto grants of up to $1,000 will be available to student groups who want to take on climate action projects in their schools and communities. Applications for grant funding are now open and the deadline to apply is November 20, 2023. The EcoSchools central team is available to support student groups to develop their action projects and assist with best practices for grant writing proposals. For more information about the grant program, visit Youth Climate Action Grants.
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Legislative Page Program - Applications Open!
Applications for the spring 2024 term are now open until November 15th, 2023.
This unique educational program for Ontario students enrolled in Grade 7 or 8 at time of application with an academic average of Level 4 or 80 % (or higher). It provides an opportunity to experience the provincial legislature in action and forge new lifelong friendships with peers from all over the province. For more information https://www.ola.org/en/visit-learn/programs/about-page-program.
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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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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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