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Dear friends,
With less than two weeks to go, teachers, school administrators and TDSB staff are all working all-out to finish the school year. The preparation for September is also already in full swing. 
Please join me tomorrow, Thursday, June 17, for my last Ward Forum of the year. Fittingly, the theme of the meeting is 'Planning for September 2021', and our Ward 11 Superintendents Ron Felsen and Andrew Howard will be on hand to help answer questions. 
We will of course talk about Elementary Schools, but the big news this week is that TDSB Senior Staff has changed the model for Secondary Schools. High School students will not be in Quadmesters (2 courses at a time for about 10-11 weeks), but instead will follow a Modified Semester model: full-time in school, with four courses for half of the school year, two of them at a time every other week. Learn more tomorrow, or read up ahead of time on the TDSB website. 
This model has several advantages over quadmesters, but also still some drawbacks. Trustee Doyle and I will therefore still bring our motion to the Board of Trustees next week that calls on the Ministry of Education to give every consideration to allow for a switch to a full, regular semester model should the public health indicators allow - preferably starting in September. You can read a copy of this motion here: Motion_re_Return_to_Semesters_2021-2022.pdf
To attend the Ward Forum, you must register by clicking the Ward Forum Registration Form.
Advisory Committees: FSLAC & PIAC
Two parent-driven Advisory Committees wrapped up their school year in the past week. I want to thank all the parents, community members and staff on the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) and the French as a Second Language Advisory Committee (FSLAC) for continuing this important work in an exemplary manner even during the pandemic. On behalf of everyone in Don Valley West, I want to give a special shout out to our amazing parent-volunteer Ward 11 Reps for both PIAC and FSLAC (Wilmar Kortleever and Janice Barnett, for PIAC, and Wilmar Kortleever and Charles Zhu for FSLAC). Their advocacy and advice is very much appreciated at both the ward and board level! 
Please check out the end-of-year newsletter from PIAC, "The PIAC Post": the June edition, features, among other things: 
  • TDSB Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement
  • Unspent School Council Funds (SPEND THEM!)
  • Mental Health resources
  • Breaking Barriers - Session winners
  • Let's Connect (TDSB Mental Health & Well-being series): June 22
  • Accessing Belongings at School
  • TDSB 2021/2022 Calendar approved
  • TDSB Consultations - Budget Town Halls (Presentation & Recordings on the Budget Town Halls web page). 
  • & more
Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Vaccination Town Hall: Thursday, June 17 
All school communities including parents/guardians, youth and education workers are invited to a COVID-19 Vaccination Town Hall to learn more about COVID-19 vaccines. 
  • When: Thursday, June 17, 2021; 6:30pm to 7:30pm.
  • How: No registration required; Click here to join online
    Online password (if required): Toronto123
    Or join by telephone: 416-915-6530; Access code: 177 192 3860
Let's Connect: Transition to Summer - Tue. June 22 (6:30pm) 
Let’s Connect is a new mental health and well-being virtual series that allows the TDSB to come together to share ideas and resources. The Let’s Connect series will respond to questions and discuss wellness for parents, caregivers, guardians and students at various times throughout the school year
The first session next week focuses on mental health and well-being, and ways to support children this summer. 
More information on the Let's Connect web page. 
Election of Student Trustees (2021-2022)
Students across the Toronto District School Board will have the opportunity to vote online for their 2021-22 Student Trustees on Thursday, June 24, 2021.

Official candidates and their campaign videos will be revealed on Monday, June 21, 2021. Stay tuned!

Student Trustees represent the voice of approximately 247,000 students in the Toronto District School Board. They are elected members of the Board of Trustees and sit alongside the adult Trustees at board and committee meetings and act as a link to students, the Board and school communities. Student Trustees are members of the Student Senate and work closely with Student Senate Executives and school communities to empower and promote student voice and engagement across the district.
Please note that due to the impact of COVID-19, Student Senate Elections will be held separately in the Fall.
For more information, please visit the webpage for Election of Student Trustees.
If you have any questions, please contact Principal Alison MacLachlan.
2021-2022 School Year Calendar
The Ministry of Education has approved the TDSB’s 2021-2022 School Year Calendar.
The first day of classes for students will be September 9, 2021.
Visit the TDSB website for the full calendar, including PA days and holidays. 

Selection Form for In-Person or Virtual Learning (2021-22)
The TDSB will be asking families to complete an online Selection Form for In-Person or Virtual Learning in mid-August. At that time, families will have up-to-date information on the status of the pandemic and vaccinations for school staff and students, and will be in a better position to make an informed decision. Visit the TDSB website for more information, available in multiple languages.

I hope yo see many of you tomorrow evening at my Ward Forum!

Warm regards,

Rachel

Rachel.ChernosLin@tdsb.on.ca
TDSB
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