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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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Two things you can do to change the world: VOTE. GET VACCINATED - Jann Arden (Twitter @jannarden)
Educators: tonight you were the highlight of a child’s stories at the dinner table. You are the reason someone can’t wait for Monday Morning. You are making a difference. Every single day. Thank you. #SnitchPositive- Kimiko Shibata (Twitter @ESL_fairy)
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In this Issue:- Get Your Shot
- Coping Tips for Back to School Anxiety
- Guidance for the 2021-22 School Year - Update
- Extracurricular Activities
- TDSB Student Planner
- Meetings this Week
- Federal Election
- Policy Consultations
- TDSB Statement Re: Afghanistan
- Items From Last Week - Worth Repeating
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Get Your Shot!The TDSB will continue to help facilitate vaccination opportunities and clinics within our schools, together with local health partners as we have over recent months. The most important thing we can continue to do for ourselves and others, especially children who can not yet be vaccinated is to get our shot.
This week's clinics for those born in 2009 and earlier are as follows - no appointment is needed.
- September 14 - 10am-2pm in the Green P parking lot located at 1531 Eglinton Ave W.
- September 15 - 2 - 8 p.m. Thomas Lester Wells Public School 69 Nightstar Rd
- September 18 - 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Pleasant Public School 288 Pleasant Ave
- September 23 - 2 - 6 p.m. Westview Centennial Secondary School 755 Oakdale Road
Learn More
- Learn more about vaccines for youth, including how to book and prepare for your child's vaccination appointment (Ministry of Education)
- Visit the How to Get Vaccinated webpage by Toronto Public Health
- Kids Health First - developed by the Children's COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Table in Ontario
- Book an appointment online at the dark blue “Book a Vaccine” button on toronto.ca/covid-19 or by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007)
Please note late today CNN is reporting that "Children ages 5-11 could have access to Covid-19 vaccines by Halloween, says former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb, who is a board member on Pfizer. He told CBS the company is expected to have data on this age group by the end of September." This approval cannot come soon enough!
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Guidance for the 2021-22 School Year - Update
Mask Wearing and Daily Checklists - A reminder that all students from Junior Kindergarten to Grade 12 must wear masks indoors. Students are not required to wear masks outdoors during recess, lunch or outdoor learning. Parents/guardians and visitors must wear masks when outdoors on TDSB property as per the TDSB Mask Procedure.
Specific guidelines, practices and protocols for elementary and secondary are available on the TDSB Return to School website. Some recent updates are available in the following areas: extra-curricular activities, music programs, and school council meetings.
Transportation - the Toronto School Transportation Group (TSTG) is responsible for organizing and leading student transportation for the TDSB and TCDSB. Phased-in start - From September 9 to September 14, 2021 – only students with special education needs (excluding those in the gifted program) who travel to school on mini buses, mini vans, taxis and Wheelchair accessible vehicles will be provided with student transportation.
Starting September 15, 2021 – all other eligible students will be provided with student transportation, unless there is a significant driver shortage or other unforeseen issues related to COVID-19.
Questions & Answers - Read more about the return to school in our Questions and Answers that are divided by category. These will continue to be updated.
Covid-19 Recovery Plan- The Toronto District School Board’s COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Plan is a three-phase plan that will identify which groups have been most impacted, where interventions will be put in place, and initial outcomes that result from these interventions.
Outdoor Learning - Staff have confirmed there will also be an emphasis on outdoor learning when schools reopen which will also encourage teachers to take students outside, even in the winter, as there are many health and well being benefits for increasing the amount of time outdoors.
COVID-19 Advisories - This page provides a list of the active confirmed cases and resolved cases of COVID-19 among students and/or staff in TDSB schools. Please note that all schools where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 will receive a letter from Toronto Public Health to inform them about the possible exposure. As of September 10, 2021 at 4:00 p.m. there were 5 student cases and 4 cases within staff.
The provincial COVID-19 cases in schools and child care centres webpage has been updated with a note stating that the page has been “archived” and is only “provided for archival and research purposes.” Queen’s Park media is reporting that the Ministry of Education will in fact continue to “report the number of COVID cases among students and staff at every school and that the webpage will be up shortly.”
COVID-19 Testing - Tests for Students and Staff for Outbreaks, Exposures and Symptoms - Every TDSB has school has been assigned to either Sick Kids, Michael Garron Hospital or Women’s College Hospital. When there is a need for testing – such as an outbreak or exposure or when a student or staff member has symptoms – the school will provide individuals with a saliva test kit to take home and complete. The completed tests are returned to the school where they are picked up daily by a courier. Test results are available within one to two days. This coordinated strategy will help ensure efficient and effective testing where necessary and support the continued health and safety of staff and students. We have asked Toronto Public Health if they support rapid antigen testing for students and are awaiting a response.
Mandatory Immunization Disclosure for Staff - As directed by the Ministry of Education, all TDSB staff are required to disclose their vaccination status to the TDSB. Staff who are unvaccinated or do not disclose their vaccination status are required to undergo rapid antigen testing twice weekly as a measure to protect schools from the risk of COVID-19. Someone who tests positive would fail screening and not being allowed into the building.
A TDSB Mandatory Vaccine Procedure is in development and will be discussed at Tuesday's Planning & Priorities Committee.
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Extracurricular Activities
Toronto Public Health (TPH) sent a letter to Parents/Guardians on September 8, 2021, the day before the start of school. They advised they were updating their guidance to schools with the recommendation "that schools and school boards place a pause on extra-curricular activities, field trips and high contact sports with mixed cohorts, for the start of the school year. TPH will continue to assess COVID-19 case rates and will update the guidance as required."
There was no explanation for this change, but TDSB follows the recommendations from TPH as we have from the beginning of the pandemic. We all know that sports and clubs are important for students' mental health and well-being - and we also know the all these activities rely on the good will and volunteering efforts of staff. Many have expressed their concern with this decision and the equity issues involved as we know this will disproportionately affect families who cannot afford to enrol in activities outside school.
Director Colleen Russell-Rawlins issued the following statement - "We look forward to ongoing discussions with Toronto Public Health as we look for ways to begin extra-curriculars as soon as possible given how important they are to students."
Toronto’s top doctor says public health will recommend that the city’s school boards implement a “gradual introduction” to sports, clubs and other extracurricular activities as early as this month. Eileen de Villa, Toronto’s Medical Officer of Health, said in an interview on Saturday that the safe return to in-person learning was a priority. She also acknowledged that it was important for students to participate in extracurriculars in school, but felt a more cautious approach was “reasonable.” She said Toronto Public Health will work with school boards to see what is doable while keeping students safe."
We hope to learn more at our meeting Tuesday and will keep you posted.
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TDSB Student Planner
TDSB has launched a new online app to help high school students stay connected and organized. Once a student logs into the app with their TDSB school ID, their timetable is automatically populated and they will have access to school announcements, updates, local calendars and more. Subsequent phases will include features such as the student safety line, notifications and opportunities to share your voice, and also a version for elementary students and families. The TDSB Connects App supports our commitment to be more digitally-friendly, reduce paper and find new and engaging ways to connect with students to support their success.
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Meetings This Week
Delegation requests will still be accepted during the closure of all schools and administrative sites at the Toronto District School Board; however, oral delegations to address a committee of the Board will be presented by phone. To submit a delegation request (written or oral), please refer to the information found 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.
Sep 13 (Monday) Finance, Budget & Enrolment Committee 4:30 pm Agenda
- 5. Contract Awards
- 5.1. Contract Awards, Facilities [4148] 1
- 5.2. Contract Awards, Operations [4149] 11
- 5.3. Contract Award: Architectural Services for McKee Public School [4140] 27
- 6. 2022-2023 Budget Schedule [4150] 31
Sep 14 (Tuesday) Planning and Priorities Committee 4:30 p.m. Agenda
- 5. Report From Trustees Appointed to the Ontario Public School Boards' Association
- 5.1. OPSBA Directors' Report - To be presented
- 6. Staff Reports
- 6.1. Indigenous Land-Based Learning [4135] 1
- 6.2. Implementation of a Mandatory Vaccination Procedure [4151] - To Follow
- 6.3. School Reopening: Update - Oral Update
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Federal Election - Monday, September 20, 2021
Information from OPSBA
OPSBA advocates for non-partisan strategies to engage politicians on issues that affect public education and our children and youth during federal elections,. Earlier this week, OPSBA President Cathy Abraham shared the Association’s Federal Election Package. Our package includes topics that were part of our annual Grants for Student Needs submission and reflect current issues, such as the exodus of refugees from Afghanistan, our own plans to support Anti-Racism Initiatives, and the latest tragic discovery of student graves on residential school lands.
Advance Voting has begun and more information about local polling stations and what you need to vote, can be found at Elections Canada. Voters are to wear masks and bring their own pen or pencil.
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Policy Consultations
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is committed to open and inclusive policy decision-making and values community input and participation through consultation. Policy development and reviews are carried out in accordance with the policy review schedule that is approved by the Board of Trustees and is revised on a regular basis. To view the latest Policy Review Schedule please click here.
Please click on the policy of your interest to see the current draft. You are welcome to provide your comments, including suggestions on the wording and provisions of the draft policies, questions or recommendations using the contact information below.
Parent and Community Involvement Policy
- Objective: To establish a framework for building and supporting parent and community involvement in the Toronto District School Board.
- We are currently reviewing P023 – Parent and Community Involvement Policy and are inviting feedback from our community as we develop the first draft of the policy. Learn more, and share your voice, at www.tdsbengage.ca
Specialized Schools and Programs Policy
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TDSB Statement Re: Afghanistan
Over the past few weeks, the world has felt for the people of Afghanistan as the country grapples with the crisis that is unfolding.
Our hearts and thoughts are with our students, families and staff right here in Canada and within our TDSB community, who are directly impacted by this devastation. These events are highlighting just how serious things are for those living in Afghanistan and being thousands of miles away from family and friends can give way to feelings of hopelessness and constant worry. Please know that the TDSB community is here to support you as best we can and we stand with you during this difficult time. For those who are experiencing challenges and would like to speak to someone, there are supports available both inside and outside of the TDSB.
Professional Support Services staff are available to support students and can be arranged through students’ classroom teachers. Students may also contact the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868.
A list of culturally relevant mental health supports which directly and indirectly support the Afghan community, can be found here as well as resources for newcomers. Staff who are in need of support are encouraged to reach out to colleagues or contact the Employee and Family Assistance Program.
We also encourage community/families/educators to consider how stories of brilliance and resilience from Afghan youth can be highlighted and embedded into conversations/curriculum rather than focusing solely on stories of pain and trauma. Consider first person resources that centre first person Afghan voices. The Building Critically Conscious and Equitable Toolkits and Video Vignettes can be found on the Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression external website, while TDSB staff can visit the internal website for more information on supporting community/families/staff in this work.
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Student Vote CanadaStudent Vote uses the election as a teachable moment and enables teachers to bring democracy alive in the classroom. This hands-on learning program empowers students to experience the voting process firsthand and cast ballots for the official candidates running in the election.
CIVIX will organize a Student Vote parallel election coinciding with the federal election on September 20. The program will be available to all schools throughout Canada and there is no cost to participate.
Registered teachers will receive a variety of learning materials and election tools to engage their students in the election and foster discussion about the parties and candidates. Student Vote Canada is presented in collaboration with Elections Canada.
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Truth and Reconciliation WeekA Virtual Event Open to All Canadian Schools For Youth Grades 5 – 12
September 27-October 1
To celebrate the success of last year’s online event, Every Child Matters, we are proud to present a full week of Truth and Reconciliation programming. Truth and Reconciliation Week is a 5-day national event that will continue the conversations from Every Child Matters. Important conversations including the truths of the Indigenous treaties, First Nation, Métis and Inuit land claims, and the residential schools' system. This online event will provide historical workshops, exclusive video content, and activities for students — all supported by artistic and cultural performances by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists. For more information click https://nctr.ca/education/truth-and-reconciliation-week/. Register now at Eventbrite.
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Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
Dogs are not allowed on school property at any time. Many people are surprised to learn that City of Toronto By-Laws and TDSB Policy prohibit dogs (leashed or unleashed) being on school property.
As children begin to go back to school, please respect children’s play spaces. And please do not verbally abuse TDSB caretaking staff - I am hearing that when caretakers onsite try and inform dog owners, they are met with threats and intimidation.
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Start of the Year Forms Now Online
After your child’s first day of school on September 9, an email will automatically be sent to the parent/guardian listed as the primary or secondary contact with an email address on file with the school. The email will come from TDSB Online Form (noreply@tdsb.on.ca) and will take you to a secure site to complete and submit your child’s forms. You will need to complete this for each child. Completing the form online streamlines the process for parents/guardians and also helps save resources in schools. While you’re not required to complete forms online, we encourage parents/guardians to take advantage of this opportunity.
If you do not receive the email, please contact the school office at your child’s school to make sure your email address on file is accurate and active. Once the email is entered into our student system, the parent/guardian will receive the email the following school day. Depending on personal email account settings, check Junk or Spam folders as the email may have been filed there.
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Schools as Polling Stations
Schools play a very important role in local communities, particularly when it comes to reducing barriers to voting opportunities. This year, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, extra precautions are in place to keep our school communities safe. The TDSB will be hosting approximately 150 federal election polling stations in our schools (largely middle and high schools) for the Federal Election on Monday, September 20. Polling stations will primarily be located in the gymnasium (or cafeteria) and students and staff will not be able to access the space on September 20. Visitors accessing the polling station will enter (directly OR through the exterior door immediately adjacent). Clear signage will be posted and security will be on school property to direct voters to the polling station and ensure that they remain in the designated polling area.
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School Year Calendar 2021-2022- Thanksgiving - October 11, 2021
- Board-wide PA Day - November 19, 2021
- The last day before the Winter Break is December 17, 2021
- First day back from Winter Break is January 3, 2022
- The last day of class for elementary students is June 30, 2022
- The last day of class for secondary students is June 29, 2022
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