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 May 27, 2016                                      Subscribe to my newsletter. Visit my websiteFollow me.

Message from Trustee Gough

Dear :
My head is starting to spin. That always happens in late May! Things don't really settle down until the end of June. This time of the school year sets off a whirlwind of activities in our schools: field trips, active transportation to school events, EQAO testing, final project demonstrations, grad  trips, spring fairs, outdoor sports events, school plays, proms, and grads- it's a testament to the dynamic quality of our public education system and I'm grateful to the teaching staff and supportive parent volunteers who make it happen.  

The May board meeting this week was preceded by a student social justice fair, with over 25 schools sending students who set up booths to explain their school's Tikkum Olan ("make the world better") social justice projects, done in honour of the late Trustee Howard Kaplan, a passionate social justice advocate. I was excited to see Lanor Jr Middle School students there with their REDress project in support of missing and murdered Indigenous women, as well as some articulate Twentieth Street JS students with their environmental action display. 
Trustee Pamela Gough with students from Twentieth Street PS at their Tikkum Olan display on Wednesday May 25

Yesterday I attended Karen Kain School of the Arts' Earth Day celebrations. where the students held a bake sale to support buying new trees for schools in Fort McMurray. Students used Skype to connect with Fort McMurray area students and send their good wishes. Later in the day, I visited Etobicoke School of the Arts to view their Art Sale event and chat with visual arts department head Matthew Varey and other visual arts teachers, who through ESA's Portfolio Day have helped students win over $17M in scholarships. Over the course of these last few days, the level of engagement of our students, the skilled devotion of their teachers, and the demonstrable quality of their learning have given me renewed inspiration. 
Bike to School Week is starting next Monday May 30! This celebration of active commuting to school is enjoyed by thousands of students each year. Research shows that biking to school improves children's physical and mental health and academic performance, while reducing traffic congestion and air pollution. Read more here about how you and your child can take part. 
Street safety is key to students walking or cycling to school. The active school travel planning team at Second Street JMS, working with city traffic officials and the councillor's office, have put forward suggestions that resulted in changes to the bylaws to increase the safety of students in front of the school. Many thanks to Councillor Mark Grimes, Principal Stephen McLean, school travel planner Armi DeFrancia of Green Communities Canada, Second Street parents and TDSB EcoSchools and Transportation staff for their support with this. 
In this issue:
Local Education News and Updates
  • Bike to School Week May 30- June 3 2016
  • Castlebar school to re-open: Norseman meeting June 9 2016
  • TDSB summer school e-learning now open
  • Karen Kain School of the Arts offering arts-based summer courses

News and Updates from TDSB's Education Centre

  • TDSB passes balanced operating budget
  • Improving school playing fields
  • TDSBcares raising money for Fort McMurray
  • SmartSAVER campaign: use the Canada Learning Bond for RESPs
  • By-elections called for Wards 1, 5, and 14
  • 5K fun run/walk June 4 2016

In our Community

  • Park Lawn Palooza Friday May 27
  • ESA Community Yard Sale May 28 2016
  • Bellapalooza May 28 2016
  • Wedgewood Jr. School Funfest May 28 2016
  • Sunnylea Fun Fair May 28 2016
  • Fix Our Schools community campfire June 9 2016
  • SEYA leadership camp in July, August

Local Education News and Updates

Bike to School week May 30- June 3 2016
The TDSB has officially declared May 30 - June 3 2016 to be Bike to School Week. Bike to School Week is part of the Bike Month celebration that is supported across the GTHA by Metrolinx. Last year, over 11,000 TDSB students in 65 TDSB schools participated. Schools can sign up here to register and receive free education kits including helmets and bells as well as stickers, trip tracking tools, and posters. 

Castlebar school to re-open: Norseman meeting June 9 2016
Norseman JMS is overcrowded and has received funding from the Ministry of Education to build an addition. The latest enrolment projections are showing that the planned addition would fall short of what is needed over the next decade as development in the area is happening rapidly and Norseman is a highly sought-after school in the community. The board's proposed solution is to use nearby Castlebar Junior School, which has been a core holding of the TDSB for 40 years. Castlebar's re-opening will eliminate the need for a dozen portables on Norseman's school grounds during the construction period, saving an estimated $1M and providing a safe and comfortable environment for students over the length of construction. After Norseman's addition is complete, TDSB is looking to reconfigure Castlebar to serve as a junior school feeding into Norseman for middle school, eliminating the need for portables at Norseman and right-sizing the schools to the student population in this revitalizing neighbourhood. Interested parents and community members are invited to attend the upcoming information meeting:
Where:
Norseman Jr. Middle School, 105 Norseman Street
When
: Thursday June 9, 7-8:30 pm.
Childcare will be provided. If bringing children please rsvp to araz.hasserjian@tdsb.on.ca 

TDSB summer school e-learning now open
TDSB secondary level e-summer school is available to all Ontario residents aged 14-20. Dozens of free high school credit courses are offered during July and August. Registration is now open. More information here.
   
Karen Kain School of the Arts offering arts-based summer courses
KKSA is hosting summer school for Gr. 7 and 8 for the first time this year, offering literacy-based program with arts integrated throughout. Drama, dance, media and visual arts workshops are part of the learning experience. More information is here

News and Updates from TDSB's Education Centre

TDSB passes balanced operating budget
Toronto District School Board Trustees have approved a balanced budget of $3.1B for the 2016-17 school year that will align resources more closely to schools, as well as programs that have a direct impact on students. The budget reflects the reorganization of central staff to allow for the creation of four new Learning Centres. These centres will enable the TDSB to be more responsive to schools and better support teachers and administrators in improving student achievement. The budget contains a list of cost saving measures, including reductions to central department budgets and the restructuring of central and Facility Services positions.
 
Improving school playing fields
The TDSB is developing a plan to improve the maintenance and general use of its playing fields. The plan will be based on fair and equitable funding priorities for playing fields and partnerships with local sports clubs. Read the board report.
 
TDSBcares supporting Fort McMurray
Schools, classes and clubs across the TDSB have been raising funds for the 80,000 people who have been displaced by wildfires in Fort McMurray, Alberta. Many have donated through the Canadian Red Cross as the federal government will match each dollar donated for Fort McMurray relief efforts until May 31, 2016. Learn more about school fundraising. Find out more about donating through Red Cross. 
 
SmartSAVER campaign: use the Canada Learning Bond for RESPs
The TDSB has partnered with SmartSAVER to launch a board-wide campaign to help families access the federal government's  Canada Learning Bond. Through a secure, online system - accessible at www.tdsb.on.ca/SmartSAVER - families can apply for the Canada Learning Bond, open a registered education savings plan (RESP) and access support throughout this process in multiple languages. 
 
By-elections called for Wards 1, 5 and 14
A by-election will be held on July 25, 2016 to fill the Trustee positions in Wards 1 (Etobicoke North) and 5 (York-Centre). The seat in Ward 1 is vacant as a result of Trustee Michael Ford's resignation earlier this month. Learn more about the by-election and nomination process in Ward 1. To reach the Ward 1 Office, please email Ward1@tdsb.on.ca or call 416-395-8787.
 
The position in Ward 5 is vacant due to Trustee Howard Kaplan's recent death in April. Learn more about the by-election and nomination process in Ward 5. To reach the Ward 5 Office, please email Ward5@tdsb.on.ca or call 416-395-8787. 
 
There will also be a by-election for the Trustee position in Ward 14 (Toronto Centre-Rosedale) as a result of Trustee Sheila Ward's death earlier this year. The by-election will be held on June 20, 2016 to fill this vacancy. Learn more about the  by-election and candidates in Ward 14.To reach the Ward 14 Office, please email Ward14@tdsb.on.ca or call 416-395-8787.
 
5K fun run/walk June 4 2016
On Saturday, June 4, 2016 the TDSB Health and Physical Education Department is hosting a celebration of healthy active living. Students, staff, parents/guardians and community members are invited to come to Downsview Park for the TDSB Healthy Schools 5k Run/Walk.
 
The run/walk will consist of a 5k loop and participants will have the option of finishing after 2.5k. Elementary schools will  participate at 10 a.m. and secondary schools will begin at 11 a.m. This day will also include a full program of activities and performances for participants from 9 a.m. to noon. Registration is required. More details are here.
In our Community

Park Lawn Palooza Friday May 27 2016
Park Lawn's Palooza (spring fair) is a celebration of community, diversity, family and fun at Park Lawn Junior Middle School. This is an event for all budgets as lots of attractions are FREE including food. Funds support Park Lawn School, raising money for books, sports equipment, art supplies and new technology for the classrooms. Come with the whole family!
Where:
 Park Lawn JMS, 71 Ballacaine Dr (Park Lawn and Berry Road area)
When
:  Friday May 27, 5 – 8 pm.  

ESA Community Yard Sale May 28 2016
Etobicoke School of the Arts is hosting a Community Yard Sale. All proceeds go to support the arts programs at the school. If you would like to clear out your good but extraneous stuff (home decor items, furniture, linens, dishes, sport equipment, toys etc) please price them and drop them off at the south entrance between 8-9 am and 3-6 pm from Tuesday May 24 to Friday May 27 or before 7:30 am on the day of the sale. Don't forget to go to the sale too! More details here
Where
: Etobicoke School of the Arts parking lot (indoors if raining)
When
: Saturday, May 28, 9 am to 1 pm

Bellapalooza May 28 2016
James S. Bell Jr. Middle Sports & Wellness Academy is hosting its 9th annual Bellapalooza fun fair!
This event has fun and games for the whole family. Come enjoy the BBQ, bake sale cafe, carnival games, jousting court, bouncy castles, yard sale, silent auction, raffle, car wash, live music and more!  Community yard sale tables are still available for $25--email jsb.schoolcouncil@hotmail.com.
Where
: 90 Thirty-First Street (Lakeshore Blvd. West/Thirty-First Street)
When
: Saturday, May 28th from 11am to 3 pm. Rain or shine. 
 
Wedgewood Jr. School Funfest May 28 2016
Wedgewood JS is having it amazing FunFest this Saturday May 28! Come for carnival games, a book fair, silent auction, inflatables, a BBQ and more! Details here.
Where
: Wedgewood JS, 5 Swan Avenue (Bloor/Kipling)\
When
: Saturday, May 28th from 11am to 2 pm
 
Sunnylea Fun Fair May 28 2016
Sunnylea JS hosts its annual Fun Fair the Saturday, May 28. This event is not to be missed, with a dunk tank, bake sale, silent auction, bouncy castles, BBQ and much more- all in support of the school!
Where: Sunnylea JS, 35 Glenroy Ave (Royal York/Bloor)
When: Saturday, May 28th from 11am to 2 pm
 
Fix Our Schools Community Campfire June 9 2016
The Fix Our Schools campaign (www.fixourschools.ca) is a grassroots, non-partisan, parent-led campaign focused on ensuring safe, well-maintained school buildings in Ontario. Please mark down June 9th, 6-9 pm on your calendars to join members of the Fix Our Schools working group at a family-friendly campfire at Dufferin Grove Park! This is a great opportunity to meet other parents engaged in this important campaign and find out more/exchange ideas on how we can work tougher to Fix Our Schools!  Marshmallows and hot chocolate will be served. For more information, contact info@fixourschools.ca 
 
SEYA leadership camp in July, August
LAMP's youth group, SEYA, is offering a free youth leadership camp in two sessions this summer at Second Street JMS: July 18-22 and August 8-12. Please see the poster below. For more details, contact Jasmin Dooh at 416-252-6471 x 308.