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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 -- PrideTDSB
- Excellence Awards 2024
- 2024 Summer Well-Being Guide
- Secondary Alternative School Review
- Have a Wonderful End of the School Year and Summer Break from PIAC
- 2024-25 Operating Budget Update
- Worth Repeating Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy
- Phased-in Start for Student Transportation and Student Transportation Parent Portal
- Committee Meetings This Week
- Reporting Hate - In Our Schools and In Our Communitie
- Note - Next Steps on Staff Report - Combatting Hate & Racism: Student Learning Strategy - Special PSSC on June 18
- New Invitations - Construction of City's Davisville Aquatic & Community Recreation Centre - Virtual Meeting June 18 at 6:30; TD Summer Reading Club; Backpack and School Supplies Drive
- Worth Repeating - Mental Health Resources to Support Students and Families; Summer Programs; Need for Aquatic Instructors; Please Keep Safe... and Keep Others Safe; Vaccinations; Useful Links; 2023-2024 Calendar; 2024-2025 Calendar; Dogs Are Not Allowed On School Property - How to Report; Community Safety & Support
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PrideTDSB
June is Pride Month at the TDSB! It’s an opportunity to celebrate diversity and raise awareness among all staff and students about the rich culture and history of our 2SLGBTQ+ community. TDSB school communities are encouraged to hold intentional sessions with their students about issues related to 2SLGBTQ+ communities as well as the impact of homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia on TDSB students, staff, and community members. Join the conversation by using #PrideTDSB.
Join US at the 2024 Pride Parade!
We are thrilled to invite students, staff and their families and friends to join the loud and proud TDSB contingent as the Toronto PRIDE parade on Sunday, June 30, 2024. Pride Toronto is encouraging marchers this year- bikes, scooters, rollerblades or any of other energy efficient mode of transportation- are welcome! We're asking all walking TDSB participants to gather between 1:00 to 1:15pm at Asquith Green Park (west side of Church St.,1 block north of Bloor) For details, please click here.
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Excellence Awards 2024
TDSB staff make our schools and workplaces incredible spaces to learn, work and play. We all know stories of staff who go above and beyond for students, colleagues and the broader community, and every year, the TDSB Excellence Awards are a chance to spotlight these stories and recognize the efforts of TDSB staff. We are delighted to announce the 2024 recipients of the Excellence Awards!
Combatting Hate and Racism
The Combatting Hate and Racism Award recognizes an individual or group that has demonstrated outstanding practice in confronting hate and racism within the TDSB - Kate Hang, Princess Edogiawerie, Kiersten Wynter, Jay Williams
Delivering Operational Excellence
The Delivering Operational Excellence award recognizes an individual or group that has gone above and beyond to provide service delivery to students, staff or community that exceeds client expectations and demonstrates business and/or operational excellence - Corina Fernandes Miranda, Vance Scott, Gail Bornstein, Aatif Choudhry
Driving Innovation
The Driving Innovation Award recognizes an individual or group that has championed outstanding innovation. They have demonstrated leadership in innovation by implementing an innovative project, practice, technique, or tool that positively enhances student achievement, staff experiences, and/or service delivery - Donna Lim, Dan Kunanec
Enhancing Wellbeing and Belonging
The Enhancing Belonging and Well-being Award recognizes an individual or group that creates outstanding collaborative environments where others feel safe to share thoughts and feelings, and contribute to discussions and/or initiatives. They enhance well-being by acknowledging uniqueness, removing barriers, and supporting mental health initiatives and practices - Julie Tai, Uthish Ganesh, Silvana La Rosa, Adnan Talib, Claud Balfour, Mebruka Mohammed
Student Achievement and Engagement
The Student Achievement and Engagement Award recognizes an individual or group that has demonstrated excellence through a specific focus on activities, programs, or an initiative to enable high student achievement and engagement, that supports under-served students. Innovation and creating positive student learning experiences are essential for this award - Mubarak Baker, Stephen Wong, Sherry Raffalovitch, Kai Gordon
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2024 Summer Well-Being Guide
You will find resources, community connections, events and ideas for parents/caregivers/guardians to promote mental and physical wellness during the summer months. The resources in this Guide are culturally responsive with many resources for students with disabilities/special education needs.
The Guide has been translated into the top 23 TDSB languages spoken and is accessible.
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Secondary Alternative School Review
There are 21 Secondary Alternative Schools across the city. These schools are designed to be small and offer unique and innovative approaches to learning. Currently, nearly 1,100 secondary students are enrolled in these programs. To support this review, we will be launching a survey that seeks to gather feedback on TDSB's Secondary Alternative School programs. Participation in this survey is entirely voluntary and anonymous, ensuring that respondents can provide honest feedback without any privacy concerns.
The data collected from this survey will be important in informing the Secondary Alternative Schools Program Review, helping us understand the strengths and areas for improvement within our alternative education offerings.
Please find the survey link here.
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Have a Wonderful End of the School Year and Summer Break from PIAC
PIAC wishes you, your family and loved ones an excellent end to the 2023/24 school year!
Thank you to all parents and caregivers who lend time to your local school councils in support of student achievement and success for all. Your commitment and efforts continue to create positive learning experiences and school communities.
2023/24 has been a fast paced year paving the way for new developments and changes that will soon be felt in our schools, classrooms and communities.
At PIAC, we are excited to begin ward level engagement to bring our school councils together for sharing and increased collaboration. We look forward to improved experiences accessing TDSB emails for school wide communications and efficiencies fund raising to meet students needs. We continue to encourage parent and caregivers voices being heard in our PIAC working groups, and look forward to seeing you involved in our School Council Support, Communications, and Consultations working groups next year.
Let's continue to work together to make our MYSP pillars, to Belong, Thrive and Achieve a reality for all students across the school board.
Thank you again for everything you do. Have a safe and happy summer.
From your Ward 8 Reps: Kaydeen and Anshu
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2024-25 Operating Budget Update
The Board is required to submit a balanced budget to the Ministry of Education and this report meets the Director of Education’s statutory requirement to present a balanced budget to the Board of Trustees.
Based on the Core Education Funding, the revised 2024-25 projected financial position is a deficit of $35.3 million. If we use $22M of Proceeds of Disposition, that leaves a deficit $13.3M.
Staff will use the feedback from Trustees, previous feedback from the public and students and bring back a budget for approval on June 13, 2024. Note - the Staff Report has not been released yet.
The budget is due to the Ministry on June 29, 2024.
And a reminder - Adjusted for inflation, per-pupil funding is lowest in recent history - please read here.
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Worth Repeating Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy
Development of a new Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy includes a pre-consultation phase where staff will gather input from school and community partners. Staff will also consider legislative requirements, government policy directives, and the Board’s operational requirements. The proposed policy content will be supported and informed through a jurisdictional scan of comparable policies, procedures, and best practices in school boards across Canada and internationally.
Upon completion of the pre-consultation phase, staff will prepare a draft Policy and conduct regular consultations on the draft Policy for approximately 50 calendar days (see detailed timeline below).
Public Webcasts
To learn more, ask questions, and share input, please attend an upcoming webcast:
Online Survey
Please consider completing an online survey to share feedback and provide input around the development of the new Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy.
When responding to the survey questions, please think about broad use of mobile devices in the classroom during instructional time and during school hours (i.e. recess, lunch). All answers are anonymous and feedback received will be summarized for consideration in the new policy.
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Phased-in Start for Student Transportation
Please be advised that the Toronto Student Transportation Group will once again be implementing a phased-in start for the 2024-25 school year. Starting Tuesday, September 3, transportation will begin for students with special education needs (excluding those in the gifted program) who travel to school on minibuses, minivans, taxis and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Bussing for all other eligible students will begin on Monday, September 9, pending driver availability.
Student Transportation Parent Portal
Parents/guardians/caregivers with children who take the bus to school are encouraged to sign up for the Student Transportation Parent Portal to access important information and updates. Note: You must register for the portal with the email address on file at your child’s school. Contact support@torontoschoolbus.org for any issues with the registration process.
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Committee Meetings This Week
Tuesday, June 11 - Policy & Planning Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda
- Report From Trustees Appointed to the Ontario Public School Boards' Association
- 5.1 OPSBA Directors' Report
Toronto Lands Corporation Reports - 6.1 Tri-Party Land Exchange With Gabriel Dumont Non-Profit Homes (GDNP)
Staff Reports - 7.1 Accommodation of Students From Residential Developments at 413-431 Roehampton Avenue, 55 and 65 Broadway Avenue, 2161 Yonge Street, 73 and 75 Broadway Avenue, and 117 and 127 Broadway Avenue
- 7.2 Attendance Boundary Changes for Avondale Public School, Bayview Middle School, and Hollywood Public School and Accommodation of Students From Residential Developments in the Avondale Public School Area
- 7.3 Days of Significance Calendar: Update
- 7.4 Somali Centre for Culture and Recreation: Update
- 7.5 Strategic Workforce Engagement and Attendance Support
Written Notices of Motion for Consideration - 8.1 Leadership Regarding Artificial Intelligence and Education (Trustees Ehrhardt and Dawson)
- 8.2 Cricket Development (Trustees Shan and Sriskandarajah)
Thursday, June 13, 2024 - Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St
- Staff Report on Proposed Balanced Operating Budget 2024-25
(staff will be presenting a budget for approval - to come)
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Reporting 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 centralized 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.
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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Note - Next Steps on Staff Report - Combatting Hate & Racism: Student Learning Strategy
Update, 2024, presented at PSSC June 5, 2024
This Report for receipt by Trustees was on the agenda at the Program and School Services Committee on June 5, 2024, but the item was still being discussed when the meeting ended at midnight.
Please note in consultation with the chairs of PSSC and PPC, my understanding is that there will be a Special PSSC on June 18th, at 4:30pm to continue what we didn’t finish.
The item WILL NOT be on the PPC Agenda Tuesday - and I will not be attending PPC Tuesday as the Jewish Holiday of Shavuot begins (Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai and, along with Passover and Sukkot, is one of the three Jewish pilgrimage festivals). To all those celebrating, Chag Sameach!
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Construction of City's Davisville Aquatic & Community Recreation Centre - Virtual Meeting June 18 at 6:30
We are all excited about the start of construction of the eagerly anticipated Aquatic Centre on the site of the Davisville school. As part of the first steps on the construction of this project, we would like to invite you to attend a virtual meeting where staff form the City of Toronto’s Parks, Forestry and Recreation Division will provide information on how the students, staff and community will be safe on site during the construction of the new facility.
DATE: June 18, 2024
TIME: 6:30 pm
LOCATION: Online meeting via MS Teams REGISTER ONLINE HERE.
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TD Summer Reading Club
The TD Summer Reading Club helps families to support engagement with reading initiatives with the Toronto Public Library. This is Canada’s biggest bilingual summer reading program for kids of all ages, interests and abilities. This free and accessible Club celebrates Canadian authors, illustrators and stories, and inspires kids to explore the fun of reading their way. The program will launch on June 10. After this date, children of all ages can sign up for the club online or in-person at a TPL branch and get a reading kit. Please see additional information: https://www.tdsummerreadingclub.ca/
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Backpack and School Supplies Drive
This year’s Backpacks & School Supplies Drive will run from March 1, 2024 to the end of September 2024. Individual donors and companies can help our students by making a monetary donation and/or a donation of new backpacks and school supplies. Tax receipts are available for these donations.100% of all proceeds and in-kind donations go to benefit our students. NOTE: Due to potential health & safety, hygiene, sorting and storage limitations, the TDSB can only accept new items. For more information about how to donate new items, please contact the Business Development department at BusinessDevelopment@tdsb.on.ca.
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Mental Health Resources to Support Students and Families
Summer Programs
TDSB summer programs are now open for registration!
Grade 8 Summer Reach Ahead Opportunity
Current Grade 8 students are eligible to register for the e-Summer Full Credit Summer Reach Ahead course (GLD2OE). Successful completion of this course counts towards the Ministry of Education’s mandatory e-Learning credit requirement. Registration for the Reach Ahead course has begun! Learn More.
e-Summer School Registration (Grade 10-12 Credit Courses)
A reminder that registration for July and August e-Summer School courses has now begun! View the list of course offerings online. To register, students should connect with their home school Guidance Counsellors. Learn More.
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Need for Aquatic Instructors
In order to operate swim programs in our schools with pools, we need two on-site aquatic instructors. Sadly, the TDSB has had a shortage of aquatic instructors since schools reopened from COVID. If you know of any aquatic instructors, please, have them complete the application - the board has been advertising and I have been advertising on Twitter since the end of last year. Here’s the link directly to the posting for applicants to apply. https://tdsb.sabacloud.com/Saba/Web_spf/CA1PRD0033/jobs-Support/career/jobdetail/jobrq000000000002580. Thanks!
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Please Keep Safe... and Keep Others Safe
Layers of protection work to help reduce virus spread. For example:
😷wear a well-fitted mask
🧼wash hands often
🏠stay home if sick
💨choose well ventilated spaces
🛡️stay up-to-date with your vaccines
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2023-2024 Calendar 2024-2025 Calendar
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Dogs Are Not Allowed On School Property - How to Report
Please contact 311 if you see dogs in school grounds so they can log the concerns and please also call TDSB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 416-395-4620. Tracking the concerns will allow us to build the case for increased surveillance.
At our recent Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee, the staff report confirmed the following -
Dogs on school properties have been an ongoing challenge for many years despite the “no dogs permitted” signage. There have been examples of dog owners taking their dogs off leash or even leaving their dogs unattended in a school yard, or within the kindergarten or childcare enclosures. There have been incidents of off-leash dogs chasing as well as biting students, members of the public and staff. Dog feces and disposal bags are frequently left on the school grounds impacting the student use and enjoyment of outdoor activities.
Signage is posted near the entrances, such as gates or openings in the school ground fencing (refer to Appendix A for a copy of the signage) that clearly indicates TDSB school grounds are private property and dogs are not permitted on school board property. Section 6.10 in PR523, Access to School Premises prohibits canines on TDSB properties at any time (except service animals).
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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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