|  | Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin Chair •Trustee, Ward 11 • Don Valley West
Toronto District School Board
416-395-8787 • Rachel.ChernosLin@tdsb.on.ca |
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Dear friends,
Just a friendly reminder -
Ward 11 Coffee Morning February 28, 9:30 - 11:00 am
Longo's on Laird, upstairs in the kitchen.
Please join us for an informal gathering with parents and constituents in a round table-style discussion of information sharing, best practices and interesting conversation related to education in our ward. We often have superintendents who drop by, so these are fun and engaging events.
Please see the flyer for information, and please register to let us know you are coming.
WARD 11 NEWSPreliminary Report on the Review of the Legacy and Technical and Commercial BoundariesI want to draw the Ward 11 community's attention to a preliminary report coming to our Planning and Priorities Committee this week. The report contains preliminary recommendations from the review of the legacy commercial and technical programs at 6 Toronto high schools, including Northern Secondary School. The recommendations include dissolution of these legacy boundaries, which historically enabled some addresses to attend Northern based on a commercial or technical designation, whereas many other addresses had no such desgination and therefore fewer choices. To read the preliminary report, please click here.
More Ward Forums and Coffee MorningsWard Forums are evening events, typically structured around a specific topic, and in order to make it as easy as possible for all to attend, these will be virtual for the remainder of this school year. Below is the meetings line up for the rest of the 2023/2024 school year:
Ward Forums: April 15 (NEW tentative date; focus: The Right to Read and Literacy)May 2 (tentative date; focus: Kindness Matters! How Ward 11 Schools are Building Kindness and Empathy
Coffee Mornings: - April 17 (virtual)
- May 29 (in person)
Information and registration for these events will be available in future newsletters closer to event dates and will also be posted in similar timelines on my Ward 11 web page at www.tdsb.on.ca/ward11.
Below you will find more information on recent TDSB initiatives, news, and events.
Hope to see many of you Wednesday morning.
~ Rachel
Rachel Chernos Lin, TDSB Trustee, Ward 11, Don Valley West
Rachel.ChernosLin@tdsb.on.ca
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Index
Worth Repeating
TDSB Policy & Board of Trustees
TDSB Programming
Health & Welness
Other news
Heritage Months
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TDSB Budget: Public Engagement Opportunities
Public Delegations
TDSB welcomes members of the public to bring forward issues and concerns they have through a delegation, which is addressing a committee of the Board of Trustees (by speaking or submitting a written statement). Register to address the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee on March 26, 2024.
Please note: the deadline for delegations to be considered is 12 p.m. on Monday, March 25.
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TDSB Excellence Awards 2024 Nominations open on February 27
Every year, the TDSB Excellence Awards help shine a light on the stories of extraordinary staff commitment, and we are delighted to announce that nominations for the Excellence Awards 2024 will open on February 27, 2024.
The Excellence Awards align with our shared system priorities and help highlight TDSB staff’s efforts to foster joy, engagement and belonging in our schools, workplaces and communities as a foundation for academic achievement, student success, and service excellence. We want to know about the TDSB colleagues you know who are inspiring students, innovating the curriculum, championing digital transformation, creating inclusive schools and workplaces, and working behind the scenes to support operational excellence.
We welcome nominations from anyone – staff, students, parents/caregivers or community members – so we ask Trustees to encourage nomination submissions through the Excellence Awards website during the nomination period between February 27 and April 5, 2024.
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OPSBA Awards
Do you know an amazing trustee, teacher, education worker, school administrator, student or community member who deserves to be recognized for making a difference in their local school or community?
Nominations are now open for the 2024 OPSBA Awards!
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Aquatic Instructors Needed
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!
Thanks you and feel free to share!
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Measles
During the pandemic, some people may have missed their measles vaccinations and should make sure they are up-to-date with their vaccines. Toronto Public Health (TPH) is investigating one lab confirmed case of measles. The measles vaccine is available at your doctor’s office or at a TPH community clinic for school-aged children. Due to travel, measles still occurs in Canada. Anyone born before '96 who hasn't had measles should check their immune status—you might think you're immune, but not be. Two doses were introduced then. Let's eradicate measles again!
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e-Learning Day-School kicks off second semester
Semester Two is underway in e-Learning Day School. Registration closed on Thursday, February 22, 2024, and currently, all 39 sections of classes are full with waitlists for each section. The incredible work of the Guidance Counsellors, Student Support staff, and Administrators supported a smooth registration process for eLDS Semester 2 classes and approvals for course selections. We look forward to supporting students in the e-Learning Day School Program.
The achievement results from Semester One demonstrate the hard work and efforts of students and teachers. Semester one results include a fantastic 95% success rate, with an average final mark of 80% for eLDS students.
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Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Department Offerings
The TDSB is dedicated to working with internal and external partners to establish equitable learning spaces where all students thrive. In light of this ongoing commitment, the Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Department offers a vast array of professional learning opportunities, student programming, and community workshops for the 2023-2024 school eyar.
The menu of offerings is shared b-weekly (click for current options - for staff but also many or students).
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Special Education and Inclusion Parent / Caregiver / Guardian sessions - March 5 & 6
Special Education and Inclusion is pleased to offer their second engagement session for parents/guardians/caregivers this year.
Please see the below for details:
Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Session #2
- Morning Session - Tuesday, March 5th, 2024 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Webinar Link - Evening Session - Wednesday, March 6th, 2024 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Webinar Link
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Breaking Down Barriers To Mental Health in Black Communities with Trey Anthony - Community, Caregivers, Staff and Students (Gr. 7-12) - March 7 from 6-7:30pm
The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement will be hosting a session during Black Mental Health Week 2024 with award-winning playwright, actor, and wellness expert Trey Anthony ‘Da Kink in My Hair’.
Honouring the theme for this year, ‘Growth and Reflection,’ parents, caregivers, students (Gr. 7-12) and community members are invitied to join Trey as she delves into important topics such as the stigma surrounding mental health in Black communities.
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Learn4Life Adult Community Programs - Spring Registration Now Open!
Spring 2024 registration is now open for Learn4Life's Adult General Interest Program! Open to adults 18 years of age and seniors, the Learn4Life program offers a unique and valuable opportunity for individuals to pursue their interests, expand their knowledge, and engage in lifelong learning with a wide range of courses and activities designed to cater to diverse interests and passions: from Pickleball to Feng Shui, from Birdwatching to Payroll Level II, and from Latin Rhythm dancin to Arabic Beginner level II - and much more.
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March is Greek Heritage Month
March is Greek Heritage Month at the Toronto District School Board. It is an opportunity to recognize and celebrate the many achievements and contributions of Greek Canadians to Canada, and an occasion to mark and enjoy the history of Greek culture.
The theme for this year is: “Greek Thought and Civilization: From Myth to Logos - Eλληνική Σκέψη και Πολιτισμός: Από τον Μύθο στον Λόγο”
For more information and to access this year’s calendar of activities: GHM 2024 Calendar of Daily Activities
Please join Sunday, April 7 at 1:30 pm for the Greek Independence Day Parade on the Danforth (meet at 15 Phin Avenue at 1 pm).Please join for the GHM Closing Event on Saturday, April 13th at the Greek Community Centre at 30 Thorncliffe Park Drive from 1 to 3 pm.
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School Year Calendar 2023-2024
See below for all dates where there is no in-school learning.
P.A. Day on April 8
Updated School Year Calendars for 2023-2024 are available online. These include PA days, exam days for final evaluations, Board and Statutory holidays, and other notable school year details.
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Steps to Address Your Questions and Concerns
Here at the TDSB, we are always open to hearing your questions and concerns and make every effort to address them as quickly as possible. Your child's classroom teacher is the first point of contact, followed by the school's principal, the school superintendent, and me, your Trustee!
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Stay Connected with your school and the board
TDSB Update
Sign-up for TDSB Update and stay informed about recent Board decisions and district-wide news.
Upcoming Meetings
The next Regular Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, March 6, 2023. For a list of upcoming meetings, including many about the Budget, please click on the meeting schedule and/or the calendar on the main webpage of www.tdsb.on.ca. Board and Committee Meetings can be watched online.
Follow the TDSB
Join the conversations happening on TDSB's social media communities. You'll find the most up-to-date information about us on our Twitter (@TDSB), Facebook (@toronto.dsb), Instagram (@Torontodsb), and Threads (@Torontodsb) accounts
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If you notice anything at a school that concerns you, please call the TDSB 24-hour Call Centre (416) 395-4620, Toronto Police Services Dispatch (non-emergencies via 416-808-2222), and/or Toronto 311.
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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