Ward 6 Update - October 30, 2020
Appropriate Halloween Costumes—#MyCultureIsNotACostume
For many, Halloween is an exciting time of year. For people whose cultures are caricatured and appropriated, it can be a difficult time. As educators, we must prevent harm by engaging students in critical conversations about cultural appropriation, stereotypes and caricature versus culture.
Videos
Articles
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Halloween: COVID Health and Safety Information
This year, as a result of COVID-19 in our city, schools will be celebrating Halloween a little differently. Toronto Public Health has provided direction on celebrating Halloween in schools. While there will not be Halloween dances or parades so we can continue to practice physical distancing, there are still many ways to have fun and celebrate safely in the school setting. This may include Halloween art activities, celebrating virtually with other classrooms, reading Halloween stories or watching a movie.
Staff or students should not bring candy to school for sharing with others.
Students can still dress up in a costume, however, because they are required to wear masks/face coverings in school, they should:
- not wear a costume mask on top of their face covering
- not remove their face covering and wear only a costume mask. A costume mask does not replace a face covering.
- not wear make-up, from below the eyes to ensure their face coverings are not dirtied.
Read more from Toronto Public Health about celebrating Halloween safely this year:
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TDSB Participates in Take Our Kids to Work Day!
Take Our Kids to Work Day (TOKTWD) is a day that lasts a lifetime for students. On Wednesday, November 4, 2020, Canada’s longest-running, highest-profile career exploration event is going virtual, offering more options than ever before! TDSB students can learn, explore, and engage in career exploration activities that could spark their excitement for learning and looking ahead to an exciting career. TDSB is partnering with The Learning Partnership to provide educators with a range of exciting ways for students to participate in Take Our Kids to Work Day. Despite the pandemic, the TDSB is committed to providing our Grade 9 students with this amazing opportunity in all of our classroom settings (face-to-face, synchronously, asynchronously and remotely). This year, TOKTWD can be accessed in real-time or at a later date by accessing the recorded sessions to inspire an exciting, engaging day of career exploration.
Grade 9 students will participate in:
- Pre-activities to prepare students for the day ahead
- A Kick-off Event where they will hear from a range of workplaces and professionals who will share messages of hope and resilience and bring to life the real-world skills that have led to their success,
- Live Take Our Kids to Work Day Breakout Sessions exploring Skilled Trades, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Healthcare and Technology & Finance.
Parents, guardians and caregivers can access this Family Guide to find out how to get the most out of the day for their child whether they participate at their parent/guardian’s work, at school, or at home. This is a wonderful opportunity for families to connect with their kids and join the fun during this year’s TOKTWD event.
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French Programs Application Deadline
For families interested in the Toronto District School Board's system-wide French Programs, we offer an online process to apply for Early French Immersion (begins in Senior Kindergarten) and Middle French Immersion (begins in Grade 4). An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants. The timelines for applying for these programs for September 2021 are: Early French Immersion: Applications must be completed online between November 2 and November 27, 2020. Middle French Immersion: Applications must be completed online between January 4 and January 29, 2021. Offers of placement within your chosen program (not a specific school) will be made to all on-time applicants in the weeks following the close of the application window. Families with an older sibling currently in a French program are still required to complete an online application for the new student. Virtual Web-Chat Information Sessions (for the Early French Immersion (SK) application and placement process):
- November 2, 2020, 7 p.m.
- November 12, 2020, 7 p.m.
- November 19, 2020, 10 a.m.
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Keeping Kids Safe
Drivers are reminded to do their part to keep children safe near school buses
Drivers should follow these tips:
- Stop and never pass a school bus when its red lights are flashing.
- Leave space around school buses and avoid blocking school bus loading zones so children can enter and exit safely.
- Be prepared to stop for a school bus at any time, not just during school hours.
- Always obey the rules of the road and watch for children, especially in school zones.
- Stop for pedestrians at crosswalks and school crossings.
Parents can also help keep their children safe by reminding them to be aware of their surroundings when they are on or near school buses.
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Reminder to Call School if Your Child will be Late or Absent
One measure of keeping our students safe is to ensure we can account for any absences or reasons for being late to school. We would like to remind you that if your child is going to be absent or late for any reason, we ask that you contact the school immediately and report the reason for the absence. If we are not informed about the absence, we will make attempts to contact you through our automated call-out system to determine the reason for the absence.
Please let the office know by calling the school if your contact information, including phone number, changes at any time throughout the school year.
Thank you for your continued cooperation to keep your children safe and accounted for.
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Remembrance Day
On Wednesday, November 11th, students and staff at our schools and across the city will mark Remembrance Day. For Remembrance Day, teachers make connections between global events and students' lives by promoting peace within our school community. On this solemn occasion, staff, students, parents, and the wider community all join together in a call for peace.
As a point of interest, TDSB's Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute has the recognized distinction of having the greatest number of students, graduates, teachers, and other staff enlist in the military during the Second World War than any other school in the British Commonwealth.
In Flanders Fields
by John McCrae
In Flanders fields the poppies blow Between the crosses, row on row, That mark our place; and in the sky The larks still bravely singing, fly Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, Loved and were loved, and now we lie, In Flanders Fields.
Take up our quarrel with the foe: To you from failing hands we throw The torch; be yours to hold it high. If ye break faith with us who die We shall not sleep, though poppies grow In Flanders fields.
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November is Indigenous Education Month at the TDSB
In November, we honour Indigenous Education Month at the TDSB. This month reminds us to centre First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives, histories and contemporary realities. In classrooms across the TDSB, it is an opportunity to learn about treaties, Indigenous leadership, achievements, and resistance.
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Hindu Heritage Month at the TDSB – November 2020
In 2016, the Government of Ontario declared the month of November each year as Hindu Heritage Month. Further to this, on April 18, 2018, the TDSB Board of Trustees voted to recognize the month of November as Hindu Heritage Month. The theme chosen this year is Om Shanti: Living Together in Peace. The Sanskrit words OM Shanti are considered to be one of the most important mantras or sacred sounds in Hinduism. OM, or AUM, is energy, a vibration from which all the universe originates. Shanti refers to peace in many levels of existence. For example, OM Shanti refers to experiencing peace at the level of the body, mind and spirit. From a wider perspective, it is a prayer for peace in the whole world, including the environment and in our relationships with friends, family, communities and countries - indeed in the entire creation. The word Shanti is chanted three times in the belief that the desire to attain peace will come true. OM Shanti, Shanti, Shantihi! Canadians of Hindu faith have greatly contributed to civic life in Canada for decades, and are a vibrant part of the growth and prosperity of Toronto, Ontario and Canada. November is an opportunity to celebrate the Hindu way of life, examine its impact and contributions to the world culture, and recognize values which promote compassion, mutual respect and inclusion – and hey, it is the birthplace of the number zero, without which the binary code in computers could not exist!
We are pleased to share with you that a poster challenge has been put forth to all TDSB students and we are excited to select two posters that reflect our chosen theme in the upcoming weeks. They will be posted to the TDSB public and internal website and shared digitally across the system. The Hindu Heritage Month planning committee continues to work on virtual initiatives to recognize Hindu Heritage Month during the month of November and are eager to have them come to completion in the upcoming weeks.
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Mark Your Calendars for the PIAC Annual Parent Conference!
PIAC invites all parents and caregivers to take part in our 14th annual parent conference – Ready. Set. Engage! Navigating the School Year Together – in partnership with TDSB.
Registration opens soon!
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Return to School: In-Person Learning and Virtual School
The Toronto District School Board officially welcomed students and staff back to school for the 2020-21 academic year, for both in-person and virtual learning. For the most up-to-date information, including letters to parents/guardians, please visit:
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Health and Safety Measures
The health and safety of students, staff and school communities continues to be the main priority of the Toronto District School Board. Read more about the TDSB’s health and safety measures, including daily health screening, mask and face covering requirements and the response plan.
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COVID-19 Advisories
The Toronto District School Board is committed to providing up to date information about confirmed cases of COVID-19 in schools (students and staff). This information is easily accessible by clicking on the COVID-19 Advisories banner on the main webpage of www.tdsb.on.ca.
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.
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TDSB Update
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