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Dear Parents, Guardians, Willowdale residents,

This e-Newsletter contains a few announcments about the upcoming Ward Forum being held at Earl Haig Secondary School on November 24th, 2015; a call for nominees for the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee Representative and the French as a Second Language Advisory Committee Representative for Ward 12, and a special announcement about the Director of Education, Donna Quan, who will be leaving her post 18 months early to work for the education ministry.

I also want to express sorrow for the attacks on innocent civilians in Paris last Friday.Just a few days ago we came together to remember fallen soliders around the world who gave their lives in warfare to bring us a greater peace and better understanding of our differences. The goal was to put an end to war and injustice. And yet our world continues to be embroiled in war and injustice. I hope we can ALL come together, regardless of cultural background, religious beliefs and economic status, and recognize that we belong to each other. Our children and students deserve no less.

Alexander.

If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.

Mother Teresa

MESSAGE ON BEHALF OF ROBIN PILKEY, CHAIR OF THE BOARD

I wish to inform you that Director Donna Quan will be joining the Ministry of Education as a Senior Advisor to the Deputy Minister effective 14 December 2015. Reporting to the Deputy Minister and working in conjunction with York University and school boards across Ontario, Donna will head-up a new, leading edge research project to inform the feasibility for collecting additional province-wide student and education related data to address the principles outlined in Achieving Excellence: A Renewed Vision for Education in Ontario.

The project will potentially provide information to further inform understanding of student populations and school communities, with the view to better identifying and addressing potential barriers to academic success and well-being for all students in Ontario. Donna brings to the project years of leadership experience, including work in the Information Management Branch of the Ministry of Education.

In various roles in the TDSB, Donna has led the development of a board-wide student and parent census where student well-being and achievement data were used to achieve better student outcomes‎. Most recently, she led development and implementation of the TDSB's first Adult Student Census.

Donna has been with the Toronto District School Board for over 30 years and has successfully navigated this Board as our Director since January 2013. When appointed the Director of Education, Donna quickly acted to set an ambitious agenda, known as the Years of Action plan. Over the course of her time she worked to:

Increase the level of accountability and fiscal management at the Board to ensure every dollar spent is felt inside the classroom;
Further boosting achievement results, many of which are already at or exceeding provincial standards; and,
Ensuring the talent and experience of staff are developed and better focused to have a direct impact on students.

Her contributions to this organization are long and her leadership with the Toronto District School Board has been second to none. She has worked hard to ensure not only staff, but Trustees are headed in the right direction. I am confident that with the guidance we have received from her over the last few years, our Board will be able to continue serving the students and families of the Toronto District School Board and ensure thatcurrent and future students will succeed to their highest and best potentials.

I know that all of you will echo my thoughts. It has been a pleasure working with Director Quan as we navigated both the good times and the more challenging times. Donna, you will be missed, but we know that you will do well in your new Ministry role as you continue your work to support student success and achievement for all students across Ontario.

Over the next month the Board of Trustees will work to appoint an Interim Director. Once the Interim Director is appointed, the Board will work to establish the criteria for searching for a new permanent Director. Donna will remain in her role as Director of Education until the new Interim Director has been appointed in December.

Robin Pilkey

Chair, TDSB

Parent Involvement & Outreach

ELECTION NOTICE CALL FOR NOMINATIONS

Ward 12 needs one parent/community representative for each of these Community Advisory Committees:

Parent Involvement Advisory Committee(PIAC)

PIAC's role is to:

Consult and work with parents, staff, and community to identify issues related to parent engagement for discussion and information
Discuss and respond to items referred to PIAC by the Board
Make recommendation or provide recommendations or comments to the board on any parent/education related matter
Work and support school councils across the board

How can parents GET INVOLVED with PIAC?

Get elected as a PIAC representative or alternate at your ward meeting or contact your Trustee
Get involved with TDSBs Community Liaison Groups.
Join one of PIACs Working Groups. Working group members are volunteers and are open to all TDSB parents/guardians
Attend PIAC meetings. TDSB parents/guardians are welcome to attend meetings as observers. For a meeting schedule see the meetings page.

French as a Second Language Advisory Committee (FSLAC)

The French as a Second Language Advisory Committee (FSLAC) is a parent committee of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). We’re here to support parents and to be your voice on French programs at the Board. Parent representatives and alternates to the FSLAC are elected by each ward council. The parent co-chair is elected by FSLAC parent members. A trustee co-chair, TDSB staff and trustee members are chosen by the Board.

Our Mission is to consult with and advise the TDSB on French as aSecond Language matters. As a community advisory committee, the FSLAC will complement and supplement the work of trustees and staff. This partnership of trustees, staff and parents will foster excellence and growth in FSL programs at the Board. Meetings are held every four to six weeks during the school year at the TDSB offices at 5050 Yonge St. Parents, students, trustees and staff are welcome to attend these meetings to network, discuss French Second Language program issues and new ideas, voice concerns and hear about initiatives from staff.

If you are interested in more information on either committee, click on the title of the committee above or contact Trustee Alexander Brown.

Please share this information with everyone and especially anyone who might be interested in getting more involved.

AT THE MOMENT, there is one nominee for the position of PIAC Rep. I strongly encourage interested candidates to nominate themselves for PIAC or FSLAC positions. This can be done at the meeting. See you on November 24th.

Willowdale WARD FORUM

NOVEMBER 24th, 2015 Earl Haig Secondary School (Library) 7pm to 9pm

CLICK HERE for the Ward Forum Flyer

What is FIX OUR SCHOOLS?

We are parents, students, teachers, grandparents, principals, caretakers, and voters who believe all Ontario students should attend safe, well-maintained schools that are funded as a critical part of our public infrastructure - on par with transit, roads and water.

Click H ere is a brief history of the campaign…

Join Krista Wylie at this informational meeting and find out what we can do about the neglect of OUR SCHOOLS. The TDSB building maitenance backlog recently passed $3.6 billion dollars - Province-wide it is $15 billion and growing. Our children and generations of future students and communities need to have safe, healthy and inviting schools/community hubs to learn in.

Also, learn more about the Community Hub model and Karen Pitre's provincial report on Community Hubs.

PUBLIC MEETING - All Welcome

Door Prizes & Refreshments Available

Child minding services available.
Translation Services available.
Contact Ciara Behan at ciara.behan@tdsb.on.ca

Program Area Review Update: AY Jackson Group of Schools

This Program Area Review recommendation will go to the PLANNING and PRIORITIES COMMITTEE this week on November 18th starting at 7pm. Click below for agenda:

Planning and Priorities Novemeber 18th agenda - use the drop-down menu to selelct the appropriate agenda.

People who are interested in speaking to the committee about the PART recommendations may wish to attend and speak to trustees and staff directly as a deputant. For more information about presenting as a delegation or submitting a written deputation you can get more information here.

Three community consultation meetings were held from October 21 to October 27, 2015. The minutes to those meetings are available on the TDSB website. They include all of the comments gathered from participants about the preferred recommendation presented. A final meeting of the PART (program area review team) was held on October 29th to review all of the comments and provide feedback on a final recommendation to be sent to Board of Trustees for approval.

Program Area Review Recommendations

Possible grade range changes for schools from JK - Gr. 6 to JK to Gr. 5 and Gr. 7 - 9 to Gr. 6 - 8 and Gr. 10 - 12 to Gr. 9 -12;
Possible relocation of the Extended French, and Mid Immersion Programs sites and pathways;
Possible relocation of the Gifted Program sites and pathways;
Possible relocation of the Autism Program site;
Possible changes to the shared Finch PS-Steelesview PS boundary area making it all Steelesview PS.

Power Point of PART Recommendation

Complete Program Area Review Meetings and Recommendations

To access the above information under Accommodation Reviews on the drop-down menu search for Program Area Reviews & then search for AY Jackson SS Cluster (JHS)

If you have ANY QUESTIONS don't hestitate to contact Trustee Alexander Brown or

Superintendent Linda Curtis.

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