• Kindergarten Registration begins February 4th. More information: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/EarlyYears/Kindergarten 
• Elementary Report Cards to be sent home on February 13th.
• Elementary Optional Attendance Applications Due - February 15th, 2019
  
• TDSB-wide PD Day - Friday February 15th
• Family Day Holiday - Monday February 18th
• High School Parent - Teacher Interviews:
  • Malvern C.I. - Thurs Feb 21 2-4 pm and 6-8 pm
  • East York C.I. - Thurs, March 28, 5:00pm – 7:30pm
    
• March Break - March 11th - 15th, 2019
• Secondary and Post-Secondary Scholarships - various deadlines in March. Contact your school's guidance office for more information.
  
• Parents as Partners Conference - March 30th, 2019 @ the Beanfield Centre. Keynote Speaker Karl Subban. https://www.parentsaspartners.ca/
  

• Malvern Strong Benefit Concert - Thursday February 7th @ 7pm. In memory of Reese Fallon, all proceeds from the concert ($10 tickets), silent auction, and bake sale will be donated to support the students' chosen cause - Victim Services Toronto
• Norway Jr. P.S. & Bowmore Rd P.S. - February 7th @ 6pm @ Norway - A "Special Education for Parents" presentation with Ms. Kwok, "Demystifying the IEP". 
• George Webster E.S. is now part of a "Active & Safe Routes to School" Pilot lead by Green Communities Canada in partnership with the TDSB and the City of Toronto. Safe Routes to School is geared at promoting healthy, active, and safe routes for students and families to get school.
  
• Bowmore Rd. P.S. Allergy Awareness Week - February 11th - 15th. A week long education campaign to make the school a safer place for students with life-threatening allergies. Contact VP Steve Parsons for more information.
• STEAM Initiatives - Crescent Town E.S and Presteign Hts E.S. have each launched new Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math initiatives called "Monthly Thinker" and "Maker Club" respectively, to help develop global competency skills including global citizenship and character, inquiry, and communication.
• The Malvern Collegiate Music Department is holding its Annual Winter Blues Dinner/Dance Fundraising event being held on Saturday February 23, 2019. The evening is highlighted by entertainment by the many Malvern Music ensembles and will include a silent auction and other prizes. Tickets available through School Cash Online or malvernmusiccouncil@gmail.com.
  
• Monarch Park Collegiate will be working with the Enhanced Pathway model beginning in 2019. This is the placement (destreaming) of all Gr 9 students into Math and English classes at the Academic level with supports and bridging courses as required. Contact your Principal or Guidance Counsellor for more information.
• Malvern Collegiate will be switching from full-year to the Semestered course model for 2019. More information can be found here. 
  

TDSB Updates

• The summary findings of the TDSB French Program Review are now available. Recommendations on French Programming are expected this coming spring.
• The January 31st webcast with the Director John Malloy featured a variety of topics, including Academic Pathways, Math, Global Competencies and Special Education. If you were unable to watch the webcast live you can still watch the online video.
• Many questions have come up about how schools handle inclement winter weather. All outdoor activities are cancelled when temperatures, with windchill, reach -28C but between -20C and -28C outdoor activities may be curtailed or cancelled depending on local school wind, rain, snow, or ice conditions and the age of the children. Contact your school's Principal for more information about your school. Information about the TDSB's Severe Weather Procedures can be found here. 
• Grade 8 Course Selection through myblueprint (www.myblueprint.ca) will began mid-January and continue into the first 2 weeks of February at most schools. Students will complete their course forms for all their desired Grade 9 courses at desired schools. Contact your school's administration or Guidance Counsellor for more information. https://www.tdsb.on.ca/High-School/Guidance/Choices
• The 2017 School Student and Parent Census Data is now available for each school and TDSB Ward. Parents and School Councils who would like to review their school's census data and the accompanying information guide should contact their school's Principal. An information guide for the Ward-wide census data will be available February 14th. 
• The 2018 Director’s Annual Report is now available online. This report is a summary of the work that is happening across the system in support of achievement, equity and well-being. 
  
  

• Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy (P0XX) - Deadline February 4, 2019
• Home Instruction Policy (P060) - Deadline February 22, 2019 
• Student Dress Code Policy (P042) - Deadline February 28, 2019 
• Caring and Safe Schools Policy(P051) - Deadline March 4, 2019 

• The Ministry of Education began announcing funding changes and program cancellations in December of 2018. New funding decisions are ongoing or on hold. Impacts on TDSB programs can be found here.  Particularly concerning are the funding reductions, cancellations, and delays to programs that support our most vulnerable students. 
  • Community Use of Schools - this EPO grant allows school boards to offer free facility permits to non-profit organizations so that those organization can provide low cost programming in high needs school communities. The TDSB's CUS funding has been cut by $1 million, jeopardizing programs in Priority neighbourhoods.
  • Focus on Youth - this funding program supports employment for at-risk youth in Priority neighbourhoods and is highly praised for helping youth gain valuable experience and combatting youth violence. The program also allows non-profit organizations offer low cost programs, summer camps, and activitites for our city's most needy students. The TDSB alone employs 600 students through the FOS summer program. The Province has cancelled all FOS after school funding and is declared that FOS summer funding is "on hold". 
  • Support for Community Programming is critical to the success of Toronto's youth and neighbourhoods. If you would like to express your support for CUS and FOS funding as well as other programs please write to our Minister of Education Lisa Thompson (lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org) and our local MPP Rima Berns-McGowan (RBerns-McGown-QP@ndp.on.ca). See TDSB Chair Pilkey's letter to Minister Thompson.
    
    
• On January 29, 2019, TDSB Chair Robin Pilkey appeared before the Ontario Legislature’s Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs and presented a submission as part of the pre-budget consultations. Read the Chair’s remarks and submission, with an appendix providing additional details to the remarks.
  
  
• The Education Minister has called for consultations with education partners to discuss reforms to teacher hiring practices, while also seeking feedback on class sizes from kindergarten to Grade 12. The language around this announcement is concerning as the Ministry considers changes to class size including removing both hard and soft caps for Kindergarten, grades 1 - 3, and high school classes. Unfortunately the Ministry has not provided a direct opportunity for feedback for parents and caregivers in this consultation process but you are free to email your concerns directly to Education Minister Lisa Thompson (lisa.thompsonco@pc.ola.org) or our local MPP Rima Berns-McGown (RBerns-McGown-QP@ndp.on.ca).
  
  
• February 2nd - Statement by the Education Minister on Full Day Kindergarten: https://news.ontario.ca/edu/en/2019/02/statement-by-education-minister-on-full-day-kindergarten.html?_ga=2.49756462.945016426.1549210144-1128587938.1547515070 
  

• Black Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee - February 4th @ 7pm @ Committee Room A 5050 Yonge St.
  
• Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Meeting - February 4th @ 7pm @ 5050 Yonge St.
• Environmental Sustainability Community Advisory Committee - February 5th @ 6pm @ 5050 Yonge, Committee Room A 
  
• Board of Trustees Meeting - February 6th @ 7pm @ 5050 Yonge St.
• French as a Second Language Advisory Committee (FSLAC) Meeting - February 11th @ 7pm @ 5050 Yonge St.
• Aboriginal Community Advisory Committee (ACAC) Meeting - February 19th @ 6pm @ Aboriginal Education Center 16 Phin Ave. Rm. 123
• Equity Policy Community Advisory Committee - February 19th @ 6:30pm @ 5050 Yonge Street, Committee Room A
  
• Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) Meeting - February 19th @ 7pm @ 5050 Yonge St.
• Inner City Advisory Committee (ICCAC) Meeting - February 21st @ 10am @ TBD
• Black Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee - March 4th @ 7pm @ Committee Room A 5050 Yonge St.
• Alternative Schools Community Advisory Committee - March 18, 2019 @ 7pm in Committee Room A
  5050 Yonge St.
• Environmental Sustainability Community Advisory Committee - Tuesday, March 5 @ 6:00 PM @ Central Technical School, Room 208