Taking Care of Yourself: Supporting Mental Health and Well-Being
Taking care of yourself is an important part of supporting well-being. As we continue to live with the ongoing uncertainty of the pandemic, it is important to find ways to nurture and take care of yourself. Sometimes we feel guilty for taking the time to care for/focus on ourselves. This is a life skill that is helpful for everyone, regardless of age. Taking care of yourself – sometimes called self-care – can look different for everyone. But in doing so you can improve your energy, find joy, and refocus on what really matters to you. Here are some ideas for you:
- Find moments of stillness and quiet in your day
- Move your body
- Go outside/be in nature
- Rest when you can and prioritize regular sleep
- Reflect on what works for you
- Give yourself permission to focus on your own needs and set boundaries on obligations
- Find pleasure in things that you like to do
- Explore new ways to relax and unwind
- Eat and hydrate when you can to fuel your body and mind
- Find some time during the day to connect with friends and family
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Device Distribution to Students
We have deployed over 56,000 devices, the number keeps growing. We started at 40,000 a few weeks ago. We are down to 4,000 left to be delivered. Have a commitment from the company we are working with that they will work over the upcoming long weekend to ensure this is completed.
Total 4,771 Student Devices has been requested by Schools in Ward 19.
If you have question about devices please visit TDSB website:
https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Remote-Learning/Student-Device-Support.
If you need devices for your children please email me directly at Zakir.Patel@tdsb.on.ca
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Graduations
Ontario school boards say they will hold graduation ceremonies for students — even if celebrations are put off until the summer, fall or whenever it is deemed safe by health officials. With schools across the province shut down because of the COVID-19 pandemic and large gatherings unlikely to be allowed any time soon, Education Minister Stephen Lecce said he expects boards to postpone and reschedule — but not cancel — graduation ceremonies. Toronto’s Malvern Collegiate has already rescheduled its commencement for Dec. 17, saying “this date will optimize the chance that most students will be home from post-secondary learning at the start of the winter vacation.” Toronto District School Board education director John Malloy has previously said that board will “do everything we can” to make sure grads go ahead.
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Food for Kids program
This week, the TDSB and TFSS continued the rollout of the Food for Kids program, with 17 new schools added to the program as part of Phase 8. The program has now been rolled out to 193 schools across the TDSB. Please see the list of TDSB schools that were part of Phases 1-8 of the program. Given that gift card distribution is based on the Learning Opportunities Index (LOI) and direct donations, the distribution numbers vary among wards.
As of this week, approximately 31,308 $50 grocery store food cards have now been issued to TDSB families, totaling $1,565,400. This number continues to increase every day as more families register for the program. The grocery store gift cards will remain activated for three months.
Phase 9 is expected to launch next week and we will provide Trustees with the list of schools in advance of the launch.
Ward 19 School's that were part of this program of Phases 1-7- Ben Heppner Vocal Music Academy
- Cedar Drive Junior Public School
- Cedarbrae Collegiate Institute
- Eastview Public School
- Galloway Road Public School
- Maplewood High School Military
- Trail Public School Native Learning Centre
- East Scarborough Village Public School
- St Margaret's Public School
- Tecumseh Senior Public School
- Willow Park Junior Public School
- Woburn Junior Public Schoo
Please apply for your food card(s) within two weeks of receiving your email/notification from your school board, and use your food card(s) as soon as possible.
Use this link to apply for food cards: https://form.jotform.com/200984395472262
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Update on International Baccalaureate Program (IB) Registration and Financial Assistance
As of May 1, 2020, 551 students have registered for the 2020-21 TDSB IB program. TDSB has also approved $253,000 in financial assistance to 164 eligible students registered in the program. These financial assistance amounts will be charged against the TDSB Central Equity Fund in 2020-21.
In addition, TDSB will be receiving at least $27,000 from one external corporate donor, to be used towards fees for 54 students in the $30K-$50K family income category. TDSB anticipates around $573,500 in collections for the 2020-21 program after financial assistance reductions.
Please see the fee and financial assistance breakdown by school, including comparatives for the past three school years.
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Canada Emergency Student Benefit
The Government of Canada has opened a financial aid program to support high school graduates who are unable to find work under these circumstances.
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Student Trustee Elections - June 11, 2020 - Applications Now Open
We are happy to announce that the elections for Student Trustees for 2020-2021 will be taking place on Thursday, June 11, 2020. Students in Grades 6 to 11 will have the opportunity to elect two Student Trustees through an on-line voting process.
Interested students, in Grade 10 or 11, are asked to apply online by Thursday, May 14, 2020. Shortlisted candidates will be asked to prepare a short campaign video, which will be posted online to promote their candidacy and help students make an informed decision when they vote.
Please note that due to the impact of COVID-19, the Student Senate Elections will be held separately in the Fall.
For more information, including key dates and information, please visit Student Trustee Elections or contact Sandy Spyropoulos, Executive Superintendent, Learning Centres 1 and 4.
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Updated Budget Timelines
The Ministry of Education has informed school boards that the Grants for Student Needs (GSN) will be released in early May. We anticipate that they will be released at some point next week; however, no specific date has been given. Anticipating next week’s release, staff, working with the Chair and Vice-Chair of FBEC, have developed the revised budget timeline. Please note that the FBEC meeting scheduled for May 5 has been cancelled.
Staff are working to create a graphic of the budget timeline that will be shared on social media next week to ensure the public is aware of the new timelines.
Transportation Update on Changes to Bell Times in 2020-21
When the Board passed its 2019-20 operating budget, it included a two year implementation plan to balance the Board’s budget. The plan included budget changes for 2019-20, as well as planned reductions for the 2020-21 school year. Phase Two of planned changes for the 2020-2021 budget year included adjusting bell times to improve route efficiency, thus saving the Board $2.5M annually. This report provides an update on how schools, parents/guardians and staff were notified, provides some feedback and adjustments since first proposed and outlines the final plan for implementation.
Toronto District School Board, all standing committee and regular board meetings will be held virtually and broadcasted live to the public.
Click here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Live-Webcast-of-Meetings
For details, Meeting Agendas and Minutes click here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Agenda-Minutes
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Toronto Lands Corporation: Board Reports
Toronto Lands Corporation For information Only Board reports, that in the past would have been on both the Committee of the Whole and the regular TDSB Board meeting agendas, are now published in the Trustees’ Weekly newsletter and posted to the TLC website.
April 27, 2020
Management Report to Board
This report serves to inform the TDSB on matters of interest and work in progress on specific project files within the TLC portfolio. This report serves as the quarterly communication between TLC and TDSB Trustees in compliance with the Shareholder’s Direction.
Development Application Summary Report
This report provides a summary of the development applications Toronto Lands Corporation has reviewed and responded to in the period from November 1, 2019 to February 29, 2020.
Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) matters
TLC’s expanded mandate includes the responsibility of all land use planning matters on behalf of the TDSB, which includes all matters before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT). This report provides an update on all LPAT matters of TLC interest that were recently or are currently at the LPAT.
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The purpose of this report is to provide information regarding TDSB Psychological Services’ wait lists and referral management processes.
The Annual Report on the Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) Early Literacy Action Plan for 2019-20 for information.
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Update on Construction/Renewal Projects and Caretaking hours of work
The provincial government has allowed school construction to restart. As a result of that announcement, we have recalled the majority of our trades staff to begin working on essential work related to student safety, including ensuring that all washrooms and hand washing facilities are in good working order. We have also had an increase in requests from Contractors and consultants to access the buildings to finish existing work, and to plan for and/or start new work. In order to accommodate these requests, we have increased the number of days that caretakers are in attendance at school. Beginning this week, we have a caretaker working at every site 5 days per week. In addition to providing access to sites for contractors and consultants, they will be performing all required inspections and beginning the deep cleaning work that will be necessary prior to preoccupancy by staff and students. Schools are still closed for general access and any access must conform to the access protocol.
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