May 2023
TDSB to Develop Strategy to Address Islamophobia
TDSB Trustees have unanimously voted to develop and implement a system-wide strategy to address Islamophobia. The creation of this new strategy will build on the work of the broader TDSB Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Strategy, which addresses all forms of racism, hate and discrimination. Staff will now prepare a report to be presented to the TDSB’s Planning and Priorities Committee at a meeting this fall, where they will update Trustees on the development of the new strategy. Learn more about the TDSB Strategy to Address Islamophobia.
Pandemic Recovery is Not Over
TDSB Trustees issued a TDSB-wide budget survey to all parents/guardians/caregivers to gauge their opinions on the impacts of the pandemic. I am happy to inform you that the survey was completed by nearly 18,000 TDSB parents/guardians/caregivers. Your responses were loud and clear - survey results showed that 7 in 10 believe the impacts of the pandemic are still being felt by their children, 86% believe that pandemic funding should continue, and 90% believe that the Ministry should fully or partially cover pandemic costs. I encourage you to learn more about the Budget Process.
Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP) Renewal – Have Your Say!
We are renewing our Multi-Year Strategic Plan at the TDSB, and I invite you to share your opinions to help shape the Board’s future! Please complete the MYSP Online Survey or if you are a part of a community group or committee that is interested in contributing to the MYSP renewal, the Facilitation Guide is now available online in multiple languages. I encourage you to review the guide, record your discussions and submit input. To learn more, please visit: www.tdsb.on.ca/MYSPrenewal.
Summer International Languages Elementary (ILE) & African Heritage (AH) Program
ILE Summer Program combines language & culture learning with engaging activities like games, songs, dance, storytelling, and writing. No language background knowledge is necessary. Afternoon cultural programs, run by community groups, are also available at a number of sites. AH Summer Program connects students to the contributions, histories, legacies, cultures and traditions of people of African descent through inquiry and experiential learning. Learn more and register for the 2023 Summer International Languages Elementary & African Heritage Program.
TDSB Art Education
tdsbCREATES is a board-wide arts initiative that connects local artists with classrooms through Mentorship and Residency Programs, fostering creativity while exploring various art forms, including visual arts, dance, drama, spoken word, film, music, and multidisciplinary arts. It is funded by the TDSB Arts Department and the Toronto Arts Council with administrative support of artists from Prologue Performing Arts. Planning for tdsbCREATES 2023/2024 will begin soon, incorporating learnings from 2022/2023. Prologue will prepare a full report for the Toronto Arts Council in consultation with the Arts Department. tdsbCREATES has positively impacted students and teachers based on their feedback. The program has positively impacted professional practice, student creativity, and well-being, as reported by both teachers and students.
Investment in Art Education at the TDSB
The TDSB Arts Department offers various subsidies to the system, such as the Instrument Repair Budget, the Arts Opportunity Funds, and the Arts Building Communities Subsidy. Additionally, digital learning resources, such as access to Soundtrap digital recording platform and Musicplay online resource modules, are provided to support the Arts curriculum. The Arts Department also allocates tens of thousands of free and subsidized ticketing to performances from local organizations.
The TDSB Arts Department provides professional learning opportunities for staff on topics including Cultural Appreciation vs Appropriation, Critical Selection of Materials for Music Classrooms, Exploring Land and Water through Dance and Visual Arts, and centring Anti-Oppression and Anti-Racism in Arts Classrooms. The department also supports Arts School teachers and leads the Arts Lead Educator Network as part of its initiatives this year. The Arts Department offered the Creating Space Secondary Arts Conference on February 17, 2023, where 250 teachers participated in on-site and off-site workshops at local galleries to explore centring student voice and non-dominant narratives in Arts classrooms. The Arts Department also launched the Arts Lead Educator Network in collaboration with multiple departments, with 200 Arts leaders K-12 collaborating to share best practices in Arts Education. Furthermore, the Arts Department provides ongoing support for educators in Central Student Interest Arts Programs to reimagine programming and better meet student needs in partnership with the Centrally Assigned Principal of Secondary Program and Admissions. The Arts Department will continue to develop the Arts Lead Educator Network program in upcoming 2023/2024 school year. Cultural appreciation professional learning is also provided within schools upon request. The department has met with Teachers in Positions of Responsibility (PORs) in Central Student Interest Arts Programs and will support educators in two new Student Interest Arts program sites projected to open in 2024. After great advocacy, one of these locations will be in Scarborough! More information to come as it becomes available.
The Arts Department provided virtual and in-person professional learning opportunities to over 875 elementary and secondary teachers this school year. Teachers have provided positive feedback on the opportunities to reflect on pedagogy, connect with colleagues, learn about new resources, and have challenging conversations about cultural competencies in the Arts. These opportunities have improved teachers' professional practice and student learning, for example, 94% of teachers indicated a comfort in teaching Visual Arts after their workshop; 86% of teacher indicated a comfort in teaching Dance after their workshop.
TDSB Celebrates Education Week
Schools across Ontario schools celebrated Education Week during the first week of May. At the TDSB, we were thrilled to mark Education Week 2023 and invited staff, students, parents/guardians/caregivers, and the wider TDSB community to follow #TDSBAtoZ on Twitter to learn more about the incredible things happening across the TDSB in support of student success and well-being. Schools and classrooms were also encouraged to share what they’re up to using #TDSBedweek.
Asian Heritage Month
May was Asian Heritage Month at the TDSB. We were proud to celebrate the numerous achievements of Asian-Canadians during Asian Heritage Month. This year our theme was Joining Our Table: Celebrating Asian Canadians. Learn more about Asian Heritage Month at the TDSB.
Jewish Heritage Month
We celebrated Jewish Heritage Month in May! This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Christie Pits riot that took place in Toronto in August 1933. To commemorate this moment in history, the TDSB’s Jewish Heritage Committee in collaboration with the Italian Heritage Committee offered TDSB students a chance to learn about the largest race riot in Canadian history. I encourage you to learn more about Jewish Heritage Month.
