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Week of May 22, 2016
Happy Victoria Day Long Weekend!
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Learning Centres Update
As mentioned in previous updates and as described on the TDSB website, one of the major reasons for Director Malloy to undertake the reorganization of senior staff by increasing the number of Superintendents of Education serving schools is so "Learning centres will be closely connected to the schools they support and will be able to better serve the needs of school staff, students and parents/guardians." The learning centres will: - Provide classroom teachers with extra support
- Allow staff to better identify and respond to the learning needs of students
- Improve communication with parents/guardians
- Make it easier for students, parents/guardians and the community to navigate the system
- Help resolve any issues or concerns in a more timely manner
- Ensure that all students across the TDSB have equitable access to programs and services
Stay tuned for direct communication to parents on Learning Centres. Until then, happy to answer any questions you may have.
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Networks of Schools for Ward 11
Our Schools will be working with 3 wonderful and experienced Superintendents of Education in Learning Centre 1 - Ian Allison, Kathleen Garner and Leila Girdhal-Hill. As mentioned in the last update, our current Superintendant Sandra Tondat will be working in Learning Centre 3.
There is no question that the role of the Superintendent of Education is critical as each school and school community has unique needs and characteristics. With fewer schools they will have the ability to get to know their communities and be more responsive to them. Developing and maintaining good communciations and supportive relationships among parents, principals, staff and trustees is an essential part of their role. We will plan for opportunities to meet our new Superintendents during our first Ward Forum in September.
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Brown Junior Public School
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Cottingham Junior Public School
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Davisville Junior Public School
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Deer Park Junior and Senior Public School
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Eglinton Junior Public School
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Hodgson Senior Public School
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Maurice Cody Junior Public School
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North Toronto Collegiate Institute
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Northern Secondary School
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Oriole Park Junior Public School
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Spectrum Alternative Senior School
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Hillcrest Community School
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Humewood Community School
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J R Wilcox Community School
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McMurrich Junior Public School
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Winona Drive Senior Public School
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Cedarvale Community School
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Forest Hill Collegiate Institute
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Forest Hill Junior and Senior Public School
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West Preparatory Junior Public School
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To understand the system of networks, click here for schools sorted by Superintendent of Education.As collaboration is critial and as the Director has suggested " a definition of network is that there are multiple opportunities for different groupings of people to come together for specific purposes. The very definition speaks to a different way of working. Though there is more flexibility in a learning centre structure, clear expectations and process are required. We are working on these expectations and processes now."
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Agreement with the City of Toronto for the City’s Continued Use of School Pools
At this week's Board Meeting, School Pools are on the Agenda. As noted in a number of previous updates, the Agreement between the City of Toronto and the Toronto District School Board For Use of School Pools is set to expire in June 2017. Prior to that, the City informed the Board that they no longer wished to continue to operate 3 of the 33 school pools, of which Brown was one. The Board has committed to continue operating Brown and the other 2 for school use through the operating budget for 2016-17, also to be approved at this week's Board. For more on the Operating Budget, click here.
In accordance with section 2 of the Pools Agreement, the TDSB and City “agree to begin discussions on the extensions of the contract beyond June 30, 2017, and the related terms and conditions, no later than June 30, 2016.” According to the Toronto Lands Coporation (TLC) Report coming to Board, "the City, TDSB and TLC have to date, entered into preliminary discussions, which have included a TLC request to over-hold the existing agreement for 6 months from June 2017 to December 31, 2017. This will provide greater opportunity for dialogue while assuring no further pools reductions in 2017-2018. Should the TLC and TDSB Board approve the consolidation of all pool matters under the purview of TLC, it is recommended that the three pools be transferred to TLC for review in an attempt to maximize usage and pool revenue with a report back to the TDSB Board. TLC and the City has begun early identification of issues within the existing agreement and will meet to assess any issues. TLC will also be engaging the Swim Toronto Committee to provide guidance as we move forward."
The TLC Report coming to Board contains the following recommentations (read the full report here): - The Toronto Lands Corporation (TLC) be authorized to lead, with input from Toronto District School Board staff and trustees, the negotiation with the City on an agreement for the leasing of the TDSB’s pools by the City;
- Any pool(s) released from the Use of School Pools Agreement between the City of Toronto and the Toronto District School Board for Use of School Pools be transferred to the TLC for oversight and to develop strategies to maximize usage and revenues. This may include: Leasing, Licensing, or Permitting, and
- TLC be authorized to undertake a Pool Condition Assessment for the pools under the current Agreement between City of Toronto and the Toronto District School Board For Use of school pools.
I support this Report and will continue to keep you informed of opportunities to be directly involved.
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Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy 2016-2025 and the Annual Planning Document 2016-2017
As mentioned in last week's update, the Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy (LTPAS) is refreshed annually in order to ensure that the program and pupil accommodation needs of our students are being addressed in the most efficient way possible to improve learning opportunities and student achievement. The LTPAS document is presented to the Board every year for approval as is the Annual Planning Document that accompanies the strategy document and provides details about the specific studies that will be done during the next school year.At last week's Planning and Prioritiy Committee it was decided the plan should come back trhough the June cycle of meetings for approval at the June board and for that reason it is not yet posted on the website. The information is now public, however, so I am sharing with you the studies included for Ward 11 schools for 2016-17. Once again, do not hesitate to contact me with your comments or questions.
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Summary of Webcast with Director John Malloy and Chair Robin Pilkey
Director Malloy has been piloting webcasts and chats with employees and parents, and several weeks ago the Director and Chair Robin Pilkey co-hosted their first live webcast/chat with parents. The discussion was engaging and touched on many subjects and issues of importance to families and communities including Special Education, school repairs, dealing with growth, the curriculum and Learning Centres. The feedback was very positive overall and we will be following up on a number of suggestions for the future. To read the summary, click here.
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Improving Playing Fields
The TDSB is developing a plan to improve the maintenance and general use of its playing fields. The plan will utilize fair and equitable funding priorities and develop partnerships with local sports clubs. Read the Board Report here.
SmartSAVER
The TDSB has partnered with SmartSAVER to launch a board-wide campaign to help families access the federal government's Canada Learning Bond. Through a secure, online system - accessible at www.tdsb.on.ca/SmartSAVER - families can apply for the Canada Learning Bond, open a registered education savings plan (RESP) and access support throughout this process in multiple languages.
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“Mental Health and Well-Being Belongs to Us” – Monthly Newsletter
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2016-2017 SuperCouncil and Student Trustee Elections
We would like to officially welcome our two newly-elected Student Trustees – Shams Mehdi from Leaside High School and Saad Wazir from SATEC @ W.A. Porter Collegiate Institute. Shams and Saad were elected along with SuperCouncil Executives on May 13, 2016. As a result of the work of outgoing Student Trustees Sammy Al Rubaie and Hamima Fattah, Shams will be the first Student Trustee to serve a two-year term.
Incoming 2016-2017 SuperCouncil Executives
Student Trustee (1 Term): Saad Wazir (SATEC @ WA Porter CI)
Student Trustee (2 Term): Shams Mehdi (Leaside HS)
President: Ikran Jamar (York Memorial CI)
Vice-President: Frank Hong (Marc Garneau CI)
Secretary/Treasurer: Alice Cheng (Victoria Park CI)
Conference Chair: Vera Wang (Earl Haig SS)
Communications Officer: Sariena Luy (Earl Haig SS)
And representing the area in which Ward 11 Schools are in (Area B) are the following-
Co-Chair: Mahmood Aman (Bloor CI)
Co-Chair: Meagan Leider (North Toronto CI)
Secretary: Michelle Lam (Rosedale Heights School of the Arts)
Grade 7/8 Rep: (None)
Please note that our area still needs a Grade 7/8 rep. Please feel free to share this with students who are currently in Grade 7 who may wish to be considered for this leadership role!
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New Invitations
2016 TDSB PRIDE Committee Needs Volunteers! - Meeting on May 31, 2016, 4pm at 5050 Yonge St
This is a call-out to all interested students, staff and members of the TDSB community for volunteers to join the TDSB 2016 PRIDE 2016 Committee. Last year, the Toronto PRIDE Toronto Parade drew more than 1.2 million spectators and participants. In 2016, as we've been doing each year since 2000, a proud TDSB contingent of students, staff and Trustees will again be marching in the city's annual PRIDE Parade. The Parade will take place on Sunday, July 3rd, culminating the 10-day 2016 PRIDE Toronto festival, as well as Canada’s first-ever officially proclaimed PRIDE Month. Get involved and help plan TDSB's celebration of PRIDE 2016. The TDSB PRIDE 2016 Committee is meeting at 4:00 PM on Tuesday, May 31st, at 5050 Yonge Street, Committee Room C (back of the cafeteria). Everyone is welcome ~ hope to see you there! To RSVP, please contact Michelle Weatherbee, Equity and Inclusive Schools, 416 397-3678.
12th Asian Community Games - Month of June 2016
The 12th Asian Community Games are being held at venues across the GTA throughout the month of June 2016. Established in 2005, to promote understanding through friendly competition between members of the Asian and other Canadian communities, the Games feature tournaments in a dozen different team and individual sports, including track & field, basketball, cricket, soccer, swimming and more, are open to participants of various ages and skill levels. Please see the poster or visit acgames.ca for the tournament schedule and information on how to register to compete.
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Elementary/African Heritage Summer Language and Cultural Program |
When:
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July 4 - July 29, 2016 (Monday to Friday)
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Who:
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Kindergarten to Grade 8 students
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Locations:
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Please see below for locations
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What:
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International Languages Elementary Summer Programs combine language & culture learning with engaging activities like games, songs, dance, storytelling and writing. No language background knowledge is necessary.
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Time:
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9 - 11:30am Language program offered by TDSB* 11:30 am - 4pm Non TDSB cultural programming offered by community groups. (with optional before 9am and after 4pm program available). Please note that the afternoon cultural program is optional.
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*Except for North Kipling. Language program offered from 1:00 - 3:30pm.
Other languages may be offered as long as a minimum of 23 students are enrolled.
For more information call 416 338-4100. For program specifics, please click here.
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Worth Repeating...
TDSB Supports Fort McMurray - Deadline for Federal Government matching funds to donations to Red Cross May 31 - For more information on how to donate to the Canadian Red Cross, please visit www.redcross.ca. To read about what are schools are doing, click here.
Bike to School Week - May 30-June 3 - 269 Schools have registered. Let’s get rolling! Join students and teachers across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area to celebrate Bike to School Week. For more information click http://www.bikemonth.ca/biketoschool.
Applications for Parents Reaching Out Grants 2016-17 Now Open - Grant applications for the 2016-17 school year are now open and will be accepted until May 29, 2016. In the 2015-16 school year, the province funded more than 2,200 projects that helped identify barriers to parent engagement and found local solutions to help more parents be engaged in their children's learning. For more information, click on http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/reaching.html
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Free presentation by Jennifer Kolari, Wednesday, May 25, 7-8pm at Oakwood CI, 991 St Clair Av - Oakwood Collegiate invites all parents to attend a Parent Presentation by Jennifer Kolari. This presentation will show parents the importance of communication in the parent-teen relationship and is for parents and teens. RSVP: youmeweee@hotmail.com
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TDSB Healthy Schools 5k Run/Walk - On Saturday, June 4, 2016 the Health and Physical Education Department is hosting a celebration of all the healthy active living that happens in our schools and communities every day. Students, staff, parents/guardians and community members are invited to join us at Downsview Park for the TDSB Healthy Schools 5k Run/Walk. Elementary schools will participate at 10 a.m. and secondary schools will begin at 11 a.m. Read all about the Run/Walk event day details.
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