May 11, 2025 

"Mother's Day is a celebration honouring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society."

"Today we think of those who care, those who love, and those we miss."

Thinking of all those fortunate to celebrate and be celebrated...

Hoping all of you have people in your lives to influence and support and love unconditionally... and who give it right back. I miss my mom every day. Happy Mother's Day.

Wednesday May 07, 2025

Trustees with the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) are appealing to the Government of Ontario to pay their fair share of education funding in Toronto and across the province.

During a news conference today at the TDSB Education Centre, Trustees highlighted the growing need for the government to address budget pressures the Board continues to face, including:

While Trustees have cut tens of millions from the TDSB budget over recent years and continue to look for savings, the Board continues to face financial challenges because of obligations and restrictions imposed by the Province.

Trustees have requested an urgent meeting with the Minister of Education to discuss these ongoing challenges and to work collaboratively with the Province to address the funding shortfall, lift the moratorium on school closures, and cover the true costs of staffing and statutory benefits.

For more information, visit the TDSB budget webpage.

Quick Facts

TDSB is Canada’s largest school board and one of the largest in North America, with 239,000 students, 100,000 adult learners, and 41,000 employees.

Ministry of Education funding for Special Education is inadequate, with the TDSB spending $38.5 million more than received. Overall, 71 of 72 boards exceed provincial funding to meet special education needs.

“Working with the Minister, I am confident that we can come up with creative solutions that address ongoing funding challenges, while recognizing the need for fiscal restraint. In the meantime, our Board will continue to fight to maintain valuable programs and services for Toronto students.” Neethan Shan, Chair, TDSB

“Each year, the broken provincial funding model leaves us with a $70 million deficit right from the start, complicating our efforts to support students and staff. Nevertheless, our high graduation rates, strong student engagement, and robust safety measures are a testament to the dedication of school and central staff at the TDSB." Dan MacLean, Chair, TDSB Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee

As announced on April 23, 2025, the Ontario government has launched financial probes into the TDSB to validate its current financial position and determine if control of the board should be vested in the ministry. The investigator will present a report of their findings to the Minister of Education by May 30.

On Friday, May 9, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP was appointed as the investigator at the Toronto District School Board.

The TDSB has a structural deficit - the Province is responsible. Please see my last update for more details.

Excerpts from As Ford government takes aim at school boards, data show funding has declined

Using public data, The Trillium, along with several other analyses, found that provincial school board funding has declined over the Ford government’s time in office, when inflation is taken into account, exacerbating issues that were present even earlier.

By the numbers... Ontario is spending more than ever before on education. But in another, more real sense, it’s spending less, according to several analyses that have been done by different organizations.

In 2018-19, before Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservatives took office, the province gave the TDSB just over $3 billion (or $12,386 per student) in “core education” funding, which makes up about 90 per cent of school boards’ operating revenue.

For 2024-25, the board is projected to receive over $3.3 billion, or $14,101 per student. In this year’s dollars, however, calculated using Statistics Canada’s consumer price index for Ontario, the board was getting $14,852 per student back in 2018-19 — a $751 decrease in funding over the past seven years.

If the province had kept funding education at the rate of inflation, the TDSB would be $178.3 million richer this year — just over three times the $58 million deficit.

Ricardo Tranjan, a political economist and researcher with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, crunched the numbers, which The Trillium independently verified.

By excluding provincial contingency funding or unallocated amounts that were not freely available to boards in the same way normal cash flows, Tranjan previously estimated that province-wide per-student funding has dropped by $1,500 since 2018, an estimate commonly cited by education unions and school boards. 

His $751 estimate is only for the TDSB, and takes the province’s funding at face value. Calculated the same way as his $1,500 province-wide estimate, the TDSB funding gap rises to $794 per student.

The Ontario Public School Boards' Association has estimated a province-wide per-student funding decrease of $776 since 2018.

Ontario’s independent Financial Accountability Office (FAO), which has no vested interest in education spending, confirmed that per-student funding has dropped during the Ford government’s tenure...

Please read the whole article.

The TDSB Itinerant Music Instructors (IMIs) are specialized and professional musicians that have been providing weekly in-class instruction in Music to students from Kindergarten through Grade 8 for almost 75 years now.

Due to underfunding by the Provincial Government, the current Budget process for 2025-2026 calls for the elimination of this valuable program, for a net savings of $4 million.

IMIs visit assigned schools two times per week at minimum, and provide a variety of programming as selected by the school Principal. This programming includes Vocal, Recorder, ORFF, Band, Strings and Steel Pan. For many of our students, the IMI program is their only music instruction, despite it being mandated in the Provincial curriculum.

For Vocal, Recorder, ORFF programs, IMIs, in partnership with the classroom teacher, provide direct instruction to the students, and coaching to the classroom teacher in music instruction, class planning, and skills development in the field of interest over a 2-year program period.

Band, Strings and Steel Pan IMIs instruct directly to the students, focusing on the many instruments within each program, and providing the opportunity to learn an instrument, develop cultural recognition, and participate in performance groups.

Each year Principals are offered IMI programs as an optional additional program in their schools; in 2024-2025, 277 schools signed up for a total of 434 IMI-delivered music programs. Many have more than one, e.g. Band and Strings. This leaves 192 elementary schools without an IMI program. Many schools cannot apply due to lack of instruments, classroom allocation, or teacher and other class scheduling conflicts.

The TDSB staff, correctly, identify this as being inequitable. However, and despite the Board’s philosophy of equity for all, the proposal is to eliminate the program entirely, removing the inequity, rather than look for options to make the program far more equitable across the TDSB.

The TDSB is proposing IMIs be replaced with certified generalist teachers with music qualifications. They have identified 636 elementary teachers with music qualifications – but do not specify what these qualifications are. Many go through Additional Qualification (AQ) courses – short weeks-long courses over the summer to add to their knowledge on music instruction. IMIs have years of education, skill development and experience. How many of these music qualified teachers are of full instrumental background and knowledgeable on all the instruments in the respective discipline? IMIs are. But more importantly, how will the Board ensure those qualified teachers stay in their schools year after year, remain scheduled to specifically teach music and not other generalist courses, and are not surplused or bumped through annual contractual staffing processes?

Multiple studies over the years have shown investment in music yields unlimited returns in creative thinking, organizational, team, and motor skills, and self-expression – to name a few – all skills that are necessary in the workplace. It has been proven to accelerate learning in mathematics – one of the key focuses of today’s provincial government. To date there has been no studies disproving any of these facts.

Eliminating the IMI program and corresponding amount of time students participate in music in their elementary years will severely impact their choice to continue this study in high school, thus potentially leading to a substantial reduction in the quality and participation rate of secondary programs. If the goal is to create a school community where equity, student well-being and achievement is the primary focus through rich and culturally diverse learning experiences, are we not diminishing these opportunities in music through these potential cuts to programs in the elementary years and beyond?

At the heart of this matter is not the fact that the IMI program is unfunded in the Board budget. It is not the fact that it is not equitably distributed across all TDSB schools. It is the fact that the Provincial Government continues to underfund education, not only to meet the needs of its students, but also to fund statutory costs.

With the change to a two-tier CPP contribution rate last year by the Federal Government, the Provincial government has not provided the funding of the additional $39 million the TDSB is required to pay in Employer’s contributions of CPP premiums. The Provincial government has not funded the increased Employer’s EI premium contribution rate to the tune of $4.7 million. Funding for teachers’ wage increases, negotiated through the bargaining process, are unfunded by the Provincial government in the amount of $26.1 million. Together these add up to $69.8 million, far in excess of the $58 million deficit the Board is facing and that proposes elimination of the IMI program as one of the solutions to meeting that deficit.

In fact, this proposal to eliminate the IMI Program is not new at all. In 2013, essentially the same proposal was brought forward and after massive media and public attention, and tens of thousands of signatures from around the world on a petition against the proposal, the plan to eliminate the IMI program was defeated. In the words of one Trustee at that time, “I have never seen an issue get so much attention.”

So what has changed? In 2013, there was also the belief that the program could be replaced with classroom teachers, who already have substantial curriculum workload and responsibilities – and proven to not be a viable alternative due to individual school scheduling and enrolment issues, and the need to assign these music-qualified teachers to other classrooms and curriculum.

We’ve been here before and solutions were found. Our students deserve experience. Our students deserve focused skill. Please join us in pressuring the Provincial government to provide the necessary funding, and the Board to look for alternatives to all the proposed cuts such that they do not have such a direct impact on our students’ success.

Call to action: Lobby your MPP (list of MPPS here) to fund Education fully, including statutory obligations of Employer's CPP & EI contributions and negotiated wages and benefits. Ensure MPPs provide sufficient funding to ensure no program directly affecting students is cut in any way.

Please sign the petition: Music Education Canada (CMEC) launched a petition.

There are many staff recommendations that directly affect students, staff and communities. Pools is one of them. Here we are again - Save Our Pools in 2008.

Prior to amalgamation in 1998 when the province took over funding of education, the majority of pools in schools were built cooperatively by the City and the Boards through our tax dollars - most schools with pools also have community centres. 

Schools were thought of as Community Hubs. Schools are community hubs.

Due to a special arrangement between the TDSB and the City of Toronto, 27 school pools are exclusive to Parks, Forestry and Recreation after 6 p.m. on weekdays, all day on weekends and during summer break. 36 pools are managed by the TDSB Permit Unit. The list of these pools is available here. The Toronto Lands Corporation (TLC) on behalf of the TDSB was already negotiating a revised School-City Pool agreement with the City. 

The closure of TDSB pools not only directly affects kids, but the many businesses that operate permits in TDSB pools. But even if all pools could be leased, staff propose to cut all school swim programming for all students in our 66 pools.

When the aquatic instructors were at risk in the 2023 budget process, David Crombie, who chaired the Aquatic Working Group in 2008 issued the following statement:

I have a significant history supporting TDSB aquatics programming and have long been an advocate of the role and importance of swimming pools, including those situated in schools, in Toronto. I am proud of the work started in 2008, while I was Chair of the Toronto Lands Corporation, to hold an Aquatics Summit and form an Aquatics Working Group to bring together the TDSB, TLC, City of Toronto and Province to create a sustainable plan to maintain these valuable community assets that are located within our schools.  This process resulted in the arrangement that has made these pools available to TDSB students on a cost effective basis to the Board, while providing access to the broader community as well where possible.

Aquatics instruction plays an incredibly important role in teaching our children important life-saving skills that could one day save themselves and others. Whenever and wherever possible, we need to support teaching our children these skills and using the pools that exist in our communities to their fullest potential. In many cases, school pools are important community hubs and are valuable assets providing essential benefits and fostering connections for all ages.  

25 years after amalgamation of our great city, and with all that we have been through and have ahead of us, I hope that we continue to appreciate all that our city has to offer and to invest in students and our communities.  

As noted in our joint statement below, the TDSB through the Toronto Lands Corporation had already begun negotiations with the City. But this is not just up to the City - the Province has a responsibility to fully fund our schools.

Hillcrest and 529 Vaughan Rd are the only schools in the ward with a pool leased by the City. The pool at JPCI is leased by the 3rd party. The other pools in schools in the Ward are at risk - Allenby, Brown, Deer Park, FHCI, Glenview, LPCI, and Winona.

Please see the joint statement from Councilor Matlow and me in my last updates or on line - https://x.com/JoshMatlow/status/1915903055154864633

Please sign the petition to Save Our Pools - https://www.joshmatlow.ca/saveourpools

Staff are basing their reports to date on estimates. The Ministry has not yet released the Core Education Funding (Core Ed).

Once the actual Core Ed is received, staff will calculate the actual grant revenue to determine any changes required to the estimate.

The next FBEC meeting is this Wednesday, May 15, 2025.

One of our parents in the Ward, Karina Walsh created a What's App group called TDSB Ward 8 community. Ideally we get to having a Toronto wide group, but let's see what happens. For now, please join https://chat.whatsapp.com/IZwQ0Rn

In addition, some east end parents are working hard to bring lots of attention to this matter and help make the changes our kids deserve. A communication package, including phone scripts, email templates and key messages is available to use - please click here.

The Toronto District School Board is committed to developing opportunities for our wider school community to connect and engage in conversations about education issues. Meetings will be broadcasted live to the public. Click here at the start time to view - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Live-Webcast-of-Meetings.

To submit a delegation request (written for the Trustees to read or oral to present to Trustees) for a Board Committee (delegations are not accepted for Board meetings), please see here - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Delegations and email delegates@tdsb.on.ca. If your request is approved, further details will be provided to you via email. 

Full Agenda and Reports for meetings are available here - click on the appropriate meeting https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Agenda-Minutes

Monday, May 12, 2025 – Special Governance & Policy Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda (items not dealt with on April 23)

Wednesday, May 14, 2025 – Planning and Priorities Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda

Thursday, May 15, 2025 – Special Finance Budget and Enrolment Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda

Harassment, discrimination, and hate are prohibited at the TDSB. The Human Rights Office continues to implement board policy and procedures to address human rights and Code-based workplace harassment complaints at TDSB.  Please read the full report. 

"The HRO supports the endeavour at schools to address incidents of racism and hate involving and impacting students. As duty holders, all board employees play an important role in promoting and protecting human rights. Strengthening capacities system-wide to prevent, identify and address human rights complaints and incidents of racism, bias and hate in schools is priority. This endeavour supports learning and working environments where students and staff can belong, thrive and achieve, in accordance with the Board’s Multi-Year Strategic Plan, 2024-2028.

At TDSB there is a commitment to eliminating racism, hate and discrimination. Bullying, harassment, discrimination and hate, have no place in TDSB schools. Ongoing efforts are underway at schools, and through the central departments to uphold human rights and address complaints and incidents. The TDSB’s Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism strategy advances a systematic and systemic approach to that end. Consultations regarding TDSB’s Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism strategy are well underway."

The following points are illustrated within the data:

There were 2,155 reported incidents of racism, bias or hate, between September 1, 2023 and August 31, 2024. Approximately 80% of all incidents involved some type of racism.  

Fifty-nine percent (59%) of all incidents (2,155) involved racism directed towards individuals of Black African, Afro Caribbean or African Canadian identities (see Graph 1). The next largest group involves incidents of racism towards East Asians (7% of all incidents). Compared to the previous year there is a decrease in proportion of incidents towards Black Africans, Afro Caribbeans or African Canadians (-2%) and East Asians (2%), while the overall number of reported incidents has grown slightly (+127). 

Overall, incidents based on creed/religion accounted for approximately 20% of all reported incidents, representing an increase of about +5% compared to the previous year. Antisemitism was reported the most frequently at 14.5% followed by Islamophobia (4.7%) (see Graph 2) of all incidents.  Antisemitism experienced an increase in proportion from the previous year (+4%). Incidents involving Antisemitism were comprised mainly of slurs/comments and graffiti/displays of a hate symbol. The majority of incidents involving Islamophobia consisted of slurs/comments. Few incidents targeted other creeds/religions, which were each under 1%. 

The distribution of the nature of incidents reported has mostly remained consistent year-over-year. Slurs/comments continue to be the predominantly reported type of incident (see Graph 5). Overall, the vast majority of incidents materialized as incidents were slurs and/or /comments, which constituted 83% of all reported incidents. 

Most reported incidents took place in the classroom, hallway, or school yard (see Graph 6). The proportion of incidents in the classroom declined -20% year-over-year, while incidents reported in the hallway increased +8% and incidents in the school yard saw a decline of -9%. ‘Other’ also had a decline from the previous year (-7%). 

The TDSB is currently receiving feedback regarding a proposed boundary modifications involving Northern SS, Lawrence Park CI, North Toronto CI, York Mills CI, and Leaside HS. These modifications are to address the four shared attendance boundaries between Northern SS, Lawrence Park CI, York Mills CI, and Leaside HS, and the accommodation pressures at North Toronto CI.The slide deck from last week's public meeting, along with an FAQ document, is posted on the Accommodation Reviews webpage. You may view the recording of the March 27, 2025, public presentation. The best ways to provide feedback are to complete this feedback survey, email me or your local Trustee, or email staff at accommodationreviews@tdsb.on.ca with any questions or concerns.

Next steps. After reviewing comments, TDSB staff will present a report with their recommendations to the Board’s Planning and Priorities Committee this Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 4:30 PM, Boardroom, Main Floor, 5050 Yonge Street, Toronto. If you would like to share your thoughts in person with Trustees at the committee meeting or in writing, please contact delegates@tdsb.on.ca by 4:00 p.m. on Monday, May 12, 2025. More informaton https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Delegations.

The staff report will be included in the Planning and Priorities Committee agenda and posted online (http://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Agenda-Minutes). by May 12, 2024. I will include it in my update.

The Planning and Priorities Committee recommendations regarding the Boundary Change review will be presented to the Board at a meeting on Wednesday, May 21, 2025, where the Board of Trustees will make the final decisions about the schools in the review. None of these changes will be implemented until September 1, 2026.

At the TDSB we provide a wide range of enriching summer programs for children, youth and adults.

Elementary

Elementary Summer School

Extended Day Program – Summer Program

International Languages Elementary & African Heritage Summer Program

Outdoor Education Summer Camp

Summer Music Camps

Secondary

Credit Courses for e-Summer High School (online)

Continuing Education Secondary Credit Summer Programs

International Youth Summer Program

Special Education and Inclusion

Special Education and Inclusion Summer Program

Adult

Adult ESL Summer Program

Learn4Life General Interest Courses

Printable Course Listing

Open to adults 18 years of age and seniors, the Learn4Life program offers a unique and valuable opportunity for individuals to pursue their interests, expand their knowledge, and engage in lifelong learning with a wide range of courses and activities designed to cater to diverse interests and passions. Learn more.

Available Courses and Register Here

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) invites TDSB students, families and community members who self-identify as part of the Asian diaspora to attend a community consultation this Spring. 

Attendees are encouraged to participate in conversations that explore the various ways the TDSB can nurture, affirm, and support Asian students, families, and community members while also understanding and addressing manifestations of anti-Asian racism. 

Please join us for a special evening celebrating the dedication and hard work of our PIAC and FSLAC Reps, School Council members and school volunteers whose contributions have helped shape a positive, supportive, and enriching learning environment for students. This event is sponsored by the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC).

We are very excited to announce students from the Black Student Leadership Course (BSLC) will perform their original works.

If you are interested in participating, please RSVP Here and indicate if you require  childcare. Dinner will be provided!

Protect Against Measles

Measles is a serious respiratory infection that is highly contagious. Individuals with measles spread the virus by coughing or sneezing into the air. It can also be transmitted by touching your eyes, nose, or mouth after touching an infected surface. Symptoms of measles include fever, a red blotchy rash, red watery eyes, and cough. Toronto Public Health

Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect yourself against measles. For children and most adults born after 1970, this means receiving two doses of measles-containing vaccine (e.g., MMR vaccine). Individuals travelling outside of Canada should ensure they are adequately protected through vaccination prior to travelling. 

If you are experiencing symptoms of measles, stay at home, and call your health care provider or local public health unit right away. Before seeking medical attention, be sure to contact your health care provider or the healthcare facility prior to your arrival so that the appropriate precautions can be taken to prevent the spread of measles. 

To obtain or inquire about an immunization record, or for general immunization information, please contact your local public health unit.

Dogs Are Not Allowed on School Property and Must be Leased in Public

The TDSB enforces a strict policy regarding dogs on its properties. To effectively address incidents of dogs being off-leash on school properties, a new reporting process has been established through the City of Toronto’s 311 service. Call 311 to report dogs off-leash on school property.

If you own a dog, they must be on a leash in public, unless you are at a dogs off-leash area. No excuses! You are responsible for your dog’s behaviour. Learn what responsible dog owners do at http://toronto.ca/LeashYourDog

Graduation Fair for Students with Disabilities/Special Education Needs and Families –Students preparing for graduation and life beyond school are invited to an in-person Graduation Fair on May 14. This event will feature information booths, including Community Support Services and Post-21 Programs, Employment Assistance Agencies, and Academic Institutions & Accessibility Services Offices. Learn more or register online. Walk-ins welcome.

Special Education and Inclusion Newsletter for Parents/Guardians/Caregivers –This monthly newsletter is designed to support families in navigating the journey of supporting students with special education needs. Each edition features valuable resources, tips, and success stories to empower families and their children.

TDSB Community Services Skills Training - Introduction to Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint - Call 416-396-6368 or email upgrading@tdsb.on.ca

Supporting Your Child’s Well-being: Free webinar series for parents and caregivers focused on substance use, addictive behaviours and youth

School Mental Health Ontario is offering a free, 5-part webinar series designed to help parents and caregivers navigate important topics related to substance use and addictive behaviours.

This expert-led series will provide insights and practical strategies on:

Each webinar will include time for experts to answer questions sent in advance, plus a Q&A opportunity to ask experts questions during the session. Questions can be entered on the By Your Side learning hub - entries will close 2 weeks prior to each session. For more information, Click Here.

Parent/Caregivers IMPACT Symposiums

Calling all parents and caregivers! The City of Toronto’s Community Crisis Response Program and the TDSB Parent/Caregiver & Community Engagement Office invite you to IMPACT – Innovative Methods for Parents/Caregivers Today!. Join us this May for one of three powerful sessions designed to equip you with the knowledge and the tools to support your children. We’ll tackle the most pressing issues facing young people, including: Mental Health & Well- being & Vaping Dependency; Social Media and Cellphone Dependency; Criminality & Prevention and Missing Youth & Community Safety. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect. Register soon as registration is limited.

WongAvery Asia Pacific Peace Museum (APPM) - Run for Peace on June 8

To celebrate the 1st anniversary of the birth of the APPM, we are launching a 5 KM Run/Walk this year that also carries a fundraising goal of $200,000 in support of ALPHA’s continuous education work.

We sincerely invite you to participate/ support the 2025 Run for Peace on June 8. Join the event as an individual participant/ a group or with your family

Join and raise funds as a participant/ group/ family (we will set up a profile for you on our webpage).

Support the participants.

Virtual Urgent Care Kiosk, an in-person space at the Lawrence Allen Center

SickKids started a Virtual Urgent Care (VUC) platform in 2021 (Learn more by clicking here).

After initial community consultation, SickKids have created the Greeter-supported Virtual Urgent Care Kiosk, an in-person space at the Lawrence Allen Center (a local mall located at Lawrence and the Allen Road). This one-year project is a novel, health equity-focused approach to urgent care, which would see SickKids provide an additional way for one of Toronto’s most digitally underserved communities to access our VUC platform.

The initiative launched in late January. SickKids are very excited to bring this novel, health equity-focused resource to the community - we hope this project brings benefits to the local community and learning that will improve care for patients and families.

As staff continue developing the overarching Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Strategy please remember that should an incident of antisemitism or any form of hate or racism occur in our schools, principals have an obligation to report it.

As I repeat in every update, the TDSB collects data through the Bias and Hate (RBH) Portal. An increase in antisemitic incidents is being experienced in our schools as it is in our communities - on my website I have excerpted from all our public reports on the data - TDSB Public Reports with RBH Portal Data 2018-2023. Principals and Superintendents are being reminded of their responsibilities in documenting incidents and educating against them. All students and staff - all students and staff - must be safe in our schools and free from discrimination, harassment and hate. Antisemitism is but one form of hate our students and staff are experiencing. 

If you are a staff or a student or a parent/caregiver, and you are a victim of/or witnessing an incident of racism, bias, or hate in our schools, please report it to the school's principal, who has a duty to investigate all incidents. For more information, please visit the webpage for Reporting an Incident of Hate or Discrimination Involving or Impacting Students. If you experience it, or witness it, report it. Please. If you are concerned your complaint is not being taken seriously after you follow the Parent Concern Protocol, please let me know.

For incidents involving and impacting students, the following procedures can apply: Reporting and Responding to Racism and Hate Incidents Involving or Impacting Students in Schools, PR728 Parent Concern Protocol, PR505 Caring and Safe Schools related procedures

For employee complaints, the following procedures can apply: Workplace Harassment Prevention and Human Rights, PR515 (for employee conduct alleged to be a human rights violation or Code-based workplace harassment) Non-Code Based Workplace Harassment, PR740

In some circumstances an incident entered into the RBH portal may be a breach of the Criminal Code through the incitement of hate; in which case, the incident must also be reported to the police in accordance with PR728.

Complaints regarding social media postings should be sent directly to the TDSB's Human Rights Office at humanrightsoffice@tdsb.on.ca. The intake process is being centralized in the Human Rights Office to ensure for consistency of process.

If you witness something inside the community, report any allegations of hate-motivated crimes to police for investigation at 416-808-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. The Police state they will not tolerate any intimidation, harassment, or hate-motivated behaviour aimed at specific communities. You can also call 1-800-222-TIPS to Crime Stoppers anonymously.

Please remember TDSB's Mental Health and Well Being Professional Support Staff (PSS) are here to support your mental health and well-being and to help you navigate the tools and resources you may need. Please see resources on their website.

Please ensure you check for Days of Significance before scheduling student and community events - as the TDSB is currently reviewing ours - for 2024-25, the TDSB will only publish a Faith/Creed-Based Holy Days Calendar and an Indigenous Days of Significance Calendar. For now, please check the Multi-Faith calendar available online https://multifaithcalendar.org/cal/index.php.

2005 - 2026 School Year Calendar

The Ministry has approved the 2025-26 School Year Calendar!

It is the hope that presenting this early provides students, parents and staff sufficient notice to make plans for the 2025-2026 school year.

Asian Heritage Month May 2025 Since 2007, the TDSB has proudly celebrated Asian Heritage Month, recognizing the rich cultural diversity and contributions of Asian Canadian communities. This year's theme, Asian Canadians Up and Rising, highlights the strength, resilience, and remarkable achievements of Asian Canadians. We invite you to explore various educational opportunities that honor and celebrate these communities. Read the full Asian Heritage Month message to discover exciting events, workshops, and resources designed to inspire and educate our students and staff.

Jewish Heritage Month - May 2025 is a special time for the TDSB to recognize and celebrate the social, economic, political, and cultural contributions of Jewish Canadians.

TDSB's Jewish Heritage Committee has curated a series of impactful, innovative, and inspirational opportunities for students to engage with Jewish heritage and culture.

We encourage you to learn more about these enriching experiences and join us in celebrating the vibrant Jewish community within our schools. Read the full message to learn more.

Special Education and Inclusion Guides for Parents/ Guardians/Caregivers

From learning about Individual Education Plans (IEPs) to navigating the Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) process, these resources are here to support you every step of the way.

We encourage you to explore the full guides on the Special Education and Inclusion website, where you’ll also find\additional Special Education resources for families.

School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) has launched By Your Side, a new parent/caregiver learning hub that has been designed to meet the needs of Ontario’s families. By Your Side was created by Ontario parents/caregivers and school mental health professionals and includes resources and supports made available in multiple formats—including web content, PDFs, and videos to ensure that families can easily access information and strategies that promote mental health and well-being at home. Key topics include understanding mental health, promoting mental health at home, supporting mental health at school, stress and anxiety management, substance use prevention, navigating digital technology use, and reaching out for help. Our hope is you find these resources helpful. Mental health matters.

Vaccines - Make Sure You're Up-to-Date

Learn more about where you can get your vaccines, including the flu, COVID-19 and school-based vaccines.

Vaccine preventable diseases are still spreading globally. Vaccines help build and strengthen our immune system, protecting us against diseases.

For more information on timing of recommended vaccinations visit Ontario’s Publicly Funded Immunization Schedule 

In Ontario, the Immunization of School Pupil Act (ISPA) requires all students to be up to date with meningococcal vaccines or have a valid exemption  even if they received a meningococcal vaccine as a child. Visit School Immunization Program (SIP) clinics.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) presents Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away, which examines the history and legacy of the most significant site of the Holocaust, for its exclusive Canadian showing. The exhibition opened on January 10, 2025, and runs to September 1, 2025.

The public is invited to purchase tickets - more information can be found here.  More information on school visits for grades 6-12 can be found here. 

Virtual Drop-In Hours: Pathways to Care for Mental Health

Did you know the TDSB offers drop-in hours for educational presentations that provide the knowledge and tools necessary to support the well-being of students at home and in school?

Visit the TDSB website to view session dates and themes.

TDSB Special Education Department Family Sessions
Drop-In Q & A with Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Staff - Receive general OT/PT strategies for your child(ren) / Chat with other parents/caregivers; Ask questions.

If you require translation services or have any questions or concerns, please email:
Learning Centre 1 - Rhanda Craig: rhanda.craig@tdsb.on.ca and Leslie Hopkins: leslie.hopkins@tdsb.on.ca Learning Centre 2 - Anna Lin: anna.lin@tdsb.on.ca and Andrea Wiltsie: andrea.wiltsie@tdsb.on.ca
Get the link here Sensory and Motor team parent/guardian/caregiver VOH flyer

Special Education and Inclusion 2024-25 Drop-In Sessions

Special Education and Inclusion is pleased to offer drop-in sessions for parents, guardians, and caregivers. These sessions aim to provide information and resources for accessing special education supports and services. Participants can ask questions, share experiences, and connect with other families in a friendly environment.

Please see the flyer for upcoming dates, times and links.

I have been communicating issues we have been having with dogs on school property with every update. Now, as part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a safe and welcoming environment on TDSB properties, we would like to update you on the policies and new reporting procedures related to dogs on school grounds.

The TDSB enforces a strict policy regarding dogs on its properties. Dogs are generally not permitted on TDSB grounds, with the exception of service animals as defined by the Student Use of Service Animals in Schools Policy (P096) and the Use of Service Animals by the General Public Procedure (PR604). These guidelines are in place to ensure proper management and support for service animals within our schools.

New Reporting Process for Dogs Off-Leash

To effectively address incidents of dogs being off-leash on school properties, a new reporting process has been established through the City of Toronto’s 311 service. Community members can report such incidents either by phone or online:

Phone Reporting: Call 311 to report dogs off-leash on school property

Online Reporting: Visit the City of Toronto Service Request or Feedback webpage.

If you should you ever see any suspicious activity around school buildings after school hours, please contact 311, Toronto Police Services Dispatch at 416-808-2222, or the TDSB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 416-395-4620.

If you or a family member is in crisis, please contact Kids Help Phone:1-800-668-6868 or get support right now by texting CONNECT to 686868.

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