This Week's Update- Children's Mental Health Week
- TDSB Celebrates Asian Heritage Month
- TDSB Celebrates Jewish Heritage Month
- Committee Meetings this Week
- Long-Term Plan for Outdoor Learning
- Chair's Letter: TDSB Objects to Plans for Radical Changes to Remote Learning in Ontario
- Ward 8 PARTS/Community Meetings/Updates
- Important Update: Secondary Credit Summer Programs
- TDSB to Review School Names to Reflect Toronto’s Diversity
New Invitations - Candid COVID Conversations - May 4, 2021
- Let's Talk Vaccines - May 6, 2021
- Our Kids are Grieving May 10, 2021
- During May - TDSB's Asian and Jewish Heritage Committees Present: Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup
- TPH Town Halls
- Boss-Up! Black Students in Business Collective
Worth Repeating - 2021 Summer Programs
- Mindfulness in May
- Hold the Date - Ward Forum - May 31, 2021
- Policy Consultations
- Download the COVID-19 App
- School Year Calendar
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Happy Orthodox Easter
Today, May 2, many celebrate Easter, one of the most sacred days of the Orthodox Christian calendar. To all observing this holy day, Christos Anesti! Καλό Πάσχα! Kalo Pascha! Happy Easter!
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Children’s Mental Health WeekCMHW is recognized provincially next week from May 3 to 7. To help support student mental health and well-being for all, the Professional Support Services team has developed a wide variety of resources in line with this year’s theme of Coping, Caring and Connecting. We recognize this has been a challenging time for everyone and encourage you to use these tools. These resources acknowledge the connection between equity and mental health and well-being. And, join and follow the conversation on Twitter using #copingcaringconnecting and see how schools are supporting mental health and well-being with their students.
Interactive Resource Kits
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TDSB Celebrates Asian Heritage MonthAsian Heritage Month is recognized formally throughout Canada through an official declaration that was signed in May 2002. Subsequently, the Province of Ontario passed the Asian Heritage Act (2005), and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) passed a motion to recognize Asian Heritage Month in 2007.
The Toronto District School Board is the largest, and one of the most diverse school boards in Canada. Nearly one-quarter of our students were born outside of Canada and collectively, we speak more than 120 languages. According to the TDSB 2017 Student & Parent Census our students represent 40% with Asian backgrounds.
During the month of May, the Toronto District School Board proudly recognizes Asian Heritage Month by celebrating the numerous achievements of Asian-Canadians and their significant role on the global stage. This year our theme is Discover. Share. Celebrate our Resiliency!
During the month of May we are honoured to share with you several opportunities and resources to learn about the traditions, customs, and significant individuals that this heritage brings.
Other Events and Resources
Secondary school students are invited to view the film, Persona Non Grata through their teacher’s registration and to attend an on-line webinar
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TDSB Celebrates Jewish Heritage MonthThe Toronto District School Board’s Jewish Heritage Committee (JHC) is made up of close to 80 staff across every level of the system as well as Trustees. Since its inception in 2015, JHC activities have always been focused around teaching & learning in celebration of Jewish heritage and culture – impactful, innovative, and inspirational work with students in fighting antisemitism, and all forms of hate.
This year, the JHC is pleased to partner with the Asian Heritage Committee for the month of May, Jewish and Asian Heritage months, to present Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup. This program targeted at students in Kindergarten-grade 3, has been described as a “very sweet book and a perfect early lesson on diversity.” As Sophie the main character in the story says about her grandmothers’ soups - “a little different; a lot the same”.
Earlier this year, in response to the attack on the Capital in Washington on January 6, educators on our Committee quickly mobilized, researched, and added new resources to our website where information is housed for teachers on Holocaust and Genocide Education and combatting antisemitism.
For International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27) we, along with partners Liberation75 and USC Shoah Foundation, presented the Canadian premiere of The Tattooed Torah. This short animated film, based on a true story, engaged TDSB students in grades 4-8. More than 14,000 educators downloaded the film which was accompanied by a Teachers’ Guide.
On February 25, our Committee was honoured to partner with the TDSB’s African Heritage Committee during African Heritage Month to feature Stronger Than Hate, a live webcast honouring the 761 st Tank Battalion, the first all African-American Tank Battalion in World War II. The Battalion was instrumental in helping defeat the Nazis as well as liberating several concentration camps. Thousands of our students joined the conversation to consider what we have learned from history and witnesses to genocide, and reflect on how that knowledge can help us take action to counteract hate. A website to house information will make sure the conversation continues.
And on May 4-9, the JHC is pleased to support Liberation75, a virtual, free, once-in-a-lifetime event to commemorate the 75 th anniversary of liberation from the Holocaust. This global gathering of survivors, descendants, educators and friends will feature survivor testimony, interactive discussions, performances, films, and exhibits. Of special interest to educators includes programming such as American Witnesses: Eyewitness Film Footage at Liberation, from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), Digital Hate: What If Hitler Had Social Media? from the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center & Reena Foundation, and Visite Guidée de la Maison d'Anne Frank (Anne Frank House Guided Tour en français), from the Anne Frank House. Educators can register at www.liberation75.org.
Incidents of antisemitism have risen sharply this past year in our country, our city, and at our schools. B’nai Brith reported an increase in Canada of 18.3%. Toronto Police recently released data which showed a more than 50% increase in reported hate crimes with “the Jewish community, followed by the Black community, LGBTQ2S+ community, and the Asian/Chinese communities the most frequently victimized groups.” In February the TDSB released its first-ever Human Rights Annual Report with comprehensive data detailing hate occurrences in our schools, although in different orders, mirrored the Toronto Police data.
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Committee Meetings This Week
Delegation requests will still be accepted during the closure of all schools and administrative sites at the TDSB; however, oral delegations to address a committee of the Board will be presented by phone. To submit a delegation request (written or oral), please refer to the information found here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Delegations, email delegates@tdsb.on.ca. If your request is approved, further details will be provided to you via email.
Program and School Services Committee, Wednesday, May 5, 2021, 4:30 p.m. Electronic Meeting
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Long-Term Plan for Outdoor Learning
The report outlines a long-term plan for encouraging and supporting outdoor learning for all schools, organized into two parts. Part A outlines the provision of instructional supports for schools, and Part B proposes guiding principles and priorities for investing in school ground infrastructure.
To ensure outdoor learning is supported and sustained in the long-term, a restructuring of the TDSB’s current model for outdoor education is proposed which reflects preamalgamation structures, through the following:
- Instructional support for schools with barriers to outdoor learning
- Reorganization of TOES program delivery mode
In addition, staff are committed to investing in school ground infrastructure - a significant opportunity to re-invest in school grounds has arisen with the provision of more state of good repair funding from the Ministry of Education, often referred to as School Condition Index Funding, or SCI. Seventy percent of SCI funding is to be used to replace major building components, but thirty percent can be used to address other pressures, such as replacing carpeting in buildings, and dealing with infrastructure deficiencies on schools grounds such as fixing crumbling asphalt and dealing with poor drainage. Increasingly, SCI funds are being used to make significant improvements on school grounds that have major infrastructure deficiencies.
Since the needs far outweigh the available resources, efforts must be focused on clearly articulated guiding principles and priorities to help create vibrant schoolyards that support play and learning that are made accessible to all students.
Principles include investments that are equitable by prioritizing high-needs schools, reflect the developmental needs of students; put students first and be environmentally sustainable.
The priorities for TDSB-funded investments should include:
- Creating rich outdoor learning environments for kindergarten students at all schools.
- Making sure students with special needs can enjoy the benefits of the outdoors with their peers.
- Identifying and investing in school grounds with serious infrastructure deficiencies.
- Providing spaces for middle school students to help keep them at school during lunch breaks.
- Making log seating for outdoor classrooms.
- Investing in tree planting and maintenance particularly in schools and neighbourhoods with low levels of tree canopy and that are impacted the most from the urban heat island effect and higher levels of air pollution.
- Ensuring grass playing fields are well-maintained for multi-purpose play, including sports.
- Installing artificial turf at elementary schools where extreme intensity of use makes growing grass impossible and replacing the turf at the end of its lifecycle.
- Investing strategically in a small number of artificial turf fields at high schools to support physical education and athletics programs in underserved communities that are socially and economically-disadvantaged.
Please read the complete report for details. I cannot wait to support this.
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Chair's Letter: TDSB Objects to Plans for Radical Changes to Remote Learning in OntarioApril 29, 2021
Minister Lecce,
On behalf of the Toronto District School Board, I am writing you to state the Board’s objection to your government’s draft proposal for remote learning. From what we understand, this proposal would make remote learning a full-time, permanent option for all grades in our education system by September 2021, including the TDSB. Although the full proposal was shared with educational organizations on an embargoed basis, many of the details have been published in a variety of media outlets, such as the Toronto Star and the Globe and Mail. The draft proposal is also the topic of considerable discussion and concern among the Board’s parents/guardians, students, staff and other community partners.
Overall, we are deeply concerned about how this dramatic change will affect student achievement and well-being levels, especially at a time when our communities are struggling to cope with the negative impacts of COVID-19, including mental health, financial stress, isolation, work-life balance and more.
While I understand that virtual learning can be another delivery mode for our educators and that there are some students who have had positive experiences with virtual learning this year, the switch to emergency remote learning for Ontario was made under a global pandemic. It’s important that we take the time to better understand remote learning, including how we can improve quality and access issues that many have faced this year and, most importantly, how this mode of learning can best support student learning and staff teaching. In short, now is not the time to make such a dramatic change to our education system.
In a recent survey (February 2021), 84% of students at the Toronto District School Board indicated that they learn better in-person compared to virtual learning. In addition, 40% of students expressed feeling lonely during remote learning, 50% expressed feeling stressed and that social and well-being levels dropped compared to last Spring. Students also expressed the following concerns about learning remotely:
- I don’t feel motivated – 66%
- I get distracted with TV and social media – 53%
- I have to help with household responsibilities – 42%
- I find it hard to get used to school again – 35%
- I get confused about assignments – 32%
As you can see, this information points to the fact that students benefit from an in-person learning experience as opposed to remote learning. It’s critical that students are provided with experiences that help them develop socially, emotionally and physically. The pandemic has challenged these experiences by isolating students from their friends, family and school communities, and it’s important that we work together, now more than ever, to best support students and their growth as productive members of society.
Specifically, I would like to highlight the following concerns with the draft proposal for remote learning:
- there is no evidence that links remote learning to improved overall outcomes for students;
- the timeline to implement this change for September 2021 is rushed and will negatively impact student learning and well-being;
- students could end up having fewer teacher-led course options, and may need to take more Independent Learning Courses with limited teacher support;
- disproportionate impacts on low income and racialized communities;
- the potential closure of small schools that are often the heart of a community;
- the potential to divert funding away from our local school board;
- unnecessary duplication of administration and related expenses; and
- significantly decreased local input over online learning.
In closing, I want to re-iterate that now is not the time to proceed with your proposal for remote learning. A far more in-depth study on the negative impacts of remote learning on students and the quality of education is needed before any decision is considered. I hope that you will consider the information that has been presented and put a stop to your remote learning plans that are currently in motion.
As always, I am available at your earliest convenience to continue this conversation.
Thank you,
Alexander Brown, Chair
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Ward 8 PARTS/Community Meetings/Updates
Please also know there will be a community meeting to discuss Hodgson Middle School's Planned Addition on May 3rd from 7-8:30pm. This is your opportunity to hear about the new addition, transition plans and provide feedback. Pease register by clicking this link. in advance. Read the invitation from Superintendent Andrew Howard. Three of the 4 feeder schools to Hodgson are in Ward 8 - Davisville Jr Public School, Eglinton Jr Public School and Oriole Park Jr Public School. Hodgson MS and Maurice Cody Jr Public School, are part of Ward 11 with Trustee Rachel Chernos Lin. A follow up meeting is scheduled for: Monday, May 17th, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. For more information about the new addition at Hodgson Middle School , please visit: http://www.tdsb.on.ca/AccommodationReviews: Click on “Hodgson Middle School New Addition” under “Other Reviews”.
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Important Update: Secondary Credit Summer Programs
Please note: The health and well-being of TDSB students, staff and families is our top priority. Given the unpredictability of what the status of the COVID-19 pandemic will be in the summer and the need to begin planning well before that time, the decision has been made to offer all Summer Programs fully remote (online) for summer 2021. While registration was originally supposed to open with both hybrid and remote (online) classes available, we have decided to offer all classes online only due to the current circumstances with COVID-19.
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TDSB to Review School Names to Reflect Toronto’s Diversity
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has approved a motion that will lead to a city-wide review of school names to better reflect the diversity of the city.
The TDSB will form a special group that will inform the consultation process for the review of policy P047 and procedure PR592, Naming of Schools and Special Purpose Areas; propose amendments; and provide a proposal for a city-wide review of all TDSB school names by the end of June 2021. This group will be comprised of students, parents/guardians, educators, community members, appropriate qualified experts and individuals involved in anti-racism work.
This plan aims to improve the naming and renaming process for schools to ensure that school names better represent the diverse people, cultures and history of Toronto, including, but not limited to, Indigenous and Black leaders and the contemporary values of the city.
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Candid COVID Conversations -May 4, 2021
On behalf of the FHCI School Council you are invited and welcome to our annual Parent/Guardian Engagement Event on May 4, 2021 at 7:30 p.m. Join Dr. Marla Shapiro, Leanne Matlow and Dr. Rachel Mitchell for Candid COVID Conversations when we will look at the impact of COVID 19 on the mental health on adolescents and more! Please feel free to share the information flyer with friends and family. Interested participants should register through Eventbrite. Hope to see you on May 4!
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Let's Talk Vaccines - May 6, 2021
Join us for a conversation with Dr. Vinita Dubey Associate Medical Officer of Health and Nicole Welch, Director & Chief Nursing Officer Toronto Public Health to learn more about vaccines and answer your questions.
Thursday, May 6, 2021
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Or Telephone: Dial 647-374-4685 or 647-558-0588
These conversations are jointly hosted by the TDSB's Parent and Community Engagement Office and the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee.
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Our Kids are Grieving May 10, 2021Humewood's SAC invite you to join them on May 10th - Our kids are grieving, how to help. With multiple losses in our kids' lives over the last year, grief has arrived in our homes with bags packed to stay awhile.
To register, please click here.
Humewood SAC has also developed Mindful Breathing resources - click here.
And for community mental health resources, please click here.
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During May - TDSB's Asian and Jewish Heritage Committees Present: Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup
This year the Asian and Jewish Heritage Committees have collaborated to present Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup for the month of May, Asian and Jewish Heritage months. This program targeted at students in Kindergarten-grade 3, has been described as a “very sweet book and a perfect early lesson on diversity.” As Sophie the main character in the story says about her grandmothers’ soups - “a little different; a lot the same”.
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TPH Town Halls
Toronto Public Health invites people who live, work or study in Toronto to a Town Hall about COVID-19 vaccines.
Dr. Vinita Dubey, Associate Medical Officer of Health, will answer your questions about:
- COVID-19 vaccines available in Canada
- Vaccine safety and benefits
- How to get vaccinated and who is eligible
- Ways to reduce COVID-19 spread
You can choose one of two session dates during the first week of May. No registration required.
- Session 1 Tuesday, May 4, 2021 from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
- Session 2 Wednesday, May 5, 2021 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
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Worth Repeating...
2021 Summer ProgramsElementary Summer School Thirty-eight (38) programs are offered to students in Kindergarten to Grade 8, from July 5 to 30, 2021, in-person or online through virtual instruction. Registration is now open! Click here for a full list of participating schools and registration information - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Innovation/Elementary-Summer-School.
To learn the difference between the e-Learning Summer Program and the Continuing Education Hybrid & Remote Summer Program, please click here
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Mindfulness in May
Davisville Jr PS invites you to join them and instructor Tina Carlson, an IMTA certified mindfulness teacher with UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center for a variety of programming in May.
- Thursday May 13 - 6:30 - 7:30 pm JK-Grade 2 - Mindful PJ Party
- Thursday May 20 - 6:30 - 7:30 pm Grades 3-6 - Mindful Super Heroes
- Thursday May 27 - 8:00 - 9:30 pm - For Parents and Caregivers - Mindfulness and Equity: Natural Partners
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Hold the Date - Ward Forum - May 31, 2021
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Policy Consultations
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is committed to open and inclusive policy decision-making and values community input and participation through consultation. Consultation is a two-way communication process between the Board and external participants, including students and their parents/guardians, school councils, advisory committees, community members, different levels of government, service agencies, professional organizations and union partners. The objective of consultation is to gather public input regarding options, alternative courses of action, as well as to identify unintended effects for various participants and to find solutions. Please see revised the Policy Review Schedule.
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Download the COVID ALERT APPTogether, let's limit the spread of COVID-19. COVID Alert is an additional tool to protect yourself and your loved ones. COVID Alert helps us break the cycle of infection. The app can let other app users know of possible exposures before any symptoms appear. That way, we can take care of ourselves and protect our communities. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-alert.html. Please note, unfortunately, the app is only available on certain phones/operating systems.
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School Year Calendar 2020-2021The last day of class for elementary students is June 29
Secondary Quadmester Calendar
- Quad 4: April 23 - June 28
PA Days & Holidays Remaining
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