March 2, 2025 

If you are a resident of Don Valley West, Election Day is tomorrow, Monday, March 3, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. to elect the new Trustee representing TDSB Ward 11. The boundaries of Toronto District School Board TDSB Ward 11 Don Valley West  are the same as the boundaries of the City of Toronto Ward 15, Don Valley West. If you are in Don Valley West, please vote!

For the TDSB Ward 11 Don Valley West By-election, you can use MyVote to confirm you are on the voters’ list, apply to vote by mail, check where you vote, access your voter information card and more. Visit the City of Toronto’s 2025 TDSB Ward 11 By-Election webpage for additional information and resources. 

March 20th marks Spring Equinox... spring is around the corner! Please take a moment to reflect on some of the significant dates that are recognized and celebrated in March. 

Muslims around the world are currently in the holy month of Ramadan with fasting, prayer and reflection. For more information on TDSB Accommodations for Ramadan, click here. Muslims will celebrate Eid al-Fitr on March 29 marking the end of the month-long dawn-to-dusk fasting of Ramadan. March 5 marks Ash Wednesday for many Christians marking the first day of Lent. Jews celebrate Purim, the evening of March 13 - Purim is a joyous holiday that marks the Jewish people's deliverance from a royal death decree around the fourth century BCE, as told in the Book of Esther. Holi – a Hindu festival that will be celebrated on March 14 – marks the arrival of spring, the triumph of good over evil and the unity of people. On March 20, millions of people will celebrate Nowruz, which symbolizes the beginning of Iranian New Year or Persian New Year. 

In Ontario, March is also International Francophonie Month, which celebrates the French language and diversity of French-speaking cultures around the world.

Please take a moment to learn more about some of the commemorative and cultural days that are recognized throughout this month highlighted below:

The TDSB is proud to recognize Greek Heritage Month (GHM) over the month of March. This heritage is also celebrated across the Province of Ontario.

2025 marks 10 years of recognizing GHM at the TDSB. For this reason, our theme for this year is:

Odyssey - A Decade of Celebrating Greek Heritage Month
Oδύσσεια - Μία Δεκαετία Εορτασμού του Μήνα Ελληνικής Κληρονομιάς

To mark Greek Heritage Month, the TDSB has planned several educational activities.

The TDSB Greek Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee looks forward to celebrating GHM with everyone! OPA!

Measles continues to spread in many parts of the world and in Canada. If you are planning to travel over March Break, get the best protection for you and your loved ones by staying up-to-date with your routine vaccines, including the measles vaccine.

These vaccines are available from your health care provider or at a Toronto Public Health (TPH) community clinic for school-aged children, by appointment. Visit TPHbookings.ca for more information. If you are unsure of your child’s vaccination status, check their yellow card (Ontario Immunization Record),TPH’s Immunization Connect Ontario (ICON) or by speaking with their primary health care provider.
To learn more, visit toronto.ca/immunization. Questions? Contact TPH at publichealth@toronto.ca or 416-338-7600, Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. for more information. Service is available in multiple languages.

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

Tuesday, March 4 2025 – Special Finance, Budget & Enrolment Committee 4:30 Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda

Wednesday March 5 2025 – Special Board - 4:30 Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda 

Trustees determine school-based staffing at this time of year in order for schools to receive their staffing allocation to meet Collective Agreement staffing timelines.

At the Special Meeting of the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee (FBEC) on Thursday, February 27, 2025, I was grateful to Trustee Ehrdhardt and Trustee Rajwani who moved a motion on my behalf (as I am not a member of FBEC) that was approved by the committee. Staff's original assumptions in the Report on the Projected Deficit, were that any of the one-time staffing increases in the 2024-25 Budget be removed.

As you know, for the last number of years, I have remained concerned about the staffing in our schools, specifically the allocation of Vice-Principals in the system and last year moved, and the committee (and the Board) supported, keeping the same number of positions from 2023-2024 – while it is true that the specific school allocations may have changed, the overall total positions did not. I do not believe there should be any reductions of VPs in the system – nor other positions that were added in last year that included Caring and Safe Schools Central Staff, Social Workers and Child and Youth Counsellors. This is the motion recently passed at the Special FBEC -

That the additional staffing positions added into the 2024-25 Budget be built into the 2025-26 Projected Financial Forecast moving forward.

That the Director present a special report to FBEC on multi-year reinvestments needed centrally to ensure the implementation of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan, for example to address sick/leave attendance management, the modernization strategy, an enterprise business and information system, to replenish reserves and other central department priority needs as determined by the Director.

The impact on this staff report, should the motion be passed at the Special Board on March 5, 2025, would include an increase in both Elementary and Secondary Vice-Principal positions. Both sets of numbers are included in the staffing report.

Please note that the staff report School-Based Staff Allocation considers legislative requirements including class size regulations, Collective Agreement provisions and available resources. It is also important to note that as a result of the timing of this report and the fact that swimming pool status for 2025/2026 is not yet finalized, Aquatics Instructor positions have been noted as “To Be Determined” (TBD).  TBD does not mean that the positions will not be allocated, but that there is still work that needs to be done in order to finalize decisions.

Following approval at the Special Board on March 5, People and Culture will prepare and release to Principals after March break their staffing allocations, so school organizations/timetables can be prepared and reviewed with school staffing committees and Superintendents. 

Every year, the TDSB Excellence Awards help shine a light on the stories of extraordinary staff commitment, and we are delighted to announce that nominations for the Excellence Awards 2025 will open this Tuesday, February 25, 2025.  

The Excellence Awards align with our shared system priorities and help highlight TDSB staff’s efforts to foster joy, engagement and belonging in our schools, workplaces and communities as a foundation for academic achievement, student success, and service excellence. We want to know who are inspiring students, innovating the curriculum, championing digital transformation, creating inclusive schools and workplaces, and working behind the scenes to support operational excellence.  

We welcome nominations from anyone – staff, students, parents/caregivers or community members – please send your nomination submissions through the Excellence Awards website during the nomination period between February 25 and April 4, 2025.  

Registration for BOTH the 2025 e-Summer School Program and ConEd Summer School Program will OPEN in April for TDSB students.

Continuing Education (ConEd) and e-Summer are two separate departments.

e-Summer Information here Asynchronous online e-learning - July and August courses available - Grade 11 and 12 courses July e-Learning Key Dates: July e-Learning registration closes June 3, 2025 August e-Summer Key Dates – Registration closes July 4, 2025. 

ConEd Information here ConEd Summer School classes will be held from July 2 to July 25, 2025 - Monday to Friday, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. These classes are available only in July. ConEd Remote Learning: All Grade 9 and 10 credit courses will be delivered through synchronous online learning. ConEd In-Person Learning: All Grade 9 to 12 credit courses, students will attend face-to-face classes with a teacher. 

Summer School In Person Sites/Locations Registration for BOTH the 2025 e-Summer School Program and ConEd Summer School Program will OPEN on Tuesday, April 15 at 10:00 AM for TDSB students. 

Vaping poses serious health risks, including lung damage and addiction. Spreading awareness is essential, and together, we can educate and empower students to make informed, healthier choices.

Teachers are encouraged to utilize the comprehensive 3-part lesson plans on the TDSB E-Cigarette & Vaping website to educate their students on the serious health risks of vaping and to inspire their creativity when completing their Anti-Vaping poster.

Winning entries will have their poster professionally printed and featured in schools across the TDSB! Student posters could help change minds and spark conversations about the dangers of vaping.

How to participate: Create an original poster that highlights the dangers vaping to their peers (be imaginative—use your creative skills, powerful messages, and imagery!). Winners will be selected from two entry categories: Grade 4-8 and Grade 9-12. Please review the Contest Guidelines prior to submission. Submit your design by Friday March 21st to the following Google Form.

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. 

Learning Opportunities Index Policy Consultation 

The Learning Opportunities Index Policy (P067) is currently being reviewed. The revised draft Learning Opportunities Index Policy (P067) (the “Policy”) affirms the TDSB’s commitment to achieve equitable academic opportunities. 

This Policy will assist with steering additional resources to schools serving students who face greater challenges and make sure all students have access to educational resources. The revised draft Policy also aims to support student learning experiences through equitable allocation of resources to schools and to provide direction to staff regarding the use of the Learning Opportunities Index (LOI). 

Consultation closes in early April 2025. Draft New Policy [docx]  Draft New Policy [pdf]

Please provide your input and feedback here. If you have any questions related to the review and consultation of the Policy, please feel free to contact us at: research@tdsb.on.ca

Learning Opportunities Index (LOI) Public Policy Consultations

TDSB Trustees and Research and Development staff will be hosting four public consultation sessions across the city on the draft Learning Opportunities Index (LOI) Policy. These sessions ensure families, students, and community members have the opportunity to learn about the LOI and how it is used to support schools. 

We are committed to creating inclusive and accessible meetings for everyone. If you have specific concerns related to accessibility, or require childcare or interpretation services, please indicate when registering, email research@tdsb.on.ca or call 416-394-7404.

There will be opportunities to ask questions and share feedback on the dates listed below:

Please use the RSVP form to let us know you will be attending. Click here to view the flyer. 

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.

Thursday March 20, 2025 | 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Please join me and my colleagues Alexandra Lulka Rotman, Michelle Aarts and Deborah Williams for an opportunity to hear from experts in the field of antisemitism and hate - Mark Sandler and Karen Mock. To read their full bios, please click here. Our guests will discuss hate, what it is and what it isn’t, antisemitism, its historical roots and current context and how it impacts the broader community and the educational environment on students, their families and staff.

Most importantly, how to move forward through respectful dialogue in this time of geopolitical conflict.

If you are interested in participating, please Register Online.

Joy as Resistance - Honouring Black Mental Health Week with Trey Anthony March 6 I 6-7:30pm

The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement in collaboration with TDSB Mental Health and Wellbeing Professional Support Services, and Teachers Learning and Leading, will be hosting a session during Black Mental Health Week 2025 with award-winning playwright of 'Da Kink in My Hair', actor and wellness expert Trey Anthony. 

Honouring the theme for this year, “Joy as Resistance”, we invite parents, caregivers, students (Gr. 7-12) and community members to join Trey virtually as she talks about the importance of cultivating joy and resilience in combatting the systemic and personal impacts of anti-Black racism. Drawing from her personal journey and work, Trey will discuss how Black communities can reclaim power and triumph through joy in the face of adversity. She will delve into what mental health is and why it is important, and look at tools that individuals and communities can utilize to cultivate joy and resistance as we rise, heal, maintain, and thrive together. Register here.

EQAO Parent Information Session - March 6 I 6:30-7:30pm

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) is partnering with the TDSB to offer virtual information sessions for parents, caregivers, and guardians on the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). 

Participants will learn about the purpose of Ontario’s large-scale assessments like the OSSLT. EQAO staff will explain the assessment format, highlight resources to support students, and answer questions from participants. The session is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live Q&A with EQAO staff.  Zoom details will be shared with registrants one day before the webinar. To register, please complete and submit this form. Registration closes on March 4 at 8 p.m. 

Great Big Crunch / Coalition for Healthy School Food
Join thousands in Canada this February to April in celebrating healthy school food! Take part in the Virtual Great Big Crunch on March 6, 2025, at 1 p.m. EST, or host your own event anytime. If March isn’t ideal due to Ramadan, participate in the Crunch-athon during suhur or iftar. Grab an apple or any crunchy fruits/vegetables and make some noise for a Healthy School Food Program in Canada! Register here: https://www.healthyschoolfood.ca/great-big-crunch. 

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.

Save the Date! March 6th with Calissa Ngozi - sponsored by Allenby Parents

Worried about your child’s online safety? Parents and students are welcome to join this interactive event with award-winning child mental health expert, Calissa Ngozi. 
Date: March 6
Time: 7 pm
Location: Zoom, link to be provided 
RSVP: here
Calissa Ngozi is an award-winning inspirational speaker and TV and media guest expert—as seen on The Social, CP24, Global News, Breakfast Television, CHCH, and more. 

EVENT OVERVIEW:
Join Calissa Ngozi for an engaging presentation titled “Be a Digital Defender: Safety & Kindness in the Online World.” This session will explore the critical importance of online safety, media literacy, and recognizing online bullying, including being culturally inclusive. She will share kid-friendly tips and strategies for identifying and combating harmful behaviours and engage participants in interactive scenarios to foster discussion. Additionally, we will delve into the connection between social media and mental health, emphasizing the significance of confidence and a supportive environment in making positive online choices. Together, we will empower our community to create a kinder, safer digital space for everyone. I'm a new paragraph block.

Midtown Neighbour to Neighbour Clothing Swap - March 15 - 11-2pm Glebe Road United Church 

Spring cleaning? As seasons change you may find last summer's clothes no longer fit. Keep them in use and out of landfill and get something new to you at this annual Clothing Swap. Here's how it works: kids in your household outgrown their clothes? Keep the kids, pass on those clothes to others in your neighbourhood!

Need some clothes for quick-growing kids? We'll have lots to choose from - come fill your bags and keep clothes with life left in them in circulation as long as we can! WE ALSO HAVE ADULT SIZES. Bring your friends. There is enough.

The swap IS INDOORS at Glebe Road United church, 20 Glebe Road E (just south and east of Manor and Yonge - enter off parking lot). Please reach out ASAP if you have questions or want to take part as a donor, swapper, or host. Come participate in the local, circular economy (and have some fun 😉.) 

This swap is part of a larger project called Winter of Care and REpair 2024 AND this project is supported by the City of Toronto through Live Green Toronto and the Neighbourhood Climate Action Grants program. SWAP Items: gently used clothing and shoes all sizes. Info & Sign-up: Midtown Neighbour-to-Neighbour Clothing Swap or email us at: works.in.progressto@gmail.com

Some extras this year: A repair advice table! Bring your questions or items in need of repair. A maker's exchange! Bring your unfinished projects, material and craft supplies to share with other makers and pick up some new-to-you inspirational supplies. A sustainable cooking advice table (plus snacks and books for sale) with local best-selling cookbook author Puneeta Chhitwal-Varma. Puneeta will have copies of Good Food, Healthy Planet for sale plus some delicious snacks. We are also trying a skills partnership with Zippaport  a Toronto based group who make port accessible shirts for kids going through chemo treatments. There will be a chance to sew and contribute to this cause for anyone interested.

Works-in-Progress is an eco-artist collective with roots in Toronto and Hamilton. We make art out of garbage, co-host swaps, and hold workshops. We use recycled materials in art making because reclaiming and up-cycling inspires creativity. We have been hosting clothing swaps in Toronto and Hamilton for many years. Check out the swaps section on our website www.works-in-progress.ca for more information and FAQs.

Nominations are now open for the 2025 OTIP Teaching Awards. For many years, these awards have recognized the excellence of our teachers in publicly funded education. There are three categories of awards: elementary teacher, secondary teacher and beginning teacher (in the first five years of teaching). 

A teacher may be nominated by anyone—professional colleagues, students, parents, or the general public. The deadline for receipt of nominations is March 31, 2025. Questions should be directed to Jason Healey at OTIPAwards@otffeo.on.ca. The Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) are proud sponsors of the OTIP Teaching Awards. Nominate here.

Learn4Life.ca - Adult General Interest Courses General Interest Programs Adults 18+ and Seniors Program Information General Interest courses are for adults, 18 years of age and older. Seniors' Daytime courses are for registrants 65 years of age and older. For more information please visit www.learn4life.ca Registration is Open  Classes Begin: Tuesday, April 1, 2025 

8:1 Success! How Parents Can Build Effective Relationships with Their Struggling Tweens, Teens, and Young Adults

Wed, March 12, 2025 | 7pm ET

Join Sahbearor for a presentation by Nancy Cohen, PhD and Tracy Kalloway, MA, LPC, who will share skills and tips to (re)build effective relationships with our struggling loved one. Learn how to increase positives in the relationship using validation, a gentle easy manner and engaging in enjoyable activities together. 

They will also explain how to decrease negatives in the relationship by intentionally ignoring problem behaviours, and teach practical DBT skills to get in the mood to parent. Advance registration is required.

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

Regulation 304 requires that there be a minimum of 194 school days between 1 September and 30 June, including a maximum of ten examination days for secondary schools and a maximum of seven Professional Activity (PA) days.  It also establishes the dates for the Winter Break and the Mid-Winter Break. 

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

Ramadan Mubarak!

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic Calendar. During the month of Ramadan, many Muslims around the world abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset. This year, Ramadan began in the evening on Friday, February 28, 2025 and will end on Saturday, March 29, 2025. 

The TDSB Human Rights Office has developed a guide - Ramadan and the Duty to Accommodate. Included you will find information about Ramadan along with some tips and considerations for meeting the duty to accommodate staff and students under the Ontario Human Rights Code and TDSB’s Human Rights Policy (P031). To all observing Ramadan Mubarak!

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.

Summer Reach Ahead Program

This year, the program will be offered in-person at five locations: ○ Danforth Technical and Collegiate Institute ○ David and Mary Thomson Collegiate Institute ○ Dr. Norman Bethune Collegiate Institute ○ Western Technical-Commercial School ○ Westview Centennial Secondary School

The TAS1O1 – Exploring Technology course will be available exclusively through Continuing Education and offered only in person. Please note that e-Summer School will not offer any remote Reach Ahead courses this year. For more information, please visit our website.

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.

Stay Home If You Are Sick

During this respiratory virus season, I encourage you to review tips from Toronto Public Health (TPH) to help prevent the spread of infections in schools and communities.

Stay home if you are sick: If you have symptoms of illness, even if they are mild, stay home and wear a mask for 10 days after symptoms start. Practice good hygiene: Wash or sanitize your hands often, cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow or a tissue, and clean frequently touched surfaces.

Vaccines

Toronto Public Health (TPH) is hosting community clinics to help students catch-up on their school-based vaccines. Clinics are appointment based and residents are encouraged to book an appointment.

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.

This powerful exhibition arrived in Toronto just ahead of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27, 2025, "explores the dual identity of the Auschwitz camp as a physical setting — the largest documented mass murder site in human history — and as a symbol of the borderless manifestation of hatred and human atrocity."

The public is invited to purchase tickets - more information can be found here.

Please note that a group of TDSB educators from the Jewish Heritage Committee (as reported at our last JHC Executive meeting) and members of TDSB Central Teaching and Learning Team (part of a team of educational advisors and partners to the ROM), were invited to an advance preview of the exhibit in December and began to plan how we would promote it internally to TDSB and that plan is currently underway…. We have messaged this important opportunity to teachers and all staff through DirectLine, administrators through the System Leaders Weekly, Trustees in Trustees Weekly and Social and World Studies and Humanities teachers through the department newsletter.

More information on school visits for grades 6-12 can be found here. 

Special Education and Inclusion is pleased to once again offer a series of drop-in sessions designed for parents/ guardians/caregivers on navigating special education resources and supports within the TDSB.

These informal gatherings provide a welcoming space for parents to learn about available services, ask questions, and connect with other families.
Facilitators will guide discussions on topics such as supporting student
transitions and exploring occupational therapy/ physiotherapy strategies to use at home with students. All drop-in sessions for the 2024-2025 school year can be found here.

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

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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