COVID-19 Updates
The Toronto District School Board is committed to keeping all parents/guardians updated on the impact of COVID-19 on schools and any developments with regard to remote learning.
Below are recent updates from Director of Education John Malloy:
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Device Distribution to Students
We have deployed over 60,000 devices, the number keeps growing. Total 5,221 Student Devices has been requested by Schools in Ward 19.
If you have question about devices please visit TDSB website:
https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Remote-Learning/Student-Device-Support.
If you still need devices for your children please email me directly at Zakir.Patel@tdsb.on.ca and I will work together with Principals, and Superintendents to help.
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Student Device Support
Students and families who completed the technology-needs survey to assist with their remote learning will receive their Chromebook between April 6 to May 8. The devices students will receive are from TDSB schools. Students in Kindergarten - Grade 2 will receive an iPad. Students in Grades 3 - 12 will receive a Chromebook.
The device will be delivered to the student’s home by Purolator Courier. No signature is required but the Purolator staff member will ask for and record the name of the person who receives the delivery.
Chromebooks are laptops running the Chrome operating system and work best when connected to the internet but do function offline as well. Chromebooks are built to startup quickly and to efficiently access webpages. They work very well with G Suite for Education and the Brightspace Learning Platform.
Students login to a Chromebook with their TDSB Account ID (looks like an email address) and is in the form of firstname.lastname@student.tdsb.on.ca and their password.
TDSB is providing the following types of support for the Chromebooks being used at home:
- Assistance with logging in to the Chromebook
- Assistance with account questions
- Connecting to wifi
To receive assistance with questions about these topics please email studentdevicesupport@tdsb.on.ca please be sure to include your child’s name and school along with your name.
Questions about digital learning tools such as Google Classroom, Brightspace etc. along with questions about school work should be directed to your child’s teacher.
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Food for Kids – Phase 11 Rollout
I want to update you on the final phase of the Food for Kids program for the school year. TFSS was able to secure additional funds, which means that for Phase 11 of the program, we are able to offer grocery store food cards to approximately 16,200 TDSB students (43 new schools). This is more than double our usual weekly release of cards. Please see the list of TDSB schools that were part of Phases 1-10 of the program.
We will be informing Superintendents, Principals and Community Support Workers following this message. Families in the identified schools will receive an email and/or phone message through School Messenger this afternoon inviting them to register for their grocery cards online.
This will be the final phase of grocery cards during the school year. As you know, typically, TFSS does not support student nutrition in the summer months. However, given the unique situation we are in as a result of COVID-19, TFSS is working to secure additional funds to continue running the Food for Kids program in July and August. As funding becomes available, TFSS will start sending a second grocery card to families who received one during the school year. TFSS will follow the same order of releasing cards as was done during the school year (i.e. phase one will receive cards first, then phase two, and so on).
As always, donations are welcome at www.tfss.ca should you wish to share with your community?
As more information about the summer Food for Kids program becomes available, we will update you further.
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Retrieval of Personal Belongings
We know that a number of students and parents/guardians are eager to collect personal belongings from schools prior to the end of the school year. The TDSB has now finalized a comprehensive protocol — developed in consultation with the Ministry of Education and Toronto Public Health — and guidelines that will allow for the retrieval of personal belongings beginning the week of June 8, 2020. It is not mandatory to come to the school to pick up belongings and students or parents/guardians should only visit the school if absolutely necessary. Anything that is not collected will be bagged, labelled and stored until schools reopen. In the coming days, you might have heard directly from your Principal with additional details, including the schedule for your school for picking up and returning items.
*To make an appointment for pick up please refer to your communication from your school or contact your Principal.
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Updates on Child Care Centres
Ontario government shared that they are allowing all child care centres to re-open in support for working families and children. This announcement encompasses all child care services for children ages 0 to 12 years old. TDSB has many child care centres in schools.
The announcement on June 9th, specified that the staff who work in these Centres may return physically to their workspace, to prepare to re-open their programs to children.
Toronto Children’s Services and TDSB staff have been meeting weekly to discuss plans for re-opening. We have committed to working together to coordinate staff’s return to their leased space in preparation for children. I understand a similar process is occurring through Toronto Children’s Services with Catholic and French-Language school boards.
Given the timing of this announcement we be issuing a message to child care operators and principals and caretaking staff with further information.
It is expected that many parents will want information about the safety protocols that will be in place when child care centres reopen. The government has said there will be “strict safety and operational requirements“ in place, similar to the safety protocols required for emergency child care centres.
It is expected that the specific requirements are expected to be released shortly. Re-opening will take time and careful planning. There are many questions that still remain for child care centres and families.
The government has said that their plan will impose strict requirements on operators including mandatory training and reporting and support from the local medical officer of health prior to re-opening. A few of those protocols were released today.
Upon the release of all of the criteria for re-opening child care will assist TDSB staff and partners to develop and/or finalize any protocols required. (E.g., reporting of suspected cases, additional access to space etc).
Staff is currently assessing the feasibility of operating Extended Day Programs under the forthcoming requirements and/or the Summer Camp Guidelines issued 8 days ago.
In summary, child care staff will return to work shortly but programming for children will not resume yet. Considerable planning needs to take place. Specific and important information about health and safety requirements is forthcoming from the Province and Municipality. Each centre will determine their actual dates for the reopening based on the approval of their plans, program enrolment, staffing etc.
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TDSB Reaches Local Agreement with Education Workers
The Toronto District School Board has reached a tentative agreement with the Board’s 17,700 education workers who are represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 4400.
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Mental Health and Well-Being
We care about the range of emotions and questions students of all ages may be experiencing in this uncertain and unprecedented time of the COVID-19 pandemic and school closures. Access resources and information to support your mental health and well-being.
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School Reopening Plans and Upcoming Survey
TDSB School/Work Reopening Committee has been established to consider what the reopening of schools and administrative buildings will look like when it is safe to do so. While the final direction and health and safety requirements will come from the Ministry of Education, Toronto Public Health and/or other public health agencies, the committee is reviewing issues in a number of critical areas. A TDSB survey for parents/guardians will be shared during the week of June 8 to seek input for reopening plans.
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Keeping Connected
While schools are closed, connection is more important than ever. Read our latest trending@tdsb article on how some schools are staying connected while we are apart.
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FSL Resources for Families Google Site
As we continue to support parents/families at home during remote learning, the FSL Department is excited to launch the FSL Resources for Families Google Site. The site is designed for parents, guardians and family members of students in French as a Second Language programs in the TDSB. It provides families with information about how to support their child(ren) during Remote Learning including guiding principles, considerations for remote learning in FSL Programs, links to resources, how to support at home, and more.
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Student Transportation
While we do not yet know what transportation will look like in the fall, we are committed to keeping parents/guardians informed of all changes and safety practices for the upcoming school year. All parents/guardians with children who take the bus to school are encouraged to sign up for the Student Transportation Parent Portal to access important information and updates. If you have moved this past year, or plan to move over the summer, please complete the Student Transportation Application form with your new address, and email it to your school and studenttransportationapplications@tdsb.on.ca
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Heritage and History Months
June:
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Update on International Baccalaureate Program (IB) Registration and Financial Assistance
As of May 1, 2020, 551 students have registered for the 2020-21 TDSB IB program. TDSB has also approved $253,000 in financial assistance to 164 eligible students registered in the program. These financial assistance amounts will be charged against the TDSB Central Equity Fund in 2020-21. In addition, TDSB will be receiving at least $27,000 from one external corporate donor, to be used towards fees for 54 students in the $30K-$50K family income category. TDSB anticipates around $573,500 in collections for the 2020-21 program after financial assistance reductions.
Please see the fee and financial assistance breakdown by school, including comparatives for the past three school years.
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Secondary Credit Program Options
Remote Credit Recovery: Available only to TDSB students
Registration Opens: May 25, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Registration Closes: June 26, 2020 at 12:00 noon
The Continuing Education Department is offering a Remote Credit Recovery Summer School Program for TDSB secondary students only from July 6 to July 31. This program allows students to “recover" the credit in a course in which they were unsuccessful within the last two school years. It is a NEW summer program and will be delivered only online. The Remote Summer Credit Recovery Program focuses not on time, but on the overall expectations the student must attain before earning the credit. Students are able to recover more than one course through this program. Interested students need to connect with their guidance and/or student success teacher to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria so that the home school can get the necessary credit recovery paperwork completed. Students in Grades 9 to 12 register for the credit recovery program through e-Reg by selecting RCR1O1.
Hybrid Remote Summer Credit Program: Available only to TDSB students
Registration Opens: May 25, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. Registration Closes: June 26, 2020 at 12:00 noon
The Continuing Education Department is offering a Hybrid Remote Summer Credit Program for TDSB secondary school students only from July 6 to July 31. This program replaces the in-class summer school program which has operated in previous years. This program may include both online and in-class learning environments in accordance with the ongoing guidance of the Ministry of Education.
This program allows TDSB students to enrol in one full-credit course that is offered in July. The program includes courses in all subject areas from Grades 9 to 12, with a focus on compulsory courses. The list of courses available to students and registration information is on the Continuing Education Summer School web page. Students in Grades 9 to 12 register for their requested course through e-Reg.
e-Summer Program
Registration for TDSB students, 14-20 years old: July courses: April 8 to June 15 at 4:30 PM and August courses: April 8 to July 8 at at 4:30 PM
Registration for non-TDSB students: 14-20 years old: July courses: May 25 to June 15 at 4:30 PM and August courses: May 25 to July 8 at 4:30 PM
The e-Learning Department is offering the e-Summer program for TDSB and Non- TDSB secondary school students in both July and August. The program includes courses in all subject areas in Grade 11 and 12 as well as Grade 10 Civics and Career Studies.
Students may enrol in two full-credit courses, one in July and one in August. Students who are completing graduation diplomas should select a July course where possible. Registration is restricted to TDSB students until May 24. Secondary school students who do not attend a TDSB secondary school may begin registration on May 25.
The list of courses available to students and registration information is on the e-Learning web page Students register through e-Reg.
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Elementary Summer School
Our elementary summer school program focus is to close the achievement and well-being gap and to continue student engagement into July. Programs for students in Grades 3 to 8 will be delivered from July 6 to 31, 2020 from 9am to 12pm. French programs will also be available for students currently in a French Immersion or Extended French Program. Remote synchronous learning will be offered. There is a possibility that learning may move from remote learning to in-class learning environments in accordance with the ongoing guidance of the Ministry of Education. Registration is online and is currently open to the public. More information is available at www.tdsb.on.ca/summer
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International Languages Elementary/African Heritage
The International Languages Elementary/African Heritage Program offers language classes to students Kindergarten to Grade 8. Classes will run from July 6 to 31, 2020 from 1:30 to 4pm. A minimum of 23 students is required to open a language class. Remote synchronous learning will be offered. There is a possibility that language learning may move from remote learning to in-class learning environments in accordance with the ongoing guidance of the Ministry of Education. Registration will be online and open on Monday, May 25, 2020. More information is available on www.ileprograms.ca
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Pedestrian Safety - Safety Tips for Parents
Children under nine should be accompanied by adults or older children when crossing the street. At this age, their judgment and perceptual skills are still immature, yet they often eagerly try to cross streets on their own in order to demonstrate some independence.
Teach your children the rules of the road - start when they're young. Think of it as gradually training your children about safety until all the connections are in place. By the time your child reaches age nine, and can act independently, the road safety rules will be second nature.
Teach children how to cross the street safely. Teach them to stop (before stepping onto the road), look left, right and left again, and listen for traffic before stepping out into the street. Teach children to wait until the street is clear and to keep looking until they have crossed the street. They should also look the driver in the eye before crossing.
Teach children to recognize pedestrian crossing signals but not rely on them. Before crossing, children should also be sure the traffic has stopped. Remind them to continue across if the light changes to "Don't Walk" while they are in the crosswalk.
Teach children to be extra alert when crossing at a corner with no traffic lights.
Teach your children to stop at driveways, alleys and areas without curbs and to never run out onto the street.
Teach children about the dangers of crossing the street between parked cars or when not at a corner. Children should cross only at corners and pedestrian crosswalks, not diagonally or between parked cars.
Teach children to respect the role of the crossing guard and to understand his/her signals.
Teach children that wherever possible they should walk on the sidewalk. In areas without sidewalks, teach children to walk as far away from the road as possible, facing approaching traffic (when there is no choice but to walk on the road).
Teach children that playing games at railway crossings or around trains can be deadly. Teach children that the only way to cross railway tracks is to use designated railway crossings.
Follow the same rules that you want your child to follow. You may want to cut across the street in the middle of the block, but you want your child to learn to cross at the intersection. Be a good role model.
Reprinted with the permission of Safe Kids Canada. Visit www.safekidscanada.ca for more safety tips on keeping children safe.
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Sun Safe Behaviour
This spring and summer, the Toronto District School Board and Toronto Public Health want kids to be safe while playing outdoors.
As we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, please follow all guidelines from Toronto Public Health, including social distancing.
Getting students outside and active is good for their health but too much sun can have serious side-effects, including burns, eye damage, premature aging of the skin and skin cancer. We encourage all students to practice sun safety.
What exactly does sun safe behaviour look like?
Cover up: Even on days with a moderate UV index students should wear a hat and sunglasses, especially if they'll be outside for over 30 minutes.
Stay cool: Students should stay in shady areas, particularly at midday when the sun is strongest.
Use sunscreen: Choose sunscreens with SPF 15 or higher that include protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
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