| Hello Davenport students, friends, families and neighbours! Can you believe it's almost May? As my kids point out, "after May, it's June and then it's VACATION." Wow, how did that happen? In this issue of my Trustee Newsletter you'll find information about events happening in our community and across the City. So dig out your sun hat (and umbrella) and get ready for some "Fun Fair season" good times! Best, Marit
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| In our Community: Perth Avenue Public School Grandparents Community DayPerth Avenue PS hosted a community event on Friday, March 11 where all kindergarten students invited a grandparent (or aunt, uncle, neighbor, family friend) to a special "Kindergarten Community Grandparent Day." The school auditorium was filled with over 150 guests, who were treated to special performances by each of the classes. The teachers and school staff did a great job putting this event together, and invited me to say a few words. I decided to ask the Kindergarten students to help me answer the question: "What do grandparents do for us?" The first (and best) answer: "Anything we ask them to." Were truer words ever spoken?
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| Davenport Special Education ForumOn April 5, Davenport families and TDSB staff took part in a ward forum on especial education. After TDSB staff took everyone through a very comprehensive presentation on how the system is supposed to work, we heard from two parents who have experience navigating that system. Ingrid Palmer, who is also Chair of the TDSB Inner City Advisory Committee, spoke about the challenges and rewards of helping two of her children get the support they needed. Then Ying Ong, also a TDSB parent, shared her top tips on how to advocate for your special needs child. I'll be posting both the TDSB staff and Ying Ong's presentations on our Ward 9 web page. I highly recommend checking them out. Our final Ward Council meeting of the 2015/16 School Year will take place on Thursday May 26. Location to be confirmed. This is our year-end celebration and I'm excited to announce that TDSB Interim Director of Education, John Malloy, will be there to share his thoughts on where we are headed and to get YOUR input. Join us for a meal and some friendly conversation. EVERYONE WELCOME! Childcare provided. Interpretation available upon request. Email jared.ong@tdsb.on.ca
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| International Day of Pink
On April 13 we celebrated The International Day of Pink, a day of action born when a youth in a high school in Cambridge, Nova Scotia was bullied because he wore a pink shirt to school. His fellow students decided to stand up to bullying; and hundreds of students came to school wearing pink to show support for diversity and stopping discrimination, gender-based bullying, homophobia and transphobia.
Our students and staff wore pink in support of diversity, and participated in events and activities to challenge stereotypes.
The International Day of Pink is more than just a symbol of a shared belief in celebrating diversity - it's also a commitment to being open minded, to being understanding of differences and to learn to respect each other.
Some of our schools take it 'beyond the day'. This year I joined students at The Grove Community School as they celebrated "Gender Splendour", a whole week of workshops and activities.
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| Envision: TDSB Grade 7 & 8 Conference For LGBTQI Students And Their Allies - May 5, 2016
The Toronto District School Board and the Canadian Centre for Gender and Sexual Diversity are proud to present the Envision Conference for LGBTQIA2S Middle School Students and Allies, Grades 7-8.
Date: Thursday, May 5, 2016
Location: Central Technical School, 725 Bathurst Ave
This forum will give students the opportunity to:- Connect with other LGBTQIA2S students and allies from across the TDSB
- Explore their identities
- Learn how to create healthier relationship behaviours in their lives based on respect and consent
- Learn how to create a more inclusive school that values diversity and difference and be a change agent in their community
- Learn how to be an ally
- Learn how to focus on their self-care
If your school has a gay-straight alliance, queer-straight alliance, equity club or a group of engaged students interested in social justice, this conference is for you. We welcome you to join the conversation in how to create safer schools, free from sexism, racism, ableism, classism, homophobia and transphobia and other forms of oppression. Sessions also include teacher training on engaging students in conversations about Healthy Relationships, Teaching Social Action and How to Create more Positive School Environments.
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| Children’s Mental Health Week – May 1 to 7, 2016 Each year, Ontarians mark the first full week of May as Children’s Mental Health Week. The week is about increasing awareness of the signs of child and youth mental health needs, decreasing stigma and understanding that help is available.
This year, the TDSB is celebrating Children’s Mental Health Week by focusing on the theme of Belonging (#BelongingMatters). We know that mental health and well-being are affected by our sense of belonging. Belonging is the innate desire to be connected to something larger than ourselves. Based on research, two defining attributes of belonging are: being valued, needed or important with respect to others; and feeling like you fit in through shared experiences. A sense of belonging to a greater community improves motivation, health and happiness.
Join us for activities taking place throughout the week. And click here for more information about how the TDSB supports mental health and well-being. I strongly believe this is one area where we can and must be doing more, and will be advocating that our Provincial Government step up to provide school boards with more funding to put mental health professionals, guidance counsellors and social workers in our schools where they can support our students.
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| Community Opportunities Fair
Meet people and organizations that help with:
•Volunteering and Adult Upgrading
•Health services and family supports
•Kids summer activities and Youth programs.
Fairbank Public School — In the Gym, 2335 Dufferin St. (South of Eglinton Ave.), Wednesday May 11, 2016 from 6:30—8:00 p.m.
Child Care Provided for 4—10 year olds. * Music and Refreshments will be provided *
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| TDSB Celebrates Inaugural Sikh Heritage Month On March 22, 2016, a motion was passed with unanimous support to recognize Sikh Heritage Month every April. We wish to remember and honour the Sikh Canadians who have played an important role in the Canadian community. With this motion, the TDSB becomes the first Board to officially recognize Sikh Heritage Month!
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Celebrate Jewish Heritage Month at the TDSB Tikkun Olam Social Justice Fair - May 25, 2016
May is Jewish Heritage Month in TDSB. In 2016, the celebrations will highlight Tikkun Olam, a classical Jewish concept that has become, “synonymous with the notion of social action, good character development, and the pursuit of social justice which is integral to the Jewish paradigm and concept of our responsibility in the world.”
On Wednesday, May 25th (a Board meeting night), Trustees and senior staff will have a chance to see how this concept is being turned into action, and sample some Jewish-themed snacks, at the TDSB Tikkun Olam Social Justice Fair, in the 5050 cafeteria from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. Students from schools around TDSB will be on hand with displays and presentations, eager to share information about the many ways they are working to improve the world around them.
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BOARD MEETING NOTES
Trustees Approve School Based Staffing Allocation for 2016-1
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| Spring Fairs - "Support your community school and have fun doing it!"With Spring finally here, we can all look forward to the Spring Fun Fairs just around the corner. These events are a great way to bring the community together and help support your school. I look forward to visiting a few school fairs myself, and I hope to see many of you there! Ward 9 Fun Fair Dates
Dovercourt PS - May 27th (3:30 - 8:30pm)
Perth Avenue JPS - June 2nd (5:00 - 8:00pm)
Rawlinson CS - June 4th
AlexanderMuirGladstone - Portugal Day celebration - June 9 (4:00-7:00pm)
Regal Road JPS - May 26 (5:00 pm)
General Mercer - June 18
***If you would like your school's Fun Fair posted in our next newsletter, please send the date along***
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| Brock Public School hosts Great Big Crunch
Last month I was thrilled to join the amazing students and staff at Brock Public School for FoodShare’s Great Big Crunch, an annual moment of anti-silence where everyone gets together and bites into crunchy fresh local produce in unison. We celebrated and enjoyed some healthy, local and fun snacks!
FoodShare had around 160,000 students across the country crunching — including lots of TDSB schools. Read more about the event at FoodShare’s website.
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| All Gender Bathroom at City View Alternative
Check out this great article from Huffington Post Canada, about the All-Gender washroom at City View Alternative Senior School.
Did you know? City View is the first Toronto school with an all gender bathroom!
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| Bike to School Week
Trustees made Bike to School Week an official annual event at the TDSB. The last week in May each year will be declared Bike to School Week to encourage active, safe and sustainable transportation. Stay tuned for details!
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| Calling on all First Nations, Metis, Inuit girls from grades 6-8
You are invited to participatein a daylong workshop on positive body image and self-esteem!
Strong Bodies, Strong Hearts: Indigenous Young Women, Body Image and Self-Esteem
May 30th, 10am to 3pm, Aboriginal Education Centre, Toronto 90 Croatia Street * TTC tokens, Taxi Chits and Lunch provided.
Come for a day of sharing, creativity and teachings on Indigenous ways of under-standing and appreciating our unique body shapes and sizes!
Limited space available: please contact MSW student Emily Blackmoon at egallien@ryerson.ca or Hannah Fowlie at hannah.fowlie@tdsb.on.ca. Or call Hannah at 416-988-2229
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Upcoming Days of Significance
May 2016
• South Asian Heritage Month
• Jewish Heritage Month
• Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month
1 Pascha (Easter) (Orthodox Christian)
1 Beltane* (Wicca/Pagan)
5 Yom HaShoah* (Judaism)
15 Visakha Puja** (Buddhism)
15 Pentecost (Christian)
15 International Day of Families (UN)
17 International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia
23 Declaration of the Ba’b (Baha’i)
23 Victoria Day (Public holiday)
29 Ascension of Baha’u’llah* (Baha’i)
31 World No Tobacco Day (WHO)
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| Have Your Say!
The Ontari o Student Trustees' Association (OSTA-AECO) is asking students, parents, and educators the same ten questions about education. Read more or take the survey here.
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TDSB Integrity Commissioner Update TDSB Integrity Commissioner Suzanne Craig began her appointment on April 4, 2016. Serving the Board of Trustees, the Integrity Commissioner will provide advice, and conduct inquiries and complaint resolution in an independent manner.
"While my role is restricted to providing advice and conducting inquiries and complaint resolution in relation to the actions and conduct of Board Trustees, I will make the provision of education on the ethical obligations and responsibilities of Trustees, my first priority. As the largest and one of the most diverse school boards in Canada, I am committed to fulfilling my mandate with the knowledge that the real focus of any work I will do is the approximately 245,000 students in 588 schools served by the TDSB."
- Suzanne Craig, TDSB Integrity Commissioner
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