Trustee Update

March 2023

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is committed to providing mathematically rich, meaningful and inclusive learning opportunities for students to foster an appreciation of mathematics and develop students’ identities as lifelong math learners. The TDSB Mathematics Action Plan (2019) achieves this goal by building capacity and content knowledge, ensuring coherence, differentiating assessment and instruction, challenging streaming and promoting inclusion, and engaging parents, families, and communities. The math strategy supports high-quality mathematics pedagogy through the TDSB’s commitment to equity, inclusion and anti-oppression. It engages all students as math learners, including students with special education needs and students facing systemic barriers in their math learning, thus building a culture in schools where there is a high expectation that all students are capable math learners.

The Annual Math Strategy Update was received by Trustees at the February Program and School Services Committee (PSSC) meeting. Read the Math Strategy Report and the TDSB Mathematics Action Plan for more information.

 

Trustees are taking the first steps in addressing caste-based oppression in Toronto schools. Caste-based oppression is experienced by various faith communities in South Asia, the Caribbean and parts of Africa and East Asia and there have been documented cases here in Toronto. To help address this, Trustees are requesting that the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC) assess and provide a framework for addressing caste oppression in a public education context and have asked staff to report back with more information when the OHRC has provided feedback.

 

Our 2023-24 Budget Process is currently underway. Every year, this process begins with staff allocation, which is guided by a number of factors, including student enrolment, collective agreements, class sizes caps and averages, and the TDSB’s commitment to equity, student achievement and well-being. This year, a number of additional factors, including the elimination of the $31.5 million dollars in Ministry of Education funding provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, have impacted our budget and staff allocation. The Board continues to advocate to the Ministry of Education to provide adequate and sustainable funding to support student achievement and well-being. To find out more, visit the Developing the 2023-2024 Budget webpage.

 

We are beginning to renew our Multi-Year Strategic Plan and we invite the entire TDSB community to get involved and share your voice. The renewal process will build on the foundation of our current strategic plan and there will be a variety of opportunities to share your thoughts and ideas in the coming months. Please visit the MYSP Renewal webpage to learn more and for ongoing updates. I will be hosting a Multi-Year Strategic Plan Ward Forum in April. Stay tuned for more information.

 

I will be hosting an in-person meeting for Ward 9 school council chairs/co-chairs on April 5th at Givins/Shaw Junior PS from 6:30-8:30pm. One chair/co-chair from each school is invited to attend. Child care will be available and dinner provided. Location and further details will be sent later this week via your principal. Looking forward to meeting some of you in person!

Thanks to those of you who emailed me your contact information. I heard from 5 schools out of 33. Please email me your contact information if you have not already  - alexis.dawson@tdsb.on.ca

 

Join the TDSB Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) 16th Annual Conference on Saturday May 6, 2023 (9am-3:30pm).  This in-person conference will have speakers and workshops focused on bridging gaps in Parent Engagement and School Councils. For more information, please visit the PIAC Conference webpage.

 

The Parents and Caregivers as Partners Conference happening on October 21 and 22, 2023 is seeking proposals for virtual and hybrid (in-person or streaming) workshops, micro-sessions, and panel presentations. The conference provides an opportunity to highlight innovation and high-impact strategies for partnering, collaborating, and nurturing parent/caregiver partnerships and alliances. I encourage you to submit your proposal now! Please note, the submissions deadline is April 11, 2023. Visit www.parentsaspartners.ca for further information.

I will be publishing information on upcoming FREE events and workshops open to all community members as well as school community “good news stories” in Ward 9, ongoingly in this section of my newsletter. If you would like your event or good news story to be included, please email me the details at alexis.dawson@tdsb.on.ca

 

Join families in Davenport for the Annual Wadsworth Park Egg Hunt!

When: Saturday April 8, 10am-noon

Where: Wadsworth Park (Connolly Ave & Laughton Ave)

What: Free annual Egg Hunt. All are invited. Everything free. Includes candy, refreshments & free raffle.

How: RSVP by emailing Mia Macdonald (so that we can have enough supplies on hand) at mia@miamacdonald.ca

 

My office is here to help with questions, comments, and concerns related to municipal issues. You can contact us at councillor_bravo@toronto.ca or by phone at 416-392-7012. Our community office is now open at 1240 Bloor Street West from 12-5pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays. If you don't already receive my weekly community e-newsletters, subscribe here: https://www.alejandrabravo.ca/join

 

It’s an honour to be your local representative here in Spadina–Fort York, Ward 10. I’m proud to have served our downtown communities as a TDSB Trustee, and excited to bring that knowledge and experience to ensure you have a champion at City Hall! I believe in building our collective power for a Toronto that works for all of us, includes all of us, and gives voice to all of us. I invite you to sign up for my newsletter at ausmamalik.ca and you can reach me and my team anytime at councillor_malik@toronto.ca or 416 392 4044. Let’s stay connected!

Looking to build your child’s literacy and numeracy skills? Elementary Summer School registration is now open! The focus of the 2023 Elementary Literacy and Numeracy Summer School Program is to continue student engagement through the month of July. Programs, which are developed by the local summer school principal to reflect the local school focus, are offered in-person to students in Kindergarten to Grade 8, from July 4 to July 28, 2023, in various locations around the city. This year, one remote program will also be available.

For more information, including a list of schools and online registration forms, visit our summer school program page.

 

Did you know we offer a wide variety of Continuing Education at the TDSB? I encourage you to explore learning opportunities available for children, families, adults, and visitors:

We are proud to recognize Greek Heritage Month during the month of March. During this month, several learning resources and educational opportunities are provided to our students and staff to further enhance their knowledge of the Greek culture. To learn more about what is happening in our system, please continue to monitor @TDSB_GHM on Twitter for the latest updates.

 

The first hint of warming weather and the promise of spring thaw can bring extreme danger to the shores and surfaces of streams, rivers, ponds, and lakes. The Toronto and Region Conservation monitors hazardous ice conditions as thaw begins and are reminding everyone to be very careful around all bodies of water.

As warmer temperatures arrive, stream banks become increasingly slippery and unstable. Lake and river ice weakens, becoming thinner or with higher flows breaking with little or no warning. During this time, the potential for flooding and ice jamming is high.

Higher, faster-flowing water and extreme cold temperatures combine to create increased dangers on or near rivers, streams and ponds for people wishing to enjoy the seasonal changes. I ask all parents and caregivers to keep children away from stream banks, ponds and lakes. Please be careful and stay safe!

 

Here at the TDSB, we are always open to hearing your questions and concerns, and make every effort to address them as quickly as possible. Your child's classroom teacher is the first point of contact, followed by the school's principal, the school superintendent, and me, your Trustee! For more information visit Steps to Address Questions and Concerns.

 

The next Regular Board Meeting will be held on Wednesday, April 26, 2023. For a list of upcoming meetings, please click on the calendar at www.tdsb.on.ca.

 

Join the conversations happening on TDSB's social media communities. You'll find the most up-to-date information about us on our Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram accounts.