Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr means "festival of breaking the fast" and marks the end of Ramadan.
Wishing all celebrating Eid al-Fitr, "Eid Mubarak"!
| |
Wash.Distance.Save Lives.Please wash your hands.
Keep physical distance.
Stay healthy.
Save lives.
We are all in this together.
"The power to change the story is entirely in our hands. So thank you, thank you to the residents of our city, thank you to business owners, thank you all for doing this, but we can still do better, we must do better, and we need your help to get there." Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health
Other Important Links:
| |
Summary Notes from May 19
Report From the Director of Education
- Today we learned schools will remain closed for the remainder of this school year. We have been in close contact with different levels of expertise to inform our contingency planning, Through the different circles we collaborate with, we learn insights. Toronto Public Health continues to be an expert that we pay close attention to.
- Contingency planning work continues to be complicated and complex, we are not losing sight of wellbeing and health and safety. We listen to our families, staff and students who have shared insights with us to inform September.
- Our intention is that all devices distributed will make their way back to the schools where they came from.
- Some have asked directly regarding updates on expectations for educators, real time and synchronous learning. We are still collaborating with our union colleagues and will have more of an update next Tuesday and will communicate with parents.
Associate Director Carlene Jackson - Operational Issues for Re-Opening
- Walked through some of the operational issues related to returning to work and returning to school. We currently do not have all the answers, we have more questions.
- Committee of almost 20 people, with representation from across the Board, are working on this. Final direction will come from Ministry, TPH, agencies.
- Access to building to gather student belongings - parents, students and staff are eager to collect belongings from buildings. We are currently working on a protocol with TPH on next steps. Board property that needs to be returned could be done at the same time. We will need to develop very detailed time schedules to ensure we don’t have more people in the building than is safe.
Executive Superintendent Jim Spyropoulos - Academic Issues for Re-Opening
- Provided an overview on the academic side of re-opening in September.
- As we prepare for the re-opening of schools in September, we do so with the safety and security of our students, staff and community as the highest priority. Prevention and control measures must be in place to appropriately limit the spread of COVID-19.
- Final direction for schools and administrative buildings to re-open will come from the Ministry of Education, Toronto Public Health and/or other public health agencies. The Ministry of Education will also provide direction with respect to matters related to curriculum and assessment and evaluation practices. Local Boards will have responsibility for operationalizing Ministry directives with respect to school reopening.
- A range of models is being considered along a continuum ranging from fully open and operational schools to a complete continuation of remote learning for all students. A September return to school may potentially involve a hybrid model which combines elements of remote and in-person learning. A return to school may also occur in phases. Any return to school must and will take many different factors into account.
- The most important questions raised as part of school re-opening relate to supporting and improving student well-being, achievement and engagement, in light of the closure period. Specific questions raised connect to many areas of the Board including, communication, Employee Services (expectations for staff, issues of absenteeism related to staff and students), implementation of hygiene and physical distancing measures, teacher support, nutrition, School Councils, technical support for students and staff, transportation, emergency preparedness, sites with multiple users, differentiation between elementary, secondary and “specialized” schools as well as distinct provisions for Wandering Spirit School.
- We appreciate that while the Board must provide system direction, local schools will implement and operationalize based on the unique needs of school communities.
Associate Director Colleen Russell-Rawlins - Child Care and Early Years
- Given the complexity of child care and early years programs, there is the need for a detailed, corresponding contingency plan for re-establishing these programs. There are five different programs being considered under this planning framework.
- These programs are both provincially and municipally regulated. EarlyON and Extended Day Programs are board-operated and have financial implications.
- Under O.Reg 221/11, TDSB is required to provide before and after school care where there is a demand and viability. This is a legal requirement. The circumstances associated with COVID-19 will likely make it challenging to deliver programming in the same manner as in the past.
- We look forward to more information from the Ministries of Education, Labour, Tourism and Recreation, Toronto Public Health and The City of Toronto’s Children’s Services to establish the parameters and health and safety protocols for resuming these programs.
- Staff will evaluate the feasibility of offering TDSB Extended Day Programs in July and August, if feasible, safe and permissible as set out by provincial and local authorities. Staff has requested to meet with Toronto Children’s Services to form a coherent plan for re-opening child care in the community and in-schools. We are conducting scans of successful approaches, in other jurisdictions, to reopening child care in schools to inform our planning.
- Lastly, once more is known about the terms for re-opening from other authorities it will be important to include the perspectives of child care operators in TDSB’s planning process.
- Community Advisory Committees (CACs) - a few CAC members are continuing to have conversations in small groups to discuss various aspects of their Terms of Reference. We are asking that those discussions that are taking place now also be brought forward so CACs for discussion when meetings resume in the Fall. Individuals may choose to depute to various committees should they have urgent matters they wish to draw to the attention of the Board of Trustees through the appropriate Standing Committee.
- Parent Reaching Out (PRO) Grants - Today we received information from the Ministry of Education that no decisions regarding changes to the grant have been made at this time. We will continue to provide updates on the status of these grants as well as develop alternative plans for the funding.
Associate Director Manon Gardner - Update on Devices
- 95% of device deliveries have been completed (55,938 devices have been delivered). We still have about 3,000 to go. We have not officially closed the survey, if family’s situations have changed, we ask that they contact their principals to submit a request.
- Summer School - the Minister spoke to summer school today. At this time, we will wait to look at the official communication when we receive it to ensure we are aligned and then send the information out.
| |
TDSB Sport Fields/Tennis Courts/Basketball CourtsAs you know, the City of Toronto announced this week that it will be re-opening park amenities. As a result, the TDSB has made a similar decision and began reopening its sports fields and basketball and tennis courts for individual/non-organized use on Thursday, May 21. Permits for these amenities continue to be cancelled until further notice. While on TDSB property, people must continue to practice physical distancing and signage highlighting the importance of physical distancing will be posted at all schools. Please note that TDSB play structures remain closed at this time. If anyone is concerned about large gatherings and/or people using play structures please continue to call 311. Please note that the City of Toronto may dispatch bylaw enforcement, however that enforcement would be in the form of education only. The City of Toronto also prioritizes its property over that of the TDSB given limited resources. Please note the TDSB does not have an “enforcement branch” and the limited security guards that we do have would make it impossible for us to enforce any violations. We must rely on the public to act responsibly.
| |
Delegation Process - Addressing a CommitteeDelegation requests will still be accepted during the closure of all schools and administrative sites at the Toronto District School Board; 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 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.
| |
Upcoming Committee Meetings
The Toronto District School Board is committed to developing opportunities for our wider school community to connect and engage in conversations about education issues. Due to the closure of all schools and administration sites at the Toronto District School Board, all standing committee and regular board meetings will be held virtually and broadcasted live to the public. Click here at the start time to view - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Live-Webcast-of-Meetings
May 26 (Tuesday) Committee of the Whole (Special Meeting) (Electronic Meeting) 4:30 p.m. Agenda. The purpose of this meeting is to provide strategic advice and recommendations to the Board on the continued implementation of services during school closures, creating a successful path to the post-COVID reopening of schools and other potential learnings from the pandemic period.
- 4. Report From the Director of Education (Oral Update)
- 5. Report From the Chair of the Board (Oral Update)
- 6. Report From Representative on the City's Board of Health (Oral Update)
- 7. Report From the Directors on Ontario Public School Boards' Association (Oral Update)
- 8. Report From the Chairs of the Governance and Policy Committee, the Program and School Services Committee, the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee (Oral Update)
- 9. Report From Representatives on the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee and the Special Education Advisory Committee (Oral Update)
- 10. Reports From Student Trustees (Oral Update)
- 11. Emergency Motions (to be presented)
- 12. Other Questions, Insights and Advice From Trustees to Staff (to be presented)
May 27 (Wednesday) Board Meeting (Electronic Meeting) 7:00 p.m. - public session
- 15. Committee Reports
- 15.1 Governance and Policy Committee, Report No. 25 (Part 2), April 29, 2020
- 1 P034, Workplace Harassment Prevention Policy Review: Phase 1
- 2. P031, Human Rights Policy Review: Phase 2, Status Update
- 15.2 Program and School Services Committee, Report No. 82 (Part 2), May 6, 2020
- 1. French-as-a-Second-Language Community Advisory Committee: Guiding Principles for French Immersion
- 2. French-as-a-Second-Language Community Advisory Committee: TTC Support for French Immersion/Extended Secondary Students in Need
- 3. Annual Report on Early Literacy, 2019-20
- 4. Psychological Services: Wait Lists, 2018-19
- 5. Annual Enrolment in Immersion/Extended French Program, 2020-2021 and Core French Program, 2019-2020
- 6. Indigenous Education Annual Report
- 7. September as Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder Awareness Month
- 15.3 Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee, Report No. 49, May 13, 2020
- 1. Contract Awards, Facilities
- 2. Contract Awards, Operations
- 3. Accessing Cleaning Supplies and Personal Protective Equipment
- 4. Student Information System Project Plan and Selection Process
- 5. Update on Budget Timelines for the 2020-21 School Year
- 6. Update of Financial Forecast for 2019-20 and Impacts of COVID-19
- 7. Transportation Update on Changes to Bell Times in 2020- 21
- 8. Davisville Junior Public School/Spectrum Alternative Senior School: Geotechnical Investigation
- 15.4 Committee of the Whole (Special Meeting), Report No. 13, May 12, 2020 (For receipt)
- 15.5 Committee of the Whole (Special Meeting), Report No. 14, May 19, 2020 (For receipt)
- 15.6 Committee of the Whole, Report No. 15, May 20, 2020
- 1. Interim Report on the Secondary Program Review
- 2. Basketball Nets Pilot: Update
- 3. Service Excellence Program Overview
- 4. Toronto District School Board/Toronto Lands Corporation: Service Level Agreement Update
- 5. Toronto Lands Corporation: Management Report to the Board, April 2020
- 6. 2020-21 Toronto Lands Corporation Budget
- 7. Lease: Former DB Hood Public School, 2327 Dufferin Street
- 15.7 Committee of the Whole (Special Meeting), Report No. 16, May 26, 2020 To be presented
- 16. Matter Postponed From Previous Meeting
- 16.1 Director Search Committee
- 17. Written Notices of Motion
- 17.1 Incorporating Genocide Education as Compulsory Learning (Trustees Laskin and Moise)
- 17.2 Sale of Vaping Products to Teenagers (Trustee Donaldson, on behalf of Student Trustee Deng and Trustee Laskin)
| |
Summer ProgramsElementary Summer Programs
Elementary Summer School, July 6- July 31, 2020
International Languages Elementary and African Heritage Summer Program, June 29 - July 31, 2020
Open to all students from SK to Grade 8, International Languages Elementary summer programs combine language and culture learning with engaging activities like games, songs, dance, storytelling and writing. No language background knowledge is necessary.
Secondary Summer Programs
Toronto District School Board is offering three distinct credit programs for high school students.
1. Remote Credit Recovery, July 6 - July 31, 2020
2. Hybrid Remote Summer Credit Program, July 6 - July 31, 2020
3. Credit Courses for e-Summer High School (online)
The e-Learning Department is offering a fully online e-Summer program for TDSB and Non-TDSB secondary school students in both July and August. Registration dates for Grade 11 and 12 e-Learning courses for 2020-2021 are currently on hold and are being reviewed to ensure they align with the TDSB back-to-school strategy that is being developed. We will update with the revised registration dates once they have been determined.
Summer Programs for Adults
Learn4Life Summer Session, July 6 - July 31, 2020
| |
Interim Report on the Secondary Program Review
This interim report of the Secondary Program Review, coming to Committee of the Whole Wednesday highlights the issues, gaps, and needs facing our system that are impacting our ability to support this vision. And, while it offers some preliminary concepts for discussion, it is not a set of recommendations on school closures or a roadmap to a one size fits all approach to our schools. Using the comprehensive and data-rich information, including enrolment and population projections, this report acknowledges where we have been, where we are and where we could go, all while respecting and protecting many of the successful schools and programs that exist right across our system.
This report supports our next step forward as we start to re-imagine and re-draw our system in consultation and collaboration with our communities to enhance equity and support the achievement and well-being of each and every student in the TDSB, now and in the future.
Over the next few months, parents, students, staff and community members will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the information shared in the report. Feedback can be provided to secondaryreview@tdsb.on.ca and/or to local Trustees.
If approved in the fall, the Secondary Program Review Final Report will inform the LongTerm Program and Accommodation Strategy, which identifies studies and reviews about any proposed changes, including school consolidations, boundary changes, or school reconfigurations. Regular and ongoing communication will be provided so that parents, students, staff and community members are informed of the opportunity to engage and provide feedback during the program and accommodation review processes.
| |
School Year Calendar 2020-2021
Pending Ministry Approval
The official school year calendar for the Toronto District School Board runs from September 1 to June 30, inclusive.
First day of classes for all students is September 8, 2020 (please note there is no school for students on September 4)
- The last day of class for elementary students is June 29, 2021
- The last day of class for secondary (full year) students is June 25, 2021
- The last day of class for secondary (semestered) students is June 28, 2021
| |
|
|
|
|