Dear friends,
I hope you will be able to join me for my first 2021 Ward 11 Virtual Ward forum, coming up this Monday evening, January 25, 7 - 9pm.
The topic for the evening will be "Elementary Online Learning", and will feature a variety of presentations by educators from our LC1 Virtual School, Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy, Rolph Road Public School, John Fisher Public School and Hodgson Middle School. These will cover a variety of age levels and types of learning, and will touch on kindergarten, primary, junior, and intermediate remote learning, as well as virtual learning for students with special needs. We will also hear from our two Ward 11 Superintendents, Andrew Howard and Ron Felsen, and the audience will have a chance to ask questions following the presentations.
Ward 11 Coffee Mornings are back! Virtually!
I have really missed catching up with parents, caregivers, community members and superintendents at coffee mornings. We used to meet regularly at Longo's on Laird, and while that option is obviously not open to us right now, we are going to try to replicate the experience virtually! Mark your calendars for Wednesday, February 3rd and Wednesday, March 10th, from 9:30-11:30. Please check out the flyer for this February 3rd coffee morning, and register here.
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Update on Advocacy Work on Vaccination Rollout for Education Workers
In Ward 11, we have two congregated schools (Park Lane and Sunnyview Public School), along with several Intensive Support classes in our local schools. I want to extend a very special shout out to the education workers, teachers and administrators who have been coming in to work with our most vulnerable students during this closure. Their exemplary commitment to come in, while the rest of the city is shut down due to rising covid numbers, speaks to their exceptional commitment to our students with special needs.
To this end, I am bringing forward an emergency motion on Tuesday, January 26th, calling for those staff currently working in person during the shutdown with our students who have complex needs to have immediate access to vaccinations. It is crucial that we advocate for as safe an environment as possible for both staff and students under these circumstances, and I am really hoping that this important motion will pass. To read this motion, please click here.
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Register for Middle French Immersion (starting in grade 4)
Please note: This program will replace the Junior Extended French program as the Grade 4 entry program in TDSB starting in the 2021-2022 school year.
For families interested in the Toronto District School Board's system-wide Middle French Immersion program, we offer an online process to apply. For details, please see the downloadable information package
Applications for the program, which starts September 2021, must be completed online by January 29, 2021. An offer of placement in the program (but not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants.
To learn more about this new program, Virtual Web Chat Information Sessions are coming up at the following dates and times:
- January 21, 2021 – 7 p.m.
- January 27, 2021 – 7 p.m.
To participate in these live web chats, please visit the information meeting web page for the meeting link on the dates/times as outlined above. Previous meetings (like the one on January 14) are likely to be archived on this page as well.
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Applying for Optional Attendance
Students who wish to register for a school for the 2021-2022 school year that is not their designated home school can do so by applying for Optional Attendance. Acceptance at these schools is subject to space availability and program suitability.
Because of the current school closures it is necessary for the Board to adjust the Optional Attendance process due to the heightened need to reduce potential Covid-19 exposures. As such, the following process will be in place for the remainder of this school year should your child/ward be applying to a school via Optional Attendance:
- The parent/guardian will complete the Optional Attendance form and will email the completed form to current school principal. The form may be sent as a scan, a photo or a screengrab.
- The current school principal or designate (VP, office staff etc.) will sign and email the form(s) to the receiving school.
- The receiving school will confirm receipt of the form(s) by way of email reply to the sending school.
- The current school will communicate with families that the Optional Attendance Form was signed, sent and received by the receiving school.
- The current school principal or designate will track optional attendance applications to ensure that TDSB policies are being followed.
- All current timelines are still in effect. Forms for secondary schools are due by January 29, 2021, and for elementary schools by February 12, 2021.
Elementary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:
- February 12, 2021: Optional attendance forms due at elementary school
- March 05, 2021: Deadline for parents/guardians to be informed of the status of the application request
- March 26, 2021: Parents/guardians must inform the requested school of their acceptance of the offer
Secondary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:
- January 29, 2021: Optional attendance forms due at secondary school
- February 12, 2021: Deadline for parents/guardians of students to be informed of the status of the application request
- February 26, 2021: Course selection sheets due at secondary schools
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In closing, I hope to see many of you on Monday evening, and wish you all a lovely weekend.
Stay healthy, stay safe,
Warm regards,
Rachel
Rachel Chernos Lin
TDSB Trustee, Ward 11, Don Valley West, Rachel.ChernosLin@tdsb.on.ca
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