September 15, 2024

The Toronto District School Board is committed to developing opportunities for our wider school community to connect and engage in conversations about education issues. Meetings will be broadcasted live to the public. Click here at the start time to view - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Live-Webcast-of-Meetings.

To submit a delegation request (written for the Trustees to read or oral to present to Trustees) for a Board Committee (delegations are not accepted for Board meetings), please see 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. 

Full Agenda and Reports for meetings are available here - click on the appropriate meeting https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Agenda-Minutes

Wednesday, September 18, 2024 – Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee - 4:30pm - Boardroom, 5050 Yonge St - Agenda

 The Ministry of Education has updated its direction to school boards on policies related to confirming pupil residency. Of note, and new for the 2024-2025 school year, school board staff are required to attest that they have reviewed pupil residency documents at the start of each school year to ensure the pupil and their parents are living in Ontario.

Attestation will need to be completed by board staff to generate Core Education Funding for these pupils (approximately $1000 elementary and $1400 secondary). A revised Attestation Form has been developed by Planning staff to facilitate this process. 

Parents/caregivers will be notified of the attestation requirement on September 16, 2024, and will be able to select an appointment time to meet with school staff. Daytime, evening and weekend appointments will be available. If bringing documents to the Remote Learning Host School poses a challenge, alternative options at other sites across the board will be offered. The deadline to complete the attestation is October 31, 2024. 

Students for whom attestation is not completed will need to be demitted as residency in Ontario could not be proven. In this case, information about Home Schooling will be provided to parents.

The TDSB is committed to open and inclusive policy decision-making and values community input and participation through consultation. Consultation is a two-way communication process between the Board and external participants, including students and their parents/guardians, school councils, advisory committees, community members, different levels of government, service agencies, professional organizations and union partners. The objective of consultation is to gather public input regarding options, alternative courses of action, as well as to identify unintended effects for various participants and to find solutions. 

Personal Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy Development – Draft Policy

As per the approved Policy Development Work Plan, an interdepartmental working group was established along with conducting a pre-consultation phase to develop a draft Policy on Personal Mobile Devise Use in Schools.

The consultation will open after the Board Meeting of October 9, 2024.

We’re searching for the next Director of Education at the TDSB. Your feedback will help us find the best candidate for the next Director of Education. Please take this opportunity to share your thoughts. The survey should take less than 15 minutes to complete. This survey, including the data collected, is being administered and managed by Phelps. Your responses will be confidential and reported anonymously as group data.

Please submit your survey no later than September 22, 2024 at 11:59pm.q
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2LZTDVR Thank you in advance!

The Terry Fox Run/Walk/Roll for Cancer Research

"Terry Fox represented the best that Canadians have to offer. He was an example of courage, humility, determination, and perseverance. From a young age he exemplified these attributes that made him an inspiration for not only Canada, but the entire world."

The official Terry Fox event was held today, and the official "school" date is September 27 - many of our schools have been involved in the School Run/Walk/Roll for many years. 

Terry believed in a world without cancer. Join us for a Terry Fox Run/Walk/Roll* (on any date that works for you) to raise funds for cancer research.

For more information click here https://terryfoxschoolrun.org/.

* A retired VP in our ward, Michael Moore, consistently tweets about implicit bias in the words “Walk” and “Run”. He writes "If you can’t run or walk, you can roll not just donate. Rebranding events “Run & Roll” or “Walk & Roll” would make it explicitly clear that not only are people using wheelchairs welcome, but anticipated and accommodated." I choose his language.

Walk [Roll] for Wenjack

"Walk [Roll] for Wenjack honours Chanie Wenjack and the thousands like him who never made it home.

The first "Walk for Wenjack" took place in 2016 and retraced the steps of Chanie Wenjack, a 12-year-old Anishinaabe boy who died after escaping residential school. He was attempting to reach his family 600km away. It started at the Cecilia Jeffrey Residential School in Kenora, ON, and continued to Redditt, ON for a ceremony representing Chanie's final resting spot near Farlane, ON. Since then, people throughout the country have hosted their own walks [rolls] to educate and raise awareness of the true history and impact of residential schools.

This year, DWF is challenging everyone in Canada to "Do Something", as Gord would say, by participating in their own Walk [Roll] for Wenjack. For more information, click here https://walk-for-wenjack-2024.raiselysite.com/en/about

Survey: Equipping students with life skills

As announced in May, the Ministry of Education has launched consultations with students, parents, job creators, educators and other stakeholders on the practical life skills students will need to build a strong foundation for future success through modernized home economics education.

Closing date: October 1, 2024

The consultation is now open and available online until October 1, 2024 at 5pm and the survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete. This PDF contains the survey questions should you wish to preview and discuss the questions prior to submitting responses and/or submit one response via the online survey link on behalf of your organization, if preferred.  

Did you know the TDSB offers Continuing Education Programming in our communities?

Explore learning opportunities available for children, families, adults, and visitors at the TDSB this fall:

International Languages Elementary & African Heritage Program, Secondary Credit Night School, Learn4Life - Adult General Interest Programs and Adult ESL.

Following the motion that Trustees unanimously approved the motion moved by me and Trustee Alexandra Lulka Rotman at our meeting on August 28, 2024 titled Requesting Support to Deal With Incidents of Hate and Geopolitical Tensions, letters have recently been sent by the Director and Chair with the requests to the Minister of Education and the Ontario College of Teachers. Click on the links below. We hope to hear soon.

Advocacy Letters

Letter to the Ontario College of Teachers' Professional Advisories Pertaining to Mental Health, Bullying, and the Use of Electronic and Social Media

Wednesday September 11, 2024  Linda Lacroix Registrar and CEO Ontario College of Teachers 101...

Addressing Hate and Geopolitical Tensions within Ontario's Schools

Wednesday September 11, 2024  The Honourable Jill Dunlop Minister of Education 438 University Avenue, 5th Floor...

As I repeat in every update, the TDSB collects data through the Bias and Hate (RBH) Portal, and the increase in antisemitic incidents is also being experienced in our schools - on my website I have excerpted from all our public reports on the data - TDSB Public Reports with RBH Portal Data 2018-2023. Principals and Superintendents are being reminded of their responsibilities in documenting incidents and educating against them. All students and staff - all students and staff - must be safe in our schools and free from discrimination, harassment and hate. 

You can read more on TDSB's Combating Hate and Racism Strategy on our website. It is important that there is accurate information about Board updates and decisions as they relate to combating hate and racism. Questions and Answers have been prepared to provide additional information - should you have any additional questions, please email me. 

If you are a staff or a student or a parent/caregiver, and you are a victim of/or witnessing an incident of racism, bias, or hate in our schools, please report it to the school's principal, who has a duty to investigate all incidents. Each time an incident takes place in a school, it is to be recorded in the portal I previously referenced which then begins a system response. We have a responsibility to educate against hate. For more information, please visit the webpage for Reporting an Incident of Hate or Discrimination Involving or Impacting Students. If you experience it, or witness it, report it. Please. If you are concerned your complaint is not being taken seriously after you follow the Parent Concern Protocol, please let me know.

Complaints regarding social media postings should be sent directly to the TDSB's Human Rights Office at humanrightsoffice@tdsb.on.ca. The intake process is being centralized in the Human Rights Office to ensure for consistency of process.

If you witness something inside the community, report any allegations of hate-motivated crimes to police for investigation at 416-808-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. The Police state they will not tolerate any intimidation, harassment, or hate-motivated behaviour aimed at specific communities. You can also call 1-800-222-TIPS to Crime Stoppers anonymously.

Please remember TDSB's Mental Health and Well Being Professional Support Staff (PSS) are here to support your mental health and well-being and to help you navigate the tools and resources you may need. Please see resources on their website.

As you may be aware, during the school year, school staff participate in a number of Professional Activity (PA) Days. On these dates, students remain at home and schools are open for staff to engage in professional learning. As per Ministry requirements, detailed information about planned activities will be posted to the TDSB public website at least 14 days in advance of each scheduled PA Day during the 2024-25 school year. I encourage you to visit the PA Day web page to learn more and check back throughout the school year. 

Note: the first PA Day for the 2024-25 school year in on September 27, 2024. Information is posted on the webpage. 

Please ensure you check for Days of Significance before scheduling student and community events - as the TDSB is currently reviewing ours - for 2024-25, the TDSB will only publish a Faith/Creed-Based Holy Days Calendar and an Indigenous Days of Significance Calendar. For now, please check the Multi-Faith calendar available online https://multifaithcalendar.org/cal/index.php.

I have been communicating issues we have been having with dogs on school property with every update. Now, as part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a safe and welcoming environment on TDSB properties, we would like to update you on the policies and new reporting procedures related to dogs on school grounds.

The TDSB enforces a strict policy regarding dogs on its properties. Dogs are generally not permitted on TDSB grounds, with the exception of service animals as defined by the Student Use of Service Animals in Schools Policy (P096) and the Use of Service Animals by the General Public Procedure (PR604). These guidelines are in place to ensure proper management and support for service animals within our schools.

New Reporting Process for Dogs Off-Leash

To effectively address incidents of dogs being off-leash on school properties, a new reporting process has been established through the City of Toronto’s 311 service. Community members can report such incidents either by phone or online:

Phone Reporting: Call 311 to report dogs off-leash on school property

Online Reporting: Visit the City of Toronto Service Request or Feedback webpage.

Saliva Testing Program (from their website)

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) offers saliva test kits, also known as Spit-kits, to symptomatic students and staff to test for influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and COVID-19 in select schools across the Toronto Area. 

The program began in September 2020 to test to COVID-19 in Toronto schools. For the 2024–25 school year, the program will expand to include testing for influenza and RSV, in addition to COVID-19. 

[Note - I saw this on Twitter over the weekend and I am waiting for more information from the TDSB staff to understand exactly what schools will be involved - I will share more information next week.]

Learn more about the program
Informational webinars will be held weekly on Monday and Wednesday at 12 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. for staff, students and their families/guardians to attend starting Monday, Sep. 16 until Wednesday, Oct. 2.

City of Toronto Climate Action Grants for TDSB schools

Do you need funding for a climate action project that will benefit your school community? Grants of up to $1,000 are available to support projects that involve student groups. Eligible projects include energy conservation, sustainable transportation, waste reduction, environmental education, local foods, learning gardens and much more! 

City and school board staff are here to help guide you through the grant process. Contact us to discuss your ideas! Starting September 16, submit your request for funding online. Learn more.

City of Toronto PollinateTO Grants for TDSB Schools

The City of Toronto is very excited to announce that PollinateTO grant applications are now open for online submission until October 21, 2024, 11:59 PM.

Grants of up to $5,000 are available to support community-led projects that create or expand pollinator habitat on public and private lands in Toronto. School groups looking to initiate schoolyard greening projects through the creation of pollinator habitat and rain gardens are encouraged to apply.

Learn more about the program, eligibility, past projects and application details at www.toronto.ca/PollinateTO. Important Dates:

TDSB Special Education Department Family Sessions
Drop-In Q & A with Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Staff

Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Drop-Ins and Q & A with Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Staff - Receive general OT/PT strategies for your child(ren)
Chat with other parents/caregivers; Ask questions.

If you require translation services or have any questions or concerns, please email:
Learning Centre 1 - Rhanda Craig: rhanda.craig@tdsb.on.ca and Leslie Hopkins: leslie.hopkins@tdsb.on.ca Learning Centre 2 - Anna Lin: anna.lin@tdsb.on.ca and Andrea Wiltsie: andrea.wiltsie@tdsb.on.ca
September 17, 2024
October 15, 2024
November 19, 2024
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January 21, 2025
February 18, 2025
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April 15, 2025
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June 2025

Get the link here Sensory and Motor team parent/guardian/caregiver VOH flyer

TDSB Speech and Language Pathologists in collaboration with Donna Cardoza invite you to Let's Talk, Read, and Write 
Parents/Caregivers of Grade 1 students, Ontario has a new Language Curriculum.  Come and learn how you can help your child develop early reading, writing and talking skills.  Register for ALL 5 Sessions on Tuesdays from 6:30pm-7:30pm - Register here.

Sep 24 - Let's Play with Sounds
Oct 8 - From Sounds to Words
Oct 15 - Let's Read
Oct 29 - Let's Write
Nov 12 - Let's Keep Learning

MusiCounts

Applications for 2025 School Music Funding Programs are now open! Get up to $20,000 in instruments & resources through the MusiCounts Band Aid Program or MusiCounts Slaight Family Foundation Innovation Fund. Final deadline is Dec 3, 2024 - Apply here.

Congratulations to TDSB school communities on receiving a 2024 MusiCounts grant - Alexander Stirling PS, George Peck PS, Hodgson MS, Jarvis CI, John McCrae PS, Pape Avenue PS and Winchester Jr/Sr PS.

Since 1997, the MusiCounts Band Aid Program has been providing under-resourced schools with grants to keep school music programs alive. 

Save the date for the 2024-2025 Virtual Parents and Caregivers as Partners Conference (PCasP) taking place on Saturday, November 16, 2024! 

This year's theme is: "Journey to Joy, Wellness, and Wholeness."

Join us to explore Equity and Truth and Reconciliation, break down barriers, and build inclusive communities. Learn from experts and discover how every student, parent/guardian/caregiver can experience joy, wellness, and wholeness in education. Registration details will follow soon.

We are inviting you to submit proposals for virtual workshops, micro-sessions, and panel presentations. The PCasP will run from 10:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m.  We are welcoming submissions from school districts, universities, schools, School Councils, administrators, educators, community organizations, researchers, and parents/guardians/caregivers.

To apply as a presenter, please complete the application form no later than, October 1, 2024.

Learn4Life!

Registration for Learn4Life's Fall 2024 term is NOW OPEN! Hundreds of courses available in categories like art, crafts, dance, fitness, food, languages, music, self development and more. Try something new this fall!

Register now ▶ http://learn4life.ca

Please Note - A minimum number of registrants is required to open a class. The Toronto District School Board has the right to make the final decision to open or close a class or to revise the fee structure.

Model Parliament for High School Students

The High School Model Parliament program at the Legislative Assembly of Ontario is designed for civic-minded Ontario students in grades 10 to 12, who are interested in current events and provincial issues. This unique experience brings together students from across the province for a three-day Model Parliament Program in Toronto.

Students will have the opportunity to play the role of a Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) and learn how parliament works through a series of workshops and presentations. They will meet key figures in Ontario’s Parliament as they forge new friendships with like-minded students. Applications will be accepted from August 7 to October 6, 2024.

The upcoming Model Parliament dates are February 19 to February 21, 2025 (onsite in Toronto). The virtual component of the program starts in November 2024. The first mandatory virtual meeting will take place on November 7, 2024.

For more information, click on https://www.ola.org/en/visit-learn/programs/model-parliament-high-school-students.

If you should you ever see any suspicious activity around school buildings after school hours, please contact 311, Toronto Police Services Dispatch at 416-808-2222, or the TDSB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 416-395-4620.

If you or a family member is in crisis, please contact Kids Help Phone:1-800-668-6868 or get support right now by texting CONNECT to 686868.

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