email : Webview : Ward 19-May 17, Newsletter

Ministry Announcement for 2021-22

Recently, the Government of Ontario announced funding for the 2021-2022 school year. As part of this announcement, they indicated that all school boards will once again provide in-person and remote learning options for the new school year. At the TDSB, we will soon be contacting families for their selection for September. While these details are still being finalized, we anticipate that the deadline for this selection will be in early June to allow time to plan accordingly. Further details will be shared as soon as they are available. In the meantime, we continue to await word from the Ministry of Education on plans for the remainder of the current school year.

Temporary COVID-19 Funding for 2021-22

To support the continued safe operation of schools in 2021-22, the Ministry announced that it will provide another year of temporary COVID-19 funding to school boards, totalling $1.6 billion across the province. This funding is to support areas such as personal protective equipment and supplies, staffing to meet local needs, technology and operating costs related to ventilation systems.

TDSB to Review School Names to Reflect Toronto’s Diversity

The Toronto District School Board has approved a motion that will lead to a city-wide review of school names to better reflect the diversity of the city.

The TDSB will form a special group that will inform the consultation process for the review of policy P047 and procedure PR592, Naming of Schools and Special Purpose Areas; propose amendments; and provide a proposal for a city-wide review of all TDSB school names by the end of June 2021. This group will be comprised of students, parents/guardians, educators, community members, appropriate qualified experts and individuals involved in anti-racism work.

For more information, please read the news release.

Letter to the Minister of Education: TDSB Objects to Plans for Radical Changes to Remote Learning in Ontario

Chair of the Board Alexander Brown wrote to Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, to object the Government of Ontario’s draft proposal for remote learning. This proposal would make remote learning a full-time, permanent option for all grades by September 2021.

For more information, please read the full letter.

Letter to the Minister of Education: Access to Free Menstrual Products

Chair of the Board Alexander Brown wrote to Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, to request that the Government of Ontario provide funding for free menstrual products in all schools across the province.

For more information, please read the full letter.

Letter to the Minister of Education: Parents Reaching Out Grant Allocation

Chair of the Board Alexander Brown wrote to Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, to advocate for the Parents Reaching Out Grant to be provided annually and restored to the funding levels provided prior to the 2019-2020.

For more information, please read the full letter.

Update on Vaccinations for Education Workers

The Ministry of Education announced that all in-person, school-based education staff are now eligible to book their COVID-19 vaccination. This list includes, for example, educators, custodial staff, administrative staff and school bus drivers, in addition to those who support students with special and complex needs and those who work and live in hot spots.

For more information please read How to Book a COVID-19 Vaccine Appointment.

TDSB Reaches Tentative Local Agreement with Secondary Teachers

The Toronto District School Board has reached a tentative agreement with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation District 12, which represents approximately 5,000 secondary teachers at the school board. The tentative agreement must still be ratified by both the TDSB and OSSTF with a vote expected on or before May 26, 2021.

For more information, please read the news release.

Crisis in India

Our hearts and thoughts are with our South Asian students, staff and families who are disproportionately impacted by the devastation unfolding in India. Read our full statement and access support here.

Safe Drinking Water Test Results

For the very first time, the Toronto District School Board is posting Safe Drinking Water Test Results on all 583 school websites for the year 2020. This work is a part of the TDSB’s commitment to Open Data.

TDSB Summer Programs

The health and well-being of TDSB students, staff and families is our top priority. Given the unpredictability of what the status of the COVID-19 pandemic will be in the summer, and the need to begin planning well before that time, the decision has been made to offer all Summer Programs fully remote (online) for summer 2021.

Mental Health and Well-Being

The Toronto District School Board is committed to providing mental health and well-being support for students, their families and staff. For more information, including helpful resources and coping strategies, please visit the TDSB webpage for Mental Health and Well-Being.

Heritage and History Months

The Toronto District School Board is proud to celebrate the following heritage months during May:

Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup

Asian and Jewish Heritage Committees have collaborated to present Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup to students in Kindergarten to Grade 3 for May, Jewish and Asian Heritage Months. Learn more about this book about diversity and how you can submit your own family chicken soup recipes!

Bicycle Safety

With warmer weather approaching, children may be participating in more outdoor activities like bike riding. To help keep children safe while playing outdoors this summer please follow social distancing and all other guidelines provided by Toronto Public Health.

When children are riding their bicycles, parents and caregivers can take steps to protect them.

Here's how:

An adult should always supervise children 10 years of age or younger when they are using a bicycle or other wheeled sports equipment. Even older children may need on-going supervision when riding near the road.
Make sure children wear the correct helmet properly when they ride. Ontario's bike helmet law requires all children and youth under age 18 to wear an approved bike helmet when riding a bicycle.
Keep children away from traffic when they use wheeled sports equipment. Make sure they ride in a safe place.
Teach children how to:
a. steer, brake and ride in a straight line
b. wear the right safety gear, and
c. do a safety check every time they ride a bicycle, scooter, skateboard, use in-line skates or wear shoes with wheels.
Be within arm's reach when your children are learning to ride any wheeled equipment.
Always walk a bicycle, scooter or skateboard across a street intersection, instead of riding across
Tell children that you are happy when you see them riding safely
Remind children of the safety rules when they forget.
Be a good role model - wear a helmet and safety gear yourself. Children copy what adults do.

Upcoming Meetings

The next Regular Board Meeting is on Wednesday, May 26, 2021. For a list of upcoming meetings, please click on the calendar on the main webpage of www.tdsb.on.ca.

Hold the Date - Joint Ward Forum - Thursday, May 20, 2021

Please join Trustee Rajakulasigam, Trustee Sriskandarajah and me for a Joint Ward Forum on Transition to High School.

TDSB Update

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Follow the TDSB

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.

Twitter @TDSB

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