January 2023
Dear Students, Parents and Caregivers
Tamil Heritage Month at the TDSB
Tamil Heritage Month was proudly recognized during the month of January at the Toronto District School Board. January is also the month that Thai Pongal is celebrated. This is one of the most important festivals celebrated by Tamils. Thai Pongal is a harvest festival that offers thanks to the sun and nature for its crops. This year’s theme for TDSB’s Tamil Heritage Month was: Community. Belonging. Joy - This theme was selected intentionally to align with one of the TDSB’s priorities - Joy, Engagement and Belonging.
Some of the ways that Tamil Heritage Month was celebrated included:
- Daily Quotes and Facts on the Tamil Heritage
- Poster Contest: All TDSB students across the system were invited to submit an image to this year’s theme of Community. Belonging. Joy. There were many great entries. You can view the winning posters here.
A Collaborative Approach to School and Community Safety
In December 2022, the Board passed Phase One of the “A Collaborative Approach to School and Community Safety” plan that is set to address the urgent safety concerns in schools and community violence. Phase one includes:
- Additional resource investments
- Compulsory learning and compliance training for staff
- Restorative practice and restorative justice training
- Safety audit
- Increase in programming for students
- Expert table reference group
- Increase community partnerships
- Work with Toronto Police
- Update security technologies, for example cameras
- Advocate for the provincial government to return the Priority Schools Initiative funding
- Work with the City of Toronto
The Need for a Federal School Nutrition Program
In 2020 the Board sent a letter to the federal government advocating for the government to follow through on its commitment to invest in a national school food program. The Board did not receive a response. In 2022 the City of Toronto increased its funding for student nutrition programs. The Board of Health has also called on the provincial and federal government to increase funding for school nutrition programs and for the creation of a national school food program. The pandemic coupled with inflation has increased inequalities and food insecurity. There has been an increase in food bank use. The federal government is consulting on a possible national school policy but has not committed to when a program will be implemented. On January 18th, the Program and Services Committee asked the Board to write a letter to the provincial and federal government to highlight the even more pressing need for a national student nutrition program.
Save the Date: EnVision Conference
The annual EnVision Conference (in-person) will be from Tuesday, February 28 to Wednesday, March 1. The focus of this year's conference is 2SLGBTQIAP+ Indigenous, Black and Racialized Joy, Intersections, and Futurity.
All 2SLGBTQIAP+ elementary and secondary students, as well as their allies/co-conspirators are invited come together in collective care to address biphobia, homophobia and transphobia. There will be keynote speakers, workshops on a continuum for those beginning their journey in allyship and those who would like more support in student action. The entire conference will be an opportunity for students to share the multiple ways gender and sexual diversity can be celebrated within the Toronto District School Board.
Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement
In My Mosque: Love and Belonging in Community Spaces
The TDSB commemorated the National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia (January 29). The author and illustrator of the book, In My Mosque, hosted an interactive storytelling session focused on love and belonging in community spaces.
International Holocaust Remembrance Day: Special programs for the TDSB
The Children of Willesden Lane concerts were previously postponed due to the CUPE strike. The concerts will now take place on January 31 and February 1. All students (grades 6 and up) and members of the TDSB community are welcome to watch the livestream on February 1 at 10am. Thanks to a wonderful donation from Liberation75 and the Shoah Foundation we received almost 10,000 books which have been distributed by teacher request right across the Board. Several VIP’s, including our Director, Chair, Trustees, associates from the U.S. Consulate and the Consulate of the Federal Republic of Germany, will also be attending the concerts.
African Heritage Month at the TDSB: Update to Save the Date - Invitation to Virtual Launch February 1st, 2023
During the month of February, the TDSB recognizes African Heritage (Black History) Month. The theme this year is Black Joy. The theme of Black Joy was selected by the African Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee. The first priority being the importance of joy, engagement and belonging in our schools as a foundation for academic achievement and student success; and the second priority being the elimination of disproportionate outcomes for students. Below is the information for the virtual launch.
Pictures from Toronto District School Board Trustee Tamil Heritage Month Celebration
