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Welcome 2021
I am sure we are all looking forward to a new year and new possibilities. The changes and stresses of the past months has taken a toll on families and communities, especially those who have lost loved ones or find themselves in precarious situations. Community and Wellbeing supports can be found through your school admin team, your home school's Community Support Worker (Model Schools), or online at https://www.tdsb.on.ca/In-Person-Learning/Well-Being-and-Supports or via the City of Toronto at 211 - https://211central.ca/
Incidents in the US
Last week the world, including TDSB staff, students, and families, witnessed hateful and unlawful acts in the US capital involving white supremacy, multiple forms of racism and bigotry, and rioting against the results of a democratic election. Chair Brown has issued a statement on behalf of the TDSB condemning the actions of these groups and individuals. Discussions at home or in class about these incidents and related issues can be challenging - staff are actively working on resources for schools to support students. In the meantime several existing resources can be accessed by families:
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Remote Learning - Extended
The Ministry of Education has mandated that school closures and remote learning will be extended to January 22nd, with a return to in-person learning planned for January 25th, for both Elementarty and Secondary students. This decision has been based on the high rates of community transmission, which in turn impacts the ability to prevent COVID from entering our schools. Please watch for updates, staff will send out new information as soon as it is available from the Ministry.
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Virtual Schools Staff Directories
Please note that Virtual School administrative team directories are available online and are updated on an ongoing basis. A number of new staff have been welcomed to the teams this week.
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Reminder: Ward 15 and 16 school council chairs or designates, please join us at our next ward forum:
School Council Effectiveness: Current Realities
Thursday January 14, 2021
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
How to Join the Ward Forum
- To be able to join, you must fill out the Registration Form at https://forms.gle/iKfQS3EvsajxLZjR7 at least 24 hours before the meeting
- When registering, you will be able to submit your School Council Effectiveness suggestions, comments, and questions in advance.
- Meeting links and dial-in numbers will be sent to the email address that you used to register, on the morning of the ward forum.
- Need more info? Email Maxeen.Paabo@tdsb.on.ca or call 416-395-8787.
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Parent Reaching Out (PRO) Grant
The TDSB has received funding under the 2020-2021 Ontario Priorities and Partnerships Fund for the PRO Grant. The TDSB was allocated $131,563.00 for projects focus on the identification and removal of barriers that prevent parents and families from participating and engaging fully in their children's learning and that demonstrate a commitment to respecting the role of parents in students’ educational experiences. All funds must be spent and reported to the Ministry by August 21, 2021;
Following conversations with the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) as stipulated by the Ministry, the funds will be allocated to support the following initiatives:
- School Council Anti-Black Racism, anti-Indigenous and anti-oppression application initiatives ($52,500@1,500/Council)
- Virtual Parent/Caregiver engagement tools and supports($20,000)
- Conversation Series 2.0-Going Deeper ($35,000)
- Enhanced Multi-lingual Supports ($24,063)
For further information please, contact Michelle Munroe, Coordinator of Parent and Community Engagement at michelle.munroe@tdsb.on.ca.
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Updates due to School Closures:Grade 3 - Universal Screening-CCAT 7 Update January 2021
Due to current Ministry of Education's closure of schools staff are unable to administer the CCAT7 test to Grade 3 students in-person on January 15, 2021. To avoid future disruptions, an alternate process is being established. All Gr 3 families will be sent a communication informing them of changes and updates to the testing process.
Student in grade 3 Virtual School (VS) will continue to have the opportunity to write the CCAT-7 test virtually.
The test to be administered remotely during the week of February 8-11, 2021 with the supervision of the Virtual School grade 3 teacher.
More information is available here or through your child's Gr. 3 teacher
Optional Attendance Applications
In case you missed it - a message was sent out to all families on Friday, January 8, 2021 regarding changes to the Optional Attendance application process due to current school closures. The letter is attached here.
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| Upcoming Deadlines, Events, and Meetings:
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New - Middle Immersion French (Gr. 4 start)
Please note: This program will replace the Junior Extended French program as the Grade 4 entry program in TDSB.
For families interested in the Toronto District School Board's system-wide Middle French Immersion we offer an online process to apply. For details, please see the downloadable information package.
Applications for September 2021 must be completed online between January 4 and January 29, 2021. An offer of placement in the program (a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants.
Virtual Web Chat Information Sessions for interested families are available dates and times listed below:
- January 14, 2021 – 10 a.m.
- January 21, 2021 – 7 p.m.
- January 27, 2021 – 7 p.m.
Please note: To participate in a live scheduled web chat, please visit the TDSB meeting site for the live meeting link on the dates/times as outlined above.
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Before and After School Programming Survey - January 15th
The TDSB recognizes that Before-and After-School Programs (BASPs) are an integral part of Early Years learning that play an important role in supporting our students, families, and school communities. More details regarding the policies and legislation that supports BASPs can be found here.
The TDSB Child Care Services team will be conducting a parent BASP Interest Survey to determine if there is sufficient interest in developing a new BASPs in schools that currently do not have a program. They will also be gauging interest in existing BASP (e.g. childcare or Extend Day Programs). More information about the survey will be posted at www.tdsb.on.ca/BASP by January 15.
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Parent/Guardian and Student Online Survey – Week of January 25
The TDSB will be surveying both parents/guardians (JK to Grade 12) and students (Grades 6 to 12) during the week of January 25 to learn more about experiences to date related to mental health and well-being, student engagement, and learning. Please watch for an email with a link to the survey and/or check the TDSB home page for updates. Thank you in advance for your participation.
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TDSB Meeting Schedule
Community Advisory Committees and Statutory Advisory Committees:
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