Download COVID Alert Today
As you know, a new Bluetooth-based COVID-19 contact tracing app developed in Canada was rolled out for testing in Ontario on July 31. Although the app is strictly voluntary, I urge everyone to download it. Privacy is respected.
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COVID-19: Reduce Virus SpreadThe best way to keep our kids in school right now is to ensure everyone is following public health guidelines to prevent community spread. This is the most critical thing we can do. Let's all do what we can. Wash your hands. Watch your distance. Wear your mask.
"If we limit our contact, keep our distance and wear our mask, we will contribute significantly to the ability to limit virus spread and that is the most important thing of all." Dr Eileen de Villa
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Celebrating Halloween...
This year, as a result of COVID-19, Toronto Public Health has provided direction on celebrating Halloween in schools should schools wish to celebrate. While there will not be Halloween dances or parades so we can continue to practice physical distancing, there can be many ways to have fun and celebrate safely in the school setting including art activities, celebrating virtually with other classrooms, reading Halloween stories or watching a movie. Read more from Toronto Public Health about celebrating Halloween safely this year: TPH Celebrating A Safer Halloween During COVID-19.
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Returning to School Links
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Staff Directory – TDSB Elementary Virtual Schools
As you know, there have been a significant number of staff changes across all roles in the Virtual Schools the past few weeks. To assist you in communicating, please find the detailed directory of Elementary Virtual Schools Administrator Teams, including areas of responsibility. The addition of 41 Vice Principals have been helpful to align more effective communication. At this time there is a total of 66 administrators in Elementary Virtual Schools, which works out to be 955 families per administrator. More resources will continue to be added to support students.
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Secondary School Switching for Quad 2
What is the process for students currently enrolled to attend in-person who would like to switch to a virtual (learn at home) model? Students who are registered at in-person schools who would like to switch to the virtual model at their school will be provided with more information from their school, including a form to indicate what they would like to do.
What will school-based virtual learning look like at my school? The school-based virtual learning model at your school will vary from class to class, and will depend on factors such as the number of students wishing to learn virtually and the available courses. In some cases, there will be enough students to offer an entire class virtually. In other cases, the class will be split into virtual and in-person cohorts.
Can students currently in the Virtual School switch back to their home school for virtual (learn at home) or in-person learning? Students who are currently registered in the Virtual School and would like to return to their in-person school must contact the guidance counsellor at their in-person school by October 28, 2020 to see if a timetable can be created for the specific courses they have requested for Quadmesters 2, 3 and 4. If a timetable can be created, a transfer to the in-person school will be facilitated. Please note that space may be limited and a transfer may not be possible.
I have already made a request to switch back to my in-person school for Quadmester 2. Do I need to make this request again? If you have already made a request to switch back to your in-person school for Quadmester 2, please contact your school again to confirm this request.
When do these changes take effect? These changes take effect at the start of Quadmester 2 on November 23, 2020.
Will anything change for students already enrolled in the TDSB Secondary Virtual School in Quadmester 2? No. The Virtual School will continue support its existing students.
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HEPA Units & Fundraising - Clarification
On Friday, a note sent to School Councils and Principals from Craig Snider, Associate Director, Business Operations and Service Excellence -
We know that there have been a number of questions regarding fundraising for portable High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) units and we wanted to provide clarification on this issue.
According to the latest information from Toronto Public Health, while there is no evidence that air purifiers on their own are effective in reducing the spread of COVID-19, they may be useful as a supplement to mechanical ventilation or if there is no outdoor air exchange in a room.
The Ministry of Education has provided $6.9 million in funding to the TDSB to improve air ventilation in our schools, and this funding is being used to purchase approximately 6,000 commercial HEPA units for all classrooms without mechanical ventilation or with limited ability to provide fresh air. Please see the list of schools that will be receiving these HEPA units. School not included on the list have sufficient ventilation for students, as currently recommended by TPH.
The Ministry of Education Fundraising Guideline states that schools and school councils are not permitted to fundraise for anything that government funding typically covers. Fundraising for HEPA units or other HVAC-related items for a specific school is not permitted because the province specifically provided funding to school boards for this purpose.
As noted above, the schools in Ward 8 listed below will receive HEPA units purchased by the TDSB because they do not have mechanical ventilation or they have partial mechanical ventilation. Please note mechanical ventilation does not mean air conditioning - mechanical ventilation is a method of forced or induced ventilation by using mechanical air handling systems, commonly called HVAC systems. ... In mechanical ventilation blowers, fans, filters, and ducts are used for transporting and removing air from a space.
Facility Team Leaders will conduct a school-by-school analysis to determine how many units are required for each school on this list. Please note other schools may have adequate ventilation HVAC systems even if they don’t have windows. Should you be concerned, please let me know and I will ask Facilities to review. Should additional schools be identified, they will be added to the list.
- Armour Heights Public School
- Baycrest Public School
- Cottingham Jr. Public School
- Deer Park Jr. & Sr. PS
- Flemington Public School
- John Polanyi CI / Bathurst Heights LC
- John Wanless Junior PS
- Joyce Public School
- Lawrence Heights Middle School
- Lawrence Park CI
- Ledbury Park E & MS
- North Preparatory Junior PS
- Yorkdale Secondary School
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Committee Meetings This Week
Delegation requests will still be accepted during the closure of all schools and administrative sites at the Toronto District School Board; however, oral delegations to address a committee of the Board will be presented by phone. To submit a delegation request (written or oral), please refer to the information found 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.
Special Committee of the Whole - Tuesday, October 27, 2020 4:30 p.m. Electronic Meeting
The purpose of the meeting is to provide strategic advice and recommendations to the Board on COVID-19 related matters.
- 3. Delegations - To be presented
- 4. Report From the Director of Education - Oral update
- 5. Report From the Chair of the Board - Oral update
- 6. Report From Representative on the City's Board of Health - Oral update
- 7. Report From the Directors on the Ontario Public School Boards' Association - Oral update
- 8. Report From the Chairs of the Governance and Policy Committee, the Program and School Services Committee, the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee - Oral update
- 9. Report From Representatives on the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee and the Special Education Advisory Committee - Oral update
- 10. Reports From Student Trustees - Oral update
- 11. Emergency Motions - To be presented
- 12. Other Questions, Insights and Advice From Trustees to Staff - To be presented
Governance and Policy Committee, Wednesday, October 28, 2020 4:30 p.m. - Electronic Meeting
Program and School Services Committee, Thursday, October 29, 2020 4:30 p.m. - Electronic Meeting
- 5.1 Alternative Schools CAC Report, October 19, 2020
- 5.2 Black Student Achievement CAC Report, October 5, 2020
- 5.3 Environmental Sustainability CAC Report, October 6, 2020
- 5.4 French-as-a-Second-Language CAC Report, October 13, 2020
- 5.5 FSLCAC 2019-2020 Annual Report
- 5.6 Special Education Advisory Committee Report, October 5, 2020
- 5.7 Inner City CAC Report, October 15, 2020
- 6. Employment Equity: Addendum to Annual Report
- 7.1 Dismantling Systemic Barriers to Inclusion in Discipline Procedures (Chernos Lin/MacLean)
Therefore, be it resolved:
a) That all suspensions on student records that would now be in violation of the newly-amended Ontario Regulation 440/20 regarding suspension of children up to and including when children were in grade 3 be expunged from their OSR and the Caring and Safe Schools database;
b) That staff identify systemic work that can be done to continue commitment to addressing and interrupting bias and discrimination which may place certain groups of students at a disadvantage based on student discipline records in student Ontario Student Records, including, but not limited to:
i. creating a retention schedule for the expiration of suspensions/expulsions on Ontario Student Records,
ii. generating a reminder email to principals and to the TDSB Registrar for Student Discipline Hearings for all approaching appeal hearing recommendations by trustees regarding removal of suspensions from OSRs pending positive behaviour, as well as a data-entry column on outcome of recommendations, thereby encouraging follow-through, transparency and data collection of appeal hearing recommendation outcomes.
c) That staff report back through the annual Caring and Safe Schools annual report.
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Policies to be Reviewed in 2020-21
In progress, Phase 2 - Obtaining Trustees’ Directions and Drafting Policy
- Allegations of Sexual Harassment and Misconduct
- Alternative Schools
- Budget Approval
- Communication
- Employment Equity
- Executive Signing Authority
- Fair Dealings (Copyright)
- Fundraising
- Human Rights
- Naming Schools and Special Purpose Areas
- Parent and Community Involvement
- Purchasing
- Recognition of Culturally Significant
- Observances Policy
- Records and Information Management
- Student Attendance and Safe Arrival
- Transportation of Students
- Trustee Constituency Communications
- Workplace Harassment Prevention (Annual Review)
In progress, Phase 4 - External Consultations
- Advertising
- Distribution and Display of Materials for Students and Parents From External Groups
- Specialized Schools and Programs
In progress, Phase 5 - Committee/Board Approvals
To be reviewed in 2020-21
- Accountability for Student Achievement
- Architect Selection
- Learning Opportunities Index (LOI)
- Occupational Health and Safety (Annual Review)
- Respectful Learning and Working Environment
- Workplace Violence Prevention (Annual Review)
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Early French Immersion (Senior Kindergarten (SK) Entry)Applications to the Early French Immersion program are made the year your child is in Junior Kindergarten (or is of Junior Kindergarten age) for entry in Senior Kindergarten. It is an entirely online process. All communication will be sent via the email address you provide. Please check your email regularly, including junk mail folders.
To register - Please visit the application site www.tdsb.on.ca/pars. You will need your child’s date of birth and OEN. The OEN is a 9-digit number found on any report card from the TDSB. For non-TDSB students, please select the “Non-TDSB Student” option and follow the steps to generate an identification number. You must then return to the PARS site and follow the application procedure with this number. Please select the Early Immersion Program (SK) from the drop-down menu, and complete the application process.
Important Dates:
- Application process opens: November 2, 2020
- Deadline for applications: November 27, 2020
For a downloadable version, please click:
Please note: While every effort will be made to place students in the school identified as their area French Immersion school, this is not always possible. In cases where the number of applications in a given area is greater than the number of allotted program spaces in the school, students may be redirected to schools with available program space. Placements are made based on the child's primary home address of record prior to the application deadline. If the address changes between the application deadline and the fall of the SK year, there is no guarantee of placement in the new area.
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Conference Summary
Congratulations to the organizing committee for the virtual Parent as Partners Conference that occurred over the weekend. Valuable learnings were shared - please note that the presentations will be available on the website www.parentaspartners.ca in the next few days.
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2021 Prime Minister's AwardsThe Prime Minister's Awards for Teaching Excellence - These awards honour outstanding and innovative elementary and secondary school teachers in all disciplines for their remarkable educational achievements and for their commitment to preparing their students for a digital and innovation‑based economy.
The Prime Minister's Awards for Excellence in Early Childhood Education - These awards honor outstanding and innovative early childhood educators for their leadership, exemplary early childhood education practices, and their commitment to help build the foundation children need to make the best possible start in life.
Nomination packages must be submitted to the Prime Minister's Awards program office by January 12, 2021 — 11:59 a.m. Pacific Time
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Toronto-St. Paul's Youth Council - Interested?
The federal Constituency Youth Council (CYC) allows youth 15-24 to provide their priorities in the riding and an important perspective on policy & issues.
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Hold the Date - Ward 8 Virtual Forum - Equity
Ward 8 School/Student Councils | Parents/Caregivers | Community Members | School Staff
Virtual Ward Forum on Equity - Thursday, November 12, 2020 from 7-9 p.m.
Please join me for a special presentation on Equity by jamie berrigan and Dargine Rajeswaran, TDSB Equity Coaches. At the meeting, I will also be joined by local Ward 8 Superintendents, John Chasty, Andrew Howard and Denise Humphreys for Q & As.
Topic - As part of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan, the TDSB is ensuring that every student receives equitable access to programs, resources and learning opportunities that lead to success. Building a common understanding of equity, anti-oppression and anti-racism enables us to identify, address, and eliminate the biases, barriers, and power dynamics that impact student achievement and well-being. This session explores these key terms (stereotype, prejudice, discrimination, oppression, race, racism, anti-racism, and anti-Black racism) along with our individual roles in reducing the educational disparities caused by systemic oppression. We welcome community members to engage in this learning with us and share their experiences and perspectives of how to further the equity, anti-oppression, and anti-racism work in their school communities.
How to join the ward forum
- You must register before the start of the meeting. Please use this Registration Form
- When registering, you will be able to submit your questions in advance. We will only be able to answer a limited number of questions live.
- You will be sent a Zoom link and call in details on the morning of the meeting.
- Questions? Email Araz.Hasserjian@tdsb.on.ca or call 416-395-8787.
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School Year Calendar 2020-2021The official school year calendar for the Toronto District School Board runs from September 1 to June 30, inclusive and has now been approved by the Ministry.
PA Days & Holidays Remaining
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Dec 21, 2020 - January 1, 2021
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Secondary PA Day (Semestered Schools Only)
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