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Grieving with Nova Scotia
The events over the past 24hrs in Nova Scotia are devastating and we send deepest condolences to all the families of victims.
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| Community Supports and Resources
- Multi-lingual COVID-19 Resources
- Income Support
- Food Access
- Housing
- Legal Supports
- Job Security
- Free Tax Clinics
- Refuge from Family Violence
- Family/Caregiver Parenting Supports
If you have questions related to the specific supports and resources below, please contact the organization directly. For more information on COVID-19, such as remote learning resources, mental health and well-being supports and on-going updates on the impact to our schools, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/coronavirus.
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Remote Learning Differences are Expected...
As the Director made clear in his latest letter to parents – teachers will use a variety of methods following the Ministry of Education direction.
These are difficult times and I understand some parents want more online teaching. We have had to flip the switch on remote learning in a matter of days - for something that would typically have taken months to organize and prepare for. While the technology may have been commonplace over recent years, not all teachers used an online platform - let alone in the fashion that everyone has been forced to use it during the closure period.
Please know all staff are teaching to the direction they’ve received from the Ministry. I think it’s also important to keep in mind that families, including those of teachers, have a wide variety of challenges right now. While one family may have time to sit down with their children to work on school assignments and learning for a certain period of time each day, another may still be working or have other demands leaving little to no time of learning. I think everyone is trying their best to balance that range of situations. It was with that in mind that the Ministry and the TDSB continues to provide additional resources for families who would like additional content during the week. They can be found here:
In the end, we can’t replace the classroom experience with remote learning or the amount of time students would typically have spent on learning...it’s not perfect for any family right now, but it’s the best we can do given these unprecedented circumstances. Please remember - this is not online learning. This is not e-learning. This is emergency remote learning under the extraordinary circumstances of a worldwide pandemic. Health and well-being come first... for everyone.
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Device Distribution and Paper Packages
Please note that device distribution to students who need a device to access remote learning is underway. We have had over 90,000 families completed the survey…translates into 29,000 families requesting devices. 52,000 devices have been requested in total (for separate children).
Our TDSB IT Department has been working tirelessly to collect, sanitize, package and ship devices to approximately 29,000 students across the system. As you can imagine this process takes time as we prioritize the health and safety of everyone involved. Devices for students with Special Education Amount (SEA) equipment have been processed and students and families who completed the technology-needs survey to assist with their remote learning will receive their Chromebook. Following SEA devices we are prioritizing grade 12 students. We are not asking parents to come in and pick up the devices. We will ensure all families that require support, will get a device.
In addition, as last week, 5748 students were identified by teachers to receive printed learning and well-being resources for a variety of reasons. The distribution of packages began Wednesday. All these families will receive the full package, for all grade levels. The package will include about 1 month worth of learning. Distribution is being done internally and externally using a courier service, if required.
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Earth Day - April 22
If there is one thing positive that can come out of Covid19 is the irrefutable evidence human actions have on the planet - clear skies in LA.; clear canals in Venice; wildlife thriving... our actions make a difference. We can do better and youth are leading the way.
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Ramadan Mubarak
Ramadan is one of the most important festivals in the Islamic calendar. \
Ramadan 2020 will begin on the evening of Thursday, April 23 and ends on the evening of Saturday, May 23. Ramadan Kareem to all observing. As you fast and offer prayers, may you find your peace and happiness. Have a peaceful and happy Ramadan.
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Concerns?
Please know that even in this unprecedented time of remote learning, you still have a right to raise your concerns and talk them through with the appropriate staff.
f a parent/caregiver has a school-related problem or issue affecting a child/children, families or the community, which you believe requires the attention of the school staff or the Board, please contact your child's teacher first. Your child’s classroom teacher is the first point of contact, followed by the school’s principal, the school superintendent and finally your Trustee - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Contact-Us/Steps-to-Address-Questions-Concerns.
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Budget 2020-21The Ministry of Education announces revisions to education funding and the amounts that school boards will receive in the spring of each year. Funding for education is determined through a set of provincial benchmark costs for the major components of education operations, as well as the number of students. By law, school boards are required to balance their budgets by June 30.
At this point it is our understanding that the Grants for Students Needs (GSNs) have been delayed. The TDSB’s annual operating budget is approximately $3.4 billion and we are committed to using these resources as responsibly and effectively as possible. However, until we understand the funding, we cannot confirm our budget. What we do know, however, is the funding provided by the government does not fully meet the needs of students in Toronto. Read about the TDSB’s key funding priorities and concerns here - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Business-Services/Budgets-and-Financial-Statements/2020-21-Budget.
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Delegation Process - Addressing a Committee
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 here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Delegations and email delegates@tdsb.on.ca. Further details will be provided to you via email.
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Upcoming Committee & Board MeetingsPlease note that these are public electronic meetings conducted through WebEx.
April 22 (Wednesday) Regular Meeting (Electronic Meeting) 4:30 p.m.
April 29 (Wednesday) Governance and Policy Committee (Electronic Meeting) 4:30 p.m.
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Update: Secondary Program Review, Optional Attendance Policy & Specialized Schools Policy
Please note that because of the system closures, Board staff is recommending the Final Report recommendations that were to come to the Board in June for approval, will now come in the Fall. Instead, an interim report will be presented to Trustees in June. The report will include a series of maps that identify the primary issues and challenges within each grouping to be addressed through the Secondary Program Review. A final report will be presented to Trustees after this report and corresponding maps have been shared with the public.
The 90 day consultation period for the revised draft Optional Attendance policy concluded on 3 February 2020, including the online survey. A summary of the key findings from the consultation process is included in Appendix B of the Report presented to the next Committee of the Whole. The Draft Policy on revisions to the Optional Attendance Policy is coming to the April 29 Governance and Policy Committee Meeting.
As part of our Secondary Program Review, we are also making updates to current policies and procedures, including the addition of a new policy – the Specialized Schools and Programs policy – which will allow us to be clearer when it comes to admission procedures, practices and timelines, which differ from those in regular schools. Together, this new policy and review will help more students have access to these programs. Although the consultation for this policy has begun online, staff will recommend the Specialized Schools Policy also pushed to the fall to ensure meaningful consultation. For more information, click here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/High-School/Secondary-Program-Review/Specialized-Schools-and-Programs-Policy
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TDSB e-Summer SchoolTDSB e-Summer School is a FREE high school credit program for secondary school students who wish to pursue secondary school courses online! TDSB e-Summer School offers dozens of online courses available in the July and August sessions. The e-Summer School program is open ONLY to Ontario students aged 14-20.
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Food for Kids Program: Phase Four RolloutEarlier this week, the TDSB launched the Phase 4 rollout of the Food for Kids program in partnership with the Toronto Foundation for Student Success (TFSS). This program, which provides $50 grocery store food cards to students (one per student) during the COVID-19 pandemic, has now been rolled out to 124 schools across the TDSB.
Since the launch of the program, approximately 6,200 $50 grocery store food cards have been issued to TDSB families, totalling $310,000. This number continues to increase every day as more families register for the program. As you know, our goal is to provide grocery food cards to students in the top 150 schools on the Learning Opportunities Index (LOI) if funding permits.
Can you help? Donations are welcome at https://tfss.ca/. Please select“COVID-19 Response Fund” from the drop down box when making a donation.
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