email : Webview : Trustee Pamela Gough Newsletter

February 24, 2017 Subscribe to my Newsletter. Visit my website. Follow me.

Message from Trustee Gough

Last night I joined some of my favorite people- Ward 3 school council chairs and ward representatives- at the annual TDSB School Council Appreciation and Information Dinner. This event, organized by TDSB's Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC), brings together school council leaders from throughout the city for a stimulating exchange of ideas. It's the TDSB's way of expressing thanks to all of the dedicated volunteers who work so hard to support our schools on school advisory councils.

Why serve on school councils? It's a way of giving back and making a difference in your school and community. Plus, it gives your children a strong message about the importance of education. Parents play a major role in influencing their children's attitudes and outcomes in education- and it starts sooner than you might think. Did you know that the gestures you make, and how much you talk about numbers, can provide your one year old with a positive growth mindset in math, which in turns leads to better math outcomes in the fourth grade? Have a look at this powerful new research on the influence of parental interactions from the prestigious American Association for the Advancement of Science.

Our PIAC Ward 3 representative, Trevor Burnett, is a committed volunteer in his child's classroom at Seventh Street Jr. School. Check out his recent blog, The Price of Parental Involvement: Is It Affordable and Can We Afford Not To? Thank you to Trevor and all school parent volunteers!

In this issue:

Local education news and updates

Norseman Jr. Middle School addition: construction update
Ward council March 2 2017: Peek into the future of Ward 3 schools
Ward council March 28 2017: School council night out
Games night sponsors needed for David Hornell Jr. School

News and updates from TDSB's Education Centre

New TDSB research shows long reach of early childhood interventions
Apply now! Free cycling education programs and bike racks
TDSB webinar on special education
TDSB Parents as Partners conference registering for April 1 2017
PRO grants now open for application

Active Transportation and Safe Routes to Schools

Twentieth Street Jr. School Council successful in reducing speed limits
City of Toronto Watch Your Speed Program

Local Education News and Updates

Norseman Jr. Middle School addition: construction update

On February 22nd, Norseman Jr. Middle School parents and staff had an update on the progress of plans for the new school addition. Everything is on track and on budget for occupancy in July 2019. See the presentation from Snyder Architects here.

Ward council March 2 2017: Peek into the future of Ward 3 schools

How will Etobicoke-Lakeshore public schools grow and change over the next decade? Where will the children from new developments go to school? Will there be enough space or too much? Will French Immersion students have a local public high school? All this and more will be discussed at my next ward meeting on the TDSB budget and long-term planning for school programs. All welcome, child care and refreshments provided.

Where: Second Street Jr. Middle School, 71 Second Street (Birmingham and Second St.)

When: Thursday March 2, 2017, 7 to 8:30 pm

Ward council March 28 2017: School council night out

By popular demand, this ward meeting will be "Pub Night Without the Pub"! All are welcome to this informal evening of networking with school council members and parents from throughout Etobicoke Lakeshore. We'll exchange exciting ideas and hear secrets of school council success stories as we mix and mingle with mocktails and elegant hors d'oeuves. Child care and refreshments provided.

Where: Islington Jr. Middle School, 44 Cordova Ave (Islington and Bloor)

When: Tuesday March 28, 2017, 7 to 8:30 pm

Games night sponsors needed for David Hornell Jr. School

David Hornell Jr. School Advisory Council is putting on a games night fundraiser on April 27th. Sponsors from individuals, local businesses or non-profit organizations are very much needed to support the event. For more information please contact dhparentcouncil@gmail.com or call 416-904-8060.

News and Updates from TDSB's Education Centre

New TDSB research shows long reach of early childhood interventions

On February 22, TDSB researchers presented the results of a new study that tracked children's academic success through time, from kindergarten until school leaving in Grade 12. Results showed that on average, the trajectory of early childhood vulnerabilities found in the earliest months of school often created challenges for school success all the way to Grade 12 and beyond. A child's future is not carved in stone, however. Early interventions, such as those provided by the TDSB Model Schools program or pre-school Family Literacy Centres, can positively influence outcomes. More information is on my website or available from Maria Yau at maria.yau@tdsb.on.ca. You can view the presentation here.

Apply now! Free cycling education programs and bike racks

Cycling Education Program

Schools can apply to have a skills-based cycling education program delivered to their students free of charge! All schools are eligible to apply. Schools that did not receive an EcoSchools Cycling Education Program during the previous school year will be given priority in the selection process. All other schools will be selected based on a lottery.

The following is a list of Cycling Education Programs available to schools in the spring of 2017:

Elementary and Middle School Programs

a. Bike rodeo
b. Bike assembly
c. Mechanics workshop

Secondary School Programs

a. Road safety
b. Riding skills workshop
c. Mechanics workshop

For more details, and to access the application form, visit the EcoSchools Cycling Supports webpage and click on the Cycling Education Programs tab.

The deadline to apply is February 28th; all successful applicants will be notified by March 31st, 2017.

Bike Rack Program

Schools can now apply to have bike racks installed at their school free of charge through the EcoSchools Bike Rack Program (deadline June 30th, 2017). Schools will be selected to receive bike racks based on need and commitment to promoting active transportation. For the 2016/17 school year, the Bike Rack Program timeframe is as follows:

June 30th, 2017	Deadline to submit application for consideration for spring 2018
Fall 2017	Successful applicants are notified. An EcoSchools staff member will conduct site visits at the selected schools to determine bike rack placement.
Spring 2018	Bike racks will be installed at selected schools.

Questions regarding the Cycling Education Program and Bike Rack Program can be directed to Cynthia Chan at Cynthia.Chan@tdsb.on.ca or 647-209-8155.

TDSB webinar on special education

Watch TDSB Director John Malloy and senior TDSB staff answer questions from the public about special education in this webcast filmed on February 2, 2017.

TDSB Parents as Partners conference registering for April 1 2017

Mark your calendar now for Saturday April 1st! Registration is open for the not-to-be-missed TDSB Parents as Partners conference in the Allstream Centre of the CNE. This free event features dozens of workshops on topics such as child and youth well-being, early learning, active and sustainable school transportation, Indigenous knowledge, autism spectrum disorder, learning with assistive technology, School Council 101, effective community engagement, high school and postsecondary planning and much more. Workshops fill up quickly so register soon. More information is here.

PRO grants now open for application

The Ministry of Education's Parents Reaching Out grant site is now open for applications from school councils for funding 2017-2018 parent involvement events at schools. Find out more and apply here.

Active Transportation & Safe Routes to School

Twentieth Street Jr. School Council successful in reducing speed limits

Congratulations to Twentieth Street Jr. School Council for successfully petitioning Etobicoke York Community Council to have speed limits reduced and parking periods changed in the vicinity of the school. Thank you as well to the city planning staff for recommending the changes requested by the school.

City of Toronto Watch Your Speed Program

The Watch Your Speed (WYSP) program uses large signs to show motorists the speed their vehicles are travelling to get them to slow down. This program has been expanded by the City of Toronto and now operates all year round. You can request WYSP for the streets near your school by filling out an online form. More information is here.