February 2023
Dear Students, Parents and Caregivers,
Reminder: Kindergarten Registration
The TDSB is looking forward to welcoming you and your child at school in September! To attend Junior Kindergarten in September, children must turn four-years-old by December 31. To register for Senior Kindergarten, children must be five years old by December 31. For more information about the Kindergarten program and registration requirements, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/kindergarten.
TDSB Student Census
The TDSB Student Census was first administered in 2006 and this year will be the fourth administration. This work has been recognized by the Ministry of Education and other organizations for the comprehensive and evidence-informed approach to improvement. The TDSB Student Census has been designed to gather information about students’ perceptions and identities including participation in school activities, safety, well-being, mental health, outdoor learning, etc. When students share their experiences, staff are then able to better develop school and system programs to better support them and eliminate the barriers to learning and positive school experiences. The Student Census is tentatively planned to be launched at the end of March, with information shared with families following March Break and students expected to complete the surveys throughout the month of April.
Greek Heritage Month – March 2023
March will be Greek Heritage Month at the Toronto District School Board. It is an opportunity to celebrate the many contributions of Greek Canadians, and an occasion to enjoy the history of Greek culture.
The theme for this year is based on TDSB’s priorities: “Joy, Engagement, Belonging” | “Ευτυχία, Eνθάρρυνση, Eνότητα.”
The Greek Heritage Month Opening Event will take place on Saturday, March 4 at the Greek Community Centre from 1 to 3pm (30 Thorncliffe Pak Dr.). On Sunday, March 26 at 1:30pm the Greek Independence Day Parade will take place on the Danforth.
Virtual Screening of Scarborough
Join the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement for a virtual screening of Scarborough followed by a conversation with the author and screenwriter of the novel and adapted film Catherine Hernandez.
Scarborough, the novel tells the story of a neighborhood under fire: among them, Victor, a Black artist harassed by the police; Winsum, a West Indian restaurant owner struggling to keep it together; and Hina, a Muslim school worker who witnesses first-hand the impact of poverty on education.
Scarborough (film description from TIFF website): Adapted from the critically acclaimed novel by Catherine Hernandez, Scarborough is an unflinching portrait of three low-income families struggling to endure within a system that’s set them up for failure. It shows the love and perseverance communities can foster, lifting up families to overcome the obstacles placed in their way.
Audience: Caregivers, community, staff
Date: March 7, 2023
Time: 6:00 – 9:00 pm
International Decade of People of African Descent: Panel Conversation - African Indigenous Spirituality and Healing
Join Dr. George J.S. Dei, Dr. Ama Mazama and Dr. Njoki Wane for this enriching panel exploring Africentricity and Spirituality rooted within African-centered practices.
Audience: Caregivers, community, staff
Date: March 1, 2023
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Auditor General Value for Money Audit of the TDSB
In January 2023, the TDSB was contacted by the Office of the Auditor General of Ontario informing us that the TDSB was selected for a value-for-money audit. This is part of the Auditor General’s ongoing audit work of government programs/agencies and public-sector organizations.
Audit team members are currently on-site at 5050 Yonge conducting work relating to the audit. We have been informed that this work will continue until approximately the end of June 2023, with a final report expected sometime in fall 2023.
Ontario Human Rights Commission Statement on Code Obligations of Education Officials
The OHRC has stated they are aware and concerned about violence directed at education officials doing human rights work as set out in the Ontario Human Rights Code (Code) and implementing government policy.
The OHRC has also released a changed strategic plan, Human Rights First: A plan for belonging in Ontario, which desires to better the accountability of the education sector and building public capacity to address hate. Duty-holders, such as the Ministry of Education and school boards, have a legal duty to ensure that education is provided in line with the Code.
City Development Applications for Scarborough Rouge-Park: TDSB School Implications Updates 2023
3351-3359 Ellesmere Road
Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment Application (application to change the current zoning by-law) and 22 219197 ESC 25 OZ and Site Plan Application 22 240955 ESC 25 SA
Mixed-use development with 53 residential units in two blocks of four-story stacked townhouses, and retail uses. The current assigned school for this development area is Highland Creek Public School and West Hill Collegiate Institute. TDSB staff have determined that there may be insufficient space to accommodate students from the new residential developments at Highland Creek Public School. To address accommodation challenges that may arise, the Board may need to use portables to accommodate students or conduct studies to examine options for creating space at another nearby school. These options include changing school boundaries, moving programs, or bussing new students to another school, among others. These studies are made publicly available in the Board’s Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy and may be subject to Board approval.
255 Morningside Avenue
Zoning By-Law Amendment (application to change the current zoning by-law) Application 22 205463 ESC 25 OZ
25-storey mixed-use building, with 456 residential condominium units and retail uses. TDSB staff have determined there will be capacity at the local schools, based on the data available at this time. The local schools are Joseph Brant Public School and West Hill Collegiate Institute.
