January 2021

• Remote Learning Extended
• Virtual School Staff Directories
• Optional Attendance
• Middle French Immersion
• Parent/Guardian & Student Surveys
• PRO Grants
• Winter Well-being
• School Year Calendar

NEW UPDATE FROM THE PROVINCE OF ONTARIO

https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/59922/ontario-declares-second-provincial-emergency-to-address-covid-19-crisis-and-save-lives

Remote learning for elementary and secondary bricks-and-mortar students will continue until February 9 with a return to in-person learning on February 10, 2021. 

To continue to keep students, staff and communities safe, the following new health and safety measures will be put in place once students return to in-person learning:

• Mask wearing outdoors;
• Enhanced screening protocols; and
• Expanded targeted testing.

Child care centres for non-school aged children will remain open. During this extended period of online learning, emergency child care will continue for eligible families in regions subject to school closures, as identified by the Chief Medical Officer of Health.

Before- and after-school programs can be offered when in-person instruction resumes.

If the technology you have access to at home is not able to support your child's learning, please reach out to your child's classroom teacher or your school's Principal to request a device. 

Additional resources for remote learning are available here: 

Optional Attendance Applications

Students who wish to register for a school for the 2021-2022 school year that is not their designated home school can do so by applying for optional attendance. Acceptance at these schools is subject to space availability and program suitability.

Because of the current school closures it is necessary for the system to adjust the Optional Attendance process due to the heightened need to reduce potential Covid-19 exposures. As such, the following process will be in place for the remainder of the 2020-2021 school year should your child/ward be applying to a school via Optional Attendance:

• The parent/guardian will complete the Optional Attendance form and will email the completed form to current school principal. The form may be sent as a scan, a photo or a screengrab.
• The current school principal or designate (VP, office staff etc.) will sign and email the form(s) to the receiving school. 
• The receiving school will confirm receipt of the form(s) by way of email reply to the sending school.
• The current school will communicate with families that the Optional Attendance Form was signed, sent and received by the receiving school.
• The current school principal or designate will track optional attendance applications to ensure that TDSB policies are being followed.
• All current timelines are still in effect. Forms for secondary schools are due by January 29, 2021, and for elementary schools by February 12, 2021.

Elementary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:

February 12, 2021 Optional attendance forms due at elementary school

March 05, 2021 Deadline for parents/guardians to be informed of the status of the application request

March 26, 2021 Parents/guardians must inform the requested school of their acceptance of the offer

Secondary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:

January 29, 2021 Optional attendance forms due at secondary school

February 12, 2021 Deadline for parents/guardians of students to be informed of the status of the application request

February 26, 2021 Course selection sheets due at secondary schools

More information and forms are available at https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Find-your/School/Optional-Attendance

Please contact your school principal should you have any questions.

New - Middle Immersion French (Grade 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. 

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.

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.

School Year Calendar 2020-2021

Note: Virtual Schools follow the same calendar as in-person schools unless otherwise noted.

The official school year calendar for the Toronto District School Board runs from September 1 to June 30.

The last day of class for elementary students is June 29.

Secondary Quadmester Calendar

Quad 2: Nov. 23 - Feb 4 

Quad 3: Feb 8 - April 20 + exams April 21 & 22

Quad 4: April 23 - June 23 + exams June 24, 25 & 28