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| Shelley Laskin, Trustee
Toronto District School Board
Ward 8: Eglinton-Lawrence & Toronto-St Paul's
416-395-8787
Shelley.Laskin@tdsb.on.ca
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"Vaisakhi, Ramadan, Passover, and Easter all this weekend... May this convergence remind us that we are more alike than we are different but our differences are beautiful nonetheless.” - @RadRoopa"... a synchronicity occurring only every 33 years... an opportunity while we fast, pray, and worship, to focus on our relationships. The values we share unite us more than hate can divide us." - @CIJAinfo
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In this Issue:
- Earth Day
- Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
- Please Wear a Mask
- COVID-19 Reminders
- Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Resources Now Posted
- Developing the 2022-23 Budget
- Board Meeting This Week
- TDSB System Calendar
- Policy Consultations
- New Invitations - School Building in Toronto: Where Are We Now? Ward 8 & 9 Virtual Ward Forum - Thursday, May 12, 2022, 6:30-8:00 pm.
- Worth Repeating - Identity Affirming Stories with TDSB Families; From Councillor Matlow - Combatting Antisemitism Together: Public Meeting on April 27 at 7pm; FHCI Speaker Series; Summer School Updates: Elections 2022 - Are You on the Voters Lists?; Backpack and School Supplies Drive; Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
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Earth Day - April 22
On Friday, April 22nd at 2:00 p.m. students, staff, and parents from across Toronto are encouraged to help rejuvenate our city’s green spaces by picking up litter in their schoolyard, neighbourhood park, or local community. Families can also join Toronto’s annual spring cleanup events on Saturday, April 23rd and Sunday, April 24th. For EcoSchools, this activity works perfectly for the Community Clean-up action in the ECA! Get more information and safety tips from the TDSB EcoSchools web page. Please also find more information on https://www.earthday.org/earth-day-2022/.
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Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day
I look forward to joining with the Armenian Community of Greater Toronto Area to commemorate the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. On April 21, 2004, a motion was passed in Parliament stating, "That this House acknowledges the Armenian genocide of 1915 and condemns this act as a crime against humanity." It was a series of massacres and starvation of 1.5 million Armenians by the Ottomans.
April is Genocide Awareness & Prevention Month - "April is observed as Genocide Awareness Month because it is associated with many significant dates related to genocide. These include the Armenian Genocide (began on April 24, 1915); the Holocaust (the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising began on April 19, 1943); the Cambodian Genocide (began on April 19, 1975); the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda (began on April 7, 1994)." USC Shoah Foundation
Our thoughts continue to be with the people of Ukraine and the Ukrainian community here in Toronto. Read the Director's full statement and read tips that may be helpful for parents/caregivers whose children are experiencing difficulties.
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Please Wear a Mask
The Toronto District School Board has taken the latest advice of Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer to heart and has asked all students and staff at its schools to go back to wearing masks inside to help limit the disruption caused by a sixth wave of COVID-19. It is the same advice offered by Toronto Public Health, Public Health Ontario, and the COVID-19 Science Table – the slide below is from their Update on COVID-19 Projections Science Advisory and Modelling Consensus Tables April 14, 2022 - Masking in indoor areas will substantially reduce the risk of getting and spreading COVID-19.
We cannot mandate masks in schools as the Ministry of Education has made it clear it cannot be enforced. It is hard to understand this direction from the ministry especially in relation to our congregated sites. TDSB's Special Education Advisory Committee has asked Ontario’s chief medical officer to change rules at congregated schools serving kids with complex needs.
Masks are a proven layer of protection. Please read the evidence below.
And more - Mask Mythbusting - References
No, face masks do not lower your oxygen levels. / Non, les masques faciaux ne diminuent pas votre taux d'oxygène.
Yes, masks are safe for children. Masks are not abuse. / Oui, les masques sont sans danger pour les enfants. Les masques ne représentent pas un abus.
N95’s
Here’s how to manage with N95 shortages / Voici quelques conseils pour faire face aux pénuries de N95
Improve the fit of cloth and surgical masks / Optimisez l'ajustement des masques en tissu et des masques chirurgicaux
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COVID-19 RemindersUpdated Information from TPH
Please get VaccinatedDaily Screening
Mental Health and Well-Being
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Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression Resources Now Posted
The Equity, Anti-Racism and Anti-Oppression team has updated the TDSB webpage where we are excited to highlight a new feature: “Learning in Action”. Please visit this link to see how equity, anti-racism and anti-oppression is being embedded in curriculum throughout the TDSB.
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Developing the 2022-23 Budget
The TDSB’s 2022-23 School-Based Staff Allocation was approved by the Board on March 9, 2021. Read the full 2022-23 School-Based Staff Allocation report. At the Board meeting, Trustees also approved two motions directing staff to consider adding additional School-Based Safety Monitors and Vice-Principals to the staff allocation plan in support of student learning and well-being. The motions directed staff to report back on these recommendations to the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee (FBEC).
Despite the Board's declining enrolment, since 2020, which have resulted in a significant decrease in GSN revenues, the province only provided enrolment stabilization funding which helped offset enrolment related revenue impact in 2020-21 but this is no longer available in 2021-22 and 2022-23. Not all operating costs can be adjusted based on enrolment changes. This results in significant budget challenges as well as forecasting challenges due to the ongoing uncertainty around the COVID-19 pandemic and the availability of Ministry COVID funding. The Ministry funding benchmarks do not fully address annual cost inflations and TDSB’s programming and operational funding needs. (e.g. staffing costs, Special Education, utilities costs, etc.). To address the budget challenges, the Board uses other revenues and non-designated Ministry funding to offset funding gaps. For more information, please refer to TDSB’s Financial Facts.
On May 16, 2022, there will be a special FBEC where staff will present recommendations to balance the 2022-23 budget and a deficit recovery plan.
In May there will be two scheduled virtual townhall meetings (Tentative dates: May 17 and/or May 19 during the day and evening) to present the planned operating budget and answer questions from the public and also consultations with CACs, SEAC and PIAC. A summary of the feedback received from the budget consultation will be presented on June 8 along with the 2022-23 draft capital budget and operating budget for approval.
To remind you, the budget drivers help guide the budget development process. While all of the listed budget drivers are of significant importance, they are presented below based on the budget priority ranking gathered from public consultation:
- Mental health and well-being
- Staff allocation to support students
- Equitable access to learning opportunities, including Indigenous Education
- Student success
- Human rights
- Modernization and accessibility
- Pandemic recovery
- Parent engagement and student voice
- Professional development
- Early years
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Board Meeting This Week
This week's Board Meeting will be the first in a long while where trustees and staff may attend in-person. I, for one, am looking forward to that.
Wednesday, April 20 - Regular Meeting - Hybrid Meeting - Public Session at 7:00pm - Agenda
- 15.1 (1) P085, Student Attendance, Safe Arrival and Safe Departure Policy: Update
- 15.1 (2) P098, Teacher Hiring Policy Review: Phase 1
- 15.1 (3) Disconnecting From Work Policy: New Policy
- 15.1 (4) P023, Parent and Community Involvement: Consultation Timeline
- 15.2 Board Self-Improvement Planning Committee, Report No. 04, March 29, 2022 (For receipt)
- 15.3 Board Self-Improvement Planning Committee, Report No. 05, April 11, 2022
- 15.3 (1) Board Self-Improvement Plan Development
- 15.4 Program and School Services Committee, Report No. 03, April 6, 2022
- 15.4 (1) Equity Policy Community Advisory Committee: Addressing Increase in Islamophobia, Hate Speech and Religious Discrimination
- 15.4 (2) Inner City Community Advisory Committee: Review of Policy P067, Learning Opportunities Index
- 15.4 (3) Parent Involvement Advisory Committee: School Year Calendar
- 15.4 (4) Special Education Advisory Committee: Access to Special Education Placement Review Process
- 15.4 (5) Human Rights Update: Annual Report 2020-2021
- 15.4 (6) Annual Report on Mathematics, 2021-2022
- 15.4 (7) E-Learning and Online Learning Update
- 15.5 Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee, Report No. 06, April 7, 2022
- 15.5 (1) Contract Awards, Operations
- 15.5 (2) Contract Awards, Facilities
- 15.5 (3) Lease Agreements With Agencies for the Ontario Autism Program’s Entry to School Program at Beaumonde Heights Junior Middle School, Cornell Junior Public School, and Emily Carr Public School
- 15.5 (4) Update on 2022-23 Budget Timelines
- 15.5 (5) 2022-23 Budget Development Presentation Materials
- 15.5 (6) Second Quarter Interim Financial Report, 2021-22
- 15.6 Audit Committee, Report No. 07, April 11, 2022
- 15.6 (1) New Student Information System Project Update
- 15.6 (2) Enterprise Risk Management Program Update
- 15.6 (3) TDSB Internal Audit Department and Engagement Status Update, April 2022
- 15.6 (4) Virtual School Student Issued Devices Review
- 15.6 (5) School Operational Audit: Semester 1 2021-22 Summary
- 15.6 (6) Regional Internal Audit Team Engagement Status Update
- 15.6 (7) Audit Committee O. Reg 361/10 Requirements: Work Tracker
- 15.7 Planning and Priorities Committee, Report No. 05, April 12, 2022
- 15.7 (1) Toronto Lands Corporation: 2021-22 First Quarter Business Report
- 15.7 (2) Update to the Names of the Year Round Alternative Centres
- 15.7 (3) Review of the Scarlett Heights Property, 15 Trehorne Drive: Update
- 15.7 (4) Student Trustee Governance
- 15.7 (5) City Growth and Intensification Update
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TDSB System Calendar
There are many ways for parents/guardians and school community members to get involved, learn, connect and participate in TDSB activities and events. Visit this page often and see what's coming up!
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Policy Consultations
You are welcome to read the draft policies, provide your comments, including suggestions on the wording and provisions of the draft policies, questions or recommendations using the contact information below.
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School Building in Toronto: Where Are We Now?
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From Councillor Matlow - Combatting Antisemitism Together: Public Meeting on April 27 at 7pm
Since May 2021, Toronto has seen an alarming rise in antisemitic harassment and targeted hate crimes. These attacks on the Jewish community are entirely unacceptable and have absolutely no place in Toronto-St. Paul's or anywhere in the city. I was proud to have sat on the Mayor's antisemitism round table along with members of the Toronto Police Services Hate Crime Unit, my colleagues on Council, and representatives from the United Jewish Appeal, Centre for Israel Jewish Affairs, and Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre.
These discussions, as fruitful as they were, required the voices of local leaders within our community to comment on how the events of the last year have impacted all of us.
That is why I am honoured to be hosting a roundtable discussion on Wednesday, April 27th at 7:00 PM about Antisemitism in our community, what we are currently doing at the city and what more we could be doing. I will be joined by Detective Lauren Pogue from TPS hate crimes unit, Shelley Laskin, TDSB School Trustee, Rabbi Steve Wernick from Beth Tzedec Synagogue, and Jamie Kirzner-Roberts from Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Centre.
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FHCI's Speaker Series
Please join us on April 28th @8pm for the second event in our 2022 SPEAKER SERIES. CTV's Dana Levenson will sit down with Katie Dudtschak, who revealed her journey to embrace her true self to friends, family and thousands of RBC colleagues in 2019. While facing her true gender was the hardest experience of her life, it provided her with a unique and powerful view on society and the role and practices of business leadership moving forward. Please click the link to register https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/fhci-speaker-series-embracing-change-with-katie-dudtschak-tickets-311333154847
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Summer School Program Updates
Continuing Education Secondary Credit Summer Programs - Please note that space is limited and courses may fill up prior to the close of registration.
In Person & Remote Incoming TDSB Grade 8 Summer Reach Ahead Opportunity
TDSB Grade 8 students are eligible to register for the TDSB Continuing Education, In Person or Remote Secondary Full Credit Summer Reach Ahead course, GLD2O1. In-Person & Remote Full Credit High School Program: Students can enroll in one full-credit course that is offered in July, either remotely or in person at multiple locations. Should an announcement be made that only remote learning can take place, in person students need to be prepared to pivot to remote learning.
In Person & Remote Summer Full Credit Adult 18+ Program
Adults can enroll in one full credit course that is offered in July in-person at Yorkdale Adult Learning Centre or remotely. Should an announcement be made that only remote learning can take place, in person students need to be prepared to pivot to remote learning.
Remote Credit Recovery - For TDSB Students ONLY
Current TDSB students have the opportunity to recover one or two credits for the month of July. Remote summer credit recovery courses are open to current TDSB high school students who have taken the course in the past two years but have not earned the credit.
Summer Dual Credit, SWAC and Coop
These programs will be offered during the month of July. Students can register through their day school guidance counsellors. For more information, including registration dates, please visit our secondary summer page.
e-Summer School
The e-Summer program provides full credit courses for secondary school students in Ontario, aged 13-20 years old. e-Summer courses count toward the mandatory graduation requirement for students who entered Grade 9 in the 2020-2021 school year or later. Courses are fully online. Most of the class time is asynchronous with about one hour/day of synchronous, live lessons delivered by the teacher. e-Summer offers two full sessions, one in July and one in August. Mandatory program orientation for students takes place online for one hour in the week before the course begins. e-Summer course count toward the new graduation requirement of two e-Learning credits.
Elementary Summer SchoolThe focus of the Elementary Summer School Program is to continue student learning and engagement through the month of July. Programs, embedded in Literacy and Numeracy, are developed by the local summer school principal to reflect the local school focus. Programs are offered in-person to students in K to Grade 8, from July 4 to July 29, 2022.
Registration Information - Program Dates: July 4-29, 2022 - Registration is online. Program delivery method is in-person this year. One remote (online) program is available. Please see full list of programs.
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Elections 2022 - Are You on the Voter List?
The upcoming year will be a busy one for Ontario voters, with the Ontario Provincial Election and Municipal and School Board Elections happening just a few months apart. Are you on the voter's list?
For the Ontario Election on June 2, 2022. Ontario residents can visit Elections Ontario - Voter Registration to add, update or confirm your information on the voters list for individuals who are 18 years of age or older, Canadian citizens and residents of Ontario; Register of Absentee Voters for voters temporarily living outside Ontario who intend to return to the province; or Ontario Register of Future Voters for eligible 16- and 17-year-olds who will be automatically added to the voters list when they turn 18.
For the 2022 Municipal and School Board Elections on October 24, 2022, Ontario residents can visit Voterlookup.ca at any time to find out whether their information is accurately reflected for inclusion on the Preliminary List of Electors for the 2022 Municipal and School Board Elections. Eligible electors can also update their information, add a name to an address, or change their school support for electoral purposes. Let's be ready.
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Backpack and School Supplies Drive
This year’s Backpacks & School Supplies Drive will run from March 1, 2022 to the end of September 2022. Individual donors and companies can help our students by making a monetary donation and/or a donation of new backpacks and school supplies. Please contact the Business Development department at BusinessDevelopment@tdsb.on.ca for more information about how to donate new items. Tax receipts are available for these donations. Donate now.
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Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
Dogs are not allowed on school property at any time. Many people are surprised to learn that City of Toronto By-Laws and TDSB Policy prohibit dogs (leashed or unleashed) being on school property.
Please respect children’s play spaces. And please do not verbally abuse TDSB caretaking staff - I am hearing that when members of the public and caretakers onsite try and inform dog owners, they are met with threats and intimidation.
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School Year Calendar 2021-2022- The last day of class for elementary students is June 30, 2022
- The last day of class for secondary students is June 29, 2022
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Community Safety & Support
If you should you ever see any suspicious activity around school buildings after school hours, please contact 311, Toronto Police Services Dispatch at 416-808-2222, or the TDSB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 416-395-4620.
If you or a family member is in crisis, please contact Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or get support right now by texting CONNECT to 686868.
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