Week of August 29, 2021 - Summer Edition #6
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This Week's Update- Getting Ready for Reopening
- Anishinabek First Nations
- Get Your Shot!
- Board Motion - TDSB to Develop Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Plan
- COVID-19 Update: Return to School
- Updated Guidance for 2021-22
- COVID Tests in Schools
- Walk/Roll to School
Worth Repeating - Let's Connect - Back to School: Supporting Transitions and Re-Engagement - September 1 - 6:30-8pm
- Student Voice Canada
- Truth & Reconciliation Week
- OPSBA’s Transitioning from the COVID-19 School Experience Discussion Paper – Video and Community Survey
- Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Property
-
Development Committee’s (K-12 SDC) Initial Recommendations Report Consultation
- School Year Calendar
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Anishinabek First Nations
Wear a mask! Wash your hands!
Mnaadendan gibi-maadiziwin – Respect your life
Mnaadenim kwiiji-bimaadiz – Respect your fellow being
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Getting Ready for Reopening
Lat wee k, secondary principals returned to school and tomorrow, elementary principals will return. In the next week and a half, there is much work to be done to prepare for reopening and administrators will be supported by Operational and Program Guidelines, which are expected to be shared early next week and posted on the TDSB website here - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/School-Year-2021-22Staff begin the school year with Professional Development activities on September 2. Classes begin for most students September 9. Please watch for emails from your school for details.
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Get Your Shot!
The most important thing you can do to help ensure a safe reopening is to be vaccinated. The TDSB will continue to help facilitate vaccination opportunities and clinics within our schools, together with local health partners as we have over recent months. Click for this week's flyer advertising vaccine clinics.
To assist with community engagement and clinic implementation, school boards and schools are being encouraged to recruit volunteers from their school communities (e.g. parent council members). These efforts will be an important step in instilling vaccine confidence within your local communities. For more details, please read the letter from Dr. Kieran Moore, Chief Medical Officer of Health of Ontario. More information will follow regarding how to volunteer. Learn More
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Board Motion - TDSB to Develop Mandatory COVID-19 Vaccine Plan
On Wednesday night, TDSB Trustees unanimously passed a motion for mandatory vaccination. Read the Media Release. It included a direction to staff that is different from the government's requirements - “a schedule for dates by which point any unvaccinated individuals must disclose if they have received first and second doses of the Covid-19 vaccines.” The Director's job is now to develop a procedure to operationalize this. There are many issues that need to be investigated to ensure this direction from trustees can be implemented, including what the consequences will be if staff member declines and what are the circumstances a staff member could decline. The trustee role is a governance role - we provide the policy direction. It is the Director's role to make these directions happen in a way that it can be operationalized. Some things we direct staff to do are pretty straightforward however this is so new, as trustees we needed to give the Director space to work out how this could be done efficiently, effectively and legally.
The provincial government only provided the minimum requirements on staff vaccinations -- disclosure, education, ability to test if not vaccinated. The TDSB must do those things but has gone further than that - our motion makes the vaccines mandatory. In the discussions at the Board level, the ability to do testing to offset not being vaccinated was not supported except for vary narrow circumstances (e.g. medical, disability, religious). There will be some testing, but it is clear, if our goal is to make our schools as safe as possible, all staff must be vaccinated.
In developing the procedure, the Director will use the board's discussion as part of the framework. We need to give staff time to do that work.
Our goal is that students are safe in school. This requires prevention - vaccines. Testing is surveillance and at that point it is too late, especially if you are working with a population that cannot be vaccinated. We have an obligation to all, especially students born before 2009.
Also included in the motion was the Board’s support of the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association’s statement advocating that COVID-19 vaccinations be added to the list of compulsory vaccinations for all eligible students.
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COVID-19 Update - Return to School We have finalized selection form data. In total, 202,139 forms were completed online or by phone, representing a response rate of 83%.
- Parents/guardians of 41,537 students received the Selection Form (either by Qualtrics or School Messenger) and did not respond; these students were subsequently placed in in-person learning as the default selection.
- Parents/guardians of 301 students, for whom we have no contact information, did not receive a Selection Form and were also placed in-person learning as the default selection.
- Overall, parents/guardians of 88% (215,535) of elementary and secondary students are placed within in-person learning, while 12% (28,442) indicated a preference for virtual learning and were placed there.
- Among 28,442 who opted for virtual learning, 46% indicated that they required either or both internet and computer device; and 54% require neither a device or internet.
At the Board Meeting, staff also spoke to differentiating supports/pandemic recovery for School Reopening. The plans will be based on the following -
- Use of Data
- Address Inequitable Impacts of the Pandemic
- Focus on Student Learning / Achievement & Well-Being
- Staffing: - Strategic Deployment of Staff; Repurposing Staff; and COVID Funded Staffing
- Strategic Capacity Building/Professional Learning
For the complete staff presentation from the Board Meeting click this Update.
As mentioned, Operational Guidelines are being finalized and schools will update their procedures from last year based on the new guidelines from the board. You will hear directly from your school over the next few days, if you have not already.
For secondary schools, staff were busy this week with staffing courses and working at scheduling for Virtual Students. This coming week, guidance departments will be reviewing timetables - if there is a conflict, you should receive a call or email next week - so keep your eye on your email.
During the course of the coming week, elementary schools will find out if they are required to be reorganized based on information from TDSB Planning based on the selection results. Schools will also continue to register new students (please note that office staff will directly reach out to those families who have been in touch over the summer) as well as transfer departing students.
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Updated Guidance for the 2021-22 School YearWith the first day of school quickly approaching, we continue to confirm more details about what school will look like in September. We continue to do everything possible to ensure the health and safety of staff and students. This is the latest information. Please keep checking the website for up-to-date information - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/School-Year-2021-22.
Re: Public Health Guidelines
Health and Safety - TDSB is instituting requirements above and beyond provincial guidelines with the support of Toronto Public Health.
COVID-19 Vaccines - TDSB is welcoming vaccination clinics in our schools and will continue to promote opportunities for students, staff and families to be vaccinated.
TDSB Health & Safety Practices - As we continue to develop TDSB-specific COVID-19 guidelines, the most up to date information will be posted on the elementary and secondary web pages. Below are the most recent decisions in a number of areas: Daily Screening: The TDSB will require all students and staff to conduct a daily self-assessment and stay home if they have symptoms or other COVID-19 exposure risk factors. The daily screening practice will follow guidance from Toronto Public Health. The daily screening tool will be available to staff and families prior to the first day of school. Nutrition Programs and Food Services: Approved nutrition programs and cafeteria services will be permitted and phased in to allow school routines to be established. Nutrition and cafeteria services will follow appropriate food handling procedures and public health guidance. Special event days (e.g., pizza days) will be phased in later in the school year.
Lunch Routines: Students will be allowed to go home for lunch with parental permission. Elementary students will continue to eat in classrooms or other spaces where physical distancing and effective routines can be maintained. Secondary lunch protocols are being developed and will take into consideration school layout and size of space.
Student Transportation Updates - The Toronto Student Transportation Group (TSTG) is responsible for organizing and leading student transportation for the TDSB and TCDSB, and has been working hard with both school boards and bus operators to ensure a safe and smooth start-up for student transportation services for the 2021-22 school year. To start the 2021-22 school year, the TSTG will once again be implementing a phased-in start for student transportation to ensure that students with special education needs are prioritized and receive bus service beginning the first week of school.
Questions & Answers - Read more about the return to school in our Questions and Answers that are divided by category. These will continue to be updated.
Some of the recent questions I have been asked -
- Will the TDSB have CO2 monitors in classrooms and different areas of the schools? CO2 monitoring provides an indication of the number of occupants in a given area and whether ventilation rates are adequate for a given occupant load over time. CO2 monitoring, however, is not a good indicator of viral infection risk as this is dependent on multiple layers of precautionary measures (self-assessment, distancing, masking, hand washing etc.) with ventilation rates being only one of these many measures. The recent introduction of HEPA filtration units to all TDSB classrooms and instructional areas has further reduced the relevance of CO2 monitoring for assessing infection risk. In addition, in rooms with mechanical ventilation, the ventilation systems have already been optimized to deliver maximum amounts of fresh air throughout the school day and 2 hours before/after occupancy. As such, the use of additional CO2 sensors would have no effect on the current maximized ventilation rates. In classrooms without ventilation, as per the Toronto Public Health recommendations, it is recommended that the windows be opened for a period of time, during the day to introduce more fresh air into the space.
- Will there be messaging or a protocol if a parent does not want their child with an unvaccinated teacher? Parents and students who have a health and safety concern should discuss them with a teacher, Principal or Vice-Principal as early as possible, so that measures can be put into place as necessary.
- Can staff buy and wear their own N95 masks? As per the August 11, 2021 Questions and Answers, N95 respirators are only required during Aerosol Generating Medical Procedures (AGMPs). Staff are required to be trained by the appropriate staff/vendor and fit tested on N95 masks to be effective. The employer cannot ensure that this is being provided if staff are bringing/purchasing their own masks. Staff are not permitted to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), it is the employer's responsibility to purchase and provide the appropriate PPE, as per the Occupational Health and Safety Act.
- Will "heat days" be implemented for schools that do not have mechanical ventilation September temperatures are frequently in the high 20s/low 30s which results in extreme indoor humidity levels - this is not a safe situation when masked all day - not much relief outdoors in the blazing sun - not all schools have adequate shade (or even space to sit) in their schoolyard. This will be monitored on a case by case basis. Many elementary schools have cooling centres in the gymnasium and library, which can be used by classes throughout the day, as well as scheduling outdoor learning opportunities. The Board has online resources available to encourage a range of safe, outdoor activities. Although many schools have outdoor seating areas, there are other options available to support outdoor learning.
Covid-19 Recovery Plan- The Toronto District School Board’s COVID-19 Pandemic Recovery Plan is a three-phase plan that will identify which groups have been most impacted, where interventions will be put in place, and initial outcomes that result from these interventions.
Outdoor Learning - Staff have confirmed t here will also be an emphasis on outdoor learning when schools reopen which will also encourage teachers to take students outside, even in the winter, as there are many health and well being benefits for increasing the amount of time outdoors.
Extracurricular Activities - These are still being finalized, but students may be allowed to participate in up to 2 extra curriculars per season in secondary; elementary may start the year on hold. Waiting for confirmation in the Operational Procedures.
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COVID Tests in Schools
Faster, easier COVID tests are coming to Toronto schools as part of a program to avoid last year’s hours-long testing lineups and encourage more kids to get swabbed — an especially urgent goal this September as unvaccinated students head back to the classroom amid a surging Delta wave.
As COVID-19 testing is scaled back across Ontario, the new program aims to provide every school and school-based daycare in Toronto with take-home testing kits by the end of September, with test results available within 24 to 48 hours. For pandemic-weary families, this means no more scrambling to book online appointments, long waits at testing sites, or tiny kids subjected to traumatic “brain tickler” swabs.
Experts hope the program will improve testing uptake and enable faster contact tracing when kids test positive — especially critical given Delta’s increased transmissibility, shorter incubation period, and fears the variant could be more severe for children than previous strains. Catching the virus before it spreads will also help reduce the risk of school outbreaks and closures, keeping more kids in classrooms and limiting learning losses for students who have already suffered the longest school closures in Canada.
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Walk/Roll to SchoolTake some time now to plan how your child will walk/bike to school this fall and practice the route. Planning ahead helps you explore the neighbourhood, find different routes to school and pick the one that works best for your family.
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Let's Connect - Back to School: Supporting Transitions and Re-Engagement - September 1 - 6:30-8pm
Let’s Connect is a new mental health and well-being virtual series that allows us to come together to share ideas and resources. The Let’s Connect series will respond to questions and discuss wellness for parents, caregivers, guardians and students at various times throughout the school year. These conversations will be led by our TDSB Professional Support Services staff and Mental Health and Well-Being Leads.
We acknowledge parents & caregivers as important partners with TDSB. We recognize the connection between equity, mental health and well-being for all. We prioritize equity and inclusion for all students and families from an anti-oppressive and anti-racist stance.
- Back to School: Supporting Transitions and Re-Engagement
- Wednesday, September 1
- 6:30 – 8 p.m.
The start of a new school year is always filled with anticipation, but this year, we recognize especially the anxiety, fear and uncertainty that comes with returning to learning. Let’s connect about some areas we can help support students with coming back to school, including routines, separation anxiety, and the social and emotional challenges of this new school year. Join us in our welcoming community circle as we connect, heal and hear diverse perspectives and experiences that allow us all to find new ways of moving forward.
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Student Vote Canada
Student Vote uses the election as a teachable moment and enables teachers to bring democracy alive in the classroom. This hands-on learning program empowers students to experience the voting process firsthand and cast ballots for the official candidates running in the election.
CIVIX will organize a Student Vote parallel election coinciding with the federal election on September 20. The program will be available to all schools throughout Canada and there is no cost to participate.
Registered teachers will receive a variety of learning materials and election tools to engage their students in the election and foster discussion about the parties and candidates. Student Vote Canada is presented in collaboration with Elections Canada.
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Truth and Reconciliation Week 2021
A Virtual Event Open to All Canadian Schools For Youth Grades 5 – 12
September 27-October 1
To celebrate the success of last year’s online event, Every Child Matters, we are proud to present a full week of Truth and Reconciliation programming. Truth and Reconciliation Week is a 5-day national event that will continue the conversations from Every Child Matters. Important conversations including the truths of the Indigenous treaties, First Nation, Métis and Inuit land claims, and the residential schools' system. This online event will provide historical workshops, exclusive video content, and activities for students — all supported by artistic and cultural performances by First Nations, Métis, and Inuit artists. For more information click https://nctr.ca/education/truth-and-reconciliation-week/. Register now at Eventbrite.
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OPSBA’s Transitioning from the COVID-19 School Experience Discussion Paper – Video and Community Survey
Ontario children are preparing to return to their public schools this fall for the first time since the spring and the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) wants to hear from you! OPSBA’s Transitioning from the COVID-19 School Experience Discussion Paper reflects the initial thinking of Association membership from first-hand accounts of remote learning during the pandemic, in all manner of school and geographic settings. This process of reflection has revealed two compelling realities: that a worrisome number of students have been unable to profit from remote forms of learning; and that several innovative practices in pedagogy and leadership have emerged that should be preserved and implemented on a broader scale post-pandemic. OPSBA, of which our school board is a member, has launched an online survey to help inform public education advocacy to the provincial government throughout the 2021-22 school year and beyond. We are asking community members throughout Ontario to share some of their thoughts about learning online during the COVID-19 pandemic and the post-pandemic school and learning environment. The survey, with a deadline of November 30, 2021, can be accessed at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/COVID19andSchoolOntario There are eight questions in the survey, which should take about 10 minutes to complete. This survey is completely anonymous and participation is completely voluntary. To allow more meaningful analysis of the results, some of the survey questions are mandatory. If one is missed, the user will be reminded at the end to complete those specific questions. We have created a dashboard and anyone who has completed the survey will receive an active link to see how others have responded.
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Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
I understand that in many communities our school grounds are used as community parks - and when school is not in session (during the school year, grounds are for school-use only from 8am - 6pm), we welcome the community - the humans. 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. Again, dogs are not allowed on school property at any time.
This summer, in particular, I continue to receive multiple complaints that dog owners are completely ignoring this - and not only bringing their dogs onto school playgrounds, but allowing their dogs to run unleashed - Children should be able to play freely - From a community member - Children no longer are seen playing in the field in the early evening as the space has been taken over by dogs. Tonight, two dogs had a vicious fight which deterred a family that had been heading into the schoolyard. The animals are also defecating in the field which discourages families from using it even when the dogs are not present as not everyone cleans up after their dog.
Especially during COVID-19, children’s play spaces should be respected.
And please do not verbally abuse TDSB caretaking staff - I am hearing that when caretakers onsite try and inform dog owners, they are met with threats and intimidation.
Please respect the rules and let the children play. Dogs are not allowed in Toronto Public School grounds.
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Development Committee’s
(K-12 SDC) Initial Recommendations Report Consultation
The province is encouraging participation in the public consultation on the K-12 Standards Development Committee’s (K-12 SDC) Initial Recommendations Report (Initial Report). In Ontario, the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 (AODA) outlines the legislated process for the development of new accessibility standards through Standards Development Committees.
The mandate of the K-12 Education SDC is to provide recommendations to government on removing and preventing accessibility barriers in the publicly funded education system. The Initial Report is the result of an extensive joint effort of Government appointed representatives from the disability community and the education sector to identify the barriers that students with disabilities face and the measures needed to remove and prevent them.
This new video will help you better understand the report, and how and why you should provide feedback. I encourage you to watch the video and to fill out the survey.
The Initial Report was posted online on June 1, 2021 for a period of business 65 days. The public may also provide written submissions by email to: educationSDC@ontario.ca. The public has an opportunity to participate in these consultations until September 2, 2021.
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Secondary School Offices reopen August 23, 2021Elementary School Offices reopen August 30, 2021
School Year Calendar 2021-2022- First day of classes for students is September 9, 2021
- First day back from Winter Break is January 3, 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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In Case of Emergency
Over the summer, or at any time, if you notice anything at a school that concerns you, please call the TDSB Security Call Centre (416) 395-4620 and the Toronto Police non-emergency line 416-808-2222.
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