We're Almost There...
Please continue to follow public health measures. The Stay at Home Order continues to at least June 2, 2021 which keeps school buildings closed. Educators continue to do all they can to engage students in remote learning. Please continue to stay home as you can, watch your distance, wear your mask & wash your hands to lower️ transmission & the likelihood of a better summer for all. Get vaccinated when it's your turn, for longer-term protection & to help us return to a way of life more like we remember it. Stay safe. Dr. Teresa Tam
| |
This Week's Update- International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia – May 17, 2021
- COVID-19 Update and Youth Vaccination Plan
- September 2021 - Plans Continue to Evolve
- Current Plans for September 2021 - Update
- Election of Student Trustees 2021-22
- Mental Health Matters
- Committee Meetings this Week
- Ward 8 PARTS/Community Meetings
Worth Repeating - Understanding Challenges of the Opiod Crisis
- Tamil Civil Action
- During May - TDSB's Asian and Jewish Heritage Committees Present: Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup
- Boss-Up! Black Students in Business Collective
- 2021 Summer Programs
- Mindfulness in May
- Hold the Date - Ward Forum - May 31, 2021
- Policy Consultations
- Download the COVID-19 App
- School Year Calendar
| |
International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia – May 17, 2021
Monday, May 17, is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. We will be recognizing the day in different ways and remind staff and students that TDSB is an inclusive and diverse community that recognizes and supports diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and expressions. We will be raising the Pride flag outside 5050 on this day as part of our acknowledgement. Credit for the poster goes to OPSEU. #IDAHOTB #TDSB.
| |
COVID-19 Update & Youth Vaccination Plan
Vaccines are beginning to open up for all over 18. Please book. Visit How to book a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for more information. The clinic at John Polanyi Collegiate continues Tuesday through Thursday from 11am to 8pm.
Remote Learning Continues - All publicly funded and private elementary and secondary schools in the province will continue to operate under teacher-led remote learning for the time being until at least June 2, 2021. According to the latest information, provincial and local medical experts, including the Chief Medical Officer of Health and other public health officials, will be consulted and use the most recent and relevant data to determine if it would be safe to resume in-person learning.
Youth Vaccination Plan - Beginning the week of May 31, youth in Ontario between 12 and 17 years of age and their family members who have not received a vaccine will be eligible to book an appointment to receive their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, including at special dedicated youth and family clinics throughout the weeks of June 14 and 21. The province will work with public health units to offer both doses of vaccine to youth aged 12 to 17 by the end of August, in collaboration with school boards and other partners. The government says the rollout will be informed by the work of the Children’s COVID-19 Vaccine Table and will provide access to multiple channels to support vaccinating this group, including mass vaccination clinics, community or school pop-ups, and pharmacies. OPSBA President Cathy Abraham confirmed "School boards are ready and willing to do what we can to assist in this massive endeavor." And please remember Interim Director Karen Falconer offered the use of schools as vaccination sites for our students back in February. We are glad many are being used for pop-up vaccine clinics. We will be working with Toronto Public Health to determine how vaccines for youth and their families will be implemented and will continue to keep you updated.
Student Vaccinations: Parental Consent - Questions have arisen about whether parental consent is necessary to vaccinate students under age 18. Under the Health Care Consent Act, children are entitled to make their own health care decisions as long as a health care professional believes they are “able to understand the information that is relevant to making a decision about the treatment … and able to appreciate the reasonably foreseeable consequences of a decision or lack of decision.” In other words, there is no specific age set out in legislation whereby children are assumed capable of making their own health decisions and parental consent is not necessary. However, as of September 2019, Toronto Public Health (TPH) implemented an important change in their consent for immunization policy and determined that secondary school students aged 14 or older will be able to give informed consent to receive immunizations at TPH clinics hosted in TDSB secondary schools. Parental consent is still required for students younger than 14.
At this time, due to COVID-19, TPH has suspended its school-based vaccination clinics. Parents/guardians and students will be informed prior to the start of any clinic in a TDSB high school. For more information, please visit the TDSB Vaccination Clinics webpage. We will continue to work with TPH on its implications related to COVID-19 vaccines.
| |
September 2021 - Plans Continue to Evolve
During the Special Planning & Priorities Meeting held on May 7 that I reviewed in last week's update, staff were planning to share a message with parents and caregivers around their choice of learning model (in-person or virtual) for September 2021 on Monday, May 17 - the message was going to notify parents/guardians that the formal selection form for September (to choose either in-person or virtual) would be distributed on Tuesday, May 25.
But following Thursday’s memo from the Ministry of Education on the vaccination of students aged 12 to 17 over the summer, staff now have a new perspective on the timing of this selection process. The Director told us this is primarily as a result of the following information from the Ministry: “To support a focused vaccination program, the province is directing that the weeks of June 14th and June 21st be targeted for first dose administration at mass clinics for youth and their families and the province will work with public health units and boards of education to offer second doses of the vaccine by the end of August.”
With the province anticipating that many students, their families and education workers will have an opportunity to be fully vaccinated over the summer, staff believe this will play a significant role in the decision-making process for families. With that in mind, staff are holding on any further selection communications (in-person or virtual) until they receive additional information during the coming week.
Please note, in addition to vaccinations, staff continue to work with Toronto Public Health on what additional health and safety measures will be required to ensure our school buildings are as sage as possible. TPH will be presenting at a special meeting on June 15. And please note that staff are committed to ensuring that students remain as connected to their home school as possible. And because the situation continues to change, whatever staff are putting in place for students, the system must continue to remain flexible and responsive to the direction given by both the Ministry of Education and Toronto Public Health.
And note today the Premier announced summer camps for students will go on this summer! More information will be forthcoming.
| |
Current Plans for September 2021 - Update
The Ministry of Education mandated that school boards must offer remote learning again in September (but without funding for separate virtual schools).
As the process for secondary school timetabling is complex and takes time, staff have begun planning now to meet students’ course selection requests and to be ready to open in September. Knowing what to expect in September, we believe, will also help students be prepared for the coming school year. The Ministry of Education informed school boards that time tables must include cohorting and must limit students to 2 in-person classes at a time - please see the memo here - https://efis.fma.csc.gov.on.ca/faab/Memos/B2021/B07_EN.pdf. Currently this means quadmesters.
Staff are still working what the high school day will look like (e.g. full-day in person) and are consulting with student trustees/student senate and education partners in their planning as we recognize that some students experienced challenges with the quadmester model - we continue to explore ways to improve it. As we finalize the details — including the daily schedule and number of minutes of in-person learning and online instruction — staff will continue to share information. We also expect full guidance on health and safety measures and the opportunity for extracurriculars will be shared by the Ministry over the summer. Should any of these directions change staff will certainly revisit these decisions and are trying to ensure whatever is being planned can be adapted. For example, if the pandemic has stabilized, we may be able to go to an every day model of learning and no chorting. We will also, of course, continue to provide resources and tools to support students' mental health and well-being. With vaccinations on the rise and fewer COVID-19 cases, we hope the fall will provide more opportunities for all students.
With regard to JK-Grade 8, please note that I have received many template letters opposing "hybrid" learning. Please know I do not support hybrid or simultaneous teaching where teachers teach in-class and students on-line at the same time. I have seen no evidence that this type of teaching supports student learning and well-being. My understanding from staff is that in all TDSB elementary schools for 2021-22 we are aiming that both students who chose to register in-person and students who chose to learn remotely will be part of their home school and that the remote learning classes are distinct from in-person classes. There will no longer be a central virtual school. Staff has confirmed they do not intend to mandate hybrid/simultaneous teaching system-wide. The priority will be for all students to be associated with their home school and for teaching options to be managed locally. As noted above, we hope to hear more from staff this week.
| |
Election of Student Trustees (2021-22)
The Toronto District School Board is now accepting applications for the positions of Student Trustees for the 2021-22 school year (two positions available).
Student Trustees represent the voice of approximately 247,000 students in the Toronto District School Board. They are elected members of the Board of Trustees and sit alongside the adult Trustees at board and committee meetings and act as a link to students, the Board and school communities. Student Trustees are members of the Student Senate and work closely with Student Senate Executives and school communities to empower and promote student voice and engagement across the district.
- Applications close: Tuesday, May 25, 2021
- View Candidates and Campaign Videos: June 21 - 24, 2021
- Voting Day (Online): Thursday, June 24, 2021
| |
Committee Meetings This Week
Delegation requests will still be accepted during the closure of all schools and administrative sites at the TDSB; however, oral delegations to address a committee of the Board will be presented by phone. To submit a delegation request (written or oral), please refer to the information found here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Delegations, email delegates@tdsb.on.ca. If your request is approved, further details will be provided to you via email.
Planning & Priorities Committee, Wednesday, May 19, 2021, 4:30 p.m. Electronic Meeting
- 6.1 School Renaming Request for Queen Victoria Public School
- 6.2 Boundary Change Review for Glenview Senior Public School, John Polanyi Collegiate Institute, Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute and Ledbury Park Elementary and Middle School - To support the goal of ensuring all students attending John Ross Robertson Jr. PS have a consistent school pathway through to Grade 12, the LFT is recommending that a small portion of the intermediate and secondary attendance boundaries be changed to align with the existing John Ross Robertson Jr. PS junior attendance area, effective September 1, 2021. Appendices C and D show the proposed boundary changes. A virtual public meeting was held on April 27, 2021 to present the context and proposed recommendations. Attendees were provided an opportunity to ask questions and offer feedback. Parents, guardians and community members demonstrated a high level of support of the proposed boundary changes.
- 6.3 705 Progress Avenue Site: Update
- 6.4 Multi-Year Strategic Plan Update - This Multi-Year Strategic Plan Update report is in response to the Board motion in July the Director review the 38 action plans in the Multi- Year Strategic Plan and present a report to Board at an appropriate time between October 1, 2020 and December 31, 2020, and before the establishment of the annual goals for the new permanent Director, noting the progress and accomplishments towards the 38 action items, and re-evaluating the remaining work in light of the new post COVID-19 realities, budget implications, and system priorities for discussion and board approval. This report provides an update for completed actions between January 2020 and May 2021. During this time, the TDSB and its communities were deeply impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, however, significant work continued in support of student success and well-being. While we have had to adjust and modify some of our planned initiatives and actions, we did so to support more urgent and emerging needs in a time of the pandemic to better serve our students, staff and families. Using the guiding principles of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan, TDSB staff pivoted and refocused support where needed to ensure that all students were supported, provided consistent learning opportunities and that well-being and student achievement remained a priority.
| |
Ward 8 PARTS/Community Meetings
Yonge-Eglinton PART - The Yonge-Eglinton Phase 2 Program Area Review Team has been established to continue looking at accommodation solutions to address overcrowding at Eglinton Jr PS, and includes consideration of the Bannockburn building to resolve ongoing accommodation pressures in the Yonge-Eglinton area. For more information about the review, please visit: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Strategy-Planning/Search-All-Reviews?id=166.
The Q&As and the deck including the survey results and final recommendations achieved through consensus of the PART can be found here:
Hodgson Middle School (Feeder Schools include Davisville, Eglinton, Maurice Cody and Oriole Park)- There will be a follow-up community meeting regarding the new addition for Hodgson Middle School. The meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 17, 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM and you will need to register in advance. Read more information in this invitation from Superintendent Andrew Howard.
Boundary Change Review for Glenview Senior Public School, John Polanyi Collegiate Institute, Lawrence Park Collegiate Institute and Ledbury Park Elementary and Middle School - Please see above as this recommendation is on the P&P Meeting Agenda this week.
Armour Heights PS, St Andrew's MS, and Ledbury Park EMS - The Board of Trustees have made a decision regarding this review: Board Decision Letter - April 23, 2021 - Armour Heights becomes a JK-8 school, retaining its grade 7's for September 2021
Baycrest Public School relocation to the former Sir Sandford Fleming Building - To view the deck from the March 15 community meeting, please click here. Monthly construction updates will be posted on the school website.
The NEW Davisville/Spectrum - The presentations and the Q&A’s from Davisville Virtual Community Meeting on May 11 have been posted on board's review site.
| |
During May - TDSB's Asian and Jewish Heritage Committees Present: Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup
This year the Asian and Jewish Heritage Committees have collaborated to present Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup for the month of May, Asian and Jewish Heritage months. This program targeted at students in Kindergarten-grade 3, has been described as a “very sweet book and a perfect early lesson on diversity.” As Sophie the main character in the story says about her grandmothers’ soups - “a little different; a lot the same”.
| |
2021 Summer ProgramsElementary Summer School Thirty-eight (38) programs are offered to students in Kindergarten to Grade 8, from July 5 to 30, 2021, in-person or online through virtual instruction. Registration is now open! Click here for a full list of participating schools and registration information - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Innovation/Elementary-Summer-School.
To learn the difference between the e-Learning Summer Program and the Continuing Education Hybrid & Remote Summer Program, please click here
| |
Mindfulness in May
Davisville Jr PS invites you to join them and instructor Tina Carlson, an IMTA certified mindfulness teacher with UCLA's Mindful Awareness Research Center for a variety of programming in May.
- Thursday May 20 - 6:30 - 7:30 pm Grades 3-6 - Mindful Super Heroes
- Thursday May 27 - 8:00 - 9:30 pm - For Parents and Caregivers - Mindfulness and Equity: Natural Partners
| |
Hold the Date - Ward Forum - May 31, 2021
| |
Policy Consultations
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is committed to open and inclusive policy decision-making and values community input and participation through consultation. Consultation is a two-way communication process between the Board and external participants, including students and their parents/guardians, school councils, advisory committees, community members, different levels of government, service agencies, professional organizations and union partners. The objective of consultation is to gather public input regarding options, alternative courses of action, as well as to identify unintended effects for various participants and to find solutions. Please see revised the Policy Review Schedule.
| |
Download the COVID ALERT APPTogether, let's limit the spread of COVID-19. COVID Alert is an additional tool to protect yourself and your loved ones. COVID Alert helps us break the cycle of infection. The app can let other app users know of possible exposures before any symptoms appear. That way, we can take care of ourselves and protect our communities. https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus-disease-covid-19/covid-alert.html. Please note, unfortunately, the app is only available on certain phones/operating systems.
| |
School Year Calendar 2020-2021- The last day of class for elementary students is June 29
- The last day of class for secondary students is June 28
| |
|
|
|
|