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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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"Somedays doing 'the best we can' may still fall short of what we would like to be able to do, but life isn't perfect - on any front - and doing what we can with what we have is the most we should expect from ourselves or anyone else." - Mr. Rogers
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In this Issue:- Return to In-Person Learning
- COVID-19 Update
- New TDSB Organizational Structure - January 2022
- Committee Meetings this Week
- TDSB System Calendar
- Alternative Schools
- Policy Consultations - Naming Schools, Special-Purpose Areas, and Teams (P047)
- New Invitations - COVID-19 & Omicron Questions Answered: A Sinai Live Town Hall; ScienceUpFirst National Kids & Vaccines Day Town Hall; January 27 is International Holocaust Remembrance Day: The Tattooed Torah is back!; FSWC Speaker's Idol
- Worth Repeating - Virtual Drop-In Hours Restarting; Grade 7-11 Students Needed - Student Equity Collective; Global School Play Day - February 2, 2022; Winter Well-Being Guide; Switch Form - Elementary Term 2; Middle French Immersion Program – Grade 4 Entry; School Open Houses and Information Nights; Optional Attendance 2022-2023; Help Close the Digital Divide; Elections 2022 - Are You on the Voters Lists?; Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
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Return to In-Person Learning
Following direction from the Ministry of Education, as well as guidance from Toronto Public Health, senior staff have made a number of important operational changes to help ensure a safe return for both staff and students.
- Yes, you can continue to use the NOW app for daily screening, but please try it before Monday - you may need to shut down the app and then reboot. You can also attempt to login with student name and password firstname.lastname@student.TDSB.on.ca
- Yes, staff are set to receive N95 masks (1/day) as optional alternatives to medical masks. and will continue to mask inside and outside (N95 masks are not meant to be worn outside; the medical masks will continue to be worn outside).
- Yes, every school has a supply of high quality, 3-ply cloth masks available for students and at committee last week we asked our staff to source medical masks for students as they are not being provided by the province. I am checking whether we can accept donations of these.
- No, students are not required to wear masks outside as long as they remain within their cohort.
- Yes, all parents/caregivers will need to continue wearing a mask while outdoors on the school property.
- Yes, bussing will continue but service disruptions are likely as a result of the impact of COVID-19 on bus operator staffing. In situations where staffing for bussing becomes an issue, priority will be given to bussing for students in special education programs.
- Yes, if there is severe weather and buses are cancelled (decision made at 6am), schools will close to in-person learning, and all schools will be moving to remote learning for the day. With apologies this was an operational decision made by staff without trustee input and is opposite to the direction sent on December 13 and was only sent this evening - read here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/News/Article-Details/ArtMID/474/ArticleID/1754/Important-Update-Re-Snowfall-Warning.
- Yes, there could be changes to lunch protocols depending on the circumstances at each school.
- Yes, as we have not received any further updates from the province or from Toronto Public Health and as of now are planning for a return to the full semester model for Semester 2.
- No, we do not yet have an update from Toronto Public Health on whether the time for lunch can be extended in secondary schools.
- Yes, all in-person extra-curricular activities that involve the mixing of cohorts (high-contact activities), singing and use of wind instruments are paused.
- Yes, 2 Rapid Antigen Tests will be provided for students and staff next week. Please be patient as schools must assemble the kits (divide them into 2s). There may be a delay for Secondary students as priority is being given to childcare, elementary students and staff and secondary staff.
- No, it is not clear if they are used how they are replaced. The expectation is that the government will continue to provide Rapid Antigen Tests and they continue to be delivered to schools for students and staff - we are uncertain as to how quickly supplies will become available.
- Yes, if symptoms appear when students or staff are at school, a take home PCR test may be available while supplies from the Ministry last. PCR tests are not readily available and once schools have run out of any tests they may have available, there may not be any replacement tests.
- Yes, at the TDSB, when schools become aware of a PCR or Rapid Antigen Test confirmed case of COVID-19, directly impacted classes will continue to be informed. Please note, however, that the rest of the school community will no longer be informed and parents are asked to use the screening tool to determine if their child should be attending school on a day-to-day basis.
- No, classes will no longer be dismissed as a result of a case of COVID-19 as per directives, instead parents/guardians and/or students must review the daily COVID-19 screening tool to determine if they are permitted to return to school.
- Yes, if school absences exceed 30% of the school population, the TDSB is required to notify Toronto Public Health, but we are continuing to consult with TPH to determine if a lower threshold is more appropriate and to clearly understand what 30% absences in a school actually means.
- Yes, we anticipate an increase in staff needed to stay home as a result of COVID-19 spread, it may be necessary to consider operational closures of classes and/or schools due to staffing shortages depending on local circumstances.
- No, at this time we are not using the Ministry-supported strategy of one day per week of remote learning where students would not attend school in-person.
- No, if you chose to not return to in-person learning in elementary school you do not join Virtual Learning.
- Yes, you can chose not return to in-person learning in elementary school until you feel more comfortable with the number of COVID cases, but simultaneous (live) learning will not be available. Teachers will keep their digital platforms (Birghtspace or Google Classroom) updated and additional learning resources will also be available on the TDSB website beginning next week for families and students to access directly, if interested. These resources are to supplement classroom learning and not to replace the direct connection with a student’s class and in-person teacher.
- Yes, if secondary students chose not to return in-person, simultaneous (live) learning may be an option as many classes were already being delivered to both in-person and virtual students at the same time.
- Yes, for secondary students, the evaluation update would be for all courses as well as culminating activities or final evaluations where the mark is higher. They will count only where it improves a student’s grade. These will not lower a student's grade. Marks will reflect work done up until December 17, 2021.
- No, we cannot accept donations of CO2 monitors to check classroom air quality. The CO2 level in a space is not a clear measure linked to an increased transmission risk as it is impacted by a variety of factors including the type of ventilation and the number of air exchanges in the space in relation to room size, time of day, season, occupant load and occupant activity in that space. Ventilation is one strategy to help prevent and slow the spread of COVID-19 in schools - read more hereTDSB Ventilation web page.
As the Director ended her letter to families, "thank you for your continued patience and flexibility as we work to resume in-person learning and continue to prioritize health and safety as well as student learning, engagement, and well-being. We will also continue to provide further information as it becomes available."
And to staff "I am deeply grateful for all that you do every day. I know, like many others, we are exhausted by the changing circumstances around the pandemic and the impact on our students and our professional and personal lives. Thank you, as always, for your continued ability to be flexible during the many transitions and for your ongoing focus on health and safety and student engagement, connection, learning and well-being."
Grateful to all TDSB staff and families.
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COVID-19 UpdateVaccines have always been about public health. It’s not about you. It’s about us. Please get vaccinated. Get your children vaccinated.
And please continue to follow all other public health measures - self-monitor, wear a mask, wash your hands frequently, distance where possible and stay home if not feeling well. Sincere appreciation and gratitude to all health care professionals - let's all do what we can to ensure they can continue to support us.
How to Book a Vaccine- Learn more about vaccines for children and youth, including how to book and prepare for your child's vaccination appointment (Ministry of Education)
- Visit the How to Get Vaccinated webpage by Toronto Public Health
- Kids Health First -- developed by the Children's COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Table in Ontario - Although the recommended second dose is 8 weeks after the first dose, my understanding is parents can give informed consent for their child (5-11) to receive their second dose sooner when they book at the provincial booking centre - 1-833-943-3900.
- Please see A Parent's Guide to Vaccination.
- Do you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine for children and youth? You can book an appointment with the COVID-19 Vaccine Consult Service (VSC) to speak with a Registered Nurse to get answers to your questions. Appointments are available Monday to Friday.
- Parents and Caregivers you can join January 27 at 8 pm EST at ScienceUpFirst Kids & Vaccines Town Hall. Ask questions and get the best available evidence from Canadian healthcare leaders.
Book a vaccine appointment online at the dark blue “Book a Vaccine” button on toronto.ca/covid-19 or by calling the provincial vaccine booking line at 1-833-943-3900 (TTY 1-866-797-0007).
Vaccine Hunters - Do-it-yourself resource for finding vaccine related info. Find details on eligibility, appointments, walk-ins, pharmacy search tools, vaccine receipts + more!
Vaccine Opportunities for StaffEducation and child care staff can now book appointments at 10 health clinic locations across the GTHA. Appointments for any of these clinics can be scheduled through the dedicated FH Health booking website. The TDSB continues to work with Toronto Public Health and other local health partners to provide additional vaccine opportunities for staff.
Update on Screening Procedures
Please review and become familiar with the screening tool including the second page which provides direction on isolation measures in a variety of scenarios based on age and vaccination status. Please complete the TDSB Health Pass or Health Screening App daily. Anyone who has symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 or is a confirmed positive case must self-isolate, regardless of vaccination status.
Update on the Implementation of Mandatory ProcedureThe TDSB has updated its timelines for staff who still need to have their vaccination. The date for employees who attested that they had received their first dose by November 19, is now midnight on January 21, 2022 to attest that they have received their second dose.
Staff who have asked to be exempted are expected to adhere to the procedure by completing Rapid Antigen Testing 3 times per week as required by the Ministry of Education and the TDSB and adhere to all other health and safety protocols including daily screening. Senior staff have informed us that final decisions on these cases will be made in the upcoming weeks. Click for TDSB staff disclosure data as of 5 p.m., January 11, 2022. 96.8% of staff are compliant (excluding staff on leave or seeking exemption).
Mental Health and Well-Being
Virtual office hours Tuesdays and Thursdays
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New TDSB Organizational Structure - January 2022
Please note that Director Colleen Russell-Rawlins has reconsidering the organizational structure of the TDSB "giving much-needed stability to our system and aligning and supporting our goals and commitments in a post-pandemic era."
According to the webpage, the new organizational structure returns to the model of four Associate Directors -- two academic and two business -- who will work together as a cross-functional team in the successful execution of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan, achieving positive results and the overarching commitment of the TDSB to eliminate disparities and disproportionality in outcome and experiences among historical and currently underserved students. The new structure also includes the proposed addition of two new System Superintendent positions to further support our work. This includes one additional position, the System Superintendent of Leadership, Employee Development, and Continuous Improvement, and a review of the leadership structure of the Human Rights Department based on agreements with the Ministry of Education.
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Committee Meetings This Week
Tuesday, January 18 - Special Program and School Services Committee 4:00pm - Agenda
Wednesday, January 19 - Program and School Services Committee 4:30pm - Agenda- 5. Opportunity for Oral Updates From Co-Chairs of Community Advisory Committees
- 6.1. Update on the Implementation of Multi-Year Strategic Action Plan: Academic Pathways
- 6.2. Addressing Anti-Asian Racism: A Resource for Educators Implementation Plan
- 6.3. Caring and Safe Schools Annual Report Outline
- 6.4. 2022 Staff Census
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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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Alternative Schools
Alternative schools are safe, highly engaged, smaller school environments. They use non-traditional hands-on approaches to learning the required Ontario Ministry of Education Curriculum. Each school has a distinct identity and focus, such as democratic education, holistic learning, physical art, mindful living, entrepreneurship, social justice, community outreach and more. These schools are ideal for students seeking an alternative to mainstream education and who want to take an active role in their own learning.
TDSB alternative schools are open and free to any resident of Toronto. Space in alternative schools is limited and students can apply to attend on optional attendance. The application process is different for each alternative school.
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Policy Consultations - Naming Schools, Special-Purpose Areas, and Teams (P047)
The Naming Schools and Special Purpose Areas Policy (P047) is currently being reviewed. The draft Naming Schools, Special-Purpose Areas, and Teams Policy establishes parameters for the naming and renaming of schools, special-purpose areas, and teams. In addition, the draft Policy establishes guiding principles to ensure naming conventions build positive climate that reflects the diversity of TDSB students and communities; value their voices; and foster a culture of equity, inclusion, dignity and mutual respect.
Please read the current draft and complete the survey. You are welcome to provide your comments, including suggestions on the wording and provisions of the draft policies, questions or recommendations using the contact information below.
Objective: To establish guiding principles and criteria for the naming and renaming of schools, special-purpose areas, and teams consistent with the Board’s Mission, Values and Goals Policy (P002) and the Equity Policy (P037) commitments.
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COVID-19 & Omicron Questions Answered: A Sinai Live Town Hall
Tuesday, January 18 from 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. This virtual session will feature opening remarks from Sinai Health President & CEO, Dr. Gary Newton. This will be followed by our expert panel, featuring Dr. Jennie Johnstone, Dr. Howard Ovens, and Dr. Tony Mazzulli who will provide updates and answer audience questions regarding COVID-19 and the Omicron variant. Register here -http://support.supportsinai.com/site/Calendar?id=102022&view=RSVP
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ScienceUpFirst National Kids & Vaccines Day Town Hall
Join us on January 27 at 8 pm EST for our ScienceUpFirst Kids & Vaccines Town Hall
The first COVID-19 vaccines for kids aged 5-11 were approved in Canada in November, and yet uptake has been slow. Many parents and kids have made the choice to get the shot, but many more remain unvaccinated as a new variant sweeps across the country.
If you are on the fence, know that it’s absolutely normal to have questions about your children’s health. Tune into a live Q&A with physicians and researchers across the country and get the best information available.
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We are providing “The Tattooed Torah” for TDSB students in Grades 4-8. Based on a true story, and narrated by the late Ed Asner, this short animated film (21 minutes) has won numerous awards at film festivals across the US. This event is presented by the TDSB‘s Jewish Heritage Committee, Liberation 75, and the USC Shoah Foundation.
Included with the film are two activities.
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Winter Well-Being Guide
Within this guide you will find a variety of culturally responsive resources and accessible activities to help make this winter a little easier and fun for you and your family. Information on where and how to reach out for help is also included. Read the Winter-Well Being Guide.
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Middle French Immersion Program – Grade 4 Entry
To apply for the Middle French Immersion Program (Grade 4 entry) for September 2022, applications must be completed online between January 3 and January 28, 2022.
An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants and will be made in the weeks following the close of the application window.
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Grade 7-11 Students Needed - Student Equity Collective
We are launching a Student Equity Collective. This is an opportunity to not only sit at the table, but to design what the table looks like, drive the conversation, and bring ideas, solutions and recommendations forward that address what you want to address.
If you are a TDSB student in Grade 7 to 11 with an understanding of, and commitment to, addressing racism, hate and all forms of discrimination; if you bring a passion and enthusiasm for collaborative problem-solving, idea generation and change, please apply by February 11, 2022 at 4pm.
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School Open Houses and Information Nights
Learn everything you need to know about our incredible variety of schools, programs and courses. Please note that some schools are hosting “live” virtual open houses that families can join in real time, during the specified date and time. Please check this page regularly, as schools will continue to post information about virtual open house dates/times and available pre-recorded information sessions. You can view the prerecorded sessions at any time by clicking the link provided. If you have questions about a specific school or open house, please contact the school directly for more information.
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Optional Attendance 2022-2023
Students who reside within the City of Toronto have the right to attend a school which is designated to serve their residential address. The "Find Your School" section of the website identifies the designated schools for each residential address. Students also have the opportunity to access schools outside of the school that is designated to serve their residential address by applying on optional attendance. Acceptance at these schools is subject to space availability and program suitability. Most schools in Ward 8 are closed to Optional Attendance.
If you are planning to apply to a TDSB Elementary school through the Optional Attendance process, please visit the TDSB Optional Attendance webpage to get up to date information.
Elementary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:- February 11, 2022 Optional attendance forms due at elementary school
- March 04, 2022 Deadline for parents/guardians to be informed of the status of the application request
- March 25, 2022Parents/guardians must inform the requested school of their acceptance of the offer
Secondary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:- January 28, 2022 Optional attendance forms due at secondary school
- February 11, 2022 Date for parents/guardians of students to be informed of the status of the application request
- February 22, 2022 Parents/guardians must inform the requested school of their acceptance of the offer via email and submit course selections via MyBlueprint
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Global School Play Day - February 2, 2022
Almost 4,000 schools have already registered for Global School Day on February 2, 2022! Register for this free event bringing awareness to the importance of unstructured play! #GSPD2022.
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Help Close the Digital Divide
Not all students have the same access to digital tools and the internet. And, during this unprecedented year of remote learning, the pandemic has highlighted the gaps of technology access.
The TDSB is taking a lead in solving this problem because in today’s fast-paced world, technology is not just a nice to have, it is a must have. So, we are going above and beyond what the Ministry of Education funds to ensure that our students have the tools, resources and opportunities to develop the 21st century skills necessary for future success.
Help close the digital divide and ensure technology is accessible to all. Your support will give students access to technology -- both inside and outside the classroom -- so they can participate, learn and succeed. Learn more - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/techaccessall.
Donate Here. 100% of all proceeds go to benefit our students. Used equipment cannot be accepted. If you have any questions, please contact the Business Development department at BusinessDevelopment@tdsb.on.ca for more information about your donation.
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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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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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