Dear Parent/Guardian/Caregiver,
Welcome to the 2024-25 school year!
I hope you and your family had an enjoyable and safe summer. As we prepare to embark on a new school year, I am filled with anticipation and excitement for the opportunities and growth that lie ahead for TDSB students and their communities.
As the elected public school board trustee for your community, my role is to advocate for the needs of all TDSB students and families. The TDSB can be a large organization that can be challenging to navigate; don’t hesitate to contact me if your family needs assistance navigating TDSB policies and procedures. I am encouraged by the progress we have made in strengthening student achievement, fostering a sense of belonging, and supporting mental health and well-being throughout our schools and community.
This past school year, Trustees and staff have tackled several critical issues, including cell phone use in schools, social media, and academic achievement. These initiatives are at the heart of our commitment to creating productive and supportive learning environments for all students. Despite the significant financial challenges we’ve faced in recent years, we continue to maintain important supports for students while continuing to advocate for the Ministry to provide the necessary and sustainable support and adjustments for the TDSB to deliver the highest quality education. For more details about our efforts and the key issues we have highlighted, please review our advocacy letters available on our public webpage.
I am pleased to share the recently launched 2024-28 Multi-Year Strategic Plan (MYSP), which was developed through extensive collaboration and focuses on high achievement, student well-being, and accountability. We are committed to excellence and addressing the unique needs of each student. Engaging parents, guardians, caregivers, and community partners remains an important and necessary part of our strategy in the coming years.
We are also developing a new Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy, aimed at enhancing student success, belonging, and well-being. A pre-consultation was conducted earlier this spring to gather feedback from school and community partners, ensuring the policy will meet legislative requirements and align with best practices.
In Ward 2, many of the schools have benefitted from significant capital investments, like the new playground facilities at Westmount Jr. School and Westway Jr. School for example.
This past May, the Ministry of Education and the TDSB were happy to announce a new central Etobicoke school. A new 823 pupil place junior kindergarten to grade 8 school will be built on the Silverhill Drive location, with a five-room childcare center (88) spaces). The school is expected to open in September 2028. This investment by the Ministry and the TDSB will help accommodate the existing student enrollment challenges of multiple schools as well as the urban growth student projections from the Cloverdale and Six Point Developments. I am also often asked about the status of the vacant TDSB site which previously was the Scarlett Heights Entrepreneurial Academy. I’m pleased to report that the sale of the property to the Toronto Catholic District School Board is expected to be completed by early this fall.
To ensure you and your child have a great year ahead, I invite you to explore our website www.tdsb.on.ca for information about the school year calendar, transportation, ways to get involved, as well as helpful resources for the upcoming school year.
The TDSB encourages you to follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and Threads for regular updates and news. Rest assured, important information will still be communicated to you via email from both your school and the school board.
We will be ready to welcome students back for the first day of the 2024-25 school year on September 3, 2024. I am here to support you every step of the way, ensuring a successful and rewarding educational journey for your child.
Thank you,
Dan MacLean
Trustee, Ward 2
