This Newsletter Includes:

Updates from Toronto Public Health
Vaccination Clinics
International Holocaust Remembrance Day
National Day of Remembrance & Action Against Islamophobia
Middle French Immersion Deadline
Kindergarten Registration
Mental Health and Wellbeing
TDSB Pandemic Recovery Plan
TDSB Community Support Hub
Policy Consultations
2022-23 Education Budget
TDSB Winter Clothing Drive
TDSB Technology Access for All
January is Tamil Heritage Month
Winter Walk Day
TDSB 2021-22 School Year Calendar

Updates from Toronto Public Health (TPH)

Toronto Public Health COVID-19 Guidence: Elementary and Secondary Schools

Toronto Public Health Update on COVID-19 and the Omicrom Varient

Let's get T.O. Vaccintated: COVID-19 Immunization Clinic

Vaccination Clinics

Priority Clinics for Education workers - on January 6th the Province announced that it would prioritize access to vaccination appointments for education workers (teachers, support staff, caretakers, bus drivers). Find out where vaccination clinics in the City of Toronto are being held by visiting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19 website.

Vaccinations for Children Age 5-11

Find information about vaccinations for children age 5-11 and where they can recieve them by visiting the Toronto Public Health COVID-19: Vaccines for Children and Youth website.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day – January 27, 2022

January 27 is designated by the United Nations General Assembly as International Holocaust Remembrance Day (IHRD).

The purpose of International Holocaust Remembrance Day is two-fold: to serve as a date for official commemoration of the victims of the Nazi regime and to promote Holocaust education throughout the world.

It is also important to remember that in June, 2020, the TDSB asked the provinceto incorporate Genocide Education as compulsory learning.

On January 27, we are providing “The Tattooed Torah” for TDSB students in Grades 4-8 to commemorate IHRD.

National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia. January 29th, 2022

National Day of Remembrance & Action Against Islamophobia – January 29, 2022

Five years ago, on January 29, 2017, the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City was subjected to a tragic, hateful and Islamophobic crime. A gunman entered the place of worship and opened fire on the worshipers, killing 6 men and injuring many more. As we approach January 29, it is important for us to be mindful that this time can be increasingly difficult for Muslim staff, students and families.

School communities are encouraged to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action Against Islamophobia with trauma informed conversations and classroom learning. We encourage every class to participate in the National Council of Canadian Muslims’ (NCCM) Green Square Campaign. Let’s stand up against all forms of hate and create safe and inclusive school climates for all students, staff and families!

Middle French Immersion: Applications open for Grade 3 Students until January 28, 2022

Middle French Immersion - Deadline January 28th

For families interested in the Toronto District School Board's system-wide Middle French Immersion Program (which begins in Grade 4), we offer an online process to apply. To apply for the Middle French Immersion for September 2022, applications for current grade 3 students must be completed online between January 3 and January 28, 2022.

An offer of placement in the program is guaranteed to all on-time applicants and will be made in the weeks following the close of the application window. Please note: Families with an older sibling currently enrolled in a French program and who will be in attendance next year are still required to complete an online application for the new student. Please select the “sibling option” within the online application.

For more information about the Middle French Immersion (Grade 4) application process, please join us for a Virtual Webinar Session on one of the following dates: January 13th at 1pm and January 17th at 7pm.

Kindergarten Registration

Children who will be four by December 31, 2022, can start Junior Kindergarten in September 2022.

Please note: Only parents or legal guardians can register a child for TDSB programs. Find your local school here.

Learn about Before and After School Programs in the TDSB.

Visit the TDSB's Kindergarten website.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

Additional Staffing - Professional Support Services

The TDSB approved using winter Covid funding ($5.9 million) to hire an additional 106 staff members following the release of a report that highlighted the impact of the pandemic on student mental health and well-being. These additional supports for student mental health and wellbeing will include:

35 Child and Youth Workers
35 Itinerant Child and Youth Counsellors
16 Social Workers (10 to fill in for those on short term medical leave, 6 new positions)
40 additional School Based Safety Monitors

TDSB Support Services Virtual Drop-in Sessions

TDSB Professional Support Services offers virtual drop-in hours for parents and caregivers to discuss strategies to help support the mental health and well-being of your child.
There are sessions open to all (Tuesdays 10-11am; Thursdays 7-8pm) and a special drop-in for parents/caregivers of students with special/complex needs (Wednesdays 7-8pm).
Learn more by visiting Virtual Mental Health Support

Winter Wellbeing Guide

Staff have produced a downloadable Winter Wellbeing Guide containing 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.

TDSB Pandemic Recovery Plan

Since the initial school closure in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, students at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) have experienced ongoing closures and multiple transitions to online, remote learning. While these closures have impacted all students and families, we know that the experience has varied greatly from student to student depending on individual and family circumstances.

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. This is the first report in what will be a series of reports over the next two years. It consists of an in-depth analysis of key student perception and learning outcome data and has been divided into sections that address the areas of focus for the year ahead:

Building Relationships and Enhancing Belonging
Use of Play/Outdoor Play
Honouring Skills/Knowledge Gained During the Pandemic
Assessment For Learning/As Learnin
Differentiated Supports For Those Who Have Had Greater Impacts From the Pandemi
Staff Collaboration
Digital Tools for Engaging Students/Families
Virtual Learning 2021-2022

To read the full report please visit - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/School-Year-2021-22/Pandemic-Recovery-Plan

The TDSB has recently allocated $5.9 million in mental health supports as part of the pandemic recovery plan. In addition, over the course of the pandemic, the TDSB has advocated for collaboration with the City, Province, and Federal government to share data to support equitable outcomes for TDSB students and advocated for Provincial funding for pandemic recovery.

TDSB Community Support Hub

TDSBHub is a great online resource for TDSB families developed and maintained by our Community Support Workers (CSWs). CSWs have collated resources, community program information, and organize workshops and education sessions for caregivers.

CSWs also produce a regular newsletter which highlights upcoming events and resource updates.

Policy Consultations - Naming Schools, Special-Purpose Areas, and Teams (P047)

Please read the current draft of the proposed policy 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.

Open until March 14, 2022

Draft Policy

Survey

Email: NamingSchoolsPolicyConsultation@tdsb.on.ca

2022-23 Education Budget

In December, as part of the Ministry of Education's consultation on the 2022-23 budget the TDSB and the Ontario School Boards Association (OPSBA) submitted feedback on identified funding needs (see links below). Ongoing funding shortfalls in Special Education and growing need for youth mental health supports are among the key issues highlighted. In addition the TDSB has launched its own 2022-23 budget process and is currently seeking feedback on the Strategic Budget Drivers. More information is available using the links below:

TDSB 2022-23 Budget Development Process
TDSB Budget Submission to Ministry of Education
OPSBA Submission to Ministry of Education regarding 2022-23 Education Budget
TDSB 2022-23 Budget Drivers Survey
School & TDSB Budgets and Financial Statements

TDSB Winter Clothing Drive

TDSB Technology Drive - Closing the Digital Divide

You can support the TDSB's efforts to improve access to technology - please visit the TDSB's Technology Access For All site to learn more

January is Tamil Heritage Month at the TDSB

Let's Walk - Winter Walk Day, February 2, 2022

February 2, 2022 is Winter Walk Day

TDSB 2021-22 School Year Calendar

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