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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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In this Issue:
- Education Day Debates
- Student Vote Ontario
- Recognizing Global Accessibility Awareness Day
- Recognizing Tamil Genocide Education Week
- COVID-19 Reminders
- An Update on the LTPAS
- Committee Meetings this Week
- Major Capital Projects and Renewal Status Update
- Three-Year Projection and Deficit Recovery Plan
- TDSB System Calendar
- OPSBA’s I ❤️ Public Education Video Contest
- Learn4Life Summer 2022
- Summer Programs
- Policy Consultations
- New Invitations - Memorial Park Improvement Project: Public Information Meeting #1; COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics co-hosted by Councillor Matlow;
- Worth Repeating - Excellence Awards; COVID-19 Check-In; Free Virtual After-School Programming; TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal; Elections 2022 - Are You on the Voters Lists?; Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
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This Week! Education Day Debates in Eglinton-Lawrence and Toronto-St Paul's
The Ontario Public School Boards' Association (OPSBA) is declaring May 18 as Education Day in Ontario. On that day and other dates during the week of May 16 to 20, local candidates from major provincial parties will be invited to local schools and to virtual and in-person all candidates meetings to share their views and answer questions on the issues affecting public education. Due to a Committee conflict, we are holding debates on May 17 and May 19 for the ridings that make up TDSB Ward 8.
I have invited the candidates from the 4 major political parties nominated in Eglinton-Lawrence and Toronto-St Paul's to participate in virtual debates focused on education moderated by Caroline Alphonso, Education Reporter with the Globe & Mail. Sadly both PC candidates have declined, but the others have all accepted.
As a non-partisan association, OPSBA advocates for and represents the voice of our public school boards on the diverse range of issues that affect students and communities, regardless of which political party forms government. Throughout the provincial election campaign, OPSBA is encouraging parents, students, seniors, and other members of school communities to learn about the issues impacting Ontario’s public schools, before Election Day on June 2, 2022. OPSBA has reached out to the four main parties - the Progressive Conservatives, New Democrats, Liberals, and Greens – elected to the Ontario Legislature with a questionnaire on six key education issues this election. Answers will be posted on our website as they come in.
This information on the debates is also posted on my website
https://www.tdsb.on.ca/ward8/Ward-8/Trustee-Ward-Forum. I would sincerely appreciate if you could share the posters within your communities and I look forward to hearing from the candidates on education issues.
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Student Vote Ontario
Student Vote is a program of CIVIX, a national charity dedicated to strengthening democracy through civic education. 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 learn about democracy, levels of government, political views and political parties, and the election process. Students experience the voting process firsthand and cast ballots for the official candidates running in the election.
The Student Vote program is flexible and adaptable to any grade or course. It provides free learning materials such as lesson plans (in print and digital formats), videos, slides, and interactive tools. This year, there more activities are included to reach learners in Academic-only or de-streamed classes, as well as new lessons focusing on themes of perspective and pluralism. Student Vote has also partnered with Elections Ontario to support educators in organizing activities for 16 and 17-year-old students for the Ontario Register of Future Voters list!
- If you missed the virtual Democracy Bootcamp professional development event for educators on March 18, please view the recordings here.
- Registration for Student Vote Ontario 2022 is now open at: https://studentvote.ca/registration/
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Recognizing Global Accessibility Awareness Day
On Thursday, May 19, the TDSB recognizes Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD), an annual event focusing on digital accessibility. The purpose of GAAD is to get people talking, thinking and learning about digital access and inclusion for the more than 1 billion people with disabilities worldwide.
Digital accessibility ensures that the digital environment, including the internet, is accessible to everyone. At the TDSB, we are focused on improving digital accessibility, guided by the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA).
Some of the system work to improve digital accessibility includes:
- Making all the TDSB public websites and school websites accessible by remediating inaccessible web content, including web pages and images.
- Providing training to staff on different aspects of digital accessibility.
- Providing learning opportunities for all TDSB staff regarding digital accessibility.
- Engaging with all key stakeholders on an ongoing basis to ensure that all members of our community can fully participate in TDSB activities.
At the TDSB, we all play a role in helping make content and information accessible. You can help by participating in training and accessing resources available on the internal TDSB Accessibility Web Portal
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Recognizing Tamil Genocide Education Week
Bill 104, also known as the Tamil Genocide Education week, passed in 2021 establishing May 12-18th as a week in which Ontarians "are encouraged to educate themselves about, and to maintain their awareness of, the Tamil genocide and other genocides that have occurred in world history." During Tamil Genocide Education Week, we continue to learn how genocides impact our communities. We honour the innocent people who were displaced & those who lost their lives. We also recognize the lasting trauma & impact this genocide has on Tamil communities here in Toronto. More education is needed on this and other genocides recognized by Canada.
In 2020 we began advocating for the province to make Genocide Education compulsory. With hatred in all forms is on the rise and as a public education system, we have the responsibility to educate our students, staff and school communities about the way in which we can recognize, report and combat hate and discrimination. Genocide Education is known to help students better understand their rights as humans, both individually and as a society, and also provide them with the critical thinking skills needed to better understand racism and intolerance. In return, this prepares students to recognize, report and combat various forms of hate in their own surroundings. For this reason, we believe Genocide Education is critical in our fight against hate and discrimination.
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COVID-19 RemindersPlease Continue to Wear a MaskWe have asked all students and staff at its schools to go back to wearing masks inside to help limit the disruption caused by a sixth wave of COVID-19. Face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing, can help slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others, especially those that cannot yet be vaccinated. Find more information on the new “masking” webpage.
Updated Information from TPH
Please get VaccinatedMental Health and Well-Being
COVID-19 Case Reporting - Adding TDSB-wide Totals
TDSB-wide weekly total of COVID-19 numbers will be reported on the COVID-19 Reporting webpage. This, in tandem with the daily COVID-19 notification letters from schools, will further provide our community a comprehensive picture of what is happening locally and system-wide, while preventing stigmatization of particular schools or areas. Weekly totals will be updated every Tuesday for the preceding week, here is the data from May 13.
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An Update on the LTPAS
At Thursday's Ward Forum, TDSB Planning staff presented an overview of the Long-Term Program & Accommodation Strategy (LTPAS), current/projected enrolment trends; an update on residential development and intensification; and an overview of the planned studies for Ward 8 and 9 schools. They then answered questions from the participants. The slide deck from the presentation can be found by clicking Long-Term Program & Accommodation Strategy - TDSB Ward 8 & 9. For those that missed the meeting, the notes will be posted shortly.
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Committee Meetings This Week
Monday, May 16 - Finance, Governance and Enrollment Committee
4:30pm - Agenda
Wednesday, May 18 - Planning and Priorities Committee
4:30pm - Agenda- 6.1. 2022-23 Toronto Lands Corporation Annual Capital and Operations Budget
- 7.1. Renaming of Queen Victoria Public School to Dr. Rita Cox - Kina Minogok Public School
- 7.2. Administrative Site Review: Update
- 7.3. Anti-Defamation League, Never is Now: The Annual Summit on Antisemitism and Hate Conference 2022: Expense Approval
- 7.4. Planning for Renewal of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan: Update No. 1
- 7.5. Accommodation of Students From Residential Developments in the Niagara Street Junior Public School Area
- 7.6. Program Area Review for Bloor Collegiate Institute, Fern Junior Senior Public School, Howard Junior Public School, Humberside Collegiate Institute, Keele Street Public School, Parkdale Collegiate Institute, Runnymede Junior Senior Public School
- 8.1. Written Notice of Motion - Non-Instructional Leased Sites (Trustees Smith and Mammoliti)
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Major Capital Projects and Renewal Status Update
The report being presented at the FBEC Committee Monday referenced above provides an update regarding the status of the Major Capital projects and renewal projects planned or underway for 2021-22. For a specific list of planned and in-progress construction projects in Ward 8 as of May, 2022, please click here.
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Three-Year Projection and Deficit Recovery Plan
At tomorrow's FBEC meeting, staff will also present an update to the projected financial deficit of the Board of $52.2M, or 1.8% as of 11 May 2022 and the TDSB’s proposed 3-year financial recovery plan to address the anticipated deficit in accordance with the Education Act. Should this proposed deficit recovery plan be approved, the operating deficit for 2022-23 will be reduced to $40.4M or 1.4%. To address the $52.2M 2022-23 deficit, staff have identified a list of deficit reduction strategies with the objective of minimizing any adverse impact to students and services. Please see the chart on what staff are proposing. The link to the complete report can be found above.
After the consultations, a further update will be provided at the 8 June 2022 FBEC meeting.
We need to hear from you.
TDSB will be holding two virtual Budget Town Halls on May 19, 2022 at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. to ensure that all members of the community have the opportunity to hear directly from staff about the 2022-23 budget and ask questions.
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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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OPSBA’s I ❤️ Public Education Video Contest
In an effort to showcase the diversity of voices in public schools across the province, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) and Ontario Student Trustee Association’s (OSTA-AECO) Public Board Council is asking participants to submit a short clip (three to five seconds) holding a small sign with the phrase/image: “I ❤️ Public Education!” Participants can write this in their “first language” (which may or may not be English) or any non-English language typically spoken at home.
The submissions will be used to create a two to three minute video showing the full range of diversity of ages, faces, voices, and places that make up our provincial public schools, and their collective love of learning and the shared values of public education. The deadline for this contest is May 31, 2022 at 5 p.m. For details, click https://opsba.org/iheartpubliceducation/.
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Learn4Life Summer 2022
Learn4Life's Summer 2022 brochure is now available at learn4life.ca. Classes in Art, Dance, Health & Wellness, Music and more! Registration opens Wednesday, May 18 at 8:30 a.m.
In our efforts to accommodate learners who are not able to register using the online registration system, the Learn4Life team can make arrangements for in-person registration, by appointment only, starting Wednesday May 18, 2022. Appointments can be scheduled by emailing us at communityprograms@tdsb.on.ca with the subject line: In-person.
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Summer ProgramsAt the TDSB we provide a wide range of enriching summer programs for children, youth and adults. Click on the links to find out more.
Elementary
Secondary
Adult
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Memorial Park Improvement Project: Public Information Meeting #1
The City of Toronto’s Midtown Toronto Storm Sewer Relief Project (MTSSRP) involves construction of an underground stormwater storage tank and a pumping station in Memorial Park. This work is part of the City of Toronto’s Basement Flooding Protection Program to help reduce the risk of future basement flooding. TDSB/TLC and the City are working towards an agreement that permits the City of Toronto to use TDSB lands at North Preparatory (Memorial Park).
Meeting Date & Time - Thursday, May 26, 2022 | 7:00 to 8:30 pm
The meeting will be held virtually using Zoom Webinar - Please visit bit.ly/TLCMay2022 to register.
If you are interested in learning more about the Memorial Park Improvement Project, but are unable to join the public information meeting, please contact for memorialparkinfo@lura.ca to receive an emailed copy of the meeting deck and summary.
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COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics co-hosted by Councillor Matlow
Every Tuesday 12-4pm until June 7th, Councillor Matlow is co-hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Fairbank Memorial Community Centre with some remarkable partners. To learn about eligibility & details, check out the flyer or contact York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors 416 - 651- 8300 / yorkfairbank@on.aibn.com
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Excellence Awards are Back!
This year, the Excellence Awards have been refreshed to align with the shared system priorities of everyone in the TDSB and include nomination categories which reflect our focus on student achievement, engagement, and wellness all centered by our commitment to equity, anti-racism, anti-oppression and human rights. Our desire is to recognize those who have demonstrated excellence and whose actions have had a positive impact on underserved students, community, staff, and/or other groups, especially considering all we have had to navigate around the pandemic.
We know there is outstanding work happening across the TDSB every day and I encourage you to consider submitting a nomination to recognize those who go above and beyond. Please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/excellence to learn more and to access the online nomination form. The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 20, 2022 at 4 p.m.
I look forward to joining award recipients at the Excellence Awards Celebration on Tuesday, June 14, 2022 at the Forest Valley Outdoor Education Centre.
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COVID-19 Check-In
Sinai Health Foundation invites you to join us for a virtual panel taking place on Thursday, May 26 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., hosted by Melanie Ng of Breakfast Television & CityNews.
This virtual session will feature an expert panel - including Dr. Vanessa Allen, Dr. Erin Bearss and Dr. Howard Ovens - providing updates on COVID-19 and answering questions from the community. Register here - Thursday, May 26, 2022 - 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. If you have questions about this event, please reach out to the Sinai Live team at sinai.live@sinaihealthfoundation.ca.
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Free Virtual After-School Programming
North York Community House, a non-profit organization is offering free after-school programs, which focus on promoting healthy living programming for middle-years children, 6-13 years old. Our after-school programs offer children with activities around physical activity (sports), wellness, personal health, and many opportunities to socialize and make new friends. In addition to the activities we offer in program, we also pride ourselves in our ability to support children and families through gift cards, incentives for participation, prizes, and tools which help keep participants engaged! We currently have 8 different after-school program sites located across North York, including TDSB school spaces and community spaces.
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TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal
Since the start of the conflict, a number of schools across the TDSB have been holding fundraisers and collecting donations in support of the ongoing relief efforts in Ukraine. The launch of TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal complements these school initiatives and streamlines the process for schools and central departments to make new or additional donations.
The TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal will run until May 31, 2022. Tax receipts will be issued by the Canadian Red Cross (for all donations of $1 or more) and UNICEF (for all donations of $10 or more).
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Elections 2022 - Are You on the Voter 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 TDSB Policy prohibit dogs (leashed or unleashed) being on school property. Section 6.10 PR523 Access to School Premises prohibits canines on our properties “at any time” (except service animals).
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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Community Safety & Support
If you should you ever see any suspicious activity around school buildings after school hours, please contact 311, Toronto Police Services Dispatch at 416-808-2222, or the TDSB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 416-395-4620.
If you or a family member is in crisis, please contact Kids Help Phone: 1-800-668-6868 or get support right now by texting CONNECT to 686868.
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