Remote Learning ContinuesI hope that you had the opportunity to truly have a break during this last week. For those of you working throughout doing essential work so we can stay safe and at home, we will be forever grateful.
As expected, the province has mandated that schools continue with remote learning as they were just prior to the April Break (Virtual School will continue as is). As written in their media release, This decision is in response to the rapid increase in COVID-19 cases, the increasing risks posed to the public by COVID-19 variants, and the spike in hospital admissions.
I understand that the announcement probably created anxiety for all - staff, students and families, since there is no date for return to in-person learning. There is no question that with the current level of cases within the community it would not be safe to reopen. I know that all teachers and education workers are committed to providing the best possible experience for their students during this third lockdown.
The province also expects boards to provide in-person support for students with special education needs who have complex medical and learning needs and cannot be accommodated through remote learning. Typically, this includes students attending congregated sites and students in Intensive Support Programs (ISP) in integrated settings. Instructions provided to parents/caregivers ask them to speak with your child’s principal, beginning on Monday, April 19, if you believe in-person learning may be required. As it will take time for schools to prepare to welcome these students and arrange transportation, classes will not begin prior to Wednesday, April 21.
The province also confirmed all child care programs serving infant, toddler and preschool-age children located inside TDSB schools may remain open. Parents should confirm with their child care program provider if they will be open. While schools are closed, all TDSB Extended Day Programs and Before- and After-School Programs will also be closed.
Lastly, this message from Ottawa Public Health has stayed with me - Moving schools online is needed but it won't be easy for many caregivers/students/education workers. Don't set the bar at "what you saw on Facebook" for work/home/school balance. Set the bar at what you can manage. The right balance is the one you can maintain. #SteadyAsSheGoes
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This Week's Update- Confusion over Vaccinations for Educators...
- TDSB Playgrounds Remain Open
- Repeating this Important Information - Government’s Proposed Plan for Remote Learning
- Board Meeting this Week
- Ward 8 PARTS/Community Updates
- Update on COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure
New Invitations - Let's Talk Human Rights - April 21
- Earth Day 2021
- EECOM 2021 - Free Event for Students for Earth Day 2021
- Model City Hall
- Unison is Expanding Youth Counselling
- Liberation75 May 5-9
Worth Repeating - Skilled Trade & Technology Virtual Information Night
- Summer Programs
- Hold the Date - Ward Forum - May 31, 2021
- Prime Minister's Awards Deadline Extended
- Policy Consultations
- Download the COVID-19 App
- School Year Calendar
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Confusion over Vaccinations for Educators...
Thank you to all who joined us advocating for all education staff to be vaccinated - just before Break, the province announced that all staff working in congregated sites, Intensive Support Programs and across the province would be eligible for a vaccine and that a letter from their Board would be required. More than 2,300 personalized letters that staff can use to prove their eligibility at the immunization clinic location were distributed via email on Friday.
And it was announced that TDSB educational workers living or working in schools in Toronto designated COVID-19 hot spot neighborhoods were aslo eligible for COVID-19 vaccination. However, the Ministry of Education only notified us Monday that to book an appointment for vaccine, education workers working in schools or living in hotspot neighborhoods required a letter from the TDSB.
With the break getting letters out has been more difficult, but between Monday and Wednesday, central staff have sent out 32,469 individual staff emails and personalized authorization letters. The staff groups that have received letters include:
- Staff working in schools in hot spots;
- Itinerant staff (including occasional teachers); and,
- All staff living in hot spots (including those who live in hot spots outside Toronto).
Based on this, staff groups who were not eligible for a prioritization letter through this process include those assigned full time to Virtual Schools and those whose work location is not in a hotspot.
Over the Break, it was clear that some staff may have been missed from the appropriate list due to data errors - when contacted we forwarded those requests to the appropriate Learning Network Administrative Liaison to be entered in a database. I am told we will continue to issue letters daily to those staff who qualify for vaccinations. Tomorrow, when principals return, they will be sent an email asking them to forward the names of staff members who did not receive a letter to their Learning Network Administrative Liaison for entry into the database.
Please know we continue to advocate that any staff required to teach in-person to support students with special needs must be prioritized for vaccination and that all staff should receive their first vaccination prior to school reopening in-person... and of course, all need to be fully vaccinated to reopen in September.
Please note late Sunday the province announced as of Tuesday, April 20 the AstraZeneca vaccine would be available for those 40 and over (dropped from age 55) - if you qualify, please book your vaccine at one of the pharmacies giving vaccines - information is here.https://covid-19.ontario.ca/vaccine-locations. I am sure more information on this will be available tomorrow.
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TDSB Playgrounds Remain Open
On Friday, April 16, 2021, the Government of Ontario announced the closure of all outdoor recreational amenities including playgrounds, sports fields, and basketball and tennis courts to limit public congregation and reduce the spread of COVID-19 - less than 24 hrs later the government reversed this decision following the advice of medical experts. Thank goodness. Please note however, the Premier tweeted “Our regulations will be amended to allow playgrounds, but gatherings outside will still be enforced. Play outside safely. Parents keep your distance & wear masks if you can’t,”
We recognize that playgrounds are important to children, families and school communities - outside spaces are important for health and wellness and are obviously safer than indoor spaces with the ventilation factor, but other precautions must also be taken to ensure your safety and the safety of others. Please keep your distance from others and wear masks. And wash your hands before and after play. Stay in family groups. We recognize that playgrounds are important to our school communities, however we must all follow the advice of medical experts from the Government of Ontario and limit public congregation. Please note - soccer fields, tennis courts, basketball courts remain closed - group activity outside of family groups is still prohibited.
Thank you for your understanding and cooperation as we work together to maintain the health and safety of our communities.
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Repeating this Important Information - Government’s Proposed Plan for Remote LearningAs i referenced in last week's update and the week before, the recent draft proposal from the Ministry of Education regarding remote learning, and an expanded role for TVO in our education system is very concerning. Although the full details remain confidential, many of the details of the proposal have been published in a variety of publications, including but not limited to the Globe & Mail and the Toronto Star.
The Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA) continues to be at the forefront and convene its work teams to review the details once they are known. OPSBA issued a preliminary statement on March 25 which I shared in last weekend's update and they also sent a letter to the Minister on April 8.
At the TDSB Planning & Priorities Meeting on Tuesday, Trustees passed unanimously a Motion to Stop the Plans for Radical Changes to Remote Learning in Ontario - Preserve Student Achievement and Well-being through Locally delivered Public Education.
Be it resolved that the Chair of the Toronto District School Board write to the Minister of Education to express this board’s objection to the rushed and radical changes to remote learning that the government is proposing and that the letter include the following:
- There is no evidence to support that this policy change will improve student achievement or well-being;
- TDSB data shows that students and families prefer local in-person learning;
- Rushing through these radical changes to remote learning after a year of isolation and instability created by the Covid-19 pandemic risks causing real harm to our students; and
- The government must immediately stop its consideration of this proposal until the full impacts of remote learning on students during this pandemic are known.
Part of the conversation at the Board table was the importance of communicating to parents on the potential impacts that this proposal will have on their child/children’s education, as well as public educations as a whole. The timing is completely off - it comes at a time when our province continues to struggle with the COVID-19 pandemic, and plans for the return to school this September are unclear - except the province has made it clear that there will be no additional funding to boards for remote learning.
We still don’t understand the full impacts of the pandemic on the mental health and wellness or on the academic achievement of students. While our data tells us some students have had a positive experience with remote learning, there are many others who have experienced significant mental health challenges and feelings of isolation - and 84% of our students surveyed in February said they learn better in-person compared to virtual learning;
As we wrote in our motion - the government must immediately stop its consideration of this proposal until the full impacts of remote learning on students during this pandemic are known.
We hope to share information with parents/caregivers following this week's approval at Board.
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Board Meeting 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 and email delegates@tdsb.on.ca. If your request is approved, further details will be provided to you via email.
Regular Board Meeting, Wednesday, April 21, 2021 7:00 p.m. Public Session Electronic Meeting
- 15.1 Audit Committee, Report No. 03, March 22, 2021
- 15.2 Governance and Policy Committee, Report No. 03, March 24, 2021
- 15.2 (1) P020, Transportation of Students Policy Review: Status Update and Decision-Making Points
- 15.2 (2) P023, Parent and Community Involvement Policy Review: Update
- 15.2 (3) Teacher Hiring Policy: New Policy
- 15.2 (4) PR515, Workplace Harassment Prevention and Human Rights Procedure: Revised Procedure
- 15.2 (5) PR511, Excursions Procedure: Revised Procedure
- 15.2 (6) Renaming Schools Celebrating the Diversity of Toronto
- 15.3 Program and School Services Committee, Report No. 03, March 31, 2021
- 15.3 (1) Alternative Schools Community Advisory Committee: Terms of Reference
- 15.3 (2) Inner City Community Advisory Committee: P067, Learning Opportunities Index Policy Review
- 15.3 (3) 2020-2021 Program Priorities Funding: Parent Reaching Out Grant Allocation Update
- 15.3 (4) Indigenous Education Annual Report
- 15.3 (5) TDSB Psychological Services: Backlog Wait Lists, 2020-2021
- 15.3 (6) Preliminary Findings on Impacts to Learning Due to the Pandemic
- 15.3 (7) Promoting Active School Travel: Update
- 15.3 (7) Use of Outdoor Spaces for Instructional Time: Update
- 15.4 Planning and Priorities Committee, Report No. 09, April 6, 2021
- 15.4 (1) Stop the Plans for Radical Changes to Remote Learning in Ontario
- 15.4 (2) Program Area Review for Armour Heights Public School, Ledbury Park Elementary and Middle School and St Andrew's Middle School
- 15.4 (3) WE Charity/ME to WE Social Enterprises Inc. Report on Educational Programming Partnerships
- 15.4 (4) School Year Calendar 2021-2022
- 15.4 (5) Provincial Capital Priorities Program 2021-22
- 15.4 (6) TLC: Community Access Agreement: Dublin Heights School, 100 Bainbridge Avenue Report
- 15.4 (7) TLC: Community Access Agreement: Huron Street Junior Public School, 541 Huron Street
- 15.4 (8) TLC: Community Access Agreement: King Edward Junior and Senior Public School, 112 Lippincott Street
- 15.4 (9) TLC: Community Access Agreement: Rawlinson Community School, 231 Glenholme Avenue
- 15.4 (10) TLC: George Harvey Collegiate Institute, 1700 Keele Street Temporary License Agreement With City of Toronto for Fairbank Silverthorn Storm Trunk Sewer Project
- 15.4 (11) Toronto Lands Corporation First and Second Quarters Business Reports
- 15.4 (12) TLC: Midtown Toronto Storm Sewer Relief Project (MTSSRP): Strategic Partnership to Advance City Building with the TDSB
- 15.4 (13) TLC: Infrastructure: Metrolinx Finch West LRT: Former Humbergrove Secondary School, 1760 Martin Grove Road
- 15.4 (14) COVID-19 Recovery Plan
- 15.4 (15) Access to Free Menstrual Products for Students in Ontario Schools
- 15.5 Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee, Report No. 06, April 7, 2021
- 15.5 (1) Contract Awards, Facilities
- 15.5 (2) Contract Awards, Operations
- 15.5 (3) Major Capital Projects Status Update
- 15.5 (4) Second Quarter Interim Financial Report, 2020-2021
- 15.5 (5) Proposed Strategic Drivers for the 2021-22 Budget
- 15.5 (6) Vice-Principal Allocation 2021-2022
- 15.5 (7) Updated Proposed 2021-22 Budget Timelines
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Ward 8 PARTS/Community Updates
- Boundary change study re the cohort attending John Ross Robertson PS (Otter Creek area) - Community Meeting scheduled for April 27. A Local Feasibility Team made up of TDSB representatives has been formed to review a small portion of the John Ross Robertson Jr PS junior attendance area that has a split intermediate and secondary pathway (“subject area” shown on the map in this letter). The John Ross Robertson Jr PS junior attendance area is bisected by Ledbury Park E & MS and Glenview Sr. PS at the intermediate level and John Polanyi CI and Lawrence Park CI at the secondary level.
As part of this process, parents/guardians and community members will be able to provide feedback and ask questions at the public meeting before a final decision is made. Register here https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_45-ZwvdoSRaCiWL8RYLsfg - Yonge-Eglinton PART Phase 2 - In order to provide background to the Yonge-Eglinton Phase 2 Program Area Review, an information webpage has been set up - please click here for the direct link - https://sites.google.com/tdsb.on.ca/yonge-eglintonpartphase2/home. The information being presented has been broken down into six different modules, each relating to a separate topic in this review. Please share with us your questions and comments in the feedback survey open from Tuesday, April 6th through to Tuesday, April 20th. In order to better understand the survey, we recommend that you watch Module #5 (or consult the slide deck) prior to answering the questions. Your comments will be reviewed with the Program Area Review Team and will be addressed by staff at the public meeting on Tuesday, May 4th. Information on the public meeting will be out April 20. Please also see 'Frequently Asked Questions' which will be updated periodically throughout this process to address feedback received.
In addition, the following is an update on Baycrest PS.
- On Monday, March 15, 2021, the Baycrest PS community received an update on the status of the Sir Sandford Fleming relocation retrofit. At that time, the community was encouraged to voice your questions and concerns regarding the information shared at this event. The presentation and the questions received have been compiled in a Q and A and have been placed on the TDSB site. Please follow this link to access the related Q and A:
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Update on COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure
On April 14, 2021, the governments of Canada and Ontario announced $656.5 million in funding to provide critical infrastructure upgrades to protect students and staff from COVID-19 in the province's schools. You may recall a Report on the COVID-19 Resilience Infrastructure Stream (CVRIS) came to the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee on January 20 as the eligibility criteria for this program was announced in October 2020 with the submission deadline in November.
The projects were selected with the objective of protecting the health and well-being of students, staff, and children in schools and co-located childcare facilities. According to the funding criteria, the projects must fall under one of the following themes:
- Promoting occupant health and safety;
- Improving facility condition (e.g. optimizing air quality, or safe access to drinking water);
- Enhancing physical distancing; and
- Facilitating distance learning (e.g. network and broadband infrastructure).
All projects included in the submission must be substantially completed by December 31, 2021. Last November, TDSB submitted $159.3M in capital projects for the CVRIS submission across 18 project categories in multiple TDSB schools and childcare facilities. It is anticipated that approximately $82M or approximately half of the project amount submitted would be approved.
Please note approval of these projects has begun - please see the Contract Awards that came to the FBEC Committee on April 7.
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Let's Talk Human Rights - April 21
Please join PIAC & the TDSB Human Rights Office for a live zoom event to provide input: Wednesday, April 21, 7pm. Register here http://bit.ly/3uJrsol.
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Earth Day 2021
From April 20-22, join the world’s leaders for Earth Day 2021. Together, we can prevent the coming disasters of climate change and environmental destruction. Together, we can Restore Our Earth™. Come back on April 20 for the start of the event, and follow our platforms to join the discussion. The theme of Earth Day 2021 is Restore Our Earth™.
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EECOM 2021 - Free Event for Students for Earth Day 2021
Thursday, April 22nd Schedule – EARTH DAY! - FREE virtual public Earth Day address for TDSB educators and their students.
KEYNOTE: 1:00-2:30 PM - Merging our Climate Justice and Anti-Racist Learning Journeys Larissa Crawford, Founder and Managing Director, Future Ancestors Services Through our shared time, this session seeks to inspire sustainable action that honours diverse peoples, our non-human kin, and Earth. By exploring the ways by which climate and racial justice require merged learnings and actions, we hope that you leave our space with a more profound and personalized understanding of how you can contribute to just and sustainable futures.
Workshops for Educators: 4:00 – 8:00 PM - Choose from a selection of topics – EcoJustice Education, Indigenous Education, Water Education, City as a Classroom.
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Model City Hall 2021
Model City Hall 2021! The conference is set for Saturday, May 1st, 2021 between 9 AM – 6 PM. The delegate application for the Model City Hall 2021 virtual conference is now open until the deadline of April 28! All high school and post-secondary students residing in the GTHA are welcome to apply - applications from students with 2SLGBTQ+, Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour (BIPoC) and other marginalized and/or equity-seeking groups are encouraged.
No prior Model UN or Model Parliament experience is required to participate, and please note that position papers are not required. For more information, please click https://modelcityhall.org/apply/.
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Unison is Expanding Youth Counselling
Unison is officially expanding our drop in youth counselling over Zoom.
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Liberation75
GLOBAL GATHERING OF HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS, DESCENDANTS, EDUCATORS & FRIENDS
MAY 4 - 9, 2021 VIRTUAL. WORLDWIDE. FREE.
Liberation75 is the world's largest international event to mark the 75th anniversary of liberation from the Holocaust.
Join thousands of others as we commit to fighting antisemitism and continuing Holocaust education and remembrance.
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Worth Repeating...
Skilled Trade & Technology Virtual Information Night
Thursday April 29, 2021 - 5:00-6:15pm for Parents/Guardians and students in grades 7-12, All are welcome! Join thought-provoking conversations to remove the stigma behind careers in the skilled trade professions, with a focus on the Motive Power sector. Through this event you will have the opportunity to:
- Take a virtual tour with Centennial College Ashtonbee Campus through their labs, and watch a live automotive demo; and
- Hear about the partnerships and opportunities between the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), Centennial College and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC)
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2021 Summer Programs
Please note: Prior to April 19th registration date, students will not be able to register.
Elementary Summer School
The focus of the Elementary Summer School Program is to continue student learning and engagement through the month of July. Programs, embedded in Literacy and Numeracy, are developed by the local summer school Principal to reflect the local school focus. 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.
Secondary Credit Summer Programs Please note that space is limited, and courses may fill up prior to the close of registration.
TDSB Grade 8 Summer Reach Ahead Opportunity: Current TDSB Grade 8 students are eligible to register for either the TDSB Continuing Education, Hybrid or Remote Secondary Full Credit Summer Reach Ahead course, GLD2O1, or the e-Summer Full Credit Summer Reach Ahead course, GLD2OE.
Remote Credit Recovery - For TDSB Students ONLY: The Toronto District School Board is offering current TDSB students the opportunity to recover one or two credits for the month of July 2021. Remote Summer Credit Recovery courses are open to current TDSB high school students who have taken the course in the past two years but have not earned the credit. All classes are remote, there are no in-person classes available. Regular attendance in the remote environment is a requirement. Students may enroll in one course either in the AM or PM, or in two courses, one in the AM and one in the PM.
Remote Summer Full Credit Program: Students can enroll in one full credit course that is offered in July only. All classes are remote in the remote learning model. In our Remote Learning model students will be at home learning live with their teacher daily from 9:00 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. and again from 2:00 p.m.to 3:15 p.m. Students will be able to receive extra help daily from 1:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
In-Person Hybrid Summer Full Credit Program: Students can enroll in one full credit course that is offered in July only. Should an announcement be made that only remote learning can take place, students need to be prepared to pivot to remote learning. In our Hybrid Learning model students will be following a three (3) day rotating schedule including in-person, synchronous and asynchronous learning.
Remote Summer Full Credit Program Adult 21+: Adults can enroll in one full-credit course that is offered in July only at City Adult Learning Centre or Emery Adult Learning Centre. All classes are remote. There are no in-person classes available.
Please note the Continuing Education Department, Secondary Credit Programming office remains closed and cannot receive phone messages at this time. Please email us at ConEd_eReg@tdsb.on.ca. For complete details about the Continuing Education Credit programs, visit www.creditprograms.ca.
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Hold the Date - Ward Forum - May 31, 2021
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Prime Minister's Awards Deadline ExtendedDo you know an exceptional teacher or early childhood educator? Consider nominating them for a 2021 Prime Minister's Award! This program honours innovative and outstanding elementary and secondary school teachers and early childhood educators who are helping prepare Canadian youth for the challenges of tomorrow. The nomination deadline has been extended for the 2021 competition until April 27, 2021. Looking for inspiration? Check out previous teaching and early childhood education award recipients. 2021 nomination packages are available at www.pma.gc.ca.
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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.
New Consultations
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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.
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School Year Calendar 2020-2021The last day of class for elementary students is June 29
Secondary Quadmester Calendar
- Quad 3: Feb 8 - April 22
- Quad 4: April 23 - June 28
PA Days & Holidays Remaining
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