Trustee Report - May 2022
Dear Parents and Neighbours,
As we are well into warmer weather, our students and schools are busily working towards the successful completion of the school year, planning music concerts and first in-person graduation ceremonies since the pandemic. At the Board, we are now preparing for next year’s operating budget. In addition, I am hosting an online eco event on May 26 as an extension of the annual Eco Fair. Please join our students and local climate champions for conversation and action towards a green livable environment for all. Climate action is our action!
Best regards,
Manna
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Developing the 2022-2023 Budget
At the Finance Budget and Enrolment Committee meeting on May 16, staff presented an update to the projected financial deficit of the Board of $52.2M, or 1.8% as of May 11, 2022. Funding gaps remain as financial challenges to the TDSB. Over the past year the Chair of the Board Alexander Brown has repeatedly appealed to the Minister of Education on issues such as funding gaps on special education, transportation and pandemic recovery supports.
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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Climate Action is Our Action
The TDSB Youth Action Guide was developed to offer resources and strategies to support youth with implementing climate action initiatives that are responsive and sensitive to the needs of their community. Please join me on May 26 for an exciting exchange of ideas and a collaboration of climate action. Learn about the funding available to student-led projects coming in the fall.
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TDSB Excellence Awards Return for 2022 and Nominations Are Now Open!We are excited for the return of the TDSB Excellence Awards for 2022! Nominations are now open and we look forward to recognizing outstanding individuals and groups who have demonstrated excellence and continued to thrive throughout the past two years.
The deadline for nominations is Friday, May 20, 2022 at 4 p.m.
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tdsbCREATES Virtual Showcase Launching May 26, 2022 tdsbCREATES is a board-wide Arts initiative, running from February-May 2022, that connects local Artists with classrooms to foster creativity while exploring Dance, Drama, Spoken Word, Media Arts, Film, Visual Arts and Music. The program culminates in a Virtual Showcase of student work, launching May 26, 2022. tdsbCREATES focuses on process and engagement through the Arts, while celebrating student voice, powerful ideas, and creativity for all.
This year’s theme, Intersections, is an invitation to focus on (re)connecting, (re)encountering and (re)imagining the spaces we occupy; as we explore and celebrate the unique experiences of our students and their communities throughout Toronto.
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Policy Consultations You are welcome to read the draft policies, provide your comments, including suggestions on the wording and provisions of the draft policies, questions or recommendations using the contact information below.
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Summer School Program Updates
Learn4Life's Summer 2022 brochure is now available at learn4life.ca.
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Mental Health and Well-Being
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Student Vote OntarioStudent 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, 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!
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Community Happenings
(please email me any non-profit community resources you’d like me to share)
North Scarborough Vaccine Engagement Team free virtual trivia night
Get informed while having fun and register to attend:
Opportunity for young females, 12 – 19, to participate in a Self Defence–Dance Energizer WorkshopDate: Friday June 17th, 2022, 4 – 6 pm
Location: Stephen Leacock Community Centre (2500 Birchmount Road)
Meal is provided /Space is limited
Registration link: https://forms.gle/WbAERBS8CSg9bj2s6
Jean Augustine Centre
The Jean Augustine Centre (JAC) is dedicated to empowering young women and girls, ages 7-17 years, by offering a broad range of programming in academics, STEM, arts, health, life skills, mentorship, peer relations, and more!
JAC is currently organizing our first ever STEAM event entitled Educate to Innovate!
This is happening on Saturday, June 11 for 13-17 year olds and Saturday, June 12 for 7-12 year olds from 11:00 am - 2:30 pm at the Design Exchange at 234 Bay St.
Registrants will receive lunch, a steam swag bag, participate in 3 interactive steam workshops and hear from inspirational keynote speakers.
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