This Week's Update- National Aboriginal Veterans Day Ceremony November 9
- Lest we Forget - Remembrance Day November 11
- Honouring the 761st Battalion - the Black Panthers
- Happy Diwali - November 14
- COVID-19 Advisories
- Returning to School Links
- Virtual Open Houses
- Optional Attendance
- Skilled Trades and Technologies
- Technology Funding for Additional Devices
- City of Toronto AES Redeployment
- Committee Meetings This Week - Special Committee of the Whole and Regular Board
- French Program Application Deadlines
- Early French Immersion Information Sessions
- PIAC Conferences
- Ward 8 Virtual Forum on November 12
- COVID-19 App
- School Year Calendar
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COVID-19: Reduce Virus SpreadCommunity spread is rising and it is very concerning since the best way to keep our kids in school right now is to ensure everyone is following public health guidelines to prevent community spread. This is the most critical thing we can do. Let's all do what we can. Wash your hands. Watch your distance. Wear your mask.
"If we limit our contact, keep our distance and wear our mask, we will contribute significantly to the ability to limit virus spread and that is the most important thing of all." Dr Eileen de Villa
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Ceremony for National Aboriginal Veterans Day
Although today is National Aboriginal Veterans Day, please join the Urban Indigenous Education Centre Monday, November 9 at noon for a ceremony in commemoration. Elder Joanne Dallaire will welcome us to a session honouring the Indigenous people who served with the Canadian Armed Forces in various global conflicts. Cultures and Traditions Teacher Thunder Jack will offer an honour song and Instructional Leaders Robert Durocher, Adrienne Plumley and Lee Sheppard will provide some information about Indigenous veterans. If you are in the TDSB, please click on November 9th for details - https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1C-sIbMZJd4Q0gVI2SQi7aZKAIE7GlK3w. If you are new to the knowledge of the significant contributions of Indigenous veterans during the First and Second World Wars, and the Korean War, here are some facts to pique your interest and build your knowledge.
Indigenou Education Month continues. Look for the following activities -, Louis Riel Day (Nov 16), and an opportunity to Rock Your Mocs (Nov 15-21). Follow @UIEC_tdsb.
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Lest we Forget
Lest we Forget "is a commemoration of the more than 2,300,000 Canadians who have served during peace, conflict and war and an honouring of close to 120,000 lives lost in service."
On Wednesday, November 11, the TDSB will acknowledge Remembrance Day to honour generations of Canadian men and women, from all parts of the country and diverse backgrounds, who have served our country at home and abroad. Due to the pandemic, speeches have been pre-taped and a video will be released on Wednesday morning. Hoping we all participate in a moment of silence at 11 a.m. Wednesday.
This year due to the Pandemic the Royal Canadian Legion looked to other ways to fundraise - one of the ways is to honour veterans by dedicating a Poppy in memory of their name. I chose to donate in memory of my dad, Saul Laskin, a proud WWII veteran. My dad was an infantry officer, a Lieutenant, with the North Nova Scotia Highlanders 3rd Canadian Division commanding the 15th Platoon of “C” Company. On May 7, 1945, after winning the Battle of Leer, he recalls that they were pursuing the Germans to Emden when notified that the war was over. He and fifteen officers from his Unit became members of the 3rd Division Canadian Army of Occupation and in December 1945 he arrived at Bergen-Belsen. He wrote "To this day I can still remember what I saw at Bergen-Belsen – the fence, the hideous smell of the furnaces where they burned the corpses, boxes of eyeglasses, boxes of shoes, boxes of soap...Suffice it to say that both my driver, who was not Jewish, and I were shaken... I vowed then to do everything I could to try to make this a more humane world." My Dad left the army in 1946 - he never talked much about his experiences but we are blessed he wrote of them. On Remembrance Day, and always, we will remember them.
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Honouring the 761st Tank Battalion of the United States Army (The Black Panthers)The 761st Tank Battalion was activated on April 1, 1942, at Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. The soldiers trained at Camp Hood, Texas and were deployed to Europe as part of the Allied Forces, landing at Omaha Beach in France on October 10, 1944 under the command of General George S. Patton. The 761st Tank Battalion was made up of predominantly Black soldiers and officers. By the end of the war, the Black Panthers, as they were nicknamed, had fought their way further east than nearly every other unit in the United States Army.
In May 1945, the Black Panthers were part of the Allied Forces who liberated several concentration camps including Gunskirchen, a subcamp of the Mauthausen Concentration Camp.
After the war the United States Army awarded the unit with four campaign ribbons. In addition, the men of the 761st received a total of 11 Silver Stars, 69 Bronze Stars and 300 Purple Hearts. Sadly, once they returned home these brave men were still treated as second class citizens and the racism and segregation they experienced before they left continue.
This school year 2020/2021, the Toronto District School Board along with the Peel District School Board, has undertaken a project that celebrates the heroism of the Black Soldiers and Officers of the 761st and their impact on the lives of the survivors of the Holocaust. With Black Lives Matter and the rise of Antisemitism, this project is coming at a crucial time in the world. The TDSB and PDSB are both dedicated to issues of Equity and this collaboration is unprecedented in the history of both Boards. We will endeavor to educate our students about how Black and Jewish lives intertwined and examine components of shared oppression experienced by these two groups.
The TDSB’s Jewish Heritage and the African Heritage Committees, along with members of Peel District School Board, the Shoah Foundation, and Liberation 75, have committed to working together to inform and educate students about this historically important and impactful group of men, and empower students in the Black community to feel proud of their accomplishments as liberators and heroes. We thank the U.S. Consulate for their financial contribution to this program which is currently in development. Please stay tuned. We will remember them.
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Happy Diwali
Diwali 2020 will be celebrated on Saturday, November 14 this year. One of the most popular festivals of Hinduism, Diwali symbolizes the spiritual "victory of light over darkness, good over evil, and knowledge over ignorance". During Hindu Heritage Month, please continue to follow @tdsb_HHM.
To those celebrating wishing you a Diwali that brings happiness, prosperity and joy to you and your family.
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COVID-19 Advisories
The Toronto District School Board is committed to providing up to date information about confirmed cases of COVID-19 in schools (students and staff). This information is easily accessible by clicking on the COVID-19 Advisories banner on the main webpage of www.tdsb.on.ca. Please note that all schools where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 will receive a letter from Toronto Public Health to inform them about the possible exposure. As of 6pm on October 30, there were active cases in 172 schools - 238 students and 61 staff.
As of the morning of November 5, 914 cases of COVID-19 cases had been reported in publicly funded schools in the past 14 days. Of those cases, 525 are students, 81 are staff, and 308 are not identified. One of the 4,828 schools in the province is currently closed.
On Friday, November 6, the ministry shared an updated guidance document, Operational guidance: COVID-19 management in schools. The Ministry of Education originally published this guidance in August 2020 and updated it in November 2020. Key updates:
- That local PHUs have responsibility in determining when an individual or cohorts are dismissed, when schools are closed and when individuals or cohorts can return to school. However, in some instances, local PHUs may give discretion to principals to dismiss individuals or cohorts for self-isolation while awaiting results of the local public health investigation.
- Added guidance for boards on reporting COVID-19 absences in schools using the online reporting tool and outlining that boards need to report daily. Additional clarity is also provided stating that boards must report suspected cases to the local public health unit to support case management and contact tracing.
- Revised guidance around screening practices to clarify that screening prior to arrival at the school is necessary, and to encourage the use of the provincial screening tool.
- Added guidance on self-isolation periods to align with Ministry of Health guidance on testing and clearance and updated guidance in the COVID-19 school and child care screening tool.
- Updated language to clarify that if a child develops symptoms and their self-screening indicates they should stay home but their siblings do not have symptoms, their siblings do not need to isolate until the child with symptoms tests positive for COVID-19.
- Addition of guidance around continuity of learning and expectations that boards are prepared to pivot to remote learning when needed. This includes clarifying that boards are to support the transition to remote learning for siblings of students who have a confirmed case of COVID-19.
- Revised language around testing, stating that individuals should only consult a health care provider as needed. Previous language indicated individuals should seek testing even if showing mild symptoms.
- Clarified that medical notes and proof of a negative test are not required for an individual to return to school.
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Returning to School Links
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Virtual Open Houses and Information SessionsTo help you make an informed decision when choosing a school, TDSB schools will host virtual open houses and information sessions (live or pre-recorded) for parents/guardians and students between November and January.
Learn everything you need to know about our incredible variety of schools, programs and courses. Please note that some schools are hosting “live” virtual open houses that families can join in real time, during the specified date and time. Some schools have pre-recorded information sessions that you can view at any time by clicking the link provided.
Note: Please check this page regularly, as schools will continue to post information about virtual open house dates/times and available pre-recorded information sessions. https://www.tdsb.on.ca/openhouses
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Optional Attendance
Provided the school is permitted to receive applications, you may decide to apply to attend a school other than your designated school by address. Schools with specialized programs will have additional criteria for admission; some schools require a supplementary application and some have highly specific requirements for admission. The Optional Attendance Policy has not changed for the 2021-22 school year. You may apply to two regular schools beyond your home school (determined by your residential address) and two specialized schools/programs. Your counsellor and your parents/guardians can help you determine if your choice is in line with the educational plans that you have been working towards.
Note: The optional attendance status for all schools for 2021-22 will be posted on the TDSB public website by mid-November.
If you choose to apply for optional attendance you should know:
- You will be responsible for your own transportation.
- You may only apply to two regular and two specialized schools/programs.
- You may not apply to a school that is not permitted to receive applications (i.e. closed schools). A list of those schools is produced by mid-January.
- A school/program that receives more applications than it has space will run a lottery to determine the successful applicants.
- Once you accept an offer of admission to a regular school through Optional Attendance, it becomes your home school and you are expected to remain there until graduation. For specialized schools/program and alternative schools, you may return to your designated school by address at an appropriate intake opportunity (i.e. semester change, end of term)
Elementary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:
- February 12, 2021 - Optional attendance forms due at elementary school
- March 05, 2021 - Deadline for parents/guardians to be informed of the status of the application request
- March 26, 2021 - Parents/guardians must inform the requested school of their acceptance of the offer
Secondary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:
- January 29, 2021 - Optional attendance forms due at secondary school
- February 12, 2021 - Deadline for parents/guardians of students to be informed of the status of the application request
- February 26, 2021 - Course selection sheets due at secondary schools
- March 1, 2021: Course selection sheets due at secondary schools via myBlueprint
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Skilled Trades and TechnologiesConnectivity, robots and rapid prototyping using 3-D printers are some of the technologies impacting the learning required for journeypersons, also known as skilled trades people. For example, electricians, carpenters and aircraft technicians are a few examples of trades requiring intensive study, which blends technology with careers and academic learning.
At the TDSB, there are many ways to explore the over 300 skilled trades and technologies that contribute to our economy. These include: the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship (OYAP) program, technological education programs in 10 broad-based areas of study, the Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) and dual credit programs at Toronto’s colleges. Apprenticeship is a post-secondary pathway which incorporates college study with work-integrated experience, hence the term live your learning! For more information, please click https://www.tdsb.on.ca/High-School/Your-School-Day/Curriculum/Experiential-Learning/Skilled-Trades.
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Technology Funding for Additional Devices
The Board has allocated $2.5M for additional technology spending. The plan for these funds will be to replace a portion of the devices that were removed from 370 schools in the spring for the purpose of remote learning. The plan is for them all to be returned - but as the devices are still needed to be used by students engaged in virtual learning there is a plan to replace those borrowed with new devices. 18% of the devices borrowed from schools have already been replaced in September. This additional influx of devices will raise the percentage of device replacement on average close to 50% volume of what was borrowed in the spring. We are working with our vendor to establish a delivery schedule. Schools will be notified next week with respect to the quantity of Chromebooks they will receive.
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City of Toronto Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) Redeployment
Over the month of November, Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) systems will be redeployed in new school zone locations. For all city-wide locations, click here. The 8 locations are:
- Avenue Rd Southbound Near Castlefield Ave
- Bedford Park Av Westbound West of Yonge St
- Laughton Av Southbound Near Talbot St
ASE uses a camera and a speed measurement device to detect and capture images of vehicles travelling in excess of the posted speed limit. Images are then reviewed by Provincial Offence Officers and tickets are issued to the owner of the vehicle. Upon conviction, the penalty is a fine. ASE is focused on altering driver behaviour to decrease speeding and increase safety. More details on Automated Speed Enforcement in the City of Toronto are available at www.toronto.ca/ASE. These cameras are especially important to manage speed around schools.
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Committee Meetings This Week
Delegation requests will still be accepted during the closure of all schools and administrative sites at the Toronto District School Board; 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.
Special Committee of the Whole - Tuesday, November 10 4:30 p.m. Electronic Meeting
The purpose of the meeting is to provide strategic advice and recommendations to the Board on COVID-19 related matters - at this meeting staff will update on the status of Elementary Virtual French Programming and Secondary School Quad 2.
- 3. Delegations - To be presented
- 4. Report From the Director of Education - Oral update
- 5. Report From the Chair of the Board - Oral update
- 6. Report From Representative on the City's Board of Health - Oral update
- 7. Report From the Directors on the Ontario Public School Boards' Association - Oral update
- 8. Report From the Chairs of the Governance and Policy Committee, the Program and School Services Committee, the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee - Oral update
- 9. Report From Representatives on the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee and the Special Education Advisory Committee - Oral update
- 10. Reports From Student Trustees - Oral update
- 11.Staff Reports
- 11.1. Lease: Bannockburn Building, 12 Bannockburn Avenue - Once this report has been approved by the Board of Trustees, staff of the Toronto Lands Corporation (TLC) will undertake the circulation process as per provincial regulation 444/98. The site will be circulated for a 90-day period to coterminous school boards and other public agencies. If no interest is declared by another public agency, a 12-month lease will be negotiated with the independent Montessori school, terminating on 15 July 2022.
- 12. Emergency Motions
- 12.1.Use of Outdoor Spaces for Instructional Time (Trustees Story and Aarts) - Whereas the TDSB has prioritized outdoor learning as part of the 2020 Return to School plans;
Therefore, be it resolved:
(a) That the Director develop and implement a plan for encouraging and supporting schools to use outdoor spaces for instructional time throughout the day:
(b) That the plan at Part (a):
(i) be based on approaches used in the Outdoor Play and Learning (OPAL) program successfully piloted at TDSB schools;
(ii) include support for an initial group of up to 24 schools (6 per Learning Centre) as soon as possible, using an equity lens to determine which schools will be eligible;
(iii) include consistent and clear messaging to all schools that helps to remove barriers and supports the use of temporary, low-cost and volunteer-led approaches to the use of outdoor learning spaces;
(iv) include collaboration between the Sustainability Office and Outdoor Education in supporting schools with this work;
(c) The Director provide an update in the February-March 2021 cycle of meetings. (Please note I fully support this motion). - 13. Other Questions, Insights and Advice From Trustees to Staff
Regular Board Meeting, Wednesday, November 11, 2020 7:00 p.m. Public Session - Electronic Meeting
- 15.1 Integrity Commissioner's Annual Report
- 16.1 Governance and Policy Committee, Report No. 28, October 28, 2020
- 16.1 (1) Information Flow Protocol: New Governance Procedure
- 16.1 (2) Governance Procedure PR528(b), Trustee Expense: Revisions
- 16.1 (3) Policy Review Schedule for 2020-2021 to 2023-2024 School Years
- 16.1 (4) Remote Working: New Operational Procedure
- 16.2 Program and School Services Committee, Report No. 85, October 29, 2020
- 16.2 (1) Employment Equity: Addendum to Annual Report
- 16.2 (2) Environmental Sustainability Community Advisory Committee: Solar Panel Signage
- 16.2 (3) Dismantling Systemic Barriers to Inclusion in Discipline Procedures
- 16.3 Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee, Report No. 60, November 3, 2020
- 16.3 (1) Contract Awards, Facilities
- 16.3 (2) Contract Awards, Operations
- 16.3 (3) Ministry of Finance Community Budget Consultation: Final Submission
- 16.3 (4) 2021-2022 International Baccalaureate Fees
- 16.3 (5) 2021-2022 Budget Schedule for Feedback
- 16.3 (6) Exemptions From P076, Community Planning and Partnerships to Allow a Capital Improvement to the Former Vaughan Road Academy Building at 529 Vaughan Road - Motion (Laskin/Doyle) Recommends:
a) That an exemption be made under clause 6.6 of policy P076, Community Planning and Partnerships, to allow two classrooms in the former Vaughan Road Academy building located at 529 Vaughan Road to be leased to the Oakwood Vaughan Community Organization for five years without a six-month termination notice;
b) That the Oakwood Vaughan Community Organization be allowed to facilitate the use of the leased rooms with other community groups provided the community groups go through the vetting process described in clause 6.4 of policy P076, Community Planning and
Partnerships, to ensure compatibility with students and school operations;
c) That Parts (a) and (b) above be contingent on the Oakwood Vaughan Community Organization securing an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant and paying the full cost for the installation of a disability lift and any additional costs required to fit up the space.
- 16.3 (7) New Student Information Systems Project: Update
- 16.3 (8) Honoraria for Trustees: 2021 Update
- 16.3 (9) Capital Issues: Update - Motions (Laskin/Aarts) Recommends:
a) That the report be received;
b) That an application to the Ministry of Education, to utilize proceeds of disposition in the amount of $10.3M, as presented in the report, to offset against pandemic-related construction staffing costs, which have not been funded by the province, be approved.
c) That the Director continue to engage the province for the full reimbursement of pandemic related costs that the TDSB and other school boards were required to spend to safely open and operate schools;
d) That the Director ensure the status of the Board's capital program, including the length of time they have been a priority for the Board, the number of projects caught up within the Approval to Proceed process and the date by which they were submitted, be posted on the Board's website.
- 16.4 Committee of the Whole (Special Meeting), Report No. 32, October 27, 2020
- 16.5 Committee of the Whole, Report No. 33, November 4, 2020
- 16.5 (1) Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy 2020-2029
- 16.5 (2) Secondary Program Review: Final Report
- 16.5 (3) TDSB Support for Ranked Ballots
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French Program Application DeadlinesFor families interested in the Toronto District School Board's system-wide French Programs, we offer an online process to apply for Early French Immersion (begins in Senior Kindergarten) and Middle French Immersion (begins in Grade 4). An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants. The timelines for applying for these programs for September 2021 are:
- Early French Immersion: Applications must be completed online between November 2 and November 27, 2020.
- Middle French Immersion: Applications must be completed online between January 4 and January 29, 2021.
Offers of placement within your chosen program (not a specific school) will be made to all on-time applicants in the weeks following the close of the application window. Families with an older sibling currently in a French program are still required to complete an online application for the new student.
For more information about French as a Second Language programs, the application process and important dates, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/french.
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Early French Immersion (SK Entry)
Information Sessions
Virtual Web Chat Information Sessions have been scheduled for families interested in the Early French Immersion (SK) application and placement process. The scheduled sessions are:
- November 12, 2020, 7-8 p.m.
- November 19, 2020, 10-11 a.m.
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Ready. Set. Engage! PIAC invites all parents and caregivers to take part in our 14th annual parent conference – Ready. Set. Engage! Navigating the School Year Together – in partnership with TDSB. Join us in our first-ever virtual conference on November 21 and 22 for two days of workshops for parents and school councils. Connect with others from across TDSB as we adapt to a new educational landscape and school year unlike any we have experienced before.
Registration opens soon!
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Ward 8 Virtual Forum - Equity - This Thursday
Ward 8 School/Student Councils | Parents/Caregivers | Community Members | School Staff
Virtual Ward Forum on Equity - Thursday, November 12, 2020 from 7-9 p.m.
Please join me for a special presentation on Equity by jamie berrigan and Dargine Rajeswaran, TDSB Equity Coaches. At the meeting, I will also be joined by local Ward 8 Superintendents, John Chasty, Andrew Howard and Denise Humphreys for Q & As.
Topic - As part of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan, the TDSB is ensuring that every student receives equitable access to programs, resources and learning opportunities that lead to success. Building a common understanding of equity, anti-oppression and anti-racism enables us to identify, address, and eliminate the biases, barriers, and power dynamics that impact student achievement and well-being. This session explores these key terms (stereotype, prejudice, discrimination, oppression, race, racism, anti-racism, and anti-Black racism) along with our individual roles in reducing the educational disparities caused by systemic oppression. We welcome community members to engage in this learning with us and share their experiences and perspectives of how to further the equity, anti-oppression, and anti-racism work in their school communities.
How to join the ward forum
- You must register before the start of the meeting. Please use this Registration Form
- When registering, you will be able to submit your questions in advance. We will only be able to answer a limited number of questions live.
- You will be sent a Zoom link and call in details on the morning of the meeting.
- Questions? Email Araz.Hasserjian@tdsb.on.ca or call 416-395-8787.
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Download COVID Alert Today
As you know, a new Bluetooth-based COVID-19 contact tracing app developed in Canada was rolled out for testing in Ontario on July 31. Although the app is strictly voluntary, I urge everyone to download it. Privacy is respected.
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School Year Calendar 2020-2021The official school year calendar for the Toronto District School Board runs from September 1 to June 30, inclusive and has now been approved by the Ministry.
PA Days & Holidays Remaining
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In-Person School - November 20, 2020
Virtual School - December 4, 2020
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Dec 21, 2020 - January 1, 2021
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Secondary PA Day (Semestered Schools Only)
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