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Hello Ward 7 Families,
Happy June! As the school year winds down, this month always feels like a race to the finish line. Students and staff are busy with concerts, fun fairs, the end to sport seasons, and graduation preparations, followed by exams and culminating activities.
Likewise, my June calendar is filled with fun fairs, PRIDE events, and graduation ceremonies. It’s been my pleasure to provide parent councils with a storybook for their fun fair raffles, to deliver remarks at TDSB’s Pride flag raising, and to offer a Trustee Changemaker Award for graduating grade 8 and 12 students.
The boardroom remains busy with staff reports, trustee motions, and finalization of the 2024-25 operating budget. We’ve also had two significant announcements including the appointment of a new Minister of Education (MPP Todd Smith has replaced MPP Stephen Lecce) and the upcoming retirement of Director Russell-Rawlins. I was happy to provide comments on the Director’s retirement to the Toronto Star, and to attend the TDSB retirement event.
As usual, I hope the updates and resources included below are helpful to you. I wish everyone a positive end of the school year, and a wonderful start of summer ahead.
Yours in Community,
Debbie King
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L: TDSB Retirement Celebration with Director Russell-Rawlins and Trustees
R: TDSB PRIDE flagraising ceremony with Chair Chernos-Lin & Director Russell-Rawlins
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Ward 7 News
Take Your MPP to School Day Visit with Keele Street PS
Last month, Trustees across Ontario participated in "Take Your MPP to School Day". I was pleased to visit Keele Street PS with MPP Bhuitla Karpoche. Principal Koziol, Vice-Principal Sudova, and the student leaders provided a wonderful tour where we saw Minecraft Education, an iThink AI Challenge, and early literacy instruction in action. We also discussed ongoing staffing and facility-related challenges being experienced across the province, to be addressed in MPP Karpoche's work at Queen's Park. Before leaving, the student leaders and GSA reps gifted us a beautiful framed school photos and handmade Progress Pride Flags.
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UFA Sr. Girls Basketball Team In The News
On May 23rd, it was officially announced that Toronto has been awarded the 14th franchise in the WNBA. Coach Smith and members of the Sr. Girls' Basketball Team at Ursula Franklin Academy spoke to CTV Toronto, in response to the news. The UFA team are the 2023-24 TDSSAA A City Champions.
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Staff vs Student Basketball at PCI
Earlier this month, the Black Student Alliance at Parkdale Collegiate Institute hosted a staff vs. student basketball game. It was a well-attended, community-building event. BSA students from nearby Parkdale JSPS joined for a 3-point shooting challenge, and I had a ball jumping in for a few minutes of play!
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PRIDE Flag Raising and Memorial at Western Technical-Commerical School
In addition to raising the Pride Flag earlier this month, staff and students at WTCS unveiled a plaque memorializing victims of 2SLGBTQ+ violence. I was pleased to attend along with Superintendent Donsky. It was a touching tribute to a former WTCS educator and impressive display of student leadership and voice.
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2024-2025 Budget Development Update
Based on the Core Education Funding, the revised 2024-25 projected financial position is a deficit of $35.3 million. If TDSB uses $22M of Proceeds of Disposition, that leaves a deficit $13.3M. Staff will use the feedback from Trustees, previous feedback from the public and students and bring back a budget for approval on June 13, 2024. The budget is due to the Ministry on June 29, 2024.
Note: the growing gap in education funding remains a significant concern. The Ontario Public School Boards Association reports that, adjusted for inflation, per-pupil funding is at its lowest in recent history. Read more here. Thank you to all parent, caregiver, and community members who have joined us in advocating for fully-funded public education.
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Board and Committee Meetings
Recent Meetings and Reports of Note:
- Employment Equity Policy: Phase 5
- School Choice and Student Interest Program Admission Policies and Practices
- Updated Financial Positon and Options to Balance Budget
- Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achivement Report
- Combatting Hate and Racism Report
Upcoming Meetings:
Upcoming Trustee Motions for Consideration:
Sharing Feeback with the Board:
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lndigenous History Month
We are proud to honour June as National Indigenous History Month. It is a time to celebrate and learn from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples’ diverse cultures, histories, experiences, creations, perspectives, and achievements. Learn more here.
On Friday, June 21, the TDSB recognizes National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day of significance for many Indigenous Peoples in the country we call Canada today. It marks the day when the Sun is closest to the Earth. It is the longest day of the year and the shortest night. Many First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples celebrate the Summer Solstice. It is a time that reminds us to remain grounded, humble and appreciative. It is usually celebrated by coming together with family and community for a feast
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ltaIian Heritage Month
June is proudly recognized as Italian Heritage Month. This year’s theme is Sharing Our Stories and Embracing Our Future/Condividere le nostre storie e abbracciare il nostro futuro. To commemorate this year’s theme, TDSB students are invited to submit a video that captures their special memory or tradition with their nonni (grandparents) or an elderly caregiver/guardian.
June is also Seniors Month, and the TDSB has launched an activity for students from Runnymede Junior and Senior Public School. Participating students were asked to draw and write a message on a postcard that features a white lily, the national flower of Italy. These postcards will be distributed to the residents of Villa Colombo Home for the Aged during the month of June. Please visit the webpage to learn more.
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Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month
We are proud to celebrate Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month during the month of June at the TDSB and has been since 2011. This year’s theme is Unidos/United! The contributions of the Portuguese-speaking community to Canada are significant as they include the arts, sports, music, culinary arts, and many professional contributions to education and medicine. Canadians, along with all TDSB students, staff, and its communities all enjoy the energetic and vibrant traditions that are shared through the customs of the Portuguese-speaking community. Please visit the website to learn more about planned events in June.
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Pride Month
June is Pride Month at the TDSB! It’s an opportunity to celebrate diversity and raise awareness among all staff and students about the rich culture and history of our 2SLGBTQ+ community. We look forward to celebrating Pride 2024 with all 2SLGBTQ+ students, staff, and allies!
Join US at the 2024 Pride Parade! We are thrilled to invite students, staff and their families and friends to join the loud and proud TDSB contingent as the Toronto PRIDE parade on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
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Cell Phone/Mobile Device Policy in Schools Pre-Consultation
We are currently developing a Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy and your input is important to us. We want to hear from parents/guardians/caregivers, students, and community partners. Please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/mobiledevicepolicy to learn more and consider attending an upcoming webcast on June 11 and 12, and/or completing an online survey. The webcast recordings will also be availble for viewing. The survey will remain open until June 30, 2024.
Public Webcast: Tuesday, June 11 at 1 p.m.
Register to participate
Public Webcast: Wednesday, June 12 at 6:30 p.m.
Register to participate
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Secondary Alternative Schools Program Review Survey
Secondary students can choose to attend one of 21 secondary Alternative schools across the city. Alternative schools were designed to be small and to offer a unique and different approach to learning. In the current school year, nearly 1,100 secondary students are enrolled in Alternative secondary schools.
In response to a recommendation from the Alternative Schools Community Advisory Committee, the Board of Trustees passed a resolution to conduct a review of Secondary Alternative Schools. Please consider completing this voluntary and anonymous survey to provide feedback on TDSB's Secondary Alternative School programs.
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Warm Weather Update
As you know, Toronto sometimes experiences days of extreme heat that can prompt Environment Canada to issue Heat Advisories. These temperatures can and do have an impact on students and staff. To learn more about how the TDSB does its best to beat the heat on these days, along with other sun safety tips, please visit our Hot Weather Webpage.
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Summer Programs
Elementary programs include:
Secondary programs include:
Adult programs include:
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Summer Well-Being Guide
The 2024 Summer Well-being Guide is now available! The guide has resources, community connections, events, and ideas for students and parents/guardians/caregivers to promote mental and physical wellness during the summer months. The resources are culturally responsive and include many for students with disabilities/special education needs. The Guide has been translated into the top 23 TDSB languages spoken and is accessible.
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2024-25 School Year Calendar
The first day of school for the 2024-2025 School Year is Tuesday, September 3, 2024. The School Year Calendar for the upcoming year is available now.
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2024-25 Student Transportation
The Toronto Student Transportation Group will once again be implementing a phased-in start for the new school year. Starting Tuesday, September 3, transportation will begin for students with special education needs (excluding those in the gifted program) who travel to school on minibuses, minivans, taxis and wheelchair-accessible vehicles. Bussing for all other eligible students will begin on Monday, September 9, pending driver availability.
Parents/guardians/caregivers with children who take the bus to school are encouraged to sign up for the Student Transportation Parent Portal to access important information and updates. Note: You must register for the portal with the email address on file at your child’s school. Contact support@torontoschoolbus.org for any issues with the registration process.
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Steps to Address Your Questions & Concerns
Here at the TDSB, we are always open to hearing your questions and concerns and make every effort to address them as quickly as possible. Your child's classroom teacher is the first point of contact, followed by the school's principal, the school superintendent, and me, your Trustee! For more information, visit www.tdsb.on.ca/Contact-Us/Steps-to-Address-Questions-Concerns.
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