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| March 8 - International Women's Day
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| Sunday, March 20
The First Day of Spring 201616 Spring is almost here and things are starting to freshen up. I wish everyone a safe and enjoyable March break - March 14-18. At the TDSB, March is budget time. Staff have presented the projected Staff Allocations for the 2016/17 OPERATING BUDGET. Trustee Ken Lister and I held a joint Budget Consultation meeting at Shaughnessy Public School on February 23rd. I have attached the minutes for that meeting. I encourage people to get in touch with me if you have any questions or would like to add your voice to this process. For quick reference, I have provided some highlights of the staffing allocation in the chart below. Please also find the Power Point Presentation made at this year's budget committee presentation to Trustees. This year the Special Education Advisory Committee passed a resolution asking the Board to avoid any cuts to front line services and supports for Special Education students. You can see from the chart below there are no increases or decreases in any positions directly related to special education. I do have some concern about the impact of decreases to lunchroom supervisors and the lower number of FDK supports. Staff allocation is tied to enrollment so genrally when enrollment is down, staff allocation will be lower due to decreased provincial funding.
There will be further discussions on these items in the coming weeks. On March 30th, the board will vote on the final Operating Budget for 2016/17. For more information on the budget process at the TDSB please follow this link to the website.
2016/17 Operating Budget - Staff Allocation Numbers - Elementary
ELEMENTARY 2015-2016 Actual 2016-2017Projected
Regular Program (including FDK) 8,161.0 8,123.0
ESL 267.0 268.5
Learning Opportunities – Grade 4 to 8 115.0 115.0
Literacy / Numeracy 42.0 42.0
Library 234.5 231.0
Guidance 40.0 42.0
Special Education 1,635.5 1,635.5
Section 23 46.0 46.0
Caring and Safe Schools 6.0 6.0
Profile Teachers 33.0 33.0
Total 10,580.0 10,542.0
2016/17 Operating Budget - Staff Allocation Numbers- Secondary
SECONDARY 2015-2016 Actual 2016-2017 Projected
Regular Program 3,761.0 3,703.0
ESL 124.5 125.5
Learning Opportunities 30.0 30.0
Library/Guidance 291.0 284.0
Special Education 517.5 517.5
Section 23 63.0 63.0
Caring and Safe Schools 18.0 18.0
Attendance/SAL/CIC/Alternative
Programs 23.0 23.0
Profile Teachers 36.0 36.0
E-learning 5.0 5.0
Total 4,869.0 4,805.0
FYI... On Thursday March 3rd , we held the TDSB’s first-ever Online Budget Forum where members of the community were able to ask questions and provide interactive feedback about the budget directly to Finance staff. The transcript of the full chat is available on the TDSB website
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Click for Budget Information |
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| Ontario Budget Highlights: Summary from Ontario Public School Boards Association (OPSBA)
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| - Policy development and administration:
Policy is the framework that governs the administration and operation of the board.
By the act of approving a policy, the board assumes full political, financial and legal responsibility for it. - Trustees are responsible to: ensure that the board's policies are current and that all parties operate within them; set and evaluate policy for the board and to ensure that it is implemented; ensure that the board's purpose, governing principles, function and activities are being pursued in a responsible manner with the utmost integrity
I am including two policies that have undergone revisions as part of the new Ministry of Education guidelines. Policy PO-68 covers Pupil Accomodation Reviews, Boundary Changes and Program Area Reviews. Policy PO-76 has been renamed xxx and was formerly yyy. I encourage you to read these policies as they are important policies that can have a major impact on local schools and the use of schools in our communities. I have also attached the Concussion Policy (PO-87) Operating Procedures. You may want to review this as well and provide any feedback directly to me at alexander.brown@tdsb.on.ca or through your school council chairs:
Concussions Policy P087 was adopted by the Toronto District School Board in March 2015.
- set up compliance training for preventing and minimizing the risk of concussion (and other brain injuries) in schools and at off-site events;
- outline a protocol for initial concussion assessment;
- establish procedures following an initial assessment and safe removal of the student from activity; and,
- outline a process for an individualized, gradual return to learning and/or return to physical activity plan.
Please find attached a briefing note on the operational procedures for concussions and a voice-over presentation highlighting the key elements within the procedures.
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| TDSB’s New Online Permit System for Community Use of Schools
We are excited to announce that a new software package will be used to manage permit bookings for community use of schools. The software that we have been using for over 15 years is being retired. We gathered feedback from our clients to improve the booking system. Learn more
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| Five Closed Properties Currently in the Inventory of the Toronto Lands Corporation
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| The TDSB is reviewing these properties to determine if they should be declared surplus to the needs of the Board and referred to the Toronto Lands Corporation (TLC) for disposition/sale. For residents in Willowdale, the propoerty at 155 McNicoll Avenue is important. McNicoll PS houses Adventure Place* and a non-profit licensed child care program. Public input on these properties will have a influence on what happens to them. I will keep you informed of any dates for community consultations. These have not be decided yet.
The five properties are:
1. Buttonwood (110 Allanhurst Drive);
2. Cartwright (99 Cartwright Avenue);
3. McNicoll (155 McNicoll Avenue);
4. Silver Creek (65 Hartsdale Drive); and
5. Thistletown (925 Albion Road).
* Adventure Place is a child and family centre that works with families and other care providers to strengthen children’s social, emotional, behavioural, developmental and adaptive functioning in all of their environments. The Adventure Place continuum of service delivery model provides families with access to a wide array of services based on their individual needs. This coordinated and integrated approach recognizes the importance of prevention, early intervention and treatment services. We help children realize their full potential!
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TDSB Appoints First-ever Integrity Commissioner
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The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is pleased to announce the appointment of Suzanne Craig (biography) as Integrity Commissioner. Serving the Board of Trustees, the Integrity Commissioner will provide advice, and conduct inquiries and complaint resolution in an independent manner. She will provide advice on the application of the Board Member Code of Conduct, applicable policies and procedures and provide information with respect to trustees’ obligations under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. Suzanne has an extensive background in both the public and private sectors and has previously worked as Integrity Commissioner for multiple municipalities in Ontario. With over 20 years of legal, policy and management experience, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the Toronto District School Board and will work to ensure that all conduct by trustees is held to the highest standards of accountability and transparency. Ms. Craig will start the position on April 4th, 2016.
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Ministry Announces Integration of Early Years and Family Support Programs
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| On February 19, 2016 the Ministry of Education announced a plan to integrate provincially-funded child and family support programs including Ontario Early Years Centres, Child Care Resource Centres, Better Beginnings Better Futures, and Parenting and Family Literacy Centres. The Ministry’s goal is to bring all provincially and municipally-funded child and family programs under one umbrella - Ontario Early Years Child and Family Centres (OEYCFC).
This will include the 76 Parenting and Family Literacy Centres (PFLCs) located in TDSB schools. PFLCs began in the former Toronto Board of Education more than 30 years ago. Their success influenced the development of these programs across the province. The Ministry has acknowledged the role these centres play in delivering early learning programming and providing services that connect children and families to their local school community.
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Application Information: 2016/2017 Parents Reaching Out Grant (PRO Grants) APPLY SOON!!
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| The Ministry of Education is now accepting on-line applications for 2016-17 Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grants. The deadline to apply is Sunday,May 29, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST. Under the Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grants for School Councils program, school councils are eligible to receive up to $1000 from the Ministry of Education to support projects that help identify and remove barriers that may prevent some parents from fully participating in their children’s learning. For more information about the PRO Grants Program and examples of past projects, online application procedures, please visitwww.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/reaching.html. Read the Ministry's Parents Reaching Out Grants presentation.
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| Parent Portal Demonstration
The TDSB Parent Portal will allow parents/guardians to track their child’s/children’s academic progress, view attendance and school calendars and further enhance communication with their child’s teachers. We are exploring as a board, how a new information sharing tool can be leveraged to further engage Parents/Guardians to become more active in their children’s education.
Parents are invited to a demonstration of a parent portal on:
Date: Thursday March 10, 2016
Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: 5050 Yonge Street, Boardroom
What is a parent portal ?
- A parent portal is a secure web site designed for parents/guardians to gain access to up to date consolidated information on their TDSB student(s) related to achievement, attendance and school communication. The portal will be made available from any internet enabled desktop including mobile devices.
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Traffic Safety Ward Forum - February 11th, 2016
On February 11th, a group of school council reps meet with me at Earl Haig SS to discuss traffic safety issues affecting our schools. We are all impacted by similar problems and continue to struggle to find ways to mitigate, eliminate or prevent them. The meeting included a brainstorming session that brought out some great ideas. I am including the chart as part of the minutes that was compiled from that meeting.
Our next step is to identify who we will share our information / ideas with to build a stronger network of support throughout Willowdale. Neighborhood associations, condominium associations, local police divisions, social agencies, parent / community groups, church groups, seniors groups etc, can all be very helpful and instrumental in developing a strong traffic safety master-plan. A few parents from the February 11th meeting have already expressed an interest in being part of a smaller "task force" that will commit to meeting on a more regular basis to champion ideas and keep the ball rolling on behalf of all schools in Willowdale.
We will eventually meet with city councillors and traffic department staff to hash out a workable plan that focuses on our top priorities. Schools in Willowdale will also focus on ideas that can be implemented at our schools to raise awareness and promote greater safety around schools. If you are interested in joining this initiative please get in touch with me at this email: alexander.brown@tdsb.on.ca Everyone is welcome.
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- System-wide Screening of all students in Grade 3 for Giftedness beginning this Spring
The TDSB is introducing a district wide universal screening process, at the grade 3 level, to identify students with a gifted exceptionality to ensure equitable opportunity for each child to be considered for the gifted program, rather than relying on referrals from parents and teachers. According to the report presented at our last Finance and Accountability Committee, "Our current process is outdated, inequitable and does not effectively identify all the students in the board who could benefit from gifted programming. Very few experts presently define giftedness solely as high Intelligence Quotient (IQ) (Borlands 2009)."
Trustees approved a contract to provide the screening test Canadian Cognitive Avilities Test (CCAT4) recommended by TDSB Chiefs of Psychology and our Special Education Executive Staff. It has multiple-criterion and attempts to capture students who possess a broach range of characteristics which may be associated with giftedness, such as creativity and academic excellence. If a student meets the CCAT criterion, they will be referred for Stage Two in the process, an Intellectual Screening with a member of theTDSB's Psychological Services department. Parental approval will be required at each stage.
The Special Education Advisory Committee will be exploring the idea of screening for exceptionalities in greater depth. There is a question as to why we are only looking at screening for giftedness and not other exceptionalities as well. I will keep you apprised of any discussions we have since it is an important topic and deserves a wider audience.
The Chair of SEAC, David Lepofsky, spoke at the TDSB Budget Committee about the SEAC Resolution to avoid any cuts to teachers and front line support staff for Students in Special Education programs. To listen to the full deputation as an MP3 recording CLICK HERE. Read the Resolution
More information about the Special Education Advisory Committee...click here
Report from the Chair of SEAC - March 2016...click here
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2016 Excellence Awards: Nominations Open February 22
The TDSB will once again be honouring outstanding staff achievement during this year’s Excellence Awards. This year’s event will be held during Education Week on Tuesday, May 3, 2016 in the Boardroom at 5050 Yonge Street. Staff, students, parents and community members are invited to nominate a TDSB staff member or team whose work is making a difference in the school community. Nominations open online on Monday, February 22 and close on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 4 p.m.
Please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/excellence for highlights from last year’s event and the nomination process. For more information about the award and event see the Frequently Asked Questions. If you have any further questions, please contact David Hawker-Budlovsky at david.hawker-budlovsky@tdsb.on.ca
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Invitation - TDSB Museum Will Open To The Public for Two Days March Break 2016 - March 15th and 17th
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| If you're looking for something interesting to do during the March Break, the TDSB Museum, Fine Art, Archival and Artifact Collection (located at Eastern Commerce CI, 16 Phin Avenue) will open its doors to the public on Tuesday, March 15 (10 am – 7 pm) and Thursday, March 17 (10 am – 5 pm) for the first time since relocating in 2014.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
The two-day opening will run in conjunction with Myseum of Toronto’s first annual festival of exhibits, “Intersections Exhibition/ Festival”, exploring different perspectives on the city’s natural, cultural and historical diversity. Myseum of Toronto is a non-profit organization that tells the story of Toronto’s natural spaces, cultures, history, archaeology and architecture.
The TDSB Museum, Fine Art, Archival and Artifact Collection is the largest public education collection in Canada, containing over one million objects reflecting a range of media and practices, from natural history and archaeological objects, to photographic archives, First and Second World War memorials, and visual art. The Museum's inaugural exhibit, curated by Dr. Duke Redbird (TDSB Curator/Advisor - Indigenous Art & Culture), is entitled “Debwewin” and showcases a visual representation of Contemporary First Nations, Métis and Inuit Cultures. Dr. Redbird will lead a discussion focussing on the artists and their work on Tuesday, March 15 at 6 pm and Thursday, March 17 at 12 pm. Archival Manager Greg McKinnon will provide tours of archival exhibits, school artifacts, and the Governance Room.
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| "Mental Health And Well-Being Belongs To Us" - Monthly Newsletter
I am pleased to provide you with the February edition of the "Mental Health and Well-Being Belongs To Us" newsletter. This month’s publication features “Connection = Kindness + Friendship”.
This edition as well as all previous editions can be found by clicking the following link www.tdsb.on.ca
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| French as a Second Language Advisory Committee Newsletter
In this issue:
1. Toronto Public Library - Free March Break Fun in French
2. #mon20mars
3. Visiting Ottawa during March Break?
4. Parents as Partners Conference
5. Enrolment Update
6. TFO Education via IDÉLLO
7. TDSB Summer French
8. Looking for Summer Activities in French?
9. Awesome Parent Story
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| New EcoSchools Newsletter: Apply for bike racks, cycling education
The latest TDSB Ecoschools newsletter has important information for schools on a path to becoming more environmentally conscious and sustainable. Read about how your school can apply for bike racks and cycle rodeos, celebrate TDSB Earth Hour on March 11, and register for April 11's Clean Toronto's Schoolyard Clean-up day!
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| Focus on Youth Job Applications Open March 7
The objective of Focus on Youth Toronto (FOYT) is to support high quality program opportunities for children and youth in Toronto’s less affluent areas. Programs promote learning through play, healthy lifestyle and positive self-image. FOYT provides employment and leadership opportunities for youth aged 16 years and up who are in a TDSB secondary school. Summer employment pays $11.25/hr. Applications will be available here on March 7.
Minister's Youth Advisory Council Applications Close March 11
The Ontario Ministry of Education is now accepting applications from students in Grades 7 to 12 who go to publicly funded schools and who want to be part of the Minister's Student Advisory Council. Applications are accepted until March 11 at this site. If you are a student, this is an excellent opportunity to have your voice and opinions on education heard by the decision-makers. You are the one with experience of the system and now you have a chance to make a difference - apply!
Casting Call! Shoot Date: Sunday March 13
MILO CASTING is seeking families for a National Charity Campaign. Families selected will earn $750 - $1,000 for a half-day shoot! They are seeking families of 2 adults and 1 or 2 children under the age of 16 that are of Aboriginal / First Nation / Métis background. If interested, e-mail the following to:info@milocasting.com.
- Your full name and names of each family member submitting
- Contact information (phone and email)
- Family photograph. Professional shots not needed, candids are fine.
- Please write “Project Charity” in the subject line followed by your last name
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| Parents as Partners Conference 2016 is a FREE conference.
Whether your child is just beginning on their educational journey in elementary
school or closer to graduation and planning for the future, there are
informative and empowering sessions for parents/guardians and
caregivers of students of all ages and all stages of education
Date:April 16, 2016
Time: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: Allstream Centre, 105 Princes Blvd
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