Sept 28th, 2020
The TDSB takes direction from the Ministry of Education and Toronto Public Health with regards to return-to-school criteria and health & safety protocols. Protocols will continue to be refined as community transmission rates change and new information becomes available. Staff have worked throughout the summer to ensure schools are following TPH health and safety recommendations but a key to preventing COVID-19 infections in schools is to limit community transmission. We must all continue to follow the TPH and Health Canada recommendations to limit exposure and reduce transmission.
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Return to School Information
In the new COVID-19 reality our learning and health & safety environments are constantly changing and staff are updating the TDSB website with new information daily. Please check the TDSB website regularly for updates. The TDSB landing page contains quick links to daily announcements, deadlines, news & events, and the most recently updated web pages. There are dedicated web pages for Virtual School, In-Person Learning (including health & safety protocols), Daily Health Screening, and Covid-Advisories, which are also updated daily.
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COVID-19 Monitoring
Daily Health Screening
Students and staff are required to conduct a health self-assessment before coming to school/work each day. This can be done using a paper-based confirmation or one of the mobile or web-based apps to pre-screen online. Anyone with new COVID-like symptoms should stay home, consult their family doctor, and arrange for testing. In order to make decisions easier for families TPH has generated a decision guide flow chart (see image below) if new symptoms arise.
COVID-Alert App
This summer Health Canada launched a Bluetooth-based COVID-19 exposure alert app called COVID Alert. Although the app is strictly voluntary, I urge everyone to download it. The app uses a novel approach to determine whether you (your device) has been within contact proximity of another app user, but does not collect or monitor personal information. For more information, please visit the COVID Alert webpage.
COVID Reporting
All COVID-positive cases amongst staff and students are reported to TPH who will follow up with contact tracing and directing the TDSB on next steps including reporting, quarantine, and classroom or school closures. Active confirmed cases of COVID-19 among students and/or staff in TDSB schools are reported daily on the TDSB COVID Advisories page. Please note that all schools where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 who was contagious while at school will receive a letter from Toronto Public Health to inform them about the possible exposure and next steps. Learn more about Provincial Guidelines for COVID-management and the TDSB's Response Plan with regard to COVID-19 case management for schools and administrative sites.
Toronto Public Health Resources
TPH COVID-testing sites - A current list of COVID-testing sites, including hospital sites, mobile clinics, and pharmacy-based testing can be found through the TPH COVID-19 Testing website. Our closest local testing site is located on the north-west corner of Michael Garron Hospital (825 Coxwell Avenue - 7 days/week, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Telephone: 416-469-6858) and there is currently a pop-up mobile testing site at Crescent Town Club (4 The Market Place - until October 3, 2020 (closed Sundays) - Hours: Monday to Saturday, 12 p.m. to 7 p.m.)
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TDSB Mask and Face-covering Requirements - Updated
In response to rising confirmed cases of COVID -19 health agencies, and provincial and municipal governments are reviewing and updating health and safety measures in an attempt to reduce the spread of the virus. In light of increases in confirmed COVID-19 cases, including confirmed cases among school staff and students, the TDSB is also reviewing its health and safety measures and making changes where needed. The TDSB’s Mask Guidelines have been updated with important changes to appropriate types of masks, guidance for staff, and clearer directions around exemptions. Changes are highlighted in yellow.
These Mask Guidelines have been developed to address our collective responsibility to follow public health and Ministry of Education requirements known to be effective in combatting the transmission of COVID-19. Unless an exemption applies that would allow a student, staff or visitor to attend in person without a mask, the wearing of appropriate masks is mandatory at TDSB schools or buildings. Parents, caregivers, and visitors are also required to wear masks on school grounds during drop-off and pick-up, when yards are crowded and social distancing is not possible.
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Please note: For families who do not yet have a teacher assigned or have not yet connected with a teacher in Virtual School, please be assured that the TDSB will proceed with assigning your child a teacher and class as soon as possible and teacher assignment is not dependent on upcoming switch dates.
The first switch date for Secondary students is between the first and second quadmesters (Nov 23rd). The deadline to request a switch is October 15th at 4pm. More information on requesting to switch can be found here.
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Virtual School
Parents have had many questions about Virtual Elementary School and would like to speak directly to virtual school staff. Please find below the contact information for the Principals for the Learning Centre 4 Virtual School:
Staffing Update: Work has continued through the weekend to hire full-time teachers for elementary virtual school including reaching out to secondary teachers qualified to teach Gr 7/8 — an issue being faced by numerous school boards in the area. Staff are making steady progress and anticipate that all positions will be filled over the next few days. All teachers are provided with two days of Brightspace training and will have their virtual classrooms up and running this week.
Please continue to access the independent learning resources web page where more resources, activities, and live teacher-led videos have been added for the second week.
IT Support: If you are experiencing account and/or password issues, please access support by completing this form. Once the information has been verified, login and password information for your child will be emailed to you. Additionally, you can visit the TDSB Brightspace information page for more information, tutorials, and access Brightspace support 24 hours a day. TDSB IT has set up a designated parent phone support line at 416-396-9100 that is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Additional Online Courses for Secondary Students - Additional courses have been created and are restricted to Virtual Secondary School students who have fewer than two (2) courses in Quad 1. Students can log-in and register here.
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TDSB Director Search
New Date for Public Delegations - October 1st at 4:30pm at Committee of the Whole
Various TDSB stakeholders had the opportunity to participate and inform the specific job criteria, accomplishments, experience and background that will be used to create the Candidate Profile for recruitment of a new Director of Education. In addition the public is invited on October 1st to provide oral or written delegations to the Board of Trustees around the Candidate Profile before the profile is finalized and approved by the Board.
To learn more about the delegations process please visit: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/leadership/boardroom/delegations
Background information is provided on the Director's search website and in an Informational Webinar held on
Monday, September 14, 2020, which you can watch here:
Director of Education Search Webinar
Director of Education Search Presentation
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