www.tdsb.on.ca/ward8
@shelleylaskin
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Shelley Laskin, Trustee
Toronto District School Board
Ward 8: Eglinton-Lawrence & Toronto-St Paul's
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416-395-8787
Shelley.Laskin@tdsb.on.ca
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- Update on Revised Fundraising Policy
- Committee Meeting This Week - FBEC
- Operating Budget Development 2025-2025
- Financial Facts 2024-2025
- Excellence Awards 2025 - Nominations Are Open for Two More Weeks
- Summer Programs
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New Policy Consultations - Learning Opportunity Index including public consultation opportunities
- Stop the Hate Ward Forum - Follow-up
- TDSB Amto-Hate and Anti-Racism Strategy
- Reporting Incidents of Hate
- New Invitations
- 2024-25 School Year Calendar
- Proposed 2025-26 School Year Calendar
- Useful Links
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Worth Repeating...
- Dogs Are Not Allowed on School Property
- Community Safety and Support
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Previous Weekly Updates posted here.
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Update on Revised Fundraising Policy |
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As I wrote in last week's Update, the TDSB's revised Fundraising Policy was discussed at Committee last week. The vote at committee was 5-4 in favour of a mandatory contribution to the “System Priorities Fund”. In other words, a percentage of school fundraising dollars would be collected centrally to be used for system priorities.
I have been clear that my preference is for a voluntary contribution process. This has been a decades-long discussion at TDSB. In my years as a Trustee, I spoke often with parents about schools in lower socio-economic geographies and the Boards attempt to create equity of opportunity by providing those schools with additional support - including differentiated school budgets, additional staffing and contributions from many of our partners and corporate sponsors. Take a look at the School Generated Fund Report, pg 51...This report also analyzes the impact of Learning Opportunity Index (LOI) on school budgets and school generated funds in Appendices C and D. Appendix C shows that LOI does seem to have an impact on the amount of school generated funds available to schools. The data presented in Appendix D demonstrates that the School Budget Allocations and Other Grants help to minimize fundraising disparities across TDSB schools.
And the vast majority of schools in our ward do fundraising for charities and other schools, partnering anonymously and respectfully.
My colleague Trustee James Li is organizing a virtual Ward Forum on April 1st - "Stop the Tariff on TDSB Parents/Caregivers/Community". I will provide details next week - in the meantime, please hold the date and stay tuned. The Board meeting to make a final decision is on April 16.
Please read the Toronto Star article - TDSB to vote on controversial fundraising change some call a ‘tariff on parent donations. As always, I look forward to your comments.
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Committee Meeting This Week - FBEC |
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- 5.1 Contract Awards, Operations
- 5.2 Contract Awards, Facilities
- 5.3 Update to Budget Consultations
- 5,4 Structural Deficit Update
- 6.1 Advocacy in Support of Newcomer Language Programs (Trustees Ehrhardt and de Dovitiis)
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6.2 Potential Health Hazards Related to Airport Activity From Toronto Pearson Airport on Surrounding Schools (Trustees de Dovitiis and MacLean)
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Operating Budget Development 2025-2026 |
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The Board submitted a budget to the Ministry in 2024-25 that requested to use $28 million of Proceeds of Disposition (POD) in order to balance. POD represent the revenue received from selling property and are required to be used to address School Condition Improvement (SCI).
Boards must ask permission to use POD for other purposes and POD are not a sustainable funding source for operating expenditures. As part of the approval, the Ministry of Education (EDU or Ministry) can provide additional requirements and the request to use POD for the 2024-25 budget had a number of conditions including commitments related to future budgets:
A commitment to full cost recovery on non-Kindergarten to grade 12 programs
A commitment to make staffing adjustments when one-time funding has ended
In addition, the Board had to submit a 2-year deficit recovery plan which was presented to the Board in August 2024.
The Auditor General’s 2024 Annual Report, released in December 2024, included a Performance Audit of TDSB. One recommendation stated “We recommend that the TDSB and the Ministry of Education work together to understand whether the TDSB has a structural funding deficit and how the TDSB’s unique circumstances play a role in its financial challenges.” Both the Board and the Ministry identified areas of concern with regard to the structural deficit and committed to working together. TDSB staff has reached out to EDU staff to schedule a meeting and has started these discussions.
As indicated in the report presented at the Special FBEC meeting on February 27, 2025, the projected deficit for 2025-26 was estimated at $65.9 million.
With the decision by Trustees at the March 6, 2025 Special Board meeting to add back 28 unfunded Vice Principals that had been removed from the preliminary school based staffing allocation, the updated projected deficit for 2025-26 increased to $70.3 million.
In order to address the deficit, staff have prepared a list of unfunded/ underfunded/ overspent areas of the 2024-25 budget. The intention of this report is to identify these areas as they contribute to the projected structural deficit. This report does not make any recommendations with regard to the 2025-26 budget – it is solely an identification of these areas.
The next step will be to review the areas to assist in providing options to balance. Please read the full report here.
TDSB is facing budgetary pressures to meet demands on critical services and infrastructure including:
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- $4.45B shortfall to maintain existing and older school buildings, with rising construction costs (as of January, 2025)
- $43.7M is the cumulative unfunded portion of statutory benefits (e.g. for CPP & EI)
- $38.5M shortfall to support special education
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$10.9M shortfall to support student and staff mental health, safety and well-being
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Please continue to follow the development of the 2025-26 Budget - you can see the schedule above and find additional information on the TDSB's Budget Webpage.
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Financial Facts 2024-2025 |
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The TDSB’s revised annual operating and capital budget is approximately $4.1 billion. School boards are required to submit a balanced budget plan to the Ministry of Education at the end of each school year, for the upcoming year. At the TDSB, public consultations are an important part of the budget process.
Each year, information about TDSB’s financial outlook for the upcoming school year is posted online, and ward forums and community consultations are held to discuss priorities.
Trustees and staff work together to approve a budget. Read the Financial Facts here.
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The TDSB is committed to the effective use of resources and reviewing and improving our financial controls across the system to ensure that every dollar spent has a positive impact on student achievement and well-being.
In June 2024, the TDSB approved a budget of $3.9 billion with an estimated $35.3 million operating deficit. While the TDSB stays committed to using these resources as responsibly as possible, the funding provided by the government does not fully meet the needs of students in Toronto. In addition, TDSB continues to support students’ mental health and well-being.
To address the ongoing financial constraint, the TDSB developed a two-year deficit recovery plan to balance the budget. Tough decisions will be made to align resources with our strategic plan, while still being committed to equity and the achievement and well-being of all students.
This document represents the TDSB’s financial information from 2020-21 to 2024-25. It focuses on the Board’s key expenditure areas and identifies major operating costs and funding gaps. The basis of the data presented in the tables is taken from the Board’s audited financial statements for all years up to 2023-24 and revised budget projections for 2024-25.
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Excellence Awards 2025 Nominations Are Open for Two More Weeks! |
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Every year, the TDSB Excellence Awards help shine a light on the stories of extraordinary staff commitment, and we are delighted to announce that nominations for the Excellence Awards are open for another two weeks.
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The Excellence Awards align with our shared system priorities and help highlight TDSB staff’s efforts to foster joy, engagement and belonging in our schools, workplaces and communities as a foundation for academic achievement, student success, and service excellence. We want to know who are inspiring students, innovating the curriculum, championing digital transformation, creating inclusive schools and workplaces, and working behind the scenes to support operational excellence.
We welcome nominations from anyone – staff, students, parents/caregivers or community members – please send your nomination submissions through the Excellence Awards website during the nomination period between February 25 and April 4, 2025.
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Please note the information on Summer Programs on the website will continue to be updated.
Elementary Programs
Summer School - The Elementary Literacy and Numeracy Summer School Program offers the opportunity for students to continue learning in the summer. Programs are offered in-person at various locations to students in Kindergarten to Grade 8, from July 2 to July 25, 2025. A remote program is available for students in grades 6 to 8.
Registration Information: Program Dates and Hours - Monday, July 2 to Friday, July 25, 2025, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm. Registration is online. To fill out an application, please click on the school registration form link on the website.
Summer Extended Day Program
The Extended Day Summer Program provides fun explorations and learning for children from Kindergarten to Grade 6. Children will develop skills such as collaboration, responsibility, problem-solving, creativity, citizenship, and leadership through interesting activities, and experiences. The Summer Program is delivered by TDSB staff, Designated Early Childhood Educators, and Early Childhood Assistants.
Registration Information: June 30 to August 15. Please see website here.
Note: Information on International Languages and African Heritage Language & Culture Program, Outdoor Education Summer Camp and Summer Music & Art Camps will be available shortly.
Secondary Programs
e-Summer School Program - Registration will open on Tuesday, April 15 at 10:00 AM for TDSB students and on Tuesday, April 29 at 10:00 AM for NON-TDSB students. More information can be found here.
• All Grade 9 and 10 online Summer School credit courses will be delivered synchronously through the Continuing Education Remote Summer Program.
• All Grade 11 and 12 online Summer School credit courses will be delivered asynchronously through the e-Summer Program.
• The Grade 8 to 9 Reach Ahead Summer Credit course will be offered only in-person through the Continuing Education Reach Ahead Credit Program.
Summer School
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Continuing Education Summer School Secondary Programs are open to students in Grades 9 to 12 and adult learners who are enrolled in the Ontario curriculum and working towards their high school diploma. Students can earn a new credit or retake a previously completed course to improve their grades.
All students enrolling in summer school, including adult students, are required to have earned the current prerequisites. Students may register for one full-credit course or two half-credit courses (Civics and Careers). These classes are available only in July.
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) reserves the right to cancel classes. All classes are subject to the availability of space, teachers, and sufficient enrollment.
Registration for all Summer Programs will open April 22, 2025, at 10:00 a.m.
Summer School classes will be held from July 2 to July 25, 2025 Monday to Friday, from 8:45 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. These classes are available only in July. More information on how to register available here.
The Grade 8 to 9 Reach Ahead credit course is available only in person. Students will attend face-to-face classes with a teacher. Reach Ahead Flyer
Remote Learning All Grade 9 and 10 credit courses will be delivered through synchronous learning. In-Person Learning All Grade 9 to 12 credit courses, students will attend face-to-face classes with a teacher. Summer School In Person Sites/Locations
Special Education and Inclusion Summer 2025 Programs
Special Education and Inclusion Summer School
Special Education and Inclusion will once again offer summer school programs from July 2 to 25 for students currently enrolled in Developmental Disability (DD), Deaf and Hard of Hearing (DHH), and Physical Disability (PD) Intensive Support Programs (ISPs). Principals were asked to share this information flyer with the families of students currently enrolled in these programs.
These half-day programs will be held in-person at various locations throughout the TDSB. Students will be supported to develop their independence through programming based on their Individual Education Plans (IEPs) in the areas of functional literacy and numeracy skills, activities of daily living, communication, and social skills. Visit our summer school website for more information.
Focus on Youth Summer Program for Students with Special Education Needs
The Focus on Youth (FOY) Program provides learning and employment opportunities for youth in select low-income neighborhoods who face personal challenges and barriers to employment due to circumstances directly linked to systemic inequality, racism and discrimination, and their lived experiences of socio-economic disadvantage. As part of the FOY Program, students with intellectual, developmental, and/or physical disabilities and intersecting identities are supported by Special Education and Inclusion through staff from Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy (OT/PT) Services to engage students in experiential job-readiness learning through employment.
Students are provided with opportunities to develop essential job readiness skills such as socialization, executive function and self-care among others, while receiving minimum wage compensation for a period of six weeks, commencing July 2, 2025. Eligible students are those currently enrolled in a cooperative education or experiential learning program. Staff select these students based on their readiness for safe, community-based job experiences, in accordance with Ministry criteria for the Focus on Youth Program.
Summer Skills Development Leisure Program for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
The Summer Skills Development Leisure Program is designed for students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Through this half-day, month-long (July 2025) program, students are able to develop and enhance their social and communication skills through leisure activities that include board games, physical education and outdoor activities, arts and crafts, neighborhood excursions, and cooking activities. Many parents attend the program with their children and can observe strategies modelled by staff for at-home use that help students be more successful in regulating their emotions and behavior (e.g., visual schedules, timers, 5-minute countdowns, breathing techniques, etc.). Registration information is forthcoming.
Education and Community Partnership Program (ECPP) Summer School
The Education and Community Partnership Program (ECPP), in collaboration with agency and hospital partners, will provide full-day summer school in July for students in care and treatment programs at SickKids Hospital, Humber River Hospital, Youthdale Treatment Centre, Lumenus Community Services at York Humber, Fernie Youth, Central Toronto Youth Services, Abiona Centre for Young Women, Jessie and June Callwood Centre for Young Women, and Turning Point Youth Services and Springboard Youth Services at Overland Education Center. Teachers will work alongside agency staff to provide academic programming while students receive care and treatment. Students are able to earn credits in various subjects including English, Math, Family Studies, Physical and Health Education, and Geography.
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New Policy Consultations - We'd like to hear from you |
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is committed to open and inclusive policy decision-making and values community input and participation through consultation. Consultation is a two-way communication process between the Board and external participants, including students and their parents/guardians, school councils, advisory committees, community members, different levels of government, service agencies, professional organizations and union partners. The objective of consultation is to gather public input regarding options, alternative courses of action, as well as to identify unintended effects for various participants and to find solutions.
Learning Opportunities Index Policy Consultation
The Learning Opportunities Index Policy (P067) is currently being reviewed. The revised draft Learning Opportunities Index Policy (P067) (the “Policy”) affirms the TDSB’s commitment to achieve equitable academic opportunities.
This Policy will assist with steering additional resources to schools serving students who face greater challenges and make sure all students have access to educational resources. The revised draft Policy also aims to support student learning experiences through equitable allocation of resources to schools and to provide direction to staff regarding the use of the Learning Opportunities Index (LOI).
Consultation closes in early April 2025. Draft New Policy [docx] Draft New Policy [pdf]
Please provide your input and feedback here. If you have any questions related to the review and consultation of the Policy, please feel free to contact us at: research@tdsb.on.ca
Learning Opportunities Index (LOI) Public Policy Consultations
TDSB Trustees and Research and Development staff will be hosting four public consultation sessions across the city on the draft Learning Opportunities Index (LOI) Policy. These sessions ensure families, students, and community members have the opportunity to learn about the LOI and how it is used to support schools.
We are committed to creating inclusive and accessible meetings for everyone. If you have specific concerns related to accessibility, or require childcare or interpretation services, please indicate when registering, email research@tdsb.on.ca or call 416-394-7404.
There will be opportunities to ask questions and share feedback on the dates listed below:
Please use the RSVP form to let us know you will be attending. Click here to view the flyer.
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- Hybrid LOI Public Consultation Date and Time: Thursday, April 3 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Location: Hybrid (in person and virtual) meeting at 5050 Yonge Street, North York, ON M2N 5N8 with virtual link shared on Thursday, April 3
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Stop the Hate Ward Forum - Follow-Up |
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Thank you to all who attended our virtual Joint Ward Forum on March 20.
I was joined by Trustees Alexandra Lulka Rotman, Deborah Williams, and Michelle Aarts.
The topic was: Stop the Hate - Creating Understanding In times of Geopolitical Conflict. Presenters were Mark Sandler LL.B LL.D (honoris causa) and Dr. Karen Mock. They spoke on Hate, Antisemitism and Having Respectful Dialogue.
We are working on posting the recording, the slides shared and a number of resources - I hope to provide the links in next week's update.
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TDSB Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Strategy |
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The TDSB’s Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Strategy is a community-led and TDSB staff facilitated initiative that uses data from the TDSB’s Racism, Bias and Hate reporting portal, which tracks incidents of racism, bias and hate submitted by staff. In turn, this data will help establish a comprehensive strategy and action plan for the TDSB.
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Following a board decision in February 2025, staff will continue to engage communities through planned consultations to complete all three phases identified in the Update on TDSB's Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Strategy (March 2023). This will shape the development of a unified, consolidated and comprehensive Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Strategy to combat hate and racism in all their forms, which includes the Combatting Hate and Racism Student Learning Strategy.
The TDSB is committed to developing and implementing a strategy that is responsive to the voices of communities in addressing incidents of hate and racism that continue to take place within the district. Community consultations are ongoing and as they are scheduled, please continue to check this page.
Overall, the Anti-Racism and Anti-Hate strategy takes intersectional and systemic approaches with student success as the primary focus. How we address specific forms of hate, racism and discrimination needs coherency, community partnership and cross-collaboration within the diverse groups impacted. The strategy emcompasses six pillars:
1. Affirmation of Identities
2. Student Learning Strategy
3. Professional Learning
4. School-community Relationship
5. Employment Equity
6. School Culture and Climate
NOTE: The workplan on all focus areas as per the Update: Affirming Jewish Identities and Addressing Antisemitism and the Combatting Hate and Racism Strategy will continue as planned. The amalgamation of those workplans will be the creation of the final strategy.
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Reporting Incidents of Hate |
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As staff continue developing the overarching Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Strategy please remember that should an incident of antisemitism or any form of hate or racism occur in our schools, principals have an obligation to report it.
As I repeat in every update, the TDSB collects data through the Bias and Hate (RBH) Portal. An increase in antisemitic incidents is being experienced in our schools as it is in our communities - on my website I have excerpted from all our public reports on the data - TDSB Public Reports with RBH Portal Data 2018-2023. Principals and Superintendents are being reminded of their responsibilities in documenting incidents and educating against them. All students and staff - all students and staff - must be safe in our schools and free from discrimination, harassment and hate. Antisemitism is but one form of hate our students and staff are experiencing.
If you are a staff or a student or a parent/caregiver, and you are a victim of/or witnessing an incident of racism, bias, or hate in our schools, please report it to the school's principal, who has a duty to investigate all incidents. For more information, please visit the webpage for Reporting an Incident of Hate or Discrimination Involving or Impacting Students. If you experience it, or witness it, report it. Please. If you are concerned your complaint is not being taken seriously after you follow the Parent Concern Protocol, please let me know.
For incidents involving and impacting students, the following procedures can apply: Reporting and Responding to Racism and Hate Incidents Involving or Impacting Students in Schools, PR728 Parent Concern Protocol, PR505 Caring and Safe Schools related procedures
For employee complaints, the following procedures can apply: Workplace Harassment Prevention and Human Rights, PR515 (for employee conduct alleged to be a human rights violation or Code-based workplace harassment) Non-Code Based Workplace Harassment, PR740
In some circumstances an incident entered into the RBH portal may be a breach of the Criminal Code through the incitement of hate; in which case, the incident must also be reported to the police in accordance with PR728.
Complaints regarding social media postings should be sent directly to the TDSB's Human Rights Office at humanrightsoffice@tdsb.on.ca. The intake process is being centralized in the Human Rights Office to ensure for consistency of process.
If you witness something inside the community, report any allegations of hate-motivated crimes to police for investigation at 416-808-2222 or 9-1-1 in an emergency. The Police state they will not tolerate any intimidation, harassment, or hate-motivated behaviour aimed at specific communities. You can also call 1-800-222-TIPS to Crime Stoppers anonymously.
Please remember TDSB's Mental Health and Well Being Professional Support Staff (PSS) are here to support your mental health and well-being and to help you navigate the tools and resources you may need. Please see resources on their website.
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| Celebrate inclusion on April 5 at Day of Pink 2025!
International Day of Pink has one purpose – to create a more inclusive and diverse world. Day of Pink works with schools and host public events in key cities across Canada each year to recognize significant milestones in 2SLGBTQIA+ history.
The 2025 Day of Pink Re-Emergence Tour is making its way to Toronto. On April 5, 2025, at 2:00 PM, Fairlawn Avenue United Church will host an inspiring event featuring powerful discussions and performances by Two-Spirit leader and educator Elder John R Sylliboy and drag performer and advocate Chelazon Leroux. This free event invites the public to celebrate the resilience, activism, and progress of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
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EQAO Webinar for TDSB Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers: Primary and Junior Assessment for Reading, Writing, and Math - April 15
TDSB Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers are invited to register for a live webinar to learn about the Primary (Grade 3) and Junior (Grade 6) Assessment for Reading, Writing, and Math. Participants will learn about the purpose of Ontario’s large-scale assessments. EQAO staff will explain the assessment format, highlight resources to support students, and answer questions from participants. The session is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live Q&A with EQAO staff.
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Community Consultation for the Latin America Diaspora - April 26
The TDSB wants to hear from you about how to improve the academic achievement of students from the Latin America diaspora.
Reunión para la comunidad latinoamericana. El TDSB quiere escuchar de ti de cómo mejorar la oportunidades académicas de nuestros estudiantes.
Please see details for this event:
Date: April 26, 2025
Time: 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Location: CW Jeffreys Collegiate Institute
Register here
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Virtual Urgent Care Kiosk, an in-person space at the Lawrence Allen Center
SickKids started a Virtual Urgent Care (VUC) platform in 2021 (Learn more by clicking here).
After initial community consultation, SickKids have created the Greeter-supported Virtual Urgent Care Kiosk, an in-person space at the Lawrence Allen Center (a local mall located at Lawrence and the Allen Road). This one-year project is a novel, health equity-focused approach to urgent care, which would see SickKids provide an additional way for one of Toronto’s most digitally underserved communities to access our VUC platform.
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The initiative launched in late January. SickKids are very excited to bring this novel, health equity-focused resource to the community - we hope this project brings benefits to the local community and learning that will improve care for patients and families.
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Nominations are now open for the 2025 OTIP Teaching Awards. For many years, these awards have recognized the excellence of our teachers in publicly funded education. There are three categories of awards: elementary teacher, secondary teacher and beginning teacher (in the first five years of teaching).
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A teacher may be nominated by anyone—professional colleagues, students, parents, or the general public. The deadline for receipt of nominations is March 31, 2025. Questions should be directed to Jason Healey at OTIPAwards@otffeo.on.ca. The Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) are proud sponsors of the OTIP Teaching Awards. Nominate here.
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Learn4Life.ca - Adult General Interest Courses General Interest Programs Adults 18+ and Seniors Program Information General Interest courses are for adults, 18 years of age and older. Seniors' Daytime courses are for registrants 65 years of age and older. For more information please visit www.learn4life.ca Registration is Open Classes Begin: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
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2024-2025 School Year Calendar |
Please ensure you check for Days of Significance before scheduling student and community events - as the TDSB is currently reviewing ours - for 2024-25, the TDSB will only publish a Faith/Creed-Based Holy Days Calendar and an Indigenous Days of Significance Calendar. For now, please check the Multi-Faith calendar available online https://multifaithcalendar.org/cal/index.php.
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| 2005 - 2026 School Year Calendar
Regulation 304 requires that there be a minimum of 194 school days between 1 September and 30 June, including a maximum of ten examination days for secondary schools and a maximum of seven Professional Activity (PA) days. It also establishes the dates for the Winter Break and the Mid-Winter Break.
It is the hope that presenting this early provides students, parents and staff sufficient notice to make plans for the 2025-2026 school year following Ministry approval.
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March is Greek Heritage Month (GHM)
2025 marks 10 years of recognizing GHM at the TDSB. For this reason, our theme for this year is:
Odyssey - A Decade of Celebrating Greek Heritage Month
Oδύσσεια - Μία Δεκαετία Εορτασμού του Μήνα Ελληνικής Κληρονομιάς
To mark Greek Heritage Month, the TDSB has planned several educational activities.
The TDSB Greek Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee looks forward to celebrating GHM with everyone! OPA!
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GHM Closing Ceremony Saturday, April 5 from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Greek Community of Toronto (30 Thorncliffe Park Drive, East York, ON) This afternoon of music, dance, and photo displays will include entertainment from TDSB students and community members. Light refreshments will be provided.
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Annual Greek Independence Day Parade Sunday, April 6, 2025 at 1p.m. Meeting place on the field at Kapapamahchakwew – Wandering Spirit School (16 Phin Avenue, Toronto, ON)
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| Ramadan Mubarak!
Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic Calendar. During the month of Ramadan, many Muslims around the world abstain from food and water from sunrise to sunset. This year, Ramadan began in the evening on Friday, February 28, 2025 and will end on Saturday, March 29, 2025.
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The TDSB Human Rights Office has developed a guide - Ramadan and the Duty to Accommodate. Included you will find information about Ramadan along with some tips and considerations for meeting the duty to accommodate staff and students under the Ontario Human Rights Code and TDSB’s Human Rights Policy (P031). To all observing Ramadan Mubarak!
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Special Education and Inclusion Guides for Parents/ Guardians/Caregivers
From learning about Individual Education Plans (IEPs) to navigating the Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) process, these resources are here to support you every step of the way.
We encourage you to explore the full guides on the Special Education and Inclusion website, where you’ll also find\additional Special Education resources for families.
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School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) has launched By Your Side, a new parent/caregiver learning hub that has been designed to meet the needs of Ontario’s families.By Your Side was created by Ontario parents/caregivers and school mental health professionals and includes resources and supports made available in multiple formats—including web content, PDFs, and videos to ensure that families can easily access information and strategies that promote mental health and well-being at home. Key topics include understanding mental health, promoting mental health at home, supporting mental health at school, stress and anxiety management, substance use prevention, navigating digital technology use, and reaching out for help. Our hope is you find these resources helpful. Mental health matters.
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| Stay Home If You Are Sick
During this respiratory virus season, I encourage you to review tips from Toronto Public Health (TPH) to help prevent the spread of infections in schools and communities.
Stay home if you are sick: If you have symptoms of illness, even if they are mild, stay home and wear a mask for 10 days after symptoms start. Practice good hygiene: Wash or sanitize your hands often, cover your cough or sneeze with your elbow or a tissue, and clean frequently touched surfaces.
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The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) presents Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away, which examines the history and legacy of the most significant site of the Holocaust, for its exclusive Canadian showing. The exhibition opened on January 10, 2025, and runs to September 1, 2025.
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This powerful exhibition arrived in Toronto just ahead of the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz on January 27, 2025, "explores the dual identity of the Auschwitz camp as a physical setting — the largest documented mass murder site in human history — and as a symbol of the borderless manifestation of hatred and human atrocity."
The public is invited to purchase tickets - more information can be found here.
Please note that a group of TDSB educators from the Jewish Heritage Committee (as reported at our last JHC Executive meeting) and members of TDSB Central Teaching and Learning Team (part of a team of educational advisors and partners to the ROM), were invited to an advance preview of the exhibit in December and began to plan how we would promote it internally to TDSB and that plan is currently underway…. We have messaged this important opportunity to teachers and all staff through DirectLine, administrators through the System Leaders Weekly, Trustees in Trustees Weekly and Social and World Studies and Humanities teachers through the department newsletter.
More information on school visits for grades 6-12 can be found here.
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Virtual Drop-In Hours: Pathway to Care for Mental Health
Virtual Drop-In Hours will be quarterly on dates provided for all Parents, Guardians & Caregivers with students at TDSB, including students with Special Education/Complex Needs are welcome, for this 2024-2025 school year.
When: Quarterly on Wednesdays on dates below, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 pm.
Where: Virtual; Teams Meet
Information here.
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| TDSB Special Education Department Family Sessions
Drop-In Q & A with Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Staff - Receive general OT/PT strategies for your child(ren) / Chat with other parents/caregivers; Ask questions.
If you require translation services or have any questions or concerns, please email:
Learning Centre 1 - Rhanda Craig: rhanda.craig@tdsb.on.ca and Leslie Hopkins: leslie.hopkins@tdsb.on.ca Learning Centre 2 - Anna Lin: anna.lin@tdsb.on.ca and Andrea Wiltsie: andrea.wiltsie@tdsb.on.ca
Get the link here Sensory and Motor team parent/guardian/caregiver VOH flyer
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Dogs are not Allowed on School Property
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I have been communicating issues we have been having with dogs on school property with every update. Now, as part of our ongoing efforts to maintain a safe and welcoming environment on TDSB properties, we would like to update you on the policies and new reporting procedures related to dogs on school grounds.
The TDSB enforces a strict policy regarding dogs on its properties. Dogs are generally not permitted on TDSB grounds, with the exception of service animals as defined by the Student Use of Service Animals in Schools Policy (P096) and the Use of Service Animals by the General Public Procedure (PR604). These guidelines are in place to ensure proper management and support for service animals within our schools.
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New Reporting Process for Dogs Off-Leash
To effectively address incidents of dogs being off-leash on school properties, a new reporting process has been established through the City of Toronto’s 311 service. Community members can report such incidents either by phone or online:
Phone Reporting: Call 311 to report dogs off-leash on school property
Online Reporting: Visit the City of Toronto Service Request or Feedback webpage.
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Community Safety & Support |
If you should you ever see any suspicious activity around school buildings after school hours, please contact 311, Toronto Police Services Dispatch at 416-808-2222, or the TDSB’s 24-hour Call Centre at 416-395-4620.
If you or a family member is in crisis, please contact Kids Help Phone:1-800-668-6868 or get support right now by texting CONNECT to 686868.
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