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| Shelley Laskin, Trustee
Toronto District School Board
Ward 8: Eglinton-Lawrence & Toronto-St Paul's
416-395-8787
Shelley.Laskin@tdsb.on.ca
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In this Issue:
- Happy Long Weekend
- Education Day Debate Update
- Trustee Advocacy
- Budget Town Halls - Update
- COVID-19 Reminders
- Board Meeting this Week
- TDSB System Calendar
- Bike to School Week is May 30 to June 3!
- Summer Programs
- Policy Consultations
- New Invitations - Eglinton Avenue West Clean-up; Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement Grand Opening Virtual Event – June 13, 2022
- Worth Repeating - Memorial Park Improvement Project: Public Information Meeting #1; COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics co-hosted by Councillor Matlow; OPSBA’s I ❤️ Public Education Video Contest; COVID-19 Check-In; TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal; Elections 2022 - Are You on the Voters Lists?; Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
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Happy Long Weekend
Hope you have a chance to enjoy this long weekend with family and friends. Stay safe - into the home stretch now!
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Education Day Debates in Eglinton-Lawrence and Toronto-St Paul's Update
Thank you to those who tuned into our virtual Education Day debates last week for the ridings in our ward - Eglinton-Lawrence and Toronto-St Paul's - and to the candidates from the Green, Liberal and NDP political parties who participated. Special thanks to Caroline Alphonso, Education Reporter with the Globe & Mail who asked critical questions on education policy and skillfully moderated. Before you vote, check out where the parties stand on education.
OPSBA has reached out to the four main parties - the Progressive Conservatives, New Democrats, Liberals, and Greens – elected to the Ontario Legislature with a questionnaire on six key education issues this election. Answers will be posted on our website as they come in.
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Trustee Advocacy
The TDSB Trustee's advocacy letters have a new home on the main webpage of tdsb.on.ca under Latest News, titled Advocacy Letters. Here you will find all the letters we have issued to various levels of government in support of our students, staff and school communities. You can also find this new webpage by clicking on Advocacy under Boardroom on the left-hand side of the Trustees and Board Meetings webpage.
With just over two weeks until the provincial election, the Chair of the Toronto District School Board, Alexander Brown, is calling on all provincial parties to commit to supporting Toronto schools with adequate and stable funding that fully supports all pandemic costs and the implementation of the TDSB’s Pandemic Recovery Plan.
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Budget Town Halls - Update
The TDSB’s two Budget Town Halls were held yesterday (May 19) at 1 p.m. and 7 p.m. There were approximately 150 participants in the 1 p.m. Budget Town Hall, and 75 participants in the 7 p.m. Town Hall. The sessions started with a presentation on the 2022-23 operating budget, followed by a question and answer period. There were a number of questions from participants on various topics, including special education, technology, outdoor education and newcomer funding. Trustees who were unable to attend are invited to watch the recordings of the 1 p.m. Budget Town Hall and 7 p.m. Budget Town Hall to see the questions and comments that the public had about the budget. The recordings of the sessions have also been posted on the TDSB website.
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COVID-19 RemindersPlease Continue to Wear a MaskWe have asked all students and staff at its schools to go back to wearing masks inside to help limit the disruption caused by a sixth wave of COVID-19. Face masks combined with other preventive measures, such as getting vaccinated, frequent hand-washing and physical distancing, can help slow the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19. Please wear a mask to protect yourself and others, especially those that cannot yet be vaccinated. Find more information on the new “masking” webpage.
Updated Information from TPH
Please get VaccinatedMental Health and Well-Being
COVID-19 Case Reporting - Adding TDSB-wide Totals
TDSB-wide weekly total of COVID-19 numbers will be reported on the COVID-19 Reporting webpage. This, in tandem with the daily COVID-19 notification letters from schools, will further provide our community a comprehensive picture of what is happening locally and system-wide, while preventing stigmatization of particular schools or areas. Weekly totals will be updated every Tuesday for the preceding week, here is the data from May 20.
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Board Meeting This Week
Wednesday, May 25, 2022 - Public Session - 7:00 p.m. - Hybrid Meeting - Agenda- 15. Committee Reports
- 15.1. Governance and Policy Committee, Report No. 04, April 27, 2022
- 1. Student Interest Programs: Specialized Schools and Programs Policy Review, Phase 5
- 2. P013, Out-of-Area Admissions Policy: Optional Attendance Policy Review, Phase 5
- 3. Policy Review Schedule and Governance and Policy Committee Target Dates: Update
- 4. Communications Policy Development: Status Update
- 5. P023, Parent and Community Involvement Policy: Review of Community Advisory Committees: Revised
- 6. Enterprise Risk Management: New Policy
- 7. P031, Human Rights Policy: Annual Review
- 8. Disconnecting From Work Policy, New Policy: Revised
- 9. P062, Alternative Schools Policy Review
- 15.2. Program and School Services Committee, Report No. 04, May 11, 2022
- 1. Black Student Achievement Community Advisory Committee: Implicit Bias Training Implementation
- 2. Special Education Advisory Committee: Priorities for Implementing Recommendations of the K-12 Education Standards Development Committee
- 3. Special Education Advisory Committee: Affirmation of Mandate of the Special Education Advisory Committee
- 4. Special Education Advisory Committee: Appointments to the Special Education Advisory Committee
- 5. Annual Indigenous Education Report
- 6. Caring and Safe Schools: Annual Report 2020-21
- 7. Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement Update
- 15.3. Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee (Special Meeting), Report No. 07, April 26, 2022
- 1. 2022-23 Grants for Student Needs Update and Preliminary Operating Budget
- 2. 2021-22 Pandemic Funding and Expense Update
- 15.4. Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee, Report No. 08, May 16, 2022
- 1. Contract Awards, Operations
- 2. Contract Awards, Facilities
- 3. Major Capital Projects and Renewal Status Update
- 4. Three-Year Projection and Deficit Recovery Plan
- 15.5. Planning and Priorities Committee, Report No. 06, May 18, 2022
- 1. Toronto Lands Corporation: 2022-23 Toronto Lands Corporation Operations Budget
- 2. Renaming of Queen Victoria Public School to Dr. Rita Cox – Kina Minogok Public School
- 3. Administrative Site Review: Update
- 4. Anti-Defamation League, Never is Now: The Annual Summit on Antisemitism and Hate Conference 2022: Expense Approval
- 5. Planning for the Renewal of the Multi-Year Strategic Plan:Update No. 1
- 6. Accommodation of Students From Residential Developments in the Niagara Street Junior Public School Area
- 7. Program Area Review for Bloor Collegiate Institute, Fern Junior Senior Public School, Howard Junior Public School, Humberside Collegiate Institute, Keele Street Public School, Parkdale Collegiate Institute and Runnymede Junior Senior Public School
- 6. Major Capital Projects and Renewal Status Update
- 7. Three-Year Projection and Deficit Recovery Plan
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TDSB System Calendar
There are many ways for parents/guardians and school community members to get involved, learn, connect and participate in TDSB activities and events. Visit this page often and see what's coming up!
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Bike to School Week is May 30 to June 3!
Following a brief pause during Ontario's learn-from-home period in 2020-21, we’re thrilled to announce the return of Bike To School Week in 2022 with our partners at Cycle Toronto. Running May 30 to June 3, Bike to School Week invites students and educators in Ontario to celebrate the joy and possibilities of riding a bike!
Toronto, York, Peel, and Halton have all opted to participate in this year’s Bike to School Week, which means that educators from school boards in these areas can register their classroom/school to participate! Upon registration, you’ll receive a package of resources to help plan and deliver school-friendly bike activities.
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Summer ProgramsAt the TDSB we provide a wide range of enriching summer programs for children, youth and adults. Click on the links to find out more.
Elementary
Secondary
Adult
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Join us - Monday from 10:30-4:30 for the Eglinton Avenue West Clean-up
Join local residents, community groups, schools and small businesses to clean litter from our public spaces, including sidewalks, parking lots and laneways.
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Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement Grand Opening Virtual Event – June 13, 2022
The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement is proud to unveil the new physical space! The creation of the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement originated as part of the Toronto District School Board’s response to dismantling anti-Black racism within the school board. It aims to improve both experiences and outcomes for Black students and is also responsive to the voices of Black communities who consistently advocated for deeper systemic change.
This live-streamed evening is filled with activities including a video tour. There will be the unveiling of artwork developed by artist and creator of the LEGACY posters and Order of Canada recipient, Robert Small, along with award-winning Afrofuturist muralist and cultural curator, Danilo Deluxo.
Date: June 13, 2022
Time: 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Audiences will experience performances as well as hear from Toronto District School Board staff and distinguished community members.
The event will be moderated by Itah Sadu, storyteller, author and managing director of A Different Booklist Cultural Centre: The People's Residence. For more details, click https://www.tdsb.on.ca/cebsa/grandopening.
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Memorial Park Improvement Project: Public Information Meeting #1
The City of Toronto’s Midtown Toronto Storm Sewer Relief Project (MTSSRP) involves construction of an underground stormwater storage tank and a pumping station in Memorial Park. This work is part of the City of Toronto’s Basement Flooding Protection Program to help reduce the risk of future basement flooding. TDSB/TLC and the City are working towards an agreement that permits the City of Toronto to use TDSB lands at North Preparatory (Memorial Park).
Meeting Date & Time - Thursday, May 26, 2022 | 7:00 to 8:30 pm
The meeting will be held virtually using Zoom Webinar - Please visit bit.ly/TLCMay2022 to register.
If you are interested in learning more about the Memorial Park Improvement Project, but are unable to join the public information meeting, please contact for memorialparkinfo@lura.ca to receive an emailed copy of the meeting deck and summary.
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COVID-19 Check-In
Sinai Health Foundation invites you to join us for a virtual panel taking place on Thursday, May 26 from 1:30 - 2:30 p.m., hosted by Melanie Ng of Breakfast Television & CityNews.
This virtual session will feature an expert panel - including Dr. Vanessa Allen, Dr. Erin Bearss and Dr. Howard Ovens - providing updates on COVID-19 and answering questions from the community. Register here - Thursday, May 26, 2022 - 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. If you have questions about this event, please reach out to the Sinai Live team at sinai.live@sinaihealthfoundation.ca.
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OPSBA’s I ❤️ Public Education Video Contest
In an effort to showcase the diversity of voices in public schools across the province, the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) and Ontario Student Trustee Association’s (OSTA-AECO) Public Board Council is asking participants to submit a short clip (three to five seconds) holding a small sign with the phrase/image: “I ❤️ Public Education!” Participants can write this in their “first language” (which may or may not be English) or any non-English language typically spoken at home.
The submissions will be used to create a two to three minute video showing the full range of diversity of ages, faces, voices, and places that make up our provincial public schools, and their collective love of learning and the shared values of public education. The deadline for this contest is May 31, 2022 at 5 p.m. For details, click https://opsba.org/iheartpubliceducation/.
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COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics co-hosted by Councillor Matlow
Every Tuesday 12-4pm until June 7th, Councillor Matlow is co-hosting a COVID-19 vaccination clinic at Fairbank Memorial Community Centre with some remarkable partners. To learn about eligibility & details, check out the flyer or contact York-Fairbank Centre for Seniors 416 - 651- 8300 / yorkfairbank@on.aibn.com
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TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal
Since the start of the conflict, a number of schools across the TDSB have been holding fundraisers and collecting donations in support of the ongoing relief efforts in Ukraine. The launch of TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal complements these school initiatives and streamlines the process for schools and central departments to make new or additional donations.
The TDSBcares: Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal will run until May 31, 2022. Tax receipts will be issued by the Canadian Red Cross (for all donations of $1 or more) and UNICEF (for all donations of $10 or more).
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Elections 2022 - Are You on the Voter List?
For the Ontario Election on June 2, 2022. Ontario residents can visit Elections Ontario - Voter Registration to add, update or confirm your information on the voters list for individuals who are 18 years of age or older, Canadian citizens and residents of Ontario; Register of Absentee Voters for voters temporarily living outside Ontario who intend to return to the province; or Ontario Register of Future Voters for eligible 16- and 17-year-olds who will be automatically added to the voters list when they turn 18.
For the 2022 Municipal and School Board Elections on October 24, 2022, Ontario residents can visit Voterlookup.ca at any time to find out whether their information is accurately reflected for inclusion on the Preliminary List of Electors for the 2022 Municipal and School Board Elections. Eligible electors can also update their information, add a name to an address, or change their school support for electoral purposes. Let's be ready.
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Respect the Rules - No Dogs Allowed on School Grounds
Dogs are not allowed on school property at any time. Many people are surprised to learn that TDSB Policy prohibit dogs (leashed or unleashed) being on school property. Section 6.10 PR523 Access to School Premises prohibits canines on our properties “at any time” (except service animals).
Please respect children’s play spaces. And please do not verbally abuse TDSB caretaking staff - I am hearing that when members of the public and caretakers onsite try and inform dog owners, they are met with threats and intimidation.
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School Year Calendar 2021-2022- The last day of class for elementary students is June 30, 2022
- The last day of class for secondary students is June 29, 2022
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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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