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May 2019 Newsletter
Ministry Announces School Board Funding, TDSB Faces Projected $54.4-Million Deficit
On Friday, April 26, the Ministry of Education released the funding for school boards, including the Toronto District School Board, known as the Grants for Student Needs (GSN).
Following a preliminary analysis of the grants, the TDSB's funding will decrease by $21.2 million, and possibly more, for the 2019-20 school year. Overall, the Board is still projecting a shortfall of $54.4 million for the upcoming year.
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TDSB Budget Consultations The Toronto District School Board is inviting parents/guardians and community members to provide input on the draft 2019-20 budget. The TDSB is facing a shortfall of approximately $54.4 million and trustees welcome input from the public on what they believe should be the Board’s top budget priorities. More information, including how you can participate, is now available online.
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Letter: Chair Urges Province to Consult on Public Health, Pause Cuts
On Friday, May 3, 2019, Chair of the Board Robin Pilkey issued a letter to the Minister of Health and Long Term Care, the Minister of Children, Community and Social Services, and the Minister of Education, as well as Toronto Members of Provincial Parliament, urging them to hold off on implementing the cuts to Toronto Public Health until there can be further consultation and a full discussion about the known possible and impacts. For more background information, please refer to the news release.
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TDSB Parents and Staff Identify Early Years, Student Success as Top Priorities
Investing in early years programming and student success should be the Toronto District School Board’s top priorities, according to parents, staff, students and community members who participated in the TDSB's recent survey on how to prioritize spending. Seventy-five per cent of respondents ranked those two categories of investments as highest importance, followed closely by differentiated approaches to serving students, and allocating staff to support all students, which were ranked as highest importance by 74 per cent of respondents. The full story is available online.
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Director’s School Visits
Director of Education John Malloy is continuing to visit schools across the Toronto District School Board. Last year, he began recording and posting short video updates from each visit to showcase the innovative ways we are teaching and learning throughout the Board. Watch the latest videos of the Director’s school visits.
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Romeo baby-o, baby-o: Forest Hill CI steps into provincial theatre spotlight
Forest Hill CI has qualified for a provincial theatre showcase in Brantford, May 8 to 11. The school’s production of The Seussification of Romeo and Juliet, by Peter Bloedel, is one of just twelve that will be performed at the Ontario National Theatre School (NTS) Festival, and the only one from the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). “I’m so proud of our students and staff and their incredible creativity and dedication,” said Principal Reiko Fuentes. The full story is available online.
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School Year Calendar
The 2019-2020 school year at the TDSB begins on Tuesday, September 3, 2019 following the Labour Day long weekend. For more information about important dates and holidays for the upcoming school year, please refer to the 2019-20 School Year Calendar.
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Elementary Summer School
Elementary summer programs increase engagement and build self-confidence in our students. This summer, from July 3 – 26, we are opening schools across the city to help build reading, writing and math skills in our students. Visit www.tdsb.on.ca/summer for a complete list of participating schools. @TDSB_ConEd
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Continuing Education Adult High School
Find a career path and meet your educational goals every year. Register now for the new semester beginning April 23. Tuition is free! Earn credits in nine weeks and gain Canadian work experience. Discover programs in business & technology, social science, mathematics and specialty programs such as accounting, office administration, childcare assistant, and more. Visit www.adultschoolstoronto.ca for more information.
Improve Your English With Us
Adults are welcome to join the many English as a Second Language classes offered at various locations across Toronto. In addition to classes throughout the year, summer school will be offered from July 8-31. We offer a wide range of levels, from beginner to advanced, to help you build your language skills and to help you reach your life goals. The Adult ESL program is free for eligible learners. For more information, visit www.ESLtoronto.ca or call 416-338-4300.
Community Program
Registration for Learn4Life summer classes begins Wednesday, May 15. Take up a new hobby, learn a different language, and meet people in your community. Learn some new dance moves, or keep up your fitness goals with yoga classes, tennis and golf. Gain knowledge on how to invest in the stock market or prepare your taxes.
For more information, please visit www.learn4life.ca.
Summer International Languages Elementary and African Heritage Programs
Register your child in TDSB’s half and full day international languages summer programs. Open to all students from SK to Grade 8, our language learning programs involve cultural activities like games, songs, dance, storytelling, traditional crafts and writing. Classes begin July 2 – 26.
Visit www.ILEprograms.ca for a complete list of participating schools and language classes.
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TDSB Recognizes Children’s Mental Health Week
This week, the TDSB recognizes Children’s Mental Health Week. Encouraging, noticing and highlighting caring and kind interactions in our schools is the focus this week at the TDSB. The sense of caring for others and being cared for is one of the most powerful protective factors for mental health and well-being. Providing a caring, inclusive school climate improves academic achievement and resiliency.
Learn more online about Children`s Mental Health Week, as well as supports and resources the TDSB offers.
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Bike to School Week at the TDSB – May 27 - 31
Let’s get rolling! Join students and teachers across the province in celebrating Bike to School Week. Schools participate in Bike to School Week by encouraging their students to walk and/or roll to school, and by holding events both inside and outside the classroom to promote the benefits of active transportation. For more information and resources, please visit our Bike to School Week webpage.
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Pedestrian Safety - Safety Tips for Parents Children under nine should be accompanied by adults or older children when crossing the street. At this age, their judgment and perceptual skills are still immature, yet they often eagerly try to cross streets on their own in order to demonstrate some independence. Teach your children the rules of the road - start when they're young. Think of it as gradually training your children about safety until all the connections are in place. By the time your child reaches age nine and can act independently, the road safety rules will be second nature.
- Teach children how to cross the street safely. Teach them to stop (before stepping onto the road), look left, right and left again, and listen for traffic before stepping out into the street. Teach children to wait until the street is clear and to keep looking until they have crossed the street. They should also look the driver in the eye before crossing.
- Teach children to recognize pedestrian crossing signals but not rely on them. Before crossing, children should also be sure the traffic has stopped. Remind them to continue across if the light changes to "Don't Walk" while they are in the crosswalk.
- Teach children to be extra alert when crossing at a corner with no traffic lights.
- Teach your children to stop at driveways, alleys and areas without curbs and to never run out onto the street.
- Teach children about the dangers of crossing the street between parked cars or when not at a corner. Children should cross only at corners and pedestrian crosswalks, not diagonally or between parked cars.
- Teach children to respect the role of the crossing guard and to understand his/her signals.
- Teach children that wherever possible they should walk on the sidewalk. In areas without sidewalks, teach children to walk as far away from the road as possible, facing approaching traffic (when there is no choice but to walk on the road).
- Teach children that playing games at railway crossings or around trains can be deadly. Teach children that the only way to cross railway tracks is to use designated railway crossings.
Follow the same rules that you want your child to follow. You may want to cut across the street in the middle of the block, but you want your child to learn to cross at the intersection. Be a good role model.
Reprinted with the permission of Safe Kids Canada. Visit www.safekidscanada.ca for more safety tips on keeping children safe.
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