Week of November 23, 2020
| |
This Week's Update- Reduce the Spread
- Covid-19 Advisory
- A Message from PIAC
- A Special Message from FSLAC
- Committee and Board Meetings This Week
- Secondary School Update
- Status of Mechanical Ventilation Systems in TDSB Schools
- TDSB Student Guides
- Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition
- Special Education & Inclusion Update
- Post-Secondary Information Session for Families - November 24 at 7pm
- Long-Term Planning in Midtown
- Education Development Charges
- Responding to Hate
- Legislative Updates from OPSBA
- Learn4Life
- Virtual Open Houses
- Optional Attendance
- French Program Application DeadlinesInternational Languages Elementary & African Heritage Programs
- School Year Calendar
| |
COVID-19: Reduce Virus Spread
As of Monday at 12:01 a.m., Toronto will enter lockdown under provincial measures to slow the spread of COVID-19. Residents are asked to stay home, except for essential trips for groceries, health care, child care, school and work. Support local business through curbside pickup and ordering takeout or delivery.
Again, please note that schools, before & after school programs, & childcares will remain open during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Toronto. The best way to keep our kids in school right now is to ensure everyone is following public health guidelines to prevent community spread. This is the most critical thing we can do. Let's all do what we can.
"That is why I am adding my voice to those urging senior levels of government to find ways to support people practically through the next few weeks – in part because it will allow more people to stay safely at home and that will help reduce and prevent the spread of infection, which is why we’re doing this to begin with.
Please choose to keep at least six feet or two metres apart from people you don’t live with. Please choose to wear your mask when you’re exposed to people you don’t live with. Please choose to wash your hands as frequently as possible. And please choose to stay home and stay apart as much as you can.
So if we’ve got to do this – and there is no doubt that we do – let’s make it work."
Dr Eileen de Villa
| |
Download the COVID ALERT APP
| |
COVID-19 Advisories
The Toronto District School Board is committed to providing up to date information about confirmed cases of COVID-19 in schools (students and staff). This information is easily accessible by clicking on the COVID-19 Advisories banner on the main webpage of www.tdsb.on.ca. Please note that all schools where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 will receive a letter from Toronto Public Health to inform them about the possible exposure.
Please note that as of November 10, TDSB began tracking “resolved” cases on the website. If a case was resolved prior to November 10th, it wouldn’t be reflected on the website.
As of the morning of November 20, 1,150 cases of COVID-19 cases had been reported in publicly funded schools in the past 14 days. Of those cases, 706 are students, 173 are staff, and 271 are not identified. Three of the 4,828 schools in the province are currently closed.
One day after noting that conversations were occurring at the provincial level, on Wednesday Minister of Education Stephen Lecce announced that "an extended winter holiday is not necessary at this time, given Ontario's strong safety protocols, low levels of transmission and safety within our schools," Lecce said in a statement. He didn't rule out future changes to the school year, saying the government will "consider any option" and "take decisive action to keep schools open in January and beyond." The Premier said the decision was based on advice from the chief medical officer of health Dr. David Williams, who said the safest place for kids is in schools.
I want to add my deep gratitude to all those working in our schools - your efforts dealing with your own health and safety and then ensuring students protect themselves have allowed our schools to stay open. And to all the parents/caregivers, thank you for keeping your children home if they are sick and for ensuring they come to school with masks.
| |
A Message from PIACOn behalf of the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee, I'd like to say thanks to all families, parents and caregivers for being a part of the PIAC's "Ready, Set, Engage" annual parents and caregivers conference. This year's theme was Navigating the School Year Together. It is a wonderful experience to engage, share, learn together as the TDSB and parents across the city, explore bricks and mortar and virtual learning during the 2020/21 school year. We encourage you to stay connected to your school councils and communities for updates.
The PIAC is committed to supporting school councils to engage their parent communities with information and resources. Please visit torontopiac.com for more information and resources.
Stay well during this time.
John Bakous and Kaydeen Bankasingh
Ward 8 PIAC reps
| |
A special message from FSLAC
(French as a Second Language Committee)
The FSLAC was created by the Board in 2005. Our mission which was adopted by the TDSB and reconfirmed in our Terms of Reference in 2016 is: “To consult with and advise the Board on French as a Second Language matters. As a Board community advisory committee, the FSLAC will contribute to the work of trustees and staff. This partnership of trustees, staff and parents will foster excellence and growth in FSL programs at the Board.”
Our work focuses on all French learning programs whether your child is in Core French, French Immersion, or Extended French you can make a difference in improving your child's education with our group. We are currently looking for a parent representative for Ward 1. We typically meet on the 2nd Tuesday every month over Zoom. Meetings are for 2 hours and some of the topics that we recently tackled include providing recommendations on making sure that the suburbs have equal access to French programs compared to those living in the downtown core, ensuring that French teachers are available for all of the students interested in learning French, providing advice to the Board on how to spread the word of the new Junior Kindergarten entry point for French Immersion, and these are just some of the topics.
Please note each ward is entitled to a representative and an alternate. We are thrilled that Lynne Le Blanc, our Ward 8 rep is now co-chairing the committee. We are looking for an alternate. If you are someone who wants to contribute to French learning at the TDSB and be the voice of Ward 8 parents at the FSLAC please contact me. For information https://www.tdsb.on.ca/fslac.
| |
Committee and Board Meetings This Week
Delegation requests will still be accepted during the closure of all schools and administrative sites at the TDSB; however, oral delegations to address a committee of the Board will be presented by phone. To submit a delegation request (written or oral), please refer to the information found here https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Delegations and email delegates@tdsb.on.ca. If your request is approved, further details will be provided to you via email.
Planning and Priorities Committee (Special Meeting) Tuesday, November 24, 2020 4:30 p.m. Electronic Meeting
The purpose of the meeting is to provide strategic advice and recommendations to the Board on COVID-19 related matters.
- 4. Report From the Director of Education - Oral update
- 5. Report From the Chair of the Board - Oral update
- 6. Report From Representative on the City's Board of Health - Oral update
- 7. Report From the Directors on the Ontario Public School Boards' Association - Oral update
- 8. Report From the Chairs of the Governance and Policy Committee, the Program and School Services Committee, and the Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee - Oral update
- 9. Report From Representatives on the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee and the Special Education Advisory Committee - Oral update
- 10. Reports From Student Trustees - Oral update
- 11. Staff Reports
- 11.1. TDSB Readiness to Welcome International Students
- 12. Other Questions, Insights and Advice From Trustees to Staff - To be presented
Special Meeting Tuesday, November 24, 2020 7 p.m. Electronic Meeting
The purpose of the meeting is to consider reports from the Board Self-Assessment Committee and to discuss a matter in private session.
Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee (Special Meeting) Wednesday, November 25, 2020 4:00 p.m. Electronic Meeting
- 4. Contract Awards
- 4.1. Contract Awards, Facilities
- 4.2. Contract Awards, Operations
- 5. Reserve Status as a Result of 2019-20 Operations: Update - Note: Variance in Working Funds due to timing of benefit fund transfer of benefit surplus which will occur in 2020-21, resulting in a working fund balance of $10.0M increase to $26.3M. Currently the Board is applying to the Ministry of Education to utilize $10.3M of Proceeds of Disposition to offset construction labour costs incurred during pandemic shutdown. Should approval be given, the Working Fund balance will increase an additionally to $36.6M.
- 6. 2020 Actual Enrolment: Update - The TDSB is down 5,444 students from projection. This means a loss to the Board's budget of $41.4M. It should be noted that many school boards are facing similar declines in enrolment due to the pandemic. The TDSB and other boards have advocated to the Ministry of Education to fund at the original enrolment projections prior to the pandemic, as boards are facing significant funding reductions. The Ministry of Education is reviewing this request of school boards and will advise if any additional funding will be made available to address the decline in enrolment.
- 7. 2020-21 Revised Estimates: Update - Staff will begin discussions with the Ministry of Education on revised projections and seek approval of the revised deficit of 3.25%. As well, staff will continue to advocate to the Ministry of Education to fully fund the costs of the pandemic to school boards and update Trustees on Ministry of Education communications.
- 8. 2021-22 Operating Budget Communications Overview
- 9. Draft 2021-22 Budget Strategic Drivers and Consultation Plan - Staff will present the current Budget Strategic Drivers to SEAC and PIAC for discussion and feedback. In order to allow both Statutory Advisory Committees the opportunity to provide feedback, staff will request they submit their feedback by the end of January, to inform the discussion at the February 2021 Finance, Budget and Enrolment Committee (FBEC) meeting.
| |
Secondary UpdateIn preparation for Quadmester 2, the newly revised Secondary Program Guideline and the new Secondary Simultaneous Learning Addendum were released this week to support schools and classrooms.
The Secondary Program Guideline was initially developed in August 2020 and was recently updated, with new sections highlighted in yellow. The plans continue to be guided by the Ministry of Education and Toronto Public Health; and, as a result, may change based on new information.
| |
Status of Mechanical Ventilation Systems in TDSB Schools
Please see the list of TDSB schools in Ward 8 with information regarding the current status of mechanical ventilation systems. As you will see from the list, several schools are identified as having “partial mechanical” ventilation systems. These are schools that have mechanical ventilation in certain rooms or spaces, but not in the entire building. As you know, schools with partial mechanical ventilation and schools without mechanical ventilation have received or will be receiving HEPA units purchased by the TDSB.
Facility Team Leaders have reviewed all schools to confirm the status of mechanical ventilation systems and have been responding to school inquiries about ventilation and/or HEPA units. More information about HEPA units in TDSB schools can be found on the website, including a Q&A.
| |
TDSB Student Guides
Please know that resources are now available for In-School, Virtual School secondary students and educators.
Students access to Zoom meetings (click the meeting link) & Toolbar features. More resources coming soon 👍
On This Page:
Check out the TDSB Student Zoom Guides here
| |
Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition
The list of High School Virtual Open Houses and Information Sessions can be found: here.
| |
Special Education & Inclusion UpdateThe Board has provided a Special Education and Inclusion update, with 2020/2021 information about:
- IPRC/SEPRC Structure 2020-2021
- Local (School-Based) IPRCs and SEPRC
- System (Learning Centre) IPRC for Reviews and Original IPRCs
- System (Learning Centre) IPRC –Special Education CAP Chaired
- Grade 8 to 9 Transitions for Students in Intensive Support Programs (ISP)
- Annual IPRC (Review) for Exceptional Students
| |
Post-Secondary Information Session for Families - November 24 at 7pm
To help families make sense of the post-secondary admissions process during COVID-19, the TDSB will be hosting a Post-Secondary Information Session for Parents that focuses on the OUAC (Ontario University Application Centre) and OCAS (Ontario Colleges Application Service) application process and important information related to how applications and admissions are being managed during COVID-19.
After a brief overview of the post-secondary application process participants will hear briefly from some of our post-secondary institutions.
Presenters include:
- OYAP
- OCAS
- Centennial College
- Seneca College
- George Brown College
- Humber College
- University of Toronto
- Ryerson University
- York University
This event will take place on Tuesday, November 24 at 7:00pm to 8:15pm, via Zoom. Click here to join the event on Tuesday evening (Passcode: 130289). The Zoom will be available for joining at 6:45pm. Families who require an interpreter can click here to request Interpretation Services for the event.
Of importance are the following updates for potential graduates:
- The literacy requirement has been waived for a 2020-2021 graduate this year
- Community involvement hours have been reduced from 40 to 20 hours for graduates this year, students are encouraged to participate in virtual community involvement opportunities (www.sparkontario.ca, www.volunteertoronto.ca)
- Given that many schools have moved to a Quadmester system, most universities will make conditional offers of admission on a rolling basis using a combination of Grade 11 and available Grade 12 marks
For up-to-date information about school- or program-specific information, please visit the website for the post-secondary institutions
- For contact information for the colleges in Ontario, click here
- For contact information for the universities in Ontario, click here
The Ontario Universities’ Application Centre (OUAC) and OntarioColleges.ca provide updates about the admissions process for Ontario universities and colleges on their websites. Please visit the following websites for information about how post-secondary institutions are approaching the admissions process during COVID-19
| |
Long-Term Planning in Midtown
In my Trustee Weekly Update of November 2, I noted the TDSB prepares a ten-year outlook for development planning purposes, called the Long-Term Program and Accommodation Strategy (LTPAS). Please note for this year's studies (in particular the Armour Heights grade change study and the Otter Creek boundary change study) the Planners are mapping out a critical path for each project, which will include target dates for the Local Feasibility Team (LFT), whereby staff and local trustees begin the work, the Program Area Review Team (PART) where school council representatives are involved and public meetings (where required). The affected communities will be informed of dates as soon as possible.
In addition, as has been reported in the LTPAS, the TDSB has established a timeline for developing a long-term accommodation strategy to address growth in the Midtown area that is intended to achieve sufficient local elementary school accommodation by September 2024. This is a process that involves feasibility analyses of options, public consultation, and approval by the Board. This timeline also incorporates TDSB’s current system-wide Secondary School review and French programs review, which will potentially help relieve enrolment pressures in the Midtown area.
Staff are investigating all possible solutions including the Toronto Lands Corporation's (TLC) pursuit of innovative partnerships with the City of Toronto and the broader development community. It is noteworthy that a new school of this size will require TDSB securing significant capital investment to support the acquisition of a site, construction and/or strata ownership within a development project. The provision of new elementary school capacity has been acknowledged as an infrastructure priority by Toronto City Council.
One possibility is securing school space for elementary pupils as part of the Canada Square redevelopment, at the south west corner of the Yonge-Eglinton intersection. A community meeting on this development is coming up next week on Monday, November 23rd at 4pm. To learn more about this meeting and the re-development of this block, please click https://canadasquareto.com/.
The TLC in consultation with the TDSB reviews all development proposals. TLC’s position is that the provision of accommodation for students in local public schools is a critical element of building and sustaining complete communities throughout the City. Without adequate local school capacity, students generated by new development will not be accommodated by local schools and will need to be bussed, often on lengthy commutes, to other TDSB schools far outside the local community. The cumulative impact of over 50 developments within the Midtown area will result in unsustainable accommodation pressures that cannot be addressed within existing local TDSB schools. Moreover, given the magnitude and scale of these accommodation pressures, traditional measures such as warning clauses are not sufficient in and of themselves to resolve the issues raised.
Unless or until it can be demonstrated that the future students attributed to developments have access to adequate and reasonable local public school accommodation, the approval of this development application is premature and will not be supported by planning policies and objectives.
For your information, in just the last month, the TLC attends meetings, conducted by The City of Toronto Planning Division. Developments we are following include:
- 2323-2329 Yonge St
- 2674-2704 Yonge St
- 276-290 Merton St
- 1134-1140 Yonge St.
- 1718-1734 Bayview Avenue
- 65-83 Raglan Avenue
| |
Education Development Charges (EDCs)
Education Development Charges (EDCs) are funds that school boards can spend on new developments. While other school boards in Ontario are allowed to collect EDCs, the TDSB does not qualify because it has excess capacity when assessed on a district-wide basis, regardless of significant capacity pressures and challenges faced in many neighborhood schools. This puts the TDSB at a disadvantage. The TDSB is advocating for the Ontario Government to amend the Education Development Charges Regulation (Ontario Reg. 20/98) under the Education Act to allow the TDSB to collect EDCs to help support urgent school infrastructure needs and reduce overcrowding in high-growth areas of the City. In addition, the TDSB is asking to expand the definition of “education land costs” to include construction costs for new buildings and other costs to meet growth-related infrastructure needs such as additions and renovations to existing schools.Please join us. Growth should pay for growth.
| |
Responding to Hate
There is no room for any form of hate in TDSB. Unfortunately there continue to be issues of Anti-Black racism, Islamophobia, Antisemitism, Homophobia and other forms of hate reported within our schools. This past week, the TDSB launched a Reporting and Responding to Racism and Hate incidents involving or impacting students in schools portal for school Principals. This is now a TDSB Procedure (PR728) and it also supports the implementation of the Human Rights Policy (P031). The procedure details steps and processes for responding to racism incidents, hate/bias incidents and hate crimes involving a TDSB student, parent/guardian, staff person, or TDSB community member that impacts the school/learning environment. The objectives of this procedure is to build school system capacity to identify, document, respond to, remedy, prevent and learn from racism incidents, hate/bias incidents, and hate crimes. I was proud to move and support this. If you see something, say something.
| |
Legislative Updates from OPSBAOntario Public School Boards Association
Indigenous Education Funding
On November 13, the Minister of Education announced $17 million dollars over three years to support First Nation, Métis, Inuit, and urban Indigenous education partners. Click here for the joint statement by OPSBA President Cathy Abraham and OPSBA’s Indigenous Trustees’ Council Chair Elaine Johnston.
“The Indigenous Trustees’ Council has on several occasions had the opportunity to highlight for Minister Lecce the many unique challenges faced by Indigenous students, as well as the many innovative and culturally appropriate programs available for Indigenous students across the province. There is always more work to do, but we are pleased that the government is making these important investments in the education of Indigenous youth.” Elaine Johnston, Chair of OPSBA’s Indigenous Trustees’ Council
Child Care and Early Years Act (CCEYA)
As mentioned in previous updates, the Minister of Education has posted a Consultation Document regarding Proposed Regulatory Amendments under the CCEYA. OPSBA’s work teams recently met virtually to review the discussion questions and have sent in a submission. Our submission was based on comments from previous OPSBA commentary regarding childcare, feedback received from both work teams, feedback from several senior member board staff responsible for the early years portfolio, as well as opinions from childcare sector stakeholders.
OPSBA believes, as many stakeholders do, that this is not the time to make any large-scale changes to childcare. The system is currently struggling with the realities of the pandemic – including keeping children safe while their parents are at work, providing steady employment to a marginalized work force, and keeping centres economically viable. There will be valuable learning from these COVID-19 related experiences that should be identified and discussed in order to inform policies and practices for the future.
| |
Learn4Life
Registration for the Winter 2021 term begins Wednesday December 2, 2020.
TDSB has served adults in Toronto for more than 160 years. Today, nearly 30,000 adult learners join 1700 general interest classes to take up a hobby, learn a skill and to meet people in their communities.
For details on courses, click here.
| |
Virtual Open Houses and Information SessionsTo help you make an informed decision when choosing a school, TDSB schools will host virtual open houses and information sessions (live or pre-recorded) for parents/guardians and students between November and January.
Learn everything you need to know about our incredible variety of schools, programs and courses. Please note that some schools are hosting “live” virtual open houses that families can join in real time, during the specified date and time. Some schools have pre-recorded information sessions that you can view at any time by clicking the link provided.
Note: Please check this page regularly, as schools will continue to post information about virtual open house dates/times and available pre-recorded information sessions. https://www.tdsb.on.ca/openhouses
| |
Optional Attendance
Provided the school is permitted to receive applications, you may decide to apply to attend a school other than your designated school by address. Schools with specialized programs will have additional criteria for admission; some schools require a supplementary application and some have highly specific requirements for admission. The Optional Attendance Policy has not changed for the 2021-22 school year. You may apply to two regular schools beyond your home school (determined by your residential address) and two specialized schools/programs. Your counsellor and your parents/guardians can help you determine if your choice is in line with the educational plans that you have been working towards.
Note: The optional attendance status for all schools for 2021-22 will be posted on the TDSB public website by mid-November.
If you choose to apply for optional attendance you should know:
- You will be responsible for your own transportation.
- You may only apply to two regular and two specialized schools/programs.
- You may not apply to a school that is not permitted to receive applications (i.e. closed schools). A list of those schools is produced by mid-January.
- A school/program that receives more applications than it has space will run a lottery to determine the successful applicants.
- Once you accept an offer of admission to a regular school through Optional Attendance, it becomes your home school and you are expected to remain there until graduation. For specialized schools/program and alternative schools, you may return to your designated school by address at an appropriate intake opportunity (i.e. semester change, end of term)
Elementary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:
- February 12, 2021 - Optional attendance forms due at elementary school
- March 05, 2021 - Deadline for parents/guardians to be informed of the status of the application request
- March 26, 2021 - Parents/guardians must inform the requested school of their acceptance of the offer
Secondary Optional Attendance – Key Dates:
- January 29, 2021 - Optional attendance forms due at secondary school
- February 12, 2021 - Deadline for parents/guardians of students to be informed of the status of the application request
- February 26, 2021 - Course selection sheets due at secondary schools
- March 1, 2021: Course selection sheets due at secondary schools via myBlueprint
| |
French Program Application DeadlinesFor families interested in the Toronto District School Board's system-wide French Programs, we offer an online process to apply for Early French Immersion (begins in Senior Kindergarten) and Middle French Immersion (begins in Grade 4). An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants. The timelines for applying for these programs for September 2021 are:
- Early French Immersion: Applications must be completed online between November 2 and November 27, 2020.
- Middle French Immersion: Applications must be completed online between January 4 and January 29, 2021.
Offers of placement within your chosen program (not a specific school) will be made to all on-time applicants in the weeks following the close of the application window. Families with an older sibling currently in a French program are still required to complete an online application for the new student.
For more information about French as a Second Language programs, the application process and important dates, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/french.
| |
International Languages Elementary & African Heritage Programs
International Languages Elementary & African Heritage Program is an enriching learning experience for K-8 students to learn a new language and discover other cultures. Open to all TDSB and non-TDSB students, programs are currently offered online and there is no language background necessary.
| |
School Year Calendar 2020-2021The official school year calendar for the Toronto District School Board runs from September 1 to June 30, inclusive and has now been approved by the Ministry.
PA Days & Holidays Remaining
|
Virtual School - December 4, 2020
|
|
Dec 21, 2020 - January 1, 2021
|
|
|
Secondary PA Day (Semestered Schools Only)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|