To Etobicoke Lakeshore Families & Community,
I am pleased to reach out to students, parents, families & the Ward 3 community this fall to share some updates from TDSB. As we all work through the final chapters of this historic & unprecedented pandemic, I would like to reflect on how far we have come in our abilities to adapt & continue the important work in providing public education to all. I am thankful for the hard work teachers, principals, central staff & school facilities staff have put in to ensure our school system is operating safely and effectively through these challenging times.
I am also very thankful for the patience students, parents and families have shown through these great changes. I understand the sacrifices students have had to make - from staying home and getting up to speed with remote & online learning to missing out on all the great extra- curricular activities we offer. There have been many temporary changes to life at school for our families in the past 19 months. Which is why I would like to say thank you to all families for our collective patience and sacrifice as we work through this together.
As we progress through our nationwide (and global) vaccination campaign it is encouraging to know that our schools are once again full of students eager to learn and make friends. With extra-curricular activities returning as of last week this school year is looking more certain and fuller than the previous year.
I am looking forward to supporting our school communities through this upcoming year. Regardless of how things develop, TDSB is active and prepared to adapt to whatever challenge that may arise. Most importantly learning and support will continue for all students of the TDSB.
It is an honour to represent our ccommunity as Trustee at the Toronto District School Board. I grew up in Etobicoke-Lakeshore, and I am proud to call this place my home. I am committed to the success of every student, parent, teacher, and family involved with our system.
It is my objective to ensure that our community remains, and continues to be, a wonderful place to grow up. As your trustee, it is my duty to represent your concerns regarding our school system to the Board and executive staff.
I encourage you to write to me at patrick.nunziata@tdsb.ca or give me a call on my cell phone 416-996-5572 should you wish to bring something to my attention. I am committed to the success of public education and will continue to advocate for our community at the TDSB.
On Wednesday, October 27 from 7:00 to 9:00 pm we will be hosting a virtual ward forum over Zoom. All are welcome to join - please see the below flier for information on the agenda & registration.
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On Sept 30th, the TDSB observed the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation. Schools all took different approaches, with classes taking part in discussions, learning and projects, and many of these will form part of a larger plan of learning to be carried out throughout the school year.
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At our September Board Meeting (September 22), Trustees were updated on the implementation of the Mandatory Vaccine Procedure, passed in August by the Board of Trustees to ensure our buildings are as safe and healthy as possible for students and staff alike. An update on progress is shared below.
Trustees were also pleased to approve plans for the opening of the Boyne Natural Science School as an Indigenous land-based learning site. As stated in a news release:
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC), with guidance from the Elders Council, will open the Boyne Natural Science School as an Indigenous Land-Based Learning site. Trustees unanimously supported the initiative during this evening’s Regular Board Meeting.
This site is located on 308.5 acres of the Niagara Escarpment, adjacent to the Bruce Trail and the Boyne River Provincial Park. Its reopening supports the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action and supports Indigenous Education on The Land for all students, staff and Indigenous communities.
The Indigenous Land-Based Learning site, which will have one to two classes on location at a time will feature programming that focuses on holistic Indigenous health and well-being (physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual) in support of Indigenous student success. It will also include professional learning, community engagement, partnerships, curriculum resource development and innovation, research and development, and reconciliation through Indigenous perspectives.
To support the expansion of Land-Based Learning through Indigenous ways of knowing and being, UIEC staff will create resources to support all curriculum areas based on Indigenous Pedagogies; including, but not limited to Indigenous cultures and traditions, Indigenous language revitalization, archery, canoe/kayak building, hiking, maple syrup programming, mapping and orienteering, medicine harvesting and walks, mountain biking and snow shoeing.
In the future, the TDSB anticipates the site can be restored to support larger groups for day and overnight programming when the pandemic allows.
To learn more about this exciting initiative, click here.
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This week has been a busy one for trustees as well, with two standing committee meetings running back to back on Wednesday, September 29. Of particular importance, staff briefed trustees at the Special Finance, Budget, and Enrolment Committee (FBEC) meeting on 2021-2022 enrolment and provided a staffing update. As background, it is important to know that throughout the month of September, the planning department collects weekly counts of children attending school (as opposed to projected numbers, upon which staffing was assigned in spring and summer). Unfortunately, we are learning that our actual numbers are lower than expected, especially among junior kindergarten students, leaving us with a larger deficit than expected. Not wanting to lay anyone off, we are realigning and reorganizing some classes in the coming weeks with a focus on lowering our largest class sizes, and have called on our chair to write to the province to ask that we be funded to our projected enrolment so that we can balance our budget. At this time more than ever, it is important that we keep classes as small as possible, support students coming out of the pandemic, and ensure the stability of our system.
At the Governance and Policy Committee Meeting (GPC), trustees were also updated on a variety of matters, including an update on the development of a new communications policy, as well as the status of the Specialized Schools and Programs Policy review. Many of you may recall that the Specialized Schools and Programs Policy was paused during the pandemic. We have now been alerted to staff's plan to resume this policy review beginning in late November with a renewed 45-day consultation period. As this consultation gets set to begin, more information will be communicated so that everyone can have opportunities to provide feedback. To read the staff update provided to GPC, please click here.
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UPDATE ON WIND INSTRUMENTS:
Staff have now developed a plan to support the safe and gradual re-entry of wind instruments in elementary and secondary schools which has been approved by Toronto Public Health (TPH). As with all other activities, our first priority is ensuring that appropriate health and safety measures are in place. Together with TPH, we will continue to monitor the situation and make any adjustments as necessary to ensure that the reintroduction of these activities does not lead to further spread of COVID-19.
At this time, wind instruments are permitted for playing within a cohort indoors with distancing requirements. Wind instruments are permitted outdoors in mixed cohorts with physical distancing, and outdoor playing is recommended wherever possible. Specific considerations and guidelines have been established for both elementary and secondary schools, which school staff will be reviewing in the coming days to establish a plan for schools at the local school level.
We thank everyone for their continued patience and understanding as we work to get things up and running. We look forward to providing students with the opportunity to begin playing wind instruments again!
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Parent Engagement - FSLAC & PIAC, School Councils
In the past two weeks, our French as a Second Language Advisory Committee (FSLAC) and Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) Advisory have been hard at work!
Among the topics on the agenda at FSLAC (September 21) was the important change coming to our early French Immersion programming which will, as of next fall, start in JK/Junior Kindergarten instead of Senior Kindergarten, as it has in the past. During this "bridge year' of 2022/2023, students will be allowed to start French Immersion both in JK and SK. To reach parents of future JK students, many of whom do not yet have children in school, a special communications strategy is being developed. Please watch for communications beginning in October, and spread the word!
The application to the Early French Immersion program will remain an online process managed by the Central French Department and will take place during the month of November. All information and the online application are available at www.tdsb.on.ca/french website or click on Early French Immersion.
Early French Immersion: Applications must be completed online in November 2021 for Sept 2022 entry.
French Immersion Virtual Web Chat Information Sessions for families interested in the application and placement process for the Early French Immersion program (JK and SK Entry for September 2022 only) will be held in November 2021. Please note: To participate in a live scheduled web chat, please visit this web page and a link will be available to join on the dates/times as outlined.
November 8, 2021 - 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
November 15, 2021 - 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
November 23, 2021 - 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM
The FSLAC will be meeting on October 12 and November 9, 2021. All are welcome to attend. Details will be posted here: www.tdsb.on.ca/fslac
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Election for Ward 3 PIAC & FSLAC Rep
Parents and community members play a very important role in ensuring the success of our schools and students. There are a variety of ways that you can get involved and contribute to your school community. From volunteering in your local school to participating in school councils or advisory committees, you can make a difference and have your voice heard.
We will be holding elections for a PIAC (Parent Involvement Advisory Committee) & FSLAC (French as a Second Language Advisory Committee) Rep at the start of my upcoming ward forum!
Parents will have an opportunity to put their names forward to become a Ward rep or alternate for either PIAC or FSLAC.
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Post-Secondary Information Session for Grade 12 Families
The TDSB invites families of Grade 12 students to attend an upcoming Post-Secondary Information Session on Wednesday, October 6, 2021. This session is aimed at helping parents/guardians and students better understand the post-secondary admissions process during COVID-19. This event is meant to support the post-secondary initiatives that schools are coordinating for their students locally. Grade 12 students and families are encouraged to direct any questions about post-secondary planning to their school Guidance Counsellors.
Following a brief overview of the post-secondary application process, participants will have the opportunity to hear from a number of GTA post-secondary institutions regarding their admissions process and how their institutions are addressing teaching and learning during the pandemic. Presenters include:
Seneca College
George Brown College
Humber College
University of Toronto
Ryerson University
The following updates are important for potential graduates:
If you have any questions, please contact your child’s school Guidance Counsellor.
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TDSB Releases Mandatory Vaccine Procedure
Through this procedure, the TDSB is taking action to protect the health and safety of employees, students, families and community members and is in line with Ministry of Education direction, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health’s instructions, and a resolution by the Board of Trustees. The TDSB also conducted consultations with several stakeholders.
By November 1, 2021, employees, Trustees, and other individuals who have direct contact with staff or students at a TDSB workplace, must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (subject to approved requests for exemptions under the Human Rights Code). Until then, those who are not vaccinated or have not disclosed their vaccination status must continue to undergo rapid antigen testing at home and provide proof of a negative result, twice per week. In addition, those who do not have a medical/disability exemption will be required to undertake an education session on the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination.
Below is some information on staff vaccination status at TDSB
Total number of individuals to which the policy will apply: 40,239
Total number and percentage of individuals who have attested to being fully vaccinated: 31,900 or 80.1%. Of those that have completed the attestation form, 92% are fully vaccinated.
Total number and percentage of individuals with approved medical exemptions for not being fully vaccinated: 2 or 0%
The number and percentage of individuals who have not yet submitted an attestation form: 5,287 or 13%
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COVID-19 Advisories - This page provides a list of the active confirmed cases and resolved cases of COVID-19 among students and/or staff in TDSB schools. Please note that all schools where there is a confirmed case of COVID-19 will receive a letter from Toronto Public Health (TPH) to inform them about the possible exposure.
Last Friday, October 1, the Ministry of Education sent school boards guidance for safety protocols and steps that school staff can take to handle ongoing incidents of COVID-19 related protests and harassment targeting students and staff.
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Access to Rapid Antigen Testing
On October 5, Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Kieran Moore, announced greater access to local targeted COVID-19 rapid antigen testing for students. The program will support access to voluntary, rapid asymptomatic screening for unvaccinated children and students who are not high-risk contacts. Where the local public health unit has identified schools or child care centres that would benefit from this screening, rapid antigen screening tests will be made available. Parents will be able to choose if their unvaccinated asymptomatic children will participate in this screening offered by their schools or licensed child care settings. Unvaccinated children participating in the program will be able to conduct the rapid antigen screening at home with instructions. Children who receive a positive result will be required to seek a Lab-based PCR test at a local assessment centre or specimen collection c entre and isolate until the result of that lab-based PCR test is known. Children who receive a negative result on a rapid antigen screening test will be able to continue in-person learning. Please note some of our hospital partners were already piloting rapid antigen tests in high-risk communities.
For testing for students and staff for outbreaks, exposures and symptoms, the TDSB is working with three local hospitals to support schools with COVID-19 testing that is non-invasive, faster, easier and promotes equity of access. More information on COVID-19 Testing.
We will continue to monitor opportunities that would provide staff and/or their families the opportunity to self-monitor their COVID-19 status. And we will continue our advocacy to the government that COVID-19 vaccinations be added to the list of compulsory vaccinations for all eligible students.
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TPH COVID-19 Guidance Update
Toronto Public Health (TPH) has updated their guidance as of October 6, 2021 at 6:15 p.m. To read the latest guidance click COVID-19 Guidance. The updates include revising its COVID-19 screening for students. The updated screening tool takes effect immediatly. This is a copy.
Addition of, "Anyone who is sick or has any symptoms of illness, including those not listed above, should stay home and seek assessment from their health care provider if needed."
One of the most important thing families can do to help mitigate the transmission of COVID-19, is to screen their children daily for any COVID-19 symptoms and keep them home from school if they are sick or have had close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19. Thank you for your continued support in keeping our schools as safe as possible.
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Updates from Toronto Public Health
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Update re: Professional Learning
I have heard from many about concerns on the professional learning sessions that were directed to administrators held two weeks ago. People hold different truths and deeply held narratives based on their own experiences and identities and as a result, hear things differently. It is equally clear that we need more understanding about specific words and hashtags, their origins and meanings. Intention doesn’t erase impact. Hashtags are not conversations.
Staff have confirmed that work has now begun on creating a new process to guide how we organize and structure professional learning, and engage with potential speakers as an organization the TDSB has made strides with conversations around Equitable, Anti-Racist, and Anti-Oppressive Practice that have begun to address anti-Black racism, anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Asian racism and discrimination against the 2SLGBTQ+ community and those dealing with disability. As that work continues, what’s missing?
Staff remain in the early stages of expanding TDSB’s professional learning and classroom resources to include Jewish and Muslim identities, experiences and histories. It is now imperative to commit to an implementation timeline.
Work is also underway to redevelop the “Teaching Controversial and Sensitive Issues” resource, which will empower students to use their voices to discuss matters impacting their lives. We need to enable students to know their human rights and responsibilities, how to protect those rights, the consequences of indifference and how to take effective action when they or other members of the community experience hate, racism, and other forms of discrimination and violence. This is urgent work. If left undone, we normalize intolerance.
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The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is committed to open and inclusive policy decision-making and values community input and participation through consultation. Policy development and reviews are carried out in accordance with the policy review schedule that is approved by the Board of Trustees and is revised on a regular basis. To view the latest Policy Review Schedule please click here.
Please click on the policy of your interest to see the current draft. You are welcome to provide your comments, including suggestions on the wording and provisions of the draft policies, questions or recommendations using the contact information below.
Parent and Community Involvement Policy
Specialized Schools and Programs Policy
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Virtual Mental Health Support
COVID-19 Vaccination Clinics
School Immunization Program
Toronto Public Health is hosting vaccination clinics for students, in Grade7 and higher who need the following vaccines: Meningococcal-ACYW, Human papillomavirus and/or Hepatitis-B. Read the full letter from TPH and complete the consent form to access.
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Parent and Caregivers as Partners Conference
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Are you a parent/guardian of a child who takes the bus to school? Don’t forget to register for the Student Transportation Parent Portal to access important information and updates, and to sign up to receive email notifications of bus delays and cancellations. Please also ensure that student contact information and phone numbers are up-to-date.
International Languages: Elementary and African Heritage (ILE-AH)
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Ensuring the health and safety of our students and staff is a priority and everyone plays a role. The most important thing families can do to help mitigate the transmission of COVID-19, is to screen their children daily for any COVID-19 symptoms and keep them home from school if they are sick or have had close contact with anyone diagnosed with COVID-19. All staff and visitors will also be required to screen themselves before entering a TDSB building.
Before coming to school each day, all students must conduct an active student health screening self-assessment and if, based on your answers you are clear to come to school, please record the information daily through the paper pass or the Health Screening App, which will allow you to enter to your school or administration building
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