Ontario Delays March Break until April 12-16 in an Effort to Reduce Community Transmission of COVID-19
Today, Stephen Lecce, Ontario's Minister of Education, issued the following statement regarding March break:
"In support of our collective efforts to keep schools safe, we are postponing March break until April 12-16, 2021. This decision was made with the best advice of Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health and public health officials, including consultations with many local Medical Officers of Health.
Read the full news release here.
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School Reopening February 16th
The TDSB is looking forward to welcoming our in-person students & staff back to school on Tuesday, Feb 16. For the health & safety of our school communities, please continue to practice recommended health & safety measures and review the latest Health & Safety Update.
Updated Screening
Both the Screening App and Student Health Pass (paper form) have been updated. All students, staff, and visitors to our school buildings must do a daily screening using either the app or the paper form before coming to school each day.
Note: if you do not have a printer at home, schools should have copies of the form for families when they arrive at school.
Please note that the symptoms listed in the screening tools have not changed, but there have been updates to the follow-up questions. Students willl now be asked:
Does anyone in your household have one or more of the above symptoms?- Has anyone in your household travelled outside of Canada in the past 14 days?
- Has anyone in your household been notified as a close contact of someone with COVID-19 or been told to stay home and self-isolate?
If your child has any (new or worsening) symptoms listed in the screening tool or answers "YES" to any of the questions above, please follow the instructions in the Toronto Public Health's decision tree or "What to do if you child has symptoms" document.
Testing
Toronto Public Health recommends staff, students and their household members who have even one mild symptom of COVID-19 get tested. Toronto Public Health will continue to recommend asymptomatic testing in schools where necessary and will work with testing partners to coordinate testing in high-risk cohorts. The TDSB will provide updates on testing as it becomes available.
Masking
Please visit Toronto Public Health's COVID-19: Reduce Virus Spread webpage to learn more about the current recommendations for masking.Students will now be required to wear masks outdoors when students can not physically distance.
For more information:
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Parents and caregivers are invited to join our TDSB mental health professionals to learn and discuss coping strategies to support mental health and well-being through the pandemic. Thursday, February 11, 20216:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Web Cast Schedule
Greetings Alexander Brown, ChairCurtis Ennis, Associate Director, Equity, Well-Being and School Improvement
Coping Through COVID Shameen Sandhu, System Leader for Mental Health and Professional Support Services and Adolph Williams, Manager, Social Work and Attendance Services provide insight and practical strategies to help you and your family continue to cope through the pandemic
Questions and Answer Session Ask your questions directly to our mental health professionals in our online chat and join the conversation with other parents and caregivers
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Kindergarten Registration begins in February
Children who will be four by December 31, 2021, can start Junior Kindergarten in September 2021.
In the Kindergarten program, your child will develop their skills and abilities through inquiry and intentional play-based learning that includes math, science and literacy. Teachers and early childhood educators plan learning experiences where children are actively engaged in learning and thinking creatively.
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Parent Reaching Out (PRO) Grant for School Councils
School Councils may submit one request for supports up to $1,500 to support initiatives/activities that engage parents/caregivers (including virtual), and builds School Councils’ capacity around Human Rights, Equity, Anti-Racism, Anti-Indigenous and Anti-Black Racism. School Councils may collaborate and submit one application, however allocation will remain at a maximum of $1,500 per school.
Projects/Initiatives will be required to:- Demonstrate a commitment to respecting the role of parents/caregivers in students’ educational experiences by working with parents/caregivers, particularly racialized parents/caregivers, Elders and School Council members
- Include strategies for connecting, supporting and engaging racialized parents/caregivers, particularly parents who identify as Indigenous and Black
- Provide a safe and welcoming school environment
- Maintain open communication with teachers
- Respect parents as valued partners within the education system in relation to decisions about their child’s education
Project/Initiative must be completed on or before by June 30, 2021.
Eligible Activities/Initiatives- Workshops
- Training session
- Information sessions with guest speakers
- Parent Resource Creation
- Conversation Circles
Ineligible Initiatives- Student initiatives
- Staffing initiatives
- Equipment purchases
Deadline - Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on March 1, 2021.
- Applications must be submitted virtually using the application and submission form and platform. No hard copies will be accepted.
- Applications will be reviewed and will be approved upon a first come first served basis. Please apply early, funds are limited.
A final report will be required on or before July 6, 2021.
For further information please, contact Michelle Munroe, Coordinator of Parent and Community Engagement at michelle.munroe@tdsb.on.ca.
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Elementary Switch Update
For families of elementary students who indicated an interest in switching learning models in the December switching survey, students will have a final opportunity to switch in February 2021, where space is available. The TDSB is committed to completing as many requests as possible, but please note that not all requests will be accommodated.
The TDSB has consulted with Toronto Public Health regarding the establishment of new cohorts and while it is possible to add new students to an existing cohort at the time of school reopening on February 16 (as they have been out of school and learning remotely since the Winter Break) the TDSB is also committed to minimizing disruptions to learning (e.g. rearranging classes, changing teachers, etc.) for those students who are not switching. Switch requests for students who live in neighbourhoods at a higher risk for COVID-19 (as determined by TPH) will be prioritized.
Families will be informed of the status of their switch request by their home school principal by the end of the day on Friday, February 12. Once the switching process has been initiated, it will take some time for all students to transition into their new class. Information and details specific to your child will be shared directly with you by your Principal.
Switching updates, including translations, are posted on the TDSB switching webpage.
Families making a switch next week can learn more about their new model by visiting the Virtual School or In-Person TDSB webpages.
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NEW TDSB Psychological Services Website
TDSB families can visit the new TDSB Psycholgical Services Website to learn about TDSB psychological supports and staff, assessments, community resources, Hearts & Minds Newsletter, COVID resources, and more!
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Live, Virtual Program A presentation by the Toronto District School Board’s African Heritage Committee, Jewish Heritage Committee, Liberation75, USC Shoah Foundation, and Peel District School Board.
SAVE THE DATE February 25th, 2021, 1-2 pm
Surprise Guest Host/Student Panel
Moderator
Dr. Stephen D. Smith
Executive Director Chair, USC Shoah Foundation
Special Guest
Max Eisen
Toronto-based Holocaust Survivor, author of the award-winning “By Chance Alone”
Special Guest
Joe Wilson Jr
Author of “The 761st “Black Panther” Tank Battalion in World War II, Son of Joe Wilson Sr, a member of the 761st Tank Battalion
Special Guest
John L. Withers II
Author of “Balm in Gilead”, former UN Ambassador to Albania and
Son of Lieutenant John L. Withers, a WWII soldier who befriended and saved two Jewish Holocaust Survivors
Student participants in this program (Grades 6-12) will explore how stories create the possibility to learn about ourselves and others, and how we can affect change right now.
The 761st Tank Battalion was the first all African-American Tank Battalion in World War II. They were instrumental in helping defeat the Nazis as well as liberating several concentration camps. Holocaust survivor Max Eisen was in one of the camps they liberated.
Our world has seen an increase in Anti-Black racism and Antisemitism. This conversation will help us consider what we have learned from history and witnesses to genocide, and reflect on how that knowledge can help us take action to counteract hate.
https://www.tdsb.on.ca/News/Article-Details/ArtMID/474/ArticleID/1591/Stronger-than-Hate
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School Year Calendar 2020-2021
Note: Virtual Schools follow the same calendar as in-person schools unless otherwise noted.
The official school year calendar for the Toronto District School Board runs from September 1 to June 30.
The last day of class for elementary students is June 29.
Secondary Quadmester Calendar
Quad 3: Feb 8 - April 20 + exams April 21 & 22
Quad 4: April 23 - June 23 + exams June 24, 25 & 28
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