Trustee Pamela Gough’s Update: February 1, 2016
Dear ,
TDSB has raised more than $100,000 for Syrian refugee relief since last September through the TDSBcares initiative. The recent TDSB United Way drive set a goal of raising $200,000 and ended up this week with $202,830. Amazing. The generosity of the students, staff and community members in our school board is immense. We don't just talk about compassion, empathy and giving to others. We show we care about these things through action. Many thanks to all who participated in these drives. You have made our children's world better.
In this issue:
- New Early French Immersion site at Second Street
- Lanor's principal wins Canada's Outstanding Principal award
- Etobicoke-Lakeshore schools piloting walk/cycle initiatives
- Karyn Gordon talking parenting at Park Lawn February 1, 2016
- Winter Walk Day February 3, 2016
- Applications open now for free school cycle programs and bike racks
- Upcoming ward council February 23, 2016
- PIAC School council appreciation dinner February 25, 2016
- TDSB Parents as Partners Spring Conference April 16, 2016
1. New Early French Immersion site at Second Street
The number of children who registered for Early French Immersion next September at John English JMS has exceeded the space available at the school. In keeping with TDSB's policy of accepting all applicants who apply within the registration window, the TDSB will open another site. The new site will be Second Street JMS, since it has the space and there is a YMCA daycare. This means that as of September 2016, Second Street JMS will offer three programs: the regular English program, Early French Immersion (starting in SK) and Junior Extended French (starting in Grade 4).
John English will continue to offer Early French Immersion as well as the English program, and in keeping with the sibling rule of TDSB, families will be kept together. In other words, all younger siblings of current FI students at John English can attend the FI program at John English. An information evening to introduce and tour the new location will be held at Second Street JMS on March 1, for the parents of the new fall entry FI students of the school.
When: Tuesday March 1, 2016, 6 pm to 7 pm
Where: Second Street Junior Middle School, 71 Second Street (Lake Shore Blvd. W. /Dwight Ave. area)
2. Lanor's principal wins Canada's Outstanding Principal award
Congratulations to Ms. Alison Gaymes St. Vincente, the principal of Lanor Jr. Middle School in Alderwood, who has won the very prestigious honour of being named one of Canada's Outstanding Principals! Ms. Gaymes St. Vincente is one of four principals from the TDSB to be named an Outstanding Principal by the Learning Partnership. Astoundingly, she is in only her second year of being a principal. Forty principals in total won the award this year, from across Canada, so TDSB took 10% of the field. This speaks volumes about the high level of educational leadership in the principals of TDSB.
3. Etobicoke-Lakeshore schools piloting walk/cycle initiatives
Participants at my last ward council meeting on January 12th heard a presentation from two staff members from TDSB Ecoschools: Kristen Evers and Katie Wittmann. They spoke about the many new initiatives taking place in the ward to teach safe walking/cycling, and make streets safer so children can make their way to school actively. Katie is developing a Guide to Safer Streets and she put out a call for schools to volunteer to pilot it over the next month. Four schools put their names forward and Katie is now working with each to determine which one is the best candidate. More to come.
4. Karyn Gordon talking parenting at Park Lawn February 1, 2016
Well-known parenting expert Dr. Karyn Gordon will be speaking at Park Lawn JMS Monday, February 1, from 8-9 pm and all are welcome. Her topic is "Raising Healthy Kids in an Age of Over-Indulgence". Babysitting is available for children over 30 months: please contact Heather Overland (heather.overland@tdsb.on.ca) if bringing children for childminding. More information is here.
5. Winter Walk Day February 3, 2016
The implementation of the TDSB Charter for Active Safe and Sustainable Transportation is underway and that means that each year more schools will celebrate Winter Walk Day on Wednesday February 3. Choose the healthy path to school and walk there and back! You'll have fun! View the City of Toronto Chief Planner Jennifer Keesmaat's entertaining TED talk "Walk to School" here.
6. Applications open now for free school cycle programs and bike racks
NEW this year! Schools can now apply to have a free skills-based cycling education program presented to their school this spring, free of charge! All schools are eligible and it's first come, first served. Applications for spring 2016 programs close February 28. More information is here.
Increase sustainable transportation at your school with new bike racks! All schools are eligible. Apply now for fall 2016 installation. The application deadline is February 28. More details are here.
7. Upcoming ward council February 23, 2016
School council chairs, co-chairs, ward council representatives and members at large, please reserve the evening of Tuesday February 23 for the next ward council meeting. Our special guest will be TDSB Associate Director Carla Kisko speaking about the upcoming TDSB budget. We'll also have an update on our local Safe Routes to School initiatives and the new Norseman addition. Children 4-10 will be treated to a pizza program with Chef Sarah. Registration for the pizza program is limited to 12. Please advise Elizabeth Betowski if bringing children for pizza making at elizabeth@terradom.ca. More information is on this poster. See you there!
When: Tuesday, February 23, 7-8:45 pm
Where: Norseman JMS (Norseman and Islington area)
8. PIAC School Council Appreciation Dinner February 25
School council chairs and co-chairs, please hold the date of the evening of Thursday February 25 for the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee's annual School Council Appreciation Dinner. This delicious and rewarding event is the TDSB's thank-you to our thousands of dedicated school council volunteer leaders. More details have gone out to each school.
9. TDSB Parents as Partners Spring Conference April 16, 2016Save the date of Saturday April 16 for this year's amazing TDSB Parent Conference. The location will be the beautiful Enbridge Centre in the CNE grounds. This year will be very special as three large TDSB groups are joining together for the first time to offer more workshops than ever before, These groups are the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee, the Special Education Advisory Committee and the Model Schools for the Inner City program. There will be dozens of workshops to choose from, and a dizzying array of topics. Admission is free. Bussing and childminding programs will be provided for free. More details to come.
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