Statement from TDSB Chair Robin Pilkey and Director John MalloyFriday, May 29, 2020
Racism in all forms is deeply rooted in our history. This week reminds us of the ongoing impact of anti-Black racism on individuals and communities. Through the media, we have witnessed violence and harassment against members of the Black community. We are acutely aware of the devastating impacts of anti-Black racism in our world, in our community and in the Toronto District School Board.
These events are felt personally, and in different ways by our students, staff and community at the TDSB. We recognize that there are a myriad of feelings being experienced by Black staff and students in the TDSB. There is a heightened sense of vulnerability and reactions of sadness, insecurity, anger, and grief – to name a few. It is incumbent upon all of us to stand up and do whatever it takes to end racism, hate and oppression of all kinds. Silence is not acceptable. The profound harm it causes to individuals, families and communities can no longer be debated or tolerated and must be stopped.
The Toronto District School Board continues to be committed to equity and inclusion, and we acknowledge the importance of addressing anti-Black racism. As we continue to serve students and communities, these acts of violence are critical reminders that we need to remain focused and committed to the changes that need to happen for our students and families. We need to continuously examine our commitment on how we make schools safe places for all students, staff, parents and communities.
In the TDSB, we do not always get things right, but we will maintain an unwavering focus on ending anti-Black racism and all forms of oppression. We know we need to hear the voices of our students, community and staff, and make sure our equity efforts are informed by these voices. In our sadness, let us work towards change and hold each other accountable for taking a stand against individual and systemic acts of anti-Black racism. Let us work together to make a difference and fight against all forms of racism and hate as we strive to change the future in the lives of our TDSB community and beyond.
PLEASE NOTE - Embedded into our Mulit-Year Strategic Plan Action Plans are a number of actions to support educators and leaders to have the knowledge, skills, and resources to ensure antioppressive and equitable practices are in place to support student learning, well-being, effective instruction and service excellence.
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June is National Indigenous History MonthDuring the month of June, people across the country mark National Indigenous History Month in recognition of the rights, histories, contemporary realities and extraordinary achievements of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. The unique cultures and perspectives of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities are celebrated nationally and locally.
On June 21, the TDSB also recognizes National Indigenous Peoples Day. June 21st is a day of significance for many Indigenous Peoples in Canada. It marks the day when the Sun is closest to the Earth. It is the longest day of the year and the shortest night. Many First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples celebrate Summer Solstice. It is a time that reminds us to remain grounded, humble and appreciative. It is usually celebrated by coming together with family and community for a feast, although ceremonies and traditions are being marked in different ways this year due to the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Traditional foods are an important aspect of the feast as they signify connection to the land and animals.
Learn more!
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June is Pride MonthOur TDSB community has a rich culture and history of celebrating diversity and our LGBTQ community every day. Learn more about the history of Pride by visiting Pride Toronto and learn more about how we celebrate at the TDSB. This year, we are celebrating entirely online, but there's still a lot to learn about and participate in. Check out what's happening across the city in Virtual Pride by Toronto Pride. Here are some of the things we’re doing in the TDSB to recognize Pride Month 2020:
- Virtual raising of the Pride flag at 5050 Yonge - Date to TBD.
- The TDSB's Professional Library has pulled together a list of resources to celebrate Pride, including an LGBTQ2S Resource Guide.
- Participate in the City’s Virtual Toronto PRIDE 2020 Parade on Sunday, June 28 at 2 p.m. – Everyone is welcome!
Join the conversation online with #PrideTDSB. It’s an opportunity to celebrate diversity and raise awareness among all staff and students about the rich culture and history of our #LGBTQ2S community.
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June is Italian Heritage MonthItalian Heritage Month is recognized proudly during the month of June at the TDSB. As stated in the Italian Heritage Act, 2010, “Ontario is home to more than 1,350,000 Italian Canadians. Since the 1880s, the Italian Canadian community has made and continues to make significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of the Province of Ontario.”
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June is Portuguese-Speaking Heritage MonthPortuguese-Speaking Heritage Month is proudly recognized during the month of June at the TDSB. This year we recognize the significant contributions of Portuguese-Speaking individuals both nationally and internationally.
The contributions of the Portuguese-Speaking heritage to Canada are significant as they include the arts, sports, and public life. Canadians, along with all TDSB students, staff, and its communities and beyond all enjoy the energetic and vibrant traditions that are shared through the customs of this heritage. Over 1,400 TDSB students speak Portuguese as their mother tongue or as a primary language. Internationally, there are 250 million Portuguese-speaking people worldwide, making it the fifth-most spoken language. For more information about Portuguese-Speaking, click Did you know?
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Wash.Distance.Save Lives.Please wash your hands.
Keep physical distance.
Stay healthy.
Save lives.
We are all in this together.
"The power to change the story is entirely in our hands. So thank you, thank you to the residents of our city, thank you to business owners, thank you all for doing this, but we can still do better, we must do better, and we need your help to get there." Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto's Medical Officer of Health
Other Important Links:
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Summary Notes from May 26
Below are highlights,
Retrieval of Personal Belongings - The TDSB has now finalized a comprehensive protocol — developed in consultation with the Ministry of Education and Toronto Public Health — and guidelines that will allow for the retrieval of personal belongings beginning the week of June 8, 2020. It is not mandatory to come to the school to pick up belongings and students or parents/guardians should only visit the school if absolutely necessary. Anything that is not collected will be bagged, labelled and stored until schools reopen. In the coming days, you should hear directly from your Principal with additional details, including the schedule for your school for picking up and returning items.
Parent/Guardian Online Survey Results - Thank you to all parents/ guardians who took part in our recent online survey. We asked about your experiences with learning at home this past month — what has worked well, what have been the greatest challenges, and what are your suggestions. 38,599 parents participated in this ThoughtExchange, generating 46,924 thoughts. Moving forward, this information will be used to improve our remote learning practices and to plan for the next school year. Parents’ voices are critical in helping us strategize both centrally and locally. This summary identifies some of the key ideas shared by you. https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Portals/0/docs/ThoughtExchange_ParentSummary.pdf
Synchronous/Real Time Learning - Earlier this month, Ontario’s Minister of Education directed educators to incorporate more synchronous learning — “real time” learning by one or more students with their teacher via online platforms or through the phone. Using the TDSB’s already established guidelines, as well as direct feedback received from parents, educators and administrators via multiple online surveys, we are now implementing Refined Expectations for Remote Learning. For the remainder of this school year, and as we transition into September, teachers and Designated Early Childhood Educators will begin to connect with students and families in a variety of ways. We have stated in the revised expectations that there should be a minimum of two interactions per week, if this was not already being done. We know that not all students can engage in learning at a specific time so educators are encouraged to find a variety of ways to connect with their students, have students connect with each other, and to celebrate student learning in the last few weeks of school.
Report Cards - With schools being closed, the distribution of report cards will look a little different this year. Since it is not possible to distribute hard copies in school, report cards will be electronically distributed via email. For families with no email address on file, a hard copy will be mailed to your address.
- Kindergarten Communication of Learning and Grades 1 to 8 report cards: will be sent home electronically between June 22 and 26, 2020
- Grades 9 to 12 report cards: will be sent home electronically between June 24 and July 3, 2020
Summer School - As we indicated in our last communication, the TDSB will be offering an expanded summer learning program this year. The Ministry of Education is asking school boards to plan for summer learning to be delivered remotely, however, in some cases, in-person teaching and learning could be possible should emergency measures be eased or lifted during the summer.
- Elementary Summer School: Our elementary summer school program focus is to close the achievement and well-being gap and to continue student engagement into July. French programs will also be available for students currently in a French Immersion or Extended French Program.
- International Languages Elementary/African Heritage: The International Languages Elementary/African Heritage Program offers language classes to students Kindergarten to Grade 8.
- Credit Courses for e-Summer High School (online): Ontario high school students can earn credits online this summer. Reach ahead or catch up on high school credits. There are dozens of courses available in July and August.
- Hybrid Remote Summer Credit Program: The program includes courses in all subject areas from Grades 9 to 12, with a focus on compulsory courses. This summer, a variety of upgrading courses are also available to students who completed a course this year who wish to upgrade their passing mark in a 55 hour upgrading course.
- Remote Credit Recovery: This program allows current TDSB high school students to “recover” the credit in a course in which they were unsuccessful within the last two school years. It is a NEW summer program and will be delivered only online.
For more information on TDSB Summer School, including how to register, dates available and course details, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/summer.
Many of the challenges and successes we have experienced over recent weeks are a first for everyone — parents/guardians, students and staff alike — so I want end this letter with my sincere thanks for your continued patience and support.
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Frequently Asked Questions about Student IT Device Distribution Can families still request a device? At this time, we will only process requests received from Superintendents of Education. FYI, there were 2,333 devices requested in Ward 8.
If a device was requested and is no longer needed, what should a parent do? If a student has not yet received their device and the request is already being processed, the only option is to refuse the delivery and it will be returned to the TDSB. If a student has already accepted their device but no longer needs it, we are not able to pick it up due to physical distancing requirements, and ask that you keep it and return it to your school when schools reopen.
How long can the student keep this device? The Chromebook or iPad is on loan to the student for the duration of remote learning. When schools re-open, students are expected to return the borrowed device to their home school.
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TDSB Digital Tools – Sessions for Families To support parents/families so they are better able to assist students in remote leaning, we are pleased to continue to provide online sessions for families to learn about TDSB digital tools.
Several weeks ago, there were sessions offered to introduce Google Classroom and Brightspace. Next week, learning sessions will continue with Discovery Education and Knowledgehook to share tips on using these tools to enhance the remote learning experience. All sessions are promoted to parents/families and videos are archived on the Remote Learning web page for easy access.
Join Discovery Education and Knowledgehook to learn more about using these tools to enhance remote learning:
Session: Discovery Experience, STEM Connects and Math Techbook (Grades K-12) Tuesday, June 2 at 6:30 p.m. Register Here
Session: Knowledgehook - How to use key features within the digital resource (Grades 3 - 9) Wednesday June 3 at 11 a.m. Register Here
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Delegation Process - Addressing a CommitteeDelegation requests will still be accepted during the closure of all schools and administrative sites at the Toronto District School Board; 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 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.
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Upcoming Committee Meetings
The Toronto District School Board is committed to developing opportunities for our wider school community to connect and engage in conversations about education issues. Due to the closure of all schools and administration sites at the Toronto District School Board, all standing committee and regular board meetings will be held virtually and broadcasted live to the public. Click here at the start time to view - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Live-Webcast-of-Meetings
Governance and Policy Committee (View Live Cast) Tuesday, June 2, 2020, at 4:30 p.m.
Committee of the Whole (Special Meeting) (Electronic Meeting) Tuesday, June 2 6:30 p.m. The purpose of this meeting is to provide strategic advice and recommendations to the Board on the continued implementation of services during school closures, creating a successful path to the post-COVID reopening of schools and other potential learnings from the pandemic period.
- 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 Ontario Public School Boards' Association (Oral Update)
- 8. Report From the Chairs of the Governance and Policy Committee, the Program and School Services Committee, 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. Emergency Motions (to be presented)
- 12. Other Questions, Insights and Advice From Trustees to Staff (to be presented)
Program and School Services Committee Wednesday, June 3, 2020, at 4:30 p.m.
Special Meeting Wednesday, June 4, 2020, at 4:30 p.m.
- 3. Committee Report
- 3.1 Interim Director Search Committee, Report No. 1, May 29, 2020 - To be presented
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Davisville/Spectrum New BuildPlease note that because of Covid-19 and the need to physical distance on construction sites, the province has amended the City of Toronto Act, 2006 with a new regulation 130/20 - on noise by-laws in connection with construction. The added regulation provided additional hours for construction – Note: Covid-19 change to noise by-law in the Province ( https://www.ontario.ca/laws/regulation/200130).
As a result, we have been informed that work will only commence on the site as follows:
- Monday to Friday start 7:00am stoppage 7:00pm - if necessary a notice will be issued if work needs to continue into the evening,
- Saturday - similar to above work to commence at 7:00am and be completed by 7:00pm, this is as per the revised Covid-19 change to the noise bylaw.
Cleaning of Road
Every morning and evening the roadway will be examined and if necessary cleaning will occur at the following times.
- Morning - Road cleaning around 8:00am
- Afternoon - Road cleaning around 3:30pm
In addition, to mitigate dust, there is now a liner on top of the topsoil.
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Secondary Program Review Interim Report
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School Year Calendar 2020-2021
Pending Ministry Approval
The official school year calendar for the Toronto District School Board runs from September 1 to June 30, inclusive.
First day of classes for all students is September 8, 2020 (please note there is no school for students on September 4)
- The last day of class for elementary students is June 29, 2021
- The last day of class for secondary (full year) students is June 25, 2021
- The last day of class for secondary (semestered) students is June 28, 2021
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School Year Calendar 2020-2021
Pending Ministry Approval
The official school year calendar for the Toronto District School Board runs from September 1 to June 30, inclusive.
First day of classes for all students is September 8, 2020 (please note there is no school for students on September 4)
- The last day of class for elementary students is June 29, 2021
- The last day of class for secondary (full year) students is June 25, 2021
- The last day of class for secondary (semestered) students is June 28, 2021
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