Trustee Shelley Laskin Weekly Updates

Monday, 12 December 2022

WEEK OF DEC 12/22

YOGA WEEK:

Yoga week will run from Tuesday, December 13 to Monday, December 19.

Students are welcome to bring their own mats... dress comfortably... come prepared for a sense of calm.

Thank you thank you. 

Namaste,

Heather 

CANDY CANE SALE  

Spectrum and Davisville are having a Candy Cane Sale! They will be selling Candy Canes on Three Different Days December 16, 21 and 22.

Candy Canes will be $0.25 for the mini candy canes and $1.00 for the big candy canes. The profits from the Candy Canes Sales will go to support our Snack Program and the Loonie for Lights campaign that is helping with purchasing lights for our stage. 

Thank you for your support. 

TDSB MIDDLE FRENCH IMMERSION PROGRAM:

The application to the Middle French Immersion program will remain an online process managed by the Central French Department and applications must be completed online between January 9 and February 3, 2023. An offer of placement in the program (not a specific school) is guaranteed to all on-time applicants. Families with an older sibling currently in an French program are still required to complete an online application for the new student.

Visit the TDSB website for more information about Middle French Immersion, Virtual & In-Person Infomation Sessions or the Application Process.

P062 ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS POLICY:

On Oct. 26/22, the TDSB approved the revised P062 Alternative Schools Policy as per the following document: P062 

Winter Well-Being Guide 2022/23 for Students, Caregivers, Guardians and School Communities:


The Winter Well-being guide for 2022/23 created by the Mental Health and Well-Being Committee with System Leader for Mental Health and PSS, Shameen Sandhu.  The guide has been updated to provide ongoing resources and ideas for Families/Guardians to promote mental and physical wellness during the winter months.  Resources are culturally relevant and responsive with resources for students with Complex Needs. The Guide is translated into the top 21 TDSB languages spoken which is accessible here (Well-Being Guide).  

Addressing School Safety:

 - From the Board Website

All students and staff have a right to feel safe at school and work. The TDSB is committed to working together to ensure every student has what they need to be successful in school and to keep our schools safe through the presence of caring adults, maintaining positive relationships, creating connections, solving problems, and promoting respect.

The TDSB has a strong foundation for school safety that we have progressively built on for years. We have – and will continue to – invest considerable resources in school safety in addition to programs and opportunities that connect with and engage students.

We have among the most evidence-based policies and procedures to support student safety and well-being. We have made ongoing and significant investments to resources, staffing and programs, including an investment of $5.9 million for additional staff.

On March 23, 2022, Trustees held a Special Board Meeting to discuss student safety, focusing on what work has been done and how we can continue to improve. Trustees' approved a motion that the Chair write to the Prime Minister of Canada, the Premier of Ontario, the Mayor of the City of Toronto and the chairs of Toronto school boards to request the creation of a partnership table between all three levels of government and Toronto school boards.

On Monday, December 5, a report, A Collaborative Approach to School and Community Safety: Report 1, was presented to a Special Meeting of the TDSB Planning and Priorities Committee. This report provides an overview of current research trends and data related to Caring and Safe Schools in Toronto District School Board and beyond. It also presents Phase One of an action plan which intends to urgently address issues of school and community violence. This action plan includes interventions which are being implemented immediately. Watch the Director of Education’s opening remarks. [Note: Two additional motions passed the Committee and were approved at Board - An Urgent Call for Ministry of Education to Reinstate Priority Schools Initiative Funding; and Establishment of Local Safety Tables.]

Schools are a reflection of the larger community within which they exist. As such, when communities are challenged by issues of violence, schools will also be challenged. Creating safer schools goes beyond the work of a single school board. It is the collective responsibility of all  levels of government, communities and all Greater Toronto Area school boards.

TDSB Staff Supporting Safe Schools - In addition to the caring adults that are present in all 583 TDSB schools, the board has many specially trained staff that help support safe schools and student well-being including: School-Based Safety Monitors in every Middle and Secondary school; Child and Youth Counsellors; Child and Youth Workers; Caring and Safe Schools Centrally Assigned Principals that oversee and support schools in school safety and disciplinary issues in each of the TDSB’s 4 Learning Centres; Caring and Safe Schools Advisors that support schools in school safety and disciplinary issues in each of the TDSB’s 4 Learning Centres; Social Workers; Psychologists; and Court Liaison Workers. 

Community Partnerships - TDSB has worked very closely over many years and continues to work with established community agencies to deliver programming that supports students in unique community driven ways. We are also focused on continuing to expand partnerships with culturally responsive community organizations and faith-based groups in support of school and community safety.

Current Steps to Address School Safety - At the Toronto District School Board, we are taking a number of additional steps to address school safety including: Creating a Safe Schools Audit Team to work with schools to ensure Caring and Safe Schools policies, practices and procedures are being followed appropriately and work with school teams to provide feedback and address concerns; Ensuring every secondary school has a student engagement/safety team so that students are informing local school-based safety initiatives; Formalizing a network of existing experts and organizations that directly work to reduce risk factors that lead to youth disengagement and violence through the creation of an expert reference group; Expanding a new initiative that works with community groups during and after school to offer a variety of programs focused on supporting youth; Working with Toronto Police to update the existing Police-School Board Protocol; Continuing to be an active participant in the City of Toronto's SafeTO community safety plan; Allocating additional resources to schools where concerns have been raised, further building on an initial investment of $5.9 million made last year to add staff such as School-Based Safety Monitors, social workers, child and youth counsellors/workers; Anticipating recommendations arising from a review of recent violent incidents in and around schools, which will be finalized in the near future.

Read the Joint Statement Re: Meeting with City of Toronto on Youth Violence (November 28, 2022). [Please note the next meeting will be held at the end of December.]

TDSB Central Interest Programs:

The TDSB offers more than 40 central special interest programs for secondary students (e.g. Arts-focus, International Baccalaureate). Programs focus on a variety of interests including the Arts; math, science and technology; leadership pathway; International Baccalaureate; and more. These programs are for anyone who demonstrates an interest and passion in a particular area.

Key Dates for Central Interest Program Process

  • Nov. 7: Application process opened
  • Nov. 25: Application process closed
  • Dec. 8: First round of Acceptances and waitlist status sent via email to all applicants.
  • Dec. 14: First round offers expire at 4:00 pm
  • Dec. 15: Second round of Acceptances and waitlist status will be sent via email to all applicants.
  • Dec. 21: Second round offers expire at 4:00 pm

 

Out of Area Admission Policy:

Out of Area Admission Policy - Below is a link to the requirements for families wishing to attend a school that is not considered their designated school. At the bottom of the page, you can look up which High Schools are open, closed or have limited availability for admissions.  Out of Area Requirements.

TDSB Open House Information - High School Open Houses are still taking place throughout November and December. Here is a link to all the options available. All of this information is also available on student google classrooms under the heading “High School Information”. Open House Information

DPS and SPECTRUM HYPERLINKS DOCUMENT: Please make reference to the following document for frequently visited and up-to-date weblinks for Davisville and TDSB. Included is the Safe Arrivals phone number when your child is sick/absent and also the Early Pick-up/



SCHOOL BUS DELAYS/CANCELLATIONS: 

Please Call School Messenger directly 1-833-250-2290, between (7:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.) to report child(ren’s)absence for the current day or future date. If you do not report your child(ren’s) absence(s) prior to the start of school day you will be contacted by School Messenger and you must indicate the reason for the absence. Please respond to safe arrival calls. The telephone number 833-250-2290 will display on the caller ID.
Sign out GForm to be completed by 12:00 the day of for your child/children's pickup for appointments. 
TDSB website reporting delays or bus cancellations: TSTG
Davisville Spiritwear:
To order Davisville spiritwear check school cashonline, visit  davisvillepublicschool.entripyshops.com

SCHOOL TRUSTEE'S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - WARD 8:
  • For updates regarding topics affecting the TDSB, please subscribe to Shelley Laskin's weekly newsletter.


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