Week of January 29th, 2024

 

I am Big with Itah Sadu

 

On Friday, February 2, classes throughout the school tuned in to an inspiring presentation with Toronto Story teller, Itah Sadu to kick off Black History Month at our school. Itah shared insight into her writing process, some history of the contributions of Black Canadians to our country and of course her new book, I Am Big which explores the experiences of a young Black hockey player as he finds joy and confidence in his talent on the ice. Itah’s messaging that we are all important, that we should all have confidence in who we are and that we all have the power to make change was inspirational to all who tuned in.

Family Skate Night

Thank you to our School Council for organizing such a fun night of family skating on Friday.  Many thanks to everyone who came out and supported the event. 

Reading Instruction at Davisville JPS

Thank you to Ms. Johnson and Ms. Viner for presenting at Thursday evening's Ward Forum. They shared how they explicitly embed evidence-based strategies in their classrooms centered on the Science of Reading and the TDSB Early Reading Framework. The Science of Reading has impacted the way reading is taught in our classrooms and our two educators provided great examples of how our approaches to reading instruction have changed not only at Davisville JPS, but across various schools in the TDSB. Bravo!

Members of the Alternative Schools Community Advisory Committee (ASCAC)

This is a message for all ASCAC members:

Our next meeting is online:

Date and Time: Monday, February 5th, 7-9 pm
Location: [ZOOM LINK]
Meeting ID: 928 4715 8077
Passcode: 136688

Our upcoming ASCAC meeting on February 5th promises to be an engaging and informative session. Here's a brief overview of the agenda:

1. Secondary School Updates: Laurie McAllister, Chair of the Secondary Alternative School Subcommittee, will provide updates and lead discussions on secondary school matters.

2. Elementary Enrolment Subcommittee: Joanne Huber, Chair of the Elementary Enrolment Subcommittee, will share insights and recommendations.

3. TDSB Updates: Peter Chang from the TDSB will update us on secondary school staffing, program reviews, and the centralized application process.

4. Volunteer Co-Chair Election: We'll begin with the election of the volunteer Secondary Schools Co-Chair. If you're interested in this role or know someone who would be a great fit, please contact anna.catalano@TDSB.on.ca to submit your name for consideration.

5. Student Delegates: We also seek student delegates to join our team. If you're a student passionate about alternative education, please reach out to anna.catalano@TDSB.on.ca to express your interest.

Please note that your active participation is essential. You can ask questions during the meeting by raising your “Zoom” hand or typing in the moderated chat. If you prefer, you can send your questions in advance to anna.catalano@tdsb.on.ca or directly to me at connect@torontoalternativeschools.com. Any questions not addressed during the meeting will receive a personal response afterward.

Find the FULL AGENDA and more information about ASCAC HERE

Your engagement is invaluable to us, and we appreciate your support. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Proposed School Year Calendar 2024-25 Excerpt from the Report at PSSC Regulation 304 requires that there be a minimum of 194 school days between 1 September and 30 June, including a maximum of ten examination days for secondary schools and a maximum of seven Professional Activity (PA) days. It also establishes the dates for the Winter Break and the Mid-Winter Break. Staff has consulted with the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), as well as the Peel and York Region District School Boards, to ensure the most consistency possible with their School Year Calendar plans. It is important that the Board align the calendar as much as possible with the TCDSB because of shared student transportation services. Please note the calendar still must be approved by the Ministry.

February is Chinese Heritage Month TDSB’s Chinese Heritage Month is proudly recognized in February each year. This year we celebrate the Year of the Dragon: Majesty, Brilliance, Confidence, Leadership. Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is one of the most important celebrations for Chinese communities around the world.  Lunar New Year is celebrated annually, and its dates are based on the lunar calendar. For 2024, it starts Saturday February 10 and ends Saturday February 24. The festivities include family gatherings, decorations, and of course a feast! All TDSB students were invited to participate in the CHM’s popular annual poster contest, and we are excited to share the winning posters shortly on our TDSB websites. In addition, all TDSB students and staff were invited to submit a 1-minute video on one of four guiding questions emphasizing the importance of Chinese heritage and/or a tradition. Submissions are currently being collected and a selection of the entries will be posted shortly.   An in-person Chinese Heritage Month celebration will be held at A Y Jackson Secondary School with performances, presentations, and speakers to mark the day. Stay tuned for the full video to be posted soon! Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter) for daily messages throughout the month of February @tdsbChineseHM.