Week of June 24th, 2024

 Spectrum Alternative Grade 8 Graduation

On Monday June 24th, we held our Gr. 8 Oscar themed Graduation ceremony. We would like to extend a huge thank you to our Spectrum school council and of course our Spectrum staff for all the planning, time and coordination involved in preparing for an unforgettable graduation ceremony for our Gr. 8s. It truly was a memorable experience for all! 

We are so proud of our Gr. 8 students and all that they have accomplished over the years. You have exhibited great leadership during your time at Spectrum Alternative and demonstrated your commitment to equity, inclusion and social justice. As you embark on your Gr. 9 pathways, remember to always embrace the struggles that you may face, as mistakes, obstacles and challenges present opportunities for growth and will lead to success!  Congratulations again to all of you and your families!

Play Day

Our Play Day last week was a great success and the perfect ending to the school year. Students were engaged in various different types of games and rotating between different activity stations. Thank you to, Ms. Francesca, and all the staff who worked so hard in the planning and preparation of this event!

Davisville Gardening Club

A huge congratulations to our Davisville Gardening club for their hard work in preparing for the grand opening of the Davisville Dragonflies Garden. With much preparation, dedication, commitment and time from students, staff and parent volunteers, the garden is a culmination of everyone's dedication to a beautiful project! 

Room 109 Showcase of Upcycled Arts 

Room 109 students creatively transformed recycled items, such as soda bottles, into stunning works of art. What a creative and innovative way to learn about recycling and good environmental practices that impact positively on our environment. Thank you to, Mme Beatrice, for spearheading this learning experience for our students, which provided them with a wonderful opportunity to learn about sustainable practices, environmental stewardship and the importance of giving back. The art gallery/auction was not simply about art, but all proceeds generated from the auction went directly to supporting local foodbanks and providing meals to families in need. What a kind, generous and commendable act! Bravo Room 109 for making such a difference in our community!

End of Year Celebration in our Self-Contained ESL Classroom

Thank you to all of our families who joined us in Ms. Sullada's class for our end of year celebration. What a beautiful celebration to honour and celebrate our students' growth, accomplishments and unique journeys this past school year. Our ESL classroom is an environment that is welcoming, inclusive and affirming of all of ours students' identities and lived experiences. We look forward to creating the same inclusive culture in our ESL self-contained classroom next year, so that we can help sustain our students' unique cultures and identities. 

End of Year Message from School Administration

 

As the year wraps up, we would like to thank all of our parents/guardians/caregivers for their support and partnership in completing another successful school year. What an incredible school year it has been! There are so many highlights to mention including our Black Inventor STEM Fair, our Spectrum Alternative Film Festival, our meaningful work around land acknowledgements and ensuring Indigenous perspectives and voices are amplified in our curriculum, our 2024 Pride parade to celebrate and raise awareness about the rich culture/history of our 2SLGBTQ+ community, and all the other incredible work we have done to ensure that our school environment is welcoming, inclusive and affirming for all. For next school year, we will continue our concerted efforts to ensure that every staff and child at our school feels respected and a sense of belonging.  We are committed to upholding human rights, supporting our students and staff, and providing a safe, inclusive and welcoming environment for all. Diversity, equity, inclusion and respect are valued in our school. We appreciate the support from everyone in the community for doing their part in helping students and staff feel like they belong.

As we reach the conclusion of the 2023-2024 school year, we wish to thank all our staff members, students and their families for your continued dedication and support through another school year. Our students have benefited greatly from your caring and compassionate approach. We also want to extend our congratulations to the graduating Grade 5 English Stream, Grade 6 French Stream and Grade 8 classes of 2024, and wish you all the very best for the future! 

Thank you for all your hard work throughout the school year. We would like to wish everyone the very best summer vacation, and we look forward to to welcoming you all back, refreshed and rejuvenated, for what will be an exciting, new academic year. 

Sincerely,

David Finkelstein and Mona Moftakhar

Week of June 17th, 2024

 Graduation Ceremony

On July 20th, we held our Graduation Ceremony for our Grade 5 English stream students and Grade 6 French stream students! It was a beautiful ceremony and one that we will all remember. Graduation is a pivotal time for our students and filled with pride, joy and a sense of accomplishment. Our Gr. 5 & 6 student leaders have played a huge role in shaping the culture and tone of our school community. Graduates, as you continue to move on in your educational journey, we wish you much happiness and success. Please remember that you will be able to succeed and thrive as long as you continue to persevere and never give up despite the obstacles you may face. Also, remember to always strive to be the best version of yourselves and to stay proud of who you are and all that you can offer the world. Remember, the world is yours and we cannot wait to see what you will all achieve in this next chapter of your lives. You all have so much to offer to your new schools and to the world! 

Congratulations class of 2024, you did it! You will be missed greatly, and will always be a part of our Davisville JPS family. 

Niagara Falls Graduation Trip 

On Tuesday, June 18th, our Grade 5 and Grade 6 graduating classes went on an excursion to Niagara Falls where they engaged in various activities and visited the Butterfly Conservatory. What a great way to end off their year at Davisville JPS and enjoy this treasured time with their peers before embarking on their new journey in September. We would like to thank all the parent volunteers who dedicated their day to volunteering on the trip. We would also like to acknowledge our school council and the staff and teachers who helped with preparing this trip. We appreciate all the time, energy, organization and planning you put forth into making this trip so special for our graduates. Our graduates have created special memories at Davisville JPS and will take these memories with them as they move forward and transition to the next stage of their education.

Davisville JPS/Spectrum Alternative Pride Parade

Our Pride Parade was a huge success! What a great opportunity to celebrate belonging, acceptance and diversity as well as to raise awareness among all staff, students and parent(s)/guardians/caregivers about the rich culture and history of our 2SLGBTQ+ community. It is important for everyone in our school community to feel proud of their gender identity and gender expression. The parade was a colourful display of spirit, joy and festivities, but it also signified a deeper purpose, which is to ensure acceptance and belonging for all. 

Kindergarten Spring Concert

Our Kindergarten concert held on June 13th was truly memorable. Our little stars sang and performed their hearts out. It was wonderful to see our students expressing their creativity and talent. We are very proud of our students for all their hard work and dedication that went into preparing for the concert, as well as a huge thank you to our educators for offering the necessary time, commitment and guidance required to successfully complete each performance. 

Spectrum Alternative Film Festival

Some of you may have seen some Spectrum students filming in the hallways and around the community in the last couple of weeks. This is because Spectrum is excited to announce that this upcoming Tuesday, June 25 at 1:00 pm in the library, Spectrum students will be hosting Spectrum's first Film Festival. Grade 7 students were tasked with choosing a song of their choice and creating a narrative music video and Grade 8 students created short films. Both grades also had to include some choreography! They have created music videos and short films that span across multiple genres of film making and music! You can check out some of their film posters above!

Our Kindergarten Artists!

The creative students of room 114 recently enjoyed experimenting with watercolour paints, food colouring and salt. When the watercolour paints and food colouring mix with salt, they create beautiful textures and pretty patterns on the watercolour paper. Students enjoyed sharing their painting with their peers on the outside wall of the classroom. Such beautiful paintings to adorn our hallway walls at Davisville JPS! 

Week of June 10th, 2024

 

Happy Father's Day

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing and special dads in our school community. We wish you an enjoyable day with your loved ones!

EcoSchools Certification

We are proud to announce that Davisville JPS has received their EcoSchools Certification results and we learned that we have been certified at the silver level! A certification at the silver level indicates that the EcoSchools program is in development and environmental learning and action has collectively been demonstrated throughout the school. A  huge thank you to, Ms. Heath, for all of her efforts with spearheading this initiative and of course, to the rest of our school community, for taking collective action to reduce our environmental impact.

Have a Wonderful End of the School Year and Summer Break from PIAC Source: Shelley Laskin's Weekly Updates PIAC wishes you, your family and loved ones an excellent end to the 2023/24 school year! Thank you to all parents and caregivers who lend time to your local school councils in support of student achievement and success for all. Your commitment and efforts continue to create positive learning experiences and school communities. 2023/24 has been a fast paced year paving the way for new developments and changes that will soon be felt in our schools, classrooms and communities. At PIAC, we are excited to begin ward level engagement to bring our school councils together for sharing and increased collaboration. We look forward to improved experiences accessing TDSB emails for school wide communications and efficiencies fund raising to meet students needs. We continue to encourage parent and caregivers voices being heard in our PIAC working groups, and look forward to seeing you involved in our School Council Support, Communications, and Consultations working groups next year. Let's continue to work together to make our MYSP pillars, to Belong, Thrive and Achieve a reality for all students across the school board. Thank you again for everything you do. Have a safe and happy summer. From your Ward 8 Reps: Kaydeen and Anshu Kaydeen Bankasingh and Anshu Grover (PIAC.Ward08@tdsb.on.ca) Online Survey Source: Shelley Laskin's Weekly Updates Please consider completing an online survey to share feedback and provide input around the development of the new Cell Phone/Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy. When responding to the survey questions, please think about broad use of mobile devices in the classroom during instructional time and during school hours (i.e. recess, lunch). All answers are anonymous and feedback received will be summarized for consideration in the new policy. For more information and to complete the survey, please click here. https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Policies-Procedures-Forms/Mobile-Device-Policy 2024-2025 TDSB Calendar First Day of School for 2024-2025 Tuesday, September, 2024 Elementary Calendar Secondary Calendar - Semestered

Summer Well-Being Guide

The 2024 Summer Well-being Guide is now available!

The Guide has resources, community connections, events and ideas for students and parents/caregivers/guardians to promote mental and physical wellness during the summer months. The resources are culturally responsive with many resources for students with disabilities/special education needs.

The Guide has been translated into the top 23 TDSB languages spoken and is accessible. 

Rough

 he resources are culturally responItalian Heritage Month as been proudly recognized during the month of June at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) since May 2012. The Province of Ontario also marks Italian Heritage Month and as a result the 

Italian Heritage Month Act was passed in 2010.This year’s theme for Italian Heritage Month is Sharing Our Stories and Embracing Our Future/Condividere le nostre storie e abbracciare il nostro futuro.
We are excited to share the many stories from Italian ancestors whose contributions helped shape our Canadian cultural mosaic. Italian stories and traditions reaffirm identity and connect us to one another. These stories allow us to walk for a moment in someone else's shoes, and to see ourselves in others. Stories unite future generations while they evolve and create new customs and traditions for us to embrace. Together, the past, present and future will redefine what it means to be an Italian-Canadian.

To commemorate this year’s theme, we invite all TDSB students from all TDSB schools to submit a video that captures their special memory or tradition with their nonni (grandparents) or an elderly caregiver/guardian. We look forward to sharing the videos with you! Additionally, we invited two authors to some of our schools to share their recent books on their Italian heritage with our students. More information on these events to come.


June is also Seniors Month, and the TDSB has launched an activity for students from Runnymede Junior and Senior Public School. Participating students were asked to draw and write a message on a postcard that features a white lily, the national flower of Italy. These postcards will be distributed to the residents of Villa Colombo Home for the Aged during the month of June. Let us continue to share our stories and embrace our future.
For highlights and more information on Italian Heritage Month at TDSB, please follow @ItalianHer1 on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram @ItalianHeritageTDSB https://www.instagram.com/italianheritagetdsb/

TDSB Celebrates National Indigenous History




June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a time to celebrate and learn from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples’ diverse cultures, histories, experiences, creations, perspectives, and achievements.

Join the Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC) throughout the month of June for opportunities for staff and students to engage with Indigenous artists, authors, and speakers through various virtual workshops and panel discussions.

All month long, the UIEC is hosting several events and celebrations with David A. Robertson, Alyssa and Conlin Delbaere-Sawchuk, Theola Ross, as well as Two-Spirit & Indigiqueer Pride launched by Elder Blu Water.

On Friday, June 21, the TDSB recognizes National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day of significance for many Indigenous Peoples in the country we call Canada today. 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 the 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.

School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week is a week-long event dedicated to recognizing and honouring the essential contributions of School Crossing Guards in our communities. This initiative goes beyond a simple “thank you” and strives to create a heightened awareness of these unsung heroes’ critical role in promoting safe and active travel to school. On your walk/roll to school this week, please take a minute to show your appreciation.

Dear Families,

 
Please see the invitation below from Councillor Matlow on the upcoming Davisville Community Fair. This event is a family friendly fun day that brings together community groups, local businesses and city services highlighting their programing and initiatives from the community. We will also be giving away free ice cream and samosas and raffling off fun prizes from local businesses.

Dear Families,

Please see the invitation below from Councillor Matlow on the upcoming Davisville Community Fair. This event is a family friendly fun day that brings together community groups, local businesses and city services highlighting their programing and initiatives from the community. We will also be giving away free ice cream and samosas and raffling off fun prizes from local businesses.

Week of June 3rd, 2024

 

Summer Well-Being Guide

The 2024 Summer Well-being Guide is now available!

The Guide has resources, community connections, events and ideas for students and parents/caregivers/guardians to promote mental and physical wellness during the summer months. The resources are culturally responsive with many resources for students with disabilities/special education needs.

The Guide has been translated into the top 23 TDSB languages spoken and is accessible. 

Pride TDSB

Source: TDSB Website

June is Pride Month at the TDSB. It is an opportunity to celebrate diversity and raise awareness among all staff and students about the rich culture and history of our 2SLGBTQ+ communities as well as the impact of homophobia, transphobia, and biphobia on TDSB students, staff and community members. Everyone should be proud of their sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression. Diversity is a gift! 

Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month at the TDSB-June 2024

Source: TDSB Website

Portuguese-speaking heritage month is proudly recognized during the month of June at the TDSB and has been since 2011. Tis year our theme is Unidos/United! The contributions of the Portufuese-speaking community to Canada are significant as they include the arts, sports, music, culinary arts and many professional contributions to education and medicine. Canadians, along with all TDSB students, staff and its communities all enjoy the energetic and vibrant traditions that are shared through the customs of the Portuguese-speaking community. An invitation is being extended to all students, staff and the larger TDSB community to attend the annual Portuguese Parade taking place on Saturday, June 8th, 2024. This vibrant and colourful parade brings the Portuguese-speaking community together and experience traditional music, dance and food. All wishing to participate in this parade are asked to meet at 8:00am in the Lansdowne and Bloor Street area. There will be clearly identified parade volunteers in the area to assist to locate the TDSB vehicle. The parade starts at 9:00am and the parade route starts at Lansdowne Avenue and College Street and continues along Dundas Street West to Ossington Avenue.  Please follow us on Twitter @TDSB_PSHM.

Italian Heritage Month at the TDSB-June 2024

Source: TDSB Website

Italian Heritage Month Act was passed in 2010. This year’s theme for Italian Heritage Month is Sharing Our Stories and Embracing Our Future/Condividere le nostre storie e abbracciare il nostro futuro. We are excited to share the many stories from Italian ancestors whose contributions helped shape our Canadian cultural mosaic. Italian stories and traditions reaffirm identity and connect us to one another. These stories allow us to walk for a moment in someone else's shoes, and to see ourselves in others. Stories unite future generations while they evolve and create new customs and traditions for us to embrace. Together, the past, present and future will redefine what it means to be an Italian-Canadian.

To commemorate this year’s theme, we invite all TDSB students from all TDSB schools to submit a video that captures their special memory or tradition with their nonni (grandparents) or an elderly caregiver/guardian. We look forward to sharing the videos with you! Additionally, we invited two authors to some of our schools to share their recent books on their Italian heritage with our students. More information on these events to come.

June is also Seniors Month, and the TDSB has launched an activity for students from Runnymede Junior and Senior Public School. Participating students were asked to draw and write a message on a postcard that features a white lily, the national flower of Italy. These postcards will be distributed to the residents of Villa Colombo Home for the Aged during the month of June. Let us continue to share our stories and embrace our future.

For highlights and more information on Italian Heritage Month at TDSB, please follow @ItalianHer1 on X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram @ItalianHeritageTDSB https://www.instagram.com/italianheritagetdsb/

TDSB Celebrates National Indigenous History 

Source: TDSB website

June is National Indigenous History Month and June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day. It is a time to celebrate and learn from First Nations, Métis, and Inuit peoples’ diverse cultures, histories, experiences, creations, perspectives, and achievements.

Join the Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC) throughout the month of June for opportunities for staff and students to engage with Indigenous artists, authors, and speakers through various virtual workshops and panel discussions.

On Friday, June 21, the TDSB recognizes National Indigenous Peoples Day. This is a day of significance for many Indigenous Peoples in the country we call Canada today. 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 the 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.

School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week

School Crossing Guard Appreciation Week is a week-long event dedicated to recognizing and honouring the essential contributions of School Crossing Guards in our communities. This initiative goes beyond a simple “thank you” and strives to create a heightened awareness of these unsung heroes’ critical role in promoting safe and active travel to school. On your walk/roll to school this week, please take a minute to show your appreciation.

Workshop on June 17th: How to Become a Canadian Citizen

Dear Davisville Families,

Please see the flyer below for an upcoming workshop being held at Davisville by our settlement worker, Ahmad Sahil Monsef.

Workshop on Becoming a Canadian Citizen

Davisville Community Fair 

Dear Families,

 
Please see the invitation below from Councillor Matlow on the upcoming Davisville Community Fair. This event is a family friendly fun day that brings together community groups, local businesses and city services highlighting their programing and initiatives from the community. We will also be giving away free ice cream and samosas and raffling off fun prizes from local businesses.

Date: June 15th, 2024
Time: 12pm – 4pm
Location: June Rowlands Park

Week of May 27th, 2024

 Ms. Casselman's Museum

                                        

On May 28th, Ms. Casselman's students showcased and displayed artifacts around their classroom "museum" that represented their families, intersectional identities, lived experiences, beliefs, and family traditions. Room 207 families were invited to take part in this event. Students proudly presented to all the families in the room and explained how their artifacts represented their individual families, cultures and identities. It was heartwarming to be part of such a rich learning experience. Thank you to our wonderful parents/caregivers for being part of this event and to Ms. Casselman for creating a classroom culture where all students feel affirmed and proud of their identities. 

Kindergarten Trip to the Toronto Zoo 

On Thursday, May 23rd, all of the Kindergarten students at Davisville went on a trip to the Toronto Zoo. The students had a wonderful time learning about different animals, and how they adapt to their environment. Thank you to the many parent/caregiver volunteers who came to support the students for this excursion!

Davisville Junior Choir at Meighen Manor 

On Monday, May 27th, the Davisville Junior Choir (along with three performers who participated in "Davisville's Got Talent" show) went to Meighen Manor to perform for the seniors living in the Meighen Retirement Residence. The students performed a number of pieces, many of them from the time when these senior citizens were young, which the residents really enjoyed! We thank the staff at Meighen Manor for giving our students the opportunity to perform in their community room, and we look forward to performing there again in the future. **A huge thank you to Ms. Heath and Mr. Shragge for all their efforts orchestrating this wonderful experience for students. 

"Boomerang Lunch" Wednesdays at Davisville JPS

Our first "Boomerang Lunch" happened this past Wednesday at Davisville. These boomerang lunches will continue for each Wednesday until the end of the school year. Please encourage your children to bring back all the plastic waste home instead of throwing it in the school trash. For example: juice boxes, candy wrappers or plastic bottles. Thank you for your support!

Davisville Community Fair 

Dear Families,

 
Please see the invitation below from Councillor Matlow on the upcoming Davisville Community Fair. This event is a family friendly fun day that brings together community groups, local businesses and city services highlighting their programing and initiatives from the community. We will also be giving away free ice cream and samosas and raffling off fun prizes from local businesses.

Date: June 15th, 2024
Time: 12pm – 4pm
Location: June Rowlands Park

Workshop on June 17th: How to Become a Canadian Citizen

Dear Davisville Families,

Please see the flyer below for an upcoming workshop being held at Davisville by our settlement worker, Ahmad Sahil Monsef.

Workshop on Becoming a Canadian Citizen