Week of October 21, 2024

 

Wards 8 and 11 School/Student Councils, Parents/Caregivers, Community

Members, and School Staff

Please join us for a special joint ward forum:

Meet and Greet on Monday October 28, 2024 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm

Location: Davisville Junior Public School, 50 Davisville Ave

Please join trustee, Shelley Laskin, and our local Family of School (FOS) Superintendents for a
joint Ward Forum Cassandra Alviani-Alvarez FOS 6, Jane Phillips-Ling (A) FOS 7, John Currie
FOS 8 , Jennifer Chan FOS 10, Peter Chang FOS12, Kurt McIntosh FOS13, Nadira Persaud FOS14 & Jack Nigro, Executive Superintendent of Education for LC1.

This is a great opportunity to connect with Shelley and our shared Family of School Superintendents to hear issues, ask questions, share feedback, engage in discussion with other school community members.

How to RSVP for the Ward Forum
• If you are interested in participating, please Register Online
(https://forms.gle/74dLeEmX7TbxV18s8)

Preparing for Halloween 2024: Cultures Are Not Costumes

As we prepare for Halloween in our school, families and students can choose whether or not to participate in Halloween related activities.

In terms of costume guidelines, to support a safe, welcoming, and dynamic learning environment, it is important to be aware of cultural appropriation and stereotypes. This includes reminding students that certain costumes can be viewed as offensive, inappropriate and/or discriminatory to many different cultures/peoples, and as a result can cause harm to members of our school community.  Therefore, please be mindful of certain costumes and the harm they could potentially cause.

Davisville’s Great Pumpkin Auction!

This year we are having a pumpkin auction! Each class is in the process of planning and decorating a class pumpkin that will be available for viewing and bidding on. Viewing of pumpkins and bidding will begin Wednesday Oct. 30th after school and will end Thursday Oct. 31st at 9am. Winning bidders will be able to take their pumpkins home on Thursday.

Funds raised from this will go to support our school and your child. If you have any questions please contact Gillian.harnick@hotmail.com

Cross Country

Congratulations to our student athletes who participated in Cross Country! All of our 140 athletes put forth their best effort and demonstrated wonderful sportsmanship. We had 7 Grade 4 students (Valentina, Lauren, Izzy, Zoya, Charlotte and Hugo) qualify for the Southern Division Qualifier meet. All 7 students ran amazing races. Two of our runners qualified for the City Championship competition. Valentina and Lauren did an amazing job at city finals.

Thank you to all the parents/caregivers and staff who helped our team out.

Learning in our FDK Classes (What gives you joy?)

In Mr. Brink and Ms. Abdi's class, students read a book called, "When We Were Alone". The book is about a grandmother telling her granddaughter about her residential school experience, but it is framed around joy. The grandmother shares several things that give her joy (e.g., having long hair, wearing bright colours, speaking her language); things not allowed in the residential schools. In a discussion after the book, the children were asked, "What brings you joy?" Using loose parts, students created images & pictures of what brings them joy. 

Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Special Education & Inclusion Learning Sessions: Supporting Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Please see below for information about an upcoming professional learning session offered by Special Education & Inclusion for our parent/guardian/caregiver community. 

Date: November 27 Day (AM)
Time: 10:00am - 11:30am

Date: November 28 Evening (PM)
Time: 6:30pm - 8:00pm

Please visit the following flyer if you are interested.

Early French Immersion Application Process

The entry point to Early French Immersion is Junior Kindergarten. For families interested in the Toronto District School Board's system-wide French Immersion Program, we offer an online process to apply for Early French Immersion (begins in JK). To apply to the Early French Immersion Program for September 2025, applications must be completed online between November 4 and November 29, 2024. Families with an older sibling currently in an Early French Immersion program at the same school are still required to complete an online application for the new student. For more information, please visit: Application Early French Immersion.

At any time, please visit the TDSB French Language Programs webpage to view a video that provides information about the TDSB French Language programs as well as the application and placement process in the Early French Immersion and the Middle French Immersion programs. More information about the Early Immersion Program is available in 22 languages, or view the application video.

SEAC Town Hall for Parents/Guardians/Caregivers of Students with Disabilities/Special Education Needs

Source: Trustee, Shelley Laskin's Weekly Updates

TDSB’s Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) includes volunteers who advise the TDSB on how to improve special education programs and services. We want your feedback and to learn from your experience.

TDSB SEAC is hosting a Town Hall. This is an opportunity for families who have a child with a disability/special education needs to share their experiences at school.

Date: November 4, 2024
Time: 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Location: Virtual or In-person (TDSB Board Office, 5050 Yonge St.)

We will ask you 2 questions:

1. What barriers to learning have you and your child encountered in school?
2. What recommendations do you have to enhance services and experiences for students receiving special education services?

We will use this information to help develop recommendations for the TDSB on how it can better serve these students.

At the Town Hall, you will get up to 5 minutes to share your experiences. If you want to attend in-person or online, please complete this registration form. If instead, you would like to submit a pre-recorded video, your written comments, or even an artistic piece, email it to lianne.dixon@tdsb.on.ca.

At the Town Hall and in any feedback you send in, to respect privacy, please do not use the names of specific staff or schools. SEAC cannot investigate specific problems. We want to learn from your feedback on what system-wide reforms we should recommend to TDSB.

Grade 8 to 9 Transition

November is the start of the Grade 8 to 9 Transition period. Over the next few months, secondary schools will be hosting Open Houses and Information Nights for current Grade 8 students and their parents/guardians and caregivers. The information and links below will assist Grade 8 students and families in planning for a smooth transition from Grade 8 to 9:

Open Houses and Information Sessions

TDSB Beyond 8 website

Secondary Central Student Interest Program

Out-of-Area Admissions

Secondary Schools without a Boundary

Central Student Interest Programs website

Preparing for High School Information Webinar Sessions

Below is a summary of the two upcoming webinars. Further details, including the link to register and request an interpreter, will be posted shortly on the TDSB Guidance site and the Central Student Interest Program Website.

Grade 8 to Grade 9 Transitions: Taking place on October 29, 2024 at 7 p.m., this session will focus on the Top 10 Tips and Considerations in the Transition to High School. This presentation is designed to augment the work already taking place through secondary open houses and at the Grade 8 schools. More information: TDSB Beyond 8 website.

Student Interest Programs: The TDSB offers over 50 programs with a particular focus. These programs are for anyone who demonstrates an interest and passion in the particular program area. On October 30, 2024 at 7 p.m., the Student Interest Program Webinar will provide more information about Secondary Schools without a Boundary, local programs, Out-of-Area Admissions and applying to Central Student Interest Programs (CSIP). Application for CSIP programs opens on November 4, 2024 and closes on November 22 at 4 p.m.

High School Open Houses and Information Nights

To help you make an informed decision when choosing a school, TDSB schools will host in-person open houses and information sessions for parents/guardians and students between November and January. Learn everything you need to know about our incredible variety of schools, programs and courses. If you have questions about a specific school or open house, please contact the school directly for more information.

Note: Please check this page regularly, as secondary schools will continue to post information about open house dates/times.

Elementary School Open Houses and Information Nights

To locate your designated elementary home school by address, please Find Your School - By Address. Schools that offer Central Student Interest Programs and local programs will host open houses and information sessions for parents/guardians and students between November and February. Learn everything you need to know about our incredible variety of schools and programs. If you have questions about a specific school, please visit the school’s website or contact the school directly for more information.

Note: Please check this page regularly, as elementary schools will continue to post information about open house dates/times.

Policy Consultations - We'd like to hear from you

Source: Trustee, Shelley Laskin's Weekly Updates

The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) is committed to open and inclusive policy decision-making and values community input and participation through consultation. Consultation is a two-way communication process between the Board and external participants, including students and their parents/guardians, school councils, advisory committees, community members, different levels of government, service agencies, professional organizations and union partners. The objective of consultation is to gather public input regarding options, alternative courses of action, as well as to identify unintended effects for various participants and to find solutions.

Personal Mobile Device Use in Schools Policy - NEW

Objective - To outline requirements for the appropriate use of Personal Mobile Devices by students, staff and other members of the TDSB School Community at schools; to advance a conducive learning environment and promote responsible Digital Citizenship; and to reduce negative impacts of excessive screen time and social media use on students’ achievement, well-being, and mental health.

Draft New Policy [docx] Draft New Policy [pdf]

Please provide your questions, comments and suggestions related to the draft Policy to: mobiledevicepolicy@tdsb.on.ca by December 10, 2024.

TDSB School Year Calendar

 

Week of October 14, 2024

 

Spectrum Alternative & Davisville JPS Trip to Evergreen Brickworks

On Friday October 18th, Mme Kimi and Mme Samuel's Kindergarten class along with Ms. Daly' Grade 7 class from Spectrum Alternative School went to Evergreen Brickworks. The classes have been working collaboratively together to learn more about the natural environment.

Both classes traveled together by TTC to Brickworks. During their walk, classes learned about the history of the land and the fact that tiny Mud Creek used to be a large river full of salmon and that there used to be giant beavers living at Brickworks that were as large as grizzly bears! This was a wonderful trip for students to learn about their local environment. 

TRC Work Embedded in the Delivery of All Programming

As part of our ongoing work towards Truth and Reconciliation, students in Mr. Shragge's music classes are learning a special song written by Shawnee Kish in collaboration with members of the Mohawk community in Fort Erie. This song, Yohahi:yo (The Good Road) features words in English and Mohawk, and features the theme of walking along the Good Road towards togetherness and harmony. Through music, we can further our understanding of the meaning behind our daily Land Acknowledgment while showcasing indigenous voices and languages.

Snapshots of the Learning Taking Place in Our Classrooms

In alignment with our school vision and school improvement goals where student identity is central to the work we do, our classes from JK/SK to Gr. 8 have been focused on rich tasks that leverage students' identities and lived experiences. Ms. Tiralongo's class created "I am Me" poems where students expressed their intersecting identities and Ms. Casselman's class delved into the meaning of their names. They read a story called, "The Name Jar" by Yangsook Choi and as part of their learning, students had to speak to their families about their names to determine naming traditions, the meaning behind their names and the cultural associations of their name. Bravo to our classes!

Co-constructing Learning Skills in Our Gr. 8 Class

Ms. McKenzie's Gr. 8 class co-constructed their shared understanding of each of the learning skills. Students then engaged in self-reflection of their own progress in relation to these skills. What a rich activity to promote students' critical thinking skills. Learning should provide students with the opportunity to self-monitor, reflect and improve their own learning. Great work happening!

Spectrum Alternative: Grade 8 Transition Information Night Resources

The resources and websites below are available to support families with Gr. 8 transitions and Open House/Information Nights. 

Dear Spectrum Alternative families,

Below are some resources and links that you can explore to support your child's Gr. 8 transition.

Central Student Interest Program Application Fact Sheet for Parents/Guardians and Caregivers

Please also visit the Secondary Program and Admissions Internal Website for further information on Grade 8 transitions.

Additional Public Websites:

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Central Student Interest Program Main Website

Secondary Out-of-Area Admissions Website

Secondary Schools without a Boundary Website - There is a new process when applying to attend Central Technical School, Central Toronto Academy, Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute and Western Technical Commercial School

High School Open House and Information Nights Website - lists all Open House dates

If you have questions regarding Grade 8 to 9 Transitions, please contact the school or your child's Gr. 8 Guidance teacher, Ms. Asmita Pal.

 

EcoSchool Initiatives at Davisville JPS

Akin to last school year, Davisville JPS staff and students will be involved in a number of EcoSchools initiatives this school year. For example, events such as "Take Me Outside Day" and "Waste Reduction Week" are designed to encourage outdoor education, learning in natural settings and focus on environmental stewardship and taking care of our environment. 

We will also be beginning "Food Waste Friday" soon and the focus on that will be on composting food scraps and having students learn about the importance of composting. 

Week of October 7th, 2024

Happy Thanksgiving

Many staff, students and families in our school community celebrated Thanksgiving this past weekend. We want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving filled with joy and blessings. We hope this past weekend afforded you with extra time to be with your loved ones.

Yom Kippur

Many of our Jewish community celebrated Yom Kippur this past weekend. It is a time dedicated to reflection, reconciliation and seeking forgiveness. We hope everyone had a meaningful and sacred Yom Kippur.

Tea & Talk 

The school administration, Principal, David Finkelstein & Vice Principal, Mona Moftakhar, will be hosting monthly "Tea & Talks" for our parent/guardian/caregiver community. These sessions will occur on a monthly basis in-person at the school and will provide families with information, skills, knowledge, resources and tools on how to support their children and navigate the school system. Parent/caregiver voices will be centered and you will have an opportunity to share your voices, knowledge and expertise on a variety of topics including our School Improvement Process. 

Please stay tuned for our "Tea & Talk" dates. We look forward to strengthening our school community with your involvement, engagement and input.

 Highlights from Ms. Hatcher's Class

Wonderful things happening in Ms. Hatcher's class. Students read a poem called, "What Do We Do with a Variation?" and then created their own versions of the poem to send a powerful message that our differences are not a barrier, but a strength that adds so much value and beauty to our school community. Some students even read their poems using their first languages honouring the diverse languages our students bring with them to school. Thank you, Ms. Hatcher's class, for reminding us of the powerful message that our differences are to be honoured and celebrated. 

Grade 8 Transition Information 

Dear Spectrum Alternative families,

Below are some resources and links that you can explore to support your child's Gr. 8 transition.

Central Student Interest Program Application Fact Sheet for Parents/Guardians and Caregivers

Please also visit the Secondary Program and Admissions Internal Website for further information on Grade 8 transitions.

Additional Public Websites:

Beyond 8: Grade 8 to 9 Transition Website

Central Student Interest Program Main Website

Secondary Out-of-Area Admissions Website

Secondary Schools without a Boundary Website - There is a new process when applying to attend Central Technical School, Central Toronto Academy, Danforth Collegiate and Technical Institute and Western Technical Commercial School

High School Open House and Information Nights Website - lists all Open House dates

If you have questions regarding Grade 8 to 9 Transitions, please contact the school or your child's Gr. 8 Guidance teacher, Ms. Asmita Pal.

Early French Immersion (Junior Kindergarten Entry) Application Opens November 4

If your family is interested in the Toronto District School Board's Early French Immersion Program (begins in Junior Kindergarten), we are pleased to offer an online process to apply. Applications for September 2025 must be completed online by November 29, 2024. Families with an older sibling currently in an Early French Immersion program must complete an online application for the new student. Visit the Early French Immersion page for more information.

The TDSB's Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism strategy  

The TDSB expects that all students, staff, and communities will be treated with dignity and respect so that we may learn and work in environments free from discrimination, in accordance with the Human Rights Policy (P031). Hate has no place in our schools.

The TDSB collects data through the Bias and Hate (RBH) Portal. All students and staff  must be safe in our schools and free from discrimination, harassment and hate. You can read more on TDSB's Combating Hate and Racism Strategy on our website.  

Please remember TDSB's Mental Health and Well Being Professional Support Staff (PSS) are here to support your mental health and well-being and to help you navigate the tools and resources you may need. Please see resources on their website.

Online Interpreter Training Program

TDSB is offering the opportunity to 85 TDSB parents/caregivers to receive online interpreter training in TDSB's most requested languages! Are you a parent/caregiver with a child registered in the TDSB who:
-has full proficiency in English and another language (i.e., Pashto, Farsi, Roma, Ukrainian);
-is interested in being trained as an interpreter to work with the TDSB;
-is comfortable with virtual/online learning;
-has access to a computer, and the internet and has, at minimum, intermediate computer fluency;
-has a recording device, headphones, and dictionaries (hard copy and/or online). 

Ensuring equitable engagement opportunities for our multi-lingual parents/caregivers, while maximizing their language assets, will enable the TDSB to improve communication between parents/caregivers and the school/Board.

If interested, please join on October 21, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. See attached for more details.

 

Register Now! Parents and Caregivers as Partners Conference

You are invited to join us for the Parents and Caregivers as Partners Conference on Saturday, November 16, 2024. This year’s conference theme is Journey to Joy, Wellness, and Wholeness and will be a day full of presentations and workshops. Visit www.parentsaspartners.ca for more information and to register to attend.

 

 

Week of September 30th, 2024

 

Punctuality/Late Arrivals 

Students are expected to arrive at school on time and line up with their classes. Students arriving late in the morning must enter through the front doors and sign in at the office for a late slip that they will take to their classes. This allows us to maintain adequate attendance of who is in our building.

Morning Drop-Off Routines

Dear families, here are some key points to be aware of during daily morning drop off of students:  

• Supervision starts at 8:40 am every morning for students in Grades 1-6. At this time, staff will be on duty. Therefore, we encourage families not to drop students off before 8:40am, as there is no guaranteed supervision available.
• Our playground area will not be supervised by staff before the start of school (i.e., 8:40-8:55am). Therefore, please ensure that you supervise your child(ren) should they wish to use the playscape area during this time. 
• If your child(ren) are late to be dropped off in the mornings and their class has already gone inside, please do not send your child into the school building on their own to attend class. Instead, we kindly ask that your child(ren) be taken to the main office for a late slip. Given variations in teachers' schedules, some classes may not be in their homeroom classes in the morning, therefore, dropping your child(ren) off in the office will ensure that they safely go to the class they are scheduled to be in for first period (e.g., music, gym, etc.). We thank you for your cooperation and partnership with this, as we all work together to ensure the safety of students at all times. 
  

Curriculum Night/Meet the Family Night

Our Curriculum Night/Meet the Family Night will take place on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024.  We look forward to seeing our families that evening. Please see below for a breakdown of the evening:

6:30 - 6:50pm - School-wide address by school administration 

7:00 - 7:25pm - Classroom Presentations #1

7:30 - 7:55pm - Classroom Presentations #2  

Follow Us on Twitter!

For all the latest news and events happening at our school, make sure to follow us on Twitter. 

Please follow us on Twitter at @davisville_jps & @SpectrumAltern2

Mental Illness Awareness Week

Mental Illness Awareness Week takes place from October 6-12. It is an annual, national public education campaign to raise awareness and address misconceptions about mental illness to improve our understanding of mental health. World Mental Health Day, a globally recognized day to raise awareness and mobilize efforts in support of mental health, takes place on October 10. 

Latin-American Heritage Month

Latin-America History Month is proudly recognized in October. This year the focus and theme of October 2024 continues to be: "Weaving Our Legacies: Return to Our Collective Path | Enlazar Nuestres Legados: Volver a Nuestre Camino Colectivo."

In alignment with this year’s theme, we are centring on weaving individual and collective legacies of resistance, struggles, joy, love, and healing as peoples of the Latin-America / Abya Yala / Pachamama and its diaspora.   

We are also focusing on the communal purpose of raising consciousness and moving toward reclaiming our whole authentic selves, along with a (re)commitment to reciprocal relations, solidarity, and action towards a just world. During October, several educational opportunities are being planned for students, staff, and community members. To start the learning offerings, all students from K to 12 across the TDSB were invited to participate in a Poster Showcase, capturing images that reflect this year’s theme. The posters that best embody the theme will be shared soon - for now sharing last year's poster. Please follow us on X where daily quotes and announcements will also be shared: @TDSBLAHM. Islamic Heritage Month

TDSB has proudly recognized Islamic Heritage Month (IHM) during the month of October since 2016. This year, the theme is Sabr and Shukr, oft-mentioned concepts in the Qu'ran that offer guidance as to how Muslims should face challenges. Sabr is patience, perseverance, and persistence, which are essential to accomplishing goals, overcoming obstacles, and dealing with setbacks. Shukr is gratitude that allows one to recognize one's blessings and can take the form of words, feelings, or behaviours. This Islamic Heritage Month we will explore how sabr and shukr are woven into the lived experiences, histories, and cultures of Muslim communities. This year’s IHM poster features ten remarkable Muslim Olympic athletes whose journeys are a testament to the values of sabr and shukr. Competing at the 2024 Paris Olympics, these athletes overcame significant personal and professional challenges, embodying resilience, faith, and perseverance at the highest level. From Arshad Nadeem’s record-breaking javelin throw to Sifan Hassan’s triumphant treble after a heart-breaking fall at the 2023 Worlds in Budapest, each athlete’s story showcases how sabr and shukr are not only principles of their faith but integral to their success. This poster highlights their achievements, reminding us that with patience and gratitude, greatness is possible even in the face of adversity.  At the Toronto District School Board, several educational opportunities are being organized for all students, staff and the TDSB community to further learn about Islamic traditions, cultures and customs. These offerings include: Coding Workshops A Poet-Author Talk Art Workshops Fresh daily announcements Educational resources Please visit this website which includes the TDSB Islamic Heritage Month Resource Guidebook, updated in 2023, and also features the newly updated daily announcements. Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter): @tdsb_ihm Somali Heritage Month The TDSB has been marking Somali Heritage Month since June 2016. This year, the theme of Somali Heritage Month is Aqoon la`aani, waa iftiinla’aan - The absence of knowledge is the absence of light. The saying highlights the fundamental value of knowledge and education. By choosing this saying, we hope to underscore the importance of learning and intellectual growth, aligning with our educational mission of fostering a knowledgeable and enlightened student body. During the month of October several Somali Heritage Month educational opportunities are being organized for all TDSB students to further learn about Somali traditions and customs. This poster was commissioned by Saada Awale and is being shared with all Toronto District School Board schools, and sites. Saada Awaleh is a Toronto-based Visual Artist, Educator, and the Creative Director of Awaleh Arts. She identifies as a visual storyteller, aiming her lens at her Somali and Muslim roots. Saada loves textures, patterns and vibrant colours and often incorporates mixed media elements into her work. We thank Saada Awaleh for her beautiful work! Please follow us on X (formerly Twitter) for daily messages throughout the month of October: SomaliHM@TDSB. Please visit the Somali Heritage Month Webpage for the following: Daily Quotes that may be used for school announcements or in the classroom to mark Somali Heritage Month