Week of February 17th, 2025

 Davisville Newcomer Information Evening

Dear Families,

Please see flyer attached with information regarding a newcomer information evening at our school this coming week:

Newcomer Welcome Night.pdf

Date: Thursday, February 27
Time: 6-7:30pm
Location: Davisville Library

⛸️ Family Skate Night

The Davisville Annual Family Skate Night at Hodgson Arena on Friday was a fantastic event! It provided a wonderful opportunity for families to come together, enjoy an evening of skating, and create lasting memories. The rink was filled with laughter, excitement, and a true sense of community as parents/guardians, and children glided across the ice. Events like these not only bring joy but also strengthen the bonds that make our school community so special.

A heartfelt thank you to our incredible School Council and the dedicated parent/guardian volunteers whose hard work and commitment made this event possible. 

Pink Shirt Day

February 26, 2025 is Pink Shirt Day. We encourage everyone in our Davisville and Spectrum school community to wear pink on this day, in our mission to create a more kind, inclusive world. Let’s take a stand against bullying of all kinds. Bullying has no place in schools or in our community. By wearing pink, we can collectively show our commitment to creating a safe, positive and inclusive school environment. By wearing pink, we send a message of support and stand together against bullying.

Special Education Programs

ASD After School Skills Development Program – Spring 2025 Session

The Fall/Winter sessions of the ASD After School Leisure Program, available both in-person and virtually, will run every Tuesday from March 25, 2025 to June 10, 2025 from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. The program is available to students in Grades 4-10 who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. This program provides an opportunity for students to develop, build and enhance their social communication skills through either weekly in-person or weekly virtual sessions.

Please refer to the information letter which includes the link for registration for parents/guardians of Grades 4 – 10 students with ASD. The registration period will remain open until Friday, March 7, 2025.

Guides for Parents/Guardians/Caregivers Video Series

Special Education and Inclusion is excited to share Guides for Parents/Guardians/Caregivers video series. These videos provide an overview of our Guides to Special Education, designed to help families understand the programs, services, and supports available to students. From learning about Individual Education Plans (IEPs) to navigating the Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) process, these resources are here to support you every step of the way. We also encourage you to explore the full guides on the Special Education and Inclusion Website, where you will find additional Special Education resources for families.

Guide to Special Education and Inclusion
This guide provides information about programs and services for students with special education needs, including procedures involved in identifying a student as exceptional and in deciding on program placement.
Guide to The Referral Process
This guide will help you better understand the Referral Process for special education programs and services in the TDSB. Should you require additional information about the process, please contact your child’s teacher or principal.
Guide to Identification, Placement and Review Committees (IPRCs)
This guide explains the role of and processes involving Identification, Placement and Review Committees (IPRCs), outlines your rights as a parent and describes how your partnership is key to ensuring the appropriate decisions are made for your child.
Guide to Individual Education Plans (IEPs)
This guide explains what an Individual Education Plan (IEP) is, outlines your rights as a parent and describes how your partnership is key to ensuring the appropriate programming (assessment and instruction) decisions are made for your child.
Guide to Special Education Program Recommendation Committee (SEPRC)
This guide explains the process used by TDSB to address its duty to accommodate students who have complex physical/medical/safety needs and/or complex disabilities/special education needs.
Guide to Speech-Language Pathology Services
This guide outlines the role of Speech-Language pathologists (SLPs) in supporting students, detailing the types of services offered, eligibility criteria, and the processes for assessment, intervention, and collaboration with educators and families.
Guide to Psychological Services
This guide outlines the role of Psychology Services in supporting students, detailing the types of services offered, eligibility criteria, and the processes for assessment, intervention, and collaboration with educators and families.
Guide to Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Services
This guide outlines the role of Occupational and Physiotherapy Services supporting students, detailing the types of services offered, eligibility criteria, and the processes for assessment, intervention, and collaboration with educators and families.

Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement

Please see the following upcoming opportunities for students, staff and community offered by the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement.

Honouring African Heritage Experiences

People of African descent have a rich legacy of cultural practices and traditions across generations. The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement in collaboration with various community educators is excited to offer diverse learning experiences focused on honouring and affirming African, African-Caribbean and Black students' identities. These African-centred programming and learning experiences provide opportunities for students, staff, caregivers and community members. Please find the menu for February.

TDSB Special Education Department Family Sessions

Drop-In Q & A with Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Staff - Receive general OT/PT strategies for your child(ren) / Chat with other parents/caregivers; Ask questions.

If you require translation services or have any questions or concerns, please email:
Learning Centre 1 - Rhanda Craig: rhanda.craig@tdsb.on.ca 
Get the link here Sensory and Motor team parent/guardian/caregiver VOH flyer

Week of February 10th, 2025

African Heritage Month Assembly – Rescheduled to February 21st

Dear Families,

Due to unforeseen circumstances, our African Heritage Month assembly has been rescheduled to February 21st. A letter was sent home to all families of participating classes and performers, which included two time slots for attendance.

We are excited to share this special event with you, featuring student performances, African drumming, choral readings, and more. This year, our theme is "Lift Every Voice"—a phrase that embodies unity, resilience, and the power of collective strength within the Black community. 

We look forward to coming together for this meaningful celebration.

The Power of Kind Words in Ms. Johnson's Class

"The Puffins" in Room 216 have been working on using kind words when speaking to themselves and others in their lives as part of our explorations of our SIP goal of Wellbeing and Belonging. This past week, after tracing themselves onto large craft paper, each Puffin cut out a paper heart and filled it with kind words about themselves then glued it onto their paper self. Next, all papers were placed around the room and the Puffins visited each one, equipped with a sharpie and a kind message to write about their classmates. The Puffins enjoyed reading all the kind words written about them and reflected afterwards about how good it feels to hear kind words but also how good it feels to share kind words with others!

UFT Men's Hockey Game

Davisville JPS students in grades 3-6 attended the University of Toronto Men’s (UFT) Ice Hockey game on Thursday, February 6th, 2025, at Varsity Arena vs. Metropolitan Toronto University (MTU). Over 250 students and 30 parents/guardians and staff cheered and danced for the boys in blue. With the Davisville high energy, we helped push UFT to a hard-fought 5 to 3 win over MTU. The students demonstrated exemplary behavior and served as outstanding representatives of our school during the  game. Dynamite Davisville!

Kindergarten Movie Night

We would like to extend our gratitude to our incredible School Council and dedicated parent volunteers for hosting such a fun-filled and engaging Kindergarten Movie Night on Wednesday. This special event provided our FDK students with a wonderful opportunity to experience the joy of watching a movie together in a warm and communal setting.

The evening was filled with laughter, excitement, and cherished moments as our youngest learners enjoyed delicious treats and the magic of a shared cinematic experience. Events like these not only create lasting memories for our students but also foster a strong sense of community within our school.

Thank you to everyone who helped organize and support this fantastic event—your time, effort, and dedication truly made it a night to remember!

Regular Attendance /Absences

Regular student attendance is essential for ongoing progress, achievement, and well-being. Inconsistent attendance patterns can hinder student learning and overall success.

To address attendance concerns, we have procedures in place, including school letters from administration. School administration will monitor student attendance, collaborate with parents/guardians to support the development of good attendance habits, and issue attendance letters when students continue to miss school.

Students are expected to attend class daily whenever possible, and if an absence is necessary, parents/guardians should inform the school. 

Important Morning Drop-Off Reminders

We would like to share some important reminders regarding morning drop-off procedures to ensure a smooth and safe start to the school day.

• Supervision begins at 8:40 AM for students in Grades 1-6. Staff will be on duty at this time, so we kindly ask that families refrain from dropping students off before 8:40 AM, as there is no guaranteed supervision.
• Late Arrivals: If your child arrives after 8:55 AM, they must sign in at the office to obtain a late slip.
• Drop-Off Location: To minimize disruptions, students should be dropped off in the school yard, not at the front doors on Davisville. The front entrance should not be used for morning drop-off, as students are expected to enter through the school yard, where supervision is available.
• Punctuality Matters: Arriving on time is essential for maximizing learning, minimizing classroom disruptions, and building responsible habits. Please ensure your child arrives before 8:55 AM.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and organized morning routine. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Week of February 3rd, 2025

 Important Morning Drop-Off Reminders

Dear Families,

We would like to share some important reminders regarding morning drop-off procedures to ensure a smooth and safe start to the school day.

• Supervision begins at 8:40 AM for students in Grades 1-6. Staff will be on duty at this time, so we kindly ask that families refrain from dropping students off before 8:40 AM, as there is no guaranteed supervision.
• Late Arrivals: If your child arrives after 8:55 AM, they must sign in at the office to obtain a late slip.
• Drop-Off Location: To minimize disruptions, students should be dropped off in the school yard, not at the front doors on Davisville. The front entrance should not be used for morning drop-off, as students are expected to enter through the school yard, where supervision is available.
• Punctuality Matters: Arriving on time is essential for maximizing learning, minimizing classroom disruptions, and building responsible habits. Please ensure your child arrives before 8:55 AM.

Thank you for your cooperation in helping us maintain a safe and organized morning routine. Your support is greatly appreciated!

Spectrum Alternative Bake Sale

Dear Families,

Please note that our Spectrum students are hosting a Valentine's Bake Sale on February 13th to raise money for Grade 8 Graduation activities! We will be selling to both Spectrum & Davisville JPS students and families to help us fundraise. The cost of baked goods ranges anywhere from $1.00 - $4.00

Your support towards this fundraiser is much appreciated.

Term 1 Report Cards

Term 1 Report Cards will be sent home electronically on Tuesday, February 11th, 2025. We encourage you to sit down with your child to review their progress so far. You may read the comments in each subject section carefully and pay close attention to the Learning Skills comments of the reports. Term 1 Report Cards provide information on how well your child has achieved the curriculum expectations in a subject and whether or not they have reached the expected level of achievement in various subject areas.  Letter grades are given for students in grades 1-6 and percentage marks are given for students in grades 7-8. 

Report cards focus on six essential learning skills and work habits students need to succeed. Each skill is reported as Excellent (E), Good (G), Satisfactory(S) or Needs Improvement (N). The six skills and habits are: 

-Responsibility
-Organization
-Independent Work
-Collaboration
-Initiative
-Self-regulation

Kindergarten Communication of Learning

In the Kindergarten Communication of Learning, educators share their observations and documentation showing student's learning and progress; there are no grades provided. The comments on Kindergarten reports focus on each child's strengths in learning that the student has demonstrated in relation to the overall expectations. Kindergarten educators gather evidence of learning based on what children are saying, doing and how they are representing their thinking and learning in relation to the overall expectations. Lastly, you will note that all four frames of the Kindergarten Program will be referenced in the comments. 

Please see below for a message from our School Council:

Kindergarten Movie Night - Sign-Up Still Open!

Tickets are still available for our Kindergarten Movie Night on Wednesday, February 12th, from 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM. This special event, exclusively for kindergarten students, will feature the beloved movie The Gruffalo, a charming adaptation of the classic children's book.

Details:
Date & Time: Wednesday, February 12th, from 3:15 PM to 4:00 PM
Cost: $5 (includes a snack pack)
Ticket Sales: Available on SchoolCash Online; closes on February 10th
Reminder: Please fill out the permission form at the time of purchase.

Don't miss out—sign up today!

Reminder: Davisville Skate Swap

In conjunction with our Skate Night tradition on February 21st, we will also be hosting a Skate Swap in the Davisville Atrium. If you have old skates that no longer fit or just want to upgrade, this is the perfect chance to swap them!

Details:
When: From 9:30 AM on Tuesday, February 11th until 5:00 PM on Wednesday, February 12th
Where: Davisville Atrium

How It Works:
Bring your old skates and exchange them for a pair that fits.
Chairs will be available in the atrium to try on your skates.
Be sure to use the mats under the skate blades to protect the floors.

Interested in Volunteering for Skate Night?
We’d love to have you help make Skate Night even more memorable! If you’re interested in volunteering, please join our Volunteer WhatsApp Group here.

We look forward to seeing everyone on the ice for a great community experience!

African Heritage (Black History) Month at the TDSB 

During the month of February, African Heritage (Black History) Month is recognized across Canada thanks to The Honourable Jean Augustine. The former Member of Parliament introduced the motion in the House of Commons, and it officially took effect in February 1996. The Black History Month Act was also passed in Ontario in 2016.
 

To kick off African Heritage Month, both Spectrum Alternative and Davisville JPS will be hosting a special assembly featuring student performances, African drumming, choral readings, spoken word, and more. This year, our theme is "Lift Every Voice", a phrase that signifies unity, resilience, and the power of collective strength within the Black community. Inspired by the Black National Anthem, it highlights the importance of raising voices to celebrate culture, history, and brilliance while honoring the ongoing journey toward justice and equity.

Moreover, the TDSB is excited to extend an invitation to all students, staff and the TDSB community to join us in marking this important month with performances by Black artists, creators, and noteworthy speakers. Please see below for details.

Please visit the TDSB African Heritage Month web page: https://tdsbweb.tdsb.on.ca/equity/Heritage-History-Months/2024-2025 for the following information below and other updates.

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND EQUITABLE OUTCOMES

The Special Education and Inclusion Department is pleased to share the February Newsletter for Parents/Guardians/Caregivers that highlights some relevant resources and information for families.

Upcoming Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Engagement Session: Navigating Transitions

The following are the dates for the upcoming parent/caregiver/guardian session being offered by the Special Education and Inclusion Department. These repeat sessions will focus on the support and services available for students with special needs and disabilities, both within the TDSB and through external organizations. 

Date: Wednesday, March 5th - Day (AM)
Time: 10:00 am - 11:30 am

Date: Thursday, March 6th - Evening (PM)
Time: 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm

Please refer to this flyer.

Pre-Kindergarten to Kindergarten Africentric 10th Year Anniversary Event

Join us for a special Pre-Kindergarten-Kindergarten Africentric Education family event! The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement in collaboration with Early Years Department, Parent/Caregiver and Community Engagement Office and Teachers Learning and Leading, welcomes Black families and families raising Black children to a Pre-Kindergarten - Kindergarten Africentric 10th Year Anniversary Event.

This event features a Caregiver & Keynote Workshop by Dr. Kerry-Ann Escayg along with interactive Africentric learning experiences for Black children.

Date: February 22, 2025
Time: 10 a.m. - Noon
Location: Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement, Winston Churchill C.I. – 2239 Lawrence Avenue E. Scarborough.

Registration link