Week of March 24th, 2025

Importance of School Punctuality

Dear Families,

We have noticed an increasing number of students arriving late to school. Punctuality is an important student responsibility and a key part of developing strong learning skills. Arriving late not only impacts your child’s learning—particularly as focused literacy instruction often takes place in the morning—but it also causes disruptions to classroom routines and the office. 

We kindly ask that you work with your child to ensure they arrive at school on time and are lined up with their class outside. Supervision at Davisville begins at 8:40 a.m., and we appreciate your support in helping your child start their day ready to learn.

Thank you for your continued partnership.

Flyleaf Decodables 

The portal linked below offers free access to decodable texts designed to support teachers in strengthening the home-school connection and fostering early literacy development. The books are thoughtfully organized by specific reading skills (e.g., CVC words, CCVCC words, digraphs) to help guide targeted reading practice.

If you would like to read these books with your child, just click on a book cover to begin reading. To determine the most appropriate starting point for your child, it is encouraged that you consult your child’s educator. They can suggest texts that align with your child’s current reading achievement and instructional needs. Many of the texts are accompanied by a downloadable homework packet, which may be used by your child’s teacher in class to reinforce classroom learning.

https://portal.flyleafpublishing.com/learners-resources/

Special Education and Inclusion: Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Newsletter

Dear Families,

Special Education and Inclusion has published the April 2025 Special Education and Inclusion Parent/Guardian Newsletter. All newsletters for parents/guardians/caregivers can be found on the external TDSB site. 

Reminder: Excellence Awards 2025 Nominations Close in less than 2 Weeks!

Every year, the Excellence Awards help shine a light on the stories of extraordinary staff commitment. This is a reminder that nominations for the TDSB Excellence Awards close on Friday, April 4 at 5:00 pm!

We want to know about the TDSB colleagues you know who are inspiring students, innovating the curriculum, championing digital transformation, creating inclusive schools and workplaces, and working behind the scenes to support operational excellence.

We welcome nominations from anyone – staff, students, parents/caregivers or community members – so we encourage you to submit nominations and to encourage your colleagues to submit nominations through the Excellence Awards website.

Upcoming Workshop: Building Capacity-School Council Membership and Volunteers

Workshop: Building Capacity – School Council Membership and Volunteers
When: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

Please use the link below to register. ZOOM Registration Link

Embedding Indigenous Knowledge and Perspectives Across Our Curriculum

As part of our Truth and Reconciliation Goal, we strive to centre and amplify Indigenous voices and perspectives across our curriculum. This month in Health, students have been learning about Medicine Wheels and how they are used as a symbol in different Indigenous Nations. Medicine Wheels have different symbolic representations across various Indigenous nations including the four directions, the four seasons and also the four parts of self (physical, mental, emotional and spiritual).

While learning about Medicine Wheels, students watched various videos that highlighted the significance of Indigenous perspectives and the diverse meanings associated with the medicine wheel. Students focused on the medicine wheel as a framework for living a balanced life, exploring how the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of self are interconnected. They were invited to reflect on the question “What do you do to take care of your whole self?” In class, students talked about the importance of not only taking care of their physical bodies, but also their mental, emotional and spiritual selves and how they can find ways “to live a balanced and healthy life.”

Sikh Heritage Month at the TDSB: Virtual Launch Celebration - April 3, 2025

Sikh Heritage Month is proudly recognized at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) during the month of April since 2016. This action by our elected Board of Trustees resulted in the TDSB becoming the first school board in Canada to do so. This designation matches the recognition by the Province of Ontario that proclaimed Sikh Heritage Month Act in December 2013 and by the Government of Canada on April 30, 2019.

This year our theme is Ekta (Oneness), Solidarity and Resilience.

As part of the celebrations to mark Sikh Heritage Month, all students, staff, and community members are invited to attend the TDSB Sikh Heritage Month Virtual Celebration!

We are pleased to have Navjot Kaur, author of We are Cheesemakers as the keynote speaker, and several student performances!

Please join us and let's celebrate together.

April 3, 2025
10:00 am - 11:00 am
Live Stream Link: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/stream/LiveWebcast-Sikh-HeritageMonth.html

Call-Out: Portuguese-Speaking Month Volunteer Planning Committee

Throughout the school year, the TDSB formally recognizes 13 Heritage/History Months (link: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Community/Heritage-and-History-Months )

Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month is recognized at the TDSB during the month of June. A volunteer planning committee is composed annually to fulfill the mandate which includes planning educational opportunities for our students, staff and TDSB community to further learn about this heritage and to enrich the curriculum resources. The current members of the volunteer planning committee are looking for additional individuals to join them in implementing this mandate and organizing system-wide educational opportunities.

For reference of activities that were planned in the past, please take a moment to review the Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month internal webpage: https://tdsbweb.tdsb.on.ca/equity/Heritage-History-Months/2023-2024/Portuguese-Speaking-Heritage-Month

Please join our Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month Volunteer Planning Committee. Details of our meeting are noted below:

Date: Tuesday, April 15, 2025
Time: 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm
Microsoft Team Link: Join the meeting now
Meeting ID: 299 617 579 970
Passcode: 96WT2Br9

Week of March 17th, 2025

General Schoolyard Rules – Davisville Junior Public School

At Davisville, students are expected to play kindly, respectfully, and safely with one another. Rough play or games involving significant physical contact pose a high risk of injury and are not permitted on school property at any time. Our goal is to ensure a safe and inclusive environment where all students feel secure and supported during outdoor play.

To maintain safety and prevent injury, the following items are not permitted at school:
• Baseball bats
• Hockey sticks
• Tennis racquets
• Frisbees
• Rollerblades

These items require open, supervised spaces for safe use and are better suited for home or recreational settings outside of school hours.

We kindly ask for your partnership in reinforcing these expectations with your child. Thank you for supporting our efforts to keep the schoolyard a safe and enjoyable space for all students. This information can also be found in the student agenda for your reference.

EARTH HOUR AT THE TDSB AND WORLD WATER DAY

During the last two Eco Club meetings, the eco club members prepared posters to display in our school to promote Earth Hour, and they created announcements that were read this week at school. Earth Hour happened in TDSB schools across our board on Friday, March 21st from 2:00-3:00 pm. During Earth Hour, we turned off non-emergency lights and electronic devices in an effort to conserve energy, raising awareness of the importance of being mindful of our energy usage. We also included an announcement about World Water Day, which occurred on March 22nd as well. World Water Day is a day to highlight the importance of fresh water. The focus of this year's World Water Day is glacier preservation. We are encouraged to use reusable water bottles to reduce plastic waste, and to be mindful of our water usage, conserving water whenever possible.

Rm 105 (Ms. Heath's and Ms. Azra's class) - EXCURSIONS TO GREENWOOD COLLEGE SCHOOL

Since October, every Wednesday morning, Greenwood College School's Grade 7 and 8 students have been coming to Davisville to work with our English Kindergarten classes and Ms. Johnson's Grade 1/2 class in a reading buddies program. Davisville has worked in partnership with Greenwood school in this reading buddies program for many years.

Greenwood offered our students two opportunities to visit them at their school for our reading buddies sessions, and they provided a bus for transportation, as well as morning snacks as part of our excursion. On the first trip to Greenwood (on January 22nd, from 9:00-10:00 am), the students participated in a scavenger hunt, played some literacy games and read with their buddies. Ms. Heath/Ms. Azra's class returned to Greenwood on March 5th. For this excursion, they participated in activities with their buddies in the Greenwood Gym, playing different games with various equipment, as well as using a parachute! Thank you to Greenwood for inviting us to your beautiful school, and thank you to the parents for volunteering their time to accompany our students on our excursions!

EQAO Webinar for TDSB Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers: Primary and Junior Assessment for Reading, Writing, and Math

TDSB Parents, Guardians, and Caregivers are invited to register for a live webinar to learn about the Primary (Grade 3) and Junior (Grade 6) Assessment for Reading, Writing, and Math. Participants will learn about the purpose of Ontario’s large-scale assessments. EQAO staff will explain the assessment format, highlight resources to support students, and answer questions from participants. The session is approximately 45 minutes, followed by a live Q&A with EQAO staff.

To register, please complete and submit this form.
Date: April 15, 2025
Time: 6:30PM - 7:30PM
Registration closes on April 10, at 8:00 PM.

Summer 2025 Programs

Discover TDSB’s summer 2025 programs. Please see below if interested: 

Elementary (Registration is open)
Elementary Summer School

Secondary
Continuing Education Secondary Credit (Registration opens Tuesday, April 22nd)

e-Summer School Program (Registration tentatively opens on Monday, April 15th for TDSB students and Tuesday, April 29th for NON-TDSB students)

TDSB Global Leadership and Communication Camp 2025

Special Education
Special Education and Inclusion Summer Program

e-Summer Secondary Credit Summer Programs 2025

Please note: The e-Summer program will not offer Grade 8-to-9-Reach-Ahead courses, or Grade 9 or 10 courses in the 2025 summer session. Students interested in Grade 8-to-9-Reach-Ahead or Grade 9 or 10 courses are encouraged to review the Continuing Education Summer credit course offerings.

For complete details about the e-Learning summer program please visit our website, e-Summer Programs. 

March Learning Sessions for Staff and Families

Learning and engagement sessions continue to be made available for both staff and families, providing valuable opportunities to explore inclusive and anti-ableist practices and implement concrete strategies in the classroom and at home. These sessions are designed to support student achievement and well-being. Please click this link to access the sessions being offered.

Week of February 24th, 2025

 Tea and Talk Session on March 6th, 2025

Dear Families,

Please note that our next Tea and Talk session will take place on March 6th. The focus of this session will be on bullying and inclusion. During the meeting, we will discuss the board's progressive discipline policy, our school policy on bullying, and the importance of creating inclusive and respectful learning environments for all members of our school community.

You will also learn about the different forms of bullying. Addressing bullying in all its forms is a priority in the TDSB. Our schools should be communities where all students are respected, welcomed, nurtured, engaged, and encouraged. All forms of bullying are taken seriously in the TDSB.

We invite you to join us after your morning drop-off for this session. It will be held in the Boardroom located in the office. Once the presentation is complete, there will be a Q&A session, where families can ask questions or discuss any concerns they may have. This will serve as a great opportunity to learn more about school processes and board procedures.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Ramadan Mubarak!

Ramadan is the holiest month in the Islamic calendar. During this month, many Muslims around the world observe fasting, abstaining from food and water from sunrise to sunset for 29 or 30 consecutive days. Ramadan is a time of reflection, prayer, and community for the Muslim community, and it holds great significance. This year, Ramadan is expected to begin in the evening on Friday, February 28, 2025, and end on Saturday, March 29, 2025.

During the month of Ramadan, we will ensure accommodations for our Muslim staff and students to support them in observing Ramadan while at school. To accommodate their needs, a space will be available in Room 310 during lunch for students who wish to use it. Additionally, if any students require a prayer space, they can come to the office, where arrangements will be made.

If you have any questions or need further information about accommodations, please feel free to contact the school office.

Lastly, the TDSB Islamic Heritage Month Committee has developed resources to support our staff as they continue with culturally relevant and responsive pedagogy and programming that affirms Muslim student identities during Ramadan and beyond.

March Learning Session for Staff and Families (Special Education)

Learning and engagement sessions continue to be made available for both staff and families, providing valuable opportunities to explore inclusive and anti-ableist practices and implement concrete strategies in the classroom and at home. These sessions are designed to support student achievement and well-being. Please click this link to access the sessions being offered.

Excellence Awards 2025 Nominations Open Tuesday!

Every year, the TDSB Excellence Awards help shine a light on the stories of extraordinary staff commitment, and we are delighted to announce that nominations for the Excellence Awards 2025 will open this Tuesday, February 25. The Excellence Awards align with our shared system priorities and help highlight TDSB staff’s efforts to foster joy, engagement and belonging in our schools, workplaces and communities as a foundation for academic achievement, student success, and service excellence. We want to know who are inspiring students, innovating the curriculum, championing digital transformation, creating inclusive schools and workplaces, and working behind the scenes to support operational excellence.

We welcome nominations from anyone – staff, students, parents/caregivers or community members – please send your nomination submissions through the Excellence Awards website during the nomination period between February 25 and April 4, 2025.

New Policy Consultations - We'd like to hear from you

Source: 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. 

Learning Opportunities Index Policy Consultation

The Learning Opportunities Index Policy (P067) is currently being reviewed. The revised draft Learning Opportunities Index Policy (P067) (the “Policy”) affirms the TDSB’s commitment to achieve equitable academic opportunities.

This Policy will assist with steering additional resources to schools serving students who face greater challenges and make sure all students have access to educational resources. The revised draft Policy also aims to support student learning experiences through equitable allocation of resources to schools and to provide direction to staff regarding the use of the Learning Opportunities Index (LOI).

Consultation closes in early April 2025. Draft New Policy [docx] Draft New Policy [pdf]

Please provide your input and feedback here. If you have any questions related to the review and consultation of the Policy, please feel free to contact: research@tdsb.on.ca

Learning Opportunities Index (LOI) Public Policy Consultations

TDSB Trustees and Research and Development staff will be hosting four public consultation sessions across the city on the draft Learning Opportunities Index (LOI) Policy. These sessions ensure families, students, and community members have the opportunity to learn about the LOI and how it is used to support schools.

We are committed to creating inclusive and accessible meetings for everyone. If you have specific concerns related to accessibility, or require childcare or interpretation services, please indicate when registering, email research@tdsb.on.ca or call 416-394-7404.

There will be opportunities to ask questions and share feedback on the dates listed below:

Please use the RSVP form to let us know you will be attending. Click here to view the flyer.

School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO)

School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) has launched By Your Side, a new parent/caregiver learning hub that has been designed to meet the needs of Ontario’s families. By Your Side was created by Ontario parents/caregivers and school mental health professionals and includes resources and supports made available in multiple formats—including web content, PDFs, and videos to ensure that families can easily access information and strategies that promote mental health and well-being at home. Key topics include understanding mental health, promoting mental health at home, supporting mental health at school, stress and anxiety management, substance use prevention, navigating digital technology use, and reaching out for help. Our hope is you find these resources helpful. Mental health matters.

Winter Clothing Drive The needs of TDSB families are greater than ever. These items represent a difficult purchase for many families, especially this year. Donate: To make a monetary donation, please click the link below. 100% of the donation value is eligible for a tax receipt. Donate to the Winter Clothing Drive 100% of all proceeds and in-kind donations benefit TDSB students. This year’s Winter Outerwear Drive will run from November to the end of February 2025.