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

Week of September 23, 2024

 

Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah begins this coming week. We wish our Jewish students, staff and community a very Happy Rosh Hashanah. May you all have a happy, healthy and amazing year ahead. 

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

Promoting Respect in Our School Building

Each and every day, TDSB staff in schools and buildings interact with students, parents, guardians, caregivers, and other members of the community. As a school and school board, it is our expectation that staff be treated with kindness, dignity and respect during all interactions, whether in-person or via phone and email. Harassment or disrespectful behaviour of any kind will not be tolerated.

Please remember that respectful behaviour must be maintained during all interactions. We ALL have an important role to play in creating and maintaining respectful working and learning spaces. 

Knitting Club

Mr. Hannah, Mme Haley and Mme Samuel are organizing and starting a knitting club for our junior students, which is expected to begin sometime in the beginning of October. We are asking for donations, if possible, from our community to assist with gathering the necessary materials for this club. We are searching for the following items:

- knitting needles (ideally 5mm 5.5mm, or 6mm)

-yarn (ideally acrylic or wool in either worsted or chunky weight, nothing fuzzy, no chenille, no mohair)

If you are able to donate any of these items, please connect with Mme Haley at Melissa.Haley@tdsb.on.ca

Early Years Screening: Students in SK to Gr. 2

Dear Families, 

The Ministry released Policy/Program Memorandum# 168 which mandates annual early reading screening for all students in Year 2 of Kindergarten through Grade 2. Early reading screening is a process of assessing a student’s foundational reading skills in the early years of school. It involves administering a series of measures to identify students who may be at-risk for reading difficulties. Early reading screening is used to inform educators as they provide instruction and further intervention support to students. 

Please note that a school letter was sent to our families with information about the early reading screening via school messenger. If you have any further questions about the screening, please do not hesitate to contact the school administration or your child's teacher. 

Engaging Students in Critical Conversations (Terry Fox Run, Walk or Roll)

                                                                    

At our school, we engage our students in critical conversations. In Ms. Paras' class this week, students thought critically about accessibility, ableism, and inclusion. Students were asked to think about the inclusion of the word "roll" in our Terry Fox event, which led to critical and rich conversations about inclusion and accessibility. Then, students thought about our own school and analyzed and brainstormed ways our school is accessible to persons with disabilities. Such rich learning in Ms. Paras' class. 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on September 30, 2024

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Together we recognize the legacy of Canada's residential school system and continue to learn the many truths of these institutions. During Truth and Reconciliation Week, which takes place this year between September 23-27, we encourage schools to participate in events offered by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. 

Orange Shirt Day, established in 2013 by Phyllis Webstad, recognizes the legacy of the Residential Schools System for First Nations, Métis and Inuit families and communities. By wearing orange, we acknowledge the truths of Residential Schools in Canada, we honour Survivors, and we remember the thousands of children who died, many of them buried in unmarked graves. This year, TDSB and our school will honour Orange Shirt Day on Monday, September 30th. 

Week of September 16th, 2024

Terry Fox Run/Walk or Roll Event 

Dear Davisville Community,

Terry Fox was an example of courage, determination and perseverance. Our Terry Fox Run/Walk or Roll event will be taking place on Thursday September 26th. We are honoured and excited to take part in this annual tradition that supports cancer research while building school spirit. If possible, please support our student’s fundraising efforts and donate today at: https://schools.terryfox.ca/DavisvillePSToronto #terryfoxschoolrun #nomatterwhat @theterryfoxfoundation

Also, please take a moment to read and review the letter shared below on behalf of our Terry Fox Committee for more specific details regarding our upcoming event:

Davisville JPS-Terry Fox Event Letter

Centering Student Identity 

                               

At Davisville JPS & Spectrum Alternative, we work hard to create a culturally responsive, identity affirming space for all of our students and families. We want to ensure that our resources, materials and our learning environment reflects the diverse backgrounds and experiences of our students and families. In the first few weeks of school, our staff have worked hard to ensure they are centering students' voices and identities.

Here are some "snapshots" of the work being done in our classrooms:

• In Mr. Brinks and Ms. Abdi's FDK class, the students are learning about the significance of their names. They are also learning how to identify their names and engaging in rich literacy tasks involving the characteristics of their names (e.g., number of letters, number of syllables, etc.). Students have been engaging in kinesthetic activities where they trace their names on paper and salt trays.

• In Ms. Oelbaum's class, students are learned about the meaning behind their names, created name glyphs, and collected data about themselves and their lived experiences. The data was displayed in a bar graph showing students' similarities and differences.    

• In Ms. Haley and Ms. Limbada's class (as well as many other classes), they are constructing frayer models on identity. Frayer models help students to unpack and better understand complex vocabulary terms and concepts. *Frayer models are an important instructional strategy that will be used consistently in our school. 

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day on September 30, 2024

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Together, we recognize the legacy of Canada’s residential school system and continue to learn the many truths of these institutions. Orange Shirt Day, established in 2013 by Phyllis Webstad, recognizes the legacy of the Residential Schools System for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit families and communities. By wearing orange, we acknowledge the truths of Residential Schools in Canada, we honour Survivors, and we remember the thousands of children who died, many of them buried in unmarked graves. This year, our school will honour Orange Shirt Day on Monday, September 30th. Please note that more information about this day will be forthcoming shortly.

Steps to Address Parent/Guardian Questions and Concerns

Dear Families,

The TDSB has protocols for sharing your questions and concerns. Below, you will find our board procedure for addressing educational concerns brought forward by parent(s)/guardians.

Please note that in many situations, your child's teacher is the first point of contact, followed by the school administrators (i.e., principal and vice principal), the school superintendent and finally your Trustee. It is important to note that appropriate flexibility will be given in implementing these procedures to suit individual circumstances.


Step 1 - Classroom Teacher

The first place to go about any classroom-related question or concern is your classroom teacher. They can help you with:

Any questions about the classroom
Classroom rules and consequences
Homework and assignments

Step 2 - School Principal

If you would like more information or if you have questions that are beyond the classroom, talk to your school principal. They can help with:

Concerns about an individual school
Student registration
Student schedules
Student suspensions
Report card concerns
Homework and assignments
Code of Conduct
Safety and security
Budget and fundraising
School Council



Step 3 - School Superintendents

Superintendents are responsible for a Network of Schools. They support school staff and can be contacted if you have questions that have not been answered or for help with:

Alternate attendance request
Suspension appeals



Step 4 - Trustees

Trustees are your elected community officials. They are available to help you with the following areas of the TDSB:

Concerns about your community
Ideas and suggestions for the Board
Items on Board Agendas
Board policies under review
Board budget
Collective bargaining

Entry to School for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

Elementary schools may be receiving students from the Ontario Autism Program (OAP), or may have students leaving to attend the program. The program is delivered by the Toronto Autism Network (TAN), which consists of six agencies (Geneva Centre, Surrey Place, Lumenus, Strides, SAAAC and Kerry’s Place). This is a six-month, group-based, skill-building program with a focus on preparing young children with ASD who have never attended school to transition to Kindergarten or Grade 1.

Please read this information sheet on the Entry to School Program.

Professional Activity (PA) Days

As you may be aware, during the school year, school staff participate in a number of Professional Activity (PA) Days. On these dates, students remain at home and schools are open for staff to engage in professional learning. As per Ministry requirements, detailed information about planned activities will be posted to the TDSB public website at least 14 days in advance of each scheduled PA Day during the 2024-25 school year. I encourage you to visit the PA Day web page to learn more and check back throughout the school year.

Note: the first PA Day for the 2024-25 school year in on September 27, 2024. Information is posted on the webpage.

Dogs: Not Allowed on our School Property

Please note that the TDSB enforces a strict policy regarding dogs on its properties. Dogs are generally not permitted on TDSB grounds, with the exception of service animals as defined by the Student Use of Service Animals in Schools Policy (P096) and the Use of Service Animals by the General Public Procedure (PR604). These guidelines are in place to ensure proper management and support for service animals within our schools.

TDSB Special Education Department Family Sessions Drop-In Q & A with Occupational Therapy/Physiotherapy Staff Parent/Guardian/Caregiver Drop-Ins and 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 and Leslie Hopkins: leslie.hopkins@tdsb.on.ca Learning Centre 2 - Anna Lin: anna.lin@tdsb.on.ca and Andrea Wiltsie: andrea.wiltsie@tdsb.on.ca September 17, 2024 October 15, 2024 November 19, 2024 December 17, 2024 January 21, 2025 February 18, 2025 March 18, 2025 April 15, 2025 May 20, 2025 June 2025 Get the link here Sensory and Motor team parent/guardian/caregiver VOH flyer Parent/Caregiver Session of Gr. 1 Students TDSB Speech and Language Pathologists in collaboration with Donna Cardoza invite you to Let's Talk, Read, and Write. Parents/Caregivers of Grade 1 students, Ontario has a new Language Curriculum. Come and learn how you can help your child develop early reading, writing and talking skills. Register for ALL 5 Sessions on Tuesdays from 6:30pm-7:30pm - Register here. Sep 24 - Let's Play with Sounds Oct 8 - From Sounds to Words Oct 15 - Let's Read Oct 29 - Let's Write Nov 12 - Let's Keep Learning

 



































 



































 






























 






















 






 

Week of September 3, 2024

 

Welcome!!

Dear Davisville JPS/Spectrum Alternative Families,

Welcome to the new school year! If you are returning, welcome back. If you are new to our school, we are glad to have you join our school community. We know that you are going to enjoy being part of this vibrant school community! Parent/caregiver voice is always welcomed at Davisville JPS and Spectrum Alternative. Building strong partnerships between schools, educators and families is key to ensuring the success and well-being of all students. 

Our entire staff has worked very hard to prepare for the new school year and we would like to thank each of them for their time and commitment  over the last few weeks to ensue a safe and successful start for all of our families and students. 

To help keep you all abreast of school and board wide events, we will be releasing a weekly school blog every Sunday. The blog will allow our families to stay informed on school happenings and helps keep our community connected.  In addition to the school blog, Twitter is another platform that will be used to engage and communicate with our families.  

Please follow us on Twitter at @davisville_jps & @SpectrumAltern2

Morning Drop Off

Adult supervision starts at 8:40am every morning for students in Grades 1-6. You will see a staff member walking around in a safety vest if there are issues or concerns that need to be addressed. We encourage families not to drop students off before 8:40am, as there is no guaranteed supervision available.

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.

Drop Off and Pick-Up Routines

Morning drop off and dismissal is a busy time at our school. Here are some key points to be aware of when planning pick up and 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. 
• At dismissal time, we ask for your cooperation and support by ensuring that you pick up your child(ren) as promptly as possible. Our school yard needs to be cleared by 4:00 pm to allow for our after care program to use our yard and access our playscape. Therefore, we kindly ask that families vacate the premises by 4:00pm. 
• Please note (as per the image above) that families can regain access to our playground at 6:00pm. 

Agendas/Google Classroom

Many of our teachers use agendas with their classes to communicate homework and other important items/events. Others may use Google Classroom. Please ensure that you take a look at your child(ren's) agenda or Google Classroom on a daily basis to check for homework and important updates.

Visitors/Volunteers

If you are a visitor or volunteer to our school, please make sure you sign in at the office and take a visitor/volunteer badge. It is also important to sign out upon your departure and return the visitor/volunteer badge to the office. 

Allergies

Some of our staff and students have severe allergic reactions to certain foods and food products. A very common allergy in our school is a severe reaction to peanuts and nut products. Please remember that Davisville JPS/Spectrum Alternative are allergen aware and allergen-safe schools. For the well-being and safety of students and staff with allergies, please do not send any food items to school which may contain nut products and remind your child(ren) not to exchange/share food with others at school. Please read food labels carefully. 
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Non-Food Items & Special Occasions

Should you wish to celebrate special occasions in the classroom, please only send non-edible treats/non-food items to school to share with other students. There are many alternatives to bringing in food for birthdays and special occasions. Some suggestions for families include stickers, pencils or erasers, donating a book or board game in honour of your child’s birthday to the class.

New Cell Phone Policy 

In alignment with the new Ministry of Education policy memorandum (i.e., PPM128: The Provincial Code of Conduct and School Boards Codes of Conduct), the TDSB has revised its PR585: Board Code of Conduct to reflect the new Ministry direction around cell phone and mobile device use in all Ontario schools. These revisions are designed to restrict the use of all personal mobile devices during instructional time in both elementary and secondary classrooms in order to prevent distraction and maximize learning time.  

Below is a summary of requirements for cell phone/mobile device use, effective September 1, 2024.

All Members of the School Community: All members of the school community (including staff) must not use personal mobile devices during instructional time except under the following circumstances: for educational purposes, for health and medical purposes, to support special education needs.

Students in Grades 6 and Below: Students’ personal mobile devices must be stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode throughout the full instructional day, except when their use is explicitly permitted by the educator under the circumstances outlined above. If an educator sees a personal mobile device that is not stored out of view, they must require the device be handed in for the instructional day and the device must be placed, by the student, in a storage area in a location designated by the principal.

Students in Grades 7 to 12: Personal mobile devices must be stored out of view and powered off or set to silent mode during instructional time, except when their use is explicitly permitted by the educator under the circumstances outlined above. If the educator sees a personal mobile device that is not stored out of view, they must require the device be handed in for the instructional period and the device must be placed, by the student, in a storage area in a location in the classroom designated by the educator.

Please review the following rules and parameters for cell phone use at our school. Please review and reinforce these expectations with your children. It is important that we work together as we help students learn how to use cell phones in a responsible, respectful and productive way.

Cell Phone Policy at Davisville JPS

• If cell phones need to be at school, they must be stored in students’ school bags throughout the day and not in their pockets or brought out during class time. The use of cell phones may be permitted during instructional time only under the following circumstances: for educational purposes as directed by the educator in the classroom; for health and medical purposes; to support special education needs 
• Cell phones are not to be taken to the bathroom: Bathrooms need to be places where students feel safe, and where students feel their privacy is respected. This rule is in place to protect students’ emotional safety in the bathrooms, and to minimize time spent out of class.
• Cell phone use will not be permitted during non-instructional times on school property including on the school yard during recesses and lunch breaks: If students use their phones during these times, they should be sent to the office and may be asked to check their phone into the office in the morning until the end of the day. We are committed to providing prosocial opportunities for our students throughout the day and work to maintain a safe and respectful learning environment at our school at all times.

Spectrum Alternative Cell Phone Policy

• If cell phones need to be at school, they must be stored in students’ school lockers throughout the day and not in their pockets or brought out during class time. Cell phones can be great learning tools, but they can also be major distractions. This rule is in place to minimize distracted learning and to ensure a safe learning environment. The use of cell phones may be permitted during instructional time only under the following circumstances: for educational purposes as directed by the educator in the classroom; for health and medical purposes; to support special education needs.
• Cell phones are not to be taken to the bathroom: Bathrooms need to be places where students feel safe, and where students feel their privacy is respected. Students who have phones are expected to keep them in their lockers. This rule is in place to protect students’ emotional safety in the bathrooms, and to minimize time spent out of class.
• Cell phone use will not be permitted during non-instructional times on school property including on the school yard during recesses and lunch breaks. We understand that students may need their cell phones before school and after school for safety reasons. However, for a variety of reasons, if students choose to use their phones during inappropriate times (e.g., recess or class time), they will be sent to speak with the Principal/Vice Principal and may be asked to check their phone into the office in the morning until the end of the day. We are committed to providing prosocial opportunities for our students throughout the day and work to maintain a safe and respectful learning environment at our school at all times.

Snack Program

We are hoping to launch our snack program sometime soon. Please stay tuned for further information on this in our next weekly blog. If you interested in helping our school with the snack program, please email VP, Mona Moftakhar: Ramona.Moftakhar@tdsb.on.ca