Ward 8 Education Update

Trustee Howard Goodman recently shared the following information with Ward 8 families. Please note that the preliminary Full Day Kindergarten information that he shared a couple of weeks ago is now posted on his website.

MAJOR EVENT

Shaping the Future of Toronto’s Schools

City-wide consultations on what TDSB should look like in 2022

Over the next decade, TDSB schools will need to adapt to:

  • Powerful and potentially disruptive computer technologies
  • Significant changes to neighbourhoods caused by development pressures and population patterns
  • Changing parental expectations of what skills our schools help our children to master
  • Tight provincial funding and ever-increasing provincially mandated programs and services

To help us better understand these changes and prepare our schools for them, TDSB is launching our largest ever consultation process (see a more complete description farther down).
View the introductory comments from Director of Education Chris Spence.

Consultation dates and locations (all consultations go from 7 – 9pm):

  • Tues Nov 6, Sir John A MacDonald, 2300 Pharmacy Ave
  • Wed Nov 7, Danforth CI and Tech, 800 Greenwood Ave
  • Thurs Nov 8, Bloor CI, 1141 Bloor Ave W
  • Mon Nov 12, Emery CI, 3395 Weston Rd
  • Wed Nov 14, Islington Junior Middle School, 44 Cordova Ave
  • Mon Nov 19, Virtual online consultation, www.tdsb.on.ca/shapeOURfuture.

You can also have your say using our online survey

OTHER EVENTS

Nov 3/4 People for Education Conference @ Rotman School of Management, U ofT (subsidies available on request from People for Education)

Howard Goodman will be going on Saturday and if we have a group of 8 from our Ward, we can reserve a table for the day. Or you can go with others from the school or on your own.  Take a look at some of the workshops and see if you are interested.

Do you want to know how a school brought down its grade 9 failure rates by double digits in one year?

Principal Greg Green will discuss how he “flipped” all the classrooms in his school and brought down his grade 9 failure rates by: 33% in English, 31% in Math, 22% in Science, and 19% in Social Studies
Do you have questions for the Deputy Minister of Education, or the President of the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation?
Here’s your chance.
They are both on a panel with the President of the Catholic Principal’s Council of Ontario and the President of the Ontario Public School Boards Association discussing who should be in charge of Ontario’s education system.
Ever wondered what role schools could play in the mental and physical health of our children?
Hear from experts in both mental and physical health and those on the ground in our schools and then brainstorm how your schools could change.
Do you have an interest in special education or technology?
Get a live demonstration and explanation of some of the new technologies being used to support students with special needs.

For information on these and other workshop or to register, click here.

Nov 17 Parents Make a Difference Conference @ Earl Haig Secondary School (NE of Yonge & Sheppard), 8.30am – 2.30pm

  • Theme: Parents Engaged in Education to Close the Achievement Gap
  • Organized by the TDSB Parent Involvement Advisory Committee
  • Keynote speaker: Dr. Scott Davies, Ontario Research Chair in Educational Achievement and At-Risk Students, McMaster U.

Tips on a Safe Halloween

Trick-or-Treaters

  • Carry a flashlight
  • Walk; don’t run
  • Stay on sidewalks
  • Obey traffic signals and signs
  • Stay in familiar neighborhoods
  • Wear a watch you can read in the dark
  • Wear reflective items on clothing
  • Only approach houses with the lights on
  • Shoes should be comfortable and fit properly (even if they don’t go with costume)
  • Try to avoid wearing masks in darker areas or climbing stairs (i.e. front porches)
  • Carry only flexible swords or other props
  • Consider non-toxic and hypoallergenic make-up

Parents

  • Be sure your child eats dinner before going trick-or-treating
  • Plan your child’s route
  • Have your child carry a quarter for a phone call
  • All children should be accompanied by an adult
  • Buy or make a costume of flame-retardant material
  • Inspect all candy at home in the light before children eat it

Homeowners

  • Clear your yards and front porches of debris that children may trip on
  • Battery powered jack-o-lanterns are an option compared to open flame candles
  • If you do use candles, place them well back from trick or treaters
  • Consider non-food items as giveaways such as markers, stickers, erasers, etc.
  • Consider your pets, as this evening may be frightening for them with many strangers coming to the door – they should be kept inside away from the front door.