Happy Retirement
Superintendent Kerry-Lynn Stadnyk & Vice Principal Ken Mulgrew. Congratulations & wishing you both all the very best on your new adventures!!!
6am – 6pm (local time) on Wednesday, June 30 on radio stations across Canada
In recognition of National Indigenous History Month, Bell Media, Corus Entertainment Inc., Rogers Sports & Media, Stingray Radio, and more, join together in an unprecedented collaboration to amplify, elevate, listen to, and learn from Indigenous voices with A DAY TO LISTEN.
In partnership with the Gord Downie & Chanie Wenjack Fund (DWF), A DAY TO LISTEN is dedicated to sharing stories from Indigenous leaders, residential school survivors, elders, musicians, and teachers throughout the day.
The mission of DWF is to create a pathway towards reconciliation, and to improve the lives of Indigenous people by building awareness, education, and connections between all Canadians.
In lieu of Canada Day the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation (NCTR) will instead hold a ceremony to honour and remember all the children lost to residential schools, those who Survived the schools and their children and families. More truth and evidence of genocide will be revealed. Join us in Honouring the children.
←For more information
"Lucas D, a student at West Rouge Junior Public School, is declared an Environmental Hero for performing cleanups, “park to park and street to street,” that have inspired his neighbours."
The COVID-19 pandemic has been an unexpectedly long and challenging journey for all of us, and everyone has experienced it differently. Increased accessibility to vaccines for all communities gives us reason to believe that better days are ahead. It is in this spirit of optimism and hopefulness that we are preparing for summer. We recognize that there are many unknowns and much uncertainty this summer. As parents and caregivers, we may be wondering what we can do to help keep our children active and healthy, and to support their mental health and well-being. Within this guide you will find a variety of culturally-responsive resources and accessible activities to help make this summer a little easier for you and your family. Information on where and how to reach out for help is also included.
~from the TDSB web:
Italian Heritage Month is recognized proudly during the month of June at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB). The TDSB passed a motion to recognize Italian Heritage Month in June in May 2012. This year the theme of Italian Heritage Month is Made in Italy.
The Province of Ontario also celebrates Italian Heritage Month since June 2010 when the Italian Heritage Month Act (link: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/10i17) was passed. As stated in the Italian Heritage Act, 2010, “Ontario is home to more than 1,350,000 Italian Canadians. Since the 1880s, the Italian Canadian community has made and continues to make significant contributions to the growth and prosperity of the Province of Ontario.”
In keeping with our theme, Made in Italy, we are pleased to share a calendar with you (attached) that includes two chef-led online cooking classes. Let's learn how to make a delicious Italian meal with Chefs Vanessa Gianfrancesco on June 11, 2021 from 5:00 pm – 6:00 pm and Antonietta Ferretti on Tuesday, June 15, 2021, at 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm. (Please see the attached calendar for registration details).
The calendar also provides daily quotes and provides information regarding an interview with former Toronto District School Board student and celebrity actor Frank Crudele. As an accomplished actor Frank Crudele has worked with several exceptional Directors including Martin Scorsese and held many countless roles including those for feature film (cinema), film (TV series) and film (TV film). His characters are those of leads, supporting actor/leads amongst other proficient contributions.
A powerpoint on Italian Heritage Month is currently being created that will provide information on the Italian heritage that highlights notable individuals, facts, items “Made in Italy” and an overall understanding of Italian customs and traditions! Enjoy!
Please follow us on twitter TDSB_ItalianHeritage
TDSB Professional Library: June - Italian Heritage Month Guide
Video Interview with Actor, Frank Crudele (To follow)
Italian Heritage Month Powerpoint (To follow)
Posters (To follow)
Videos (To follow)
Filipino Heritage Month - Canada - Statement by Minister
Celebrated every June, National Indigenous History Month is a time when Canadians honour the history, heritage and diversity of First Nation, Inuit and Métis peoples, and recognize the strength of Indigenous communities. The Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC) is hosting a number of amazing events for students and staff. Join Indigenous artists and Elders in panel discussions, performances and film screenings discussing Indigenous art, cultures and identities. The full calendar of events will be available on the UIEC's Resources Site.
In December 2014, the Board passed a motion, Effects of Residential Schools on Aboriginal Communities, directing the Director to “convene a committee of curriculum experts to determine a way for students to graduate with a significant knowledge of the effects of residential schools on Aboriginal communities.”
Indigenous Education remains one of the strategic drivers behind the Board's budget. And the Urban Indigenous Education Centre's (UIEC) mandate is to offer a variety of services with the goal of closing the opportunity gap for Indigenous students. This mandate is approached by infusing Indigenous perspectives across the curriculum for all students as well as by providing direct wrap-around supports to enhance the overall achievement of First Nation, Métis and Inuit students throughout the TDSB.
As the Truth & Reconciliation Commission reported, over 130 residential schools were located across the country, and the last school closed in 1996. These government-funded, church-run schools were set up to eliminate parental involvement in the intellectual, cultural, and spiritual development of Aboriginal children. During this era, more than 150,000 First Nations, Métis, and Inuit children were placed in these schools often against their parents' wishes. Many were forbidden to speak their language and practice their own culture. While there is an estimated 80,000 former students living today, the ongoing impact of residential schools has been felt throughout generations...
Last Thursday, the discovery of 215 bodies of children buried at the Kamloops Indian Residential School was announced by the chief of the Tk'emlups te Secwepemc First Nation. Rosanne Casimir, called the discovery an “unthinkable loss that was spoken about but never documented at the Kamloops Indian Residential School”.
The Canadian Museum for Human Rights recognizes that the colonial experience in Canada, from first contact to the present, constitutes genocide against Indigenous peoples. The Indian residential school system was one key component of this genocide.
As we mourn these children, let us redouble our efforts to ensure genocide education is part of compulsory education in Ontario and continue to support the UIEC's mandate.
The TDSB flags will be at half-mast in honour of the 215 children whose remains were uncovered in a mass unmarked grave in Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc. As we continue the work, there cannot be reconciliation without truth.
Please see this link for resources curated by the TDSB's Urban Indigenous Education Centre (UIEC)
Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month is proudly recognized during the month of June at the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) for the past 10 years since 2011. The Province of Ontario passed the Celebration of Portuguese Heritage Act in 2001 (Link: https://www.ontario.ca/laws/statute/01c22) and this year marks the 20th anniversary of this Act. This year our theme is Esperança! / Hope! The attached poster was created to reflect this theme.
The contributions of the Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Community to Canada are significant as they include the arts, sports, music, culinary arts, and many professional contributions to educational and medical service areas. Canadians, along with all TDSB students, staff, and its communities and beyond all enjoy the energetic and vibrant traditions that are shared through the customs of this heritage. Over 1,400 TDSB students speak Portuguese as their mother tongue or as a primary language. Internationally, there are 250 million Portuguese-speaking people worldwide, making it the fifth-most spoken language.
We are inviting all TDSB community, students, and staff to join our Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month virtual launch to celebrate the culture and tradition that this heritage brings.
Join us for an extraordinary hour filled with prominent guests, information and celebration on Thursday, June 10 at 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm
A PowerPoint on Portuguese-Speaking Heritage Month, is currently being created (to be shared shortly on the TDSB website). Each of the 10 countries in the Community of Portuguese Language Countries (CPLP), will have a dedicated slide highlighting a citizen who has affected change and inspired hope in their country.
PowerPoint (to follow)
Poster Slide Presentation (to follow)
Photography Slide Presentation (to follow)
PSHM Virtual Launch Celebration – June 10th Link (to follow)
June is Pride Month 2021 at the TDSB! It’s an opportunity to celebrate diversity and raise awareness among all staff and students about the rich culture and history of our 2SLGBTQ+ community. TDSB school communities are encouraged to hold intentional sessions with their students about issues related to 2SLGBTQ+ communities as well as the impact of homophobia, transphobia and biphobia on TDSB students, staff and community members.
Here are some of the things we’re doing at the TDSB to recognize Pride Month 2021:
Two Spirit Indigiqueer Pride - June 16-22, 2021
Sharing curriculum resources with all schools: please visit Gender Based Violence Prevention Links and Resources and the TDSB Urban Indigenous Education Centre to learn more about how to respectfully and intentionally honour 2-Spirit identities and how to best cultivate transformative, healthy and equitable learning spaces at their school in solidarity with Indigenous sovereignty movements.
The TDSB's Professional Library has pulled together a list of resources to celebrate Pride, including an 2SLGBTQ+ Resource Guide https://tdsb-on-ca.libguides.com/LGBTQ2S
Virtual raising the Pride flag at 5050 Yonge (Details to follow)
Participating in the city’s Virtual Toronto PRIDE 2021 Parade on Sunday, June 27th– Everyone is welcome!
Please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/pride to learn more about these activities and find out how you can get involved.
For additional support and resources for 2SLGBTQ+ youth needing a safer space, community, flexibility, and/or a curriculum that reflects who they are, and are disengaged please connect with The Triangle Program http://triangleprogram.ca/.
The Toronto District School Board is committed to developing opportunities for our wider school community to connect and engage in conversations about education issues. Meetings will be broadcasted live to the public. Click HERE at the start time to view.
Please note that Virtual School administrative team directories are available online and are updated on an ongoing basis. A number of new staff have been welcomed to the teams this week. Please continue to refer to the links shared below for the latest directories:
Learning Centre 1 Virtual Elementary School
Learning Centre 2 Virtual Elementary School
Learning Centre 3 Virtual Elementary School
The Toronto District School Board is now accepting applications for the positions of Student Trustees for the 2021-22 school year (two positions available).
Student Trustees represent the voice of approximately 247,000 students in the Toronto District School Board. They are elected members of the Board of Trustees and sit alongside the adult Trustees at board and committee meetings and act as a link to students, the Board and school communities. Student Trustees are members of the Student Senate and work closely with Student Senate Executives and school communities to empower and promote student voice and engagement across the district.
Applications close: Tuesday, May 25, 2021
View Candidates and Campaign Videos: June 21 - 24, 2021
Voting Day (Online): Thursday, June 24, 2021
Please note that due to the impact of COVID-19, Student Senate Elections will be held separately in the Fall. For more information, please visit the webpage for Student Trustees Election