~from the TDSB web

Categories: Great Things, Happenings @ TDSB

Asian Heritage Month is recognized formally throughout Canada through an official declaration that was signed in May 2002. Subsequently, the Province of Ontario passed the Asian Heritage Act (2005), and the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) passed a motion to recognize Asian Heritage Month in 2007.

The Toronto District School Board is the largest, and one of the most diverse school boards in Canada. Nearly one-quarter of our students were born outside of Canada and collectively, we speak more than 120 languages. According to the TDSB 2017 Student & Parent Census our students represent 40% with Asian backgrounds.

During the month of May, the Toronto District School Board proudly recognizes Asian Heritage Month by celebrating the numerous achievements of Asian-Canadians and their significant role on the global stage. This year our theme is Discover. Share. Celebrate our Resiliency!

During the month of May we are honoured to share with you several opportunities and resources to learn about the traditions, customs, and significant individuals that this heritage brings.

Events and Resources

Read more about Asian Heritage

Secondary school students are invited to view the film, Persona Non Grata through their teacher’s registration and to attend an on-line webinar

The TDSB’s Asian Heritage Committee and Jewish Heritage Committee are pleased to present Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup

Read our new curriculum resource, “Addressing Anti Asian Racism: A resource for Educators” to acknowledge the continued resiliency and barriers our students face as we continue to support our system.

~from the TDSB web

Categories: Great Things, Happenings @ TDSB

The Toronto District School Board’s Jewish Heritage Committee (JHC) is made up of close to 80 staff across every level of the system as well as Trustees. Since its inception in 2015, JHC activities have always been focused around teaching & learning in celebration of Jewish heritage and culture – impactful, innovative, and inspirational work with students in fighting antisemitism, and all forms of hate.

This year, the JHC is pleased to partner with the Asian Heritage Committee for the month of May, Jewish and Asian Heritage months, to present Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup. This program targeted at students in Kindergarten-grade 3, has been described as a “very sweet book and a perfect early lesson on diversity.” As Sophie the main character in the story says about her grandmothers’ soups - “a little different; a lot the same”.

Earlier this year, in response to the attack on the Capital in Washington on January 6, educators on our Committee quickly mobilized, researched, and added new resources to our website where information is housed for teachers on Holocaust and Genocide Education and combatting antisemitism.

For International Holocaust Remembrance Day (January 27) we, along with partners Liberation75 and USC Shoah Foundation, presented the Canadian premiere of The Tattooed Torah. This short animated film, based on a true story, engaged TDSB students in grades 4-8. More than 14,000 educators downloaded the film which was accompanied by a Teachers’ Guide.

On February 25, our Committee was honoured to partner with the TDSB’s African Heritage Committee during African Heritage Month to feature Stronger Than Hate, a live webcast honouring the 761^st Tank Battalion, the first all African-American Tank Battalion in World War II. The Battalion was instrumental in helping defeat the Nazis as well as liberating several concentration camps. Thousands of our students joined the conversation to consider what we have learned from history and witnesses to genocide, and reflect on how that knowledge can help us take action to counteract hate. A website to house information will make sure the conversation continues.

And on May 4-9, the JHC is pleased to support Liberation75, a virtual, free, once-in-a-lifetime event to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of liberation from the Holocaust. This global gathering of survivors, descendants, educators and friends will feature survivor testimony, interactive discussions, performances, films, and exhibits. Of special interest to educators includes programming such as American Witnesses: Eyewitness Film Footage at Liberation, from the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum (USHMM), Digital Hate: What If Hitler Had Social Media? from the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center & Reena Foundation, and Visite Guidée de la Maison d'Anne Frank (Anne Frank House Guided Tour en français), from the Anne Frank House. Educators can register at www.liberation75.org.

Incidents of antisemitism have risen sharply this past year in our country, our city, and at our schools. B’nai Brith reported an increase in Canada of 18.3%. Toronto Police recently released data which showed a more than 50% increase in reported hate crimes with “the Jewish community, followed by the Black community, LGBTQ2S+ community, and the Asian/Chinese communities the most frequently victimized groups.” In February the TDSB released its first-ever Human Rights Annual Report with comprehensive data detailing hate occurrences in our schools, although in different orders, mirrored the Toronto Police data.

It is clear we all have more work to do.

~TDSB web:

Categories: News Releases, Happenings @ TDSB

In honour of May, Asian and Jewish Heritage Months, the TDSB’s Asian Heritage Committee and Jewish Heritage Committee are pleased to present Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup.

Meet Sophie who plays dress-up with her Grandma Ellie and loves her Bubbe's Jewish chicken soup, made with kreplach. She also paints with her Grandma Nancy and loves Nai Nai's Chinese chicken soup, with wonton. But don't tell Bubbe and Nai Nai that their soups are the same! In Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup, Sophie solves the problem of which chicken soup is best, bringing her whole family together for a tasty surprise!

Targeted at students in Kindergarten-grade 3, it has been described as a “very sweet book and a perfect early lesson on diversity.” You’ll even find Bubbe and Nai Nai’s recipes at the end! For the month of May, we are pleased to offer Chicken Soup, Chicken Soup as part of TDSB’s Virtual Library.

Coming soon...

• Teacher’s guide of suggested activities

• Link to book in TDSB Virtual Library

• Video of author Pamela Mayer reading the book to one of our classes

More info on the launch of a very special project – The TDSB Student Chicken Soup Recipe Book! The idea is to feature chicken soup recipes, stories and illustrations from all different cultures and heritages because everyone makes chicken soup! It will ultimately be published (likely Sept 2021) and sold in schools that are interested as a fundraiser for Toronto Foundation For Student Success. Please start compiling your students’ family chicken soup recipes along with illustrations and stories.