Re: SATEC @ W.A. Porter – Information/Updates
Happy Friday!! Please see listed below some updates here at SATEC!
Grade 9 Leadership Day – Green Acres – Wednesday, September 17th
SATEC had 240 Grade 9 students along with 28 Student Leaders (PAC & SAC) and 15 teachers, our CYW and one of our Vice-Principals who attended our Grade 9 event at Green Acres Outdoor Education Centre. It was a fantastic day with a number of “fun” activities such as co-operative games, environmental games, mental health activities, low-ropes and an opportunity to connect with fellow peers and our SAC/PAC Leadership Team.
Kudos to our PAC and SAC student leaders who did an amazing job in assisting the staff at the camp for the various activities. Their leadership was noticed and greatly appreciated by the staff at Green Acres who also mentioned how respectful and courteous SATEC students were. Special thanks to the SATEC Grade 9 teachers who attended along with those teachers who volunteered to be part of the day’s activities. Nice job SATEC!!
Breakfast Program
Just a reminder that the breakfast program is now up and running and is available in the cafeteria from 8:15 – 8:45 a.m. every morning for any student who wishes to partake.
Please note, however, that the breakfast program is not offered when we have a late start which is generally the last two Wednesday’s of every month.
OSSLT Dates
The Fall OSSLT will be running on the following dates:
Grade 10
Tuesday, November 4 - (2 classes)
Wednesday, November 5 - (2 classes)
Thursday, November 6 - (2 classes)
*approximately 50-60 students write per day.
Grade 12
Friday, November 7th
*approximately 60 students writing.
The school Library will be closed on these days.
Electronic ID Cards - Edge Imaging
In response to SATEC’s Opening Letter dated August 20th, we introduced “new” Electronic I.D. cards for this year. Students need to ensure that they scan and install their photo on their phone which will be needed for spectator entry here at SATEC for home games along with presenting prior to writing Exams. If students do not have a cell phone, they need to go to the Main Office and speak with Ms. Patsourakos who will provide a hard copy of their photo I.D.
https://youtu.be/MOyc9cYDwlo?si=nz6SRo9otfUV9xKF
October 10th PA Day – Topics for School-Based Staff
The Ministry of Education has outlined Mandatory Professional Activity Days for 2025- 26. School boards are required to designate three Ministry-mandatory PA Days.
TDSB school staff (teachers, office staff, and classroom educators) are expected to be on-site for this full day of learning. The second mandatory PA Day learning for October 10th will cover:
▪ Tackling Racism
▪ Artificial Intelligence
Toronto Public Health – Michael Garron Hospital (MGH)
Please see information below from Dr. Janine McCready, an Infectious Diseases Physician at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH). She is reaching out to share information about how to protect yourself and our community from illnesses such as measles and RSV and to share helpful resources for our students and their families as we navigate potential illness and injury throughout the school year.
Staying up-to-date with routine vaccines
Toronto Public Health (TPH) has advised that they will assess Toronto elementary students in grades 2 to 5 (students born between 2015 and 2018) in all four school boards during the 2025-2026 school year to identify those who are not up-to-date with their vaccines under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA). These student cohorts have been selected for assessment due to low documented vaccine coverage for measles, which continues to be a risk in Ontario and throughout the world.
Measles is a very contagious viral infection with symptoms including a red rash, fever, cough, runny nose, red eyes and feeling tired. It spreads through the air and close contact when a person infected with measles breathes, coughs or sneezes. Learn more about measles, including what to do if you have symptoms.
TPH will reach out to parents/guardians this fall to notify them to update their student’s vaccine records or to get them vaccinated. The measles vaccine is available at your doctor’s office or at a Toronto Public Health community clinic for school-aged children.
Dr. Janine McCready strongly encourages everyone to check their family’s immunization status to ensure everyone is fully vaccinated against measles. Parents/guardians can also visit Report Student Vaccination (ISPA) – City of Toronto to learn more about vaccine requirements, exemptions, where to go to get vaccinated and how to report vaccinations to public health.
RSV Prevention Efforts for infants and older adults
As we enter respiratory season, we also urge individuals to assess their and their families’ RSV risk and if eligible, to take advantage of prevention options.
RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) is a common respiratory virus that causes mild, cold like symptoms. It spreads easily and usually circulates seasonally, with increased activity often seen in the fall and winter months. For infants, young children, older adults and/or people with chronic health conditions, RSV can become severe or even life-threatening. However, getting immunized for RSV can prevent serious outcomes, such as hospitalization, that are caused by the virus.
Starting October 20th, MGH will offer a weekly outpatient Infant RSV Clinic on Monday mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. for eligible individuals including:
• infants up to 8 months old during their first RSV season or vaccination during pregnancy
• children up to 24 months who are at increased risk
If you would like to book an appointment for an infant in your family, please call the clinic phone line at 416-461-8272 ext. 2289. Callers will be asked to provide the following information:
• whether the birthing parent received Abrysvo during pregnancy • infant’s age
• infant’s weight
• infant's OHIP number
MGH’s Family and Newborn (FAN) Clinic will also offer RSV immunizations for infants up to eight weeks of age as long as they meet referral criteria. Criteria and clinic information including location and hours can be found on their website.
MGH will provide select local primary care physicians and midwives with the Beyfortus immunization.
Individuals over the age of 75 or adults aged 60-74 with specific high-risk criteria, as per the Province's expanded eligibility, may contact their local care providers to confirm availability.
Helpful resources and care options for the school year
We have several resources available at MGH to help students and families navigate illness and injury throughout the school year.
• Stavro Emergency Department (ED): The Emergency Department offers urgent care for people experiencing severe, potentially life-threatening illness or injury. The ED is open 24/7.
• E-Booking Portal for Minor Injuries: Individuals experiencing a minor acuity (musculoskeletal) injury such as a possible sprain, fracture or broken boke in the upper body (finger, wrist or hand) or lower body (toe, ankle or leg) may use the E-Booking Portal to book a same or next-day in-person appointment in the ED.
• Child and Youth Emergency Zone: This area is a family-friendly space beside the ED for children and youth aged 17 and under in East Toronto who need urgent or acute medical care when their paediatrician or family doctor is not available. This includes assessing and treating illness including cold, flu and COVID-19 symptoms, as well as injury, pain or mental health crises.
Please bookmark the below listed pages so you can easily reference available health, social and community services in East Toronto:
Counselling Services at the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub Did you know that the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub (45 Overlea Blvd.) offers free counselling for youth aged 12-25?
View the FAQs for Youth and FAQs for Providers webpages, which provide comprehensive information about counselling at the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub. This includes, but is not limited to:
• how to access this service
• what happens before, during and after a counselling session
• the hub’s confidentiality and privacy protocols
• more information about the intake process and how youth get matched with a counsellor
If you would like to register for counselling services or have a question that is not answered in the FAQs, please contact the hub by email at thorncliffe@youthhubs.ca or by phone at 416-421-8397, Monday to Friday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.
SATEC School Council
Please be advised of the following School Council positions, all of which were acclaimed.
2025-26 SATEC School Council
Chair – Fabiola Bereta (acclaimed)
Co-Chair – Charlene Flokstra (acclaimed)
Secretary – Vacant (To be Determined)
Treasurer – Vacant (To be Determined)
Voting Council Member(s) – Carolyn Li, Shannon Yan (acclaimed)
If you are interested in the role of either Secretary or Treasurer, please complete the School Nomination Form provided earlier and submit a short bio no later than Tuesday, October 14th which includes a picture of yourself (if you like) and/or you could do a two-three minute video clip. Once we have all those interested in running, we will set up on-line voting, otherwise, the positions will remain vacant.
Generator Update
Please be advised that the Generator at the front of the school was replaced the evening of September 24th and to-date, we have had no reports concerning the air quality in the building. We currently have approximately six negative charcoal filters running throughout the school (one picks up particulates and the other deals with smell) and teachers have been encouraged to run the HEPA Filtration Units in their classroom which further assists with air quality.
We are hopeful the transformer will be repaired and fully operational by the end of the month and we will no longer need the two generators currently on site.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Wednesday, October 8th – Honour’s Assembly
Friday, October 10th – PD Day (No School)
Monday, October 13th – Thanksgiving Day
Wednesday, October 22nd – Late Start (classes commence at 9:55 a.m.)
Thursday, October 23rd – Parent/Teacher Interviews (1:00-3:00 p.m. & 5:00-7:00 p.m.) Monday, October 27th – Post-Secondary Fair – 4:30 – 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday, October 29th – Late Start (classes commence at 9:55 a.m.)
Friday, October 31st – Halloween
Wishing everyone a GREAT weekend.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Mayhew
Principal