Elementary GSAs
Pride Month 2024 T-Shirt Design Contest
Pride Month is just around the corner, and the TDSB Pride Planning Committee is excited to announce the T-Shirt Design Contest. The winning design will be featured on hundreds of TDSB Pride 2024 T-shirts, proudly worn by all members of the TDSB contingent during the Pride Parade on Sunday, June 30, 2024.
The TDSB Pride 2024 T-shirt Design Contest is open to all TDSB students of any age. The deadline for design submissions is April 10 at 11:59 p.m.
2SLGBTQ+ Pen Pals
We are also looking for more pen pals to match up with students who have signed up for pen pals so when you get a chance ask your students to fill out the 2SLGBTQ+ Pen Pals sign up form.
Elementary GSA's Queer Nature Walk on April 23 Grades 6-8 and May 9 Nature Walk with a Rainbow Connection Kindergarten.
Thank you!
We want to thank everyone who filled out the Elementary TDSB GSA Network form so we could update our contact list and find out what needs and experience is out there.
We have some folks with experience who would like to be Mentors and some who are new (or somewhat new) to being GSA advisors who are looking for support. We have setup the following meetings (see below) for both Mentors and New Advisors.
Upcoming Elementary TDSB GSA Network Meetings:
Topic: Elementary TDSB GSA Staff Advisor's Meeting
Time: Mar 6, 2024 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://tdsb-ca.zoom.us/j/98543948593?pwd=L0ZOdXZXS0cwdmUvNlFNeCtVeUxvZz09
Meeting ID: 985 4394 8593
Passcode: 912635
Past Meetings
Forest Valley Trip Planning Meeting for Elementary GSA's
Time: Jan 30, 2024 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Elementary TDSB GSA Network Meeting for Advisors interested in Mentoring
Time: Dec 6, 2023 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Elementary TDSB GSA Network Meeting for New GSA Advisors
Time: Nov 28, 2023 4:00 PM
Elementary TDSB GSA Network Meeting for Advisors interested in Mentoring
Time: Nov 13, 2023 4:00 PM
Save the Date for EnVision 2024!
This year's EnVision Conference invites 2SLGBTQIAP+ elementary and secondary students, as well as their allies/co-conspirators, to honour, celebrate belonging, and come together in collective care to address biphobia, homophobia, and transphobia.
The theme this year is Queer Futurisms: Centering Trans Kids and Affirming the Intersecting Identities of Indigenous, Black, Racialized and Marginalized 2SLGBTQ+ Communities.
Students will have opportunities to come as a class, with their GSA, or other student action groups. Along with keynote speakers, there will be workshops on a continuum for those beginning their journey in allyship and those who would like more support in student action. The entire conference will be an opportunity for students to share the multiple ways gender and sexual diversity can be affirmed and celebrated within the Toronto District School Board.
The conference takes place on the following dates:
Virtual EnVision - Monday, April 15, 2024
In-Person EnVision -Thursday, April 18, 2024 (Elementary)
Spaces are limited for the in-person EnVision! For students, GSAs or action groups, not able to attend the In-Person EnVision, you can register for Virtual EnVision and celebrate!
Please hold the dates in your calendars and look out for more information about registration.
Staff can find save the date information for this year's EnVision Conference here.
Cultivating 2SLGBTQ+ Joy and Engagement Panel with Dani Harris, LeRoi Newbold, and Stella Kim as part of TDSB Pride 2023
Tuesday June 20 at 1pm for Grades 7-12
Queer in Politics Panel with former Premiere Kathleen Wynne, Councilor Chris Moise, and MPP Terence Kernaghan (NDP) moderated by Marsh Paryani as part of TDSB Pride 2023
Tuesday June 13 at 4:00 pm - click the link below to view a recording of this incredible interview!
Special thanks to D.A. Rainbow Club Raise Your Flag for this amazing slide deck of 2SLGTBQ+ Role Models
Syrus Marcus Ware, Janelle Niles, and animator Rhael McGregor
These Pride Announcements created by GSA students with their advisors include information to share with students in classrooms as great discussion starters. Can be read by GSA student leaders on the morning announcements during Pride Month. Please note: If GSA students are not comfortable reading over the announcements a queer staff member or ally could read them. They have been split up throughout the month of June on this calendar.
Topics included:
- History of Pride
- Teaching about identities/pronouns
- Introductions to Organizations that Support the 2SLGBTQIA+ Community
- Spotlight on Two-Spirit, Indigiqueer, and LGBTQ+ identifying musicians, artists, authors, activists, and advocates
- Global diversity of Queer identities, gender-diverse cultures, traditions, and histories
Thanks to students at Avondale for this Pride Deck calendar with slides for each day of June that students made last year. They have given permission to share. It's full of affirmations, information, and is full of joy!
“THERE’S NO GENDER EQUALITY WITHOUT TRANS WOMEN”: NATIONAL COALITION OF COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS
After completing a TDSB Elementary GSA Survey Admin/Staff responded that in order to create a GSA they needed:
More resources
Events
Speakers
Resources specific for kindergarten, primary, junior and intermediate levels would be extremely helpful
Posters
Funds to get t-shirts printed,
Release time to organize meetings between Ilana/Avi (GBVP) and students
It would be so amazing to create a shared folder in google drive where teachers from different schools could share activities in plans from their GSA.
When having many students participate was the overall culture and climate of the school, in years where students felt more accepted there was higher enrollment.
Our GSA did some work on school culture, but it needs to be a whole school endeavor, not just expecting a GSA to change school climate.
Support as we are in the beginning stages of creating a group
Professional Learning for all staff
Differentiated professional learning for staff advisors for GSA
In-Person P-Flag presentations for students
A resource person to come to the school and help us to initiate this program.
FAQs
Flags, pins,
Even with our current GSA, resources and ideas are always welcome.
Sharing with us and taking a moment to review the resources available would be great and this way the GSA can also find ways to connect with the whole school population.
Would like resources for discussion ideas/programming or a handbook. A budget would also help.
Funding for presentations and to make a safe space. We operated this year and had presentations from different organizations. It took a lot of time to find them - a list of accepted presenters would be helpful (also keep in mind that fees for presentations can be prohibitive). Ideas are always appreciated.
School council buy-in; staff buy-in so that there can be a teacher lead
Best practice Ideas, resources
Workshop on how to address incidents of hate towards students who identify as LGBTQ2S+
Resources for teachers to use in the classroom to educate about the intersectionality of students' identities
Connect with other educators who have started GSAs in their schools (e.g., what would it look like? What are some events that were planned during the school year?)
Resources and ideas... ideas of what a meeting is like...
More crafting/art supplies etc would be appreciated
More resources and presentations for the parent community to support a GSA in the school.
Support in getting one started with staff and student involvement
Details about how to start a GSA at my school
A guide on how you approach it to start it and them move forward with it. We need one on our school.
Prerecorded, high energy sessions that could be shown defining terms, etc.
In response to these needs we have added the below resources to support staff in creating and continuing elementary GSA's across TDSB
How do I start a GSA?
In Ontario, every student has a right to a GSA in their school and school boards are required to support students in establishing GSAs. In the past, homophobic administrators in Ontario have told students they cannot call their group a Gay-Straight Alliance. The Accepting Schools Act protects students’ choice to name their GSA themselves. Students who would like to start a GSA at their elementary, middle, or secondary school should contact their school principal or the TDSB’s Gender-Based Violence Prevention office.
Policies to Support Equity work and Elementary GSA's to support students
It is recognized and acknowledged that many members of the TDSB community continue to experience exclusion and marginalization, including racism, anti-Indigenous racism, anti-Black racism, ableism, sexism, transphobia & cissexism (discrimination and prejudice on the basis of gender identity), homophobia, and other forms of marginalization and prejudice. TDSB recognizes that sustained measures, both proactive and reactive, are required to eradicate discrimination and to ensure that all members of the TDSB community are included, welcomed, and feel valued in all TDSB environments.
Bill 13 Accepting Schools Act
One of the main goals of the Accepting Schools Act is to: (a.1) promote a positive school climate that is inclusive and accepting of all pupils, including pupils of any race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital status, family status or disability;
300.0.1 To create schools in Ontario that are safe, inclusive and accepting of all pupils. 2. To encourage a positive school climate and prevent inappropriate behaviour, including bullying, sexual assault, gender-based violence and incidents based on homophobia, transphobia or biphobia.
10. A new section 303.1 requires boards to support pupils who want to establish and lead activities or organizations that promote a safe and inclusive learning environment, the acceptance of and respect for others and the creation of a positive school climate.
The section prohibits boards and principals from refusing the use of the name gay-straight alliance or a similar name for certain organizations. The section also provides that the name of any activity or organization must be consistent with the promotion of a positive school climate that is inclusive and accepting of all pupils.
Boards/Principals can not refuse the name Gay Straight Alliance if the students have requested it.
Boards/Principals are not required to establish an activity unless at least one student has requested it.
Naming Your GSA
It's great to have students name the club themselves to give them autonomy. Some GSA's are calling themselves EnVision after the TDSB EnVision Conference. Some go by the name ERGSA which stands for Equal Rights Gender and Sexuality Alliance. Some GSA's come up with other creative names so that students do not have to out themselves to join.
P.065 Bullying Prevention & Intervention Policy 4.6. Student Engagement
(a) Students will have the opportunity to participate in gender-based peer education programs that examine the roots of gender-based violence and its impact on females and males, healthy relationships and equality among marginalized groups.
(b) Issues related to gender-based violence such as healthy relationships, sexuality, gender stereotyping and homophobia shall be integrated and reinforced in subjects across the curriculum.
(c) Primary prevention programs for students in elementary and secondary schools shall be designed to be comprehensive, coordinated, sequential, developmental, and that create both an awareness of, and a framework for dealing with, gender-based harassment and violence.
Part of TDSB’s core values is affirming and making ALL students feel included
As per the TDSB Equity Policy (P037) and the Ontario Human Rights Code, we need to ensure that fairness, equity, diversity, acceptance, inclusion and the elimination of all forms of discrimination are honoured and respected.
How to start a GSA
Students can go to admin to request a GSA with an affirming adult to supervise; if at least one student requests it admin is required to create one (Bill 13; 303.1)
Post on Google Classroom
Student Survey - survey monkey, google form
Share info with Homeroom Teachers for students to join
Create a GSA contact list by email
Zoom weekly meets for GSA (could be monthly or adapt for your schedule)
Develop fun educational activities for school
Queer friendly games in zoom:
terminology game
GSA trivia kahoot game
create queer playlists to dance to
movie on zoom
queer poetry
2SLGBT+ Black Joy Book club
create a video about your GSA and share with your school; students can create this and can be animated, included voices or they can act in the video depending on their comfort level and media release forms
create a queer zine and distribute
brainstorm more ideas with your new GSA! Students come up with incredible ideas
Headphones and chat for students who are not out at home or want privacy
Here are some ideas from our students to get you started:
Celebrate 2SLGBTQ+ POC
Play 2SLGBTQ+ games and sign up for the pride colouring book: Coloring Book from LGBTQIA2S artsits
Create your own 2SLGBTQ+ POC poster, drawing, video game
Example: make a picture that says "I support my gay cousin"
or take a photo of yourself holding a sign that says "Protect Trans Kids"
or come up with your own idea on how to celebrate diversity
How to start a GSA (Click links below)
RESOURCES
The Parents’ Guide to SOGI in Schools was created in collaboration with educators and parents to address some of the most common questions being asked about SOGI-inclusive education. This five-page document was designed to give parents and caregivers a clearer understanding of what the term ‘SOGI’ means, what SOGI-inclusive education entails, what healthy conversations about SOGI look like at school and at home, and the truth behind some common myths.
The International Partnership for Queer Youth Resilience is a multilingual research partnership designed to understand and support the resilience of LGBTQ+ youth through technology-egnaged research and practcie
Drop your ideas into this shared drive for other GSA's to use ---->
The 519’s Glossary of Terms, facilitating shared understandings around equity, diversity, inclusion and awareness.
"The goal of gegi.ca is to equip all Ontario students and teachers – whether transgender or cisgender – with the tools to advocate for the right to express and live their gender in their own way without experiencing discrimination, harassment or violence, and without being told they have to change.
Recognizing that gender expression and gender identity have been protected grounds in the Ontario Human Rights Code since 2012, gegi.ca indirectly supports schools in learning about how their structures, practices and curricula may have to change."
Families In Transition Guide from Central Toronto Youth Services
CTYS-FIT-Guide-2020-English-1.pdfEgale Resources
Tips on Becoming an Affirming Adult
Resources from Egale's Awareness Resources
TDSB Board Approved 2SLGBTQ+ Affirming Guest Speakers & Workshops
ReachOUT is a creative, inclusive and accessible program that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, questioning, two spirited youth. Grades 1-12
Toronto Pflag moms provide workshops that begin with the story of their LGBTQ child and their experience at the age of the students in the audience. Grades 2-12
Get REAL Movement Inc. - Building Bridges through Inclusion, Acceptance, and Diversity Get REAL is a Canadian non-profit focused on combating 2SLGBTQ+ discrimination and bullying in schools. Grades 5-12
Programming addresses Black Canadian and Diasporic History; Global histories of Black resistance; and, LGBTQ Black Resistance. Grades 5-12
Workshops and resource materials promote sexual health and healthy relationships, and support students Grades 6-12
CANVAS Arts Action Programs 2SLGBTQ+ Inclusion and Consent Workshops Interactive, arts-based workshops on 2SLGBTQ+ inclusion, consent, and gender equity engage an anti-oppression framework to support students. Grades 7-12
As a thought leader in equal gender norms, healthy masculinities and gender and social justice, White Ribbon provides age appropriate sessions to students in elementary and secondary schools. Grades 7-12