Jerry Chadwick TDSB Trustee Ward 22 Garry Tanuan, TCDSB Trustee Ward 8
By Jerry Chadwick
TDSB Trustee Ward 22
TDSB still working on faster Internet network in schools
School Year Calendar: Welcome to the 2017-2018 school year! For more information about important dates and holidays for the upcoming year, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca/AboutUs/Calendar.
Update on TDSB Wi-Fi Access: Over the summer, work was started to move our schools to a faster, more reliable Internet network. While we had hoped to have made a significant dent in this work over the summer, there were unexpected delays and, as a result, access to Snapchat, Instagram and Netflix will continue to be blocked to ease network congestion.
In the spring, when these three sites were initially blocked, staff reported experiencing faster Internet speeds as a result of the reduced traffic and were able to complete necessary operational tasks such as attendance. This continued measure will help alleviate congestion and boost network capacity while minimizing the impact on teaching and learning. The decision will be revisited in June.
Follow Us on Social Media: Join the conversations happening on TDSB’s social media communities. You’ll find the most current information about us on Twitter and Facebook and plenty of useful updates, too. Twitter: www.twitter.com/tdsb or @TDSB_ConEd, Facebook: www.facebook.com/toronto.dsb
Night School: Night school credit programs such as math, science, business studies and humanities are offered by the TDSB in locations across the city. Reach ahead, make up a credit or work towards your high school diploma. Registration for the fall semester began on September 5. Classes begin the week of October 2. Visit www.creditprograms.ca for more information.
Adult High School :Find a career path and meet your academic goals every year. Tuition is free. Earn credits faster and gain Canadian work experience. Explore programs in business & technology, social science, mathematics and specialty programs such as accounting, office administration, personal support worker, and more. Visit www.adultschoolstoronto.ca for more information.
International Languages Elementary and African Heritage Programs: As the world continues to move towards connectivity, learning languages becomes critically important. Encourage your child’s natural curiosity and enroll them in our JK to Grade 8 International Languages and African Heritage program. Online registration is now available. Visit www.ILEprograms.ca for more information.
Adult ESL – Learn English with Us: Adults can build literacy and English language skills in a program that is free for eligible learners. Learn about your community and the services available. We offer a wide range of classes from beginner to advanced to help you improve your conversation skills, further your education, and prepare for citizenship and language proficiency tests. Registration opened the week of August 28 and is ongoing. For more information, visit www.ESLtoronto.ca or call 416-338-4300.
Continuing Education Community Programs: Take up a new hobby, learn a language, and meet people in your community. Put your hands to work and decorate and glaze your own pottery or sculpture. Stay active with co-ed basketball/volleyball, tennis and golf. Gain knowledge on how to invest in the stock market or prepare your taxes. Register today at www.learn4life.ca. Facebook.com/TDSBLearn4Life @TDSB_ConEd
By Garry Tanuan,
TCDSB Trustee Ward 8
Welcome to the 2017/2018 school year
I trust everyone had a safe and restful summer, and have had the opportunity to reconnect with family & friends and participate in fun activities especially in our Canada 150 celebrations before school started.
Toronto Catholic celebrated the Canada 150 festivities in many ways and one of the highlight was the TCDSB Sings O Canada project with many schools participating that resulted in a special CD containing 11 unique award-winning renditions of our national anthem as performed by our students from across the Board. Congratulations to the students of St. Mother Teresa Academy and St. Malachy from our Ward that were selected as the top performances and featured in the CD album.
The new school year brings several new developments at the TCDSB. In particular, I would like to highlight the new Transportation Portal for parents available at www.torontoschoolbus.org which provides parents with up-to-date information and email notifications of school bus delays or cancellations.
I would also like to highlight the TCDSB’s adoption of a Charter of Principles for Students and Parents. The two documents, after a long and extensive period of consultation, outline the expectations both students and parents should have when dealing with the Board. For more information please visit https://www.tcdsb.org/forparents/charterofprinciples/
Locally, French Immersion programming was introduced at Cardinal Leger Catholic Elementary School this September and it promises to be a successful program with 29 initial pupils enrolled. Currently offered to full day kindergarten students, the program will continue to expand as students age through the system with High School French Immersion available at Blessed Cardinal Newman High School.
For more information, please visit www.tcdsb.org. Please feel free to contact our Catholic Education Center office at 416.512-3408; or by email at garry.tanuan@tcdsb.org for additional information or inquiries.