Scarborough - Rouge River Schools - PIAC Updates

Supporting parents and students

A social media training session has been scheduled for Co-chairs on Feb 28th, 2018 6:30-8:30 pm, 5050 Yonge Street, 5th Floor-Trustee Meeting Room. Please attend to learn best practices for your school's social media pages.  

Save the date and register now! The Parents as Partners Conference is coming up on Saturday, April 28, 2018. Join us for a full day of informative workshops, networking and speakers. Registration opens March 1st and is FREE! The conference includes free childminding, lunch and bussing. Register online at http://parentsaspartners.ca
 
 The PLUG at TAIBU works to assist Black students to enhance their success, by connecting them and their parents/caregivers to the proper and appropriate interventions and community services, i.e. academic support programs, employment, health support etc. Please see poster HERE

The LEARN After School Program at TAIBU is geared towards increasing academic    success and advocacy skills for children 8 to 17 years for more information contact    416-644-3539 ext. 244
 
Supporting School Councils 

As PIAC and Principals are receiving multiple requests/inquiries regarding teleconference for school council meetings. The following options are being explored:

• Utilization of existing CISCO phone system to support conference calling
• Google/Google hang out for calls
• Skype

 
On January 27th, Bill C-20 received Royal Assent. Effective immediately schools and any other TDSB department that plays the National Anthem must use the new anthem, and any resources available to schools (such as anthem recordings) should have the updated anthem lyrics. The lyrics were changed from “in all thy sons command” to “in all of us command”.
 
The Ministry of Education is looking for parent input regarding Transportation Services, which can be submitted here https://www.ontario.ca/page/consultation-new-vision-student-transportation . Responses are required by March 28 2018 .
 
School Councils are allocated funds by the Board to support their work. The Board has allocated $1.25/student with a minimum of $300.00 and a maximum of $1,000 to all councils. The funds can be accessed by contacting the Principal

• Ministry allocated $500.00 each year support activities that are geared to reaching parents who are not accessing council/school activities. These funds will be arriving in the school by December and can be accessed by contacting the Principal
• Approved 2018 PRO Grant funds have been uploaded to school budgets. Councils are encouraged to commence implementing their projects Funds can be accessed by contacting the school
• TDSB Business Services has researched a number of grants that councils may explore. To access this list of grants school council chairs must request that the school activate the school council TDSB e-mail account. Once the account is activated councils may visit: https://oursite.tdsb.on.ca/org/DOM/pages/Contests,%20Grants,%20Scholarships.aspx for a list of grants.
• Continuing Education provides financial & in-kind support to schools hosting educational workshops/information sessions for parents of students in Grades 1 to 12. Funding in the amount of $3.00 per parent participant (based on parent sign-in sheet. Schools/councils may also access door prices/TDSB promotional items. For further information contact:
  Elementary/JHS Schools: maria.mihajlovic@tdsb.on.ca
  Secondary Schools: winsome.brockett@tdsb.on.ca

P/VP Interview Process training for parents took place on Tuesday February 13, 2018. There were approximately 35 parents trained. Parents have been assigned to interview teams and notified of interview details. Interviews for new principals and vice-principals will take place on: February 27 -Elementary, March 6 –Secondary
 
If you would like to share details about your Black History Month events or upcoming school Parent Engagement sessions, or if your council is in need of assistance, please feel free to email me.