Category Archives: PIAC

Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) 11th Annual free “Parent Involvement Makes a Difference” Conference on Saturday, November 25th.

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The Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) is holding their 11th Annual free “Parent Involvement Makes a Difference” Conference on Saturday, November 25th.
Registration is open and there are limited spaces still available. Sign up today!
About PIAC
Education is a partnership involving students, parents, teachers, principals, staff, trustees, school boards, government, and the community. PIAC is committed to strengthening this partnership and is committed to assisting parents, and school councils.
Check out the PIAC website for more information and sign up for their newsletter to stay informed.

Trustee Jennifer Story – Oct 24th

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Find the link to her post here.  Some highlights (… indicated truncated section, see link for full details):

Ward Forum: School Councils 101

Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2017
Time: 6:30 to 8:30 PM
Place: Danforth CTI, 800 Greenwood Avenue (Greenwood Library)
Special Guest: Michelle Munro, Parent Engagement Office, TDSB
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2017/2018 Ward Forums
Here is the schedule for this year’s ward forums in ward 15 Toronto Danforth. Note: All meetings will be held from 6:30 to 8:30 this year. This is half an hour earlier than previously. 
Many school councils choose a representative to send to Ward forums to report back. This is a great approach to take, but I also want to remind everyone that anyone is welcome to attend any or all of these events.
I hope to see you there!
Tuesday, October 24, Danforth CTI  Topic: School Council 101
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Traffic Safety in School Zones: My Response to Toronto’s Vision Zero Plan

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Parent Reaching Out Grants (PRO)

Government of Ontario Parent Reaching Out (PRO) Grants are designed to support parents in identifying barriers and finding solutions to parent engagement in their own communities.
Congratulations to the following Ward 15 schools approved for 2017-2018 Parent Reaching Out Grants!

Toronto DSB

Frankland  Community School

Building on Equity

$1,000

(For the other winner=s – see the blog post)

Save the Date:

Parent Engagement Conference

PIAC’s 11th Annual Parent conference is coming to Earl Haig S.S. on Saturday, November 25th.
Registration is opening soon for the PIAC Parent Conference! See what’s in store for the 11th annual conference for parents. 
High School Information Nights
To help you make an informed decision when choosing a high school, TDSB schools host information nights for parents and Grade 8 students each year between October and January. Learn everything you need to know about our incredible variety of schools, programs and courses. The dates and times for all High School Information Nights are available online at www.tdsb.on.ca/HighSchool/GoingtoHighSchool/OpenHousesandInformationNights.

French Programs Application Deadline

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The timelines for applying for these programs for September 2018 are:
– Applications for Early French Immersion (for a Junior Kindergarten aged child), must be completed online between October 30, 2017 and November 30, 2017.
– Applications for Junior Extended French must be completed online betweenJanuary 8, 2018 and February 8, 2018.
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Secondary Success Indicators Fact Sheets

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PIAC – STEM Conference – Saturday May 14th

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The STEM Conference planning team wish to cordially invite you to the Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) Parent Conference. Saturday May 14, 2016 at Richview Collegiate Institute, 1738 Islington Ave Etobicoke, ON, 8:30am – 3:30pm.
Registration is FREE and now open: www.stemparentconference2016.eventbrite.ca
CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS!
Child-minding, Transportation and Meals are free and available with registration
Dan Riskin (Discovery Channel’s Daily Planet Show) will be at the conference again to interact with conference participants.
Anthony Morgan founder of the Science Ninjas, http://www.scienceninjas.ca/ will be delivering our Key Note speech… so excited:)
The Sky Guys are offering live drone demonstrations http://theskyguys.ca/
THE EVENT OVERVIEW!
The theme of the 2016 conference is
“I AM STEM”… Empowering Parents to Inspire the Next Generation of STEM Professionals.
Our goal is to simplify the idea of STEM and remove some common misconceptions.  In fact, we hope to convey the message that STEM is part of our everyday activities and life experiences.

The STEM Parent Conference 2016 will have 5 Key areas of Involvement:
STIC (Science, Technology, Imagination and Creativity) KIDZ! 3 -12 years
Parent Workshops
Expert Panel Discussion
Creative Corner (hands -on experience)
Marketplace/ Exhibits

Conference discussions will include:  Indigenous Science, Coding, Aviation, Archaeology and Paleontology, Engineering and Robotics, Literacy vs Numeracy, Problem- Solving for STEM, Developing Thinking/ Perception Skills for STEM Careers, Lego Robotics, Alternative Education Pathways, Aligning Education with STEM Career Paths, Financing Education (Grants & Bursaries), STEM grades K-12 and much more…

While in STIC Kidz  Child Minding, children ages 3-12 years will also engage in fun STEM based activities such as: Science exploration, Aviation Flight Consoles, “Mad Science”, Lego Robotics, Creative expression, and more…  We encourage Students 13-17 yrs to attend with a parent/guardian

We endeavour to break-down gender and media stereotypes, demystify “STEM” while providing an experience that sparks excitement in parents and children for STEM focused education.

Please join us for an exciting day of STEM learning!

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Thank You, to the planning committee, presenters, key note speakers, guest speakers and parents for making the Parents As Partners Parent Conference a huge success!
Parents as Partners Conference 2016 is a FREE conference. Whether your child is just beginning on their educational journey in elementary school or closer to graduation and planning for the future, there are informative and empowering sessions for parents/guardians and caregivers of students of all ages and all stages of education. 
Vice Principal Selection
As you may be aware, The Toronto District School Board currently includes a Parent Representative on Vice Principal Interview Committees. This is a very important and valuable form of Parent Engagement. 

If you would like to volunteer to participate in the Spring 2016 vice-principal interviews, please complete the attached form (here) and return as soon as possible.

NOTE: Applications are still accepted prior to Feb. 9, 2016.

2015-2016 Training Dates: Tuesday, February 9, 2016

2015-2016 Interview Dates:
Tuesday, February 23, 2016,
Thursday, February 25, 2016,
Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Check back here for updated information about the upcoming training sessions and VP selection process.

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Labour Relations

Click image to see latest news, as posted on the TDSB website >

PIAC Presented: The 9th Annual Parent Involvement Makes a Difference Conference
Saturday November 14, 2015, 8:30 am at Earl Haig Secondary School 

Thank you to all the amazing parent volunteers, trustees and TDSB staff who made this event a huge success!

Check back here for details of the November 2016 Parent Involvement Makes a Difference Conference!

PIAC – Parent Involvement Advisory Committee

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PIAC Newsletter
March 1, 2016
Online Budget Forum
The TDSB will be hosting an Online Budget Forum to hear from parents, students and the community on the 2016-17 budget.
When:    Thursday, March 3, 2016 at 8 p.m.
Where:   bit.ly/1L2AGEl
The forum will allow participants to submit questions which will be answered live by Budget staff.
Trustee Budget Ward Forums
Many trustees scheduled budget ward forums to hear feedback from students, parents and the community.  Trustees will then vote on a balanced budget plan at their March 22 meeting.
Online Schedule of Trustee Budget Forums

For more information on the TDSB’s budget process, please visitwww.tdsb.on.ca/budget
School Council Appreciation and Information Evening
Thank you to all those who attended our event on Thursday, February 25th, 2016.  We hope all the attending school council representatives found the evening informative and were able to make useful connections.
If you didn’t have a chance to fill out a feedback form at the event, we’d still love to hear from you!  Your ideas and suggestions are important for planning future events.
Appreciation Event Online Feedback Form
Download a copy of the 2016 Useful Links for School Councils document, included in the information package given out at the event.
Resources for School Councils
If you have any pictures from the event that you would like to share with PIAC, please email them to: info@torontopiac.com

This year, the Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC), Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC), Mental Health and Well-Being Parent Partnership Committee and Model Schools for Inner Cities’ Parent Academies are thrilled to join together to bring one all-inclusive conference to TDSB parents and caregivers.

All parents/guardians and caregivers of TDSB students are invited and welcome to attend this FREE conference.

When:  Saturday, April 16th, 2016  8:00am-4:00pm
Where: Allstream Centre, 105 Princes’ Blvd

The Parents as Partners Conference 2016 is planned by parents, for parents and we are so pleased to be able to offer a selection of 80 sessions that cover a broad range of topics to provide parents with useful information and resources to help children improve their achievement and well-being at school and at home.

More information at: http://www.parentsaspartners.ca/
Register Now
Parent and Community Engagement Office (PCEO) Bulletin
Parents are invited to a demonstration of a parent portal on:
Date: Thursday March 10, 2016
Time: 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Location: 5050 Yonge Street, Boardroom

What is a parent portal ?
A parent portal is a web site providing parents with access to student records including achievement, attendance and school communication.   The portal will be made available from any internet enabled device including desktops and mobile devices.

Please confirm your attendance at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/RCKPL7X
Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grant
School Councils can apply online for a provincial grant of up to $1000 to fund parent engagement activities during the 2016-2017 school year.  Funds can be used to host parent workshops, bring in guest speakers, run family science/math/literacy nights, produce parent handbooks, pay for babysitting and food for parent meetings, and many other activities that increase parent engagement in our schools.

Grant applications for the 2016-17 school year are now open and will be accepted until May 29, 2016.

Learn more about the guidelines, terms and conditions athttp://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/reaching.HTML

2016 Excellence Awards:
Nominations Now Open

Do you know an exceptional  teacher, principal, or other staff member?
Parents, students, staff, and community members are invited to nominate a TDSB staff member or team whose work has made a difference in your school.

The awards ceremony will be held on May 3, 2016 at 5050 Yonge St.

Online nomination forms can be found here: bit.ly/1SfA1B5
Nominations due by March 22, 2016.

Want to know more? Check out the Frequently Asked Questions page at:bit.ly/1UwEUX1

TDSB Summer Programs

The TDSB Continuing Education Department provides a wide range of enriching summer programs including:

Elementary Programs

  • Elementary Summer School, July 5 – July 29, 2016
  • International Languages Elementary Summer Program, July 4 – July 29, 2016
  • Model Schools for Inner Cities Summer School Program
  • Student Heritage Summer Camp in China, July 5 – 20, 2015
  • Adoptive Families Summer China Heritage Tour, July 8 – 13, 2015Summer ESL Program for International Students July 11 – July 29, 2016
  • TDSB Music Camps

High School Programs

  • Credit Courses for Summer High School, July 5 – July 29, 2016
  • e-Summer School
  • Summer EduTravel Programs
  • Summer ESL Program for International Students July 11 – July 29, 2016

To learn more about these opportunities please visit:
www.tdsb.on.ca/AboutUs/Innovation/SummerPrograms.aspx
TDSB Appoints First-ever Integrity Commissioner
The Toronto District School Board (TDSB) has appointmented Suzanne Craig as Integrity Commissioner. Serving the Board of Trustees, the Integrity Commissioner will provide advice on the application of the Board Member Code of Conduct, applicable policies and procedures, and provide information with respect to trustees’ obligations under the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act. Her job is to ensure that all conduct by trustees is held to the highest standards of accountability and transparency.
TDSB “Mental Health And Well-Being Belongs To Us” Newsletter
Please check out the February edition of the TDSB “Mental Health and Well-Being Belongs To Us” newsletter. This month’s publication features “Connection = Kindness + Friendship”.
About PIAC
The Parent Involvement Advisory Committee (PIAC) is mandated pursuant to the Education Act, Ontario Regulation 612/00, last amendment: O. Reg. 330/10.  The purpose of PIAC is to support, encourage and enhance parent engagement at the board level in order to improve student achievement and well-being. PIAC achieves its purpose by: providing information and advice on parent engagement to the board; communicating with and supporting school councils of schools of the board; and undertaking activities to help parents of pupils of the board support their children’s learning at home and at school.
PIAC Meetings
PIAC Website

Special Education Conference – PIAC

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Special Education

Conference

Empowering Families Through Knowledge and Networking

Saturday, March 28, 2015

8:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Earl Haig Secondary School (100 Princess Avenue, Toronto, Ontario)

To register go to

http://www.tdsb.on.ca/parentconference

Come for:

The WORKSHOPS

Learn about Individual Education Plans (IEPs) – the Identification Placement and Review Committee process (IPRC) – transition planning for elementary, secondary and post-secondary environments – use of technology – psycho-educational assessment – advocacy and more…

The MARKETPLACE

Connect with agencies and personnel specializing in the support of children with special needs/gifts and their families. There will be a wide variety in attendance.

The NETWORKING

Connect with other parents of children with similar special needs/gifts, the specific agencies that support them and with TDSB staff in discussion sessions. Learn about specific resources and opportunities. Share challenges, problem solving strategies and success stories.

Child-minding and Interpretation will be available through
advance registration ONLY – we are unable to provide for walk-in requests.

For more information contact (416) 397-3529 or email outreach@tdsb.on.ca

Click on the link below the see the poster and get information to register for this conference.

Special Education Poster_2015_V3 copy