1) Video demo of Huron’s Robotics Club

2) Presentation from Stacey Carcao and Barbara Walters, Palmerston St., on how they have expanded and enhanced the school library. They argued the case that children who enjoy reading succeed at education and in later life, and they point to figures showing a decline over the past decade in the numbers of children who state that they read for pleasure. One aspect of their project is fully to utilize the resources already available through the TDSB. One such resource is the ‘instructional leader’ who supports the teacher-librarians in the TDSB, available to schools who request them. Barbara and Stacey have created  a wiki and a vivid powerpoint show with details of their work. Trustee Chris Bolton says it will be possible to post these items, it or a link to it through Ward 10′s online presence. Details to follow (feel free to ask or remind me).Until then, they remind us of the library website:

(I am looking forward to checking out the section ‘NoveList K-8′, which recommends books, and the ‘eBooks’ tab.) We need to use the TDSB passwords, sent home at the start of the school year on a bookmark. Last year’s bookmark won’t do, as the passwords change each year. It’s fine to share and photocopy the bookmarks and other library-related documents, but it is NOT okay to circulate them electronically.

Barbara and Stacey spearheaded a ‘library and literacy committee’ at Palmerston, which they credit with developing a lot of different initiatives in the school, including a lunchtime book club. They propose the creation of  a Ward 10 committee for library and literacy, as well.

3) Supervisor Beth Butcher and Huron principal Jim Stathopoulos talked about staffing policies in schools, with particular reference to split grades. Both acknowledged that these are dictated by economic constraints (‘the numbers game’). bTeachers work hard to divide up kids into class groups that will work well. Jim Stathopoulos pointed out that even within one grade, children may be performing at very different levels and capacities, so ‘differentiated instruction’ is something all teachers need to manage. Creative and effective teaching can be supported within those constraints through ‘highly effective’ training, of which more is needed. It is implemented at different levels in different schools. At Huron, for example, support for differentiated instruction is happening in a ‘deep way’  within its ‘professional learning community’, a series of visits by a training and oversight team (ongoing for the past 4 years).

Class size ‘caps’ adhere to a ‘system average’: across the TDSB, 90% of classrooms must meet the numbers requirement (different for primary and junior)

4)  Lottery system for school admissions and what criteria are used. JS described the procedure for kindergarten at Huron, which at one point involves an actual hat (from which to draw names). Discussion of the legality, ethics, and prevalence of ‘poaching’ students by accepting more than allocated (to obtain more teachers/money/resources).

5) Alternative schools: more in Ward 10 than elsewhere in TDSB (? not sure I got this right). The issue was raised of overlap of open nights for middle schools and a request was made for the open nights to be spread across a longer time span (this year all happened within about 10 days). A new alternative school for vocal music

6) High schools:

a. this year will see a pilot of the ‘connected schools’ concept, allowing Harbord CI, Central Commerce, Central Tech, and Bloor Collegiate (being given honorary Ward 10 status for the purpose) to share students for some courses.

b. there will be a new school within Central Commerce called ‘Toronto International Student Centre’, which will house visiting students from around the world (who will pay for the privilege of attending), alongside TDSB students.

c) the ‘old’ Ryerson school site  is planned to become a mixed site, comprising school, commercial, and residential occupants (by approx 2016), using geothermal heating and cooling (??), and perhaps blended public and school library.

7) Much discussion of full-day kindergarten and its impact on day cares associated with particular schools; situation still developing but may be dire in some cases. Need to monitor.

8) Chris Bolton warns everyone to keep an eye on developments at Queens Park regarding resources for education affecting the TDSB; budget decisions should be made public by the beginning of last week in March. Hence, council decided to schedule the next meeting on March 26, at Heydon Park school. All welcome– it’s not just for Ward reps!