Other Questions

Who can I talk with at the school if I have a concern about my child?

There are many people you can talk with at the school about your child depending on what the issue is that you would like to discuss.

  • First, talk to your child’s teacher.
  • On to the guidance counsellor.
  • On to the principal or vice principal.
  • Do not discuss your child’s personal problems at school council meetings.
 

Who can I talk with in the community regarding my child?

There are a variety of organizations in your community you can speak with regarding your concerns. Which one you use will depend on what your concern is.

  • A good place to start is talking with another parent in your community whom you trust and who can offer you good advice.
  • If you are not comfortable doing that, you can DIAL 211 (this is a free call) or visit the website at www.211toronto.ca. This service provides comprehensive, accurate and up-to-date information on services provided by non-profit, community-based organizations or the public sector.
  • If your school has a Community Support Worker, talk with him/her for referrals to the community.
 

How do parent/teacher interviews work?

Parent-teacher interviews are an important occasion for you and your child’s teacher to discuss your child’s progress and his/her future success.

  • Regular Parent-Teacher interviews take place after report cards are handed out.
  • You can request an interview with your child’s teacher at any time during the school year.
  • You can ask the teacher questions about your child’s progress in school, his/her behaviour in school and extra curricular activities.
  • You may find it useful to prepare a list of specific questions before the interview.
  • You can also ask the teacher to help you find extra supports for your child such as a homework club.
  • You should tell the teacher important things about your child. For example, if your child has health issues or is on a special diet or if there are upsets at home. If your teacher is aware of issues affecting your child she/he will be there to help.
 

How does the school deal with attendance problems?

Each school has a system of monitoring daily attendance, which includes a method for informing parents if a child is not at school. When it has been determined that an attendance problem exists, the school normally uses its own resources first in attempting to deal with the problem.

Resources within the school include:

  • Phone calls to parents. 
  • Letters to parents. 
  • Meeting with the student to discuss: 
    • Timetable change. 
    • Consideration of modified day. 
    • Daily attendance monitoring sheet. 
    • Referral to counselling agencies. 
    • Moving to a different school.
  •  Meeting with parent(s)/guardian(s) and the student to determine why the student is not attending regularly and what they both can do to solve the problem. 
  • Discussion at the School Support Team. 
  • Consultation with Attendance Counsellor/School Social Worker.

If the attendance problem is not solved:

  • Referral is made to the Attendance Counsellor or Social Worker assigned to your school for the attendance function. This should occur through the School Support Team. Wherever possible the Attendance Counsellor or Social Worker will further review with the student, family and school the reason(s) for absenteeism and report back to the school-referring source. 
  • School personnel and the Attendance Counsellor/Social Worker will discuss possible interventions, and who will assume responsibility for implementing the plan.  

Some Police Divisions have Youth Departments and officers assigned to specifically deal with issues of truancy.

 

What is the Ontario Student Record (OSR)? How long do things stay on the OSR?

The OSR folder is the official record for a student.

  • The OSR is created when a student enters the Ontario school system and moves with the student from school to school.
  • Every Ontario school keeps an OSR for each student enrolled.
  • The OSR is created under the authority of the Education Act, and the contents of the OSR are protected under the Access to Information Act and Privacy Act.
  • The parents and student may examine the contents of the OSR on request, with the assistance of the Principal or designated administrator.
  • The OSR folder contains achievement results, credits earned, and other information important to the education of the student.
  • The OSR is a permanent record of the TDSB.