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Welcome to the News section of the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement. Here you'll find the latest news stories.

In the News

Jane and Finch middle school students get taste of high school at special day of hands-on learning

CBC (January 18)

The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement, an initiative of the Toronto District School Board (TDSB), arranged for students from Brookview Middle School and Oakdale Park Middle School to tour Westview Centennial Secondary School on Tuesday and Wednesday. The event, called a "joint day of experiential learning," drew about 240 students, about 120 each day, from both feeder schools. Students learned about course offerings, including technological education, at Westview. 

2022 News Articles

2021 News Articles

CEBSA/ TDSB Black Excellence Featured Stories

Featured article

Introduction to the Life Education Program

The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement is thrilled to have launched the Life Education Program at the Toronto District School Board for the 2022-2023 academic year. Initiated and led by Social Worker Ryan Fuentes and aligned with the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement mandates, the purpose of the program is to provide students with culturally relevant and responsive mentorship spaces that help to identify and facilitate Black-affirming healing practices and strategies to address stigma, anti-Black racism and racial trauma within educational institutions.

Learn More About the Life Education Program

TDSB makes history with first student-led Youth Participatory Action Research Conference

The YPAR Conference, Using Student Voice to Inform School Policies and Practices is the first of its kind in the country. It allowed what 13 Black-identifying students have researched and transformed it into an exciting opportunity for them to present their research and findings to TDSB staff and education partners. Throughout the conference they were able to share their experiences, perspectives and realities with attendees surrounding Pathways and Transitions, the Black identity in K-12 education, and equitable learning opportunities for Black students

Learn more about the YPAR Conference: Using Student Voice to Inform School Policies and Practices

Black CAP and the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement collaborate to help students realize their passions

This summer, TDSB graduates Elizabeth Agyei from SATEC @ W.A. Porter CI and Ruth Abdi from East York CI, learned about community health care through their involvement with the Black Coalition for AIDS Prevention (Black CAP). Agyei and Abdi were given this opportunity by enrolling in the 2022 Black Student Summer Leadership Program (BSSLP). Both young women identified a passion in public health.

Learn More About Black CAP and the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement

Black Student Summer Leadership Program brings student closer to his dreams

Nathaniel Cato-Simms is one step closer to his dream as an auto mechanic through the Black Student Summer Leadership Program. The Black Student Summer Leadership Program offered by the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement provides registrants with paid summer learning opportunities, mentorship and training. During the program, students are matched with a for-profit or not-for-profit organization, representing a variety of employment sectors, and relevant to the students’ field of interest.

Learn More About the Black Student Summer Leadership Program

TDSB Students Score Second Place in Intuit "Lead with a Cause" Social Innovation Challenge

The Intuit “Lead with a Cause” Social Innovation Challenge, which launched in November 2021, asked secondary students to answer the question: How can your team help underrepresented (i.e. Black, Latinx, female, etc.) business owners access equitable opportunities to entrepreneurship and small business ownership? After months of planning, prepping and prototype building, Grade 11 student Lenecia Walters and her team of students from Georges Vanier Secondary School recently took home second place in the Intuit “Lead with a Cause” Social Innovation Challenge. The team competed at a regional and national level against nine school districts from across Canada and the United States to make it to the final round.

Learn More About the Intuit “Lead with a Cause” Social Innovation Challenge

Connect with Us!

The Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement focuses onĀ improving the academic outcomes and experiences of belonging for Black students. The Centre of Excellence strives to support meaningful engagement and advocacy of caregivers and communities, improve communication about Black student success and provide guidance with system navigation.

Location: 2239 Lawrence Ave E, Scarborough, ON, M1P 2P7

Office phone number: (416) 396-2351

Email: cebsa@tdsb.on.ca