Dear Parent/Guardian,
Welcome to the 2022-23 school year! I hope that you and your family had a safe and enjoyable summer.
As the elected public school board trustee for your community, my role is to advocate for you and your child, and to represent the needs of all students and families in the Toronto District School Board.
After more than two years of the pandemic, we are preparing to welcome students and staff to a more normal school year in September. While most COVID-19 measures have been lifted by the Government of Ontario, the health and safety of our school communities remains our top priority. The TDSB will continue to monitor the pandemic and follow the guidance and direction from the Ministry of Education and public health officials as needed.
We know that school can be an exciting and overwhelming time – for both students and parents/guardians.To help you and your child have a great year, please visit www.tdsb.on.ca for information on the school year calendar, transportation and getting involved, as well as resources for homework and so much more. The Toronto District School Board is also here to support you and your family’s mental health and well-being needs.For a list of tools and resources, including those tailored for students and parents/guardians, please visit https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Mental-Health-Well-Being.
For system-wide news about the Toronto District School Board, subscribe to TDSB Update at www.tdsb.on.ca/TDSBupdate and follow the TDSB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You will also continue to receive important information and updates from your school and the system via email.
As many of you know, I am not running for re-election for the next term. It has been a true honor to represent Ward 7 Parkdale High Park and help many families navigate the TDSB. During five years as Chair of the Board, I had the opportunity to lead the Board as we started to address many significant issues that affect our students and families. The work is not over, but in naming these issues honestly, whether it is the effects of streaming, emphasizing equity in our decision making, and recognizing the harmful effects of anti Black racism and oppression on our students and families, the Board has started working to make changes that will benefit students. The pandemic added a level of difficulty that no one ever anticipated for everyone but hopefully we are coming out the other side. There is still much work to do but the Board is well placed to move forward and I am seeing much more optimism when I speak with educators.
We are fortunate that there are eight candidates running to represent us, information on who they are is available on the City of Toronto website. In addition, this is is a good resource if you want to do some research on what trustees do and who the current candidates are. https://elections.ontarioschooltrustees.org/Voters/WhyVote.aspx
Please remember to vote.
Robin Pilkey, CPA, CA ICD.D
Ward 7 – Parkdale High Park
Hello Parent/Guardians and Community Members,
Welcome to the 2021-22 school year! I hope that you and your family had a safe and enjoyable summer.
As the elected public school board trustee for your community, my role is to advocate for you and your child, and to represent the needs of all students and parents/guardians in the Toronto District School Board.
As we prepare to return to a more normal school year, the TDSB is doing everything possible to ensure the health and safety of all school community members, while also providing the best academic experience possible for students, supporting mental health and well-being and considering the needs of families and staff. We will continue to take our direction from Toronto Public Health and the Ministry of Education and provide updates in a timely manner.
For the most up to date information on learning models, mental health and well-being resources, health and safety measures, our pandemic recovery plan and so much more, please refer to www.tdsb.on.ca/schoolyear-2021-22. This webpage will continue to be updated with relevant information and resources to help support you and your family. I know that there have been many questions about school ventilation. More information can be found here: https://www.tdsb.on.ca/School-Year-2021-22/Health-and-Safety/Ventilation. School specific question should be addressed to your school principal.
I want to thank you in advance for your understanding, patience and partnership as we work together to welcome both students and staff back to school, and overcome any challenges that may arise due to the ongoing pandemic.
To stay informed, I encourage you to sign up for the Ward 7 Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/TDSBWard7Coucil, as I update it frequently and answer individual questions. For system-wide news about the Toronto District School Board, subscribe to TDSB Update at www.tdsb.on.ca/TDSBupdate and follow the TDSB on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. You will also continue to receive important information and updates from your school and the system via email.
In addition, all TDSB Board and Committees have live webcasts that the public can watch. These meetings can be accessed through the TDSB website at https://www.tdsb.on.ca/Leadership/Boardroom/Live-Webcast-of-Meetings.
If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact me at robin.pilkey@tdsb.on.ca.
Thank you,
Robin Pilkey, CPA, CA
TDSB Ward 7 - Parkdale High Park