Author: ebsac

Preparing for Parent-Teacher Interviews

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This Friday, Earl Beatty teachers are holding parent-teacher interviews. In lieu of the report cards that teachers would typically provide, we have created this interview primer and template (below) to help guide parents when discussing your child’s development.

Interview template (Word) Download
Interview template (PDF)Download

Typically, elementary report cards focus on six essential learning skills and work habits students need to succeed:

  1.  Responsibility
  2. Organization
  3. Independent Work
  4. Collaboration
  5. Initiative
  6. Self-regulation

Each skill is reported as Excellent (E), Good (G), Satisfactory(S) or Needs Improvement (N). Keep these skills and habits in mind when thinking about what to discuss with your child’s teacher.

You can also view the TDSB’s Parent-Teacher interview fact sheet for more information, including sample questions to ask your child’s teacher.

TDSB Update re: Learning Plans and Parent-Teacher Interviews

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Today the TDSB issued a news release regarding how elementary learning plans are affected by the labour action. Below are some highlights.
Read the full news release.

Individual Education Plans
Teachers will continue to update Individual Education Plans (IEPs) with goals and expectations. IEPs will be updated, but will not be provided to families at this time. Parents/guardians can contact their child’s teachers directly to learn about their progress.

Elementary Report Cards
Teachers will continue to evaluate and assess students but will not enter marks and/or learning skills electronically. Due to the significant time and resources required… the TDSB is not able to produce Term 1 report cards.
We know that report cards are an important measurement of student progress. However, it is important to reiterate that teachers will continue to assess and evaluate students and respond to parent/guardian inquiries about student progress.

While teachers will be providing school administrators with a class list of marks and learning skills, at this time, we will not be able to provide marks to parents/guardians. Beyond the significant operational and logistical challenges associated with this, marks alone, without comments or context, do not provide a complete picture of a student’s progress. As always, parents/guardians can contact their child’s teachers to learn about their progress.

Kindergarten Communication of Learning
Kindergarten teachers will write one brief comment per section for the Kindergarten Communication of Learning, and will not input it electronically. As a result, the TDSB is not able to produce Kindergarten Communication of Learning for students at this time. Should parents/guardians have questions about their child’s progress, they can contact their Kindergarten teachers and/or designated early childhood educators directly.

Parent-Teacher Interviews
Elementary parent-teacher interviews scheduled to take place during the PA day on Friday, February 14 will continue as normal. Teachers continue to evaluate and assess students and are committed to keeping parents/guardians informed. Parents/guardians are encouraged to contact their child’s teachers directly to make arrangements to receive a progress update on their child.

In addition to the PA day, parents/guardians can also contact their child’s teachers to set up an interview/phone call as long as it falls within the reduced workday as per ETFO’s sanctions (30 minutes before the start of the instructional day and 15 minutes after the end of the instructional day). As always, if teachers have concerns about a student’s progress/achievement, they will proactively contact parents/guardians to discuss.

Labour Update

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Earl Beatty classes are cancelled for Thursday, February 6 and Friday, February 7.

For the most recent information about the ongoing ETFO labour updates and how they impact TDSB schools such as Earl Beatty, please visit:

Update from the ETFO – January 27

If central agreements are not reached by January 31, ETFO will escalate its rotating strikes as follows:

February 6: One-day strike of all 83,000 ETFO members.

February 7: One-day strikes in Algoma, Greater Essex County, Hamilton-Wentworth, Limestone, Niagara, Toronto, Toronto Catholic, Waterloo and York Region school boards as well as Bloorview, John McGivney Children’s Centre, KidsAbility,Moosonee, Moose Factory and Niagara Peninsula Children’s Centre school authorities.

Read the full news release.

Update from the TDSB – January 27

Today, ETFO announced that if no agreement is reached by January 31, ETFO members will be required to engage in a one-day rotating strike and a one-day full provincial strike each week.

ETFO has announced strikes on the following dates that will impact all TDSB elementary schools (JK-8):

  • Thursday, February 6, 2020 – province-wide strike
  • Friday, February 7, 2020 – rotating strike impacting the TDSB

Should the strikes take place, the TDSB would, once again, have no other option but to close all elementary schools to students on Thursday, February 6 and Friday, February 7 as there would not be sufficient supervision to ensure their safety. Parents/guardians should start making alternate arrangements for their children on these dates.

Child care centres located in elementary schools will be permitted to stay open. Please contact the child care provider directly for more information.

Read the full news release.

Beatty Buddies Daycare Open During Monday’s Strike

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Child care programs located in schools are confirmed to have access to the child care space for their regular hours.

Beatty Buddies Daycare will be offering full day care to all of our children, including our Kindergarten children and School Aged children from 7:30 am until 6:00 pm.

Children enrolled in before and after care programs must bring their packed lunches and afternoon snacks will be available from Beatty Buddies. The full day daily fee rate for the Kindergarten and School Aged children during a labour disruption will be invoiced during this time.

As announced by the Minister of Education, the government is launching Support for Parents, an initiative that will provide financial support to parents of eligible children for each day of school that is missed on account of the labour disruption. Parents with children attending school-based child care centres that are closed on account of the labour disruption will also be able to receive support.

More details about this financial support can be found on the Ontario Ministry of Education website and parents Helpline at 888-444-3770.

Labour Update

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For the most recent information about the ongoing ETFO labour updates and how they impact TDSB schools such as Earl Beatty, please visit:

Update from the ETFO – January 15

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has given the required five-day notice for Toronto, York Region and Ottawa-Carleton school boards in anticipation of a one-day strike on Monday January 20th. Unless government representatives get serious about reaching a deal by this Friday, ETFO will commence rotating strikes next week.

Read the full news release.

Update from the TDSB – January 15

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has announced today that […] its members will conduct a one-day walkout (full withdrawal of services) at a number of school boards, including the Toronto District School Board, on Monday, January 20, 2020.

Should the walkout take place, the TDSB would have no other option but to close all elementary schools (JK to 8) […] Childcare centres located in elementary schools will be permitted to stay open.

Read the full news release.

Update from Beatty Buddies Daycare – January 15

If school boards determine that their school buildings will remain open, child care programs located in schools will have access to the child care space. However, it may be possible that child care centres may have to operate under reduced hours.

With respect to Beatty Buddies Daycare programs, should there be a labour disruption by TDSB, we will be offering full day care to all of our children, including our Kindergarten children and School Aged children, on the premise that our school building remains open. Before and After School children will continue to bring their packed lunches and afternoon snacks will be available from Beatty Buddies.

Full day daily fee rate for the Kindergarten and School Aged children during a labour disruption will be invoiced during this time.

IMPORTANT: Should the TDSB make the decision to close their school buildings, Beatty Buddies Daycare programs will cease to operate on the day of disruption. We will send out information as soon as we are informed by the Toronto District School Board and or Principal by Himama.

As announced today by the Minister of Education, the government is launching Support for Parents, an initiative that will provide financial support to parents of eligible children for each day of school that is missed on account of the labour disruption. Parents with children attending school-based child care centres that are closed on account of the labour disruption will also be able to receive support.

More details about this financial support can be found on the Ontario Ministry of Education website and parents Helpline at 888-444-3770.

Family Games Night – January 21

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Snacks! Games! Community! Join us in the lunchroom Tuesday, January 21 from 6:00-7:30 p.m. for a fun, free family games night. This night is always a hit and the kids love playing games with their family and friends. Bring your whole family, play our games and eat our snacks or bring your own snacks (must be nut-free).

Volunteers are still needed. Please email ebsacinfo@gmail.com.

Update on Elementary Teachers of Toronto Bargaining

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EBSAC is passing along the following message from Earl Beatty’s teachers:

AT THE BARGAINING TABLE TEACHERS ARE FIGHTING FOR:

  • Maintaining the current kindergarten model with a teacher and ECE in each class
  • Smaller class sizes for kindergarten and grades 4-8
  • Additional special education teachers
  • Additional teachers to support Indigenous students, English language learners, and at-risk students
  • Additional supports for the successful integration of students

AT THE BARGAINING TABLE THE GOVERNMENT IS:

  • Refusing to commit to the existing kindergarten model
  • Demanding the removal of class size protections for Kindergarten, and junior and intermediate classes
  • Refusing to renew special education funding
  • Refusing to deal with rising violence in the classroom

YOU CAN TAKE ACTION BY:

1. Contacting your local MPP (Toronto-Danforth: Peter Tabuns and Beaches-East York: Rima Berns-McGown) and asking them to reverse the cuts and invest in education
2. Contacting Doug Ford: doug.fordco@pc.ola.org or 416-325-1941
3. Contacting Education Minister Stephen Lecce: stephen.lecce@pc.ola.org or 416-325-2600
4. Sharing your stories via email to ett@ett.on.ca about how cuts have affected your child/child’s school
5. Visiting ETFO’s Building Better Schools website for updates and information @ BuildingBetterSchools.ca
6. Supporting teachers and the education system with any other upcoming actions

TEACHERS APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AS WE FIGHT FOR THE SCHOOLS OUR STUDENTS AND YOUR CHILDREN DESERVE.
THANK YOU!

December Fundraising at Earl Beatty

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We know there are a lot of asks in December from work, school and sports teams. The following is a list of fundraising activities going on at Earl Beatty during the month of December so you and your family can plan how you would like to give of your time and money this holiday season.

Be a Santa to a Senior (cash and in-kind donations) Deadline:  Thursday, December 5

Hosted by teachers and staff, each classroom will be given a senior in the GTA who they can support with in-kind donations such as socks and chocolates, or with cash donations which the teacher will use to purchase items on that senior’s wish list. For a list of items, please ask your child’s teacher. For more information visit: https://www.beasantatoasenior.com/

YWOTM Donation Box (cash and in-kind donations) Deadline: Friday, December 6

Hosted by Young Women on the Move (an Earl Beatty student committee), donations will be accepted for local women and children’s shelters in the GTA. New items such as toys, baby items, clothing and food are all welcomed.

Bake Sale (Cash and volunteer bakers) Deadline: Wednesday, December 11 Moved to January 16

Hosted by Student Council, the bake sale will raise funds for Alzheimer’s Society. Parents and caregivers are encouraged to donate nut-free baked goods and each student is encouraged to bring a toonie to buy treats.

Dance-a-thon (asking for cash donations) Deadline: Thursday, December 19

Hosted by EBSAC, the dance-a-thon is an annual fundraiser in support of classroom improvements. Kids will dance away in the gymnasium on Dec 19 with the goal of raising $5,600 ($200 for each classroom) to spend on academic achievement. In the past these funds have paid for things such as Scientist in School, art supplies, STEM equipment and field trips. All funds raised beyond $5,600 will be anonymously donated to a local school in our district who does not have the capacity to fundraise at the same level as Earl Beatty.

Giving Tree (in-kind donation) Deadline: Thursday, December 19

The Giving Tree has been set up in the office and anyone is encouraged to bring in new socks, underwear, hats and mitts for donation to a local shelter.