June 24, 2022 • Issue #38

Learning opportunities and initiatives demonstrating commitment to Thames Valley's Strategic Priorities and Operational Goals

It has been another incredible year for students and families thanks to your hard work and dedication. Despite the many challenges you had to navigate throughout the year, I am proud of the progress we have made towards our strategic priorities. On behalf of the senior team, I would like to say thank you!

You consistently remind us why Thames Valley is a leader in providing an inviting and equitable learning environment for all students. 

I invite you to watch this year’s end of year video highlighting our students’ school experiences.

As the 2021-22 school year comes to a close, my fellow Trustees and I have spent this month commemorating all sorts of amazing milestones in our schools. From commencements and award ceremonies to construction kick-offs and rededications, it’s always a joy to celebrate these special events in-person again.

Congratulations to all our students, staff and families on another successful school year! I’m hopeful that next year will bring an even bigger return to the in-person events and activities we love.

Have an amazing summer – TVDSB will see you in September!

Lori-Ann Pizzolato

Chair

TVEF is excited to announce a successful fundraising campaign after capping off this year’s June fundraising event 5 Days Your Way, finishing with a fundraising total of $26,692.77 raised after the foundation’s initial goal of $25,000.

This year, TVEF partnered with YMCA to bring participants a new workout video every day, and to livestream a high-energy workout with YMCA instructor Gemma to kick off the event. TVDSB staff came out to get moving and to hear more about The Caring Fund from Mike Stubbs (host of London Live), with remarks from Jeff Pratt, associate director and Mark Fisher, director of education.

5 Days Your Way is TVEF’s annual fundraising event which raises money and awareness for the school board’s Caring Fund. This year, more than $235,000 from the Caring Fund has gone directly to students and their families in emergency financial need, a 50% increase from this time last year. Registration is still live at tvdsb.ca/tvef_run, and donations can be made until June 30, 2022.

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) programs are ministry approved specialized programs that allow students to focus their learning in a specific sector. Clarke Road’s SHSM Culinary and Healthcare programs are two examples where students earn industry-standard certifications and real-world experiences during the school day. Recently, we visited Clark Road and spoke with staff and students about what they have enjoyed most.

We recently had the opportunity to speak with Jessie MacAlpine, TVDSB alumna and host of TVO Kids science show Blynk and Aazoo. Jessie’s love for science began when she was a student at Algonquin Public School. She is now a writer and host on Blynk and Aazoo and is working towards her PhD in Microbiology. Watch our interview with Jessie.

Nearly 1,000 Thames Valley students and peer coaches participated in this year’s Special Olympics at Western Alumni Stadium, competing in a variety of track and field events and other activities from June 8 to 10. 

The Special Olympics are an annual tradition where athletes of varying abilities can engage in healthy competition over three days of fun. This year was especially important to many Thames Valley athletes who have had to put athletics on hold for extended periods due to the pandemic. 

Events included: 

• Track (wheelchair races, sprints, relay, 200m) 
• Field (softball throw, long jump, standing jump, shot put) 
• Special events (a variety of games for athletes with varying abilities)

Many of our schools gave their athletes a warm send-off with cheers and applause as they headed out to the opening ceremonies, such as Oakridge SS and Caradoc PS. 

Congratulations to all our Special Olympics participants!

At Thames Valley community matters. Studies have shown that student achievement improves when families play an active role in their children’s education.

Thanks to collaborative relationships with the Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee, Thames Valley Council of Home and School Associations and school councils our schools have been able to build and maintain strong relationships with their school communities.

This video highlights some of the ways TVDSB schools and school communities have stayed connected during the 2021-22 school year.

June 6 marked the one-year anniversary of the attack that took the lives of four Muslim family members in the community, including a Thames Valley student. This was one of the deadliest hate crimes in London’s History where the Afzaal family was the target of a terrorist attack.

In partnership with the Muslim community, the City of London and community organizations including the Muslim Resource Centre for Social Support and Integration, the National Council of Canadian Muslims, and the Youth Council Combatting Islamophobia, Thames Valley commemorated this tragic event to honour the lives lost and our ongoing commitment to combatting Islamophobia, racism and discrimination in all its forms.

Thames Valley is pleased to recognize Pride Month each June by asking all schools across the district to raise the Pride Flag as a demonstration of our commitment to equity, inclusion, and the elimination of discrimination in all of its forms.

The Pride Flag not only affirms 2SLGBTQIA+ identities, but also serves to promote the inclusive values that we uphold and celebrate the diversity of the communities in which we live. It is a demonstration of Thames Valley’s continued commitment to equity, inclusion and the elimination of discrimination in all its forms.

TVDSB is also pleased to participate once again in the London Pride Festival and Parade by organizing a booth during the festival and a float during the parade.

Staff and students are invited to march in the parade on July 24th. Float decorating will take place from 8-11am that day.

More information about Pride London can be found at: 

https://www.pridelondon.ca