October 6, 2022 • Issue #39


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

During the last week of September, students across Thames Valley engaged in important discussions and reflections around the Canadian Residential Schools and the lasting impact they have had on Indigenous families and communities.

 

A commitment from all staff to include Indigenous voices, experiences and role models throughout the school year can contribute to a sense of belonging for Indigenous staff and students and create further understanding for those who are not Indigenous.   


In addition to the lessons being taught in our classrooms, Thames Valley has launched a five-part educational series for students, staff, families and community members to learn more about the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Residential Schools and the children who did not make it home.

 

Please go to our website to explore this series: www.tvdsb.ca/EveryChildMatters

The 2022-23 school year is off to a fantastic start!

 

Our students are getting back to the experiences and discoveries that make in-person learning so special. For the first month of school, we have intentionally focused on getting to know our learners and strengthening the sense of community within every school.

 

September 7 was the first day of school for Thames Valley students. I had the pleasure of spending this exciting day at Tweedsmuir Public School, where I visited with the school community and celebrated their recently completed $11.5 million expansion.

 

Our staff are doing a tremendous job establishing the Essential Conditions for Learning to support our students’ social and emotional development.


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On behalf of the Board of Trustees, welcome back to students, families, staff and volunteers. I hope you had a great summer!

 

Welcome to our newcomers. Wherever you may be from, we want you to know that we are excited to have you as part of the Thames Valley community.

 

At Thames Valley, we are all about supporting and encouraging one another and building relationships.

Staff have worked hard to prepare your school for students’ return, and we hope everyone is settling into a school routine.

 

As we begin a new school year, students and families will enjoy meeting staff and other families at various events within your school. Consider reaching out to your school principal for opportunities such as joining School Council, which helps advise principals, Home and School or the Thames Valley Parent Involvement Committee (TVPIC).

There are many opportunities to stay connected to your school community.  


School Councils and Home and Schools, please consider inviting your local Trustees to a meeting to update you on what is happening at the Board. 

 

This month’s photo highlights just how big a difference an individual can make. In August, I was honoured to help recognize Sue Epstein, who received the Governor General of Canada Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers. She founded the Arthur Ford Outdoor Educational Foundation and has stewarded a natural learning space for students for more than three decades.

 

We look forward to meeting many more incredible people and an amazing school year ahead!


Your voice matters to us – Please feel free contact me or your local Trustee.


Lori-Ann Pizzolato

Chair

Summer School Programming at Thames Valley was a huge success as more than 7,000 Thames Valley elementary and secondary students enrolled in both in-person and online learning programs.

 

Along with gaining or improving credits, students who registered for summer programs experienced opportunities for new academic learning, a reduction of learning loss through the summer and continued social skill development, which is beneficial to their mental health and well-being.

 

These programs included camps geared towards Special Education students. Tech Tool Titan Camp focused on technological skill development and encouraged students to share their thinking in new, creative ways using assistive technology. Speech and Language camp gave some of Thames Valley’s youngest Special Education learners an extra boost in pronunciation and articulation skills.

 

Programs for students who are new to Canada were also offered over the summer, such as English as a Second Language courses and English and Math assessments. Additionally, programs were developed in partnership with First Nation communities for Indigenous Elementary students. These programs were led by Indigenous educators and focused on literacy, numeracy, cultural teachings and overall wellness.

 

Once again, the annual High School, Here I Come! program was an enormous success. This year, Thames Valley welcomed over 3,000 incoming grade 9 students to the program, where they got a sneak peek at life at their local high school and sharpened their skills in secondary Math and English.

Thames Valley District School Board was thrilled to partner with Airshow London for this year’s Education Day, where 2,000 students eagerly explored the exciting world of aviation.


Grade 6 students discovered real-world applications of STEM skills as they toured ground displays and learned about the aircraft from pilots and crew. Education Day is just one of the many ways that we encourage our students to connect


what they’ve learned with the world around them.


The TVDSB Aviation School was on-site this year to support students’ learning and inspire young minds to explore a path in aviation. Offered to all Thames Valley students, the Aviation School is a collaborative and experiential learning program designed to prepare students for aviation apprenticeships, college-level training or university-level programs.

The Thames Valley Education Foundations is pleased to announce that the Best First Day backpack program collected and distributed over 3,000 backpacks to ensure that students across Thames Valley can attend school with the supplies they need to learn.

 

Best First Day also distributed backpacks to area First Nation communities (Munsee-Delaware Nation, Oneida Nation of the Thames and Chippewas of the Thames First Nation), the London District Catholic School Board and charities such as LifeSpin and Children’s Aid Society.

 

“I got to witness the excitement on the faces of the students as they picked out a cool bag and saw all the supplies inside,” noted Sarah Leeming, International Education Lead at TVDSB. Having distributed a number of backpacks to Ukrainian refugee families, Sarah received many words of thanks and appreciation from parents and students.

 

The Best First Day program is a partnership between United Way Elgin Middlesex, Salvation Army London Community and Family Services and businesses throughout Thames Valley, and fueled entirely through the generosity of the community.

 

The Thames Valley Education Foundation would like to extend a heartfelt “Thank You” to everyone who donated supplies, packed backpacks, and helped to distribute these materials to students in need.

This fall saw the completion of two exciting capital projects: the construction of the new Summerside Public School, and an $11.5-million expansion at Tweedsmuir Public School, originally constructed in 1959.

 

Summerside Public School opened in September 2022 for students in kindergarten to Grade 8 and features 88 licensed child care spaces. The two-story building includes a General Arts Room, Gymnasium, Activity Room and a Library Learning Commons, in addition to several kindergarten and elementary classrooms. Enrolment for this new school has been drawn from students who previously attended Fairmont, Tweedsmuir, Westminster Central and Princess Elizabeth public schools.  

 

The Tweedsmuir Public School expansion includes a gymnasium addition and redevelopment of the existing gymnasium into a new library learning commons. Tweedsmuir Public School is pleased to welcome most of Fairmont’s enrolment this fall. 

 

Prior to starting construction on any project, TVDSB staff engage with school communities through a variety of means, including Design Committees and Public Information Sessions.


Learn more about ongoing and upcoming capital projects on our website.   


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