October 28, 2022 • Issue #40

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

October was Cybersecurity Awareness Month! To mark the occasion, Thames Valley shared tips on our social media accounts throughout the month, which included:

• Make your passwords strong! Use unique, memorable “passphrases” for accounts, for example, “BasketBallCamprOcks”. 
• Enable Multifactor Authentication (MFA) whenever possible. 
• Check before you accept! Ensure that friend or follow requests are from the actual person and not someone posing as them. Use another form of communication, like a phone text, to do this. 
• Look for the S in https:// when shopping or banking online to ensure you are accessing a secure website. 
• Teach your gamer to say "no" to strange links, money transfers and third-party chat site invites.  
• Finally, set screen limits. Be mindful of the content that you follow and consider turning off screens 30 minutes before bed.  



Thank you to the Ministry of Education and the Educational Computing Network of Ontario (ECNO) for these tips! For even more tips, ENCO’s website. 

It was my pleasure to attend two important ceremonies this month. On October 5, I visited Tweedsmuir Public School to take part in a rededication ceremony, which celebrated the completion of a $11.5 million expansion to the school.  

Students, staff and the community officially recognized Summerside Public School’s opening on Thursday, October 6th. The $16.6-million school opened its doors in September for students in kindergarten to Grade 8. The two-story state of the art building includes a General Arts Room, large, bright Gymnasium, Activity Room and a Library Learning Commons, in addition to several kindergarten and elementary classrooms. 

These ceremonies represented an important milestone for each school community. It was great to see students take part in creative ways through dance and song.  

On behalf of Thames Valley, thank you to everyone who made these projects a success. I would like to extend my most sincere appreciation to the community members who gave their input and the team that brought these projects to life. Thank you as well to our partners at the City of London and Ministry of Education. It's clear that both projects were a collaborative effort. Congratulations, everyone! 

I want to use my last Chair’s Corner message to express how proud I am of what the school board has accomplished during the last four years. I am humbled and moved by how our staff, Administration and school communities have stepped up to the challenges of the past term. We did everything for the best of our students.  

There isn't enough room here to list all our achievements, but a few highlights come to mind. As a school board we:   

• Welcomed our current Director, Mark Fisher  
• Established an Equity and Inclusivity Advisory Committee;  
• Gave free access to feminine products in all our schools;  
• Heard important feedback from rural communities;  
• Established an Indigenous Task Force;  
• Underwent significant attendance area reviews in our counties and in the City of London; 
• And received approval for five new elementary schools and numerous additions and child care centres.  

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

Thanks to Thames Valley’s Education Community Partnership Program (ECPP) with London Health Sciences Centre, students can continue their education while receiving care and treatment at the hospital. 

ECPP is a collaborative partnership between school districts and government-approved facilities that provide critical support to K-12 students who are not able to attend school due to their need for care, treatment or rehabilitation services. 

Students in ECPP classrooms are taught by TVDSB teachers following the Ontario curriculum and focusing on three essential components: Instruction and Intervention; Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting Achievements; and Transition Planning. 

Learn more about TVDSB’s Education and Community Partnership Programs. 

What began as a friendship on the school bus has blossomed into a colourful story-telling partnership for two TVDSB Alumni. Kasandra Coleman and Kristyn Watterworth first met on the school bus while the two attended West Elgin Secondary School and Aldborough Public School.  

The pair reunited many years later when Kasandra started following Kristyn on social media and took note of the colourful artwork she was posting to her account. The vibrant animal images that Kristyn painted inspired Kasandra to suggest that they write a children’s book together. The result of their collaboration is an uplifting tale that celebrates inclusivity and diversity. 

The School Within a University (SWAU) Program at Brescia University College enables female-identified TVDSB students to explore post-secondary education while completing their high school diploma.  

The program includes a University credit course called Brescia Bold, which helps students develop important skills that will help them achieve success in University or College.  

Additionally, a mentor group consisting of Brescia Faculty, TVDSB staff and peers from Brescia is on-hand to support students’ success in the program. 

Students enrolled in SWAU at Brescia University College are engaged in a unique, inclusive academic community that is focused on academic success, advancing knowledge and developing bold, principled leaders. 

Learn more about School Within a University at Brescia University College. 

October is observed as Islamic Heritage and History Month at Thames Valley. TVDSB is proud of our strong ties to the Muslim community and we continue to honour the rich history of Islam in London and the surrounding area.

Throughout the month, students and staff have participated in learning opportunities that recognize the many incredible achievements of Muslim Canadians and Muslims around the world.

Thames Valley is taking action and increasing understanding of anti-Islamophobia practices across our board. Over the past year, all staff were provided with an Islamic History Month School Resource Guide containing lesson plans, classroom activities and links to external resources. This guide was developed by Muslim staff in collaboration with members from the Muslim community.

Staff also had the opportunity to engage in Professional Learning opportunities provided by the National Council of Canadian Muslims.



As part of our ongoing collaboration with the Muslim community, Thames Valley held two Muslim Community Engagement Sessions on October 19 and 20. We were able to listen and learn from the experiences and ideas that were shared by those who attended. We are grateful to all who participated in look forward to ongoing partnership with the Muslim community 

The Jaffa Environmental Education Centre in Elgin County held its 50th Anniversary Open House on October 15, celebrating all the amazing learning that has taken place over the last half-century. Visitors hiked the trails, toured classrooms and explored the Carolinian Life Zone.

Operating as an Environmental Education and Outdoor Centre in Elgin County, thousands of Thames Valley students visit the Jaffa Environmental Education Centre each year to learn about our local environment and wildlife.

The site currently services teachers, staff and students from Elgin County as well as Oxford, Middlesex and London.



Congratulations to everyone involved in the Centre’s historic success!