December 2, 2022 • Issue #41

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

Each year, the first full week of November is observed as Treaties Recognition Week across Canada.   

During this time, Thames Valley school communities participate in meaningful learning about Treaty rights and relationships.   

For example, Clara Brenton Public School students participated in a pre-recorded online painting session with Moses Lunham, an artist from Chippewas of Kettle and Stony Point First Nation.    

Students employed various painting techniques and blended colours to create a painting of Mother Earth using the outline of Southwestern Ontario and the Great Lakes. Their paintings were prominently displayed in the school for everyone to enjoy. 

According to the Government of Ontario website, “Treaties Recognition Week represents one of many steps on Ontario’s journey of healing and reconciliation with Indigenous peoples”. The government declared the week in 2016 in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action.

On November 11, 2022, schools across Thames Valley lowered their flags to half-mast and held a moment of silence to mark Remembrance Day.  

Students covered hallways and classrooms with artwork and wreaths, while many schools held in-person ceremonies for the first time since the pandemic began. Wreaths displayed in Southside Public School’s lobby made for a moving tribute to fallen soldiers. Kindergarten students at Algonquin Public School posted their poppy art and shared what the word ‘Peace’ meant to them.  

Staff working at the TVDSB Education Centre were pleased to welcome the Lester B. Pearson choir to participate in the annual Remembrance Day service. 

Each year on November 11, Thames Valley honours the memory of all Canadians who have served in the armed forces and recognizes the long and proud history of military service by First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples, Black Canadians, Asian Canadians, women and other historically marginalized groups.  

This month, I had the privilege of visiting Pierre Elliott Trudeau French Immersion Public School in St. Thomas. The staff there have done a tremendous job making sure that all students feel safe, valued and accepted.  

Equity is embedded as the guiding principle for every decision being made at the school and acts as a framework for removing barriers to student participation. I was particularly excited to see the many ways that students and staff have incorporated this work to help expand their learning and build relationships. 

During my visit, Grade 8 students in Mr. Thwaits’ science class were engaged in a water testing project in partnership with Parkside Collegiate Institute and a Canadian non-profit called Water Rangers. 

 

This initiative is a great example of students getting involved and building partnerships in their community while learning about environmental stewardship in a way that everyone can enjoy.  

On Tuesday, November 15, I was re-elected as Chair of the Board for 2023. I’m grateful for the opportunity to once again serve in this important role and remain committed to working with my colleagues to promote achievement, well-being, equity, and inclusivity for all students.  

This month, I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know my fellow Trustees at our orientation sessions and several Board meetings. I look forward to continuing to build on the strengths of returning Trustees while learning about the strengths of the newly-elected Trustees. 

For this month’s Chair’s Corner, I’d like to share an updated list of our Board Members. Many new faces have joined us this term! I encourage you to learn more about each of them as details become available on our website.  

• First-term Trustee Beth Mai was elected Vice Chair. She represents schools in London Wards 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13. 

• First Nation Trustee Carol Antone was re-appointed by the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation, Munsee-Delaware Nation and Oneida Nation of the Thames. 

• Re-elected Trustee Sheri Polhill and I continue to share the pleasure of representing schools in London Wards 1, 11, 12 and 14. 

• Two newly-elected Trustees, Marianne Larson and Leroy Osbourne represent schools in London Wards 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. 

• Returning Trustee Sherri Moore represents schools in London Wards 7, 8, 9, 10 and 13, along with Vice Chair Beth Mai. 

• Re-elected Trustee Arlene Morell and newly-elected Trustee Christian Sachs represent schools in Middlesex County. 

• Two newly-elected Trustees, Dave Cripps and Leeanne Hopkins represent schools in Oxford County. 

• Two re-elected Trustees, Megan Ruddock and Bruce Smith represent schools in Elgin County.  

Thank you to our Student Trustees, Lyzee Ninham, Ayesha Hassan and Savrup Saran for all the hard work they continue to do with our 2022-2023 Student Senators, representing TVDSB student voices. 

I’m excited to work with this amazing group to “build each student’s tomorrow, every day.”

As always, please feel free to email me at boardchair@tvdsb.ca if you have any questions or concerns.  

Lori-Ann Pizzolato

Chair

On Thursday, November 10, Thames Valley partnered with Jewish London to deliver a virtual presentation and Q&A (Question and Answer) with Hedy Bohm, a public speaker and Auschwitz survivor.  

More than 3,000 Thames Valley students listened to Ms. Bohm’s powerful story, which highlighted the continued importance of equity and social justice today. Grade 7 and 8 classes were provided with pre- and post-discussion materials that connected this important presentation to curriculum expectations. 

Thames Valley is proud to continue our work with Jewish London to bring this ongoing presentation series to Thames Valley classrooms. 

Read more about the presentation.  

November 21 to 25, 2022 was Bullying Awareness and Prevention week in Thames Valley and the Safe Schools and Well-Being team issued a challenge to all TVDSB schools to mark the occasion. The “Got EC4L challenge” focussed on building, promoting and celebrating healthy relationships as part of the Essential Conditions for Learning. 

Schools were encouraged to plan school-wide events to build relationships. This included having conversations with students about how they value the abilities, lived experiences and identities of others and sharing this work with their communities.  

Emily Carr Public School chose to highlight the work of Grade 8 student Aiden, who shared his passion for bullying prevention by making posters to hang around the school. 



In addition to implementing the Got EC4L challenge, the Safe Schools and Well-being team also provided schools and families with resources and information on bullying prevention strategies. 

In November, Thames Valley launched the new TVDSB Guidelines for Student Dress. The Guidelines were developed in close consultation with the community and student Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committees, which provided valuable guidance based on the diverse identities and living experiences of their members. 

The Guidelines were developed to ensure that student dress expectations are the same across all Thames Valley schools. These standardized guidelines ensure that no student will experience differential or discriminatory treatment regarding dress related to factors such as race, sex, gender identity and expression, religion and creed or body size. 

Student Trustees (and former student Equity and Inclusion Advisory Committee members) Ayesha Hassan and Savrup Saran said it best the above video: “All identities are welcome in TVDSB schools.” 

Learn more about the TVDSB Guidelines for Student Dress. 

November is recognized as Diabetes Awareness Month across Canada. It is an opportunity to promote advocacy, raise awareness and show support to those affected by Diabetes. 

This year, a Grade 7 student at Arthur Ford Public School took the initiative to help promote Diabetes Awareness Month and World Diabetes Day at his school and across the district.  

Liam Redmond put together a well-researched display for Arthur Ford’s front hallway that included information on Diabetes, Dr. Frederick Banting and the use of insulin. He also recorded and produced a video to encourage his peers to wear blue on World Diabetes Day and share some facts about Diabetes. The video was played during Arthur Ford’s video announcements and shared across the district through TVDSB social media channels. 

Liam’s advocacy for Diabetes awareness serves as a shining example of how TVDSB students can get involved and make a difference in their school communities.  

Watch Liam’s National Diabetes Awareness Month video. 

Thames Valley District School Board is excited to welcome children to Kindergarten in September 2023. Throughout each day in Kindergarten, your child will be involved in spontaneous play as well as more structured play-based learning both indoors and outside. Kindergarten Educator teams provide children with a safe learning environment that meets each child’s individual needs and interests.

Registration will take place from Monday, January 23, 2023, to Friday, February 10, 2023.  To be eligible for registration for the Kindergarten program, children must be four years of age by December 31, 2023.

A live-streamed Kindergarten Family Information Night will be hosted on February 6, 2023. Details will be communicated to families closer to the event.

To register for Kindergarten, please complete the on-line pre-registration form found on TVDSB’S website.

English Kindergarten in French Immersion 



English Kindergarten Programming is offered as space permits in several French Immersion (FI) Schools. Registration for English Kindergarten in French Immersion will take place during the Kindergarten Registration period of Monday, January 23, 2023 to Friday, February 10, 2023.

Complete the on-line pre-registration form found on TVDSB’s main website. As part of the online registration parents/guardians are required to declare their intention to enrol their child in the French Immersion program in Grade One by clicking a check box.

Find more information on registering for English Kindergarten at a French Immersion school.