June 29, 2023 • Issue #47

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

Each June, the Thames Valley District School Board recognizes Pride Month by raising the Pride Flag at all administrative buildings and 161 schools across the district. The Pride Flag is a symbol of equity and inclusion, representing Thames Valley’s solidarity with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community as well as our commitment to ensuring that all students and staff feel valued, accepted and safe.

Raising the Pride Flag at every building across the district not only affirms 2SLGBTQIA+ identities and celebrates the rich diversity of the communities we serve, but also illustrates that all are welcome in Thames Valley. Happy Pride to Thames Valley staff, students and families!

Students from Sir Isaac Brock PS enjoy a hoop dance demonstration and heritage presentation by Kristi White and River Christie-White

June is recognized as National Indigenous History Month in Thames Valley. It is an opportunity for us to honour the history, diversity and contributions of Indigenous Peoples and Nations in Canada and recognize the strength of present-day Indigenous Communities.



Here in Thames Valley, all schools have been encouraged to recognize National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 by sharing more about Indigenous histories and heritage through resources curated and developed by the board’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Team.

To learn more, please visit the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Team’s webpage.

June 6, 2023, marked the second anniversary of the act of terrorism which took the lives of four members of the Afzaal family, including Yumnah Afzaal, a grade nine student at Oakridge Secondary School who was beloved by her peers.

In Thames Valley, we commemorated the anniversary of this attack by honouring Our London Family and bringing attention to the issue of Islamophobia through several important actions:



• All flags on TVDSB buildings were lowered and remained at half-mast throughout the day.
• School signs reflected a message of support for Our London Family, and staff and students were encouraged to wear purple and green as a symbol of solidarity.
• Schools and the Education Centre participated in a 15-minute walk in memory of the Afzaal family and observed a moment of silence.
• And finally, TVDSB classrooms engaged in age-appropriate conversations and used classroom materials commemorating June 6^th.

During the ceremony at the Education Centre, Director of Education Mark Fisher announced the development of Thames Valley’s first-ever Anti-Islamophobia Strategy.

“We are following the lead of Muslim community partners and collaborating closely to build an effective, long-term plan that affirms Muslim identities while combatting the root causes that give rise to hate,” stated Director Fisher. “Thames Valley will also engage with local Muslim families to hear their valued input on this strategy. Let me be clear: Thames Valley cannot and will not allow schools to become a haven for hate and discrimination.”

Thames Valley is one of the first school boards in Canada to develop a dedicated strategy for combatting Islamophobia, which represents a crucial step in this collective fight against harmful discrimination.

It has been another amazing year at Thames Valley! As Director of Education, I am extremely proud of what we have accomplished together this school year.  

I would like to acknowledge the tremendous work of Thames Valley staff, students, families and community members and thank you for your continued dedication to student achievement and well-being.  

This summer, I encourage you to reflect upon the experiences and discoveries that made this year so special at Thames Valley. I hope you are able to enjoy a well-deserved break by travelling to new places and spending time with friends and family. 

When we return in September, schools will be ready to take staff and students on exciting new adventures. I can’t wait to see where Thames Valley will take you.  

Congratulations on another year of success and achievement, Thames Valley! 

This month, significant reports came before the Board, including the 2023-2024 budget, two attendance area reviews, the 2023-2024 budget, and the updated Special Education Plan. For more information on this, please visit the board website. We also continue to work on a new Strategic Plan. We plan to engage with community members in September to help inform this work and will be sharing more information about our plans. 

During the month of June, there have been many events, milestones and celebrations across the board. As trustees, we have had the honour of attending many events, including commencement and award ceremonies for students completing their secondary studies. It’s such a privilege to join our community in celebration. We are proud of all our successes, and we look forward to seeing you in our communities in the future. 

As this school year draws to a close, we would like to extend our thanks to staff, parents, caregivers, community partners and volunteers for your support of students in our communities. You are all important in helping support student growth and we appreciate the ways in which you help Thames Valley schools and communities work together to create great spaces and experiences across the district. 

We wish you all a happy summer break and look forward to seeing you in our communities over the summer months.  

On June 14, five exceptional Thames Valley students were awarded a Scotiabank Scholarship and recognized at the Scotiabank Scholars Dinner.

The Scotiabank Scholars program is a unique program for high school students in grades 11 and 12, aimed at breaking down barriers through pathway programming and creating a community where young leaders can thrive academically, professionally and socially.

With sessions held both virtually and on-campus at Huron University at Western University, students can gain exposure and confidence in attending a post-secondary education setting. Programming covers topics like university preparation and career development.

This year’s scholarship recipients include:

• Cassie, an ambitious student at the top of her class at Arthur Voaden Secondary School;
• Ethan, a dedicated student and creative writer studying at Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School;
• Nina, a motivated Saunders Secondary School student who radiates positivity;
• Shaine, a deep thinker with unmatched observational skills from College Avenue Secondary School;
• And Fejer, a driven and passionate student enrolled in the School Within a University Program at Huron University.



Congratulations to the Scotiabank Scholars. Thames Valley is proud of your success and we wish you the best on this exciting next chapter in your academic journey!

To learn more, please visit the Scotiabank Scholars Program website.

A new mural has been unveiled at Delaware Central Public School that is intended to foster a sense of community and celebrate the diversity of the staff, students and families in the school community.

Local Indigenous artist Mike Cywink was brought into the school to conduct art workshops with every class from kindergarten to grade eight.

At these workshops, the artist gathered information from the students about their personal stories, favourite colours and what symbols were meaningful to them.

After drafting an initial concept for the mural, Mike invited students from grades six to eight to participate by painting parts of the mural. When the artwork was completed, the school installed it on the exterior of the building as an intentional way to invite members of the many communities to enjoy it.

Julia Tunks is a grade 11 student at Oakridge Secondary School who is already making an impression with her athletic abilities. Earlier this month, she competed in the OFSAA Track and Field Championships in discus and beat a five-year-old provincial record with a throw of 55.62 metres. This summer, Julia will be competing at the national level and hopes to be invited to the Canadian Pan Am team in August.

Congratulations on winning OFSAA gold and good luck this summer, Julia!

The Thames Valley District School Board held its first Low German-speaking Mennonite Community Engagement Session at East Elgin Secondary School in Aylmer on May 31.

Approximately 70 families attended the event, which gave Thames Valley staff an opportunity to listen and learn from the community members’ experiences, feedback and ideas for change.

Thames Valley reached out to the Low German-speaking Mennonite community about this event directly through advertisements and interviews conducted in Low German on De Brigj Radio, an Aylmer-based radio station which services the local Mennonite community.

Students from ten different Thames Valley schools gathered at Fanshawe Lake on June 8 to set sail in boats they designed and constructed themselves.

Throughout the winter, teams of elementary and secondary students planned and built boats with the assistance of a community boat-building organization called Stem 2 Stern. Students were tasked with carefully planning out the entire boat build process and completing the project by painting the boat in a unique way. 

This outstanding experiential learning opportunity is offered thanks to Thames Valley’s Experiential Learning and Specialist High Skills Major programs’ collaborative efforts with Stem 2 Stern and other community partners.

On May 31, the First Nations, Métis and Inuit Showcase was held at the Gemini Sportsplex in Strathroy.



Organized by Strathroy District Collegiate Institute staff with the assistance of Thames Valley’s First Nations, Métis and Inuit Education Team and local community organizations, the event celebrated Indigenous art, dance, music and culture and featured Juno Award Winner Susan Aglukark as a special guest.

Over 1,400 students and staff from 12 different Thames Valley schools participated in a morning of dancing, drumming and performances along with over 300 community members.

This included members from Munsee Delaware Nation, Chippewas of the Thames First Nation and Oneida Nation of the Thames, as well as Representatives from N'Amerind Friendship Centre and Atlohsa Family Healing Services.

Elementary and secondary Thames Valley students enjoyed a day of athletic events, fellowship and fun at the annual TVDSB Special Olympics. Each spring, this incredible event is held at Western Alumni Stadium and features Special Olympic athletes from schools across the district.

This year, close to 1,100 students and peer coaches registered for the event, which took place on June 13 for secondary athletes and June 14 for elementary athletes.

After a rousing opening ceremony, the athletes competed in events such as wheelchair races, track races, standing jump, long jump, softball throw and shot put. There was also a variety of games for students of all abilities to try.

The TVDSB Special Olympics are all about opportunities for these young athletes: the opportunity to be physically active, be courageous and experience joy by participating.

Congratulations to all TVDSB Special Olympic athletes and peer coaches who participated.

Lord Dorchester Secondary School’s bocce team had the opportunity to compete at the Special Olympics Ontario School Championships in Kingston for the first time this year. The entire school cheered the athletes on as they left to represent their school and Thames Valley at the provincial competition earlier this month.

Throughout the competition, the Lord Dorchester Developmental Education twitter account chronicled the team’s experiences and results and shared their success with the rest of the Thames Valley community. Congratulations to this amazing team on winning gold!