May 2, 2025 • Issue #65

Learning opportunities and initiatives demonstrating commitment to Thames Valley's Multi-Year Strategic Plan.

Head, Heart and Hands

Environmental Leaders' Project

To celebrate Earth Month in April, Thames Valley highlighted the outstanding Head, Heart and Hands Environmental Leaders’ Project, also known as the “H3-ELP” Program.

This unique 4-credit environmental education program is offered to grade 10 students at our Westminster Ponds Environmental Education Centre, where students enjoy hands-on experiential learning that promotes an understanding and appreciation for our local landscape.

The program takes a unique “Head, Heart and Hands” approach to transformative learning, which involves understanding, caring about, and acting on environmental issues.



Projects directly impact the local community in which we live, encouraging students to be active citizens while giving them the opportunity to develop transferable skills.

 

Please enjoy this short video featuring students and staff from the H3-ELP Program!

Skills Ontario Qualifying Competition at Fanshawe College

On April 5, Thames Valley students competed in Welding, Video Production, Carpentry and Culinary Arts in the Skills Ontario Qualifying Competition at Fanshawe College!

This was an excellent opportunity for students to showcase the skills that they have worked so hard to develop on their pathways to the skilled trades and technologies.

Pictured here are two Strathroy District Collegiate Institute students who participated in the Video Production competition.



Congratulations to all who participated and those moving on to Provincials! 

TVDSB students and City of London team up to share messages about climate action and resilience

The City of London and Thames Valley District School Board are excited to share 28 new videos created by nearly 70 students from grades 4-8 across the city and surrounding area.

TVDSB students who are all taking part in giftedness programming wrote, filmed and edited videos as part of a special project in collaboration with the City to commemorate Earth Month, Earth Day and related initiatives like London Clean & Green.

The videos share messages about climate change, how to take climate action at home, and how young students can work together.

“The inspirational work of these young Londoners helps promote climate action in the community and shares the important message that we all must work together to respond to climate change,” says Mayor Josh Morgan. “Congratulations to all of the students and teachers involved who helped make these important videos.”

Students from more than 75 schools had the opportunity to meet virtually with City staff earlier this year to learn about climate action and engage with London’s Climate Emergency Action Plan. In all, nearly 70 students chose to take the next step and participate in the video project. They created the videos with help from their teacher or Learning Support Teacher.

Students participated from the following schools: 

• Byron Somerset Public School 
• Central Public School 
• Emily Stowe Public School 
• Harrisfield Public School 
• Innerkip Central Public School 
• Kensal Park French Immersion 
• Masonville Public School 
• Mountsfield Public School 
• Oliver Stephens Public School 
• Orchard Park Public School 
• Parkview Public School 
• Prince Charles Public School 
• Princess Elizabeth Public School 
• Rick Hansen Public School 
• Southside Public School 
• Wilberforce Public School
• 
  

“The videos created by our students are incredible. I’m so proud of their achievements,” says Bill Tucker, Interim Director of Education. “Students across the TVDSB have shown determination, skill and a strong conscience about what they need to do to become good global citizens.”

The students’ videos have been posted on the City’s YouTube channel and website, and they will be promoted on social media.

“This exciting video project not only helped create almost 30 videos about climate action and what people can do to help, it also encouraged conversations at home between students and their families,” says Jay Stanford, Director, Climate Change, Environment, and Waste Management at the City of London. “We’re grateful for this collaboration with youth from TVDSB as part of London’s Climate Emergency Action Plan.” 

Oxford County Career Expo

On March 27, secondary students visited the Oxford County Career Expo at the Woodstock Fairgrounds to explore career pathways and connect with potential employers.

The expo featured more than 150 employers across 11 key local industries with opportunities for student employment and volunteering.

Dedicated school staff helped to prepare students for the career expo through pre-event activities, resume writing and conversation prompts.

One staff member shared that this event was a “highlight of [their] school year,” and many students were able to secure employment and apprenticeship pathways through their conversations with industry professionals.

Kettle Creek students receive Healthy Landscape Steward Award

On Saturday, April 5, students from the ECO class at Kettle Creek Public School were presented with the “In the Zone” Carolinian Zone Healthy Landscape Award at the Hope in the Land Expo for their work on the 200 Trees for 200 Years Port Stanley team.

Carolinian Canada recognized the team as excellent Healthy Landscape Stewards for sharing knowledge to promote native species, supporting biodiversity that helps wildlife thrive, and earning exceptional Healthy Garden Points through their restoration project.

The 200 Trees for 200 Years project engages students, volunteers, and community members in a long-term vision to heal and restore the land in their community by planting a new Carolinian Forest in honour of Port Stanley’s Bicentennial.



Congratulations to the team! 

East Elgin Secondary School

cultural exchange

Mr. Ponzio's Grade 10 Art class at East Elgin Secondary School participated in a virtual cultural exchange with English language students from a high school in Maoming City, China.

Classes from both schools delivered presentations about their respective countries, communities and schools.

East Elgin students discussed our region's vital agricultural contributions, economy, diversity, and passion for sports, in addition to their school’s commitment to project-based education in science, vocational technology, and the arts.

Students also taught their Chinese peers the traditional Canadian game of Crokinole, while their counterparts in Maoming introduced the class to the ancient practice of Tai Chi. 



Students from both schools conducted themselves with dignity, respect, and genuine curiosity about their international peers. Meaningful cross-cultural experiences like these foster international understanding and encourage our leaders of tomorrow to contribute to a peaceful global community. 

North Meadows Recycling Centre

April was Earth Month, and to raise awareness around environmental sustainability, we visited the Eco Club at North Meadows Public School to learn more about their impressive recycling program. 

The program is run by Educational Assistant Jenn Jewitt and the dedicated students at North Meadows. 

Please enjoy these two short videos about this great environmental education project! 

Dream Big London Career Discovery Expo

On April 9, female-identifying students from across Thames Valley explored exciting career opportunities at the Dream Big London Career Discovery Expo! Students met top employers, tried hands-on activities, and enjoyed taking pictures at the photo booth.



Visitors also heard inspiring stories from women in diverse career paths and discovered exciting possibilities for the future.

French Second Language and Numeracy Professional Activity Day at Western

On April 11, over 100 enthusiastic TVDSB Elementary Core French teachers gathered system-wide at the Faculty of Education at Western University for a dynamic Professional Activity Day focused on embedding numeracy into the French as Second Language (FSL) classroom. 

The day began with a warm and welcoming address from Dr. Anton Puvirajah, Associate Dean of Teacher Education, and Dr. Rosanne Abdulla, Assistant Professor and B.Ed FSL Coordinator. Dr. Puvirajah spoke to a room filled with many Western Education alumni and dedicated Associate Teachers, and highlighted the strength of the ongoing collaboration between the Faculty of Education and TVDSB. Dr. Abdulla then spoke about the recent changes to the FSL B.Ed. program and the importance of continued partnership and innovation in language education. 

Following the opening remarks, TVDSB FSL Learning Coordinators Marc Powell and Amanda Norley guided participants through a rich exploration of curriculum connections between Mathematics and FSL. Teachers delved into the various concrete ways of integrating numeracy into the FSL context, such as: using financial literacy and money concepts when ordering at a restaurant or making a purchase at a store in French; teaching numbers, measurement, fractions, and doubling when writing and talking about recipes in French; and using Spatial Sense, location, and movement when following and asking for directions while using a map or navigating through a city. 

In the afternoon, participants had the opportunity to customize their learning by choosing three engaging breakout sessions led by fellow Core French educators. These sessions offered hands-on, classroom-ready approaches to bringing math and French together in meaningful and engaging ways. 

The energy and feedback from the day were overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees expressing a renewed sense of excitement for their teaching practice and a deep appreciation for the opportunity to reconnect with fellow FSL colleagues. The event not only showcased the power of cross-curricular, cognitive-linguistic integration, but also celebrated the strength of the TVDSB FSL teaching community and its commitment to continuous learning and collaboration. 

Regional Entrepreneurship Showcase

On April 17, the TVDSB Education Centre proudly hosted the Regional Entrepreneurship Showcase, bringing together students from 3 secondary schools and 11 elementary schools in celebration of entrepreneurial innovation. 

This event was made possible through a Ministry of Education grant aimed at promoting the entrepreneurial mindset in students from Grades 7 to 12. Throughout the day, students participated in a dynamic pitch session, where judges from both Fanshawe College and Huron University, representing faculties of science, trades, technology, and social innovation, evaluated their creative business ideas.  

Following the pitches, students transitioned into a vibrant marketplace, where they sold a wide array of student-designed products and services. From Muskoka chairs and DIY birdhouses to upcycled dog collars, braille-accessible items, slime, hand creams, sports cards, and even live haircuts, the showcase highlighted the ingenuity and passion of our young entrepreneurs.  

We extend our sincere thanks to all the dedicated teachers and students who contributed to making this an unforgettable event. We now look forward to cheering on our teams as they head to the Skills Ontario competition in Toronto on May 6. 

Variety Is... Showcase Concert

On Thursday, April 24 at Canada Life Place, more than 1,000 students from 23 high schools across Thames Valley came together to show off their musical talent at the Variety Is… Showcase Concert.



Variety Is... featured an exciting and diverse lineup of classical and contemporary musical performances spanning decades and genres. The beloved annual concert highlights the exceptional talent of concert bands, jazz bands, choirs, guitar ensembles and orchestras from Thames Valley District School Board secondary schools. 



This unforgettable event celebrated the incredible talent of young musicians in Thames Valley, offering a unique opportunity for the community to come together and experience the power of music.

AgScape Agricultural Career Fair

On April 15 and 16, approximately 800 Thames Valley students between grade 6 and 12 from Elgin County attended the AgScape Agricultural Career Fair! This event, held at the Joe Thornton Community Centre, offered an interactive, hands-on experience for students, introducing them to the vast world of careers in agriculture and food.



 The Career Fair was an excellent opportunity for students to discover diverse, exciting careers in Ontario's vibrant agriculture and agri-food sectors. Students rotated between multiple stations where they met industry representatives and educators and participated in activities that allowed them to demonstrate teamwork, communication, critical thinking skills and overall agriculture and food knowledge.