May 29, 2025 • Issue #66
Learning opportunities and initiatives demonstrating commitment to Thames Valley's Multi-Year Strategic Plan.
| | TVDSB wraps up another successful Education Week | | |
The Thames Valley District School Board has wrapped up another successful Education Week.
Held May 5-9, Education Week was a chance to celebrate amazing things happening in our schools and classrooms.
Students, teachers and volunteers joined together to participate in activities this week. Examples of those activities include:
- Kindergarten open house and Jump Rope for Heart kickoff at Caradoc Public School on May 6
- Math and literacy night through Investing in Children at Northridge Public School on May 8
- STEM night at Southside Public School on May 9.
Education week also included our annual Award of Distinction celebrations, held on Thursday, May 8, at the Education Centre.
Thank you to all the students, teachers, staff, volunteers and families who came together to make this week a success.
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This year has been a tremendous success for math at Thames Valley! School staff and students continue to be devoted to mathematics learning as part of year 2 of the Board Math Action Plan.
School teams are intentionally focused on implementing high-impact instructional practices that foster a love of math while ensuring that student math skills are developed and consolidated. An example of this work includes embedding concrete and digital tools to support student learning in math classrooms. Numeracy is being purposefully embedded into other courses to enhance students' overall learning, and teachers encourage conversations about mathematics through games and collaborative problem-solving experiences.
Many schools have hosted numeracy nights to engage family members in supporting math learning in real-life contexts at home.
Please enjoy this short video, which highlights how TVDSB staff see their role in supporting numeracy skills for students.
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In late April, student teams from 16 schools across the Thames Valley District School Board gathered at Fanshawe College for the culminating event of Innovation Valley, a dynamic, real-world STEAM experience focused on robotics, sustainability, and entrepreneurship. A joint initiative between Thames Valley and Fanshawe College, Innovation Valley challenges students to design innovative solutions aligned with a net-zero theme, tackling issues like waste collection, transportation, and energy efficiency.
Over the course of six weeks, teams of 10 students worked collaboratively to program LEGO Spike Prime robots capable of navigating a city grid to complete sustainability-themed tasks such as collecting electric cars, sorting recycling, and managing garbage routes. In addition to the robotics challenge, each team developed and pitched a business idea connected to their technical solution, combining coding, creativity, and critical thinking in an authentic, future-focused competition.
Congratulations to all the teams that participated, and to the winners:
Tweedsmuir Public School (Pitch), Knollwood Park Public School (Robotics), and Westfield Public School (Robotics & Overall Champion)!
| | International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia | | |
Staff gathered at the Education Centre on May 16 for a Flag Raising Ceremony in recognition of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia, which is observ on May 17 every year. The Pride Flag was also raised at all Thames Valley schools and workplaces on this day to show solidarity with the 2SLGBTQIA+ community.
Thank you to the entire Thames Valley community for supporting our ongoing commitment to combatting discrimination in all its forms.
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Thames Valley celebrates outstanding students, staff and volunteers with
Award of Distinction
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Thames Valley District School Board honoured hard-working students, staff and volunteers at the 25th annual Award of Distinction celebrations on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at the Education Centre.
In all, 21 award recipients and 15 nominees were recognized at this year’s event, which honours students, staff and volunteers who put the needs of students first and create collaborative and inclusive environments at local schools.
To mark the 25th anniversary of the award, Thames Valley is proud to announce the inclusion of recognition opportunities, available from the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) awards.
"Congratulations to all award recipients and nominees for the lasting impact they’ve had on their school community," said Bill Tucker, TVDSB Interim Director of Education. "Through their actions big and small, they’ve changed the lives of those around them for the better. They’ve inspired their peers, overcome obstacles and empowered students to believe in themselves and to reach beyond what they ever thought was possible."
The ceremony also featured a performance by Clara Brenton Public School’s award-winning Jazz Ensemble.
A complete list of nominees and winners can be found on TVDSB’s Award of Distinction site: https://www.tvdsb.ca/en/our-board/award-of-distinction.aspx.
| | Toonie Tuesday raises over $60,000 for students in need | | |
The Thames Valley Education Foundation is thrilled to announce the success of this year’s Toonie Tuesday fundraiser, which has raised more than $60,000 thanks to the incredible support and generosity of the Thames Valley community.
Toonie Tuesday is a beloved annual fundraiser that brings together students, staff and the entire school community to raise money for families in need. School Champions plan creative in-school fundraising activities like pajama days, dress-up days, Valentine's candy-grams, students vs. staff basketball games and more, all to support a good cause: the Caring Fund.
The Caring Fund is a Thames Valley Education Foundation initiative that provides urgent financial support to students throughout the Thames Valley District School Board. These essential contributions ensure that students and families facing crisis have access to groceries, clothing, school supplies and other necessities – giving every student the opportunity to thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
“We are beyond grateful to the community for coming together to meet the needs of local families,” said Cecile Klerks, Acting Executive Director, Thames Valley Education Foundation. “The Caring Fund is often a lifeline for students facing sudden or unexpected hardship, and the continued support from students, staff, parents and our School Champions for Toonie Tuesday shows just how deeply people care.”
Now more than ever, families across Thames Valley are facing challenges – and thanks to this outpouring of support, the Caring Fund can continue to provide hope and help when it’s needed most.
Thank you for helping students focus on what matters: learning.
To learn more about the Caring Fund and how donations make a lasting impact, visit: www.tvdsb.ca/tvef
| | Indigenous Student Wellness Conference | | On Friday May 9, TVDSB was honoured to host the Indigenous Student Wellness Conference at the Western University Faculty of Education and the Wampum Learning Lodge. This event featured keynote speaker Dr. Sean Lessard, from Montreal Lake Cree Nation, in Saskatchewan. Also in attendance were several Knowledge Keepers from local First Nation communities providing cultural teachings for the students. | | |
Scotiabank Scholars Program
at Huron University
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Congratulations to the 2024-2025 Grade 11 & Grade 12 cohorts of Scotiabank Scholars!
The Scotiabank Scholars program is a unique program for high school students 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, students can gain exposure and confidence in attending a higher education setting. Programming includes key post-secondary preparation topics including career exploration, financial literacy, leadership development and academic planning.
This year, one full scholarship to Huron University was awarded to Scotiabank Scholars participant, Saleha Noor from Woodstock Collegiate Institute, covering all tuition and fees.
Learn more: https://www.tvdsb.ca/en/programs/scotiabank-scholars-program.aspx
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During the month of May, Thames Valley was pleased to recognize the following staff groups:
· School Principal’s Day (May 1)
· Child and Youth Counsellor Appreciation Week (May 5 – 9)
· Educational Assistants Day (May 7)
· World Education Support Personnel Day (May 16)
Thank you to all these incredible staff who make a difference in the lives of Thames Valley students, every day. We appreciate your hard work.
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From April 22 to 25, TVDSB Pathways organized Teacher Tech Camp, a hands-on and experiential learning event attended by over 120 elementary educators. Funded by a Ministry of Education grant, this camp aimed to provide educators with practical professional learning experiences to deepen their understanding of skilled trades and apprenticeship pathways. With this knowledge, educators are better equipped to promote these pathways as viable and valuable career options to all students.
Throughout the camp, participants engaged in various activities designed to offer practical insights into the benefits and opportunities within the skilled trades. Staff explored programs offered in secondary schools, such as the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP) and Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM). Additionally, educators had the chance to engage in hands-on learning activities that directly connect to the elementary curriculum, incorporating connections to skilled trades and STEM. These activities included Makedo, Lego Robotics, Hydraulics, Minecraft for Education, and STEM Art Design.
During Teacher Tech Camp, staff also had the opportunity to immerse themselves in various trades through the Skills Ontario Trades and Tech Truck, which featured activities and simulators for exploring skilled trades and technologies in a unique and hands-on way.
Feedback from attendees was overwhelmingly positive, with many expressing their enthusiasm for incorporating hands-on lessons and experiential learning into their teaching practices:
- “Can't wait to apply what I've learned.”
- “As a Grade 8 Teacher and TL/tech lead, I love getting hands on experiences and new ideas to bring back to my students/school!”
- “Getting students excited about the many options ahead of them beyond elementary school and to make more hands-on activities MORE intentional!”
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“I will incorporate what I learned into my own practice (MakeDo for science) and encourage students to explore the skilled trades pathways in high-school and beyond.”
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