All posts by solealt

National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Together we recognize the legacy of Canada’s residential school system and continue to learn the many truths of these institutions. During Truth and Reconciliation Week, September 25 to September 30, we encourage everyone to participate in events offered by the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation. Orange Shirt Day, established in 2013 by Phyllis Webstad, recognizes the legacy of the Residential Schools System for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit families and communities. By wearing orange, we acknowledge the truths of Residential Schools in Canada, we honour Survivors, and we remember the thousands of children who died, many of them buried in unmarked graves.

This year, TDSB will honour Orange Shirt Day on Friday, September 29th.

Dual Credits

The Dual Credit program is an awesome opportunity to take a college course and get a credit for it while earning a high school credit at the same time. There are still spaces in the fall schedule, with exciting courses including everything from Baking to Welding to Video Games to Forensic Psychology and much much more! Here’s the list. Spaces fill up fast, so if you’re interested, talk to Rachel about it.

Message from the TDSB on planned demonstrations this week

Every day, staff across TDSB support student achievement and well-being, and work hard to create inclusive spaces where every student feels valued, seen and empowered. 

As you may be aware, there are demonstrations scheduled to take place in our city this week which, in some past cases, have fostered inflammatory, transphobic, and hateful behaviours against members of 2SLGBTQ+ communities.

Ahead of these planned demonstrations, we want to make it unequivocally clear that TDSB stands with our trans, Two-Spirit and non-binary students, staff and families, and we support everyone’s human rights and expression of gender. 

Harassment, discrimination and hate have no place in TDSB. In our schools, we do not tell students who they should be, but welcome them as they are. We do this by focusing on their academic learning and fostering feelings of belonging as expected in the Ontario curriculum and the Ontario Human Rights Code. 

“The Ontario Human Rights Code (Code) protects everyone from discrimination and harassment based on numerous grounds, including disability, gender identity and expression, race, and religion. In schools, following the Code means that every student has the right to a learning environment free from discrimination, harassment, or other expressions of hatred — an environment where everyone feels safe to learn, thrive, and be themselves”. – (OHRC, Statement on Anti-Hate, June 2023).

We know that news of the planned demonstrations is upsetting, and students, staff and families may require additional support. TDSB’s social work department is ready to support where needed. Students and/or families should reach out to their school Principal or another staff member at their school to speak with someone about the planned demonstrations, and/or the impact of transphobia and homophobia more broadly. Staff should speak with their principal/manager or reach out directly to the Board’s Employee and Family Assistance Program

You can read more about the work we’re doing and the actions we’re taking to interrupt and confront discrimination and hate in our schools and workplaces in TDSB’s Student Learning Strategy for Combatting Hate and Racism and Update on TDSB’s Anti-Hate and Anti-Racism Strategy

In support of 2SLGBTQ+ communities, TDSB will be raising the Pride flag at the TDSB Education Centre and administrative sites today and for the remainder of the week. 

Sincerely, 

Colleen Russell-Rawlins

Director of Education

Audley Salmon

Associate Director

Leola Pon

Associate Director

Louise Sirisko

Associate Director

Stacey Zucker

Associate Director

Truth and Reconciliation Mural

September 30th is the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and Orange Shirt Day, commemorating the survivors of residential schools and intergenerational trauma, and the many children who did not come home. The TDSB will be marking Orange Shirt Day on Sept. 29th. To raise awareness of the upcoming day and the unmet calls to action from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, SOLE students created a temporary mural outside the entrance to the school. We spent the morning creating images and slogans, then used wheatpaste to affix them to the wall.

To learn more about Orange Shirt Day, its founder, Phyllis (Jack) Webstad, and how you can play an active role in reconciliation, visit https://orangeshirtday.org/.

Photo Day

woman holding camera over her face

Smile! Photo Day is Wednesday, Sept. 13th! We’ll be called down as a group in the morning to the MPC cafeteria. If you miss it, retake day is Oct. 16th.

Welcome back!

We are so glad you’ll be joining us this year. We hope you all had an amazing summer and we’re looking forward to working and learning with you.

Tuesday, September 5th is the first day of school. We will be following a special schedule:

9-10 am: Staff meeting
10 am-11:20: Welcome assembly (room 316/Tech Lab)
11:20-12:20: Lunch
12:20: Timetable distribution
12:30-1: Period 1
1:05-1:35: Period 2
1:40-2:10: Period 3
2:15-2:45: Period 4
2:45-3:15: Timetable issues

Wednesday, Sept. 6: This will be our first school-wide Town Hall. Please come at 9 am (even if you have a period 1 spare). Attendance will be taken. Bring your ideas for how we can make SOLE’s 2023-24 year exciting and meaningful for you! In the afternoon, we will be doing school-wide activities—stay tuned for more details.

Thursday and Friday will be regular school days.

There is still time to register! Check out our Admissions page for how to join our school community.

Commencement, Credit Rescue, and Mark Return Schedule

Tonight: Monday, June 26, is commencement for our graduating students! Congratulations on your achievement, and please check your email for ceremony details.

Tuesday, June 27 is Complete Don’t Repeat day! Please check with your teacher if you were unsuccessful in a course–this is your last opportunity to rescue your credits!

Wednesday, June 28 is a special schedule. You can come in to see your exams and final grades. The schedule is as follows:
Period 1    9:00-9:45
Period 2    9:50-10:30
Period 4    10:35-11:20
Period 3    11:25-12:10
Lunch:       12:10-1:10

National Indigenous Peoples Day

On Wednesday, June 21, the Toronto District School Board and SOLE Alternative celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. Many First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples celebrate the Summer Solstice on this day, which is the longest day of the year and shortest night.

Beyond National Indigenous Peoples Day, learning about and learning from the richness and diversity of First Nations, Métis and Inuit perspectives, histories and cultures throughout the year betters all of us. This week and throughout the year, here are some resources to help you further your understanding of Indigenous histories, resurgences, and perspectives: