March 31, 2016 update

Topic: School Year Calendar

Media: Toronto Star

Spokesperson: Communications and Public Affairs

Response Provided: The school year calendar has been approved by the Board but still pending Ministry approval. We should be notified in early May.

February 24, 2016

A Program and School Services Committee meeting was held. At this meeting a presentation was made by Executive Superintendent Colleen Russell-Rawlins, Superintendent Kerry-Lynn Stadnyk, and Principal David Rowan.  This presentation is required prior to items moving to full Board of Trustees for approval and can be found at the following link.

TDSB site www.tdsb.on.ca - Boardroom - Agenda and Minutes - Program and School Services Committee Feb 24, 2016 - Item 7

This item will be on the agenda for the March 22, 2016 Board Meeting

VOTING HAS ENDED!!

February 4, 2016

Dear Parents/Guardians and Students:

RE: Survey Results for Proposal to Modify the School Year Calendar

This letter is to provide you with the results of the survey for the proposal to modify the school year calendar at our school.  As you know, an application was submitted to investigate a change to the R.H. King’s structure/timetable which would include a one-week break in November and an earlier start to the school year.  The vote was open to parents/guardians, students and staff and required an overall threshold of 60% of the votes to be in favour of the new calendar.

The votes were tallied last week by the committee and I am pleased to share that the 60% threshold was met to officially request a change to R.H. King’s school year calendar. This proposal will be brought forward to the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) Board of Trustees.  Modification of the school calendar will require authorization from the Board of Trustees and the Ministry of Education.  Trustees will review the proposal and consider authorization at the March 9, 2016 Board Meeting.  If approved, it will be brought forward to the Ministry of Education in the Spring for final approval.

R.H. King will be the TDSB’s first school with a modified school year calendar and is an ideal choice for this proposal to also serve as a pilot for other TDSB secondary schools.  The new school calendar will commence the week of  August  29, 2016 pending approval.

VISIT www.kingvotes.weebly.com FOR VOTING INSTRUCTIONS

Recent Media Coverage

Global News - January 13, 2016:

http://globalnews.ca/video/2452450/tdsb-school-looking-to-offer-students-fall-break-to-reduce-stress-let-students-regroup

Link to Town Hall Powerpoint:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/0BxkXIW7LmHndOUgzbHRCUUl5N28/view?usp=sharing

MODIFIED SCHOOL YEAR F.A.Q.

1. If passed, what modifications to the school calendar will take place?

Answer:

• There would be a “November Break” between Term1 and Term 2.  The break would be October 31 – November 4, 2016 (tentative).
• The school year would begin one (1) week earlier than it does at present. This would allow for a one (1) week break in November.  In 2016-2017, the School Year Calendar modification, if voted on and approved, would begin on August 29, 2016 (tentative) and end at the regular school ending in June.
• This would be a three year pilot and after this time there will be another vote to continue or not.

2. Where did this idea come from?

Answer:

• This suggestion arose from members of the teaching staff witnessing the high level of stress on students during this time.  There is no school break between Thanksgiving and the Winter Holidays.
• Two R.H. King teachers were involved in an exchange to Australia where they witnessed firsthand the benefits of a model of 10 weeks of classes followed by a two week break.  Some schools in Durham District School Board and York Region School Board already have a similar model to the one being proposed by R.H. King Academy.

3. What is the rationale for this change?

Answer:

• High stress levels for students with no break from Thanksgiving to Winter Break. Students involved in extracurricular activities find the demands of academics overwhelming. Students moving into new grades/courses may benefit from a break to help their transition.
• Grade 12 students stressed with University and Scholarship Applications.
• Additional opportunity for students to complete community service hours.
• Some universities and other school boards are moving towards this model to help lower the stress of students.
• R.H. King Academy students surveyed in the 2014- 2015 TDSB School Climate Survey listed stress as one of the top concerns.

4. Will there be homework during this week?

Answer:

• The TDSB has a policy that there is to be no homework over holidays. This would apply to this break in studies.

5. Has a decision been made to adopt this model?

Answer:

• After the Parent Engagement Committee provides information to the school community through various ways (assemblies/forums/newsletters) and after parents/students and staff has an opportunity to hear the information surrounding the proposed model, a vote will take place.

6. Who will vote?

Answer.        

• The vote will be made up of parents/guardians/students and the staff attached to R.H. King Academy in Semester two.  Parent/Guardians will have one vote for each child.  If they have two children in attendance they will have two votes.  

7. What percentage is required for the Modified School Year to be adopted?

Answer:

• 60% of total votes cast, with a quorum of 20% of the voting population.

8. When will the vote take place? What format?

Answer:

• January 14 to January 20, 2016.  Online voting for parents/guardians will close midnight January 20,, 2016.

9. When will the modified calendar be adopted if the vote is carried?

Answer:

• An application will be made to the TDSB for the Board of Trustees to pass. The Board will look at this application at the March 22, 2016 meeting.  If this is adopted the calendar will be sent to the Ministry of Education for approval to modify the 2016/2017 School Year.  The modified school year calendar will begin August 29th, 2016 (tentative).

10. What dates can I hear about the model in more depth?

Answer:  

• Our School Council meetings on September 28, 2015 and October 26, 2015 have information in the meeting minutes.
• A letter will be sent out with the November 18th, 2015 Report Card Distribution.
• On November 25,  2015 ( Grade 8 Parent Information Night)
• November 26, 2015  Assembly (grades 9-12)
• January 5, 2016 Community- Town Hall Meeting
• School Council Meetings Nov 30, Jan 25, 2016.

11. Where else can I find information?

Answer:

• Information regarding this initiative will be posted on the school web site at www.rhkingacademy.ca  and the R.H. King Academy School Council wiki https://rhking-academy-school-council.wikispaces.com/

12. What will my sons/daughters do during this week break in November?

• Ultimately parents will decide what works best for their sons/daughters. The goal is to give students a break from the rigours of their academics.  
• We spoke to Toronto Parks and Recreation and Pathways to Education and both groups will attempt to have activities:
• Grade 9 students may be involved in “Take Your Kid to work” Day Wednesday Nov 2, 2016.
• Visit Universities/Colleges
• Work on post-secondary applications.  Apply for scholarships
• Parks and Recreation programs at local arenas, community centres
• Pathways to Education- Scarborough Village will run special programs

13. Are there any other questions that you need an answer to? If so please email your questions to the school at RHKing@tdsb.on.ca .  We will attempt to get back to you within 48 hours during the work week.