COVID-19 Pincipal's Message

Friday, March 27, 2020

Greetings parents, students, and to all members of the West Hill P. S. community:

As the Governments, Federal, Provincial and Municipal, and Health Experts grapple with curbing the spread of the virus or flatten the curve, the COVID-19 pandemic has challenged the Toronto District School Board to provide insight and planning for next steps in relation to our children’s education. The main goal for us has been the health and well-being for your child, staff and families before we can engage in how education will be addressed.

The West Hill staff and I send our best wishes to all of you and hope you are well and safe within the comfort of your home and your family. Our school staff have shared with me that they have connected with a number of you on different formats and through various platforms. Please continue to connect with us, and share how we can support your child going forward.

Staff have told me that our students have shared how much they miss school and learning. Please thank them for me for knowing that learning never stops, but can take on different forms – during these times. I know that our teachers are currently and have provided support on a variety of levels with a sense of willingness and professionalism.

Please have your child check his/her school email account for any communication from his/her teacher.

I have highlighted some essential points of information; which is important for you to have at this time. Please make careful note of these:

  *   The Ontario government has announced that schools WILL NOT re-open on April 6th.

·         Ministry of Education’s Learning at Home<http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/cz-2272haI1IphLGqSYXxg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgXmJ-P0TXaHR0cDovL3RyYWNrLnNwZS5zY2hvb2xtZXNzZW5nZXIuY29tL2YvYS9lZVN6VDhuOHpfLThELUdVWVN0SE9Rfn4vQUFBQUFRQX4vUmdSZ1hkc0xQMFFwYUhSMGNITTZMeTkzZDNjdWIyNTBZWEpwYnk1allTOXdZV2RsTDJ4bFlYSnVMV0YwTFdodmJXVlhCM05qYUc5dmJHMUNDZ0FBaTZkOFhuUW5oZTFTR0UxaGRIUm9aWGN1VjJWaVltVkFkR1J6WWk1dmJpNWpZVmdFQUFBQUFnfn5XB3NjaG9vbG1CCgAA_i59Xpl_IQxSE3NoYXJ1YmFsbGVAeWFob28uY2FYBAAAAAI~> website portal provides supplementary learning materials in math and literacy for elementary and secondary students. The website will help keep students learning and engaged during the COVID-19 school closure period.

  *   A link to the TDSB additional online resources<http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/TYnU9nwz3XEAihYUDTNelA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgXmJ-P4QvAWh0dHA6Ly90cmFjay5zcGUuc2Nob29sbWVzc2VuZ2VyLmNvbS9mL2Evb1l2THIyT2dhd1hhRVZ4TlozM0hBUX5-L0FBQUFBUUF-L1JnUmdYZHNMUDBScmFIUjBjSE02THk5M2QzY3VkR1J6WWk1dmJpNWpZUzlGYkdWdFpXNTBZWEo1TFZOamFHOXZiQzlUZFhCd2IzSjBhVzVuTFZsdmRTOUlaV0ZzZEdndFFXTjBhWFpsTFV4cGRtbHVaeTlEYjNKdmJtRjJhWEoxY3k5TVpXRnlibWx1WnkxU1pYTnZkWEpqWlhOWEIzTmphRzl2YkcxQ0NnQUFpNmQ4WG5RbmhlMVNHRTFoZEhSb1pYY3VWMlZpWW1WQWRHUnpZaTV2Ymk1allWZ0VBQUFBQWd-flcHc2Nob29sbUIKAAD-Ln1emX8hDFITc2hhcnViYWxsZUB5YWhvby5jYVgEAAAAAg~~> that will support the Ministry’s Learning at Home<http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/cz-2272haI1IphLGqSYXxg~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgXmJ-P0TXaHR0cDovL3RyYWNrLnNwZS5zY2hvb2xtZXNzZW5nZXIuY29tL2YvYS9lZVN6VDhuOHpfLThELUdVWVN0SE9Rfn4vQUFBQUFRQX4vUmdSZ1hkc0xQMFFwYUhSMGNITTZMeTkzZDNjdWIyNTBZWEpwYnk1allTOXdZV2RsTDJ4bFlYSnVMV0YwTFdodmJXVlhCM05qYUc5dmJHMUNDZ0FBaTZkOFhuUW5oZTFTR0UxaGRIUm9aWGN1VjJWaVltVkFkR1J6WWk1dmJpNWpZVmdFQUFBQUFnfn5XB3NjaG9vbG1CCgAA_i59Xpl_IQxSE3NoYXJ1YmFsbGVAeWFob28uY2FYBAAAAAI~> initiative

  *   Student well-being and mental health will also be an important focus. There is a variety of Mental Health and Well-Being Resources<http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/LKfMF2xtGuKHLYtakkhzDw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgXmJ-P4QrAWh0dHA6Ly90cmFjay5zcGUuc2Nob29sbWVzc2VuZ2VyLmNvbS9mL2EvcGJkblVzcXNFUnRlOFNIa1pxZlBXZ35-L0FBQUFBUUF-L1JnUmdYZHNMUDBScWFIUjBjSE02THk5M2QzY3VkR1J6WWk1dmJpNWpZUzlGYkdWdFpXNTBZWEo1TFZOamFHOXZiQzlUZFhCd2IzSjBhVzVuTFZsdmRTOU5aVzUwWVd3dFNHVmhiSFJvTFZkbGJHd3RZbVZwYm1jdlVtVnpiM1Z5WTJWekxVUjFjbWx1WnkxRGIzWnBaQzB4T1ZjSGMyTm9iMjlzYlVJS0FBQ0xwM3hlZENlRjdWSVlUV0YwZEdobGR5NVhaV0ppWlVCMFpITmlMbTl1TG1OaFdBUUFBQUFDVwdzY2hvb2xtQgoAAP4ufV6ZfyEMUhNzaGFydWJhbGxlQHlhaG9vLmNhWAQAAAAC> for students and families available on the TDSB website.

  *   The TDSB<http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/UkbATMhcf4wKLeDaFSxK9g~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgXmJ-P0S_aHR0cDovL3RyYWNrLnNwZS5zY2hvb2xtZXNzZW5nZXIuY29tL2YvYS9WekRWTTZvZkZZYUJXM25nVzZFNVNnfn4vQUFBQUFRQX4vUmdSZ1hkc0xQMFFYYUhSMGNITTZMeTkzZDNjdWRHUnpZaTV2Ymk1allTOVhCM05qYUc5dmJHMUNDZ0FBaTZkOFhuUW5oZTFTR0UxaGRIUm9aWGN1VjJWaVltVkFkR1J6WWk1dmJpNWpZVmdFQUFBQUFnfn5XB3NjaG9vbG1CCgAA_i59Xpl_IQxSE3NoYXJ1YmFsbGVAeWFob28uY2FYBAAAAAI~> is formulating plans this week and next week (March 30 – April 3) about the continuation of learning; and the TDSB will be communicating with schools and families as soon as these plans are finalized.

  *   All TDSB Playgrounds and Park Amenities Closed<http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/1Ah-zxbavQdU5GSdMqyknA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgXmJ-P4QzAWh0dHA6Ly90cmFjay5zcGUuc2Nob29sbWVzc2VuZ2VyLmNvbS9mL2EvZW04YXNhZHRkLWluSlhybzFHWWV0UX5-L0FBQUFBUUF-L1JnUmdYZHNMUDBSd2FIUjBjSE02THk5M2QzY3VkR1J6WWk1dmJpNWpZUzlPWlhkekwwRnlkR2xqYkdVdFJHVjBZV2xzY3k5QmNuUk5TVVF2TkRjMEwwRnlkR2xqYkdWSlJDOHhORE00TDFSRVUwSXRVR3hoZVdkeWIzVnVaSE10WVc1a0xWQmhjbXN0UVcxbGJtbDBhV1Z6TFVOc2IzTmxaRmNIYzJOb2IyOXNiVUlLQUFDTHAzeGVkQ2VGN1ZJWVRXRjBkR2hsZHk1WFpXSmlaVUIwWkhOaUxtOXVMbU5oV0FRQUFBQUNXB3NjaG9vbG1CCgAA_i59Xpl_IQxSE3NoYXJ1YmFsbGVAeWFob28uY2FYBAAAAAI~>, to the public effective immediately (March 25, 2020); under the direction of/  ordered by the Medical Officer of Health for the City of Toronto.

Important Links

  *   Ontario Ministry of Health<http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/MZtTYEe8WW82ldbnqMnCuw~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgXmJ-P0TLaHR0cDovL3RyYWNrLnNwZS5zY2hvb2xtZXNzZW5nZXIuY29tL2YvYS9YZGRUNWdnMzBwQmdxSnRIbWhib3dRfn4vQUFBQUFRQX4vUmdSZ1hkc0xQMFFoYUhSMGNEb3ZMM2QzZHk1dmJuUmhjbWx2TG1OaEwyTnZjbTl1WVhacGNuVnpWd2R6WTJodmIyeHRRZ29BQUl1bmZGNTBKNFh0VWhoTllYUjBhR1YzTGxkbFltSmxRSFJrYzJJdWIyNHVZMkZZQkFBQUFBSX5XB3NjaG9vbG1CCgAA_i59Xpl_IQxSE3NoYXJ1YmFsbGVAeWFob28uY2FYBAAAAAI~>
(Updated each weekday)

  *   Toronto Public Health<http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/vtHFG4goFkPbO4UcOU6bEA~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgXmJ-P0TLaHR0cDovL3RyYWNrLnNwZS5zY2hvb2xtZXNzZW5nZXIuY29tL2YvYS9yQjBjTEtud2tyMnBkbDlBcXlYZmh3fn4vQUFBQUFRQX4vUmdSZ1hkc0xQMFFoYUhSMGNEb3ZMM2QzZHk1MGIzSnZiblJ2TG1OaEwyTnZjbTl1WVhacGNuVnpWd2R6WTJodmIyeHRRZ29BQUl1bmZGNTBKNFh0VWhoTllYUjBhR1YzTGxkbFltSmxRSFJrYzJJdWIyNHVZMkZZQkFBQUFBSX5XB3NjaG9vbG1CCgAA_i59Xpl_IQxSE3NoYXJ1YmFsbGVAeWFob28uY2FYBAAAAAI~>

  *   Letter from Director of Education John Malloy<http://track.spe.schoolmessenger.com/f/a/2IswWOjs-RKYqy7tDXjv9g~~/AAAAAQA~/RgRgXmJ-P4Q3AWh0dHA6Ly90cmFjay5zcGUuc2Nob29sbWVzc2VuZ2VyLmNvbS9mL2EvbklhX0RUeVdUcl91UnVNQlZFaVhyUX5-L0FBQUFBUUF-L1JnUmdYZHNMUDBSemFIUjBjSE02THk5M2QzY3VkR1J6WWk1dmJpNWpZUzlPWlhkekwwRnlkR2xqYkdVdFJHVjBZV2xzY3k5QmNuUk5TVVF2TkRjMEwwRnlkR2xqYkdWSlJDOHhORE01TDB4bGRIUmxjaTFtY205dExVUnBjbVZqZEc5eUxXOW1MVVZrZFdOaGRHbHZiaTFLYjJodUxVMWhiR3h2ZVZjSGMyTm9iMjlzYlVJS0FBQ0xwM3hlZENlRjdWSVlUV0YwZEdobGR5NVhaV0ppWlVCMFpITmlMbTl1TG1OaFdBUUFBQUFDVwdzY2hvb2xtQgoAAP4ufV6ZfyEMUhNzaGFydWJhbGxlQHlhaG9vLmNhWAQAAAAC>

The staff and I would like to express our deepest appreciation to all those parents, caregivers and guardians who are working in various essential service roles, supporting us and the province through this crisis. We appreciate your ongoing professional commitment, efforts and your hard work!

If parents wish to share any questions or concerns with me (Darryl Forde, Principal) directly prior to April 5th; please email me at darrylforde@tdsb.on.ca. I will try to respond to you in a reasonable timeframe given the circumstances.

In closing, I want you to know, I remain confident that together we can find a way that would lead to success! I want to thank you for your ongoing support and collaboration with our staff and me during these times. I will be in touch again as soon as I have additional information.

 Sincerely,

Darryl E. Forde