June 5 2024 • Issue #56

Learning opportunities and initiatives demonstrating commitment to Thames Valley's Strategic Priorities and Operational Goals

Innovation Valley

In early May, students came together to compete at Innovation Valley. Innovation Valley is a collaborative initiative between Fanshawe College and the Thames Valley District School Board, where Thames Valley students were hosted at Fanshawe College.

Teams of 10 students had six weeks to learn how to program a Lego kit robot. The robots navigated a grid of buildings and streets to complete tasks such as collecting cars, garbage, and blue boxes. This innovative, collaborative STE3M Robotics Competition allows students to tackle real-world challenges that impact people both locally and globally. This program is a great example of integration between robotics with science, technology, and math education.



Congratulations to all the students that participated from across the district!

Education Week

Thames Valley joined school boards across Ontario to celebrate Education Week, which took place from May 6 to 12. The Provincial theme for Education Week was "Back to Basics."

Education Week is a time dedicated to celebrating teaching excellence and student achievement, and to showcase the amazing things happening across Thames Valley. Thames Valley had so much to celebrate, thanks to the hard work and dedication of students, staff, volunteers and families from each school.  

Speech and Hearing Month

May is a time to celebrate National Speech and Hearing Month, a reminder of the essential role communication plays in our lives. Thames Valley works in collaboration with our community partners to create a more accessible and inclusive world for all. 

By promoting accessibility and inclusivity, Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists help everyone have the opportunity to communicate and be heard.  Effective communication is the cornerstone of human connection, enabling us to share ideas, express emotions, and build relationships. 

Chinese Community Engagement Session

On May 1, Thames Valley hosted our first Chinese Community Engagement Session at London Central Secondary School. The event was another great opportunity for Thames Valley representatives to listen and learn from students, families, and members of the Chinese community as they shared their experiences in Thames Valley schools. Thank you to everyone who joined us for this insightful session. 

National AccessAbility Week

The last week of May is National AccessAbility Week! This week is an opportunity to celebrate the contributions of Canadians with disabilities and highlight the work being done to remove barriers to success.

 

At Thames Valley, we are committed to accessibility and inclusion so all students can thrive. 

Red Dress Day

May 5 is recognized as Red Dress Day in Canada. Thames Valley stands together with Indigenous communities in mourning, honouring and remembering the many missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples on this day and throughout the year. 

International Day against Homophobia, Transphobia, and Biphobia

Staff and Trustees gathered at the Education Centre on May 17 for a Flag Raising Ceremony in recognition of the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. 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. 

Menstrual Hygiene Day

May 28 is Menstrual Hygiene Day which plays a crucial role in raising awareness about the challenges people face due to menstruation, and we take a moment to discuss the importance of ending menstrual poverty. 

Student Trustee Savrup Saran and Student Trustees Elect Emma Park and Shivani Vimal created this short video promoting the importance of menstrual equity today, and everyday. 

Mental Health Week

During the first full week of May each year, the Thames Valley District School Board recognizes Mental Health Week. The week is dedicated to raising awareness about mental health, mental illness, and overall well-being. This year’s Mental Health Week focused around “A Call to Be Kind” and centered on the healing power of compassion.

The Safe Schools and Well-Being team offered virtual field trip opportunities for classes to attend, and provided classroom resources for discussions about mental health. During Mental Health Week, TVDSB’s Family Well-Being Community Workshop Series ran several workshops for parents and caregivers on topics related to mental health and well-being.

Staff were encouraged to share how schools across the Valley demonstrate acts of kindness and compassion every day with our social media campaign #TVDSBkind.

Students Build Cities

Students in Arts and Culture Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM) courses from each school across the district painted murals which were publicly displayed at the 'Tiny Alley Gallery' in downtown St. Thomas. Students worked with professional artist Meaghan Kehoe on this project.

In addition, Parkside Collegiate Institute students in Construction, Manufacturing and Horticulture collaborated to build planter boxes and created a metal sculpture garden.

The project showcases several years of a collaboration on an initiative called “Students Build Cities.”

On May 16 Thames Valley held a groundbreaking ceremony at the new elementary school in northwest Woodstock. Trustees were thrilled to join Thames Valley staff and administrators, as well as students, community members, and local dignitaries for this historic occasion. This is the third groundbreaking ceremony this spring and we are continuing to advocate for additional learning spaces needed in TVDSB.

Take Your Member of Provincial Parliament (MPP) to School: Trustees gave local MPPs a first-hand look at the day-to-day successes and challenges of public education during Take your MPP to School Week (May 21-24). Organized by the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association, this event showcased the amazing students, staff, and programs at our local schools. It also gave trustees and MPPS an opportunity to connect about opportunities to improve public education, including addressing provincial underfunding in special education, CPP and EI, and staffing.

Budget: The Ministry of Education requires school boards to approve a balanced budget by the end of June. This will be challenging this year as provincial funding has not kept pace with the costs for goods and services. 

TVDSB is currently reviewing the preliminary budget for 2024-2025. The board will accept written feedback and requests to speak to the committee reviewing the preliminary budget until Monday, June 10 at 9 a.m. Input will be heard on Tuesday, June 11. We encourage community members to get involved.

Middlesex North Elementary Attendance Area Review: The recommendations from Administration’s report are out for public consultation. The public has until 9 a.m. on June 5 to submit written or verbal delegations online at www.tvdsb.ca/publicinput. Public delegations will be presented to trustees at the Planning and Priorities Advisory Committee meeting on June 11, with decisions to follow at the Board of Trustees meeting on June 25. 

For more updates, please see News - TVDSB. 

Meet Trustee Meagan Ruddock

Greetings,

It has been an enriching experience to serve as a Thames Valley District School Board Trustee for Elgin County since my initial election in 2018. I am incredibly proud to be a lifelong resident of Elgin County. 

Before becoming a Trustee, I gained invaluable insights as a parent member of my children’s school council and Home and School Association as well as a committee that worked to save their school from closure. We were unsuccessful, but it was through that experience that I decided to run for the position of trustee to try and effect change.

As a Trustee, building relationships and community are important to me. I believe that our schools and our communities do not operate in silos and that community partnerships and collaboration are of great importance.

Beyond my role as a Trustee, I am actively involved with my three daughters and their different sporting organizations and can often be found at a hockey arena or at a soccer field. Alternatively, we also enjoy attending games and supporting the local men’s fastball team.

Occasionally in my free time you can find me at the barn or on horseback reliving a youthful passion!