Resources
Guide to Our School System
At the Toronto Catholic District School Board (TCDSB), we are committed to ensuring that families have access to valuable information to support active involvement in their child's education. In alignment with the Ministry of Education's guidelines, we provide essential resources and information to help you engage effectively in your child's educational journey.
Key Information
Families can access important information through our website. This includes details outlined in the Ministry of Education's guide, Your Child’s Education: A Parent Guide to Our School System. Some items to note in particular include:
Notification of External Speakers at School Events
Schools across Ontario will notify families at least 14 days in advance whenever an external speaker or group is scheduled to present to students in grades K-12. This approach ensures that families are well-informed and can engage with the content their children will encounter.
The notification will include the following details:
Date, time, and location of the event.
Title and topic or focus of the presentation.
Connections to the curriculum and/or the event's purpose.
Names of the presenters, performers, or guest speakers and any organizations they represent.
Information about any handout materials, giveaways, or literature that will be provided.
Exceptions: this requirement does not apply to speakers or groups that are part of the school’s regular community and daily activities. For example, visits from the local Parish, Catholic Masses, liturgical events, and contributions to faith formation within our Catholic schools are not included in this notification process.
This initiative aims to keep families informed and ensure transparency in the educational experiences offered to students.
The Option to Opt Out of Certain Learning
You can opt out or ask to exempt your child from certain learning. This includes:
Grades 1 to 8 Human Development and Sexual Health in the Health and Physical Education curriculum.
The online learning graduation requirement for high school students.
Events and activities with guest speakers or performances.
Speak with your child’s teacher or principal about exemptions and how to ask for one.
In addition, the Ministry of Education provides resources and information about what your child is learning at school and ideas for supporting their learning at home.
Device Use Policy
The Ministry of Education has issued new direction to school boards affecting the use of electronic devices and access to social media at school. Please review our new Device Use policy:
The new Device Use policy outlines expectations for school community members regarding the use of any electronic device during the school day.
Students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 must ensure their devices are switched off or set to a silent mode and stored out of view during the school day/during instructional time (exceptions are outlined in the policy).
If a student is using a device during the school day/instructional time, the educator will instruct the student to put the device out of sight. If the student fails to comply with the direction, the student will be sent to the principal’s office.
When principals are addressing a student who fails to comply with an educator’s direction to place a device out of sight, the principal will exercise their discretion and consider a range of responses to address the student’s behaviour in alignment with the board’s Progressive Discipline policy.
Parents/Guardians are encouraged to discuss this policy with their children.
Social media platforms are restricted on school networks and school devices.
These changes ensure a focused learning environment by managing electronic device usage during school hours.
Device Use Policy Poster
Information Availability
To ensure families are well-informed, TCDSB will make this information available:
Upon registration of a new pupil.
At the start of each school year.
We encourage you to explore these resources to stay informed and involved in your child's education.