Dear MGCI Parents/Guardians/Caregivers/Students:

As I type this message today, the snow is falling heavily. I guess I was too optimistic to assume that winter was over! Safe travels if you are driving anywhere tonight, the roads are slippery.

This is such a long newsletter today! There are just so many things going on at MGCI and the community that we don’t want you to miss out. Please read all the way through - there are fabulous job opportunities and events happening both at the school, in the TDSB and the community.

Gillian Evans, Principal

1. Commencement:

Dear Potential MGCI Graduates and Family,

Commencement 2024 is fast approaching and we are preparing for your milestone.

Commencement will be held on Wednesday June 26 from 6:15 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

All graduates are expected to arrive at Parkview Manor by 5:00 p.m. All guests are expected to arrive by 6:00pm to allow time for seating before the ceremony begins.

Parkview Manor is located at 55 Barber Greene Road (Don Mills Road and Eglinton Avenue East)

You will be able to attend Commencement only if you will be earning a minimum of 30 credits (2 of which are through e-learning, unless your family opted out of this graduation requirement) by August 30, 2024, completed and submitted your 40 hours of community service, and passed the OSSLT.

All graduates must wear a Commencement gown throughout the ceremony. If you have an older sibling who graduated from MGCI and has a gown, cap and stole, then you do not need to purchase one. You can use your sibling’s.

As a result, there are two packages to choose from:

Commencement Gown and 2 guest tickets for $35.00.

For this package, you will receive a gown, cap, tassel, stole and 2 guest tickets.

Guest Ticket $10 each.

You can only buy a total of 2 guest tickets.

This package is only available for MGCI graduates who already have a gown, cap and stole from an older sibling. We will provide you with a 2024 tassel to add to your older sibling’s cap.

Sign in to your School Cash Online Account. Select your package and make the payment through School Cash Online. Below is the link for your convenience.

https://www.schoolcashonline.com/

The deadline for payment is Tuesday April 2, 2024.

After April 2nd, you will not be able to purchase a gown nor purchase your two guest tickets.

If School Cash Online is not an option for you and your family, please email Ms. Galanis theodora.galanis@tdsb.on.ca or call her at 416-396-2410 or visit her in person entering from the main office side. If you have any questions or concerns about Commencement, please connect with Ms Galanis.

Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to celebrating with you at MGCI’s Commencement 2024.

2. Yearbook Media Release Forms:

To All MGCI Students and Our Families:

Thursday March 28, 2024 is the last day to submit your signed Media Release Form for the Yearbook.

If you want your picture to be in the yearbook and if you want to receive a yearbook, you must submit by 3 p.m. on Thursday March 28, 2024 your signed Media Release Form.

If you do not want to appear in the yearbook, you still must sign the Media Release Form by March 28, 2024.

For those who want to email their signed consent form, please email them to Huma.AbdulRazzaq@tdsb.on.ca

Any printed and signed media consent forms should be handed into Huma Abdul Razzaq in the main office.

Under no circumstances can we accept any changes to the yearbook media consent after March 28th. On this date, our yearbook portrait pages will be sent out for printing. Any changes to consent must be communicated between now and March 28th.

Students can confirm that they have signed yes by checking the Google Sheet list of student numbers that has been posted to their guidance Google classroom. If their student number is on the list, then they have agreed to having their photo in the yearbook and will receive a free yearbook. If their number is not on the list then, they have not given consent for their photo to appear in the yearbook.

Student Media Release Consent Form.pdf

3. Corsage Project

We are excited to announce that the Corsage Project will once again be running for 2024!

Created in 1999, we work in partnership with the Children's Aid Foundation of Canada to provide free formal wear and accessories to female-identifying high school students unable to afford the cost of prom wear and accessories. Students referred to the program by their school will be formally invited to attend our ‘Boutique Ball’ on Saturday, May 4th, 2024 at Rosedale School of the Arts where they will be able to pick out a brand new outfit, shoes, and accessories free of charge.

Female-identifying students in need of this support should speak with Ms. Galanis in the main office or Ms. Lajeunesse in room 213 before the April 19th deadline.

CORSAGE PROJECT BOUTIQUE BALL REFERRAL GUIDELINES

The three requirements all referrals must fulfill to be eligible to participate in the event are:

· must be graduating

· cannot have attended Corsage previously

· must be in need of the support

Some reasons that a student may require additional support with graduation expenses are as follows:

· unemployment in the family

· newly arrived family in Canada

· large family

· health issues in the family

· working part-time to assist family income

· loss of a parent

· living independently

· single-parent family

· agency involvement

· living in a group home

· pregnancy/becoming a young mother

For further information on the Corsage Project, please visit www.corsageproject.ca.

4. Human Trafficking Parents Workshop

We invite you to a very special presentation presented by Victim Services Toronto on Tuesday May 7, 2024 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at Marc Garneau C.I. in our school’s library. The presentation will focus on your role as a parent/guardian/caregiver and how you can prevent human trafficking. You will learn how youth are recruited, how to identify if your child is being trafficked, and how to support your child to prevent from being trafficked. We look forward to seeing you on May 7 at 6:30 p.m. in our school’s library.

VST HT Parents Workshop Flyer - May 7th Workshop.pdf

5. TDSB Summer Music & Art Camps 2024

We are excited to announce that registration for our summer music camp in Toronto 2024 is now open! Explore your musical talents and creative flair at the TDSB Summer Music and Art Camps! Our camps welcome young artists and musicians of all skill levels, offering diverse programs including band, orchestra, strings, and personalized instruction. It's a chance to develop your skills, build friendships, and celebrate in an exciting final concert.

Join us for a summer of music-making, artistic expression, and endless fun! For more information and details, click here - https://www.tdsb.on.ca/About-Us/Innovation/Summer-Programs/TDSB-Music-Camps

6. City of Toronto - Recreation Workers' Part-time jobs

There are plenty of P/T afterschool and F/T summer recreation jobs available at the City of Toronto. The City of Toronto is hiring for part-time summer recreation jobs. Apply before March 31 for part-time summer recreation, aquatic and museum jobs with the City of Toronto.

Recreation Workers' Job Profiles - City of Toronto

7. Job: Community Network Ambassador: Youth

The Toronto Strong Neighbourhoods Strategy (TSNS) is the City of Toronto’s action plan for ensuring that each Toronto neighbourhood can succeed and thrive. This year, The TSNS will implement the Community Network Ambassador Program to support and engage Community Networks & resident tables actively. The Project will be led by TNO-The Neighborhood Organization, in partnership with few other organizations. For more information, visit here.

The program seeks to hire two Ambassadors per Community Network (one youth ages 16-24). The Community Network Ambassadors will support community engagement activities related to TSNS Community Networks, and act as a liaison between local networks and the City of Toronto. Please find attached the complete job description; share the word and if you think your profile fits - we will be happy to review your application.

We are looking for community residents of East York Don Valley which includes Flemingdon Park, Thorncliffe Park, Taylor Massey & Victoria Village, please share widely within your networks. If you have any questions or need more info – pls contact Karma Lhamo, Manager of Community Development at TNO: KLhamo@tno-toronto.org

JOB POSTING TSNS-Network Ambassador - 5.0 (1).pdf

8. Launch of Parent’s Guide to Ontario’s Education System

The Ministry of Education is pleased to inform you that the Parent’s Guide to Ontario’s Education System was launched today. This new resource will provide parents with helpful information that supports them to have a stronger role and actively participate in their children’s education. The guide covers several subjects such as knowing how their child is doing in school, learning about suspension and expulsion processes, attending a school council meeting or parent involvement committee meeting, and knowing about specialized supports to help all children succeed. This initiative is part of the government’s recent efforts to increase transparency and accountability in our school system.The full guide can be found at www.Ontario.ca/educationguide.

The attached promotional flyers available in 10 different languages (English, French, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Punjabi, Tagalog, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese and Hindi) include a QR code that links to the full guide.

9. Youth Health in High-Rises Survey

Are you a young person living in a high-rise building? Participate in the Youth Health in High-Rises survey!

Dr. Lindsey Smith is recruiting youth ages 13-18 living in high-rise neighbourhoods in Toronto to participate in the second phase of this research project. This phase will involve group discussions and mapping activities to help the researchers understand how young people perceive their neighbourhoods in relation to their health. As a thank you, participants receive $40. For more information, or to volunteer for this study, please contact:
Dr. Lindsey Smith, PhD
Department of Geography and Planning, University of Toronto
416-978-4812 or Email: lindsey.smith@utoronto.ca

You can also register to participate through the link below:

Register: Youth Health in High-Rises Study

10. Access Alliance will be organizing Healthy Child Screening Events.

Healthy Child Screening (HCS) is a model for universal access to early identification of children’s special needs. The screening is a single-point access to health care for families, who can have their children screened at different stations by a health professional. This is designed for children 2-6 years of age and is intended to identify any concerns regarding a child’s health, often in terms of development. Identified children are then referred to an appropriate service for definitive assessment/treatment. Follow-up is crucial in our clinic model to ensure parents have support and connection to the appropriate health provider, if a health concern arises. We will have 8 screening stations available at all of our 5 locations. Families will be scheduled by appointments to visit each individual site between April and May 2024.

It is important for children to be successful in school and for us to identify at a early age if they need our support and to do our best to provide it. With the help of Access Alliance’s settlement, primary care and dietician team along with our community partners from Child Development Institute, East York East Toronto Family Resources, Toronto College of Dental Hygiene and Auxiliaries Inc., TN0-The Neighbourhood Organization and the local schools in the area, we will provide screenings and services such as; Dental, Nutrition, Social/Emotional Dev., Vision, Speech and Language, Settlement, Hearing and Physical Development.

Attached is a flyer with more detailed information for the Healthy Child Screening event taking place at Fraser Mustard Early Learning Academy on April 16th.

HEALTHY CHILD SCREENING-1.pdf

11. Worth Repeating - Counselling Services at the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub

Did you know that the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub (45 Overlea Blvd.) offers free counselling for youth aged 12-25?

View the new FAQs for Youth and FAQs for Providers webpages, which provide comprehensive information about counselling at the Thorncliffe Park Youth Wellness Hub, including:

• How to access this service
• What happens before, during and after a counselling session
• The hub’s confidentiality and privacy protocols
• More information about the intake process and how youth get matched with a counsellor
• And more!

If you would like to register for counselling services or have a question that is not answered in the FAQs, please contact the hub by email at thorncliffe@youthhubs.ca or by phone at 416-421-8397, Monday to Friday between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

12. Worth Repeating - School Calendar and Family Trip Planning

The 2023-24 School Calendar is available on the TDSB website. Please click here for Exam and holiday dates. Please note that we will be scheduling final Exams and culminating activities for the 2023-24 school year in both January and June. A reminder that vacations are not considered a legitimate absence from instructional days or Exam days. Every effort should be made to avoid scheduling family vacations during school time. In the event of a missed evaluation due to a family vacation, teachers are not required to provide an

alternative form of evaluation or Exam and a mark of zero may be assigned.

13. Worth Repeating - Online Tutoring Update

TDSB students now have access to free academic support through online tutoring.

Support is available for secondary students through Paper:

• For all courses and grades, including support with exam and/or culminating activity preparation
• For writing assignments, such as essays, resumes, cover letters
• For all math and science courses
• 24/7, on demand for ongoing help, or when they are stuck
• Families or students (18+) who are interested in online tutoring services can contact Paper

Support is available for elementary students through Brainfuse:

• For homework help in all subject areas and grades
• For enrichment activities
• 24/7, on demand

Families or students (18+) who are interested in online tutoring services can contact Brainfuse.

14. Worth Repeating - Opting-Out of the e-Learning Graduation Requirement

Last year, the Ministry of Education introduced a mandatory e-learning credit requirement for graduation. But - students may withdraw from the online e-Learning requirement at any time. A parent/caregiver/guardian or student (18 years of age or older or 16 or 17 years of age and withdrawn from parental control) may withdraw by submitting the TDSB Opt Out/Withdrawal Form to their school. No explanation or reason is needed to opt out/withdraw. Opting out does not prevent you from taking an e-Learning course in the future.

If you are not ready to make a decision with regard to participating in e-Learning, there will be future opportunities to participate in e-Learning courses or withdraw from the graduation requirement. A final decision is not required at this time. If you have decided now to withdraw from the graduation requirement, please complete the TDSB Opt Out/Withdrawal Form and return it to your school.

15. School Council Update

Our next meeting date HAS CHANGED! Our next meeting will be April 25 at 7pm. The meeting will take place both in person in the library and online. Links will be shared closer to the date.

Land Acknowledgement: We, the students and staff of Marc Garneau Collegiate Institute, acknowledge that we are hosted on the lands of the Mississaugas of the Anishinaabe, the Haudenosaunee Confederacy, and the Wendat. We also recognize the enduring presence of all First Nations, Métis, and the Inuit peoples.