Tommy Douglas Secondary School Parent e-Bulletin
FridayFebruary23rd to Thursday March01st, 2018
TDSS Website / Principal: Ann Pace Vice Principals: Stefano Fornazzari San Martín, Diane Conlon
To the parents/guardians of:«First_Name»«Last_Name»
Please email: for any questions/suggestions.
Follow our Twitter Updates: @TDSS_YRDSB (general school information) @TDSS_Athletics @TDSS_SAC (student council) @TDSS_Library @TDSS_DECA (business club) @TDSSGuidance
Upcoming Events
Friday Feb. 23
-Multicultural Assembly
Monday Feb. 26
-Grad Photos
-Boys Elementary Area Basketball Tournament
-Jr Girls Volleyball at Father Bressani @ 3:30
Tuesday Feb. 27
-Grad Photos
-Girls Elementary Area Basketball Tournament
-Pascal, Cayley, Fermat Math Contests
(Gr. 9-11)
Wednesday Feb. 28
-Grad Photos
-Jr Girls Volleyball Home Game
-Reverse 6’s Volleyball Tournament
Thursday March 1
-Grad Photos
-YRSC Robotics at Seneca Newnham Campus / Friday March 2
-Grad Photos
Monday March 5
-Grad Photos
-York Region Paramedics Headquarters Trip
-Jr Girls Volleyball at Father Bressani @ 3:30p.m.
Tuesday March 6
-Grad Photos
Wednesday March 7
-Grad Photos
Thursday March 8
-Grad Photos
-Boys & Girls Soccer at Trio Sportplex
@ 7:45 a.m.
Friday March 9
-Inside Ride
March 12 to 16
-Spring Break
Weekly E-bulletin Now Available on Tommy Douglas School Webpage
This weekly parent e-bulletin is now available on our Tommy Douglas School webpage. To access this e-bulletin, please choose the “News & Events” tab on the homepage and then select “Weekly Bulletins.” You will continue to receive a weekly e-bulletin with your child’s weekly attendance record.
The Inside Ride – Schoolwide Initiative to Raise Funds for Families Living with Cancer
Students and staff at Tommy Douglas Secondary School are working to bring the charitable cycling event, TheInside Ride, to their school for the 2nd time onMarch 9th, 2018.The Inside Ride, developed by theCoast To Coast Against Cancer Foundation(Reg #8282 52346RR0001, is Canada’s first indoor cycling challenge and fundraising event dedicated to raising monies in support of families and children with cancer, a profoundly underfunded cause in Canada. The Coast to Coast Against Cancer Foundation provides financial assistance to qualifying programs and organizations that improve the quality of life for Canadian children, and their families, living with and beyond cancer. Our events are designed to inspire a life-long pursuit of wellness, to encourage a high level of volunteerism, and to create a sense of purpose within everyone involved. It is our goal each year that 100% of receipted individual donations made to the cyclists and volunteers in our events are passed on to where the needs are the greatest for children living with and beyond cancer. This 100% donation model that sets our events apart from all others is made possible by the generous support of our community and corporate sponsors. Visit learn more and register your team!
Pathways Evening
Tommy Douglas hosted a successful evening with presentations about college, university and workplace pathways on Wednesday February 21st. We had a strong parent presence and look forward to offering further opportunities for parents and students to explore career and psto-secondary interests. Many thanks to all of our staff who worked hard to plan the evening!
Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test Preparation
Literacy After-School Program:
The Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), written on Tuesday, April 10 is a requirement for students who wish to graduate with a secondary school diploma. As a school, we are taking many steps to assist our students in completing the test successfully. One way that we have chosen to assist some of our students is by offering an after school program to reinforce reading and writing skills.
The after school literacy program is open to all students who wish to review their literacy skills prior to the OSSLT. However, your son or daughter will need to attend all sessions to get the maximum benefit from this program. The after school program consists of ten sessions of 1 ½ hours each. Students will attend twice a week for five weeks to receive intensive practice with reading and writing skills and strategies. At the end of the sessions, each student will complete a checklist of strengths and needs.
While receiving additional assistance through the after school program, your son or daughter will continue to receive regular instruction from his or her classroom teachers related to the reading and writing skills required for each subject. We believe that this special program will make a difference in your son’s or daughter’s knowledge and confidence related to reading and writing.
Literacy Lunchtime Program:
Support for any student wanting help to prepare for the literacy test on April 10th is available every Wednesday and Thursday at lunch in room 201. Please see Ms. Thom in room 266 if you require any additional information. She can be reached at
Community and Health Services Department York Region Public Health
Increased Absenteeism Due to Illness in York Region Schools
York Region Public Health has noticed an increase in school absenteeism due to illness. When York Region Public Health receives reports of increased absenteeism, we support the affected schools by providing infection prevention and control measures as well as monitoring of absences in collaboration with the school.
Many viruses are active at this time of year in the community, including enteric viruses (like norovirus) and respiratory viruses (like influenza, commonly known as the flu.) Preventative measures can help reduce the spread of illness in the community.
Norovirus
The most common symptoms of norovirus illness are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and stomach cramps. The illness often begins suddenly, about 24 to 48 hours after exposure, and the infected person may become very sick with frequent vomiting and/or diarrhea. In general, children experience more vomiting than adults.
To lower the spread of norovirus within our communities:
Anyone experiencing symptoms should continue to stay home for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop
Thoroughly wash hands with soap and water, especially after using the toilet or changing diapers and before preparing, handling and eating food
*Remove and wash clothes and linens that may be contaminated with vomit or feces
* Keep sick individuals out of areas where food is being handled or prepared
* Anyone who is sick should not handle or prepare food for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop
* Take precautions to protect yourself when cleaning up vomit and diarrhea.
Influenza
Norovirus is not related to influenza, or “the flu”. The flu is a respiratory illness caused by the influenza virus which commonly starts circulating during the late fall and continues into spring.
Symptoms of the flu may include:
• sudden onset of headache
• chills
• cough
• sore throat
• runny nose
• fever
• loss of appetite
• muscle aches
• fatigue
Nausea, vomiting and diarrhea may also occur in children. Most people recover from the flu within a week to 10 days. People aged 65 years or older, pregnant women and individuals with chronic health conditions may be at greater risk of becoming ill and developing severe health problems such as pneumonia. 2
Children under five years of age, especially those younger than two years of age, are at high risk of flu‐related complications. These complications include pneumonia, encephalopathy (inflammation of the brain), ear infections, sinus infections and worsening of medical problems like asthma or heart disease. In rare cases, flu complications can lead to death.
The flu vaccine is the best way to protect against flu. Studies show the flu vaccine can prevent 70 to 90 per cent of illness in healthy adults and children. York Region Public Health recommends everyone six months and older get the flu shot. It’s not too late to get vaccinated.
Flu shots are available at:
• Physicians’ offices, for people six months of age and older
• Pharmacies, for people five years of age and older
• York Region Public Health clinics, for people three years of age and older
Visit ontario.ca/fluto find where you can get the flu shot. For more information about flu vaccines contact York Region Health Connection at 1‐800‐361‐5653.
• Keep sick children home from school or child care
• Wash your hands often and thoroughly with soap and warm water. If soap and water are unavailable, use an alcohol‐based hand sanitizer. Choose an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains between 60% and 90% alcohol
• Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze and throw the tissue out immediately
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth
• Avoid people who are ill and stay home when you are sick
• Keep common surfaces and items clean and disinfected. To learn more about preventing spread of illness in school and home, visit york.ca/infectionprevention
The flu spreads through the air from coughing and sneezing. It also spreads through direct contact with surfaces, door knobs, unwashed hands, or objects such as toys and eating utensils that have been contaminated by the influenza virus. A person with flu may be able to infect other people one day before symptoms develop and up to seven days after becoming sick.
For more information, visit york.ca/flu
Reminder of Tommy Douglas Sign-In Procedures
Please be reminded that students who arrive later than 8:25 am must sign in and obtain an admit slip from the main office so that the office is aware they have arrived in the building.
Peer Tutoring Support at TDSS
Peer Tutoring is an effective way for students to receive academic support throughout the semester. If your child is interested in offering their services as a Peer Tutor, please have them use the following link:
Your child may also sign up for peer tutoring to receive help in the subject of their choice by using the following link to fill out a google form application:
Course Selection Reminder to all returning students
Course selection on Career Cruising is due todayFriday Feb 23rd. All returning students must ensure they have selected courses for next year.
Graduation Photos
Attention all graduates. Lifetouch will be at Tommy Douglas to take graduation photos starting on Monday February 26th. Please book your 15-minute appointment online.
Information about your sitting is available on the website.
If you would like to be included in the yearbook and on the class composite do not miss this opportunity.
Student Marks and Mark Reporting
Interim, mid-term and final reports cards are issued each semester. In addition, your child’s academic progress in all courses is available to you via Teach Assist. Please see the information below to access your child’s grades:

School Cash Online
All YRDSB schools are now using School Cash Online as an online payment system. School Cash Online is an easy, safe and convenient way for families to pay online for extracurricular items or events, including yearbooks and field trips. It helps to reduce paper and the amount of cash/cheques handled by parents and students.
Families may make payments using School Cash Online, or by cash or cheque.
You can register for School Cash Online at any time. There is also a button on our school website. Once you are registered, you will be notified of any new items available for your child.
Important Information for Students Turning 18
Under the Education Act, parents/guardians have a right to access their child’s Ontario Student Record if the child is under 18.
If the student is 18 or over, the Board/school must follow the privacy provisions of the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act regarding the disclosure of personal information about the student to their parents/guardians.
Students 18 or over must provide written permission by signing the Consent for Information Sharing form to allow parents/guardians to continue to access school-related information about the student. This includes academic progress, attendance and behaviour.
Students can also obtain the form from the school office.
Traffic Safety at Tommy Douglas Secondary School
Please review the following Traffic safety reminders and share them with your child:
1. All vehicles entering our school must do so via the NORTH parking lot off Lawford Road. This is the designated drop off/pick up lot. The first lot is designated for staff and school buses only. This is vital to support the safety of our students who walk and bike to school.
2. Be considerate and careful when using the school parking lot. Do not park in the fire zone or bus loops for any reason.
3. Whether walking, biking, or being dropped off, students should exercise caution and be aware of their surroundings at all times. This means removing any headphones and refrain from using digital devices while crossing intersections. All students must obey traffic signals and exercise caution when crossing. By respecting these guidelines, students can ensure their safety when travelling to and from school.
You will have seen that staff have been controlling traffic to remind parents of the need to use the North lot only. Vaughan by-law officers and York Regional Police are on-site and monitoring the situation several times per week. Please continue to work with us to keep our students safe.
Information for parents to help prevent the spread of illness in your child’s school
The school your child attends is currently experiencing an increase in absenteeism. The school is working with York Region Public Health to stop the spread of illness from person to person, but there is much that you can do at home.
You play a big role in ensuring that the germ(s) that are causing the illness in your child’s school are not passed onto family members and potentially other students that attend the school.
Following some important infection prevention and control practices, such as proper hand hygiene and proper cleaning and disinfecting at home will help to protect your family and prevent further spread at school.
Proper Handwashing is the most effective way to prevent the spread of illness.
Hands should be washed:
before serving food or eating
after coming home from public places such as school or the walk-in clinic
after interacting with anyone who is ill
after using the washroom
after coughing, sneezing, or blowing nose
after cleaning up body fluids such as vomit and feces
Wash hands frequently for at least 15 seconds using the six-step method.
*It is recommended to use paper towels if a family member is sick with vomiting and/or diarrhea. If a cloth towel is used to dry hands, ensure it is changed regularly (e.g., three to four times a day) to prevent spread of illness.
Proper use of Hand Sanitizer
If your family uses hand sanitizer when handwashing facilities are not available, it is recommended that it contains 60 to 90 per cent of alcohol.
Hand sanitizer is not effective on hands that are visibly soiled.
When using hand sanitizer, apply enough to wet entire hands and rub solution until completely dry.
Carefully follow the manufacturer’s directions for proper use and storage of product.
Cleaning and Disinfecting
In addition to practicing good hand hygiene, it is important to properly clean and disinfect surfaces to prevent the spread of illness in your home.
Cleaning comes first
• Cleaning is the physical removal of visible dirt and organic matter.
• There are three steps to the cleaning process: wash, rinse, and dry.
• Wash with soap, water and friction, Rinse with water, and Dry by air or with a clean towel.
• All three steps must be done properly, prior to disinfecting.
Disinfecting is the second step
Disinfecting is a process that destroys most micro-organisms that can cause diseases.
Disinfectants are chemicals used for the process of disinfecting. To work properly, disinfectants must be applied to a clean surface, at the proper strength/concentration for the required contact time.
Always follow the manufacturer’s directions. These will provide information on proper mixing directions and required contact time.
Look for “disinfect”, “disinfection” or “kills viruses and bacteria” claims on the product label.
Ensure surfaces that are frequently touched, such as door handles, light switches and faucets, along with toilet seats and washrooms are routinely cleaned and disinfected.
It is important to teach your child about infection prevention and control practices, such as proper hand hygiene and the appropriate way to sneeze and cough into sleeve or a tissue, so they can help to stop the spread of illness. If your child is ill, please keep them at home.
For more information on infection prevention and control, visit york.ca/infectionprevention