With the 12 Days of Christmas completed now, there is much to be grateful for. This holiday season was truly a wonderful time of the year where the triumphs of last year could be appreciated and celebrated.  However, it was not without tragedies, nor was last year only rose coloured. Even so there is much to be thankful for and to praise. Thanks for being spared the tragedy of sectarian violence like that which struck Nigeria on the first day of Christmas. Praise for the Cardinal Delegate’s announcement on the 12th day of Christmas.

With tragedy there are opportunities to be charitable, such as with the flooding in the Philippines. So too the tragic death of 15 in Nigeria on Christmas day is a reminder of the harsh reality of the world we live in. How one finds meaning in these events is either a gift or lost opportunity. Will the response be serene or compound the tragedy?

With the recognition of Toronto’s Archbishop, there is renewed hope and confidence in our clergy. The initiatives underway by the Archdiocese since the arrival of Bishop Collins from Calgary have been impresive.  TAPCE would like to offer congratulations to His Eminence Thomas Collins, Cardinal Designate.

Faith, hope and love prevail. Have faith that the lessons  learned last year will bear good fruit. Share your hopes that progress made will continue to grow and enhance . Give your love to those that need it the most. As celebrated today on this Epiphany Sunday Christ is for all and for all time. Know the good news and live it.

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TAPCE  helding it’s Commissioning Ceremony on Monday,November 28th. The event begans at 7:00 p.m. at the Catholic Education Centre, 80 Sheppard Avenue East, 2nd floor Atrium. Approximately 250 Parents, Staff, Trustees and guests were all welcome to attend the event to enhance the effectiveness of school councils.

Parents and Representatives from CSACs across the city will be sworn in as CSAC Liaison Representatives of TAPCE, the Toronto affiliate of the Ontario Association of Parents in Catholic Education(OAPCE). The ceremony is in satisfaction of Parent Association Representatives requirements of Regulation 612 section 3.1 paragraph 8 established in respect  to TCDSB schools. The three Toronto OAPCE Directors will ensure that all Association Representatives are able to illuminate opportunities to improve and further address the individual needs of CSACs. Together and in cooperation with other stakeholders we will continue to advocate on issues important to parents of students in the TCDSB.

This celebration of Catholic Education focuses on the support and encouragement TAPCE provides to parents and guardians of children in our school system. The event recognized Terry Pastore as a Life Time Member of TAPCE. Appreciation for her contributions and comitment to resolving parent concerns was demonstrated by a standing ovation by those in attendance in addition to the award  provided to her.

Another,  highlights of the evening was the  to announcement of the winners of the 2010-2011 TAPCE Principal of Excellence Award.  Congratulations to all the outstanding principals who were nominated by their parent communities was also extended.  This award acknowledges principals who have made extraordinary contributions to their school. These principals have worked collaboratively with their parent community and combine their passion for education with the ability to lead, challenge and support the dignity of an inclusive environment.

Dan Barrett
President TAPCE

(Note Post Updated 1Dec2011)

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This Friday presents an opportunity to meditating the sorrowful  sacrifice and suffering of soldiers and their families. The brilliant sunlight and crisp air provide today gives a sense of clarity to be appreciated for the 2 minutes of silent remembrance at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of this the 11th year of this century. The poppies visible this week will soon disappear but the memory may not.

OAPCE reminded us of ways we can help our children learn from past mistakes that led to war. The vigilance to take up the quarrel with the right foe, in the right way at the right time requires patience commitment and interest. This year you are encouraged to have your school councils discuss utilizing Canada Post’s free letter/package delivery to soldiers stationed abroad as a means of  educating students on the personal cost of conflicts far away on individual Canadians and our society as a whole.

TAPCE would like to take this opportunity to thank all the Parents who take time out today to observe Remembrance Day. We encourage you to discuss with your children what they learned at school today and what it means to them. May the sacrifices and suffering of those that have served this country as soldiers be remembered so that we might better learn the lessons of history to chart a future able to resolve conflict without war.  In such a way swords can be beaten  into ploghshares and spears to pruning hooks.

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With the glorious thanksgiving long weekend past there is much to be thankful for. Good weather, good food and good company was enjoyed by many in a much needed celebration.

The Recent Provincial Election results now put additional emphasis on constituent concerns. This is the time to let your MPP know what your priorities are as a constituent. The Separate School System of Publicly Funded English Catholic Education offers a distinctive and relevant option to the larger Public School Boards. By strengthening the system with appropriate investments we all benefit with a more secure future 

Most School Councils have now been formed and are prepared to address the new school year’s agenda.  Learning  opportunities are just around the corner on 5th and 12th of November to make this year’s efforts that much more effective. Currently all CSACs are affiliated with TAPCE. The Parent Association Reps for each council will do what is necessary to help each CSAC do its best.  

We are all invited to celebrate life challenges and opportunities.  TAPCE as the Regional Council of OAPCE in Toronto is prepared to assist CSACs as a resource and advocate for parents. Together with CPIC and other stakeholders we will continue to ensure parent concerns are appropriately addressed

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Today, Bruce Rodrigues was appointed as the new  Toronto Catholic District School Board  Director of Education. He replaces,   Ann Perron, who will be missed but is wished well in her retirement. TAPCE would like to congratulate the incoming Direct as there is confidence that a fair and well thought out selection process was utilized.

As an associate director at the Waterloo Catholic District School Board Mr Rodrigues gained significant experience that is anticipated to help him in his new assignment. He spent 26 years as a high school teacher, vice-principal, principal and superintendent before becoming associate director. He holds Bachelor of Mathematics and Master of Divinity degrees. He has taught math, English, computers, religion and physical education

In his greeting letter to CSAC today, Mr Rodrigues indicated that the as a former Student of the system his faith was nurtured and strengthened  and his passion for teaching was first developed. His support for  the three-year Pastoral Plan is evident in the correspondence. His commitment to sustain and cultivate the positive initiatives such as the Multi-Year Strategic Planis  is also evident. We look forward to the next “The Director’s Voice” web-cast in mid-October on the board’s website (www.tcdsb.org) where he will share his vision and priorities for the year ahead.

It is believed that under the new Director, greater stability and a more sustainable structure will emerge. Again TAPCE wishes the Director success..

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With the celebration of the passing of His Eminence, Cardinal Aloysious Ambrozic , we were all reminded how ephemeral our time on earth is. The opportunities we have to leave a legacy are not an endless string of circumstance to be procrastinated. How we turn challenges into opportunities will determine one’s  impact and efficacy

With the start of school just passed the Cardinal
has offered families a learning opportunity to explore legacies and how it can be achieved. Working through the Church,  Aloysious Ambrozic was able to  mobilize diverse groups to effect change. His work as a teacher of seminarians and later academic studies in Rome speak to his commitment to learning and sharing.

It is by  working cooperatively with others that the largest impact can be achieved. Working within established organizations offers the intrinsic advantage of providing a framework to maximize interdependent relationships and comparative advantages. “By standing on the shoulders of giants”, thus our achievements have the benefit of hindsight and the collective corporate knowledge of carefully developed policies and procedures.

As Catholics, we are taught that there is great knowledge in the Bible. Through the Catholic Catechism, we are able to apply many of the lessons in the Bible to modern day living. This structure is echoed in Organizations defined in Laws and Regulations.

As Parents we have many opportunities to leave a legacy. Some Parents engage in their Child’s education to enhance learning. Some parents become involved in their school communities to the benefit of even more children. The Ontario Education Act, and in particular Regulation 612, provides a framework on how to effectively interface in the education system to better understand how to maximize impact.

Within the CSAC composition outlined in Reg612, every School Council is entitled to appoint a Parent Association Representative. There are only three organizations that such a representative can be affiliated to. OAPCE is the
only one of these three that deals specifically with the Publicly Funded English
Catholic Education system. Although there are many Parent Associations that
have recently been formed, only TAPCE is the officially recognized affiliate of OAPCE for the TCDSB. TAPCE has been serving the parents of TCDSB children since 1998 and continues to advocate on behalf of parents on school issues, on Board issues through  its seat on CPIC and on education issues that go beyond the jurisdiction of the Board through OAPCE.

It is hoped that you will choose to become more aware of how to utilize the many resources available to Parents to more efficiently achieve your goals. Please do not hesitate to contact TAPCE if we may be of assistance in this regard. We encourage all CSACs to appoint a Parent Association Representative (OAPCE Representative) at your first meeting of your newly elected CSAC  who will liaise with OAPCE by becoming a member of TAPCE. Monthly TAPCE meetings are held at 7:00 p.m. on the fourth Monday of each month at rotating location throughout the TCDSB. More details can be found on the Events page.

On this day of memorials and recognition of those that were lost 10 years ago. Consider too those who have recently passed and those that are still with use. May we all live, learn and love better for those that have gone before and may our faith and hopes be realized for our families, friends and communities.

TAPCE Communications Committee

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The August Long weekend. Simcoe Day to most of use, marks that beginning of the end of Summer. The legacy from that  bygone era 1791-1796 still resonates today from the early abolition of slavery to the creation of the democratic foundation of the province. The growth of the region from primarily and loyalist refuge to one of the most multicultural regions on the planet is truly remarkable. 

All the more remarkable has been the evolution of Catholic Education in Ontarion. From the meager beginnings of the TCDSB in 1841 to the Scott Act in 1861 and its inclusion in the BNA Act in 1867. For the past 170 years, schools, parents and the church have worked together to build a truely distinctive system that is able to effectively adapt to the everchanging demands of curiculum and the job market of this province and the world.

TAPCE hopes all had an enjoyable Simcoe day. May his month brings time to enjoy family time together in wonderous vacation. May too peparation for the comming school year be sucessful.

Sources: Wikipedia
TCDSB

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Continuous Learning is a concept that has gained popularity in many workplaces. There are various sites dedicated to the concept but few direct references that look at the concept over an extended period of time. Yet it would seem self evident that this mode of learning is essential to a sustainable and innovative workforce.

For children learning is arguably constant. However, a more pronounced implication to the ” Use It or Loose It ” theory may apply. To mitigate possible negative implications of summer dormancy some parents utilize summer study and day trips to keep there children focused on age appropriate learning opportunities. Last month’s TAPCE Presentation, Summer Homework and Curriculum Based Day Trips  ,dealt with ways to keep children in the continuous learning mode. The Board also sent out a link to possible day trips parents might consider.

Each family needs to determine for itself  how best to utilize the summer months to optimize opportunities for fun and learning. If the root of the word education is to draw out, or lead out, then how can best  parents positively contribute to this enterprise.

TAPCE would like to wish all families an entertaining and educational summer. 

Sources:
Wikipedia
Yahoo Answers
TCDSB   

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On 16June2011, the TCDSB Trustees addressed amendments to the Equity and Inclusiveness (E&I) Policy.  Attendance was high and more than ten delegations were requested on matters including the EIE policy.  TAPCE’s initial submission and some additional technical points  on the matter was included in the supporting documentation provided to Trustees on related delegations not heard. That document was posted here on June17th.

Coincidentally, in parishes across Toronto last Pentecost Sunday, an inclusive gospel was proclaimed. Homilies and Parish Bulletins spoke to a kind of Magasteriumruling that this event was the birth of the church. In contrast to the exclusionary message of  many Reality TV shows today, some were challenged to share their gifts in the service of spreading the good news to all.  To that end  TAPCE  wished the Church a happy birthday and encouraged all to look for opportunities to share one’s gifts ( for example like the above linked  bulletin’s communion reflection to “Love Gently”)

When one looks back to the context in which the initial Board’s decision was made, another coincidental date loomed large. Father’s Day was the following  Sunday. For me Fatherhood is all about equity and inclusiveness.  Father’s Day speaks of sacred implications of such concepts as marriage and by inference sexuality. Gender Identity is a universal exploration of what it means to be a man or a woman. Each father must decide for himself how to be inclusive and equitable to each child.  This may mean giving space to one child or being vigilant for another. In either case a father will leave an impression of what it means to be a man to that child.  Similarly in the case of sexual orientation multiple outcomes are possible for a child. As a father, how one deals with this reality can help or hinder development. TAPCE also wished all fathers a Happy Father’s Day inclusive of great love equitably shared with all on the 17th.

TAPCE subsequently presented a Delegation on the matter on 31Aug2011. The verbal delegation was limited to 3 minutes to afford the maximum number of delegations to be heard. In the interest of time the verbal presentation focused on the the issue of consultation with parents in the generation of the Base Policy considered by the Board. The amendments proposed by the Trustees were identified as supported by OAPCE’s Regional Council. In response to a question by one of the Trustees, it was confirmed that in the generation of the base policy OAPCE consultation had not occurred as with development of  previous base policies. A position on the base policy was indicated forth coming shortly. Regardless the base policy was indicated as a good starting point for school boards. In TCDSB’s case the Trustee Amendments were a useful exercise in defining  priorities and direction to proceed.    

The amendments, with staff additions, that were passed at the August meeting  seem to address concerns that the EIE provisions of PPM119 might not fairly address  denominational rights. According to the Minister of Education at the June OAPCE Conference, this policy is primarily aimed at “preventing bullying”. Equity is a sublime principle that  in the Ontario experience of 170 years of publicly funded Catholic Education is met every day. When one looks for equality it is not always easy to reconcile such a concept with the wide ranging intelectual and physical competencies seen. However,  in the area of individual potential, to be the best one can be, equity is sooth. This may be most relevant for the young who require accommodations to reach that potential. In order to achieve this, a level playing field can sometimes be achieved through differential learning or a safe and secure environment to explore all aspects of the human condition. In the case of Catholics, that human condition includes one’s creed.

The Policy has at least one additional amendment to be considered by the the Board of Trustees.  TAPCE wishes the Trustees success in ensuring they are able to meet the intent of the Governments initiative and protect the distinctive nature of the TCDSB that has helped so many students fulfill the graduate expectations of the Board.

Dan Barrett/TAPCE President

Sources:………………………………………..TCDSB,
……….Ontario Ministry of Education,
………………http://www.stjohnsrc.ca/
…………………………………….Wikipedia
…………………………………………..ACBO

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The month of May includes several special events and celebrations in Toronto. Mothers Day, Catholic Education Week, Victoria Day, as well as numerous wedding anniversaries and the like, can make the month a little hectic. For some these events call upon us to remember our past, enjoy the present and plan for the future. In light of the current devastation of flooding, droughts and fires in various parts of the world an added appreciation and thankfulness may be in order

For quite a long time May has also been the month that Catholics are encouraged to be especially vigilant in praying the Rosary. One is encouraged to meditate daily through the rosary on one of the four sets of Mysteries. The  JOYFUL MYSTERIES,  LUMINOUS MYSTERIES, SORROWFUL MYSTERIES, and  GLORIOUS MYSTERIES provide a framework to practice what is perhaps needed more than anything at this time of year. Through daily meditation one is able to quite the mind and focus on what is important. A prudent sense of perspective can help one place personal meaning to their own narrative, more fully participate in the present and see the path that is unfolding.

TAPCE hoped all had a joyful Mother’s Day, and a luminous Catholic Education Week. We also wish that your Victoria Day weekend will be glorious. However, we ask you find a few moments Friday to pray and meditate on the sorrowful mysteries for all those affected by natural disasters. This season of nature’s rebirth is so ephemeral one can scarcely appreciate the wonders. May this time of year also provide you with the clarity to do what is needed

Dan Barrett/President
Toronto Association of Parents in Catholic Education

source: wikipedia

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