| Applefun Puppetry | Puppetry Workshops | Professional puppeteer, Mike Harding, leads elementary students through the process of making puppets and creating an original performance of their own creation. This workshop series includes puppet making, story development, practice and presentation. Students learn various puppeteering techniques. Younger students will be guided by their teacher regarding themes and scripts. Older students use their own voice and creativity to develop their unique stories for script and storytelling. Taking inspiration from what is around them, students use supplies that are readily available to make the puppets. Students enhance their language development, social and listening skills, and their self-confidence through creating, handling and performing with their puppets. Serving: Kindergarten - Grade 6 |
| Vujade Entertainment Inc. | Puppets Cool! Toons! | Two choices are available in these Media Arts; Creative Design and Animation workshops intended to develop Puppetry and Classical Animation skills. Students learn in a creative, hands-on production process. Culminating activities include students creating their own puppets and/or learning how to create animated cartoons. Details can be found at www.puppets-cool.com. Suitable: Grades 1-12
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| Queer Songbook Orchestra | QSO Kids of Heart & Mind | This live performance brings a deeper understanding of 2SLGBTQ+ experience through storytelling and music presented by a team of cross-disciplinary professional artists from the 2SLGBTQ+ community. The session is an interactive exploration of identity and acceptance by exploring 2SLGBTQ+ figures, songs and personal anecdotes drawn from artists in the community. The goal of this presentation is to nurture understanding, inspire discussion and support how we feel inside. Learning experience will be co-planned with staff to provide direct extension of curriculum in classroom. Suitable: Kindergarten, Grades 1-8
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| Hélène Nicole Richard | Quand je serai grand | Helene Nicole offers a one-hour performance in French to encourage students to appreciate the French language and culture. Quand je serai grand (When I Grow Up) explores the topic of what it takes to grow up kind, create productive relationships and embrace differences. Six songs guide students in creating their self-portrait, adding layers with each song to showcase their uniqueness. Students learn how to embrace what they cannot change and proactively participate in becoming the best version of themselves while supporting others. The program simplifies complex concepts such as love, self-esteem, kindness, open-mindedness, accountability, and responsibility to self and others. Suitable for French Immersion classes. Serving: Kindergarten, Grades 1-12 |
| Agincourt Community Services Association | RACKS and The Community Healing Project | The Resilience, Accountability, Community, Knowledge and Success (RACKS) program supports young people who are involved or at risk of being involved in the criminal justice system, or having violent interactions with peers/communities. It supports youth in a holistic approach, working with schools and community services. Mentors engage with youth as individualized support, in hopes of decreasing their risk of harm and greater victimization, enabling them to focus on positive connections with essential services.
The Community Healing Project supports the development of mental health literacy and resiliency to trauma of youth who have been exposed to and affected by community violence. It is a community-based project that focuses on, building the capacity of youth to act as peer supports to one another in understanding mental health, accessing mental health services and counselling.
Agincourt Youth Outreach Workers work with youth ages 12 to 21 and their family with support; referrals; and liaison supports between schools and the agencies that offer the relevant services and students who are in need of community services.
Serving: Grades 7 - 12 students living in Scarborough, referred by Caring & Safe Schools, Professional Support Services, or local schools' Principals or Guidance Counsellors. |
| University of Toronto | Radical Music Dialogues | This series of seven music education workshops immerses secondary students in culturally relevant and culturally responsive music classes, in-person or virtual delivery. By incorporating an anti-racist and anti-oppressive lens, the socio-emotional awareness of students are prioritized. The series focuses on exploring cultural awareness and connections, developing deeper understanding of music as a 'socio-cultural practice', understanding social inequality when one genre of music is valued over another, understanding music and social movements, and sharing musical roots. Sessions provide engagement in music-making through exploring a variety of personal traditions and an opportunity for each student to present, perform and share the traditions of the music they value. |
| York University, Osgoode Hall Law School | Raising the Black Bar | Programming is designed for Black secondary students to increase understanding and access to legal education and pathways to various careers in law. Sessions are facilitated by Osgoode Hall Law School administrators, Osgoode's Black Law Students' Association, and Black Osgoode alumni. Facilitators will share their knowledge of the barriers to accessing legal education and the legal profession and how these can be overcome as well as the following topics: how to apply to law school; how to be successful in law school; how to identify legal academic area(s) of interest; networking in a professional environment. Targeted sessions on diverse legal career opportunities will also be offered. Students will have the opportunity to participate in interactive and experiential learning and may include mock trials and tours of courts and law firms/organizations. Finally, students will be connected with Black law student mentors. Suitable: Grades 9-12 |
| Never Gallery Ready | Re:Framing Culture Re:Claiming Voice | Media and visual literacy-focused workshops explore culture as reflected in art, news, history, and advertising. These workshops address the politics of individuals’ relationship with images, objects, sound and site, and ask students to critically analyze ubiquitous messages and dominant cultural narratives. Students create works of collage, learn “culture jamming” techniques, perform sound plays/stories, create site-specific installations/awareness campaigns that address community issues, and ‘zines (themed booklets). A 5-day workshop series is also available. Suitable: Grades 4-12
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| International Student Exchange - Ontario | Reciprocal Student Exchanges | Reciprocal, individualized, international student exchanges, for students in grades 10 & 11, focuses on language learning, cultural understanding, appreciation and acceptance of others, self-awareness and lasting personal contacts. TDSB promotes the opportunity, while all arrangements are made directly between interested students' families and the reciprocal exchange agency. Ministry of Education guidelines for reciprocal student exchanges are followed as per the Ministry of Education document ‘Enrolment Register Instructions for Elementary and Secondary Schools’. Students apply in one school year and both components of the reciprocal exchange take place during the next school year. TDSB students host a visiting student in the fall and then travel overseas in the following spring. Visiting students stay with and attend school with the host student. All exchange agency registration documents, including parent/guardian permissions to participate in all school activities as per procedures of the host family's school board, are provided to TDSB Schools by host families when registering the visiting student as a guest at the school. Students from each country remain on the registry of their home school. Host schools Guidance and teaching staff comment on the attendance, effort and participation of the visiting student and provide the visiting student with a copy of this report before they return home. |
| B Current Performing Arts Co. | Reclaiming Black Canadian History | Storytelling is used as a tool for expression and resilience in this workshop series for racialized youth. Students research a Black Canadian historical figure, share their story using movement, voice and text and work to create a short performance. Led by Black and Brown professional artists, students learn theatre skills such as viewpoints, tableau, and laban movement that focus on storytelling through the body. Students play with bringing their chosen image to life while building on teamwork and collaboration to create the final ensemble piece. Suitable: Grades 7-8 |
| Recreate Place Inc. | Recreate Place: Creating Vibrant Outdoor Spaces | This experiential workshop series engages students in a collaborative approach to planning, designing and creating their outdoor spaces. Child-friendly approach builds connection to the natural world, integrates climate resiliency learnings, and builds relationships within the school and the wider community. Programming is outdoors, tactile, collaborative and experiential. Through exploring their visions and concepts of public art of school ground greening, students experience a sense of belonging, accomplishment, and deepen their understanding of creative self-expression. Over a series of weeks, students will engage in activities culminating in the installation of a temporary art project onsite or a school ground greening project. Suitable: Kindergarten, Grades 1-12
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| Kevin Carrington | Reggaecise | A virtual, reggae-inspired cardio fitness dance program that improves students' physical literacy and emotional well-being. The program combines dance, aerobic fitness, and reggae music, with high-impact exercise routines. Once students learn choreographed movements, they are encouraged to explore their own creativity by improvising their own dance moves. Students interact with an engaging and positive role model that inspires students to do their best and be their best. Serving: Kindergarten - Grade 12 |
| Boost Child & Youth Advocacy Centre | Relationship Skills Violence Prevention (RSVP) | RSVP provides Professional Learning sessions to enhance staff support for young women who have experienced, or who are considered at risk of experiencing, violence in a personal relationship. The program is intended to prevent victimization and to assist youth to develop the skills needed to form and maintain healthy relationships. This psycho-educational Professional Learning session also builds the knowledge and expertise of caring adults in "Trauma-Informed Schools". |
| Need Some Koi Inc. | Release The Doubt & Step Out | Creative writing, poetry and spoken word workshops to help students promote their sense of self, perspective and overall well-being. Shakkoi Hibbert, Black poet, encourages the sharing of stories and desire to creatively write whether that be through spoken word poetry, print poetry or journal entries. A safe space is created for students to explore feelings and emotions through the art/creative process. Students gain confidence in writing and speaking. Workshops culminate with students performing and sharing their own unique piece to their class. Suitable: Grades 6-12 |
| Karen Chaboyer | Residential Schools & Seven Fires | As a Residential School Survivor, Karen Chaboyer speaks about her lived experience of nine years in a Residential School, its impact on her life, family and community. Available in-person or virtually. She integrates the Seven Fires teachings into her talk. Her presentation cultivates students' knowledge of Aboriginal/Indigenous History and the Residential Schools Era. An engaging, thought-provoking presentation that addresses in a meaningful way the Call to Action statement that "unresolved trauma from residential schools continues to impact individuals, families, communities and nations; and will do so until it is expressed, validated and released in healthy, creative way." Serving: Grades 5 - 12
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| METRAC | Respect in Action Youth Violence Prevention (ReAct) | ReAct is a peer-education program in existence since 2001, for youth ages 13 -25, to build leadership skills and knowledge of healthy, equal, non-violent relationships. Program activities are informed by Popular Education, Facilitated Inquiry techniques; Human Rights Education, Cooperative Learning; and Feminist, Environmental studies. Facilitators work with students, to increase understanding of violence, while creating safe spaces for sharing experiences and inspiring peers to take action in addressing violence in their lives and communities. ReAct workshops and presentations cover topics related to: Healthy Equal Relationships, Anti-Black Racism, Cyber Violence, Consent, Intersectionality and Identity, Gender and Self-esteem. After-School programs on Healthy Relationships are offered for 1 to 2 years. All workshops, presentations and programs are tailored to meet the unique needs of each school/class. Serving: Grades 6-12, Staff |
| Peacebuilders International (Canada) | Restorative Schools | Sessions assist school communities to address disproportionality by restorative practices as a means of preventing and resolving conflict. Adopting a “whole-school” approach, restorative processes build school community founded on respect and trust; and, strengthened relationships. Each person takes responsibility for their choices and actions. Peacebuilders assists to repair situations quickly and honestly; and, support reintegration into schools after an incident. Peacebuilders provides workshops on peer leadership, conflict resolution, and creating a restorative culture; as well as ongoing direct programming in select schools, through referral with individual students, classrooms, and/or clubs. Serving: Grades 4-12; Professional Learning for Staff |
| Rhythm Works | Rhythm Works BOOM | Motivational assemblies and workshops promote leadership, confidence and team-building through interactive drumming sessions. Troy Sexton and Sheldon de Souza emphasizes skills in presentation, team-building, leadership, music, creating positive habits and especially the power of believing in oneself. Students, by rotating in groups, all get a chance to participate, and learn skills that can benefit not only in this drumming group but in the classroom and in life. Suitable: Grades 6-12 |
| Rick Hansen Foundation | Rick Hansen Foundation Virtual Presentations | Rick Hansen Ambassadors helps create meaningful dialogue about disability, accessibility and inclusion by providing free presentations. Trained speakers are a diverse group of people with mobility, vision and hearing disabilities that share their inspirational stories with students. Professional learning sessions are also available on building disability awareness, inclusion and citizenship skills in classrooms. Educators receive access to ready-made resources and practical activities they can take into the classrooms immediately. Resources support provincial educational priorities while meeting school communities' social responsibility and inclusion goals: see www.rickhansen.com/schools. Serving: Kindergarten, Grades 1-12, Staff
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| IRIS | Robots Build and Learn | Enable students to be active and creative digital learners by using LEGO bricks and digital tools to solve problems and collaborate with each other. These workshops facilitated by Institute of Robotics & Intelligent Systems staff encourage a playful learning environment where students build and program a variety of fun LEGO models. IRIS Canada offers the following workshops for different grade levels (in collaboration with teachers): Grades 1-3 LEGO WEDO, Grades 4-8 LEGO EV3, Grades 6-8 Arduino/Python/C++. In the early grades, students develop an understanding of basic design and work with easy to use platforms which bridge to more complex systems. In the middle grades, students enhance their understanding of coding while constructing programs and robots. The higher grades allow students to design projects with challenging levels of complexity and enhance their programming skills. Serving: Grades 1 - 8 |
| Rock Solid Productions Inc. | Rocks and Rings | The program features a variety of drills, relays and team building activities that introduce students to the sport of curling and wheelchair curling with a focus on fun. Unique indoor floor curling equipment is provided and placed in the gym offering an off-ice experience and physical activity. Students will take a seat and experience wheelchair curling as part of the program. Sessions include various drills, relays and team-building activities. It is an inclusive program that allows students of all ages and abilities to compete and play with each other while fostering awareness about sport/parasport, diversity and inclusion. Serving: Grades 1-8 |
| Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife | Roots and Shoots _ Professional Learning | Professional Learning Sessions for staff include an overview and discussion on the Jane Goodall Institutes Roots & Shoots youth sustainability program and their focus on climate change, biodiversity loss and environmental inequity. Orienting staff in their ability to guide students of all ages through a 4-step program: STEP 1: Who or What Inspires You? STEP 2: Map Out Your Community STEP 3: Plan An Action Project STEP 4: Reflect on Your Achievements and Celebrate Your Impact! Examples of projects from across Canada will also be shared. |
| Roseneath Theatre | Roseneath Theatre Touring Productions | Professional theatre performances and tailor-made workshops, delivered virtually or in-person, support arts curriculum connections and social justice themes for young audiences. Roseneath Theatre produces 3-5 performances per year that feature a particular theme and focus, written by recognized playwrights from across Canada. A study guide comprises each performance, providing classroom activities, resources, as well as pre and post-show questions. Following each performance, a question and answer session with the cast explores current topics and issues to critically analyze the concepts brought forth, building connections that relate to well-being and our relationship with ourselves and with others. Productions for the current year can be found at www.roseneath.ca. Serving: Kindergarten - Grade 12 |
| Little Kickers Toronto Central | Rounded Education Delivered Through Soccer | Early learning goals are achieved in a pressure-free, play, not push environment during these specialized workshops that enhance pre-school and kindergarteners' physical, social, and creative competencies. The basics of soccer are introduced as children learn dribbling, proper footwork, passing, and scoring goals, in partner and group-based activities which stimulate and enhance their skills in teamwork and cooperative play. By listening and communicating with each other during these exercises, children learn to strengthen and develop their own narratives and explanations by connecting their physical movements to ideas and events as they unfold. To demonstrate all that they've learned, children apply these newly acquired skills in friendly games using specially-made child-friendly soccer balls and goal nets. Suitable: Kindergarten, grades 1-2 |
| Centennial College | RPN Field Placements | This program provides field placement opportunities for students in the Registered Practical Nursing program with TDSB Special Education Staff. Post-secondary students who are considering a career with a special needs population have an opportunity gain direct experience in understanding the learning strategies employed in Special Education classrooms. Field placement students collaborate with TDSB staff to plan and implement activities for students that address topics and enhance skills in personal care, healthy living, and the promotion of students' health and well-being. These placements satisfy post-secondary course requirements for field placement experience. |
| Dreampics Pixel Art | Rubik's Art Workshop and Mathemagic Show/Atelier Rubik's Pixel Art et spectacle Mathemagic | Mikael Taieb, leads two presentations in French that showcase mathematics as being fun, magical and artistic. Schools can choose two Rubik's cube 45 minute presentations: Rubik's Art Workshop or Mathemagic Show. Presentations are a mix of the power of the brain, mathematics, numbers, magic, comedy, mime, clowning and of course Rubik's cubes sprinkled with student participation. Additional pixel art workshop is available for students to learn unique techniques and make their own art creation using rubik's cubes. Mikael will share his career path and how mathematics can be used in artistic fields. Suitable: All grades especially French Immersion classes
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| Green Thumbs Growing Kids | School Food Gardens for Learning | Gardens provide food growing and environmental education programs at select elementary schools. The fruits and vegetables produced are used in the schools’ nutrition programs and classroom cooking. Gardens are designed along ecological principles, incorporating trees, shrubs and perennials along with annual food plants. Curriculum links include science, social studies, language, math and art. Suitable for Grades K - 8. |
| FoodShare Toronto | School Grown | FoodShare Toronto’s School Grown program uses market gardens located at selected schools and on TDSB sites to enhance student’s learning about food systems, urban agriculture, and food justice. The program provides experiential learning opportunities, enhanced curriculum connections, career awareness and mentorship, and school food program enhancements for students at School Grown sites. Students are engaged in outdoor experiential learning in the market garden throughout the growing season, and teachers are supported in professional development and skill building opportunities through garden activities. More information on programming can be found at: https://foodshare.net/program/schoolgrown/ |
| Down to Earth Education | Science and Geography Alive! | A variety of interactive presentations and unique artefact displays on topics related to the environment. Presentations promote empathy and respect for nature and people through enhancing cultural and environmental awareness. Using engaging visuals and diverse displays, students learn about interdependence and threats to ecosystems, by travelling through rainforests, exploring oceans, or deepening their understanding of endangered species. Presentations include the following: Oceans Alive! ; Swamps Alive! ; Coral Reefs & Tide Pools ; Forests Alive! ; The Buzz on Bees ; Water is Life! Serving: Grades 1 - 8
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| Elisa Birnbaum | SEE Change Magazine_History of Social Change Workshops | These distinctive workshops develop students' appreciation for Canada’s unique struggles for social justice and the rights and freedoms we enjoy, while sharpening their literacy and storytelling skills. Leveraging the History of Social Change Multimedia Project (digital stories and e-book documenting social movements and key players), sponsored by Heritage Canada, and other online sources, these workshops will demonstrate how our lives were transformed by social movements and their key players. The facilitator (a veteran journalist) will provide a lesson in journalism before leading the class through an interactive activity. By the end of the workshop, students have honed their literacy and verbal and written communication skills, developed their capacity for advocacy and gained a deeper grasp of social issues in Canadian history and their impact on present day. Serving: Grades 5 - 12 |
| Una Wright | Self-Care for Caring Adults | Caring Adults are engaged in 'Empowered Well-Being' through this interactive workshop that provides practical, tips and tools that are easy to integrate into a busy life. It offers caring adults the opportunity to hear from Una Wright's personal experience the challenges related to mental health within her family. Una shares well-researched coping tools which enable her to maintain a strong spirit, positive mental health and overall well-being. Participants learn tools for keeping balance and coping with everyday stress; tips to increase personal well-being; and strategies to maintain mental clarity and inner peace during difficult life circumstances. Suitable: Staff; Parents/Caregivers; Adult learners |
| Project XGuard | Self-Defence | Safety workshops educate students in grades 4-12 on situational awareness and self-defence techniques to deal with a variety of types of aggression. 4 week workshop series provide students with verbal, physical manuevres to ensure student safety in a non-combative way. Students have opportunity to practice techniques in controlled and supervised setting. |
| Street Safe Self Defence Training Co | Self-Defence and Personal Safety Training | Strategies to avoid violence that address the physical, psychological and emotional elements of self-defence are learned by grades 7-12 students through these workshops. Students learn awareness, prevention and mindset skills, how to recognize social and anti-social violence and avoid it, and basic physical skills of self- defence designed to be effective for all. While no one skill is guaranteed to protect students from harm, this workshop series is designed to provide tips, skills and knowledge that can dramatically increase their abilities to stay safe. Included are defenses against the most frequent attacks in an easy to understand manner with practical, active drills; the mindset to get home to their family, and methods to strengthen their chance of survival if faced with conflict, confrontation, bullying or harassment. Mock attacks are completed at the end of training to allow students to test their skills. Suitable: Grades 7-12
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| Elizabeth Hysen | Sensory Art | Workshop series uses ASL and vibrotactile devices to devise a sound sculpture that is accessible for students who are deaf. Facilitators are comprised of one deaf music ASL interpreter, one hard-of-hearing media artist and one CODA musician. Workshops explore ASL music interpretation through modified instruments to create accessible art practices that can be expanded on depending on the needs of the participants. Students also hear from professional artists who share how ASL interpretation is a viable career choice in the Arts. Students will have a chance to play on modified instruments and prototypes. Workshop series culminates in a musical work by students to create an accessible sound installation. Suitable: Grades 9-12 |
| Catholic Cross Cultural Services | Settlement Education Partnership Toronto SEPT | SEPT offers settlement services to newly arrived families and secondary school students in schools’ satellite and reception centres. Settlement Workers deliver individual/family services, or group programs that help participants understand and successfully transition into the education system; and accelerate the settlement process. SEPT also delivers two programs in the summer for newly arrived students and families, some of whom are enrolled in TDSB summer school courses. These programs include: Newcomer Orientation Week (NOW) program for secondary students; and, Welcome Information for Newcomer (WIN) program for middle school students and families. Serving: Referred students, Grades 6-12, Parents/Caregivers |
| Centre for Immigrant & Community Services | Settlement Education Partnership Toronto SEPT | SEPT offers settlement services to newly arrived families and secondary school students in schools’ satellite and reception centres. Settlement Workers deliver individual/family services, or group programs that help participants understand and successfully transition into the education system; and accelerate the settlement process. SEPT also delivers two programs in the summer for newly arrived students and families, some of whom are enrolled in TDSB summer school courses. These programs include: Newcomer Orientation Week (NOW) program for secondary students; and, Welcome Information for Newcomer (WIN) program for middle school students and families. Serving: Referred students, Grades 6-12, Parents/Caregivers |
| CultureLink Settlement and Community Services | Settlement Education Partnership Toronto SEPT | SEPT offers settlement services to newly arrived families and secondary school students in schools’ satellite and reception centres. Settlement Workers deliver individual/family services, or group programs that help participants understand and successfully transition into the education system; and accelerate the settlement process. SEPT also delivers two programs in the summer for newly arrived students and families, some of whom are enrolled in TDSB summer school courses. These programs include: Newcomer Orientation Week (NOW) program for secondary students; and, Welcome Information for Newcomer (WIN) program for middle school students and families. Serving: Referred students, Grades 6-12, Parents/Caregivers |
| North York Community House | Settlement Education Partnership Toronto SEPT | SEPT offers settlement services to newly arrived families and secondary school students in schools’ satellite and reception centres. Settlement Workers deliver individual/family services, or group programs that help participants understand and successfully transition into the education system; and accelerate the settlement process. SEPT also delivers two programs in the summer for newly arrived students and families, some of whom are enrolled in TDSB summer school courses. These programs include: Newcomer Orientation Week (NOW) program for secondary students; and, Welcome Information for Newcomer (WIN) program for middle school students and families. Serving: Referred students, Grades 6-12, Parents/Caregivers |
| TNO - The Neighbourhood Organization | Settlement Education Partnership Toronto SEPT | SEPT offers settlement services to newly arrived families and secondary school students in schools’ satellite and reception centres. Settlement Workers deliver individual/family services, or group programs that help participants understand and successfully transition into the education system; and accelerate the settlement process. SEPT also delivers two programs in the summer for newly arrived students and families, some of whom are enrolled in TDSB summer school courses. These programs include: Newcomer Orientation Week (NOW) program for secondary students; and, Welcome Information for Newcomer (WIN) program for middle school students and families. Serving: Referred students, Grades 6-12, Parents/Caregivers |
| Lance Cumberbatch | Shake, Rattle and Roll to West African Drumming | Grounded in Africentric perspectives, these workshops introduce the cultural and community significance of West African traditional drumming and music to elementary students. Black musician and artist, Lance Cumberbatch, shares with students the many sounds, rhythms of West African traditions as well as the history and culture of West Africa, its people and evolution of the music. Sessions provide an opportunity for students to express themselves through movement and participate in creative music-making. Serving: Kindergarten, Grades 1-8 |
| Valerey Lavergne | Sharing Indigenous Knowledge Virtually through Expressive Arts | An Indigenous Expressive Arts Facilitator and Certified Life Coach creates innovative virtual workshops to teach students Indigenous knowledge and sacred teachings. Valerey uses a variety of art techniques, arts modalities and traditional teachings to enhance students' understanding of using their creativity for self-exploration and self-expression. Suitable: Kindergarten - Grade 12 |
| Across U-Hub | SHARP Student Leadership Development | SHARP programming uses peer and adult mentors to engage secondary students in regular conversation and expressions of Self-awareness; Hope; Appreciation of cultures; Resilience and Peer networking (SHARP). Anti-Asian Racism and experiences of 'Asian hates' is addressed, along with community-building, self-efficacy, communication skills, and various other student leadership and peer support skills. Students develop their potential through self-exploring tools, examining their historical and cultural roots, discovering their strengths, making connections to their past and present selves, to visualize their future in practical ways. Bold personal goals are set through deepening their understanding of race, personality, ability and ethnicity. Within this self-exploration journey, they are not alone, but are accompanied with a group of peers and mentors. Serving: Grades 9 - 12, referred students of East Asian descent, Newcomers, ESL/ELL learners |
| Child Development Institute | Shelter School Liaison Program | The School Liaison Program (SLP) is a trauma-informed, school-based program that supports children ages 4 to 16 who are experiencing homelessness and living in shelters. The SLP Worker works with children, caregivers and shelter and school staff to help children make a smooth transition to their new school.
The SLP Worker meets with the child and their caregiver to orient them to the school and support safety planning, when necessary. They are also available at the school to support the child’s social-emotional development by providing social skills support and further individual support related to emotion regulation, self-compassion and the development of stress management strategies. Short-term follow-up services are available to children at their new school once they move out of the shelter. Cultural interpretation is provided as needed. |
| Harmony Movement | SHSM Anti-Oppression and Allyship Workshop | SHSM certification is available to grade 11 and 12 students who wish to enhance their equity learning and its application in their industry focus/workplace. This interactive half-day workshop engages in group discussion, self-reflection through reflection guides and knowledge sharing. Program content includes: Introduction to the concepts of intersectionality, stereotypes, and bias; forms of discrimination including overt, covert and micro-aggressions; going beyond 'diversity' in the workplace; what is allyship and how to be a good ally; moving from allyship to solidarity; and confronting discrimination in the workplace and engaging in courageous conversations. SPE certification may be available. Suitable: Grades 11-12 |
| Brosseau Consulting | SHSM Negotiation and Business | Half or full-day sessions provide students in grades 11 and 12 SHSM certification in Negotiation, Customer Service and Business Etiquette. Through mock negotiations students participate in teams under fictitious circumstances and actively practise key strategies to successfully negotiate, communicate and interact with others. Students learn how to use these skills at all levels and in a variety of contexts including today's modern world. As an experienced educator and negotiator, Jeff helps students develop transferable skills to serve them in their future work and careers. SPE may be available. Suitable: Grades 11-12 |
| Socacize Fitness Inc. | Socacize Kidz | A fitness program that is a creative blend of authentic Caribbean and African dance techniques matched with effective fitness moves, all set to infectious music for all students. Full day assemblies/performances and individual workshops are delivered by a team of professionals. Students are guided through fitness-focused activities such as Bacchanal Warm Up, Cardio Soca Jam, Mindful Motion, Follow the Leader, Drumming Circle and Limbo demonstration. Custom choreographed routines and performances by our professionals are also available to further enhance students' knowledge of Afro-Caribbean culture. Serving: Kindergarten, Grades 1-12
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| Toronto High Park Football (Soccer) Club | Soccer 4 Life | Delivered by experienced coaches, this free soccer enhancement program teaches soccer and life skills that go beyond the soccer field for students in grades 6-8. Program may be delivered in-person or virtually. Using the 4-corner player development model (technical, psychological, physical and social), students not only practise the technical and physical aspects of the game but more importantly develop team and social skills. The content of the program includes the importance of teamwork, building confidence, patience, resilience and decisiveness, knowledge about cultural and historical aspects of the sport, effective communication, following rules in a game and life settings and being a physically active member of the community.
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| Social Circus Circle | Social Circus Arts Skills Workshops | Social Circus workshops build students' emotional, social and communication skills in a unique way. Offered in-person, these sessions expose students to the circus arts that can include theatre games, tricks, clowning, character work, flexibility and physical conditioning, yoga, dance, juggling, partner balancing, object manipulation/balancing, and more, based on students' interests. Students enhance their physical literacy skills such as strength, coordination, body awareness, hand eye coordination, using left and right sides of body, balance and stabilizers. Professional circus artists guide participants through various activities -in an adaptive, progression based style - emphasizing the importance of communication skills in these sessions; emotional and physical safety when trying new and creative movements; self-awareness and trust when working on new skills; a sense of belonging and team-building through various exercises and when designing an optional circus arts performance opportunity. |
| Scott Ste Marie | Social Media & Mental Health | This presentation educates students on the relationship between social media use and their psychological, emotional and social emotional well-being. Students gain a deeper understanding of the impact social media use has on their emotional well-being and how to use it safely. Mental health speaker, Scott Ste Marie, shares his honest experience being a YouTuber (reaching over 30 million people worldwide), showing students the reality behind these platforms and inviting them to think critically about how they treat others online and what content they consume. Students are immediately engaged as Scott shows background analytics to his own videos and how he personally has to manage his own online engagement and prioritizes what is truly important offline. Serving: Grades 4-12, Parents/caregivers |
| Soul Drums Ltd. | Soul P.O.P. | Percussion Optimizes Potential (P.O.P.) enhances music and life skills through drumming. Sessions include drum circles in small or large class formats and offered in person or virtually. This hands-on workshop provides students an opportunity to enhance their drumming skills with an emphasis on communication, team building, positive risk taking and leadership skills. Activities include musical games, song chants and performing music using a variety of percussion instruments. Professional learning opportunities are available to staff who wish to enhance skills as a drum circle facilitator. Serving: Kindergarten, Grades 1-12, Staff |
| South Riverdale Community Health Centre | South Riverdale Health Clinic_CALC | The health clinic provides quality clinical and social programs and services to adult students at City Adult Learning Centre. In consultation with staff and students, low-threshold access to clinical and care coordination is available, and engages students and community partners in the development of appropriate programming with the vision to improve the lives of students facing barriers to their physical, mental, spiritual, and social well-being. Core services being provided to CALC include: A weekly drop in clinic led by a Nurse Practitioner (1 day), case management by a Client Care Coordinator (2.5 days), and annual flu clinics and TB screening. Group sessions which are delivered alongside CALC staff include: Sexual health in collaboration with Biology classes, strategies in self-care such as how to eat healthy on a budget, positive parenting, and housing support in partnership with housing/settlement workers. |
| Junior Achievement of Central Ontario | Sparking the Entrepreneurial Spirit of Canadian Youth | These free programs are led by Indigenous individuals from the business community to mentor, support and inspire youth to develop the skills they need to achieve their educational and career goals. Workshop delivery includes real world examples from the volunteers' life, educational and work experiences that will be relatable to FNMI (First Nations, Metis, and Inuit) learners while enhancing students' critical thinking and decision making skills. Various programs are offered including financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship for grades 3-8 students. |
| Lawrence Hill Creative Services, Inc. | Speaking Engagements | Award-winning, best-selling African-Canadian author, Lawrence Hill engages with students through inspiring and engaging sessions to promote literacy skills and self-affirmation about Black identity. Mr. Hill speaks with students, reads from his books, shows how he brings words and stories to life through the creative process, addresses issues of Black history and culture, and shares observations on the writer’s craft and on business issues related to publishing. Students hear from an inspirational author, learn how to write creatively to share their stories and voice and how to dialogue with peers. Suitable: All grades; staff; parents/caregivers
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| Music For Every Child | Special Needs Music Therapy Program | In-person music therapy sessions help students in DD/ISP classes to build their communication, listening and social skills through music-making at select schools. Guided by a certified music therapist, students have an opportunity to experiment with percussion instruments, participate in group drum circles and call and response exercises, pass rhythms to peers and participate in drum solos. Each activity is conducted by the facilitator to build a sense of success and achievement from the previous week and encourage students to freely express themselves through music. Sessions also enhance connections with peers and builds on teamwork. |
| Special Olympics Ontario Inc. | Special Olympics Ontario Schools | This initiative offers competitive and developmental athletic opportunities for students with intellectual disabilities in programming that is exclusively for them or inclusive (unified) for all students. Professional learning sessions for staff are also offered to provide staff with training, support and resources that increase Special Education students’ physical literacy and sport specific skills development. Programming includes: Active Start; FUNdamentals; Youth Multi-Sport; Coaching Young Athletes; Sports Festival; Health Action and My PHAL (Physical Health Active Living). And, athletic competition qualifiers and championships are organized in which student athletes with special needs compete, and opportunities for all students are offered to engage and support their peers with disabilities. See details at www1.specialolympicsontario.com/schools/. Serving: Grades 1-12, Staff
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| Timothy Holland | Spectacle Cérébral | Delivered in French to FSL and French immersion students, this entertaining assembly touches on key themes such as resiliency, confidence, and growth mindset. Using circus arts and comedy ventriloquism, Tim Holland shows the accessibility of brain science and neuroplasticity and how our brains change as they learn. The assembly highlights how having a different mindset can help students’ resiliency and to see failure as a feedback rather than a limitation for skill mastery. Follow-up workshops use juggling arts to apply a growth mindset to a novel learning opportunity. Suitable: Kindergarten, Grades 1-8 |
| University of Toronto | Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) Field Placements | This MOU serves to provide field placement opportunities for post-secondary students. Field placements within TDSB sites provide post-secondary students who are considering a career within Speech-Language Pathology, an opportunity to learn by working alongside a supervising TDSB Speech-Language Pathologist. These placements satisfy course requirements for field placement experience. |
| Rapier Wit Inc. | Stage Combat Training | Stage combat workshops use fight choreography to bring the text alive in drama, theatre and English studies. Workshops provide students an overview of safety considerations, physical acting training that embodies dramatic intention, and storytelling though the illusion of unarmed violence. Through partner work, students have an opportunity to practise the exercises and work on short scenes. Schools may choose to tailor the workshop to a specific text or school production.
Notes with partner: not from place of violence (trauma-informed). Check-in to ensure they are following this. They need to create emotional not just physical safety. |
| Child Development Institute | Start Right Social Skills | Start Right Social Skills is a prevention program for children in kindergarten who are having difficulty adjusting to the everyday requirements of regular classrooms. Sessions focus on coaching, empowering and supporting children to learn, practice and model appropriate social skills through small group interaction. Group Activities include child role plays; puppet role plays; crafts; puppet shows; social skill games; activity books/journals; stories and reading. Skills emphasized in the program are; attention and focus building; listening to others; following directions; responding to peers and adults; expressing ideas, feelings and needs; problem-solving. |
| Northstarr Entertainment Inc. | Stay Driven | Motivational assemblies and/or classroom workshops from Rapper Duane "D.O." Gibson combine Hip Hop performances with life lessons. Presentation themes include: Canadian Black History - D.O. presents about Black History through a Canadian perspective talking about Viola Desmond and black history in Nova Scotia as well as the Underground railroad and Josiah Henson in Chatham, Ontario ; HOLLA – Help, Outlet, Lead, Leave, Assert. D.O. discusses several strategies to combat bullying focusing on building self-esteem, standing up to bullies and finding an outlet. In The Zone - D.O. will bond with students as he shares his personal stories through freestyle rap. The program focuses on the personal power gained through reading, creative writing and speech. And, M.A.D. Skills (Media And Decisions) - D.O. will teach your students to make positive choices when it comes to the media. The program focuses on making informed decisions on music and TV choices as well as presenting strategies to combat cyber bullying. Serving: Kindergarten, Grades 1-12
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| ESP Extraordinary Steel Pannist | Steel Drum Demonstration | Professional musician, Earl La Pierre Jr. takes students on a musical journey by sharing the cultural and historical significance of steel pan through his steel pan performances. This assembly incorporates dance and movement bringing everyone to their feet. Session delves into the rich history of Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago and connects how Carnival is celebrated locally in Toronto. Suitable: Kindergarten, Grades 1-12 |
| Up4 The Challenge | STEM Design Experience | Led by professional women in science and engineering, these workshops use STEM for social impact through human-centred design. Students use a hands-on, Design Thinking process to imagine and prototype solutions to real-world issues in their communities while enhancing their appreciation of how STEM supports social outcomes. Schools can choose from a panel discussion, half-day session or a workshop series where facilitators work with students, while providing professional learning to teachers, to develop a solution to a community-based problem. By focusing on diversity, creativity, and experiential learning with community organizations/community members, the program enables youth to design more innovative and sustainable solutions to complex challenges. Professional learning opportunities available. Serving: Grades 7-12, Staff |
| Stolen From Africa/Volé D'Afrique | Stolen From Africa | Interactive assembly and arts-based workshops that promote social justice and builds cross cultural understanding for racialized and marginalized students. Facilitators discuss themes of Black Diaspora history, identity, relationships, resilience and self-advocacy. Students explore self-identity, reflect on impact on their community, and share their stories with peers through working on an arts, music, digital/social media projects. Professional learning is available for staff to explore barriers and challenges that Black and diverse youth face and share strategies on how to teach culturally-responsive lessons to engage diverse learners. Workshops are also offered in French. Serving: Grades 4 - 12 |
| Noam Markus | Storytelling Through Mime and Physical Theatre | Workshops develop group trust, listening and performance skills in the areas of mime and physical theatre for all students. Sessions use a variety of physical skills and movement as the primary method of storytelling. Students build coordination, body movement, observation, focus, listening and presentation skills. Sessions for younger students utilize simple mime skills, basic improvisation skills and general body coordination. More advanced sessions use more complex techniques such as Graphic Mime, Character Mask, Commedia dell'Arte, Theatrical Clown work and hand shadow puppets. Workshop series enable students to develop storylines and presentation skills for a performance to the class/school. Serving: Grades 1-12
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| Studio 180 Theatre | Studio 180 IN CLASS | The program uses drama to create a brave space for effective dialogue and self-discovery. Workshops delivered in person or via video-conferencing, offer in-depth, immersive experiences that mine the unique power of the theatre to humanize social and political issues and cultivate open dialogues and artistic expression. Artist educators work with students to encourage them to think critically, explore multiple viewpoints, promote empathy and inspire creativity through proposition exercises, hot seating and improvisation. Workshops may be based on Studio 180’s current production, works in development, or may be theme-based and explore topics including identity, community, family and personal responsibility. Serving: Grades 9-12 |
| Suitcase Theatre Arts and Education Outreach Inc. | Suitcase Dramatic Arts Workshops | A menu of workshops is available to choose from, including: "All the World is a Stage" is an engaging and interactive workshop that gives students the opportunity to explore the vibrant history of live theatre. Students will learn about the importance of collaboration as they work with their peers to create short adaptations of classical fairy tales and fables. “Improv your Acting” is a lively and humour-filled workshop that invites students to think on their feet as they are introduced to the world of improvisation. This exhilarating workshop encourages teamwork and peer support as they work together to create scenarios that invite fast creative thinking and a quick all mixed with a good dose of humour. “Confidence Creates Character” offers students a safe space to express themselves. Students will explore strategies to approach difficult social settings by developing skills to alleviate anxiety, deal with peer pressure and handle bullying. Serving: Kindergarten - Grade 8, Select Students 9-12 |
| Suitcase Theatre Arts and Education Outreach Inc. | Suitcase Theatre Performances | These musicals and plays inspire and promote positive self-awareness and well-being through storytelling, singing, the visual arts and drama. Characters in the plays and the characterization workshops create positive role modelling; encourage self-confidence, kindness and compassion; promote building healthy relationships, resilience and collaboration. They help students understand narrative structure, enhance character development in drama and enrich their vocabulary in the creative development process. Performances are suitable for special education classes and students of all neurodiversities. Suitable: Kindergarten, Grades 1-5 (possibility up to Grade
8)
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| Variety Village | Swimming for everyBODY | This half day program promotes accessible and inclusive participation in pools and the community for TDSB staff including instructors and lifeguards. Sessions focus on accessible, inclusive swim development experiences for activities being offered at school and in the community. Presenters may include, world record marathon swimmer and para-coach , Vicki Keith, Paralympian, multi games medalist and Swim Ontario Para Development coordinator Darda Sales and Archie Allison Director of Access and Awareness at Variety Village. They will lead sessions on strategies in modifications and adaptations for swim development for students of all abilities and experiences. Suitable: Staff of Grade 1-8
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| One Voice One Team Youth Leadership Organization | SWOLE Program | Programs empower students to develop leadership skills through their passions and becoming positive agents in their community. Themes covered are leadership, self-esteem, resiliency, peer mediation, relationship building and giving back. Students also learn practical strategies on identifying and developing clear action plans to achieve their goals. A variety of programs, in-person or virtual, are offered to suit the student audience include: S.W.O.L.E. (self-respect, work hard, overcome adversity, lead by example and excellence), Man Up, Dymond Girls, Leaders of Our Time for Black secondary students, Get Yo' Life, and History Makers. Assembly or workshop, students develop their leadership skills through a variety of activities that include self-reflection exercises, discussion, physical activities and mentor storytelling. Serving: Grades 4-12 |
| Victim Services Toronto | T.E.A.R.™ in a Digital World | Teens Ending Abusive Relationships (T.E.A.R.™) workshop equips youth with the tools, knowledge and resources to navigate the digital world and make informed healthy relationship choices both online and in person. T.E.A.R.™ in a Digital World’s goal is to empower youth to create positive change in their own lives and their community. Topics include: Intimate partner violence; Cyberviolence including: cyberbullying, cyberstalking, cyber sexual harassment, sextortion, luring; Online rights; Dating rights; Consent; Creating a positive digital footprint; Digital leadership; Digital citizenship; Online safety tips; Healthy intimate relationships and friendships; Warning signs of unhealthy and potentially abusive relationships'; Where and how to get help. Suitable: Grades 7 - 12 students; and parents/caregivers
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| Raging Asian Women Taiko Drummers | Taiko Drumming Performances and Workshops | Workshops and Performances are presented by a professional ensemble of East and Southeast Asian women, non-binary, and genderqueer people. School communities will experience both traditional and contemporary Taiko drumming pieces; learn the historical and creative contexts behind them; and, enhance their understanding of Japanese culture and Asian history. Sessions deepen school communities' understanding of Asian Heritage through Taiko drumming. Through each undeniably strong, yet nimble percussive sound that is generated from the orchestra of drums played in rhythm, students of all ages will witness both the strength of force that sound is capable of, and likewise find that same potential within themselves to be heard. Suitable: All students; staff; parents/caregivers |
| Team Unbreakable | Team Unbreakable | A comprehensive professional learning programming focuses on ’physical health for mental health’ themes, using running as a way for school communities to support and maintain students’ positive mental health. Programming is designed with evidence based strategies and evaluated by the Mental Health and Physical Activity Research Center at the University of Toronto. Programming with students operates in interested schools, with designated staff who have received professional learning from Team Unbreakable. Additional programming details and resources are found online at www.team unbreakable.ca. Serving: Staff |
| TELUS Communications Inc. | TELUS Wise | Cyber safety, security issues and ensuring a positive digital footprint are discussed in four age / audience appropriate workshop options:
* TELUS Wise footprint - is designed to help elementary school students learn how to be good digital citizens and keep their digital footprint clean.
* TELUS Wise in control - engages middle school, and junior high students in a discussion about cyberbullying, identity theft, protecting and positively growing their online reputation and more. Parents receive tips and strategies on how to respond to their child focuses on topics including screen time, gaming, sexting, cyberbullying and more.
* TELUS Wise impact - engages middle school and junior high students in a conversation about cyberbullying, helping them explore and understand different options for safe and appropriate ways of intervening and responding when they witness cruel behaviour online.
* TELUS Wise happiness - engages teen students in a conversation about building and maintaining a healthy relationship with technology and offers tips on ensuring resiliency and well-being in our connected world. Tip sheets and resources will be shared to embed the learning. Suitable: Grades 3-12, Staff, Parents/Caregivers |
| Lorena Santin-Andrade | Textile Art and Design | Students experiment and explore with textile art and creative design in these highly engaging workshops which give a glimpse of the textile industry's multidisciplinary design process. Through sketching, marker illustration, photography, Photoshop, and sewing, students learn the textile process by creating their own designs to have digitally printed and sewn by them into sustainable and usable keepsake textile products. Facilitated by an artist in the textile, fashion, and design industries, these workshops ignite the creative sparks that give students a voice to express what cannot be said with words. Suitable: Grades 1-12 |
| Divine Mvita | The Art of Becoming | This one-hour presentation highlights the importance of the authentic self and channelling one’s unique gifts to contribute to the world. Born in Africa, Divine Mvita, shares her story of success by voiding the opinions and expectations of society and thriving through finding her unique self and embracing who she is. Presentation provides useful resources, tips and tools in the art of becoming the best version of self. Students hear the importance of who they are, being able to identify their passions and highlight the tools they already have to offer to the world. Serving: Grades 6-12 |
| Cristina Delago | The Art of Mosaic | Workshops offer mosaic making technique, process and mosaic art; longer sessions enable students to create a mosaic art mural using recycled materials. An introduction of mosaic art history and a slide demonstration of mosaic murals in our city, will inspire students to be able to make their own. Demonstrations of various techniques, design concepts and materials will be presented. Students learn by discovery, self-expression and small group activity. Activities include sketching life size and perspective, composition with shapes, sizes, colour and texture, creating movement and contrast with materials used. Suitable: 4-12
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| Food Sharks | The Food Mood Connection | This nutrition workshop helps students to understand how food plays a significant role in their mood and overall mental and physical health. Facilitator discusses the fundamentals of a healthy diet, foods that support well-being, and how media and marketing industries influence nutritional choices. Students learn to read and understand food labels and nutritional facts to ultimately gain knowledge to make informed, healthy food choices. Because the health & wellness industry is booming, growth trends and careers are also highlighted. SHSM & SPE certification is available. Suitable: Grades 6-12 |
| H.U.S.T.L.E Inc. | The Great Canadian Hustle | Workshops use the medicine wheel to guide Indigenous youth in creating a healthy lifestyle in select schools. Facilitated by an Indigenous facilitator, students increase their physical and mental wellness and develop good life skills. Sessions and topics include physical activity, training on gym equipment, healthy eating and goal-setting using Indigenous traditions and knowledge. Each session includes a physical movement/exercise with or without equipment, yoga/meditation and sharing circle/affirmations. Suitable: grades 6-12 |
| University of Alberta | The Holodomor and Its Relevance | This presentation on the Holodomor engages students in a case study of the genocidal famine in Ukraine from 1932-1933. Students learn how to identify the steps from which genocides have evolved, and how human rights abuses can progress from bullying and discrimination, to victimization and dehumanization. Through collective discussion on its history, students provide suggestions and strategies that could be used in our present day to curb human rights abuse and the types of governments that permit and participate in these abuses. Professional learning is also available. Suitable:Grades 9-12; Staff |
| Tricia Bentley | The Little Fig Children's Writing Virtual Workshops | This English Literacy virtual writing workshop incorporates individual and group activities to strengthen writing, language, and analytical skills. Some workshops use a narrative, The Hero’s Journey, as a guideline to teach students about story development and encourage them to express themselves to develop their very own story. Other workshops may use the structure of a first person essay narrative to tell the personal story of the student through memoir style writing. For the younger grades, sessions consist of creating a story collaboratively and then performing the story in a play-like presentation. During the process students will learn the art of storytelling by establishing the following: Who is the Hero? What does the Hero want? Why can't the hero get what he/she wants? The Facilitator will work with the teacher prior to the first session to establish relevant curriculum related readings and topics for this creative writing workshop. Suitable: Grades 1-8 |
| The Learning Enrichment Foundation | The MINA Project: Inspiring Futures | Program helps racialized, underserved students in Grades 6-12 bridge the gap between education and employment by gaining experience, building a network and developing skills required in the workplace. In-person or virtual sessions led by under-represented (BIPOC) industry professionals inspire students to make connections between education and employment and to see careers without limits. Program includes career panel where speakers share their career stories and workshops to develop soft skills and employability skills. Students receive mentorship from industry professionals and learn new career opportunities. |
| North Star Productions | The Ontario Planetarium Mobile Star Dome | A knowledgeable guide leads presentations in a mobile planetarium that is set-up for a day at interested schools. Based on their experiences, presenters discuss earth and space science. Several presentations are offered to bring the cosmos to life through 3-D graphics and thundering surround sound. Serving: Grades 1-12 |
| Canadian Mental Health Association CMHA | The Opening Doors Project | Workshops are interactive and experiential and provide an understanding of mental health, managing stress, racism and anti-discrimination, intersectional identities in the Canadian context, and the newcomer experience. Through group activities and storytelling, students discuss self-care tools for coping with stress, the stigma and challenges for those living with mental illness and learn to develop strategies for challenging discrimination in their lives. Topics include: Building Bridges: Anti-Racism 101, Understanding Migration, Mental Health and Wellness 101, Stress and Self-Care in Context, Starting From the 'I': Reflecting On Our Identities; and Know Your Rights 101. The Opening Doors Project’s Syrian and Newcomer Youth Mentorship Initiative, provides additional youth mentorship and case management support to newcomer students, primarily Arabic-speaking and Somali students. Serving: Grades 7-12; students 18+
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| TAIBU Community Health Centre | The PLUG Project | The project focuses on violence prevention and developing conflict mediation skills for student success, especially for Black and/or marginalized youth. Through workshops, students learn how to resolve conflict in a variety of scenarios, develop techniques that de-escalate a situation, work on anger management, and develop strategies for better communication. Parent workshops are available to better support their child. Suitable: Grades 7-12; Parents/caregivers |
| Changemaker Books Inc. | The See Me for Me Empathy Movement | This interactive workshop for early years students promotes inclusion and diversity by learning about children with disabilities. Students will be encouraged to activate knowledge, have meaningful discussions about what makes them unique and apply what they've learned to a class project. Exercises help students to reflect on challenges faced by others in the community and promote equity, empathy and inclusion. Facilitator, Dana Geall, shares her personal story of raising triplet children who have cerebral palsy use wheelchairs and live full and happy lives. Suitable: Kindergarten, Grades 1-3
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| Shakespearience Performing Arts | The Shakespearience Experience | Interactive workshops in-person and through video-conferencing empower students by developing character, confidence communication and other essential soft skills through creatively and collaboratively overcoming the challenges they often associate with Shakespeare's language. Students are assisted by some of Canada’s most celebrated and talented professional actors. These professionals demonstrate in a unique and innovative way how an artist’s approach to the texts, combined with a little persistence, imagination and hard work, can unlock and demystify material many young people find so difficult. Professional learning sessions are also available for this programming that has been hailed as "outstanding," "epic," "transforming," "engaging" and "something that exceeded all of my expectations." Serving: Grades 4-12 |
| Job Talks Inc. | The Skilled Trades and YOU | In this interactive virtual presentation, Dr. Jon Callegher helps students see how different careers in the skilled trades and construction industry can address a variety of personal and work-related interests. He introduces the concept of “balanced intelligence” as a defining quality of tradespeople. He explains 5 Reasons To Try An Apprenticeship in high school, including: 1) Get Work Experience, 2) Work With Your Hands, 3) Have Teacher Support, 4) Learn How to Run a Business, and 5) Earn While You Learn. This session helps to change mindsets toward the trades among students, educators and parents. Suitable: Grades 7-11, staff; parents/caregivers |
| The K Group Inc. | The Steelpan Experience: From Skin to Steel and Beyond | This program challenges students to develop an understanding of steelpan, its history and the present cultural and social contributions of steelpan pioneers to communities locally and throughout the world. Led by Afro-Caribbean (Black) musician, Joy Lapps-Lewis, and guests, this program is delivered in the form of virtual or in-person presentations, workshops and performances. Hands-on workshops focus on how to play, care for and store instruments. Students develop mallet technique and learn grooves while creating and sharing their musical ideas. Performances explore history and development of the steelpan into a modern day approach to steelpan centered beat-making and production. Facilitators share their experiences as musicians and professionals. Sessions can be modified for classes who do not have access to conventional steelpan (steel drum) instruments. Professional learning for teachers may be available.
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| The Umbrella Effect Inc. | The Umbrella Project | Similar to an umbrella protecting us from the rain, a collection of well-being skills can protect us from times of calm and stress. This workshop, delivered in-person or through video-conferencing, enhances a collection of skills that form emotional well-being: empathy, gratitude, self-compassion, purpose, resiliency and developing a growth mindset. Through lessons, videos, group discussion, personal reflection and observation of the world around them, students learn real life applications of each skill and gain deeper insight into why these skills are essential. Workshops may be offered in French and parent presentations are available. Serving: Kindergarten, Grades 1-12, Staff, Parents/Caregivers |
| Sunshine Therapy Dogs | Therapy Dogs | Pet therapy sessions, with small groups of select students referred by TDSB Professional Support Services, reduce students’ stress and anxiety by providing physical and emotional support in school communities that have experienced a traumatic event or crisis. Trained therapy dogs are accompanied by their certified handlers who guide each interaction. Suitable: referred students Kindergarten-grade 12; staff |
| Think 2wice International | Think 2wice | The program facilitates workshops and motivational speaking topics that aim to prevent or respond to youth violence, gang involvement and criminal activity. Guest speakers with lived experience of gang involvement and the criminal justice system engages youth to take up positive leadership roles in their schools and communities and to create violence free schools, communities, and lives. Through music, theatre, film, story sharing and testimonials, students work through topics on violence, mindset, consequences, coping strategies, and community supports. Workshops may be tailored based on audience and their impact from violence. Professional learning may be available. Suitable: Grades 7-12; staff |
| The Yonge Street Mission | Thinking Forward Leadership Program | This program offers character development and leadership training for students, to help children and youth strengthen their interpersonal and leadership skills, and to challenge them to address social needs. Sessions provide inclusive and equitable learning opportunities that use the arts and leadership development as a platform to help students develop and improve their well-being. Students participate in hands-on, art activities that highlight themes of belonging, diversity, anti-bullying, teamwork, and community. A variety of methods, resources and activities are used including painting, role-playing, designing and building, illustrating, and art exhibits to showcase student work. The program is customizable to suit the needs and schedule of the school and students. Serving: Grades 1-8 |
| DAREarts Foundation Inc | Thrive Youth: Cultivating Wellness & Leadership Through The Arts | This program allows elementary students in grades 4-8 to build and practice their core leadership skills while exploring a variety of art forms with facilitators and artist-educators. In these in-person or virtual sessions, through exploring and creating with the arts, students develop their own unique voice, share and connect with their peers and build confidence and their capacity to be change makers. Each daily lesson builds on the previous over the course of each week or two, depending on the program. Learner activity kits containing all supplies needed for participation each session are provided. This program is most suitable for those students who wouldn't normally be exposed to arts programming. |
| Tools for All Teens | Tools for All Teens | Tools for All Teens is a self-empowerment program which provides teens with wellness activities and tools such as yoga, mindfulness meditation and journaling to assist them in calming their minds and bodies. These tools enable youth to better manage stress and enhance their mental health and well-being. Mindfulness activities are used to support students’ engagement and improve learning and success, while teaching important life skills in self-awareness.
Sessions can also be provided for staff teams, and for parents, as scheduled. Serving: Grades 7-12, Staff, Parents/Caregivers
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| City of Toronto | Toronto Fire Services, Fire Safety for Children | Toronto Fire Safety Educators present interactive sessions for students that cover essential fire safety concepts for young audiences, such as smoke alarms are important; "Get outside, stay outside"; staying away from hot things; and, matches and lighters are for grown-ups. The sessions also emphasize firefighters as a community helpers. In delivering the interactive fire sessions educators may use various fire safety equipment, such as, full set of bunker gear to demonstrate for children to recognize their “helpers” in an emergency, and to not be afraid of the masked figure who may be trying to save them.
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| Kiwanis Music Festival Association | Toronto Kiwanis Festival | Toronto Kiwanis Festival provides students with virtual, enhanced learning and performance opportunities in music, dance, visual arts and speech arts in a competitive setting. Several schools' host the Festival annually during instructional time throughout two weeks in February - March. Serving: All grades. |
| Rebecca Baird | Traditional Indigenous Art Practices | Workshops provide a hands-on experience that result in a tangible, memorable takeaway using a variety of Indigenous materials and art forms. Sample works include individual artwork using porcupine quills on birch bark, two-row wampum bracelets created using traditional Indigenous materials, beaded rosettes, individual cloth banners containing Indigenous teachings, or creation of a lasting on-site mural depicting Indigenous visual storytelling. Facilitator, Rebecca Baird, engages students in meaningful dialogue, citing the visual and material symbolism involved, including traditional Indigenous environmental teachings and relationships of cross-generational connections between the individual and community. Such teachings create a rewarding learning experience of Indigenous cultural values that reaches out and impacts meaningfully upon the community at large. Suitable: Grades 5-12
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| The EduCare Initiative | Training Educators Regarding Children and Young People In/from Care | Designed and facilitated by young people with child welfare lived experience, this virtual 3 hour workshop is for educators to encourage a deeper discussion on system barriers and how to better inform and support youth in care. Workshop provides participants a thorough understanding of the following: trauma-Informed approaches in school settings (and beyond), systemic racism/oppression, and family privilege. Participants develop more effective strategies for engaging young people in care and the significance of a relational approach. Suitable: Staff
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| University of Toronto | Transplant and Organ Donation Presentation | Presentations by medical professionals and transplant recipients are available for secondary school science, health & Physical Education, and Civics classes to educate students about the science, the success, civic engagement and medical careers in the field of organ and tissue transplantation; and, the importance of organ and tissue donation. Suitable: Grades 9-12 |
| TRCA | TRCA In-Class Visits | Interactive workshops led by certified instructors bring nature programming to all students. Using hands-on exploration, activities and games, sessions enhance students’ understanding of natural environments and ecosystems and students' own roles in conservation efforts. Three programs are offered with a variety of workshops to choose from for all ages. 1. Watershed on Wheels (WOW) workshops examine the importance of our waterways, rivers and aquatic ecosystems as well as how climate change issues are affecting these important resources and explore ways on how students can minimize their environmental footprint; available free of charge. 2. Native Plants Program (NPP) offers native plant seeds to grow in the classroom and students learn all about wildlife-supporting plants that reflect our natural heritage and environment; available free of charge. 3. Beyond the Park workshops offer environmental and nature-themed topics such as bird species, wetland habitats, local urban wildlife, and aquatic ecosystems, to teach students how to be good stewards. Online bookings can be made here: https://trca.ca/learning/teachers-schools/. |
