Next Meeting: March 1, 2021
2020-21 School Year Remaining Meetings: April 19, June 7
School Council Attendees: Liz Hansen, Aiman Flahat, Superintendent Andrew Howard, Kirsten
Glenister, Karen Barasch, Pamela Wilansky, Anne Marie Armstrong, Ian Aukema, Robin Conliffe, Erika
Boone, Andrea Fry, John Hiddema, Greg Spiers, Jennifer Tse, Marina Chernyak, Alex Sabharwal
61 total attendees joined.
Key Dates:
• Ward Meeting* – Thursday, January 21st, 7-9pm (register online via Trustee Shelly Laskin’s
Website)
• January 29 – Secondary Optional Attendance Forms Due
• Friday, Febuary 19 – Course Selection Submission Deadline
*Please join me, Trustee Shelly Laskin, for a conversation with Michelle Munroe, Co-ordinator Parent
and Community Engagement on Critical Parent/Caregiver Engagement Questions for a Critical
Moment.
This conversation will delve into the ways in which we could seize this period of uncertainty, and
racial reckoning to influence and challenge traditional engagement thoughts and practices, and
imagine future possibilities.
Superintendents Ron Felsen, Andrew Howard and Denise Humphreys will be part of the
conversation.
Moment of Silence for Saúl Ignacio Arias López, Nov 24, 2004 – Jan 12, 2001, Grade 11, LPCI Student.
• Potential tree memorial in the spring
• Principal Flahat has spoken with the family on numerous occasions this past week
• In lieu of flowers, donations to CAMH, specific to supporting students
• Family thanks the community for their outpouring of support
1. Student Council Report – John Williams, Alyssa D’Souza
o Loss of Saul – postpone release date of LP’s Got Talent out of respect for this loss to
Monday, February 8th (start of Quad 3)
o Kick off Quad 3 with joy through LP’s Got Talent
o LP Wear Order and stock will be coming in about a week, according to LP Wear VP; yet to
discuss distribution plan; due to lockdown, delivery will be best option and will be led by SC
– must follow protocols with respect to distribution of LP Wear
o New fun activity – “Background Fridays” (feature on Zoom to add background/design green
screen) – a fun way to ensure student cameras are ON during class; promoted via Social
Media (IG); students encouraged to turn cameras ON and change their backgrounds to lift
spirits and keep students engaged
o SC Upcoming Activities – NEW! Lunchtime Game Show will be held weekly from March
through May; similar format to ‘Family Feud’ with multiple teams consisting of teachers and
students; online registration will be open to all who want to participate; SC will arrange
tournament-style schedule with weekly tournaments and finals in May with prizes awarded
o School-wide Movie Night (in place of events that usually take place on or around
Valentine’s Day) – Google Meet/Zoom for participation with family-friendly movie that
everyone can enjoy
2. School Council Executive Report
o Last meeting minutes not yet posted on the SC website, so will be approved at next meeting
o Welcome Committee – Liz Hanson
o Not many Council portfolio updates, as not much is happening due to the current
lockdown and ongoing pandemic situation
o
UPDATES:

o Wellness Committee – Karen Barasch
o ‘Mindful Moment’ was to be a class activity and is now on Google Classroom with
access via password for all students; 5-minute activity with live meet on Wednesdays
online to talk about activities and discussion to promote a supportive community
o February – class reps will run the program when school resumes in-class
o January 28 – Bell Let’s Talk Day – stay tuned for presentation from Wellness
Committee
o Huddle Up – Bullying prevention organization – Pink Shirt Day presentation with guest
speaker in the works
o Update will be added to The Eye

o Ward 8 News – Erika Boone
o Ward Meeting this week with Shelly Laskin – this Thursday, January 21st
, 7-9pm with
Cheryl Munroe – Parent and Community Engagement – register online to attend via
Shelly’s website
o Thank you for outpouring of support and recognition for teachers at the holidays –
tremendous support, more than we usually receive
3. Principal’s Report – Principal Aiman Flahat
o Course Selections – coming up!
o Guidance Department is creating virtual course selection and promotion assemblies;
showcasing programs and courses, dates as follows:
o Gr. 9 – Tues, Jan 26
o Gr. 10 – Wed. Jan 27
o Gr. 11 – Thurs, Jan 28
o See The Eye and My School Day App for more info
o Course selection will be done at lunch and after school
o Submission Deadline – Friday, February 19th
o Submissions are what drives staffing and courses offered for the following year
o Cameras and Background Fridays – increase engagement; Grade 12s – almost all students are
engaging; other grades not as engaged; engagement creates a motivating environment for the
educator but teachers cannot force students to turn cameras on (nor are teachers allowed to
ask students to turn on their camera); background available in Google Meets – teachers would
appreciate the support from the students – this is a personal family decision, but if it is a
possibility, it would be greatly appreciated
o Equity – is a major focus across the school system – in order to align with that, our school has
a very active Equity Committee, Black History Month theme of Ally-ship coming up in February;
student engagement activities and ideas being planned; Black-owned businesses to be
highlighted and how we can support them; virtual conference with speaker, engagement, etc.;
LPCI is focused on equity issues, Anti-Black Racism, imbed this in the curriculum so that it
becomes part of who we are, not just ticking the box that we’ve covered the issues.
PARENT QUESTION: Can virtual assemblies be recorded and available online or via
The Eye?
Answer – Principal Flahat to look into it; shouldn’t be an issue.
PARENT QUESTION: Suggestions on how to get students to participate online in class?
Answer – Principal Flahat – not all classes are refusing to participate; it’s hard to share
your space online
4. Guest – Superintendent Andrew Howard
• Happy New Year to all attendees this evening
• It has been a very difficult week due to the tragedy of loss experience by an LPCI family and our
school community
• Board Updates:
o Covid-19 Protocols / Remote Learning – impacts to Board, students, staff and families
o Next transition date – Feb 16 for Elementary – Quad 3 for Secondary
o TPH (Toronto Public Health) – initial concerns were about mixing cohorts; January numbers
reflect transfer from in-school to virtual and vice versa; Board looking at requests and
considering the impacts of increasing numbers in classrooms; simultaneous learning
worked well for start of Quad 2; Quad 3 numbers are being reviewed right now, currently no
option to join virtual school at this time, as virtual school is shut down while in-person
learning is not available; no more movement of teachers into virtual school at this time
o LPCI was one of only 12 schools that had school-wide testing; LP results were all negative;
intake number wasn’t as large as some of the other schools but negative results were
encouraging
o All directions taken from TPH (Toronto Public Health) and Gov’t (Ministries of Health and
Education) as to whether schools open or not
o Remote Learning – refers to Local LPCI online learning (vs. Virtual School)
o School Closure Extension – no answers at this time as to when in-person school will
resume
o Optional Attendance – only impacts those secondary students who want to switch to
another secondary school (vs. home school), Grade 8 parents – email completed form to
current school principal (any format PDF, photo, screen shot), current principal approves,
sends from their TDSB email to the school they are wishing to attend (this acts as a
signature); from virtual school wishing to apply to another school – send form to home
school for approval, same process from here; if you’ve already completed a form PRIOR to
school closures, you do NOT need to resubmit
? January 29 – secondary optional attendance forms due
? Feb 12 – deadline for parents to be informed of status update
? Feb 26 – course selection sheets due
? March 6 – course selection sheets due via My Blueprint course selections
o Letter sent out by Alexander Brown, TDSB Board Chair, re: US rioting – critical reminders
we need to stay committed to keep our schools safe and make a difference in the lives of
our TDSB community members; resources have been made available to staff and
administrators to work with students and have conversations and engage in lessons re:
insurrection, Washington events; Board ensured this info was shared with staff and engage
in age-appropriate conversations with students
o PPM 164 – Public Document available on Ministry of Education website – Grades 9-12, 225
minutes per day for full course schedule, plus asynchronous learning time; Mental Health
initiatives are critical, health and well-being trump PPM 164 Guidelines; communicate with
the teacher if your student is struggling to meet the requirements for attendance; staff have
been informed that they need to be flexible during this pandemic; Exemption forms can be
filled out and approved by Superintendent – various levels of exemption are offered
Principal Flahat: Clarification – 2 Covid-19 test sites were made available for families to
have their student tested – from both sites, LPCI had 170+ students tested and 11 staff
tested (see Shelly Laskin’s Report for details)
PARENT QUESTION: Update on Graduation?
Answer – Super. Howard is still waiting; lots of inconsistencies across TDSB schools; why
have some schools had recognition events and some have not? Super. Howard does not
know why those schools have done these things; June 2020 grads – Super. Howard
pushing for an answer which will be forthcoming (diplomas, yearbooks, awards, etc.);
students regularly emailing the school to ask about their certificates, etc., and “why them
and not us?” questions – Super. H will get back to us as soon as an answer is determined
• Monetary awards have been mailed out and received by LPCI students – confirmed
by Principal Flahat; cheque received in the mail with no accompanying letter of
recognition – Principal Flahat will ensure plaques or other form of recognition will be
arranged for these students – plans are on hold and cannot be executed until Board
approval is received
2021 Grads – no discussion YET – more info will be available as the year progresses
PARENT QUESTION: MOH info on teacher / student vaccination?
Answer – Not yet. Hopefully educators will be lumped into “essential workers” and can
receive the vaccine sooner so that kids can get back into school; no directions yet; Super. H
will relay updates ASAP.
PARENT QUESTION: Sherry Levy – Gr. 10 student – Regarding next year, assuming a
return to school in Sept, are there plans/thoughts to make LP a semestered school?
Answer – S. Howard – bottom line the answer is NO; it’s an 18-month process; revisit when
we are allowed due to current stoppage due to lockdown; process to go to public, parent,
staff that may be revisited once we can safely engage; entire process has been shelved due
to Secondary Program Review; at this time, there is no indication. P. Flahat has been asking
since it impacts LPCI planning; lots of uncertainty at this time due to the pandemic
PARENT QUESTION: Grade 10s have not had any exams this year so far – will there be
any changes to this for Quads 3 & 4?
Answer – S. Howard – currently no plans for Quad 3 & 4 exams
PARENT QUESTION: OSSLT – where are we at for this year?
Answer – S. Howard – TBD for Quads 3 & 4 (Grade 10 literacy test that must be passed for
Grade 12 graduation); Options: OSSLC (Course) or test can be conducted virtually; Ministry
plans to conduct OSSLT in the Spring; adjudication process also available; update
forthcoming. (Grade 11s who didn’t write it last year, and current Gr. 10 students)
PARENT QUESTION: Concerned about amount of pressure on Grade 12s and many of the
usual Grad class events are not happening; can we give them something to look forward to?
Answer – S. Howard – Guidance from TPH and the Board is pending; cannot make
commitments at this time, as things are changing continuously; holding pattern at the current
time; A. Flahat – yearbook will be published but it will be thinner and LPCI is covering the
cost; student committee is handling the yearbook along with one of the teachers – will
inquire about student quotes, sibling quotes, etc.
MOTION TO END MEETING
Jennifer Wilmer – Approved
John Hiddema – Seconded
MEETING ADJOURNED