It is a busy and exciting time to represent Ward 15 at the Toronto District School Board. As our schools take a rest over the holidays, I am working on a number of initiatives to foster the well-being of students.
Many parents have spoken to me with concerns about homework. In light of this, I have supported a board-wide review of homework policy. My hope is that, when there is homework to be done, it can always be a positive time rather than a struggle. I would love to get your input when this review begins. Keep checking this News Bulletin box for updates.
You may have heard about my proposal to start high-school later in the day. This proposal comes after years of research on the teenage brain. Data from studies done by Health Canada as well as in the United States show that different hormone levels in teenagers cause different sleep patterns than adults and children. In order to help teenagers learn better, one of the high schools in Ward 15 will be piloting the late-start model beginning in September 2009. Both the school and the specific start-time will be chosen in discussions with the school communities involved.
As always, please contact me with any questions, concerns, or good news
and I will continue to keep you posted on news from the board.