- Principal: Xandi Neville
- Vice-Principal: Andrea Kwok
- Trustee: Sara Ehrhardt
Our History
Withrow Avenue Junior Public School is located in the heart of Riverdale, and is celebrating its 118th anniversary in 2021. The current building was constructed in 1972, and was designed to be an open-concept, dual-track school, offering both English and Early French Immersion programs to all students. The building also houses the Withrow Childcare Centre and Quest Alternative Senior School.
Withrow Parent Council
- Is responsible for fundraising for the school. This includes organizing pizza lunches, running the fun fair and silent auction, organizing things like Mabel’s Labels, etc. These bodies also, often, run hot lunch programs.
- Has a focus, through the active participation of parents, of improving pupil achievement and enhancing the accountability of the education system to parents.
- Our role is to liaise between parents and the school on a variety of issues such as curriculum, safety, parent involvement, the SIP (School Improvement Plan) and the School Statement of Needs, a document outlining the characteristics and skill sets parents seek in their school’s administration.
- School boards and principals must consult with the Council on matters that affect student learning, consider their recommendations, and report back to them on how they plan to act on their advice.
- This body is mandated and regulated by the TDSB and Regulation 612 of the Education Act.
- The Council is composed of the following people: The principal / one teacher who is employed at the school, other than the principal or vice-principal / a student / a community/parent representative (deemed the co-chair or parent rep) / a representative from the Association / volunteers who want to help organize education-related activities/initiatives for the school in conjunction with the Council
- The Council must hold a minimum of four meetings with the parent community each year to discuss what they’re working on.
WPC Statement of Support for and Solidarity with 2SLGBTQI+ Youth
As parents, guardians, and caregivers of elementary-aged students, we know how vital it is that our children feel safe, welcome, supported, and valued within their school and wider community. For many families, the past few months have felt frightening and unsafe, in light of the disturbing increase in hate directed towards trans and non-binary students and others in the 2SLGBTQ+ community.
As part of an educational institution committed to ensuring equity, inclusion, respect, and safety for all, the Withrow Parent Council stands in unwavering support of Two Spirit, queer, trans, and non-binary youth everywhere. We are calling on our school, school board, and the provincial government to reject any legislation or policies that would violate the rights and threaten the safety and well-being of trans and other gender-diverse students. We urge our educational leaders to instead do everything in their power to ensure that schools remain accessible and nurturing spaces where all children are welcomed and celebrated together, and to remain committed to creating a safe and nurturing environment for all of our students and staff.
We are united in our support of the Toronto District School Board’s current policy that protects the privacy of trans and other gender-diverse students, recognizing that some children may not be open about their identity at home. This policy notes that a school “should never disclose a student’s gender non-conformity or transgender status to the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s)/caregiver(s) without the student’s explicit prior consent…regardless of the age of the student.” The policy says that school staff should consult the student as to how to identify them when communicating with their guardian.
We know that as supportive and caring parents and guardians, we are pivotal people in our children’s lives and must play a central role. And we know that the dedicated teachers and staff at our school make every effort to involve us in conversations about our children’s well-being. Sadly, we also know that home is not always a safe place for all kids, and that trans youth specifically often face rejection or violence in their homes. Unsupportive families result in disproportionate rates of homelessness for 2SLGBTQ+ youth, and can put them at a higher risk of suicide and self-harm. Having safety, acceptance, and support to explore and express themselves at school can be literally lifesaving.
And so we reject any legislation or policy that risks non-consensual “outing” of trans or non-binary children to parents or guardians who do not accept them and who might harm them physically or emotionally as a result. This includes legislation that would force schools to inform parent/guardians about their child’s request to be recognized at school with different pronouns or a different gender. We love our children unconditionally, and we recognize our responsibility to help them to feel safe, respected, and celebrated for exactly who they are.
We acknowledge the land we live and meet on is the traditional territory of many nations including the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Anishnabeg, the Chippewa, the Haudenosaunee and the Wendat peoples and is now home to many diverse First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. We also acknowledge that Toronto is covered by Treaty 13 with the Mississaugas of the Credit.
Withrow Parent Council 