Latest news with #JenniferChan
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Popular principal will stay at Toronto arts school after students, parents push back against transfer
A popular principal at Toronto's Rosedale Heights School for the Arts is staying put after a provincial school board supervisor reversed a decision to transfer him, following backlash from students and parents. Barrie Sketchley will now stay on as principal of the school where he spent over 30 years of his career until his retirement next June, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said Tuesday. The TDSB — which was recently taken over by a provincially-appointed supervisor due to government concerns of financial mismanagement — announced in June that Sketchley would be moved to Harbord Collegiate Institute for the upcoming school year. That led to pushback from parents and students, who said Sketchley was an integral part of the school community. In a letter to parents, guardians and students Tuesday, the board said its province-appointed supervisor had reversed the decision to transfer Sketchley. "Principal Sketchley's deep connection to students, families, and staff has shaped the identity of the school and we look forward to a wonderful school year ahead under Principal Sketchley's continued leadership," said the letter, signed by superintendent of education Jennifer Chan. A new principal will join Sketchley to work with administration for the school year, the letter said. The new administrator will work as the school's "Centrally Assigned Principal — Transitions," to support students and staff and "select system initiatives related to transitions," Chan wrote. The province and board have not commented on why Sketchley was originally set to be transferred. A spokesperson for TDSB said any further comment on the decision would have to come from the Ministry of Education. CBC Toronto reached out to the ministry Tuesday evening, but did not immediately hear back. The province's decision in June to take over four school boards, including the TDSB, prompted concerns from parents and students worried that their voices would not be heard in board decisions if their elected officials were no longer in charge. Reversal comes after student, parent backlash The original decision to move Sketchley led students at Rosedale Heights to walk out of class in protest this past spring. Many told CBC News at the time that Sketchley, who is in his 80s, had helped build Rosedale Heights into a leading arts school where students were given the best opportunities, and he could not be replaced. An online petition to reinstate Sketchley at Rosedale Heights, which garnered roughly 2,900 signatures, said the principal's "dedication to the arts and his unwavering support for his students have left an indelible mark on our community." "His absence would leave a void that no other can fill, and the community is deeply concerned about the future of our beloved school without his guidance," it read.
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Popular principal will stay at Toronto arts school after students, parents push back against transfer
A popular principal at Toronto's Rosedale Heights School for the Arts is staying put after a provincial school board supervisor reversed a decision to transfer him, following backlash from students and parents. Barrie Sketchley will now stay on as principal of the school where he spent over 30 years of his career until his retirement next June, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said Tuesday. The TDSB — which was recently taken over by a provincially-appointed supervisor due to government concerns of financial mismanagement — announced in June that Sketchley would be moved to Harbord Collegiate Institute for the upcoming school year. That led to pushback from parents and students, who said Sketchley was an integral part of the school community. In a letter to parents, guardians and students Tuesday, the board said its province-appointed supervisor had reversed the decision to transfer Sketchley. "Principal Sketchley's deep connection to students, families, and staff has shaped the identity of the school and we look forward to a wonderful school year ahead under Principal Sketchley's continued leadership," said the letter, signed by superintendent of education Jennifer Chan. A new principal will join Sketchley to work with administration for the school year, the letter said. The new administrator will work as the school's "Centrally Assigned Principal — Transitions," to support students and staff and "select system initiatives related to transitions," Chan wrote. The province and board have not commented on why Sketchley was originally set to be transferred. A spokesperson for TDSB said any further comment on the decision would have to come from the Ministry of Education. CBC Toronto reached out to the ministry Tuesday evening, but did not immediately hear back. The province's decision in June to take over four school boards, including the TDSB, prompted concerns from parents and students worried that their voices would not be heard in board decisions if their elected officials were no longer in charge. Reversal comes after student, parent backlash The original decision to move Sketchley led students at Rosedale Heights to walk out of class in protest this past spring. Many told CBC News at the time that Sketchley, who is in his 80s, had helped build Rosedale Heights into a leading arts school where students were given the best opportunities, and he could not be replaced. An online petition to reinstate Sketchley at Rosedale Heights, which garnered roughly 2,900 signatures, said the principal's "dedication to the arts and his unwavering support for his students have left an indelible mark on our community." "His absence would leave a void that no other can fill, and the community is deeply concerned about the future of our beloved school without his guidance," it read.
CBC
7 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
Popular principal will stay at Toronto arts school after students, parents push back against transfer
A popular principal at Toronto's Rosedale Heights School for the Arts is staying put after a provincial school board supervisor reversed a decision to transfer him, following backlash from students and parents. Barrie Sketchley will now stay on as principal of the school where he spent over 30 years of his career until his retirement next June, the Toronto District School Board (TDSB) said Tuesday. The TDSB — which was recently taken over by a provincially-appointed supervisor due to government concerns of financial mismanagement — announced in June that Sketchley would be moved to Harbord Collegiate Institute for the upcoming school year. That led to pushback from parents and students, who said Sketchley was an integral part of the school community. In a letter to parents, guardians and students Tuesday, the board said its province-appointed supervisor had reversed the decision to transfer Sketchley. "Principal Sketchley's deep connection to students, families, and staff has shaped the identity of the school and we look forward to a wonderful school year ahead under Principal Sketchley's continued leadership," said the letter, signed by superintendent of education Jennifer Chan. A new principal will join Sketchley to work with administration for the school year, the letter said. The new administrator will work as the school's "Centrally Assigned Principal — Transitions," to support students and staff and "select system initiatives related to transitions," Chan wrote. The province and board have not commented on why Sketchley was originally set to be transferred. A spokesperson for TDSB said any further comment on the decision would have to come from the Ministry of Education. CBC Toronto reached out to the ministry Tuesday evening, but did not immediately hear back. The province's decision in June to take over four school boards, including the TDSB, prompted concerns from parents and students worried that their voices would not be heard in board decisions if their elected officials were no longer in charge. Reversal comes after student, parent backlash The original decision to move Sketchley led students at Rosedale Heights to walk out of class in protest this past spring. Many told CBC News at the time that Sketchley, who is in his 80s, had helped build Rosedale Heights into a leading arts school where students were given the best opportunities, and he could not be replaced. An online petition to reinstate Sketchley at Rosedale Heights, which garnered roughly 2,900 signatures, said the principal's "dedication to the arts and his unwavering support for his students have left an indelible mark on our community." "His absence would leave a void that no other can fill, and the community is deeply concerned about the future of our beloved school without his guidance," it read. WATCH | Students, parents rally to keep beloved principal from moving schools: 'We do not want him to go': Toronto students rally to reinstate principal 2 months ago Students at Rosedale Heights School of the Arts staged a walkout in support of their principal. CBC's Clara Pasieka explains why. While it is not policy, it is longtime practice for principals and vice principals to be moved or rotated every five or so years.
Chicago Tribune
16-07-2025
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
Chicago creating index to identify neighborhoods most vulnerable to heat waves
City officials, residents and researchers gathered at Columbus Park in the Austin neighborhood Tuesday night to remember the deadly heat wave 30 years ago — and to plan how to prevent future heat deaths. From July 12 to 15 in 1995, the heat index soared above 120 degrees, killing 739 people in the deadliest natural disaster in Illinois history. But the risk of death wasn't the same for all residents — most of the victims lived in neighborhoods on the South and West sides, according to data from the Cook County medical examiner. 'During the 1995 heat wave, it became abundantly clear that environmental crises are never just about the weather,' said Mayor Brandon Johnson. 'In fact, they are more about equity and access and justice.' Today, residents of these neighborhoods — where historic redlining and unequal investment by city government have often occurred — are still statistically more likely to experience poverty, air pollution and deadly diseases like cancer. These factors can put people at greater risk of sickness or death during extreme heat waves, according to a team of researchers from Northwestern University who presented at the event. The team, the Defusing Disasters Working Group, compiled data on citywide heat deaths to produce Chicago's first heat vulnerability index. The tool shows which Chicago neighborhoods are at the highest risk during heat waves, based on not only their history of heat-related deaths but also on several other factors, including demographics, land use and air conditioning access. This initial version of the map shows a band of neighborhoods stretching from Chatham and Englewood in the south to Austin and Portage Park farther north where heat vulnerability is the highest. Neighborhoods closer to Lake Michigan tended to have lower scores, while those farther inland often had higher scores. The group is also surveying Chicagoans on what services they most want to see from the city during heat waves, which they'll use to inform policy recommendations for future heat waves. 'As a disaster responder, I can take a look at that map and disaster response plan, and say, 'Where might I want to focus my efforts? How does that help me identify my patients earlier?'' said Jennifer Chan, a Northwestern professor and team member. So far, the top responses that residents have voted for include offering water at bus and train stops, providing more emergency shelters, and prioritizing parks and other green spaces. The city has faced criticism in recent years for its emergency response plans during heat waves. Though Chicago's Office of Emergency Management advertised that over 280 cooling centers were open during a recent heat wave in June, the Tribune found that almost half of those centers were sprinklers and spray features that were running at parks. Many cooling centers are stationed at city buildings that don't remain open beyond their regular business hours, and none of them are open overnight. During Tuesday's event, as city officials shivered in the blasting air conditioning at the Columbus Park Refectory, residents nearby in Austin blew up inflatable pools and sold cold drinks on street corners to keep themselves cool as the heat index soared into the high 90s. Rachel Williams, a Roseland resident who spoke on a panel about heat vulnerability after Johnson's speech, said the city also needs to invest in cooling centers that aren't just city-run buildings. Many people might feel safer seeking shelter at a place they're familiar with, like churches or schools, than at police stations, she said. 'Most Black and Brown neighborhoods have a plethora of churches. Are they running consistently? Are (city officials) making sure that they have relationships?' Williams said. 'In '95, as a 4-year-old, I actually do remember going to some of those churches to stay cool during that time. And so that actually means investing in spaces that may seem unlikely.' Human-made climate change is making summers in the Midwest more humid overall, even as seasonal high temperatures have rarely broken records in recent years. According to experts, sweltering summer nights, in particular, have become more common. In Chicago, while overall summer average temperatures have warmed by 1.7 degrees between 1970 and 2024, average overnight lows have increased by 2.5 degrees in that same period. Johnson said his administration will consider policy recommendations from the Defusing Disasters group as the city plans for future heat waves. 'At a time when the federal government is dismantling not only environmental protections, but also federal disaster relief funding, this is the type of work that is needed,' Johnson said. 'This project is a model of how community, academia and city government can work together to make sure no one in our city falls through the cracks and ensure that everyone is protected.'
The Sun
28-06-2025
- The Sun
Our Brit daughter, 15, was killed by boat propeller while snorkelling in Maldives…we're forced to investigate ourselves
DEVASTATED parents say they have been forced to investigate the death of their British daughter themselves after being refused support from officials. Jenna Chan, 15, was tragically killed by a boat propeller while on a school trip snorkelling in the Maldives. 2 2 British-Singaporean dual national Jenna was a student at St Joseph's International Institution and had been assisting the British registered charity, the Maldives Whale Shark Research Programme (MWSRP), in its research expedition. On November 8, the school girl was allegedly beckoned into the water but within minutes was "sucked under" when the engine was switched on. Her parents, Alan and Jennifer Chan, have said that more than a month after the tragic incident they are "still waiting for answers" and have "been forced to become their own investigators". As a state, the Maldives does not provide post-mortem examinations so the couple are hunting for information about their daughter's death "completely" on their own. Jennifer told The Times: 'We just want to know why Jenna died. There is no justice and we are completely on our own.' Alan flew out to the island in March to get hold of the hospital CT scans that were used by police to determine a possible cause of death. Jennifer, a surgeon, examined the pictures with her colleagues who she said were horrified "because Jenna's injuries were so horrific". The couple said they haven't even been allowed to speak to any of the teachers who were on board the boat at the time of the incident. They believe there was "no real investigation" into the accident, adding that there was a "chain of errors" throughout the excursion, they claim. According to some of the students, Jenna was reportedly instructed to enter the water while the guides tracked dolphins. The teenager was then allegedly "sucked up" by the engine before reportedly being brought to the nearest hotel instead of hospital. Michael Johnston, CEO of St Joseph's International Institution , previously wrote to the parents informing them that efforts to piece together what had happened to Jenna were being impeded by MWSRP. According to the school's boss, the company was "refusing" to provide access to their staff and crew for interviews. "We remain exasperated at their lack of co-operation," he said. Jenna's 17-year-old sister Alice has started a GoFundMe to raise awareness of the teen's accident and help with legal fees while the family fight for answers. The caption for the fundraiser reads: "My sister, 15 year old British-Singaporean Jenna Chan, was killed in a propeller accident during a school trip in the Maldives. "There has been silence from the Maldivian government and all news about her has ceased. "The circumstances leading to her sudden death and negligence of the company is truly shocking to our family and her teenage friends, who witnessed her death. "Please help support us during this tough time for our family and loved ones, and spread the word about her case. "All donations will go towards our fight for Jenna and protection of all future children and tourists, by providing our Maldivian lawyers with the legal fees and financial support to take more cases just like this one." We just want to know why Jenna died. There is no justice and we are completely on our own Jenna's mum, Jennifer Chan So far, £6,595 of its £10,000 has been raised. Jenna was laid to rest on November 15 in Singapore. A spokesperson for the young girl's school said that it had been "unrelenting" in its efforts to find out what happened and is still waiting on a report from the Maldivian authorities. In a statement, the school said: 'The school has been unrelenting in our efforts to piece together a full account of what happened. "The Maldivian authorities investigation is still ongoing and we have yet to receive their report. "The Maldivian authorities and MWSRP have not given us access to interview the boat captain and crew nor the MWSRP staff. These are critical pieces for all of us. 'I can confirm that the Maldives Police Service was in Singapore and with the support of the Singapore Police Force facilitated interviews with witnesses on May 27 and 28, 2025. "We continue to actively support the investigation. We have not and will not stop seeking answers and supporting those involved.' The MWSRP said: 'At the time of the incident, Ms Chan was under the supervision of two teaching staff from SJII and an experienced boat crew. "The emergency response was in accordance with our procedures and Ms Chan was taken directly to a local health centre.'
