Lawson Teacher Information Package

Application Deadline 2020: March 25, 2020

Colonel Tom Lawson hoped to generate a feeling of national pride in senior public school students by encouraging them to learn and write about the accomplishments of significant Canadians. In 1978, the Lawson Literary Awards were born named in honour of his father, the Honorable Ray Lawson, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario from 1946 - 1952.

The Lawson Literary Awards program is designed to encourage grades 7 and 8 students to share their personal perspectives on Canadian issues of interest and importance to them. Each year, a panel of judges adjudicate submissions and a Lawson Literary award is presented to several recipients.

Together, our students, teachers, Principals, TVDSB support staff, TVEF Board members, Trustees and community businesses are raising funds for Toonie Tuesday 2020! Mark your calendars for February 11, 2020.

2019 was a huge success, with more than $44,000 coming from TVDSB schools, $2,600+ from local businesses, and nearly $3,000 from individuals! Our grand total for 2019? $51,550! THANK YOU!

In its short history, The Caring Fund has changed lives in our communities. It has provided toiletries and clothing when a student's possessions were destroyed in a house fire, purchased winter boots for children in an impoverished family and delivered food when cancer ravaged a local family's stability and income. These are our kids and our families, and sadly there are many more examples we could give.

The Toonie Tuesday campaign adds resources to the Caring Fund to meet student needs as they arise across Thames Valley. Every dollar we raised is directed back into our own school communities.

Together we can make a difference for our students! Questions about Toonie Tuesday? Reach out to our Events Coordinator and Development Assistant, Stephanie Winterton.

Why: Run for the FUNd supports The Caring Fund - a program that helps TVDSB students in financial need

Where: College Ave Secondary School, 700 College Ave, Woodstock ON

When: June 7, 2020, 8:30 AM

Who: EVERYONE WELCOME - our trail is fully accessible!

Get involved! Starting fundraising and have friends, family, and coworkers pledge you to walk/run 5K! Not your thing? Join us and volunteer! We always need more volunteers.

If you have any questions, please contact Stephanie Winterton.

With a goal to provide new backpacks full of new supplies to students in need, Natalie Trimble and Chantal McLaughlin started Supplies for Schools in their basement in 2001.  18 years later and the backpack drive has become Best First Day, a collaborative partnership between TVEF, The Salvation Army Centre of Hope, and United Way Elgin-Middlesex.

Every August, generous community organizations, groups, and members come together and donate thousands of new backpacks and new school supplies.  Hundreds of community members volunteer to stuff the backpacks. And together, we get the backpacks to the schools by the end of August so that every student has the opportunity to go to school on the first day with a backpack --- that's our Best First Day.

Last year we had upwards of 3,700 backpacks and supplies donated and distributed to students across London, Middlesex, Elgin and Oxford counties. We're aiming for 4,000 in 2020. Help us rally behind our students and donate new gender-neutral backpacks and supplies starting July 2020.

Visit www.bestfirstday.ca for more information or go to https://www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/thames-valley-education-foundation/ to donate (select 'best first day' from the drop down). 

Questions? Reach out to Stephanie Winterton.