HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Council Update 2017/03/10 - #24School Council Newsletter
March 10, 2017
WHAT'S NEW...
It's hard to believe that it is March Break! This is definitely a sign that spring is around the
corner. March Break is a great time for families to break out of the regular routine and find
some time for relaxation, exploration and creativity. There are lots of great activities to do in
town. Here are a few links to explore:
Ottawa Tourism
Ottawa Info Guide
Ottawa Kids
We won't issue a newsletter next Friday, but we will be back after the Break. Have a good one!
Parent Information Sessions - Opiods and Opiod Overdoes
The OCDSB has been working with Rideauwood Addictions and Family Counselling, Ottawa
Public Health, and Ottawa Police Services to organize parent evenings at several of our school
locations. We know that the more information you have, the better equipped you are to parent.
The remaining sessions will be held on:
Wednesday, March 22 - Longfields Davidson Heights SS 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Thursday, March 23 - Gloucester High School 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
These presentations will focus on opioids and opioid overdose, followed by a marketplace of
community resources. Parents will also have an opportunity to speak direct ly to Public Health
nurses, Rideauwood counsellors and Ottawa Police. More information is on our website.
Eastern Secondary Area Accommodation Review - Final Decisions
On Tuesday March 7, 2017, Trustees approved the recommendations as follows:
Rideau High School will be closed. Rideau's grade 9 to 12 English Program with Core
French will be redirected to Gloucester High School effective September 2017.
Grade 9 to 12 Immersion Program students residing within the Rideau High School
attendance area will be directed to Gloucester High School effective September
2017.
Immersion Program students residing within the Rideau High School attendance area
currently enrolled in schools (2016-2017) other than Gloucester High School will be
permitted to remain at those schools.
In addition:
The Board will support the transition of Rideau High School students to Gloucester
High School, by providing transportation to all students residing in the current
Rideau attendance boundary, including students currently at Rideau on transfers,
regardless of eligibility requirements.
OSTA will be asked to facilitate this service notwithstanding the current Transportation
Policy and wherever feasible with the use of Presto cards.
Special supports will be put in place to assist in the transition of Rideau High School
students to Gloucester high school. Those supports will be extended for two-years
to aid in the transition, including the reallocation to Gloucester High School of a
0.17 FTE Vice-principal position and a 1.0 FTE Student Success Teacher (SST)
position.
Staff will be directed to begin work immediately at Gloucester High School to build a
room for students that is culturally friendly to First Nations, Inuit and Métis
students. This room will be comparable to the Lodge at Rideau High School.
Students, staff, and community partners will be involved in the development of the
Lodge at Gloucester.
Staff will prepare a report for February 2018, and every year thereafter for three
years, to keep the community informed. Details will include such items as; total
enrolment, number of new students, attrition rates, the number of sections by
pathway and will provide information about supports in place at the school for
special education students, attrition rates, the number of sections by pathways and
will provide information about supports in place at the school for special education
students, English Language learners and students living in low-income neighbours.
Staff and Board will continue to monitor the achievement and well-being of all students
at the newly amalgamated school. In addition, the total enrolment number of new
students would be disaggregated by pre-amalgamated boundaries and number of
sections by pathway and EQAO results at the school level and disaggregated by
pre-amalgamated boundaries.
Staff were also directed to explore with the transition team, the possibility of a school
name change for Gloucester High School.
Read more here.
Take the Time to Recognize Someone through the Community
Member Recognition Awards
There are so many people who make an incredible difference in our school communities. The
district has several awards to recognize the work of parent and community volunteers.
Nominations can be made by individual parents or by a school council. All nominations must
be submitted by 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, April 18, 2017.
Community Award - recognizes the outstanding efforts of a member of the OCDSB
community in developing a community initiative that directly supports the well -being
of our students.
Distinguished School Council Service Award - recognizes the outstanding efforts of
a school council or school council member for making a significant contribution to
enhancing the learning experience of students at a school and/or system level.
Volunteer of the Year Award - recognizes the substantial contribution of a parent
volunteer or community volunteer over an extended period of years or through a
single significant initiative that has had a positive impact on students.
Community Partnership Award - recognizes the outstanding partnership/support
from a community agency or business over an extended period of years or through
a significant initiative that has directly benefited OCDSB students.
Excellence in Equity Community Award (in tribute to Isis Officer) - recognizes a
substantial contribution of a parent, volunteer, business community member of an
organization to support the alignment and integration of equity and inclusive
educational principles and practices over an extended period of years or through a
significant initiative that has directly benefited OCDSB students.
Nomination forms can be found here. For more information, please see our Procedure
For more information, please contact susan.baker@ocdsb.ca
Continuing Education Newsletter - March/April 2017
Check out the Continuing Education Newsletter for March/April 2017. We invite you to take a look at
what is coming up in our department for 2017! Again, it is totally interactive, so please click
anywhere to be linked to our website for more information on all of our programs.
This Newsletter is also available at the following link:
http://www.ocdsb.ca/programs/continuweb/CE%20Documents/CENewsletter.pdf
REMINDERS
Kindergarten Registration
If your child will be age four or five by December 31, 2017, they are ready for junior or senior
kindergarten starting September 2017. Students already in junior kindergarten do not have to
re-register for senior kindergarten. Visit your local school to register anytime.
Speakers' Speech Writing Contest
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of Confederation, the Speakers of the Senate and the
House of Commons have launched a speech writing competition for Canadians aged 12 to 17.
This national contest asks, "What does Parliament mean to you?" Young Canadians are
invited to participate by submitting a written speech via the contest webpage. The contest
closes April 21, 2017. Visit the contest webpage here or here.
Updating your child's immunization record
Any time your child gets a vaccination or booster shot you need to update their record with
Ottawa Public Health by:
Completing the Online Immunization Reporting to Ottawa Public Health
Fax: 613-580-9660
Mail: Immunization Program, 100 Constellation Dr., Ottawa, ON, K2G 6J8, 7th floor,
mail code 26-44
Phone 613-580-6744 Monday to Friday, 9 am to 4 pm
ImmunizeCA App: appottawa.immunize.ca
CANImmunize has also launched an action comic, Immunity Warriors: Invasion of the Alien
Zombies, to educate elementary school students about the immune system and the role of
immunization in defending against illness.
Math Facts
Art and math have a lot in common with each other. In fact you can see the math in art and the
art in math! Patterns, shapes, geometry, symmetry, spatial reasoning, proportional reasoning,
etc... are all a part of the arts (visual art, music and dance), as they are of mathematics.
By blending mathematics and the arts, students learn in ways that are intellectual, emotional
and physical. Children learn in many different ways, and research tells us that participating in
the arts is one way that is very engaging for all of us.
Consider visiting the Art Gallery or doing crafts with your child over the March break. A child
stringing beads in a pattern on a string or creating a patterned bracelet is creating an
understanding of patterning, although to them it may look simply like a pleasing design.
When a child learns to play the piano, they are developing mathematical underst anding of the
relationships between scales, notes and chords. Symmetry can be seen in the symmetrical
features of a butterfly or in a design when building. Children may notice patterns in wallpaper,
tile tessellations on the floor or on a phone cover, rhyt hmic beats or repeated choreography in
music videos or chords in a popular song. There is math everywhere!
SCHOOL COUNCIL BUSINESS
Strategies for Developing a School Council Succession Plans
This is a good time of year for school councils to begin thinking about succession
planning. There are several things you can do in this regard.
1. Acknowledge the contributions of council members and volunteers. This is the time
of year where you might start thinking about spring appreciation events and
messages in newsletters. Nominations for our Community Recognition Awards are
also a good way to show appreciation.
2. Invite new parents to School Council meetings. You may want to pay particular
attention to kindergarten parents or parents who are joining for MFI programs,
etcetera. This is the time of year to hold information nights or encourage people to
come to school council to understand the role of members.
3. Keep good records - know where your constitution is and ensure it is up to date;
keep your agendas and minutes posted on your website; ensure your newsletters
are filled with timely information; keep records of council events and activities for
future planning.
4. Share the workload. You want to make sure you avoid volunteer "burn out". One
way to do that is to welcome new ideas and invite the "idea sources" to play a
leadership role in implementing their suggestion.
Funding for Play Structures and Playgrounds
Funding is available to assist school communities in developing their school grounds and
installing or replacing some of their play structures. Please submit your application using Form
700, as soon as possible. Approval will take into account equity, special circumstances and
other funding already in place. Project applications that did not receive funding in previous
years will be carried over; however, it is important to update the application to reflect the
current status. If you have any questions, please contac t Dan Fournier at 613-596-8211 ext.
8690 or at daniel.fournier@ocdsb.ca.
BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
Meetings that Matter....
Board and Committee of the Whole Meetings
The next Committee of the Whole Meeting will be on Tuesday, March 21st at 7:30 p.m. at 133
Greenbank Road in the boardroom. Read the full agenda here.
Upcoming Meetings:
3/20/2017
7:00 PM Alternative Schools Advisory Committee
3/21/2017
7:30 PM Committee of the Whole, Public
3/22/2017
7:00 PM Audit Committee
3/23/2017
7:00 PM OCASC Secondary School Committee
3/23/2017
7:00 PM Ottawa Carleton Assembly of School Councils
3/27/2017
7:00 PM Advisory Committee on the Arts
3/28/2017
7:30 PM Board Meeting
3/29/2017
7:00 PM Special Education Advisory Committee
Boardroom Highlights can be found here.
EVENTS AND REMINDERS
Places to Go...Things to Remember
New:
Speaker Series
Parents, guardians and caregivers are invited to join us for our free Speaker Series
Presentations. The presentations will begin at 7:00 p.m.
Dr. Eva Olsson - Speaking out Against Racism and Intolerance -
April 12th
Wednesday, April 12, 2017. Woodroffe High School, Auditorium, 2410 Georgina Drive.
Help us welcome Dr. Eva Olsson who is sharing her personal gripping personal stories about
the Holocaust and surviving the Auschwitz death camp. Graphic images illustrate the power of
hate and the importance of standing up against the forces of discrimination and intolerance.
She is an inspiration to over one million people who have heard her speak.
Gender Identity and Gender Expression: May 4th
Thursday, May 4th, 7:00 p.m. - Sir Robert Borden High School auditorium, 131
Greenbank Road
Please join Beck Hood of Family Services Ottawa and Carol Ann Burrow Instructional Coach
with OCDSB's Inclusive Safe and Caring Programs for a conversation about the diversity of
gender identity and gender expression. Find out about community resources supporting
gender diverse children and youth.
Beyond ABC's and 123's: Building Learning Skills & Confidence in
Your Child
Free workshop for parents and guardians. Join us to learn how to help our children plan, focus
attention, juggle multiple tasks, and build on the learning skills listed on their report cards.
When:Tuesday, March 28 @ 6:30pm- 8:00 pm
Where: Makerspace, Half Moon Bay P.S.
RSVP: Please register here to let us know that you will be coming!
Child Care: Please indicate this in your RSVP.
We hope to see you there!
Cyber Bullying Parent Night: How to Prevent and Respond - Ottawa
Bullying Prevention Coalition - Thursday, 30 March 2017 from 6:30
p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
On Thursday March 30th starting at 6:30 pm to 9:00pm the Ottawa Bullying Prevention
Coalition in partnership with Ottawa Public Health and Ottawa Police Service will be hosting an
event for parents on cyber bullying. The event will bring together key partners across sectors
including mental health experts, police and research to facilitate a conversion on cyberbullying
and building a more supportive and safe community for all those impacted..
Program Time:
6:00-6:30 pm: Agency Fair Setup
6:30-7:00 pm: Registration / Service Fair Booths
7:00-8:00 pm: Speaker: Dr Hazen Gandy CHEO
8:00-8:30pm: Speaker: OTTAWA POLICE SERVICE, Cst Cindy Cybulski and Cst Geneviève
Hupé
8:30 pm: Question Period /Service Fair Booths
Register here.
Reminders:
Practical Tips and Tools For Supporting Girls - Navigating Life
Online
Support girls facing digital & media issues with A Guide for Trusted Adults, made with
@YWCA_Canada #ProjectShift.
Me-to-We Food Drive and Raffle
Roch Carrier's Me-to-We Club is hosting a food drive students, staff and community members
can donate. At this time of the year items that are in high demand are coffee, soups, crackers,
canned goods including;stews,vegetables and fruits. If you would like to participate you can
drop off the items at the main office.
CHEO Workshops on MindMasters 2 at Alta Vista P.S. - March
30th and May 11th
MindMasters 2 is a free toolkit, developed by CHEO, for children from JK to Grade 3, to help
children learn mindfulness, relaxation and positive thinking strategies that will help them
manage emotions and cope with stress. Learn about the toolkit (including the free app for
iPad) at a 3-part workshop series at Alta Vista Public School 1349 Randall Avenue in the Main
Gym 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. on March 30th and May 11th. Attend any or all workshops. Child minding
is available. These tools can be modified for all ages. More information can be found here.
45th National Student Commonwealth Forum
Families are needed to welcome students into their homes for the 45th National Student
Commonwealth Forum. The Forum is a week-long youth leadership program for Canadian
high school students, the first week of May in Ottawa. Students will discuss Canadian issues
in the Senate Chamber and meet Members of Parliament and Commonwealth High
Commissioners. If you would be interested in supporting this charitable program by billeting
one or more high school students from out of town between April 30, and May 5 - more
information can be found at www.nscf-fnec.ca
Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School - 25 Year Anniversary and
Reunion
The reunion is scheduled for May 27, 2017. All current and past student alumni and staff are
welcome to attend. Check out the interactive website at http://www.swl25.com/
Tickets for the event are on sale now.
Stay Connected
OCDSB staff, students and community members can view the District's website. Keep in touch
by following us on Twitter, visiting our Facebook and LinkedIn pages, and watching our videos
on YouTube.
About the Newsletter
We get a lot of feedback about the newsletter and we are always happy to hear from
you. Anyone can receive the newsletter. If you are not on our distribution list and would like to
be please clickhere or email Communications@ocdsb.ca. At this time of year there are many
changes on school council, please be sure to notify us about any change of email address.
Many people forward the newsletter to others in their community. If you forward this message,
please delete all of the text from the "forward e-mail" link at the bottom left of the newsletter
(just outside of the purple border). Otherwise, anyone who receives the message can click the
opt-out button at the bottom of the newsletter and will actually unsubscribe your name from our
distribution list. This may explain why some regular users are being dropped from our
distribution list.
Have a good March Break.
Thanks,
Michele
Michele Giroux
Executive Officer, Corporate Services
Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
613-596-8211 ext. 8607
michele.giroux@ocdsb.ca