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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Council Update 2017/05/05 - #31School Council Newsletter May 5, 2017 WHAT'S NEW... Hi there, I hope you had a good week notwithstanding the rain! It was Education Week this week and there were so many great events in our schools. It was also Mental Health Week - an important reminder to all of us about the importance of our physical, social and emotional wellness. Self-care is an important parenting strategy - we have to be well in order to support the well-being of our children. What did you do to take good care of yourself today? Opiod Use Public Health is reporting an increase in hospital visits related to opiod use. It is important for parents to know the facts about opiods and to discuss these issues with your children. Learn more here. OCDSB Wins Gold Provincial Skills Competition Skills Ontario is building Ontario's skilled trades and technologies workforce. They enable and empower all youth, including women and First Nations, Métis, and Inuit (FNMI) youth, to consider a career in the skilled trades and technologies. Secondary Student, Kim Le from Longfields-Davidson Heights SS took home first prize in Graphic Design - Studio Production. Kim's classmates Parnika Rajaghatta and Hailey Frizell won silver medals for TV/Video production. This is the first time that 2 awards were granted to students in the same class. Teacher Darren McMann is very proud of his students. Elementary A silver medal was also awarded to Steve Mclean's Health and Safety team of 2, consisting of Fiona Anantram and Alison Collins. A bronze medal was awarded to Broadview's 4 man team in Lego Junior Mechanics. Team participants included; Jacob Hutchens, Evan Hovorka, Owen Davidson and Patrick Davidson. The event is a spectacular showcase of technological learning that drew over 30,000 participants and visitors over the two day event. Alta Vista/ Hunt Club Review - Community Meeting - May 29, 2017 Ridgemont High School - 2597 Alta Vista Drive - Cafeteria Monday, May 29, 2017 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Childcare will be available The accommodation review of the Alta Vista Hunt Club Area is now scheduled to begin September 2017. The school district will be hosting a Community Input Meeting on May 29th for families and community members to learn more about the review process and to share their thoughts about the schools and community. This input will be important in developing the options presented in the staff report planned for September. You can learn more on our website and through our Frequently Asked Questions. Information will be sent directly to families in the schools in the review area. Date with Diversity: Lessons from Canada and Ontario's 150th for the Next Generation - May 9 Tuesday May 9 from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Confederation Education Centre - Cafetorium - 1645 Woodroffe Avenue Parents/guardians, staff, students, and general public are invited to come together and explore how we can foster a more equitable and inclusive culture to support learning, well-being and a sense of belonging for the entire OCDSB community. In this community conversation about diversity, there will be an opportunity to ask colleagues and community guests any questions you may have about their experiences and insights. Join this timely conversation! Free parking. Light refreshments. Register here and visit our website for more information. Regina Street Alternative Program Open House - May 10 Wednesday, May 10 at 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Regina Street Public School - 2599 Regina Street. Regina Street Public School will offer the Alternative Program for elementary students beginning this September 2017. Parents/guardians are invited to learn more about the program. Can't make it to the event? Visit our website for more information on the Alternative Program. Community Awards and Volunteer Appreciation Reception - May 31 Wednesday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m. Confederation Education Centre - 1645 Woodroffe Avenue 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. Register here to attend the 2017 Community Awards and Volunteer Appreciation Event. And learn more about the award categories here. School Climate Survey Students in grades 4 to 12 will have an opportunity to complete the "OurSCHOOL" Survey about school climate. The purpose of the survey is to better understand students' perceptions about bullying, safety at school, and student engagement. We know that when students feel safe and welcomed at school that they are more likely to achieve at higher levels and have a stronger sense of well-being. Many students will be familiar with the OurSCHOOL survey as it has been in use at the OCDSB for several years. The survey is voluntary, confidential, and takes approximately thirty to forty minutes to complete. Students are asked to answer questions related to school climate and safety, bullying, perception of school, sense of belonging, and their background, including age, gender, and ethnicity. The data from this survey will be used to help school staff develop strategies to prevent bullying and to promote safe and inclusive schools. The survey will be conducted between April 24th and May 12th, 2017. More information was sent home by schools and is also on our website Partnering with Your Teen in Mathematics Partnering with Your Teen in Mathematics Grades 7 to 12 is a resource for parents, guardians, caregivers and other family members to support the development of their teen's mathematical abilities. The document addresses key aspects of understanding of the adolescent learner, different ways of learning, engaging in conversations with your teen, and supporting mathematical thinking, learning and work habits. For the document, click here. Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grants 2017-2018 - Deadline May 25th Great news, the Ministry has announced the 2017-2018 Parents Reaching Out (PRO) grants program. This year, special consideration will be given to proposals that promote increased access and awareness of math strategies and resources for parents to support their children's learning at home and at school. Special consideration will be given to eligible projects from school councils that promote increased access to and awareness of math strategies and resources for parents to support their children's learning at home and at school, or support the engagement of parents from Indigenous or racialized communities, or encourage parent engagement in promoting the value of arts, in support of student success. The deadline for the 2017-2018 PRO grant submissions is Ma y 25, 2017. Applications must be submitted online. For more information, please visit the Ministry website. School Council - Insurance Coverage for Bouncy Castles The District has purchased school council insurance on behalf of all OCDSB school councils. However, if your school council is planning to use a bouncy castle, you must ensure the vendor has liability insurance and that they are Technical Safety Standards Authority (TSSA) certified. The vendor should be the only persons responsible for installing and running the bouncy castle. Principals and school council representatives are cautioned not to sign any agreement accepting all liability. Dunk tanks should not be used. School Council Transition Questions What happens to school council when schools become 7-12 schools? A 7-12 school has one school council which acts as an advisory body to the school principal. Like any other school council, the council will consider issues that affect the school as a whole. An important role of the council is building a sense of community. The council will work with the school admin team about how best to provide supports and activities for families in grades 7 and 8 and those in grades 9 through 12. In some cases, the council may want to have a sub-committee(s) for specific events and activities. Specific questions about school space and the sharing of resources may be affected by the unique circumstances/configuration of the school building and the space availability in the school. These issues are good discussions to have at school council with the principal and the admin team. BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS Meetings that Matter.... The next Committee of Whole Meeting will be on Tuesday, May 16th at 7:30 p.m. at 133 Greenbank Road in the Boardroom. Read the full agenda here. Watch the meeting live here. Board and Committee of the Whole Meetings Please note there have been changes to the schedule for the Committee of the Whole Budget meetings. The new schedule is as follows: 05 June 2017 - Public delegations and committee questions 12 June 2017 - Budget debate commences 19 June 2017 - Budget debate (if required) and recommendation to the Board Staff anticipates the 2017-2018 Budget will be approved at the Board meeting of 26 June 2017. * The timelines for registering as a delegation (4 minutes) at Budget Commit tee have been extended to noon Monday, June 4, 2017. To register in advance, please contactnicole.guthrie@ocdsb.ca. Anyone can register just prior to the start of the meeting as a 2 minute delegation. Questions and comments relating to the Budget can be sent by email to budgetinfo@ocdsb.ca. Upcoming Meetings: 5/11/2017 6:00 PM Parent Involvement Committee 5/15/2017 7:00 PM Alternative Schools Advisory Committee 5/16/2017 7:30 PM Committee of the Whole, Public 5/17/2017 7:00 PM Special Education Advisory Committee 5/18/2017 7:00 PM OCASC Secondary School Committee 5/18/2017 7:00 PM Ottawa Carleton Assembly of School Councils Boardroom Highlights can be found here. EVENTS AND REMINDERS Places to Go...Things to Remember Le Phare Elementary School - Everyday Math Workshop - May 10 Wednesday, May 10 at 7:00 pm Le Phare Elementary School - 1965 Naskapi Drive Math is a big part of our everyday lives, and because of that, "sneaking" Math into our children's lives is easy to do. This workshop will give you tips and tricks to incorporating Math into your daily routines. Interested in attending? Please RSVP at speakerlephare@gmail.com. Babysitting services are available. Please be sure to include number and age of children in RSVP. CHEO Workshops on MindMasters 2 at Alta Vista P.S. - May 11 Thursday, May 11 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Alta Vista Public School - Main Gym - 1349 Randall Avenue 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. Attend any or all workshops. Child minding is available. These tools can be modified for all ages. More information can be found here. Fairy Godmother: Prom Attire - May 13 Saturday, May 13 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Confederation Education Centre - 1645 Woodroffe Avenue Graduating high school students who are unable to purchase their own prom attire are eligible to attend Fairy Godmother's Boutique Days. 1 Day Only - Saturday, May 13th. You must have an appointment to attend a fitting. Book a fitting by calling 613.232.PROM or online at http://fairygodmotherottawa.com/. More information here. Lakeview's 24th Annual Mayfair Event - May 13 Saturday May 13 from 9:30 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Lakeview Public School - 35 Corkstown Rd. Join us for a day of non-stop activities and entertainment for the whole family. Mayfair brings the community together for a day of fun - rain or shine! All funds raised support school programs. Please visit our website for more details. Henry Larsen Elementary School Annual Fun Fair - May 13 Saturday, May 13 from 10 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Henry Larsen Elementary School - 1750 Sunview Drive Everyone is welcome to attend our annual fun fair. We have activities planned for everyone in the family! There will be a BBQ, an ice cream truck, games, bouncy castles, a book sale, cake raffle and a silent auction. All proceeds from the fun fair are going to our ongoing school yard redevelopment project "Henry's Cool Yard". If you know any high school students looking for volunteer hours, please have them contact us at henrylarsensc@gmail.com. Brookfield High School: Talking Mental Health and Addictions in Children and Youth - May 16 Tuesday, May 16 from 6:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Brookfield High School - 824 Brookfield Road Brookfield High School's School Council invites you to attend an expert speaker's presentation on children and youth mental health and addictions. Speakers are Mary Alexandrou, CHEO, YouthNet and Natalie Markoff, PLEO. The event is free and open to all interested. Free Webinar - Strategies to Support the Success of Students with LDs on Exams and Standardized Tests - May 25 Thursday, May 25 from 3:30 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. Online Webinar Exams and standardized tests can be stressful for students and staff in general, and in particular, for students with learning disabilities (LDs). This webinar will focus on how educators can prepare students with LDs to write exams or standardized tests and assist educators in creating exams with content and formatting that is "necessary for some, and good for all". Click here for more information and to register for this webinar. Greenbank Middle School Closing Ceremony - May 25 Thursday, May 25 from 5:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. Greenbank Middle School - 168 Greenbank Road School Concert Bands and Garage Bands will be performing, a food truck will be on site, and the school will host an open house with memorabilia displays. Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School: 25 Year Anniversary and Reunion - May 27 Saturday May 27 from 7:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m. Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School - 1515 Tenth Line Rd 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. Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School: Thriving in High School: Dealing with Anxiety, Stress and Depression - May 31 Wednesday, May 31 from 7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Sir Wilfrid Laurier Secondary School - 1515 Tenth Line Rd A mental health seminar for parents/guardians and students will take place on Wednesday, May 31st. The seminar is focused on teen anxiety and depression. Psychologist Dr. Jennifer Karp will discuss understanding challenges faced by teens, including school avoidance, bullying, and managing the demands of technology and social media. Please register for this free seminar on Eventbrite at thrivinginhighschooltalk.eventbrite.ca D. Aubrey Moodie Intermediate School Closing Ceremony - June 16 Friday, June 16 from 5:30 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. D. Aubrey Moodie Intermediate School - 595 Moodie Drive Current and former parents/guardians, staff, students and community members are invited to celebrate the amazing years of memories. Continuing Education Newsletter - May/June 2017 Check out the Continuing Education Newsletter for May/June 2017. We invite you to take a look at what is coming up in our department for 2017! It is totally interactive, so please click anywhere to be linked to our website for more information on all of our programs. Summer Language Programs and Camps - Fun with Languages! Give your child the opportunity to have an enriching and fun language learning experience this summer! The OCDSB offers various International Language classes over the summer. These language classes are free for students currently enrolled in Ontario schools. Classes run from July 24-28th in the mornings (9:30 a.m. to 12 noon). Please call 613-239- 2703 or check here for details on both of these programs. 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. Have a good weekend. GO SENS GO!!! Thanks, Michele About this 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 click here or email Communications@ocdsb.ca. 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. Michele Giroux Executive Officer, Corporate Services Ottawa-Carleton District School Board 613-596-8211 ext. 8607 michele.giroux@ocdsb.ca