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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Council Update 2017/06/02 - #35School Council Newsletter June 2, 2017 WHAT'S NEW... It's hard to believe that we are in the month of June! These are busy days in our schools with many exciting activities and tremendous learning opportunities. Today was the 1st OCDSB Indigenous Youth Symposium. What a tremendous opportunity for students in grades 9-12 to listen, share and learn about the history, cultural heritage and the importance of indigenous voice. Thank you/Miigwech to the organizers, presenters and participants for such a wonderful day. Community Recognition Awards On Wednesday we hosted our annual Volunteer Appreciation Chair's Award. We were fortunate to be entertained by talented students from York Street Public School, Metcalfe Public School, Manor Park Public School, Steve MacLean Public School and Roberta Bondar Public School. Thanks to all the staff and parents who made that happen. Here are the highlights about our award winners. Be sure to take time to read about all of our nominees and the many ways that they support student learning and well-being and act as role models in our community. Read more here. Chair's Award Susan Pfister , W. E. Gowling P.S. Ms. Pfister worked with a group of neighbourhood parents for the introduction of Early French Immersion at W. E. Gowling Public School, and has been active in the annual craft show and other school council activities. Over the course of her involvement, attenda nce at school council meetings has grown from approximately four to five people to about 30 people, which speaks to the enthusiasm of the renewed community of Gowling parents. Susan is collaborative in everything she does. She seeks no personal recognition and always puts the school and her community first. Community Award, Michelle Sutherland, Roch Carrier Elementary School Michelle Sutherland is the school's version of Mother Nature and students are walking in her footsteps. She led several environmental and school greening initiatives. She supported active student transportation, increasing the number of students walking, rolling, or biking to school by 10% within the first year. Community Partnership Award, MD Financial Management, Diane Woollard Charles H. Hulse P.S. MD Financial Management employees, led by Diane Woollard, read weekly to children in Kindergarten to Grade 3 classrooms across the region as part of the OttawaReads program. The OttawaReads program is a unique school/community partnership that draws volunteers from the corporate and public sectors to read one-to-one with children. Since 2004, 17 employer-supported volunteers have spent over 3,000 hours reading approximately 40,000 books to 10,000 deserving children. Distinguished School Council Service Award, Becky Staniforth, Featherston Drive P.S. Becky Staniforth gives freely of her time, her talents, and her enthusiasm. She launched community engagement activities which brought together hundreds of parents, students, and community members. She fundraises tirelessly in support of student and community enrichment opportunities. She actively supports and advocates for the Autism program at the school. Excellence in Equity Award, Elaine Hayles, York Street P.S. Elaine Hayles champions equity in schools across the District. She actively supports the Advisory Committee on Equity. She advocates for the well-being of students, particularly students who come from communities that have traditionally been at -risk and/or marginalized. Volunteer of the Year Award, Darlene and Paul Engelbrecht, Henry Larsen Elementary School Darlene and Paul Engelbrecht give tirelessly of their time and involvement at Henry Larsen Elementary School. The dynamic duo supervises field trips, sporting events and school events. Alta Vista Hunt Club Community Input Meeting Last Monday, the district hosted a Community Input Meeting at Ridgemont High School. This was a great opportunity to meet with parents, guardians and community members and to learn what is important about their school, what is unique about their community, and how we can best engage with them. Our thanks to all who attended - we had 250 participants! This week, we have been pouring over the feedback received and sorting the information by school. We will be following up with participants and with the families in all schools in the review area next week. Exam Schedules Secondary school exam schedules are currently being posted. Check your school website for details. This is a good time to start building a study schedule. Make sure that schedule includes time for rest and a little physical activity! Approval of New Name for Findlay Creek School The new Findlay Creek School located in Ottawa on 4180 Kelly Farm Drive will be named Vimy Ridge Public School. The school will open in September 2017 under the leadership of Principal Tammy McCormack. The name Vimy Ridge Public School was chosen in recognition of the historical a major battle involving Canadians with great historical significance and the military connection to Elizabeth Park Public School is also of significance in the community. 2017 also marks the 100th anniversary of the battle of Vimy Ridge and 150th anniversary of Canada, and coincides with the school opening. For more information please click here. Ministry of Education Accessibility Consultation The Ministry of Education is surveying parents, students and educators about how to support special education needs and accessible education. This survey will help to inform the implementation of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, and its goal of an accessible Ontario by 2025. This accessibility standard will help us address barriers in education that prevent children and students from reaching their full potential. Please consider completing and sharing this survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/EducationSurveyEN Drug Use The school district is actively working with Ottawa Public Health and Ottawa Police Services to raise awareness about drug use in our community. We all need to be concerned about the recent rapid increase in opioid use in Ottawa. This week, Ottawa Public Health began a focused campaign about the importance of securing prescription drugs to avoid illicit use. Parents are a child's best defense against drug use. The top two things that a parent or guardian can do is to be informed about drug issues and talk to your kids about drugs. Make sure that you secure prescription medications in your home - two-thirds of Ottawa students who used prescription drugs got the drug from someone they live with. For more information, please visit our website. Curriculum and Ministry Documents for Parents - Multiple Languages The Ministry of Education has many curriculum (K-12) and other documents on its website that parents might be interested in. Translations are available in multiple languages. Take a look. 25 ideas to increase diversity of your school council OCISO has been working with schools for many years to increase the involvement of parents, especially diverse parents, in the school. They have compiled a list of suggestions for effective ways for School Councils to use the $500 grant to increase the involvement of diverse parents in your school and School Council. These initiatives will also go a long way towards increasing the participation of all parents in your School Council. Click here to view the poster. Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grants 2017-2018 - Deadline EXTENDED - June 15 The 2017-2018 Parents Reaching Out (PRO) grants program deadline is approaching. 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 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 June 15, 2017. Applications must be submitted online. For more information, please visit the Ministry website. Looking for help on your application? Contact, Doug Tateishi - Education Officer for the Ministry of Education - 613-225-9219 or email: Doug.Tateishi@ontario.ca 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. BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS Meetings that Matter.... The next Committee of Whole - Budget Meeting will be on Monday, June 5 at 7:00 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 Commitee 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: 6/1/2017 6:30 PM Student Senate 6/5/2017 7:00 PM Committee of the Whole, Budget 6/6/2017 7:30 PM Committee of the Whole, Public 6/12/2017 6:45 PM Special Board, Public 6/12/2017 7:00 PM Committee of the Whole, Budget Boardroom Highlights can be found here. EVENTS AND REMINDERS Places to Go...Things to Remember Churchill Alternative School of Rock - June 3 Saturday, June 3 from 11:00 - 11:40 a.m. Laroche Park - 52 Bayview Rd This Saturday, June 3, at 11 a.m. the 12th annual installment of Churchill's School of Rock Choir will be performing on the main stage at Westfest. Students chose this year's selection of songs featuring a wide vocal range showcasing their dynamic voices. The show will feature songs by Pink Floyd, The Killers, Arcade Fire, Of Monsters and Men, 21 Pilots, and much more. As always, many of the songs will feature Churchill's home grown ukulele and guitar clubs. Summerside Summerfest - June 3 Saturday, June 3 from 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Summerside Public School - 2350 Portobello Boulevard, Orleans In celebration of a successful first year of operation, the Summerside Public School Parent Council is organizing a year-end community event. There will be various activities for the community to enjoy at the event: magician, balloon artist, inflatable obstacle course, bouncy castle, video game truck, radical science, summer camp demonstrations, high school musical bands, Sir Wilfred Laurier robotics, broadcasting and other program demonstrations, food truck and dessert cart. There will also be basket raffles, photo booth and a fire truck visit. The entire OCDSB and surrounding communities are invited to attend and help us celebrate the achievements of the kids, school and community. We're looking forward to see you all there. Century Public School 50th Anniversary Celebration- June 7 Wednesday, June 7, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Century Public School - 8 Redpine Drive Enjoy the talent show and displays showcasing Century's 50 years. Ray's Reptiles and Grill Master Food truck will also be at the school. Coping Skills for Parents and Guardians - June 7 Tuesday, June 7 from 7:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Merivale High School - 1755 Merivale Rd. at Viewmount Featuring speakers: Shontelle Prokipcak, Social Worker, Mental Health and Addiction Services of Ottawa. This workshop is supported by a Parent Reaching Out (PRO) Grant via the Ministry of Ontario. Health & Wellness Information Evening for Parents & Guardians - June 7th Wednesday, June 7th from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. Hillcrest High School - 1900 Dauphin Road Hillcrest School Council is pleased to extend an invitation to all parents, guardians, caregivers, service providers and teachers to attend a special Health and Wellness Information Evening on Wednesday June 7th from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. in the library at Hillcrest High School. There will be two Psychologists from CHEO presenting on the topics of Teenage Behaviour and the Developing Brain as well as Concussions 101 followed by a Q&A session. This event is supported by a Parent Reaching Out (PRO) Grant via the Ministry of Ontario. Half Moon Bay PS Fun Day! - June 8 Thursday, June 8 from 5:00 - 7:00pm Half Moon Bay Public School - 3525 River Run Drive You are invited to join us as Half Moon Bay Public School hosts its first annual end of year Fun Day! There will be games galore: inflatable obstacle course, bouncy truck, Kids Fitness League Body Zorbs and Hamster Ball, Teacher Sponge Throw, Egg & Spoon Race, Three- Legged Race, Potato Sack Race, Obstacle Course, Face Painting, Raffle Table, and Fun Photo Booth! You and your family can also enjoy a variety of food from Nando's, Big D's, Pizza e Panini and The Merry Dairy. So grab your picnic blanket and get ready for some fun while we celebrate the completion of a fantastic inaugural year! (*The event will be held indoors if it rains.) Admission fee and all proceeds go to Half Moon Bay School Council. Goulbourn Middle School 50th Anniversary - June 14 Wednesday, June 14 from 5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Goulbourn Middle School - 2176 Huntley Road. We invite all former and current students, parents, staff, and volunteers of Goulbourn Middle School to come out and celebrate with us. We look forward to opening the school and sharing in your memories. Join for party games, school tours and cake and ice cream! RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/mhrnfym 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. National Aboriginal Day - June 21 June 21st is a nationally recognized day that gives people a chance to learn more about Indigenous people and their contributions towards the country's development and progress. It is a day for all Canadians to recognize and celebrate the unique heritage, diverse cultures and outstanding contributions of First Nations, Métis and Inuit. Celebrations are scheduled across the country. This link can be used to find events in Ottawa - http://aboriginaldaylive.ca/ottawa/ Glashan Public School 125th Year Anniversary - June 22 Thursday, June 22 from 4:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Glashan Public School - 28 Arlington Avenue Glashan is celebrating it's 125th anniversary on Thursday, June 22, 2017. Former and current students, staff and families are invited to attend this important event at Glashan School (28 Arlington Avenue) from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. followed by a post celebration at the Ottawa Curling Club (440 O'Connor St.) from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Elizabeth Park Public School Closing Ceremony - June 27 Tuesday, June 27, 2017 from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Elizabeth Park Public School - 15 De Niverville Drive Current and former parents/guardians, staff, students and community members are invited to enjoy outdoor games and food. Continuing Education Newsletter - 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 anywhereto 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. Canadian Council of the Blind (CCB) Mobile Eye Clinic program for school children. The CCB Mobile Eye Clinic program gives school children an opportunity to have a comprehensive eye examination performed by an optometrist in school, eliminating the need for parents to take time off work, and ensuring that all children receive appropriate vision care. The CCB has operated successful clinics in a number of elementary schools in Ottawa, Cornwall, Pembroke, and surrounding areas of Eastern Ontario. Eventually, it hopes to bring Mobile Eye Clinics to schools across Canada. Watch the video at https://youtu.be/d3Zvg2upaOI to better understand how the program works and how it has helped children and their parents. 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. 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 som e 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