HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Council Updates 2018/9/1 - #1School Council Update #1 - September 7, 2018
WELCOME BACK!
I hope you had a fantastic summer and are settling into a new school year. It
always takes a bit of time to get settled into new routines.
This is an exciting year at the OCDSB! We have made many improvements to our
school buildings over the summer and more work is underway. We have welcomed
new teachers and students and have great things planned in our schools. We are
continuing to automate our business processes to make things easier for families.
Later this fall, we will welcome a new Board of Trustees and announce a new
Director of Education. We will also be spending a lot of time reaching out to parents
to get your thoughts about the priorities that should guide our district as we develop
our next strategic plan. This newsletter and our Keeping You Connected will keep
you up to date throughout the year.
In the short term there are two dates you should mark on your calendars:
September 26th - Rowan Stringer Day
November 3rd - OCDSB Parent Conference and School Council Training
Day
You can learn more about these events in this newsletter.
So welcome back, and thanks for choosing OCDSB. We are committed to providing
a safe and caring learning environment for every student. I hope you have a great
year.
Important Information
Looking Ahead to a New School Year - Director's Welcome
The start of a new school year is always exciting. This year there has been a lot of
discussion about public education, curriculum and strategies to support student
learning. Learn more by taking a moment to read this welcome back
message from Director Jennifer Adams.
School Bus Transportation
With school back in session, we all need to be extra careful on the roads watching
for students walking or cycling to school or waiting at bus stops. For those using
school buses, it takes a week or two for everyone to get used to new bus routes
and schedules. If you have experienced delays, please be patient. Inquiries about
busing should be directed to OSTA.
Municipal Elections - October 22nd
The 2018 Municipal and School Board election is Monday, October 22nd. School
board trustees are elected for a four year term. Trustees provide important
oversight to school board and are responsible for setting strategic priorities, policy
and budgets. Trustees are also a really important connection to the community
and consider the concerns and interests of constituents when making Board
decisions. Check out these election resources prepared in English and French by
the Ontario Education Services Corporation. These include:
1. ‘Making a Difference for Kids' Guidebook
2. Posters and newspaper ads to promote voter participation in school
board elections
3. ‘All Candidates Meeting’ Guide
Please see the OCDSB Election Information page for more information.
Continuing Education - Fall Newsletter
Check out the Continuing Education Newsletter for September/October 2018, and
have a look at what is coming up this Fall.
School Council Information
School Council Elections
The election of school council members must be held within 30 days of the start of
the school year. The school community should have 14 days notice of election.
Any parent in the school is eligible to sit on school council. The details about the
election process are outlined in the School Council Policy and in the School
Council Elections Procedure. The election of officers (Chair, Co-chair, Secretary,
Treasurer) happens after the members of the new council have been duly elected.
Don't forget to review your school council constitution for specific provisions with
respect to your school.
New School Council - Contact Information
Please send us an updated list of school council contact information after your
elections. We are looking for names of school council chairs, vice-chairs and/or
co-chairs. Send the information to Policy Analyst Engy Abdel Masieh
at engy.abdel.masieh@ocdsb.ca. As soon as the new school council members
are elected, please e-mail us the following:
Names
Phone numbers
Email addresses
This information is shared with trustees and superintendents and is also used to
keep you up to date on school council information.
Year-End Reporting of School Generated Funds - Due September 21, 2018
By law, school council financial activities must be included in the school board's
year-end financial statements. Please ensure that the information below is
completed and copied in an email to yearendfinancials@ocdsb.ca no later than 21
September 2018.
Your e-mail should include the following:
School Name
School Council Chair
Opening balance of all reconciled bank accounts, investments and cash on
hand on August 1, 2018
The amount raised by school council during the year from August 1, 2017,
to July 31, 2018
The amount spent by school council during the year from August 1, 2017,
to July 31, 2018
Closing balance of all reconciled bank accounts, investments and cash on
hand on July 31, 2018
In cases where your school council's banking arrangements are administered by
the school, the school council is not required to provide this information because
the school's annual report would cover these requirements; however, please
advise Michelle Klein at michelle.klein@ocdsb.ca if your school council is in this
category.
Annual Report - Due October 30 2018
School Councils are required to submit an annual report to the District on its
activities, including fundraising. The school council annual report is a requirement
included in the "School Opening Documentation" process conducted by the
principal.
On or before October 30, 2018, please submit your school council annual report
to your school principal and forward a copy to Policy Analyst Engy Abdel Masieh
either by e-mail at engy.abdel.masieh@ocdsb.ca, or by mail to 133 Greenbank
Road, Ottawa, ON K2H 6L3.
School Council Liability Insurance
The OCDSB provides liability insurance coverage for school councils. The policy
period is November 1, 2018, to November 1, 2019. More information will be
provided to principals and shared with school councils when it becomes available.
Movie Nights by School Council
In order for your school council to show copyright protected movies, the OCDSB
has renewed their video licensing agreements with Criterion Pictures and Audio
Cine Films Inc. for the 2018-2019 school year ending September 1, 2019. Please
contact your school principal for more information on the registration and reporting
requirements.
Important Information for School Councils
School Council Resource Guide
School Council Funds Management Guide
School Council Insurance
Dates to Remember
Trustee Zone Meeting - Looking ahead: the Health Curriculum, the
Indigenous Curriculum and the Anti-Racism initiative at the OCDSB
Trustees Braunovan (Somerset/Kitchissippi), Menard (Ridea -Vanier/Capital) and
Ellis (Rideau-Rockcliffe/Alta Vista) cordially invite you to a joint zone meeting to
discuss and provide feedback on provincial changes or possible changes to the
2015 Health Curriculum, development of the Indigenous Curriculum, and the Anti -
Racism initiative.
Thursday, September 13, 2018
6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
Lady Evelyn Public School, 63 Evelyn Ave.
On the agenda:
short panel presentations on the Health Curriculum, the Indigenous
Curriculum and the Anti-Racism initiative followed by a Q & A;
small group discussions on the three curricula/initiatives in the context of
the OCDSB, facilitated by the trustees;
trustee summaries and next steps.
School Year Calendar
The 2018-2019 school year elementary and secondary calendars are available on
our website, and a hard copy was distributed to students and staff this week. The
highlights include School Holidays, PA Days, and District-wide Secondary
Testing.
Parent Conference &
School Council Training Day
2018-2019
We're very excited to announce that
we will again be hosting the OCDSB
Parent Conference. The event is
held in partnership with the Parent
Involvement Committee (PIC) and
the Ottawa-Carleton Assembly
of School Councils (OCASC).
Mark your calendar for Saturday,
November 3rd, 2018, and stay tuned
for further information.
The conference will be held at
Gloucester High School.
Speaker Series 2018-2019
Enjoy these free information
sessions highlighting leading ideas
in education that will allow us to work
collaboratively to better support
student learning.
Upcoming session:
Concussion Management
Wednesday, September 26, 2018
7:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Sir Robert Borden High School - 131
Greenbank Road
Gordon & Kathleen Stringer
and
Dr. Michael Vassilyadi,
Pediatric Neurosurgeon, CHEO
Founder, CHEO Concussion Clinic -
Ottawa Chapter
Director for ThinkFirst/ Parachute
Board and Committee of the Whole Meetings
The first regularly scheduled Committee of the Whole meeting of the school year
will be held on September 18, 2018. The Public session begins at 7:30 p.m.
Watch the meeting live here.
Upcoming Committee Meetings:
9/12/2018 7:00 PM Special Education Advisory Committee
9/18/2018 7:00 PM Committee of the Whole, Public
9/20/2018 7:00 PM OCASC Secondary School Committee
9/24/2018 7:00 PM Advisory Committee on the Arts
9/25/2018 7:30 PM Board, Public
9/26/2018 7:00 PM Audit Committee
9/27/2018 6:00 PM Advisory Committee on Equity
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.
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