The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutSchool Council Update 2019/3/1 - # 24School Council Update # 24 - March 1st, 2019 This week, I had the tremendous good fortune to meet our Speaker Series presenter Tracy Schmitt - appropriately known as Unstoppable Tracy. Tracy, a four way amputee from birth, brings "inspirational" to a whole new level! In a very dynamic presentation, she shared with us the 3 keys to becoming an unstoppable you - her "Limb-it-less" Secret:  Exceed uncertainty  Embrace possibility  Earn independence Tracy reminded us about the need to set high expectations and to take extraordinary action to achieve success. Some top take away thoughts from her presentation:  Who you surround yourself with is who you become;  We are never alone, there are lifelines all around us, we just need to use them.  Don't avoid failure;  What you focus on grows (positively or negatively);  A good excuse limits you; when you have no excuses you have no limits;  When people see you in action; they act!  The kinds of questions you ask determines the kinds of answers you find! Important Information "Momo Challenge" - Cyberbullying threat and Internet Hoax Parents should be aware of an online issue referred to as the “Momo Challenge.” This is a cyberbullying threat and Internet hoax. It appears to have started with the insertion of animated "witch" faces in You tube videos and has spread on other popular social media platforms and online gaming platforms. It was reported that children and adolescents were being enticed by a character named Momo to perform a series of dangerous tasks including violent attacks and suicide. There is concern that the "challenge" element will spread quickly and could lead to risks in student behaviour, feelings of anxiety and stress and student bullying. While this may an internet hoax, the risks of cyberbullying are real and can lead to increased behavioural risks, anxiety and stress. At school, we are using this as an opportunity to have intentional conversations about online safety and encourage parents to do the same. The following strategies might be useful in these discussions:  Remind children not to communicate with strangers online and refrain from sharing personal information and photos with anyone they do not know;  Encourage children to share any worries or concerns with a trusted adult, parent or educator;  Encourage children to stop watching or listening;  Ensure children understand the complex realities of internet challenges, hoaxes and the pressure that can arise when something “goes viral”;  Remind children that no one has the right to make them do anything they do not want to do; It is also important for parents to know what children are accessing online. Some strategies to support this include:  Setting privacy settings for all social media and gaming applications;  Keeping video games and YouTube watching in shared family spaces;  Setting up video game restrictions to friends only;  Set up “restricted” mode on YouTube for your child’s account so inappropriate content is not available to them or stream YouTube content through a family-friendly site such as watchkin.com.  Look for digital citizenship safety tips – here’s an example: Online Safety Rules for Kids https://canadasafetycouncil.org/online-safety-rules-kids/  Other resources can be found at saferkidsonline.info, prevnet.ca and cybertip.ca There are a number of resources that parents can access to assist in these conversations, including the following:  Cyberbullying - How to Stay Safe  Am I Cyberbullying?  Internet Safety Resources (Children Under 11) or Internet Safety Resources (Children Over 11) If you have any questions or believe your child needs additional support, please contact your school. OCDSB Announces the Appointment of Eric Hardie to Superintendent of Instruction The OCDSB is pleased to welcome Eric Hardie to the position of Superintendent of Instruction. Eric's first day in this new role will be April 8th, 2019. He has fourteen years of K- 12 leadership in urban and rural settings and is currently the Principal of Experiential Learning in the Upper Canada District School Board. Welcome Eric! Stay Connected with your child's school with the OCDSB App Check out the new OCDSB mobile app. It makes staying connected with your children’s school(s) easy and accessible: 1. Download the app. 2. Choose the school(s) you want to follow and gain access to school calendars and school news. 3. As a bonus you get busing information, cancellations or delays, school directory, emergency alert notifications and other communications. But wait…there’s more…you can get two apps in one. The School Messenger app is available within the OCDSB app and will give you access to your child’s attendance, school-to-parent communications and more. So download it now! Get the free OCDSB app at the App Store or for Android in the Google Play Store. Proposed 2019-2020 School Year Calendar For those looking to start planning for next year, the proposed calendar for the 2019-2020 school year is now available on our website. Please note that this is subject to Ministry Approval. Parent Involvement Committee Seeking Community Representatives The OCDSB is seeking two Community Representatives to serve on its Parent Involvement Committee (PIC). If your organization is interested in appointing a staff or community representative to PIC, please consider submitting an application. For more information about the PIC, eligibility criteria and the submission process please visit our website. School Ground Greening Workshop Join us for a free series of inspiring workshops designed to help you plan a successful and sustainable school ground greening project. Workshops are run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Immaculata High School - 140 Main Street. Upcoming Workshop Site Design: Getting From Here to There - Saturday, March 2nd, 2019 A large floor model will demonstrate what information you will need to gather before you can create your plan. Learn about how results from school surveys are used to design a project. Participants are invited to describe their school ground and share their site plans, photos and any ideas they have for involving children and enlisting volunteers from the school community. Reminders OCDSB 2019 Community Member Recognition Awards Volunteers make such an important contribution to our schools. The OCDSB Community Member Recognition Awards are a great opportunity for you to recognize that individuals in your school or community who make a difference. If you know a community member, parents, volunteer, or business partner who has made a difference please consider nominating them through our formal recognition awards program. Online nomination forms must be completed no later than 4:00 p.m. Friday, March 29th, 2019. The 2019 awards will be presented at the Volunteer Appreciation Reception and Community Recognition Awards Ceremony on Thursday, June 13th, 2019, at 6:30 p.m. in the Cafetorium at the Confederation Education Centre. Learn more about our Award Categories. Secondary Course Selection Educational planning is very important to success in high school. Making informed decisions will help students to choose the most appropriate courses for their strengths, interests and abilities. Our Online Secondary School Course Guide allows students to review the courses offered at their secondary school. Specific dates by school can be found by either contacting the school directly, or by looking on their website. Smart Start Youth Summit - March 16th & 17th Smart Start Youth Summit is a free, all-expenses paid weekend leadership retreat for youth aged 13-24. For application details and FAQs visit the website. Governor General's History Award for Excellence in Teaching Each year, Canada’s History Society recognizes 6 teachers for innovative approaches to teaching Canadian history. Applications are due April 1st, 2019. Visit CanadasHistory.ca/GGAward. Paint it Up! - Funding Available for Mural Art Projects Funding is available for outdoor mural art projects that support graffiti prevention, youth empowerment, community safety and the beautification of Ottawa neighborhoods. Applications must be received on April 2nd, 2019. Ottawa Public Health (OPH) Immunization All children attending school between ages 4 to 17 need to be immunized according to Ontario's Immunization Schedule. OPH has the authority to suspend from attending school students for whom OPH does not have a record of immunization. Parents can contact OPH by phoning 613-580-6744 or visit parentinginottawa.ca/immunization. Learn more here. School Council Information School Council Liability Insurance The following text serves to clarify the difference in insurance coverage between the School Council’s liability insurance, and the District’s liability insurance. The School Council Liability Insurance, paid for by the District, applies when members of School Council (as defined in the School Council Constitution) are acting within the scope of their duties, and the event is organized and controlled by the school council. Coverage exclusions, under this policy, include, but not limited to, pyrotechnics and fireworks, sports teams and all organized sport activities, skiing, fitness training, gymnastics, and stage/prop construction. If school councils engage in activities beyond the scope of their duties, e.g. running music programs, social activities, or sports clubs, they are advised to:  Not use the school name and clearly stating, in any correspondence to parents, that it is not a school sanctioned event;  Purchase an additional insurance policy, as the event is not covered the School Council Liability Insurance;  If using the school or school property, book the space through the Community  Use of Schools (CUS) department;  Consider using a consent form for persons participating in the event; and  Consider a vetting process for all volunteers. The District’s insurance policy provides liability coverage for school council members only when they are acting as volunteers to a principal-approved, organized and supervised event. For more information, please check the School Council Insurance webpage. Should you have any questions, please contact the Risk Management Team. Important Information for School Councils School Council Resource Guide School Council Funds Management Guide School Council Insurance School News There are a lot of amazing events going on in our district. Check out the School News section of our website to learn about some of the great things happening in our schools! Vimy Ridge Public School's Chapters Night - March 6th, 2019 From 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Wednesday March 6th, a percentage of every purchase at Chapters South Keys will come back to Vimy Ridge Public School's Library. The proceeds from the evening will help add to their collection of books for the students. This is an excellent time to get some shopping done and help Vimy Ridge fill their shelves. Note that this is only applicable to the South Keys Chapters at 2210 Bank Street, Ottawa. Want to spread the word about your event? Send us an email at: