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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSchool Council Update 2019 5 17 - #34School Council Update #34 - May 17th, 2019 This week, the OCDSB hosted a Date for Diversity. It was a powerful opportunity to learn from the experiences of our students, staff and community members. This is an important part of our commitment to foster equitable and inclusive environments to support learning, well-being and belonging. Our new draft strategic plan lays the foundation for creating the conditions and culture necessary for this. Our new plan is about building a culture of innovation, a culture of caring and a culture of social responsibility. It recognizes culture as a driver of change. Please take a few minutes to review the draft plan. We'd love to hear your feedback. You can read the draft plan poster in PDF, or you can read the draft plan in HTML which allows use of the translation feature on our website. Please share your feedback by June 7th. Learn more Important Information Asian Heritage Month May is Asian Heritage Month in Canada, a time to celebrate the contributions that Canadians of Asian origin have made for Canada to be the culturally diverse, compassionate and prosperous country we know today. For 2019, the theme of the Government of Canada's Asian Heritage Month campaign is "Asian Canadian Youth: Shaping Canada's Future." This year's campaign highlights the contributions that Asian Canadian youth have made, and continue to make, in shaping Canada's heritage and identity. Victoria Day - Monday, May 20th, 2019 All OCDSB Elementary Schools, Secondary Schools and Administrative buildings will be closed on Monday, May 20th, for Victoria Day. A Date with Diversity On Tuesday, May 14th, approximately 170 students, staff and community members gathered at Canterbury High School for an evening of sharing and learning about diversity, equity and inclusion. The event A Date with Diversity - Journeying from Diversity to Equity engaged participants in conversation to expand the District's capacity to build relationship with and knowledge about the experiences of our students and parents single or intersecting identities. Through stories and discussions, participants explored how the diverse identities, stories and voices of students, staff, parents and community members matter to inform strategies and practices to fulfill our commitment to foster an equitable and inclusive culture to support learning, well-being and a sense of belonging for the entire OCDSB community. Cancelled: Student Movie Night - May 27th, 2019 The Movie Night scheduled for Monday, May 27th, has been cancelled. We apologize for any inconvenience. Notice of Public Consultation Meeting – May 23rd, 2019 New Fernbank Elementary School Over the past few months a locally-formed working group has been meeting to discuss potential accommodation proposals related to the future opening of a new elementary school in the Fernbank development area. The planned opening of a new elementary school in the Fernbank development area is currently the highest-ranked capital priority of the Board. Although capital funding for a New Fernbank Elementary School has not yet been received from the Province, completion of the study will be beneficial given the timing of the requirement. A Public Consultation Meeting will be held to seek feedback regarding a proposed plan. Input received at the meeting will assist staff in developing recommendations to the Board. Some of the specific issues we will be seeking input on include:  A proposed opening grade structure, program offering, and attendance boundary for the New Fernbank Elementary School;  An associated proposed revision to the attendance area for John Young Elementary School;  A potential revision to Fernbank area Middle French Immersion attendance boundaries. Please plan to attend this important meeting to be held: Date: Thursday May 23rd, 2019 Time: 7.00 p.m. to 9.00 p.m. Place: John Young Elementary School (gymnasium) 5 Morton Drive, Kanata ON K2L 1W7 At the meeting there will be a brief presentation by Board staff, followed by a Question & Answer period. Staff will be available following the meeting to answer questions on an individual basis. An Information Package providing details of the study and the proposed plan will be available at the meeting. Additional information about the study can be found on the OCDSB website. OCDSB Volunteer Appreciation Reception and Community Recognition Awards June 13th, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. 1645 Woodroffe Avenue Please join us as we celebrate the valuable contributions of all our volunteers and celebrate our 2019 Community Recognition Award winners and nominees at our annual appreciation event. This is our chance to show our appreciation for the contributions our volunteers make every day in supporting students, staff and our schools. This is a wonderful opportunity for us to connect with our community and show our appreciation for the significant and valued work that our volunteers do in our schools for our students. Register Now Reminders Parent Information Sessions: The Parent-Child Connection New approaches to parenting center on what can be done to build resilience and strength in children, by focusing on the parent-child connection. Attend one of the upcoming sessions. Parent Information Sessions: Self-Regulation in Childhood and Adolescence Develop a deeper understanding of behaviour from a self-regulation and biological perspective. Join us as we discuss strategies to help support your child’s skills at home. Proposed 2019-2020 School Year Calendar - Subject to Ministry Approval The proposed calendar for the 2019-2020 school year is now available on our website. Ottawa Public Health (OPH) Immunization All children attending school between ages 4 to 17 need to be immunized according to Ontario's Immunization Schedule. Parents can contact OPH by phoning 613-580-6744 or visit their website. Continuing Education Newsletter - May to June 2019 Take a look at what's coming up in the Continuing Education Department this Spring and Summer. Stay Connected with your child's school with the OCDSB App The new OCDSB mobile app makes staying connected with your children’s school(s) easy and accessible. Learn more. School Council Information Important Information for School Councils Facts for Garage Sale Vendors Spring is a popular time for schools to hold fund raising activities. One activity that has attracted the attention of Health Canada from a safety perspective is garage sales. Health Canada has released a memorandum entitled "Facts for Garage Sale Vendors" which clearly states the following: "Everyone holding a garage sale is legally responsible for ensuring that products sold, whether new or used, are safe and meet current safety standards. Damaged articles should be discarded." In addition, the Hazardous Products Act places safety requirements on certain products, particularly those intended for use by children - it is against the law to import, sell, give away or lend products that do not meet this Act. Some of the most common products that often appear in garage sales that must meet the Hazardous Products Act include (but are not limited to) the following:  Baby Gates - certain designs can result in strangulation hazards  Baby Walkers (these devices have been illegal to sell in Canada since April 2004)  Child Car Seats - seats must meet the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standard  Children's Jewellery - lead is often used in the decorative paint or the materials used to manufacture inexpensive jewellery  Children's Sleepwear - loose fitting cotton fabrics may not meet flammability requirements.  Baby Cribs - cribs made before September 1986 are illegal to sell under the law.  Lawn darts - illegal to sell if they have elongated tips.  Playpens, Baby Carriages/Strollers made before 1985  Toys - may present choking hazards, sharp protrusions, disrepair - beware of recalled toy  Toys or Science kits with magnets - can create intestinal blockage if swallowed  Bicycle, rollerblading, equestrian helmets - designed for a single impact and should not be re-sold Other School Council Resources: 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! Robert Hopkins Public School Family Fun Fair - May 25th On Saturday, May 25th, 2019, Robert Hopkins Public School will be hosting their annual Fun Fair and Silent Auction. Don't miss this fun, affordable, family event taking place from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Robert Hopkins PS (2011 Glenfern Ave., Gloucester). Learn more. Want to spread the word about your event? Send us an email at: schoolnewslettersinfo@ocdsb.ca. We will help publicize your events on our website. Dates to Remember School Year Calendars The 2018-2019 school year elementary and secondary calendars are available on our website. Highlights include School Holidays, PA Days, and District-wide Secondary Testing. Board and Committee of the Whole Meetings The next public Committee of the Whole meeting will be on May 21st, 2019. Read the full agenda here. Watch the meeting ...