School 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  [email protected] . 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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  [email protected],  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.
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 & S chool  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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