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School Council Update #17 - January 12, 2018
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Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful break. The first week back is always a bit hectic, especially when the weather changes so quickly and dramatically!
The start of a new calendar year is often a time for reflection and promise. I was thinking about that while reading an article about why parent involvement in education matters. People for Education has looked at 30 years of research and has created a great summary of the things that have the most impact on your child's education - there are great resources on their website but take a few minutes to learn the top 4 things that parents can do to make a difference in their child's education -
watch the video.
This is the time of year when many important education decisions are made - read more below!
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Kindergarten Information Nights
Welcome to Kindergarten! If your child will be age four by December 31, 2018, they are ready for kindergarten starting September 2018. We are excited to share information with families about the wonderful kindergarten programs in our schools. Join us at one of our
Kindergarten Information Nights
to learn more. If you know someone in the community with a child of kindergarten age, please encourage them to attend!
Elementary PA Day - January 26, 2018
A reminder that January 26, 2018 is a PA day for all elementary students (K-8). Extended Day Programs operated by the district will be operating on that day only for children enrolled in the extended day programs or eligible to attend PA day programs.
Grade 9 Math EQAO Assessments -
EQAO Assessments for students taking Grade 9 math will be held between January 15 - January 26.
Each school will provide specific dates for EQAO Assessment. Here is a
tip sheet
for parents - available in many languages.
Secondary Exams - Semester 1 - January 25-31st
Secondary school exams (grades 9-12) run from Thursday, January 25 to Wednesday, January 31st, 2018.
Check your school website for a copy of the exam schedule. In the event that an individual school must be closed on a day during the examination schedule, examinations scheduled to be written at that school on that day, will be written on the next day that the school is open.
Semester 2 begins Tuesday, February 1, 2018.
Parents - this is the time to start talking to your child about building a balanced study schedule that includes plenty of sleep, exercise and fresh air.
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Tips for Parents of Grade 8 Students - High School Courses and Choices
Entering high school is an important time in your child’s education. Over the next month, our secondary schools will be hosting open house nights for students and families to learn more about program offerings and high school. Check the school website for dates and times. Planning for high school is an exciting time, this
tip sheet is a good reference point to start having those conversations. This sheet is available in many languages.
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Algonquin College
Winter Open House 2018 - Saturday, January 20, 2018 9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Ottawa Campus - Marketplace Food Court (Building D)
Display Tables, Presentations, Tours and Activities!
Meet
instructors and students. Staff will be on hand to help you apply online to the program of your choice. General Campus Tours will be ongoing throughout the event.
For more information please visit
ontariocolleges.ca.
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Invitation to serve on Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) - Deadline - Friday, January 26, 2018
We are currently seeking to appoint one (1) Community Representative and up to five (5) Local Associations to its SEAC. Applications will be accepted from from interested community members and local associations and for membership on SEAC.
Applications for Community Representative
Applicants for the Community representative to SEAC should have knowledge of special education issues, and understanding of the OCDSB’s programs and services, and appreciation of the role and responsibility of SEAC. Applicants for Community Representative must meet the following criteria in order to be considered a candidate:
- Eighteen years of age or older;
- A public school elector;
- Reside within the Board’s area of jurisdiction, and
- Not an employee of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
Applications for Local Associations
The Education Act stipulates that local associations represented on SEAC must
operate locally within the area of jurisdiction of the board;
- be affiliated with an association or organization that is incorporated and operates throughout Ontario to further the interests and well-being of one or more groups of exceptional children or adults; and
- not represent professional educators.
The nominated representative and alternate representative must
meet the following criteria in order to be considered a candidate:
- Eighteen years of age or older;
- A public school elector;
- Reside within the Board’s area of jurisdiction, and
- Not an employee of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board.
We invite all those interested to apply for membership by submitting a completed application form. Online applications must be received by 5:30 p.m. Friday, January 26, 2018.
Applications forms:
Please direct any questions to:
Katrine Mallan, Manager of Board Services
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Ottawa Public Health (OPH) Immunization Surveillance
Under the Immunization of School Pupils Act, students attending school in Ontario are required to be vaccinated against nine (9) diseases or have a valid exemption. Parents are required to report all immunizations done at the doctor's office to OPH. Under this Act, OPH has the authority to suspend from attending school students for whom OPH does not have a record of immunization.
Parents/guardians of these students would have received written notice from OPH in the mail on November 22, 2017 for elementary students. Suspension orders are scheduled to be mailed on January 22, 2018 and scheduled to be enforced on February 14, 2018.
More information can be found
here or you may
contact Ottawa Public Health at 613-580-6744.
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School News
There are a lot of amazing events going on in our district. Interested in getting out into the community or looking for ideas?
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When students understand mathematics, they are equipped with knowledge they can bring to every aspect of their lives. Inspiring Your Child to Learn and Love Math is a tool kit for parents. It provides modules with simple, but effective methods and materials for parents. It shows you how to get involved in your children's learning, and offers guidance for working with students of different ages.
This
Parent Tool Kit was developed by experts in mathematics education, with input and advice from parents and students. When families and educators join forces, students of all ages can experience greater success in their learning.
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Continuing Education
January/February Newsletter
Take a look at what is coming up in the Continuing Education Department in the New Year in our
January/February 2018 Newsletter. We have International Language Programs, Literacy and Numeracy Support Programs, Workplace Training and Academic Upgrading Programs and more.
Feeling the need to get outdoors? Join Continuing Education for a
Family Snowshoe Hike
at MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre on Saturday January 20th, 2018. Come explore the forest with your family on a guided snowshoe hike around the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s 425 acre classroom called “MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre”! Experienced Outdoor Education Instructors will guide you and your family along the trails to discover and learn animal signs and tracks, and then relax around the campfire for lunch. Snowshoes & hot dogs will be provided or you can bring your own! The fee is $15.00 per person. To register, please phone or email MacSkimming Outdoor Education Centre to book your family in for this great outdoor adventure!
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Do You Want To Volunteer In An OCDSB School?
Ottawa Volunteers in Education (OVIE) brings volunteers from the community into OCDSB classrooms. OVIE recruits, screens, and trains volunteers to provide much-needed one-to-one support for students. Volunteers provide classroom support in a variety of academic subjects, clubs and activities. Browse through the
volunteer opportunities
and find a placement that best suits your interests and schedule, or simply apply online
here
.
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2017-18 Premier's Awards for Accepting Schools
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Scholarship, Bursaries and Contests
Did you know that there are many free resources available to assist you in your search for scholarships, bursaries and awards? Check out our
website
for more information or talk to your child's guidance counsellor for more information.
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Speaker Series Winter 2018
Mental Health and Addiction – Coping and Resilience
March 1, 2018 - 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Speakers:
Mary Alexandrou - Program Coordinator for the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario’s (CHEO) youth mental health program called YouthNet.
Natalie Markoff – Director of Communication & Partnerships for PLEO – Parents’ Lifelines of Eastern Ontario.
Understanding the Ministry’s new Equity Action Plan from a Parent Perspective
April 5, 2018 - 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Speaker: Chris D’souza – Motivational Speaker and Human Rights Strategist
Enjoy these
free information sessions
-
sponsored by the District's Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) and supported through grant funding from the Ministry of Education.
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School Council Information
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Parent Engagement Matters - How parent engagement is building student success
When parents are involved in their children’s education, everyone benefits – students, parents, teachers, schools and communities. Great schools can become even better places to teach and learn, and student achievement often improves. What is parent engagement? Why is it important? What are the most effective ways for parents to get involved at home and at school? How can educators benefit from parent engagement and support? This
material answers the questions most often asked about parent engagement. Parents, educators and community members can visit www.ontario.ca/EDU to learn more.
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Important Information for School Councils
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Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School
Councils (OCASC)
OCASC is an umbrella organization for school councils and parents in the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) to share information and facilitate communication within the OCDSB communities to enhance the education of all its students.
Contact Information:
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Board and Committee of the Whole Meetings
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The next Committee of the Whole meeting will be January 16, 2018 in the boardroom at 133 Greenbank Road at 7:30 p.m. Read the full agenda
here
.
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Upcoming Meetings:
Read our Boardroom Newsbriefs
here.
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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
.
About the Newsletter
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