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School Council Update #27 - March 30, 2018
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I wanted to provide an update on the issue of school council funds management. This week the Board decided not to proceed with the proposed consultation and instead referred the item back to staff and to the Audit Committee for further consideration. We heard a lot of feedback from school councils and that feedback will be important in planning next steps. There were some questions about resources and supports. Here is a link to our current
policy and
procedure and our
School Council Funds Management Guide. If you have questions, we are always happy to help.
I hope you have a wonderful long weekend.
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Minister of Education's Ninth Annual PIC Symposium - April 20-21, 2018
We are looking for 2 parents who are members of a school council and interested in attending the Minister’s Ninth Annual PIC Symposium in Toronto on Friday, April 20 to Saturday, April 21 at the Chelsea Hotel, Toronto. The symposium will provide an opportunity for parents from across the province to come together to discuss the importance of parent engagement and to participate in meaningful networking and collaboration. The symposium will feature engaging speakers, facilitated discussions, workshops, tools and resources for parents to support their children’s learning and well-being. Travel and accommodation will be provided.
If you are a parent on a school council and are interested in attending this session with members of the OCDSB Parent Involvement Committee, and OCASC representatives you can put your name forward for one of the two spots. Please send an email to Nicole Guthrie at
[email protected]
. by noon on April 10th with your name, school, and position on school council. If we have more names than spaces, we will draw the names and notify those whose names are selected by end of day April 10th.
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Autism Parent Information Night - Wednesday, April 18, 2018 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
April is World Autism Awareness month and the OCDSB will be hosting an information night for parents/guardians. This is an amazing opportunity for parents/ guardians to learn more about Autism and the supports available through our Autism Spectrum Disorder Team. Participants will have the opportunity to listen to keynote speaker
Jennifer Krumins
,
attend two workshop sessions and explore partner information booths. Jennifer helps parents, families and professionals deepen their understanding of Autism.
Workshop session topics include:
What’s new in Autism?, Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA), What is an IEP and IPRC?, The Autism Team at the OCDSB, Communication and Social Skills Strategies, and Planning for Successful Transitions.
Location:
Sir Robert Borden High School
Register Now!
There is no cost or fee to participate in this conference. Light refreshments will be provided. Free parking is available behind the school.
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International Baccalaureate Program Implementation Plan - Merivale High School
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board is planning to introduce a new International Baccalaureate (IB) program at Merivale High School beginning in the Fall of 2019. This would be the second IB program in the district after the existing program at Colonel By Secondary School. In order to best serve the community, we would like your thoughts about the new program. Specifically, decisions need to be made about enrolment boundaries for the two IB programs, semestering and start times.
On March 27, 2018 a consultation process was approved by Board related to a number of decision surrounding the implementation of a new Merivale High School IB program. One of those decisions is the determination of program boundary areas for both the existing IB site at Colonel By Secondary School and the new site to be located at Merivale High School. Other decisions relate to implementation issues at Merivale High School - specifically semestering or non-semestering and school start times.
Your thoughts will help shape the direction that the new program takes. Next week more information will be posted on our website. There will be an opportunity to provide feedback during our Open Houses or online through our website over the next month.
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Kids learn to defend their data with new privacy game - Data Defenders
A new game is coming to Canadian classrooms and homes, designed not just to entertain children but also to teach them how to protect their privacy.
Data Defenders
shows kids how ad brokers try to collect their personal information and offers strategies to keep that information private.
As Canadians learn more about how companies collect and use their data, from influencing voting choices to selling products, they are increasingly worried about their privacy. But it’s not just adults who are at risk – marketers also target children, who are least equipped to protect themselves. Data Defenders is a timely tool to help teach important lessons about online privacy to kids.
The online game is accompanied by parent and teacher guides and a lesson plan for grades 4 to 6 that further reinforces privacy learning. All materials, including the game, can be accessed free of charge on the
MediaSmarts website
.
Data Defenders was made possible by financial contributions from the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada.
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Continuing Education
March/April Newsletter
Take a look at what is coming up in the Continuing Education Department in the New Year in our
March/April 2018 Newsletter.We have International Language Programs, Literacy and Numeracy Support Programs, Workplace Training and Academic Upgrading Programs and more.
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School Ground Greening Workshops 2018
Join us for a FREE series of inspiring workshops designed to help you plan a successful and sustainable school ground greening project. Workshops are open to all Ottawa schools and daycares that want to engage their students in creating healthy, stimulating play and learning spaces. Teachers, administrators, parents, custodians,students and community volunteers are all welcome.
More information can be found
here
.
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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?
Parent Information Night at Severn PS - April 19th
Ottawa Public Health nurses will discuss topics on self-regulation, temperament, and resilience in the early years. Please note that a light supper will be provided.
When: Thursday, April 19, 2018, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Where: Severn Public School - 2553 Severn Ave
Check out our new
School News
section of the website to learn about more events in our schools!
Want to spread the word about your event? Send us an email at:
[email protected].
We will help publicize your events on our website.
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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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Math Facts -
Paying Attention to Well-Being in the Mathematics Classroom
In Ontario, we recognize that the study of mathematics equips students with knowledge, skills, and habits of mind that are essential for successful and rewarding participation in society.
The ministry’s vision for the mathematics learner recognizes that students need classroom experiences that help them to:
• develop math understanding
• learn important facts, skills and procedures
• develop the ability to apply the processes of mathematics
• acquire a positive attitude towards mathematics
• build autonomy as a math learner
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Speaker Series
Winter 2018
Equity in Action - April 5, 2018 - 7:00 – 9:00 p.m.
Speaker: Chris D’souza – Motivational Speaker and Human Rights Strategist
Self-regulation for Children and Parents - April 19, 2017 - 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Speaker: Dr. Susan Hopkins - Executive Director - The MEHRIT Centre
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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School Council - Insurance Coverage for Bouncy Castles
The District has purchased school council insurance on behalf of all OCDSB school councils. However, if your school council is planning to use a bouncy castle, you must ensure the vendor has liability insurance and that they are Technical Safety Standards Authority (TSSA) certified. The vendor should be the only persons responsible for installing and running the bouncy castle. Principals and school council representatives are cautioned not to sign any agreement accepting all liability. Dunk tanks should not be used.
2018-19 Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grants for School Councils - APPLICATIONS NOW ACCEPTED
We know that good schools become great schools when parents are involved in their children's learning and well-being. Ontario's PRO Grants are designed to support parents in identifying barriers to parent engagement in their own community and developing local solutions to address these barriers in support of student achievement, human rights and equity, and well-being. Your School Council can now submit an application at
http://education.factorial.ca
. The application deadline is Tuesday, June 5, 2018 11:59 p.m. EST.
For any questions about PRO Grants, please contact the Parent and Community Engagement Office, Ministry of Education at
[email protected]
.
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 Board meeting will be April 3rd, 2018 in the boardroom at 133 Greenbank Road at 7:00 p.m. Read the full agenda
here
.
Some Important Upcoming Boardroom Discussions
The Board of Trustees has a number of discussions planned on upcoming meeting agendas. A few things that school councils and parents will be interested in:
- Indigenous Education Advisory Council - on Tuesday, April 3rd, Committee of the Whole will discuss the consultation plan about the creation of a new advisory council on Indigenous Education - read more here (click on the link for report 18-043);
- Advisory Committee on Equity - on Tuesday, April 3rd, Committee of the Whole will discuss revisions to the policy on the Advisory Committee on Equity. The proposed changes are related to the structure and composition of the committee - read more here;
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Upcoming Meetings:
Read our Boardroom Highlights
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
If you forward this message, please delete all of the text from the "forward e-mail" link at the bottom left of the newsletter (just outside of the border). Otherwise, anyone who receives the message can click the opt-out button at the bottom of the newsletter and unsubscribe your name from our distribution list. If you are not on our distribution list feel free to subscribe or email
[email protected]
.
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