Building Brighter Futures Together
at the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board
School Council Update #21 - February 7, 2020
With increasing strike action across the province, many parents are asking whether they need to worry about the school year. Although some days have been lost due to strike action, we believe parents and students should not be concerned about the status of the school year or whether students will be able to advance to the next grade.

Under the School Boards Collective Bargaining Act, the Education Relations Commission is responsible for deciding whether a strike would put the successful completion of the school year in jeopardy. There is no exact formula when it comes to determining this.

However, we know that learning continues to happen in schools and teachers will do their best to ensure all curriculum areas are taught. Based on previous education strikes in Ontario, we do not believe the current labour situation will reach a point where parents and students should fear the loss of the school year.
Important Information
The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario (ETFO) has announced it intends to hold additional walkouts next week. Strike actions on both Tuesday, February 11th and Thursday, February 13th will affect the OCDSB. No OSSTF walkouts are scheduled for Ottawa next week.

Unless an agreement is reached, all OCDSB elementary schools will be closed to students on February 11th and February 13th. This includes classes for grade 7/8 students in secondary schools with grades 7-12.

The OCDSB will continue to send updates regarding additional labour actions .
There are currently  no confirmed or presumptive cases of novel coronavirus in Ottawa .

The Public Health Agency of Canada has assessed the public health risk associated with the current novel coronavirus infection in Wuhan, China as low for Canada. Public health risk is continually reassessed as new information becomes available.

Latest Information
  • In Canada, it is now recommended that incoming travellers who were in Hubei province within the last 14 days self-isolate and connect with their local public health unit for further advice and monitoring.
  • Should there be a positive case of the novel Coronavirus, additional instructions are that anyone with close contact to that confirmed case also self-isolate for 14 days.

Every week day at 10:30 a.m.,  the Province of Ontario's novel coronavirus web page   is updated with the most up-to-date information including the status of cases in Ontario. Follow Ottawa Public Health on   Twitter   or   Facebook   to receive notification of updates.

The OCDSB will keep district and school websites up to date with the most current information relevant to our schools. Learn more .
We were extremely pleased to have Krista Oswald from Ottawa Public Health join us for our Speaker Series on Thursday night. Attendees had the opportunity to learn the facts about vaping, and strategies for talking with their teens about it. The presentation will be available on   our website   shortly.
February is recognized as  Black History Month   in Canada. It’s a time to celebrate Black culture and history, and to applaud the achievements and significant contributions Black Canadians have made to build Canada and to make this country the diverse, welcoming and the strong nation it is today. Learn more .
There's still time to register for the Winter 2020 Night School Sessions . Deadline is Friday, February 14th, 2020 .

Classes will run from February 20th to May 26th, 2020.
Nominations are open for the 2020 OTIP Teaching Awards. These awards recognize teacher excellence in publicly funded education. Anyone can submit a nomination. Nominations close on March 31st, 2020 .  Learn more.
Reminders
If your child will be 4 years old before December 31st, 2020, then they are ready to start kindergarten in September 2020. Call or stop by your child’s new school to pick up a registration package, or  register online !
As part of its Right to Read inquiry, the Ontario Human Rights Commission has launched a survey for students with reading disabilities and their parents and guardians.
All 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 Ottawa Public Health . OPH has the authority to suspend students who have not provided a record of immunization from attending school. Learn more .
School Council Information
Board and Committee of the Whole Meetings
The next public Committee of the Whole meeting will be held on February 18th, 2020 , in the boardroom at 133 Greenbank Road at 7:30 p.m.

 Watch the meeting  live here .

Upcoming Committee Meetings: 

For a summary of our board meetings, read our Boardroom Newsbriefs here .
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