School Council Update #7 - October 19th, 2018
Lots of news to share with you this week:
  • With the legalization of cannabis, many parents have questions. From a school perspective, cannabis is treated in much the same way as alcohol - it is a legal substance but cannot be used at school or on school property. We encourage you to attend a parent information session to learn more. See details below.
  • PRO Grants - there are reports that the Ministry PRO Grants have been paused; we are seeking clarification from the Ministry and will provide more information when available;
  • Registration for our Parent Conference and School Council Training Day is now open - see details below;
  • A reminder that the municipal elections are on Monday, October 22nd - please be sure to vote for municipal council and school board trustees.

Important Information
Provincial Consultations: Education in Ontario

In addition to the survey, the Ministry of Education''s consultation on reform includes a series of 90 minute telephone town halls across Ontario. There are 3 telephone town hall meetings scheduled in Ottawa:

  • October 24: 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • October 30: 8:30 – 10:00 p.m. (French)
  • November 2: 12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Participation details:
  • Participants are to provide their telephone number and email address to register for each session. This must be done by 4 p.m. the day before the town hall.
  • Participants will receive an email reminder about the telephone town hall the day before the call, or if the consultation session is cancelled.
  • Participants that don’t register can try calling directly into the toll-free number: 1-800-385-0829.

Additional details can be found here . We encourage all interested parents and/or school councils to provide input into this consultation. Please complete the Ministry online submission form and/or participate in the telephone town hall meetings.
 

Did you know about the Canada Learning Bond? 

The Canada Learning Bond offered by the Government of Canada helps parents get a head start in saving for their child's education after high school. This could be as much as $2,000 for your child's  Registered Education Savings Plan (RESP). After high school, your child can withdraw the money to help pay for either full-time or part-time studies:
  • in an apprenticeship program;
  • at a CEGEP;
  • at a trade school;
  • at a college; or
  • at a university.

Learn more  here.
OCDSB International Certificate Program Information Session

Now in its 7th year, the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board’s International Certificate Program (ICP) continues to grow. This global citizenship initiative gives students direct access to intercultural opportunities at the local, national, and international levels.

Join us at our upcoming information session:

WHO: OCDSB Students Grade 8-12 and Parents/Guardians
WHAT: International Certificate Program Overview
WHEN: Thursday, November 15th, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
WHERE: Confederation Education Centre Cafetorium - 1645 Woodroffe Avenue

Visit our website to learn more.
Eastern Ontario FASD Symposium:
Mental Health through the FASD Lifespan

The 2nd Annual Eastern Ontario FASD Symposium:  Mental Health through the FASD Lifespan , will be held on Saturday November 3rd, 2018 at Wabano Centre for Aboriginal Health, and will feature keynote speaker Dr. Brenda M. Knight. An early bird registration fee ($50 for families, caregivers and individuals with FASD and $125 for professionals) is available until October 23rd, 2018, after which time the fee will increase. Lunch is included and limited free child care and youth program is available. Register today to reserve your spot.
 
A special event with Dr. Knight,  Care for the Caregiver: An Evening for Caregivers of Individuals with FASD and/or other Brain-Based Disabilities  is also taking place, on Friday November 2nd, 2018 at the Children's Aid Society of Ottawa. This is a free event, however donations are welcome. Further information can be found here .
School Ground Greening Workshops 2018-2019

Join us for a free series of inspiring workshops designed to help you plan a successful and sustainable school ground greening project. Workshops are run from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Immaculata High School - 140 Main Street. These workshops are co-presented with OCDSB School Ground Design Consultant, Jeff Kaster.


Saturday, December 1st, 2018
Getting Started
Surveying People and the Grounds

Saturday, March 2nd, 2019
Site Design: Getting From Here to There
Sustaining Your Project

Saturday, March 30th, 2019
Planting and Maintaining your Trees & Food Gardens
Financing Your Project

To Register
Email your name, school and contact details to Andrew Harvey, [email protected] . For more information, call Andrew Harvey, Evergreen School Ground Design Consultant at 613-894-2540.

Visit our website for more information of these workshops.
Reminders
October is Islamic Heritage Month in Ontario

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB) is recognizing Islamic Heritage Month in its 143 schools. Islamic Heritage Month provides an opportunity for all citizens to learn about the history, culture and contributions that Ontarians of Muslim heritage make in our communities. It is a time to reflect, celebrate and learn about these contributions together.   Visit the website to learn more.
 RBC's Hackers, Hipsters, and Hustlers Workshop

If you're between the ages of 15-29 and considering a career in technology , join RBC & Invest Ottawa for a free workshop! The Hackers, Hipsters and Hustlers workshop is being held on October 27th at Bayview Yards from 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. You will learn about the app development and design process using FluidUI in tech teams, for a chance to win an RBC VISA gift card. No coding experience necessary! For more information and to register now click here .
Getting ready for Post Secondary?

Think about attending one of the college or university fairs that are happening in town between October 22nd and October 25th. The  University Information Program (UIP)  allows you to gather information about Ontario’s 21 universities, including programs, campus life and anything else that may help you make a decision about which Ontario university to choose.  For more information please visit the  Ontario Universities Fair website.
 Call for Community Representatives: Special Education Advisory Committee

The OCDSB is seeking to appoint up to three community representatives, who have an interest in issues related to exceptional children, to sit on the Board’s Special Education Advisory Committee.  The appointment will be effective from December 1st, 2018 until November 14th, 2022. If you are interested in serving on the Committee, please complete the  online application  form. Applications must be received by 4:00 p.m. Friday, October 26th, 2018. 
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.Check out these election resources prepared in English and French by the Ontario Education Services Corporation or check our website for more information .
 Ottawa Public Health (OPH) Immunization
All children attending school between ages 4 to 17 need to be immunized according to  Ontario's Immunization Schedule . Learn more  here . 
School Council Information
Annual Report - Due October 30th, 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 30th, 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 News
There are a lot of amazing events going on in our district. Check out our new School News section of the website to learn about the great things happening in our schools!


West Carleton Secondary School Opens Its Doors To Trick or Treaters

West Carleton Secondary School will welcome all neighbour children to their school on Halloween evening, including students from other Boards. Located at 3088 Dunrobin Road in West Carleton, the public secondary school is renowned for its sense of family, and wanted to offer area children a safe and welcoming place to take part in Halloween activities.

The community was devastated by a tornado on September 21st, 2018 and West Carleton High School was used as an emergency centre – it quickly became a valuable community hub. School Principal Darryl Kicul said the business community, school council members, students and staff stepped up to ensure children impacted by the tornado will still be able to go door to door for candy. It will just be within the halls of the high school.


Want to spread the word about your event? Send us an email at:  [email protected] . We will help publicize your events on our website.
Dates to Remember
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. The highlights include School Holidays, PA Days, and District-wide Secondary Testing. 
Parent Conference & School C ouncil Training Day

The 2018 Parent Conference will be taking place on November 3rd, 2018. It's held in partnership with the Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) and the Ottawa-Carleton Assembly of School Councils (OCASC).

The day is designed to encourage discussion, embrace new ways of doing things and networking with your neighbours. We're very excited to announce Dr. Peg Dawson Ed.D, Co-author of  Smart but Scattered ,  as our Featured Keynote Speaker. Dr. Dawson has worked with thousands of children who struggle at home and in school. At the centre of their struggles are poor planning and organizational skills. She offers parents tools – an essential 'how to manual' to help kids get organized, stay focused and control their impulses.

Workshops will cover a variety of themes including Math, Learning, Special Education. School Council Training will include Best Practices for School Councils, Constitution Writing, School Council Finances and more.

Childcare will be also be available, however, space is limited. Registration for childcare closes October 26th at 11:00 p.m.

Speaker Series

Cannabis will be legal in Canada as of October 17th, 2018. This may lead to questions from your teen. You may have questions as well.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board, in conjunction with Ottawa Public Health, is hosting free public information sessions for parents to learn more about cannabis, the new legislation, how to talk to your youth, as well as provide information on resources and services available to you and your teen.

October 23rd, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Earl of March Secondary School - 4 The Parkway, Kanata, ON K2K 1Y4

November 6th, 2018 - 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School — 149 Berrigan Drive, Nepean, ON K2J 5C6

Can't make it to one of our sessions? More sessions are available through the Ottawa Catholic School Board, Conseil des écoles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario and Conseil des écoles Catholiques du Centre-Est.

Learn about additional sessions  here .
Board and Committee of the Whole Meetings
The next Public Board meeting will be on October 30th, 2018. Read the full agenda here . Watch the meeting live here .

Upcoming Committee Meetings:   
10/25/2018 6:00 PM Advisory Committee on Equity
10/30/2018 7:30 PM Board, Public

Read our Boardroom Highlights here .
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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