OCDSB School Council Update — 20 June 2014

Our elementary schools close for the summer at the end of day on Friday, June 27th.  Most secondary school offices are open over the summer months – check your school website for specific dates/availability.  The Board office is open all summer long, except for a two week shut-down which runs from  July 28th to August 8th.  Our administration offices will re-open on August 11, 2014.  However, there will be staff available for registration throughout the summer – if you know someone who wants to register a child for September, please have them call our Admissions Division at 613-596-8730.

For some, going from elementary school to high school is an exciting time filled with promise and new beginnings. For others it often makes kids feel like they’re starting all over again. They will be meeting new friends and teachers, classes will be more challenging and they will need to deal with change. Students may have many different feelings during the summer before starting high school. They may be excited and scared about these new beginnings and may be sad about leaving old friends behind. All of these feelings are completely normal. It’s also good to know that there is help and someone to talk to. If you know someone who needs help let them know the Kids Help Phone is there and is private and confidential.
http://www.kidshelpphone.ca/Teens/InfoBooth/School.aspx

On July 1, 2014 new “anti-spam” legislation will come into effect in Canada.  The new legislation requires organizations to have consent in place in order to send e-mail communication that involves any commercial activity, whether it is for profit or not.  The legislation will affect school districts as well as schools and school councils.  For example, this newsletter would be affected because the “events” section includes fundraising and other events which involve the purchase or sale of goods. In order to send the newsletter we would need to ensure we have consent for those types of messages from all persons on our mailing list.   Some of you have been asking about the legislation and how it will affect school councils.  Next week, we will be sending a message to all parents for whom wehave email addresses asking for consent to continue to send e-mails to you.  We are coordinating this as one consent so that each school and council does not have to work independently.  In the fall, we will be using revised consent forms to ensure we are compliant with the legislation.

The OCDSB is a proud participant in the PRIDE Parade.  Last year we were over 250 proud – including the Director, Associate Director, Superintendents, and Trustees. Come walk with us! Everyone is welcome to participate. It is important that we clarify for all participants that this is not a school based event and NO supervision of students is provided. Similarly no transportation of students to and from the event will be provided.

Although the Parade starts at 1pm – those wishing to walk with the OCDSB are asked to meet in at the corner of Gladstone and Bank Street at 12pm at the yellow school bus. The parade travels through downtown, along Bank Street, ending at City Hall. Participants are encouraged to wear purple with rainbow accessories. The OCDSB is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all students and staff. Our participation in this event is a demonstration of our commitment to creating safer and more accepting spaces. Let’s walk together to let Ottawa know that at the OCDSB everyone is welcome!

There have been many questions about school council elections in the last few weeks.  Just a reminder that School Council elections are to be held in the fall. The  policy requires that the election of school council members (including parents, teaching, non-teaching and student members) be held within 30 days of the start of the school year.  The Principal and the School Council Chair should be consulting now on date for the fall election.  The details about the election process are outlined in the  Board Procedure PR.509.SCO: School Council Elections. The election of officers (Chair, Co-chair, Secretary, Treasurer) happens after the members of council have been duly elected.

The evening of June 25th, local artist and Professor at Carleton University Jesse Stewart and the students of Regina Street Public School will be re-creating Mud Lake in our gym. Parents and guests will be surround by students and the sounds of Mud Lake as Jesse conducts the school. Jesse Stewart and the students of Regina Street P.S. have been working together all year to duplicate many of the sounds that can be heard in Mud Lake, using a variety of instruments, and objects you will frogs, birds, and many of the other sounds associated with Mud Lake. Regina Street P.S. has a very strong connection with Mud Lake. Feel free to join in celebrating our students and the environment.

Starting with the official launch at 11:00 a.m. on June 28, Rideau Hall will host this outdoor reading activity (Reading Tent program) in collaboration with Frontier College, a Canadian  non-profit organization that promotes literacy. There are many free activities available to parents and their children every Friday and Saturday from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m..

The OCDSB run an incredible summer school program which includes reach ahead, make up, coop and e-learning programs for Secondary Students.  We also offer programming for students in grades 7 and 8 in language arts, mathematics, English as a Second Language, Reach Ahead and Get Ready for Grade 9 Math courses. Take a look at our summer school video!

Summer School Dates are July 3 – 25, 2014 and registration began on May 1st.

Many parents are already planning for next year.  The 2014-2015 school year calendar is now available! Both elementary and secondary classes start on September 2, 2014. Secondary classes end on June 16, 2014 (exams run until June 23) and Elementary classes end on June 25, 2014.

Great news – the transportation eligibility requirements for students in grades 9-12 have changed for September 2014. All students meeting who reside 3.2km or further from their designated school, regardless of the Urban Transit Area or financial need, are eligible to receive transportation services. Congregated stops will continue for rural students to special program schools. Please refer to the Transportation Eligibility Policy T14 posted online. OSTA will select the most appropriate mode of transportation which may include yellow bus, public transit or small school purpose vehicle. Parents and students may access information about how grade 9-12 students will be getting to school in September using the online “Stop Locator” or by calling OSTA after Mid-August. Walk zone maps are also available on OSTA’s website under theSchool Bus Routes tab.

The 22nd Annual School Bus Safety Awareness Day will be held this year on Sunday, August 24, 2014. The day is designed to help first-time school bus riders see first-hand how easy and fun it is to ride the bus. The program is geared primarily for parents and children new to school bus transportation. All children entering the school system for the first time in the fall, or new residents to the should plan on attending. The program will be offered from 9:00 a.m. – to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 24, 2014 for sites in your area please check out OSTA’s website at www.ottawaschoolbus.ca