Alta Vista School Council

2014-2015 School Year Calendar

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 3, 2013. Elementary classes end on June 27, 2014.
http://www.ocdsb.ca/calendar/Documents/SYC_Elementary_halfpg.pdf

Provincial Election – Education Issues
Interested in education issues in the context of the upcoming provincial election?  People for Education (P4E) has developed a summary of the party platforms on education issues.
This summary doesn’t comment on the platforms, but simply describes the respective party positions.  If you are interested, please take a look.   Please note that this summary is provided for information and without partisanship.

http://www.peopleforeducation.ca/pfe-news/ontario-provincial-election-2014-party-platforms/

Summer Weather
With the lovely weather this past weekend, we are hopeful that summer weather will be here to stay.  Just a reminder from our procedure for extreme weather conditions (http://www.ocdsb.ca/ab-ocdsb/p-n-p/Policies%20and%20Procedures/PR%20556%20SCO%20Extreme%20Weather%20School%20Protocol.pdf):  in warm weather ensure children wear sunscreen, light weight and light coloured clothing and hats, visors and sunglasses and encourage them to keep hydrated.  If students feel unwell when they are outside at school they should seek out a teacher or a trusted adult to help.

Transportation News
Information for families of students currently in Grade 8:  CHANGE in Eligibility for High School Students Grades 9-12
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 the School Bus Routes tab.More details to come!

School Bus Safety
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 http://www.ottawaschoolbus.ca

Follow-up from Stuart Shanker Speaker Series
Parents now have access to a new resource called Self-Regulation: Helping Your Child Develop It compiled by Dr. Cara Dosman.

http://www.mehritcentre.com/article/7

Self-regulation is the ability to stay calm and to return to a calm state when stressed (feeling anxiously, angry, or withdrawn). When calm, a person is alert and able to concentrate and learn.  Helping self-regulation is necessary to help attention.

• Healthy daily routines (sufficient sleep and exercise, healthy nutrition)

• Structure (predictable schedule for meals, bedtime, and morning awake time, advance warning for changes, clear rules, and limited distractions)

• Help your child recognize his emotions (including feeling calm and alert) and what is causing the stress

• Help your child develop strategies for dealing with the stressors and calming down

• Minimize the amount of stressful situations

• Activities at home and extracurricular activities outside the home that your child enjoys bring pleasure throughout the day and can also help self-esteem and social skills

• Help child feel success from social interactions with peers by engaging in a wide variety of social interactions and by practicing understanding body language (facial expressions, tone of voice, gestures) that other people use and the effect of his or her own body language on others

You can see The Self-Regulating Student by Dr. Stuart Shanker here:  http://www.mehritcentre.com/assets/documents/Learn%20Magazine%20-Shanker%20article.pdf

Math Facts:  Talking About Math
Talking about mathematics with your child – whatever his or her age – helps strengthen his or her mathematical reasoning and understanding.  Some ways to keep the talk engaged and focused while you support your child include:

• Revoice – Repeat what you heard your child say, then ask for clarification (e.g., “So you are saying it’s an odd number?”).

• Repeat/Restate  – Ask your child to restate your reasoning (e.g., “Can you repeat what I said in your own words?”).

• Reason – Ask your child to apply his or her own reasoning to someone else’s reasoning (e.g.“Do you agree or disagree? Tell me why.”).

• Adding On – Prompt your child to participate further (e.g., “What more would you add to that?”).

• Think Time – Wait several seconds (try five) to give your child time to think (e.g., “Take some time to think.”). You may be surprised by how hard it is to stay silent in that time!

Extra Curricular Creative Arts (ECCA) Program
Continuing Education’s ECCA Program offers arts instruction courses in various OCDSB elementary schools for students in Grades 1-8.  Classes are held during the school year, at convenient times, outside of school hours.
Fall 2014 Registration: September 2-16, 2014
Tel: 613-239-2747 for information
Tel: 613-239-2398 to register
Visit: 440 Albert Street, Room E123A
www.artsforkidsatocdsb.com
For more details on the ECCA Program, please email deborah.latham@ocdsb.ca

EVENTS

• CHEO – 22nd annual CHEO BBQ- June 14th at Shefford Park on Polytek Street, Gloucester. Gates open at 7:30 a.m.

• Hillcrest High School’s Putt for a Cure, Charity Golf Tournament – Saturday, June 14, 2014 at Pineview Golf Course. The goal is to raise money for the Canadian Cancer Society and to have fun – call the school for more details – on how you can participate!

REMINDERS

• Elections and School Council Activities

In response to questions about school councils and election related activities, here’s a repeat of our recent elections information:

The provincial election will be held on June 12, 2014 and the next municipal election is scheduled for October 27, 2014.  The district does have a policy around election activities in schools which applies to both the provincial and municipal elections. School Councils may host all candidates meetings, but must consult with the school community AND must ensure equitable access for all candidates.  Please review policy P.122.SCO Elections Activities (http://www.ocdsb.ca/ab-ocdsb/p-n-p/Policies%20and%20Procedures/P%20122%20SCO%20Election%20Activiti.pdf) which governs the use and access of schools by candidates during elections.  The policy does allow for elected representatives to participate in school based activities during the election period as part of their regular constituency duties.  The policy precludes any campaigning or campaign based events in schools during the instructional day.

• Interested In Summer School?

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! (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XnTMwxVtCA&noredirect=1)
Information about Programs for Grade 7 and 8 Students:  http://www.ocdsb.ca/programs/continuweb/nightNsummerSchoCredProg/NightSchooDocs/2014Gr7-8Flyer.pdf

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

• Longest Day of Play

The Education Foundation of Ottawa, the Ottawa Senators Foundation (@sensfoundation) and the Ottawa Carleton District School Board are proud partners in the Longest Day of Play campaign. For 24 consecutive days beginning on May 28, and ending on the “Longest Day of Play”, June 20, students in participating schools will walk, run, jump or simply move for 60 minutes a day. At the end of the 24 days, the students will have completed a cumulative 24 hours of exercise. This achievement will be celebrated across the District with a symbolic “Longest Day of Play”.  Watch the video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1FjhqlLQQg&list=UUGjwLuHVcfB0QrAL9RgbMrw