December 1, 2023 - Ottawa Public Health: Advisory for respiratory illnesses, 2024 Prime Minister's Awards: Nominations Open!, and more.
Dear OCDSB Families,
It was so inspiring for me to visit the Youville Centre this week… a vibrant, innovative centre that nurtures the education and wellness of young mothers and their children. As is the case with all of our schools, this Centretown site represents the value-add our organization brings to society at large. My sincere gratitude to all staff who make the extraordinary happen there, day in and day out, for your passion and perseverance in working with these amazing young adults and for your dedication and diligence in caring for their young ones.
Ottawa Public Health: Advisory for respiratory illnesses
Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is expecting that this fall and winter may be challenging with several respiratory viruses circulating at the same time including influenza (flu), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and COVID-19. OPH encourages using the General Self-Assessment Tool to screen yourself and your family daily. OPH has also outlined some information and resources related to measures that you can take to continue keeping yourself and your families safe during this respiratory season.
2024 Prime Minister's Awards: Nominations Open!
Consider nominating an educator for a 2024 Prime Minister’s Award! Do you know someone who goes above and beyond to create safe spaces for students, continues to work hard to make learning fun and inspires the next generation to be bold innovators and creators? Nominations are open for Teaching Excellence, Teaching Excellence in STEM and Excellence in Early Childhood Education. The nominations can be submitted electronically or by mail by January 11, 2024.
Google Student Account Changes
Sometimes, students log into other accounts using 'sign in with Google' which is convenient, but can give applications and sites unwanted access to a lot of information. In order to help students protect their data and accounts, Google recently made a change that will only allow OCDSB-approved applications to access the account. The OCDSB maintains a list with hundreds of applications that have been reviewed from a safety lens for classroom use. Teachers have access to this list. If your child runs into any issues using an OCDSB-approved application, please let the classroom teacher know.
Student Transportation Update
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) is actively working with operators to cover a shortage of approximately 20 drivers, down from 30 on November 15th. This driver shortage results in the long-term cancellation of 1.5% (82 runs) of all transportation services managed by OSTA. For more information, visit the OSTA website
Events:
High School Information Sessions
If your child will be starting high school next year, we can help you get ready. We will be offering students and parents/caregivers a variety of opportunities to learn more about high school and all of the amazing programs we offer. Starting this month, secondary schools across the OCDSB will be hosting high school information sessions for students and parents/guardians. It’s a fantastic way to visit the school, meet staff, and learn how to prepare for this next step. Visit our high school information sessions page for the schedule and links to helpful tips and resources.
December 9: The Ottawa Carleton Choristers presents Candles For Christmas
The Ottawa Carleton Choristers will be holding a Christmas performance, Candles For Christmas, at Woodroffe United Church on Saturday, December 9th at 7:30 p.m. Admission will be by cash donations. The Ottawa Carleton Choristers is a choir of active and retired teachers and staff from the OCDSB.
December 11: School Within A University (SWAU) Information Session
The OCDSB, in partnership with Carleton University, is proud to announce a pilot project called School Within A University (SWAU). SWAU will provide students in grades 11 & 12 with positive opportunities to experience a university learning environment. To know more, Grades 11 & 12 students and their parents/caregivers are invited for a virtual information session on Monday, December 11, 2023, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This session, hosted by OCDSB’s Program and Learning Innovation staff, will share details about this pilot project and also include a Q&A section.
December 20: Applying to Post-Secondary Information Session
Save the Date! We are hosting a Post-Secondary Applications Information Session on Wednesday, December 20th from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. This virtual session will provide Grade 12 students and their parents/caregivers information about the process of applying to post-secondary education in Canada, with a focus on apprenticeships, colleges and universities. We will share the participation link and additional details at a later date.
In case you missed it:
From the Boardroom:
Upcoming Board and Advisory Committee Meetings
December 5th, 7:00 p.m. - Committee of the Whole
December 6th, 7:00 p.m. - Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC)
December 7th, 5:30 p.m. - Ad Hoc Policy Review Committee
Agendas, locations, minutes, livestreams and recordings of meetings are available for public viewing using the Board and Advisory Committees' meeting calendar.
Calendars and Planning for Important Dates
Please consult the OCDSB’s Elementary and Secondary calendars for PA Days, holidays, exam dates, and more during the 2023-2024 School Year. In addition, schools avoid scheduling activities like evaluations and field trips on certain religious/creed-based days of significance. Additional dates of significance can be found on the MultiFaith Calendar (located on our home page), Dates of Significance webpage, and on the Government of Canada, Ontario Government, and United Nations websites.
In case you missed it:
Helpful Links:
Thank You,
Pino Buffone
Director of Education