January 26, 2024 - Revised Exam and Final Assessment Schedule, Secondary PA Day: January 31, and more.
Hello Students,
As part of my commitment to lifelong learning, personally and professionally, I am very excited to share with you all the first edition of a ‘Thought Leadership Series’ this week. As a reflection upon my first one hundred days in office as Director of Education, the topic for this first publication is Context-Responsive Leadership in Increasingly Unpredictable Times… a theme that has emerged most prominently during the initial period of my return to the District. It was a very fruitful learning experience for me to create this publication… and I sincerely hope that it is an enjoyable, interesting read for you. I intend to publish a piece each semester on a topic/theme of pertinence to my roles and responsibilities.
Revised Exam and Final Assessment Schedule
This week, weather conditions have required transportation to be cancelled to ensure student safety. The OCDSB's school year calendar, as approved by the Board and the Ministry of Education, has five examination days in January. As a result of transportation being cancelled on two of those days, we have decided to reschedule exams, assessments, and student success opportunities as follows:
- Events originally scheduled for Thursday, January 25 will move to Monday, January 29
- Events originally scheduled for Friday, January 26 will move to the morning of Tuesday, January 30
- Events originally scheduled for Monday, January 29 will move to the afternoon of Tuesday, January 30
The decision regarding what final assessment will take place for any course is made by the teacher in consultation with the principal. Staff are being encouraged to take measures to mitigate against any undue negative impact to student achievement that may result from this change to the schedule.
We understand that this adjustment can be challenging, and staff will work to support students in the best way possible. If you have significant concerns about the potential impact of two assessments in one day, please reach out to your teacher or school administration to talk about what steps can be taken to address those concerns.
Secondary PA Day: January 31 - No Classes for Secondary Students
Wednesday, January 31, 2024, is a Professional Activity (PA) Day for OCDSB secondary school staff. There will be no classes for secondary students on this day. This PA Day focuses on key District Priorities: literacy, numeracy and exploration of pathways for all students.
Toonie Tuesday is February 27, 2024: Give A Little, Help A Lot!
$2 can be the difference between nothing and something. Our Toonie Tuesday campaign has kicked off, and we’re ready to make 2024 our best year yet! Did you know that requests for support have increased by 35%? Ottawa families need our help! Every dollar raised will support students’ access to food, clothing, and meaningful activities. You can invest in a student’s potential! On February 27th, we all come together to support students in need within the OCDSB. But you don’t have to wait until then. You can donate right here, right now! Let your toonie be the stepping stone to student success.
Coming Soon: 2024 Valuing Voices: Identity Matters Survey
Identity matters. In April, the District will launch the 2024 Valuing Voices: Identity Matters Student Survey. This voluntary and confidential survey will allow us to collect vital information to better understand the identity and diversity of students and their experiences in the OCDSB. This is the third OCDSB identity-based data survey and builds on our success with the 2019 Valuing Voices Survey and the 2022 School Climate Survey.
In 2019-2020, we heard directly from 35,000 students and parents/caregivers. Over the last four years, this data has informed significant changes across the OCDSB. This spring, we will need your help to continue this progress. In the coming weeks, we will share more information about why this survey is important to improve your child’s education experience. We will also provide detailed information on the survey structure (questions and format) and how you can get involved.
Winter Virtual Night School: Registration Now Open!
Night School offers secondary students and adult learners the opportunity to upgrade courses or take additional courses. Classes will run virtually on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from February 22 to May 30. Registration is open till February 15th, 2024. Visit the Night School website for course offerings and more information.
Events:
February 24: Black History Showcase: Honouring Black Excellence
Join us Saturday, February 24th as we host the Black History Showcase: Honouring Black Excellence. This event is sponsored by the OCDSB’s Family and Community Engagement (FACE) team, in collaboration with Future Paths Network, V2V Project, and the Somali Centre for Family Services. This in-person event, celebrating Black culture and achievements will be held between 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. at Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School.
Register Now!
From the Boardroom:
Upcoming Board and Advisory Committee Meetings
January 29th, 7:00 p.m. - Alternative Schools Advisory Committee
January 30th, 7:30 p.m. - Board Meeting
January 30th, 8:30 p.m. - Committee of the Whole, Budget
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 observance. 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