February 23, 2024 - February 24: Black History Showcase: Honouring Black Excellence, 2024-2025 Budget, and more.
Dear OCDSB Families,
This week I had the opportunity to visit three of our amazing sites - a wonderful walk through Hawthorne Public School, such a multi-culturally diverse and vibrant place where I once had the privilege to serve as Vice-Principal many years ago; a drop-in to the Capital Region Music Festival at Earl of March Secondary School to see (and hear!) the incredible talent of our student-musicians from across the system and elsewhere; and an inspirational tour of Centennial Public School along with Trustee Justine Bell. My sincere appreciation to all students and staff for their passion and perseverance each and every day... you make the extraordinary happen, truly.
February 24: Black History Showcase: Honouring Black Excellence
This month we have been celebrating Black excellence. Join us this Saturday, February 24th, 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. at Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School 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. Register Now!
2024-2025 Budget
Every spring, the OCDSB develops the annual operating budget for the next school year. Guided by the commitments in our strategic plan, the budget outlines how funds will be spent to support students across the district in reaching their full potential. The first step in the budget process is determining our annual staffing for the next academic year. That process is underway and academic staffing will be approved by the end of March. This represents approximately 60% of operating costs in our budget. To learn more about the 2024-2025 budget process, visit Engage OCDSB.
Events:
February 27: Resource Fair - Transition Planning for Youth with Developmental Disabilities
Join us on Tuesday, February 27th, 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at the Confederation Education Center to learn about the services and supports offered by organizations in Ottawa. OCDSB staff will be on-site to help guide families to connect with the type of services they need. Learn more.
February 28: OCDSB Speaker Series: Combating Human Trafficking
There's still time to register for this virtual session taking place on Wednesday, February 28th, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m. Join us to learn the warning signs and grooming behaviours to look for. We also have compiled an extensive list of resources and helpful links to help raise awareness and share vital information about this topic.
March 5 & 7: Inuktitut, Algonquin Anishinaabe Community Discussions About Language
The OCDSB Indigenous Education team will be hosting two community discussion sessions focusing on Indigenous language revitalization. These conversations will be an opportunity for students, parents/caregivers and community members to share their advice and perspectives as the OCDSB looks to expand its language programming. The events will be held at Ottawa Technical Secondary School on March 5 (Inuktitut) and March 7 (Algonquin Anishinaabe). Dinner and refreshments will be served. Please visit our website to RSVP as space is limited.
Reminders:
Solar Eclipse - April 8, 2024
Last week, we announced that schools would be closed to students on April 8, 2024, due to the solar eclipse. This was a local operational decision, made in the interests of student safety. Like other school districts, our biggest concern is that the timing of the eclipse overlaps with dismissal time, meaning many young children would be travelling home from school during the highest risk period for eye damage. Most school districts in the path of the eclipse will not have school on that day; many were able to reschedule a PA Day. Unfortunately, the OCDSB does not have a PA Day that can be rescheduled. Most of our PA Days were planned in the first half of the school year to maximize the learning opportunities for staff. The remaining PA Days are used for contractual obligations, such as parent-teacher conferences and report card writing. Staff will be working on April 8, 2024, but schools will be closed to students, transportation will be cancelled, and OCDSB Extended Day Programs will not operate. For more information, visit our website.
Resources for Parents/Caregivers: Keeping Children and Youth Safe Online
Many parents/caregivers are worried about the safety risks children and youth increasingly face online. Cybertip.ca, operated by the Canadian Centre for Child Protection, provides age‑appropriate information and resources to help educate Canadians about how to keep children safe while online and reduce child victimization. Kids Help Phone, another resource, offers free, 24/7, multilingual and confidential support for all young people.
Toonie Tuesday is February 27, 2024
A donation of $2 can be the difference between nothing and something. This Toonie Tuesday, February 27th, we can 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.
Deadline Extended: OCDSB is Seeking Indigenous Community Member to Serve on the Special Education Advisory Council
The OCDSB is seeking an Indigenous Community Member to serve on the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC). There is currently one position available and the deadline to apply has been extended until February 29, 2024. Learn more and apply.
From the Boardroom:
Upcoming Board and Advisory Committee Meetings
February 26th, 7:00 p.m. - Arts Advisory Committee
February 27th, 8:00 p.m. - Board Meeting
February 29th, 6:00 p.m. - Advisory Committee on Equity
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.
Job Opportunities
We are currently hiring for several opportunities, including Equitable Hiring Advisor, Early Childhood Educators and Early Learning Assistants. Visit our careers page to see job opportunities at the OCDSB and find out how you can make a real difference supporting our students and staff.
In case you missed it:
Helpful Links:
Thank You,
Pino Buffone
Director of Education