May 5, 202 - Police Involvement in Schools, Community Involvement Hours and Local Volunteer Opportunities, and more.
Hello Students,
Thanks to everyone who was able to attend school based events for Education Week. There have been many exceptional open houses, performances, activities, and events to celebrate student learning and well-being.
Police Involvement in Schools
The Ottawa Police Service is an important community partner to the OCDSB and we are grateful for the work that officers do to keep our schools and community safe. We know that there are many perspectives about policing and police involvement in schools. In 2021, the OCDSB undertook a review of police involvement in schools and heard from many community members who were impacted by police intervention and asked that the OCDSB review its practice. In June 2021, the Board passed a motion which ended the School Resource Officer Program and the District moved towards an emergency response based relationship with police and away from having uniformed officers in schools providing direct learning to students.
Over the past 18 months, we have been working through this change in approach. This week’s experience has reaffirmed the need for the school district and the Ottawa Police Service to work together to establish new protocols for police involvement in schools which focus on students, safety, and relationships of trust. These protocols must reflect the community concerns raised during our review. I have been in contact with both the Chief of Police and the President of the Police Association to arrange meetings as quickly as possible. They share our commitment to building a path forward and I look forward to meeting with them. You can read our letter to the Police Association here.
Community Involvement Hours and Local Volunteer Opportunities
A reminder that students graduating in the 2022-23 school year are required to have 40 hours of community involvement and to log your hours with your school. Visit our Community Involvement page to learn about eligible activities. Looking for volunteer opportunities? There are many exciting ways to get involved in our community, including the Canadian Tulip Festival (May 12-22) and Ottawa Race Weekend (May 27-28).
2023 Summer School Programs - Register Now!
Looking for a way to earn extra credits or improve your grades? Join our Summer School Programs! We offer in-person and virtual courses for students in grades 6-12. Register now and stay on track for success! Learn more.
Bear Witness Day
Each year on May 10th, we recognize Bear Witness Day / Journée de l’ourson témoin. Bear Witness Day is Spirit Bear’s birthday, and honours the memory of Jordan River Anderson through the full and proper implementation of Jordan’s Principle. Learn more about how you can take part.
Classroom Chronicles
Muslim Student Associations from Woodroffe High School, Ridgemont High School, and Brookfield High School organized Iftar events for their school communities. Iftar means "fast-breaking" and refers to the meal that members of the Muslim community gather to enjoy every day at sunset during Ramadan.
Upcoming Events
- Saturday, May 13: Open Trails. Bill Mason Outdoor Education Centre is having its annual Open Trails day from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. This is the only day of the year when this 77-acre outdoor classroom is open to the public for everyone to explore! Learn more.
- Saturday, May 13: Rockcliffe Park Public School 100th Anniversary: Rockcliffe Park Public School alumni are invited to join a High Tea celebration at the Jubilee Gardens from 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., organized by the School Council. Learn more and RSVP by May 10.
Thank you,
Michele Giroux
Director of Education