UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
MINUTES
2011 01 04
The Program Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met on Tuesday,
January 4, 2011, in the Boardroom at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph, starting at 7:00
p.m.
Trustee Moziar presided, and the following Trustees were present: Bailey,
Borden, Busuttil, Cooper, Fairbairn, Gohn, Schieck, Topping, and Waterston, along with
Student Trustees MacDougall and VanderVlugt. Present from the Administration was
Director of Education Dr. M. Rogers, Executive Officer of Human Resources J. Rose,
Capital Projects Manager P. Scinocca, and Principal of Program B. Talbot, along with
Superintendents Benallick, Boswell, Fyfe, Kelly, Morrell, and Wright.
AGENDA
Trustee Bailey moved that the Agenda be approved as printed, with the addition
of 2 items under “Other Business”, and 1 “In-Camera” item.
The motion carried.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Trustee Topping moved that the Minutes of the Meeting held on Tuesday,
November 2, 2010 be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
THE CAREER EDUCATION COUNCIL
Executive Director of the Career Education Council (CEC) Lori Arsenault
provided an overview of the Council. The Council builds partnerships among business,
education, government, and community to help youth develop skills for the
workplace. Ms. Arsenault highlighted some of the Programs and Services offered, which
include Passport to Prosperity, Your Future Your Choice, Career Pathways, Life after
Graduation, Destination, and a recently developed health-care partnership within rural
Wellington County. Ms. Arsenault referred to the distributed booklet entitled, “Career
Education Council – Guelph Wellington Dufferin, Annual Report 2010”. The report
contains information regarding other programs, sources of financial support, and
business partners. CEC works closely with School to Careers, Ontario Youth
Apprenticeship Program (OYAP), Co-Operative Education, and Specialist High Skills
Major (SHSM) Programs to discover collaborating opportunities. The next Business
Education Partnership Breakfast will be held on Friday, April 1, 2011 at the Delta
Guelph Hotel & Conference Centre. The topic will be environmental sustainability with a
focus on youth leadership addressed by keynote speaker David Noble.
Program Committee Minutes … Page 2
11 01 04
RECOMMENDATION #1
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
presentation entitled, “The Career Education Council” be received.
The motion carried.
GREEN LEGACY PROGRAMME
Green Legacy volunteer Libby Little provided a brief overview of her involvement
with the Green Legacy Programme, and introduced Nursery Manager Rob Johnson.
With the help of several volunteers and students, Green Legacy is a tree planting
program that recently celebrated the planting of its millionth tree. Upper Grand students
help by preparing the flats, tending to the seedlings, and transplanting and planting the
trees. The Green Legacy Programme has received numerous awards including a 2010
Grand River Watershed Award as well as recognition from the United Nations for its
contribution to the environment. A documentary video of students working together in
the Program was displayed. Mr. Johnson added that students are not only volunteering
many hours but are also developing environmental learning as well as good land
stewardship. Upper Grand was the recipient of a Green Legacy award for the over
7,000 student hours volunteered.
RECOMMENDATION #2
Trustee Busuttil moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
presentation entitled, “Green Legacy Programme” be received.
The motion carried.
ECOSCHOOLS: BUILDING ENVIRONMENTALLY RESPONSIBLE STUDENTS
Curriculum Leader Mike Anderson presented the UGDSB EcoSchools piloted
project. EcoSchool is an environmental educational program for K-12 students that
focuses on teaching students to be environmentally responsible. There are four pillars
of EcoSchools: Ecological Literacy, Waste Minimization, Energy Conservation, and
School Yard Greening. Many schools incorporate EcoSchools into their Character
Education Program and, as a result, some Upper Grand schools have earned Gold and
Silver EcoSchool Certifications. Thirteen Upper Grand schools are participating in the
program this year. EcoSchools have a 5-step process; establish an eco team, conduct
an eco review, develop an action plan, implement the plan, and monitor and evaluate
the progress. The program is free to schools and resources are available online. Mr.
Anderson reviewed the many benefits of EcoSchools for both the student and school.
The program aligns with the goals and strategies of the Framework for Environmental
Education in Ontario.
Program Committee Minutes … Page 3
11 01 04
RECOMMENDATION #3
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
presentation entitled, “EcoSchools:
Building Environmentally Responsible
Students” be received.
The motion carried.
PROGRAM SERVICES – STAFF WEB PORTAL – CURRICULUM DEPARTMENT
AND BOARD IMPROVEMENT PLAN
Superintendent of Program Heather Boswell referred to a display of the staff web
portal, developed by the IT Department last spring. Trustees were given a “tour” of the
portal as Ms. Boswell featured the Program Services homepage, tools for teachers, and
other pertinent resources. The Program Services Department organizational chart, as
well as a chart showing staff and their assigned schools, was shown. Principal of
Program Bonnie Talbot reviewed the role of the Curriculum Department and highlighted
many areas of focus within the Department. A handout matching Curriculum Leaders
with Areas of Responsibilities were reviewed and accessed on the portal. A pamphlet
entitled, “Elementary Literacy Coaches” was distributed. The Coaches work directly
with teachers to devise lessons, specific assessment techniques, and share
instructional practices and resources.
The Board Improvement Plan, attached to this agenda, was accessed on the
portal and highlighted by Ms. Talbot. For the first time, it is integrated with the Special
Education Plan. Long and short term goals and targets, based on student achievement
data, were highlighted. The Plan is organized under three pillars: Literacy/Numeracy,
Pathways and Community, and Culture and Caring. Collaboratively developed by staff,
including the Director, School Effectiveness Leads, Superintendent and Principal of
Program, Superintendents of Education, Coordinator of Special Education, and
Curriculum Leaders, the Plan was devised around a Ministry template to assist in
meeting goals. Components of the template include Strategies/Actions, Professional
Learning, Resources, Monitoring/Measures, and Responsibility.
The Plan was
submitted to the Ministry and feedback was provided in the fall of 2010. The Board will
meet again with the Ministry on February 17, 2011 as they continue to monitor our
progress. Under the section referring to Youth Options, Trustee Borden suggested the
Student Discipline Committee be added to the Responsibility column.
RECOMMENDATION #4
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
presentation entitled, “Program Services – Staff Web Portal – Curriculum
Department and Board Improvement Plan” be received.
The motion carried.
Program Committee Minutes … Page 4
11 01 04
OPSBA REPORT
Trustee Busuttil highlighted the November 26, 2010 OPSBA Board of Directors
meeting. Mary Gordon, founder and President of Roots of Empathy, shared a
presentation with the Board. The meeting included discussions around 2011-2012 Grants
for Student, an information report regarding the implementation of the Early Learning
Program, an update on the activity through CSBA with regard to Bill C-32, and the School
Board Administration and Governance Grant Advisory group survey. Trustee Busuttil
distributed a poster regarding the launching of the Shannen's Dream campaign. The
campaign recognizes and continues the advocacy efforts of Shannen Koostachin, a
student from Attawapiskat First Nation, who pursued the dream of getting a school built in
her community. Shannen passed away as a result of a car accident earlier this year.
Participants in the campaign are calling on the Federal government to fund First Nation
schools on an equitable basis.
RECOMMENDATION #5
Trustee Topping moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
verbal OPSBA report be received.
The motion carried.
REPORT FROM STUDENT TRUSTEES
Student Trustees MacDougall and VanderVlugt provided a PowerPoint
presentation of past and current Student Trustees events. The next Student Senate
meeting will be held on January 18, 2011, where the Environmental Policy update and
bullying will be reviewed. The previous meeting included discussion around the
nutrition policy guidelines, a Family Health display, and a presentation regarding tattoos
and piercings. The students will again be promoting the anti-bullying “Speak Out”
initiative, in April. Highlights of the November OSTA-AECO AGM were reviewed, and
included a motion from Trustees MacDougall and VanderVlugt in support of provincial
motion 571, to support the inalienable rights to education for all First Nation students.
Trustee Busuttil suggested that the Student Trustees bring the motion to the January,
2011 Board Meeting.
RECOMMENDATION #6
Trustee Fairbairn moved that this Committee recommend to the Board that the
Student Trustee presentation be received.
The motion carried.
Program Committee Minutes … Page 5
11 01 04
OTHER
Trustee Borden called attention to the change in meeting times for January 11,
2011. The Student Discipline and Chair’s Committee meetings will begin at 4:30 and
5:30, respectively.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is holding a community forum for the
Guelph area on January 10, 2011. Please refer to a previous FirstClass post from
Communications Officer Maggie McFadzen. Trustee Borden, along with Director of
Education Rogers, and Trustee Topping attended the Dufferin forum in December.
Trustee Borden encouraged Trustees to attend this very informative evening of
promoting health priorities in our areas.
IN-CAMERA
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Bailey moved that this Committee adjourn at 9:25 p.m. to report to the
Board.
The motion carried.