UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
PROGRAM COMMITTEE
MINUTES
2013 10 01
The Program Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met on Tuesday,
October 1, 2013, in the Boardroom at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph, commencing at
7:00 p.m.
Trustee Cooper presided, and the following Trustees were present: Bailey, Borden,
Fairbairn, Gohn, Moziar, Schieck, Topping, and Waterston together with student Trustees
Kaitlin Brown and Kelly Dong. Also in attendance were Director of Education Dr. M. C.
Rogers, Executive Officer of Human Resources Rose, Administrative Officer Weidmark,
Student Success Lead Zen, and Superintendents Benallick, Lindsay, Slater, Talbot, and
Wright.
Trustee Waterston announced that the Free to Achieve Fund received a nice donation over the summer. In support of students with high needs, donations were invited with the passing around of a “Toonie Tuesday” jar.
AGENDA
Trustee Bailey moved that the Agenda be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST
There were no conflicts of interest.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Trustee Waterston moved that the Minutes of the Meeting held on June 4, 2013 be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
CAREER EDUCATION COUNCIL
Executive Director, Lori Arsenault and Treasurer Alan Boivin of Career Education
Council were in attendance to highlight programs offered to students by Career
Education Council, and to request financial funding. This organization, collaborates locally and Provincially, connects and partners businesses with education to help youth explore careers, gain meaningful workplace experience and discover a vibrant connection to the workforce and the future through various programs. Such programs include workshops, conferences, co-op placements, public speaking opportunities, job fairs, experiential learning in various business sectors including agriculture,

Program Committee Minutes … Page 2 13 10 01 manufacturing, hospitality, and trades, as well as volunteering opportunities. It was noted that without financial support in the near future, the Career Education Council will not be able to sustain such programs. Career Education Council is funded through corporate sponsorships, and education facilities. A request was made for $6,000.00 for the 2013 2014 fiscal year which started September 30, 2013. Mr. Boivin suggested that the value to the students of Upper Grand would be money well spent and well invested.
Support and thanks were received from Trustees. It was noted that the Board’s budget is finalized at the end of June and it was suggested and agreed that the request for money be referred to finance.
RECOMMENDATION # 1
Trustee Moziar moved that the verbal report from Career Education Council be received, and that the request for financial support in the amount of $6,000.00 be referred to the Finance Department with a response at the October Board meeting.
The motion carried.
DIAGNOSTIC AND STATISTICAL MANUAL OF MENTAL DISORDERS (DSM-5)
DISCUSSION OF CHANGES AND IMPLICATIONS
IN THE AREA OF NEURODEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS
Dr. Mary Susan Crawford, Chief Psychologist shared the changes and assessment criteria contained in the new Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental
Disorders (DSM-5). She noted that the changes focus on things that impact so many of our students. There is a real effort to have common criteria, better research, better intervention strategies, strong supports, and more flexibility, in the determination of specific diagnoses which enable the most appropriate intervention strategies for every student. Changes included terminology, intellectual functions which need to be assessed and diagnosed through clinical/standardized testing. Dr. Crawford advised that the process which results in assessment for students starts with teachers who have the most important role; observing interactions or behaviours of students. These observations are shared with the Principal, and school team, then the support team.
Consultants ask questions to guide the assessment process or make referrals to appropriate community agencies, or to advise of the best programs or strategies for the child. Teachers will not be expected to diagnose children, but through upcoming training sessions, teachers’ awareness will be heightened and they will know what to look for when dealing with mental disorders. Dr. Crawford noted that through the integration of the changes included in the DSM-5 manual, it is hoped that students receive better diagnosis and greater specificity, resulting in the best strategies to address individual needs of students. Trustees thanked Dr. Crawford for her presentation.

Program Committee Minutes … Page 3 13 10 01
RECOMMENDATION # 2
Trustee Bailey moved that the verbal report on the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) on Changes and Implications in the Area of
Neurodevelopmental Disorders be received.
The motion carried.
FRENCH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE (FSL) PLAN
(Developing a three and ten year plan)
Principal of Program Van Ooteghem, provided information and timelines on the three-year plan for French as a Second Language, Core French and French Immersion, as part of a ten-year plan. She advised that the Ministry guidance in this process has just begun and that funding was received from the Ministry in the amount of $112,
218.00. These funds are to be used for the long term plan to provide professional development for teachers and to provide students with French cultural experiences.
The issue is to determine how we best use that money to support our teachers to help our students learn and sustain French language. Principal of Program Van Ooteghem identified some of the goals of the plan which include increased achievement in French as a Second Language, an increase in the percentage of students studying French as a
Second Language until graduation, and an increase in student, parent, and community engagement. The urgency of the plan development was realized as short timelines were shared, with full implementation scheduled for February 28 th
, 2014. As the plan is developing, further analysis is required and statistics need to be analyzed for graduation rate in French Immersion, drop out rate, time of the year of drop out, level of interest, engagement in the language, and gap analysis to determine what is needed to be done and to revise the plan as required. Principal Van Ooteghem noted that she is seeking input from Trustees, parents, and community members, and to sit on the committee to develop and revise the plan as required. Trustees supported the development of the plan.
RECOMMENDATION # 3
Trustee Moziar moved that the verbal report on the French as a Second
Language Plan be received.
The motion carried.
SECONDARY PROGRAMS IN THE UPPER GRAND DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD
Student Success Lead Zen, and Secondary Curriculum Leader Sanvido, presented an overview of programs offered throughout Upper Grand secondary schools. A handout entitled “Secondary Program and Student Success Newsletter” dated October 2013 was shared with Trustees. Some of the programs highlighted included co-op, dual credits, co-op recall, specialist high skills major (where Upper
Grand is the Provincial leader in terms of numbers), OYAP, E-Learning, SAL programming, and alternative education. In addition to the programs offered throughout the system, a number of school-based programs were highlighted. Some of these programs include celp, headwaters, beyond borders, gifted programming, native

Program Committee Minutes … Page 4 13 10 01 education studies, and youth options. It was noted that staff are developing plans for communicating and promoting our Board internally and externally to our community partners. In addition, the process will increase information on the web site and elaborate on programs offered. Accessibility and equity of all programs for all students, video conferencing or teleconferencing availability in the near future were discussed.
RECOMMENDATION # 4
Trustee Bailey moved that the verbal report on Secondary Programs in the Upper
Grand District School Board be received.
The motion carried.
OPSBA REPORT
Due to the absence of Trustee Busuttil the OPSBA report will be presented at the
October Board meeting.
REPORT FROM STUDENT TRUSTEES
Student Trustees Kaitlin Brown and Kelly Dong provided an update and a slide presentation on student council recent events planned to increase school spirit, provide motivation and encouragement for students and to get involved in leadership experiences. Various activities at schools were highlighted including washroom ads, online resources, football home-opener, welcome back dance, mini donut truck, co curricular fair, camp thunder, Terry Fox run, gay straight alliance, spirit day, grade nine elections, first dance of the year, teacher auction, Muskoka woods trip for student council, welcome back barbecue, and a Japan trip. Kaitlin and Kelly were thanked for their presentation and enthusiasm.
RECOMMENDATION # 5
Trustee Moziar moved that the verbal update from Student Trustees be received.
The motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS
RACHEL’S CHALLENGE
Rachel’s Challenge is an event named for the first victim of the 1999 Columbine school shootings, designed to tackle the issue of violence and bullying. Trustee
Fairbairn advised that a community presentation is scheduled at Guelph CVI on October
9 th
, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. to inspire individuals to replace acts of violence and bullying with acts of respect and compassion.
CENTER PEEL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE
Trustee Schieck invited everyone to attend Centre Peel Elementary School’s open house on Thursday, October 3 rd
, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Program Committee Minutes … Page 5 13 10 01
WE DAY PRESENTATION
Through We Act, students commit to taking one local and one global action to better the world, earning their way to We Day. Trustee Talbot invited four Trustees including student Trustees to attend We Day in Waterloo Region at Kitchener Memorial
Auditorium on November 20 th
, 2013. Trustee Talbot asked for confirmation by Friday,
October 4, 2013.
TRUSTEE WORKSHOP
Director of Education Rogers, advised of a Trustee workshop on Capital
Priorities. The workshop will be held on Tuesday, October 8, 2013 from 4:00 – 6:00 in the Board room.
ADJOURNMENT
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee adjourn at 9:47 p.m. to report to the
Board.
The motion carried.