Upper Grand District School Board
Program Committee
Minutes
April 1, 2014
The Program Committee of Upper Grand District School Board met on Tuesday, April 1,
2014, in the Boardroom at 500 Victoria Road North, Guelph, commencing at 7:00 p.m.
The Chairperson Trustee Topping presided, and the following Trustees were present:
Cooper, Fairbairn, Gohn, Moziar, Schieck, and Waterston together with student Trustees
Kaitlin Brown and Kelly Dong. Also in attendance were Director of Education Dr. M. C.
Rogers, Communications Officer McFadzen, Administrative Officer Weidmark, Student
Success Lead Zen, and Superintendents Benallick, Lindsay, McDonald, Morrell, Slater,
Talbot and Wright.
Agenda
Trustee Schieck moved that the agenda be approved as printed.
The motion carried.
Declarations of Conflict of Interest
There were no declarations of conflict of interest.
Approval of Minutes
Trustee Moziar moved that the minutes of the meeting held on March 4, 2014, be
approved as printed.
The motion carried.
Report from Student Trustees
Student Trustee Brown and Dong provided an update on student activities for the month
of March. Trustees were advised of the upcoming Ontario Student Voice Awards,
awarded annually by the Ontario Student Trustees Association at the OSTA AECOS
annual general meeting, held in Toronto each May. Kaitlin and Kelly shared posters
and flyers they created for the upcoming conference planned by the student senate,
open to students in grades 9 to 11, entitled “Meeting Challenges Inside and Out”. The
conference is scheduled for May 7, 2014.
Program Committee Minutes
April 1, 2014
Recommendation # 1
Trustee Bailey moved that the verbal report from student Trustees be received.
The motion carried.
Student Success Highlights, 2012-2013 Year in Review
and 2013-2014 Action Plan
Student Success Lead Zen introduced Program Leader Chad Reay and Curriculum
Leader for Student Success Lisa Sandvido. Mr. Reay showed various videos
highlighting students working on projects for the elementary skills competition. He
noted that the students benefit from a number of academic subjects including math,
science, reading, and writing through the development of their projects for the skills
competition. Students were taught to work collaboratively, use critical thinking, and how
to learn from both frustrations and successes through to the completion of the project.
The elementary skills competition is scheduled for April 3, 2014, and will be held at both
College Heights SS and Centennial Arena, in Guelph. Trustees were invited to attend.
Curriculum Leader Student Success Sandvido presented the student success grade 7 –
12 action plan 2013/14. Data was shared regarding the current status of at-risk
students, and she shared the plans, supports, and programs that are in place to assist
these students, as well as to reduce the number of at-risk students. Some of these
programs include supervised alternative learning (SAL), cope class, grade 8 transitions,
alternative grade 10 programming, gain work skills, Georgian and Humber dual credit
programs, literacy programming, Co-op, athletic program, sports are inclusive, credit
recovery, and reading program.
Trustees thanked both presenters for the reports as well as the hard work and supports
in place to ensure student success.
Recommendation # 2
Trustee Fairbairn moved that the verbal report on student success highlights, 20122013 year in review and 2013-2014 action plan be received.
The motion carried.
A Few Big Ideas About Technology in Education
Itinerant Technology Coach Brenda Sherry, shared areas where technology is
enhanced in the classroom as well as videos of students using such technology. She
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Program Committee Minutes
April 1, 2014
noted that technology encourages students to come to school and keeps them engaged
and willing to participate in a hands-on environment. The major areas to consider in the
transition to the use of technology are thinking about thinking, participation and
audience, and human aspects of technology. She noted that technology is not
replacing face to face classroom teaching but will enhance it. Thinking and
engagement of students, and doing what we couldn’t do before are key changes.
Trustees thanked Brenda for her vision and implementation of technology in the
classroom and using it to enhance learning for students.
Recommendation # 3
Trustee Moziar moved that the verbal report on a few big ideas about technology in
education be received.
The motion carried.
OPSBA Report
Trustee Fairbairn provided an update from OPSBA. He advised that the GSNs have
been released with supports in place for special education and mental health. The
public sector Act of 2010 which prevents boards from increasing honoraria for Trustees
was extended to November 2014. He further advised that the upcoming symposium
scheduled for May 1, 2014 will cover the repurposing of Ontario public schools as
community services or hubs.
Recommendation # 5
Trustee Waterston moved that the verbal OPSBA report be received.
The motion carried.
Other Business – nil
Adjournment
Trustee Waterston moved that this Committee adjourn at 8:21 p.m. to report to the
Board.
The motion carried.
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