School Profile 2013-2014
Ottawa Technical Secondary School
Grades 9 to 12 Vocational Program
Address:
485 Donald St.
Ottawa, Ontario
K1K 1L8
Phone: 613-745-0347
Fax: 613-745-8234
School hours:
9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
School Website1
Principal
Barry Armstrong
Vice Principals
Carl Dobbin
Jennifer Tremblay
Office Administrator
Claudia Cesario
Chief Custodian
Darryl McCorkell
School Council Co-Chairs
Natasha Heston
Bruce Giles
Superintendent of Instruction
Neil Yorke-Slader
School Trustee
Bronwyn Funiciello
Chair of the Board
Jennifer McKenzie
Director of Education/ Secretary
of the Board
Jennifer Adams
General Board Information:
Phone: 613-721-1820
OCDSB Website2
Accessibility Information3
Our School
Ottawa Technical Secondary School (OTSS), the largest technical high
school in Eastern Ontario, is proud to offer leading-edge programming
that responds to the pressing global and local need for skilled
tradespersons. Our dedicated and highly qualified staff works as a
team to maximize the benefits of our modern building. We are widely
recognized for the specialized programs taught in our many technical
and practical shops, as well as the extensive co-op and work
experience options available to many, and the academic and life skills
programs which are a part of every student’s timetable. The skills,
values and knowledge requisite for success in life are developed in the
high-school setting, and equip our students to enter apprenticeship
programs or to become employees in areas ranging from the
automotive industry, food services, construction, and landscaping to
name but a few. Recognizing that student life extends beyond the
classroom, we encourage participation in our many athletic and
extracurricular activities. Our culinary arts program complements many
of our in-school initiatives.
Our Students
The diversity of our student population is evident in both its cultural
composition and the wide range of talents and corresponding
individualized programming for each person. Our students are enrolled
in the Ontario Secondary School Certificate Program, the Certificate of
Accomplishment pathway or the Diploma pathway. The daily schedule
for each of these pathways devotes time equally to academic courses
(adaptive and applied) and to practical/ technical shop courses. Some
of our students receive programming tailored to their specific needs in
various areas such as autism, physical support, behaviour intervention
and general learning programs. Many are able to integrate into some
vocational/adaptive programs and ultimately, to follow an individualized
transition plan built on problem-solving capabilities, and skills for
independent living. Our ultimate goal is to prepare our students so that
they may enjoy successful, productive lives and be contributing
citizens. Our enrollment is approximately 466 students, reflecting the
great interest in the training, skill-building, and individual support
available to students here.
Our Staff
The staff of OTSS is among the most dedicated team of education
professionals assembled: teachers, education assistants, technicians,
and therapists. We have the active support of a psychologist, social
worker, and can readily access multicultural liaison personnel and a
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vast array of
common mandate: to deploy collective skills and experiences to meet
personnel at our
the needs of our students. Most OTSS teachers have special
Board. Our
education qualifications and many have specific training in a variety of
administrative team health, safety, and behavioural techniques. Our Student Services
(Principal and Vice- department offers educational, personal and career counseling.
Principals), together Collectively, the OTSS staff is often recognized for their passionate
with department
advocacy for our students in the broader community, both while they
heads, office staff
are students at the school and indeed later, when they are alumni.
and care staff share a
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Our Community
Parents and Community
We value the parent-teacher partnership that is so vital in our efforts to meet the overall
needs of students. Our School Council meets on the first Tuesday evening of each month
from September through June, to provide advice to the Principal and to the Board on
timely and relevant issues such as budget, course offerings, the student Code of
Behaviour, etc. All parents and members of the community are encouraged to attend in
order that there is a truly diverse representation of the student population and the
community in which we are located.
The school benefits greatly from its interactions with a community which generously
provides career education placements, business partnerships, a home for our Storefront
School, and volunteer literacy coaching. Staff and students likewise support a number of
charitable causes which benefit the local community.
Mission Statement
OTSS educates for the world of work, providing life and employability skills in an
environment that encourages responsible citizenship, and which fosters hope, inspiration
and opportunity.
Picture of Ottawa Technical Secondary School
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Programs and Services
Academic Programs
Our academic/adaptive program serves as the foundation for learning and academic skillbuilding within the core subjects of English, Math, Science, and Social Science, always
placing a strong emphasis on basic literacy and numeracy skills. The OTSS pathways
programs serve students gaining high school credits and those who are taking non-credit
bearing courses in their pursuit of the skill acquisition necessary for workplace
opportunities. The technological studies program is designed to expose students to a wide
variety of opportunities. Operating from well-appointed shops, skilled teachers prepare
students for the diverse needs of the workplace. These studies have a Co-op and work
experience component. The workplace reality is a great focus for us, from our grade 9
Take Our Kids to Work initiative, to the grade 10 one-week work placement and through
recommended co-op in grades 11 and 12, our students are strongly encouraged to avail
themselves of “real-life” opportunities as part of their school program. Our Technical Skills
Portfolio, documenting the technological skills gained by students, serves to illustrate the
specific skills acquired. Potential employers value this quantifiable evidence and both
students and parents are proud of the repertoire of skills tracked.
Classroom Organization
Offering both academic/adaptive and vocational programs leading to either the OSSD or the
OSSC, each student’s program is divided equally between technical and academic curriculum.
OTSS is also home to several self-contained programs. These OCDSB system-wide programs
housed at OTSS provide specific programming for students from across the OCDSB. The school is
semestered, with four periods each day. Classes are organized in College, Open, Applied,
Workplace Preparation, Locally-Developed (L) and remedial non-credit or K levels. We hold weekly
school-wide assemblies for our student body. Entry to the school is by application or system class
placement only.
Special Education and ESL Programs
OTSS has a wide variety of special education programs to meet the individual needs of
exceptional students, including Autism, the General Learning Program, the Physical Support
Program and the Behaviour Intervention Program. The goal of each program is to provide basic
academic, vocational, and life skills while promoting independence and integration. There is also
integrated support for adaptive ESL students in the English classes. OTSS’s Storefront School at
St. Laurent Shopping Centre promotes life skills development through a combination of class
instruction and work placements. Entry to this program is also through the application process. The
library, open before and after school as well as during the lunch hour, offers access to books
selected with students’ interests and curriculum requirements in mind, audio-visual materials,
computers, and general interest and leisure reading materials. A teacher-librarian provides
additional support to the classroom teacher in the area of research and literacy.
Clubs and Activities
Students at OTSS are encouraged to participate in a variety of extra-curricular activities to
complement and support their classroom program. Our many noon-hour activities allow for
participation by those students reliant on transportation schedules. All students are given equal
opportunity to participate on school teams. Clubs, teams, and activities include the following
organizations and provide a sampling of what they do:
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Student Council (dances, field trips)
Link Crew Leadership
Exercise room
Multi-cultural Club
Topical assemblies (on themes such as anti-bullying)
Outdoor Education club
Intramural program
Varsity Sports (including: hockey, basketball, wrestling, cross-country, and track & field)
Vocom Competitive Program (touch football, volleyball, handball, soccer, badminton,
basketball, track & field, floor hockey, swimming, and softball)
Safe Schools Initiatives
OTSS is proactive in addressing student issues and safe schools management, including:
 OTSS Code of Behaviour
 Active Student Council
 Human resources: Educational Assistants, OCDSB psychologist and social worker, access to
OCDSB Multicultural Liaison Officer
 Student Service Department holding regular Multi-disciplinary team meetings
 Academic Resource Room
 Resource Room
 Student Assistance Programs (to address issues such as self-esteem etc.)
 Rules and expectations assemblies
 Life skills programming
 Strong links with community organizations
 Breakfast program
 Monday assemblies with themes for entire student body
 Representation on OCDSB Student Success Committee
Picture of a Football Game
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Facilities and Resources
OTSS is an impressive facility, a veritable hub of activity with many workplace
environments functioning daily. Academic classrooms are stimulating and resources are
student-appropriate. OTSS computer and science labs are current and computers are
available in the library for individual use. Our technical shops are well-equipped and
designed to be both instructional areas which replicate many aspects of the authentic
workplaces represented. The OTSS gymnasium and auditorium are attractive, wellequipped facilities used extensively by both school and community. The library, open
before and after school as well as during the lunch hour, offers access to books selected
with students’ interests and curriculum requirements in mind, audio-visual materials,
computers, and general interest and leisure reading materials. A teacher-librarian provides
additional support to the classroom teacher in the area of research and literacy.
Google Map of Ottawa Technical Secondary School
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Achievement and School Improvement Planning
Measures of Student Achievement and Success
Student success is measured by a combination of academic and technological skills
performance, quality of daily work, behaviour and attendance, and workplace evaluation.
Ministry standards and The Conference Board of Canada's Employability Skills provide a
foundation for our programming and its evaluation. These are specifically keyed to the
requirements for an OSSD, an OSSC, or a Certificate of Accomplishment. Our Technical
Skills Portfolio breaks down specific job site skill proficiency in all technical classes.
OTSS students have secured admission to college programs while still others have
successfully obtained apprenticeships. Most of our students move directly into
employment as a direct result of work experience placements gained at OTSS. Employers
have found that the emphasis on demonstrated work habits, strong basic literacy and
numeracy skills, combined with employment-focused academic training and on-the-job
work experience provides them with successful and productive employees.
Measurable Program Highlights include:
 Participation in Adaptive and Special Education programming designed for individual
needs
 Daily programming consisting of 50% academics and 50% technical education
 Multi-level programming to address students’ literacy and numeracy needs and levels
 Skill acquisition in technical shops including: Auto Mechanics, Autobody, Small
Engines, Welding, Computers, Construction, Flooring, Masonry, Woodworking,
Horticulture, Painting & Decorating, Cosmetology, Foods Services, Art, Drama, and
Baking.
School Improvement Plans and Initiatives
The following objectives have been identified by OTSS staff and School Council as
priorities:
 Expand the role and resources of the Literacy Committee and Literacy Centre in
support of student learning and in-service/inform staff accordingly
 Implement a full program of uninterrupted sustained silent reading (known to us as
GRAB (Go Read A Book).
 Continue to establish priorities to guide ongoing updating of Library resources.
 Continue to seek professional development opportunities for staff in support of
improving student literacy and numeracy skills, and technological studies.
 Continue with Quality Assurance initiative to explore new means of developing data for
assessing student progress in literacy and numeracy.
 Continue with review/revision of “K” level, non-credit Math curriculum, and review and
assess SRA Mathematics programs and other similar programs.
 Explore development of multi-year/level pathway for subjects of specialization.
 Continue to prioritize program needs and refurbish/replace equipment in shops
accordingly with the assistance of additional funding.
 Continue to foster existing partnerships and to seek new ones.
 Complete full implementation of the Technological Skills Portfolio.
 Continue to execute a consultative action plan for developing a shared and updated
vision for OTSS.
 Continue to provide professional development to teachers in the areas of differentiated
instruction, assessment and evaluation.
 Institute the Launching Forward Continuum as a means of helping students learn better
self-advocacy.
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Leadership Recognition
“Leadership in the OCDSB is the demonstration of personal initiative
to achieve a positive outcome.”
Students
Our Student Council meets regularly to provide leadership in planning events for the
school, to undertake charitable initiatives, and to provide advice to the school’s
administration. Among our proudest achievements are our active participation in Ontario
Students Against Impaired Driving initiatives and our commitment to being a green school.
Our students have garnered environmental awards in past years. Recently the school’s
landscaping has been enhanced by our students. OTSS students have won regional
poetry and video prizes. We also take on unique leadership projects in support of
community and charitable technical projects (e.g.: Make a Wish foundation and Canadian
Blood Services). Our students demonstrate leadership and responsibility by taking on and
completing jobs and initiatives for the public and business communities, in addition to the
40 hours of service required of those proceeding to the OSSD.
Staff
Most OTSS staff have special education qualifications and many have specific training in a variety
of health, safety, and behavioural techniques. Our staff have actively participated in numerous
Board-wide professional development activities in literacy, numeracy, technical and special
education, and we recognize their initiative by providing and supporting opportunities for further inhouse professional growth. We are very proud that members of our staff have won or been finalists
for regional awards of acknowledgement for the past five consecutive years.
Parents/Guardians/Volunteers
Our dedicated School Council members are invaluable advocates for OTSS. Our parents and
volunteers actively participate in our annual Blood Donor Campaign, an effort which welcomes as
well students from a neighbouring school. They can often be seen assisting in our special
education programs, supporting our basic literacy and numeracy endeavours, and advocating for
our school at the local, regional, and provincial level.
Community
We are proud of the many community partners who support our cooperative education
program by providing employment placements in a myriad of settings in the area. Local
businesses support our technical and special education programs, as evidenced in the
Storefront School program. As the proud recipients of Cygnus (literacy) grants, private
grants, and individual donations we have been able to enrich our resources in the area of
technology, books, sports equipment. Staff and students participate in OTSS Outreach
activities in which the school community provides food to local homeless shelters. The
Guidance Department offers weekly introductory tours of the school for potential students
in an effort to provide the best transition possible for newcomers to the school.
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URL References
1
http://www.otss.ocdsb.ca/
http://www.ocdsb.ca/
3 http://www.ocdsb.ca/ab-ocdsb/
4 http://www.eqao.com/
2
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