Celebrate National Aboriginal Day
Tomorrow is National Aboriginal Day! June 21st is a day of recognizing and celebrating the cultures and
contributions of the First Nations, Inuit and Metis peoples of Canada. I hope you find an opportunity to
participate in one of the many cultural events happening in our community as part of the celebrations.
Summer Hours
Our elementary schools close for the summer at the end of day on Friday, June 27th. Most secondary
school offices are open over the summer months - check your school website for specific
dates/availability. The Board office is open all summer long, except for a two week shut-down which runs
from July 28th to August 8th. Our administration offices will re-open on August 11, 2014. However,
there will be staff available for registration throughout the summer - if you know someone who wants to
register a child for September, please have them call our Admissions Division at 613-596-8730.
Dealing with Transitions - Kids Help Phone
For some, going from elementary school to high school is an exciting time filled with promise and new
beginnings. For others it often makes kids feel like they’re starting all over again. They will be meeting
new friends and teachers, classes will be more challenging and they will need to deal with change.
Students may have many different feelings during the summer before starting high school. They may be
excited and scared about these new beginnings and may be sad about leaving old friends behind. All of
these feelings are completely normal. It’s also good to know that there is help and someone to talk to. If
you know someone who needs help let them know the Kids Help Phone is there and is private and
confidential.
Anti-SPAM Legislation
On July 1, 2014 new "anti-spam" legislation will come into effect in Canada. The new legislation requires
organizations to have consent in place in order to send e-mail communication that involves any
commercial activity, whether it is for profit or not. The legislation will affect school districts as well as
schools and school councils. For example, this newsletter would be affected because the "events"
section includes fundraising and other events which involve the purchase or sale of goods. In order to
send the newsletter we would need to ensure we have consent for those types of messages from all
persons on our mailing list. Some of you have been asking about the legislation and how it will affect
school councils. Next week, we will be sending a message to all parents for whom we have email
addresses asking for consent to continue to send e-mails to you. We are coordinating this as one
consent so that each school and council does not have to work independently. In the fall, we will be using
revised consent forms to ensure we are compliant with the legislation.
2014 PRIDE PARADE - Sunday, August 24 from 1-3pm (meet at 12pm)
The OCDSB is a proud participant in the PRIDE Parade. Last year we were over 250 proud - including
the Director, Associate Director, Superintendents, and Trustees. Come walk with us! Everyone is
welcome to participate. It is important that we clarify for all participants that this is not a school based
event and NO supervision of students is provided. Similarly no transportation of students to and from the
event will be provided.
Although the Parade starts at 1pm - those wishing to walk with the OCDSB are asked to meet in at the
corner of Gladstone and Bank Street at 12pm at the yellow school bus. The parade travels through
downtown, along Bank Street, ending at City Hall. Participants are encouraged to wear purple with
rainbow accessories. The OCDSB is committed to providing a safe and welcoming environment for all
students and staff. Our participation in this event is a demonstration of our commitment to creating safer
and more accepting spaces. Let's walk together to let Ottawa know that at the OCDSB everyone is
welcome!
SCHOOL COUNCIL ISSUES
Elections for School Council
There have been many questions about school council elections in the last few weeks. Just a reminder
that School Council elections are to be held in the fall. The policy requires that the election of school
council members (including parents, teaching, non-teaching and student members) be held within 30
days of the start of the school year. The Principal and the School Council Chair should be consulting now
on date for the fall election. The details about the election process are outlined in the Board Procedure
PR.509.SCO: School Council Elections. The election of officers (Chair, Co-chair, Secretary, Treasurer)
happens after the members of council have been duly elected. Don't forget to review your school council
constitution for specific provisions with respect to your school.
School Council End of Year Reporting
There are three reports that must be submitted to officially conclude the 2013-2014 school year. The
documents that need to be submitted are:
2013-2014 Parents Reaching Out Grant Funding and Report Back
School councils who received a Parents Reaching Out (PRO) project grant for the 2013-2014
school year must spend project funds by 30 June 2014. School councils must report back to the
Ministry of Education on the use of their PRO Grant funds by 31 August 2014. PRO Grant Report
backs can be accessed here. Please use the original applicant email and password to access
the site. Instructions on how to fill out the report back are provided on the main page once logged
in. There are also links on this page for recovering forgotten passwords. If you have any
questions about the report back process, please visit the Ministry website. If you have questions,
please contact Doug Tateishi (Education Officer, Ottawa Regional Office) at 613-225-9210 ext.
157 or Doug.Tateishi@ontario.ca or Glenn Court (Lead Policy/Program Co-ordinator) at (416)
325-7802 glenn.court@ontario.ca. When the Report Back form has been completed online, print
three copies for distribution as follows: One copy for the school council file, the second copy for
the principal’s file and the third copy to be submitted to the OCDSB with a copy of receipts,
Attention: Policy Analyst.
School Council Annual Report -Due October 30, 2014
Section 24 of the Education Act requires that the school council prepare and submit to the District
an annual report on its activities, including fundraising activities. The School Council Annual
Report is one of many requirements included in the "School Opening Documentation" process
conducted by the principal. On or before October 30, 2014, please ensure to submit your school
council annual report to school principals and forward a copy to Policy Analyst, 133 Greenbank
Road, Ottawa, ON K2H 6L3. For information on what is contained in an annual report please read
the Sept 2014-Annual Report Tips.
Year-end reporting of School Generated Funds - Due 16 September 2014
The provincial government requires that school council financial activities be included in the
school boards year-end financial statements. A letter will be sent to School Council Chairs
through the School Principal explaining the reporting process and form to be completed. Please
ensure that the form is completed and returned by email to yearendfinancials@ocdsb.ca no later
than 16 September 2014.
MATH FACTS
Goulbourn Middle School Mathletes
Congratulations to GMS Mathletes who have demonstrated their ability to perform with Canada's
brightest math students. Three students scored in the top 25% range in Canada on the International
Math Kangaroo contest; while one student scored in the top 10% of Canadian contestants and one
student scored third overall in Canada!
Boardroom News
The final Board meeting of the year will be held on Monday, June 23rd. The meeting gets underway at
7:30 p.m. in the Boardroom. At this meeting, the Board will finalize the budget and deal with a number of
reports that were discussed at recent Committee of the Whole meetings, including the progress on the
Green Employer Policy, [Link]Child Care Policy, the funding for the Broadview Rebuild Project, Boundary
Revision Studies that will be undertaken next year, the introduction of MFI at Munster Elementary School,
nd the Consultation Plan for the Draft Policy on Capital Plan Decision-making framework, a motion
regarding a boundary adjustment between J H Putman and Broadview PS and an update on the
Secondary School Program Review.
CONSULTATIONS
School Council Funds - Draft New Procedure
The District has been working on the development of a new procedure for the management of school
council funds. The procedure is the companion to the policy P.133.FIN Management of School Council
Funds which was adopted last year. The draft procedure is now available for comment, prior to final
approval. We are also interested in your feedback on the draft School Council Finance Guide.
In early April, Finance Department staff asked a focus group to comment on the documents and has also
met with the Parent Involvement Committee to discuss the information. Recommended changes include:
differentiating between essential controls and those that are not as critical;
providing more information on fundraising and clarifying related approval requirements (Guide
page 4);
making the section on school council oversight more positive (Guide page 17);
clarifying the treatment of NSF cheques (Guide page 9);
adding a section on privacy requirements and elaborating on records retention; and
adding a section on how to transition from one treasurer to another with a focus on what the
incoming treasurer should be looking at.
Once the consultation has been completed, all comments will be reviewed and the draft procedure will be
finalized.
Please note that Policy P.133.FIN requires a school council to confirm whether its banking arrangements
will be:
Provided by the school office with the approval of the school principal; or
Administered by the school council through a recognized financial institution.
Although the policy requires the school council to advise the District’s Chief Financial Officer of its
decision by the end of May, timing of the distribution of the procedure and guide requires that the
submission date be extended to 30 June 2014. The form ‘Declaration of School Council Banking
Arrangements’ . Please return the completed form to your school office. The school principal will arrange
for it to be sent to the Finance Department.
Comments of the procedure and guide are welcomed. Please send these to Kevin Gardner at
kevin.gardner@ocdsb.ca.
EVENTS
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Mud Lake Comes Inside – Regina Street Public School – June 25
The evening of June 25th, local artist and Professor at Carleton University Jesse Stewart and the
students of Regina Street Public School will be re-creating Mud Lake in our gym. Parents and guests will
be surround by students and the sounds of Mud Lake as Jesse conducts the school. Jesse Stewart and
the students of Regina Street P.S. have been working together all year to duplicate many of the sounds
that can be heard in Mud Lake, using a variety of instruments, and objects you will frogs, birds, and many
of the other sounds associated with Mud Lake. Regina Street P.S. has a very strong connection with Mud
Lake. Feel free to join in celebrating our students and the environment.
th
Rideau Hall Reading Tent Program – June 28 11:00 a.m.
Starting with the official launch at 11:00 a.m. on June 28, Rideau Hall will host this outdoor reading
activity (Reading Tent program) in collaboration with Frontier College, a Canadian non-profit organization
that promotes literacy. There are many free activities available to parents and their children every Friday
and Saturday from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m..
REMINDERS
Interested In Summer School?
The OCDSB run an incredible summer school program which includes reach ahead, make up, coop and
e-learning programs for Secondary Students. We also offer programming for students in grades 7 and 8
in language arts, mathematics, English as a Second Language, Reach Ahead and Get Ready for Grade 9
Math courses. Take a look at our summer school video!
Information about Secondary Course Offerings and Registration
Information about Programs for Grade 7 and 8 Students
Transportation Schedule -- Summer 2014
Summer School Dates are July 3 - 25, 2014 and registration began on May 1st -- see your Guidance
Counselor for more information.
For adults not attending a day school, please call 613-239-2620 or 613-239-2772 to arrange for a
registration appointment.
2014-2015 School Year Calendar
Many parents are already planning for next year. The 2014-2015 school year calendar is now available!
Both elementary and secondary classes start on September 2, 2014. Secondary classes end on June 16,
2014 (exams run until June 23) and Elementary classes end on June 25, 2014.
Elementary Calendar
Secondary Calendar
Transportation News
CHANGE in Eligibility for High School Students Grades 9-12
Great news - the transportation eligibility requirements for students in grades 9-12 have changed for
September 2014. All students meeting who reside 3.2km or further from their designated school,
regardless of the Urban Transit Area or financial need, are eligible to receive transportation services.
Congregated stops will continue for rural students to special program schools. Please refer to the
Transportation Eligibility Policy T14 posted online. OSTA will select the most appropriate mode of
transportation which may include yellow bus, public transit or small school purpose vehicle. Parents and
students may access information about how grade 9-12 students will be getting to school in September
using the online “Stop Locator” or by calling OSTA after Mid-August. Walk zone maps are also available
on OSTA’s website under the School Bus Routes tab.
School Bus Safety
The 22nd Annual School Bus Safety Awareness Day will be held this year on Sunday, August 24, 2014.
The day is designed to help first-time school bus riders see first-hand how easy and fun it is to ride the
bus. The program is geared primarily for parents and children new to school bus transportation. All
children entering the school system for the first time in the fall, or new residents to the should plan on
attending. The program will be offered from 9:00 a.m. - to 1:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 24, 2014 for sites
in your area please check out OSTA's website at HYPERLINK
"fcp://@beam.ocdsb.ca,%235002106/MailBox/_blank/www.ottawaschoolbus.ca"www.ottawaschoolbus.ca
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