May 23, 2025 - News, Upcoming Events, Resources, and Helpful Links

Dear Families, 

I wanted to share some updates regarding changes to our elementary programs, which were approved at a School Board meeting on May 13th, 2025. These changes are designed to enhance educational opportunities for all students.

What's Changing?

Starting in September 2026, we will be focusing on two core elementary programs: Enhanced English and French Immersion, for students in Grades 1 to 8. This means:

• Middle French Immersion will be phased out gradually. Students currently in Grade 4 who enroll in September 2026 will be the last group to complete the program up to Grade 8.
• Alternative programs will also be phased out gradually. Students entering Junior Kindergarten in September 2025 will be the last group to complete the program up to Grade 8.
• There will be some revisions to grade configurations, school boundaries, and program offerings starting in September 2026, as outlined in Report 25-025 and its appendices, including site-specific transitional provisions.

What's Staying the Same?
All current Specialized Program Classes (SPCs) will continue to be offered.

Staying at Your Current School (Exemption Process)
We understand that these changes might raise some questions about your child's placement. We are developing an exemption process that will allow students to potentially remain at their current school if space is available and if it doesn't affect the overall program viability at either school. We will share more details about how to request an exemption in the fall of 2025, including specific criteria. Decisions about exemption requests will be finalized by the end of the calendar year.

I also wanted to take a moment to share some exciting news and recognize the incredible dedication of our staff. Recently, we held our annual Director’s Citation and Employee Recognition Awards ceremony to honor some truly exceptional individuals.

These awards are extra special because staff members nominate their own colleagues. It’s a wonderful way for us to shine a light on those who consistently go above and beyond to support our students, each other, and our entire school community.

We are incredibly fortunate to have such a talented and passionate team. Every day, our educators, support staff, and administrators work tirelessly to create engaging and supportive learning environments where all students can thrive. Their passion and dedication truly make a difference!

To all the award winners, a huge congratulations! We are so proud of your hard work and the positive impact you have on our students' lives. Thank you for everything you do to make our schools such wonderful places for learning and growth.

News

• 2024-2025 Director's Citation and Employee Recognition Award Winners Celebrated at Awards Ceremony
• Building Connections at Merivale High School's Community Resource Fair
• Local Frequencies to Cosmic Conversations: Kars on the Rideau Students' Radio Rendezvous with Astronaut
• Indigenous Summer Learning program for First Nation, Inuit and Métis Secondary Students - Register by June 13th.
• Share Your Feedback on our Community Use of Schools Policy and Distribution of Communication Materials in Schools Policy.
• Applications Open for the Marion Dewar Scholarship Fund.
• Register for Summer School Programs, including Reach Ahead, eLearning, Cooperative Education, Credit Recovery, Remedial Elementary Programs and more.
• Register for Summer Language Classes and Camps for Students in Kindergarten to Grade 8.
• Autism Ontario’s One-to-One Summer Support Worker Reimbursement Fund is open for applications until May 31st.

Upcoming Events:

• OCDSB Speaker Series: Speech and Language Virtual Open House - May 28th, 9:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
• By Your Side: Supporting Your Child’s Well-Being - Free Webinar Series from School Mental Health Ontario Continues Until June 4th (virtual).

Resources:

• Mindful Media Podcast - Is it for me? Decoding mental health advice on social media

Helpful Links: 

• Explore OCDSB Career Opportunities
• Want To Make A Difference In The Lives Of OCDSB Students? Donate To The Education Foundation Of Ottawa!
• OCDSB Safe Schools Reporting Tool
• Elementary Calendar 
• Secondary Calendar 
• Religious/Creed-Based Days Of Observance 
• Multifaith Calendar
• Days And Months Of Significance
• Parents’ Guide to Ontario’s Education System

Thank You,

Pino Buffone
Director of Education