November 11, 2022 - National Indigenous Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, An Important Message from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, and more.
Dear Families,
We look forward to the swearing-in of our newly elected and returning Trustees at our Board Inaugural Meeting on Tuesday, November 15. All are welcome to join us in-person at 133 Greenbank Road at 6:30 p.m. The meeting will also be streamed online at this link for those who prefer to watch online. Those attending in-person are asked to wear a mask and anyone feeling unwell or experiencing symptoms is asked to refrain from attending.
National Indigenous Veterans Day and Remembrance Day
We honour the commitment and sacrifices of all who have served and continue to serve in times of war, conflict, and peace. In recognition of National Indigenous Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, this week students and staff members have been taking time to pause, remember and reflect.
An Important Message from the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario
CHEO is experiencing an unprecedented surge in viral illness among children and youth (RSV, flu, and COVID-19). In response, they are focussing staff, physicians, and physical space on ensuring urgent and emergent care are always available for kids and youth who may need it. The full details about the situation are available here.
CHEO is asking everyone in Ottawa to help control this viral surge by taking a few personal safety measures:
- Wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces, including schools
- Stay home when sick
- Wash your hands, frequently
- Cough into elbows
- Get all vaccines you are eligible for, including COVID-19 and flu.
Elementary Report Cards: Watch for an Email on November 17th
Elementary report cards will be sent to families via email on Thursday, November 17th. You will need your child’s Ontario Education Number (OEN) to access the report card. Learn more about how to find your child’s OEN and how to use it to open the report card, and follow this link for help understanding your child’s report card. Secondary report cards will be sent on Wednesday November 23rd.
Parent Conference 2022: Presentations and Post-Event Survey
Thank you to all who joined us at our recent OCDSB parent conference. It was wonderful to connect with so many people from across our community. To view the presentation slides for each workshop and the keynote presentation, visit our website. For those who attended, please also check your email for a brief post-event survey. Your feedback helps us with our planning for next year!
Post-Secondary Scholarships
If your child will be attending college or university next year, there are a number of scholarships and bursaries that can help. Please visit our website to explore local and national scholarship opportunities. A few upcoming deadlines include:
- November 15, 2022: TD Scholarships for Community Leadership, varying scholarship amounts
- November 23, 2022: CCUF International Student Virtual Education Fair, $1,000 Grand Prize
- November 30, 2022: RBC Future Launch Scholarship, $1,500 scholarship
- December 1, 2022: Terry Fox Humanitarian Award, maximum scholarship of $28,000 over four years
Winter Night School, International and Indigenous Language Classes, and More
Take a look at the interactive flyer for the Continuing Education Department to learn about the variety of programs that support lifelong learning for students of all ages. To learn more about a particular program, you can click right on the text within the flyer.
OSTA Student Transportation Survey for Parents and Guardians
The Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) is conducting a survey to better understand how child(ren) have been getting to school this year, and what traffic impacts parents have noticed around schools. Click here to take the survey - it is anonymous and will be used by OSTA to help improve transportation services.
Dates to Remember
November 15: National Child Day Event - #8MillionRising
Children First Canada is hosting a special National Child Day event on Wednesday, November 15th at 1:00 p.m. This event honours the power and resilience of the 8 million children currently living in Canada, sharing information about children’s rights and how we can all take action. Learn more and register here.
November 16: Louis Riel Day
In Ontario Louis Riel Day is recognized on November 16th, the anniversary of Louis Riel’s execution in 1885. While Louis Riel Day commemorates one of the great tragedies of Canadian history, it is also a day to celebrate Métis people and culture and the continuing progress in fulfilling Riel’s dream with the Métis people taking their rightful place within Confederation. Learn more and find virtual event information here.
November 22: Level Up - Skilled Trades Career Exploration Event
Grade 11 & 12 students are invited to attend Level Up! - an engaging and interactive skilled trades career exploration opportunity on Tuesday, November 22nd at the EY Centre. This event is hosted by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. Meet people in existing industries, see hands-on demonstrations, explore a variety of trades and learn about available job opportunities. Students can register by contacting their school. Parents and guardians can attend the evening session between 7:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.; no registration required. Learn more.
November 30: Canterbury Arts Open House (In-person)
Grade 8 students and their families are invited to attend an in-person Arts Open House on Wednesday, November 30th from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. to learn more about the OCDSB's specialized arts programming, and about application procedures for the 2023-24 school year. For the participation link and more details, visit this link.
December 3 - Brick and Masonry Information Session - Ottawa Technical Secondary School
Is your child interested in taking up Brick and Masonry? Join us on Saturday, December 3rd, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the masonry shop at the Ottawa Technical Secondary School. Representatives from the Ontario Masonry Training Centre will provide details about the program, student requirements and career prospects. Contact the school’s guidance counsellor for registration. Learn more.
In case you missed it…
Applications for Ontario Colleges and Universities: A reminder to please visit ontariocolleges.ca and the Ontario Universities Application Centre to learn more about applying to college or university, and to be aware of upcoming dates and deadlines.
Ontario Universities’ Virtual Information Session on December 1: Mark your calendar for an Ontario Universities’ Information Session virtual event on December 1st, from 5:00 - 8:00 p.m. All are welcome, and all Ontario universities will be participating. Each event will be divided into six 30-minute sessions where you can learn about the universities you are interested in and ask questions. Register for a Virtual Pass.
Transgender Day of Remembrance Webinar: Join us on Thursday, November 17th at 6:00 p.m. Register Now.
International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) Virtual Open House: Join us on Tuesday, November 22nd from 6:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Learn more.
Some Personal News
In closing, you have likely heard that I have made the difficult decision to leave the OCDSB. In January I will start a new position as the Director of Education at Durham District School Board. Durham is ‘home’ to me and to my family and this new opportunity will allow me to bring more balance to my professional and personal responsibilities. It has been an absolute privilege to serve as your Director of Education and I look forward to continuing our work over the next two months. To learn more, please read this update from our Board of Trustees. Thank you for the kindness and knowledge you have shared with me over these past four years.
Thank you,
Camille Williams-Taylor
Director of Education