January 20, 2023 - Resources to Help You Take Care of your Mental Health, Weekly Update from Ottawa Public Health, and more.
Dear Students,
Resources to Help You Take Care of your Mental Health
Knowing this can be a stressful time of year for many students, the OCDSB’s Youth Action Committee on Mental Health (Y.A.C) has compiled a few resources to help students find support. Learn more here.
Weekly Update from Ottawa Public Health
While respiratory illness indicators have shown a decrease since last week, Ottawa Public Health emphasizes that they remain high overall. They continue to recommend wearing a high-quality, well-fitted mask in public, staying home when sick, getting a flu shot, and staying up-to-date on COVID-19 vaccines. Read the snapshot here.
Nominations Open for the 2023 OTIP Teaching Awards
Do you know a teacher who inspires you, ensures a positive learning space, and encourages learning? Nominate them for an OTIP Teaching Award! Additional details are available at www.teachingawards.ca.
Upcoming Events
February 2: Virtual Strategic Plan Consultation
We are working on our next strategic plan, which sets the priorities for the district. To help us do this we want to hear from students on what their priorities are. If you would like to join in the discussion, you can join our virtual session on Thursday, February 2nd from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Multilingual support will be available in Arabic, Cantonese, English, Korean, Mandarin and Somali. For more ways to share your opinion and for additional information, visit our website.
February 8: Transition Planning Q&A Session - Navigating the System
OCDSB’s Transition Team in Learning Support Services (LSS) is hosting a series of virtual Question & Answer sessions for students and parents/caregivers of individuals with developmental disabilities. The first session will be held on February 8, 2023, 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and the topic for that day is Navigating the System. Watch this recording and join us for the virtual session where we will help answer your questions. We will share the participation link in the next update.
Dates to Remember This Week
- January 21: Lincoln Alexander Day. Lincoln M. Alexander was the first Black Canadian to serve as Member of Parliament, Cabinet minister and Lieutenant-Governor of Ontario. Lincoln Alexander Day celebrates his legacy and invites us to reflect on his optimism and learn from his life and achievements. Learn more.
- January 22: Lunar New Year. The first day after the new (dark) moon is a religious and cultural festival celebrated by Chinese, Vietnamese and Koreans of Buddhist and other backgrounds as New Year’s Day. Celebrations for the Lunar New Year begin on January 22nd. We send our best wishes to all who will be celebrating!
- January 24: International Day of Education, a date proclaimed by the United Nations that reminds us of the life-changing power of education, and the importance of providing lifelong learning opportunities for all.
- January 27: Family Literacy Day, which highlights the important role families play in literacy for children of all ages. This year’s Family Literacy Day theme is Celebrate your Heritage. Find out more.
- January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day. International Holocaust Remembrance Day honours and remembers the over six million Jews murdered and countless other victims of the Holocaust. Learning the lessons from our past is essential to shaping a more inclusive future, free of antisemitism and hate. Learn more about International Holocaust Remembrance Day on our website.
Next week…
January 29: National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia
On January 29, 2017, a tragic Islamophobic attack took place at the Islamic Cultural Centre of Quebec City where a gunman killed 6 worshipers and seriously injured 19 more. In 2022, the federal government officially designated January 29 as a National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia. All are welcome to wear a green square on their clothing in solidarity with the Muslim community and to show hope for a future without hate. Read more on our website.
In case you missed it…
OCDSB Cares: OCDSB Cares is an anonymous text or web chat tool that lets you share concerns about bullying, safety at school, mental health, and more. Anyone who uses OCDSB Cares remains completely anonymous. Learn more at ocdsb.ca/cares.
Scholarships: Don’t forget to check our scholarships page to see what post-secondary scholarships you might be eligible for.
Thank you,
Michele Giroux
Director of Education