From the Boardroom - March 21, 2017

From the Boardroom - March 21, 2017
Posted on 03/22/2017
From the Boardroom

PRESENTATIONSOntario College of Teachers

Ontario College of Teachers

Joe Jamieson, Deputy Registrar and Kathy Anstett, External Relations Officer provided a presentation on the role and function of the Ontario College of Teachers. Jamieson presented that the Ontario College of Teachers is the regulatory body that regulates education in Ontario and protects public interests. The College determines the requirements to become a teacher, prepares teachers, grants licenses and sets the standards of conduct and competencies for the teaching profession.

Anstett sharedMeeting information about the College's communications strategy designed to identify the role of the college. The Ontario College of Teachers is available to provide presentations and outreach at community events and values it's website as a tremendous resource. The website has resources such as brochures, videos, resource documents, professional advisories and provides public awareness. The College also has a newsletter that the public can subscribe to. For more information about the Ontario College of Teachers, visit their website at www.oct.ca

Pope John Paul II School

Principal Maureen Frankcom and a delegation of Early Childhood Educators and Teachers, which included, Leanne Chisholm, Tiffany Pencoff, Aimee Favreau, Kirsten Bowlin and Jennifer Cameron provided a presentation on Pope John Paul II School's Teacher Learning Leadership Project - Discovery Play Space.

The team talked about how the Kindergarten outdoor play space was transformed through the project. The playground has been expanded to include more green space and the play structure was removed and replaced with a digging area and sunshade. The space also includes a rain barrel, mud pie area, riverbed and bridge as well as blocks and connectors.

The educators documented the project with iPads and Go Pros and noted that the open spaces allow children to explore and create unique play in ways the educators could not have imagined.

The team plans to continue to develop the outdoor space by adding a greenhouse and a butterfly garden. Read more about this project here.

Reports

Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium Transportation Policy

Alison Smith, Superintendent of Business Services, provided a report on the recently updated Northwestern Ontario Student Services Consortium Transportation Policy. The trustees accepted the revisions to the policy with a board motion.

Changes for the 2017/18 School Year

Phyllis Eikre, Director of Education provided a report on the system changes for the 2017/18 school year.

Relationship-Based School Environments

Eikre identified that the board continues to raise the bar as part of the board's strategic planning. The board is focusing on implementing Relationship-Based School Environments at all KCDSB schools in the 2017/18 school year. The KCDSB has partnered with Dr. David Tranter from Lakehead Schools to provide professional development about Relationship-Based School Environments. On June 8th there will be a public dinner presentation for all KCDSB parents and staff with Dr. David Tranter on Relationship-Based School Environments. The dinner will be hosted at St. Thomas Aquinas High School.

Principal Transfers

Eikre reported that there will be principal transfers for the 2017/18 school year. Maureen Frankcom will be transferring from Pope John Paul II School to St. Louis School and Trudy Cederwall will be transferring from St. Louis School to Pope John Paul II School. This transfer will be effective August 29, 2017. Click here to read the full media release.

Vice Principal at Pope John Paul II School

The Board is currently recruiting a permanent Vice Principal for Pope John Paul II School. The position was previously held by Jacqueline Robinson who vacated the position for a three-year secondment with the Ministry of Education. Robinson has accepted a Superintendent role with Northwest Catholic District School Board which allows the board to hire a permanent vice principal position at Pope John Paul II School.

Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP)

Mary Cunningham, Superintendent of Instructional Services, provided a report on the revisions to the Ontario Student Assistance Program. Cunningham reported that there would be changes implemented to the program in 2017 - 2018 that reduces the financial barrier of students accessing the OSAP program, allowing more Ontario students to benefit from the program and pursue a post-secondary education. Cunningham reported that dependent students with a family income of $50,000 or less would receive free tuition and 4 out of 5 dependent students with a family income of $90,000 or less will also be eligible to receive free tuition. In addition to changes in eligibility criteria, students are eligible to access grants before accessing loans, and the overall amount of grants and loans has increased. To learn more about the changes for 2017 - 2018 please click here.

New Business

Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association Regional Director Nomination

Phyllis Eikre reported that the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association has an elected Board of Directors representing each region, with elections taking place every two years. The Board of Directors is the major decision-making body of the association and manages the affairs of the association. Eikre identified that Trustee Paul Landry has represented regional #2 for many years. The trustees passed a motion to nominate Paul Landry as a candidate for the Ontario Catholic School Trustees' Association as Regional Director for Region #2 for the term May 2017 - May 2019.

Student Trustee Report

Student Trustee Jieren Bornia provided a report on the notable accomplishments, humanitarian activities and events happening at St. Thomas Aquinas High School for December. You can watch Jieren's video

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