Our Board has once again partnered with several organizations to designate April 22-26, 2013 as Workplace Safety Week. The goal is to raise awareness of safety issues and workers' rights at a time of year when many students are beginning to pursue summer employment. 

    Read more: Workplace Safety Week >>    

The Ottawa Catholic School Board congratulates Superintendent of Student Success, Simone Oliver, on her election as President of the Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers’ Association (OCSOA) for the 2013/2014 year.

OCSOA members have a mission to serve the Roman Catholic education community of Ontario through the exercise of the charisma of leadership; that leadership is for the service of others and that the exercise of gifts, talents and time are for the building up of the community. Prior to Simone's appointment as President this week at the OCSOA AGM, she was the Regional 1 representative and then Vice-President.

Congratulations Simone, we know you will do an excellent job in your new role!

The Ottawa Catholic School Board would like to congratulate OCSB Superintendent of Human Resources, Tom D'Amico, for receiving the Ontario Catholic Supervisory Officers' Association's EXL award for enhancing student education.

The award is based on three premises: it is given to an educator with dedication and enthusiasm for guiding children’s educational experiences; improving the scope and quality of children’s educational experiences through the character of the school system’s programs; and the creation of environments which effectively promote children’s attitudes toward learning and their perceptions of themselves as lifelong learners.

The EXL award is jointly sponsored by Xerox Canada Ltd. and the Canadian Alliance of Student Associations (CASA). Congratulations Tom, and thank you for your commitment to enhancing student education!

Students from St. Matthew High School in Orleans were recently in Louisiana for an annual field trip for band students, arranged by teacher Fadi Diab. They went down specifically for the French Quarter Festival and to catch more music across south Louisiana.

Kyle Bland, and classmate Marie-Eve Raymond were captured in local media as they danced at the Cajun Zydeco stage during the festival on Sunday, April 14th, 2013. Students are expected back in Ottawa today! Looks like they had a great experience!

Photo courtesy of Chris Granger, The Times-Picayune

Holy Redeemer students in Kim Izsak’s Grade five and six class in Katimavik have found a unique way of raising money for local charities. The class is currently working on developing, marketing, and publishing their very own cookbook, working with a project called the Entrepreneurial Adventure Program which is organized through The Learning Partnership.

“In a nutshell basically it is to promote an entrepreneurial spirit amongst students,” said Izsak. “Students are given the chance to envision something, create it, grow it right from scratch and actually bring it to market.” The goal for these students is to learn more about the entrepreneurial process while raising money for local charities.

Read more: Holy Redeemer Students Cook Up Winning Recipe for Charity

Check out this video of MPP Lisa MacLeod speaking in the provincial legislature, regarding St. Elizabeth Ann Seton teacher, Carol-Anne Aubrey, and her venture with the Entrepreneurial Adventure (EA) program.

This super-teacher as attained superior standards in the EA program.

Congratulations!

  Read more about EA>>  

The Children’s, Boy’s and Chamber Choir held their annual choral workshop on Saturday, March 2nd, led by St. Michael’s Choir School (Toronto) Elementary Conductor, Teri Dunn. Ms. Dunn is currently the Assistant Artistic Director of the acclaimed Toronto Children’s Chorus. She has also held conducting positions with the Canadian Children’s Opera Chorus, Royal Conservatory of Music, Hart House Chorus, and at St. Francis of Assisi Church and the Choirs Ontario’s Children’s Choir Camp.

Read more: OCSB Choirs' Annual Choral Workshop

David Daze, an enthusiastic marathoner and teacher at Monsignor Paul Baxter School, has been inspiring students at his school to get fit and have fun at the same time! David will be running the Ottawa Marathon for the 13th consecutive year this May, marking his 20th completed marathon. He wanted to share his love of running with his students so 5 years ago he got his school involved in the Ottawa Y Kids Marathon, and every year they have had over 100 participants compete.

The Ottawa Y Kids Marathon, which is part of Ottawa Race Weekend was established in 2008 as a way to promote fitness and encourage running among kids in grades 3 to 8. In the weeks leading up to Ottawa Race Weekend, the students accumulate 41 km of mileage, either through running or through other forms of physical activity, like walking, biking, or soccer. On race day (Sunday, May 26, 2013) the kids run the final 1.2 km, to make a marathon distance total of 42.2 km. Participating students get to cross the same finish line the adult marathoners will later in the day and they also receive a medal similar to the adult marathon medal.

Read more: Teacher Inspires Students to Get Active!

St. Anne School was recently paid a visit by a conservationist group called the Earth Rangers on March 26th. The Earth Rangers are known for their Bring Back the Wild program, which encourages children to get involved in protecting the habitat of endangered animals. Last year, the rangers visited 500 schools and signed up more than 1,000 new junior Earth Rangers. "We are really excited to visit Ottawa, where children have access to local wildlife," said Meghan Woodworth, adding most of the schools she visits in the Toronto area tend to be surrounded by concrete.

Read more: St. Anne Students Walk on the Wild Side