Global Connections the newsletter of the -Carleton Education Network

This semester OCENET Volume VII Issue 1 Fall 2017 and OCDSB schools are- hosting international Spanish foundation partners with OCENET and OCDSB for an students from 44 coun- intensive yearlong professional development program in Ottawa tries around the world...

 The “Top 5” countries send- ing students (in order of the most students) …

 China, Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil and Spain

What’s Inside

Teacher Training Pro- 2 grams

Swedish Principals’ Study Tour

OCENET supports 3 The Spanish teachers sponsored by the Fundación Amancio Ortega (FAO) upon their arrival at the Ottawa International global citizenship for Airport. These recent graduate teachers will be participating in a wide range of teacher development programs throughout OCDSB students this academic year.

International Education Staff Bursary program OCENET has gained international recognition for its teacher training programs because they feature practical pedagogical learning and professional development focused on a variety of targeted training Results of OCENET 4 modules combined with in-school practicum experience in an OCDSB school. Close to 50 Spanish international student teachers recently arrived in Ottawa through the Fundación Amancio Ortega (FAO) and will be studying survey in Ottawa throughout the 2017-2018 academic year. These teachers are recent graduates from Spanish Greenbank Middle universities and are in Ottawa to enhance their training before they assume full time teaching positions School Grade 8 student in Spanish schools. exchange to South Korea For the first half of the academic year these educators will participate in workshops and presentations Life as an international 5 related to best teaching practices, and learn from educators in the OCDSB, the Ontario College of student Teachers, and several universities including the University of Ottawa, OISE, Queen’s, and Brock. The Meet OCENET: 6 training modules that the Spanish teachers will participate in include topics of particular relevance to Katherine Noble pre-service teachers, such as Classroom Management and Differentiation, Technology for Learning En-

OCENET roles in hancement, Assessment and Evaluation, and Professional Development and Leadership, among others. international education associations The Spanish teachers will also be studying two education All OCDSB inter- courses offered at the University of Ottawa. national students Tip Sheet #10: 7 Best Practices for Sus- participate in a tainable Partnerships Throughout the second half of the academic year the teach- bus tour of Otta- and Student Exchanges ers will have a placement in an OCDSB school to work wa as part of their Abroad with mentor teachers and actively share in the life of their orientation. Pic- assigned school. During the time in schools, the Spanish OCENET Bulletin 8 tured here are 33 Board teachers will observe and assist OCDSB teachers by follow- new students from ing a schedule as agreed upon by both the Spanish and Ca- the Canary Islands The Divisions of nadian teachers. OCENET at Parliament Hill. - see “Teacher Training Programs” continued on page 2

Volume VII Issue 1 page 2

Teacher Training Programs (continued from page 1)

“The teacher train- FAO and the OCDSB are very ing programs are excited about this educational partnership. As stated in the mutually beneficial Program Summary for this initi- for both the educa- ative: “The experience in Ottawa tors from other will offer Spanish teachers many countries and for additional ideas to implement into local OCDSB teach- their teaching upon their return home, and the Canadian teachers ers and students.” and their students will be further enriched and inspired by the inclu- - Constantine Ioannou, sion of a Spanish educator within Program Director, their classrooms.” Short-Term/Group Projects

OCENET Many groups of educators, both large and small, come from many countries throughout the OCENET Executive Director Geoff Best, Amancio Ortega, OCDSB Direc- school year to attend the tor of Education Dr. Jennifer Adams, and OCENET Program Director teacher training programs of- Constantine Ioannou (l-r) at the signing of the teacher training program fered by OCENET and OCDSB. partnership agreement between Fundación Amancio Ortega Gaona This school year, including the (Spain), the OCDSB, and OCENET. 50 FAO teachers, several other groups will be participating in It is clear that there is a recip- they often adopt these ideas for OCENET Teacher Training and rocal benefit from hosting visit- teaching their students in Otta- Study Tours, including educa- ing educators because local wa schools. In addition, several tors from South Korea, Sweden teachers share and learn about long term friendships develop China, and other groups from the educational practices in which continue these education- Spain. other parts of the world, and al collaborations over time.

FAO teachers participate in a learning carousel where they worked in groups focused on a series of practical class- room activities in various subject areas including Math, Science, Social Studies and Language. These workshops are designed and delivered by OCDSB educators to demonstrate best teaching practices to the Spanish teachers.

Swedish Principals’ Study Tour learns from the OCDSB Principals and superintendents from Trollhättan, Sweden, attend an introductory presentation led by OCDSB Director of Education Dr. Jennifer Adams. The Swedish edu- cators learned about the Ontario educational system and best prac- tices in the OCDSB, and then will share this knowledge with col- leagues upon returning home. As part of the study tour they will shadow an OCDSB principal for one week, and will live with a local Homestay family while in Ottawa. Volume VII Issue 1 page 3

OCENET initiatives encourage global citizenship for OCDSB students

During International Education ment approaching 450 students Fourth Annual OCENET was held on Thursday, Week (Nov. 13-17) several in 26 OCDSB high schools. This International Education November 16, at the Con- global citizenship events orga- innovative program promotes Info-Fair federation Education Cen- nized by OCENET for OCDSB global citizenship by requiring tre during school hours. students took place at the students to complete a series of Confederation Education Cen- learning activities focused on The annual event attracted tre on Woodroffe Ave. developing global competencies. over two hundred OCDSB students and their teachers. OCDSB International Cer- The ICP is becoming more Following the keynote ad- tificate Information Evening widely recognized by Ontario dress, students had a wide universities; for example, Car- selection of workshops to leton University now offers two choose from during three ICP student scholarships in its workshop blocks. These Bachelor of Global and Interna- workshops focussed on tional Studies Program (BGInS). global issues, cultural un- derstanding, the United Information about the ICP is Nations’ SDGs, as well as available on the OCDSB website student exchanges and at: travel opportunities. There http:// was information on how to ocdsb.ss13.sharpschool.com/ become an OCENET Stu- cms/One.aspx? dent Ambassador and the por- OCENET’s Fourth Annual In- OCDSB ICP program. talId=55478&pageId=1744015 ternational Education Info-Fair There were even two in- troductory language work- shops on speaking Manda- rin and German.

In addition, throughout the day, students could speak This info evening gave students with the many exhibitors and parents an opportunity to about information on inter- learn about the OCDSB Inter- national education initia- national Certificate Program tives in the “Hall of Interna- (ICP) which now has an enroll- Graduates show off their new ICP Certificates at the June 2017 ceremony tional Opportunities.”

OCENET Staff Bursary supports IE opportunities Lynch-Getty Awards

During March Break in 2017, Dan Martin, VP at Manor Park PS, The Lynch-Getty Award honours students who value the im- participated in a Principal Exchange to Sweden. Dan learned much portance of creating a world where people strive to understand about the educational system in Sweden and took note of the dif- and help others near and far. ferences between the Swedish and Canadian systems as well as the shared pedagogies applied in both countries. In Dan’s words, “the The Lynch-Getty Award is presented to four graduating stu- days in Sweden were the best professional development I have dents annually to acknowledge their significant contributions to ever had.” He greatly appreciated receiving an OCENET Interna- their community through active global citizenship. Two of the tional Education Bursary to assist with the trip expenses. award recipients are international students who are attending OCDSB schools through the Ottawa Carleton Education Net- Information on eligibility and the application process for work. Each award recipient receives a certificate along with the OCENET International Education Bursary can be $1,000 towards supporting post-secondary studies. found at www.ocenet.ca/en/page/show/bursaries Recipients for 2016-2017 Some of the differ- ences in curriculum  Adelaide Strickland - West Carleton Secondary School focus and facilities  Amir Challal - Lisgar Collegiate Institute are evident in this wood-and metal  Omar Garcia Flores - Bell High School working classroom  Yolanda Chow - Lisgar Collegiate Institute (for students aged 8-years and older) in Linköping. Look for application information in early March 2018 at www.ocenet.ca/en/page/show/lynch-getty Volume VII Issue 1 page 4

Positive feedback on survey of OCDSB international students

In most areas, the results indi- cate that OCDSB schools and OCENET programs are meeting the needs of the international students, and in several areas, schools are performing excep- tionally well in accommodating our international students.

The results show that efforts can be made to encourage more international students to get involved in school life by partici- OCENET received a funding questions related to levels of pating in sports and clubs. These grant from the Ontario Minis- support and their Homestay extra-curricular activities help try of Education to conduct an experience while attending students to make friendships online exit survey of graduat- an OCDSB school. beyond the classroom and to ing OCDSB international stu- adapt to Canadian culture. dents. All international stu- Some students had been in dents who were in Grade 12 Ottawa for several years and The survey results have been were contacted and had an for others, they had attended shared with international stu- opportunity to respond to a OCDSB schools for only one dent advisors in schools as well series of 25 questions based year. Seventy-seven students as with Homestay. In addition, on their experiences in school, responded to the survey the survey results can be used both inside and outside of the during a two week period in as baseline data for comparison classroom, along with other June 2016. with any future surveys.

A sample of the data collected from the graduating international students:

 56% of the respondents surveyed indicated that a main goal in attending a Ca- nadian high school was to gain entrance to a Canadian university or college  92% of students felt they were welcomed to their new school  74% of students lived with Homestay family  61% of students got involved in extra-curricular school activities  92% of students felt they were included as part of the school community  91% of students would recommend their high school to others  49% of the graduating students planned to attend a Canadian university; 12% planned to attend a Canadian college

Greenbank MS completes student exchange to South Korea

In April 2017, 16 students they were treated like Greenbank students, Aaron, from Greenbank Middle “rock stars” by the host described the student exchange School, along with Principal school and the students’ as “a magical experience re- Dennis Paré and staff mem- families. The Canadian connecting with a friend face-to- bers Kathryn Ferris and students shadowed their face halfway around the world.” Heather Carmichael, travelled South Korean counterparts to Changwon, South Korea, as for two school days but Even though Greenbank MS part of an international stu- also spent time visiting the closed its doors in June and dent exchange. The study tour Changwon area. After 6 each of the staff members who Students and staff from was a real reunion since the days, the group travelled to participated in the South Korea Greenbank Middle School students and staff from Chang- Seoul for the final leg of the exchange have moved on to during their student won had visited Greenbank trip. In the words of Prin- different schools, they each plan exchange to South Korea MS during the fall of 2016. cipal Dennis Paré:“the to initiate efforts to repeat the whole experience was success of the Korean exchange From the moment the Green- overwhelmingly positive for at their new schools at some bank students and staff arrived all involved.” One of the point in the future. Volume VII Issue 1 page 5

Life as an “international student” in high school

Each issue of Global Connections highlights the experiences of OCENET international students studying in OCDSB schools. This issue profiles four Spanish students from the Canary Islands who are attending Grade 10 classes in OCDSB schools from September to December 2017.

Christina @ Lisgar CI Oscar @ AY Jackson SS

One of Christina’s English A friend of Oscar told him teachers from the Canary about the scholarship oppor- Islands encouraged her to tunity sponsored by the apply to study in Ottawa. For government of the Canary Christina, the whole experi- Islands. The more he re- ence has been a dream come searched about Ottawa, the true; she had been eager to more excited he became visit since she was 11 about coming to Canada. years old. She is not only busy This was a big step for him with her studies, but also is an since he had never travelled active member of Lisgar’s outside the Canary Islands. cross-country team and has He finds the teachers and participated in several races. students at his school very She describes her host family friendly and helpful. His as “Fantastic!” and she has Homestay family hosts other gone on trips to Toronto and international students as Kingston with them. She has well, and along with his Ca- noticed a significant improve- nadian “brother” they often ment in her English fluency play basketball. One of his and vocabulary development best experiences so far was while in Ottawa. Christina has going on the OCENET trip found the experience so en- to Niagara Falls. He feels he riching that she is looking into has improved his English returning to Canada again as skills and also learned to be an international student. successful in a new situation.

Flavia @ Hillcrest HS Jose @ Glebe CI

Flavia has travelled widely and Jose is known to friends and visited both Africa and South family by his nickname America. As for Canada, Flavia “Pepe.” His parents were finds it is a place where it is pleased that he showed the “very easy to fit in.” She likes initiative to come to Ottawa that her school provides lots to study in order to improve of course options and that his English and to learn to be students get an opportunity to more independent. Jose has discover the ways they learn found adapting to a Canadian best. Flavia loves anything to school and culture a fairly do with science and really easy transition. He has enjoys the experiential activi- made many Canadian friends ties in her Environmental Sci- and spends some of his so- ence course where she gets to cial time with them. His learn outside of the class- Homestay family has been room. She plans to participate great and they introduced in the OCENET organized trip him to camping several to Montreal later this semes- weekends ago. He loves ter. In the future, Flavia has Ottawa and is especially her aim set on studying pale- impressed by the downtown ontology at the University of area and the amount of Alberta. With the return green space throughout the home only a few weeks away, city. Jose’s educational path- Flavia is finding her 3.5 months way will probably involve here far too short. science and technology. Volume VII Issue 1 page 6

Meet OCENET: Katherine Noble

OCENET gives us the oppor- dents. We have an amazing, Each issue of Global Connections tunity to meet people from talented staff and I’m proud to be includes a feature interview with around the world. I love part of this organization. one of the OCENET team talking with our clients, both the students and adults, and 4. What new projects are 1. What are some of your learning about their coun- you working on at OCENET? main roles at OCENET? tries, language and culture. We have begun piloting a new I communicate with and re- 3. What have been some registration spreadsheet for spond to agents, school group of your accomplish- groups. The goal is to make the leaders/chaperones, homestay ments at OCENET that application process more efficient coordinators, school staff and your are most proud of? for agents and their clients by OCENET staff regarding the reducing the number of forms placement and operations of I have been fortunate enough they need to fill out. So far, the our programs. This includes to work in all three of feedback from our clients has admissions, immunization OCENET’s departments. I been very positive. began my career at Young Katherine Noble, information, course interests, People’s Language School, and 5. What are some of your Program Administrator, activities, custodian infor- then moved over to Ottawa interests outside of work? Short-Term/Group Programs mation, and transportation arrangements (especially for International Projects and elementary school bus re- Exchanges for short-term I really enjoy the outdoors, so quirements). I also input, pro- student and teacher training walking, hiking and spending time cess and update data for the projects. Last Fall, I had the at our (rustic) cottage are favour- Short-term and Group Pro- opportunity to work in Otta- ite pastimes. Reading and listening gram Management database. wa International Student Pro- to music are my “couch-potato” gram for one semester and activities, and I have been known 2. What aspects of your worked on processing appli- to binge-watch Netflix on occa- job do you enjoy most? cations from full-time stu- sion!

OCENET active in international education associations

OCENET has memberships in for his many leadership roles tricts International. OCENET several international education and being a founding member was well represented at the inau- organizations and makes active of the organization. More gural conference of OASDI held contributions to those organi- information can be found at in Toronto in June, as Geoff Best, zations. www.caps-i.ca. Constantine Ioannou, Kathy Scheepers and Ross Laing were The Canadian Association of Geoff Best also serves as the among the workshop leaders. Canadian Association of Public Schools-International current President of Ontario More information is available at Public Schools-International (CAPS-I) provides support to Association of School Dis- www.oasdi.ca logo its 128 school board members that recruit international stu- dents to Canadian schools. CAPS-I is a key source of infor- mation for parents, students and educational agents who choose Canada as a study des- tination. In addition, CAPS-I is involved in organizing student recruitment fairs overseas. Ontario Association of School Districts International At the annual CAPS-I Confer- logo ence all of the member school boards convene at a different location within Canada to share best practices. At the most recent CAPS-I Conference, At the annual CAPS-I Conference held this past May in Calgary, Paul OCENET’s Executive Director Millman, OCENET Executive Director Geoff Best, and Brent Poole re- Geoff Best received recognition ceived special recognition for10 years of leadership in CAPS-I Volume VII Issue 1 page 7

OCENET Tip Sheet #10: Best Practices for Sustainable School

Partnerships

and Student exchanges Abroad

In early 2017 OCENET received a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Education to research best practices relat- ed to sustainable partnerships and student exchanges with schools overseas. As part of this project, 14 OCDSB educators with extensive experience in international education participated in extensive one-to-one interviews to discuss issues around sustaining school partnerships internationally and to offer advice in establishing and

maintaining student exchanges with schools abroad.

This research project produced a report entitled A Guide to Best Practices for Developing Global Competencies through Sustainable Partnership Schools Abroad, Grades 7-12 which includes a synopsis of current research, ways to establish partnership schools, a concise guide to establishing a sustainable partnership school, a checklist for suc-

cessful international student exchanges, a detailed catalogue of challenges and strategic solutions, best practices for initiating and maintaining sustainable school partnerships and student exchanges, and several general recom- mendations.

The report addresses Ontario educators from those who are beginning to consider starting an international

school partnership or student exchange to those educators who are experienced in sustaining a partnership or exchange internationally. The report is comprehensive and offers practical information and advice, along with explanations of the following best practices:

- Consistent support for international experiential education by school board senior staff

- Develop a curriculum focus that extends beyond one school year - Advertise a four year plan for international study tours and exchanges for high school students - Maintain a consistent message when many schools are involved in an international student exchange - Seek innovative ways to financially support student exchanges - Make global awareness part of the “culture” of a school

- Sustainable partnerships and exchanges are about building strong relationships - Use technology to build relationships - Offer an International Certificate Program - Find a strong intermediary or educational agent that can help facilitate an international exchange - Organize board-wide opportunities for international study tours and exchanges with students

- Select students for international student exchanges based on merit and commitment to developing global competency - Have students be ambassadors for promoting the value of global educational experiences - Profile international students attending local schools - Ensure students are aware of cultural differences before travelling overseas

- Cultivate a school board reputation that demonstrates commitment to international partnerships

Check out @OCENETOttawa "Guide to Best Practices for Developing Global Competencies through Sustainable Partnership Schools Abroad, Grades 7-12" #globallyaware #globalcompetence #globaled @OCDSB https://

drive.google.com/open?id=0BzkS6i3xK10kY0stRExnRlZUZnJxQUhGTWlXZVdZVGJfb05V …

Volume VII Issue 1 page 8 OCENET Bulletin Board

STUDENTS: OCDSB/OCENET Interna- tional Study Abroad Bursaries Application Forms, FAQ's, Application Deadlines, Contact Information, etc. Information is available at: www.educationfoundationottawa.ca/ 440 Albert Street helping-students-2/bursary/ocdsbocenet- Room C315 international-study-abroad-bursary Ottawa, Ontario Canada K1R 5B5 Check out the new OCENET You Tube video, Phone: 613-239-0277 International Education at the OCDSB, which Fax: 613-239-0608 profiles the roles OCENET and the OCDSB email: [email protected] have in delivering high quality programs for international students and educators. Visit: www.studyottawa.ca/website/page/show/main? lang=en

What’s going on at OCENET? Follow us @OCENETOttawa

Divisions of OCENET

INTERNATIONAL

STUDENTS Elementary School

High School

University Preparation

GROUP PROJECTS English Immersion Teacher Training Summer Programs

ENGLISH LANGUAGE SCHOOL Academic English Leadership and Outdoor Education Programs Summer Study

If you have an international education story that should be included in Global Connections, let us know.

Please direct any comments, questions, or suggestions to: [email protected]