I hope you had a great March Break and a good first week back to school. It's officially spring on the calendar and hopefully will be soon be spring in the weather forecast! There are a number of upcoming events and speaker series planned in schools across the district in the next few weeks. Take a minute to read the list in the events section of this newsletter.

Director's Update Next week, the District will be hosting a leadership conference entitled Closing the Gap: Creativity, Diversity and Learning, Critical Connections. This day and a half conference will feature Dr. Andy Hargreaves and Dr. Pasi Sahlberg as keynote speakers. Please take a minute to read the Director's Update about the conference and the important work we are doing in this area.

Speaker Series - Self-Regulation, March 27th This week we have a fabulous Speaker Series planned. Dr. Stuart Shanker will be speaking about Developing Self-Regulation. Scientists now understand that the better a child can self-regulate the better they can rise to the challenge of mastering ever more complex skills and concepts. Stuart Shanker is a leading expert on developing self-regulation and will explain how it develops in children and what can we do to enhance its development in the early years. Take a minute to look at this short video clip of Stuart Shanker speaking about self-regulation. I encourage you to join us on Thursday, March 27, 2014 from 7:00 p.m. — 9:00 p.m. at Sir Robert Borden High School, 131 Greenbank Road, .

School Council News - PRO Grants The Ministry of Education has announced the 2014-2015 Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grant Program. The PRO grants are available to school councils for a maximum of $1,000 for school-based initiatives.The PRO grants for school councils are intended to support school-based initiatives to reach parents who face barriers to becoming involved in their child’s education. Please note that the deadline for the 2014-15 PRO grant submissions is Friday 16 May 2014. Applications are required to be submitted electronically. For more information on the 2014-15 PRO grants, please visit the Ministry website.

Interested in Playgrounds? At the March 18th Committee of the Whole meeting, there was a discussion about play structures in elementary schools, including alternatives to play structures such as naturalized play areas which incorporate school yard greening and outdoor classrooms. The report includes some interesting information for school councils working on playground and school yard projects. Take a minute to read the report. You might also be interested in attending the school yard greening presentation scheduled for March 26th at Immaculata High School at 7:00 p.m.

Glashan Public School National Finalists - $20,000 Outdoor Classroom Contest could soon have an outdoor classroom valued at $20,000. The central Ottawa public school is one of just ten national finalists in the Majesta Outdoor Classroom Contest. However, Glashan Public School students need YOUR HELP to make the outdoor classroom a reality! The $20,000 will be awarded to the school that collects the most on-line votes. School Principal, James Tayler says we need all of Ottawa to vote daily for Glashan to ensure victory! There is also a personal incentive to cast your ballot – you could win $10,000 just for voting. Cast your ballot daily (from April 7 to May 5, 2014) for Glashan Public School’s Outdoor Classroom at majestatreesofknowledge.ca.

Budget 2014-2015 Community input is an important step in developing our budget. Parents, students, partners, and community members bring a unique perspective. You are invited to share your ideas about budget priorities. Please think about our strategic objectives and consider the following questions: Can you identify three opportunities for investment that would support student achievement and well- being at the OCDSB? Can you identify three opportunities or changes that could generate savings? The District’s four key priority areas are well-being, engagement, leadership and learning. In your opinion, does one of these priority areas require more investment at this time? Please send us your thoughts by e-mail to [email protected]. Your submission will be considered during the development of the staff recommended 2014-2015 Budget and may be included in Board reports. We would like to receive input by March 31, 2014 to allow sufficient time to incorporate your comments into the budget process. For more information please read our Budget Guide.

Math Facts Do you ever think about the connections between math and music? Here are a couple of videos that explain the connections. The Math of Music is an 8 minute video that talks about patterns, waves, frequency, and amplitude. It's geared to a secondary audience.

"A-Rythm-etic" is an entertaining and informative TED talk by Drummer Clayton Cameron. It's a great video to watch with the kids as he breaks down different genres of music—from R&B to Latin to pop—by their beats. This talk proves hip hop and jazz aren't cooler than math—they simply rely on it. This is a great video to watch with elementary students.

Boardroom News – March 25, 2014 The March Board Meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 25th. The meeting gets underway at 7:00p.m. (note early start time) in the Boardroom. The final version of the school year calendar for 2014-2015 and academic staffing for the 2014-2015 school year will be discussed.

Looking Ahead to the April 1st COW The next Committee of the Whole meeting will be held on April 1st. The agenda includes discussions about Early French Immersion at Munster Elementary School, the delegation of authority policy, a draft policy on child care and a discussion about green transportation inutilities.

Events How to Teach Your Kids About Money Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School Council is working with the Chartered Professional Accountants to present a free evening session for parents on “How to teach your kids about Money” Join them on Tuesday March 25, 2014 @ 7:15-8:15p.m. in the Alex Getty Auditorium at Longfields-Davidson Heights Secondary School.

Redirecting Children’s Behavior: Robert Bateman Public School - March 26th Children learn from an early age that negative behaviour guarantees attention and involvement from adults. As parents we need to monitor our reactions to ensure that cooperative positive behaviours are being rewarded and encouraged on a daily basis.This workshop will offer strategies to re-channel negative behaviours into positive interactions as well as methods of encouragement to increase good feelings between children and adults. FREE for all! When: Wednesday March 26, 2014 Where: RBPS Library Time: 7:30 pm

TechU.me The Ottawa Network for Education (ONFE) celebrates the successes of phase one of its TechU.me program by showcasing the apps created by students partaking in its flagship initiative – the Mentor Program. TechU.me seeks to increase the number of students exposed to the basics of computer programming as part of the school curriculum; provide a mentor program to schools and increase enrolment in Computer Science and Communications Technology courses. Everyone is welcome at this event which will take place at Jean Pigott Place, Ottawa City Hall, 110 Laurier Street on Thursday, March 27, 2014 at 9:00 a.m. Please RSVP : Liz Burgess at [email protected]

Jumble Sale Majordale’s Jumble Sale is returning again this year on Thursday, March 27, 2014 and proceeds will be put towards new outdoor equipment for our students. Donations of items, such as gently used clothing, small house-hold items or appliances, books, games and movies, are greatly appreciated. Donations are being accepted from March 17- 21, 2014. All are welcome to participate.

The Association for Bright Children (ABC) Ottawa Chapter - Jump in’ to Learn! Spring 2014 ABC Take-off! Enrichment workshops will be held on Saturday mornings for children and youth - ages 6-14. There are over 45 enrichment courses available on Saturday mornings for 6 weeks, starting March 29. These courses are designed especially for keen and eager students with lots of hands-on activities. The Spring 2014 Take-off will be offered March 29 – May 10, no class April 19, at St. Paul 's High School. Registration will begin March 6 at the Ron Kolbus Lakeside Centre, 102 Greenview Ave. - off Carling and Pinecrest, at 7:30pm. To learn more please visit"http://abcontario.ca/ottawa/faq/index.htm.

Earth Hour In the evening on Saturday, March 29, 2014 people around the world will be turning off their lights to show their support for action against climate change and Earth Hour. At Cedarview , the students and staff will be participating by turning off their lights for one hour during the school day on Friday, March 28, 2014.

Fourth Annual Rainbow Spring Fling - April 11, 2014 This year’s Rainbow Spring Fling will be held on Friday, April 11, 2014. The dance provides a safe space for GBLTQ students and straight allies to dance, laugh, and feel free to be themselves. This event has been supported by the OCDSB and demonstrates that we stand by our mandate of safe, inclusive schools that support and embrace equity and diversity. Over 150 students from 20 schools attended the last dance. We hope that all schools will be represented this year.

Dr. Gordon Neufeld's upcoming presentations in Ottawa, April 12-14 Saturday April 12th: Heart Matters: What to do with a child's feelings (for parents) Monday April 14th: Restoring Emotional Health in Troubled Children and Youth (for professionals) Sunday April 13th: Master Class Q&A (pre-requisite Level One Intensive)

International Education Fair - April 12th The Ottawa Carleton Education Network (OCENET) is celebrating international education initiatives and opportunities in Ottawa by hosting their International Education Info-Fair on Saturday, April 12, 2014. The event is free for both children and adults and will be held at the Albert Street Education Centre, 440 Albert Street, from 10:00a.m. to 2:00 p.m. For more information or to pre-register, visit www.ocenet.ca.

Bullying Prevention – April 14th Dr. Tina Daniels will be speaking at Fallingbrook on Monday April 14 at 6:30 pm. Dr. Daniels is a professor at Carleton University and has done significant research in bullying prevention and intervention. The School Council has organized this presentation for parents to further support their school’s efforts with regards to the WITS program.

Aladdin - April 14th Friends and family are invited to Cedarview’s Grade 8 theatrical performance of Aladdin. The show will be presented on Monday, April 14 and Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at 7pm. Tickets are $5 at the door. Students from Cedarview will be invited to see the show at the afternoon dress rehearsal. Come out and enjoy the show!

First Avenue’s Annual Book Sale First Avenue’s Annual Book Sale will be taking place from Thursday, April 10 to Sunday, April 13, 2014. The proceeds from this fundraiser will help fund cultural events, school yard projects and student activities. Also, 5% of the funds raised will be donated to a charity chosen by the students. Donations of books, CDs and DVDs are greatly appreciated and can be dropped off during school hours from Tuesday, March 25 to Friday, March 28, or in the evenings from Monday, March 31 to Wednesday, April 2.

Speaker Series @ North Gower Marlborough Public School Anger in the Family: A Necessary Evil?- Thursday, 1 May What happens when anger explodes in your family? How can you teach your kids to handle their strong emotions, without hurting other people or themselves? This workshop will help you to understand where anger comes from, both your children’s anger and your own. You’ll learn how to manage anger’s energy and how to redirect it positively.

Helping Children Behave Well -Tuesday, 6 May Real discipline means teaching good behaviour, not just punishing bad behaviour. The way we organize our routine and the environment have a big influence on behaviour. So do our words of encouragement. This workshop will give you some tools to help children act in acceptable ways.

The sessions will take place in the evening at the NGMPS and are open to members of the community. Refreshments and child care will be provided. Please RSVP to [email protected], if you would like to take advantage of our childcare. Please arrive 15 minutes early so as not to disrupt the presentation.

REMINDERS Upcoming Consultation – Proposed Bell Time Changes The Ottawa Student Transportation (OSTA) has been looking for ways to improve efficiency through bus routing. That can have an impact on school start times, or "bell times". OSTA has posted information regarding proposed bell time changes as well as information about hazard zones on its website at www.ottawaschoolbus.ca. All of the changes are proposed to be implemented for school year 2015- 2016. Public consultation will occur in April and May 2014, through open houses and presentations. The dates, times and locations will be posted on the OSTA website as well as the board’s website. Parents, guardians and caregivers are encouraged to submit comments to a special email box [email protected]. OSTA is requesting that when submitting comments you follow the reporting format outlined below. This will ensure clarity. Format for Submitting Comments Put the school name in the subject line In the comment area, put your full name, address and contact information in case we need some clarification. Make sure your comments are detailed and demonstrate a tangible or justifiable reason why the proposed change CANNOT be made. For example, rather than stating “I can’t make my bus”, please state, “I take bus route number XX at X time in order to get to work for X time. This bell time change means I can’t get to work until XX time and that’s too late for my employer”

New! Hazard Zone Maps by School (Walk Zones) OSTA has been working to identify potential temporary and/or permanent hazards which may be encountered by students walking to school. Please go to the OSTA website to view the new walk zone maps for every school. The e same distance measurement will be used for both school boards. In addition OSTA will provide "preferred route to school maps" for walkers. http://www.ottawaschoolbus.ca/

Take the Time to Recognize Someone through the Community Member Recognition Awards We have extended the deadline for our community member recognition awards. This is such an important program. There are so many people who make an incredible difference in our school communities. The district has several awards to recognize the work of parent and community volunteers. Please submit a nomination today! Chair’s Award – recognizes the substantial contribution of an OCDSB staff member and/or a community member to the achievement of the aims and objectives of the Board over an extended period of years. Community Award - recognizes the outstanding efforts of a member of the OCDSB community in developing a community initiative that directly supports the well-being of our students. School Council Volunteer– recognizes the outstanding efforts of a school council or school council member for making a significant contribution to enhancing the learning experience of students at a school and/or system level. Volunteer of the Year Award – recognizes the substantial contribution of a parent volunteer or community volunteer over an extended period of years or through a single significant initiative that has had a positive impact on students. Community Partnership Award – recognizes the outstanding partnership/support from a community agency or business over an extended period of years or through a significant initiative that has directly benefited OCDSB students. To get a nomination form, please see OCDSB Procedure PR.636.GOV: Community Member Recognition Awards. For more information, please contact [Link][email protected]

Have a great weekend. Michele

Michele Giroux Executive Officer, Corporate Services Ottawa-Carleton District School Board 133 Greenbank Road, Nepean ON 613-596-8211 ext 8607 [email protected]