New Term Begins for Catholic School Boards

November 15th marked the beginning of the new term for Catholic school board trustees across the province.  Congratulations to all new and returning Catholic school trustees!

 

OCSTA Statement Regarding CUPE Tentative Agreement

November 20, 2022

“We are very pleased that following many days of bargaining, the Council of Trustees’ Associations, the Provincial government and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) reached a tentative collective agreement. The tentative agreement ensures that the students in Catholic schools throughout Ontario and the dedicated CUPE staff who serve them will remain in schools Monday.

Details of the tentative agreement will be shared following ratification. We are appreciative of the efforts of our bargaining team, Trustee Association and Crown partners and the representatives of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.”

Patrick Daly
President
Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association

Trustee Orientation

As announced previously, OCSTA is supporting local board orientation programs with a series of virtual seminars that include the following:

• Robert’s Rules of Order for Committee and Board Meetings; Presenter: Atul Kapoor, Certified Parliamentarian; November 23rd, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  Register here
• Trustee Conflict of Interest; Presenter: Eric Roher, Partner, Borden Ladner Gervais LLP; November 30th, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  Register here

 

Trustee Modules

A reminder to all Trustees that OCSTA, in collaboration with OESC has developed a number of effective professional learning modules specifically for our members. To learn more visit https://www.ocsta.on.ca/trustee-modules-2/ .

 

Register for the Annual Catholic Trustee Seminar

January 20-21, 2023
Delta by Marriott Hotel – Toronto Airport

We hope all trustees are planning to attend OCSTA’s Catholic Trustee Seminar. This much anticipated professional learning event for Ontario’s Catholic school trustees will be held from January 20 to 21 at the Delta by Marriott Hotel – Toronto Airport.

We look forward to this gathering of new and returning trustees and to the opportunities for fellowship and learning. The Seminar program includes timely workshops on current matters, engaging plenary sessions, a special evening dinner event, and a Eucharistic Celebration. To learn more about the program and to register click here.

2022 Short-Video Contest for CDSB Students

OCSTA is pleased to announce the return of the OCSTA Short Video Contest which this year celebrates the Catholic Education Week theme for the year – Catholic Education: We are Many,We are One.

This year’s theme provides an opportunity to deepen our understanding of how the life of Jesus Christ and acts of Christian service help to define the Catholic identity of our Catholic schools. To see a sample of a previous winning video entry and contest submission details please click here or download PDF document.

The deadline for submissions is December 9th. For full details click here.

 

 

OCSTA Faith Formation Series – Online Access

The OCSTA Together in Faith series of faith formation publications is available for download directly from the OCSTA website at the following link:

https://www.ocsta.on.ca/together-in-faith-series/

At the website link above you will find the following publications:

• Together in Faith: Home, School, Parish booklet
• Together in Faith: Care for Our Common Home. A Collection of School Board Practices booklet, and
• Recently released: Together in Faith – Adult Faith Formation – Catholic Leadership Development. A Collection of School Board Practices

 

Catholic School Board Highlight

From the Wellington CDSB

St. James Catholic High School Builds
Accessibility Ramp for Community Member

A grade 11 construction class at St. James Catholic High School has completed a wheelchair ramp for a community member, giving her the freedom to enter and exit from her home following a health turn.

Stephanie Zonneveld, ABA/ASD System Resource Teacher & ASSDP Project Lead with Wellington Catholic District School Board brought the project to the attention of administrators at St. James CHS, having worked with the community member and Wellington Catholic family member, Yvonne, for a number of years.

A parent of two girls at St James CHS, Yvonne was the former president of the local Autism chapter and has supported a number of families in the community, having helped develop community programs, connecting with theaters to run sensory sensitive film nights and assisting at St. John Catholic School in Guelph with breakfast and snack school programs – committing her time well after her daughters had left the school.

Last September, ongoing health problems led Yvonne to amputate her leg deeming her unable to freely enter and exit her home by wheelchair in the home’s current state.

“She’s not someone who is used to asking for help, she is someone who is used to giving the help…so that has been hard,” shared Zonneveld.

Following Yvonne’s news, knowing the continued support she has provided to the community – Zonneveld wanted the community to now provide help for Yvonne.

Enter the St. James CHS grade 11 construction class and Wellington Catholic DSB experiential learning team.

Principal, Sandra Cummings gave her stamp of approval for Gerald Della Savia, Construction Teacher, to take on the project. Supported by both Nicholas Brown, Program Coordinator of Experiential Learning, Ryan Lawrenson, Experiential Learning Lead, the project has become an all-encompassing Wellington Catholic DSB project.

“The project has been great for the students, and they really truly do love doing it. They are here every day – all of them, it’s great for the students,” shared Della Savia.

“Once I heard the story of what happened,” added Ben Matusinex, grade 11 construction student. “Doing this to help them out gives me the motivation to want to do this and to get it done as quick as possible.”

The class worked diligently in their first period construction class, building the ramp from Justin Kelly and Brad Stroyan of the firm, Tacoma Engineers’, engineering plans. Beginning with laying out the ramp, students dug footings, built concrete forms prior to concrete being delivered, framed the posts, and completed the finishings.

“From start to finish the class has done everything on the project,” said Della Savia.

Now complete, the wheelchair ramp has allowed Yvonne to move freely in and out of her home. After a lifetime of supporting the Wellington Catholic community, all members of the build were happy to provide her with a small token of their appreciation.