Inside this Issue:
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OCSTA President Patrick Daly on TVO’s The Agenda
On January 16, 2017, OCSTA President Patrick Daly appeared with other education sector representatives on a panel convened by TV Ontario’s The Agenda with Steve Paikin to discuss the topic of school closures.
The panel examined the pressures, issues and demographic changes that are having impact on the decisions school boards make with respect to closing or consolidating schools.
The full episode (entitled “Education for All”) can be viewed directly on The Agenda’s website.
Catholic Trustees Seminar Presentations Now Online
Waterloo CDSB Trustee, Joyce Anderson with OCSTA President, Patrick Daly.
The Association welcomed almost 200 delegates to this year’s Catholic Trustees Seminar at the Hilton Mississauga Meadowvale Hotel. In addition to providing an opportunity for trustees to meet in their respective Regional Meeting groups, the Seminar explored various options for community engagement – from reaching out to connect to the extensive resources of Ontario’s Catholic universities to “walking forward together” with our Indigenous communities to recommendations and outcomes arising from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
This year’s Seminar was also the venue for introducing the Ministry of Education’s revised Strategic Planner’s Guidebook for Ontario School Board Trustees. The interactive session included a panel discussion relaying best practices and experiences and featuring Catholic trustees and directors of education from CDSBs across Ontario.
Please scroll down to the end of this issue of the newsletter to view pictures from this event.
PowerPoint presentations and audio recordings of all sessions can be downloaded, viewed and/or listened to here.
OCSTA Short Video Award Contest Winners
St. Michael the Archangel CES, York CDSB
On January 13th, OCSTA announced at the Catholic Trustees Seminar the Catholic elementary and secondary school winners of the this year’s Short Video Contest – “The Story Behind the Name of Our Catholic School.”
Elementary Panel Winners:
1st place: St. Andrew Catholic Elementary School, CDSB of Eastern Ontario
2nd place: St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Elementary School, York CDSB
3rd place: Mary Ward Catholic Elementary School, Niagara CDSB
Secondary Panel Winners:
1st place: St. Roch Catholic Secondary School, Dufferin-Peel CDSB
2nd place: St. Jean de Brebeuf Catholic Secondary School, York CDSB
3rd place: Monsignor Doyle Catholic Secondary School, Waterloo CDSB
Congratulations to the winners and to all students and staff who participated in this year’s faith-filled and informative contest!
PVNC CDSB Hosts Bishop, area MPPs for Discussion on Catholic Education
From left: Durham MPP Granville Anderson, Northumberland-Quinte West MPP Lou Rinaldi, Student Trustee Zachary Smith, Director of Education Michael Nasello, Board Chairperson Michelle Griepsma, Peterborough MPP Jeff Leal and Bishop William McGrattan.
We are pleased to share with OCSTA members this Good News highlight from the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington CDSB – please click here to read this update from the PVNC CDSB.
OCSTA Online Community Forum for Trustees
All trustees are encouraged to join the OCSTA Online Community Forum for Trustees. This forum has been established in response to trustees’ requests for secure online space for trustees to share ideas and questions on issues related to Catholic education, Catholic school board governance, and Ministry of Education initiatives, policies and legislation. If you need assistance to log onto this forum, please do not hesitate to contact Ashlee Cabral at acabral@ocsta.on.ca – 416-932-9460, ext. 232.
New Categories: New discussion categories have been added to provide trustees with timely and direct access to OCSTA memos, briefs, submissions and information on upcoming events.
Together in Faith Campaign
Have you signed up to receive updates on OCSTA’s Together in Faith campaign? If not, we hope you’ll sign up today as this campaign is designed to surface and profile province-wide the social justice intiatives, faith-based activities, successful programs and academic achievements of students and staff in our Catholic schools.
We encourage you to share the posters and pre-written (but customizable) messages and letters that you can access directly from the Together in Faith website and share with members of your family, parish, Catholic school community, local MPP, city councillors and others in your local network.
The Joy of the Gospel – Regis College
On February 1, 8, 15 and March 1, Regis College in Toronto will be presenting the “Faith Issues Today” four-part series ‘The Joy of the Gospel – Evangelii Gaudiam’. Using the challenging and thought-provoking apostolic exhortation, this series will explore Pope Francis’ roadmap for the Church’s pastoral mission and work in the world.
Enrollment is limited and preregistration is encouraged. The fee for this series is $50.00.
To enroll online visit www.regiscollege.ca/faith_issues_today.
2017 Catholic Trustees Seminar Pictures
NOTE: Pictures will appear as you scroll down the page. Click on picture to enlarge.
Thank you for the Newsletter. I enjoyed easing about what is happening in Catholic Education in our province. To all the Trustees, students, parents and staff, Thank you for your commitment to the .Catholic Schools in Ontario. We have received wonderful accolades in the past, and this Newsletter proves the interest and enthusiasm is still very evident. Thank you all.