Inside this Issue:
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Upcoming Event
2017 Catholic Trustees’ Seminar – January 13-14
- Location: Hilton Mississauga Meadowvale Hotel, 6750 Mississauga Rd., Mississauga
- Keynote Presenter: Professor Randy Boyagoda, NY Times Bestselling Author and Principal, University of St. Michael’s College, University of Toronto
- Trustee Regional Meetings for West, Central, North East, North West and East Regions
- Ministry of Education Workshop: School Board Multi-Year Planning for Trustees
- How to Stay on Message Workshop: led by Dave Sieger, Enterprise
- Aboriginal Education Presentation by Robert Horton of the Seven Generations Education Institute
- Registration Form
- Full Program
OCSTA Government Submissions
For the reference and use of trustees, following are links to submissions made by OCSTA in recent months that share the perspectives and priorities of Catholic school boards on legislation and government initiatives relevant to Catholic education:
October 31
Submission Re: Regulation 243.07 Safe Drinking Water Act
November 22, 2016
Submission re: Before and After School Programs Kindergarten to Grade 6 – Draft Policies & Guidelines for School Boards
Spirited Citizenship
In 2017, Cardus and the Angus Reid Institute will be conducting extensive public opinion research on the contribution that “faith and faithful citizens” make to Canada. The initiative is titled “Spirited Citizenship” and will consist of monthly surveys that they hope will generate national conversation on the topic of faith in our daily lives.
For more information visit www.spiritedcitizenship.ca.
Catholic Trustee Discussion Forum
A reminder to all members that OCSTA has established a secure discussion forum for Catholic trustees to discuss new initiatives and current topics in Catholic education.
All OCSTA members have been assigned a unique login and password to access this forum. If you have not already received an email providing you with access information or 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.
Bishop Barron Podcast
One of the more popular podcasts on Catholic faith and culture is a podcast created by American Bishop, The Most Rev. Robert E. Barron, Episcopal Vicar of the Santa Barbara Pastoral Region in the Archdiocese of Los Angeles.
As part of our focus on sharing more and varied resources with Catholic trustees, we share this podcast with you this week. To listen click here.
2016 Student Short-video Contest
2014 winning submission from St. Edmund Campion CSS, Dufferin-Peel CDSB.
The deadline for student/school submissions for OCSTA’s annual short video contest is almost here – November 28.
The theme for this year’s contest is “The Story behind the Name of Our Catholic School.”
This year’s theme is designed to encourage Ontario’s Catholic District School Board students in grades 4-12 to delve into the history of the person/saint for whom their school was named and to be creative in telling that story. Students are also encouraged to share in the video the ways in which that person’s life and actions have brought meaningful inspiration to students today.
Submission Guidelines and Forms
The contest is open to all students in grades 4 – 12 at Ontario’s publicly funded Catholic schools. Participants are asked to submit a 2-minute video about the person for whom their school was named and illustrate how the life of that person/saint offers inspiration to the student(s) submitting the entry.
The submission deadline is November 28, 2016.
Students and staff are encouraged to download and read the guidelines and submission form.
More Exposure for All Submissions
The Association is very appreciative of the tremendous effort and creativity that goes into every short-video entry. For that reason we will once again be sharing on social media ALL submissions that meet video guidelines throughout the month of December.
The videos will be placed on OCSTA’s publicly accessible YouTube Channel so that as many people as possible will be able to benefit from the messages students share about the lives of the saints and other individuals who have inspired our communities to name schools in their honour.
Prizes
First place: $300 Best Buy Gift Certificate
Second place: $150 Best Buy Gift Certificate
Third place: $100 Indigo Gift Certificate.
The winners will be announced at OCSTA’s annual Catholic Trustees’ Professional Development Seminar on January 13, 2017 in Toronto.
For more information, please contact Sharon McMillan, Director of Communications at (416) 932-9460 / smcmillan [at] ocsta.on.ca.
Download PDF of Contest Submission Guidelines
Premier’s Awards for Accepting Schools
Nominations are now open for the 2016-17 Premier’s Awards for Accepting Schools. These awards recognize Safe and Accepting Schools teams that have demonstrated initiative, creativity and leadership in promoting a safe, inclusive and accepting school climate.
Every school in Ontario has a Safe and Accepting Schools team that includes the principal, at least one teacher, student, parent, non-teaching staff member, and one community partner. anyone in a school community can nominate a team and the deadline for nominations is February 17, 2017.
Information for Making a Submission:
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