Across the Boards

Visiting Bluewater DSB

In February, Assistant Deputy Minister of Education George Zegarac visited the Bluewater DSB to view examples of the board’s specialist high school programs. While touring the technology centre at Georgian Bay Secondary School, he was treated to a lunch prepared and catered by the school’s food service students. He also learned about the board’s outdoor education programs from Meaford Community School and Beaver Valley Community School students on a site visit to the Institute for Outdoor Education and Environmental Studies.

Also in February, an administrative team from Lakehead DSB made a two-day professional development visit to the Bluewater board. The visit allowed Bluewater professionals to share their practices in the provincial School Effectiveness Framework initiative, and showcased successes achieved at Alexandra Community School in Owen Sound.  The group also visited Hepworth Central Public School in Hepworth and Peninsula Shores District School in Wiarton.

For more information, visit www.bwdsb.on.ca and click on the News tab.

TDSB First Nations School of Toronto

A traditional First Nations meal and celebration marked the February opening of a new, state-of-the-art kitchen at the First Nations School of Toronto. The school plans to use the kitchen to provide a nutritious and culturally appropriate meal program for its students. The new kitchen was made possible through a partnership of Re/Max Hallmark, the Paloma Foundation and the Toronto Foundation for Student Success – the arm’s-length charitable foundation of the Toronto District School Board. Re/Max real estate agents raised $30,000, and designed and built the kitchen. The company also supports other breakfast programs throughout Toronto.

The First Nations School of Toronto was founded in 1977 and serves Aboriginal students from the Greater Toronto Area, from JK to grade 8.

For more information, contact Wayne Kodje, principal, First Nations School of Toronto, (416) 393-0555 or Mena Paternostro, coordinator, TDSB Student Nutrition Program, (416) 394-2115.

Safe Schools at Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB

As part of a new board approach to safe schools, Director of Education Sylvia Terpstra has been meeting with student focus groups across the board to hear their views on safe school issues. The board’s strategy includes taking student concerns seriously, supporting character development, implementing restorative practices in schools and combating bullying. The board is also communicating this information to parents through a brochure and by posting it on the Web site.

For more information, contact Judy Malfara, communications, Kawartha Pine Ridge DSB, (705) 742-9773, toll free (877) 741-4577, ext. 2001, or visit www.kprschools.ca.

Peel Director of Education Honoured

In January, the Ontario School Librarians Association honoured Peel Director of Education Jim Grieve with the 2008 Administrator of the Year award. This award is presented annually to a school administrator who has shown exemplary leadership in promoting school library programs in a school board. Grieve is known for his strong support of student literacy and active promotion of reading to all in the board. He has also devoted time to weekly visits to all schools in Peel. The award was presented at an OSLA award ceremony on January 31.

For more information, contact Ryan Reyes, communications, Peel DSB, (905) 890-1010, ext. 2652;  ryan.reyes@peelsb.com.

Canada’s Outstanding Principals 2008

Eight principals from Ontario’s public boards are among 33 from across Canada  named in the 2008 Canada’s Outstanding Principals program: Heather Conlin and Caroline Conn-Smith (Halton DSB); Scott Enns (DSB Niagara); Aliomid Jahangir, Leslie Moody and David Tomlin (TDSB); Gail Lyon (Ottawa-Carleton DSB) and Robert Morrallee (Hamilton-Wentworth DSB).

Each of the 33 principals honoured this year has shown exemplary leadership with a demonstrated benefit to students, the school and the community. The principals were invited to a five-day program at the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, followed by an induction into the National Academy of Principals and an awards gala dinner in Toronto in February. They also will be able to participate in a year-long online forum.

The Canada’s Outstanding Principals program was launched in 2005 by The Learning Partnership, a national non-profit organization supporting public education in Canada.

For more information, visit www.thelearningpartnership.ca.

University of Guelph’s New Environmental Governance Degree Program

Starting in September 2008, high school students looking to earn an undergraduate bachelor’s degree in environmental governance can consider Ontario’s University of Guelph. The university has launched a new interdisciplinary program, created through the departments of geography and political science. This degree will prepare students for careers in government and private industry that require sound knowledge of environmental, legal and political issues.

The University of Guelph is well respected for its programs in veterinary medicine and agriculture and is a leader in environmental science research.

For more information, contact the University of Guelph, Department of Geography, (519) 824-4120, ext. 56720, or visit www.uoguelph.ca/geography.