GUELPH, Ontario – The May meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board was held on May 22, 2018. The following provides highlights from the meeting.
Child and Youth Mental Health and Well-being Week
UGDSB’s Mental Health and Addictions Lead Jenny Marino provided trustees with an update on Child and Youth Mental Health and Well-being Week, which took place May 7-11, 2018.
The theme of Mental Health Week in the UGDSB is “Have a SUPER Week!” and each day of the week focuses on a different area: Social connection, Understanding emotions, Personal health, Empathy and Resilience.
Throughout the week, staff and students increased their mental health by promoting an understanding of mental health wellness, making the connection between the body and mind, increasing their understanding of feelings, increasing coping skills, developing stress management and relaxation techniques and increasing positive behaviours.
All schools received resources to support their work, including posters, announcements and activities to be used each day. Schools shared how they were celebrating the week on social media using the hashtag #MHUG.
Abridged Elementary and Secondary Identified Schools Reports
Each year, Planning staff presents projected school enrolment and utilization rates for elementary and secondary schools. Schools that are projected to be overcrowded or underutilized for the upcoming school year are identified. The annual reports also includes French Immersion (FI) enrolment trends and opportunities for potential facility partnership locations.
This year, due to the ongoing work associated with the Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP), the 2018-19 report was condensed into one report that focuses on information regarding partnership opportunities and FI enrolment trends. The 5-year forecast and information regarding current and future accommodation issues are reported in the LTAP Background Report and Final Report (Draft), both of which can be found at LTAP.
Potential Facility Partnership Space
Policy 319 Community Planning and Partnerships requires that potential facility partnership space is identified according to the following criteria:
Facilities that have been 60% utilized or less for the past two years and/or facilities that have had 200 or more unused pupil places for at least the past two years.
Facilities that are projected to be 60% utilized or less for the next five years.
For the 2018-19 school year, three UGDSB elementary schools meet the criteria, based on either utilization or space parameters: Grand Valley & District PS, Ross R. MacKay PS, and Willow Road PS. There is one secondary school that meets the criteria: Norwell District Secondary School.
French Immersion Enrolment Trends
Board-wide elementary FI enrolment increased by 2% between 2016-17 and 2017-18. It is projected that FI enrolment will increase by 5% in 2018-19. FI is projected to account for 22% of total elementary enrolment in 2018-19. The start of FI in two new schools has increased the number of available JK FI spaces in the board. Larger cohorts moving through the system also account for overall program growth.
New FI programs in 2018-19:
JK-3 at Parkinson Centennial ES, which will feed into Spencer Avenue ES for Grades 4-8.
At Gateway Drive PS the FI program will begin JK/SK in 2018-19 and grow to become JK-3. The Gateway program will feed into Willow Road PS for Grades 4-8.
Elementary Principal/Vice-Principal Transfers and Appointments
The following Principal transfers are effective Sept. 4, 2018:
Valerie Smith from Glenbrook ES to Kenilworth PS
Tim Murray from Montgomery Village PS to Glenbrook ES
Peter LeBlanc from FSL Lead to Montgomery Village PS
Kathy Gossling-Spears from Salem PS to John Black PS
Wendy Clarke to Grand Valley & District PS
Lisa Doering from Rockwood Centennial PS to Ponsonby PS
Jeff Crawford from Ponsonby PS to Salem PS
The following Principal appointments are effective Sept. 4, 2018:
Hanna Morris from Kortright Hills PS (VP) to Priory Park PS
Olivier Cutz from John McCrae PS (VP) to Rockwood Centennial PS
The following Vice-Principal transfers are effective Sept. 4, 2018:
Jill Woytko from Rickson Ridge PS to Kortright Hills PS
Brenda Sherry to Rickson Ridge PS
Chad Reay from Willow Road PS to John McCrae PS
Nicole Hamilton from Mitchell Woods PS to Guelph Lake PS
Sarah Garrett from Princess Margaret PS (0.5) and Jean Little PS (0.5) to Mitchell Woods PS
Trisha Drohan-Brodeur from Ken Danby PS to Jean Little PS
Wayne Peeters from Parkinson Centennial PS to Centennial Hylands ES
Lisa Shilvock from Centennial Hylands ES to Primrose ES
Lena Federico from Primrose ES to Credit Meadows ES
Andrea Papavasiliou from Credit Meadows ES to Princess Margaret PS
The following Vice-Principal appointments are effective Sept. 4, 2018:
Kristin Alie from Peel DSB (teacher) to Willow Road PS
Jill Tutty from Peel DSB (teacher) to Ken Danby PS
Gerard Walker from College Heights SS (teacher) to Sir Isaac Brock PS
Patricia Josephson from Hyland Heights ES (teacher) to Parkinson Centennial PS
Secondary Vice-Principal Transfers
The following Vice-Principal transfers are effective Sept. 4, 2018:
Albert Boutin to Centre Wellington District High School
Heather Ginzel from Centre Wellington DHS to Westside SS
Ian Main from Westside SS to Centennial CVI
James Cako from Centennial CVI to Guelph CVI
Policy Updates
Trustees approved the following policies: Policy 214 Accessibility Standards and Policy 517 Service Dogs for Students. Protocol P.06 (Protocol for Service Dogs in Schools for Students with Special Needs) was rescinded.
Draft Policy 104 Access to School Premises was released for public consultation. The deadline to provide input on this draft policy is June 21, 2018, at 4 p.m.
To view all UGDSB policies and procedures, and to provide feedback on draft policies, visit Policy.
The next regular monthly meeting will be held on Tues. June 26, 2018, at the Guelph Board Office, 500 Victoria Road North. Everyone is welcome to attend. The meeting begins at 7 p.m.
About the Upper Grand District School Board
The Upper Grand District School Board serves approximately 34,000 students through 65 elementary schools and 11 secondary schools in the City of Guelph, County of Wellington and County of Dufferin. The UGDSB covers the ancestral and traditional territories of the Mississaugas of the Credit, the Six Nations of the Grand River, and Saugeen Ojibway Nation Territories. Student success is the goal of over 3,000 dedicated teaching and support staff who are aided by the contributions of caring volunteers and community partners.
Learn, Lead, Inspire…Together
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Media contact:
Heather Loney, Communications and Community Engagement Officer
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.725
Email Heather Loney
Megan Sicoli, Administrative Officer, Communications
Upper Grand District School Board
519-822-4420 ext.764
Email Megan Sicoli