Good News
2018-19 Minister’s Student Advisory Council
We are happy to announce that Rachel Strathdee at St Marys District Collegiate and Vocational Institute was selected for a one year term, commencing in May 2018 to the Minister’s Student Advisory Council.
According to a letter from Minister of Education Indira Naidoo-Harris, “There were more than 400 applications this year, which made it difficult to select 60 students representing Ontario’s great cultural, social and geographic diversity.”
Read the letter from Minister of Education Indira Naidoo-Harris here.
Experience the World 2018, an incredible journey
Students from grades 7-11 are seen here in front of the iconic Sanssouci Palace in Potsdam, Germany. They recently returned home from an experiential learning trip to Berlin. The students had an incredible time. They were twinned with students from Phorms Campus Berlin Süd. The Phorms Campus Berlin Süd is a bilingual private school in Berlin-Zehlendorf. From nursery to secondary school the students are taught both in German and English using the immersion method. The students from Berlin who hosted our team will travel to stay with our host families in October 2018.
In honour of World Down Syndrome Day on March 21
People wore all kinds of funky socks and posted their pictures on social media to gain attention for World Down Syndrome Day. This is a picture posted on Twitter from Goderich Public School.
Avon Public School received some special attention for its efforts to promote World Down Syndrome Day. Grade four teacher Emelie Taylor invited a local yoga instructor to join one of her students who has Down Syndrome in leading the entire student body in a yoga exercise. See the story as it was presented in the Stratford Beacon Herald
Truth and Reconciliation
As part of our board improvement plan for our First Nation, Metis, Inuit and Indigenous studies, we are committed to increasing knowledge and awareness of Indigenous history, culture, and perspectives. Recently we brought an Indigenous author to Little Falls Public School and St. Mary’s DCVI to share her story and read excerpts from her books. Margaret Pontiak-Fenton is a residential school survivor. She is 81 years old and now visits schools across the country and beyond sharing the reclamation of her language and sharing her stories.
Dancing and advancing
Student Senator Natalie Moore shared news of success at the recent NTS Drama Festival. Performers from Listowel District Secondary School, Goderich District Collegiate Institute, and Stratford Central Secondary School all advanced to the regional level which will be held next month.
Talking Mental Health
The New Horizons Youth Engagement Initiative with the support of the Huron Perth Centre hosted an event titled Disable the Label in Mitchell. The event brought together bright young minds from across the community to continue the conversation about mental health in their schools.
Director’s Report
Ontario Regulation 412/00 re Elections to and Representation on District School Board governs the determination of the number of trustees and the geographic distribution of trustees. Nine trustees will be elected again for the Avon Maitland District School Board.
Read the Trustee Determination and Distribution report.
Staff Updates
Superintendent Jodie Baker explained that sixteen teachers from across the board have been selected to travel to China for part of the summer. The experience will include assisting at summer camps where Chinese students are learning the English language and Canadian culture.
Avon Maitland District School Board is hosting a series of events throughout the schools to create awareness surrounding pathways (university, college, apprenticeships, and workplace). The elementary schools of both Huron and Perth will be visited by female ironworker Jamie McMillan who will speak about the skilled trades. The students will be participating in some activities where they get to look and feel like a welder as well as an ironworker.
Jamie McMillan will be at the Pathways Night on Thursday, April 5th at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton from 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. to speak with students and parents about the skilled trades. Along with Jamie, there will be local colleges and universities there to speak with parents and students regarding various opportunities. There will also be a representative from the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development to talk to interested people about OYAP (the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program). The night will also host various community partners and businesses within Huron.
Parents and students from grades K-12 are invited to this event.
Superintendent Jane Morris explained that Kindergarten registration can now be done online. The new online system compliments the in-person registration by giving programmers advance notice of numbers. The young students and their families will still get to visit the teacher and classroom in advance of starting school.
It barely feels like spring, but it is time to think about Summer Learning.
Superintendent Jane Morris announced that the 2018 Summer Learning brochure for students entering grades 7, 8, or 9 is now available.
Expense Statements for September 1, 2017, to February 28, 2018
Please see the report
Approval of Tender: Re-roofing at Bluewater Coast Elementary School and South Huron District High School
As part of the ongoing infrastructure improvements to be funded through Ministry capital funding, a tender was let for re-roofing at Bluewater Coast Elementary School and South Huron District High School.
Please See the Report for renovations at Bluewater Coast and SHDHS.
Approval of Tender: Re-roofing at Howick Central Public School and Listowel District Secondary School
As part of the ongoing infrastructure improvements to be funded through Ministry capital funding, a tender was let for re-roofing at Howick Central Public School and Listowel District Secondary School.
Please see the Report for renovations at Howick Central and LDSS.
Approval of Tender: Re-roofing at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School
As part of the ongoing infrastructure improvements to be funded through Ministry capital funding, a tender was let for re-roofing at Stratford Northwestern Secondary School.
Please see the Report for renovations at SNSS.
Future Board Meetings
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- Tuesday, April 10, 2018 – 5:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole, Closed Session, 6:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole, Open Session, 7:30 p.m. Regular Session
- Tuesday, April 24, 2018 – 6:30 p.m. Committee of the Whole, Closed Session, 7:00 p.m. Student Advisory Committee, 7:30 p.m. Regular Session
- Tuesday, June 26, 2018 – 3:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole, Closed Session, 3:30 p.m. Regular Session
Future Meetings/Events with Trustee Representation
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- SAL: Wednesday, March 28, 2018 – 9:00 a.m.
- SEAC: Wednesday, April 4, 2018 – 4:00 p.m.
- Foundation for Perth Huron: Wednesday, April 4, 2018 – 5:30 p.m.
- AODA: Wednesday, April 11, 2018 – 4:00 p.m.
- Information Sessions for Potential Trustees: Tuesday, April 17, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. in Central Huron Secondary School Library; Wednesday, April 18, 2018 – 7:00 p.m. in Stratford Northwestern Secondary School Library
- Joint Health & Safety: Thursday, May 31, 2018 – 1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.