Good News
Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week
As part of our Safe Schools and Mental Health and Well-being plans to support students, Manager of Communications and Public Relations Dani Rathwell recognized the efforts across the board during Bullying Awareness & Prevention Week, November 18 – 24, 2018. AMDSB focused on various anti-bullying awareness methods and provided students with intervention techniques to approach each scenario. Information was promoted on the AMDSB website and social media platforms which included the different forms by which bullying may present itself, how to combat bullying and ‘where do we go from here’ as areas of focus throughout the week.
Schools took part in their own initiatives to help engage the discussion between students and staff. AMDSB provided further resources for students, parents and educators to better understand the different forms of bullying and how we can all play a part in preventing it.
See ‘Is It Bullying’ for more information
Wrapping Up CATYO 2018!
Superintendent Jane Morris acknowledged the close of AMDSB’s 2018 ‘Calling All Three Year Olds’ (CATYO) initiative. CATYO provides an opportunity for parents/ guardians to register their children in AMDSB schools for the upcoming school year. It also facilitates a connection between Huron-Perth Community Service Providers and families.
Throughout the month of November, parents and their children who will be enrolling in Kindergarten the following year are encouraged to come out to their local school, register for Kindergarten, learn about their child’s development and receive information on how to prepare their child for this transition. Our CATYO program wraps up this week, and we are pleased to report that projections for registration indicate that upwards of 950 students will be registered to attend Kindergarten for the 2019-2020 year. Parents with young children are encouraged to contact their local public school to register throughout the school year.
*New this year: We have launched an online form to help streamline the registration process
Visit our Kindergarten page for more information!
FunTech / Youth Leadership Day / Pathways Perth Events
Superintendent Jodie Baker brought good news surrounding various events provided to engage AMDSB students throughout Perth County schools.
Saturday, November 24, 2018 – Over 130 students took part in a FunTech program coordinated by the Technical Training Group (TTG) and hosted by Stratford Northwestern staff and volunteer students. FunTech offers students between the ages of 7 and 14 a series of hands-on workshops focused on woodworking, manufacturing, welding, robotics, sewing, culinary arts and technology. These workshops introduced students to multiple areas of technology and taught them how to use a variety of tools and equipment.
Monday, November 26, 2018 – More than 120 students from various AMDSB schools and Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) attended the Youth Leadership Day where they took part in activities that allowed them to learn about, explore and pitch solutions regarding issues that exist for youth in Perth County. These problems included regional transportation, youth retention and availability of entry-level jobs. The event was designed to engage youth in thinking about career opportunities close to home, highlighting opportunities available throughout the county and identifying the different career pathways in agriculture and manufacturing across the county.
Reporter Galen Simmons provided further coverage of the event. Read his story here
Superintendent Baker also highlighted the upcoming AMDSB Pathways Career and Information Fair to be hosted at the Rotary Complex in Stratford on December 5th, 2018 from 3:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. The event will provide an opportunity for parents and students to explore the programs available at AMDSB secondary schools. It will focus on the five pathways, including representation from college, university, workplace, apprenticeship and community living. In conjunction with Pathways Night, AMDSB partnered with HPCDSB, TTG and others to once again host the Real Deal on Skilled Trades: The Changing Culture event. This event aims to inspire female students to consider a career in the skilled trades. Attendance at the Real Deal event on December 5th from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at the Rotary Complex is by registration only. Registration must occur by November 27th via bit.ly/realdealperth.
For more information on Pathways Career & Information Fair
For more information on Real Deal on Skilled Trades
Farewell & Thank You
Trustee Robert Hunking bid a gracious farewell to fellow Trustees Alyson Kent and Doug Pratley and current Chair, Randy Wagler. On behalf of the Board, Trustee Hunking offered thanks acknowledging their positive contributions, long-serving commitment and dedication to the board, and wished them well on their next adventures!
Senior Staff Updates
Stratford Public Schools Renovation Project
Transition Year
Communications and Public Relations Manager Dani Rathwell indicated that further information surrounding the transition year for the Stratford Public School Renovation Project is set to be released next week.
Stay tuned to the Stratford Public Schools Renovation Web Page for more information
Director’s Information Report on Student Enrolment
Associate Superintendent Cheri Carter presented student enrolment numbers for the board as at October 31st, 2018. She shared the good news that elementary enrolment has increased from the original estimates for the third year, after many years of decline. However, secondary enrolment has decreased from the original estimates. The total impact of the Elementary increase and the Secondary decrease results in a combined increase from the original estimates of approximately 4 students.
The new online student registration form has provided much-needed early registration information, in particular over the summer months. Staff continue to refine the enrolment projection process to assist in more precise projections moving forward, with a focus on the Secondary projections process.
Hour of Code
Superintendent Jane Morris announced that the Hour of Code and Computer Science Education Week takes place December 3-9, 2018. AMDSB is pleased to continue supporting the Hour of Code, and encourages our students to participate in 1-hour coding activities expanding to all sorts of community efforts. Resources have been provided to staff regarding hosting coding events throughout the week. As part of the learning journey, AMDSB requests the sharing of our schools’ Hour of Code activities on social media using the hashtags #OntarioCodes, #AMDSBlearns, #iAMamdsb, and by tagging @yourschools in posts.
AMDSB is excited to showcase how students are developing transferable skills and global competencies through coding and computational thinking, and would love it if you would follow along!
Future Board Meetings
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- Inaugural Meeting: Tuesday, December 4, 2018 at 7:00 p.m.
Future Meetings/Events with Trustee Representation.
- HPSTS: Tuesday, December 11th, 2018 – 4:00 p.m. (via conference call)
- PIC: Wednesday, December 12th, 2018 – 5:00 p.m.
- SAL: Monday, December 17, 2018 – 9:00 a.m.