Cathy Curry

FOLLOW CATHY ON TWITTER: Click here

OCDSB District Goals : Board Improvement Plan

Cathy Curry posted the following Article in the Kanata Kourier dated Septenber 2010. To view previous articles click here.

Well, the school year is off to a great start! In talking to the principals across Kanata, the first week went very smoothly. There were a few transportation glitches which are to be expected the first week with drivers getting used to their new routes and students and parents getting used to the new stops and pick up times. As the Junior Kindergarten and Senior Kindergarten staggered entry days finish up throughout the first few weeks, bus routes will become more firm and principals will be able to offer empty seats by the end of September and the first week of October. You must go into the school to fill out an empty seat request form if you are looking to access an empty seat on one of the buses.

Three schools this year have new principals! We sadly said goodbye and wished Principal Michael McLellan, Principal Diane Powell, and Principal Lynn Thompson a wonderful retirement from Roch Carrier ES, Katimavik ES and A. Y. Jackson SS. We will miss them so much! We welcome Principal Katia Sioufi to Roch Carrier ES, Principal Wendy Jewell to Katimavik ES and Principal Mark Harris to A. Y. Jackson SS.

The Kanata elementary 11-school review will have its first meeting in a few weeks. The committee was formed in June and all members should receive the information regarding the first meeting shortly. The committee is made up of school council representatives from each of the schools involved in the review along with principals, community association members, and our planning staff. The review will look at boundaries, programs, and grade distribution for all schools with a view to balance enrolment at all of the Kanata elementary schools. As well, the schools in Kanata North will look at the challenges and impacts of building a new school between Kanata Lakes and Morgan’s Grant. Finally, with the goal of having the Early Learning Program (all-day kindergarten) in all of the elementary schools across Kanata by 2015-16, and additional Middle French Immersion (Grade 4 entry point) programs in our schools, the review will be comprehensive. We already know that some recommendations will be implemented for September 2011 due to the overcrowding. However, there will also have to be recommendations that will have to be gradually implemented over the next few years as well. Lots to look forward to!

This fall, our Board will embark on its first-ever student survey! Last year, we completed our first-ever staff survey and census. We want to understand as much as we can about the people we serve so that we can ensure that we are meeting the needs of every student, family and employee in our community. Throughout the next year, the Board will be looking to offer opportunities to everyone in the OCDSB community to give us input on how we can change to better meet the needs of the 21st century learner. Watch for those consultation opportunities. As we look at the changes we will want to make to our schools, their programs, the overall school environment….. and, given all of the opportunities we want to be able to offer to our students, their families and our employees, we will soon embark on developing our next 4-year strategic plan. Very exciting times at the Ottawa Carleton District School Board!

For information on any of our schools, our Board initiatives and the Kanata review, please visit our Board’s web site at www.ocdsb.ca.. You can contact me at Cathy.Curry@ocdsb.ca and by calling 613-839-1374. Visit my website at www.cathycurry.com .