IMPORTANT: Parents and students asked to complete survey by July 10

June 30, 2020

The Upper Grand District School Board is asking all parents/guardians (K-12) and students in grades 7-12 to complete a survey regarding the fall restart of school. ​

The deadline to complete the survey is Friday July 10, 2020.

• To complete the parent/guardian survey, click here: http://ow.ly/UR6l50AlHaW
• To complete the student survey (grades 7-12), click here: http://ow.ly/oexo50AlHdO

The surveys are anonymous. Information collected from the surveys will help the board in our planning process as we make plans for school restarting in September.

Letter from the Director to parents/guardians and students (June 26, 2020)

June 26, 2020

Dear UGDSB students, parents and guardians,

As you know, this has been a year like no other. I wish to extend my gratitude and appreciation to all of our staff who have worked diligently to transition our students to a distance learning model since we returned from March Break. It has been a monumental task to make the change, and while not perfect, as a board we have successfully provided a distance learning program for students for the past three months. I would also like to express my thanks to all of our students and families for their hard work, understanding and patience through the last few months.

This summer, we know that there are students who will require additional support. I would like all parents/guardians and students to know that mental health supports for students are available throughout the summer. You can find out more about our summer supports for students on the board website: https://www.ugdsb.ca/students/summer-2020-supports-for-students/

At this time, we are working on plans for the fall. The province has asked school boards to prepare plans for three possible scenarios for returning to school in the fall: regular in-class instruction with heightened health protocols, the continuation of distance learning, and an adapted delivery model, based on smaller class sizes, cohorting and alternate day or week delivery. The government has said it will request guidance from provincial public health officials by early August in order to confirm the type of delivery appropriate for the beginning of the school year. School boards will be directed by the province as to which model will be followed for the restart in September. Please know that board staff are currently working on the details of these plans for September and this work will continue throughout the summer.

Additionally, the board will be sending out a survey to all parents/guardians within the next few weeks in order to gather information from families regarding the fall restart. The information you provide will help us in our planning process, so we greatly appreciate you taking the time to complete the anonymous survey. The survey will be posted on the board website at https://www.ugdsb.ca/community/coronavirus/fall-2020-restart-survey/ in early July. We will also be sending out a survey to students in grades 7-12 to gather feedback on their experience with distance learning.

As we work on plans for the fall, we will keep families updated over the summer. Updates for our school communities will continue to be posted at www.ugdsb.ca/covid19, on our UGConnect mobile app, and on Twitter @ugdsb.

I would like to close by thanking all parents and guardians for your work, patience, and support during this time, and also thank our students for persevering through the challenges that distance learning presented. You are resilient and together we will get through this.

I wish to express my sincere desire for you to all have a safe and healthy summer.

Sincerely,

Martha Rogers
Director of Education & Secretary-Treasurer

To download a copy of the letter, please click here.

Feedback welcome on draft board Policy 303 – Naming of Schools and Board Facilities

June 24, 2020

The Upper Grand District School Board is welcoming public input on draft policies.  Currently under review is: Policy 303 – Naming of Schools and Board Facilities

This policy is important to students, staff, school councils, parents, and community members because a name chosen for a school, other board facility, or designated areas within can help to further develop an identity for the community it serves.  You are invited to review the draft documents and submit online feedback at www.ugdsb.ca/board/policy.  The deadline for public input is October 16, 2020 at 4 p.m. EST.  Persons without internet access may call 519-822-4420 (or toll-free 1-800-321-4025) ext. 723 to request a printed copy of the draft documents.

Ordering Transcripts – Instructions

https://www.ugdsb.ca/ccvi/guidance/important-dates/

Minister of Education Letter Re: Fall Re-Opening Schools

Parents and guardians are invited to read the following letter from the Minister of Education, regarding the province’s approach to re-opening schools in the fall, education funding and more. http://ow.ly/ghZK50AdBrH

Talking About Mental Health: Uncertainty, self care and community

June 19, 2020

Throughout the school year, UGDSB Mental Health and Addiction Lead Jenny Marino shares tips and resources for improving our mental health and well-being. Additional mental health resources for students and parents/guardians can be found on the board website.

The UGDSB’s Mental Health and Addiction Lead Jenny Marino has prepared a special summer edition of Talking About Mental Health for parents/guardians.

In this issue, we discuss tolerating uncertainty, supporting anxious kids, self care and compassion, and community connections.

To view the June 2020 edition, please click here.

Summer supports available for students with mental health needs, special education needs

June 19, 2020

The Upper Grand District School Board is offering a number of supports for students and families throughout the summer months.

Summer supports and courses for students are available, including mental health supports, courses for students with Autism, and transition supports for students with complex special education needs or mental health needs.

Summer Mental Health Supports

This summer, the UGDSB will be providing continuity of care for students with significant mental health needs. Our mental health support staff will be providing individual virtual support to students currently on caseload with our staff and who would benefit from regular mental health support over the summer. Students who are struggling with significant mental health needs over the summer can also be referred to our mental health staff for support. If the student is enrolled in the board’s summer learning programs, we encourage initial contact with their teacher/administrator.  Students experiencing significant mental health needs who are not in summer learning can access support by calling 519-822-4420 extension 588. This number will be monitored daily and someone will respond within 24 hours to set up support.

Summer Programs: Supports for Students with Autism

The UGDSB is offering a variety of courses this summer to support students in our board who have a diagnosis of Autism and their families. These courses are all being offered ONLINE during the summer months.  Each of these courses has live lessons with online resources followed by activities for participants to complete offline.  Support will be available to families who would benefit from additional technology to enable participants to engage in online learning over the summer. We are hoping to run all of these courses, however, this will be dependent on the number of participants who register.

If families would like to learn more about the summer course offerings for students with Autism, please visit the board website for the course outline and registration information or click on the following link: Summer Programs: Supports for Students with Autism

Please note that the deadline to apply to all but one of these courses (the PEERS Program) is July 3, 2020. The deadline to apply to the PEERS program is June 26, 2020, at 4 p.m.

High Risk Transition Supports

The board will be providing funds to support both individual and small group transitional support for students with complex special education needs and students who have significant mental health needs, K-12. This summer program is intended to be live, in person, and as such, the viability of this program will depend on the status of Ontario and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph orders and restrictions.

Transition planning will be done in collaboration with board staff, school staff, parents/guardians and community partners, where appropriate.  Transitions will be taking place in the last two weeks of August. They are intended to support our most at risk youth (K-12) who would benefit from additional special education and mental health support prior to the beginning of the school year, as a way of improving a student’s successful return to school.

Returning to school after the unique school closure we have experienced can be stressful for many of our students.  School teams will be working together to ensure students are able to feel comfortable and considered in their return to school with this in mind.  As a parent or guardian, if you are concerned about the well-being of your child and their transition back to school in September, it is important to reach out to your current classroom teacher (prior to end of June) or the school principal to discuss your concerns so that together you can determine the most appropriate supports (i.e. this program or other school supports available) to help your child transition to their new school environment.

Summer School

Resilience and perseverance of students recognized through Achieving by Believing Awards

For Immediate Release
June 11, 2020

GUELPH, Ontario – The Upper Grand District School Board believes that recognition of success fosters students’ self-confidence and resilience.

In recognition of student achievement, the UGDSB holds an annual celebratory event to recognize the recipients of the Student Success: Achieving by Believing Awards. These awards were created to acknowledge the grit, resilience and perseverance that students have demonstrated in their time as a student.

The awards are given to students in Grades 8 and 12, nominated from UGDSB elementary and secondary schools.

This school year has been challenging – but the students’ ability to inspire others, to rise above and to continue to adapt have inspired the school community.

While the board was not able to hold its annual award ceremony this year, award recipients will receive their award along with words of support from their teachers, administrators and support staff. Award winners will be notified via mail over the next couple of days.

Achieving by Believing Award Recipients for 2020

Elementary:

• Alliyah C., Princess Margaret PS
• Jayla C., Parkinson Centennial PS
• Patience K., Elora PS
• Chelsea D., Centennial Hylands ES
• Meaka G-B., John Black PS
• Kaitlyn R., JD Hogarth PS
• Ryan B., Island Lake PS
• Kyle J-S., Credit Meadows ES
• Rowan C., Mono Amaranth PS
• Ainsley C-S., Palmerston PS
• Michael T., Westminster Woods PS
• Trevor P., Minto-Clifford PS
• Ethan R., Sir Isaac Brock PS
• Davian C., Montgomery Village PS
• Alisha K., Mitchell Woods PS
• Jake F., Rockwood Centennial PS
• Sarah N., Grand Valley and District PS
• Tyler J., Primrose ES
• Jacob V., Taylor Evans PS
• Summer D., William C Winegard PS
• Simone L-F., École John McCrae PS
• Paul M., Westwood PS
• Kyle G., Waverley Drive PS
• Sabrina W., Arthur PS
• Austin L., Victoria Cross PS
• Ryan B., Rickson Ridge PS
• Roxy S., Hyland Heights ES
• Brody P., Drayton Heights PS

Secondary:

• Aiden A., Centennial CVI
• Nick P., Centennial CVI
• Tristan C., Centre Dufferin DHS (SAL)
• Kira S., Centre Dufferin DHS
• Maya V., Centre Dufferin DHS
• Preston J., Centre Dufferin DHS
• Michael L., College Heights SS
• Faith G., College Heights SS
• Emma P., College Heights SS
• Samantha L., Centre Wellington DHS
• Tori D-M., Centre Wellington DHS
• Josh K-P., Centre Wellington DHS
• (Grace) Autumn S., Centre Wellington DHS (SAL)
• Claudia O., Erin DHS
• Ivy H., Erin DHS
• Dana B., Erin DHS
• Dellan A., Guelph CVI
• Kelsey L., Guelph CVI (SAL)
• Rilie M., Guelph CVI
• Teasha H., Guelph CVI
• Deighten R., John F Ross CVI
• Kalista K., John F Ross CVI
• Ashlee H., John F Ross CVI
• Kayla R., Norwell DSS
• Zak L., Norwell DSS
• Britney C., Norwell DSS
• Miya B., Orangeville DSS
• Hayden B-S., Orangeville DSS
• Nathan W., Orangeville DSS
• Kathleen P., Wellington Heights SS
• Dominique A., Wellington Heights SS
• Thomas “TJ” R., Wellington Heights SS
• Abbygale H., Westside SS
• Amy B., Westside SS
• Alicia O., Westside SS

Community Involvement Hours information for grade 8 and high school students

June 10, 2020

All students currently in grade 8 and high school are asked to read the letter below regarding Community Involvement Hours.

During these challenging times people across our community and country have come together to serve and support those who need it. As we move into the summer months we want to encourage you to consider safe options to obtain your community hours. Please read the letter below for more:

Click to download the letter – Community Involvement Hours (June 10, 2020)

Check out Centennial CVI’s Instagram

https://www.instagram.com/centennialcvi/

Final Textbook Return & Gr 12 Chromebooks – June 22nd 10am-2pm

The school will be open on Monday, June 22nd from 10am-2pm. Students will come in through the front doors, drop textbooks off on the appropriate tables in the main hall and then head out the parking lot doors. Students are once again encouraged to wear non-medical masks. Grade 12 Spartans may return their Chromebooks as well.

CCVI students place in annual OBEA accounting contest

Learn more about this on the UGDSB website.

Taking action in anti-racism and anti-oppression work

June 8, 2020

As an educational community we have a responsibility to identify and describe racism and oppression and then work to dismantle it. The Upper Grand District School Board is committed to disrupting systemic racism and oppression in all of its forms. We will implement ongoing mandatory anti-racism and anti-oppression training for all staff, review our protocols and policies, including our hiring practices, and be fully transparent and accountable to all Upper Grand students, staff, families, and stakeholders in an ongoing manner.

We are also committed to making the work we do visible and transparent. We’ve launched our new Equity website, which contains our Three-Year Equity Plan (2019-2022), information on equity in the UGDSB, including anti-racism and anti-oppression work, and resources for staff and families.

We will continue to take action and to add information to this site as our work continues.

Please check www.ugdsb.ca/equity for more information.

Updating parent/guardian contact information

June 8, 2020

To all parents and guardians,

In these times of learning and working remotely, it is more important than ever that school and board staff can communicate with families quickly and efficiently.

The school board is in the process of ensuring we have the most up-to-date contact information for parents and families. 

On Monday, June 8, all families can expect to see an email in their child’s UGCloud email account called “Parent email address update.” Please read the email and follow the instructions it contains for verifying and updating your contact information as required.  

If you have any questions, please contact Bill Mackenzie at [email protected]. 

Thank you for your assistance in this matter.

Update to families regarding expanded provincial COVID-19 testing

June 3, 2020

The well-being of all members of our school communities, including students, families and staff, is a top priority for our school board. We would like to provide our school communities with information from the province regarding expanded COVID-19 testing.

The province released its testing plan on Friday May 29, 2020, Protecting Ontarians Through Enhanced Testing. Ontario now has the most open testing criteria in the country.

Ontario’s testing guidance now indicates that you should visit an assessment centre if you: (more…)

Summer School programs for students in grades 6-12

June 1, 2020

The Upper Grand District School Board has announced a range of Summer School programs and opportunities available to students this summer.

Through UGDSB Continuing Education, the board is offering courses for students in Grades 6-8 and Grades 9-12.

Programs being offered this summer include:

• Grade 6/7/8 Literacy & Numeracy Support Program – This program offers Grade 6, 7 and 8 students requiring additional help with the Ontario Curriculum, particularly in the areas of Literacy and Numeracy, an opportunity to participate in an 8-day summer remediation program. Students who are achieving a Level 2 or below in Language and/or Mathematics, and are recommended by their principal, are eligible to participate in the program. Parents of Grade 6, 7 and 8 students can contact their home school to indicate their interest in the program and register. Session dates: July 2-14, 2020.
• Grade 8 Reach-Ahead Credits – Reach-Ahead credits allow graduating Grade 8 students the opportunity to each a high school credit prior to entering secondary school in September. Learners will get a head start on credit accumulation, develop learning and technology skills that will be useful in all secondary settings, while gaining self-confidence through successful completion of a high school credit. Students can choose between two course options: Learning Strategies: Skills for Success in Secondary School and Careers & Civics. Session dates: June 30-July 24, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. daily.
• New Secondary Credits – Summer School offers a selection of new credits from Grade 9 to 12. For a list of available credits, please see the attached flyer: Summer School 2020. Daily attendance is mandatory. Session dates: June 30-July 24, 2020, from 8:30 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. daily.
• Secondary Upgrading Credits – Upgrading courses are for students who have already passed a course in this school year but wish to improve their final grade. Upgrading courses will contain similar content to the course completed at a student’s home school. Session dates: June 30-July 13 or July 14-24, 2020, from 8:30 a.m.to 2:45 p.m. daily.
• Credit Recovery – Credit Recovery is designed to help secondary students meet the expectations of a course they have completed but for which they have received a failing grade. Eligible students will be contacted by their home school. Programs will run during the period of July 2-14, 2020.

Please note that due to current circumstances, these summer programs will be offered virtually through a distance learning model.

For additional information on courses and how to register, please see the following flyer: Summer School 2020

Flying the Pride flag in the UGDSB

For more information about why we fly the Pride flag in June, visit the UGDSB website.

Virtual Summer School 2020 – Register Now

Summer School 2020

Letter from the Director of Education: Fall Commencement (May 20, 2020)

May 20, 2020

The Upper Grand DSB’s Director of Education, Martha Rogers, has written a letter to the graduating class of 2020 and their parents/guardians to provide details about secondary schools’ plans for fall commencement.

Please read the letter below for each school’s planned dates for fall commencement. Please keep in mind that these dates are tentative and are subject to change depending on Public Health and provincial protocols around physical distancing and large gatherings.

• Letter from the Director of Education (May 20, 2020)

Thank you.

Letter from the Minister of Education (May 19, 2020)

May 19, 2020

Parents/guardians are invited to read a letter from the Minister of Education, Stephen Lecce, regarding today’s announcement from the province that schools will not reopen this school year. The letter contains information regarding access to technology, preliminary details regarding summer learning opportunities for students, and information about mental health supports.

To read the letter from the Minister, please click the link below:

• Letter from the Minister of Education (May 19, 2020)

Thank you.

All schools to remain closed for the rest of the 2019-20 school year

May 19, 2020

On Tuesday May 19, 2020, Premier Ford and Education Minister Stephen Lecce made an announcement regarding the remainder of the 2019-20 school year. 

The province announced that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Ontario schools will not reopen this school year, saying that the safety of children is their primary concern. The Premier also stated that distance learning will continue for the remainder of the school year and all students in Kindergarten to Grade 12 will receive report cards. 

As a result, all Upper Grand District School Board schools will remain closed and learning will continue remotely through the board’s Learning at Home distance learning program. 

The province also announced preliminary details regarding summer learning opportunities for students. We are awaiting further details from the Ministry of Education and will share those details when we receive them. 

The board wants families to know that we are very aware this is a challenging time for some of our students, and we encourage you to reach out to your teachers – they are here to support you. 

We thank you for your patience and understanding, and hope you are staying well and safe.

Spartan Grads 2020

Send your Grad Photos & Baby Photos to [email protected] for our Commencement film!

Letter from the Director of Education: Synchronous Learning (May 15, 2020)

May 15, 2020

Upper Grand District School Board Director of Education, Martha Rogers, has written a letter to parents/guardians providing updated information on synchronous learning in the UGDSB.

To read the letter, please click the link below:

• Letter To Parents Synchronous Learning May 15, 2020

Thank you.

Letter to students and parents: Accessing students’ marks

May 7, 2020

Upper Grand District School Board Director of Education, Martha Rogers, has written a letter to all secondary students and parents regarding accessing students’ marks.

Students and parents are invited to read the letter from the Director by clicking on the link below:

• Letter to secondary students and parents re: accessing students’ marks (May 7, 2020)

For more information on the board’s Learning at Home program, visit the board website.

OPSBA scholarship for graduating students

May 6, 2020

The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA) has announced a scholarship for graduating students who show strong character and leadership potential, who care deeply about their community, and are committed to furthering their learning.

The scholarship will be awarded to one graduating student in Ontario’s Central West Region, and students in the Upper Grand DSB are welcome to apply.

Please click here for additional information on the scholarship.