Information: Air quality due to forest fires

Dear UGDSB families,

Environment Canada has issued a Special Air Quality Statement that covers all of Dufferin and Wellington. Smoke from local forest fires as well as forest fires in Quebec have resulted in deteriorated air quality. Poor air quality may persist throughout the week. We are monitoring the situation closely and are providing Environment Canada guidance to all schools.

Wildfire smoke can be harmful to everyone’s health, even at low concentrations. People with lung disease (such as asthma) or heart disease, older adults, children, pregnant people, and people who work outdoors are at higher risk of experiencing health effects caused by wildfire smoke. Everyone can take action to reduce their exposure to wildfire smoke. Stop or reduce your activity level if breathing becomes uncomfortable or you, or someone in your care, feel unwell.

Air quality and visibility due to wildfire smoke can fluctuate over short distances and can vary considerably from hour to hour and impact locations differently. Schools are permitted to continue outdoor activities for now, with consideration for their local conditions. However, we will continue to monitor this throughout the week.

We have also provided schools with guidance to maximize the efficiency of their ventilation systems and HEPA units.

We will continue to provide schools with updated guidance throughout the week. For more information on wildfire smoke and air quality, visit:

• Wildfire smoke, air quality and your health
• Forecasts: weather.gc.ca/airquality/pages/onaq-031_e.html
• Updates: https://www.weather.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?onrm51=

Thank you.

Virtual Parent Council Meeting June 6th at 7pm

Interested in joining our Virtual Parent Council Meeting on June 6th at 7pm?

Click on the link below to sign up!

 

Celebrating Pride: Message from the Chair and Director of the UGDSB

This week, the Upper Grand District School Board and our schools across the region are kicking off Pride Month. During the month of June and throughout the year, the UGDSB supports 2SLGBTQIA+ staff, students and their families by celebrating the joy of identity and centering 2SLGBTQIA+ histories, contributions and excellence. We are committed to this work and supporting the 2SLGBTQIA+ community in all of our schools, offices and school communities.

UGDSB schools are hosting a variety of Pride events and celebrations, including flag raising ceremonies.  Pride flags will be flown at all UGDSB school and board sites throughout June.

As a public school district, we are dedicated to building understanding, safety, inclusion and joy of 2SLGBTQIA+ identity into all of our school and work communities as part of our commitment to disrupting systemic oppression and hate in all its forms.

Wishing you all a wonderful Pride.

 

Sincerely,

Ralf Mesenbrink
Chair of the Board

Peter Sovran
Director of Education

UGDSB Long Term Accommodation Plan

At the May 9, 2023, Board meeting, Trustees received the “Long Term Accommodation Plan (LTAP) Draft Report”.

The LTAP is a planning document that discusses school facilities, population projections, and enrolment projections.  The LTAP is used to help guide Capital Investment, Program and Facility decisions that support the Upper Grand District School Board’s Vision and Multi-Year Plan. The goal of this LTAP is to produce a list of priority areas for the Board to concentrate on in the short and long term.

The Board welcomes your feedback on this process.  More information on the LTAP including copies of reports and presentations can be found on the UGDSB website at www.ugdsb.ca

UGDSB seeking public input on board policies

The Upper Grand District School Board has released the following policies for public consultation, and feedback is welcome on the draft documents until May 25, 2023:

215 – Public Concerns

The Upper Grand District School Board believes in developing strong and positive relationships with students, parents/guardians and the community. Governed by the Education Act of Ontario and board policies, the UGDSB is committed to addressing concerns of stakeholders in a fair, respectful, and timely manner, and at the closest level to the issue.

The board’s policy on public concerns has been updated with the addition of four (4) sections moved over from procedures. These sections clarify the types of concerns that cannot be discussed by staff and define the role of trustees in addressing concerns raised by stakeholders.

Policy 215 is important to students, staff, parents, guardians, caregivers, and the community as everyone deserves to have their concerns addressed in a fair and transparent manner.

501 – Out of Area and Out of District Attendance

It is the policy of the Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) to establish school attendance areas to ensure equitable and effective program offerings in all schools. It is the expectation of the UGDSB that students will attend their designated elementary or secondary home school for Regular Track or French Immersion in their attendance area.

The board acknowledges that circumstances may lead to requests for a student to attend a school outside of their attendance area and is committed to addressing the needs of its students while maintaining viable programs in all its schools.

The board’s policy on out of area and out of district attendance has been updated with the addition of three (3) sections moved from procedures that outline important process and decision points.

Policy 501 is important to students, staff, parents, guardians, and caregivers in understanding when and how applications for out of area and out of district attendance are considered.

You are invited to review the policy drafts and submit online feedback at www.ugdsb.ca/board/policy.  The deadline for public input is May 25, 2023 at 4 pm EST. Persons without internet access may call 519-822-4420 (or toll-free 1-800-321-4025) ext. 544 to request a printed copy of the draft documents.

Virtual Parent Council Meeting on May 9th – 7PM

Westside will be hosting a virtual Parent Council meeting on May 9th at 7pm

If you are interested in attending, please click on the link below to sign up.

You will be sent a link 10 minutes prior to the meeting to join.

Commencement for 2023 Graduates – Click on the link below to sign up!

Commencement will be June 23rd, 2023 starting at 7pm.

There will be 4 time slots available. (7pm, 7:30pm, 8pm & 8:30pm)

Students are to sign up below and can bring up to 5 people MAXIMUM with them.

Parents/guardians invited to PIC Spring Event: Building Engaging School Councils

Upper Grand District School Board (UGDSB) parents/guardians are invited to a great free event happening in April.

The UGDSB Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) presents “Building Engaging School Councils.”

Whether you’re currently part of a school council or are looking to become involved, this event is an opportunity open to all parents/guardians to discuss, learn and share with each other.

Topics will include:

• School councils
• Roles of council members
• Communication
• Fundraising
• Working with school administration

To see the full agenda, please click here.

EVENT DETAILS:

• DATE: Wednesday April 26, 2023
• TIME: 5:30-9pm
• LOCATION: Centre Wellington District High School, 905 Scotland Street, Fergus
• NOTES: Dinner will be provided

To register, please click this link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/building-engaging-school-councils-tickets-574616843447

Dufferin Parent Support Network – Upcoming Workshops In April

Please click on the link below to see DPSN’s upcoming workshops.

April workshops are as follows:

• Calming the Storm: Co-Regulation Strategies for Your Intense or
  Emotional Child
• Discipline that Works—Without Yelling
• The Power of Labels: Turn Your Child’s Challenging Behaviours into Assets
• The Art of Distraction: Help Your Child with ADHD Thrive

Policy Feedback Opportunity: Policy 315 – Privacy Protection and Information Access

The following updated policy was released for public consultation. Feedback is welcome on the policy draft until April 14, 2023.

315 – Privacy Protection and Information Access

It is the policy of the Upper Grand District School Board to protect all personal information and personal health information under its custody and control while providing right of access to information in accordance with all relevant privacy legislation.

The board’s policy on privacy protection and information access has been updated to reflect its application to personal health information and the relevant legislation that must be adhered to in the access and management of all personal information.

Policy 315 is important to students, staff, parents, service providers, and school volunteers because everyone plays a role in protecting the privacy of personal information, personal health information, and confidential records.

You are invited to review the policy draft and submit online feedback at www.ugdsb.ca/board/policy.  The deadline for public input is April 14, 2023 at 4 pm 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.

Important School Vaccination Information

Did you receive a letter about vaccines?

To book an appointment at WESTSIDE SECONDARY SCHOOL on FEBRUARY 13th, 2023, click the link below.

Or call 1-800-265-7293 ext 7006

 

Inclement weather procedures for UGDSB schools

With winter weather here, now is a great time to review the Upper Grand District School Board’s procedures for Inclement Weather Days.

Updated information has been posted on the UGDSB website outlining the different procedures for bus cancellations, school closures due to inclement weather, and more.

LINK: UGDSB INCLEMENT WEATHER PROCEDURES

**A reminder to please follow our Transportation Consortium, STWDSTS, for all bus cancellation alerts and information – the UGDSB does NOT communicate to families bus cancellations.

Upper Grand collaborates with organizations to provide tutoring supports

The Upper Grand District School Board in association with The Grove, TVOLearn, Streams Community Hub, Tutor Bright, and Reading Rocks is providing students at both the elementary and secondary levels with additional tutoring support and resources. These additional support and resources were made possible through funding provided by the Ontario Ministry of Education.

The Grove

• Offers free tutoring services for youth ages 12 to 26 in the Guelph-Wellington county.

TVO Learn Mathify

• Offers virtual school-to-home math learning with an interactive classroom tool, and free 1:1, online math tutoring with certified Ontario teachers.

TVOLearn MPower

• Offers free and creative online games to support the development of foundational math and STEM skills from kindergarten through grade 6.

TutorBright

• Offers up to 10 hrs of free virtual 1 on 1 tutoring that focuses on a holistic approach to each student’s needs.

Check back regularly for additional tutoring support and resources.

Download school ventilation reports from the UGDSB website

The Upper Grand District School Board continues to make board and school-based ventilation reports available in the 2022-23 school year.

The board report and each school report is available for download on the UGDSB website at www.ugdsb.ca/ventilationreport.

To access a specific school report:

• Download the full report (Microsoft Excel document)
• Click on the tab titled “School Dashboard”
• Select the school from the drop-down menu at the top of the page

If families have questions about the ventilation report, they are to contact UGDSB Facility Services at [email protected].

Wellness Works: Welcome Back!

September 14, 2022

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The Upper Grand District School Board is continuing with the Wellness Works monthly themes across all grades in the 2022-2023 school year.  For September we are once again bringing our collective focus to the theme of:  WELCOME, CONNECTION and BELONGING.

We remain committed, in partnership with you, to ensuring a mentally healthy return to school and an on-going emphasis on wellness throughout the year.  Every month, you will receive our newsletter outlining the theme that we are focusing on, as well as some activities and conversation starters that you may choose to use to engage in with your child/ren outside of school time around the theme of the month.

The start-up of school can be a stressful time for students and their families. Routines are once again shifting, expectations are changing and there are many “firsts.” Here are some things you can do this month with your child/ren:

• Stick to routines as much as possible, like regular bedtime and wake up times
• Find out what your child is excited about for the year but also what they might be nervous about with the new year
• Help your child/ren identify some strategies for times when they are feeling anxious (e.g. deep breathing) so they have it ready in their minds when/if they should need it
• Share each evening about something that was positive during the day, something that was difficult (bonus for adding how they got through the difficult time), and also something they are looking forward to tomorrow
• Help your child/ren identify adults in the school building that are their “go to” adults (e.g. teacher and Child and Youth Counsellor)

Returning to school in the fall can result in mixed emotions including excitement, anticipation, nervousness, and worry.  As we work to build and strengthen wellness skills, we are essentially building a strong foundation, a toolbox of strategies, to help your child/ren as they move through this school year in their own, unique and individual way.

We look forward to the year ahead!

~ The Wellness Works Team @ UGDSB

A special thanks to Edge Mutual for their support of Wellness Works