Durham District and Catholic School Boards pass balanced budgets
June 18th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The Durham District School Board is in the black after passing a balanced budget for the 2013-2014 school year. The budget, of nearly $750-million will include increasing the number of full day kindergarten classes from 169 to 237 as well as increasing the number of education assistants by 10 positions. Trustee Carolyn Morton says they will also be hiring a new mental health leader among many other new additions. Meanwhile, the Durham Catholic District School Board is also pleased to announce they have passed a balanced budget as well, and will include expanded French immersion programs and enhancements in education technology.
Ontario’s elementary teachers reach tentative contract with government
June 13th, 2013 | Comments (0)
Elementary teachers have reached a tentative deal with the province. The Liberal government and the Elementary Teachers’ Federation’s contract agreement includes a provision for 11 sick days a year, with complete pay. They’ll also get an additional 120 days with 90 per cent pay. Although, there’s no confirmation the teachers will see their pay frozen for two years – something the government is hoping for, in order to help eliminate Ontario’s deficit. The federation will have until June 23rd to ratify the agreement in principle.
Nurses teaming up with Durham school boards to fight the stigma of mental illnesses
June 10th, 2013 | Comments (0)
There’s often a stigma that plagues those suffering with mental illnesses. In order to combat that, and to improve the lives of students dealing with addictions and mental health challenges, nurses have partnered with school boards across Durham Region. Client Service Manager for the mental health and addictions nurses program, Joanne Jones, says this is a great opportunity for students. Jones says across the province, 15 to 21 per cent of children and youth have at least one mental health disorder.
Big changes on the way for Ontario’s teacher colleges
June 5th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The number of spaces available at teacher’s colleges are being cut in half to deal with the overflow of new instructors. The plan has been announced by Ontario’s Liberals along with doubling the length of time it takes for teachers to receive a degree from one year to two starting in 2015. These were re-election promises from former premier Dalton McGuinty made just before the 2011 election.
New study suggest almost a third of kindergarten students in Ontario may fail to meet provincial reading standards
June 4th, 2013 | Comments (0)
A new study suggests up to third of Ontario’s kindergarten students may fail to meet provincial standards in reading, writing and math by grade 3. The study by the Education Quality and Accountability office looked at the early progress of over 72,000 english-language students in the province. It says 29 per cent of students were deemed by their teachers to be “vulnerable” or “at risk” in their language and cognitive development. Those students were much less likely to meet the standards by the end of grade 3 than those deemed “ready” or “very ready.”
Federal Government unveils anti-bullying program
June 3rd, 2013 | Comments (0)
Bullying is hoping to be squashed by the Federal Government, who are joining up with the Canadian Red Cross for a new National Anti-Bullying campaign. Heritage Minister James Moore, the Prime Minister’s wife Laureen, and Ottawa City Councillor Allan Hubley, were in attendance at the Ottawa High School that Hubley’s late son had attended. Jamie Hubley had committed suicide back in 2011 when he was 15 after being bullied for years for being the school’s only openly gay student.
UOIT undergoes study on advanced energy conservation
May 30th, 2013 | Comments (0)
UOIT is continuing to invest in sustainable living with the announcement of a one-million dollar research partnership. The school is pairing up with Qatar University to look at advanced energy conservation and how to use it in neighbourhoods and industrial facilities. Doctor Hossam Gaber says it’s another great energy initiative made by the university. Gaber says this will make UOIT a global leader in building sustainable communities.
Gap between rich and poor public schools is growing
May 27th, 2013 | Comments (0)
A new report says the gap between wealthier and poorer public schools is growing. An annual report by People For Education says the average family income at a school influences students’ access to gifted and French immersion programs, as well as extracurricular activities. While schools aren’t allowed to charge for core classes, the report says fees and fundraising drives for other activities means there is a difference between what parents can afford and what schools can offer.
Toronto Mayor Rob Ford dropped as volunteer coach of high school football team
May 23rd, 2013 | Comments (0)
Things just keep getting worse for Rob Ford. Toronto’s mayor has been let go as volunteer coach of the Don Bosco Eagles football team in a decision made by the Toronto District Catholic School Board. The board simply said that it wanted to go in a new direction and made no mention to the crack cocaine allegations that have made headlines internationally. Ford continues to stay silent about the allegations, while his brother, Councillor Doug Ford, says the mayor would let the media know if and when he had anything to say.
Construction begins on new Oshawa public school
May 23rd, 2013 | Comments (0)
The ground has officially been broken on the site of the future Clara Hughes Public School in Oshawa. A ceremony yesterday marked the start of construction on the school that 500 students will call home. Superintendant of Oshawa Education with the Durham District School Board Jeannine Joubert says the school is all part of a long-term plan. The school’s future students will spend one more year in the old Donovan Collegiate building before the school opens next September.
Durham College recieves an award from the Canadian Hearing Society
May 13th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The Canadian Hearing Society presented Durham College/UOIT with the Canadian Hearing Society Accessibility Award on Monday. The Accessibility Award recognizes individuals, businesses or organizations that have made or are making a significant or ongoing contribution that promotes the well-being and advancement of people who are deaf, deafened or hard of hearing. The Canadian Hearing Society has been recognizing individuals, agencies and businesses since 1996. Some efforts made by Durham College/UOIT to promote accessibility, include the needs of deaf, deafened and hard of hearing students while creating “universal design” curriculum, and partnership with CHS to deliver a variety of unique educational and support training for faculty and front line support staff. Some inititives include Deaf culture, working with interpreters, technical communication devices, understanding hearing loss, communication strategies and ensuring an accessible classroom.
Ontario Lung Association working with schools to help students with Asthma
May 7th, 2013 | Comments (0)
The Ontario Lung Association and Ophea are joining together on May 7 for World Asthma Day to help ensure that all schools have the resources to help children with asthma. More than 1.8 million people, including one in five children under the age of 15 in Ontario live with asthma, a chronic, inflammatory lung disease. The OLA and Ophea have developed a guide to help teachers and principal recognize and help children with asthma, called “7 Simple Steps to Make Schools Asthma –Friendly”. The guide recommends that all schools should have a process that identifies students with asthma and have easy access to the student’s inhaler. They also recommend that staff know how to recognize and manage asthma attacks and or worsening symptoms.