Ottawa Carleton District School Board

Dear Families, Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which honours and remembers the over six million Jews murdered and countless other victims of the Holocaust. At the OCDSB, it is our obligation to educate, prevent, challenge and address antisemitism in all its forms. Educating students about the Holocaust, equipping staff members with helpful resources and lessons, and sharing additional information with families is an important part of this responsibility.

Dear Families, Today, January 20th, is an elementary Professional Activity Day. Secondary schools have a regular day of learning. As secondary schools move towards the end of the semester, students are engaged in exams. Please watch for communication from your child’s school for more information.

Dear Families, This week, the OCDSB opened a new school. Congratulations to the staff and families of Shingwàkons Public School who managed a mid-year move to the new building in the Fernbank community in Stittsville. It’s great to be part of a growing school district - this is one of five new school construction projects underway. The other elementary schools are in Half Moon Bay, Findlay Creek, and two new high schools are planned, one in Stittsville and one in Riverside South.

Dear OCDSB Families, I hope you had a nice Winter Break. On behalf of everyone at the school district, I wish you a very Happy New Year. The start of a new calendar year is often a time for reflection, renewal and new beginnings.

Dear Families,  As we head into the winter break, we hope you are able to enjoy some much needed rest and relaxation. Please remember that all OCDSB schools and administrative buildings are closed on Friday, December 23 due to the incoming winter storm. We look forward to seeing all our students back at school on Monday, January 9, 2023.

In the coming weeks many families in our OCDSB community will be celebrating holidays or marking important occasions together. We would like to send our warmest wishes to all who will be observing these and other celebrations throughout the winter holiday season.

The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board stands against antisemitism. We are aware of the vile, antisemitic statements and messages targeted at Trustee Nili Kaplan-Myrth. Many of these statements have included antisemitic slurs, epithets, threats of harm, aggression, and in some cases, illegal activity. This is unacceptable and inexcusable.

The OCDSB Board of Trustees is very pleased to announce it has appointed OCDSB Executive Officer Michele Giroux to serve as Director of Education and Secretary of the Board on an interim basis, effective January 9, 2023.