OCDSB students and staff have been recognized through awards and prize-winning efforts in competitions. Here are just a few of the success stories we’re celebrating:
Myers Team of the Week
After winning every trophy in their category at the Kiwanis Music Festival and gold at Capital Region Music Fest, the Lisgar Collegiate Institute Symphonic Winds ensemble added one more award to their collection: they were named Myers Team of the Week! The students were presented with a $1,000 cheque on CTV News. They will use the funds to commission a piece of music for the Royal Canadian Air Force Centennial with composer Pete Meechan.
Canada-Wide Science Fair
Merivale High School Grade 10 student Anerie P. won the Silver Excellence Award at the Canada-Wide Science Fair. Her project, Posture Perfect, monitors and reminds users to improve their posture, leveraging the power of machine learning. The goal of the application is to help prevent health issues while building better posture habits. Listen to Anerie’s interview with CBC All in a Day!
The First Page
Grade 12 student Oluwatise A. from Gloucester High School was selected as a finalist for The First Page student writing challenge hosted by CBC. The contest asked Grade 7-12 students to write the first page of a novel set 150 years in the future. Students imagined how current events and trends have played out in the year 2174. The finalists were chosen from over 1,500 submissions. Read Oluwatise’s powerful entry, “Rogue Wave.”
Reach for the Top
Lisgar Collegiate Institute placed third and Glebe Collegiate Institute placed fifth in the national Reach For The Top finals! Reach for the Top is an academic quiz competition where students work in teams to test their knowledge and speed of recall. The Glebe and Lisgar teams have a collaborative relationship that has helped both schools compete at the high levels of high school trivia and earned them several trophies in the last few years.
The national finals were hosted at Glebe Collegiate Institute with support from Teacher Greg John and retired Lisgar educator Ruth Crabtree, along with a dedicated team of student volunteers. Ahead of the event, Glebe students joined CTV Ottawa Morning and CBC Ottawa Morning to share more about the competition.
Congratulations to Tristan S., Jamie P., Denali T., and Ava B. from Lisgar, and to Jack C., Sacha M., Galen M., Hoang N., Fionn Q., Bill R., and John R. from Glebe!
Cyber Champion Competition
Beteil C., a Grade 10 student at Merivale High School won First Prize in the Cyber Champion competition hosted by the Education Collaborative Network of Ontario. Students were asked to create a media piece that allows Ontario students to share their understanding of data security, online privacy, and best practices. Beteil created a compelling video that effectively informs teens about how to keep their data safe and secure.
Big Shout Out Awards
Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ottawa hosted the Big Shout Out Awards to celebrate the contributions of supporters, volunteers, and community partners who empower the organization’s youth mentorship programs. Several OCDSB staff and students were recognized, including:
- York Street Public School was awarded School of the Year for their outstanding support of BBBSO site-based programs.
- Nadine Powers, a Teacher at Pinecrest Public School, received the Outstanding School Liaison Award for demonstrating commitment to the program through enthusiasm, organization and ongoing support.
- Wil S., a grade 12 student at Merivale High School, was presented with the Thrive Leadership Award for demonstrating outstanding leadership qualities, vision and dedication to inspire and empower others.
