Throughout the year, there are a number of significant dates that provide opportunities to learn about awareness days that are recognized by families and staff members within the OCDSB community. This page provides links to information and resources for families. Additional resources are shared with staff to support classroom learning related to these topics.
Cyber Security Awareness Month
Cyber Security Awareness Month is recognized in October. This month aims to help us learn more about cyber security and staying safe online. The campaign shares simple steps everyone can take to protect themselves and their devices. This year's theme is "Generation Cyber Safe: Because online security knows no age". Visit the Government of Canada’s website for information about becoming cyber safe.
Cyber Security Ontario offers fun and informative resources to help students from Kindergarten to grade 12 learn about social media safety, privacy, cyber scams, misinformation, cyber bullying, and more. Explore the resources by visiting the Cyber Security Ontario website.
Occupational Therapy Month
Occupational Therapy (OT) is a regulated health profession that empowers people of all ages to overcome barriers in their everyday lives, helping them to do more and live better. Each October, Occupational Therapy Month raises awareness about the purpose of Occupational Therapy and provides an opportunity to share resources with students and families.
Students can overcome various difficulties at school with the guidance of an Occupational Therapist. OTs explore the underlying “why” and help students build on their strengths in order to achieve their goals. OTs can also collaborate with teachers, suggest changes to the school environment, and introduce tools to make school a better place for learning and promote mental health and well-being.
Additional Resources:
Local Government Week
The OCDSB, along with our partners at the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA), is working to raise civic awareness among our students by observing Local Government Week from October 21 to 25.
School board trustees are the oldest form of elected representation in Ontario. Since 1807, generations of community-minded citizens have made decisions on behalf of local, publicly funded schools, building the foundation of our system today. Our board of trustees sets our vision, develops policies, allocates resources, and sets the goals that lay the foundation driving programs and operations in the board. Collectively, they create our multi-year strategic plan for student achievement and well-being, and recruit and monitor the performance of the Director of Education to ensure our progress in meeting our goals.
School board trustees represent citizens in the education decision-making process. The election of school board trustees is governed by the Education Act and the Municipal Elections Act, 1996. Both are the laws or rules that trustees follow. Trustee roles and responsibilities include:
- Attending and participating in meetings of the board, including meetings of board committees.
- Consulting with parents, students and supporters of the board on the board’s multi-year plan.
- Bringing concerns of parents, students and supporters of the board to the attention of the board.
- Upholding the implementation of any board resolution after it is passed by the board.
- Entrusting the day-to-day management of the board to its staff through the board’s Director of Education.
- Maintaining focus on student achievement and well-being.
- Complying with the board’s code of conduct.
Student Trustees are elected by the student body and represent the voices of all students within the district. They serve on the Student Senate and bring the student perspective to Board meetings, the Presidents’ Council, and other meetings across the province.
Learn more about the work of the OCDSB’s Trustees and Student Trustees.
For more information on Local Government Week, please visit the OPSBA website.
Media Literacy Week
Media Literacy Week is an opportunity to learn about accessing, understanding, and engaging with media in a positive way. There’s a different theme for each day of the week, and MediaSmarts covers them through games, workshops, tip sheets, and more.
For more information to help you navigate the world of media with confidence, check out these Media Literacy Week resources.
As part of this week, Digital Citizenship Day is recognized on October 23rd. Explore MediaSmarts’ digital citizenship resources to learn about the steps we can all take to help build a better online world.
Additionally, visit Common Sense Media for more resources. Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of all kids and families by providing the trustworthy information, education, and independent voice they need to thrive in the 21st century.
Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week
The OCDSB is committed to providing a safe, caring and inclusive learning environment for all students. We believe in creating an environment where diversity is valued and celebrated, language is respectful, care and empathy is shown toward each other, and physical and emotional safety is not only important for student learning and well-being, but key to the prevention of bullying. We are committed to ensuring each student feels welcome and has the opportunity to realize their full potential.
Bullying prevention requires a whole-school approach between staff, students and families. Everyone has a responsibility to help stop bullying behaviour. Educators in particular play a key role in teaching and supporting children’s healthy relationships and working with students to support those affected by bullying, as well as those who engage in this behaviour.
Bullying is when someone acts in a way that causes fear, distress or harm, or creates a negative environment at school for another person. This can be physical (like hitting or pushing), verbal (like name-calling or insults), or emotional (like spreading rumors or excluding someone). It often happens when one person has more power than another, which can be due to factors like size, age, popularity, or other perceived differences.
Cyberbullying is a type of bullying that happens online. It can include things like posting mean comments on social media, sending hurtful messages, or pretending to be someone else online to harm someone.
Each November, schools across Ontario recognize Bullying Awareness and Prevention Week. This is an opportunity for us all to reinforce clear and positive messages that bullying is not acceptable in our schools and communities. Explore the following resources:
OCDSB Safe Schools Reporting Tool: An anonymous reporting option for students
Bullying For Kids: Topics covered: Help! I am bullying others; Help! I see someone who is bullying; Help! I’m being bullied.
Resources for Teens:
- I’m Being Bullied
- I am Hurting Others
- I Know Someone Being Bullied
- Teens & Cyberbullying
- LGBTQ Teens
Community Resources:
kidshelpphone.ca
Canadian Centre for Child Protection
PREVNet
MediaSmarts: Resources for Parents and Caregivers
Ministry Resources:
Bullying – we can all help stop it
Creating safe and accepting schools
National School Psychology Week
National School Psychology Week is recognized each November to highlight the important work school psychologists and other educators do to help all students thrive.
At the OCDSB, school psychology staff are Registered Health Professionals with extensive training in both child and adolescent development, learning styles and processes, behaviour, motivation, counselling and effective teaching. School psychology staff aim to provide culturally responsive and identity affirming care. They apply expertise in mental health, learning, and behavior, to help children and youth succeed academically, socially, behaviorally, and emotionally.
School psychology staff partner with families, teachers, school administrators, and other professionals to create safe, healthy, and supportive learning environments that strengthen connections between home, school, and the community. To discuss access to school psychology staff, please reach out to the principal, vice principal, teacher, or guidance counsellor at your child’s school.
The Canadian Psychological Association has provided the following PDF resources to raise awareness about school psychology:
Speech and Hearing Month
May is Speech and Hearing Month in Canada. Each year, this provides an opportunity to raise awareness about communication health, provide resources, and highlight the importance of early detection and intervention of communication disorders.
In addition to Speech and Hearing Month, Apraxia Awareness Day is recognized on May 14. Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a rare but severe motor speech disorder that affects nearly one in 1,000 children. Apraxia Awareness Day aims to bring children, families, and community members together to advocate and raise awareness about CAS.
Additional Resources:
- Resources from speechandhearing.ca
- Parent Articulation Training
National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism
June 23 is the National Day of Remembrance for Victims of Terrorism, observed in memory of all who have been harmed or who have lost their lives to acts of terrorism in Canada or abroad. Flags on all OCDSB buildings will be flown at half-mast.
The OCDSB strongly denounces terrorism and is committed in our efforts to address hate and intolerance in our schools. We honour the memory of all victims and offer our deepest sympathies to those who have lost loved ones.