devonshireschoolage

Full Day Kindergarden Consultation update

Devonshire School Age Program — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 02:58:12 +0000

On October 28, 2011, OCDSB staff released its report recommending that trustees approve the “hybrid model” that would allow for third party operators to continue to provide before and after school care in OCDSB schools. Read the full report on the OCDSB site

The next step in the process is the meeting of the OCDSB Business Services Committee on November 9, 2011 – read the submission of the DSAP volunteer Parent Board of Directors.

The full board of trustees of the OCDSB is to vote on the report and its recommendations on November 22, 2011 – check the OCDSB website to see further details as they are posted.

As the public is welcome to attend both meetings, we encourage all parents to attend!

Public consultations on Full-Day Kindergarten

Devonshire School Age Program — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 21:16:52 +0000

The Full-Day Kindergarten and Extended Day program won’t be coming to Devonshire Community Public School until September 2014.

If you have questions about how this program will be rolled out by the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB), including how you’d like to see it be implemented at Devonshire, there are two upcoming sessions which will be open to the public.

Information Session

Monday, October 17

Sir Robert Borden High School auditorium
7:00 p.m.

Consultation & Public Presentation

Thursday, October 27

Confederation Education Centre “cafetorium”
7:00 p.m.

The latter event will be one of the last opportunities for you to make your opinions and questions known.

There will also be opportunity to comment via email or letters.

Please consult the OCDSB website to confirm time and place of these meeting, as well as additional information.

Articles and resources of interest

Letter by OCDSB Chair of the Board Jennifer MacKenzie on third-party partnerships (PDF)

Ottawa Citizen, November 7, 2011: New minister pushes dual daycare. Hybrid model useful for implementing full-day kindergarten: Broten.

Before-School Care Still Available

Devonshire School Age Program — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 21:09:29 +0000

For Devonshire Community Public School parents who are in need of daily childcare before school, the Devonshire School Age Program (DSAP) has up to 10 spots that are available now.

Parents can drop off their school-aged children (grades 1 to 6) as early as 7:30 a.m. and the DSAP will ensure the child gets to class for 8:30 a.m. The fee for this program is $75/month, comes with a nutritious snack and is available on school days only.

The DSAP is a licensed child care program, which is located in the school near the gym and the primary yard.

For queries, please contact France Coutu at (613) 722-6969.

Full-Day Kindergarten

Devonshire School Age Program — Mon, 02 May 2011 02:48:46 +0000

How will it affect child care?

Ottawa School Board Trustee Mark Fisher has been informing the public since mid-April about the implications of:

the Full Day Kindergarten
the Extended Day Program, and
how it will affect how child care is delivered in schools.

Many people will be affected by these changes, children, parents, board of directors and staff.

Important dates

In September 2010, 22 schools in Ottawa offered Full-Day Kindergarten (only 4 schools offered the Extended Day Program).
In September 2011, an additional 7 schools are offering Full-Day Kindergarten (FDK) but uncertain about the Extended Day Program.
In September 2012, another 26 schools are scheduled to implement FDK. (Five of the schools currently have school-based child care centres and are uncertain of continuing their current arrangement of care.)
By September 2014, FDK should be implemented in all schools in Ottawa.

Many questions

Information to date has not clearly indicated how this service will be delivered and adequately funded.
Whether or not it would be available at all sites.
Why the cost is significantly higher?
Why the investment already made in a system of quality care would be discarded?
Will the Extended Day Program be offered all year round (P.D. Days, March Break and summer)

Action

Trustee Fisher’s motion, approved on April 13^th, outlined that staff be directed to include in the report for the May 2011 Business Services Committee:

The role of third party licensed child care providers in delivering before –and-after-school care services as part of the implementation of the extended day program;
The positive and negative impacts that alternative extended-day models might have on students, parents and communities; and
The need for the OCDSB to consult with the City of Ottawa and the child care community, as well as parents, to ensure that we are building a seamless early learning and care system that meets the needs of families and children in our City.

What You Can Do

Option 1:
Support Trustee Fisher’s motion by signing his petition on his webpage. He is hoping for 1,000 signatures before the Business Services Committee report in mid-May.

Read Trustee Fisher’s post,Full-Day Kindergarten: Partnering with Childcare Providers, then
Sign the petition

Option 2: Contact Ottawa School Board Trustees and let them know how Full-Day Kindergarten will affect you and your family.