Trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) met on Wednesday, February 24, for a regularly scheduled board meeting.
UCDSB Highlights Experiential Learning Initiatives
Staff presented an update on the school board’s Experiential Learning Plan for 2020-2021. Recognizing the educational value of lived experiences, the UCDSB Experiential Learning Plan includes eight strategies to help the board design and implement effective programs.
This year’s plan focuses on activities and board-wide challenges related to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math), skilled trades, and equity. Some examples of experiential learning that are outlined in the plan include: on-site or virtual field trips, collaborative construction projects using basic materials, horticultural projects using garden towers and community gardens, and coding activities.
Schools have been invited to submit proposals to receive funding for curriculum-related community-based projects. Students participating in remote learning have received access to hands-on activities that align with both the curriculum and experiential learning principles.
This Is Us: Students Continue to Share Insight about the School Year
The UCDSB continues to connect with students to showcase secondary student experiences during this phase of pandemic learning. The “This is Us” video series provides an inside look at our schools and gives students and staff an opportunity to share their experiences so far this school year.
Currently, videos showcasing Almonte DHS, Tagwi SS, Gananoque SS, North Grenville DHS, and North Dundas DHS. have been released. At the Feb. 24 meeting, the school board shared two more videos interviewing staff and students from Russell DHS and Smiths Falls District Collegiate Institute.
Continued Focus on Occupational Health & Safety for 2020-2021
Trustees were presented with the annual occupational health and safety report. Staff reported a 34 per cent reduction in incidents, which can be attributed to integrated prevention programs as well as decreased days of in-school learning. In 2019-2020, the focus was on establishing, updating, and maintaining health and safety programs to identify hazards and in developing and implementing practical and sustainable solutions. This approach has continued in 2020-2021 with a continued focus on creating safer and more engaged learning environments that encourage mental and physical wellness and meets legislative requirements.
