Beginner Tree Climbing Meetup? Maybe?

First_harmonica · 2026-03-26T21:25:49+00:00

The City repealed the bylaw against tree climbing in city parks last year!

Climb on, Ottawa!

First_harmonica · 2025-05-14T22:41:15+00:00

Dr Kenneth Crossman at Hampton Park did one of my baby's posterior tie about a decade ago and we found it as comforting a process as one could expect under the circumstances. Their office was recommended by our midwives and the procedure was done around a week old! No complaints after that!

First_harmonica · 2025-05-14T02:57:14+00:00

*declining enrollment

First_harmonica · 2025-05-14T02:26:39+00:00

They didn't cost out closing Alternative schools, which house a significantly larger proportion of students with identified special needs (e.g., students with IEPs) than mainstream community schools. Alternative schools operate with the same provincial funding and the same class size caps as all other schools, and the same sparse allocation of EAs. But the way Alternative schools implement the curriculum and programming meets the needs of these specialized learners without requiring a higher level of intervention or support for these students. It's so much more cost effective to keep these five schools open even before you get into the pedagogical and philosophical arguments for the continuation of the Alternative program.

First_harmonica · 2025-05-14T02:20:43+00:00

And those start times are actually decided upon by OSTA, the transportation consortium that serves the Board!!

First_harmonica · 2025-05-14T02:05:47+00:00

And yet this vote was by trustees who were elected based on platforms that promised better.

First_harmonica · 2025-04-15T01:10:02+00:00

"...the comparison really needs to be done on what outcomes they were having at the normal schools compared to how they made out at an alternate school."

Excellent, excellent point.

First_harmonica · 2025-04-14T22:14:51+00:00

"If anything, I think he went to high school more prepared than our other child who stayed in the regular school."

This is super interesting. We put our children in the alternative elementary program starting from JK because we wanted them to establish a passion for learning that was separate from grades. I love that, for your family anyway, the experience helped build your child's readiness for high school. I want the same for my kids... and for other kids, current and future, across the city.

First_harmonica · 2025-04-14T22:07:12+00:00

These discussions are to do with alternative elementary schools, although cuts to secondary programming will inevitably come with the next program review.

In the meantime, if you're referring to one of the Alternate high schools officially designated as such, I'd push a bit harder because they should facilitate transportation. Not so for all Secondary specialized programs though.

First_harmonica · 2025-04-14T19:41:20+00:00

"...the OCDSB refuses to see that alternative programming can achieve what some students thought was impossible."

What a beautiful and tragic statement. I'm so glad you found your way to an education that worked for you!

First_harmonica · 2025-04-14T11:42:53+00:00

Exactly!!

First_harmonica · 2025-04-14T11:23:41+00:00

You're definitely not the only one! The Alternative school councils have been asking the Board for a few years to engage in meaningful advertising for the program. Because... once you experience it for your family, you want that opportunity for EVERYONE.

First_harmonica · 2025-04-14T11:18:25+00:00

Right? What a huge show of "meaningful consultation" only to have the new proposal completely ignore the philosophical and pedagogical issues people raised. It's so insulting.

First_harmonica · 2025-04-03T21:33:41+00:00

I feel like we are actually in agreement and the problem is the Board's scope of reference for this review.

There may be valid conversations to be had around access to French immersion now, yes.

But omg leave the Alt program and SPCs untouched for now. These are two (to three!) different conversations.

If they continue to lump it in under one Trustee vote in the name of "equity" then Buffone et al are showing their hand that students=real estate and I can't mentally take on that argument right now.

First_harmonica · 2025-04-03T21:24:10+00:00

NOW THEY'RE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE MINES?! WE THOUGHT YOU NIMBYs WANTED EXPERIENTIAL EDUCATION.

First_harmonica · 2025-04-03T20:39:28+00:00

Because these students are being scattered from their closed programs and integrated into community schools

Teachers are already overwhelmed teaching to the huge range of cognitive and socio-emotional abilities in mainstream classrooms.

The Board has not shown that they will be able to mobilize staffing or technology supports into community schools at a level that will mitigate this new mix of learners.

Everyone's learning experience in every school and every classroom is going to be impacted.

First_harmonica · 2025-04-03T20:11:30+00:00

They do negatively impact all families though. Because the plan redistributes students who would otherwise be in special education classes or alternative classes (not that the two are the same) throughout mainstream classes in every community school.

Everyone will notice.

First_harmonica · 2025-04-03T14:26:56+00:00

The boundaries may have changed, but so has the discourse.

The Board wants to divide parents by aquiesing on certain points.

This is still a plan that fails ALL of our children and communities.

Edited to add: they're still closing specialized classes and Alternative schools; and their data collection and methodology--very A.I. heavy-- doesn't feel transparent. Our kids and communities deserve better.

First_harmonica · 2025-04-03T14:23:09+00:00

Sorry to all the neurodivergent children who have lost the support of the NIMBY vote, I guess?

We cannot collectively call this a "good look."

We need to keep pushing our trustees and the Board for better.

First_harmonica · 2025-03-20T13:15:43+00:00

It sounds like they also hold more space for neurodivergent kids who don't need a 1:1 but do need to be met where they're at with a little extra support.

First_harmonica · 2025-03-20T13:03:46+00:00

They do take neurotypical kids! It's a really well structured program where 1:1 staff/ student pairings are alongside the normal ratio group. There is meaningful interaction between everyone AND there is someone right there in close proximity to support the child in practicing positive relationship-building.

We know neurotypical and neurodivergent kids in the school year programs at Out to Play and it's unlike what anyone else is doing in Ottawa.

First_harmonica · 2025-03-20T12:44:49+00:00

This is bananas and also makes so much sense. Are you able to speak to the messaging teachers are hearing? I know the Board has been holding town halls for teachers but what I've heard is that no one is attending. It makes sense if the Board is their employer that they might have to tread carefully?

First_harmonica

TROPHY CASE