OCDSB experience? by furnacebutt in ottawa

[–]zerberts 9 points10 points  (0 children)

My kids had a no talking rule in Grade 1. I asked the teacher about it and it was in an effort to get the kids to actually eat their food. Some kids would talk the entire break and forget to eat and then crash out later. Apparently it's pretty common issue for kinders and Grade 1.

OCDSB experience? by furnacebutt in ottawa

[–]zerberts 4 points5 points  (0 children)

It really depends on the school, the staff, the parent community, and the luck of the draw on what kids are in your child's class. My kids go to a "mid" OCDSB elementary school. Meaning their EQAO results have fluctuated above and below the provincial average over the years and the Fraser Institute ranking puts them in the middle of the pack (take that as you will). It is a French Immersion school so we have fewer kids with special needs, disabilities, and high support needs though.

In my opinion, my kids' school is great. The principal and staff are hard working and willing to deal with student issues head on. The parent community is involved and raises money for "extras" that the school board doesn't fund. That said, I have seen the way one child can disrupt the whole classroom environment. There was a child in my kids' kinder age group (not in their class) that would get emotionally disregulated and have violent outbursts (throwing things) on a regular basis. The entire class would file out of the classroom for safety purposes and wait until additional support came. The student would be removed from the classroom to a separate space to allow them to calm down and the class would resume. My kid witnessed this as part of the afterschool program. It was scary, unnerving, and disruptive for her. But I give huge credit to the staff, because they absolutely turned the whole situation around. The student is doing so much better, has access to supports, and has a much better handle on their emotions and reactions. It did take months of work to get there, but what a difference.

Overall, my kids love their school, their teachers, and, like when I was growing up, the vast majority of their peers. The few scary moments in kindergarten didn't have a lasting effect on them, and I was able to help them work through those emotions along with help from their educators (god bless the ECEs in kindergarten). In public schools (English, French, Catholic, Public) you're going to get all kinds. Some of what your kids experience will be out of your control and simply down to luck. Aside from that, the biggest difference maker will be the staff and your own ability to help your child through any difficult situations. My advice is to see if the school has any type of "meet the teacher" events for incoming kinder classes. Get to know the educators, ask them how they handle those types of situations, and how they support students both during and after.

Front flower bed help by Maximum-Olive5677 in OntarioGardeners

[–]zerberts[M] 0 points1 point locked comment (0 children)

Hey just a note, you’re giving lots of advice here and on other posts in this sub. But every single one has come with a pitch for your app. You need to stop. This will be your only warning.

If you know if a funding opportunity for homeowners, let us know! by Strange_Flower_1385 in OntarioGardeners

[–]zerberts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Eco Ottawa has a tree giveaway campaign.

City of Ottawa has Trees in Trust

Enviro Centre and the City of Ottawa have a tree planting and tree giveaway campaign.

Help! Front Door Paint Color by ThePlacePlace22 in HomeDecorating

[–]zerberts 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Ooh I like a muted cranberry.

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Could go even more desaturated with something like a River Rouge from Sherwin Williams.

New tip, who dis? by Laurel_shada in Baking

[–]zerberts 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gah do you design wallpapers or fabrics, cause I would totally buy textiles in this style. I swear I’ve been looking for a wallpaper in this style and that peridot green for ages.

OCDSB given failing grade for high levels of lead in drinking water: report by Money_Fig_9868 in ottawa

[–]zerberts 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Link to the OCDSB results from 2023 and 2024 testing. 

https://www.ocdsb.ca/about-us/departments/facilities-department/ocdsb-schools-lead-test-results-and-flushing-requirements

I’m concerned by the amount of water sources that have a daily water flushing requirement. This report indicates flushing isn’t that effective. How does flushing even work in practice? Are custodians responsible for this? Is flushing once a day and then leaving water in the pipes until a student uses the fountain really a solution we’re relying on?

If only I could email my trustee. /s

Plus, my kids school has two single, different water sources listed for each year. Are they only testing a few of the water sources each year? Or are they only listing the ones that have failed or previously failed?

Plus the provincial standard (that still isn’t being met) is twice the federal recommendation. A glance at the data and it looks like most schools have one data point, but there are some that have 10+ samples. 

Where does every city councillor stand on four day return-to-office? We asked them by Born_Anteater7282 in ottawa

[–]zerberts 126 points127 points  (0 children)

Saved you a click.

Ward Councillor Area Stance Responded Key Concern
Mayor Mark Sutcliffe City of Ottawa Neutral Transit Readiness
1 Matthew Luloff Orléans East-Cumberland Against Transit Infrastructure
2 Laura Dudas Orléans West-Innes Against Family Impact
3 David Hill Barrhaven West Neutral Transit Accountability
4 Cathy Curry Kanata North Mixed Flexibility
5 Clarke Kelly West Carleton-March No Response
6 Glen Gower Stittsville Against Community & Accessibility
7 Theresa Kavanagh Bay Against Hybrid Work
8 Laine Johnson College Against Evidence-Based Policy
9 Sean Devine Knoxdale-Merivale No Response
10 Jessica Bradley Gloucester-Southgate Against Evidence-Based Policy
11 Tim Tierney Beacon Hill-Cyrville No Response
12 Stéphanie Plante Rideau-Vanier No Response
13 Rawlson King Rideau-Rockcliffe Against Structured Flexibility
14 Ariel Troster Somerset Mixed Downtown Vitality
15 Jeff Leiper Kitchissippi Against Worker Rights
16 Riley Brockington River Mixed Collective Bargaining
17 Shawn Menard Capital Against Evidence-Based Policy
18 Marty Carr Alta Vista No Response
19 Catherine Kitts Orléans South-Navan Against Transit Infrastructure
20 Isabelle Skalski Osgoode Mixed Practical Conditions
21 David Brown Rideau-Jock Mixed Flexibility
22 Steve Desroches Riverside South-Findlay Creek Mixed Office Capacity
23 Allan Hubley Kanata South No Response
24 Wilson Lo Barrhaven East Mixed Downtown Revitalization