Draft Minutes
Secondary School Committee: November 17, 2016 Meeting
The SSC is a sub-committee of Ottawa Carleton Assembly of Schools Councils (OCASC). We met as a group for the first time in November. The SSC broke out from the main OCASC group at the break to discuss issues unique to secondary schools (see below). Reflecting the bulk of its membership, OCASC in the second half of the meeting focused on Elementary Schools issues.
Twelve of the 27 Secondary schools in the Ottawa Board of Education were represented at the meeting.
PROM Dinner/Dance
Following a presentation by Marie McFaul, Vice-Chair Merivale School Council and parent, there was a discussion about how to engage the School to work with Students toon making make the Prom Dinner/Dance safe, fun, affordable and enjoyable for everyone. Currently not all students attend Prom and it is suggested this is due to the cost, the availability of alcohol and no School staff supervision. The Ottawa Board decided a number of years ago to withdraw from running the Proms. Currently students are engaged by a private company to attend a Prom. There are a number of issues in the relationship of the private company and the students : higher cost; organized after Prom parties across the river where the drinking age is18; multi-schools attending the Prom simultaneously with unrestricted admittance; and financial risks to students collecting funds for the private company.
The concern of parents and some students is known to the Board and yet unsanctioned Proms are continuing. There is good news, however. Seven schools offered sanctioned Proms last year, up from 3 schools the year before.
The six steps outlined in organizing proms are:
- Agree on a date
- Book the venue
- Decide on the budget
- Determine the ticket [rice
- Set the entertainment
- Plan the activities
Marie Mcfaul’s PPT offers suggestions on how to get the School community involved in a sanctioned Prom going in your school.
Trans Gender Students and Over Night School Trips
Earl of March asked what other schools do when an LGBTQ student participates in an overnight school trip.
Typically students share beds and rooms. One school shared an example where the student spoke privately with the principal who then made more private accommodations. Similar considerations are made for students with disabilities. The Board has developed guidelines in this area, see” Gender Identity and Gender Expression, Guide to Supporting Students”.
Transgender accommodation will be on the Advisory Committee on Equity agenda in the coming months.
SSC WEB Site
There was general agreement that we should have a separate web page within the OCASC web site with minutes and meeting dates. John Higgins from Lisgar will look after.