Here we are, Monday morning again. There was interesting news about our Ottawa school boards. At the end of September every year, the school board reassesses the total school population based on attendance, rather than predicted enrolment. In June they staff schools according to the predictions. They then rejig the staffing levels of each school. I dreaded it every year. Sometime we'd have a surplus teacher, and the one with lowest seniority was placed at a different school. Split-grade classes would be formed. Teachers had spent a month creating a classroom community, setting up seating plans, routines, and expectations.
Ottawa Carleton (OCDSB) is the Ottawa school board where Josephine and Isabelle attend. The OCDSB overanticipated their 2023/2024 school population. They had planned for an increase of 2.5% at the girls' school board (1119 students). In fact they overestimated by 1600 students. This didn't change anything for Josephine (gr. 11), but they had to amalgamate and integrate a class for the intermediates in gr. 7/8. Izzy is happy, as she is in a straight gr. 8 class.
The Catholic school board (OCSB) had an unexpected increase of 2252 students. Whoopsie!
tree sparrow from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
An adult porcupine waddles by, as well.Porcupine Oct 9 from Jennifer Jilks on Vimeo.
19 comments:
As if the teachers don't have to contend with this year. Makes me glad I am an adult educator (lol). Oh to see a live porcupine !
Haha, that is quite the waddle on that porcupine.
I would think the school personnel would be more capable at predicting the future enrollment in schools. Sounds very unprofessional.
best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com
What a disruption to school!
The Tree Sparrows are sweet.
I sure hope the gun range will be settled for once and for all. They need to go find another place, basically. Why keep trying where they aren't wanted? Yes school sizes are always changing...I never thought about the staffing based on predictions. I learned something.
A lot of planning goes into the schools that we take for granted. Thanks for sharing.
Just so enjoyed my read of your latest posts. I move an occasional frog and salamander that gets in the pool back down to our little pond too. Good luck with helping them out like you are doing. I have yet to see a bear here on our property though we do seem to have a resident fox. It is definitely fallish here today with a bit of sun trying hard to break through. But I am not complaining at all esp. considering what is going on in so many parts of the world. You all take care.
I love watching porcupines walking Jenn, they seem like such sweet creatures (despite the quills!!!)
Great Header!
Wishing you NO creation of a gun range!
Good to hear your kids school didn't get any more kids. Nice mid size classrooms benefit everyone.
Good luck with the gun range hearing results. I hope this issue can be put to bed for once and for all.
That sounds like an odd way to run a school system. Good luck with the appeal -- I'm hopeful it will go your way.
School boards play with the numbers. The new kids are the ones who get screwed over with the worst classes.
I don't agree, Red. The classes are carefully created with kids who are independent learners in the split grade class. Having participated in these, teachers work hard to balance out social, emotional and cognitive needs.
I'm glad it seems you will be free of the gun racket. Thank you for your years teaching. Jenn. Aloha!
I take my hat off to the teachers, they put up with a lot. It’s so nice to see your own class photos. Good luck with the gun hearing. I’ve been fortunate as I don’t hear the gun range near us. It’s a couple of miles away but if the wind is in the right direction, there are a lot of people on my neighborhood app worrying that there have been gunshots fired. Cute bird video. Took me a moment to realize the crow was not real. I would like one of those in my fountain. I wish I could see a porcupine in the wild :)
Porcupines! Fun! Our main sparrows are the invasive house sparrow *sigh*
The porcupine is in no rush.
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