Randy Wagler Elected to Chair Avon Maitland Board
Randy Wagler, trustee for Southwest Huron, was elected Chair of the Board of Trustees for Avon Maitland. Mr. Wagler, a trustee for 17 years, has previously been Chair on two occasions and has been Vice-Chair twice.
“I want to that thank you, my fellow Trustees for your support – I will do all I can to live up to your trust in me in the year ahead”, stated Wagler in his address as Chair. “I want to also thank Trustee Schenk for her leadership as Chair this past year as we have begun the search for a new Director.”
Joining Chair Wagler as Vice Chair is trustee Alyson Kent. Kent is in her second term on the Board and is the trustee representing The City of Stratford. This is her second election to the Vice-Chair position.
Trustee Robert Hunking of Central East Huron is the Board representative to the Ontario Public School Boards’ Association (OPSBA). Trustee Alyson Kent of The City of Stratford is the alternate OPSBA Representative. Trustee Doug Pratley of The City of Stratford is OPSBA Western Region Vice-President and Chair.
Good News
Avon Maitland school’s are joining in on the largest learning event in history: The Hour of Code, during Computer Science Education Week (December 5-11).
We live in a world surrounded by technology. And we know that whatever field our students choose to go into as adults, their ability to succeed will increasingly depend on understanding how technology works. But only a tiny fraction of us are learning how technology works.
The Hour of Code is a one-hour introduction to computer science and is a global movement that will be reaching tens of millions of students in 180+ countries this week. Our students and teachers are choosing from a variety of activities for kindergarten students and up that will introduce them to computer science that is designed to demystify ‘code’ and show that anybody can learn the basics.
“Coding opens up a world of creativity for kids”, states Vince Trocchi System Principal of Technology and Student Success. “The problem-solving and critical thinking needed for coding goes well beyond normal day-to-day learning and, for many students, it can be a powerful experience. By exploring coding in classrooms now we are laying a solid foundation for kids’ futures because many of their jobs will be connected to it.”
To find out more about the ‘hour of code’ visit the Hour of Code website.
Well-being PD Day On December 2nd, a special day of Professional Development was offered to all school-based staff at two sites – Stratford Northwestern School and Central Huron Secondary School.
The over-arching theme for the day was well-being.
Well-being is defined by the Ministry of Education as “the positive sense of self, spirit and belonging that we feel when our cognitive, emotional, social and physical needs are being met”. Promoting well-being is one of the four foundational goals of Achieving Excellence, Ontario’s renewed vision for education. Furthermore, in AMDSB well-being is articulated as part of our work to create positive and inclusive learning environments.
The keynote speaker was Dr. Jean Clinton – Mother, Clinical Professor, Child Psychiatrist and current advisor to the Ministry of Education. She is renowned internationally as an advocate for child and youth issues. Dr. Clinton reviewed Ontario’s Well-Being Strategy for Education, including the four domains of Well-Being and presented on the “Power of Relationships” between School Staff and Students.
Other workshop themes throughout the day were:
- stress management
- social thinking
- social thinking
- yoga for kids
- self-regulation
- nutrition in the classroom
- physical activity in the classroom
- the link between physical activity & mental health
- mindfulness
- work-life balance
- compassion in addictions and recovery
- social-emotional development of youth
Future Board Meetings
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- Tuesday, January 24, 2017 – 5:00 p.m. Finance Committee, 8:00 p.m. Regular Board Session
- Tuesday, February 9, 2015 – 6:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole, Open Session, 8:00 p.m. Regular Board Session
Future Meetings/Events with Trustee Representation
(at Education Centre unless otherwise noted)
- Director’s Selection Committee: Tuesday, December 6, 2016 – 5:00 p.m.
- SEAC: Wednesday, December 7, 2016 – 4:00 p.m.
- SAL: Tuesday, December 20, 2016 – 8:30 a.m.
- SEAC: Wednesday, January 4, 2017 – 4:00 p.m.
- OPSBA Public Education Symposium: January 19 – 21, 2017
- AODA: Wednesday, February 8, 2017 – 4:00 p.m.