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Alternative School Advisory Committee of the OCDSB
Welcome to the web site of the OCDSB's Alternative Schools Advisory Committee. This is a place to find out about Alternative Education in Ottawa, see our schools, read news and look at upcoming events.
The structure and organization of the Alternative Schools / Programs, allows for the philosophy to be implemented through a triad of responsibility shared amongst staff, students and parents. Students learn in non-graded multi-aged groupings and are exposed to an integrated curriculum which stresses the inter-relatedness of all learning and subjects.
Note: This site may not work well with older versions of Netscape. It is best viewed with Mozilla, Firefox, Safari, Konquerer or Internet Explorer.
Created on 2003-02-04 10:24:27 by install
Updated on 2008-01-17 11:03:11 by rdeadman
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Announcements
Leading U.S. scholar does U-turn on standardized tesing |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 03/03/2010 10:01
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A leading U.S. educator who was at the forefront of pushing for standardized testing, charter schools and free markets, has changed her mind rather radically. From the recent New York Times article:Diane Ravitch, the education historian who built her intellectual reputation battling progressive educators and served in the first Bush administration’s Education Department, is in the final stages of an astonishing, slow-motion about-face on almost every stand she once took on American schooling.
Once outspoken about the power of standardized testing, charter schools and free markets to improve schools, Dr. Ravitch is now caustically critical. She underwent an intellectual crisis, she says, discovering that these strategies, which she now calls faddish trends, were undermining public education. She resigned last year from the boards of two conservative research groups.
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Trustees vote to preserve and strengthen Alternative program |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 02/24/2010 12:04
(Read: 58)
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In a marathon board meeting that stretched from 6:00 P.M. until after 10:00, the trustees of the Ottawa Carleton District School Board have voted to preserve and strengthen the Alternative program and work to make its practices more widely available. This was the fourth board meeting on this since early January and again was overflowing with alternative families, friends and supporters.
Now that this decision is behind us, the alternative staff, students and parents can get on with strengthening the program and making its tenets and philosophy more widely known and understood. Most importantly, parents in Ottawa can enroll their children in the program with confidence that this program choice will remain for years to come. |
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ASAC enables parents to provide video testimonials about why the Alternative Program should be saved |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 09/28/2009 12:11
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We keep getting asked by parents, "What can we do?" There will be a lot to do, but here is a start. We have set up an on-line video forum for you to view and record your thoughts and concerns about the current review and let the board of education know why the alternative system is important to you!
http://pages.overlay.tv/asac/
If you have a webcam, simply click on the record button to start. Otherwise, take a clip with your phone or camcorder and use the upload feature. 30-60 seconds videos are ideal but you can submit as many of them as you want so don't worry if you realized if there's something you forgot to say - just make another one.
Once your video is up on the site, or if you have found someone else's video inspiring, use the facebook, twitter or email buttons on the page to help spread the word. Bring as many of your friends to participate in this important campaign.
Parents, kids and community members - this is for all of us. Lets get active now because if we don't, our amazing schools will pretty soon be very different!
Thanks to Nadav Zin for doing this! |
2009 Yead End Report now available |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 06/04/2009 07:35
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ASAC's annual Year End Report to the board's Education Committee is now available. This year the report highlights the progress and set-backs the program has had and outlines the recommendations for the upcoming Alternative Program Review.
The report will be presented to the Education Committee at their June meeting on June 16, 2009. |
ASAC formally objects to Intermediate Reveiw Consultation Process |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 06/04/2009 07:32
(Read: 182)
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| ASAC agreed, at its last meeting, to formally object to the consultation and communication process put in place for the recently approved Intermediate Review. |
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Toronto Star articles critical of Homework at the Primary Grades |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 09/03/2008 09:15
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Two recent articles in the Toronto Star look at homework at the primary level.
From an article in the Toronto Star entitled "Barrie school bans 'unfair' homework":
Poorer students with scant resources at a disadvantage, no real help at boosting achievement, critics say
And on August 23rd the Star ran this article: "Up with play, down with homework"
A growing number of parents say extra work detracts from family life, discourages learning
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2008 ASAC Year End Report Available |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 06/12/2008 07:01
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| The 2008 Year End Report to the board's Education Committee is now available. This will be officially presented to the board by Robin and Richard on Wednesday June 18th at the June Education Committee meeting. |
Toronto School Board proposed cuts in homework |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 04/01/2008 09:20
(Read: 500)
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| The Toronto School Board is proposing cuts in homework that would eliminate homework during holidays and school breaks as well as for kindergarten students and would limit the amounts given at other grade levels. |
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February ASAC Meeting cancelled |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 02/18/2008 03:13
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| Due to the upcoming ASAC joint meeting with principals and council chairs, the February meeting scheduled for February 19th, 2008 has been cancelled. |
Scientific American: The Secret to Raising Smart Kids |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 11/29/2007 10:26
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An interesting article in Scinetific American looks at what motivates children to learn. It turns out that telling them they are smart has unintended consequences. From the article:
Our society worships talent, and many people assume that possessing superior intelligence or ability—along with confidence in that ability—is a recipe for success. In fact, however, more than 30 years of scientific investigation suggests that an overemphasis on intellect or talent leaves people vulnerable to failure, fearful of challenges and unwilling to remedy their shortcomings.
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Board approves separate staffing for Alternative and English Programs |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 01/17/2007 12:16
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| In a eight to four vote, the Board of Trustees have approved Trustee Funicello's motion to provide separate staffing of Alternative and English programs in co-located schools. This will benefit Manor Park and Summit/Fisher Park School by providing more equitable classes sizes. |
November Newsletter now on-line |
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Posted by: rdeadman on 11/10/2006 01:58
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| The November ASAC Newsletter, with information about staffing model changes, the Revitalization Project and Possible Cuts to Transportation, is now available on-line. |
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