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PRIDE MONTH IN UCDSB
UCDSB SPOTLIGHTS INDIGENOUS HISTORY AND CULTURE
June is Pride Month in the Upper Canada school district. -supplied photo
CHRISTOPHER SMITH christopher.smith@eap.on.ca
UCDSB Student Equity and Inclusion Com- mittee will be hosting a virtual event for all secondary and intermediate student groups, where students will hear directly from Queer Connection Lanark, NG Pride, Gananoque Pride Alliance, Cornwall Police Services, and Russell Township. Finally, the UCDSB has released a list of Rainbow Reads for educa- tors to share in the classroom, with books such as A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, I Love My Purse, and Morris Micklewhite and the Tangerine Dress for elementary students, and Dress Codes for Small Towns, We’ve Always Been Here, and Zara Hossain is Here for secondary students. More activities and classroom discussions will follow throughout the month of June. “Public education is for all students, and we truly want all of our students and their families to feel supported and accepted,” said John McAllister, UCDSB chair. “Equity and inclusion, acceptance and support are not just buzzwords for us. We have made significant strides in creating safe and accep- ting learning environments over the last few years. We know that we have work to do, and we are committed to doing it.”
June is Pride Month throughout the UCDSB. The Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) marked the beginning of Pride Month with a series of activities to celebrate and show support to two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning, intersex and asexual (2SLGBTQIA) students, staff members, and their families. “Pride Month is another opportunity to have discussions around what it means to be inclusive and accepting within our schools,” said Dan McRae, Principal of Equity and Inclusion at the UCDSB. “Our goal is to have every student be able to say, yes, I feel safe, accepted, and included at school. In order for that to happen though, students need to feel like they are being heard and they see themselves in the day-to-day culture and life at the school, all year long.” Students across the district have an open invitation to wear rainbow colours to school throughout the month to show support for the 2SLGBTQIA community. The
The Thompson Island Cultural Camp is proving a great success. -web site photo
CHRISTOPHER SMITH christopher.smith@eap.on.ca
of pride in Indigenous heritage.» The UCDSB highlighted one activity it thought was particularly exciting. Students in Grades 4 to 12 will participate in a virtual celebration hosted by Alwyn Morris, an Olym- pic gold canoe-kayaker and Canada’s Sports Hall of Famer. Morris is a member of the Turtle Clan from the Mohawk Nation of Kahnawake and has achieved tremendous success as a competitive canoe-kayak sprint athlete. His Olympic Gold medal performance in the 1000-metre kayak sprint double in 1984 inspired a nation and solidified his position as one of the most influential Indigenous athletes of all time. “Providing Indigenous and non-Indigenous students alike access to rich and authentic programming about Indigenous culture and history is vital to ensuring we are being true to our commitment to Truth and Reconciliation,” said UCDSB Chair John McAllister. “I’m very proud of all we offer in this area and excited about where we are going.” Additional resources and activities rela- ted to Indigenous history and culture are at the UCDSB Virtual Learning Commons. The UCDSB is working on a Land Acknowledge- ment project for formal recognition of the traditional territories where schools are located.
The UCDSB is providing resources and activities relating to Indigenous history and culture during National Indigenous History Month. Schools across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB), which is situated on the traditional Anishinaabek and Haudeno- saunee territories, are celebrating National Indigenous History Month by providing schools across the district with additional opportuni- ties to learn about and celebrate Indigenous peoples and culture. Classroom teaching and resources were provided to UCDSB educators, including the Strawberry Moon and Summer Solstice ceremonies, to use in their lessons. «We are excited to celebrate National Indigenous History Month and National Indigenous People’s Day with our students and educators,» said Kelty Grant, UCDSB Principal of Indigenous Education. «By pro- viding resources and engaging activities, we aim to bring Indigenous perspectives into our classrooms and create a learning envi- ronment that fosters understanding, respect, and appreciation. Through initiatives like the virtual presentation by Alwyn Morris, we hope to inspire our students and promote a sense
UPPER CANADA SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES BUDGET
of Education requirements. Some highlights include: a 7.4 per cent increase to $53.7 million for Special Education; $4.1 million for Indigenous Education supports, which includes $1.3 million to offset the Ministry of Education’s funding model change; $1.6 million to student technology and IT infras- tructure; $1.5 million from the Ministry of Education for math recovery support; $1.2 million from the ministry for literacy sup- ports, reading activities, screening tools, and software licenses; and $1.2 million for mental health and well-being support. The budget also includes $58 million for planned investments in school and child care capital construction, additions, improvements, and retrofits. A $2.1 million allocation is included for Experiential/Real- World Learning, Specialist High Skills Major, and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program opportunities for students, which are tied to the priorities outlined in the UCDSB Direc- tor’s Work Plan. The budget also addresses estimated financial risks related to Special Incidence Portion, transportation, and the application of Indigenous education and math funding. Trustees voted in favour of the budget. It goes to the Ministry of Education for final approval.
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The UCDSB budget has been passed, pending ministry approval. —archive photo
CHRISTOPHER SMITH christopher.smith@eap.on.ca
The UCDSB’s proposed 2023-2024 bud- get has been passed, pending ministry approval. During the regular meeting of May 24, trustees with the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) reviewed and appro- ved the budget for the 2023-2024 school year. Executive Superintendent of Business Services Jeremy Hobbs presented the final proposal, which totaled $424.2 million, after regular budget-related reports over the last several months. The budget lists a total of $424 million for UCDSB expenses, with a surplus of $200,000 to remain compliant with Ministry
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