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The Churchill Alternative Program Review Action Committee Needs Your Help

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 11/01/2009 - 23:09

OCDSB Elementary Alternative Program Review

 Places Churchill Alternative AT RISK!

URGENTLY NEED YOUR ATTENTION & ACTION!

 

The Ottawa Carleton District School Board is in the process of reviewing the Alternative Program. The purpose of the review is described as “coming to a decision regarding the Alternative Program” by February 2010. There are a number of concerns with respect the larger purpose of the review as well as how the review is being conducted. 

 

We need your help in establishing the picture of just how different the Alternative Program is in Ottawa and why it is so important to have this CHOICE within the Ottawa Carleton District School Board. 

 

What’s At Risk? 

  • The removal of a CHOICE of an educational option for your children
  • The overall Elementary Alternative Programming. Our very own Churchill Alternative Public School’s programming and ability to function as an Alternative school 
  • School catchments could potentially change resulting in children having to change schools
  • Additional alternative programs at risk if Elementary Alternative Program closed (such as Summit and Canterbury HS)

Click here for a calendar of events in November.


There is an action package (.pdf file) you will find here, that includes many pces of information you may find helpful in crafting your letter, identifying where to send it as well as a poster you can print out to help bring additional awareness to this critical educational option. 


EXAMPLE LETTERS Can be found here:

  1. Alternative School Parent - click here
  2. Non Alternative School Parent - click here
  3. Children - click here

What can you do?


Tell your story! 

  • Why is the CHOICE of Alternative programming important to you and your child?
  • What distinguishes alternative education? 
  • Have an experience with more than one program within OCDSB? - Describe your varying experiences (if you have switched your child to the Alternative program from the English or French Immersion programs). 

Write a Letter!

  • Write an email to the Alternative Program Review team elementary_alternative_review@ocdsb.ca
  • Email is a formal avenue for consultation in this review and must  be considered by the review team and distributed
  • Write an email to ALL of the Trustees (see “points to include” section below & email addresses provided in action pkg)
  • Write a “Letter to the Editor” of the newspapers and email story submissions to media 

Start Talking…to EVERYONE! 

  • Post your story to the video wall  (http://pages.overlay.tv/asac/) Telling the community Why the Alternative Education System is Important to You!
  • Tell your friends and family and co-workers to write a letter
  • Click here to download a poster that you can print out put it at your place of work, at the Library, the businesses in Westboro, Wellington, McKellar Park and other neighbourhoods and all around the streets where it can be seen. 
  • Have some ideas for creative action we can take? Contact Becky Cronin at beckymike@rogers.com
  • Tell the Churchill Program Review Action Committee if you prefer to receive updates by phone

 Send your letters and comments before November 15, 2009 to the following people:

Here is a comprehensive list of individuals that you can send your letters to – please be sure to copy the program review on all of the letters that you send. (Be sure to check out the action package "Letter Writing Tips and Key Messages" section for help in crafting your letter.)

FIRST: To The School Board – elementary_alternative_review@ocdsb.ca 

  • This email address has been set up specifically to receive input about the alternative education program review. This email address is the formal avenue for consultation, the emails sent to it must be considered by the review team and distributed to the trustees on a weekly basis.
  • Be sure to copy the Alternative School Action Committee (ASAC). This is the committee set up to oppose the Alternative Program Review so please always send them a copy your letters programreview@asac-ottawa.org

SECOND: To the School Board Elementary Program Review Team

The this is a list of specific individuals at the school board who are involved in the review.

THIRD: To The School Board Trustees (Decision Makers)

The trustees are will be the ones that vote to make the final decision – we need to influence ALL of them as much as we can – particularly those not as familiar with the Alternative Program

FOURTH: To Our Friends and Family – The Ottawa Community 

This is where your story can have impact on others in your neighborhood and the greater Ottawa Community. Reach out to your friends and family to strongly encourage they too send a letter to the board outlining why CHOICE is an integral part of the OCDSB offering. This isnt’ about “better” it’s about CHOICE. 

FIFTH: To The Media 

Media is where we need to get this story elevated to. We need to put the people, the families and the community at the forefront of this issue. It is about our children’s options and our CHOICES as parents. 


Write a letter to the editor of the many newspapers in the Ottawa area, send and email to the many talk-radio stations in Ottawa, submit your comments on blogs and other community conversations (see the Action Package, above, for contact info).