Electronic Employee Annual Offence Declaration

Each year, employees of the York Region District School Board must provide the Board with a signed annual offence declaration (AOD) in accordance with Regulation 521/01 of the Ontario Education Act, as amended by Regulation 322/03. When the forms are received, the information surrounding the offence declaration, including the results, will be maintained in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. 

 All active and on leave employees who have access to the Board email system, will be completing the AOD for September 2024 online. The form will be located on the BWW under Employee Self Service – My Info. Employees who do not have access to the Board email system will receive a hard copy of the form mailed to their home.

 The electronic AOD will be available 24/7 from the initial roll out date in May to September 1, 2024. Access to the form will be opened to designated groups of Board employees on a phased basis over a 1-week period in order to avoid overloading the system. An email will be sent to each employee informing them that it is their turn to access and complete the AOD.

 The email will remind employees that:

• • they must complete the 2024 Employee Annual Offence Declaration in order to commence work in September 2024;

  • failure to fully disclose any convictions since the last criminal background check or offence declaration could result in disciplinary action including dismissal; and

  • they are responsible to advise the Board (labour.team@yrdsb.ca) within 48 hours of any occasion where a criminal or CAS investigation or if criminal charges have been laid against them that occur between annual declaration submissions.

Each employee who receives the announcement of access to the electronic AOD is expected to complete the AOD by June 30, 2024. Any questions or concerns regarding the AOD process can be sent to aod@yrdsb.ca.

 In addition, employees should ensure that their current address is up to date with the Board.  If changes are required, please follow the process outlined on the bww. (Human Resource Services – Employee Records Information). Any questions or concerns can be sent to hrs@yrdsb.ca.

Teacher Technology Engagement Program (TTEP) Device Refresh

The TTEP Device Refresh window will begin in May and extend into the month of July as required. Due to security enhancement efforts this year’s refresh is starting later in the school year. As a result, the refresh window will extend into the summer break to provide additional dates and flexibility for picking up a refresh device. The following provides information on the device provided and registration steps required for eligible users (once notified) to receive their refresh device.

 How will eligible users be contacted?

• • Teachers eligible for a device refresh will be contacted directly via email through the ServiceDesk inviting them to register.

  • Pick up appointments will be scheduled at the Dr. Bette Stephenson Centre for Learning location.

  • The email invitation from ServiceDesk will contain all pertinent information about preparing for the pickup appointment. Please take the time to read through the instructions.

The Board-provisioned device available through the TTEP Refresh is the Dell Latitude 5440 14” non-touch clamshell laptop. The device comes with enhanced security featuring Windows 11 and Intune.

 If you have any questions regarding TTEP registration, please submit a General TTEP Inquiry from the ServiceDesk Service Catalog or email ttep@yrdsb.ca.

Sikh Heritage Month

The Sikh Heritage Month Poster was created by Sikh Heritage Museum. You can print out the poster to display in your classes.  The images in the poster are from a resource called sharing 200 Canadian Sikh History. 

Midterm Credit Rescue Day (Tuesday, April 9, 2024)

If you have a student who is in-risk of not attaining your credit due to at least one outstanding assessment &/or you would like to give them an opportunity to redo a poor submission of an assessment, please complete the form below. Here is the link to the referral form.  Please note that students and parents are emailed a copy of the information that is shared in the form.

Students will be signed out for the entire day starting on Tuesday, April 9, 2024 in Period to complete the work in the Library Learning Commons and will continue to work in the library over the course of the day until all outstanding assessments are completed. Feel free to share assignments with @zara.martinez@gapps.yrdsb.ca (or a hardcopy in my mailbox is also fine) by Monday, April 8, 2024. 

Message from the Indigenous and Inclusive Learning Team

Did you know the Arctic Winter Games are Happening this year in Mat-Su March 10-16, 2024? “The Arctic Winter Games are a biennial multi-sport and cultural event hosted by contingents in the Arctic region, specifically focusing on circumpolar communities from areas like Canada, Alaska, Kalaallit Nunaat,  and Northern Scandinavia.” Team participants range in age from 11-18, who will compete in the following events: Alpine Ski, Archery, Arctic Sports, Badminton, Basketball, Biathlon Ski, Biathlon Snowshoe, Cross-Country Ski, Curling, Dene Games, Figure Skating, Futsal, Gymnastics, Hockey, Snowboarding, Snowshoeing, Speed Skating, Table Tennis, Volleyball, and Wrestling. As this event coincides with March Break, staff and students can view the games through the free livestream link: https://www.awg2024.org/livestream.

What actions can I take in my journey to reconciliation?  

• Watch and Educate: Red Earth Uncovered is a half-hour youth documentary series where a host investigates Aboriginal linkages and relevance to both archeological discoveries and ancient myths and legends. Click here to watch for free.

• Listen and Learn: Métis Storytelling and Music live-stream with TiBert and Douzie. The First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Education Team would like to invite YRDSB staff members to participate in a live-stream storytelling and music event on March 7, 2024, from 6:00 pm - 7:00 pm. TiBert and Douzie, a multi-talented duo who are members of l'Union nationale métisse Saint-Joseph du Manitoba Métis, will engage viewers in stories and traditional music through a modern twist. Please note, that this event is for all YRDSB staff members and is not to be shared with students and families.  Registration information for the event will be shared on February 29, 2024 in the  YRDSB Communications.

• Visit and Experience: Adventures in Time Travel. Looking for family-friendly activities during March Break? Travel back in time at Sainte-Marie among the Hurons! With take-home crafts, historical demonstrations, storytelling and more, we guarantee your journey to the 17th century will be both educational and fun. No time machine, or reservations, required. Free admission for OCT teachers with valid ID.

• FMNI March 2024 Newsletter

South Asian Heritage Association

This semester BCSS is restarting up The South Asian Heritage Association.  Any students who are interested in celebrating and learning about South Asian Heritage along with creating lasting connections are welcome to join!  Meetings are held Friday at lunch in room 3001.  Please see Ms. Bhella, Mr. Khandor, Ms. Rajitharan, or Ms. Martinez if you have any questions. 

BCSS Staff Information 2024-2025

As we begin the staffing cycle for next year, teachers will be asked to complete the BCSS Staffing 2024-2025 Google Form. A link to the Form will be shared in an email to staff on Tuesday, February 27, 2024. The Google Form will be due on Friday, March 8, 2024 by 4pm.

Please reach out to a member of the Administration team or the In-School Staffing Committee (Mike Nunes, Francesca Cioffi, Dawn Fovargue, or Miriam Tadros) should you have any questions or concerns.

Human Rights Student Ambassador Award

We are pleased to announce an inaugural award, the Human Rights Student Ambassador Award, recognizing YRDSB secondary students who have made exceptional contributions to advancing the principles of human rights, equality, diversity, inclusion and/or non-discrimination in their schools. Human Rights Student Ambassador Award recipients are role models, as they endeavour to make lasting changes to YRDSB’s social fabric and aim to dismantle discriminatory practices and systems to make York Region schools a welcoming and inclusive place for all students. For more information on the nomination process, including criteria, selction, and timelines, please visit the following link.

BCSS Fundraiser

Win three amazing Raptors tickets (Section 115 Row 10 Seats 1, 2, and 3) for their game against the New Orleans Pelicans on Tuesday, March 5, 2024 @7:30pm. Raffle tickets prices are as follows: 1 tickey for $5 or 3 tickets for $10. To purchase raffle tickets in person, see Mr. Shultz in room 3010 in the morning or in room 1022 in the afternoon.  Draw will be held Friday, March 1, 2024 @noon.

Tips for Using the BWW

If you want to bookmark a page or memo from the BWW, using the ‘Saved for later’ feature is a helpful way to do that.  Towards the bottom of most pages, you will notice a small bookmark icon. By clicking on this icon, you are “saving the item for later.”  You can then access these saved pages from the BWW home page in the ‘Saved for later’ section.  For more details, visit the Using the BWW page. 

BWW and Digest Survey

In November, we launched the refreshed BWW. The new BWW was informed by feedback from school board staff, analytics and effective intranet design research. To ensure the new site meets the needs of staff and to identify opportunities for continuous improvement, we will be sharing a brief survey with all staff members in today’s digest. We encourage you to share your feedback through the survey and to encourage your staff to participate. The survey will also be available on the Board landing page. 

2024 Summer Teach Abroad Program

International Education Services (IES) is pleased to announce that we will continue to offer the Summer Teach Abroad Program (STAP) in Taiwan this year. This four-week volunteer program provides great opportunities for YRDSB teachers to gain teaching experience in different educational contexts overseas.  The program is a cultural experience combining work and travel. Applications are due February 8th and additional information can be found on the BWW page, scroll to expand the Teachers and Administrators section.

Danger of QR Codes

Please visit the following link to review important information regarding the potential risks associated with scanning QR codes using your smartphone.

Changes to our Google Apps for Education Environment 

Please visit the following link to familiarize yourself with important information regarding Changes to our Google Apps for Education Environment effective January 7, 2024. This information was shared in the YRDSB Communication Digest from Thursday, December 14, 2023.

Breakdance Canada Presentation

On Monday December 18, 2023 in the afternoon, a member from Breakdance Canada will be coming into our school to promote the sport of breakdancing and give a brief presentation on the background of the sport and how it has progressed from an activity or hobby to an Olympic Sport. He will be sharing his role within the Breakdance Canada Organization as well as an interactive demonstration of the sport.

 Students in Grade 9/10 gym classes (non Sport Specific) will be attending  as well as all Grade 9's and 10's in ILIP will be called down to the gym. There will be two presentations - in 4th and 5th period. 

Holidays and Observances

In the York Region District School Board, Equity and Inclusive Education is a foundation for excellence, as outlined in the Director’s Action Plan.  Our Board also abides by the Ontario Human Rights Code. Recognizing the importance of equity, inclusion, and human rights, it is critical to acknowledge and reflect on our understanding of the many holidays and celebrations of several faith groups that occur throughout the school year.

As a public school Board, we recognize the diverse faith celebrations that occur during the month of December. These include, amongst others, Christmas, Bodi Day, Chanukah/ Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Las Posadas, and Pancha Ganapati. It is important to remember that many holidays that are significant to people of diverse religious or cultural groups happen at other times of the year, not only in December. YRDSB takes a collaborative approach to honour and affirm the diverse identities represented in schools and across the Board. To this end, we collectively continue to move forward to create more equitable and inclusive schools and workplaces where students, families and staff see and feel that they matter and belong.

Recognizing our diverse school and workplace communities, we must also think about who is marginalized by the decisions we make if we place disproportionate prominence on what we celebrate, honour, or disregard for particular holidays, celebrations, and observances. In addition to seasonal greetings and decorations during the December holidays, please critically reflect on school and workplace practices around recognizing the diversity of significant faith days and celebrations in your school and work site. 

More information about faith-based celebrations is available in the Multifaith Calendar.

Winter Clothing Drive

Starting on Monday, December 4,2023, the Colts in Action Club will be running a winter clothing drive. We will be collecting the following items in good condition:

• winter jackets;

• boots;

• hats;

• gloves;

• scarves;

• blankets;

• new socks; and

• anything else to help keep people warm. 

Sizes can range from children to adults. All donations will be given to City Street Outreach and St. Michael’s Hospital. Boxes will be out in the foyer until Tuesday, December 19th. 

Please help us in encouraging your students to give back to the community by donating to this drive. If you have any questions, please reach out to me or Larissa Halko. 

Staff Holiday Cookie Exchange

We are excited to announce our Annual Staff Holiday Cookie Exchange, which will be taking place at lunchtime on Wednesday, December 20th.  Bring along your favourite homemade cookies and in return, you will get to take home a variety of different cookies (baked by others) to share with family and friends! 

Here's how it works:

• If you are interested, please sign up by Thursday, December 14th here (please put your name down even if you are unsure right now about the type of cookies you are going to make).

• I will email everyone on Friday, December 15th with the number of cookies everyone will need to bake.

• Bake your cookies! For each person who signs up, you are responsible for making a grouping of four cookies (and packaging them).

• Each other participant will make YOU a grouping of four packaged cookies from their batch.

• You get to take home a yummy variety of cookies for the holidays!

Please contact Zara Martinez if you have any questions! Happy Baking! 

Staff Holiday Social

As we gear up for the festive season, we're excited to announce the upcoming Holiday Party for all staff members. Please mark your calendars for December 14th, from 3:30 PM to 7:00 PM, at Jake's on Main Street in Unionville. This year's celebration will feature music, food, and, of course, the joy of spending time with fantastic colleagues. Appetizers will be provided, curtesy of OSSTF. All additional food and beverages can be purchased individually! 

RSVP HERE BY MONDAY DECEMBER 11TH 

Optional activities for the evening include:

1. White Elephant Game: Please bring a small, possibly tacky or pre-owned item, wrapped in the most fun way possible and participants will get a chance to steal for themselves. 

2. Surprise Game: Expect two holiday elves to pay you a visit this week. They will provide further details about this game and answer any questions you may have.

Dress Code: Embrace the holiday cheer by donning your Ugliest Holiday Sweaters!

Let's make this season one to remember. Please pass this message along to any new department members who may not be on the BCSS Email Distribultion List yet. 

Best regards, 

The Colt Culture Crew 

YRDSB Communication re: Refreshed BWW Launch 

As a result of the network outage and resources required to recover content on the old BWW, we are launching the refreshed BWW on a significantly earlier timeline. This will ensure staff can begin to access the important information, updates and resources that can be found on our Board intranet. 

The refreshed BWW is now available to staff.  

Please note however that as a result of this earlier timeline, some content, links and resources may not yet be available.  We thank you for your patience as we work to recover documents, continue to update content, restore broken links and bring new features online. 

The development of this site has been strongly informed by staff feedback. In response to feedback, the new site features: 

• enhanced search and simple navigation 

• quick access to important links and tools such as email, online tools, Service Desk and more 

• improved accessibility features 

• an opportunity to bookmark news and pages, and some personalization 

• a focus on prioritizing content and information staff need to do their jobs  

Accessing the New BWW 

We encourage you to bookmark this homepage. It can also be accessed via the staff login page on the public website or at this link: https://yrdsb.sharepoint.com/sites/BWW-Home.   

Learn more about how to use and personalize the new BWW. 

BCSS POR Postings (September 2024)

• Subject Head of Health and Physical Education (4 year term)

• Subject Head of Guidance and Career Education (4 year term)

• Assistant Subject Head of Science (4 year term)

• Assistant Subject Head of Mathematics (4 year term)

• Head of Personal Alterative Education  (4 year term) 

• Subject Head of Library (4 year term)

***As a result of the cyber incident, POR timelines are being revised and the process will not start until February 2024***

ILIP Assemblies November 6, 7, 9, 10 (sent on behalf of the BCLC Team)

The BCLC Team is thrilled to announce that following the resounding success of our recent events, including Hoco, last week's Semi, and other exciting initiatives at our school, the BCLC team has decided to launch the "Dream Crazy" sessions for all students this week during ILIP, which are to be held in the Library Learning Commons (LLC). 

This initiative is a testament to our commitment to nurturing and empowering our students' Dreams, whether they be academic, athletic, social, entrepreneurial, or any other domain. We are dedicated to supporting, mentoring, and propelling our students towards achieving their Dreams/Goals, while also providing them with ample opportunities for experiential learning outside the classroom. 

The sessions will be organized as follows: 

1. Monday: Grade 11 students 

2. Tuesday: Grade 10 students 

3. Thursday: Grade 9 students 

Students will take attendance with their ILIP teacher before being called to the LLC, according to their grade, 10 minutes into ILIP. 

In the spirit of this initiative, a simple yet impactful conversation starter with any student, whether they are facing challenges in your class or not, could be: “What is a dream or goal of yours?” For those students who are still exploring their aspirations, let us collectively guide them towards clubs and activities that might ignite their passions. With our collective experience, interests, and networks, we are well-equipped to mentor and support each and every one of our students' unique dreams. 

To facilitate the smooth running of these sessions, some of our students will be assisting in guiding each grade to the library. Please exercise your judgment in situations where a student is involved in a test or other important activities. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, do not hesitate to reach out to Mike Whalen. 

Thank you for your commitment and support. 

Dream Crazy, 

The BCLC Team (Mike, Megan, Heather, and Iris)

Midterm Catchup & Credit Rescue Days

This semester we are hoping to try something new by running school-wide Midterm Catchup Days (from Mon Oct 30-Wed Nov 1)!  If possible, we are asking if teachers could please check in on students who have been unsuccessful on/have missing assessments, and to allow these students to have some allotted time during class/your ILIP where they can demonstrate the expectations covered on those assessments to you.  

If more support is needed, these 3 days will lead up to the Student Success Team hosting a Midterm Credit Rescue Day on Thursday November 2nd in the library.  We are hoping staff will refer students for this day who may still be in-risk of failing at least one of their classes.  On this day, the student will report to the library and will be working with the support team to help them with assessment completion and concept attainment so that each student can be closer to achieving their credit.  

By having the Midterm Catchup Days and a Midterm Credit Rescue Day this semester, we are hoping to send a consistent school-wide message to all students that all assessments from the first half of the semester must be submitted prior to midterm marks being due. 

If you have a student who is in-risk of being unsuccessful at midterm due to at least one outstanding assessment &/or you would like to give them an opportunity to redo a poor submission/attempt of an assessment, please use this link and complete the form by the end of day on Monday October 30th.  For any student you are referring for this day, please make them aware that you have done so and that they should be taking part in the credit rescue day unless they hand in/complete the assessment(s) prior to November 2nd. 

Homecoming Modified Instructional Day (Supervision Schedule)

• Period 1: 8:45-9:15am

• Period 2: 9:20-9:50am

• Period 3: 9:55-10:25am

• Period 4/5: 10:30-11:00am

• Pep Rally: 11:00am-12:00pm (Gym A)

• Lunch: 12:00-12:40pm

• i4/i5: 12:45-1:00pm

• Athletics: 1:00-3:00pm

Parent/Guardian-Teacher Interviews

• P/GTI October 2023 Memo

• Timelines

  • • October 2-5: Parents/guardians to create teachassist account via the Parent Portal, if they do not yet have one.

    • October 5: Parents/Guardians to book appointments through teachassist. Instructions for managing interview slots can be found here.

    • October 12: P/GTI Interviews (6:30-8:30p.m.)

• More information will be shared at our staff meeting on Wednesday, October 4, 2023

Truth and Reconciliation ILIP Presentation for Monday, October 2, 2023

Thank you all for your attention and support for Truth and Reconciliation Week and the lovely sea of orange shirts in our school! 

We want to honour the spirit of Truth and Reconciliation and on how the journey is not limited to a single day or week. Although the official holiday for Truth and Reconciliation Day was on September 30th, the public service holiday is being held on Monday October 2, 2023.

During your ILIP period on Monday, October 2, 2023, we will be providing a guided, live presentation on Truth and Reconciliation, for the first 20-25 minutes of the period. ILIP rotation is not take place until the second half of the period.

BCSS staff will be guiding this presentation, and a short block for Questions and Answers will be included at the end presentation.

The Google Meeting Links:

Period 4 Meeting Nickname: P4ILIP

Period 5 Meeting Nickname: P5ILIP

ILIP Procedures

1. If a student is signing into your ILIP.  Give the student one of your ILIP cards, after filling in the date, student's name and initialing beside your name. Record the student's name so that you can make sure that the student does not sign out of their own ILIP and then not arrive.

2. Next, the student shows the ILIP card to their homeroom ILIP teacher, who will print their name and initials on the card. The teacher should record the room in which the student will be during ILIP, in the event the student needs to located.

3. The student then gives the ILIP card to the teacher in whose ILIP they are switching. That teacher should record the student attended, and the ILIP card should be destroyed therafter.  

Black at Mac Eng Toronto Community Event

On October 14th, 2023, the McMaster Engineering Recruitment and Outreach team will host the Black at MacEng: Toronto Community Event at 180 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1T6. 

The event will be open to Black students in grades 1 through 12. In addition, we welcome parents and other community members interested in learning more about our graduate programs.  During the day guests will learn more about all McMaster Engineering has to offer Black students (programming, application support, Black student support, co-op, scholarships and funding, etc.). Families will also be able to participate in STEM workshops, such as our "Create Your Own Hair Oil" workshop. 

This event is free and a great opportunity for students to explore postsecondary options. Additionally, younger students should have the opportunity to interact with STEM education early on. Please note the tickets are complimentary and limited, so register soon! Light breakfast and lunch will be provided. RSVP TODAY

EVENT DETAILS

• Date: Saturday, October 14th, 2023

• Time: 10:30 AM to 4:00 PM (ET)

• Location: 180 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1T6

P.A. Day - September 22, 2023

• Planning with Multilingual Language Learners at the Forefront: Module 2

• BCSS Equitable Assessment and Evaluation: PA Day 1 (Department Activity) + Handouts

Safe Schools Assembly & ILIP Rotation

Please note that this Friday's Safe Schools assemblies will be rescheduled to Monday,  September 18, 2023 during ILIP. With that said, ILIP rotations will be delayed until Tuesday, September 19, 2023. Thank you for your patience and understanding.

Call for Associate Teachers

Please send George Ellinas an email if you are interested taking on a student teacher candidate this year.

ILIP Planning Team

Please send George Ellinas an email if you are interested in being a member the ILIP Planning Team. 

Strength and Conditioning Coach Introduction

We would like to welcome James Carlin, our new Strength & Conditioning Coach. Below is his bio.

I would graciously like to take this opportunity to introduce myself as Bill Crothers' newest Strength and Conditioning Coach. I have stepped into this role in an effort to support the school through my past experience working in the Sport & Physical Educational field; My passion to build culture within sport and promote the understanding of Physical Literacy is what drives me to continue to seek out new and innovative ways to develop greater health and higher achievement.

Growing up in Stouffville, Ontario I spent my primary and secondary years within the York Region District School Board and I am excited to give back to the students and the community. From a young age, sport and physical health have always played an important role in my life. I grew up with a love for competition and the life lessons that tag along with it. This love allowed me to continue the growth of my personal knowledge and experience through an Honours Bachelor from Laurentian University's School of Kinesiology & Health Sciences. Though my coaching background did not originate here, this is where my love for coaching began to grow exponentially working with multiple teams throughout a vast array of disciplines. Developing training plans, rehabilitation, and creating connections are some of the areas that I have spent most of my time working in and hope to continue to support the students, educators, and additional support systems throughout Bill Crothers Secondary School. 

I look forward to getting to know everyone and encourage you to stop by and introduce yourself. For the time being, I will leave you with a quote that has engrained itself into my personal philosophies and idea behind the value of sport; "Are you willing to sprint if the distance is unknown?" -  Lewis Caralla, Georgia Tech. Strength & Conditioning Coach 

Detentions Room Information/Process

• Complete the Google Form to schedule a detention. 

• Detention bookings will appear on a Google Calendar of 15 minute increments. The time given does NOT reflect the time of detention.

• If you see a student already has a detention scheduled for that day, please proceed with booking a subsequent detention, as this will assist with a follow-up from the detention room teacher and/or admin regadring student concern(s).

• Detentions are weekdays (except Wednesdays) in Room 1011 from 12:00-1:00pm. 

• Do not schedule a detention for the same day. Please inform the student they are to serve their detention the following day.

• Students should be instructed to bring their own lunch.

• A student is considered to have missed a detention if they arrive late, and in which case will need to serve two detentions in its place. 

• Missed detentions will result in a referral to the student's Alpha VP. 

MLL/Compliance Training

• Please come to the main office to sign-off the completion of your MLL and Compliance training if you have yet to do so.

The First 20 Days

• Thank you to the 68 staff members who have submitted their First 20 Days activity/task/teaching strategy. Responses have been populated in the following table. Emails have been included to allow for any follow up questions you may have for your colleagues regarding their activity, task, or teaching strategy. Please submit your First 20 Days activity/task/teaching strategy if you have yet to do so. 

Community Partnerships

• The donations box located at the back the school has changed. Going forward, textiles are the only items that can be accepted. The reason for the change is so that our community recycling bin is compliant with Markham by-laws. 

Entering Absences in STAR

• This is a reminder to all staff to make sure that the “No Substitute Required” flag is checked-off when entering absences entered into STAR. 

International Trip Interest Form

• BCSS will be offering 2 amazing travel opportunities to students this year (1) NYC 2023 (November 15-19) and (2) Spain-Portugal 2024 (April 19-28). If you are interested in supervising one of these trips, please complete the form. We are aware this was sent out last year, however, with new staff turnover we want to ensure everyone has a chance to volunteer. If you already completed the form last year, please submit this one again so the team knows you are still interested. This form will close tomorrow evening (Friday, August 25, 2023).