OCDSB Cares

Evoking change takes strength and bravery, though if we work together as a student body, we can create a school where everyone has equal opportunities to share their voices, every individual feels valued and supported, and our educational environment is safe and welcoming to each and every student that walks the halls.

I know many of us would agree that there are areas at John McCrae that make us uncomfortable or need improvement, though sometimes reporting these issues may feel like an intimidating task. OCDSB Cares is a new anonymous reporting tool that was designed with the hope of building courage and empowering voices, providing students with an alternative option for speaking out about issues they have observed throughout the school. This tool is a safe space to report bullying, safety issues, feelings of discomfort, and any other things from big to small, whether in person or on social media that you feel needs to change.

OCDSB Cares is currently available as a web chat and text line, though an app will soon be available on IOS and Android. Online operators are available to assist you during school hours from 7:30am-4:00pm, and automated responses will be sent otherwise, eventually being picked up by an operator the following school day. Please keep in mind that this tool does not replace 911 or other emergency services such as Kids Help Phone, and we encourage you to contact these helplines if you are in an emergency. Additionally, if you feel safe and comfortable to do so, talk to the person who has created the issue calmly, and express in a respectful manner how it has made you feel. Everyone at John McCrae is here to support you, and teachers, guidance, or other staff will always be open to listening and providing help.

This resource is extremely user friendly and does not require much tech savviness. When you open the OCDSB Cares website or app there is a button that will put you into a chatroom with an operator where you can begin sharing your concerns and reporting the identified issue. Leadership students at John McCrae can attest, after watching a demonstration by the company, that the tool is completely anonymous, your phone number is scrambled, you are not required to share your name or grade unless you choose to, and the only piece of personal information you need to provide is the name of your school. Once your conversation is finished, the information is immediately forwarded to our school’s administration (principal and vice principal), and an investigation will begin.

Throughout the years admin has seen tons of different cases and will continue to resolve these situations by following the progressive discipline procedure. Principal O’Grady guarantees that she will respect the privacy of each and every student and that every case will be taken seriously. She promises to treat everyone as an individual with unique stories and backgrounds, and ensures that changes will be made discreetly as she strongly values confidentiality. This means that results may not be visible immediately in order to keep things anonymous and to respect the privacy of students.

This tool should only be used for the sole purpose of telling rather than tattling. This is a space to report concerns that affect others’ safety, and to help when situations are feeling out of your control. This does not act as an opportunity to snitch with the intent of hurting someone else or gaining something from the report, and there will be consequences if those actions are taken.

As a student body we are all responsible for creating a safe, inclusive environment at our school, and this new resource will allow us to achieve this by using our voices to stand up for what we believe in. You should never feel ashamed or embarrassed for reporting something that you feel is important and needs change, especially because most of the time, an issue that you are worried about also concerns many other students. Your courage will help others and positively impact the entire school.

So what will you do to make a difference, Bulldogs? How will you make John McCrae a better place? OCDSB Cares is ready to help make our high school experiences the absolute best they can possibly be, so let's start today and be the change you want to see.