Islamic elementary school is ranked city`s best 1

Ottawa Citizen ePaper - Ottawa Citizen - 18 Feb 2013 - Islamic elementary school is rank... Page 1 of 1
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18 Feb 2013
Ottawa Citizen
MARIA COOK
OTTAWA CITIZEN
Islamic elementary school is ranked
city’s best 1
Public institutions barely above average
An Islamic private school, the Abraar School, has been rated the top elementary school in Ottawa
for reading, writing and math scores, according to a study released Sunday.
Meanwhile, the academic performance of public elementary schools in Ottawa barely rose above the
provincial average, and was surpassed by Catholic schools, says the Fraser Institute, a public policy
think-tank that ranks elementary and high schools annually.
On average, the schools of the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board schools rated 6.1 out of 10,
compared to the provincial average of six out of the 10. The Ottawa Catholic School Board schools
scored an average of 6.6 out of 10.
The Abraar School, located on Grenon Avenue in Ottawa’s west side, achieved 9.4 out of 10. It is
tied for 41st place in the province.
“We are very excited,” said principal Mohammed Saleem. “We have a dedicated team of teachers
who really understand the students. They have a culturally relevant pedagogy that enables them to
reach our students.”
The institute’s 2013 report card on Ontario’s elementary schools rates 2,714 public, Catholic,
francophone and private elementary schools.
It uses data from the annual provincewide tests of reading, writing and math administered by the
Ontario government’s Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO).
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Ottawa Citizen ePaper - Ottawa Citizen - 18 Feb 2013 - Ranking: Le Trillium lowest
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18 Feb 2013
Ottawa Citizen
[email protected] twitter.com/mariacookottawa
Ranking:
Le Trillium lowest 1
“Our report helps parents and educators prioritize learning challenges in their schools,” says Peter
Cowley, Fraser Institute director of school performance studies. “All schools are capable of
improvement, regardless of the personal or family challenges their students might face.”
After Abraar, Ottawa’s highestschools are: George-Étienne-Cartier French Catholic school, (57th
provincewide); Katimavik public school in Kanata (78th), Hilson Avenue public school (88th), as well as
St. Isidore Catholic school in Kanata and Édouard-Bond French Catholic school (both placed 105th).
Kanata’s Roch Carrier public school and La Source French Catholic school in Orléans are tied for
124th, while Lamoureux French Catholic school and Kanata’s St. Anne Catholic school both rank 142nd.
The lowest-ranked Ottawa-area schools are Le Trillium public school in Vanier (2,702nd) and Dr. F.
J. McDonald Catholic school (2,645th).
“These are kids’ lives we’re talking about in a very serious and real way,” says Cowley. “Low
performance suggests kids are not acquiring the skills and knowledge they’re going to need in basic
areas of ability to read, write or do calculations in math.”
However, the Ottawa District School Board does not consider the Fraser Institute report card “a
meaningful or reliable tool,” says vicechair Bronwyn Funiciello.
“It’s important to really look at the report with a great deal of caution because it really isn’t a full
picture,” she says. “The EQAO results are a very small snapshot of what’s happening in the schools.
They’re not designed to compare schools against one another.”
Ted Hurley, vice chair of the Ottawa Catholic School Board, said the board was happy that several of
the fastest improving Ottawa schools are Catholic. “During the past few years, we have developed our
learning technologies so that students can be engaged whether using smartboards or other devices,” he
said. “This has led to success.”
Cowley says it’s encouraging to see improvement, especially in disadvantaged schools.
For example, Prince of Peace Catholic School increased its rating from 3.8 to 4.5 in the past five
years. That came in spite of an average parental income of $21,600, 43 per cent ESL students and 14
per cent specialneeds students.
It is doing better than Glen Cairn public school in Kanata, which earned a rating of 2.2 despite an
average family income of almost $80,000. It has fewer ESL students (2.9 per cent) but more special
needs pupils (35.3 per cent.)
Rockcliffe Park public school, where the average family has $154,000 a year, has slid from a rating
of 8.8 to 6.3 in the past five years.
On the other hand, the Guardian Angels Catholic School in Stittsville, where average family income
is $124,5000, has steadily improved from a rating of seven in 2008 to a rating of 8.8 in 2012.
“That shows us that even schools doing fairly well can find ways to improve,” says Cowley.
For more information: www.compareschoolrankings.org
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Ottawa's Helene Campbell dances with Ellen | Ottawa & Region | News | Ottawa Sun
Page 1 of 2
Ottawa'sHeleneCampbelldanceswithEllen
BY DOUG HEMPSTEAD ,OTTAWA SUN
FIRST POSTED: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2013 01:22 PM EST | UPDATED: TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2013 05:59 PM EST
Helene Cam pbellofOttawa fulfillsa dream ,dancing with Ellen Degeneresduring an appearance on the Ellen show
Tuesday,Feb.19,2013.(Screen grab courtesyEllen DegeneresShow)
Barrhaven to L.A. is a long way to travel for six minutes of face time with Ellen Degeneres ... and several million viewers.
Helene Campbell’s pre-recorded segment aired Tuesday morning, 42 minutes into the hour-long broadcast.
The 21-year-old organ donor advocate is still recovering from a double lung transplant for which she waited three months.
On the show she told Degeneres her lung function is up to 73%. She waited a whole year to be well enough to travel to
make good on a promise to the host — to dance with her in person.
She’s been in L.A. since Friday and planned to visit friends while in California.
Campbell was discovered through her blog — A lung story — and was featured on the show before her surgery after
Degeneres surprised her via Skype.
Fame has followed her initial appearances on the show, even allowing her an opportunity to meet Justin Bieber, his
family, see his bedroom, walk his dog and finagle a pair of his Ellen-branded underwear.
Campbell has since started an organ donation foundation called “Give to Live” which will provide money to families of
people waiting for a transplant, or recovering from one.
Campbell said she was kept in the dark about what would happen on the show. As it turned out, Degeneres has arranged
to have Bieber sign the underwear she was given, offered to sign them herself, and will auction the knickers off to raise
money for Give to Live.
The haul should be a good one. The last time Degeneres auctioned off something of Bieber’s — a lock of his hair — it
fetched $40,000.
Though short, Campbell’s appearance was lively and upbeat. She seemed confident and healthy — dancing out onto the set
before bouncing herself down into her seat in one of Degeneres’ signature moves.
“I can’t believe I’m here,” she said, adding she wasn’t sure if her shaking was due to nerves or her meds.
She made sure her gratitude to the “awesome” lung donor was loud and clear.
“They’ve given me life,” she said.
Last summer, Health Minister Leona Aglukkaq announced $10 million over five years to fund a national transplant
research program. The cash, provided through the Canadian Institutes of Health Research and its partners, will start
flowing next spring.
http://www.ottawasun.com/2013/02/19/ottawas-helene-campbell-dances-with-ellen
2013-02-20
Ottawa's Helene Campbell dances with Ellen | Ottawa & Region | News | Ottawa Sun
Page 2 of 2
Aglukkaq hailed Campbell’s grace, courage and humour, and said the thousands of Canadians she inspired to become
donors waited with bated breath for news after her April 6 transplant.
Twitter: @DougHempstead
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2013-02-20
Jim Watson: «Claudette Boyer a travaillé pour faire avancer la cause francophone» - Actu... Page 1 of 1
Jim Watson: «Claudette Boyer a travaillé pour faire avancer la cause francophone»
Julien Paquette
Publié le 17 Février 2013
Sébastien Pierroz
Le maire d'Ottawa Jim Watson a toujours eu
l'habitude de répéter qu'il avait fait mieux que
son prédécesseur en matière de
francophonie…notamment en améliorant ses
relations avec l'Association des communautés
francophones de l'Ontario (ACFO) d'Ottawa. Le
premier magistrat a rendu lui aussi hommage à
la directrice générale décédée cette fin de
semaine.
Sujets : Assemblée législative , Ontario
«J'ai eu le privilège de connaître Claudette Boyer pendant la totalité de mes années en politique. Claudette était
profondément dévouée envers la communauté francophone de la région et elle a travaillé d'arrache-pied pour
faire avancer la cause francophone toute sa vie.»
Et de poursuivre: «Elle a aussi consacré une large partie de sa vie à s'investir dans les domaines de la politique
provinciale et fédérale. Elle s'est distinguée, notamment, en ayant été la première femme franco-ontarienne à
être élue à l'Assemblée législative de l'Ontario.»
Si Claudette Boyer s'était toujours dit globalement satisfaite de l'approche francophone de Jim Watson, en
comparaison à l'ancien maire, le très unilingue Larry O'Obrien, le sommet des États généraux de la francophonie
en novembre dernier avait mis en lumière les limites de la relation. M. Watson y avait de nouveau réitéré son
opposition au bilinguisme officiel, se disant uniquement favorable à un bilinguisme «pratique».
http://www.expressottawa.ca/Actualites/2013-02-17/article-3179062/Jim-Watson%3A-%... 2013-02-20
Funérailles le 26 février pour Claudette Boyer - Actualités - L'Express Ottawa
Page 1 of 1
Funérailles le 26 février pour Claudette Boyer
Publié le 19 Février 2013
Sébastien Pierroz
Les funérailles de la directrice générale de
l'Association des communautés francophones
de l'Ontario (ACFO) d'Ottawa, Claudette Boyer,
auront lieu le mardi 26 février à 10h30.
Sujets : ACFO d'Ottawa , Paroisse Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes , Chemin Montréal , La Chapelle Saint-Laurent
La cérémonie prendra place à la Paroisse Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes sur le chemin Montréal. La veille, des visites
en présence des cendres auront lieu de 13h à 16h et de 18h à 22h à la Chapelle Saint-Laurent, Hulse Playfair &
McGarry au 1200, chemin Ogilvie.
«Claudette était un pilier de la communauté francophone. Elle était une grande rassembleuse et nous laisse un
immense défi à relever», a brièvement rappelé un communiqué de presse émis par l'ACFO d'Ottawa en début
de journée.
L'association reconnait recevoir une infinité d'appels de soutien depuis le décès dimanche de Claudette Boyer,
victime d'une hémorragie intracrânienne à l'âge de 75 ans.
La réaction ce matin du député provincial d'Ottawa-Orléans Phil McNeely s'est ajouté à la longue série
d'hommages: «Notre province, la communauté francophile, mais principalement la communauté francoontarienne perd une alliée de taille. Femme d'action hors pair, Mme Boyer a toujours su rassembler la
communauté francophone et ce peu importe leur origine. Elle prêchait l'inclusion et a toujours reconnu l'apport
des francophiles à la défense de la francophonie.»
http://www.expressottawa.ca/Actualites/2013-02-19/article-3180332/Funerailles-le-26-fe... 2013-02-20
L'ACFO d'Ottawa prépare la succession de Claudette Boyer - Actualités - L'Express Ottawa Page 1 of 1
L'ACFO d'Ottawa prépare la succession de Claudette Boyer
archives
Publié le 18 Février 2013
Sébastien Pierroz
Au lendemain du décès de sa directrice
générale Claudette Boyer, l'Association des
communautés francophones de l'Ontario
(ACFO) d'Ottawa s'active pour préparer la
succession.
Sujets : ACFO d'Ottawa , Association canadienne française , Centre de la francophonie des Amériques , Ontario , Ottawa , Saint Jean-Baptiste
«La décision concernant la remplaçante de Claudette sera prise dans environ deux mois par le conseil d'administration de
l'ACFO», laisse entendre Bertin Beaulieu, le président de l'association.
Comme en 2011 lorsque Claudette Boyer avait été victime d'un accident vasculaire cérébral, l'intérim sera assuré par
Treva Cousineau. Bien connue dans la communauté francophone d'Ottawa, Mme Cousineau, 75 ans, fut notamment
l'ancienne présidente de l'Association canadienne française de l'Ontario de 2004 à 2006 et représente l'Ontario au sein du
conseil d'administration du Centre de la francophonie des Amériques depuis 2010.
Mais la militante francophone prévient déjà: «Je ne serai pas candidate à la succession de Claudette Boyer, c'est une
évidence.»
Selon la directrice générale par intérim, le poste demande entre autres «une grande connaissance de la communauté, un
engagement total.»
D'autant que Treva Cousineau aura dans un premier temps du pain sur la planche. Si Mme Boyer avait déjà donné
l'impulsion concernant le suivi des États généraux et les remises du Prix Bernard-Grandmaître prévues ce jeudi, l'ACFO
devra plancher sur l'organisation de la fête de la Saint Jean-Baptiste au mois de juin.
Claudette Boyer avait pris les rênes de l'association en octobre 2007.
Encore aujourd'hui, les témoignages ont de nouveau afflué pour lui rendre un dernier hommage. Le député fédéral
d'Ottawa-Orléans Royal Galipeau évoquait ses points communs avec la directrice générale: «Au-delà de nos différents
politiques, Claudette a eu le même défi que moi durant sa vie active: celui de donner aux francophones la place qui leur
revient en Ontario et au Canada.»
Son homologue fédéral, le député Mauril Bélanger s'est aussi fait élogieux: «Le souvenir de Claudette Boyer et son impact
au sein de notre communauté resteront gravés dans nos mémoires.»
Pour l'historien de l'Université d'Ottawa, Michel Prévost, enfin «beaucoup de personnes peuvent se déplacer très
facilement, mais ne s'engageront jamais pour défendre les francophones. Claudette Boyer, c'était tout simplement le
contraire.»
http://www.expressottawa.ca/Actualités/2013-02-18/article-3179591/LACFO-dOttawa-pr... 2013-02-20
Ottawa Citizen ePaper - Ottawa Citizen - 16 Feb 2013 - New school focuses on arts
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16 Feb 2013
Ottawa Citizen
MATTHEW PEARSON [email protected]
twitter.com/mpearson78
OTTAWA CITIZEN
New school focuses on arts
Carleton Place gets private alternative to public high schools
CARLETON PLACE A new private high school in Carleton Place promises to be another option for
artistically inclined students and parents who think their children are bored in traditional public schools.
Sharon Holzscherer, principal of the Mississippi School for the Arts, says there are not a lot of
programs for gifted or artistic students living in the rural area, and transfers to a neighbouring school
board — which would be necessary to attend an arts high school such as Canterbury High School in
Ottawa — are hard to come by.
“Parents of bright children need to have a few more options,” she said. But this option comes with a
cost. Tuition is $16,500 per year, but Holzscherer said she’s willing to offer a discount to any group of
five families that comes forward to register all their children.
One student has signed up already, but Holzscherer said she’s hoping there for at least 30 when the
school year begins in September.
The school opened in 1999, but closed in 2008 after problems at the former location, so it’s now
building the student body from scratch.
The new school is inside a 19thcentury textile mill on the banks of the Mississippi River.
There’s an open-concept main room that feels more like a trendy loft apartment than a typical
classroom, as well as a dance studio and several smaller spaces that will be used as classrooms.
Tidy rows of desks are nowhere to be found.
Holzscherer, who studied philosophy and holds a master of education, says the conventional school
system is based on a factory model that is inflexible and doesn’t engage all students.
“The problem with that is children aren’t widgets,” she said.
That’s not to suggest that her school is lawless, though.
Students are taught the Ontario curriculum, and there will be consequences for failing tests or not
handing in assignments, she said, noting the school is geared toward students with average to aboveaverage intelligence who are preparing for university.
“But within that they’re given a fair amount of freedom.”
There’s a focus on thematic connections and letting students direct their own learning.
They will have three academic classes per day, as well as art and physical education.
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