Leadership Recognition

“Leadership in the OCDSB is the demonstration of personal initiative to achieve a positive outcome.”

Students

Our students have a variety of opportunities to become involved in the life of the school and to develop their leadership capabilities. Blossom Park has an active Student Council, made up of volunteers from Grades 5 to 8. The Student Council organizes activities such as Spirit Days and School Dances. Proceeds from these activities are used to fund special events such as the Grade 8 Celebration in June and end-of-year trips. We seek input and support from Student Council when planning school events.

The Blossom Park Environmental Team actively supports the school’s participation in the Board’s EcoSchools initiative. For example, student members ensure that lights and computers are turned off at the end of the day. The members are not only responsible for the recycling and composting programs in the school, but also for educating their fellow students about the importance of conservation. They also ensure that our school grounds remain attractive by picking up litter, raking leaves and planting flowers and shrubs. This year we are implementing a food garden in partnership with a not-for-profit organization called Growing Up Organic.

In addition to informal recognition on a regular basis, we also acknowledge student contributions in our classrooms, school announcements, newsletters, monthly assemblies, our principal’s report to school council, and end-of-year awards ceremonies.

Staff

Our staff members have a wealth of professional qualifications including Bachelors and Masters degrees in Arts, Counselling, Industrial Design, Physical Education and Sciences, Education, as well as additional qualifications in Special Education, Reading, English as a Second Language, French as a Second Language, Music, Guidance, Technology, Drama, Visual Arts and Computers in Education. They actively participate in numerous Board-wide professional development activities in literacy and numeracy. In addition, our staff is involved in professional learning groups with other schools in the board.

Our teachers regularly share their expertise with student teachers from the University of Ottawa and Nipissing University; and ECE and DSW students from Algonquin College. Our staff members willingly take on additional responsibilities to enhance student success, including: division leadership; participation in planning groups for special events such as Literacy Week, Remembrance Day ceremony, the Volunteer Breakfast, and coaching team sports. We recognize the initiative of our staff members by providing and supporting opportunities for further professional growth. We acknowledge staff leadership at staff meetings and in assemblies as well as via the school board’s employee recognition programs, letters of thanks, school announcements, school newsletters, performance appraisals, and our principal’s report to school council.

Parents/Guardians/Volunteers

Parents and volunteers provide invaluable support to school programs at Blossom Park. Our School Council meets regularly and provides input and feedback on a variety of school initiatives. The School Council efforts have contributed funds to purchase library resources, classroom air conditioners, to support class field trips, to facilitate student leadership opportunities and to provide additional resources for special programs. 

We recognize the contributions of our parents, guardians and volunteers on an on-going basis, and look for opportunities to acknowledge them in school announcements, our Principal’s report to school council, school newsletters, and at our annual Volunteer Breakfast.

Community

Blossom Park benefits from the support of several community partners. Through the Ottawa Reads program, we host volunteers who read with primary students. We work with MASC, a local Arts organization, to provide arts experiences, such as drama and music presentations, at minimal cost to students. YOSICO hosts a boys leadership group. The City of Ottawa runs Love to Play after hours sports for girls and boys. We recognize our community partners through our school announcements, school newsletters, the school website, principal’s report to school council, and thank you cards. We also invite them to special events, assemblies, and the Volunteer Breakfast.

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