The purpose of this notice is to make you aware of how the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board and your school use the personal information you provide to us in accordance with the Education Act, the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (MFIPPA) and other applicable statutes and regulations.
MFIPPA sets out rules that schools and district school boards must follow when collecting, using, disclosing, and/or disposing of students’ personal information. Personal information refers to recorded information about an identifiable individual. Some examples of personal information include: names, addresses, phone numbers, images, and date of birth.
- If you are interested in accessing information, please see our Freedom of Information Requests page.
The Education Act sets out duties and powers of the Board and authorizes school boards to collect personal information for the purpose of planning and delivering educational programs and services that best meet students’ needs and for reporting to the Minister of Education, as required. In addition, the information may be used to attend to matters of health and safety or discipline that best meet student needs.
The Act requires that the school principal maintain an Ontario Student Record (OSR) for each student attending the school. The OSR is a record of a student’s educational progress through school in Ontario, and follows students when they transfer schools. The Ontario Student Record Guideline sets out how OSRs are to be managed. The Board uses this OSR Guideline in addition to our own Administrative Policy – 1203 – Ontario Student Record (OSR) Management. In addition to the OSR, we maintain secure electronic student records that contain personal information in our Student Information System (SIS).
The Board will only collect personal information where it is reasonably related to the Board’s mandate.
The Board will collect personal information directly from the individual to whom the information relates, except where an exemption under MFIPPA may apply.
At the time of collection, individuals are given notice of the legal authority for collection, the purpose(s) of its intended use and the title and contact information of an individual who may respond to specific questions regarding the collection. Individuals will be informed should the purpose for their personal information change.
MFIPPA sets out when the Board may disclose personal information in its custody and control.
Information Shared Without Further Notification
To help you understand how we use the information you provide to us, we draw your attention to the following routine uses and/or disclosures of student personal information so that you may express any concerns you may have.
We will disclose your child’s and/or your personal information without further notification to you in the following ways:
- Reporting to provincial and federal government offices to meet program delivery and funding requirements
- Reporting to the Education Quality Accountability Office (EQAO)
- To school board officers or employees who need access to the information in the performance of their duties, if necessary, and proper in the discharge of the Board’s authorized functions
- Ancestry information of First Nation, Métis and Inuit students who chose to voluntarily self-identify will be used to allocate resources, improve student learning and student success and to offer individualized supports and opportunities to students and families. This information will also be reported to the Ministry of Education and the Education Quality Accountability Office (EQAO). Contact your school principal for more information about self-identification.
- If your child suffers from a life threatening medical condition, a Plan of Care will be developed and shared with appropriate staff, volunteers and transportation services (including bus carriers and their drivers).
- To comply with legislation, a court order or subpoena, or to aid in a law enforcement investigation conducted by a law enforcement agency
- To report to the Children’s Aid Society regarding child protection matters in accordance with the law, and in compelling circumstances affecting health or safety of staff or students
- The Board provides the local Public Health Unit with the pupil’s full name, grade, date of birth, parents name, address and telephone number; if applicable, every alternate name; gender; Ontario Education Number, school or class and their preferred language (as per Regulation 645 made under the Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA)).
- Communicable diseases shall be reported in accordance with the Health Promotion and Protection Act and the Education Act.
- Secondary schools will:
- receive information in advance about incoming Grade 8 students
- will send marks, transcript and contact information regarding potential graduates to Ontario application centers for both College and University to support the post-secondary application process.
- Names, phone numbers and email addresses may be shared with school approved volunteers or parents for safety and information purposes. Examples include:
- emergency contact lists
- safe arrival programs
- school-related notices
- safety patrol lists
- school trip, excursion, or school related events where volunteers are supporting students
- Student names (first and last) and/or photographs may be printed in school programs for graduations, awards ceremonies, plays and musical productions, on student awards and plaques and in school yearbooks. Some schools may display the names and/or photos of graduating students in their school.
- Student work may be displayed throughout the school and in school and board newsletters or websites. It may also be publicly displayed at community events such as science fairs, colouring/writing/poster contests or similar events outside the school.
- Birthdays may be announced over the PA system and/or in classrooms.
- Class lists with student first names and last initial only may be distributed to other parents for the purpose of addressing greeting cards or invitations in connection with holidays, birthday parties, etc.
- Video/Voice Recordings or Photographs:
- Students may be recorded or photographed, collectively or individually, as part of their educational program for assessment and evaluation purposes. Students may also participate in video conferencing to support the classroom program.
- The Board uses surveillance equipment in secondary schools and on all school buses for safety reasons and property protection. The recording may be shared with authorities if necessary, according to board policy.
Sharing Information With Agencies Working With The Board
Personal information may be shared with approved agencies that assist the Board in providing educational and administrative services.
Examples include but are not limited to:
- transportation services to identify students who qualify for busing
- the Board insurance company and the Ministry of Labour
- school photographers who take individual and class photographs to sell to parents and students, for student identification cards, yearbooks and for school records
- vendors who provide online services to create school yearbooks
- vendors who provide specialized equipment, resources and training for special needs students
- Ontario Federation of School Athletic Association (OFSAA) for students who participate on athletic teams
- Student names (first and last) may be provided to local offices of political representatives (Mayor, MPP, MP) for printing on award certificates that are presented to students at graduations and other in-school award ceremonies
- service providers endorsed by the Board or Ministry of Education for online learning and educational administrative services
- In addition, students may also use social media tools such as wikis, blogs, podcasts, video conferencing, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other sites or tools deemed appropriate by the classroom teacher. Students receive age-appropriate instruction on digital citizenship and the safe use of technology.
- Use of the Internet and social media sites shall be in accordance with the Acceptable Use Agreement for students and posting of personal information shall be with parental consent in accordance with the Media Release Consent section of the student registration form, which is sent to families at the beginning of each school year for review.
In accordance with MFIPPA and the Education Act, releasing personal information for any other purpose requires the informed consent of:
- the parent/guardian for children under 16 years of age
- the parent/guardian and the student where the student is 16 and 17
- the student where the student is over 18 or is 16 or 17 years of age and has withdrawn from parental control.
It is our practice to include a notice statement on forms used to collect personal information to advise you how we will use and disclose the information.
Media
The media (including online), such as newspapers, television and radio may be invited to the school to take photos of students and write articles about newsworthy events or activities including graduations, student achievements/awards, co-curricular activities, sports and current events. Students are only recorded/photographed and/or identified if they have provided consent in accordance with the Media Release Consent section of the student registration form, which is sent to families at the beginning of each school year for review.
Consent is not requested for publicly accessible events. Students participating in extra-curricular activities or school events where the public is invited including graduations, student achievement/awards and sports or that take place in public places such as field trips, malls and fairs, may be photographed by the media, school community or general public. This may result in photos or recordings being posted on social media sites. The school has no control over how and where these images will be posted; however, parents and students are asked to practice good digital citizenship by being respectful of the privacy rights of anyone they may capture in their recording and not share them in any way without the consent of the individual.
If you have questions about this notice contact your school principal or the Communications Manager at Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington (PVNC) Catholic District School Board at [email protected] or 705-748-4861 ext 1245.