#YesWeWill Change the Culture of Cyberbullying Video and Poster Contest Winners
The York Region District School Board has partnered with York Regional Police and the York Catholic District School Board to change the culture of cyberbullying in our schools and communities. Our aim is to raise awareness, decrease the number of cyberbullying incidents in our schools, and build healthy, safe and inclusive school cultures and communities. In September, we launched a board wide cyberbullying initiative, #yeswewill Change the Culture of Cyberbullying. We invited staff and students to participate in a video and poster contest, asking them to be creative, innovative, and persuasive.
The response was tremendous. More than 120 video and poster submissions were received from students in Grades 4-12. The winning video entitled, "
Yes We Will V2" was submitted by Langstaff Secondary School’s Kiana Karimpoor, Sana Rizvi, Jeevita Senathirasa and Jordyn Vaisenberg. The winning poster entitled "
Absorb the Impact” was created by Westmount C.I. student Benjamin Tabac. Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone who participated.
YRDSB Alumni and Staff Represent Ontario at Tournament of Hearts
After playing together for two decades, three YRDSB alumni, two of whom are now teachers with the board, won the Ontario Women’s Curling Championship in February. Skip Julie Hastings, Third Christy Trombley, Second Stacey Smith and Lead Katrina Collins went on to finish in 6th place at the National Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.
Hastings and Trombley are sisters, graduates of Markville Secondary School and Trombley is a teacher at Bill Crothers Secondary School. Katrina Collins is a Markham District High School alumni who started her teaching career at Stouffville District Secondary School and is currently seconded to OSSTF. Throughout their time at the Ontario and National championships, the team sought to highlight their York Region connections. They demonstrated sportsmanship, skill and perseverance at an elite level.
Student Music Committee
For the past 22 years, a committee of volunteers has organized the Whitchurch-Stouffville Student Music Scholarship Concert. Each year, students from local schools are invited to participate and help raise money that goes back into school music programs. In addition, one student, skilled in vocal music, instrumental music or dance, is awarded a scholarship. The committee, comprised of Jim Paterson, Gerry Irwin and Jim Thomas, has raised over $100,000 for school music programs and scholarships to date. In addition to the money raised for schools and students, the committees’ work also helps to showcase student talent and brings the Whitchurch-Stouffville community together to support the arts.
North Star
Bur Oak Secondary School teacher Megumi Kuroyama is May’s North Star. Below is the nomination sent by her colleague Carol Diep: I have had the fortune of knowing Megumi Kuroyama for the past 8 years. I know that from that very first day I met Megumi to the day I retire, she will easily be one of the most influential people I’ve had in my career. I was lucky enough to have worked with Megumi my first year and despite not having been formally identified as my mentor, she will always be referred to as such. Megumi took me in under her wing and made sure I had the guidance needed from an experienced, patient, funny and caring teacher. She showed me the ropes of teaching and navigating the politics of being a teacher. She was always there with a smile, a helping hand, an open ear and open mind and just the right amount of advice for me to make my own well-thought out decision. Fast forward through 8 years of teaching and Megumi and I still keep in touch and I can still count on her for advice, help and as a role-model.
Turns out, the Megumi Effect was not just experienced by me but by several other colleagues and previous students - we all ohh and ahh when we realize we know her. Megumi's enthusiasm for teaching and math is never lost and is so contagious! I have worked with several amazing colleagues thus far but Megumi Kuroyama clearly stands out amongst them. Unfortunately, this is her last year with the board as she is retiring at the end of the year and although I know I will no longer have her as a colleague, I know I'll always have her as a friend who I can count on to help me in any situation and to put a smile on my face. Megumi is the epitome of this North Star Award and more. It would be only a small token to recognize Megumi for this award as she has clearly changed so many lives for the better.