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 Notes on Translation
The electronic translation service on the York Region District School Board's website is hosted by Google Translate. The quality of the translation will vary in some of the languages offered by Google. Google Translate is a free service and currently offers translation in over 50 languages, although an impressive number, this does not capture all languages or dialects. The basic translation’s goal is to capture the general intention of the original English material.
The York Region District School Board does not guarantee the quality, accuracy or completeness of any translated information. Before you act on translated information, the Board encourages you to confirm any facts that are important to you and affect any decisions you may make.
The York Region District School Board is committed to parent, family and community engagement, and it is our hope that by providing this tool on our website that we are making our information more accessible to families whose first language is not English and thereby enabling better engagement in public education.
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Regional Parent Symposium
Regional Parent Symposium
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Annual Regional Parent Symposium – “Parent Voice Matters!”
The York Region District School Board and its Parent, Family and Community Engagement Advisory Committee (PEAC) has invited families from each school to an evening of learning and sharing. The symposium will focus on parent engagement and feature a variety of workshops that will engage parents in learning and dialogue. The theme for the event is Leadership, Innovation and Equity to Promote Student Success and Well-being
Speak to your school principal for more information on registration for this event or join us online for live streaming of the event.
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1. Simple Gift: Helping Children Cope with Feelings - Uma Bhatt, York Hills
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This session will explain how parents can teach their children to be aware of their feelings, learning to recognize them and develop ways to cope and manage their emotions. The 8 Principles of Emotional Regulation will be explained to bring awareness and help develop coping strategies.
Grades: K - 8
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2. Understanding Connections Between Social Media and Mood - Patricia Marra-Stapleton, Mental Health Lead, YRDSB
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Have you ever noticed that teens seem to be challenged with anxious feelings more these days? Would you like to better understand why this may be? Would you like some simple mental health building strategies you can help support your child? This Presentation provides an overview of youth anxiety as well as trends that are impacting is acute increase. Particular attention will be paid to the role of social media and screen time and youth anxiety. Simple strategies to employ with youth will be explored and shared.
Grades: 7 - 12
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3. Supporting Children in their Grief - Gisella Ragno, Mental Health Coordinator, YRDSB
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This workshop will provide parents with a brief overview on the different ways that children grieve (age specific) and ways to support their grief in developmentally appropriate and culturally sensitive ways.
Grades: All
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4. Enhanced Learning of Afro-Canadian Students - Markham African Caribbean Canadian Association (MACCA)
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Presentation by MACCA of some of the tools that the community group has utilized over its 30+ years serving the Afro-Canadian community with focus on the children. Programs which include Saturday School to provide tutoring, Summer school and scholarship program to assist young people achieve their academic and career goals. Also partnerships with the school board, politicians and the police to provide funding and support and lobbying for necessary funds to achieve goals.
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5. Communication, Connection and Collaboration (CCC): Voices from Chinese Parent Communities - Hong Fook Mental Health Association
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This workshop will focus on the experiences of Chinese parents in the York Region community and its school board, and will explore recommendations on how parents from racialized and newcomer communities can collaborate with the school board to build effective relationships and opportunities for them to be meaningfully involved in their school communities. Grades: All
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6. Modeling Positive Parent-Staff Conduct to Support Students - Carolyn Tong, Wellness Advisor, YRDSB
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We aim to foster school communities where all students, parents, and staff members feel that they matter and belong. A healthy and thriving school community is one within which all stakeholders feel heard, respected, and included. This workshop will look deeper into how parents and staff can work collaboratively to foster an environment of civility, respect, and trust. Positive parent-staff communication helps to set the groundwork for effective collaboration and modelling of positive partnerships to students.
Grades: All
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7. The 3 T’s of Human Trafficking - U R Home Awareness and Support Services, BridgeNorth Women’s Mentorship & Advocacy Services, YRDSB
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Awareness and education regarding human trafficking, in particular sexual exploitation.
Grades: 6 - 12
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8. #Neverstoplearning with TVO - U. Bill, J. Silva, M. Asselin, TVO
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Come see and experience in this hands-on session how TVO’s free online resources build foundational skills in Math and STEM and develop students’ numeracy, literacy, critical thinking and problem-solving skills - at school and at home.
Grades: All
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9. Vaping: What Parents Need to Know - T. Keffer-Lyon, York Region Public Health
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Smoke Free Ontario Act and the legal side of schools and vaping. Do you want to learn more about vaping? Are you wondering how to talk with your teen about this topic? In this session, we will uncover some of the health risks, the laws and the adolescent brain.
Grades: 6 - 12
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10. From STEM to STEAM: Innovation includes the Arts - R. Syed, Diversity and Inclusion Acceleration Leader, IBM Canada
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The focus of this workshop is to highlight the ways in which non-traditional forms of learning and knowledge are becoming relevant to STEM industries. The workshop also covers how to, as parents, better support students in making informed and unbiased decisions about their future.
Grades: 9 - 12
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11. African Positive Identity Formation as a Foundation for Mental Wellness - Newmarket African Caribbean Association (NACCA)
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Parents and Caregivers will gain tools that will allow them to be
more intentional in supporting their child(ren) development of a positive sense
of self. Children will have a better understanding of the various influences on
their identity formation and will feel more confident in their identity as a
person of African descent.
Grades 6 - 12
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12. Community Partners
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Our Community Partner Fair will allow participants to move freely and at their own pace and engage with key service providers from our Community. Information and resources will be available to take back to your schools or families to assist you in accessing needed services.
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B1. You Can’t Give What You Don’t Have: How taking care of ourselves, in turn supports our children’s mental Health
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Presenters: Patricia Marra-Stapleton
Summary: This workshop will outline 4 basic principles that support parent mental health and resilience: Balance, Stillness, Sleep and Relationships. Parents are their child’s first teacher in many ways. By modeling a practice of taking care of themselves, parents can demonstrate the importance of mental health to their children. Information, video, and discussion will be utilized in this thought-provoking workshop. Panel: K-12
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B2. Zoning in on Zones of Regulation
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Presenters: Julie Andrews
Summary: This workshop will be a combination of information delivery as well as include interactive components that will involve parents engaging in conversations (open ended and structured discussion topics). There will be an opportunity for parents to share their needs and ideas on how/what types of social emotional learning they would like to see in schools. Panel: K-8
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B3. Prepare Your Child to be Future Ready
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Presenters: - Christopher Tucker, Reshma Badiani, Lori Rice
Summary: The YRDSB Pathways Team will be sharing programs such as SHSM (Specialist High Skills Major), Dual Credits and the Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program. Connections will be made to the importance of developing “21st Century Competencies” which will enable our students to face complex challenges today, in the future and in their post-secondary destinations. Panel: K-12
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B4. Helping Your Teens for Post-Secondary Success
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Presenters: Emil Boychuk
Summary: Tips for parents on guiding your teens for success after high school. Be a part of a stimulating exploration of opportunities, myths, and realities of educational and career journeys. Hear one post-secondary student’s story, what helped their success. Panel: 7-12
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B5. Pathways to Post-Secondary
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Presenters: Niel Press
Summary: Many parents and students are anxious about post-secondary pathways. Where should I go? What will give me the best opportunity to find a job after school? University or College? Work or Trades? What do I do? Many times students and parents lack the information necessary to make strong pathway decisions. In the past few years, there has been an increase in former students either leaving university to get into the trades/ college program, or upon completion of university going into the trades/ college program. This workshop will provide parents with up to date and important information about post-secondary destinations, programs available at the secondary school level, potential careers and job trends. Panel: 7-12
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B6. Good Mathematics Can Solve Any Problems
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Presenters: Aarti Dudani & Grade 8 students from Joseph A Gibson PS
Summary: The purpose of this workshop is to get a glimpse of the world of the comprehensive math program. It is an opportunity to learn math beyond the textbook and solve problems which can help students become aware of the real world. Parents participating in the workshop will work with student leaders to seek out strategies to approaching a solution to a meaningful/ culturally relevant problem. Panel: 7-8
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B7. Hate Crime Unit YRP
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Presenters: Mark Topping, Mina Rahravan
Summary: Our workshop will cover human rights, hate crime and how York Regional Police partners with our diverse communities to both prevent hate and also build resiliency that encourages reporting. This will be framed in the context of our region’s demographics and how tragic events globally impact us locally. Given the pervasive nature of social media, the emphasis will be on the importance of our educators – including parents - on ensuring the tools to navigate the internet are taught at an early age and instill critical thinking. Panel: 4-12
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B8. Cybersafety
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Presenters: Joanne Tang, Alice Chu
Summary: Internet safety, strategies, and parameters that can be implemented to assist our children in navigating the cyber world will be explored and discussed. Student voices will provide an added perspective and understanding so parents can hear first-hand the challenges children/youth currently face. Our community partner specializing in mental health issues and research will share applicable data. Panel: 7-12
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B9. The Indigenous Timeline Activity
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Presenters: Towana Brooks, Natasha Bascevan
Summary: Engage in a timeline of learning about our colonial history to the present day realities and the impact for reconciliation. Participants will engage in dialogue and discussion with regards to our collective history and the necessary steps to move forward in a positive way for all Canadians. Panel: K-12
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B10. Wellness and Resiliency: The Benefits of Noticing Deeply
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Presenter: Nicole Fisher, Juliane Goyette
Summary: See how to put mindful awareness into action to support your child’s ability to be true to themselves and foster wellness and resilience from the inside out. Join us for an innovative and interactive workshop featuring neuroscience and art-of-noticing tools, as we decrease stress levels and increase our connection to creating a meaningful life. Panel: K-12
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B11. Be a Voice: Self-Advocacy for All Learners
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Presenter: Antonia Fillipelli
Summary: Be a VOICE: Engaging parents and students on building self-advocacy skills to promote and empower students. It will provide opportunities for students to understand their strengths, needs and interests as learners and use their VOICE to advocate for their accommodation and modification needs. This is especially important for students transitioning to secondary school.
Panel: 4-8
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B.12 Community Partner Fair
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Summary: Our Community Partner Fair will allow participants to move freely and at their own pace and engage with key service providers from our community. Information and resources will be available to take back to your schools or families to assist you in accessing needed services. A few of the participating agencies will cover Mental Health Supports, Nutrition, Family Services and Culturally Specific Supports.
Panel: K-12
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