AM1: Everything I need to know I learned in early childhood education

Early childhood education plays a significant role in supporting students’ growth in areas such as physical health and well-being, social competence, emotional maturity, language and cognitive development, and communications skills and general knowledge. However, as young people move up through the education system, we pay less attention to these skills and competencies, even though they continue to be vital long into adolescence and adulthood. Find out more about the role of early childhood education, and why the competencies identified in the Early Development Instrument (EDI) need to be a focus for all students.

Speakers:
Lois Mahon, former president of the College of Early Childhood Educators
Dr. Magdalena Janus, Offord Centre for Child Studies, co-developer of the EDI

AM2: 15,000 years of well-being education!

Indigenous education focuses on the balance between the physical, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional. In this session, the always-engaging Dr. Pamela Rose Toulouse will lead a lively discussion to explore how these four aspects align with key learning in areas such as health, citizenship, creativity, and social-emotional learning, how they could be incorporated into learning skills on report cards, and how we could be using Indigenous teachings to support well-being throughout our schools.

Speaker:
Dr. Pamela Rose Toulouse, Office of Academic and Indigenous Programs, Faculty of Education, Laurentian University

Thank you to our workshop sponsor:

AM3: Beyond the “usual suspects”: connecting with hard-to-reach communities

How can we make the school a welcoming environment for all families? How can school councils and parent leaders help to create an engaged community? In this session, learn how a parent leader in Toronto and a school in BC have used innovative approaches to engage their school communities and build connections beyond the school walls.

Speakers:
Nazerah Shaikh, Parent Involvement Advisory Committee member, Toronto District School Board
Kyla Winacott, Department Head, Academy of Indigenous Studies at Mount Boucherie Secondary School

AM4: Let’s focus on mental health, not mental illness

Students’ mental health has an impact on both their education and their long-term success. Parents, educators, and the Ministry of Education have recognized that schools play a central role in supporting student mental wellbeing.  In this interactive session, find out more about what schools and school boards are doing to promote mental health and wellbeing for students and staff.

Speaker:
Chris Preece, Mental Health and Wellbeing Lead, St. Clair Catholic District School Board

AM5: Navigating post-secondary education

Even before they go to high school, students are expected to have some idea of what they want to do in terms of post-secondary education. This session will provide a new perspective on post-secondary education and training: why it is important, who is going, how we can ensure that all students can access the education they need, and what happens once they get into a chosen post-secondary program.

Speakers:
Sean Reid, Vice President and Regional Director, Ontario, Progressive Contractors Association of Canada
Fiona Deller, Senior Executive Director, Research and Policy, Higher Education Quality Council of Ontario
Dr. Cathy Campbell, author of “Career Crafting the Decade After High School”

PM1: Defining Success: Views from the next generation

We all talk about setting goals and supporting success for students – it is the focus of our public education system. But what does success look like for the next generation? Is education more than just a pathway to a particular career? What are young people’s hopes and goals for the future? Find out what success means for Canada’s next generation from the experts – the next generation themselves!

Speakers:
Amal Qayum, President, Ontario Student Trustees’ Association
Herleen Arora, member, People for Education’s NextGen Committee
Gerri Nakirigya Lutaaya, member, People for Educations’s NextGen Committee
Kherto Ahmed, Youth Researcher, Success Beyond Limits

PM2: Inventing a new report card for the 21st century

How do we translate the learning that happens in classrooms onto a report card? What do parents want to know? How can schools communicate what, why, and how students are learning? In this session, participants will learn about assessment, including some new approaches that BC is using. Then, you will work with an expert facilitator, whose approach is “both fun and highly interactive, putting you in the driver’s seat”, to design a new report card for the 21st century.

Facilitator:
Liz Rykert, Meta Strategies

Speakers:
Teresa Downs, Superintendent, Gold Trail, Ashcroft BC
Joanne Myers, Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario

PM3: Let’s talk about race

How do we talk about race without being racist? What is implicit bias and what can we do about it? How can we have what are sometimes uncomfortable conversations about race? This thought-provoking and challenging discussion will explore issues of race and equity, and their impact on public education and society.

Speakers:
Naeem Siddiq, Ontario Principals’ Council
Mante Molepo, Parents for Diversity

PM4: Integrating Global Competencies across the curriculum

How do you develop citizenship skills through the arts? Can you really be creative in a math class? What do health competencies have to do with social studies? There is sometimes a tendency to dismiss things like creativity or social-emotional competencies as ‘soft skills’ that are not as important as content knowledge. But these so-called ‘soft skills’ are increasingly recognized as essential for future success. Find out how they are teachable, learnable, can be integrated into any subject, and can be supported by parents at home.

Speakers:
Judith Doan, Council of Drama and Dance Educators
Dr. Mary Reid, Ontario Institute for Studies in Education
Mason Black, High school teacher, Upper Canada District School Board

PM5: Towards a new vision for special education

Virtually every school in Ontario has students receiving special education support. People for Education’s survey findings show that an average of 17% of students per elementary school and 27% per secondary school receives special education support.  These percentages have been trending upward since 2000. How can we ensure that schools are creating a rich learning environment and supporting success for all students, no matter what their learning needs?

Speakers:
Louise Sirisko, Director, York Region Board of Education
Kate Diakiw, Superintendent of Student Services, York Region Board of Education