VSB Public Delegation Board Meeting, regarding School Liaison Officer (SLO) program

We would like to inform you that at the inaugural board meeting, held on November 7, of the Vancouver School Board, a Notice of Motion was brought forward to debate the return of the School Liaison Officer (SLO) program at the November 28 meeting.  This is an emotionally charged issue, with people falling for and against the motion.

  

If you would like information on the program, here is an independent report from 2021. The Safe and Caring Schools Department is currently in place.  

All Parents & Guardians interested in hearing the voice and opinions from VSB Educators, Counsellors, Schools and PACs in this regard, can do so at the VSB Public Delegation Board Meeting that will be hosted on November 21, 2022 at 6pm. 

The meeting will be live-streamed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akzqKviF6mc

Once received, we will keep you informed on the decisions made by the VSB.

Thank you,

Dickens PAC

"Come Read with Me" Virtual Workshops for Parents and Caregivers

Come Read with Me is an interactive workshop designed to give parents and caregivers the opportunity to learn positive strategies to help support their children when reading at home. 

Participating families will receive a digital resource package including the “Reading Success at Home” handbook. This program is available at no cost to families across British Columbia through the generous support of ONE to ONE's donors.  

• Virtual workshops dates: 
• October 27 
• November 2, 9, 15, 23 
• December 1 and 6 
• All sessions start at 6:30 p.m. and run for 60 minutes with time for questions after. Each session is the same – parents/caregivers only need to come once.

To register and for more information: 

https://www.eventbrite.ca/o/one-to-one-literacy-society-32436852611 

 

One to One Reading Workshops

The ONE TO ONE Literacy Society is hosting virtual workshops, for interested Parents & Caregivers of Students in Grades 1-3, called "Come Read with Me". 

Come Read with Me is an interactive workshop based on our tutor training, and facilitated by a ONE TO ONE educator designed to give parents and caregivers the opportunity to learn positive strategies to help them support their children when reading at home. 

 
Participating families will receive a digital resource package including the “Reading Success at Home” handbook.  This program is available at no cost to families across British Columbia through the generous support of our donors. 

 

Dates: 

The virtual sessions are on February 15, 23, 28, March 10 and 16. They start at 6:30pm and run for 60 minutes, with time for questions after. Note that each session is the same, so Parents/Caregivers only need to come once!  

For more info, and to register, click on the link and scroll down: Eventbrite.ca/one-to-one-literacy-society

You are welcome to share this info with Dickens families who may want to participate.

 
Alistair Nagle, Program Manager 

ONE TO ONE Literacy Society 

One-to-one.ca

 
500-610 Main Street 
Vancouver, BC  
(604) 255-5559

BC Kids & COVID-19 with Dr. Katharine Smart

Submit your questions using this link.

The presentation will be livestreamed on YouTube.

The Power of Change - Parent Education Conference, Online - Early Bird Pricing Ends May 3!

Charles Dickens PAC is a Member of BCCPAC so you qualify for the Current Members Fee!  

Early Bird Pricing Ends May 3

As we always do, we are offering members the ability for conference fee discounts if they commit and pay by May 3. Attendees will hear over 10hrs of speakers and sessions! 

Conference Fee	Early Bird (to May 3)	Regular Rate (after May 3)
Current Members	$35	$50
Non-Members	$75	$100

REGISTER NOW!

Conference Schedule

Our Conference Speakers and Sessions will cover 10+ hours of valuable content over two days for you and your PAC parent community! Our online format enables parents/guardians/caregivers from across the province to safely participate from their home or office.  Register Today!

We are excited to have Dr. Gordon Neufeld as our Saturday opening Keynote Speaker.  Dr. Neufeld is a Vancouver-based developmental psychologist with over 45 years of experience with children and youth and those responsible for them. A foremost authority on child development, Dr. Neufeld is an international speaker, a bestselling author ("Hold On To Your Kids") and a leading interpreter of the developmental paradigm. Dr. Neufeld has a widespread reputation for making sense of complex problems and for opening doors for change.

And Dr. Ashley Miller will be our closing Keynote Speaker on Saturday.  Dr. Miller is a child and adolescent psychiatrist, family therapist, and Award-winning educator and author of “What to Say to Kids When Nothing Seems to Work”. She is a clinical assistant professor of psychiatry at the University of British Columbia where she serves as co-director of family therapy training.

But that’s not all! We have top quality speakers on both Friday and Saturday including:

·  Friday opening address and Q&A with the Minister of Education, the Honorable Jennifer Whiteside

·  Mental Health in Schools with Jennifer McCrae, Assistant Deputy Minister, Learning Division, Ministry of Education

·  Framework for Enhanced Student Learning with Shelaina Postings, Executive Director, Sector Policy and Performance, Ministry of Education

·  Social Media Awareness, Digital Citizenship, and Cyberbullying with Dr. Greg Gerber from Safer Schools Together BC.

·  Tyrone McNeil, president of First Nations Education Steering Committee(FNESC) and vice-president of the Stó:lō Tribal Council will be discussing First Nations Education and Your Role

We very much look forward to your participation!

Don't delay! Secure Your Spot Before May 3!

Vancouver District PAC (DPAC) General Meeting

Finding Our Way in COVID Times: Self-Compassionate Heart Tools for Healing and Wellbeing

Thursday, February 25 at 7pm

This February DPAC General Meeting offers a refreshing and inspiring invitation to all parents, grandparents, and guardians, toward beginning a more self-compassionate inner journey. In reframing our perception of the current situation, the potential to affect how the world seems to us is able to shift. Simply nudging yourself off the couch or out of bed and getting your body moving and breathing can change how you feel and sense the world. Seeing our interaction through a mindful and playful spirit we can find more joy and less reason to be reactive because we possess tools to defuse our own charged energy. This in turn affects the dynamics between ourselves and others, including our children, partners, relatives, friends, and truly all our relations.

We will participate in some body-mind work during the evening to gain some practical experience and sense how to apply certain techniques. By finding compassion for ourselves within ourselves we gain capacity to offer it to others in our lives and even to those outside our circles. As we find techniques to stabilize our minds and ground our energy by physically connecting to nature, we are able to recognize the messengers which trigger us advance, causing our nervous system to go into overdrive. By giving that pause to breath we can begin to reinterpret the messages we receive with our senses and give ourselves permission to take the time to integrate the energy, intentionally deciding how we wish to transmit it constructively to those around us.

Please join us Thursday, February 25 at 7 pm for an educational and illuminating evening with experienced facilitators in the field of psychology: Jessica Wollen from Shift-Education, Brian Deans Williams, Galen Hutcheson, with special guest Indigenous Relations Consultant Pulxaneeks from the Haisla First Nation.

Click here to register. 

Workshop for Parents of Preteens

Hello Dickens Community & Parents to Preteens! 

                        

Saleema Noon is providing a FREE, online LIVE workshop on supporting your preteen through the ups and downs of growing up.

Wednesday, February 24 at 4pm

Click here to register!

The workshop called Growing Up Game Plan: Parents Edition. It's a workshop focusing on the top 3 things preteens tell us they struggle with most and how parents can support them in the best way possible. More specifically, I’ve got insider intel (straight from the trenches!) on smart things to say and do. 

Been to one of my Body Science workshops before? Well, this one is totally different. In this all new workshop, I’m going to walk you through your own game plan for supporting your preteen when it comes to:

✅ Managing social media: how it impacts their self-esteem, their friendships, and their relationship with you.

✅ Coping with changing bodies during puberty, and how this affects body image.

✅The big one – bullying. In just one hour you’ll be a giant step closer to your preteen being more prepared, more confident, and less stressed about growing up. 

Vancouver School Board Sustainability Conference (via Zoom)

Join an engaging and informative evening with your Vancouver District PAC Community for part 2 of the sustainability education series called Sustainability: Principles to Practice on Thursday, November 26, 2020 (7- 9:30pm)

You will take away the latest information about the Vancouver Plan for greening our city, plus the latest developments and next planning stages. 

Register at this link!

Come discover more about the Six Big Moves and comprehensive recommendations that will improve access and mobility, increasing wellness, and guide the principles in reaching essential climate targets. In addition, you'll hear from student organizers for this year's VSB Sustainability Conference. 

Setting Children & Youth up for a Successful Return to School in the Era of COVID-19

Based at BC Children's Hospital, the Kelty Mental Health Resource Centre Information offers resources on a wide range of mental health and substance use challenges affecting children and youth across the province.

Recently, they hosted a webinar "Setting Children and Youth up for a Successful Return to School in the Era of COVID-19" to provide families with tools and strategies for returning to school in the 2020-21 school year. 

Click on the image below to watch the webinar via YouTube.

The following article can also be viewed at the Kelty website: 

5 Tips for a Successful Return to In-Person School During COVID-19

Go Girls! Healthy Body, Healthy Mind Program — Mentoring for Girls 11-13 years old

Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland has provided mentoring opportunities to girls for the past 60 years. 

The "Go Girls! Healthy Body, Healthy Mind" Program is a mentoring program that promotes active lifestyles, balanced eating and building self-esteem. 

The curriculum is research-based to help girls overcome various social pressures by building the necessary confidence and self-awareness to thrive. Programs run in partnerships with School Districts across the Lower Mainland. 

An online “Go Girls!” program is being offered to all girls aged 11-13 in the BC Lower Mainland.

It’s free to join! Register by filling in this form. Send completed forms to Meena at maujla@bigsisters.bc.ca

 

A few online programs have already been scheduled to start at the end of May and additional programs will be added as interest grows. It's a great learning program for girls that can be accessed from home! 

Have any questions? Contact Ivy Chiang (MA, RCC) - Program Manager of Study Buddy Program & Go Girls! Program at Big Sisters of BC Lower Mainland. She can be contacted at 604.832.9136 or email ichiang@bigsisters.bc.ca

Community Events on our PAC Blog

We've added 3 updates to our "Community Events" page!

For more info, click on the Community Events Tab at the top of the blog...

Sustainability: Education and Edu-Action

All parents & guardians of students enrolled in the Vancouver School District are welcome to attend! 

The goal of this session is to provide a lens on “What is Sustainability?” and to create an educational forum for gathering and distributing information on sustainability. 

Click here for registration and more details about the event.

New on our PAC Blog!

We have a NEW "Community Events" page!
Click on the Community Events Tab at the top of the blog...

From time to time on this page, we'll post events taking place in and around our neighborhood that may benefit Dickens Parents & Guardians and their Children.

"Tending Hearts and Minds" Symposium

Glen Manery, our Dickens School Counsellor, is inviting any interested Parents & Guardians to the following Symposium. Attendance is free but registration is required so that lunch can be provided accordingly.

Tending Hearts and Minds: A thoughtful discussion about mental health education and intervention in our schools—for educators, counsellors and parents

There has been a dramatic rise in the number of children and youth experiencing emotional distress and challenging in-class and domestic behaviours. Teachers, counsellors and health professionals are concerned about labeling, current 'mental health' education and the medicating of children. 

Experts participating in “Tending Hearts and Minds" will present and discuss approaches to working with children, youth and families—in school and home settings—to help more effectively respond to distress and difficulties so that children can better experience well-being and resilience.

For more info about the speakers and how to register, click here. 

VSB Presentation on "Student Success"

A DPAC General meeting will be hosted by 
Vancouver School Board Superintendent of Schools, Suzanne Hoffman

She'll be speaking on "Student Success"

All parents/guardians of current VSB students are welcome.  

Thursday, September 26 at 7pm 

Vancouver Education Centre (1580 West Broadway), Room 180.

Presentation on Social Emotional Learning at Tyee Montessori Elementary

Mara St. Onge will be speaking about Social Emotional Learning on Wednesday, November 21 from 7:30-8:30pm in the Tyee Gym. 

Mara is the Creator of Blingja Concepts Ltd. Blingja is a multi-sensory social emotional learning resource that supports curriculums. The Blingja Lesson Plans are designed to help people feel calmer in stressful situations. Without judging themselves, children learn to recognize their emotions and feel powerful in every situation.

She is an award winning youth/child program developer, long-term educator with the Vancouver School Board, child advocate, entrepreneur, author and mother of two. Visit Blingja.com for more info.

To attend, tickets can be purchased for $5 at Eventbrite: https://maraattyee.eventbrite.com

If you have any questions, contact Tyee PAC Co-chairs, Jeni Haskett or Kyenta Martins at tyeemontessoripac@gmail.com

SOGI Education for Parents & Guardians

SOGI = Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity. Everyone has one, so what's all the fuss? Come find out in a safe, inclusive environment. 

All parents & guardians of VSB students are invited to attend.

Facilitated by Charles Dickens Principal, Matt Carruthers (former SOGI District Lead), and Renee Hock, VSB Diversity Mentor.

Cantonese and Mandarin translation services will be available for parents who require them.

SCREENAGERS - Growing up in the Digital Age

Bring your kids (Age 10+) and start the conversation!

Reserve your tickets at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/screenagers-tickets-39383997597?aff=erelexpmlt (suggested donation at the door $10/person)  

My Tween and Me Parenting Program - hosted at Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House

Discover the full potential of your relationship with your pre-teen (7 – 12 years).

Dates: February 16 – March 30, 2017 (8 sessions)
When: Thursdays (and one Tuesday) from 5:30 – 7:30 pm
Where: Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, 800 East Broadway, Vancouver

For more info and to register, contact Carmen at ccontreras@mpnh.org or 604-879-8208

Understanding Anger & Aggression in Children/Youth - Presentation at South Vancouver Youth Centre by Dr. Vanessa Lapointe

R.S.V.P. your attendance by email to liz.irving.vancouver@gmail.com or call 604.878.3400. For more information and topics go to forcesociety.com/in-the-know