Engagement
Anishinaabe Summer Camp
Algoma District School Board Indigenous students, who would be transitioning from Grade 8 to Grade 9 in September, had an opportunity to explore and strengthen their Anishinaabe identity through cultural, place-based education. For three weeks in July, ADSB provided an "on-the-land" Anishinaabe Summer Camp opportunity for Grade 8 Indigenous youth.
IGNITE 2021!
ADSB recognized that, as the first day of school approached, students would have many different feelings about the return to class, so we decided to kick off the school year with an event called
IGNITE 2021!
Our Partnership with Mike Holmes and The Holmes Group
We have embarked on an exciting, multi-year project to design, renovate and refurbish the existing technical shops area at White Pines Collegiate & Vocational School to include new technologies. The completed project will feature a new, state-of-the-art ADSB Technology Centre capable of delivering traditional and cutting-edge programming that will foster the development of new skills sets required in the industries and technologies of the future. A second and significant part of this unique initiative is a high-profile promotion of trades and technology to all students and the community.
It is an exciting and substantial undertaking; as such, we are very pleased to announce our partnership with skilled trades champion Mike Holmes and The Holmes Group who will join ADSB in a project consultant capacity. IDEA Inc. (Integrated Design, Engineering & Architecture) has been selected to partner as the architectural and engineering services firm for the White Pines project, and SalDan Developments was the successful applicant as the Construction Manager, in partnership with The Holmes Group (THG).
At the same time, we are establishing an Advisory Council, whose mandate will be to consult and support initiatives, renovations and new construction identified by ADSB that support the promotion and development of the skilled trades and technology. This Advisory Council will focus its attention and efforts on an initiative or project and is excited that the renovation and refurbishment at White Pines is the first.
The Advisory Council will include ADSB students, teachers and school administrators as well as a rotation of local, national and guest business community representatives. With their expertise in trades and marketing, along with their international reach and recognition, The Holmes Group is a valuable partner who will attract industry leaders to ADSB’s Advisory Council, a process which is currently underway.
Additionally, THG will provide consultation services to our design team and will assist in bringing forward innovative programming, design ideas and new initiatives to support training and learning. They will also help us celebrate successes in the trades by creating and sharing stories of graduates and students who have found their calling and success in the skilled trades.
Our
Parent Involvement Committee presented a series of virtual workshops in the spring to engage our parents and to provide information on a variety of timely topics.
Edsby – ADSB’s Parent Communication Tool
Edsby is the Board’s learning management system and parent communication tool. Through Edsby, parents have access to district and school news, class information and schedules, messaging, their child’s assessment and attendance information and much more. Presented by ADSB’s Officer of Privacy, Planning and Data Management and our Technology and Data Coordinator, this session covered all the features to which parents have access in Edsby and provided instruction on how to navigate the platform.
Addressing Cyberbullying: There’s No App for That
According to PrevNet statistics, about 16% of youth report being cyber victimized. Unfortunately, during COVID that number increased to about 38%. The goal of this presentation was to provide understanding of the nature and extent of cyberbullying, to understand its associated negative effects, and to provide strategies about how to know if your child is involved in cyberbullying and what you can do to support them. This session was presented by Dr. Wendy Craig who works in the Psychology Department at Queen’s University and is a research partner with PREVNet, a national organization dedicated to promoting healthy relationships and preventing bullying.
New Grades 1–8 Math Curriculum
As a parent/guardian, you play an important role in supporting your child’s learning in mathematics. In this session, parents/guardians learned about the new Grades 1–8 math curriculum and how they could help students make connections between math and everyday experiences at home and in the community.
Promoting Family Well-Being During a Pandemic
This session for parents and caregivers reviewed current mental health trends while focusing on the promotion of positive mental health for all family members. This included specific strategies to promote well-being, warning signs and symptoms to be aware of, as well as where to access mental health support if needed. An opportunity for reflection and a Q&A were offered at the end of the presentation. This session was led by our Mental Health Lead and our Well-Being Special Assignment Teacher.