RCDSB is excited to invite you to our upcoming Virtual Family Speaker Series, designed to support families in navigating important conversations with their children about student well-being, mental health and social media. These sessions will provide valuable insights, practical strategies and expert guidance to help you support your child's well-being.
Prior to the session(s) you have chosen, you will be sent a link to join the conversation online.
After each session, you will be sent a feedback form. It is very helpful for us if you complete this as the Ministry of Education would like information on the value of the sessions we have provided.
Jill Bienenstock -The Outdoor Advantage: How Outdoor Play Supports School Readiness
Outdoor play goes beyond physical benefits—it fosters self-regulation, perseverance, and focus. This workshop explores how outdoor environments support learning, independence, and school readiness through movement and sensory experiences. We'll share simple, practical activities and tools to enhance outdoor play at home or in local parks.
Sarah Kesty - Executive Functions-Skills to Support Well-being
Executive function describes the “secret sauce” for being a student (and an adult!) These skills include organizing, planning, self-regulating, and even controlling our impulses–likely completing the sentence, “I wish my child could…” The great news is that these skills can be taught and supported at home! Join executive function expert, Sarah Kesty, to learn how to identify and grow your child’s executive function. Her easy tips and uplifting message will inspire you to test out strategies and watch your child thrive!
Join PLEO as we Delve into the Challenges of School Refusal and Avoidance
As parents and caregivers, we understand the struggles when our children find it difficult to attend school – it affects the whole family. How many of us have experienced the daunting task of dragging our kid out of the car to the school door, receiving texts from our child pleading to go home when they should be in class, taking time off work or being late because our child would not get ready for school, or having to leave work early to pick them up when they can’t make it through the day? In this session we will share strategies and insights to help you navigate these challenges while maintaining a healthy relationship with your child.
Dr. Tracy Vaillancourt: Social Media and Child and Youth Mental Health
There are close to five billion active social media users worldwide, many of whom are youth. Close to 1 in 5 youth report that they use YouTube and TikTok "almost constantly" (Pew, 2024). Given social media's status with young people, researchers, clinicians, educators, and parents are beginning to pay close attention to understanding how social media use affects child and youth development. In this presentation, I will demonstrate how social media is used by students and how algorithms can influence how they think and feel. Social media's association with mental health problems and educational outcomes will also be discussed, along with best-practice solutions.
