The OCDSB Speaker Series offers free information sessions to the parent community and seeks to provide parents and educators with access to leading ideas in education that will allow us to work collaboratively to better support student learning and well-being.
The series is sponsored by the District's Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) and supported through Parents Reaching Out (PRO) Grant funding from the Ministry of Education.
Upcoming Speaker Series
Autism: An Information Night for Parents
Tuesday, April 23rd, 2019
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sir Robert Borden High School - 131 Greenbank Road
These sessions are aimed at providing information on services and supports that are available through the Autism Spectrum Disorders Team within the OCDSB. Our Keynote Speaker is Jonathan A. Weiss, Ph.D., C.Psych, who will be presenting on Addressing Mental Health in Autism.
Individuals with autism often struggle with managing anxiety, anger, or depression, and increasingly, interventions are being used to help address these difficulties. However, these treatments are best provided within a context of promoting thriving and positive growth more generally in people across the spectrum. In his presentation, Dr. Weiss will look at how to promote positive outcomes in youth with autism, by focusing on indicators such as happiness, satisfaction and resilience.
When Technology Takes Over: Navigating Through the Teen Years
Thursday, May 2nd, 2019
7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Sir Robert Borden High School - 131 Greenbank Road
Understanding problematic technology facing our youth today and how parents can support their youth as they navigate through the teen years.
Previous Speaker Series
UNSTOPPABLE YOU with Unstoppable Tracy Schmitt
Thursday, February 28th, 2019 from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Earl of March Secondary School
4 The Parkway, Kanata
Tracy Schmitt, appropriately known as Unstoppable Tracy is four way amputee from birth, brings "inspirational" to a whole new level!
In a very dynamic presentation, she shared with us the 3 keys to becoming an unstoppable you - her "Limb-it-less" Secret:
- Exceed uncertainty
- Embrace possibility
- Earn independence
Tracy reminded us about the need to set high expectations and to take extraordinary action to achieve success. Some top take away thoughts from her presentation:
- Who you surround yourself with is who you become;
- We are never alone, there are lifelines all around us, we just need to use them.
- Don't avoid failure;
- What you focus on grows (positively or negatively);
- A good excuse limits you; when you have no excuses you have no limits;
- When people see you in action; they act!
- The kinds of questions you ask determines the kinds of answers you find!
Cannabis Parent Information Nights
Recreational cannabis was legalized on October 17, 2018 by the Federal Government. Ontario’s Government for the People has put rules in place to keep cannabis out of the hands of children and youth, keep our roads safe and combat the illegal market. You must be 19 and older to buy, use, possess and grow recreational cannabis. This is the same as the minimum age for the sale of tobacco and alcohol in Ontario.
The Ottawa-Carleton District School Board remains committed to maintaining school and work environments smoke-free. Recreational cannabis possession and/or use is not and will not be permitted anywhere on OCDSB property.
For answers to common questions, check out this Facebook Live video or visit the Ottawa Public Health - Parenting website.
Cannabis Resources
In honour of the first Rowan’s Law Day, we were extremely privileged to have Gordon & Kathleen Stringer and Dr. Vassilyadi; Pediatric Neurosurgeon, CHEO; Founder, CHEO Concussion Clinic; Ottawa Chapter Director for ThinkFirst/ Parachute; join us for our first Speakers Series of the school year. Attendees had the opportunity to hear from Rowan’s parents, who have driven Ontario to take the lead in concussion awareness and prevention, and to learn about concussion management, causes, symptoms, and recovery from Dr. Vassilyadi. We'd like to thank everyone who came out and made our first session of the year successful.
Please click here for Dr. Vassilyadi's presentation and here for the Stringer's presentation.
Self-regulation for Children and Parents
April 19, 2018 and November 30, 2017
Dr. Susan Hopkins of The MEHRIT Centre
Chris D’souza
Equity in Action
April 5, 2018
Mary Alexandrou from CHEO’s YouthNet and Natalie Markoff from PLEO
Understanding Mental Health and Addiction in Youth – Coping and Resilience
March 1, 2018
Paul Davis
Social Networking & Online Safety
October 5, 2017
Eva Olsson
Speaking out against Racism and Intolerance
April 12, 2017
DJ Cunningham, Learnstyle
Technology
April 7, 2016
Dr. Michael Vassilyadi
Understanding Concussions — Recognizing the Signs and Symptoms
October 29, 2015
Canadian Foundation for Economic Education
Talk With Our Kids About Money
April 15, 2015
D Stuart Shanker
Developing Self-Regulation in Children
March 27, 2014