A newsletter to support those in York Region who work with students with exceptional learning strengths & needs.
Content of this Newsletter
- World Down Syndrome Day
- Celebrate the Spectrum- Autism Acceptance Month
- Life After High School
- R;pple Tool
Spotlighting Excellence, Achievement & Community
- Communication Contest
- Autism Ontario
- York Region Summer Camp Program
- Council for Exceptional Children
- Yes I Can Awards- May 10, 2023
- Easter Seals
- Red Shirt Day - May 31, 2023
- Learning Disabilities Association of York Region
- Parent Support Group
- SOAR Elementary Transitions
- SOAR Secondary Transitions
- Strategies for Life
- Tutoring Program
- York Support Services Network
- What’s Next? Life After High School
Monthly Highlights
World Down Syndrome Day
On March 21st, schools across York Region celebrated World Down Syndrome Day (WDSD) by wearing colourful, fun mismatched socks. Messages were shared about inclusion and why we celebrate Down syndrome on March 21st.
“On Tuesday, March 21st we joyfully celebrated World Down Syndrome Day as we do every year on 3/21. We celebrate the 3rd copy of the 21st chromosome in people we know and love who are living with Down syndrome. We had a great deal of support in this regard from the York Region District School Board and the York Catholic District School Board; both Boards participated in circulating videos and print materials to their schools and encouraged staff and students to “Rock Your Socks”, showing support for all things that may seem different but are perfect in their own way. We also saw numerous municipalities in York Region show their support with a Down Syndrome of York Region Flag Raising event. “
- Down Syndrome Association of York Region
Celebrate the Spectrum
On Friday, March 31st, YRDSB students, staff and community members from our valued partner organizations joined together at The Education Centre Aurora to raise the flag to Celebrate the Spectrum for World Autism Day on April 2, 2023.
We all share a common goal - to support our students with Autism (ASD). Together, we support our learners with ASD by understanding and valuing their individual strengths and needs, and by building learning environments where they matter and belong.
During the month of April, YRDSB will be Celebrating the Spectrum for World Autism Acceptance Month. Throughout the month, we will focus on moving from awareness of ASD, which emphasizes differences, to acceptance of ASD, which helps us focus on the commonalities we share and the beauty of diversity. We encourage all schools to share how they #CelebrateTheSpectrum by tagging us on Twitter @YRDSB_SS.
Please visit the Autism Ontario Celebrate the Spectrum website for events, activities and information on how you can Celebrate the Spectrum throughout the month of April.
Life After High School
On Monday, March 1, the YRDSB Deaf and Hard of Hearing department at Alexander Mackenzie High School hosted an event for parents, educators and Deaf and Hard of Hearing students. It was the first time in three years the event was held in person. The evening began with post-secondary student and alumni presentations on navigating post-secondary school with hearing loss. Katrina Cotran, Landon Fink and Natalie Wong shared their experiences and tips on accessing accommodations for post-secondary education.
Following the presentations, attendants were able to meet representatives from George Brown College, Seneca College, York University, Canadian Hearing Services and the Dog Guides of Canada to ask questions and find out more about post-secondary supports, technology and scholarships available.
Thank you to the staff at Alexander Mackenzie and the amazing MCs, Elliot and Ben, for hosting this wonderful event.
R;pple©
In our continued work to foster student Well-Being and Mental Health, we have added R;pple© to the YRDSB wifi network as a Google Chrome browser extension. The extension is deployed through the YRDSB GAPPS environment meaning if a student is not logged into their browser with their GAPPS account, the tool would not be initiated.
R;pple© is a tool which presents a life promoting message and helpful resources (such as kidshelpphone) when a student searches for harmful keywords or phrases related to self-harm or suicide. No personal information is collected and students are not identifiable. Please see the YRDSB Student Suicide Intervention Protocol for more information about Student Suicide Prevention and Life Promotion.
For more information and tips on fostering mental health and well-being, check out the YRDSB Mental Health page and monthly newsletters.
Spotlighting Excellence, Achievement & Community
Communication Contest
On Wednesday, March 29, the YRDSB Communication Competition was held in partnership with Optimist International for Students who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. This yearly competition has been running for over 20 years. The objective of the competition was to create a speech centered around the theme of “Discovering the Optimism within Me.” Participants in the Junior and Senior Division created exemplary speeches sharing personal experiences of what optimism means to them and where they find optimism in their lives.
Congratulations to all of the participants and the winners of each division.
Junior Division
1st Place: Isaiah Irvin, Trillium Woods PS
2nd Place: Kiana Kachooie, Trillium Woods PS
3rd Place: Yeva Orzhekhovska, Greensborough PS
“I discovered optimism within myself through a variety of life situations and I learned that being optimistic can get you a long way and make your journey through life a little bit easier… When we’re surrounded by negativity it’s very difficult to discover optimism within ourselves. I’ve learned over the last little while that optimism is a choice and we all have the ability to find optimism within ourselves.”
- Excerpt from Isaiah’s Irvin speech
Senior Division
1st Place: Elliot Kritzer, Alexander Mackenzie HS
2nd Place: Sydney Love, King City SS
“Optimism is something that is inside of everyone, but it is up to each individual to discover what will motivate them to stay positive… One thing that I wish I could have said to myself 2 years ago was that optimism within yourself is so important. It's so valuable to have the strength to be able to believe in yourself, be yourself, and put in the effort everyday to change your attitude on yourself and life.”
- Excerpt from Elliot Kritzer’s speech
Our Junior and Senior winners will be moving on to the District Level competition. Good luck!
Important Dates
Autism Ontario
York Region Summer Camp Program
Registration is now open and the camp will be located at a Public School in the Yonge and Elgin Mills area. Camper drop off is between 9am and 9:30am and pick up is between 3pm and 3:30pm. Campers are supported with at least 1:1 support and the fee to families for each week is $850. This includes the 1:1 support as well as all the outings and activities that occur that week.
Online Registration will remain open until April 16th and is not on a first come first serve basis. Please note that parent(s)/guardian(s) will need to create a user account with a valid email in order to register.
Council for Exceptional Children
Yes I Can Awards
The Yes I Can Awards honour children and youth with exceptionalities who shine. The 2023 Yes I Can Awards will be celebrated on May 10th at 4:30 p.m at Richmond Green Secondary School.
Easter Seals
Red Shirt Day
Red Shirt Day, Wednesday, May 31, is a day when people across Canada come together and wear red in schools, workplaces and spaces everywhere in order to create a visible display of solidarity: to show their support for persons and families who are living with disabilities, celebrate the achievements of people living with disabilities, and to pledge their commitment to help create a fully accessible and inclusive society that honours and values the contributions of people of all abilities in all aspects of life in Canada.
Learning Disabilities Association of York Region
Parent Support Group
Parent(s) and/or guardian(s) are welcome to attend the Virtual Support Group to help guide caregivers through different stages of accepting and managing their child’s Learning Disabilities and/or ADHD. This is a monthly opportunity to meet and share common experiences, handle emotions, strategize for strengths and challenges in a positive way. By creating a safe and inclusive space, LDAYR will bring awareness and foster confidence in parenting skills. This is a free program held once a month on Thursday nights via Zoom. For more information, please contact nina.shwaizer@ldayr.org or 906-884-7933 ext.5.
SOAR Transitions Elementary
This program will help Grade 7 – 8 participants identified with Learning Disabilities and/or ADHD to develop life skills to succeed academically and vocationally. Participants will be provided with strategies on how people learn in different ways, how Learning Disabilities affect people's lives and what students can do to receive assistance in school. SOAR equips students with the knowledge and understanding of LD’s they need to succeed in high school and beyond. Sessions will be customized for one-to-one or group settings for 45 minutes for 4 weeks. For more information,, please contact Sam Harrison at sam.harrison@ldayr.org or (905) 884-7933 ext. 6.
SOAR Transitions Secondary
This program is for participants in secondary school identified with Learning Disabilities and/or ADHD. The foundation of this program is built on the development of self advocacy skills, such skills that will benefit the participant both academically and vocationally. Participants will gain an understanding of their strengths and areas of difficulty, as well as an understanding of their LD and/or ADHD. Information also will be given on how to transition from post-secondary and/or the workplace, along with assistance for the making of academic and career choices with a greater potential for success. Sessions will be customized for one-to-one or group settings for 45 minutes for 4 weeks. For more information, please contact Sam Harrison at sam.harrison@ldayr.org or (905) 884-7933 ext. 6.
Strategies for Life
This program is designed for youth and adults diagnosed with, or suspected to have, a Learning Disability and/or ADHD, between the ages of 19 to 29. This is a nine session individual counseling program that focuses on the socio-emotional effects of LDs and ADHD. This program identifies unique challenges participants face, and work towards developing resiliency, and skills necessary to thrive in their lives to achieve overall well-being. Participants can focus (up to three) on the following topics: Transitions, Financial Literacy and Budgeting, Advocacy, Social Skills, Anxiety and/or Stress Management, Learning Strategies, Coping Skills and Strategies, and Mindfulness, Self-Awareness and Understanding. For more information, please contact nina.shwaizer@ldayr.org or 906-884-7933 ext. 5.
Tutoring Program
This program is for kids with Learning Disabilities and/or ADHD. Tutoring can help relieve stress, support important language and math skills, improve student confidence and self-esteem, and alleviate educational burden on parents. Students are matched with volunteer tutors from different diverse and educational backgrounds. For more information, please contact jeremy.jor@ldayr.org or call 905-884-7933 ext. 3.
York Support Services Network
What’s Next? Life After High School
This is a series of four workshops for caregivers of teens 15-18 with a developmental disability from May 4-25. There is also a group for teens 15-18 with a developmental disability (limit of 12 participants), also running May 4-25. Caregivers can choose to attend any or all of the workshops, regardless of whether their children take part. For more information and to register, please visit the YSSN website.
Special Education Advisory Committee (SEAC) Meetings
The SEAC meets on the first Thursday of every month. All are welcome to attend and observe. For more information about SEAC and our SEAC members, please visit the SEAC webpage.
Upcoming SEAC Meetings
The meeting dates for the remainder of the year are set out below.
- April 13, 2023
- May 4, 2023
- June 1, 2023
