Tag Archives: education

United Way – help kids!

Did you know that a child not at a Grade 3 reading level on time is 4 times more likely to drop out of highschool?

Or how about that… most students experience summer learning loss, referred to as “summer slide”, causing them to fall behind or “slide” backwards during the school year?

United Way is taking action!

By connecting kids to their community.
Last year, 838 children and youth took part in after school recreational programming, giving them a sense of community and allowing them to just be kids.

By supporting emotional and physical wellness.
Last year, 3,318 meals were distributed to vulnerable youth at a shelter that may have otherwise gone without.

By focusing on engagement in learning.
Last year, 54 children participated in 2 week literacy and language camps. One camp had a focus on tackling summer “slide” and the other increasing the children’s English language skills. We saw great results from these first camps!
In both the literacy and language camp the children were excited to learn, the parents felt supported and the final testing showed that 92.5% of the students in the literacy camp maintained or improved their pre-program reading skills and on average in the language camps students overall vocabulary grew by 22 words.

How can you help?
United Way needs your support by helping to raise $25,000 to help even more kids be all that they can be in 2017.
Together we can give children and youth the start in life they need, we can prepare them for kindergarten, we can help them reach their grade level reading milestones and we can empower them to be healthy independent adults.

Please donate and help children and youth in your community reach their full potential.
United Way donation page.

Helping kids be all that they can be.

Breaking the Silence

Looking Back, Moving Forward
We are breaking the silence on issues of sexual orientation and gender identity

The 20th annual conference sponsored by the College of Education, University of Saskatchewan.

Friday, March 17 & Saturday, March 18, 2017
Edwards School of Business (Commerce), Room 18
A full program of panels, workshops and presentations
Program and Registration information: education.usask.ca/breaking-the-silence

Free Showing: Gender Revolution: A Journey with Katie Couric at OUTSaskatoon, Thursday, March 16, 2017, 7:00 pm

School Gardening Conference

School Gardening Conference: February 3-4, 2017

There is a growing and vibrant school gardening community across the province, both in- and outdoor, collectively strengthening the relationships students have with agriculture, gardening, food, composting, and environmental stewardship. Educators are discovering school gardens as a means of strengthening academic, personal and social skills, while building curiosity, communication and character.

Agriculture in the Classroom (AITC-SK) is proud to offer opportunities for educators to gather and share how the garden-based education has come alive in their learning communities. Whether you are a beginner or a garden veteran, join us in February to learn and share innovative strategies for engaging diverse learners through garden-based education.

Friday, February 3, 1:30-8:30pm
Saturday, February 4, 9:00am -5:00pm
Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Saskatoon, SK

Registration fee of $50 includes all meals and several resources for attendees to take home. If cost is a barrier to attending, please contact us. Register by January 16, 2017. Scholarships available. Find more information and register at: www.aitc.sk.ca

I am the Bridge

I am the Bridge
It’s okay to talk about racism!

Everyone can ‘be the bridge’ to ending racism in Saskatoon by generating ideas of inclusion among residents of the city.

The City of Saskatoon wants to encourage and invite you to talk about racism and ways to eliminate it by sharing videos of your experiences and messages of inclusion.

Racism is a global issue, not unique to Saskatoon. Racism is influenced by a range of historical, social, political and economic factors. It takes different forms in different contexts. An understanding of the nature of racism is essential in order to recognize and counter it successfully.

Share your personal story and messages by answering three questions:
1. What does racism mean to you?
2. How have you experienced racism?
3. I am the bridge to ending racism in Saskatoon by…

You can answer these questions by recording a video on any mobile device (Apple or Android) or computer with a webcam using the OneStory application. Collected personal stories will be woven together to create a final video and public education campaign that will include billboards and social media posts.

Choose to be the bridge. Share your story. Visit OneStory today

Project Welcome Launched

Each year, hundreds of new Canadians make Saskatoon their new home. In the coming months we’ll be welcoming refugee children to our community, many of whom have been out of school for years or have never attended school at all.

Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation & the Saskatoon Open Door Society have teamed up to launch Project Welcome – a campaign to raise funds to enhance learning opportunities for refugee children and families. Funds raised will help educators and community workers go above and beyond the basic settlement services provided by government to offer additional opportunities for learning and belonging, such as enriched summer learning programs, dual language books and picture dictionaries, and assistance with transportation needs.

We’re asking for your help to make Project Welcome a success! Please help us share the message far and wide by sharing our social media posts on Facebook. For those who are able to contribute financially please visit www.spsfoundation.ca and click “donate.” All donations are tax-deductible and will be shared equally between the Saskatoon Open Door Society and Saskatoon Public Schools Foundation.

Project Welcome runs from Dec. 9, 2015 to Jan. 20, 2016.

Thank you for helping to welcome our new friends and neighbours!