2016 VOIcES THAT CHALLENGE CONFERENCE THAT C… · 2016 VOICES THAT . CHALLENGE CONFERENCE 4 ....

TORONTO CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

VOICES THAT CHALLENGE

PROGRAM

2016 VOICES THAT CHALLENGE CONFERENCE

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This year, every student leader attending Voices that Challenge 2016 is asked to bring a pair of socks as a donation for Socks 4 Souls

Canada.

More than 5000 homeless in Toronto often go without some of the most basic items to keep them warm and healthy. Right now several

hundred homeless in our city could have their lives changed by the provision of one of the most

basic needs- NEW clean socks.

Please visit socks4soulscanada.com for more information about this organization and their wonderful work!


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AGENDA 8:00 a.m. - 8:45 a.m. REGISTRATION/REFRESHMENTS 9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. WELCOME AND PRAYER SERVICE 9:30 a.m. - 10:15 a.m. KEYNOTE: Emmanuel Jal 10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. SESSION 1 Workshops and Leadership Action Plans 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. LUNCH – TALENT SHOW 12:30 p.m. - 1:45 p.m. SESSION 2 Workshops and Leadership Action Plans 1:45 p.m. - 2:40 p.m. KEYNOTE: Craig Kielburger 2:40 p.m. - 2.45 p.m. SPOKEN WORD Jenna Tenn-Yuk 2:45 p.m. CLOSING and PRAYER


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KEYNOTE

Artist, Advocate, Author, Actor

Emmanuel Jal was born into the life of a child soldier, in the war-torn region of Southern Sudan. Emmanuel managed to survive and go on to emerge as a recording artist, achieving worldwide acclaim for his unique style of hip hop with its message of peace and reconciliation born out of his personal experiences. Jal has released five studio albums to date.

In 2008, a full-length documentary on his life was released. The film, ‘Warchild’, won 12 prestigious film festival awards worldwide. In the same year, his autobiography, also called ‘Warchild’, was published. Most recently, Emmanuel starred in Warner Brother’s ‘The Good Lie’ alongside Reese Witherspoon.

In addition to his accomplishments in music and film, Jal’s biggest passion is ‘Gua Africa’, the charity he founded to help individuals and communities overcome the effects of war and poverty. In December 2010, Jal released ‘We Want Peace’, as part of the wider campaign of the same name calling for peace, protection, and justice for all in Sudan, while also calling for an end to all conflicts affecting innocent people around the world.

Jal was nominated for a 2015 Juno Award for ‘Best World Music Album’. Jal had previously been awarded the Calgary Peace Prize, the Humanitarian Award from the Hunt Institute, and

has been honored by Ban Ki Moon at the UN for his peace efforts in South Sudan.

Emmanuel Jal


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Craig Kielburger KEYNOTE

Co-Founder, Free The Children Co-Founder, ME to WE

Craig Kielburger is an internationally acclaimed speaker, social entrepreneur, and the co-founder of a family of organizations dedicated to shifting the world from ME to WE. In 1995, at 12 years of age, he co-founded Free The Children. Today, the organization’s sustainable development model is active in eight developing countries, serving more than one million beneficiaries. In North America and the United Kingdom, WE Schools & WE Day provide comprehensive service learning programs to 10,000 schools. Every year 200,000 students earn their free ticket through service projects to attend 14 We Day stadium celebrations, which bring together some of the world’s greatest icons of social change. Alongside his brother Marc, Craig is also the co-founder of ME to WE, an innovative social enterprise that seeks to support the work of Free The Children by providing socially conscious products and experiences. Craig is a New York Times bestselling author, who has published 12 books. He holds 16 honorary doctorates and degrees, has received The Order of Canada, and was named Canada’s Most Admired CEO in 2015. He’s also been a panelist on CBC’s Canada Reads was recently voted Most Trusted Influencer by Readers Digest Canada.


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Student Trustee & CSLIT Co-Chair

Allison Gacad

Allison Gacad is a Grade 12 student in the International Baccalaureate program at St. John Paul II Catholic Secondary School. Having first attended Camp Olympia in Grade 9, she has spent the past three years building upon this foundation of skills in student leadership.

She is particularly interested in the environment and has facilitated workshops for youth on climate change and collected thousands of petitions in support of Development and Peace initiatives. Her work on the environment has helped lead her school to become the first Platinum level certified Eco-School in our board.

Following Voices that Challenge 2014, she was inspired to serve on the Catholic Student Leadership Impact Team’s (CSLIT) Executive as the Director of the Angel Foundation for Learning. She was successful in helping to raise over $40,000 through Civvies Days across the Board and continues to oversee the volunteer work of the Angel Council today.

Follow Allison on Twitter: @allisongacad


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Karina Dubrovskaya

Student Trustee & CSLIT Co-Chair

Karina Dubrovskaya is one of the student trustee’s for the 2015-2016 term. Karina’s own term, as student trustee will end in June 2017, as she is the first student trustee that will serve a two-year term.

She is a grade 11 student in the Extended French and Advanced Placement program at Bishop Allen Academy. She hopes to pursue a career in the field of Science or Politics. In just two years at her school, Karina has already immersed herself in leadership. So far, she has been involved in her school’s ACT and ME TO WE clubs, as well as peer tutoring and Camp Olympia.

She was also a part of the cross country team. She credits Camp Olympia for developing her leadership skills, which opened her eyes to a world of opportunities in student leadership. Karina volunteers at a free Homework Help Club and is a tutor at Kumon. Her volunteer work includes participation in the Parkinson’s Association’s SuperWalk, Tulip Sales, and Cut-a-Thon for three consecutive years. She also volunteers with the Children’s Aid Foundation, where she earned $2400 through a Youth and Philanthropy Initiative project to donate to this charity. She loves public speaking, advocating for students, fighting for people’s human fundamental rights, lending a helping hand, and is an avid coffee drinker. She believes her leadership skills and experience will help while she serves as the Student Trustee this year, along with Allison Gacad.


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TEACHER ONLY WORKSHOP

Janna Baer AM/PM LECTURE HALL

Free The Children

Designed based on specific requests and feedback of WE Schools educators, this professional development workshop aims to provide teachers with tangible and practical resources and strategies that they can take back to their classrooms and groups. This collaborative workshop allows educators the opportunity to dig deep into a number of WE Schools resources, identifying specific goals, and strategizing with their peers to achieve these goals. Educators will walk away from this session not only with a collection of new and fresh ideas, but also with a network of like-minded educators who are willing and eager to share personal resources and strategies.

TEACHER

WORKSHOP

WE Schools and Civic Engagement: A strategic approach to service learning


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WORKSHOPS

1. Teens and Social Justice – A challenge and an opportunity

Kevin Lobo AM RM. # 112 TCDSB The issues of social justice in Asia and Africa challenge us, horrify us, and beckon us for help. However, burning social issues like Child Poverty and the plight of our First Nations here at home seem to pass us by. The challenge to Catholic youth answering this call is: Are we willing to remove the blinders and the head in the sand attitude to take these issues head on? This session challenges youth to weigh up both these causes, local and international, and pay equal attention to both. In the footsteps of Christ – it defines Catholic Leadership as a path to discovering the leadership quest.

2. Trek for Teens Foundation Nicole Bazzocchi AM RM. #113 Trek for Teens Foundation The Trek for Teens Foundation workshop will provide students with an opportunity to use their talents and skills to make a difference within their community. The workshop will address the issue of youth homelessness and discuss the important call to action that we, as Catholics, face. It will also provide the students with the means to become part of the movement to eradicate youth homelessness in the GTA through events such as an Amazing Race, Fashion Show, Dance Competition, and Concert Series.


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3. Love, Lead, Liberate, and Launch

Eric Naranowicz & Students of The Discipleship class AM RM. #114 Neil McNeil This workshop focuses on the work that the grade 12 Discipleship Neil McNeil class has performed and are preparing to do throughout their culminating year of high school. They have challenged themselves to break down their own stereotypes of how they view the “other” in our society to become people they see as those with dignity and deserving of love. This is done through experiences and knowledge which has eventually led them towards understanding. Ultimately it is through understanding that we come to realize the beauty of differences. Please join us as we share our story with you.

Workshops continued…

4. India Leadership

Jordan Nigro AM RM. #115 Student Leader Four years ago the Loretto Sisters celebrated their 400th anniversary as an order. Today our TCDSB students are witnessing and participating in the great work that Mary Ward started. This workshop will share some exciting stories of TCDSB student’s social outreach with the Loretto sisters as they travel to the slums of Kolkata and other locations in India


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5. Promoting Mental Wellness in Your School Community!

Sarah Ionson &Gabrielle Deschenes AM RM. #116 Toronto Public Health Our workshop will provide a brief overview of key mental health concepts followed by interactive games/ activities / ideas to help promote positive mental health and reduce stigma in your school community!


6. From the Ground Up: Building a Team That Strives for Socks-ess

Sylvia Marcos, MD AM RM. #117 Socks 4 Souls Canada Using Socks 4 Souls Canada as the model of a grassroots community organization, this workshop will explore the importance of being collaborative contributors to their communities. This high intensity, highly interactive workshop will draw on its participants’ experiences to explore the qualities of effective, innovative and cohesive leadership teams. It will highlight the impacts of effective communication skills, and illustrate how their voices are the instruments that will inspire, challenge and change the world.


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7. WHAT’S UP?

Christoff Kyere AM RM #118 Flightunit This workshop will examine the concept of communication; one of the most important skill sets necessary for success in all facets of our lives. This workshop will both break down the elements of communication in addition to examining the different forms of communication, both positive and negative. This workshop will look to improve student’s lives and relationships through the platform of communication and equip them with the tools to be an effective communicator. “The most important thing in communication is hearing what isn’t said.”- Peter Drucker


8. Finding Your Inner Peace - Mindfulness

Louise Cusimano-Graham and Lena Virgilio AM CHAPEL TCDSB This workshop will allow students to experience various forms of meditation and become more reflective, creative and holistic thinkers. Some of the practices which will be explored are: the body scan, guided meditation and mindful eating. Students will learn to tap into their awareness and create space in their minds amidst their busy day. The hope is that students will begin to make deeper connections with themselves and others and learn to let go of stress; making space for healthy eating, stillness, intuition and connection to their spirit.


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9. Mahal in the Philippines Veronica, Megan, Brittney, Julienne, Alexa, Wendell, Carissa RM. #207 Student Leaders "Mahal" means "love" in Tagalog. Going to the Philippines to volunteer in an orphanage, give gifts to students in several villages, and build homes for a village of healed lepers, a lot of "mahal" could be felt. In this presentation we will talk about the journey that 21 students went on to the Philippines this past Christmas Break, revealing the eye opening lessons of poverty, friendship, and giving. More importantly, we will inform you on how you can get involved and serve in the Philippines too. We will also teach important words in Tagalog, play Filipino games, and if time allows, sing songs from the Philippines. The Philippines was a truly a place of God's "mahal," and we hope that we can share that through this presentation.


10. Equity & the Student Leader

CSLIT Equity Subcommittee AM RM # 208 CSLIT

The Catholic Student Leadership Impact Team works in order to create a positive change for all students within the TCDSB. The Equity Subcommittee, a subsection of CSLIT, works to address topics such as mental wellness, LGBTQ+ related subject matter, safe schools, and more. The Equity Subcommittee will be discussing the importance of equitable treatment for all of our students in the TCDSB. They will discuss their experiences with inequity & how they, as student leaders, have worked to tackle these issues. A major component of the workshop is discussion. As well, they will share their best methods to bring equity into schools and create better school environments.


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11. Building Bridges

AM RM. #209 Free The Children Do you enjoy a challenge? Do you like a little competition? Step up to the plate and take on the building bridges challenge and explore your leadership skills. The activity will focus on the importance of both active listening and assertive communication.


12. Spoken Word Poetry and Storytelling: The Power of Your Voice

Jenna Tenn-Yuk AM RM.#210 Motivational Speaker and Spoken Word Artist

Fear often prevents us from speaking up for a cause we believe in or sharing our story. This interactive workshop introduces you to spoken word poetry and gives you the space to write and express yourself creatively. You will explore a variety of themes, including identity, discovering your passions, finding your voice and the power of your story. Our voices and stories can have a great impact when we are willing to step out of our comfort zone and share our experiences out loud.


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13. Power, Privilege and Oppression

Shaunna-Marie Keslick and Amy Leung AM RM. #211 Street Haven This workshop will explore the effects of Power, Privilege, and Oppression in regards to homelessness. There will also be focus on the importance of being responsible and engaged citizen who promotes equity, compassion, respect for diversity, and the right of each person for self-determination. In this workshop, students will discuss ideas about homelessness, why people become homeless and practical and meaningful ways to become an advocate in poverty alleviation.


14. CHOOSEday Challenge

Michael Masci, Adam Benn and Justin Bacchus AM RM. THEATRE Positive Gear As leaders we are often held to a different standard. This standard can either be self-imposed or placed upon us. Regardless, there is an invisible pressure to live up to and exceed the expectations of a leader. However, we are all humans and we are perfect in our CREATION but not in our CHOICES. Believe It or Not ... You are more than the choices that you´ve made! You are more than the sum of your past mistakes! You are more than the problems you create! This workshop challenges leaders to examine their choices and their decision making skills through problem solving , self-exploration, and relationships.


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15. Preparing our Student Leaders - Communication, conflict, and accomplishment!

Lauren Troncone AM RM. #212 Loretto College Residence Facilitated by a certified teacher, this interactive workshop will equip participants to enhance and increase their communication and conflict resolution skills. This session will allow for a better understanding of the stages of team dynamics and how to strive, as a team, for excellence and overall team or group accomplishment. The goals of this session will be: Meet and network with other leaders in the TCDSB community, identify common communication barriers, identify common conflict styles and possible solutions, generate better solutions and win-win situations and develop tools and strategies for working effectively to create a fantastic year!



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Afternoon

workshops


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16. W.A.V.E Youth Action Team

Nadia Pasquini PM RM. #112 Chaminade College The W.A.V.E. YOUTH ACTION TEAM is comprised of students who have partnered with Louise Russo’s Working Against Violence Everyday Organization and Toronto Police in order to promote positive messages to their peers about issues related to violence in our society. This presentation will serve as a guide for groups that wish to create their own W.A.V.E. Youth Action Team in their schools. We will include the initiatives and topics that our team worked on and we will provide examples of the workshops that we have created for elementary schools in our area.


17. Justice for All: Hope For All Ann McGowan PM RM.#113 The Mary Ward Centre Using concrete examples and interactive activities, this workshop will explore a variety of justice related issues including materialism, consumerism, inequality and greed, particularly in relation to our current environmental crisis. Drawing upon the wisdom of such figures as Pope Frances and Mary Ward, students will be encouraged to challenge current modern day assumption about what is necessary for a “good life”. Using The Earth Charter as a framework, this session will help participants to creatively imagine new ways of engaging themselves, others and the world. By realizing that there are alternatives and hopeful ways to effect change, participants will be renewed in their desire for justice.


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18. Taking on Mindfulness in your classroom and in your life

PM CHAPEL TCDSB Some people are “set up to be less free.” Josephine Lombardi. We know that this is true. Can self-awareness lead to more freedom of choices: morally and ethically? Can we know God’s will better by using mindfulness practices to provide space for self-awareness? Mindfulness builds openness to multiple perspectives as we develop an anchor breath, helping us to pause and notice. This workshop will premiere the ‘Mindfulness Without Borders’ video filmed with my gr. 12 Religion /Leadership students. We will participate in a Mindfulness Council and build on mindfulness practices with an anchor breath. Students say it has made them feel safe to open up and be heard!


19. Reprogram My Brain: An Outdated Fear Module

Kevin O’Reilly, Vice President PM RM. # 115 Waterloo Regional District School Board Kevin, a Vice-Principal at one of Waterloo Region’s largest high schools, missed five months of work three years ago with General Anxiety Disorder and Major Depressive Disorder. By working with his family doctor, a psychologist and a psychiatrist, he has “reprogrammed his brain” and is back and better than ever! The more Kevin shares his story with students and staff at his school, the more they feel comfortable sharing the struggles in their own brains, which is the first step to getting the help they deserve. Kevin will challenge us to see that listening and unconditional acceptance are key steps to support others with brain illnesses. Kevin is also a Chairperson for Movember Waterloo Region, and will share Movember’s new added focus on Men’s Mental Health and how MoSistas (girls) can support their MoBrothers.


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20. Create a Climate of Change Luke Stocking PM RM # 116 Development & Peace Come play Climate Balloons with us – an interactive game that helps show the connections between our lifestyles and those who suffer from the effects of Climate Change. You will travel to Ethiopia and Syria in this workshop and you will learn about what you can do to join the fight against Climate Change.


21. Wear the Justice

Andria Henry, Hera Syed, Kamsana Kumarakaran, Subathy Swampilia, and Umole Ahman PM RM# 117 Madonna Fast Fashion - Don't Sweat It!! Have you ever wondered where and how your clothes are made? Don't Sweat It will explore the impact of the "fast fashion" industry on our brothers and sisters in the Global South, as well as its impact on the environment. The Madonna girls, along with their teacher, Mrs. Audrey Ferrer, will be representing the Ontario Catholic No Sweat Network to inform you about what youth are doing to fix the issue and how you can get involved. Come with your energy, cell phone, and ideas to explore the issue through games, video clips, and discussion.


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22. Tanzania Leadership

Priscilla Daniel, Veronica Opreff, and Toni Asunsion PM RM. #118 Student Leaders Description of Workshop: Leaders across Ontario, step forward to donate their time and efforts to those who need it more than we do here in Canada. This trip, organized by Free the Children and Adventure Learning Experiences, gives leaders a once in a lifetime experience to partake in service learning, volunteerism, and educational programs in one of the most beautiful places on earth, Tanzania. With the understanding that knowledge is power, students get the chance to transfer their knowledge to those eager students in Tanzania by teaching in the classrooms. By following in the footsteps of Christ, participants are able to embrace themselves in Kenyan traditions and adopt a life that provides meaningful service to a community in order to learn about oneself and others. This workshop will describe my trip and how you can take part in this remarkable leadership experience.


23. Challenging Your Challenge Zone Jordan Nigro PM RM. #119 Cardinal Carter Academy for the Arts Students will read and discuss why they are afraid to do certain things, and will be given tips on how they can overcome those challenges. They will be working and ‘acting’ through scenarios that they will be placed in to interactively and cooperatively work through their challenges.


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Free The Children PM RM.# 207 Participants will use estimation and visual representation to examine local and global inequalities. Participants will also begin to discuss how they feel about these inequalities, how it relates to them and what they can do to make a difference.

24. Country of 10

25. Finding School-Life Balance

Santino Bellisario PM RM.# 208 De La Salle College “Oaklands” A formal education offers you the opportunity not only to develop academically but to become well-rounded individuals. It helps to find a balance among the various demands placed on your life. Students often perform many roles: classmate, teammate, employee, friend and so on. Often times these roles conflict with each other, which require students to take into account a variety of factors that help to evaluate priorities. School-life balance is important not only because it helps you to perform academically but also to develop as Christians and as human beings. Students often place academics above other considerations, including personal interests, family relationships, creative pursuits, community service and exercise. This workshop will explore ways to strike that healthy balance.


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26. My School My Voice: A look at Student Engagement Mariangela Artuso PM RM.# 209 Educational Research Student engagement in school is critical to student achievement and emotional well-being. Motivated and engaged students are more likely to persevere and experience success when faced with challenging tasks. Informed by an understanding that learning occurs in a cognitive, social and emotional context, three practical ways to engage students in school are:

• Through their minds intellectually/academically

• Through participating in school life socially/behaviourally

• Through their hearts emotionally/spiritually A school culture that honours the voice of all students fosters student engagement. This workshop will look at the board-wide My School My Voice: Student Engagement and School Culture survey completed by students to help inform school and board learning plans. Results will be shared, with discussions on survey development and how to improve student engagement.


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27. VIA MUSIC

Tom Barlow PM THEATRE Via Music The Young Minds on Music Program seeks to educate and inspire students through music. Music is viewed in its historical and physiological context. The power of music to create awareness and motivate people toward social and political change is also examined in detail. Each of these components is illustrated via discussion, musical performance and through audio visual presentations.

28. The Pros & Cons of Labels

Alek Lumia PM RM.#210 CSLIT Equity Committee Alek Lumia-Garbin is a grade 12 student from Chaminade College School & is currently serving as the CSLIT Director of Equity. In his work with student leadership, Alek has seen that we as a society have a tendency to label ourselves as much as possible. While labels are often a useful tool in organizational skills, they may have a negative effect on people. When we close ourselves within the box of a label, we may close ourselves to other possibilities. In this workshop, Alek will discuss the pros & cons of our societal tendency to label ourselves as well as provide an engaging dialogue with students to decide what we can do to remedy the current circumstance.


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29. L’Arche Toronto

30. Students on Ice Robert Adragana PM RM. #212 Students on Ice After returning from the Students on Ice Youth 2014 Antarctic Expedition just two months ago, I have been filled with a new respect for our planet’s beauty and the need for its preservation. In my workshop, we will be looking at both of these themes through an Antarctic perspective. As an introduction to the continent, I will be showcasing Antarctica’s raw, natural beauty and discussing my experiences interacting with it on a first - hand basis. This means plenty of stories/photographs/videos of majestic mountains, intricately creviced glaciers, gigantic whales and, of course, penguins. I will also highlight some of the environmental dangers currently threatening the stability of Antarctica’s ecological and geographical health along with what is currently being done to protect the continent and what we can do to help combat these challenges.

John Guido PM RM. #211 In Community and Growth, Jean Vanier lays out a challenge for all who are called to lead in the Church. He writes that “a leader’s role is to help all the community’s members to exercise their own gifts for the good of the whole. A community can only become a harmonious whole with ‘one heart, one soul, one spirit,’ if all its members are experiencing their own gifts fully.” This interactive workshop will be co-lead by individuals with disabilities who are using their gifts to help form leaders in the values of service, inclusion and compassion.


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Interested in

Catholic Student

Leadership? Join the Catholic Student

Leadership Impact Team!

The Catholic Student Leadership Impact Team (CSLIT), in order to better represent the students of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, address the issues facing our schools, promote student leadership, provide networking opportunities for the student body, and advise the Student Trustee, bearing in mind our Catholic Faith. As a recognized committee of the Toronto Catholic District School Board, consisting of representatives from each secondary school and chaired by the TCDSB Student Trustee, CSLIT is committed to Catholic Student Leadership in all its forms!

For more information about how to get involved, Contact: Allison Gacad [email protected] Karina Dubrovskaya [email protected]

Greg Rogers [email protected]

Follow @CSLIT_TCDSB Like us on Facebook Visit www.cslit.org

Next CSLIT GA meeting: March 29th at the Catholic Education Centre

mailto:[email protected]



http://www.cslit.org/


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Angela Gauthier Director of Education

Dan Koening

Superintendant of Education, Curriculum & Accountability Team

Nick D’Avella Superintendant of Education, Student Success

Gregory Rogers

Student Leadership Department

Janet Selano Student Leadership Department

Angie Fonseca

Section 23

Grace Murudumbay, Alfonso Aiello, Vernice Tolentino, Claudia Giuliani York CEC Graduates

Jinnette Basilio

Student Leadership Co-op

Dominique Carlos Student Leadership Co-op

Catholic Student Leadership Impact Team

Student Leadership

Acknowledgements


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NOTES


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NOTES


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TORONTO CATHOLIC DISTRICT SCHOOL BOARD

TRUSTEES 2015-2016 Wards

1. Joseph Martino 416-512-3401 2. Ann Andrachuk 416-512-3402 3. Sal Piccininni 416-512-3403

4. Patrizia Bottoni 416-512-3404 5. Maria Rizzo 416-512-3405

6. Frank D’Amico 416-512-3406 7. Michael Del Grande,

Chair 416-512-3407 8. Garry Tanuan 416-512-3408 9. Jo-Ann Davis 416-512-3409

10. Barbara Poplawski 416-512-3410 11. Angela Kennedy 416-512-3411

12. Nancy Crawford, Vice-Chair 416-512-3412

Karina Dubrovskaya, Student Trustee 416-512-3417

Allison Gacad, Student Trustee 416-512-3413


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2016 VOIcES THAT CHALLENGE CONFERENCE THAT C… · 2016 VOICES THAT . CHALLENGE CONFERENCE 4 ....

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