The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board Presents
We are pleased to provide you with information regarding Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s
inaugural Bullying Prevention and Wellness Symposium.
Bullying Prevention & Wellness Symposium
"Whoever receives one whom I send receives me" (John 13: 20)
Keynote Address:
Dr. Debra J. Pepler
Dr. Debra Pepler is a Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology at York University and a
Senior Adjunct Scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children. Her research focuses on aggression and
victimization among children and adolescents, as well as children in families at risk.
Healthy relationships are absolutely critical for the healthy development of children and youth.
These relationships start at home and extend to the school, peer group, and community. Recent
research is showing that the quality of children’s relationships is important for healthy DNA and
the expression of genes in cells, for healthy brain development, healthy behaviour, healthy
learning and for physical and mental health. Dr. Pepler will focus on what parents can do to
support their children’s healthy development in the environments where they live, learn, and
play. Additional resources and tools can be found on the PREVNet (Promoting Relationships and
Eliminating Violence Network) website: www.prevnet.ca/.
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Bullying Prevention & Wellness Symposium
"Whoever receives one whom I send receives me" (John 13: 20)
Workshop Selections and Presenters
WORKSHOPS
PRESENTERS
A
Cyber bullying and Bystander
Intervention
Peel Regional Police
Constable Chris Christidis
Constable Yvette Logan
Rising Stars
Athletics & Education
Dr. Andrew Peters
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
Yvonne Bienko (Safe Schools Consultant),
Joanna Kubica (Student Settlement Support Officer)
Associated Youth Services of Peel
Lisa Bachmeier and Patty Campbell
B
Developing Resilient Young Leaders in
Schools and Communities
C
Bullying and the Newcomer
D
Let’s Talk – Tips for Building Healthy
Communication with your Family
E
When is My Child Just Being Anxious?
Practical Strategies for Parenting
Worried and Stressed Children and
Adolescents
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
Debra Lean (Chief Psychologist)
F
Parent Awareness & Empowerment
Rising Stars
Athletics & Education
Erin Forman
G
The Wisdom Project: A Video Narrative
of one Family’s Journey of Hope and
Resilience
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
Glenn Carley
Jacqueline Davis
H
Workplace Mental Health
I
Physical Activity and Mental Wellbeing
Workplace Mental Health Specialist
Donna Hardaker
Sponsored by SEAC
Peel Public Health
J
Ministry of Education
K
Student Health Survey
Special Education Policy and Programs
Sandy Palinski
Sponsored by SEAC
Peel Public Health
Cheryl Meaden
Please register at: http://osca.ca/en/events/keydates/dpcdsb
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Bullying Prevention & Wellness Symposium
"Whoever receives one whom I send receives me" (John 13: 20)
Workshop A
Cyber bullying and Bystander Intervention
Cyber-bullying is a negative action using digital media, with the intention to
cause harm. Young people today are very prolific in using modern
technology; however, many are unaware of some of the risks and
consequences that can result from inappropriate or uninformed use. CyberBullying and Sexting are two of the more common abuses of digital media by
youth today. Peel Regional Police has partnered with the Dufferin-Peel
Catholic District School Board and Peel District School Board, as well as other
local agencies, to deliver a pilot program to a small group of high schools. At
Dufferin-Peel, the program focuses on teaching students the Catholic
response to bullying prevention and intervention, and focuses on teaching students safe methods of
intervention.
Presenters: Constable Chris Christidis and
Constable Yvette Logan
Workshop B
Developing Resilient Young Leaders in Schools and Communities
Empowering students and providing them with the tools they
need to make healthy decisions, while promoting a caring and
inclusive environment is more important now, than ever before.
Rising Stars’ L.E.A.D. (Leadership. Awareness. Empowerment.
Development) program and activities are effectively designed to
keep students more engaged, while inspiring active involvement, creativity and positive student
leadership.
Preparing our students with the skills to lead and succeed requires a collective and community approach.
We strongly believe in the old adage that it takes a village to raise a child. This interactive workshop will
encourage parents to actively participate while they become familiar with a selection of unique activities
and challenges that are carefully designed to make immediate and measurable differences in student
success and the development of leadership competencies.
Presenter: Dr. Andrew Peters
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Bullying Prevention & Wellness Symposium
"Whoever receives one whom I send receives me" (John 13: 20)
Workshop C
Bullying and the Newcomer
This workshop is intended for parents and students who are new to the
country and want to better understand the problem of bullying and cyberbullying. It will provide parents with an overview of the Dufferin-Peel’s
Catholic Community, Culture and Caring safe schools related policies,
Dufferin-Peel’s school climate survey data, existing programs and supports
provided to Dufferin-Peel students, and the steps parents can take to help
address the problem and support their children involved in a bullying
situation. Recognizing that bullying situations can sometimes arise from
conflict and misunderstanding, communication strategies will be highlighted
to empower students and parents that are new to the country so as to de-escalate these situations when
they arise.
Presenters: Yvonne Bienko, Safe Schools Consultant
Joanna Kubica, Student Settlement Support Officer
Workshop D
Let’s Talk – Tips for Building Healthy Communication with your Family
This workshop will provide practical strategies for parents and caregivers to promote communication
with their children and youth. Helpful tips will be discussed to foster a healthy relationship, including
open, honest, two-way communication, problem solving and dealing with stress and conflict in the age
of social media. Add tools to your parenting tool box to raise resilient, responsible, and compassionate
children and youth.
Presenters: Lisa Bachmeier and Patty Campbell
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Bullying Prevention & Wellness Symposium
"Whoever receives one whom I send receives me" (John 13: 20)
Workshop E
When is My Child Just Being Anxious?
Practical Strategies for Parenting Worried and Stressed Children and Adolescents
Anxiety is the most common mental health problem in children and adolescents. It is difficult to
determine when a child’s worries require professional help. This session will cover typical and
problematic worries, stresses, and other anxious behaviour in
school-aged children. Participants will learn when to be
concerned, as well as how to help their children build resilience
and coping skills when facing the stresses of everyday life.
Presenter: Debra Lean, Chief Psychologist
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
Workshop F
Parent Awareness & Empowerment
Rising Stars Athletics & Education offers a rich variety of innovative programs designed specifically
for the benefit of students, schools, and communities. Each unique program promises to promote
the development of essential life skills, while making a positive difference in the lives of youth.
This interactive parent and community workshop will provide
a sample of engaging and experiential awareness activities
that will assist parents and guardians in addressing the issue
of bullying with their elementary aged children. This
informative and educational workshop will not only serve to
familiarize participants with a selection of unique and effective character development activities, but
will also allow parents and guardians to become more comfortable and creative in addressing
bullying through hands-on demonstrations and memorable connections.
Presenter: Erin Forman
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Bullying Prevention & Wellness Symposium
"Whoever receives one whom I send receives me" (John 13: 20)
Workshop G
The Wisdom Project:
A Video Narrative of one Family’s Journey of Hope and Resilience
The Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board’s Wisdom Project is
about filming narrative from students/parents/staff around aspects of
their high school experience. Students and families have a rich
experience in education and their story or ‘narrative’ has much to share
and to teach about real life experiences at school, some of the problems
faced, the solutions found and the many people who may have helped
along the journey. During the workshop, you will be introduced to a
mother and daughter, both on film and in person, to discuss their
journey of hope and resilience through a cyber-bullying episode. You will be invited to participate in
conversations about this narrative and provide your reflections on how this could further inform the
general parent community.
Presenters: Glenn Carley
Jacqueline Davis
Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board
Workshop H
Workplace Mental Health Specialist
Donna Hardaker is a Workplace Mental Health Specialist. Since 2003, she has been a content
developer, master trainer and consultant with the Canadian Mental Health Association’s awardwinning Mental Health Works program, helping workplaces improve their awareness,
communication and effectiveness in dealing with complex and often emotionally-charged situations
when employees are struggling with mental health issues.
Donna’s reflections on her personal experience of mental illness while trying to stay productive at
work contributed significantly to the tone and approach of Mental Health Works. She is a frequentlyrequested public speaker across Canada and the United States at education and training events, and
conferences for return to work and accommodation, disability management, human rights in the
workplace, applied public health, and employee wellness.
We would like to thank the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) for their sponsorship of this
speaker.
Presenter: Donna Hardaker
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Bullying Prevention & Wellness Symposium
"Whoever receives one whom I send receives me" (John 13: 20)
Workshop I
Physical Activity and Mental Well-being
There is evidence to suggest that there is a direct link
between physical activity and positive mental wellbeing. Attend this presentation and learn about this
link. Learn about the fun activities that are easy and
cost effective that you are able to do as a family in
your community. Also, hear about the collaboration
between Peel Health and Dufferin- Peel to support physical activity and mental well-being.
Workshop J
Special Education Policy and Programs – Ministry of Education
In her role as Manager in the Special
Education Policy and Programs Branch of the
Ministry of Education, Sandy had a leading
role in the development of Ontario's
Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions
Strategy (Strategy), developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Children and Youth Services,
Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, Ministry of the Attorney General, Ministry of Training,
Colleges and Universities and the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs. Sandy leads the implementation of
the Strategy as it relates to supporting students in Ontario’s publicly funded school boards.
In 2011, Sandy was selected by the Deputy Minister of Education to partner with the Mental Health
Commission of Canada to develop and implement a plan for workplace pilot sites for peer support in
mental health in public and private sector organizations, and to assist in the development of a
comprehensive evaluation plan for peer support in Canadian workplaces.
We would like to thank the Special Education Advisory Council (SEAC) for their sponsorship of this
speaker.
Presenter: Sandy Palinski
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Bullying Prevention & Wellness Symposium
"Whoever receives one whom I send receives me" (John 13: 20)
Workshop K
Student Health Survey
Student Health Survey
In 2011, we at Peel Health completed our Student Health
Survey! We looked to students in Dufferin-Peel Board
and Peel Board schools, from grades 7 – 12 to provide us
with information. We invite you to this presentation to
find out what teens in Peel are doing in the area of
nutrition, tobacco, alcohol, physical activity and other health related areas.
Bullying Prevention and Wellness Symposium 2013
AGENDA
8:30 a.m.
Coffee/Registration
9:00 a.m.
Welcome, Liturgy, Opening Remarks
9:30 a.m.
Keynote Speaker
10:30 a.m.
Break
10:45 a.m.
Breakout Session #1 (40 mins)
11:35 a.m.
Breakout Session #2 (40 mins)
12:15
Raffle/Feedback
Please register at: http://osca.ca/en/events/keydates/dpcdsb
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Bullying Prevention & Wellness Symposium
"Whoever receives one whom I send receives me" (John 13: 20)
St. Francis Xavier Secondary School
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