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. . . V O T E . . .
Oct 16-26: Online
Oct 23-26: In Person
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905-477-7000 Ext 8683
Empowering Parents - Inspiring Students
Quality Education For All
ELECT
Christine Calanchie
School Trustee
Wards 3 and 4
选
投票
Home Schooling
Did you know that the York Region District School Board is involved not only in the public school system but also in helping those who wish to Home School their children.
During COVID-19, out of necessity, homeschooling became the norm. Some families continued with this form of education, others returned to the public system. If you are thinking of changing formats, perhaps I can help in this process and interpret Procedure NP 357.01 In the meantime, this link provides some information you can read.
https://www2.yrdsb.ca/sites/default/files/migrate/files/GL-homeschooling.pdf
Gambling
April 4, 2022 -
Ontario launched a regulated iGaming market, allowing licensed operators to offer online gambling services to residents. This was a groundbreaking move for Canada, positioning Ontario as the first jurisdiction in the country to allow private online gaming operators to enter a regulated market. This reform shifted online gambling from an exclusively state-run activity (via the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation or OLG) to a broader ecosystem governed by iGaming Ontario under the oversight of the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario (AGCO).
Players can now access a wide variety of gambling options, including online casinos, sports betting, and poker, through licensed operators, all of which are held to high standards of fairness and security.
A recent National Post articles stated:
"The Ontario Student Drug Use and Health Survey concluded that 12.4 per cent of the male high school students and three per cent of females had gambled online in 2023, but that was just a year after the province set up its commercial gambling program — and the overall volume of bets placed since then has exploded."
“It seems like the government has offloaded this to the families and parents. It’s giving lip service to responsible gambling.”
How does this affect our school-aged children, some as young as 9 or 10? The answer is probably obvious.
Schools play a crucial role in preventing underage online gambling by providing education and support. Here are some ways schools can help:
* Educational Programs
* Monitoring and Awareness
* Community Engagement
* Evidence-Based Engagement
My goodness - there is so much material on this developing issue. If you need help, please reach out to me so we can address the problem.
Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (or AI) has taken over like a hurricane. It is no longer just a future idea—it is already being used in classrooms every day. Last year, no one was talking about it. This year.....EVERYONE is using it! But what affect does this have on schools and their students? It offers a combination of challenges and opportunities - good and bad. Students are already misusing AI tools in dishonest or unauthorized ways. Copying contents word for word with no editing and not mentioning that AI was used on a project are just two of the challenges facing teachers. Today, students are encouraged to 'think' and be creative - unlike students in the 1950's and 1960's where teaching mainly consisted of rote memorization - but AI has the potential affect of eroding these critical thinking skills. A staggering 85% of teachers and 86% of students used AI in the 2024-25 school year, according to “Schools’ Embrace of AI Connected to Increased Risks." Critical thinking and research skills are being singled out as the main reasons of concern.
How can teachers benefit from using AI? It can help a teacher do their job more efficiently, effectively and can save time. On the down side, teachers are having difficulty in determining whether a student’s work is their own. So what is the solution. Because AI is so new, the best way for schools and districts to address risks and concerns that come with increased use of AI tools is by providing professional development for teachers and AI literacy lessons for students. But this is not happening quickly enough.
N.B. These comments were developed using research of the topic and were not generated by AI!
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