Those were the days of summer. You think you had mosquitos....

Get involved in your school- parents. Aboriginal voices need to be heard

Hi, I want to encourage you to participate in the mainstreeam - influence what is going on.  Below is info for school council training.  Please consider it.  Let me know how it goes :-)

Edmonton Public Schools - School Council Training - SIGN UP TODAY!!!
Hello:
What could be more fun than coming to an event where you get to eat yummy appetizers, connect with school council folks from all over the District AND  learn a ton of practical, easy to use and implement ideas to take back to your school community?!?
 School Council Training is a great way for newbies and experienced members to start the new school year.  All school council members (parents, teachers, principals, community members) or potential members are invited and welcome to attend School Council Training.  So - even if you’re not currently a school council member but are interested in finding out more about school councils please plan to join us.
 WHEN:  MONDAY, NOVEMBER 7 – starting with an appetizer reception (yes you can plan to eat supper here!) at 5:30 p.m. with the session beginning at 6:30 p.m.
 You’ll get to choose up to three fun-filled informative sessions to attend over the course of the evening.  Topics include:
 Session 1: Novice News An introduction to what school councils are, what they do, who they benefit.
 Session 2: Who Chairs? Who Leads? Learn how to be a positive, influential member of the school council, even if you’re not the “Chair.”
 Session 3: Table or Tablet – Is One More Valued/Valuable Than the Other? Tired of the “same old faces” doing “all of the work”? Pick up engagement strategies that can result in more people being involved.
 Session 4: No More Awful Meetings Why are some meetings great and others are awful? Take a quick look into the “Anatomy of a Meeting.”
 Session 5: Who’s Who in This Zoo? Who can your school council work with to strengthen support for your students?
 Session 6: Bylaws—Everything You Need to Know Do you need them? What are the benefits? What about liability insurance?
Program:   5:00 p.m.                    Registration begins.

5:30 – 6:30 p.m.         Appetizer reception/networking

6:45 – 8:45 p.m.         Choose from a variety of sampler sessions
9:00 p.m.                    Leave with practical tools you can begin using with your school council immediately!
 WHERE:   Centre for Education, One Kingsway – Blue building across from the Royal Alexandra Hospital.

Free underground parking (front of building, down the ramp).  Please note there is construction on Kingsway so directions to get here depend on which direction you’re coming from.  If you’re not familiar with how to get into the building given the ongoing road work, please email janice.bell@epsb.ca for further instructions that will make your drive easy!

 REGISTRATION:     Click on http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PB3TXS2  to register online or call Kim at 780-429-8040 to register by phone.
If you have further questions, please call Janice at 780-429-8279.  Hope to see YOU on November 7th!
Janice Bell , Communications Consultant, Partners in Education, Edmonton Public Schools, One Kingsway, Edmonton, Alberta T5H 4G9 , P: (780) 429-8279  F: (780) 429-8288, E: Janice.Bell@epsb.ca  W: www.epsb.ca

Check out our new webpages at http://www.epsb.ca/familiescommunity/index.shtml 

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Aboriginal Women's Professional Association promo video - check it out

If you are not a member, why not ladies?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNYA1DipT30&feature=player_embedded#t=0s

Courageous is a film second to none both technically and the acting.

Courageous is a film second to none both technically and the acting.  This new generation of faith based films is comparable to anything Hollywood produces. Nothing amateurish here.  The characters could be your next door neighbor or a co-worker, the scenarios are contemporary and relevant.   I was pleasantly surprised.  It was bold in the sense of faith presentation in the lives of the characters and it was real.  I didn’t have the feeling of anything being contrived.  The pace was steady and fast enough to keep you engaged and not guessing ahead to what was coming.  Real choices, real challenges that we all face in one form or another are played out with real consequences, not all a fairy tale ending or ‘trust God and it will work out’ mentality.  Practical and hard hitting yet encouraging and healing.

Initially I went to see the movie to support visual art with a message the same way I see Aboriginal movies to support the Aboriginal community.  As an Aboriginal person who believes that Jesus is the Messiah, I support Christian efforts.  This is a primary way to influence the media – support good wholesome ‘entertainment’ and Hollywood will actually produce some of it. 

The primary message of the movie was fatherhood and what it means.  Just because it focuses on fathers doesn’t let women off the hook though.   There is something for everyone in this movie, both young and old, men and women.  The movie is brilliant in this regard that it touches so far and so vast an audience.  Everyone has a father and everyone has relationships.

It is well worth the drive to south commons.  I encourage you to see it this week as I don’t know how long it will play in the theatre.  Go and support faith based media.  Better yet, go and be inspired, challenged and provoked.  Let me know what you think of it.

Thought:   What does a generation of fatherless children look like?