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BE BOLD FOR CHANGE: Women Leading the Shift is an Inside Job!

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BY: ALYSSA MAHADEO

The strength of women has been demonstrated and tested through each passing decade. Gone are the years where women were considered inferior to men, now fighting for their own rights to be treated as equals and allowed the independence they can achieve through their own greatness.  

For years women have been treated as fragile, delicate creatures that need to be managed with the utmost care, and while each new year brings more challenges directed at women, women have never backed down; they rise to the occasion and meet those challenges head on. Women are the pillars and strength of the community; they are the glue which bonds families together, and they are the nurturers of future generations.

On March 8th, International Women’s Day is celebrated across the world, celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. This year’s women’s day campaign is to ‘Be bold for change,” prompting women to band together in an effort to help forge a better working world, one that is more inclusive and gender equal.

Last year, organizations and individuals around the world supported the ‘Pledge For Parity,’ a campaign committed to helping women and girls achieve their ambitions; challenge conscious and unconscious bias; call for gender-balanced leadership; value women and men’s contributions equally; and create inclusive flexible cultures.

According to the World Economic Forum, they predict that the gender gap won’t close entirely until 2186. This is much too long to wait. Around the world, IWD can be an important catalyst and vehicle for driving greater change for women and moving closer to gender parity.

In celebration of women throughout the GTA, CEO and Founder of WOMEN of ACTION, Catherine Anne Clark organized a public and intimate conference for Women’s Day 2017 at the Hard Rock Cafe in Toronto, inviting women to take charge and lead the shift, by taking action and influencing the inevitable changes that will take place in the coming year.

Inspired by “The Butterfly Effect,” a term coined by Edward Lorenz that describes the concept that small causes can have large effects, WOMEN of ACTION is delighted to celebrate the lives of powerful women, leaders devoting their lives to the empowerment of women through a mission of creating awareness against unsavory actions against women.

“Catherine is a truly inspired visionary, a woman that through a journey assisting another young woman experienced her ‘aha’ moment. This awakening showed her that our world’s women needed to begin the Celebration of Positive Action on our globe that is being accomplished by many unsung and sung women leaders.” Armed with over thirty years experience as an entrepreneur, with a history ranging from hospitality, financial planning, global commodity trade, manufacturing, child care, senior care and of course – motherhood, Catherine now acts as advocate for the Women of our World, celebrating the milestones of achievement of our world’s women leaders working on the front lines creating positive change in all areas of life.

Women empowerment is a global phenomenon that is reaching all areas of life and our world today. On Sunday women came together to celebrate their strength and courage by sharing their personal journeys of finding themselves, navigating the world dominated by men, conquering their fears and learning to embrace who they are and partake in the self-love movement.

Throughout the day guests were invited to listen to speakers such as Lorree Appleby, Nisreen, Mama-Foda, Carol Starr Taylor, Catharine Allan, Shalini Dharna, Carmela Lamanna, Mary C. Fidilio, Helen Snell, and Ameera Ameerullah. Each of these women brought a unique experience to share with the audience coming from all different walks of life, and professional background. A common theme among each of the talks dealt with self-love, focusing on self-discovery, identifying your passions, and overcoming the daily obstacles and chaos of everyday life. Many of the women shared very personal experiences of finding their truth, coming through the darkest of times, and then using their experience to help others.

Each talk was tailored to make the audience partake in some introspection, whether it was providing healing energy, asking for forgiveness, changing their perception, or freeing themselves from the prison they put themselves in whatever form it might take. Freeing yourself from the prison you have put yourself in.

“I work to empower everyone I meet,” shared Kym Niles, wellness coach at I Can & I Will. “My personal mantra is to leave you better than I met you.”

Many who face difficult times or the challenging obstacles that come in life many times assume the role of a victim. They become hopeless, things don’t seem to work in their favor however, all of the women that spoke at Sunday’s celebrations were proof that you can come out victorious in the end. It might take some time, lessons will be learned, but many of these women have found the light at the end of the tunnel and come out as better women because of it.

Live music lunchtime entertainment was provided by Rose Cora Perry & The Truth Untold, with specially catered food by the Hard Rock Cafe. In the afternoon guests were encouraged to get active with a special Piloxing workout lead by Nikki Monique, a talented, outgoing and passionate Solopreneur with a Wellness & Fitness business that enriches the lives of women, children and their single parents. Her unique workout had the audience on their toes with a combination of Pilates, Boxing, and Dance routines to get their blood pumping and heighten the energy in the room.

In addition to the speakers, exhibitors lined the room displaying their products and services offering a variety of products like cruelty-free makeup, jewellery, natural health products, holistic life solutions as well as handmade products, and organizations interested in spreading awareness of their cause. The event sponsored two important organizations in support of women’s rights and advocacy including The Assaulted Women’s Help Line and Amnesty International.

To end the day guests were treated to a special dance performance by Sabrina Shyne and giveaways sponsored by various exhibitors in attendance.

International Women’s Day 2017 and beyond will thrive by taking ground breaking action that truly drives the greatest change for women. Each one of us, with women, men and nonbinary people joining forces, can be a leader within our own spheres of influence by taking bold and meaningful actions to accelerate gender parity. Through purposeful collaboration, we can help women advance and unleash the limitless potential offered to economies the world over.

BE BOLD FOR CHANGE! The women of today, shape the world for the generation of tomorrow!

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Record entries for JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition

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Winner of the 2023 staging of the JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition ,Joel Miller, (third from left), shares a moment with representatives of the Jamaica Cultural |Development Commission (JCDC), organizers of the event. From left are Shaun Drysdale – Drama and Theatre Arts Development Specialist, Andrew Brodber – Director, Arts Development and Training and Executive Director, Lenford Salmon.

BY RUSHANE FERRON

The Jamaica Cultural Development Commission (JCDC) has received an unprecedented number of submissions for this year’s FiWi Short Film Competition. Launched earlier this year, the competition drew an impressive 47 entries. Currently, 17 shortlisted films are available for public viewing on the JCDC’s YouTube channel, with winners set to be announced on October 24th.

Executive Director of the JCDC, Mr. Lenford Salmon, expressed pride in the competition’s growing success, stating, “This record number of entries reflects how Jamaicans are embracing the programmes offered by the JCDC. While the Commission is well known for preserving and showcasing our culture, we also recognize the importance of using technology to engage, particularly with our youth. The FiWi Short Film Competition is a perfect example of how we can bring our culture to life in the digital age. The fact that it’s four years old and already experiencing this level of growth is a promising sign for the future.”

Drama and Theatre Arts Development Specialist at the JCDC, Mr. Shaun Drysdale, attributes this year’s spike in entries to the increasing interest in filmmaking, fueled by the proliferation of social media platforms that support storytelling through visuals.

We are living in a digital age. Filmmaking is now in the hands of the average person on the street via his, or her cell phone. Add to that the inherent creativity of Jamaicans and you are left with a potent combination, which when given the correct environment, can reap tangible rewards. That is what we are experiencing at this time,” Mr. Drysdale said.

The JCDC FiWi Short Film Competition seeks to promote Jamaican culture through the production of films ranging from 3-5 minutes in duration. The films must be based on set criteria, and primarily centred around a Jamaican proverb.

This year’s proverbs are: “Sweet mout fly follow coffin go a hole”; “Puss nuh hab han, but him tek him foot wipe him face”; “Keep clear a ole house, les dem fall dung pon you”; “Rockstone a riber bottom nuh feel sun hot”; and “Finger tink, yuh cyan cut eh trow ‘wey”.

In addition to the proverbs, participants were also given two special themes around which to build the treatment of their films, based on concepts provided by two sponsors. These are: “SEAS IN FOCUS: Uniting for marine managed areas”- National Conservation Trust Fund of Jamaica (NCTFJ) and “Need a passport quick, Get it with just a click”- Passport, Immigration and Citizenship Agency (PICA).

Mr. Drysdale further noted that this year’s shortlisted films represent a variety of the possible genres with eleven dramatic works, two animation films, one comedy, one documentary and two science fiction films. Three of the participants are from the youth category, which is for filmmakers between 12-18 years old and the remaining 14 from adult category.

In addition to viewing the short films online, the public will have an opportunity to view at a special screening to be held on National Heroes’ Day, Monday, October 21st, 2024, as a feature of JCDC National Heritage Fest and Family Fun Day being held on the south lawn at Devon House in St Andrew.

The FiWi Short Film Competition was started by the JCDC in 2021 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The competition is the brainchild of the JCDC’s Drama and Theatre Arts Unit and encourages Jamaican amateur filmmakers to examine selected Jamaican proverbs and based on their interpretation create the treatment for a short film.

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York Catholic is leading the province in educational achievement

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BY PAUL JUNOR

The Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO), which administers the Grade 3, 6 and 9 assessments across Ontario and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT), recently released the 2024 results. For many schools across the province, EQAO results are a snapshot of how students are doing compared to their peers in other schools at the same grade level.

The York Catholic District School Board (YCDSB) has maintained a high level of consistency with respect to the outstanding performance of its students on the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) and the Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT). In a media release on Wednesday, October 9th, 2024, details were revealed about the positive achievements and exemplary accomplishments of its students.

EQAO results were released on September 26th, 2024. The focus was, “Mathematics Achievement Remains an Area of Focus but Sees Gradual Growth Over Time with Some School Boards Showing Significant Increases; Literacy Achievement Remains High but Shows Some Decline.” The data was based on the 2023-2024 school year during which over 570,000 students wrote the EQAO assessments at the elementary and secondary levels on the English and French-language school systems.

For students who wrote the Grade 3 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics:

  • 71% met the provincial standard in reading compared to 73% in 2022-2023, and 73% in 2021-2022.
  • 64% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in writing, compared to 65% in 2022-2023 and 65% in 2021-2022.
  • 61% of Grade 3 students met the provincial standard in mathematics, compared to 60% in 2022-2023 and 59% in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 6 Assessment of Reading, Writing and Mathematics:

  • 82% met the provincial standard in reading, compared to 84% in 2022-2023 and 85% in 2021-2022.
  • 80% met the provincial standard in writing, compared to 84% in 2022-2023, and 84% in 2021-2022.
  • 50% met the provincial standard in mathematics, compared to 50% in 2022-2023 and 47 % in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 9 Assessment in Mathematics:

  • 54% met the provincial standard, compared to 54% in 2022-2023 and 52% in 2021-2022.

For students who wrote the Grade 10 Ontario Secondary School Literacy Test (OSSLT):

  • 85% of first-time eligible students were successful, compared to 85% in 2022-23 and 82% in 2021-2022.
  • 52% of previously eligible students were successful in 2023-2024, compared to 63% in 2022-2023 and 85% in 2021-2022.

John De Faveri, Interim Director of Education of the YCDSB writes, “We are always looking for ways to provide a better school experience, but today is a time to celebrate our students and staff for their excellent academic achievement. I want to particularly highlight the incredible work that is being done in mathematics, which we see in these results. Mathematical literacy is such an important life skill and we are happy to share a love of numbers with our students.”

Results from the Grade 3, 6 and 9 EQAO Mathematics results show improvement in Mathematics compared to 2023. In addition, with respect to reading and writing results for Grade 6 there has been a consistent steady upward rise in the performance of students as 89% and 90% of students met or exceeded provincial standards when compared to the province’s average of 82% and 89%.

Elizabeth Crowe, Chair of the Board of Trustees for YCDSB states, “EQAO results are just one of the ways we see how York Catholic is leading the province in educational achievement. As a Catholic learning community, we want to see every child succeed and EQAO results help us measure our progress toward that noble goal.”

Overall, the percentage of students who participated from YCDSB in Grade 3 and 6 EQAO were 97% and 98%, respectively. For Grade 9 Math assessment there were 93% of eligible students and 97% in the OSSLT.

Any parents or guardians interested in learning about the 2024 EQAO and OSSLT results and individual school results for their children can check the EQAO’s website: https://www.eqao.com/results/.

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York Catholic District School Board plans open house for future high school students

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Credits: Pch.Vector

BY PAUL JUNOR

There is: planning, preparation, and organization that parents, guardians and caregivers must make in York Region as they prepare their children for high school. For those who chose to send them to a high school at the Catholic board, there are open houses planned to make this process easier to navigate.

In a press release on Thursday, October 10th, 2024, details were revealed about these open houses. It notes, “The open houses will highlight key aspects of each school, including administration, programs, graduation requirements, uniforms, school structure, student opportunities and more. In addition, information about the registration process, including registration dates, deadlines and documents needed to enroll, will be discussed.

The media release mentioned the seven regional programs, and ten Specialist High Skills Majors (SHSM) programs. They include:

Advanced Placement

Programs with an extended and enriched curriculum allow students to earn credits or advanced standing at most universities.

English as a Second Language

(ESL) and English Literacy Development (ELD)

English as a Second Language and English Literacy Development programs assist English language learners from diverse linguistic and education backgrounds in attaining English language proficiency.

French Immersion (FI)

Students who completed the Elementary French Immersion programs, or equivalent can continue with the immersion program to earn a French immersion certificate upon graduation.

High Performer Athlete (HPA)

An academic-based program for student-athletes participating in competitive-level athletics. Students benefit from a flexible timetable to help balance their academic and athletic commitments and earn high school credits for the work they put into their training.

International Baccalaureate (IB)

A rigorous and intellectually challenging pre-university course of study that allows students to earn an IB Diploma upon graduation, recognized in Canada and abroad.

Regional Arts (RAP)/Integrated Regional Arts Program(iRAP)

Students specialize in drama, dance, visual arts, digital media arts, instrumental music, or vocal music- while obtaining their high school diploma. In the iRAP, students experience their learning through an integrated model where the curriculum is explored in relation to the interconnectedness of the individual, the community, and the world.

STREAM Program

Students explore real-world challenges and use the design thinking process to develop critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills, guided by the traditional Catholic social teachings. This academic program uses an interdisciplinary approach to inquiry and problem-based learning.

Specialist High Skills Major (SHSM)

Students can obtain a diploma with a specialist in either: Arts and Culture; Aviation and Aerospace; Business; Health and Wellness; Hospitality and Tourism; Information and Communication Technology; Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services, Manufacturing; or Non-Profit. Every YCDSB school offers a SHSM program.

Parents or guardians who live in York Region and are interested in any programs can check: Website: www.ycdsb.ca

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