BY KATHY MCDONALD
As we are busy preparing for Christmas and various other Holy Days we must remember to keep our finger on the education pulse. This season is an especially busy time for everyone and it’s easy to let our academic obligations be relegated to a second-place priority status. I would like to remind everyone about important deadlines as well as provide tips for students that are undergoing exams. But before you stop reading this article because you have no kids that this information may be relevant; think of your neighbours, family or friends that could benefit from this column. Spread the news; we all play a part in and we all benefit from a well-educated society.
Many students are in the process of preparing for exams. To those who have not prepared as well as they should; DON’T PANIC. All’s not lost. You need to really settle down, focus and concentrate on your school work. Put away all distractions…… Yes! including the phone and use these last few weeks wisely. Practice practice practice. I remember an old adage that my math teacher, Miss Harris would say to me “10 problems a day keeps failure away”. This can be applied to almost all areas of study because the essence of this adage is that each day we should be reviewing or practicing problems as this will help solidify the concepts for students. The whole idea being that the concepts or subtle nuances of a question will become glaringly obvious with repetition.
It is of great importance to get a lot of rest during exam time as well as proper nutrition. The importance of feeding the body as well as the brain cannot be stressed enough. No pun intended as this leads me to my next recommendation. Do not sweat the small stuff. Take some time to go for a walk or perform a physical activity that relaxes you. This is very important to your mental health to minimize stress. In essence we need the whole body to be performing at optimal capacity so students can perform to their maximum potential; this includes both their physical and mental state.
Now, I would like to highlight some very important dates that pertain to the Peel District School Board (PDSB). I would also encourage all readers of this columns that have students in other Boards to visit the respective websites for the appropriate deadlines. The deadline for the PDSB French Immersion (FI) or Extended French is January 27th 2017 at 4pm. Students that miss the deadline can still apply but will be placed on an automatic waiting list and will not be part of the random selection process. There are information sessions pertaining to the International Baccalaureate (IB) Program for grades 6-8 on January 11th 2017. If you are interested in enrolling at W.G. Davis Public School then attend the session at the Mississauga Convention Center, located at 75 Derry Road West. For those students living South of the 401 that are interested in this IB program, they should attend the information session at Glenforest Secondary School located at 3575 Fieldgate Drive Mississauga. These students will be required to attend Bristol Road Middle School located at 210 Bristol Road East in Mississauga.
Students that are not currently enrolled in the PDSB can apply to the High Skills Program until December 16th, 2016 at 4pm. This program is available to all students regardless of their skill level and is available for all pathways. The programs include: Arts and Culture; Business; Construction; Health and Wellness; Hospitality and Tourism, Information and Communication Technology; Justice, Community Safety and Emergency Services; manufacturing; Non-Profit; Sports and Transportation.
The first of the PDSB public consultations took place on Saturday December the 10th at the HJA Brown Education Centre at 5650 Hurontario Street in Mississauga. By all accounts it was successful and a lot a powerful feedback was provided. At the PDSB we absolutely value all voices as we endeavor to make the We Rise Together Action Plan an authentic and effective solution to issues around equity and inclusion facing a lot of Black and Caribbean students. If you missed the first one there is still an opportunity to let your voice count. On Saturday January 21st, 2017, there will be another community forum. It will be held at Turner Fenton Secondary School, located at 7935 Kennedy Road from 10- 2pm.
So, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays once again. Study hard. Good luck on your exams. I hope you will all be successful in gaining entry into your programs of choice. Be safe and come back rejuvenated. So, until then Walk Good. Belle Marché.
