Together, with parents and guardians, staff and community members, District School Board of Niagara’s (DSBN) annual Parent Involvement Committee (PIC) Conference took place on Wednesday, November 6. With almost 500 caring and invested family members in attendance, this year’s conference saw its highest turnout to date.
This year, the theme focused on understanding and managing Student Well-Being in the Digital Age. This topic was chosen as a direct response to ongoing issues with students’ cell phone use and the increase in mental health concerns. Given technology’s impact on most areas of our lives, understanding its effects on children and youth has become essential.
“As my children get older, I realize how crucial it is for me to be involved in their educational experiences and to support the link between home and school. The PIC conference allows us to learn about relevant issues that might be affecting our children and is an opportunity to acquire some resources that could be used to assist them at home,” said Amber Hughes, Parent Involvement Committee Co-Chair.
Over 20 presenters hosted 13 sessions, each offering insight, knowledge and practical strategies for parents and guardians. In addition, 30 community partners and organizations from across Niagara were in attendance, sharing the many resources and supports they have available to students and families. Sessions addressed several issues found in the digital world, focusing on topics such as:
Addiction to technology - how to notice when your child is exhibiting signs of being addicted
Social media awareness - including benefits and downsides, with deeper dives into how social media influences mental health, identity and anxiety
Cyberbullying - sharing practical strategies for how to spot, address and report it
Digital literacy and online safety - exploring how to teach children and youth to navigate the internet responsibly and with confidence
Parenting in the digital age - offering strategies for fostering healthy relationships between children and technology
“It was important to us to deliver meaningful sessions that address the real issues and concerns that have been raised by the parents and guardians in our community,” said Darren Van Hooydonk, Superintendent of Student Achievement and Well-Being and Parent Involvement Committee liaison. “We are fortunate to have such incredible community partners and staff who committed a great deal of time and effort to make this year’s conference possible.”
“We are always striving to provide students with the best learning environments and education possible, and having the opportunity to work with our parents, guardians, family and community members helps us to do just that. With parents engaged, students succeed,” shared Kelly Pisek, Director of Education.
“I'm grateful to everyone who played a role in making this conference the success that it was and I'm excited to put what I've learned into practice,” added Hughes. “I hope that parents and guardians left feeling a bit more empowered about supporting their child’s educational journey.”