The symposium kicked off with a keynote speech from Dr. Ivan Joseph
In May, the Annual Parents as Partners Symposium began with a virtual keynote speech from award-winning coach, educator, and leader Dr. Ivan Joseph. Live-streamed on the Durham District School Board (DDSB) YouTube channel, Dr. Joseph (@DrIvanJoseph on Twitter) focused on tips for practicing optimism and positive thinking in all aspects of life.
“On average, happy people live eight years longer than unhappy people,” said Dr. Joseph. He explained this is because when you’re happy, your brain produces more dopamine, which makes you not only happier, but more motivated and courageous.
“Thoughts influence your beliefs, which influence your actions,” stated Dr. Joseph. He acknowledged that maintaining a positive mindset all the time is impossible. However, there are changes a person can make in order to boost their happiness.
These include: writing a heartfelt letter to someone who made a difference for you and delivering it to them in person, writing down three positive things that happened to you in a day, keeping a gratitude journal, and “thought stopping” – the practice of replacing negative thoughts with positive ones.
Dr. Joseph concluded, “In order to be successful in life we have to persevere. Optimism is all about your belief system. What you focus on is what you get. Model your behaviour after what you want your kids to take with them.”
Parents as Partners Symposium Speaker Series
Continuing the virtual symposium, the Parents as Partners Committee posted helpful videos on their website twice per week for three weeks, ending in mid-June. Everyone can catch the series here https://sites.google.com/ddsb.ca/pap2020stem/connect-virtually.
These videos were presented by DDSB educators and community partners, and focused on Indigenous education, well-being, healthy habits, literacy, and more.
Jason Rodman, Principal of Goodwood PS and Co-Chair of the Parents as Partners Symposium, explained what viewers can expect from the speaker series, “They’ll learn strategies for educating children in hard-to-navigate situations, and be able to put a face to local DDSB and Durham Region initiatives with our presenters. Viewers will also receive information that supports the Ignite Learning Strategic Plan: Well-Being, Equity, Success, Leadership, Innovation and Engagement.”
Heather Mundy, DDSB Superintendent of Education for Parent and Community Engagement, noted why the Parents as Partners Symposium is particularly important to the DDSB and the greater community at this time, “Due to COVID-19, we adapted from our initial theme to be responsive to our current climate with a focus on well-being. The Parents as Partners Symposium gives parents the opportunity to take away strategies to stay positive for children and families, especially during social isolation and Distance Learning. We are very proud of the work of the committee co-chairs and members who have supported this event over the years.”
SOURCE: DDSB
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