Heather Latter
The Rainy River District School Board is supporting the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO) in hosting a regional parent forum at La Place Rendez-Vous here May 10.
“It’s a bit of a coup for us because as a board we have been trying to get it closer to Fort Frances,” said Director of Education Heather Campbell.
“Last year it was held for the first time in Thunder Bay and it was held in March,” she noted.
“There were issues because of roads and driving.
“We really pushed the EQAO people to consider Fort Frances and they did,” Campbell added.
The forum is open to anyone across the region, particularly if they are interested in helping their children with math, which will be a focus of the event.
Campbell said the forum is composed of two sessions.
During the first one, Dr. Lynda Colgan, an author and renowned educator from Queen’s University in Kingston, will talk about the importance of mathematics, equipping parents with effective strategies and resources to support their child.
The Outreach Team then will deliver information about EQAO’s province-wide assessment program.
“She’s passionate about math and she’s passionate about parent engagement,” Campbell said about Dr. Colgan, who recently was presented with the Partners in Research National Mathematics Ambassador Award, which recognizes the outstanding contribution of Canadians in the field of mathematics.
“She’s very concerned in looking forward across North America.
“There is what she calls ‘Mathitude,’” added Campbell. “People have a fear or hesitation towards math, and any sort of negative speak or talk around math can really set people up for a lack of confidence.
“She really thinks that parents and educators can work to instill that confidence and that curiosity and that love of math,” Campbell noted.
“Math is in everything we do.”
The EQAO will cover each participant for a continental breakfast and lunch, as well as mileage according to government guidelines, which will be explained further during the forum.
Those interested in signing up can do so by sending an e-mail, including your first and last name, school, and e-mail address, to ParentForum@eqao.com
Registration also is available through the local public school board by contacting Kathie Zatulsky at 274-9855 ext. 4971.
The deadline to register is April 24.
Meanwhile, to continue with the theme of math, the Rainy River District School Board will be hosting family math nights at district schools.
“May will be Math Month,” said Campbell.
What prompted the move was that the Parent Involvement Committee applied for a Parent Reaching Out Grant last spring and was successful in receiving more than $18,000 to support school councils.
“It’s a little bit more low key,” Campbell explained.
“Parents come with their children and they can participate together at different centres, which really helps bring it to life and gives them strategies and some really fun activities they can do at home.”
A parent engagement night will be held May 1 at Sturgeon Creek School, followed by family math nights at Crossroads (May 5), Donald Young (May 7), J.W. Walker (mid-May), North Star Community School (end of May), Riverview (May 14), and Robert Moore (May 29).
