Join us for the GEPIC Virtual Thursday Spring Speaker Series
Grand Erie's Parent Involvement Committee (GEPIC) is a great way to get involved in the education of your child. The Committee is a direct link to Grand Erie’s Trustees and Executive Council by providing important input. GEPIC is comprised of parents who wish to support school councils and other parents across the system.
As part of GEPIC’s focus on education from a system perspective, Grand Erie has partnered to develop the Spring Speaker Series, bringing together knowledgeable representatives from the fields of education and mental health to offer attendees helpful practical advice, industry insight and professional experience.
Featured below are the current virtual events for the month of April. Scroll to the bottom of the page to register online.
Click here to learn more about Grand Erie's Parent Involvement Committee (GEPIC).
Mental Health & Well-Being During COVID-19
Overview: The Mental Health Lead, a School Social Worker and a Child & Youth Worker will talk about mental health promotion, targeted prevention and intervention services within Grand Erie. There will also be a discussion of the roles of Security, Belonging and Hope in maintaining positive mental health. Finally, the speakers will highlight the 5 Ways to Well Being which will be introduced during Mental Health Week 2021. Q&A’s.
- Date: April 1st
- Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
- Presenter: Piyali Bagchee, Mental Health and Wellness Lead; Katie Boyle, School Social Worker; Rachel Gee, School Child & Youth Worker – Grand Erie District School Board.
How to be an Ally for Marginalized Students
Overview: Understanding our own identity, being willing to learn and unlearn, and uplifting the voices of others are some of the foundational aspects of becoming an ally. In this workshop, a panel of speakers will explore these themes through sharing reflections about how to be an ally, through both their lived experiences and their roles within Grand Erie.
Speakers will include Jean Samuel, Equity Educator; Joe Tice, Lead Teacher Consultant, Indigenous Education; Jeannie Martin, Native Advisor, Indigenous Education; Jeff Benner, Co-Chair of the Safe and Inclusive Schools Committee of Grand Erie and Secondary Principal; and Kathryn Cottrill, Secondary Teacher and Equity Champion.
Please join us for an engaging and meaningful discussion about equity and inclusion and the importance of allyship for our children, youth and communities. Q&A’s.
- Date: April 8th
- Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
- Presenter: Christine Bibby, Safe and Inclusive Schools Lead – Grand Erie District School Board
Parenting in a Pandemic
Overview: As pare
- Date: April 22
- Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
- Presenter: Ann Douglas
- Ann Douglas sparks conversations that matter about parenting and mental health. She is a regular contributor to CBC Radio and a bestselling parenting book author. Ann is the creator of The Mother of All Book series and the author, most recently, of Happy Parents, Happy Kids and Parenting Through the Storm.
“I believe that writers can change the world. We have the power to tell stories and share ideas that can fuel social change. It’s both an extraordinary privilege and a daunting responsibility.”
Indigenous Education and Reconciliation
- Date: April 29th
- Time: 6:30 - 8:00 p.m.
- Presenter: Dr. Pamela Rose Toulouse, Full Professor & 3M National Teaching Fellow, Faculty of Education, Laurentian University.
Indigenous peoples have given an abundance of innovations and inventions to the world and in this presentation, Dr. Pamela Rose Toulouse will address the need for these contributions to be highlighted and shared within the context of Education and Reconciliation. She will explain why such actions will boost the self-esteem and success of Indigenous students and foster stronger relationships between all peoples.
Registration
Use the form below to register for the GEPIC Virtual Thursday Speakers Series.
Once your invitation has been processed by Grand Erie you will recieve an email confirming your attendance along with a Microsoft Teams virtual event invite link.
You will need to install Microsoft Teams to watch the event live.
Download Microsoft Teams for free here.
Get Out / Get Active - Colour House Event at Mohawk Park
The whole school participated in our Get Out/Get Active day on Monday, April 24th at Mohawk Park. Students played together in multi-grade Colour House groups as they rotated through 6 stations (scavenger hunt, parachute games, obstacle course, mural painting, play structure and snack). The weather was perfect for some exercise, team building, and co-operative learning.
Pink Shirt Day - February 22, 2017
The students of Echo Place School participated in several activities last month to educate and inspire our students to stand up against bullying and create a welcome, inclusive and safe school environment. Classes worked together to create posters that are now proudly displayed in our hallways.
They also worked in Colour House groups to create a welcome tree at our front entrance. Each student traced their handprint on coloured paper and wrote how they make this school a safe and kind place for everyone. On February 22, our school participated in Pink Shirt Day and classes presented stories and pledges at our school assembly, to share their understanding of the impact that bullying has, and why we will stand up against it.
The Amazing Math Race
On Tuesday, November 29th several families gathered in the gym to participate in our first Amazing Math Race.
Each family was given a passport and travelled from room to room solving fun math challenges. Each page of the passport was given a stamp when the challenge in that room was completed. When the passports were filled, the families returned to the gym for their prizes.
Everyone enjoyed cake, juice and coffee and all families received valuable resources to support their child's math learning at home. It was a great event.
Echo Place News for October 28, 2016
By Mr. Roberts Grade 6/7 class
Click to View the Echo Place News Report
Missing – Sound system
The sound system we use at assemblies for our microphone and to amplify our slide shows has gone missing from the stage area in our gym. The last time it was used was at our last assembly, on Sept. 30th. We have looked high and low, but have be unable to locate our system. It consists of a large amplifier, with multiple knobs and two large speakers. It is a Fender Passport 150 Pro. We are hopeful that if this system has been take out of the school, someone will spot it and let us know. The staff and students are all very sad that our only system has gone missing.
If you have any information about our sound system, please call 905-753-2931
Let's Chalk!
Echo Place Students participate in Let's Chalk Event
Friendship Bench
Our Friendship Bench is created in memory of Mrs. Linington and Mrs. Kauk, who were friends to everyone at Echo Place. This bench will be placed outside in our school yard, and will be used as a place for children to go when they need a friend. Several students from each classroom helped decorate the bench by supplying their painted handprints.
Golden Dustpan Award
At the end of each month, Ms. Reading (Custodian) will award the cleanest classroom with the Golden Dustpan Award. This month, Ms. Mancini and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK class was the winner. They will proudly display their trophy in the classroom for the following month.
At the end of the school year, the classroom that won the Golden Dustpan the most times will win a special surprise.
"We Believe In Clean"
September 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winner: Mrs. Wainwright's Grade 4/5 Class (below)
February 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Ms Mancini (in for Mrs. Springett) and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK Class (below)
January 2016 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Mussi's Grade 1 class (below)
December 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Woodley's Grade 2 class (below)
November 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Springett and Mrs. Grandpre's JK/SK class (below)
October 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Ms. Barrett's JK/SK class (below)
September 2015 Golden Dustpan Award Winners: Mrs. Mussi's Grade 1 class (below)