The 5th Annual Waterloo Region District School Board PIC-WRAPSC Parent Conference was held on Saturday, April 16th at Bluevale Collegiate and it was a huge success!!   387 adults and 144 children were registered for this gorgeous day, with a final total attendance in 392.  Attendees  settled in to hear this year’s keynote speaker, Monique Howat.   Monique charmed the audience with a mixture of stories, humour, and tools of how to raise confident and motivated children.

Following the keynote, parents/guardians attended sessions throughout the day with fulfilling topics ranging from Food: How it Affects Learning and Behaviour, CODE Parent Math Kit, Supporting Your Child’s Stress Management, Family Habits of Happiness, Science: STEM Skills in Career Education, and so many others.  Notes were scribed in all sessions, and will be compiled for posting onto the PIC website.   The various sessions were hosted by Bluevale’s very own Choose 2 Lead students.    A great added feature to this event was that during the lunch break, attendees had an opportunity to mingle with 10 exhibitors, all relevant to the theme of student well-being.

Childcare was top notch this year!   The 89 children that attended (ranging in age from 2-11) were entertained in the gym and were led by an amazing team of WRAPSC-PIC volunteer, Kerri Getliffe and University of Waterloo early childhood students.  Their endless efforts were additionally supported by more Bluevale Choose 2 Lead students.   Activities included (but definitely not limited to!): face painting, crafts, sports zones, movie time, and outdoor fun.   Also new to this year’s event, all of the young participants got a colouring book on their way home as a thank you for taking their time to attend with their parents.

A deep sense of gratitude goes out to the presenters & exhibitors, WRDSB staff, all of the businesses that supported through event donations, and of course Bluevale Parent Council, The Choose 2 Lead students and Principal Mark Hunniford for once again graciously hosting this event.   The committee was exceptional this year, and the event was put together with a true sense of synergy!   There was much instant feedback from attendees throughout the day, and everyone echoed the deep appreciation for this event that truly has such an important need within our community.

See you next year on Saturday, April 15, 2017!

Event summary provided by Jordan Jackson, event chair

PIC3

Attendees of the PIC-WRAPSC Parent Event participate in a workshop.

PIC2

WRDSB System Administrator Jim Woolley leads a parent workshop at the event.

PIC1

Attendees wait for keynote speaker Monique Howat to start the conference.