Tag Archives: TCDSB

PROFILE: CEC ADMIN

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The Toronto Catholic District School Board Administrative  department was created to give students the experience of working in an office environment. Located at 80 Sheppard Avenue East. The TCDSB is a friendly work environment.

Focus on Youth posing for the camera

Khris Persaud posing for the camera!

The Administration program runs for six weeks beginning at the end of June from 9am to 5pm on Mondays to Fridays. The Focus on Youth administrators plan and co-ordinate all events that prepare students to perform their jobs to the best of their ability. They are also responsible for making sure all the students are paid. All in all, they make sure that they deliver quality programming for their students and so that the students will find their summer to be a meaningful and valuable experience.

Focus on Youth Administrator looking great at work.

Janelle Curtis looking great at work!

This department was created to ensure that all the paperwork for all the Focus on Youth students was taken care of. Also, it was created to make sure that all the training sessions are planned out, and all the students are fully informed about their work environment. This program started when the Focus on Youth program started back in 2007.

Focus on Youth staff working hard!

Aaliyah Thompson working hard!

A typical day working in the Administration Department as a Focus on Youth student is quite fun. Khris and Aaliyah start at 9am. From there, they do what jobs their supervisors have for them. They are also in charge of creating newsletters for certain camps. At the end of the week, they also put post up time sheets for that week so that the rest of the Focus on Youth students can put in their hours. Khris and Aaliyah primarily work under Andre Fullerton and Janelle Curtis. Their day ends at 5pm.

Focus on Youth supervisor hard at work!

Janelle Curtis working hard!

Beautiful mural at the office.

Beautiful mural at the office!

Focus on Youth staff happy to be at work.

Khris Persaud happy to be at work!

Focus on Youth Administration Department

Focus on Youth Administration Department Left to right: Aaliyah Thompson, Janelle Curtis, and Khris Persaud

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SUMMARY

Organization: Toronto Catholic District School Board

Location:

80 Sheppard Avenue East

Toronto, Ontario

M2N 6E8

Dates/Times: 6 weeks starting in June from 9am to 5pm

Contact Information: 

Janelle Curtis

janelle.curtis@tcdsb.org

416-453-7892

Profile: Custodial Positions

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The Assistant Custodial position began along with Focus On Youth itself. 40 positions were created to help TCDSB custodians with their heavy workloads during the summer.

 

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An assistant custodian’s responsibilities are the light work of TCDSB custodians. As one of the custodians said, “They give us an extra pair of hands that makes us another step ahead, all those little things that they do for us add up to be a big help”

This job has helped students prepare for the real world. They will become more punctual, responsible, and more social. They will also learn that being in the industry is not as easy as it looks. They are given an opportunity to literally step in the shoes of the hard working custodians.

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Custodian student Gerald

 

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Custodian student: Ivyrose and Custodian: Tom

 

 

 

Special Event: Celebration of Success 2013

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Celebration of Success 2013

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The University of Toronto’s Hart House

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After a long six weeks, Focus on Youth’s 2013 summer program came to an end. To mark the occasion, staff and counselors were invited to a special Celebration of Success at the University of Toronto’s Hart House.

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Christina Martin and Stefan Brum, the evening’s hosts

Stefan Brum and Christina Martin served as the evening’s MCs, keeping things light. The counselors listened to speeches from their peers, and staff like Angela Gauthier, Director of Education. The audience was also treated to a first look at the special promotional videos created by the Media Team. After a series of student performances, the guests were treated to a delicious buffet lunch, courtesy of Hart House.

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The performances get the guests up and moving

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One of the Media Team’s videos

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The Media Team leads the crowd in the Wavin’ Flag dance

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After lunch, the main speakers of the evening took the stage. First, teacher Peter Ranson spoke about how he got involved in Focus on Youth, and what it meant to him. Then, Shawn Burgess of the St. Alban’s Boys and Girls Club talked about working with the Focus on Youth Student Counselors, and how it was an excellent experience. Finally, Orlando Bowen, Executive Director of the One Voice One Team Youth Leadership Organization, took the stage to tell a spellbound audience about his experiences with overcoming adversity, and becoming a better person because of it.

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Peter Ranson

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Shawn Burgess

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Orlando Bowen

Afterwards, guests were treated to a special slide and video show by the Media Team, documenting their long journey throughout the program, before Program Coordinator Andre Fullerton came up to thank the staff and counselor, and give special mention to fellow coordinators and all-around problem solvers Janelle Curtis and Ashisha Persaud.

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Janelle Curtis and Ashisia Persaud get special recognition from Andre Fullerton

With the ceremonies concluded, guests were invited out onto the patio to dance, grab some cake, take some fancy (or silly) photos at the Media Team’s photo booth, and get some info on their upcoming post-secondary education from booths set up by local universities.

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Keenon Peterson and Jaeson Villanueva run the photo booth

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The media team hard at work

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Mingling on the patio

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The photo booth

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Students consider their future

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A guide to the celebration can be found here:

Celebration Program (2)

Profile: Champs Mentoring Champs

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Champs Mentoring Champs began as a  homework club in 2007 for children ages 4-11, with only 11 children. The following year they applied with the Focus On Youth program in hopes of expanding this initiative. Their first camp started at Blessed Mother Teresa with 25 children, and has since increased to more than 265 participants aged 4-17 within the year.

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The main goal of “Champs Mentoring Champs”  is to allow youth to develop leadership and interpersonal skills that will be necessary in overcoming any life challenges. They hire employees from the following organizations: Focus On Youth, Tropicana, and Service Canada’s Summer Jobs. When kids turn 14 they have the opportunity to volunteer with the program and eventually apply as a camp counselor at the age of 16.  Ultimately, they want the youth to have a positive and memorable experience.

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The youth are able to play sports and enjoy other various physical activities, while building relationships among their peers and counselors. As a result, the participants and staff have gained something invaluable.

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SUMMARY

Organization: Champs Mentoring Champs

Location: 2103-250 Brenyon Way, Scarborough ON, M1B 3G3

Ages: 4-17

Date/Times: 6 weeks in the summer

Contact info: Daunette Jackson

(647) 622 7984

champsmentoringchamps@hotmail.com

Special Event: Caribana Launch

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This year marked the 46th annual Scotiabank Caribbean Carnival in Toronto, formerly know as Caribana. The kick-off event was hosted by the Toronto Police Services on Thursday, July 25th. The Service has had a float in the parade since 1991, and this year the theme was “Diversity in Motion.” Hundreds of campers from the Footsteps to Success program attended this event. It began with a live steel pan performance of songs like Bruno Mars’s “Just the Way You Are,” and Rihanna’s “Diamonds,” to which everyone in the room sang along to. There was also a  performance by a Juno award winning artist, and notable speakers such as:  Chief William Blair took the stage. After the speakers, women in gorgeous colourful, costumes adorned with feathers and face paint walked down the main stairs in the lobby and got everyone up on their feet – including Chief Blair and the other policemen! The campers then headed outside to continue the festivities. The rest of the day was filled with lots of music, singing, dancing, and authentic Caribbean food! Campers climbed onto the float as the ribbon was cut, signifying the official opening of Caribana.  In addition, the radio station 98.7 FM set up a tent with a DJ playing music that had everyone dancing. Overall the event was a huge success, enjoyed by many.

Focus on Youth Promo #3

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By Adrian Camara and Khris Persaud

Focus on Youth Promo #2

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By Zoe Melo and Keenon Peterson