Below are documents from past RealRenewal Workshops.

Beyond the Buzzwords: Putting Community Schools Into Action

Sept. 25, 2010
Regina, Saskatchewan

Presentations

• Community Organizing (Powerpoint presentation)
• Real Renewal Workshop – Backgrounder (Powerpoint)

Handouts

• Five Types of Community Schools
• A Review of Public Participation and Community Consultation Models
• Building Communities of Hope selected excerpts
• Sirota on Neoliberal Eduation
• Bibliography

Action Planning Notes

• Small groups: Where do we want to go?
• Final plenary: What are we going to do?

Other Documents

• Workshop brochure
• Workshop Agenda

WORKSHOP AND STRATEGY SESSION

Saturday, Sept. 25
9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
St. Mary’s Anglican Church
3337 15th Ave., Regina

Facilitated by Dr. Rick Hesch, Aboriginal Education and Anti-Racism in Education Consultant Free of charge. Childcare provided. Continental breakfast and lunch included.

With presentations by:

• Maureen Johns, Executive Director, First Nations, Métis & Community Education Branch
• Delphine Melchert, Executive Director, Saskatchewan Community Schools Association
• Michael Tymchak, Director, The Saskatchewan Instructional Development and Research Unit at the Faculty of Education, University of Regina
• Kim Weiss, Director, Prairie Sky School

Saskatchewan has a policy that encourages all schools to function as community schools. But what does this mean?  How can we put community voices at the forefront of school planning? What is community-based education? Have community schools lived up to their original intent? If not, why not? How can we ensure our schools genuinely respond to community needs and aspirations?

In this workshop we will look at how active communities have stepped up to take a stronger role in their children’s education. Then we’ll talk about the future in Saskatchewan: How do we want our community schools to function? How do we achieve schools that are true hubs of our community life? What are the creative possibilities for re-energizing the community school model?

Who should attend?
Parents, community coordinators, students, academics, community volunteers, education decision-makers, Elders, urban planners, RM/town/band/city councillors, language and culture advocates, adult educators, early educators, childcare workers, community programmers – anyone interested in putting the ‘community’ in ‘community school.’

Seats are limited. Please register early.

REGISTER (closed)

Background Reading

• Community Schools
• Aboriginal Education

RealRenewal acknowledges and thanks the SGEU Education Sector and the Regina Public Interest Research Group for helping support this workshop. 

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Advocating for our children, our schools and our communities

Workshop

Sunday, March 14, 2010

1:00-4:30 p.m.
Pasqua Neighbourhood Centre, Regina
263 Lewvan Dr (off Wascana)

A workshop led by Jacqui Strachan, parent inclusion coordinator of the successful Ontario lobby group People for Education, followed by discussion of the issues from aboriginal, rural and urban perspectives.

Roundtable discussion leaders:
Aboriginal/First Nations issues and ideas
Dr. Eber Hampton
Dr. Rick Hesch
Dr. Rick Sawa

Rural issues and ideas
Tracy Birss
Dawn Reich

Urban issues and ideas
Rene Dumont
Trish Elliott

Sask Assoc of School Councils presentation:
Sally Cleland

Public Presentation and Discussion

ACCOUNTABILITY AND STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENT: WHO IS BEING SERVED?

Are all the required tests, grids and reports helping teachers teach and students learn? What are the alternatives?

Featuring Jacqui Strachan, People for Education, Dr Rick Sawa, editor of Assessing Students’ Ways of Knowing and Dr Rick Hesch, teacher and anti-racism educator.

Monday, March 15, 2010
7:00-9:00 p.m.
La Bodega Restaurant
2228 Albert St – Upstairs Dining Room

Workshop agenda

Educational Assistants brochure

Registration is Now Closed

Location

The Pasqua Neighbourhood Centre’s street address is Lewvan Drive (Pasqua St), but it is accessed off Wascana Street. Turn onto Sherwood Dr., then onto Wascana. It is a large brown former school building.

La Bodega is at 2228 Albert St. The discussion will be held in the upstairs dining hall. Seating is first come, first served.

Childcare (Sunday only)

Free supervised childcare is available for Sunday workshop attendees. We have rented the Pasqua Neighbourhood Centre Indoor Playground, a fun and active space, and a smaller breakout room for snacks and activities. It is important that you pre-register for childcare.

Transportation

If you have transportation needs, please contact RealRenewal. We will try our best to help.

These events are free

But we appreciate your financial support to help cover costs. A donation basket will be available at the workshop, or you can donate online on our home page.

Sponsors

RealRenewal, University of Regina Faculty of Education, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, CUPE, Regina District Labour Council, Regina Public Interest Research Group (RPIRG)