Apr 8th, 2014 – Spring 2014 Open House

YMCA Academy Events

Our Spring 2014 Open House, happening on Saturday, April 12 from 11am until 1pm, is the perfect opportunity to discover The YMCA Academy. We invite you to tour our school, meet our teachers and staff, and learn about how we support our students’ academic and personal success through special education integration, health and fitness, technology, experiential learning, and mindfulness practices.

We’re proud of the difference The YMCA Academy makes in the lives of our students. Here’s what the parents of our current students are saying about our program:

“My son was anxiety ridden and terrified about attending high school. I have noticed a huge improvement in his confidence since he started at The YMCA Academy. He enjoys attending school for the first time ever in his school career.”

“[The teachers] really understand children with learning disabilities. Compassionate caring teachers who really go the extra mile for their students. Willing to work with parents to get our children on track so they can succeed both academically and socially. Can’t say enough positive things about the school and its teachers! They really care about the kids. It’s not just a job to them, it’s a passion. Every school should share the same philosophy! It’s about the kids and helping them succeed in life!”

The YMCA Academy is located at 15 Breadalbane Street in downtown Toronto, in the Central YMCA building near Yonge and College streets. Find out more about our Spring 2014 open house here.

Mar 27th, 2014 – Shovel & Spoon Program P1.

YMCA Academy Community, Environmental Stewardship, Experiential Learning

As part of The YMCA Academy’s continued commitment to experiential learning, the Grade 12 Communications Technology class (TGJ4O) is participating in the “Shovel & Spoon” program available to us through one of our community partners, The Stop Community Food Centre. The program consists of a series of field trips to the beautiful Whychwood Barn. During the duration of the program at Whychwood Barns the students are fulfilling course curriculum expectations for their classes.

We are very fortunate to be participating in this unique program again. It offers opportunities beyond those that we can offer on our premises and includes valuable lessons about healthy living and healthy choices, which we feel are important for all students to learn.

The “Shovel & Spoon” program includes, but is not limited to, some of the following activities:

  • Cooking in the community kitchen (i.e. canning and preserving, cooking on a budget, knife skills, low-sugar baking, cooking for one, and cooking for various health conditions)
  • Planting in the greenhouse (i.e. food growing, sprouting, plant propagation, container gardening, seed starting)
  • Hands-on learning about nutrition and wellness
  • Shared reflection and journal writing

The Communications Technology class be responsible for creating a ‘mini-documentary’ for each Shovel & Spoon Session, which will eventually be turned into a full DVD video production, assembling all student works, and outlining the entire Shovel & Spoon Program as part of the culminating assignment.

Our first session on March 26th, gave an introduction to the Shovel and Spoon program, a tour of the green house and community kitchen, and an introduction to proper knife skills. To wrap-up the session students got the chance to assemble their own delicious Tostadas as a pre-lunch treat!

 


 
Check out the rest the rest of the pictures on our Facebook page!

March Break Details

YMCA Academy Updates

Dear Parents / Guardians,

Just a reminder that Friday – March 7th is the last day of classes before March Break.

The first day of classes after the break is Monday March 24th.

Mar 5th, 2014 – LDAO Breakfast at the Sheraton

YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom

5 students from the YMCA Academy had the pleasure to attend LDAO’s 7th Annual learning & Leadership Corroborate Breakfast at the Sheraton Centre Hotel on the morning of March 5th. We were treated to a gourmet breakfast, and Jonathan Mooney’s inspiring story about his experiences navigating school systems throughout his youth. Thank you LDAO once again for the opportunity to participate! We had a blast!

A litte more about the LDAO’s learning & Leadership Corroborate Breakfast:

“This year’s event promises to be at once entertaining and educational. Welcome to a new world, where the good kid doesn’t sit still. A world where some of the smartest kids in the class don’t read well or don’t read at all. A world where the popular kids don’t make eye contact, don’t shake hands, and definitely don’t back slap. Renowned writer, neuro-diversity activist and author Jonathan Mooney vividly, humorously and passionately brings to life this wonderful world of neuro-diversity: the research behind it, the people who live in it, and the lessons it has for all of us who care about the future of education. You will leave this talk fundamentally changed and empowered.”

 

Mar 4th, 2014 – QSA student interest group

YMCA Academy Beyond the Classroom

The YMCA Academy proudly presents our school’s first Queer-Straight Alliance student interest group.  This group was inspired after Planned Parenthood’s T.E.A.C.H. program (Teens Educating and Confronting Homophobia) presented a workshop at our school last fall.  The QSA meets every few weeks to discuss issues pertaining to gender and sexual identity and ways to ensure that our school community is a safe, inclusive place for everyone.  This past week, staff and students worked on a mural inspired by artist and social justice activist Keith Haring.  We had pizza, played tunes and enjoyed each other’s company.  Stay tuned for more updates about the cool stuff we do in this club!

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