The idea behind TED is simple: spread ideas worth spreading.

On October 13th, we at The Academy will inded spread some ideas worth spreading by hosting our third TEDx event, this one under the theme of “Machines and Minds.” You can learn more about the event at www.TEDxYMCAAcademy.com

TED is huge. Every day, 450,000 log on to the TED site. Here’s an interactive map posted just a couple of days ago to show just how broad TED’s reach has become: http://blog.ted.com/2012/09/28/who-else-is-watching-tedtalks-a-visual-map/

The way it works is pretty simple. Over a few hours, we have some really interesting people deliver a talk on whatever they want, as long as it relates to the theme we’ve chosen. We fill the auditorium at the Central Y then have up to a thousand people or so follow our livestream. Later, we post videos of the event on our site and the TED folks watch these. If they really think that one or two are world-class, they post them on their site and that gives our TEDxYMCAAcademy speaker a chance to be seen not by a thousand people, but potentially by hundreds of thousands.

And that’s how ideas worth spreading actually spread.

We think that education should work more like this. Great ideas should become viral ore easily and not get lost in the constant noise of education battles. That’s one of the amazing things about a TED event – it’s not about point and counterpoint, it’s about a buffet of ideas for the mind. You pick and choose what is to your taste.

We’re pretty confident that the event we’re holding on October 13th will be our best one yet. Over the next few days, we’ll finish loading speaker bios to our site. While the event sold out quickly (the term being used loosely, as the event is free), we’ve had many requests for more tickets. While we’re limited by our capacity, please do show up in the auditorium of the Central Y by 09.45 on the day of the event and we’ll fill any and all empty seats. We’ve always been able to accommodate people who show up at the door.

And between now and then, please do spend some time looking at the TED site, get a sense of the wealth of ideas TED speakers share, and a taste of what you’ll be able to sample and enjoy on the 13th.

See you then!

Don Adams, Head of School

The YMCA Academy’s third TEDx event will examine the relationship between the concepts “machine” and “mind” as they affect our ideas about the diagnosis and treatment of learning disabilities, differentiated instruction, and assistive technologies.

For details, or to register, visit tedxymcaacademy.com

Oct 13th 2012
 9:30am-2:00pm
15 Breadalebane St. 3rd floor, Auditorium of the Central YMCA

As many of you know, one of our new initiatives over the past year has been to establish TEDxYMCAAcademy.  It would not be unrealistic to say that the TED and TEDx series of events have become an important part of our popular culture over the better part of this past decade.  Our friends at TED self-describe TEDx events like this:

TEDx was created in the spirit of TED’s mission, “ideas worth spreading.”  The program is designed to give communities, organizations and individuals the opportunity to stimulate dialogue through TED-like experiences at the local level.

At TEDx events, a screening of TEDTalks videos — or a combination of live presenters and TEDTalks videos — sparks deep conversation and connections.  TEDx events are fully planned and coordinated independently, on a community-by-community basis.

As The Academy is a Community School in the truest sense of the word, we love being able to include many of you, our Toronto friends, in our event.  In addition, we livestream each TEDx event, bringing thousands of viewers from around the world, as do the videos from the events that we post on our site. Attending (and, for us, curating) a TEDx event is a lot of fun!

So, our TEDxYMCAAcademy 3.0 (it’s hard to believe that we’re already on our THIRD event!) has the theme “Machines and Minds.”  As is the case with theme-based TEDx events, we leave this open to interpretation – it is designed to be intentionally elastic.

We really hope you join us on October 13th.  Tickets are always free and you can get yours here: machinesandminds.eventbrite.com

We are all looking forward to seeing you there!

Don Adams – Head of School

Dear Parents / Guardians and Students,

Just a reminder that tomorrow (Saturday – May 12th) is our 2nd TEDx event – The Heart and Soul of Learning Disabilities.  It takes place at the Central Y Auditorium (20 Grosvenor Street, Toronto) from 10am to 2 pm.  If you are still interested in attending but have not registered for it, please visit:  http://www.tedxymcaacademy.com

If you are unable to attend in person, the event can also be viewed live at (the streaming starts at 10am):  http://new.livestream.com/tedx/events/875960

October 1st, 2011 – TEDxYMCAAcademy

This TEDx event is hosted by The YMCA Academy, a high school in central Toronto, serving students with learning differences. TEDxYMCAAcademy will gather together experts to speak about learning disabilities from the following points of view:

Scientific
Behavioural
Educational
and Social

Please join us at the Central YMCA in Toronto for this inspiring event. For those unable to attend in person, we will stream the event live on the TEDxYMCAAcademy website!

October 13th, 2011 – School Tour & Curriculum Night

We would like to invite you to our upcoming Curriculum Night as well as a Tour of our New Home on Thursday October 13th!

The tour will start at 6pm for any of our Parents, Guardians and Students that would like to see and tour our new facilities at 15 Breadalbane Street, 3rd Floor in the new Family Development Centre.  Our guests will then have the option to stay for light refreshments to visit with fellow Academy families and staff and have a brief break before the Curriculum Night Presentation begins.  Our Curriculum Night consists of a general overview of information related to planning for post-secondary education, secondary school graduation requirements (including Community Involvement requirements), and Cooperative Education.  We will also speak about the IEP and IPRC processes.  All Parents, Guardians and current Students are welcome to come to either the tour, Curriculum Night or to stay for both.  Please see below for a general outline of the evening’s events.

6:00pm – 7:00pm – Tour of New Location

7:00pm – 7:30pm – Light Refreshments

7:30pm – 7:45pm – Curriculum Night Introduction

• Curriculum Support
• Guidance
• Special Education

7:45pm – 8:15pm – General Overview of:

• Secondary school graduation requirements
• Forty-hour Community Involvement requirements
• Cooperative Education

8:15pm – 9:00pm – Post-secondary Planning

• College / University Information & Application Process
• Apprenticeship Training
• Special Education Support
• Scholarships / Financial Aid

Again, all Parents and Guardians are welcome and current Students are also encouraged to attend.   Please RSVP to (416) 928-0124 ext. “0” or via e-mail bonita.ip@ymcagta.org.  Please RSVP by Friday October 7th.  And if you know of  someone who might benefit from The YMCA Academy, please let them know that we will be having an Open House at the end of November for anyone who is interested in our program or would like a tour of the school.  Please check our website periodically for further details regarding all Academy upcoming events.

We hope to see you on October 13th!

October 20th, 2011 – ADHD Brain and Strategies Presentation

Just a reminder that the Education about the ADHD Brain and Strategies for Supporting ADHD Teens Parent Speaker Series presentation by Ann Clarkson, Professional Certified Coach, is taking place October 20th, 2011, at the Academy at 7pm.

If you are planning to join us to learn more about the ADHD brain and key strategies to effectively manage ADHD with your teenager, but have not RSVP yet, please kindly do so as soon as possible via e-mail to bonita.ip@ymcagta.org or call us at 416-928-0124 ext. 0