National Child Day is celebrated in Canada on November 20 in recognition of our country’s commitment to upholding the rights of children and two historic events: the 1959 signing of the UN Declaration of the Rights of the Child and the adoption of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child in 1989. 2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child sets out the rights of children with 54 articles that provide us with a solid road map of what is needed to raise healthy and happy children and youth. https://www.nationalchildday.ca

The Alberta School Councils’ Association (ASCA) Board of Directors invites you to participate in an online Member Engagement opportunity. Saturday, November 23, 2019, 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm A virtual, interactive opportunity for ASCA Member School Councils to receive updates from, and provide input to, the ASCA Board of Directors. With special guest, Minister of Education, Adriana LaGrange. Presented via Zoom Conferencing Webinar platform. Join from a PC, Mac, iPad, iPhone or Android device. Participate in polling and Q&A (on individual devices). Submit discussion questions in advance by email to wendyk@albertaschoolcouncils.ca Gather as a school council group, host groups of school councils, create a community event. Register in advance at: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Mf77783lReCaIRZdr5p_Fw Participants will be entered into a draw to win a complimentary 2020 Conference Registration Ticket (includes entry for Friday April 24 Opening and Full Day Saturday April 25, excludes travel and accommodations). More information: https://www.albertaschoolcouncils.ca/about/board-of-directors/member-engagement?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Online%20Engagement%20Opportunity&utm_content=Online%20Engagement%20Opportunity+CID_209ff90300fb4edb08a1e1e545dd179a&utm_source=MailGuide%20email%20marketing%20software&utm_term=More%20information

Classes resume on Monday, January 6, 2020.

Family Literacy Day® is a national awareness initiative created by ABC Life Literacy Canada in 1999 and held annually on January 27 to raise awareness of the importance of reading and engaging in other literacy-related activities as a family. January 27, 2019 is the 20th Anniversary of Family Literacy Day! Taking time every day to read or do a learning activity with children is crucial to a child’s development, improving a child’s literacy skills dramatically, and can help a parent improve their skills as well. https://abclifeliteracy.ca/family-literacy

About Bell Let’s Talk: The Bell Let’s Talk mental health initiative is focused on 4 key action pillars: 1. Anti-stigma 2. Care and Access 3. Research 4. Workplace Leadership Since its launch in September 2010, Bell Let’s Talk has partnered with more than 900 organizations providing mental health services throughout Canada, including major donations to hospitals, universities and other care and research organizations. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

Pink Shirt Day is held on the last Wednesday of February. http://www.pinktshirtday.ca/

Every day substitute teachers provide professional service in schools throughout Alberta. Substitute teachers carry the same daily responsibilities of instruction, management and supervision of students that regular classroom teachers do. The substitute teacher, however, has the added challenge of not being able to work with students on a long-term basis while being responsible for ensuring that each day is used productively. Each year, the Association designates one week as Substitute Teachers’ Appreciation Week. In 2019/20 this week is scheduled for March 9 - 13, 2020. https://www.teachers.ab.ca/For%20Members/ProfessionalResources/SubstituteTeachersResources/Pages/Substitute-Teachers'-Appreciation-Week.aspx

Pi Day is celebrated on March 14th (3/14) around the world. Pi (Greek letter “π”) is the symbol used in mathematics to represent a constant — the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter — which is approximately 3.14159. Pi Day is an annual opportunity for math enthusiasts to recite the infinite digits of Pi, talk to their friends about math, and to eat Pie. https://www.piday.org/