MEMORANDUM



Dear Parents and Guardians,

Week 9 ends with the start of November and a very successful Hallowe’en day at school. The staff and students definitely got into the spirit of the day and dressed in the common theme of a hospital. The below photo is the office staff and admin “gowned up” to welcome visitors to Bear Creek Hospital.

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If you used the on-line interview sign-up format, would you please take 30 seconds to do the following quick survey: . Thanks very much.

A week or so ago, I mentioned I saw small birds called juncos. They are signals that Winter and snow is upon us. Well, they are NEVER wrong! November 1st … and snow!

We would like to wish members of the Christian faith, in the Bear Creek community, a very reflective All Saints’ Day, on November 1st. All Saints' Day, also called All Hallows' Day, Hallowmas, or Feast of All Saints, in the Christian church, a day commemorating all the saints of the church, both known and unknown, who have attained heaven.

We would like to wish members of the Wiccan faith, in the Bear Creek community, a very reflective Samhain, on November 1st. Samhain is a Gaelic festival marking the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year. Traditionally, it is celebrated from 31 October to 1 November, as the Celtic day began and ended at sunset.

We would like to wish the members of the Bear Creek community who observe Jainism, a very reflective Gyan Panchami, on November 1st. Gyan Panchami is a festival celebrated by Jains (people belonging to Jain sect) to acknowledge the importance of their scriptures. Gyan signifies the natural light of the soul. The difference between right and wrong also comes to us through knowledge or Gyan. So, Gyan Panchami is celebrated in Jainism to invoke the inner soul and to achieve inner peace. It is the day to honour the knowledge spread by the holy books. Jain people observe a very difficult fast on this day. It is believed that by observing this fast, the foolish or ignorant can also become wise and get happiness and good luck.

This week, we change terms. Term 1 ends on Tuesday the 5th, and term 2 starts on Wednesday the 6th. This doesn’t really affect many people other than the Civics/Careers students. They switch classes on Wednesday, i.e. if they had Civics, they now have Careers, and vice versa.

I am always open to suggestions and comments, so please contact me at twilkinson@scdsb.on.ca if you have something on your mind.

E-newsletters are available on the Bear Creek website:

Please follow me on Twitter: @VPWilkinson

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If you see a topic you want to learn more about, you go to the item and press the “Ctrl” button while you click your cursor and you will be “magically” transported to the topic you chose. To “magically” transport back to the table of contents, go to the “Back to the Table of Contents” words at the end of each article, and press the “Ctrl” button while you click your cursor and you will be “magically” transported back to the table of contents.

Table of Contents

Me To We – October Food Bank Collection 3

Remind…is Back! 3

Inclement Weather Days & Road Conditions 4

Wednesday, November 27th – Trades Day 4

Take Your Kid to Work Day – Wednesday, November 6th 5

Student Achievement Awards 2020 In Honour of Marion Drysdale 6

Holiday With A Hero 9

School Council – Thursday, November 21st @ 7:30 10

Night of Excellence - Thursday, November 7th 10

Treaties Recognition Week Takes Place November 5 to 9 10

Bear Creek Concert Band 10

Breakfast Club 11

November 20 Is Eat Well To Excel Day In Simcoe County! 11

Is Vaping Better Than Smoking? 12

School Grounds Are Smoke Free 24/7 13

Keeping SCDSB School Communities Informed On Labour Updates 14

Explore Your Future In Medicine 14

Host Families Needed For International Students 14

Safe Water In Our School 14

It’s All About The Connection 15

Celebrate Peace In Your Community 15

Jam Sessions 16

CMHA Youth Services Fall 2019 16

Badminton Club – will be back on November 7th 17

Volunteer Opportunities 17

Sports News 18

Important Dates 19

Positively Speaking 19

The Link Between Stress And Depression … And The 10 Simple Words That Could Help 19

Parent’s Corner 22

Parents and Teenagers: Always Battling? 22

Parent Pointer Calendar for the following week 24

P.S. (Positive Statement): 25

What’s Happening at BCSS?

Me To We – October Food Bank Collection

The members of the Me To We group would like to thank all of the participants of the homeroom Fall Food drive. The Barrie Food Bank is coming on Monday to pick up the food.

Thanks to Ms. Macdonald and the Me To We group for all their efforts.

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Remind…is Back!

I am sorry for the delay regarding the Remind text alerts. On September 3rd, the Remind app changed and they started to charge those with accounts over 150. It has taken me a bit but I have been able to establish separate classes of about 150 to be able to keep sending text messages.

Anyway, we are back in business!

I administer the Bear Creek Remind app and regularly send out text alerts regarding the school. Some of these may not relate to you but I generally try to incorporate texts that apply to everyone. I have attached the instructions of how to do this. These alerts are for students, parents, and staff. You can access this by entering the number (306) 992-6969, and text @bcsskodiak. I have added the feature that you can reply to me.

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Inclement Weather Days & Road Conditions

The Simcoe County Student Transportation Consortium (SCSTC) provides student transportation services within Simcoe County for the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board (SMCDSB) and the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB). The role of the SCSTC includes contracting bus and vehicle operators on behalf of the SMCDSB and SCDSB.

As winter weather approaches, the SCSTC reminds all students and their families that school vehicles may be cancelled due to poor weather, road conditions or visibility concerns.

Home‐to‐school transportation for Bear Creek is cancelled when the SCSTC announces:

1) All school vehicles are cancelled in Simcoe County; or

2) Central Weather Zone (Bear Creek is in the Central Weather Zone) school vehicles are cancelled in Simcoe County

These announcements are made by the SCSTC through the local media. Cancellation information for Simcoe County is also available through the SCSTC website at: simcoecountyschoolbus.ca or via Twitter @SCSTC_SchoolBus . When school vehicles are cancelled in the morning, the decision remains in effect for the entire school day.

If you are on Remind, I will let you know almost immediately when the cancellation message comes through.

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Wednesday, November 27th – Trades Day

We have university and college visits for most of semester 1. According to Global News (, in December, 2017), “with 67 per cent of Canadians facing an average of $22,084 in debts after graduating university – and only 49 per cent actually working in jobs that require a university degree according to CareerBuilder – sometimes exploring other career avenues may be a viable option.

One area of the job market that is currently in demand, however, are jobs in trades.

“The job market is good and we are seeing a growth in demand from employers for trade jobs,” Jodi Kasten, managing director at Indeed Canada, says. “Demand in general contractors on Indeed, for example, increased 111 per cent since 2016. This could be attributed to the strong housing and condo boom in major cities across Canada,”

Another thing to consider, Kasten says, is that as a society, we need tradespeople.

“Their work impacts nearly every aspect of our lives,” she says. “They help build and maintain the homes we live in for example, and people will always need an electrician for electrical work or a plumber for plumbing work.”

And if you’re analytical and good at problem-solving, these jobs will be right up your alley, Kasten says.

Math skills are also important and so are soft skills as you’re often dealing with clients and suppliers to complete a job, she adds.”

Bear Creek is having a Trades Day on Wednesday, November 27th.

More information will follow.

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Take Your Kid to Work Day – Wednesday, November 6th

I LIKE school and I LEARN a lot.

BUT when people ask me WHAT I want to be when I GROW up – I am LOST.

I am confused. How do I find my CAREER path?

Take Our Kids to Work Day will take place on Wednesday, November 6th, 2019!

What is the Take Our Kids to WorkTM program?

Take Our Kids to WorkTM is an annual program in which Grade 9 (or equivalent) students are hosted by parents, friends, relatives and volunteers at workplaces across the country every November. The program supports career development by helping students connect school, the world of work, and their own futures. Employers who register for this program are eligible to apply for the Canada's Outstanding Employers Award. Take Our Kids to Work™ is our signature program which began in 1994 in the Greater Toronto area. Today, students across Canada, from Nunavut to Newfoundland participate in the program.

On the first Wednesday of every November, grade 9 students spend the day in the workplace of a parent, relative, friend or volunteer experiencing and learning about the world of work as they begin to explore possible career paths.

Research suggests that today’s students will have multiple careers over the span of their working years. To be successful, they will need to master both new technologies and complex social and organizational systems. Learning in school becomes more effective and relevant if students can see where their education might lead them in the future. Spending a ‘day in the life’ of a profession or workplace is a fun and fascinating way to explore the world of work, think about career options, and make informed educational decisions.

Tips To Involve All Students

□ Encourage parents and friends to take their son, daughter and/or a friend with them to work.

□ Bring your own child to work with you if he/she is the appropriate age.

□ Work with the cooperative education teacher to identify potential workplaces.

□ Encourage your school and school board to involve its own employees.

□ Invite workplaces that have been involved in the past to expand their participation. ​

 

Who Benefits From the Take Our Kids to Work Program?

The program benefits students, teachers, schools, parents, communities, organizations – and Canada’s future workforce.

Students: Experience the world of work first hand.

Students benefit because it’s an opportunity for them to explore career options, through:

□ Understanding the importance of staying in school by learning first-hand what skills are required in today’s workplace

□ Thinking about what aspects of their “work day” they liked and what they didn’t

□ Exploring career options in a practical way and gain a better understanding of just how many career choices are open to them

□ By spending a day in the life of a working adult, they develop an appreciation of their parents’ work and motivations

Parents: Introduce your child to the world of work.

 

Parents benefit because it helps them prepare their children for the future by:

□ Discussing work experiences with their child

□ Beginning a career discussion based on actual experiences

□ Enriching their child’s experience with discussions before, during and after the workplace visit

Teachers: Help your students experience a day in the life of a mentor.

Teachers benefit because the Take Our Kids to Work™ program allows real life experiences to bridge with learning in the classroom.

□ Helps make the connection between education and future career paths

□ Demonstrates the complexity of career choices and the benefits of early exploration

□ Allows teachers and students to explore career options in practical ways

See Mr. Hawes, in Guidance, or your teen’s grade 9 teacher for more information.

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Student Achievement Awards 2020 In Honour of Marion Drysdale

OSSTF/FEESO invites secondary student writers and artists to submit creative work exploring 2020’s Student Achievement Awards theme: One Strong Woman. We all know one strong woman – mother, sister, teacher, activist, grandmother, best friend, who has guided, inspired, and encouraged you to move forward in your life.

Share that one strong woman with us. How has that one strong woman impacted your life? Get inspired by this year’s theme “One Strong Woman” and write a poem, short story or essay. Or create a drawing or painting that explores the theme. We even have a category for digital productions such as videos and songs. Share your creative vision with the world! A student, with the support of an OSSTF/FEESO member who has worked directly with the student, will submit an original piece of writing, visual art or digital media based on this year’s theme, “One Strong Woman.” The nine provincial winners will receive a cash award of $1,000.00 and will be invited to the Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation Annual General Meeting in Toronto to receive their award. The Student Achievement Awards celebrate the work of OSSTF/FEESO members (teachers and education workers) and their students. Find out which of the nine categories you will enter at .

Entry Procedures

1. Students ( Submit an entry, as well as the appropriate entry form, to your sponsoring teacher or education worker in one of the Divisions and Categories listed.

2. Supporting OSSTF/FEESO Member ( Support students with their submission, select one entry per category, and submit it to your school/worksite OSSTF/FEESO staff representative, branch president, or school Student Achievement Awards coordinator. Please write detailed account of your role to submit with student work.

3. Sponsoring School ( Select one entry per category to submit to your LOCAL OSSTF/FEESO District office no later than November 15, 2019.

4. OSSTF/FEESO District Office ( Select a local district winner in each category and forward the winning entries to the OSSTF/FEESO Provincial Office no later than December 6, 2019. Once submitted to the Provincial Office, district winners will be judged at a regional level and then provincial level.

Select Division A or B. On the entry form, check off one box only in the correct category. Please see specific criteria for each division and category. Adult learners are encouraged to participate at the level at which they are studying.

Division A - Prose and Poetry

There are six distinct categories in the Prose and Poetry Division:

( Category 1: Prose and Poetry, English Intermediate, 9-10 Academic

( Category 2: Prose and Poetry, English Intermediate, 9-10 Applied/Essential

( Category 3: Prose and Poetry, English Senior, 11-12 University

( Category 4: Prose and Poetry, English Senior, 11-12 College/Workplace

( Category 5: Prose and Poetry, French, Intermediate 9-10

( Category 6: Prose and Poetry, French, Senior 11-12

Prose and Poetry Division Submission Guidelines

Please note that prose and poetry compete against each other in the judging. All entries must be reflective of this year’s theme. To be eligible for judging, entries must:

• Be word-processed.

• Have a length of 750 words or less.

• Include an original title on the entry form, not just the name of the contest.

• Include a detailed written or recorded description of the role of the OSSTF/FEESO sponsoring staff member (teacher or education worker) played in the development of your entry (to be completed by either the student or the staff member – max 125 words). Note: Submission will not be accepted if role of staff member is not included.

• Ensure that you have read the guidelines; your entry form will be DISQUALIFIED if not complete and attached to your submission.

• E-mail entries are not accepted.

• Each school may submit only one entry per category for a total of six entries in the Prose and Poetry Division.

Division B - Visual and Media

There are three distinct categories in the Visual and Media Division. Submissions can either be French or English for all categories in the visual and media division:

( Category 1: Visual, Intermediate, 9-10

( Category 2: Visual, Senior, 11-12

( Category 3: Media, French or English, 9-12

Visual entries may include painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, digital illustration, mixed media, sculpture, assemblage, installation, etc. Media includes animation, original music, slam poetry and spoken word, podcast and video submissions.

Visual Division Submission Guidelines

To be eligible for judging, entries must:

• Include a detailed written or recorded description of how your art relates to the theme. (Max 250 words or 2-minute video or audio recording)

• Include a detailed written or recorded description of the role of the OSSTF/FEESO sponsoring staff member (teacher or education worker) played in the development of your entry (to be completed by either the student or the staff member – max 125 words or 2-minute video/audio recording). Note: Submission will not be accepted if role of staff member is not included

Photographs and works on paper should be properly matted and/or backed by cardboard/foam core.

• Include an original title on the entry form – not just the name of the contest!

• Heavy pencil, charcoal, pastel or other material that may smear should be treated with an art fixative prior to submission. Such pieces should also have a protective overlay.

• When submitting any entry, proper packaging must be used to protect the artwork. Do not ship large, heavy, fragile, or three-dimensional sculptures that may easily be damaged. Do not submit work framed with glass.

• Do not submit two-dimensional work that is larger than 32” x 32” (81 cm x 81 cm) or three-dimensional work larger than 18” x 18” x 18” (45 cm x 45 cm x 45 cm). These size limits will be strictly enforced.

• Ensure that you have read the guidelines. Your entry form will be DISQUALIFIED if not complete and attached to your submission.

• E-mail entries are not accepted.

Media Division Submission Guidelines

To be eligible for judging, entries must:

• Include a detailed written or recorded description of how your art relates to the theme. (Max 250 words or 2-minute video or audio recording)

• Include a detailed written or recorded description of the role of the OSSTF/FEESO sponsoring staff member (teacher or education worker) played in the development of your entry (to be completed by either the student or the staff member – max 125 words or 2-minute video/audio recording). Note: Submission will not be accepted if role of staff member is not included

• An indication of the computer software required to view completed work. We would prefer your video/audio to be uploaded to YOUTUBE. Video length should be no more than 5 minutes. Music should be no more than 3 minutes.

• Include an original title on the entry form – not just the name of the contest!

• Sourced/Copyrighted material must be credited. Do not use copyrighted material without permission. Free music is available at ,.royalty-free-music/2 or

• If an original song, please indicate whether you wrote the song, if you were accompanied or you played the music.

• Ensure that you have read the guidelines. Your entry form will be DISQUALIFIED if not complete and attached to your submission.

• Each school may submit only one entry per category for a maximum of three entries in the Visual and Media Division. OSSTF/FEESO reserves the right to use prose and poetry entries or portions thereof or to use photos or excerpts from visual and media entries in future Federation publications. Entries will be returned to local

District offices following OSSTF/FEESO’s Annual Meeting in March 2020. If you have any further questions, please call Tracey Marshall, Executive Assistant at (416) 751-8300 or 1 (800) 267-7867, or contact her by email at Tracey.Marshall@osstf.ca.

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Holiday With A Hero

United Way Simcoe Muskoka is excited to announce that we are bringing the first annual Holiday with a Hero to Barrie. In partnership with CFB Borden and Simcoe Muskoka Family Connexions, we are making this holiday season an amazing one for local children and their families.

We know that poverty is a real issue in our communities, and it can make it much more difficult for many families to enjoy their holidays. Holiday with a Hero hopes to make this time of year better for those who need it most.

How Does It Work?

We are pairing up to 75 children who are experiencing the effects of poverty with local heroes, including first responders and CFB Borden personnel.

Each pair will be given a gift card for the child to buy $100 worth of gifts for their family from a local shopping centre. Not only do the children get to have a fun shopping experience with their Hero, but they get to be a hero themselves as they give their family an unforgettable holiday.

The only rule? Each child has to buy at least one thing for themselves.

Once all the children have finished their shopping, they hop on a bus to be a part of a Hero procession of emergency vehicles as they make their way to the Barrie YMCA. Once there, Heroes and children will enjoy pancake breakfast and participate in activities like a bouncy castle, cookie decorating and face painting. They will take some time to wrap their gifts and rumour has it that Mr. and Mrs. Claus might make a trip down from the North Pole.

A History Of Holiday With A Hero

While this is the first year of Holiday with a Hero in Barrie, it has a strong tradition of bringing joy to children and their families across North America. Since 2003, the program has helped underprivileged children in Carson City, Nevada.

Closer to home, the event has been hosted in Chatham Kent since 2013. Originally called Shop with a Cop, the day was meant to help shine a positive light on interactions with law enforcement for those children who might have only seen them in a negative light. Since then, the name has changed as the day grew to involve Heroes that includes firefighters and paramedics.

Why We Need Holiday With A Hero

With over 60,000 people in Simcoe Muskoka living in poverty, the holiday season can be more of a challenge than a celebration for many of our friends, family and neighbours. By bringing together our partners in the community, we want to change that.

By working together, we can create an incredible holiday season for some incredible children.

Click here to see how you can support Holiday with a Hero. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram so you can share this inspiring holiday event and subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date on the first annual Holiday with a Hero!

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School Council – Thursday, November 21st @ 7:30

The next School Council meeting will be on Thursday, November 21st at 7:00 p.m.

Here you will find other parents who like to stay informed about what is happening at the school, and plans for the year.

EVERYONE is welcome!

Hopefully, we will see you that Thursday night!

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Night of Excellence - Thursday, November 7th

Bear Creek Secondary School is hosting our annual "Night of Excellence" on Thursday, November 7th, 2019. Doors will open at 6:00 p.m. and the ceremony will begin at 6:30 p.m. 

Invitations were distributed by period one teachers this week to students with individual overall academic excellence and/or outstanding achievement in one or more courses studied last year.

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Treaties Recognition Week Takes Place November 5 to 9

Did you know we are ALL treaty people? Treaties Recognition Week is the first week of November every year - this year it’s November 5 to 9. The Simcoe County District School Board is located on territory covered by several pre-confederation treaties - Treaty 5, 16, 18, 19 and 82, as well as the 1923 William’s Treaty.

Treaties Recognition Week was introduced in 2016 to honour the importance of treaties and to help Ontarians learn more about treaty rights and treaty relationships. Take some time this week to learn about the treaty in your area. To learn more about the treaties and how we can honour them, visit ontario.ca/page/treaties.

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Bear Creek Concert Band

Congratulations to the Bear Creek Concert Band that travelled to CCI on Monday, October 28th, to participate with 5 other SCDSB high schools in workshops and an evening concert with the Wind Ensemble from Western University. Much was learned throughout the day and it was capped off with a fabulous concert. You all were all amazing ambassadors for Bear Creek! Well Done!

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Breakfast Club

Bear Creek’s Eat Well to Excel - Breakfast Club began mid-September. Students who miss breakfast at home can get a nutritious breakfast at school prior to period 1. This will be located in the main forum. While there is no cost to the student, the program depends on donations from our community to keep going. We are asking parents and community members for donations of the following to help with our costs: cereal bars (peanut-free), cheese, fresh fruit, bagels, jams, non-hydrogenated margarine, light cream cheese, 100% juice boxes, multi-grain breads, yogurt, muffins, dried fruit, raisin boxes, granola/fruit bars, and cash. Anything you can assist with, would be greatly appreciated.

If you wish more information about the program or wish to donate, please contact Terry Wilkinson at (705)725-7712, voice mail, 43664. Bear Creek's priority is to have healthy students!

Our cafeteria ladies make oatmeal every morning, which is free, also funded by Bear Creek’s Breakfast program.

In my four years at Bear Creek, we have served over 170,000 students with at least one piece of food.

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November 20 Is Eat Well To Excel Day In Simcoe County!

Eat Well to Excel (EWTE) is the local student nutrition program in Simcoe County. EWTE is a non-profit community partnership that supports volunteer-run student nutrition programs in over 185 schools/programs (including elementary and secondary schools, learning centres and alternative programs) in Simcoe County.

Research shows that students with access to a breakfast program have reduced risk for disease, are more likely to come to school and participate in class, have better test scores and are more likely to graduate.

Here’s how you can support your school’s EWTE program:

← Donate money via eatwelltoexcel.ca - click on ‘donate now’ (a printable tax receipt will be issued), and be sure to include the school’s name in the comment box, otherwise the money will be used to support the purchase of equipment and food for schools with high needs

← Donate money directly to the school

← Share your fundraising ideas. If you have an idea, or would like to assist, please contact the committee via

← Volunteer – schools are often looking for help to purchase, prepare and serve food

← Join the EWTE partnership committee. To find out more, complete the form at

For more information, contact us via .

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Is Vaping Better Than Smoking?

The increase in e-cigarette use, particularly among young people, is a dangerous trend with real health risks. For many reasons, e-cigarettes should not be promoted as a safe alternative to smoking.

While fewer people are smoking or starting to smoke than ever before, many are using other forms of tobacco and electronic nicotine delivery systems. The increase in e-cigarette use (also called vaping) by kids and young people in recent years is a serious public health threat.

The battery-operated devices come in many forms and can look like conventional cigarettes, pens or even sleek tech gadgets. Users inhale and exhale a vapor-like aerosol. This way of taking in nicotine poses health risks to both users and non-users.

Many Downsides. Few Potential Upsides.

E-cigarette promoters claim the devices can help people quit smoking. But much more evidence is needed to determine if they are an effective way to quit. Research suggests that users are more likely to continue smoking along with vaping, which is referred to as “dual use.”

The American Heart Association recommends proven methods to successfully quit smoking.

Many people think vaping is less harmful than smoking. While it’s true that e-cigarette aerosol doesn’t include all the contaminants in tobacco smoke, it still isn’t safe. Here are just a few of the reasons why:

← Most e-cigarettes deliver nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the developing brains of teens, kids and fetuses in women who vape while pregnant. Some types expose users to even more nicotine than traditional cigarettes.

← In addition to nicotine, e-cigarette vapor includes potentially harmful substances such as diacetyl (a chemical linked to a serious lung disease), cancer-causing chemicals, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead. Users breathe in these toxic contaminants, and non-users nearby risk secondhand exposure.

← The liquid used in e-cigarettes can be dangerous, even apart from its intended use. Children and adults have been poisoned by swallowing, breathing or absorbing the liquid through their skin or eyes.

← E-cigarettes have been linked to thousands of cases of serious lung injury, some resulting in death. While the exact cause is still not confirmed, the CDC recommends that people not use e-cigarettes.

E-cigarettes’ biggest threat to public health may be this: The increasing popularity of vaping may “re-normalize” smoking, which has declined for years. Reversing the hard-won gains in the global effort to curb smoking would be catastrophic. Smoking is still the leading preventable cause of death and is responsible for 480,000 American lives lost each year.

A Threat To Kids And Young People.

Tobacco companies want to hook a new generation on nicotine and smoking.

They spent more than $8.6 billion on aggressive marketing in 2017 alone. That’s more than $23 million each day and almost $1 million every hour!

Nearly 80% of middle and high school students — that’s 4 out of 5 kids — were exposed to e-cigarette advertising in 2016.

E-cigarettes are now the most common form of tobacco use by kids and teens. In 2018, use by high school students in the U.S. doubled from the previous year.

Many young people say they’ve tried e-cigarettes in part because of the appealing flavors. More than 80% of teen users say their first e-cigarette product was flavored.

More Effort And Research Are Needed.

The Surgeon General called e-cigarette use among young people a “public health concern.” The American Heart Association shares that view. That’s why we advocate for stronger regulations that:

← Regulate and tax e-cigarettes in the same way as all other tobacco products.

← Remove all flavors, including menthol, which make these products more appealing to kids and young people.

← Include e-cigarettes in smoke-free laws and raise the legal sales age for all tobacco products to 21.

← The AHA supports maintaining the Food and Drug Administration’s regulatory authority over e-cigarettes along with other tobacco products.

What’s The Bottom Line?

Kids, young people and pregnant women should not use or be exposed to e-cigarettes.

People trying to quit smoking or using tobacco products should try proven tobacco cessation therapies before considering using e-cigarettes, which have not been proven effective.

People who do not currently smoke or use tobacco products should not use e-cigarettes.

The long-term health effects of e-cigarettes are not well understood yet. But the science clearly indicates vaping is not a safe or healthy alternative to smoking. We’ll continue to support research into the health consequences of this and other tobacco product trends that aim to appeal to a new generation of users.

Source: “Is Vaping Better Than Smoking?”, last reviewed October 31st, 2018,



School Grounds Are Smoke Free 24/7

Protect yourself and your children from the health hazards of secondhand smoke. Remember, it is against the law to smoke ANYWHERE on school property at ANY TIME. This includes smoking in your vehicle while picking up or dropping off students. It is also against the law to smoke or hold lit tobacco in a vehicle carrying anyone under age 16. The fine for ignoring the law is $250. For more information, contact the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or visit .

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Keeping SCDSB School Communities Informed On Labour Updates

In August 2019, provincial and local contracts for all education workers in the province of Ontario expired. In the Simcoe County District School Board (SCDSB), this means that all our unionized groups are at different stages of contract negotiations at the provincial and local levels. The SCDSB will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on the status of negotiations and our schools whenever possible.

Labour updates are issued on the SCDSB website (scdsb.on.ca/about/labour_updates), Facebook (SCDSB), Twitter (@SCDSB_Schools) and on the labour updates information line at 1-877-728-1187.

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Explore Your Future In Medicine

Considering a career in Medicine? Come and join us at a free information session on Wednesday, November 13th from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Bear Creek Secondary School.

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Host Families Needed For International Students

Our partner in providing homestay to the SCDSB’s international students, Canada Homestay Network (CHN), is recruiting host families to welcome international students into their homes.

Host families help international students realize lifelong dreams, and benefit from a unique experience with another culture. As a host, you also receive an allowance to offset expenses. CHN is always looking for hosts, learn more about specialized recruiting at .

Learn about a current homestay family here or get more details about the program on the Canada Homestay Network website.

Information provided by the Canada Homestay Network

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Safe Water In Our School

The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit, along with the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, works with local school boards in their efforts to ensure children are protected from unnecessary exposure to lead from drinking water. All schools are required to flush their plumbing regularly and sample their water to test for lead. Samples must be collected at every tap that provides drinking water or that is used to prepare food or drink for children under the age of 18. Schools are required to test both standing (water that has been sitting in the distribution lines) and flushed water (water which has run through the lines) for lead on a regular basis (e.g. annually). Flushing has been shown to reduce lead levels in water and is a recognized lead reduction strategy. If a school’s drinking water test result is above the provincial drinking water standard for lead, the schools communicate these results to the local Medical Officer of Health and the Ministry of the Environment Conservation and Parks to ensure corrective actions are carried out and the problem is resolved.

Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

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It’s All About The Connection

Young people are more likely to grow up successfully when they have close connections with the important adults in their lives. Through these connections, young people discover who they are, what they are capable of and how to make a positive contribution in their community. Here are some ways to help keep your relationship with your child strong:

← Show them they matter to you. Encourage their efforts and believe in them.

← Push them to keep getting better. Expect their best, while helping them learn from mistakes.

← Help them complete tasks and achieve goals. Stand up for them when they need it.

← Treat them with respect and give them a say. Take them seriously and treat them fairly.

← Connect them with people and places that broaden their world. Inspire them about their future.

Looking for more parenting support? Speak with a public health nurse by calling 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520 or visit .

Information provided by the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit

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Celebrate Peace In Your Community

November is often seen as a month of reflection and gratitude. The sight of poppies and wreaths serve as a reminder of the brave men and women who fought for peace and freedom. The month of November also plays host to a nationwide YMCA initiative called Peace Week. From Nov. 16-23, the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka encourages members of the community to celebrate the presence of peace in their local and global communities.

Peace means more than the absence of violence and conflict. Peace is an ongoing process of building fairness, equality, security and respect for diversity. Simple actions like sharing, being patient or smiling and saying hello can have a far greater impact than we think. How can you act for peace daily? Here are 10 ways to get you started:

✌ Help an elderly neighbor

✌ Organize a peace-themed event at your school

✌ Add your voice to important issues facing the world

✌ Volunteer at the YMCA or another peace-focused organization

✌ Treat others the way you want to be treated

✌ Learn about other cultures through books or films

✌ Keep an open mind

✌ Ask questions rather than make assumptions

✌ Be the change you want to see in the world

✌ Share your commitment to peace with others

As part of the Peace Week celebrations, the YMCA invites everyone to be part of the conversation. Share on social media something you do to foster peace in your home, school, workplace or community, or join one of the many YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka Yoga for Peace classes. Sessions are free and open to the community.

When we act for peace together, we build stronger and healthier communities. Join the #ymcapeaceweek social media discussion and add your own #actforpeace ideas. For more information, visit ymcaofsimcoemuskoka.ca/peace-week.

Information provided by the YMCA of Simcoe/Muskoka

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Jam Sessions

Jam Sessions opens at 11 a.m. in the Drama studio (room 152) every Wednesday and the odd Friday. Come learn, mentor, practice guitar, ukulele, or keyboards. Prepare for a Lunchtime Live performance. All levels welcome. Next week, Jam Sessions will include Monday afternoons as well. Come see what the noise is about.

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CMHA Youth Services Fall 2019

Youth Services has re-vamped our youth group schedule and we have a lot of amazing groups on the agenda!

{There is a flyer attached to the e-newsletter – TW}

Just a reminder that these groups are open to all youth, they do not need to have a diagnosis, complete a formal intake or be an existing CMHA client.

Below is a bit more info about the groups we are running:

Making Change

We have decided to run this group in three separate sessions so youth can pick and choose the DBT skills they would like to develop. Each session is three weeks and they can participate in any or all of the three week sessions. This will also be a bit more user friendly as they won’t have to wait as long to start. The first group starts Tuesday, if youth are interested in this session (Regulating Emotions), they just show up a bit early and I’ll get them registered.

Living Life to the Full

For those of you familiar with the Bounce Back program, this group is essentially the basics of Bounce Back in group format. It is an evidenced based CBT group and we will be running the youth version. The link below provides more info:



Wellness Recovery Action Planning (WRAP)

WRAP is a Peer Support mental health recovery program that was developed by a group of people who experienced mental health challenges. These people learned that they could identify what makes them well, and then use their own Wellness Tools to relieve difficult feelings, maintain wellness and a higher quality of life.  The wellness plan is developed by the individual, they make the choices and also have an opportunity to draw on the strengths and experiences of their peers to help in the journey to recovery.

Reducing Risks

Four harm reduction based education sessions that will take a flexible and individual approach educating young people on making change and helping them to develop skills tools for safer use. Youth can explore stages of change, the costs and gains of use, the basics of harm reduction and more.

To register youth can text (705) 321 5795 (Steph)/ (705) 321 2300 (Gina) or

call 705 726 5033 ext. 230 (Steph) / ext.249 (Gina).

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Badminton Club – will be back on November 7th

Something new this year is the Badminton Club. It is on Thursday nights from 8 p.m. until 10 p.m. Students can come and play for fun or to be competitive. There will be coaching available. Come for fun! Come for training! Come for exercise!

We are opening this opportunity for the family of schools for Bear Creek. Grades 7 and 8 students are welcome to participate as well, from 8 p.m. until 9 p.m.

See Mr. Wilkinson for more information.

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Volunteer Opportunities

VOLUNTEER!

GET INVOLVED!

BE A PART OF YOUR COMMUNITY!

 

Do you want to volunteer or get a summer job? Not sure where to start?  Check out Bear Creek’s volunteer and student job opportunity board located outside of the Guidance office.  It is updated weekly with fantastic opportunities!  Still not sure what to do?  Make an appointment with your Guidance Counsellor for some further suggestions.

 

Remember, EVERY student must complete a minimum 40 hours

of volunteer work to graduate.

Please submit your “Completion of Community Involvement Activities” sheet (this sheet can be found either on-line or at the Guidance office) to the Guidance office as soon as it is signed by both you and a parent.

1. Do you like sports? Are you in need of community service hours? Do you want to get a jump on community service hours? Well the home game crew might be for you! We are in need of capable and trustworthy students to help with sports scorekeeping for the year. Basketball and volleyball are the main sports in which we require help. Please sign up on the list outside of the student success office room 110 over the next week, at 10:45 in room 125.

2. Mr. Wilkinson is looking for students to be part of the Grounds Crew. Please see him in his office (upstairs admin tower) on Thursday for more information.

3. Mr. Wilkinson is looking for students to be part of the Breakfast Club. Please see him at the Breakfast Club table any day for more information and to sign up.

4. Library lunch volunteers needed! Get your forty hours of community service done in a month, or finally finish off those last remaining hours! We take everyone from Grade 9 to Grade 12! Come see one of the librarians, if you are interested in getting community hours this semester!

5. There are volunteer opportunities for the Sunnidale Parkrun.  For running enthusiasts, this is a global movement run by volunteers to put on free, timed 5K runs every Saturday morning.  There are regular weekly volunteer opportunities for students every Sat morning. There is 2.5 h each week to carry out marshalling, timing, scanning, and set up.

For more information, please go to: and you want to speak with Soo Owens.

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Sports News

The scores and schedules across the County are on ; type “scaa ‘your sport’” in for league (i.e. scaa football).

Next week’s sporting events look like:

|Monday 4th |Tuesday 5th |Wednesday 6th |Thursday 7th |Friday 8th |

| |Jr. Boys’ Volleyball | |Sr. Boys’ Volleyball | |

| |vs. Bradford | |@ Eastview | |

| | | | | |

| | | |Jr. Girls’ Basketball | |

| | | |vs. Collingwood | |

Are you a new student to Bear Creek in grade 10, 11, or 12 and are interested in playing sports? Did you transfer from another high school? Please come to see Mr. Wilkey in Student Success, room 110, to fill out the necessary forms so you can play sports this year.

On Friday, October 25th, the Senior Boys’ Soccer team played an outstanding GBSSA final against the JOA Knights. The game was a battle back and forth and the Kodiaks went down 1-0 on a great goal. Unfortunately, a Bear Creek penalty kick was stopped on a great effort by the JOA goalie and the Kodiaks were defeated.

On Saturday, October 26th, the Senior Girls’ Basketball team took home a bronze medal finish after an intense battle. The girls fought hard, played with skill and worked amazingly as a team!

On Tuesday, October 28th, the Junior Boys’ Volleyball team defeated Nantyr Shores in the SCAA Quarterfinal. The boys advance to the semifinals, which will be played here at Bear Creek on Tuesday

On Thursday, October 30th, the Senior Boys’ Volleyball squad competed in the semi-finals and were victorious in their match yesterday against a good defensive Nantyr Shores team. The guys came out strong with some key hits from Hayden, Logan, Tyler, and Aidan, some impressive blocking by Hayden and Corey, and solid setting by Mateo which led to a 25 to 17 victory. In the second game, the guys came up short after missing some late serves but pulled it together in the next two sets winning 29 to 27 and 25 to 19. Key contributions to the win were also made by Josh, Tyson, Owen, and Kaleb.

Congratulations to the Junior Girls’ Basketball team on the 68 - 47 win over Eastview to win their semi-final game, on Thursday, October 30th. This moves the ladies to the SCAA championship next Thursday at Bear Creek against Collingwood.

The Wrestling team starts practices Monday after school. See Mr. Cryer for more information.

The Curling team tryouts began on Wednesday, October 30th, at the Barrie Curling Club from 3:30-4:45. Please see Mr. Hogg if you were unable to make it.

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Important Dates

Sunday, November 3 Daylight Saving - FALL back 1 hour

Tuesday, November 5 Last day of term 1

Wednesday, November 6 First day of term 2

Wednesday, November 6 Take Your Kid to Work Day, gr. 9’s

Thursday, November 7 Night of Excellence

Thursday, November 7 Inuit Day

Friday, November 15 Mid-term report cards go home

Friday, November 22 P.D. Day

Monday, November 25 Full Disclosure Day

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Positively Speaking

I speak often to our social worker about students who are stressed out due to school, peers, home, work, etc. Our discussions usually have me, and the other Admin and/or support teachers, refer students to the social worker. The ensuing discussion leads to the student saying they feel depressed and are looking for strategies to handle it.

I saw the below article and thought that it would be useful for students and adults.

I hope you find this article helpful, like I did.

The Link Between Stress And Depression … And The 10 Simple Words That Could Help

It’s a damp, midweek afternoon. Even so, Cardiff’s walk-in stress management course has pulled in more than 50 people. There are teenagers, white-haired older people with walking aids, people from Caucasian, Asian and Middle Eastern backgrounds. There is at least one pair who look like a parent and child – I’m unsure who is there to support whom.

The course instructor makes it clear that she is not going to ask people to speak out about their own stress levels in this first class: “We know speaking in public is stressful in itself.” She tells us a bit about previous attendees: a police officer whose inexplicable and constant worrying prevented him from functioning; a retired 71-year-old unable to shake the incomprehensible but constant fatigue and sadness that blighted his life; a single mother unable to attend her daughter’s school concert, despite the disappointment it would cause.

What is the common theme that links these people – and the varied group sitting there this afternoon and listening?

Stress may once just have been a kind of executive trophy – “I’m so stressed!” – but recent research suggests it is a key element in developing mental health problems such as depression and anxiety.

The constant, stress-induced stimulation of key brain regions seems to be a major contributor to anxiety. And, in turn, vital brain regions becoming unresponsive and inflexible is believed to be a fundamental element of depressive disorders. Why do these regions become unresponsive? Possibly because they’re overworked, exhausted, by the effects of stress. This would explain why anxiety and depression regularly occur together.

So what is stress? In essence, it is the first stage of the fight-or-flight response, the classic reaction to danger, the ingrained reflex that compels you to tackle danger head-on or run screaming from it. A third option, freeze, is also included in the modern-day understanding, which explains that inability to move when you’re truly scared.

This potent fear response isn’t like a switch, a simple yes/no thing. There are neurological and biochemical systems that prepare your brain, and body, for having to deal with a threat. It’s regulated by a complex suite of brain networks and hormonal reactions, and one key element in the stress response is the amygdala, the part of the brain that (among other things) decides whether or not stress is warranted.

The stress response has numerous potent effects on us. It increases our focus on negative things, such as whatever is causing the stress, because when you’re dealing with a problem you can’t afford to waste time pondering irrelevant things. It puts your brain and body into a more alert state, meaning you become more sensitive to hazards and risks, both physically and mentally. It’s useful for keeping you safe, but again leads to you focusing on the negatives, the unpleasant aspects of your current existence, and downplays the potentially distracting positives.

Problematically, because of these things, stress is also very stimulating. It releases several potent chemicals into your bloodstream – cortisol for instance, which amps up your heart rate, muscle tension, glucose uptake, even your immune system responses.

The trigger, the activation of the stress response, comes from our brains, with the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis – a complex association between the hypothalamus and the pituitary and adrenal glands – as the key element. The HPA axis is basically the link between the brain and the body when it comes to stress. When our brain decides that stress is required, signals are sent to the HPA axis, which in turn releases a complex sequence of chemicals that ends up with stress hormones, such as cortisol and glucocorticoids, being released into our bloodstream.

But here’s the problem. In many people, this ability of the HPA axis to recognise when there’s enough stress chemical in the body and so cease production is disrupted in some way. The HPA axis can start the physical stress response but doesn’t seem to know when to stop.

This might sound like a mild annoyance but there’s mounting evidence to suggest that it’s a cause of multiple mental health problems, particularly depression. Those who have chronic depression, and many who have killed themselves, have been shown to have significantly elevated levels of glucocorticoids, cortisol and other stress chemicals in their blood and tissues.

The constant bombardment from stress chemicals potentially underlies many of the physical symptoms of depression. Weight gain, hypertension, a suppressed immune system, heart problems – all can be attributed to the persistent action of stress chemicals in the body. For example, these stress chemicals and hormones seem to have a potent effect on neurons, and therefore the functioning of the brain. Specifically, they seem to stimulate areas such as the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex to enhance our memory, thinking and focus, because when you’re in a stressful situation, you need to have your wits about you, and you need to remember what happens in case it happens again.

Unfortunately, this causes a problem. Neurons can handle a certain amount of increased signaling, some excitation. But too much leads to excitotoxicity, a phenomenon whereby too much activity damages and impairs the neuron. The complex biochemical processes a neuron engages in are quite demanding. Give them time to restock and replenish after being pushed to their limit and they’ll be fine. But keep pushing them and they’ll suffer.

So, stress chemicals stimulate many areas of the brain. But when the HPA axis keeps pumping them out, those brain areas are stimulated too much, exhausting and damaging the neurons, causing them to lose plasticity. And a loss of neuroplasticity is now believed by some scientists to be a key part of depression. Simultaneously, there’s no reason why other parts of the brain, with neurons that have subtly different properties, can’t respond differently to the stress hormones, possibly being enhanced by them.

There is a possibility that it’s the unhampered stress response that causes some or even all of the issues of depression, inducing the physical symptoms, reducing neuroplasticity in certain key areas by overworking them while enhancing other regions to the extent that they become dominant to a disruptive extent.

But what causes stress and how can we deal with it? The “handling stress” course that I attended is based on the works of acclaimed Scottish psychologist and stress-control proponent Dr Jim White. It’s provided by the local NHS trust, and most trusts offer an equivalent. The programme has been running nationally for 30 years, helping tens of thousands of people.

So what stresses us out? Failure to meet expectations. Having to do more than we can handle. A loss of status, or living standards, or security, or something or someone important. But all of our expectations, standards, capacities, understandings and baselines are derived from a mental model of how the world works, a model our brains create and maintain based on our memories, experiences and beliefs.

Stress is largely subjective. It often comes from negative changes or influences in our lives, when they occur with too much intensity. That our lives remain positive overall compared with those of others is irrelevant. That’s why questions such as: “What have you got to be stressed about?” don’t make sense. Thanks to how our brain works, if you don’t like something or don’t want it to happen, it can, and will, stress you out.

Breathing exercises can genuinely help. A new therapy widely in use today that bears a significant resemblance to breathing exercises is biofeedback, or in some cases neurofeedback. The affected person is hooked up to monitors that display the physical outputs of their body, such as heart rate, muscle tension, skin conductance, brainwaves in the case of neurofeedback. These physiological actions typically occur at a subconscious level; we aren’t really “aware” of them. Bio/neurofeedback makes us aware, meaning we can focus on them and try to control them with our conscious minds.

This appears to help because it reduces uncertainty; not knowing what is happening or going to happen can be more stressful than knowing something bad is going to happen. That’s just the way the brain is wired. It reacts much better to knowing than not knowing. And being aware of our breathing or heart rate provides certainty where we didn’t have any before.

Small steps, incremental progress, are something that is emphasised repeatedly on the Cardiff course. This is a way to help break the “stress cycle”, which describes how stress becomes chronic and self-sustaining. Let’s start with a relationship breakdown. This causes stress, with low mood, lack of motivation, etc. This leads to reduced socialisation; your friendships suffer, and you end up more miserable, more stressed. So you drink more to feel better, albeit briefly. But this makes you less healthy, more sluggish, and your work suffers. Now your job’s in trouble, your health declining. This causes more stress. So you drink more. Which means more stress. And on and on.

There is no easy fix. But at the very start of the session, we are given a brief, basic set of instructions that could, if adhered to, tangibly reduce stress. There were just 10 words: “Face your fears. Be more active. Watch what you drink.” While simple-sounding, these things conform to what we know about stress, and even mental health problems, in the scientific sense.

Facing your fears is often easier said than done but it’s a valid approach. When we confront something that scares us, that stresses us, we may not enjoy it but we impose certainty on it. All the things that could have happened and had the power to cause stress have been cancelled out. In many cases, facing your fear has a net reduction of your stress due to how our brains work.

Being more physically active is helpful in so many ways. As well as the health benefits, it also maintains a sense of control. My friend Dan found that dealing with his stress and depression has been a lot easier since getting a dog. She needs to be walked no matter what he’s feeling. Taking her means he’s stayed active and achieved something.

And “watch what you drink”. Not just alcohol, with its short-term euphoric effects but long-term depressive and anxiety-inducing ones. Caffeine is something to be wary of, too, as it stimulates the parts of the brain already overworked due to stress, and also disrupts sleep, another thing that can enhance/prolong stress.

Ten words. Three simple instructions. But, given enough time, sometimes that’s all it takes to make significant changes.

Source: “The Link Between Stress And Depression … And The 10 Simple Words That Could Help”, by Dean Burnett, @garwboy, Sunday, October 13, 2019, Last modified on Wednesday, October 16, 2019,

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Parent’s Corner

I am often discussing with parents, with my wife, and with myself, about teen behaviour at school and at home. There is a fine line in terms of being too involved and meddling, not being involved enough, helicoptering, wanting to be your child’s friend, and needing to be a parent.

It was obvious with children are young, what the parent role is. With teens, it is more difficult and yet they need you just as much or more. Their questions/issues are more adult and they need your guidance.

I thought this article was quite good. I hope you do, too.

Parents and Teenagers: Always Battling?

"Oh, he's so cute, I wish he could just stay like this." So said my daughter about her baby boy, now almost four months old. This is the same daughter who, when she was a 15-year-old teen, wanted, no, demanded, permission to go to a party at a ... bar!! And we, her Mom and Dad, were to believe that no alcohol would be served...at a bar. I will never forget her comment when we both said NO: She turned to me and said, "And you call yourself a therapist???" Ouch, that hurt!!!

It’s a long time since then and we often talk about the old days. Very recently she told both of us that "Now I understand why you said no." She even stated that, looking back, she appreciates all the things we allowed her to do.

Over the years I have heard from friends, acquaintances and patients, the plaintive cry, "Whatever happened to that sweet, lovely child I used to have? Ever since he or she turned 14, things have been awful at home."

Of course, I have heard something parallel from teenage sons and daughters in the form of, "Why do I argue with my parents so much, and why do they treat me like a child?"

It is important to point out that these complaints do not come from every home with teenagers. There are always those people who seem to live lives free of the types of emotional turmoil and conflict that visits so many others. In other words, there is nothing inevitable about parents and teens being stuck in constant battle with one another. However, why do so many other families become embroiled in constant arm battling with their adolescents?

Adolescent Stage of Life

The great twentieth century psychologist, Erik Erikson, wrote about the stages of human development, taking Freud's theory and expanding it to include stages of adult development up through and including old age. He viewed development in terms of psycho-social stages, with each marked by a struggle or dialectical tension which, if resolved successfully, had excellent outcomes. Adolescence was one of the eight stages that he theorized about. The tension or conflict of this stage he posited as "Identity vs. Role Confusion." Expressed another way, the task of the teen years is to consolidate a strong a sense of "Who I am, or of Me." The outcome of this task relies upon the successful completion of the previous stage of development. From birth onwards, the child learns to become increasingly competent, separate and independent. Adolescence has a lot to do with self-confidence, making decisions and functioning away from home and parents.

Is every family prepared for the increasing independence and autonomy of their teenage child? The answer is maybe. To express it another way, there is a continuum on which families fall, with very prepared at one end of the spectrum and not prepared at all at the opposite end. Many families fall somewhere in between.

Depending on the level of psychological preparedness, parents will react to their child's assertion that they want a tattoo as "Well, it’s your decision," all the way to, "No, never, are you crazy?"

The issue may have nothing to do with tattoos. Instead, it may have to do with types of clothing worn, driving, staying out late, changes in foods chosen to eat, to have or not have breakfast, dating, or painting the bedroom wall black, or red or some other color found to be strange and unacceptable to parents.

Depending on the particular set of parents and their experiences growing up and how much they feel secure in the world and in their child, they will permit their child to make increasing numbers of decisions for themselves as they grow and develop. For other types of parents, most or all decisions are made by them for their child. For example, there are parents who are comfortable allowing their five year-old select their own the shirt or blouse at the store, as long as it is not too expensive. They will also allow their child to go out and do small errands and chores around and outside the house.

To make a vast generalization, the degree to which parents prepared their children for adolescence by giving increasing but appropriate amounts of independence, is the degree to which the teenager might not have to rebel. The more authoritarian a family is, or, the degree to which independence and decision making is prohibited could be the degree to which teens might have to rebel to gain autonomy.

The main point is that the teen years are those during which parent may very well find themselves shocked and opposed to some of the things their children might demand the right to do.

Some homes are filled with quarrelling over music. If the parents loved jazz, classical, or 1970's rock music, their children might describe that as awful and boring. Then, choosing some "modern" form of rock, parents will complain that the music is nothing but jarring noise.

While parents often complain that their teens are being disrespectful, the teens will mirror the same complaint that their parents will not listen to them, will not respect their tastes in art music and friendships.

Very often parents complain that their teenage child is never home and miss the time when the family had more unity. At the very same time, teens state that they love to hang around with their friends, either on the street corner or at the mall.

It is very important for parents to understand that the conflict is not necessarily a bad thing. Their teens are struggling to gain increasing control over their own lives and to know that parents trust their decision making.

It’s all a process of development, akin to the labor pains mom went through during the birth process.

It is easy for parents to err on the side of either attempting to exert more control over their teen no control almost to the extreme of neglect. In actuality, either way is a mistake.

There is a delicate balancing act that astute parents must use in meeting the challenges presented by their children. On the one hand, teenagers are not yet adults and can be impulsive and unrealistic in their decision making. Therefore, they continue to need a certain amount of parental guidance and protection. On the other hand, if parents react to by insisting on unrealistic limits, their children will become more rebellious and life at home will become more difficult. It is finding that middle ground that is most difficult. Despite the rebellion, the average adolescent does welcome parental guidance and help. However, that guidance must be administered with patience and the willingness to listen to what their teen is saying.

Many families worry about all the dangers out in the world. Among those dangers are sexual predators, drugs, alcohol, unprotected sex and the danger of either pregnancy or sexually transmitted diseases. However, no one can be protected from the world. Therefore, the best approach for families to take is to prepare their children to meet the world as it is.

Source: “Parents and Teenagers: Always Battling?”, By Rachel Paula Abrahamson, Oct. 17, 2019, 11:44 AM EDT / Source: TODAY,

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Parent Pointer Calendar for the following week

(Nov. 4 – Nov. 8)

|Monday 4th |Tuesday 5th |Wednesday 6th |Thursday 7th |Friday 8th |

|Make a “date” with your teen to |Ask your teen to keep a to-do |Does your teen have a regular |Find a book that describes |Avoid unnecessary criticism of |

|do something fun. Write it on |list. By writing down things |study schedule? Teens need to |holidays around the world. |your teen. |

|your calendar. |he/she needs to do, he/she is |set aside time every day for |Choose a new holiday to observe,| |

| |less likely to forget them. |school work. |or invent one. | |

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Thanks for reading!

Be well!

Stay warm!

Terry Wilkinson

Vice-Principal

Bear Creek Secondary School

P.S. (Positive Statement):

“An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later.”

― Winston Churchill

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P.P.S.: If you like what you have read so far, please tell another parent/guardian, get them to e-mail me, and I’ll add them to the e-mail list.

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