This document provides the program for the 4th Congress of Education in Spanish in 2009. The all-day event included opening and closing ceremonies as well as multiple keynote speakers and concurrent workshop sessions on topics related to education, parenting, and youth development for Spanish-speaking communities. Some of the scheduled presentations addressed self-development, grassroots of youth violence, post-secondary education, family violence, and involving parents in their children's education. The program included opportunities for networking, exhibits, and youth forums.

1. 4th Congress of
Education in
Spanish 2009
Parents and Students
Rebuilding the Future
Spanish Speaking Education Network Working on Behalf of the Spanish–Speaking Community

2. 4TH Congress of Education In Spanish, 2009
Program at a Glance
9:00 AM - 9:30 AM REGISTRATION 30 min
Foyer
9:30AM – 10:00 AM Continental Breakfast & Networking 30 min
Outside Kaleidoscope
10:00 AM -10:40 AM OPENING CEREMONY 40 min
Gymnasium
10:00 - 10:05 Welcome, Keiter Feliz, Master of Ceremonies 5 min
10:05 - 10:10 SSEN Overview – María Campodónico 5 min
10:10 - 10:35 Introduction and Greetings 8x3 min = 24 min
Chris Spence, Director of Education TDSB; Paula Lopez, Member of the Royal Canadian Sea
Cadet RSCC Quinte; Chief Blair’s representative, Rev. Walter Kelly, Chaplaincy Services for
the Toronto Police; Chris Bolton, Trustee TDSB Ward 10; Mark Kirk, TCDSB, Equity Dept.;
Lloyd Mckell, Executive, Equity Official TDSB; Nadia Mazahari, Youth Justice Services
Manager; and a representative of the SSEN Advisory Board of Directors
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
10:40 AM – 11:25 AM Plenary Presentation 45 min
"Self-Development in School and Life Success” the importance of engaged relationships with
Gymnasium adults to the positive development of children and youth.
Speaker: Dr. H. Bruce Ferguson Sick Kids Hospital, Professor University of Toronto
11:30 A.M. – 12:30 PM Plenary presentation 60 min
Gymnasium “Grass Roots of Youth Violence and the Community Response”
Speaker: Dr. Al Valdez Professor, University of California, Irvine
Conference Update
12:30AM-1:00PM LUNCH - Networking - Exhibitors 30 min
Science on Vision Mobile Exhibition - Canadian Multicultural Inventors Museum
Main Foyer Angelita Elliott Visions in Green Jeffers Associates
1:00PM -1:45 PM Plenary Presentation 45 min
Dialogue among parents and their children – The prevention to today’s social problems
Speaker: Fr. Hernan Astudillo, San Lorenzo Latin American Community Centre
1:45 PM-2:00 PM Youth Forum 15 min
2:00 – 3:00 PM Plenary Presentation 45 min
Gymnasium “Succeeding in University once you are there”
Jeff Rybak, author of “What’s wrong with University: and how to make it work for you anyway”
3:00PM-4:30PM CLOSING CEREMONY
Gymnasium
3:00 – 3:20 SSEN Presentation – Slide show 20 min
3:20 – 4:00 “Today’s skills for tomorrow’s success”
Manolo Romero Escobar Lic. en Psicología, MA 40 min
4:00 – 4:15 Michelle Munroe, Central Coordinator parental & community involvement 15min
4:15 – 4:30 Nadia Mazahari, Minister Youth Justice 15min
4:30 – 5:00 Draw of Airline Ticket courtesy of TACA AIRLINE – Announcement of winner

3. 10:30AM-12:00PM Concurrent Morning Sessions
Gymnasium
All 7 Workshops listed below will take place simultaneously
Lower Kaleidoscope “Getting to post-secondary education”
(Odeon’s Parents and Youth)
Jeff Rybak
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2159 “What we don’t know about family violence and its effects among children and youth“
“Lo que no sabemos sobre la violencia familiar y sus efectos en niños y jóvenes"
Consuelo Llanos Clinical Counsellor
Women's Health Center St. Joseph Health
___________________________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2158 “Helping your child succeed at school”
Frontier College programs, resources and support for parents and children
Workshop Description: Designed specifically for parents with children in Kindergarten to Grade 8, we look at various
topics that will help parents support their children at school. We will explore the school system
and communication with teachers, and discuss strategies for helping children with homework.
__________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2150 “Involving parents in their children’s education”
Jacqui Strachan and People for Education
Workshop Description: When parents are involved in their children’s education, it is a win-win situation for everyone.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2157 “Settlement services provided by North York Community House”
Amparo Escobar and Isaura Agudelo
Workshop Description: Counselling newcomers to access services to adjust to life in Canada. Assistance is provided in
such as housing, education, employment, social assistance, recreation, legal, immigration,
advocacy, interpretation and translation, language training, orientation and information
sessions, family issues and more.
________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2148 “Why Motivate our Children Freedom and their Artistic Expression”
Professor Adriana Barrera, Visual Artist.
Workshop Description: Get to know the necessary attitude to stimulate the expression in son and daughter.
Conozca las actitudes necesarias para estimular la expresión en hijo e hija
_________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2149 “Safe Schools Alternative Programs- Toronto District School Board”
Youth and Parents - Libby Rowan, School Principal
Workshop Description: This workshop will provide youth and Parents with information related to credit placement

4. 1:00PM-2:30PM Concurrent Afternoon Sessions
All 8 Workshops listed below will take place simultaneously
Lower Kaleidoscope “Grass Roots of Youth Violence and the Community Response” (Youth)
Speaker: Dr. Al Valdez Professor, University of California, Irvine
_________________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2159 “Lo que no sabemos sobre la violencia familiar y sus efectos en niños y jóvenes".
Consuelo Llanos Clinical Counsellor Women's Health Center St. Joseph Health
_________________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2150 Involving Parents in Their Children’s Education
Jacqui Strachan & People for Education
Workshop Description: When parents are involved in their children’s education, it is a win-win situation
for everyone.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2159 “Settlement services provided by North York Community House”
Amparo Escobar
Workshop Description: Counselling newcomers to access services to adjust to life in Canada. Assistance is provided in
such as housing, education, employment, social assistance, recreation, legal, immigration,
advocacy, interpretation and translation, language training, orientation and information
sessions, family issues and more.
SEPT Presentation Programs run by SEPT Workers in the schools: NOW
Isaura Agudelo
Workshop Description: Newcomer Orientation Week program is in several high schools each summer. It is a one week
peer-led program which provides newcomer youth with information about the school system
and opportunity to learn about the school building and make new friends before school starts.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2152 SCORE Program – Seneca College, Counselling and Disability Department (Youth)
Cheryl Mitri, Social Workers
Workshops Description: This Session will provide those students that have left the school system the opportunity to gain
information on how they can obtain their high-school diploma and one year college
_________________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2152 “World of Work”- (Youth and Adults)
Veronica Olmedo, Employment Counsellor St. Stephen’s ETC
Workshop Description: What you need prior to finding a job - Expectations from the employer (workplace)
How to find a job - Preparing for an Interview
Health & Safety in the Workplace - Employers Rights
_________________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2154 Using the Internet as a Violence Prevention Tool
Constable Scott Mills, Toronto Crime Stoppers, Community Youth Officer 222TIPS.com
Scott’s current assignment is the Community Youth Officer for the Toronto Crime Stoppers
Workshop Description: program. His mandate is to build healthy relationships between youth, the community
and Police.
________________________________________________________________________
Room: 2152 The Alcohol and its effects (Youth)
Presenters from Alcoholic anonymous