"In youth we learn; in age we understand."
Marie von Ebner-Eschenbach
Posted on: June 22, 2012

Archive for November, 2013

Summer Report

Posted on: November 15th, 2013 by admin No Comments

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The summer is an exciting time for SBL. Our 6-week summer program takes place at York University, where students going into grade 9 receive their first high school credit. This year the summer program was hosted in the stunningly beautiful Osgoode Hall Law School. For a full recap you can download our summer report below.

 

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NABSE Conference in Detroit

Posted on: November 14th, 2013 by admin No Comments

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SBL Program Manager, Kaneka Watkins is currently attending the National Alliance of Black School Educators (NABSE) in Detroit. The conference brings together NABSE members, superintendents, principals, school board members, education human resource professionals, deans, professors, education department heads, administrative/educational support staff, teachers, parents, curriculum specialists and students for various education workshops and tours of schools in Detroit. Below are some pictures of the conference.

 

 

See the agenda here:

 

 

http://www.cvent.com/events/national-alliance-of-black-school-educators-41st-annual-conference/agenda-c2f6da49609a447b8ec38750ac5b05c3.aspx

 

 

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SBL Teacher Receives Urban Hero Award

Posted on: November 12th, 2013 by admin No Comments

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York University graduate student and SBL teacher Sam Tecle has been honoured with the  North York Mirror’s Urban Hero Award, for his notable contribution to education and for being a role model for youth living in the Jane and Finch community. 

 

“I am blessed, honoured and humbled by this award. The recognition serves as a validation of my work and motivation to continue on,” says Tecle who is a doctoral candidate in sociology, in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies.

 

“For me, it was always an idea that where I lived and the community I was part of, that giving back was important. And for me, that was always through education,” Tecle told The Mirror, upon receiving the award.

 

“I am thrilled that Sam is a recipient of this respected award, which honours grassroots level heroes for their efforts, sacrifices and contributions, having positive impact on our communities,” says York Faculty of Education Professor Carl James, who is Tecle’s PhD supervisor and nominator for the award. “Sam is an example of the many students doing exemplary work through involvement in neighbourhood community initiatives at York University.”

 

This summer, Tecle taught Grade 9 students from the Jane and Finch community attending a six-week program, Success Beyond Limits. The program is a joint initiative of York University and Jays Care Foundation, in partnership with the Toronto District School Board. Sponsored by the Faculty of Education, the program was conducted in technology enhanced classrooms of Osgoode Hall Law School.

 

The Sudanese-born immigrant of Eritrean descent has been a youth facilitator, focusing on educational attainment, sex education, as well as personal and career development with many community organizations across the Greater Toronto Area. Tecle was among the 16 recipients, in the categories of arts and culture, health and science, education, sports, environment, business and community, who received their awards at a ceremony, Nov. 5.

 

http://yfile.news.yorku.ca/2013/11/12/york-university-student-is-celebrated-as-an-urban-hero/

 

York University Teacher Candidates Being Exposed to a Hip Hop Curriculum

Posted on: November 5th, 2013 by admin No Comments

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As Hip Hop further entrenches itself in the academy, its use in the classroom is becoming more prevalent. SBL’s Academic and Social Coordinator, Tesfai Mengesha has been a part of the process of developing a Hip Hop Curriculum, in the role of a writer. The Hip Hop Curriculum has been developed through a partnership with the Toronto District School Board, Educational Attainment West, and the Toronto Hip Hop community.

 

On November 4, 2013 members of the project presented elements of the curriculum to an eager group of York University teacher candidates. The curriculum provides students with the opportunity to bring their lived experiences into the classroom to make the lessons meaningful through their analysis of various media forms. The lessons explore and critically examined schools, communities, economic structures, homophobia, race, class and gender norms.