Canadian Teacher Magazine | Teaching in Canada | Lesson Plans and Ideas for Teachers | Lifestyle Choices

Physical Education Day on the Hill
The Canadian Association of Health, Physical Education and Dance (CAHPERD) invites your school to show its support for the importance of Quality Daily Physical Education (QDPE) in the lives of all Canadian children and youth.

On Friday, May 30, 2008, students and teachers from schools across Canada are participating in 30 minutes of physical education in support of CAHPERD's Physical Education Day on Parliament Hill in gyms, classrooms or outside. Join the thousands of students across Canada who have already registered to support Physical Education Day on the Hill! Register by emailing angela with your school name, city, province, and number of students by May 28, 2008.

New Free Online Word Game
WordDuck.com is a new website that can help students have fun learning vocabulary words. The site features a kid-friendly version of the classic game of hangman with a variety of word topics to choose from. Teachers can log on for free and enter their own word lists for their students. The game accepts most of the Latin-based international characters so many foreign language teachers can also use this valuable tool. The game was developed by The Dimension’s Edge, Inc., a Utah-based company which has been designing online games for nearly a decade. To play, go to: www.wordduck.com

Canadian Association for Adolescent Health
The Canadian Association for Adolescent Health (CAAH) has recognized five winners of a video contest designed to increase awareness about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Teens took advantage of this opportunity to talk about 30 different subjects related to STIs, ranging from treatments and prevention to the importance of choosing the right partner and the emotional burden of STIs. “The CAAH created the video contest to increase awareness about STIs, their serious consequences and their prevention. We know that teens have a terrible score (15%) when asked about the consequences of STIs. For example 80% of teens are unaware of HPV and that HPV can lead to cancer and only 58% know of Chlamydia and 63% don’t know that chlamydia can cause infertility. This needs to be corrected, considering the rise in STIs in recent years,” said Dr. Jean-Yves Frappier, President of the CAAH, Paediatrician and Head of the Adolescent Division at Sainte-Justine Hospital in Montreal. A jury with 10 members chose the winning videos, which can be viewed at: www.youngandhealthy.ca

The Canadian Association for Adolescent Health (CAAH) is a national non-profit organization created in 1993. It is a multidisciplinary association whose members include professionals and organizations engaged in clinical practice, teaching, community action or research within the field of adolescent health, education and welfare. For more information, visit www.acsa-caah.ca and www.youngandhealthy.ca.

Get Smart Get Active Bike Tour
University of Victoria student, Tyler Duncan, has committed to promoting the importance of Quality Daily Physical Education to the healthy development of children and youth by undertaking a Cross-Canada bike ride. On March 31, 2008 Tyler put his foot to the peddle in Victoria, BC where he began his 7000 km trek from Victoria, BC to St. John’s, NL. (more info)

Essay Contest for Grade 11 Students in BC
In commemoration of the 200th anniversary of Simon Fraser's journey down the Fraser River, the British Columbia Institute of Technology's (BCIT) Fish, Wildlife, and Recreation (FWR) program is coordinating The Fraser River Essay Contest. Open to all Grade 11 high-school students across British Columbia, the winner of the contest will receive a $3,000 BCIT entrance scholarship applicable to any program of their choice.

The theme of the essay contest is "What the Fraser River means to British Columbia." Students are asked to submit an original essay via email to Fraser_River@bcit.ca by midnight on June 13, 2008. The winner will be announced in early September during the run-up to World Rivers Day on September 28, which will see events unfolding in communities all along the Fraser River.

For essay submission guidelines and requirements, visit www.explorethefraser.bcit.ca and click on "Fraser Contest" in the right sidebar.

Performing Arts Auditions
The Canadian College of Performing Arts (CCPA) is now auditioning at cities across Canada. CCPA is looking for Canada’s next stars — the new wave of talent that will join grads on some of the world's most renowned stages such as the Stratford, Shaw and Charlottetown festivals, productions in Vancouver and Toronto, and all of Canada’s regional theatres. Located in Victoria, CCPA is celebrating a decade of training, performance and success. Scholarships for close to 50% of the cost of students' year of study are available. CCPA will accept young men and women who have a desire to launch a successful performing arts career. Applicants need a high school diploma. (more info)

Summer Snow Skiing
National Alpine Ski Camps (NASC), headquartered in southwestern Colorado, is a ski and ski racing camp offering summer sessions on Mount Hood, Oregon and a fall session on Copper Mountain, Colorado. NASC coaches have the passion to coach young athletes in how to ski and race in a safe, caring environment. A five-to-one athlete-to-coach ratio ensures effective learning. NASC coaches will custom tailor a program for each individual based on their motivation and learning style. NASC offers six, ten-day sessions in the summer for children of all ages, with an average age of 14. There is also a masters program for those over the age of 20. Race training is the foundation for the camps, with an emphasis on free skiing and free skiing drills. Designated for intermediate and advanced skiers, campers must have basic ski skills to attend. For more information, including registration information, visit www.skicamp.com or call 800-453-6272.

New Online Resources About Bullying
Bill Belsey, noted Canadian educator, parent and creator of www.bullying.org and www.cyberbullying.ca has launched a new website which offers online courses and Webinars about bullying and cyberbullying for educators and parents: www.bullyingcourse.com (more info)