This afternoon a parent of a couple of boys at our school passed this eight minute video on to me.  Perspective is such an important thing to teach our children.  Keep the Kleenex handy.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/W86jlvrG54o

Some of you may know this story already, as it happened back in August 2011. However, one of the columnists that I enjoy reading, Rick Reilly, wrote about it on the ESPN website recently. Such a great story. Watch the video, via the link, in the article if you get a chance. Share it with your children. A terrific message.

Doing The Right Thing, Rick Reilly, ESPN

If you don’t have tickets for next week’s production of The Big Bad Musical (March 1-3 @ 7 p.m.) you are going to miss out on an outstanding production.  I’ve been attending KCS musicals for the past thirteen years:  Aladdin, Annie, Fiddler on the Roof, Grease (the elementary school version of course!), The Sound of Music, as well as many others.  I can still remember watching my first KCS musical, Alice in Wonderland, with my daughter, Alyssa.  We marveled over the amazing costumes (especially the caterpillar) and the terrific sets.  But what I loved most was seeing and listening to the students on stage singing and participating in a production that would have terrified me to be part of when I was their age.  The last musical I was involved in was in grade 3.  I was a rock.  A piece of cardboard in the shape of a boulder was painted gray.  The teacher’s instructions were as follows:  “Derek, you are the rock in this production.  I want you to hold this up on the stage and crouch behind it.  The audience shouldn’t see you.”  My parents are still laughing about this one.

There are still a few remaining seats for Saturday night.  Don’t delay.  From the sounds of the rehearsals that make their way up to my office every Wednesday afternoon, next week’s shows promise to be another KCS hit.

Derek Logan
Head of School

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These posters are the finalists in our Big Bad Musical Poster Contest. See all of the entries on our Facebook photo album.

Yesterday, my daughter, Alyssa appeared on Canada AM.  My wife, Heather, and I sat in the studio audience.  The show was dedicated to talking about the issue of mental health.  I want to thank so many of you who have stopped by, sent emails, and left messages of support and encouragement for Alyssa and our family.

As you may know, Heather and I, and more importantly, Alyssa, feel it is time to encourage dialogue about the topic of mental health.  In fact, Alyssa has led Heather and I along this path for the past year or so.  She has spoken about this topic already at an Annual General Meeting for The Rock in Burlington, a public speaking competition, during the organization of a workshop for The New Mentality, on television, etc.  Over that year, Heather and I have been hesitant about Alyssa’s speaking in front of others, but we have come to realize her story and our family’s story in dealing with what happened with Alyssa, can help to bring about positive change in this area of health care.  We realize that significant change won’t happen without people speaking out and sharing their stories.

If you attended our information evening on January 14^th entitled, “Encouraging Dialogue:  Mental Health and Our Children”, you will remember Sarah Cannon and Shannon Stach.  They also appear in the videos located on the Canada AM website.  I encourage you to take the time to watch the segments below. (please note, each video is preceded by a commercial and the same introduction)

• How mental illness is affecting one teen and one family. Also, spotting the signs and symptoms. http://www.ctv.ca/canadaAMPlayer/index.html?video=615232

• Canada AM opens the floor to questions related to mental illness, stigma, and how to find help. http://www.ctv.ca/canadaAMPlayer/index.html?video=615249

• TSN’s Michael Landsberg on his personal experience with mental illness — and breaking stigma. http://www.ctv.ca/canadaAMPlayer/index.html?video=615225

Please consider forwarding this blog post with the above links to your friends and family. Some of them may benefit from hearing the messages.

Derek Logan
Head of School

Please note: If the links above are no longer working please go to http://www.ctv.ca/canadaAMPlayer/index.html and click Must Watch Clips and choose Mental Health from the scrolling menu on the left.

Last week my Dad and I went to the Leafs game.  Normally, when I have Leaf tickets I bring my son or daughter with me.  My wife, Heather, is no longer an option.  I tried this twice.  The first time we went was at the Gardens.  After the first period ended Heather turned to me and asked, “Is it over?”  The second time she read magazines throughout the game.  Embarrassing.  Last week both my kids were involved in extra-curricular activities that night, so I decided to ask my Dad to come to the game.  He accepted and we made arrangements.

After I asked my Dad to come, I started thinking about whether we had ever attended a Leafs game together.  We had watched many games on television over the years and he always came to the various sports games I played in.  When I was growing up, I probably attended less than a half dozen games at the Gardens, but when I thought about it, I realized I either went with my friends or my uncles.  I shared this thought with my mom and she said she didn’t recall my Dad and I going to a game together.

We had a great time.  Terrific seats, the Leafs won, excellent hot dogs and peanuts.  My advice:  don’t wait 45 years to do something with someone you care about.

Derek Logan
Head of School

200+ people.  Engaging, intelligent and caring speakers.  Canada Hall.  24 January 2012 @ 7 p.m.  Very important messages about our children and mental health:

• 1 in 5 people are impacted by mental health issues at some point in their life
• Only a minority get help
• 70% of mental health issues have their onset in adolescence
• The sooner people receive help the better the prognosis
• Mental health issues are surrounded by silence, shame and secrecy thus leading to reluctance to speak out and seek help
• The stigma can be as bad as the illness itself
• Issue is tricky with kids/adolescents as symptoms continually change in kids as they are always changing.  Talk to your children about what is happening with them.
• Dealing with mental health issues is very challenging for parents and educators – but that is nothing compared to what the child/adolescent is going through
• Seek the help of professionals to assist your family
• Anxiety triggers avoidance behaviour – school, homework, tests, socializing – they avoid things that make them anxious – this can be misinterpreted by parents and teachers
• Children and adolescents with mental health issues are vulnerable to other things – bullying, social ‘drama’, substance use/abuse, suicide

Thank you to our speakers David, Taylor, Shannon and Sarah.  You are making a difference in the lives of others especially our children.  Let’s help them by speaking openly about mental health issues.  Be informed.  Share what you know.  Now.  With your friends, family and community.  Let the dialogue continue…

Derek Logan
Head of School

Please see Mental Health and Our Children for a recap of the evening and a list of resources.

Two weeks ago our staff recertified for First Aid and CPR.  Following the session, I was speaking to the trainers, Gil and Paul, about reacting to “crisis” situations that each of us will face in life.  We all agreed that we really never know how we would react in a situation until we are in it.  What you think you would do is meaningless until you are in a similar situation and you act (or not).  The commentary on the actions of the captain of the Costa Concordia is certainly an example of how a person could react when faced by a crisis.

Each year at KCS we see many situations in which students are interacting with each other and we often find ourselves asking the question, “Why did this student or students react to the situation they were in in the way they did?”  If you didn’t read this already, below is a link to an article from The Globe and Mail’s Life section from Friday, January 20^th that may help to understand why people react the way that they do.  It’s worth a look.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/relationships/hero-or-coward-it-all-depends-on-the-situation/article2308225/page1/

Derek Logan
Head of School

In the past year, there have been few days when I haven’t read or watched a story about mental health in the newspapers, on the internet or on television.  For example, in Monday’s Globe and Mail, there was an article in the front section on how police officers across the country are being trained to deal with individuals with mental health issues.  The statistics suggest that at least one in five children will deal with a mental health issue.  If the statistics are to be believed, and given that our school population is just over 300 students, approximately 60 of our students and their families will have to meet this challenge in the coming years. Dealing with a mental health issue will be difficult for a family.  I know as I have seen many families deal with this in my role as an educator, and I have experienced it as a Dad.

I am so thankful to see the media, companies, educators and the government openly talking about this issue.  For too long there has been a stigma associated with mental health issues.  We need to continue the dialogue.  A number of schools in the Etobicoke community, including ours, have been doing their part to encourage dialogue about mental health and children.  Last spring, we brought in a professional to talk to our teachers about anxiety and depression in children, and we began making plans with the help of two outstanding parent volunteers to put on an information evening for our community.

On Tuesday, January 24^th at 7 p.m. in Canada Hall we will be hosting a panel discussion at KCS about mental health and children.  We have four excellent speakers on the topic who will provide you with guidance on the signs to look for in your children, who will talk about their experiences both professionally and personally in dealing with the issue, and who will suggest the resources that are available in the community for families (please click here for more information about this event).  Most importantly, we believe our evening will help to break down the stigma attached to mental health and provide families with the hope they will need should they have to deal with a mental health issue with their child.

Two years ago, I wish I knew more about this issue than I do now.  It would have helped my wife and our family in so many ways.  I encourage you to be part of the dialogue on January 24^th.

Derek Logan
Head of School