FINANCIAL

A supportive community is irreplaceable to the education and success of children. As children grow, so does their community and their sense of belonging in their community. At Oak Learners, children are not just part of a “class” or a “school”, but part of a community where the roles of every community member are recognized and celebrated, including the children.

Kelly recognizes that, “when children feel like they belong to something bigger than themselves, they are more likely to work harder to achieve their best to support their role in the larger community.” This is exemplified every day in the atmosphere of Oak Learners, beginning with their location in the heart of Mimico Village and their commitment to outdoor education and learning outside in the community. Students and campers at Oak Learners feel recognized as important members of the community and want to continue to learn and grow to give back.

What the pandemic has taught us more than anything else is the importance of community. We have collectively learned to appreciate our neighbours, our small businesses and our families. As this community expands again while we recover from the pandemic, it is important for parents and teachers to continue to build an inclusive and welcoming community for all children and students.

academics is “impossible”. The teachers at Oak Learners begin with each child by building a relationship of mutual respect and trust that is fostered through acknowledging the strengths of each child. Kelly says, “We begin by celebrating the strengths of each child because it is from their strengths that we can scaffold a support system for their needs. For example, if a child loves art and drawing but is struggling to learn to read and write, we begin each session with some form of art or drawing to recognize their existing skills before tackling the more challenging skills.” This approach sets the child up for success and establishes a positive rapport right from the start.

More and more research into education is showing that the strengths-first approach and a multi-disciplinary learning environment are significantly more successful at developing confident, adaptable and well-rounded students into their futures. The Reggio Emilia philosophy, which underlies the approach to teaching and learning at Oak Learners, begins with the premise that every single child is capable and competent and full of potential and ambitious desires. Students at Oak Learners are acknowledged first for their competencies and then supported in their future learning through those skills.

School Success for all Learners

This year, back to school may still look a little different, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing - it’s a wonderful opportunity to set new routines, new expectations and new practices of gratitude and recognition for our children. Let’s work together to continue to rebuild a better way of teaching and learning to set our children up for success in a continually changing world. Success comes with small steps, but always stems from the same 3 C’s: Creativity, Confidence and Community.

Find out more about how Oak Learners can support your family during the upcoming school year at www.oaklearners.ca. More programs and opportunities to get involved are opening all the time and you are encouraged to sign up for the Oak Learners newsletter for regular updates and news on how Oak Learners is reshaping education for the future.

Parents and teachers are the most important people in making or breaking the confidence of their children and students. It all begins with the language used and daily practices of recognition and gratitude. At Oak Learners, Kelly and her teachers greet each child by thanking them for being there and bringing their best selves. At the end of each day, they sit with the students or campers to reflect on the day’s successes and help the children set goals for the next day. This practice helps children understand that entire days can’t be “good” or “bad”, but that there are always opportunities to acknowledge success and gratitude in each day. OAK LEARNERS

394 Royal York Rd. 416.820.5233 www.oaklearners.ca

How to Save Money When Back to School Shopping

As we enter a new academic year, students and teachers are heading back to class. Although back-to-school shopping may not look the same as previous years, both in-person and online classroom settings require supplies. To help limit overspending and keep you on budget, here are the ABC’s of back-to-school savings:

Shop smart

Now that school is back in session, you might be finding yourself spending more money on supplies. It’s easy to get carried away with shopping but it’s extremely important to create a budget and stick to it. Although it might be tempting to purchase everything before classes start, you might want to hold off until you have a teacher-approved supply list to avoid overspending on unnecessary items. Taking advantage of seasonal sales and bargain hunting can also help you stay on budget and get more for less.

Here are some easy ways you can start saving: • Price match • Take inventory of supplies that you might have around the house • Buy school supplies from discount stores rather than large chains • Use coupons • Search for student discounts like SPC or Apple’s education discount • Make homemade lunches instead of relying on cafeteria food

Buy refurbished

It’s no secret that buying or upgrading electronics can leave a dent in your wallet. Many retailers offer refurbished computers and tablets from big brands at a discounted rate, along with a purchase warranty so you can shop with peace of mind. Like most technology, it’s important to research before purchasing. Now that some households might have more than one child learning virtually, buying refurbished can save you hundreds of dollars, especially if you’re buying multiple devices at once. If you’re a teacher, buying refurbished allows you to buy good quality computers or laptops that can handle the demands of teaching in a virtual classroom with a budget-friendly price.

Pick the right phone plan

The telecommunications market in Canada is competitive and prices can vary depending on the type of service you’re looking for, like brand recognition or phone type. Choosing a phone plan can be a bit daunting but there are plenty of options on both top and lower-tier plans. If you’re looking for something cost-effective and easy to keep track of, a mobile share plan can suit your entire family on one mobile account. Family plans are budget-friendly and usually include unlimited nationwide calling, unlimited messaging, and shareable data. If you’re looking for individual phone plans, some of the best deals are released just in time for back-to-school and include higher data packages and discounts on new smartphone devices. In terms of affordability, prepaid plans can help you avoid multi-year contracts and monthly fees. Most prepaid plans are also customizable and can be suited to fit your mobile device needs and budget.

Add safety products

Despite the shift to online learning, many Canadian students attending in-person classrooms are required to follow strict health and safety protocols. Unlike past years, parents and school staff will have to allocate a bit of their back-to-school budget for personal protective equipment like face masks, shields, hand sanitizer, and wipes. Although it might be hard to find discounted prices on some of these in-demand items like sanitizer, buying reusable masks can be a great way to reduce waste and save money.

This article is not intended to provide financial or financial planning advice, please call or email Moya Financial and they will be more than happy to chat with you!

MOYA FINANCIAL

747 Brown’s Line, Toronto, ON M8W 3V7 Call: 416.255.1742 Email: main@moyafinancial.ca