Spark Night
SMUS has invested in connecting the latest in research to the education and well-being of students from Junior Kindergarten to graduation and life after school. Spark Nights are free learning events at SMUS that are open to the Greater Victoria community.
Upcoming Spark Nights:
The Personal Counselling team at SMUS invites you to an evening focused on the 2024, New York Times Bestseller, The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt.
The Anxious Generation is a thought-provoking book that explores the rising levels of anxiety and mental health struggles among today's youth. Haidt discusses how societal changes, particularly the rise of social media, overprotective parenting, and cultural shifts, have contributed to increased stress and pressure on young people.
The evening will be an opportunity for our parent community to come together to discuss highlights from the book and how we can help our children learn to thrive in a world full of distractions from technology and social media. Our evening will start with a short video and introduction from our administration, followed by an opportunity for parents to participate in small group discussions facilitated by our counselling team that are focused on themes of the book. We will conclude with a share of our learning and an opportunity for parents to plan ways to support one another as a community.
In preparation for the evening, we encourage you to read The Anxious Generation, or review one or both of the following resources:
Questions: Carole McMillan, Director of Personal Counselling, at [email protected].
Date: Thursday, January 16, 2025
Time: Light refreshments 6:00 pm; presentation 6:30-8:00 pm
Location: SMUS Chapel (3400 Richmond Road)
Seats available: 40
We have reached the maximum number of participants for this event. Please fill out this form if you would like to be added to the waitlist.
How is AI changing education, employment, and the economy? Will we become more dependent on AI and lose critical thinking skills, or will AI guide us through volatile times and resolve our most pressing crises? AI consultant and author Peter Scott will discuss those issues and how SMUS students will shape the future in partnership with AI.
Peter Scott has a Master's degree in computer science from Cambridge and worked for many years at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He helps people understand AI and find empowerment in disruptive times through his books, podcast, TEDx talks, courses, and keynote presentations around the world. He lives in Victoria with his wife and two school-age daughters.
Date: Tuesday, January 28, 2025
Time: Light refreshments 6:00 pm; presentation 6:30-8:00 pm
Location: SMUS Chapel (3400 Richmond Road)
Recent Presentations
| DATE | SUBJECT | SPEAKER |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 1, 2024 | The Learning Blueprint for Teachers and The Learning Blueprint for Students. View video of this event. | Jared Horvath |
| May 7, 2024 | Cultivating Potential: Fostering Executive Functioning Skills in Your Children | Erin Kline |
| February 6, 2024 | Safer Schools Together. This session focussed on all things digital. | |
| November 23, 2023 | Screenagers Under The Influence - a movie addressing vaping, drugs and alcohol in the digital age | |
| May 11, 2023 | Gender Diversity, Allyship, and Inclusion | Facilitator and speaker, Kingsley Strudwick |
| March 16, 2023 | Youth Drug Exposure | Leslie McBain, co-founder of Moms Stop the Harm |
| December 5, 2022 | The Impact of Technology on the Brain | Scientist, teacher, mentor and brain researcher Dr. Paul Mohapel |