“Heading back to school should be an exciting time for students; a chance to explore new ideas, build friendships, and confidently shape their own path. But for many, financial stress can overshadow those opportunities,” said Joe Moghaizel, Vice President, Everyday Advice Journey, TD. “At TD, we’re committed to helping students and their families across Canada feel confident about their financial future. Whether it’s budgeting for groceries, managing tuition, or saving for social experiences, we offer tools, advice, and resources designed to support their journey toward financial independence.”

The Receipts Don’t Lie

• Only one in 10 (11%) students say they’re financially stable
• Just 64% feel knowledgeable about budgeting, compared with 84% of the general population
• Even though most already have a credit card, more than a third (37%) admit they don’t understand how credit scores work and more than three-quarters (83%) of students haven’t looked up their own credit score

Generational Divide
Students say one thing, but parents assume another. While 92% of students admit they’re stressed about money, only 75% of parents think their children are under financial strain. As for credit cards, 8 in 10 students have one (61% in their own name), but only 6 in 10 parents surveyed think that’s true – and just 35% realize it’s in their child’s name.

And when looking ahead, students are bracing for the job market (31% vs. 11% gen pop) and student debt (25% vs. 4% gen pop), while parents surveyed think the bigger issue is the cost of living (54%) and housing affordability (57%).

Advice to Help Student Life
TD offers a number of tools and resources to help students and parents with budgeting and financial planning for post-secondary education:

• Student banking packages which include a no monthly fee chequing account
• TD Student Budget Calculator is designed to help students manage their finances more effectively by inputting various sources of income and expenses, such as part-time job earnings, financial aid, tuition, textbooks, and other living costs to see where money is going and where spending may need to be adjusted.
• TD MySpend app allows TD account holders and credit card holders to help control their savings and spending by tracking daily and monthly cash flow, creating a wish list of savings goals and getting insights to help make these goals a reality.
• The TD Student Advice Hub can help students navigate their financial journey while in school and beyond through a variety of financial literacy advice.

Learn more about how TD can help support students to navigate key financial decisions: https://www.td.com/ca/en/personal-banking/solutions/student-banking

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In the context of rising food insecurity, soaring food prices, increased cost of living, and the added burden of tariffs, families across Ontario are facing impossible choices, which directly impact the well-being of the youth and their capacity to learn. Today, nearly one in three children lives in a food-insecure household, a crisis so severe that several cities, including Toronto, Kingston, and Mississauga, have officially declared food insecurity a state of emergency in recent months. Despite the recent governmental commitments, this ongoing crisis is putting unprecedented strain on schools and nonprofits, including Breakfast Club of Canada, as more families turn to school food programs.

“Behind these numbers lies immense potential: talents, voices and dreams are at risk due to a lack of access to nutritious food. Breakfast programs are not a universal solution to today’s challenges, but they remain a beneficial intervention for thousands of students throughout the school year,” says Tommy Kulczyk, President and CEO of Breakfast Club of Canada. “Every child deserves an equal chance to success, no matter their circumstances,” he adds.

A seat at the table for equality

Breakfast Club of Canada and its community partners have seen an average 30% increase in the number of children served in existing breakfast programs over the past few years in Ontario. Today, over 650,000 children benefit from a nutritious breakfast through over 3,200 school nutrition programs supported by the Club and its partners, and the demand continues to grow. “We recognize the efforts and initiatives from all levels of government, especially through the National School Food Program, that played an important role in helping schools respond to growing needs. Despite this important step, now more than ever, support from all sectors is essential to maintain and expand programs that ensure every child starts their day with the nourishment they need,” says Judith Barry, Co-Founder and Director of Government Relations at Breakfast Club of Canada. “Whether in urban centres or remote regions, all students deserve access to nutritious food at school to support their development and learning. This is an issue that concerns us all,” she adds. Indeed, the Club has observed that one in three schools across the province identifies access to healthy, affordable food as a daily challenge.

Education is essential. So is nutritious food. Let’s make the choice to help feed children at school.

Proud of its 30-year history, Breakfast Club of Canada supports a variety of operational models through First Nations partners, as well as Student Nutrition Ontario and its network of regional lead agencies. The Club is committed to continuing this support while ensuring that every breakfast includes the key components of Canada’s Food Guide (protein, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains) as well as promoting local food sourcing and food sovereignty within communities.

Breakfast Club of Canada is calling on Ontarians to join this movement of solidarity and believe in the power of breakfast. Starting today, anyone can help a child reach their full potential by texting “CLUB” to 20222 or by donating at breakfastclubcanada.org/back-to-school.

For this important fundraising campaign, the Club can also count on the generosity of the MTY Foundation, which will match all donations until October 31. To build awareness, ads will be broadcast on TV, online, and across social media throughout the campaign. Together, let’s help children reach their full potential.

The post Back-to-School: Hunger Hits Ontario Classrooms appeared first on Muskoka411.

In May, letters were mailed home to high school students born in 2008 and 2009 (entering Grades 11 and 12) whose immunization records on file at the health unit are not up to date. High school students who are still not up to date will be mailed suspension orders later this month. These school suspensions will be effective Sept. 23.

Students born in 2016 and 2017 (entering Grades 2 and 3) with missing immunizations were sent home with reminder letters from school at the end of the last school year. These students’ records will continue to be reviewed this coming school year, with suspensions to be enforced in February. Parents are encouraged to act now to ensure their children’s immunization records are up-to date before school starts this fall.

“End of summer is the perfect time to check in with your child’s health care provider,” says Dr. Colin Lee, Associate Medical Officer of Health with SMDHU. “It’s a chance to make sure they’re up to date on vaccines before the school year gets busy. Getting caught up now means one less thing to worry about in September and a safer, healthier return to school.”

Parents can check their child’s immunization record online at smdhu.org. Keep in mind that vaccines provided by health care professionals outside the health unit may not be automatically reported. To ensure your child’s record is accurate and complete, be sure to submit any missing information online or by calling the health unit at 705-721-7520 ext. 8827.

Families without a health care provider can book immunization appointments at one of the health unit’s offices in Barrie, Collingwood, Cookstown, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Midland or Orillia.

“Routine immunizations do more than protect your child, they help keep entire classrooms and communities healthy,” says Dr. Lee. “Making sure your child is up to date gives you peace of mind and helps prevent the spread of avoidable diseases, like measles, mumps and whooping cough.

To help manage your family’s immunization records, consider using CANImmunize, a free mobile app that serves as a digital version of the traditional yellow immunization card. It helps keep everything organized and even allows you to share records directly with the Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit.

For more information about routine immunizations or to book an appointment at a health unit clinic, visit smdhu.org/vaccines or contact the immunization team at 705-721-7520, ext. 8827 (toll-free 1-877-721-7520).

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The Ontario government is investing $47.5 million to support safe and healthy learning, along with implementing the most comprehensive plan in Canada to restrict student use of cellphones and ban vaping in schools. By removing distractions, students can focus their attention on academic achievement, which will include modernized courses in business and career studies, and technological education.

The post Ontario Students Going Back-To-Basics With Fewer Distractions This Fall appeared first on Muskoka411.

“We want all students to stay healthy during the school year and vaccines are the best line of defense,” says Dr. Colin Lee, associate medical officer of health, SMDHU. “Ensuring that your child’s immunizations are up to date is an effective way to avoid preventable infections that can cause serious illnesses that spread in the community and at school. We have been seeing an increase in the number of students with whooping cough (pertussis) this year.”

The health unit recommends getting immunized according to the publicly funded immunization schedule for Ontario. Ontario’s Immunization of School Pupils Act requires that students be vaccinated for tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, varicella, and meningococcal disease, or have a valid exemption.

Parents and caregivers whose children have not received all recommended vaccines for their age or are unsure of which vaccines are needed should speak to their child’s healthcare provider or the health unit as soon as possible. They can help figure out which vaccines children have already had, which ones they still need, and when and where to get them.

Families with school-age children who are eligible or overdue for their routine and publicly funded vaccines and do not have a healthcare provider can book an immunization appointment  at one of the health unit offices in Barrie, Collingwood, Cookstown, Gravenhurst, Huntsville, Midland and Orillia.

If a child or youth has already received immunizations through their healthcare provider, parents and caregivers must update their immunization record on file with the health unit online.

For more information about routine and required vaccines given to students and the diseases they prevent, please visit smdhu.org. You can also speak with a public health professional by calling Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520, Monday to Friday between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

The post Make Catching Up On Routine Childhood Immunizations A Part Of Your Back-To-School Plan appeared first on Muskoka411.

The Ontario government is providing new student supports and updating curriculum for the 2023-24 school year. These actions will refocus school boards on the development of foundational skills in reading, writing and math, supported by almost $700 million more in base education funding, $109 million in a new strategy to boost literacy rates, and the hiring of 2,000 more educators.

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“There is a lot that parents and caregivers can do to set themselves and their kids up for success in starting or returning to school,” said Paula Barnes, Manager of Autism Services at Hands. “Predictable routines can be really helpful, so parents can start establishing a school routine in August, well before the bell rings for the first day.  Parents can create a visual schedule of the morning routine so kids can clearly see what to expect. Showing pictures of their classroom or even visiting the school and meeting the teacher before school starts is also helpful.  If kids are taking a bus, you can create a social story about taking the bus to make it familiar and fun.”

“Most importantly, parents and caregivers should continue to advocate for their children, they understand their child’s unique strengths and needs best. Understanding the education regulations and participating in processes such as developing an Individual Education Plan (IEP) if needed, helps the school staff understand their child and his or her communication and learning styles.”

Hands Autism Services is offering two 90-minute online seminars on Tuesday, August 29, to help parents and caregivers with children with Autism who are starting school:

1. School Readiness: 10 am online
2. Master the School Meeting: School Advocacy: 7:30 pm online

To register for a seminar, just email autism@handstfhn.ca, or call 1-800-668-8555 x1333.

Here are more tips and tricks to help ease the back to school transition:

Build familiarity:

1. Slowly introduce things your child will need and use at school
2. Take walks or drive by the school
3. Create a social story of a typical school day

Practice:

1. Set up a pretend school environment

Organize:

1. Create a visual schedule of the morning routine when child goes to school
2. Make a plan! How would you like the morning routine to look?
3. Visit the school before the first day (if possible)

Preparing for the bus:

1. Create school bus social story or find one online
2. If the school offers a trial run, it’s a good opportunity to meet the bus driver and take a ride
3. Let your child bring a comforting item the first few days
4. Create a visual schedule

Resources:

1. Social Stories
   1. Tips for Writing a Social Story
   2. How to write social stories
   3. Social story template
   4. Riding the school bus social story
2. Visual Schedule: Create your own customized schedule with this morning, afternoon, and evening template.
3. Visual Calendar: Create your own customized calendar with this monthly template.
4. My One-Page Profile: One-page profiles can help you share information about your child with other important people in their life, such as schools or childcares.
5. Education organizer: This organizer will help you keep track of your child’s important educational documentation.

The post Back To School Help From The Autism Team At Hands appeared first on Muskoka411.

“As families face heightened financial pressure, the need for back-to-school support takes on even greater significance,” says Major Jennifer Hale, Executive Director of The Salvation Army’s Center of Hope. “Every child deserves access to quality education, and it is The Salvation Army’s mission to ensure they get it.”

Parents often spend a minimum of $100 on back-to-school provisions per child. This includes backpacks, clothing, shoes, school supplies and more, but for many families these additional costs simply are not feasible, and some children are left with no choice but to go without for the school season.

“For some families, the extra expense of the back-to-school season means having to decide between putting food on the table or giving their children the tools they need to succeed in school.” Says Major Mark Hall, leader of The Salvation Army in Halifax West.

As part of The Salvation Army’s national back-to-school campaign, Salvation Army branches located throughout Halifax are collecting school supplies and backpack donations to distribute to families in need. Unfortunately, the increased demand means the current level of back-to-school donations will not be enough as things stand.

“Already we have over 500 children registered for back-to-school support, and historically we always see a last-minute surge in numbers as the school season approached,” says Captain Brent Haas, leader of The Salvation Army in Bedford, Sackville and Dartmouth. “We are working with community partners to do all we can, but in the face of the demand we are seeing, we need the HRM community to step up to the plate too.”

Please donate today by dropping off school supplies at your nearest Salvation Army location.

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The rush to shop starts now as 29.5% of respondents said they plan to make their purchases 2-4 weeks before the start of school returns (vs 42.9% in 2022). 15.7% of Canadians will make their purchases one week or less before the start of school. This is a shift from 2021 and 2022 when we saw people shopping much earlier because many items were expected to be out of stock.  Now that they supply chain has normalized, consumers intend to shop closer to the start of the school year.

Other takeaways of interest include:

• Almost 2/3rds (66%) of Canadians make a dedicated trip to purchase back-to-school items, whereas in 2022 only 32.7% did.
• 81% of Canadians will shop at brick-and-mortar retailers in their neighborhood instead of purchasing their items online. This is almost double of what we saw in 2022 (41%).
• 73.6% of Canadians plan to spend more than $50. The number of people planning to spend less than $50 has gone up by 3.4% compared to 2022, which is indicative of the tightening of purse strings due to the prevailing economic conditions.
• Stationery (60.8%), followed by clothing (32.1%), books and music (23.4%), and personal or home electronics (18.2%) are the top back-to-school shopping spending categories.
• Big box retailers (62.3%), followed by clothing (32.1%) and department stores (19.5%) and drug stores (18.4%) will take the biggest share of Canadian’s wallets during back to school.

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Today, Stephen Lecce, Minister of Education, issued the following statement to mark the beginning of the 2022-23 school year:

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