Marlene In Action! Photo of the Day

Marlene In Action! Photo of the Day
Marlene with Grade 9 honor roll students at Fr. Michael McGivney Catholic Academy, Markham. October 14, 2010.

From the York Region Chinese Parent Involvement Initiative

I am pleased to post this message from the York Region Chinese Parent Involvement Initiative, whose event I attended on Saturday, October 16, 2010 at Market Village, in Milliken. Thank you for reading it.

Marlene Mogado

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Parent Involved Education Forum Report 華人家長參與-教育政策論壇報告

By Alick Siu
York Region Chinese Parent Involvement Initiative
Email : alicksiu@yahoo.com
Cellular (647) 298-6667

With the Municipal election days away, majority voters are clueless with trustee candidate. Thousands parents giving up their dream, career, business to migrate to GTA for their kid’s dream or brighter future. Education issues from lack of innovation at school, widening gap between normal student verse special need, declining standard, to school violence, early sex education, parent involvement continues to be key priorities and concerns to Chinese parent in particular to new young immigrant parent.

With these parameters as backdrop, a group of parent “York Region Chinese Parent Initiative” has hosted the “Parent Involved Education Forum/Townhall” on October 16, 2010 (Saturday) at Market Village shopping mall. Guest speakers included York Region Public School Board Community Education Centre North Superintendent Margaret Roberts, York Catholic District School Board Parent Involvement Steering Committee member David Cheung 張 國 強 and popular Public Issues Commentator Man Sai Cheong 文 世 昌 and MC Adam Poon 潘 海 昌

Events started with a brief report of York Region District School Board and York Catholic District School Board achievement with keypoints as follows:

York Region District School Board achievements:

  1. New director Ken Thurston with new multi-year plan with key priority to improve student achievement, effective use of resource of delivery education program and parent engagement
  2. Full day kindergarten launched September with 25 schools this years, 12 school next year
  3. EQAO test result continued to perform above Ontario average 75% with
    1. Grade 3 – 70% reading, 80% writing, 81% math
    2. Grade 6 – 79% reading, 80% writing, 73% math
    3. Grade 9 – 90% academic 44% applied
    4. Grade 10 – Literacy test 89%
  4. Over 100 schools achieved Eco-school certification with energy conservation, school ground greening
  5. 3 new schools 3 replacement school and 3 additions to school
  6. Board improvement Plan on Student achievement and well being on Literacy, Numeracy, Program and Pathway, community, culture and caring

York Catholic District School Board achievements:

  1. EQAO tested result showed York Catholic students continue to be among the top performers in the province with result well above provincial average 75%
    1. Grade 6 – 77% reading
    2. Grade 10 – 88% literacy
  2. EQAO 10 years of Grade 3 and 6 demonstrate a significant upward trend in reading, writing and Mathematics
  3. Uses data assessments to identify student group who continue to struggle
  4. Full day kindergarten launched in September 2010 with 14 schools 600 JK student, 500 SK student, 42 early childhood educators to assist classroom
  5. The Honourable David C. Onley Lieutenant Governor of Ontario visited a York Catholic District School on January 2009 and addressed to school principal on polio and post-polio syndrome and how some of his favourite teachers helped to guide him to success

Despite it was not a candidate meeting, there were 10 trustee candidates of Markham and Richmond Hill attended the event including Ada Yeung, Allan Tam, Angela Chang, Carol Chan, Greg Care, Jane Milrose, Marlene Mogado, Peter Cushman, Peter Luchowski, Sam Tomer. Nine questions were provided to trustee candidates prior to the events with 3 candidates submitting the answers including Greg Care, Marlene Mogado and Allan Tam with original answers in the attached [We will try to post the PowerPoint presentation prepared by Marlene Mogado].

Event covered various education issued such as semester school or all year school, reduce funding on gifted program, 3 different school lunch sessions, senior should not pay for property tax for school. Diversity at school did come out as a major discussion with the following points covered:

  1. More cultural programs are required so that kid can be proud of their own culture and know about other kids' cultures
  2. Cultural program will need to support by school board in terms of policy and be implement at school in particular post-school extra-curriculum
  3. Parent Involvement can be a good bridge to provide 3 ways school, board and parent communication to ensure diversity is promoted and respected in school program as well as curriculum

Parents can be involved in their child’s school by maintaining contact with the school teacher, principal, going to school council, or any school board advisory committee meeting. School board has resources to provide parent seminars. Should there be any language issue, please by all means get a friend to help with translation or look for school or school council or school board which has staff to help translation.

The Parent and Community Engagement Advisory Committee was established since 2005 but primarily emphasizes Parent Involvement. Ministry of Education issued a policy entitled, “Parent in Partnership : A parent Engagement Policy for Ontario school” in September 2010 and to shift focus to parent engagement. School board has all intent to get parent involved and in fact currently the York Region District School Board is recruiting parent to participate in Parent Engagement and Advisory committee as follows:

  1. Central (Richmond Hill) - 2 elementary parents
  2. East (Markham) – 1 elementary parent
  3. West (Thornhill / Vaughan) - 2 elementary parents 1 secondary parent
  4. North (King City / Newmarket / Stouffville) – 2 elementary parents 1 secondary parent

The York Region Chinese Parent Involvement Initiative is actively seeking to explore the possibility of establishing a York Region Parent Involvement Association. The main objective is to provide a bridge for the Chinese Parent to the school board, trustee, ministry of education in order to improve ethnics diversity and the well being of student schooling and to represent the voice on education issue to the school board and Ministry of Education. With the help of some trustee candidates, York Region Chinese Parent Initiative has got 20+ parents who are interested in Parent Involvement. For further information, please refer to the York_Region_Parent_Involvement_Initiative.pdf [we will try to post this] or contact Alick Siu with email alicksiu@yahoo.com or (c)647-298-6667


0 comments

Marlene's Priorities for her Next Term: 2010-2014

  • Policies that bring VALUE to the tax dollar
  • A NEW Catholic elementary school in Cornell;
  • More WELCOMING, SAFE environment and HEALTHY foods in our schools;
  • GREENING and energy-saving initiatives;
  • Closer working relationships with our COMMUNITY PARTNERS for well-rounded learning;
  • NURTURING and PROTECTING our publicly-funded Catholic Education System.

0 comments

Marlene kept her campaign commitments

As Trustee, I kept my campaign commitments to be
a strong and tireless advocate for YOU:

NEW SCHOOLS & PROGRAMS:

  • The Area’s newest and state-of-the-art San Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Elementary School opened in 2007.
  • The first York Catholic French Immersion Program serving Markham opened at St. Edward CES in 2009.
  • Five new full-time kindergarten classes serving Area 2 opened in 2010, three at Kateri Tekakwitha CES and two more at St. Francis Xavier CES.


ACADEMIC SUCCESS:

  • Our students have scored consistently above Ontario averages on EQAO standardized tests. The Fraser Institute ranks our schools among the tops in Ontario.
  • Pursued International Baccalaureate (IB World School) Diploma Program accreditation for Fr. Michael McGivney Catholic Academy, coming in 2011.


FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:

  • Initiated cost-saving & streamlining improvements that helped achieve a YCDSB balanced budget.


OPEN COMMUNICATION & ACCOUNTABILITY:

  • Worked closely with Parent Councils, Ratepayer Groups, and Board staff to resolve safety and health issues.
  • Things get done: I respond to you within 24 hours.

0 comments

Marlene Mogado Re-Election Campaign Kickoff 2010!

Marlene Mogado has kicked off her 2010 Re-Election Campaign! There are many exciting races this election season, so please learn about your candidates, vote, and encourage your friends, neighbours, and family to VOTE!

Early and online voting will take place October 16-21, 2010, and in person on October 25, 2010. More information is available at: http://www.markhamvotes.ca

Marlene's signs are posted around Markham, Milliken Mills and other parts of Area 2 in York Region. Lawn signs are being put up this week! Please contact Marlene if you'd like to assist by posting a lawn sign, taking Marlene around your neighborhood to talk to Catholic voters, or help out with flyer distribution. Your input and assistance are also most welcome.

Watch this space for more details about what she's done in her past 4 years as Catholic Trustee, and what she will prioritize in her next term!

Thank you for visiting this site! Make sure to vote this month!

0 comments

Marlene Mogado - Bio


Marlene is honoured with the "2004 YMCA Canada Peace Medallion" at Markham Town Hall ceremonies by officials of YMCA, Markham and York Region Councils.

Marlene has served Markham and York Region
for over 28 years as a community volunteer:


Honours and Awards:
  • 2007 Most Outstanding U.P. (University of the Philippines) Graduate Award;
  • 2007 Province of Ontario, 20 Years' Volunteer Service Award;
  • 2004 YMCA Canada Peace Medallion;
  • 2004 York Region (ICOW) 'In Celebration of Women' Achievement Award, and
  • 2002 Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal for Community Service.

Marlene has been a secondary school teacher, and retired from Bell Canada after 28 years of service.

Marlene has lived with her husband in Old Markham Village for nearly 30 years. Their daughter Linelle attended Kateri Tekakwitha CES, St. Patrick (Markham) CES, and Brother Andre Catholic High School. She is a California lawyer and will be called to the Ontario Bar in January 2011.


0 comments

Q and A with Marlene Mogado

October 15, 2010

Mogado: “ I want to finish the job....”

By Ricardo J. S. Caluen

I had an opportunity to chat with Marlene Mogado, who is one of the GTA’s Filipino candidates seeking re-election this year. An indefatigable veteran community volunteer, Marlene is seeking a second term as Catholic School Trustee in Area 2 of the York Catholic District School Board serving Markham, Milliken, and Unionville. The following are excerpts of that interview.

Q: What are the top issues facing your schools?

A: I see five priorities. East and North Markham have grown significantly in the past five years. Our newest Area 2 school is San Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Elementary School, which opened in 2007. It’s almost at capacity. We badly need new schools in this Area.

Q: What are the other four priorities?

A: We also need funding for new purchases and maintenance of technological programs and supports. There are the special education students, too. Their numbers and needs are growing. There is always a need for literacy and numeracy supports, and I’ll always advocate for these. And, some of our older schools need repair.

Q: Can the Board afford it? That sounds like a lot of expenses.

A: The 2010-2011 YCDSB budget is almost $600 million and it’s the Trustees’ job to decide how it is spent. For comparison, the Town of Markham’s yearly budget is about $350 million. Right now, all departments are re-evaluating their budgets, to trim or postpone spending. We are shifting focus to student learning. The Board aims to leverage any available miscellaneous funding for special programs and projects. The challenge is to be able to receive this funding on a longer-term and more equitable basis.

Q: It is always nice to hear when public entities like the Catholic Board in York Region maintain a balanced budget. Did you have some role in that?

A: I am the Chair of the Board’s Budget and Audit Committee. My fellow trustees and the Board staff are really dedicated to working out solutions and finding compromise. Many of us are quite forceful in arguing our positions. I get to moderate many of our debates that yield good results.

Q: I understand that each Trustee has a discretionary fund which has been controversial in other Catholic Boards. How do you spend yours?

A: Each year, we get $5,000 of this fund. We follow Board Policy on how it can be spent. Every year since 2007, I have spent more than half of my fund on school projects. It’s a small amount but it has helped schools with projects that cannot be funded through the General School Budget, like additional learning materials, library books, and school anniversary celebrations. For these, School Councils usually rely on fundraising.

Q: Let’s look at some issues of concern to parents. What is your opinion on the sex education program in schools that the Ontario Government announced this Spring?

A: The government should have consulted parents through the Provincial Parent Councils and Trustee Associations. Our unique position as Catholic Boards must be respected. We are glad the program was cancelled before it was implemented. We expect to be invited when consultations take place.

Q: Why are “healthy foods” listed amongst your top priorities for your next term?

A: I hear from parents all the time that unhealthy food is too readily available to their kids on the school premises and at school-sponsored events. But some of the food items are the top source of fundraising revenues for activities and programs that cannot be funded through Ministry of Education funds. We are in the process of developing a Policy on Healthy Foods and Beverages. I will include an integrated program at schools to fight obesity among school children. Schools and their Councils are now starting to find other means to fundraise so that more healthy foods and beverages are chosen.

Q: Split-level classes are sometimes a concern for parents. What are they and what is your position on them?

A: Split-level classes are where two grades of students are in class with the same teacher, but with different sets of lessons and instruction conducted in different parts of the classroom. I tend to hear complaints about them at the beginning of the school year. The fact is, we have limited resources. Split classes maximize the use of facilities and teaching resources. This is the most cost-efficient choice when we have low numbers of students in a grade. I am not convinced that kids are disadvantaged in split classes.

Q: Have you heard of issues with kids attending schools outside of their local area?

A: Yes and there are two issues with that. I have heard from parents who are not happy that their children are being sent to far away schools when there are schools closer to home that could accommodate them. And there is the other group: parents who are not satisfied with the programs offered at a school near them; they want their child bussed to a school that is further away.

Q: How do you think the Board should deal with that?

A: The Board needs to do a boundary review. And, where this is an issue, Principals should have effective communication strategies with parents in the schools. Schools can also improve the programs they offer so they can attract students to attend their area school. A more welcoming and safe school environment will definitely help, and I want to help build that, too.

Q: Any last word on the election?

A: I’ve been campaigning hard to earn the Catholic school supporters’ vote. We have over sixty volunteers and I am most grateful to them because they have been very generous with their time and energy! Almost every day in October, we delivered flyers to the 8,000 Catholic voter households in Area 2’s four wards in Markham, Milliken, and Unionville. We have 50 road signs up and lawn signs are going up every day now. Online and early voting is from October 16th to 21st, and Election Day is October 25th.

More information is available at marlenemogado.blogspot.com and www.facebook.com/mmogado. I encourage everyone to learn about your candidates but the most important thing is to VOTE! I take pride in what I have accomplished thus far. And there’s more than I can do. I want to finish the job.

1 comments

Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)