Fort St. John
APRIL 29, 2025
Evangel Community Church 10040 100 St, Fort St. John, BC V1J 3Y4
Detailed Schedule
1:00-1:15
Please come to sign-in and drop off your students for the events!
1:15-1:35
Sara Kraushar & Craig Kwiatkowski
1:35-2:35
Keynote: TikTok: It’s Time to Talk About Screen Time and Our Children’s Minds and Brains
Dr Chris Mattatall
The smartphone in your pocket has approximately 10,000 times more computing power than the computers in all of the Apollo rockets that landed astronauts on the moon. Add to that a worldwide connected system of information media generated by algorithms that track your every search, view history and interests, and you begin to realize that the computer we carry with us every day is much more than a phone—it is an influencer and behavioural change machine. But is it safe? In this session, we explore the growing body of research on the effects that screen time, particularly smartphones and social media, is having on this generation of children. We also explore the tremendously vital influence that parents can have to help children navigate this area of their lives.
2:35-2:50
Break
Grade 8-12 students will be dismissed to join you in the workshops. K-Grade 7 students will continue with student activities.
2:50-3:35
Workshop 1
Dr Chris Mattatall
The human brain learns to speak naturally, through the millions of interactions we have with our children, but reading does not. Reading must be taught. Furthermore, the language areas of your brain—the left hemisphere—must be made to share their neurons in order to learn how to read words. Is this difficult? Can everyone learn to do this? What is required in order for this to happen, and what do we do if children don’t learn to read well early in their school years? This session seeks to answer these important questions and gives thoughtful research-informed guidance to educators and parents on what we can do to help children learn to read.
Tara Klukas
Join us for a workshop tailored specifically for parents and students to learn about the Innovations High School program! Throughout this session, we will guide you through essential steps to foster a healthy and supportive environment, acknowledging the student’s learning style, identifying goals, creating balance, checking their productivity meter, being willing to adapt, asking for help, showing grace, celebrating wins, and planning ahead. This workshop offers valuable insights and tools to empower you and your students on this journey into high school and beyond.
This workshop is designed for parents and students to attend.
3:35-3:40
Transition
3:40-4:25
Workshop 2
Kerri Nava and Nancy Gullason
Numeracy is more than memorizing facts—it’s about recognizing patterns, making connections, and applying problem-solving skills in everyday life. From counting and measuring to budgeting and logical reasoning, numeracy plays a crucial role in a child’s development. But how do we ensure all students build confidence and competence in math? What strategies work best when students struggle? This session explores these key questions and provides practical, research-informed strategies that educators and parents can use, such as hands-on activities and real-world math connections, to foster strong numeracy skills in K-9 students.
Dr Chris Mattatall
Teenagers present a conundrum: their brains have amazing potential to create and reason and produce wonderful things, but they are not fully developed until about age 25 or so. Research has found that the adult brain (after 25) and the teen brain work differently, so understanding one another is not so easy sometimes. In teen brains, the emotional part of the brain and the decision-making parts of the brain are still developing, and they develop at different rates. Thinking and feeling do not always coincide or work together. Add to this the social and emotional pressures of adolescence, multiple physical changes to their bodies, and changes in their relationships with their peers, siblings and parents, make this time of life interesting and challenging. This session dives into this marvellous and mysterious developing brain.
This workshop is designed for parents and students to attend.
4:25-4:30
Transition
4:30-4:45
Sara Kraushar & Craig Kwiatkowski
Please return to the main gathering space for prizes and closing, and then pick up your K-Grade 7 students.
Speakers
Dr Chris Mattatall
Associate Professor, Faculty of Education University of Lethbridge
Dr Mattatall speaks nationally and internationally on topics related to the Science of Learning, how the brain learns and develops, motivation and engagement, and teaching and learning strategies that help to direct student attention, strengthen memory and build self-regulation.
Dr Mattatall also conducts two parent workshops series in communities across Western Canada: What Every Parent Wishes Someone Had Told Them About How Their Child’s Brain Learns, and Tik Tok: It’s Time to Talk About Screen Time and Our Children’s Minds and Brains. His website, goodteaching.ca, is a repository of recommended strategies, practice guides, books, and articles for classroom teachers.
Dr Mattatall has been a teacher, administrator and leader in education for more than 30 years. He and his wife, Gloria, have been married for 33 years, have three grown children and one adorable granddaughter named Elliott. They also care for their lovable, playful and mischievous Bernadoodle named Winston.
Tara Klukas
Academic Advisor - Adult & North
Having worked at HCOS since 2011, Tara has served the HCOS community in several capacities. Currently, Tara serves in the dual role of Academic Advisor and teacher. She strives to support students through relationship-building, mentoring and encouragement so that they can pursue God’s best for them in life. She loves being a witness and encourager for young people to discover what gifts, talents and skills God has blessed them with and then help them set goals to journey the pathway they feel God is calling them to pursue. When she is not cheering on the students in her care, she is at the sidelines cheering her three competitive children in football, hockey and sport cheer. Tara loves the outdoors and travelling to witness the amazing creative hand of God in people and cultures around the world.
Kerri Nava
K-9 Regional Administrator - North
Nancy Gullason
K-9 Support Teacher - North
Nancy loves teaching and seeing those ‘light bulb’ moments. After teaching and leading professional development for other teachers and administrators in the public school system, Nancy became a homeschool mom. She joined HCOS about 15 years ago as a support teacher and has taken on roles with the Inclusive Education Department (running a brain training program) and as the administrator for the Northern Region. Looking towards a slower pace, Nancy passed on the admin role and now enjoys supporting families as a teacher.
Married to Brad, Nancy loves embracing life’s adventures. Whether travelling, playing her clarinet at the Art Gallery openings each month, hanging out with her adult kids and husband or taking long walks, each moment is cherished. Her golden retriever, Annie, keeps her on her toes, and together, they volunteer at the hospital once a week, where Annie serves as a therapy dog.
Passionate about education, Nancy is committed to ensuring children receive a strong foundation in learning tailored to their unique needs. She believes in fostering critical and creative thinking skills and empowering students to become lifelong learners. With a deep interest in brain training and neurodivergent learning styles, she enjoys researching innovative teaching methods and seeing their impact on students.
