Beyond the Bell

On this episode Chantelle has a conversation with OneChild Founder and President Cheryl Perera discussing the important topic of human trafficking in Ontario. Together they discuss ways to build parent and caregiver awareness of this local issue as well as explore the ways that we can all respond, advocate for change, and prevent childhood sexual exploitation. 

On this episode, Chantelle and Lisa explore eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors. You will hear from students about the challenges they are facing when it comes to  body image and diet culture, as well as the impact of social media. As parents and caregivers, we discuss the importance of reflecting on our own upbringing and generational exposure to diet culture and how that plays a rol...

In this episode SMCDSB School Counsellor Mary Katherine Charters and Chantelle Quesnelle explore common questions and worries youth may have about accessing mental health services and the ways that parents and caregivers can support their child or teen when accessing support. You will hear from our student voice correspondents as well as information from community partners. 

In this episode Dr. Jen and host Chantelle Quesnelle explore what parents and caregivers can keep in mind when deciding to step in or step back when their child is facing a challenge. They explore what we can do as adults if we are feeling anxious while our children are building their independence. The episode wraps up with a discussion around the importance of healthy risk taking and some practic...

On this Episode, School Counsellor Lisa Hickling Miller and host Chantelle Quesnelle explore some of the stressors that students and families are facing as we head into the 2021 holiday season. You will hear some important insights from students themselves as well as tips and strategies for parents. This episode touches on the impact of COVID-19, financial stressors, managing expectations, and wha...

On this Episode Dr. Gyles and Chantelle Quesnelle explore the world of academic pressures. They discuss the impact these pressures have on students as well as parents and how to know when the pressures may be turning into anxiety. This episode also provides some tips and strategies for how parents and caregivers can support their children and teens to have a growth mindset when faced with challeng...

Talking about race, racism, equity and activism looks very different across households. In this episode Tracey and Chantelle explore ways to have conversations about these important issues with our children and teens. Together they explore the importance of being curious and tolerating discomfort when the conversation gets challenging. While conversations are important, actions speak volumes. This...

Communication between home and school is very important! In this episode, Chantelle Quesnelle and Dr. Susan Graham-Clay discuss what the research tells us about home-school communication and why it is so important. You will hear some helpful ways to include your child or teen in the communication along with strategies to set up the communication for success. While these conversations can be challe...

With the start of school quickly approaching, we know that students and families are experiencing a wide range of emotions about the return to school and learning. Parents and caregivers joined Chantelle Quesnelle, host of our OnPoint Parenting Podcast, and guests from the SMCDSB Psychology Department for a Live Q&A on our Facebook Page on Tuesday, August 31st at 7 pm. Together they answered y...

Parents, if you are feeling quite worried or stressed about your child or teen’s return to school, this episode is for you! As parents, we have been through a rollercoaster of emotions around supporting our children over the pandemic and many of us will be facing our own worries or concerns watching our children or teens re-engage in school. In this episode, we explore the origins of some of these...

This episode focuses on the child or teenager who does not want to talk about returning to school and tends to  “shut down” when the topic comes up. Silence from our children can be tricky, as it can bring up many different reactions and responses for us, as the parent. In this episode, we explore what to do and say when faced with silence or a child or teen who has ‘shut down'. We identify a few...

This episode focuses on ways to support your child or teen who is expressing excitement and worry about going back to school. Excitement and worry can feel the same in the body and how we label and make sense of those physical and emotional experiences matter! Our children and teens often take cues from us; which, we can use as an advantage in helping them navigate these big experiences! In this e...

This episode focuses on ideas and strategies to support your child or teen who is expressing back-to-school refusal with anger and irritability. This is a challenging experience for parents and children or teens alike. We explore strategies and provide examples to help your child or teen move through this challenging experience to get back to school. Some of the ideas we discuss involve validation...

The annual transition back to school at the end of the summer is one of the most significant transitions for our kids. We have all gone through so much this past year! Our children and teens have navigated many ups and downs, changes and challenges. Understandably, the transition back to school this September will be a big one and will likely come with a lot of feelings for our kids, ranging from...

This episode is all about summer! Together School Counsellor Doug Lowther and Chantelle Quesnelle explore some common summer parenting challenges such as scheduling, problem-solving, and responding to the dreaded “I’m bored” proclamations from kids. Doug describes this summer as the “bridge to the new normal” and identifies ways to support our kids as we navigate through another pandemic summer, f...

Description:  Connection has looked very different this past year. While we have been forced to find new ways to connect with friends and families over the course of the pandemic this episode reminds us of how accessible and important our connection to spirituality is. Together, Dr. Pat Carney and Chantelle Quesnelle discuss how parents can lean into conversations about spirituality by using mindf...

Together host Chantelle Quesnelle and Lisa Hickling-Miller explore the topic of mood challenges in the context of the pandemic. We discuss what's expected and when more support might be needed, the impact of screen time on mood, and the importance of creating a safe space for our children to talk about their feelings. Simcoe Muskoka's parents will hear some important information and tips and likel...

Together Host Chantelle Quesnelle and Dr. Marian Boer explore anxiety across the ages and stages of development - they talk about what is normal worry and when parents should be concerned that anxiety is becoming a problem. You won't want to miss the practical tips and strategies they provide on how to cope with anxiety, which is the most common mental health concern for both adults and children. ...

Host Chantelle Quesnelle has a conversation with Beth McCague from the Board's Psychology Department - they explore the dramatically different landscape that our children are faced with as a result of the pandemic and how parents can support their children with the stress they may be dealing with as we continue to navigate these uncertain times. 

Meet your host, Chantelle Quesnelle, and hear where we're headed with the OnPoint Parenting Podcast. Brought to you by the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board and our Catholic Parent Involvement Committee.