What is Circles?

In just seven weeks, through meaningful discussions, engaging video content, and a practical compassion-focused project. Circles helps young people build relationships while gathering around important conversations. Circles will help students adopt key lifestyle values and impact our community in a meaningful way.

Investing in Children began their FREE Circles Program for the first time in February of 2021. Two sessions ran for seven weeks. One for students in grades 7 and 8 and a separate one for students in grades 9 and 10. It was such a success that we reran the program again in April of 2021. Topics included resilience, authenticity, empathy, growth, altruism and values.

Now more than ever, giving students a safe, encouraging space to share their thoughts is important!

Let’s Stay Connect

Let’s Stay Connect is a spin-off group of students and leaders who have participated in the Let’s Chat Live Different Circles program who want to stay connected and continue to help their community through various projects.

Our Leaders

The sessions will be run by trained, kind leaders who have a passion and commitment to help youth!

Amy Mackenzie Duresa Sabina Keyana Yu Kathryn

WOW! Over 5,000 books were collected during our Book Drive!
The Let's Chat Live Different and HARK students, leaders, and volunteers got together at Family Centre Argyle to vet, clean, label, sort and bag all the books! The books will be distributed through our Blue Boxes for Books program so that all children and youth can have free books to enjoy!

Let’s Chat Live Different Circles students pledged 519Pursuit they would collect 519 pairs of socks for the homeless. They not only met that goal but went way beyond it! 3,846 pairs were collected. Way to go!!
Thank you to London Family Centres and to the London District Catholic and Thames Valley District schools that hosted bins! A shout out to St. Thomas More Student Parliament for collecting more than 1,000 pairs!
Check out the pictures below to see all the fun we had at the sock count!

After the deadly attack on the Afzaal-Salman family who were out for a walk in the London’s Hyde Park neighbourhood before being struck by a pickup truck, the Investing in Children’s Let’s Chat Live Different Circles students and mentors wanted to show that we stood with #OurLondonFamily and developed the Chalk for Change Campaign.
The campaign wanted to help promote Love not Hate and solidarity throughout the city. The students chose various locations such as parks, community centres, green spaces, etc. in their neighbourhoods to deliver the buckets. They monitored their buckets to ensure they were full of chalk and were being used appropriately. The Chalk for Change Campaign encouraged all community members to draw hearts and write messages of love, kindness and inclusion to show solidarity!

kids posing-permission from their mom.jpeg

During the first session of Investing in Children’s Let’s Chat Live Different Circles everyone chose their favourite quote! Check out these inspiring messages and some great art work!

Parents and Educators check out this video for more information on the Live Different Circles program philosophy.

For more information about the Let’s Chat Circles Program, please contact Janet jpinder@investinginchildren.on.ca

Let's Chat Live Different Circles Registration Form

Name

First Name

Last Name

Address

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Phone

(###)

###

####

Email to Send Zoom link to

PLEASE NOTE Student school emails such as TVDSB ones will not work.

Student's Grade

Student's School

Parent's / Guardian's Name

First Name

Last Name

Parent's / Guardian's Email

Parent's / Guardian's Phone

Please list any medical or behavioural concerns we should be aware of

Media Release

I, the parent/guardian, hereby authorize Investing in Children to use any photographs/videos of myself and/or my child(ren), or any written comments/testimonials, etc., for reproduction on Investing in Children’s website, social media platforms, published promotional materials such as (but not limited to) display boards, annual reports, flyers, emailers, etc. without any expectation of compensation.

I the parent/ guardian understand and agree to the Media Release.

I the parent/ guardian do not agree with the media release

Attendance Agreement

For the safety of all involved, participation in this program requires collaboration, excellent listening skills and full co-operation of all students. Any student not co-operating, not following directions by the instructor, or not communicating properly, (ex. using profanity, causing a disturbance, or threatening any other person involved in this program), will need to be suspended or removed from the program. Parents will be notified in the event a youth is not cooperating and/or participating as expected. Investing in Children reserves the right to make this decision. We would love students to be able to attend all sessions as part of the premises of the Circles Program is building relationships however, we respect the decision if a student wants to opt-out.

I the parent/ guardian understand and agree to the Attendance Agreement

Zoom Requirements

My student has Zoom capabilities and will test the audio and camera prior to joining the first session. Please note that since Circles is about building relationships and forming connections, the camera must be on during the sessions.

Yes