Bell Let’s Talk – Mental Health Awareness

Hello Saints, 

    January 28 is an important day that we want to acknowledge. “Bell Let’s Talk” is a movement created with the purpose of spreading awareness and ending stigma around mental health. Bell Lets Talk began in September 2010, and the goal was to show the world that Mental Health is a topic that can be discussed and should not be ignored. 

     We want to help start a conversation about this topic, and share with all of our staff and students that you are not alone. Everyone at Ace Acumen wants to ensure that their students’ voices are heard, and that you are supported. We understand that coming to Canada can be a very hard transition, and can affect a person greatly. 

   Your advisors, teachers and administrative staff are here to support you, and we want to help normalize conversations about mental health. 

Share the hashtag #bellletstalk on your social media today and Bell will donate 5 cents to mental health support initiatives. This small action can help support millions of people who struggle with mental health on a daily basis and engage Canadians to take action and create positive change for mental health. 

If you are ever struggling, please reach out to us and we can help.

Fall 2020 semester Acumen Acknowledgement

Staff at Ace Acumen are always committed to bringing a top-quality learning atmosphere to the students. As the fall semester flew by quickly, Acumen is once again proud to acknowledge some of the very best employees. In the passing semester, Acumen is pleased to present acknowledgements to 18 award recipients.

One recipient received the Principal’s award for Management Excellence, recognized for her top performance management and effective communication with faculty members. Two staff members from the Student Services Department received the Acumen Volunteer Award 2020, honouring their brave spirits and excellent services at the Toronto Pearson Airport, greeting new and returning international students. The whole team, with two new-hired greeters, has welcomed more than 300 students coming to Canada so far.

Six individuals from both the Toronto and Mississauga Campus received Acumen Awards for Student Services Excellence, acknowledging their outstanding performance throughout the Fall 2020 semester. They are from different departments; however, they all did their best to help Acumen students achieve academic success.

Last but not least, a total of 9 Instructors from both campuses received Acumen Awards for Faculty Excellence, honouring their consistent efforts in delivering high-quality course contents in creative ways to students.

The Acumen staff are looking forward to new challenges in the future, as we continue to work together to deliver an excellent college experience to our wonderful international students.

Airport Greeting

St. Clair College’s COVID-19 readiness plan was approved by the federal government, and international students are finally able to come to Canada to carry out their studies. Since November 27th, staff members from St. Clair College at Ace Acumen Academy have volunteered to greet  incoming students at the airport and guide them to their designated lodging.

John Wu, principal of Ace Acumen Academy, greeted the first student who landed at the airport.

After each student’s arrival, the greeters helped them fill out the screening questionnaire following social distancing rules. Acumen students were then transported to the designated hotel and will stay there for 14-days quarantine. Students studying at the main campus took a shuttle bus to Windsor where they will start their quarantine at the local designated hotel.

Though they arrived in Canada at such an unprecedented time, students felt happy to finally be settling into their college experience here in Canada.  Thank you to all Acumen staff who are making this transition safe and smooth for our students, and college community.

International students to begin arriving in December

Immigration Canada has given St. Clair College the green light to begin the process of bringing in its International students to the country.

The College is on the federal government’s list of Designated Learning Institutions with an approved COVID Readiness Plan, which allows the school to invite its students into Canada to continue their studies.

“It has been a long process to ensure protocols are in place for the safe arrival of our International students to our campuses in Windsor, Chatham and Toronto,” said College President Patti France.

“Our end goal has been to keep our staff, current students and community safe, while ensuring our newest students ‑ from all areas of the globe ‑ arrive in Canada safely.”

The College’s COVID Readiness Plan includes arranging ground transportation when the International students arrive in Canada and securing hotel rooms during their mandatory 14-day quarantine period.

“We are grateful to Windsor Regional Hospital, our local public health unit, the Ministry of Colleges and Universities and the Federal Government for their collaboration in the development of our plan,” France said. “We would also like to thank the provincial and federal governments for expediting the approvals required to invite our International students into the country for their studies.”

The students will begin arriving in early December, according to Ron Seguin, Vice President International Relations, Campus Development & Student Services. These are students who started their studies in May but have been taking their courses online in their own countries because of COVID.

Before coming to Canada, the students must provide to the College a study visa issued by the federal government and proof they have completed the school’s protocols.

Seguin said St. Clair arranged for Windsor-bound students to quarantine for 14 days at a hotel in the city. Students studying at the College’s partner institution, Ace Acumen Academy in Toronto, will quarantine at a hotel in the GTA.

Security guards will be stationed at the hotels to ensure no one leaves their rooms. Arrangements have also been made to provide the students with food and other necessities. A nurse will also be checking in on the students’ well-being and a physician will be available if more extensive medical resources are required.

Anti-Bullying Awareness

Anti Bullying Acumen Poster

Bullying Awareness Week 2020

Hello Saints!

November is the time when we acknowledge and try to spread awareness around bullying.

Bullying happens when another person tries to scare, hurt, intimate or humiliate another intentionally. This can happen through a number of different ways both physically and mentally.

Acumen wants to create a safe learning space for all of its students inside and outside the classroom.

We want all students to feel safe and respected during their time here, and we welcome all students.

What can you do to help prevent bullying? Speak up and tell someone, tell the bully to stop, seek help from friends.

Here is some information that you may find helpful about bullying. We want you to know that you are not alone and that we are here to support you.

You can reach out to our advisor anytime for help.

Diwali Celebrations

Hello Saints!

November 14th was Diwali, The Festival of Lights. It is one of the major festivals celebrated in India, and is usually celebrated over 5 days. Diwali signifies the victory of light over darkness, good over evil, knowledge over ignorance, and hope over despair. 

Acumen wanted to promote safe Diwali practices during COVID-19 restrictions, so we were not able to celebrate in person this year, but encouraged students to share their social distance celebrations with us!

Whether it be embracing the traditional Indian attire at this festive occasion, spending time with family, decorating with colourful lights or lighting diyas; we wanted to make sure that all of you stayed safe, while celebrating this holiday.

Thank you to all of you that shared your celebrations with us. Please see the video for photos from our students including traditional attire and rangoli sand art.

Happy Diwali to all our staff and students!

Stay Safe Acumen

Click here to see Acumen students celebrating Diwali

Virtual Convocation

Graduates of Spring 2020

Acumen would like to take this chance to post a congratulatory message for all our great students, who successfully completed the requirements of their programs and had their studies conferred on Thursday October 29^th, 2020 at 3:00 pm during the live virtual convocation held by St. Clair College.

Your achievement truly is no small task. You are the first graduating class that was forced to completely shift their typical understanding, thinking and framework of a face to face education, and adjust to an online mode of learning. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and you are one of the reasons we know the future is bright. You were all able to adjust on the fly to learning online, helping promote the physical distancing rules that will hopefully soon lead us out of this pandemic.  

In fact, your work was noticed at the Federal Government of Canada level, inspiring our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to prepare a video message congratulating you on all your great work graduates. We hope you could watch the ceremony live, and in case you were not able to, please find the link below to relive this special, momentous occasion.

https://www.stclaircollege.ca/convocation/virtual

From everyone at Acumen to all of you, our dear graduates, good luck in your futures. Please be safe wherever the world takes you and remember all the great lessons and experiences you had while you were studying at Ace Acumen. You are all now graduates and ready for whatever lies ahead.

Congratulations!

Acumen

Student Message from the President – November 9, 2020

National People’s Republic of China Celebration

Hello Saints!

On October 1^st , we celebrated the National Day of the People’s Republic of China. We asked all of you to submit photos of the Chinese flag, or of your hometown. We wanted to take the time to celebrate our students from China!

This is a public holiday celebrated in China to commemorate the formal establishments of the People’s Republic of China in 1949.  The 7-day holiday from October 1^st  to 7^th  is called the ‘Golden Week’, during which a large number of people go traveling around the country.

One thing should be noted is that the PRC was not founded on that day. Actually the Chinese independence day was September 21^st  1949. The grand ceremony held at Tiananmen Square on October 1^st  1949 was to celebrate the forming of the Central People’s Government of the brand new country.

Later on October 2nd 1949, the new government passed the ‘Resolution on the National Day of the People’s Republic of China’ and declared October 1^st  to be the Chinese National Day. Ever since 1950, every October 1^st has been grandly celebrated by Chinese people.

Other activities like flag-raising ceremonies, dance and song shows, firework displays and painting and calligraphy exhibitions are also held to celebrate the National Day. If one loves shopping, National Day holiday is a great time, for many shopping malls offer big discounts during the holiday. Our students celebrate in many different ways and we were so happy to see all of your wonderful submissions.