Jake Ernst To Speak with Students and Parents
St. Michael’s College School (SMCS) will welcome special guest Jake Ernst to campus on March 3 for engaging discussions with students and parents as part of the school’s annual ‘Disconnect-to-Connect Week.’
Ernst is the clinical director of Straight Up Health and a registered social worker and psychotherapist.
“Jake brings a wealth of experience in working with young people experiencing a diverse range of mental health needs,” says Liat Benzacar, School Social Worker. “His expertise will help our entire SMCS community understand the importance of balancing technology use with real-world connections.”
Two sessions will take place — one for students during the school day and a virtual webcast for parents in the evening. Both sessions will explore the impact of social media and technology on youth mental health, social and neurological development, and interpersonal relationships.
“We hope students will gain insights from Jake Ernst on how screen time can affect self-esteem, academic success, and relationships,” says Benzacar. “They will learn practical strategies to disconnect from their devices and build stronger, healthier connections with those around them. Jake’s experience in helping young people manage big thoughts or feelings, navigate family dynamics, and develop skills to handle life’s challenges will be invaluable.”
The assembly with Ernst is just one of several initiatives planned for ‘Disconnect-to-Connect Week’, which runs from March 3 to 7. Students will be encouraged to hand in their phones each day for a phone-free week, with a pizza party awarded to the classes with the most students giving up their phones for the most days.
“The Wellness Team will be hosting activities that allow students to engage in the community without their screens, including a Connect-4 tournament and other games in the cafe, March Madness basketball intramurals, teacher-student hockey game, lottery prizes for individuals who sign in their phones, and more. The cafe will also be a designated ‘screen free zone,’” says Benzacar.
SMCS parents will also be able to gain valuable insights from Ernst at a virtual ParenTalks presentation on March 3 at 7 p.m. ParenTalks is a conversation series for SMCS parents, featuring guest experts providing evidence-based research on topics focused around wellness. The programme began in 2019.
“Including parents is crucial because they significantly influence their children’s technology use and well-being,” says Benzacar. “Jake Ernst’s presentation will provide parents with the knowledge and skills to create a supportive home environment while reinforcing lessons from his presentation. While adults may not use social media as frequently or in the same way as teenagers, they still have their own digital habits. Understanding these dynamics will help parents better support their children by offering practical steps and expectations to implement at home.”
Parents are invited to register for the live webcast at the link in Edsby and submit questions for Ernst live or in advance to parentalks@smcsmail.com.
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