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February 25, 2008 | Vol. 20, No. 07WHAT'S INSIDE?Register now for the Joint OPSBA-OASBO 2008 Labour Relations and Human Resources Symposium Register now for the Joint OPSBA-OASBO 2008 Labour Relations and Human Resources SymposiumDon't wait for the last minute to register for the joint OPSBA-OASBO 2008 Labour Relations and Human Resources Symposium from March 27 to 29 at the Sheraton Centre Hotel. This Symposium provides topical professional development sessions that help you stay on top of your field. This unique program covers a variety of issues and skills development, including: Opening Reception - Take advantage of this excellent opportunity to network with colleagues and invited guests. Closing Panel: Perspectives on a Bargaining Year Large Plenary Sessions:
Workshops include:
Program brochures, including the registration form, were mailed to all OPSBA member boards for distribution to Senior Labour Relations/Human Resources Practitioners, Senior Business Officials, Trustees and school board staff. The brochure and registration form are also available online. A special guest room rate of $172 plus taxes (single or double) has been arranged for delegates at the Toronto Sheraton Centre Hotel. Please phone hotel reservations directly at 416.361.1000 or 1.888.627.7175 and ask for the OPSBA group rate before the February 27, 2008 cut-off date. Reserve early as availability is limited. If you encounter any problems regarding room reservations, please contact Ernesta Graham. For more information: Ernesta Graham, Events Coordinator, ext.115; or Vicky Skypas, Manager, Labour Relations Services, ext.119 20th AGM & PROGRAM 2008
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When: |
June 12 — 15, 2008 |
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Where: |
Sheraton on the Falls Hotel and Conference Centre |
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Who: |
Trustees, Directors of Education, supervisory officers, student trustees and other board members are encouraged to attend this annual OPSBA conference. |
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Hotel: |
Book early to avoid disappointment! |
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HOTEL CUT-OFF DATE: |
May 12, 2008 |
Watch OPSBA’s Fast Reports for regular updates and future announcements.
The Registration Form and the Preliminary Program will be available online in April.
For more information: Gail Anderson, Executive Director, ext.109;
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Don't Miss Your Chance to Submit Nominations for OPSBA Awards Program
The Ontario Public School Boards’ Association's Awards Program strives to recognize some of the outstanding contributions made to the public education system by individuals across Ontario.
It’s not too late to nominate a student, teacher or trustee you would like to recognize for making a difference.
Complete information on the awards, including the nomination form and terms of reference, is available online (link). Please take a few moments to review this online information.
The following is a summary of the OPSBA awards:
Jack A. MacDonald Award of Merit — recognizes the achievements of an outstanding student for a sound academic record and outstanding community service and leadership.
The Fred L. Bartlett Memorial Award — presented to an active or retired member of the teaching profession for an outstanding contribution to education throughout Ontario, including activities such as constructive participation in education affairs over a number of years or recent participation in a specific project that has had a significant impact.
The Dr. Harry Paikin Award of Merit — awarded to an active or retired public school trustee for outstanding service.
Achievement Award and Award of Excellence — recognizes the outstanding contributions of non-teaching staff, parents, volunteers and community partners from Member Boards. This award provides an opportunity to raise awareness and to promote the importance of celebrating excellence. It also emphasizes the importance of recognizing the contributions of all members of the education community.
The Bernardine Yackman Memorial Award — awarded for dedication, commitment and an outstanding contribution to education with special recognition for Northern Ontario service. The deadline for nominations for this particular award is September 12, 2008
All nominations, except for the Bernardine Yackman Memorial Award, must be received at the OPSBA office no later than 5:00 p.m. Friday, April 18, 2008.
For the Bernardine Yackman Memorial Award, the nomination deadline is September 12, 2008.
See
OPSBA Awards
For more information: Mary Adams-Cuffy, Awards Coordinator, ext.101
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Preventing Violence and Harassment in Schools
Ontario is working to combat harassment and violence in schools by reengaging a team of safety and education experts. Ontario's education ministry has asked the team to look at how to prevent sexual harassment, gender-based violence and homophobia in schools.
The team – called the Safe Schools Action Team – is headed by MPP Liz Sandals, a former school board trustee and president of the Ontario Public School Boards' Association. Other members of the team include: Leeanna Pendergast, Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister Responsible for Women’s Issues; Stu Auty, President of the Canadian Safe School Network and former chair of the Ontario Safe School Task Force; Dr. Inez Elliston, former Director of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation (CRRF); Ray Hughes, the National Education Coordinator for the Centre For Prevention Science with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; Dr. Debra Pepler, Distinguished Research Professor of Psychology at York University and a Senior Associate Scientist at the Hospital for Sick Children; and Lynn Ziraldo, the Executive Director of the Learning Disabilities Association of York Region and advisor and past chair of the Minister's Advisory Council on Special Education (MACSE).
Research shows that gender-based violence is a serious issue, with far-reaching consequences to individuals, their families, peers, and the community at large. The team will examine the causes of these behaviours, provide recommendations on how to prevent this type of inappropriate behaviour among students and make it easier to report.
This is part of the Ontario government's safe schools strategy and also addresses a number of issues raised by Centre for Addiction and Mental Health's report on sexual harassment and by the Toronto District School Board's School Community Safety Advisory Panel.
See
Ministry of Education News Release, February 21, 2008
For more information: Jeff Sprang, Director of Communications, ext.111
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Ontario College of Teachers Holds Consultations on Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR)
The Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) is developing a framework for a Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) policy to assist in assessing the knowledge, skills and experience of applicants seeking certification by the College. The policy will be particularly useful in determining eligibility for certification in Ontario of applicants from outside of the province and outside of Canada.
Some of the recent developments that make the development of a PLAR policy framework increasingly important are:
- the enactment in 2006 of the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act;
- increasing national and international policy development in the area of mutual recognition of credentials and qualifications to ensure barrier-free mobility of professionals
- the government’s interest in removing barriers to enable greater mobility into Ontario for individuals who hold supervisory officer positions in other provinces.
The College’s proposed definition of PLAR is:
“a systematic process that identifies, verifies and recognizes learning (knowledge and skills) that cannot be fully recognized through the traditional mechanisms of credential assessment, credit transfer or articulation. Such mastery may be acquired through a combination of formal learning (academic study), professional practice and/or other non-formal or informal activities. To be recognized prior learning must be relevant to the professional practice of teaching.”
OPSBA staff participated in a consultation session held in Toronto on February 20, 2008 that included a broad range of education stakeholders. This provided an opportunity to offer input into how mobility across provinces and teaching opportunities for internationally trained teachers might be improved by expanding the Colleges current program and certification comparability practices to include a PLAR system.
Further consultations with College members will be held in Thunder Bay and Sudbury on March 4 and in Windsor on March 6. Written submissions may be made to the Ontario College of Teachers until April 21, 2008. It is expected that recommendations dealing with the establishment of a PLAR policy framework will be considered by the OCT Council at its June meeting.
See
Ontario College of Teachers’ Backgrounder on PLAR (English Version)
Ontario College of Teachers’ Backgrounder on PLAR (French Version)
For more information: Susan Cook, Policy & Communications Associate, ext.103
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CORRECTION ... Funding Available for Tree Planting on School Grounds!
We apologize for the misinformation previously posted in this issue of Fast Reports regarding free trees for school grounds. The following is a correction regarding the Billion Tree Campaign.
Only a portion of these funds will be allocated to trees planted on school grounds. Schools are invited to sign up for the Toyota Evergreen Learning Grounds Program and receive advice, access to resources and a funding application to create naturalized areas on their school grounds. Funding will be available in September 2008.
For more information and how to apply, please visit http://www.evergreen.ca/en/lg/lg.html or contact Sarah Deller, Administrative Assistant, Learning Grounds, 416.596.1495 x247, sdeller@evergreen.ca.
The majority of the Billion Tree Campaign funding is being allocated for trees planted in parklands, conservation areas, publicly accessible corporate lands and industrial parks, university campuses, hospital grounds, road allowances, boulevards and medians. For more information and how to apply, please visit http://www.evergreen.ca/en/cg/cg-funding.html or contact Michèle Thomas, Grants Administrator, Common Grounds, 416.596.1495 x285, mthomas@evergreen.ca.
See
Billion Tree Campaign
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Ministry of Education UPDATE
Memo Summary: February 2008
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ISSUE DATE |
FROM |
DOCUMENT TITLE/DETAILS |
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21/02/2008 |
Marg Connor, Director (A), Leadership Development Branch |
Teacher Performance Appraisal (TPA) for Experienced Teachers Professional Learning Strategy: Update and Additional Resources See also: 5 Fact Sheets Secondary School Teacher Sample Annual Learning Plan (ALP) and Summative Report Form Sample Completed Summative Report Form for Secondary Teacher Questions and Answers |
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02/2008 |
Regional Manager emails |
Community Use of Schools: Effective Practices Survey Summary |
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02/2008 |
Ann Perron, Chief Student Achievement Officer, Literacy and Numeracy Secretariat George Zegarac, Assistant Deputy Minister, Strategic Planning and Elementary/Secondary Programs Division |
Professional Learning Resources and Implementation Support for Teachers |
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12/02/2008 |
Kirsten Parker, Director, Student Success/Learning to 18: Implementation, Training and Evaluation Branch Ginette Plourde, Director, French-Language Policy and Programs Branch |
Grade 8 to 9 Transition Planning Initiative Evaluation Report See also: http://community.elearningontario.ca (Report and PowerPoint) |
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11/02/2008 |
Paul Anthony, Director, Teaching Policy and Standards Branch |
NTIP Provincial Symposium 2008 See also: Reimbursement Guideline for the NTIP Provincial Symposium March 2008 |
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08/02/2008 |
Kirsten Parker, Director, Student Success/Learning to 18 - Implementation, Training and Evaluation Branch Grant Clarke, Director, Student Success/Learning to 18 - Strategic Policy Branch Kit Rankin, Director, Field Services Branch |
Board Visits: Student Success Action Plans See also: Student Success Leader Guide to the Board Visits: February 2008 |
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06/02/2008 |
Philip Steenkamp, Deputy Minister (A), Ministry of Education Judith Wright, Deputy Minister, Ministry of Children and Youth Services |
Student Support Leadership Initiative See also: Appendix A, B, C and D |
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05/02/2008 |
Kit Rankin |
Community Use of Schools |
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04/02/2008 |
Elizabeth Harding, Director, Policy and Program Branch |
Healthy Schools – Funding for Daily Physical Activity in Elementary Schools and Secondary School Student Engagement |
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04/02/2008 |
Don Young, Director, Information Management Branch |
Managing Information for Student Achievement (MISA): Supplementary Funding for 2007-08 |
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01/02/2008 |
Paul Anthony, Director, Teaching Policy and Standards Branch |
Teacher Supply and Demand Survey |
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01/02/2008 |
Paul Anthony, Director, Teaching Policy and Standards Branch |
Revised May Training Session Date for 2008 – 2009 Teacher Learning and Leadership Program |
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28/01/2008 |
Sue Durst, Director, Curriculum and Assessment Policy Branch Ginette Plourde, Director, French-language Education Policy and Programs Branch |
Growing Success - Assessment, Evaluation and Reporting: Improving Student Learning |
See
http://cal2.edu.gov.on.ca/feb08.html
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Calendar of EVENTS
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Thursday, February 28, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. &
Friday, February 29, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
OPSBA Board Room, Toronto
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Friday, February 29, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. &
Saturday, March 1, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Metropolitan Hotel, 108 Chestnut St, Toronto
Phone: 416.977.5000
OPSBA Room Rate: $130
Cut off Date: January 31
NORTHERN REGION DIRECTORS
Friday, February 29, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
OPSBA Board Room, Toronto
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Wednesday, March 26, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
OPSBA Board Room, Toronto
LABOUR RELATIONS AND HUMAN RESOURCES SYMPOSIUM 2008
March 27 — 29
Sheraton Centre Hotel, Toronto
Phone: 416.361.1000 or 1.888.627.7175
OPSBA Room Rate: $172 (single or double) + taxes
Cut-off Date: February 27
WESTERN REGIONAL COUNCIL
Saturday, April 5, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Thames Valley District School Board
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Thursday, April 24, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. &
Friday, April 25, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
OPSBA Board Room, Toronto
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Friday, April 25, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. &
Saturday, April 26, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Metropolitan Hotel, 108 Chestnut St, Toronto
Phone: 416.977.5000
OPSBA Room Rate: $149
Cut off Date: March 25
NORTHERN REGION DIRECTORS
Friday, April 25, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
OPSBA Board Room, Toronto
20th ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING & PROGRAM 2008
Hosted by Central West Region
June 12 — 15
Sheraton on the Falls Hotel & Conference Centre, Niagara Falls
Phone 1.800.519.9911 or 905.374.4445
OPSBA Room Rate: $139 + taxes (Traditional Room) or
$189 + taxes (Fallsview Room)
Cut-off Date: May 12
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If you have any comments about Fast Reports,
contact CARLA GARBAS, Editor
COLLEEN SCHENK, President • GAIL ANDERSON, Executive Director
OPSBA • 439 University Avenue, 18th Floor, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1Y8
Tel: (416) 340-2540 Fax: (416) 340-7571
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