Dear OSCA/ACOSO Community,

I trust your March break was both restful and rejuvenating! I am Ereney Shenouda-Tortian, honored to serve as a Board of Director in Communications for OSCA/ACOSO. It is truly an enriching experience to collaborate with the diverse talents and backgrounds of our esteemed board members.

Currently, I hold the role of Instructional Coordinator of Guidance and Career Education at the Peel District School Board. My educational journey includes earning a Bachelor of Mathematics in Computer Science from the University of Waterloo and a Bachelor of Education from Queen’s University.

My professional path began with teaching Mathematics at the American International School in Kuwait for three years. Upon returning home, I continued my teaching career with the PDSB, dedicating 15 years to the field. However, my trajectory shifted when a newfound passion for guidance and careers education emerged. For six fulfilling years, I served as a guidance counsellor, and now, at the board level, I am committed to supporting students in their individual pathway planning.

Throughout my career, I have steadfastly advocated for students' success, always seeking opportunities to enhance their educational journeys. Now, in my role with OSCA/ACOSO, I eagerly look forward to serving you all. If you ever identify gaps in resources or seek information on specific topics within the OSCA Today magazine, please don't hesitate to reach out. We are here to assist and support you.

Warm regards,

Ereney Shenouda-Tortian

OSCA/ACOSO Board of Director - Communications

Instructional Coordinator of Guidance and Career Education- Peel District School Board
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Chère communauté OSCA/ACOSO,

J’espère que votre congé de mars a été à la fois reposant et énergisant ! Je suis Ereney Shenouda-Tortian et je suis honorée de siéger auprès du conseil d’administration et du comité des communications de l’OSCA/ACOSO. Le fait de collaborer avec nos membres du conseil qui possèdent une diversité de talents et d’antécédents est une expérience véritablement enrichissante. 

J’occupe actuellement le poste de coordonnatrice pédagogique en orientation et formation au cheminement de carrière au sein du Peel District School Board (conseil scolaire du district de Peel). Mon parcours scolaire comprend l’obtention d’un baccalauréat en mathématiques spécialisé en informatique de l’Université de Waterloo ainsi qu’une formation à l’enseignement de l’Université Queens. 

J’ai débuté mon parcours professionnel en tant qu’enseignante de mathématiques à l’American International School au Koweït pendant trois ans. Lors de mon retour au Canada, j’ai poursuivi ma carrière en enseignement au sein du PDSB, y consacrant 15 ans. Toutefois, ma trajectoire a changé lorsque j’ai développé une nouvelle passion pour l’orientation et la formation au cheminement de carrière. J’ai occupé le poste de conseillère en orientation pendant six années satisfaisantes. Maintenant au conseil scolaire, je m’engage pleinement à appuyer les élèves dans leur planification de parcours.

Tout au long de ma carrière, j’ai préconisé la réussite des élèves et j’ai toujours recherché des possibilités pour enrichir leur parcours éducatif. J’ai désormais très hâte de vous servir dans mon rôle actuel au sein de l’OSCA/ACOSO. Si jamais vous identifiez des lacunes dans les ressources ou si vous recherchez des informations sur des sujets spécifiques dans le magazine OSCA Today, n’hésitez pas à nous contacter. Nous sommes là pour vous aider et vous appuyer.

Sincères salutations,

Ereney Shenouda-Tortian

Directrice au sein du conseil d’administration de l’OSCA/ACOSO, Membre du comité des communications

Coordonnatrice pédagogique en orientation et formation au cheminement de carrière – Peel District School Board

Spring session: April 8 to June 7, 2024

OSCA-ACOSO is pleased to announce that they will continue to offer Part 1, Part 2 and the Specialist in Guidance and Career Education Additional Qualifications courses this spring. Additional sessions will take place in the winter, spring and summer. Advantages of taking the course with OSCA are the instructor is a current guidance counsellor, a one year OSCA subscription is included ($55 value if currently not active) and a downloaded copy of Ethical Guidelines ($25) is included. As part of the OSCA subscription, you have the opportunity to attend the fall conference at a member rate, gain access to webinars throughout the year on topics related to guidance and career education, receive the weekly OSCA News to keep up to date with guidance/career topics, and receive the tri-annual OSCA Today, the professional magazine of the association.

Cost: $675 plus HST.

To register: www.osca.ca --> Next AQ course

Registration closes: March 28, 2024 at 12:00 PM. Please register early to reserve your seat!

Now is the time to nominate a deserving colleague for an OSCA award. Perhaps it is that person who has created a great resource that has allowed students to create their own pathway? Maybe you know a guidance counsellor who is the go-to person at your school? Perhaps a deserving community partner that provides excellent support for your school?

You have until September 26, 2024 at 4:00 PM to nominate someone, but why not do it now?
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Chacun et chacune de nous connaît un collègue innovateur, qui accomplit avec enthousiasme son travail auprès des élèves de son école. Pourquoi ne pas reconnaître leur contribution à notre profession en posant leur candidature à l'un des prix de l'ACOSO? Pour poser la candidature de quelqu'un, appuyez sur le lien de la mise en candidature. Toutes les mises en candidature doivent être soumises en ligne d'ici le 26 septembre 2024 à 4h.

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The Marion Axford Award for Elementary Guidance | Le prix Marion Axford pour l’orientation à l’élémentaire

This award is presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to Elementary Guidance in Ontario.
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Présenté en reconnaissance d’une contribution exceptionnelle à l’orientation au palier élémentaire en Ontario.

The Student Awards Nominations are here! Please nominate a deserving student today within the five Post Graduate Pathways:

• Apprenticeship,
• College,
• Community Living,
• University,
• Workplace. 

Details can be found on the nomination form. 

The link is live on the OSCA website and you can access the nomination form through it. The nominations will close on May 6, 2024, so nominate a student today!
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Les candidatures aux prix étudiants sont maintenant ouvertes ! Veuillez nommer dès aujourd'hui un élève méritant qui entreprend l'un des cinq parcours postsecondaires suivants :

• Apprentissage,
• Collège,
• Intégration communautaire,
• Université,
• Monde du travail. 

Vous pouvez trouver les détails dans le formulaire de candidature. 

Le lien est disponible à partir du site web de l'OSCA/ACOSO et vous pouvez accéder au formulaire de candidature via celui-ci. Les candidatures se clôtureront le 6 mai 2024, alors nommez un élève dès aujourd'hui !

$1,000 for Your Education. A Voice for Your Generation.
At FurnacePrices.ca, we believe in the power of young voices to shape our world. Our scholarship isn’t just about financial support; it’s about giving you a platform to share your insights, concerns, and visions for the future.

Your Challenge. Your Voice. Your Impact.
We’re offering a $1,000 scholarship to students who are ready to stand up and speak out on the issues that matter most to them. Whether it’s climate change, mental health, educational equity, or any other challenge facing your generation, we want to hear from you.

We are pleased to invite you to our free virtual "Guidance Dialogue" on Tuesday, April 16, 2024, from 9:30 to 11:30 AM.

You will be able to submit questions before the event and we will answer the most common questions following the university updates.

More details will follow in early April.

Registration is required and will be available in early April. Please be advised that this event is for guidance counsellors only.

Visit Guidance for more information and to register (once available).

Please send all event inquiries to: onunirecruitment@gmail.com.
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Nota : L''événement se tiendra principalement en anglais seulement.

Nous sommes heureux de vous inviter à une séance virtuelle gratuite des Dialogues, le mardi 16 avril 2024, de 9 h 30 à 11 h 30.

Vous aurez l''occasion de soumettre des questions avant la tenue de l''événement. Nous répondrons aux questions les plus courantes à la suite des mises à jour des universités.

De plus amples renseignements seront fournis au début avril.

L''inscription est exigée et sera disponible à compter du début avril. À noter que cet événement s''adresse uniquement aux conseillères et conseillers en orientation.

Consultez Orientation pour de plus amples renseignements et pour vous inscrire (une fois disponible)

Prière d''envoyer vos questions à l''adresse : onunirecruitment@gmail.com.

Northern Region

Northern College - Timmins
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/northern-region-dialogues-northern-college-registration-836016526937?aff=oddtdtcreator

Eastern Region

Loyalist College - Belleville
Thursday, April 25, 2024
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/eastern-region-college-dialogues-2024-tickets-827265843407?aff=oddtdtcreator

Western Region

Niagara College - Niagara on the Lake Campus
Tuesday, April 30, 2024
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/western-region-college-dialogues-niagara-college-registration-815548867617?aff=oddtdtcreator

Central Region

Humber College - North Campus (BCTI Building)
Thursday, May 2, 2024
https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/central-region-dialogue- humber-tickets-807176696227

OCAS Landing Page for Ontario College Dialogues https://www.ocas.ca/resources/college-dialogues

Don’t worry if you missed the equal consideration date (ECD) deadline. There are still so many programs available for you to start this September.

There are many programs that remain open after ECD, as well as programs that start at different times of the year. Use our ‘Find a Program’ tool to see open programs and access information on when to apply. Dive into your interests and start something new this fall!

Live Online Instructor Lead 

Full days of individual training in 2024

Click here for complete schedule

May 6-17, 2024 (Monday to Friday)

June 10-21, 2024 (Monday to Friday)

August 5-16, 2024 (Monday to Friday)

We offer 23 different courses over the six (6) weeks.

See which one(s) are right for you. 

Weekdays: 9:00 to 3:30 PM eastern time

Registration fee: 

CAPT Members: $190 per day (plus GST)

Non-members: $220 per day (plus GST)

Register for one day or more.

 

For details on dates, registration, training outlines and learning outcomes visit: 

https://canadianplaytherapy.com/training/foundation-play-therapy-training/ 

If you have any questions, contact: kip@capttraining.com 

New Webinar! Tuesday, April 9 at 1:00 PM
Supporting Post-Secondary Options of Indigenous Students

We know it can be challenging for our Indigenous students to access post-secondary education, as there can be a variety of barriers to success. During this session, Samantha Brand from the Aboriginal Post-Secondary Information Program will be with us to explore the history of APSIP, the services and programs available to Indigenous students, important website features, and how to get in contact. APSIP is a collective of recruiters from colleges, universities, and polytechnics helping Indigenous learners connect, explore, and discover the post-secondary landscape, striving to promote accurate and updated information to Indigenous students and supporters. Officially formed in 2011, the collective allows member institutions to engage more Indigenous students and their communities in their post-secondary education journey. Come join us for this 60-minute webinar, as we learn how to better support Indigenous students seeking to make the most of their post-secondary opportunities. Register Here!

Get ready to celebrate innovation and expertise as National Engineering Month has kicked off in Canada this March! As such, ChatterHigh and Engineers Canada have partnered to create a course designed to help students discover the exciting and diverse range of opportunities in engineering, what it means to be an engineer, and how engineering impacts society! National Engineering Month is guided by the theme, "There’s a place for you in engineering,” which celebrates the diversity of thought, opportunities, and people that make up the engineering profession and whose passion and commitment drive tangible efforts that improve our world. In some provinces, you’ll find geoscientists joining in as part of National Engineering and Geoscience Month.

The Let's Explore Engineering course is a gamified, freely available resource for students and educators and consists of the following six modules:

• What is an Engineer?
• Engineering Disciplines Pt. 1
• Engineering Disciplines Pt. 2
• Equity, Diversity and Inclusion in Engineering
• Path to Becoming an Engineer
• Other Steps and Benefits to Becoming an Engineer

To learn more, visit the course landing page where you can download a copy of the course booklet, or, to access the courses directly on the platform, create an account.

Join the celebrations by completing the course and follow along during the month on social media using the hashtag #NEM2024!

Career development is a lifelong process that begins in the early years. In elementary school, engaging in career conversations is not about getting children to make decisions about what job they will have in the future. Rather, it is a time when we ask our young learners to begin the process of investigating themselves, finding out more about their interests and aptitudes, and considering what type of life they feel they might want to lead.

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Do you have students looking for ways to earn their volunteer hours? ER Teens, a volunteer program for youth aged 13-17, gives teens the opportunity to design an environmental stewardship project in their community with support from an Earth Rangers mentor.

Projects range from battery recycling, to pollinator gardens, to awareness campaigns! Lana, 16, from Ontario, hosted a clothing swap in her community and had this to say.

This webinar shares the findings of a CERIC-funded project that responded to the important question: Why should elementary education be concerned with career? Knowing that career is about life, learning and work helps us understand that career concerns everyone, is for everyone, and encompasses the learning we undertake from birth throughout life. When viewed through this lens, it becomes easier to see why we should be thinking about career in elementary schools. Through extensive literature reviews and empirical data, we examined what helps children aged eight to 12 years thrive, (e.g., through their development of self-regulation, self-efficacy, confidence). From this data we have produced a teaching toolkit of career-related learning that takes the reader through unpacking career, nurturing and developing foundational skills, the value of a community approach, and where to draw upon support from the curriculum and the broader career development field.

Do you have students looking for ways to earn their volunteer hours? ER Teens, a volunteer program for youth aged 13-17, gives teens the opportunity to design an environmental stewardship project in their community with support from an Earth Rangers mentor.

Projects range from battery recycling, to pollinator gardens, to awareness campaigns! Lana, 16, from Ontario, hosted a clothing swap in her community and had this to say.

Hello OSCA Members,

Happy spring! I am so excited to be sharing my biography for OSCA News. It has been a pleasure serving the Board of Directors for nearly two years. I Initially started in professional development and what a remarkable experience that was! I learned so much and I am very excited to now be working with the Communication Committee, to share informative articles that will enrich your professional practice. 

I had reservations about joining OSCA because I was new to the role of guidance and wondered how I could contribute to this membership in a meaningful way. The "unknown” can be very intimidating to me and for many in our profession, but I knew this was not a good enough reason to not apply. As guidance counsellors, we consistently encourage our students to embrace challenges and believe in their potential, acknowledging that growth often stems from stepping outside one's comfort zone. It dawned on me that I needed to heed this advice myself. I am glad I took on the challenge because I have learned so much about the role and about myself. I am fortunate to be working with wonderful, supportive colleagues at my schools and on the OSCA Board. I encourage you to seek out challenges rather than worry about the fear of failure. Focus on the opportunity for growth, developing your skills, and meeting people who can enrich your life experiences. 

With nearly 25 years of service with the Toronto Catholic District School Board, I have experience spanning in all grades, even kindergarten! I embarked on my professional journey as an intermediate teacher in the east end of Toronto. Fast forward a few years and I moved to the west end for many years. As fate would have it, I started my new role as a Guidance Teacher Counsellor three years ago, back in the east end of Toronto, coming full circle. 

My passion in this role lies in fostering equity, diversity, and mental health awareness among students. Instilling values of compassion, empathy, and providing coping strategies for emotional well-being is also very important to me. Outside of school I find solace in traveling, having heartfelt conversations over coffee, indulging in literature, nurturing my yoga practice and working on my side business in health and wellness. 

Wishing you all the best endeavors this year!

Pina De Luca, Communications Committee
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Bonjour chers membres de l’OSCA/ACOSO,

Je suis tellement contente de partager avec vous ma biographie pour OSCA News. Ce fut un plaisir de servir le conseil d’administration pendant près de deux ans. J’ai d’abord commencé au sein du comité de perfectionnement professionnel et ce fut une expérience remarquable ! J’ai tellement appris et j’ai très hâte de maintenant faire partie du comité des communications afin de partager des articles informatifs qui enrichiront votre pratique professionnelle. 

J’avais des réserves quant à l’idée de rejoindre l’OSCA/ACOSO parce que j’étais nouvelle dans mon rôle en orientation et je n’étais pas certaine de pouvoir apporter une contribution significative aux membres. La peur de l’inconnu peut nous intimider tous, mais ce n’était pas une raison suffisante pour ne pas postuler. En tant que conseillers en orientation, nous encourageons constamment nos élèves à relever les défis et à croire en leur potentiel. Nous leur rappelons que l’idée de sortir de leur zone de confort mène souvent à l’épanouissement personnel. Je me suis rendu compte que je devais moi-même suivre ce conseil. Je suis fière d’avoir relevé le défi parce que j’ai beaucoup appris sur ce rôle et sur moi-même. J’ai de la chance de travailler avec des collègues formidables et solidaires dans mes écoles et au sein du conseil d’administration de l’OSCA/ACOSO. Je vous encourage à rechercher de nouveaux défis à relever plutôt que de craindre l’échec. Concentrez-vous sur les possibilités de croissance, le développement de vos compétences et l’occasion de rencontrer des personnes qui peuvent enrichir vos expériences personnelles.

Avec près de 25 ans d’expérience au sein du Toronto Catholic District School Board (Conseil scolaire catholique du district de Toronto), j’ai de l’expérience dans toutes les années, même en maternelle ! J’ai entrepris mon parcours professionnel en tant qu’enseignante au niveau intermédiaire dans l’est de Toronto. Quelques années plus tard, j’ai déménagé dans l’ouest de la ville pendant de nombreuses années. Comme le sort l’a voulu, j’ai débuté mon nouveau rôle d’enseignante-conseillère en orientation de retour à mon point de départ, dans l’est de Toronto !

Comme enseignante-conseillère en orientation, ma passion consiste à favoriser l’équité, la diversité et la sensibilisation à la santé mentale chez les élèves. Il est également très important pour moi d’inculquer la compassion ainsi que l’empathie et de fournir des stratégies d’adaptation pour le bien-être émotionnel. En dehors de l’école, je me régale du voyage et des conversations sincères autour d’un café. J’aime aussi me plonger dans la littérature, pratiquer le yoga et entretenir mon petit commerce en santé et bien-être.

Je vous souhaite une année riche en succès !

Pina De Luca, comité des communications.