It’s hard to believe that it’s June already, and here we are in our final days of the school year. As I reflect on my first year as President, I am pleased with all that the OSCA team has accomplished. We are busy planning for our next annual conference and we have shared the province-wide survey results with all our members and with the larger community. We have revamped our newsletter and attended many meetings. We networked with many great organizations and teams that share the same passions in guidance and career education as we do. We even publicly stood up for guidance in Ontario at Queen’s Park. It has been an awesome year, but also one with the challenges we all face in our day to day work.  

At OSCA, we are always thinking about what’s coming next, where are we going, and how we can help our members. In the next few weeks, you will see more news about our annual conference for 2019. We have decided to try something brand new for this upcoming year, and will be hosting our annual conference at the University of Toronto Mississauga Campus.

This year, the Ontario universities’ recruitment events are being renamed and branded to be more consistent across all events and websites.

Cette année, les événements de recrutement recevront des nouveaux noms et marquages pour être
plus cohérente à travers tous nos événements et sites Web.

Please use the link below to see new, important information from the Standing Committee on Student Recruitment

OSCA/ACOSO 2019 celebrates 55 years of leading the way in Guidance and Career Education in Ontario. In helping students to become architects of their own lives (Creating Pathways to Success, page 10), this year's conference is designed to explore the unique opportunities available to our students as they begin "Constructing a Bright Future: Avenues for Career and Personal Decision Making." We are seeking presentation proposals that will focus on two main themes in order to provide our members with the highest quality professional development. Each day will focus on one of the themes.

OSCA / ACOSO 2019 célèbre ses 55 ans d’avant-gardiste en matière d’orientation et formation en cheminement de carrière en Ontario. En aidant les élèves à devenir les architectes de leur propre vie (Tracer son itinéraire vers la réussite, page 10), la conférence de cette année a pour but d'explorer les uniques opportunités offertes à nos élèves au moment de commencer à «Construire un avenir brillant: pistes de réflexion pour l’exploration de carrière et la prise de décisions personnelles». Nous recherchons des propositions de présentations qui porteront sur deux thèmes principaux afin de fournir à nos membres un développement professionnel de la plus haute qualité. Chaque journée sera consacrée à l’un des thèmes.

The Ontario School Counsellors' Association has a longstanding tradition (over 40 years) of recognizing and awarding those who stand out in the field of Guidance and Career Education. Each year at our annual conference, OSCA recognizes individuals and/or organizations that have made a significant contribution to Guidance and Career Education in Ontario. We can say with confidence that our past award winners have helped thousands of students to find their pathways to successful futures!

OSCA's awards are an excellent way of recognizing your most dedicated peers in the following categories: 

• Curriculum and Resources
• Counsellor Professional Development
• Elementary Guidance
• Peer Helping
• Contribution to Guidance and Career Education

Consider nominating a worthy colleague today!

Learn. Connect. Be Inspired.

No one knows better than a Guidance Counsellor the stress that our young men and women face today. It’s about managing school and life expectations and all the emotions and chaos in between.

The team at CPPA & Ridley College have extended an offer for OSCA members to join in the momentum that is Positive Education. Learn from leading experts and local practitioners who can share science of Positive Psychology and the many tools and interventions Counsellors can use in their work with students. Find out more about the Conference here http://www.ridleycollege.com/quicklinks/flourish-positive-education-conference

 

Take advantage of this great offer today! Registration is open for OSCA Members here https://45794.thankyou4caring.org/flourish-positive-education-conference

If you have any questions please contact Kerri Brock at kerribrock@gmail.com

The student award nominations are here! Please nominate a deserving student today within four postgraduate pathways: Workplace, Apprenticeship, College and University. Details can be found on the nomination link.

The link is live on the website. You can access the nomination form through our website and nominations will close on June 15. Nominate a student today! 

Summer AQ Courses - July 5th - 31st, 2019

Fall AQ Courses - October 1st - December 13th, 2019

Become a Guidance Counsellor, or expand your knowledge with an additional AQ Course. The Ontario School Counsellors' Association offers Additional Qualification Courses in Guidance and Career Education Parts I, II and III. OSCA's online, interactive courses are user-friendly and allow real-time practice of the skills needed for the effective Guidance Teacher-Counsellor. We have a virtual classroom where we meet in real time to practice counselling skills, listen to guest speakers, and watch videos. This feature is very popular and is what makes OSCA's AQ experience authentic and advanced.

Why take your AQ courses with OSCA? There are many reasons!

1. This course is taught by a Guidance Counsellor currently working in a school.
2. Our courses cost less than most other AQ providers and no textbooks are required.
3. Comes with a one year subscription to OSCA, discount at the conference, our comprehensive newsletter and website (member's lounge), a copy of the Ethical Guidelines to download, and the other benefits listed in the benefits section.
4.  Blended learning including an online classroom where the entire class meets once a week.
5.  These AQ courses are accredited with the OCT.  

Why not consider taking your Guidance AQ courses from the organization that supports the Guidance Counsellors of Ontario? 

Our university is undergoing an exciting change and are thrilled to introduce you to our new brand: Ontario Tech University.

We’re still the same amazing university with our dedicated faculties and unique programs, but with a fresh, new, and modern image that will help us stand out and share our story with the world. Our goal is to build a stronger presence and further empower our graduates to achieve success.

To check out our new look and learn more, visit our website.

The Timetable (Master Schedule) Assistant app is a great aid to the Master Scheduling process and helps manage the Master Schedule throughout the year.

See what this app can do for you!

STEM education is an increasingly important focus in Ontario public schools. Whatever the pathway and career destination, students need a strong STEM foundation to ensure they are ready for their future.

On June 6th at Mohawk College in Hamilton, education leaders, administrators, stakeholders and community partners from across the province will come together to share ideas, inspiration, and innovative initiatives in support of high quality STEM education at the board and system level.  

Leadership is needed to shape the development and direction of STEM learning in the province. This event will provide an opportunity to come together to share best practices and current initiatives around:

• Equity and Inclusion in STEM Education
• Constructive Partnerships to support STEM Education
• Understanding diverse STEM post-secondary pathways
• Support for STEM professional development

Join education leaders, administrators, stakeholders and community partners from across Ontario to hear about existing STEM initiatives and to find out how you can continue to build and support high quality STEM learning.

Registration information and symposium agenda can be found at: https://www.mohawkcollege.ca/ symposium-for-leadership-stem- education

The Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT) Foundation Play Therapy Training offers individual days of unique training in the theory and practice of play therapy. Students are able to complete the 180 hours of continuing education credits at a pace and time that they choose.  The 180 hours are one of the steps needed to become a Certified Play Therapist. The program instructors are professional skilled play therapists who bring expertise on a wide variety of topics. The courses will be offered in Toronto from July 8th through August 16th, 2019.

Registration for the individual days of training from the selection of 25 one or two days courses is open now.

 

SmartEducation™ is an evidence-based program coordinated by SmartUBC that specifically targets the needs of K-12 and post secondary educators and professional support staff, with a strong emphasis on the cultivation of mindful awareness including elements of self-compassion, emotional literacy, self-regulation skills, optimism and self-care.

The SmartEducation™ program involves experiential activities in mindfulness including: meditation, emotional awareness and movement. Weekly meetings also contain presentations and group discussions that include:

Concentration, Attention and Mindfulness
Empathy Training
Compassion Training Emotional Balance Training

Certificate of Completion: Successful participants are eligible to receive a certificate of completion from UBC Faculty of Education. Mindfulness Everyday is pleased to offer a $50 subsidy to Educational Assistants who wish to take the SMART program.

Study and Go Abroad Fair - Ottawa (Oct 5) and Toronto (Oct 6)

Canada's largest international university and student travel expo offers your students an exciting opportunity to meet with universities from around the world, many ranking in the Top 100. Learn about degree, certificate and diploma programs, admission requirements, and scholarships.  Free admission. www.studyandgoabroad.com.