A Message from OSCA President, Nicole Trotter

It is finally here! And although I say that every year - the end to this school year feels so monumental. Looking back to March and fast forwarding to this week, I could never have imagined such a closing to our school year. I know we are all feeling the same way and many are missing those end of year celebrations and ceremonies that sometimes gives us closure from school year to school year. But despite all the changes and some restrictions, many educators and guidance counsellors have done amazing things. Thank you to the many of you who shared your triumphs and your struggles along the way over the last few months, and for those who shared resources and tips that our community may find useful.

Once again over the last few months, I saw how teachers came together to help, to organize, to plan, to create, to listen and give up so much of themselves to help their students. It hasn't been easy but I'm so honored to be part of a community that was fighting the challenges of COVID-19 in their own unique ways. Keeping kids engaged in learning, sending special activities, dropping off grad posters on every student's lawn, making humorous songs or videos, supporting our peers virtually, dressing up as mascots and walking around the school community neighborhoods...the list goes on and on. We are truly amazing and, no matter what, if you survived the last few months of distance learning you are my hero!

From the OSCA/ACOSO family, I want to wish you all a happy, safe, and restful summer. We are not quite sure what September brings, but what I do know is that we are all in this together. 

Happy Summer!

More than ever, making positive changes in today's political climate requires all of the right ingredients. The Black Youth Fellowship (BYF) seeks to place highly motivated, passionate and hard-working young people on a fast track to success. BYF is a professional and leadership development program focusing on building the next generation of Black public servants.

The BYF is an eight-month program, with the inaugural cohort beginning January 2021. Four months of intensive training and mentoring are followed by a 12-week placement in the office of a Member of Council. BYF is building on the success of the Muslim Youth Fellowship, now in its fourth year.

Hello,

Thank you for the great work you do in supporting your students during this unprecedented time. As the situation continues to change, we will update our COVID-19 website for undergraduate applicants. We encourage students to continue to monitor their Choose>Ryerson applicant portal as well as our website for important information and updates.

The Canada Emergency Student Benefit (CESB) provides financial support to post-secondary students, and recent post-secondary and high school graduates who are unable to find work due to COVID-19.

This benefit is for students who do not qualify for the Canada Emergency Response Benefit (CERB) or Employment Insurance (EI).

We hope that you, your families and colleagues are safe and healthy.

Planning for the Cannexus National Career Development Conference, in January 2021, remains underway at this point with all necessary precautions and contingencies. At this point, CERIC invites individuals or organizations with an interest in presenting at Cannexus21 to submit a proposal.

As we look ahead to a very different 2020, we have focused on helping our leaders choose positivity, connection and growth during this time. Our intention, helping build the resilience of our youth, is grounded in Martin Seligman’s principles of positive psychology. Through our OELC/CASO CARES (Community Action Ripple Effect Strategy) we will inspire leaders to connect with one another, be well and to help foster community and connection in their homes, neighbourhoods, and local communities in a safe and meaningful way. With our youth in mind, we have built an intentionally flexible, scalable summer menu of offline and online offerings including a self-CARE Package, All-Access online CARE Pass and/or Club/Movement Membership. Online offerings will run for 5-weeks, from July 13-August 14th. This spacing gives our youth participants and Teacher Facilitators space to disconnect from being online, take a step away from screens and take a breath before connecting with us and one another mid-July. CARE has been taken from head to toe in our intention and development this spring.

We’re on a mission to share rich research-based educational tools focused on advancing student achievement with resources developed by educators for educators.

We host professional learning video content developed by Ontario’s Ministry of Education that is designed to support and improve the practice of classroom educators, coaches, consultants, and school system leaders.

The Learning Exchange supports the goal of achieving excellence in education for early learning, K-12 and adult education.

We’re in the process of making all online resources compliant with Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and WCAG 2.0 AA. Do you have a specific accessibility request? Contact us at hello@learningx.ca.

GET FREE is a multimedia Hip Hop civics curriculum for youth and young adults. Its goal is to introduce students to a national network of young community leaders, artists, and activists who advocate for social change and democratic inclusion driven by grassroots organizing. GET FREE is inspired by the exuberance, ingenuity, political energy, resistance, love, and DIY model of underground Hip Hop. Its aim is to push and extend ideas of democracy, citizenship, freedom, community, civic engagement, and intersectional justice.

Here are some Canadian organizations accepting donations
Please consider donating to one or more of these groups if you have the financial means

Justice for Regis Fundraiser

Justice for Regis

 "On May 27th  2020, my sister Regis Korchinski Paquet, tragically lost her life, she was so special and meant the world to us. She was kind, beautiful and she will be missed beyond belief. We are asking the public to help with meeting are goal to get the proper justice we need."

Donate here

 

 

Black Lives Matter- Toronto

	BLM Toronto

OUR VISION:

To be a platform upon which black communities across Toronto can actively dismantle all forms of anti-black racism, liberate blackness, support black healing, affirm black existence, and create freedom to love and self- determine.

OUR MISSION:

To forge critical connections and to work in solidarity with black communities, black-centric networks, solidarity movements, and allies in order to to dismantle all forms of state-sanctioned oppression, violence, and brutality committed against African, Caribbean, and Black cis, queer, trans, and disabled populations in Toronto.

Donate here

 

Black Lives Matter Waterloo Region - Community Solidarity Fund

BLM Waterloo

The Black Community Solidarity Fund is a way that the local Waterloo Region community can provide support to meet some of the urgent needs being communicated by urban organizers in North America who have responded with direct action to the most recent incidents of anti-Black police brutality and violence. The Black Solidarity Community Fund is also a way for the local community to provide support to ongoing Black-led anti-racist community care projects and organizations in the Waterloo Region.  

Funds raised will support the following initiatives: 

 

Local Initiatives  

Funds raised will provide support to ongoing under-resourced Black-led student, and youth focused anti-racist initiatives in the Waterloo Region including:

Young City Growers 
Africa Camp 
Local Post-Secondary Black Student Associations
Local Secondary Black Student Associations 

Funds raised will provide support to the following Black-led community care initiatives in the Waterloo Region: 

Woke Women and Woke Men 
African Community Wellness Initiative - Afrocentric Counselling Services 
Bring on the Sunshine Waterloo Region 

International Initiatives (20%)

Funds raised will provide on the ground support to organizers and activists in the Minnesota and Louisville through the following initiatives: 

Minnesota Freedom Fund 
https://minnesotafreedomfund.org/ 

Louisville Community Bail Fund
https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/louisville-community-bail-fund/?fbclid=IwAR1Bg3RLgNNbQIW-NR-dr5KXPHik6K0dTy9XcwFyywkwu66PYn9HFh4RdX8

African  Community Wellness Initiative will be providing oversight to the management and deployment of funds.  
https://africancommunitywellness.org/

Donate here

 

Black Health Alliance (Canada)

	Black Health Alliance Canada

OUR APPROACH
We take on the key issues that impact Black communities in Canada through:

• Systems Change
• Health Promotion
• Research and Public Policy
• Convening, Collaboration and Capacity Building
• Championing Health Equity
• Fundraising

Donate here

 

Black Legal Action Centre

Black Legal Action Centre

The Black Legal Action Centre (BLAC) is a new not-for-profit corporation set up under the laws of Ontario in 2017.

BLAC delivers legal aid services to low and no income Black Ontarians. We work to combat individual and systemic anti-Black racism by:

 

• providing legal representation, summary legal advice and brief services to individual clients
• engaging in test case litigation, law reform and community development to improve the laws that affect low income people
• giving public legal information sessions to members of the public and other community agencies.

We can help clients by:

• giving you legal advice
• helping you fill out forms
• representing you at some tribunals and courts
• referring you to other agencies when we can''t help

Donate here

 

Black Youth Helpline

	Black Youth Helpline

The Black Youth Helpline (BYH) is a not-for-profit, registered charitable organization governed by a Board of Directors. The organization serves ALL youth and specifically responds to the need for a Black youth specific service, resourced to promote access to culturally appropriate supports for youth, families, schools and other youth serving institutions.

The organization''s Stay-in-School program and support services is now Canada-wide and focuses on helping youth remain and succeed in schools and in community life.  

Intervening early to help address challenges faced by youth and helping vulnerable children remain and succeed in school, results in the best chance for youth to experience successful futures. This is the focus of the Black Youth Helpline.

Donate here

 

"God is my guide. I would not be doing this if it wasn''t for His clear calling on me. Jesus is my saviour and my strength. Whether you are a believer or not all are welcome to join me on this journey. There is no moving forward if there is no desire to get along and accept all those who want to reach the same goal no matter their religion or beliefs." -Pheona Jimenez, Founder

The organization''s goal is to help Black people here in our city feel they have a voice, they are important and they are loved in their every day lives outside their homes. Bridging GAAPS hopes to bridge the gaps between the Black people of Cambridge and store owners, churches, law enforcement and our government leaders on all levels. There needs to be improvements in how Black people are treated in all of these places and all of the leaders in this place need to come up with new ways to make this happen.

Contact: bridginggaaps14@gmail.com

The Every Teacher Project is a national research study that was carried out by the University of Winnipeg in partnership with the Manitoba Teachers Society (MTS). Every teacher organization in Canada assisted the researchers and project partners in getting the word out about the initial online survey, where over 3,400 teachers from across Canada participated in the largest study to date worldwide on teachers' perspectives on LGBTQ-inclusive education.

Mediaplanet's Youth Wellness & Empowerment Campaign

Help equip the children, teens, and youths in your life with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive and stay on top of their health, education, and employment.

We recently took part in @mediaplanetCA's Youth Wellness & Empowerment campaign in order to educate on the importance role a guidance counsellor can play in your decisions post high school graduation. To read the full article, click here: What’s After High School? A Guidance Counsellor Can Help.

For the digital launch, you’ll find the digital campaign landing page here: Youth Wellness and Empowerment Campaign

Here, you'll find a number of resources for supporting and empowering youth.

Through a combination of pre-session learning*, interactive exercises, and group discussions, "Intro to RJ" participants will start to develop a mindset and practical skills to build, maintain, relationships rooted in equity, respect, and compassion, and repair relationships when there is harm in education settings and everyday life.

In these uncertain times, we know the roles of both parents and teachers have changed. In addition to the global challenges we're all experiencing, many are now encountering the challenge of keeping kids engaged and learning at home. Learning has been turned inside out!

To support parents and teachers, LSF is curating this weekly collection of activities drawn from our Resources for Rethinking (R4R) database, so you can be confident they have been vetted by teachers and connected to Canadian education outcomes, wherever you are.

The secret to happiness...Skittles?!?

Education in the Pandemic? A National Scan
Canada-wide Education & COVID Tracker

People for Education is keeping track of the differences in educational policy and approaches across the country during the pandemic.

The Canada-wide Education during COVID-19 Tracker will provide an opportunity to understand more about the successes, challenges and evolution of each region''s response.  If you know of updates for your province, please email info@peopleforeducation.ca.

Canada-wide Education & COVID Tracker (click here)

Learning About Learning Disabilities Together

Register Here!

On April 21, 1971, my mother left Jamaica as a teenager and reunited with my grandmother in Toronto. She remembers the screech of the subway, the bustle of shoppers at the Eaton Centre and wearing her winter coat to bed in a desperate attempt to keep warm. My mother also recalls being placed two grades behind at school and the grade 10 English teacher that falsely accused her of plagiarism. The teacher yelled, "How could you possibly do so well on a poetry assignment without cheating?"
In many ways, not much has changed since my mother was a high school student in the 1970s. Anti-Black racism continues today with disastrous consequences for students of African descent (James, 2010). School boards across Ontario affirm the importance of positive well-being to student achievement (Ontario Ministry of Education, 2016). Black-centric networks such as Black Lives Matter Toronto and the Ontario Alliance of Black School Educators understand the dismantling of anti-Black racism as integral to the mental health and wellbeing of African-Canadian students.

The Canadian Association for Play Therapy (CAPT) announces in an unprecedented change that, although we are unable to offer the Face to Face Foundation Play Therapy training days in Toronto this year, we are making a move to offer on-line training in its place. This training will take place on-line at the same time and dates previously advertised.

OSCA will once again be offering the additional qualification courses in Guidance and Career Education this summer. Parts 1, 2, and 3 (Specialist) will be offered, pending enrollment.

Summer Session: July 6th to July 31st.

Cost: $650
No textbook
Course is entirely online, within an online classroom format. The course is taught by a current Guidance Counsellor that works in a school setting.

OSCA/ACOSO Guidance and Career Education Awards 

Awards are now open for nominations!
Deadline is now May 28th, 2021

Curriculum and Resources

**The Elmer Huff Award for Guidance and Career Education Resources - presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to the career development of young people through the creation, development and delivery of high quality Guidance and Career Education Resources.

Counsellor Professional Development

**The Russ Seltzer Award for Contribution to Counsellor Education in Ontario - presented to honour contribution to Counsellor Education in Ontario, including teaching Guidance and Career Education Additional Qualification courses.

**The Howard R. Beattie Award for Contribution to Counsellor Professional Development - presented to a counsellor who has created new and beneficial ideas and techniques for professional use and communicated these through such means as workshops, local leadership and the organization of a conference or guidance professional development activities.

Elementary Guidance

**The Marion Axford Award for Elementary Guidance - presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to elementary guidance in Ontario.

Peer Helping

**The Daryl L. Cook Peer Helping Award - presented to one elementary and/or one secondary school in Ontario in recognition of its exemplary peer helping program.

Contribution to Guidance and Career Education

**The Career/LifeSkills Resources Award for Excellence in Career Education - presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to career development. This award is presented by Career/Lifeskills Resources (www.career-lifeskills.com).

**The Certificate of Appreciation - presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to Guidance and Career Education in Ontario by individuals/groups who are community partners.

**The Phil Hedges Award - presented to recognize the contributions to Guidance and Career Education by dedicated counsellors in the Province of Ontario. An award will be given to one qualifying nominee from each of the six educational regions in the province, or up to a maximum of six qualifying nominees from across the province. **Please refer to http://www.edu.gov.on.ca/eng/parents/offices.html to determine which region each school board is included in.

**The Morgan D. Parmenter Memorial Award - presented to recognizes a person who has made a most significant contribution to Guidance and Career Education in Ontario.

Nomination Form