Over the last few months the team at OSCA/ACOSO have been working hard to find ways to provide professional development in the areas of guidance, pathway planning, or mental well-being. Without having our annual conference this year, for the very first time OSCA will be partnering with CERIC by offering professional development for our guidance and career education teachers in a virtual way.

This year, our professional development will focus on how guidance and career education counsellors can shift the trajectory for Black students and how our role can help support positive outcomes. This will be offered for free for all OSCA members and at a reduced cost for non-members. The global social justice movement for Black Lives has amplified the need for systems around the world to acknowledge the ways in which Anti-Black Racism in its many forms impacts the health and well-being of people of African descent/heritage; this includes the education system. Black students’ academic achievement is not only contingent on having access to quality education, but also feeling seen, heard and valued in their school environment. School counsellors play a pivotal role in supporting Black students’ sense of connectedness to their school community, and in setting students up for academic and professional success beyond their elementary and secondary school experiences. We know that you will find this two-part webinar series engaging, informative and resourceful, giving guidance counsellors teacher resources and tools that they can use in their own guidance practises when working with Black students and families. Please register using the link attached.

 

The OSCA Board of Directors needs you to ensure the ongoing work of the association. We will ask you, OSCA members, to vote on the following motion during our AGM on December 5, 2020 through a Google Form. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the motion, please forward to the Governance Committee care of Marie Moftah, zoologyalex@gmail.comg or Kim Enns-Hildebrand ennshik@gmail.com by Wednesday December 2, 2020.

MOTION:

To change the qualifications required for applying to the Board of Directors:

As a Director to be as follows: have achieved at least Part 1 - Guidance and Career Education and at least one year of experience in Guidance and Career Education. 

For a Board of Directors Executive position, the candidate must have Guidance Specialist qualifications plus currently be working in Guidance and Career Education.  

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS:

The OSCA/ACOSO Board of Directors Needs You! 

Are you a person who wants to be involved in the future of guidance in Ontario? Perhaps you are a person who likes volunteerism and teamwork. Please consider becoming a member of the OSCA/ACOSO Board of Directors for 2021-2022. Several of the board members have terms that expire this year which means that there are several positions available for new members. For more information please visit our website. You will also need to attend the AGM on Saturday, December 5 at 10 am.

We are recruiting educators who directly or indirectly support Latinx or Black children/youth navigate Ontario’s education system. The study is being carried out by researchers from @Ryersonu and @Yorkuniversity

We are looking for participants who:
- Work or have worked within Ontario’s education system (e.g. teachers, principals, guidance counsellors, school social workers, school settlement workers, education assistants, and English as a Second Language teachers).
- Work or have worked directly or indirectly with Latinx or Black children/youth (e.g. of Salvadorean, Honduran, Nicaraguan, Guatemalan, Dominica, Jamaican, or Trinidadian descent).

A $30.00 honorarium will be provided to participants in appreciation for their time.

Participation is voluntary and confidential. The goal of the study is to improve our understanding of how practices in the education system impact the protection of children and youth rights. This is not an evaluation of your organization or individual work.

If you or anyone you know might be interested, please visit our website www.rcypartnership.org

***This study has been reviewed by the Research Ethics Boards at Ryerson University (REB protocol number 2018-200) and York University. This study is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC).

We all have the potential to become leaders, but to do so we must embrace our capabilities and the power that each moment presents. The world needs our help, and each one of us can make a positive impact. When we take a step toward being a better leader, we're taking a step toward creating a better version of ourselves. To be a leader is to recognize that when we help others, we also help ourselves to grow. Leadership teaches us that we can enhance the potential of the world.

 

November 9-13 & 16-20

This is an event you won't want to miss. We've lined up two weeks of live, virtual programming, designed to help you learn more about the programs you're interested in, explore our campus, meet our community and experience all we have to offer - from home. Live chats will also be available during each live session, to answer all of your questions about Ryerson University. 

Register today and check out our virtual showcase to explore full session details, videos and more! 

Over the fall semester, join us online to hear from Ryerson community members delivering content across a range of topics. Tune in for mock-lecture, professional development opportunities and more!

Thursday, November 26, 2 - 3 p.m.
Tuesday, December 8, 2 - 3 p.m.
Further details including registration can be found at the link below - we look forward to seeing you online!

An accessible, content-rich and value-packed opportunity for Canada’s career development communities to convene, share and learn. Over 150 sessions on Supporting clients through the pandemic, Effective counselling & facilitation techniques, Career assessments, Labour market information, Working with diverse populations, Mental health & resilience, Youth employment, Talent management & leadership development, Online tools & technologies, Workforce & community economic development.
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Une occasion accessible, riche en contenu et en valeur aux communautés spécialisées en développement de carrière du Canada pour qu’elles puissent se réunir, échanger et apprendre. Plus de 150 séances de formation : Soutien des clients pendant la pandémie, Counseling efficace et techniques d’animation, Information sur le marché du travail, Évaluation relative à la carrière, Travail avec des populations et clientèles variées, Santé mentale et résilience, Emploi des jeunes, Gestion du talent et développement du leadership, Outils et technologies numériques, Main-d’œuvre et développement économique communautaire.

These three (3) Designing The Learning Modules focus on the courses CHC2D (Canadian History since World War 1 Academic), CHC2P (Canadian History since World War 1 Applied) and CHV2O (Civics and Citizenship Open). Each are imbued with First Nations, Métis and Inuit (FNMI) content, with a particular emphasis on FNMI veterans and their contributions. It is also critical to note that these modules combine the wisest of practices from Secondary: Canadian and World Studies and Secondary: First Nations, Métis and Inuit Studies at EduGAINS.
These unique modules are the result of a commitment from the Ontario Native Education Counselling Association (ONECA) and the Ministry of Education to further the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and also honour the Parry Island Hero Project (i.e. World War Commemoration to honour Francis Pegahmagabow and other FNMI war veterans).

We’ve launched two rebranded and updated bilingual websites for elementary educators/teachers with collections of high-quality classroom mental health practices. They're designed to help educators/teachers enhance students' social-emotional learning skills and well-being. The practices are presented in the six categories of social-emotional learning skills:
- Stress management and coping
- Identification and management of emotions
- Positive motivation and perseverance
- Healthy relationship skills
- Self-awareness and sense of identity
- Critical and creative thinking (executive functioning)

These are the same categories from Strand A: Social-Emotional Learning Skills of Ontario's Health and Physical Education Curriculum.
The practices are easy-to-implement and can be used as part of the school day, including online learning.

Secondary school versions will be available soon.

The University of Toronto Mississauga (UTM) is committed to inclusion and providing access to Black students in their pursuit of a post-secondary education. As an institution, we are dedicated to dismantling barriers that hold anyone from reaching their full potential; as well, we strive to provide all students with equal and equitable opportunities to ensure they thrive at UTM.
The Black Access to Educational Excellence Initiative provides prospective Black high school students with supports at UTM to assist them in their university decision-making process. Prospective Black students will be personally introduced to current UTM Black students, faculty, and a robust network of resources, dedicated to continually supporting them throughout their post-secondary studies.

With back to school looking different for everyone this year, the Canadian Centre for Child Protection is offering support with free, easy to access resources. Whether you would like our education team to remotely deliver personal safety presentations to your class, need digital resources for online learning, or are looking for online safety information, we’re here to help.

CPA Ontario is offering resources and programs to support students, educators, and parents with developing in-demand skills and exploring career options in all areas of business from accounting to marketing.

There is something for everyone!

Workshops and webinars, conferences and programming are all available.

This week’s guest is Lexi Herrick, founder of Her Track, a lifestyle publication written by a growing group of over 100 women, for women. Writers, designers, and marketers from all over the world contribute supportive content intended to inspire and empower. In addition to running her own website, Lexi is the director of content platforms, strategy, and analysis at Arizent, a business information company helping people in financial and professional services with leadership.

The CCGSD has been working to improve our online learning for youth across Canada in accordance with the health guidelines of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Ontario Forums program has worked to create Lunch and Learn Livestreams on our Facebook Page. Here, we present our favourite workshops and viewers can drop in, watch, comment, and interact with us live! We've presented youth-focussed workshops such as Gender & Sexuality 101, Intersecting Identities, Introduction to Anti-Oppression, and Queer History!

The Ontario School Counsellors' Association has a long standing tradition (over 40 years) of recognizing and awarding those who stand out in the field of Guidance and Career Education. 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 find their pathways to successful futures! OSCA's awards are an excellent way of recognizing your most dedicated peers.

The Ontario School Counsellors' Association has a long standing tradition (over 40 years) of recognizing and awarding those who stand out in the field of Guidance and Career Education. 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 find their pathways to successful futures! OSCA's awards are an excellent way of recognizing your most dedicated peers.

Fall Session: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 -to- Tuesday, December 15, 2020 
Register for the Fall Session here!

Winter Session: Monday, January 11, 2021 -to- Monday, March 8, 2021  
Register for the Winter Session here!

Cost: $650

Over 62 nominations were received. Thank you all for your meaningful and moving contributions. The Governance Committee has completed their voting process, and the nominees listed below received an email letting them know they won the awards.

One thing is clear: Our students are strong and resilient, hard-working and determined. Some of the nominations were difficult to read, as stories of hardship and perseverance were shared with us. If we could, we would have selected them all.

The recipients of the 2020 OSCA-ACOSO Anthony Di Lena Student Pathway Awards are:

Rosemary Cameros Arbizu: University Pathway
Anusha Nimalaranjan: College Pathway
Maggie Benusik: Apprenticeship Pathway
Jackie Mitsima: Workplace Pathway