GUIDANCE COUNSELLORS AS A FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE

We are facing multiple challenges to student mental health and well-being, as well as our own these days. Current events and the rise of what seems like more and more extreme polarization in world view can cause anxiety and depression in our students, and in ourselves. We can feel hopeless and powerless in the face of larger forces.

Let’s remember that difficult times are always going to happen. The question to ask ourselves is, what can we do to help soften the blow of these difficulties? How can we create positive change in times of crisis? 

Real change happens at a person to person level. Through relationships and conversations, we learn, grow and change our perspective. As educators and counsellors we are uniquely positioned to create positive change. Through one on one conversations, we help bring about positive change every time we help a student feel better about being themselves, get an idea of the future they want to work towards and every time we help change the narrative that student tells themselves about who they are and how the world works. We help students feel hope. We help students discover a sense of purpose. We help students learn to set goals, make plans, interpret their experiences and decide how they want to show up in their world.

OSCA wants our members to remember that although we may feel tired, burnt out, and heavy with wondering what our future holds, we also have a lot of power to help change our world, conversation by conversation. Every student we support goes on to reflect that positivity into their world, passing it on, and growing with it. And that support and empathy we offer can also help us feel a sense of hope and a sense of purpose.

One way we at OSCA want to support you is through offering members a number of free workshops to help support your own growth and learning, as well as to help you support your students. In April we will be partnering with the Canadian Anti-Hate Network to provide a workshop on how to spot and defuse radicalization in youth (sign up here!). Next school year, we will be offering workshops monthly on a variety of topics, from anti-racism to self-care to how to best keep records. Keep checking in with OSCA News for sign up information and for resources and articles to help support you and the work you do.

The work you do is important and meaningful. You are a force for positive change. Keep rocking it.
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LES CONSEILLERS EN ORIENTATION REPRÉSENTENT UN CHANGEMENT POSITIF

Ces jours-ci, nous sommes confrontés à de nombreux défis concernant la santé mentale et le bien-être des élèves, ainsi que les nôtres. Les événements actuels et l’augmentation de ce qui semble être une polarisation extrême dans la vision du monde peuvent provoquer de l’anxiété et de la dépression chez nos élèves et en nous-mêmes. Ceci peut engendrer un sentiment de désespoir et d’impuissance.

Rappelons-nous que des moments difficiles arriveront toujours. La question à se poser est: Que pouvons-nous faire pour atténuer l’impact de ces difficultés? Comment pouvons-nous créer un changement positif en temps de crise?

Le vrai changement se produit d’une personne à l’autre. Grâce aux relations et aux conversations, nous apprenons, grandissons et changeons notre perspective. En tant qu’éducateurs et conseillers, nous sommes particulièrement bien placés pour créer un changement positif. Grâce à des conversations individuelles, nous aidons à apporter des changements positifs chaque fois que nous aidons un élève à se sentir mieux dans sa peau, à se faire une idée de l’avenir vers lequel il veut s’orienter et chaque fois que nous aidons à changer la façon dont un élève se voit et dont il comprend le monde. Nous aidons les élèves à avoir de l’espoir. Nous aidons les élèves à découvrir leurs raisons d’être. Nous aidons les élèves à apprendre à se fixer des objectifs, à faire des plans, à interpréter leurs expériences et à décider comment ils veulent maîtriser leur monde.

L’OSCA/ACOSO tient à rappeler à ses membres que même si nous nous sentons fatigués et épuisés et que nous nous questionnons sur l’avenir, nous avons aussi le pouvoir de changer notre monde, une conversation à la fois. Chaque élève que nous appuyons continue à refléter cette positivité dans son monde, à la transmettre et à grandir avec elle. Ce soutien et cette empathie que nous offrons peuvent également nous aider à ressentir un sentiment d’espoir et une raison d’être.

L’une des façons dont nous, à l’OSCA/ACOSO, voulons vous soutenir est en offrant aux membres un certain nombre d’ateliers gratuits pour vous aider à soutenir votre propre croissance et apprentissage, ainsi que pour vous aider à soutenir vos élèves. En avril, nous nous associerons avec le Réseau canadien anti-haine pour offrir un atelier qui explorera comment repérer et désamorcer la radicalisation chez les jeunes (inscrivez-vous ici!). L’année prochaine, nous allons proposer des ateliers mensuels sur une variété de sujets, incluant l'antiracisme, le bien-être personnel et comment bien organiser ses dossiers. Continuez à consulter OSCA News pour obtenir des informations sur l’inscription et pour des ressources et articles qui peuvent vous soutenir ainsi que soutenir le travail que vous faites.

Le travail que vous faites est important et significatif. Vous représentez un changement positif. Continuez le beau travail!

OSCA-ACOSO Anthony Di Lena Student Pathway Awards' mandate is to assist at-risk students in their journey towards success. One of the most important ways this is accomplished is by providing the OSCA-ACOSO Anthony Di Lena Student Pathways Awards to at-risk students who have demonstrated the exemplary ability to succeed in the face of adversity. $500.00 awards are presented to students who, in their postsecondary pursuits, are taking a pathway to apprenticeship, college, university or workplace.

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 Autism CanTech! Program is a national, federally funded, program for autistic youth between the ages of 18-30, where participants will develop the skills and strategies that they need to work effectively within the digital economy. This is achieved through a four-month preparatory course, two months of paid work experience, and access to a range of additional support.

Participants work in a small class environment to develop job-specific skills such as data processing, data management, software literacy, communication , and teamwork. In addition, attention is given to career exploration and job search skills.

The Plumbing/Welding Pre-Apprenticeship Program at Humber College is a tuition-free program (funded by the Government of Ontario) that is designed to help youth (ages 18-29) transition to an apprenticeship in the trade of Plumbing. This program seeks to address the barriers faced by participants who have tried to enter an apprenticeship but encountered issues around a lack of experience.

As a participant, you will receive Level 1 plumber apprenticeship training as well as exposure to the trade of Welding. It will provide you with the academic and practical experience required to succeed in the skilled trades. The program includes a paid work placement of 8 to 12 weeks (dependent on employer).

Concours d'art oratoire scholarships

All Ontario Grade 11-12 FSL students can prepare a speech on a topic of their choice, record it, and submit their video in MP4 format to Canadian Parents for French (Ontario). 

All the registration information, the process, rules, and documents that students need to provide are on our website here. The winning students will win amazing scholarships from 3 post-secondary institutions!

If students are looking for inspiration, they could check out last year's winners at the bottom of this web page: https://on.cpf.ca/en/ concours-dart-oratoire/

In June, the Provincial winners will move on to compete at the Nationals. See more about the national scholarships here.

Any Canadian or American citizen or resident in their last year of high school can qualify for the THGM MUSE Scholarship. All they have to do is enroll in a first-year writing-related program. The MUSE Scholarship will help with their fees. They can apply by submitting an original short story of 400-600 words in prose or in script. One of the characters must be a student in the program they have applied for, and we are looking for a story that grabs our attention

AMOUNT:
$630

DEADLINE:
May 15, 2022

https://thgmwriters.com/resources/scholarship/

Worried about students falling prey to hate groups?  Rhetoric on Social Media that polarizes youth?  False information being accepted as truth?

The Canadian Anti-Hate Network, in partnership with OSCA, is offering our members a workshop that will help us recognize and address hate ideologies and the pathways used for grooming and recruiting young people. This workshop will address signs, symbols and memes of hate movements, how to address common scenarios and defenses of students involved in these groups, and how to counter the rhetoric and prevent recruitment.

SAVE THE DATES: April 27th and May 4th from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

This workshop is designed and will be run by the Canadian Anti-Hate Network, an independent, nonprofit organization made up of Canada’s leading experts and researchers on hate groups and hate crimes. 

This workshop will be supported by a practical toolkit, provided to each attendee, along with one year of aftercare, in which CAN will answer questions and provide support for educators and staff dealing with incidents.

This workshop is free and is limited to 40 participants. Spots will be first come, first served.  Sign up today!

"Students are often the first witnesses, and first responders to, hate group activity amongst their peers, and it’s up to educators and the community to understand and centre those experiences. There is a knowledge gap that must be addressed among educators and parents so that they can identify telltale  signs of hate grooming themselves -- and recognize the gravity of the situation when a student  approaches them to talk about at-risk classmates, or perceived threats to themselves or their peers. " CAN

Learn more here!
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Craignez-vous que les élèves deviennent la proie de groupes haineux? Êtes-vous inquiets de la rhétorique sur les médias sociaux qui polarise les jeunes? De la fausse information qui est acceptée comme vérité?

Le Réseau canadien anti-haine (RCA), en partenariat avec l’OSCA/ACOSO, offre à nos membres un atelier qui nous aidera à reconnaître et adresser les idéologies haineuses et les voies utilisées pour former et recruter des jeunes. Cet atelier adressera les signes, les symboles et les mèmes des mouvements de haine, comment aborder les scénarios courants et les défenses des élèves impliqués dans ces groupes, ainsi que comment contrer la rhétorique et empêcher le recrutement.

RÉSERVEZ LES DATES: Le 27 avril et le 4 mai de 19h00 à 20h30

Cet atelier est conçu par et sera animé par le Réseau canadien anti-haine, un organisme indépendant à but non lucratif qui est composé des meilleurs experts et chercheurs du Canada en matière de groupes et crimes haineux.

Cet atelier inclura une trousse d’outils pratiques qui sera fournie à chaque participant ainsi qu’un an de suivi, au cours duquel le RCA répondra aux questions et fournira un soutien aux éducateurs et au personnel traitant des incidents. 

L’atelier est gratuit et limité à 40 participants. Les places seront attribuées selon le principe du premier arrivé, premier servi. Inscrivez-vous dès aujourd’hui!

« Les élèves sont souvent les premiers témoins et les premiers intervenants des activités des groupes haineux parmi leurs pairs. C’est aux éducateurs et à la communauté de comprendre et de centrer ces expériences. Il existe un manque de connaissances qui doit être comblé parmi les éducateurs et les parents afin qu’ils puissent eux-mêmes identifier les premiers signes révélateurs menant à la haine – et reconnaître la gravité de la situation lorsqu’un élève leur approche pour parler de camarades de classe à risque ou de menaces perçues envers eux-mêmes ou leurs pairs. » RCA (traduit de l’anglais)

En savoir plus ici!

INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR SCHOOLS PARTICIPATE? 

Email info@webuildadream.com to discover if your school board is already registered and how you can get involved!

Drawing on our daily field work around the globe in K-12, Higher Ed and Industry, our Future of Education Reports offer thoughtful analysis and expert insight. Dig into the key trends reshaping the education landscape and futurecast your internal possibilities.

The Horticulture Technician/Landscape Horticulturist Apprenticeship 441-C Program is breaking barriers and supporting the diverse and growing needs of the profession in terms of workforce and talent through apprentice training.

Since 2016, Landscape Ontario Horticultural Trades Association (LO) has been a Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development (MLTSD) approved Group Sponsor supporting more apprentices and employers in the profession in registering for and accessing the Horticulture Technician Apprenticeship 441-C Program. LO is very pleased to receive a Group Sponsor Grant from the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development in March of 2021. This Employment Ontario program is funded in part by the Government of Canada and the Government of Ontario and LO is looking forward to building on the current framework and the momentum gained, by developing and launching enhanced services and developing new resources.

On Wednesday, May 25 at 1:00 PM EDT, join expert analysts from Future Design School and unpack emerging education trends analyzed in The Future of Education Report 2022, including:
- Developing and measuring critical competencies
- Creating a future ready Portrait of a Graduate
- Implementing personalized inquiry and individualized progression
- Rethinking assessment

During this exclusive webinar, OSCA members will gain access to exclusive research and insights on how schools are shifting to address the skills gap, and explore inspiring case studies from around the world.

Are you interested in learning about the practice and profession of Horticulture Therapy (HT)? In this full-day workshop, join registered Horticulture Therapist Felicity Lukace to understand how plants, horticultural activities, and nature are vital components which improve well-being and quality of life. You will develop and awareness of the unique benefits of HT programs while learning about program offerings, starting a therapeutic garden program, and implementing HT activities tailored to a variety of specific needs.

It seems as if the whole world has been subjected to a massive experiment in stress management. After over two years of doing battle with COVID, the strains can be seen in schools throughout the world.

Young people seem to be particularly vulnerable to the psychological impacts that are associated with COVID. Prior to COVID, we had evidence that more than one-third of Canadian youth faced mental health challenges, reporting moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety. Since COVID, studies have documented heightened levels of both anxiety and depression among youth; a difficult time of life for many young people has been made even worse.

AQ Part 1, Part 2 and Specialist (Part 3) courses ? Summer Session- July 4-29

 

The Ontario School Counsellors' Association offers Additional  Qualification Courses in Guidance and Career Education Parts I, II and Specialist (Part III) in Winter, Spring and Summer and Fall.

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 it really makes OSCA''s AQ experience prominent.

 Learn More

 

 

Theme: Inside Out: Looking Inside, Growing Outside!

When: Thursday, October 13, 2022

Where: Virtual conference

Stay tuned for the keynote announcement, call for workshop proposals and conference partners!