Susi Dupuis - OSCA/ACOSO President 

The countdown is on! Only a couple of more weeks left before we come to the end of 2023 and start a new calendar year! There is no doubt that all have earned and will appreciate a long-awaited holiday season.

Looking back, we recognize that we’ve changed and evolved, moving forward with confidence and commitment to our role as guidance counsellors as a group. Covid forced us into a virtual world that, in many ways, helped us maintain relationships and professional development by staying connected more easily and frequently. We have been able to move forward with full-force in providing webinars that invite all in the guidance world snippets of time to feel united in enriching our teaching environments across the province. Meetings, as well, have made participation accessible and convenient while staying in the comfort of our offices, or even at home as allowed.

Your OSCA Executive and Board of Directors work diligently to stay in touch, especially in efforts to bring guidance counsellors together. Our in-person conference proved that we have sustained accountability and collaboration with so many more professionals beyond our teaching and ministry staff. Organizations, sponsors and exhibitors continue to have faith in what we do for our students and their families. Let us not forget that without governance and communications, we cannot validate the work we do or provide you as subscribers with further insight and information about upcoming events, programs, updates from post-secondary institutions and support organizations.  

I look forward to having you meet those on the Board of Directors as they introduce themselves starting in January on a weekly basis through this newsletter! Until then, enjoy your final days of the year. On behalf of OSCA/ACOSO, we wish you the happiest of holiday seasons and a safe and healthy start to 2024!
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Susi Dupuis – Présidente de l’OSCA/ACOSO

Le compte à rebours est lancé ! Il ne reste plus que quelques semaines avant la fin de l’année 2023 et le début d’une nouvelle année civile ! Il est certain que vous avez tous mérité le temps des Fêtes tant attendu et que vous en profiterez bien.  

Avec le recul, nous reconnaissons que nous avons changé et évolué et que, en tant que groupe, nous progressons avec confiance et engagement dans nos rôles de conseillers en orientation. La Covid nous a forcés à entrer dans un monde virtuel qui, à bien des égards, nous a aidés à entretenir des relations et à nous développer professionnellement en restant connectés plus facilement et fréquemment. Nous avons pu avancer à pleine force en offrant des webinaires qui invitent tous les membres du monde de l’orientation à se sentir unis pour enrichir nos climats d’apprentissage à travers la province. Les réunions virtuelles ont également rendu la participation plus accessible et pratique tout en restant confortables dans nos bureaux ou même à la maison, le cas échéant. 

Le comité exécutif et le conseil d’administration de l’OSCA/ACOSO travaillent avec diligence pour rester en contact, en particulier dans les efforts à rassembler les conseillers en orientation. Notre conférence en présentiel a prouvé que nous avons maintenu la responsabilité et la collaboration avec des professionnels au-delà de notre personnel enseignant et ministériel. Les organisations, les commanditaires et les exposants continuent à croire en ce que nous faisons pour nos élèves et leurs familles. N’oublions pas que c’est grâce à notre comité de gouvernance et celui des communications que nous pouvons valider le travail que nous effectuons et vous fournir, en tant qu’abonnés, des informations supplémentaires sur les événements à venir et les programmes ainsi que des mises à jour des établissements postsecondaires et des organismes de soutien.

J’ai hâte que vous rencontriez les membres du conseil d’administration alors qu’ils se présenteront de façon hebdomadaire dans ce bulletin d’information à partir de janvier ! D’ici là, profitez de vos derniers jours de l’année. L’OSCA/ACOSO vous souhaite de joyeuses Fêtes et un début d’année 2024 en bonne santé et en toute sécurité !

New OSCA/ACOSO Webinar! Tuesday December 12 @ 10 AM
Eating Disorders in the Classroom: Tips & Tools for Guidance Educators

In this webinar, facilitators from the National Eating Disorder Information Centre will lead guidance counsellors through a session on the pertinent signs of disordered eating in youth. Attendees will learn practical strategies for taking a comprehensive school health approach to eating disorder prevention, including frameworks to support a student or teacher coming forward with concerns; conversation tips that centre weight inclusion, food neutrality, and body acceptance; and community resources that could provide referral options to support all those that are affected. The National Eating Disorder Information Centre (NEDIC) is a registered Canadian charity that has been helping Canadians affected by eating disorders since 1985. We operate a national toll-free helpline and live chat program, providing in-the-moment support, information, resources, and navigation of healthcare services for people struggling with eating disorders, as well as the families, friends, and professionals who care for them. Register Here!

 

The Black Foundation of Community Networks in collaboration with Durham Region and Peel District School Board are conducting free online workshops for Black students and their families on how to assist in applying for scholarships and bursaries on Wednesday, December 13, 2023 and empower Black students and their families in navigating the world of scholarships.

The Horticultural Technician 441C Apprenticeship Program is a Red Seal Trade in Ontario regulated by the Apprenticeship and Certification Act. On successfully completing the apprenticeship program, a person working in this trade is entitled to a Certificate of Apprenticeship (CofA) and can challenge the trade examination to obtain a Certificate of Qualification (CofQ). 80% of apprenticeship involves on-the-job training with an employer sponsor, and 20% in school over two winter semesters.

Introducing College Trades, ontariocolleges.ca's brand-new microsite focused on helping applicants like you start an exciting and rewarding career in the skilled trades. Our new site highlights the growing demand for skilled tradespeople in Ontario and the college pathways you can use to access your desired career.

Importantly, the site features a specialized search tool that highlights college trades programs with an embedded apprenticeship curriculum, meaning that once you complete your program, you could be exempt from the in-class training portion of a future apprenticeship. 

All About Mental Empowerment

Being a guidance counsellor is overwhelming. You are juggling individual student needs, academic matters, and assisting students with complex personal issues, including mental health concerns. We understand the daily challenges that you are facing. We appreciate your role and the value that you provide to your student community. This is why we want to help you by offering you a complimentary student workshop!

We, Dr. Bisleen Attli, ND, and Tara Rawana, are the founders of All About Mental Empowerment. We bring expertise in naturopathic medicine, nutrition, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Having worked with over 15,000 students through our workshops and courses we are dedicated to enhancing the well-being of school communities.

For schools we haven't worked with yet, we are thrilled to extend a unique opportunity—a complimentary workshop, "Navigating the Online Universe: A Social Media Mastery Workshop for Students." In response to students' concerns about the impact of social media on mental health and body image, this workshop empowers them with knowledge and tools to develop a healthy relationship with social media. Emphasizing thoughtful content sharing, essential safety tips, and practical engagement strategies, we also delve into the profound effects of social media on body image.

To explore how our workshop can benefit your student community, we invite you to schedule a meeting with us HERE. This free workshop offer is limited, so please book a meeting promptly if you are interested.

 New Year...New Webinar!
Tuesday, January 9 @ 1:00 PM
Technology, Skills, and the Future of Work

K-12 teachers and staff in schools across Ontario must adopt a fresh mindset and provide students with ongoing, personalized support in building the skills they need to succeed in the future of work. In this webinar, Future Design School's managing director Sandra Nagy, and trend analyst Todd Harrison, will unpack workplace trends and discuss some of the innovative teaching and learning practices they encounter through their action research in schools throughout Ontario, across Canada, and around the world. According to the latest national and global projections, the workplace landscape is quickly transforming on two important fronts. First, employees are now expected to arrive on the job with deep experience in key skills like creative and analytical thinking, agility, problem-solving, collaboration, and self-awareness. Secondly, rapid technological innovation is shrinking and shifting the job market, with thousands of jobs in Canada (and millions worldwide) projected to be swallowed up by disruptive forces like machine learning. Come and join us for this "up to the minute" session that will help you stay on the pulse of what's trending in the world of work! Please note that this webinar takes place the day after we return from the holiday break, so you are encouraged to register early. Register Here!

Upcoming webinars

If you haven't already signed up, there is still time to register for our 2023-24 season webinars. The first three are listed below and more are on the way. To secure your spot, simply click the titles to register. Or visit our website webinar page for more information.
 
The 2023-24 season will focus on three key areas:

1. Anti-racism, equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI)
2. Mental health and wellbeing
3. Revised Curriculum in Ontario

Click on the webinar title below to register directly or
click here to view calendar of current webinars.

For over a decade, I’ve published my forecast of the top 10 workplace trends that will impact how we work and live for the upcoming year. What do I see coming in 2024?

Well, there’s clearly some economic uncertainty as we head into 2024, and we’ll see this reflected in the workplace as well. We’ll also see continued friction between organizations and employees on issues ranging from work arrangements, wages, climate change, artificial intelligence, employee monitoring, and more.

Winter session: January 8 to March 8, 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 fall. 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) 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: January 2, 2024  at 12 noon. Please register early to reserve your seat!