CTF International Programs

Together is a collection of images and voices that highlighted CTFInternational Cooperation activities in 2001-2002. The images and voices reflectways in which Canadian teachers and overseas partners work together to improveeducation.

It has been forty years since the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) firstlinked Canadian teachers with counterparts in developing countries. Since thetime that the first Canadian teachers provided an in-service to teachers in Nigeriain 1962, CTF has worked in partnership with teacher organizations in 57countries.

Founded in 1920, CTF is a national alliance of provincial and territorialorganizations that represents more than 240,000 elementary and secondary schoolteachers across Canada. International cooperation activities are planned andmanaged by the International Department, under the governance of the CTF TrustFund. The main funding sources are CTF, its Member organizations, and theCanadian International Development Agency (CIDA), with in-kind contributions

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Project Overseas

School-Based LearningTeams Grants

Pre-retirementSeminars

Contact and DSS

NEW BRUNSWICK TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION

Vol. XLV, No. 2October 2, 2002

NBTAnewsnews

(...continued on page 2)

Happy Thanksgiving

from the NBTA

HappyHalloween!

2 NBTA NEWS

and volunteer services fromCanadian teachers and overseaspartners.

CTF has active partnerships withover thirty national teacherorganizations which are striving toenhance the quality and reach ofpublic education in their respectivecountries. Cooperation betweenCanadian teachers and overseascounterparts fosters internationallinkages and cross-cultural learning.

The International DevelopmentAssistance Program (IDAP) continuesto support organizations working toimprove teaching and learningconditions through union actionand professional developmentservices for teachers, leadership andmanagement training, workshops ongender issues, HIV/AIDS educationand the building of an active andcommitted membership.

The new Social DevelopmentEducation Program (SODEP) is atangible example of CTF'sendorsement of "Education for All"commitments renewed in Dakar inApril 2000. SODEP projects supportpartner organization involvement inNational Action Plans that increaseequitable access to quality publiceducation and address teacherconcerns such as content relevance,girls' education, disadvantagedgroups, HIV/AIDS and classroomenvironment.

The CTF Trust Fund manages theCTF International Aid Fund, whichprovides humanitarian assistance toteachers and their communities intimes of natural disasters, war orcivil unrest. Other activities linkinternational cooperation to globalissues and bring it home to theCanadian classroom.

CTF membership in EducationInternational (El) and other nationaland international bodies strengthensthe network of collaboration onthemes of education anddevelopment.

The John M. ThompsonFellowship Program

CTF held its first “Teachers’Organization School” in Canada in1980, and in 1982 named theprogram to honour the man whoserved as Secretary General of theWorld Confederation ofOrganizations of the Teaching

profession from 1970 until his deathin 1981. The John M. ThompsonFellowship Program has, for twentyyears, offered hands-on leadershipand management training to staffand elected members of teachers’organizations in developingcountries.

“For four weeks, extraordinarypeople of vision, commitment anddedication from both the politicalleadership and grassroots, cametogether and dreamed, planned andworked extremely hard. When they goback to their respective countries, theywill be in the real world ... their realworld ... to improve circumstances forteachers, for education and for societyin general.” — Beverly Park,Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers’Association

Project OverseasProject Overseas is a joint venture

of CTF and its Member organizationsand a key component of the IDAPprogram. For 40 years, this programhas been providing a vital linkbetween Canadian teachers’organizations and partners in morethan 50 developing countries.

The key components insustaining and implementing thisvital program are the volunteerteachers. Canadian teachers areidentified with the help of CTF’sMember organizations, and thesededicated professionals give freely oftheir time and talent to assistteachers and teachers’ organizationsin developing countries.

If each participant teaches a classof 50, then an estimated 78,500students will have benefited directlyfrom Project Overseas!

One of NBTA’s members, KathlynHunter from Forest Glen School inMoncton, participated in ProjectOverseas and volunteered inUganda. (Kathlyn shares herexperience on page 4 of this issue).

June MacNairn, Past President ofNBTA, is currently serving a three-

ISSN 0317-5227NBTA News is published ten times ayear. Opinions expressed are those ofthe authors, not necessarily the NBTA.Editor: Jim DysartEditorial Assistant: Loretta ClarkeGraphic Artist: Christy PriceMember: CEPAAddress all correspondence to:The EditorP.O. Box 752, Fredericton, N.B.E3B 5R6Telephone: (506) 452-8921FAX: (506) 453-9795e-mail: nbtanews@nbnet.nb.caWeb: www.nbta.ca

year term as the easternrepresentative for the CTF TrustFund. As a trustee, June travelled toDominica, St. Vincent and Grenadato see the work of participants first-hand. (See June’s article on page 5).

Other ventures of theInternational DevelopmentAssistance Program include:Institutional Support, Women inEducation, Partnerships andNetworks, Bringing the World intothe Canadian Classroom, andInternational Aid Fund.

Thank You to our PartnersThe Canadian Teachers’

Federation Trust Fund offers sincerethanks to CTF and its fourteenMember organizations for theirgenerous contributions and moralsupport to the IDAP. Theseorganizations provide funding andtechnical assistance in the form oftraining and resource personnel.

Barbara MacDonald, Director,CTF International Programs stated:“Together with overseas partners,Canadian teachers are working toreinforce international intentionswith action. Together, we areworking to ensure that qualityeducation includes attention toteachers’ rights and workingconditions. And together, teacher-to-teacher, we are grounding theseactions in the classrooms of theworld.”

“Together, we are workingto ensure that qualityeducation includes attentionto teachers’ rights andworking conditions.”

OCTOBER 2002 3

s I write my second message for this school year, I fear that I may repeatsome things I said last year. Hope you don’t mind.

The school year is well underway. By now the honeymoon is over inyour classroom and your students have settled into their comfort zones. Ihope that you and your staff have taken the time to discuss Policy 703

and the Education Act as it pertains to acceptable behaviour in your school.Teachers do have rights and can control their classrooms. I’m hoping that thisyear, you will say, "Don’t even think about behaving that way in my class!"You will be supported by your District, so please don’t put up with beingsworn at, or intimidated or treated with disrespect. As Ron Morrish says in hisbook With All Due Respect, even though it is difficult for many teachers, youmust assertively reject behaviours which are not suitable in school. Strictdoesn’t mean punitive or unfriendly; it means you have limits andexpectations, which you will enforce consistently. Good luck as you tacklethis issue!

October - the month of cooling temperatures, colourful leaves,Thanksgiving and Halloween…. This Thanksgiving weekend will be veryspecial for me. I have a son being married (to a teacher, I’m proud to say) and aMom who will turn 85. I have lots to be thankful for.

I am also thankful that I can say: "I am a teacher". You see, I did not grow upwith any desire to be a teacher. I disliked school intensely, was in troublemuch of the time, and really only stayed in school to play basketball. I wrotelast year about being suspended and strapped and failing grade 11, so I won’tbore you again, but the point is that I NEVER wanted to be a teacher. I fellinto teaching and I’m thankful for that. I first taught with a Bachelor of Artsdegree – you could do that back then when the earth was cooling – I loved itfrom the first moment and still love it today. I believe that we do the mostimportant work possible. We really do "touch the future" every single day! Iknow that most of you feel the same way, but if you don’t, will you please giveyour head a shake! I agree with Nancy Roach when she says, we need to bePositive, Passionate, Professional and Proud. How about it?

On another note, educators know how important it is to give their studentspraise and encouragement and we do it all the time, but, you know, we allneed praise. Often teachers don’t get praise until they retire or die.

I have a cartoon that reads: "Doing a good job here is like wetting your pants ina dark suit – it gives you a nice, warm feeling, but nobody notices."

Do you work in a place like that? I hope not, but I’m afraid that mostschools do not concentrate on giving praise and appreciation to the adultswho work there. I believe that we can and should change that. How? Byactually sharing our appreciation for the work and efforts of our colleagues.When someone on your staff does something well, that you value, tell them.It really feels good to have someone tell you that you’ve done a good job, but Icaution you to be sincere. Praise needs to be specific, relevant and sincere – ifyou don’t mean it, don’t say it!

Moreover, do you remember all that research a number of years ago thatsaid you needed eight positive comments (or some such number) tocompensate for one negative comment? Well, I think we should begin toaccumulate positive observations. Let’s look for opportunities to complimentour colleagues. We will all be better off for it. And for those persons who can’tseem to accept a compliment, please just smile and say "thank you" – youdeserve a kind word now and then (more now than then, I hope)!

One of the many things I love about my school (Hello, all my friends atCHS!) is how caring, considerate and complimentary the staff are. I hope thatyou will all join me in my quest to make a "kinder, gentler" system byacknowledging the already incredible achievements of teachers! You’re doing agreat job out there! Enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A

Mary Wilson

President’s Message

Office (506) 452-8921 • Home (506) 575-2472 • FAX (506) 453-9795 • E-mail wilsonma@nbnet.nb.ca

Kathlyn Hunter is a classroom teacher atForest Glen School in Moncton.

The Pearl of Africa has a warm heartand a bright future. I can attest tothis; I have seen it, felt it, tasted andheard it, first-hand. This summer Iwas fortunate to participate in ProjectOverseas and experience theincredible beauty of Uganda, a smallcountry in Central East Africa.

The Canadian Teachers’Federation, along with CIDA, havebeen partners in global educationwith programs like Project Overseas.Their aim is to enhance teachingpractice in developing countries byproviding experienced volunteersto share ideas, methods andapproaches to teaching, whileassisting partner organizations instrengthening associations withintheir own country and worldwide.Project Overseas is in its 40th year,and this year 46 CTF participantsfanned out over the globe to 10countries. I represented NewBrunswick.

The participants met in Ottawafor four days of orientation whichincluded team-building, culturalawareness, and a meeting with anational from our host country tohelp with specific concerns orquestions that we might have had. Itwas a great opportunity to learn a fewwords of greeting and have a glimpseinto what we might expect once wearrived.

The team traveling to Ugandaconsisted of two teachers fromOntario and one from Alberta, andmyself. We had been correspondingfor months via e-mail and were gladto be able to put faces to names. Tocommemorate our setting off on thisadventure, we attended a sunsetperformance of the RCMP MusicalRide. It was a very Canadian thing todo and we were very glad we didbecause the next thing we knew wewere in Uganda!

We were warmly greeted by arepresentative of the UgandanTeachers’ Association and taken to aguest house on the campus of

Kyambogo University where wewould spend the next few weeksproviding support to an Inset orWorkshop to 41 Tutors from aroundthe country.

An important part of our missionwas to listen to the experiences andconcerns of the teachers of Uganda.These teachers possess a remarkableamount of energy and optimism asthey face many challenges. Amongthe greatest is the large classes thatteachers must be prepared to teach.Uganda has initiated UniversalPrimary Education which entitleseach family to send 4 children to

school free of school fees. Due to thevast number of children who areraised by extended families, virtuallyall children can attend school. Withthe huge influx of students, theschool population rose from anestimated 2,000,000 to 10,000,000without the necessary buildings orteaching staff. As a result classes canbe as large as 150 students andmaterials are scarce. Despite this,teachers make the best of it bycreating as many teaching materialsas they can themselves.

Insets like the one we assisted inare a rare opportunity for Ugandanteachers to share. The UgandanTeachers’ Association is in theprocess of joining with other teacherorganizations to form a nationalUnion to act as one voice for allteachers. As representatives of theCanadian Teachers’ Federation, wewere able to give insights into the

benefit of a national organization,one of which is ProfessionalDevelopment.

When the Inset was complete, ourhosts arranged for us to travel tomany schools to see first-hand thechallenges facing Ugandan teachersand the remarkable ability withwhich they cope. It was a pleasure tosee the smiling faces of so manychildren who are obviously pleasedto be able to attend school, knowingthe value of an education in theirpart of the world. We were treated tomusic and dance and everywhere wewere made to feel like very honoured

guests. Life in Uganda is not easy, even

in urban areas, but everywhere wevisited they were gracious andkind and considerate of ourcomfort. Sanitation, drinkingwater, and general livingconditions are much differentfrom those in Canada, and it tooksome time for our systems toadjust. Canadians are incrediblylucky in comparison.

On weekends the team plannedas many excursions as we could fit

in. We wanted to witness thebeauty of Uganda, and we did. Ahired driver took us to a Nationalpark where we saw elephants,giraffes, hippo, crocodiles, waterbuffalo, warthogs, a leopard, andmore. It was an excellent adventureand included a boat trip on theVictoria Nile.

Another trip took us across LakeVictoria to an island that rehabilitateschimps that have been rescued fromcaptivity. An excellent lesson inrepairing the damage that humansinflict on animals.

This trip has been one of discoveryfor me. I am grateful to CTF and thecontributing partners that makeProject Overseas a reality. I havewitnessed dedication andperseverance in a developing countrythat has so far to go. I have faith thatthese teachers will be the drivingforce in Uganda’s future. It is indeedThe Pearl of Africa

4 NBTA NEWS

Uganda: The Pearl of AfricaKathlyn Hunter shares her experience

Uganda participates in the Project.

OCTOBER 2002 5

s I have often stated at branchAnnual General Meetings,teachers often wonder andsometimes question, what their

CTF fee does on their behalf. Thisyear every teacher in Canada pays$20.30 to our national organization.

One role of CTF is to administerfunds provided by the FederalGovernment to support teachertraining in other countries. The CTFhas a Trust Fund that oversees theseprograms. There is a teacherrepresentative from the east, centerand west on the committee. I amfortunate to be the easternrepresentative for a three-year term.We meet in Ottawa three times eachyear.

A part of our internationalprogramming is called ProjectOverseas, where every summerCanadian volunteer teachers go tooverseas countries to giveprofessional development to nativecolleagues in summer schools.

Canadian teachers are truly worldleaders in providing money andsupport in international aid tounderdeveloped countries.

Each trustee takes oneinternational trip to evaluate ourprogram in action. I was selected fora two and one-half week trip thissummer to see our work in theislands of Caribbean.

I embarked from Toronto in mid-July with a CTF Office official, BarbGage, and flew to Dominica, St.Vincent and Grenada to see ourwork first-hand.

Humid, almost unbearable heat,hit me on my first stop in Dominica.Weather and culture changes wereobvious. I would shower andchange clothing three times daily, allto no avail. I could only seek refugein the air-conditioned hotel.However, the changes in weather

and food were more thancompensated for by the hospitalityof our union hosts and thededication of our Canadian teachersand their native students. Wevisited the classroom daily and sawcourses ranging from ElementaryMath to Computers toAdministrative Leadership.

The classes were held from 8:30a.m. to 1:30 p.m. daily. Teachers

participated in two classes. Recesseswere held from 11:00 a.m. to 11:30a.m., when the union provided alunch for the participants.

I was struck by the eagerness andgratefulness of the local teachers forthe opportunity to participate! They

all hugged and thanked us for theCanadian help. We passed outCanadian flags and supplies thatwere eagerly accepted. At the end ofeach of the three-week courses, therewas a closing, with the mixing ofCanadian and local culture.

We were given the chance to tourthe islands to see the splendor of themountains, the white-sandybeaches, and the emerald water. Weeven saw a variety of playfuldolphins and brilliant whales on oursea trip.

Although we, as a country, lead ininternational support, I learnedthose of us that took part receivedmuch more than we gave.

Project Overseas had 47 teachersthis year participating in 10countries in the Caribbean, Africaand Asia. Of the 14 teachers Iworked with, all want to returnanother year and are extremelypositive about the program. We allagreed that we would not complainas readily in our own staff rooms,given what we had seen for difficultworking conditions on these islands.The native teachers all crave moretraining in all areas, especially intechnology. They need computers,computer training and technicalsupport greatly.

The NBTA supports one teachereach year in Project Overseas. Thisyear, Kathlyn J. Hunter from ForestGlen School in Moncton worked inUganda.

So colleagues, be proud of theAssociation, the Canadian Teachers’Federation and your profession! Alloverseas teachers are extremelygrateful for our help. I would bepleased to speak to any local branchabout this invaluable initiative. Ifyou are interested in an adventurenext summer, one that you willnever forget, phone our provincialNBTA for more information aboutProject Overseas!

A Truly Rewarding Experience!

Aby June MacNairn,

Bernice MacNaughton High School,Moncton

“The native teachers allcrave more training in allareas, especially intechnology.”

June MacNairn

6 NBTA NEWS

This is the second and final part of thisarticle. The first part appeared in the

September 5th issue.

The Educational ValueIn Middle School, the Social

Studies curriculum includes a studyof the Canadian political system.The Education Act of N.B. requiresteachers, as part of their teachingresponsibilities, to promote andencourage the development of goodmoral character. All students in theschool become familiarized with theOrder of Canada through a videopresentation produced by the federalgovernment. Teachers discuss withtheir students aspects of the Orderfollowing the presentation. The goalis to enhance the development ofthe child as a whole. We wantstudents to be responsible citizens aspart of the school and communitythey live in.

Before each ceremony, studentslearn about the special guestpresenter for that evening. In sodoing they learn more about thatparticular aspect of or about acertain Canadian institution. Forexample, as presenters, the GovernorGeneral and the Lieutenant-Governor provided an opportunityfor students to not only learn aboutthe Office or position held by theseimportant individuals, but alsoabout each individual as a personand why they are distinguishedCanadians.

Teachers are also encouraged toinclude in the curriculum a varietyof enriching activities. The purposeis to create a greater interest andknowledge of our Canadian politicalsystem and what it means to be aresponsible citizen of Canada. Witheach special guest, students arepresented with outstandingexamples of citizenship. They alsodiscover more about each positionand the role held by the individual.More "hands-on" examples ofactivities are field trips to theprovincial legislature, provincialcourts and other public institutions.The school has also used the

"Dispatch Boxes" obtained from theMonarchist League of Canada.These resources contain informationon Canadian history, politics andinstitutions.

Through the Order of the MapleLeaf, students have been able toactually see and handle an Order ofCanada Medallion, meet a nationalleader, see and talk with the Queen’srepresentative in Canada and in NewBrunswick. Students also come tomeet and know local politicians, theMayor, and local Members of theProvincial Legislative Assembly.Along with politicians, the Chief ofPolice and District Educationalleaders participate as well.

Community InvolvementStudents learn about good

citizenship by contributing in someway to their community inappropriate activities. Projects canvary from community clean-up toinvolvement in Canada Dayfestivities, preparing Christmas giftshoeboxes for children in developingcountries, gathering food for localfood banks, and contributing tomany charitable organizations. Theobjective is to build pride andinvolvement in community life,which benefits the students and thecommunity as a whole. It is also avisible and tangible way for citizensof the community to see youngadolescents assume responsibilityand leadership.

Such an event as the Order of theMaple Leaf enables the localcommunity to also become involvedand to give its support. It was theMayor, upon hearing that studentswere designing their own personalcoat-of-arms, who recommended the"Dauphin Herald Extraordinary", Mr.Robert Pichette of New Brunswick.He was commissioned by HisExcellency, Romeo LeBlanc, a formerGovernor General of Canada, todesign his personal coat-of-arms.Each year, only students who haveobtained the level of "Officer" of theorder are granted the privilege of

designing their coat-of-arms withthe help of Mr. Pichette. These coat-of-arms are on display in the schooluntil the student moves on to highschool or leaves.

How are results measured?Success is measured by the

positive feedback, verbal andwritten, offered by students, parents,school officials, teachers andmembers of the community. If thenumber of participants and awardrecipients are any indication, theprogram has been very successful.Areas of interest to track are thenumber of members being inductedinto the Order at the various gradelevels and the number of studentswho are consistent recipients andprogress through the levels. This isof particular interest consideringthat all students have the potentialto be winners. No one isdisadvantaged due to his or heracademic strengths or particularbackground. The criteria are clearand comprehensible to all;responsibility lies with each student.

For a teacher committed to such aprogram, it is an excellent way tomotivate students and have them, ina concrete fashion, assumeresponsibility for their actions, bothacademically and in their day-to-daybehaviour in the class. Theconsequences of not complying areclear and universally applied to allstudents. The individual teacherneed not justify any demerits oraction taken that is clearly stated inthe program. Universality andequality, two elements that make itvery appealing to all involved, arekey in this program.

In some ways, it is difficult to seethe long-term benefits of anyprogram conducted in a school.Unfortunately, no one can foreseethe future. As teachers, we can onlyhope that all our efforts will bearfruit and benefit our students.However, on reflecting on the far-reaching impact of the program, Mr.White remarked: "One thing is for

The Order of the Maple Leaf: Citizenship at the Middle School Level

certain; these are the community leadersof tomorrow." As teachers, our job isto prepare them as well as possibleto assume these responsibilities.

Community awareness?Various means are used to

promote and communicate theOrder of the Maple Leaf to thecommunity. Naturally, at eachceremony the news and media areinvited. The school sendsnewsletters to the parents of allstudents, other schools, schoolofficials, municipal, provincial andfederal politicians. Parents alsoassist in communicating andpromoting the event through theirprofessional, business and socialcontacts throughout the communityat large.

Rothesay Park School uses everyopportunity to communicateinformation regarding the Order ofthe Maple Leaf. It is without a doubtthat the best communicators aboutthis unique program are the teachersand the students whoenthusiastically speak of it toparents, students and friends fromother schools. The visible signs,community spring clean-up, etc ...also serve to promote and raise thecuriosity among the community asto the involvement of theseadolescents.

A teacher’s perspectiveThe question has been put to the

administrative staff and teachers asto the reasoning behind such anevent as the Order of the Maple Leaf.Why should we recognize studentsfor behaviour that we shouldnaturally expect of them? Mr. RickHatt, who conceived of the program,explains that our society isn’t givingstudents the same message of civilityand personal responsibility that itdid years ago. Yes, we mention it toour students and expect it, yet wedon’t do anything about it. We tellour children, our students to exceland then reward them withacademic and athletic prizes, yet wedon’t recognize the hard work,motivation, responsibility and socialcommitment of our students. Thereward isn’t financial, or any specialtreatment in school. It is simplyrecognition, to say well done, weapprove of your efforts and your

behaviour and we want you to knowit.

“For teachers,” says Mr. Hatt,“there are two messages that theycan give to their students via theOrder of the Maple Leaf. First, doyour best and work hard. Be responsibleand we will recognize your efforts.Secondly, anyone and everyone canreceive this award; it is within yourreach as a student. You will not bediscriminated against because of lack ofability or capability. It is universallyapplied according to clear criteria. It isa legitimate expression of ouracknowledgement of your efforts andhard work and we are prepared todemonstrate it to you, to your parentsand to the community as well."

The student’s perspectiveHow do students feel about the

Order of the Maple Leaf?Interestingly enough, three RothesayPark students — Alex Swanton (Gr.8), Kate Hughes (Gr.7), and DevanMcKinnon (Gr.6), were all quick topoint out the universality of theawards program. They allcommented on how it wasobtainable for all students, if theyconducted themselves according tothe conditions laid out. Not one ofthe students felt that it placed hugedemands upon them. Yet, they weretogether in pointing out theuniqueness of the award andespecially of the ceremony. Forthem it was a moment to be proud,to dress up, and receive an award infront of parents, family andcommunity. They are particularlyproud of the fact that the program isunique to their school.

ConclusionThis program is a major part of a

pro-active approach to developing apositive school environment, todiscipline, to acceptingresponsibility, to enhancing

academic achievement, and toencouraging personal growth amongthe students. It is a program thatinvolves everyone — students,teachers, and staff. Its impactcertainly is felt within the school,yet it has far-reaching effects in thecommunity as a whole. Studentsnot only learn what it means to be agood citizen of Canada, but theyalso come to understand, throughenrichment activities, the politicalstructure of our country. Moreimportantly, they come to realizethat good citizenship is notsomething someone else shoulddemonstrate, or that it only happensin other communities in Canada.They come to realize that goodcitizenship is a personalresponsibility.

Other schools can do similarprograms, adapt and modify them tosuit their particular needs andsituation. Staff must be committedto and see the value of such aprogram. If well-planned, it can behighly rewarding to all involved. AsMr. Hatt recommends, “don’t makeit a complicated affair; hold it in theevening so that parents,grandparents and family can come.Have students dress up, invite guestspeakers and have a reception.” Thisis of particular importance so thatthe students can meet the dignitariesand be inspired by their example ofcommunity service and citizenship.

Finally, and with a particularfocus on the impact on students, Mr.White concludes: "To receive the‘Order of the Maple Leaf’ award iscertainly an achievement in studentcitizenship. The award is presented tostudents by adult citizens who quiteobviously have demonstratedachievements in their personal andpublic lives. These individuals serve asrole models to our youth for thepotential that is within them to becomesuccessful, productive, contributingmembers of society."

May the goals and objectives ofThe Order of the Maple Leafinterest you and help you developunique ways to encourage andrecognize outstanding citizenshipamong your students.

By Dr. Paul-Emile Chiasson

OCTOBER 2002 7

Paul-Emile Chiasson, Ph.D., hasbeen in the provincial education

system for 17 years. He has taughtprimarily French Immersion andFrench Second Language at theMiddle and High School levels.

The past two years he has workedat UNBSJ as Acting Education

Coordinator and currently is anFSL Supervisor in District 8.

8 NBTA NEWS

As the youngeststudents at MintoElementary Schoolenter the cafeteria atlunchtime, they aregreeted by smilinghelpers — local

senior citizens, who havevolunteered to take part in aprogram called Lunch Mates.

Students in kindergarten, Grade 1and Grade 2 are helped to reach forcafeteria items, count money out ofchange purses, open juice boxes ormilk containers, and are also helpedin other ways.

Marg Maranda, who is a parent ofa child who was in kindergarten lastschool year, organized the LunchMate program last fall, when itbecame apparent that the youngstersand the teachers could benefit fromextra help during lunch.

"This is a totally newenvironment for these kindergartenstudents. The teachers now havemore opportunity to sit with thechildren, and to eat their ownlunches," Maranda said. "The seniorswe have here are a wonderful groupof people. They are great with kids.Without them, this program never

would have worked."Maranda said she formed the

Lunch Mates program after herdaughter started school inSeptember. “Coming to the schoolto help her child twice a week,”Maranda said, “she noticed the needfor extra helping hands.” PrincipalGary DiPaolo approved the idea anda search for volunteers began.

"We focused on seniors," she said."We started with 50 or 60 names,and 30 agreed to take part in theLunch Mates program. Twentyvolunteers are here every week. Thepeople who are volunteering makethe program or break it. They haveincorporated things themselves,such as helping the kids get dressedin the winter.

Carolyn Nichols, who is agrandmother, said she has beenvolunteering with the program sincelast fall. "I really enjoy it," she said."They are really good children. Thelittle faces light right up when theysee you."

Janique Smythe, a Grade 2teacher, said she appreciates thepresence of the Lunch Mates. "Theytalk to the children, and it's a greathelp for the younger ones."

Kindergarten teacher JaniceColeman said Lunch Mates assist thechildren in managing their moneywhen buying things. "It is hard forthe teacher to be up at the counterand at the table," Coleman said.

Bonnie Bourgeois, who alsoteaches kindergarten, said it'sdifficult to peel apples and cut pizzafor the children. "The seniors areextremely helpful with that, and weappreciate them."

Cy Carney, also a grandparent,said he has been a volunteer withLunch Mates since the programstarted. "I enjoy working with youngpeople," he said. "I also read to theclasses sometimes."

The Lunch Mates were honouredat a dinner in the same cafeteriawhere they help the children eachschool day. "It's been a wonderfulproject," Maranda said. "Most of theLunch Mates have alreadyapproached me about doing it againthis year. In fact, we could use 10more volunteers as well. It has beensuch a worthwhile program. Thekids look forward to seeing them.The Lunch Mates get hugs, and theylike that."

“TeachersShape The

Future”

WorldTeachers’

Day!October 5,2002

Lunch Mates Program Helps Bridge The GapMinto seniors assist young students in lunch program

• Eight in ten Canadians surveyedin CTF's 2002 National Issues inEducation Poll support increasedfunding for elementary andsecondary education.

• This level of support for increasededucation funding is significantlyhigher than the two-thirds in1994 and 1995.

• Canadians believe the highestpublic education spendingpriority should be action directedtoward reducing class sizes.

• Respondents view spending onprovince-wide achievement testsand building more schools as thelowest priorities for educationspending.

• By a margin of 2 to 1, Canadianssay that teacher evaluations oftheir students’ work, notstandardized tests, is the best way

to measure student achievementand school performance.

• 6 in 10 indicate that relationshipsbetween teachers and parents, thesize of the classes in the school,and the nature of the curriculumwere very important in judging orevaluating publicly-fundedschools in their community.

• 7 in 10 of those surveyed feel thatreducing class sizes and creatingconditions encouraging parents,teachers and students to workmore closely together wouldmake a big improvement in thequality of teaching in schools intheir community.

Note: The 2002 poll of 2,265 adults,nationwide, was conducted for CTF byVector Research & Development in earlyMay, 2002.

Highlights of CTF National Issuesin Education Poll

What is a School-BasedLearning Team?A School-Based Learning Team(SBLT) is a team of 3-5 teachers froma school who decide to worktogether to examine some aspect ofstudent learning with the goal ofstudying, collaborating, sharing andlearning to improve instructionalstrategies that will lead to improvedstudent achievement.

Can you give me an exampleof what a SBLT might attemptto accomplish under thisprogram?An Elementary Team mightdetermine, by examining theirschool achievement data and theirstudents’ performance, that theirstudents seem weak in the area ofmeasurement. The team might worktowards identifying/developingstrategies to improve this area ofstudent learning. The teachersmight try various teachingtechniques, learning from oneanother or experts, and continue tocompare the progress of theirstudents as a result of the efforts ofthe Learning Team. Likewise aMiddle School Learning Team mightrecognize that their students areweak in poetry ; a High School MathTeam might decide to focus onimproving their students applicationof formulae in Mathematics.

What is a School-BasedLearning Team Grant?A SBLT Grant is a $1000 grant thatwill be awarded to a school uponsuccessful application to the jointNBTA/Department of EducationCommittee established to administerthe grant fund. The focus must bestudent learning.

What is the Purpose of thegrant?The grant is intended to support thework of the Learning Team. Suchsupport may include providing somerelease time for the team to meet,purchasing resources to support the

efforts of the team, accessingexpertise in the form of resourcepeople.

How often should the teammeet?A SBLT is required to meet aminimum of 18 hours throughoutthe school year for which the granthas been awarded. Team membersdetermine when the meetings willtake place.

How is a SBLT different froma study group?In many ways the SBLT hassimilarities to a study group in thatteachers are working together togrow and learn. However, theLearning Team must focus on anaspect of student achievement andwork towards improving theachievement levels of their studentsin that area. Actually examiningstudent work is an important part ofa Learning Team.

Will there be any help for theSBLT to get started?Yes. Nancy Roach, Director ofProfessional Development for theNBTA, will meet with each LearningTeam to help them launch theirwork. A template for recording thework of the team will be providedand protocols for examining studentwork will be introduced. Theseguidelines are intended to provide aframework for both accountabilityand productivity but will not restrictthe direction and creativity of theteam.

How many grants will beavailable?For the 2002-3 school year there willbe six $1000 grants available. This isa pilot year. Continuation of theprogram will be determined basedon the success of the pilot.

How does my school apply?Complete the application formaccompanying this article or foundon the NBTA website(www.nbta.ca). A school maysubmit more than one applicationprovided the guidelines above arerepresented in each application.Deadline for applications isNovember 8, 2002. Successfulapplicants will be notified byNovember 30.

Why should my schoolconsider creating a School-Based Learning Team?All teachers strive to do their best,but so much more can beaccomplished if teachers can worktogether, share strategies andimprove their instructionaltechniques. Students and teachers allbenefit. In a true learningcommunity, everyone learns. ASchool-Based Learning Team is onemore step toward the creation ofsuch a learning community.

The guiding question of a SchoolBased-Learning Team is:"What is happening differently inour classrooms as a result of whatwe are doing and learning in ourTeam?"

See application on following page.

OCTOBER 2002 9

School-Based Learning Teams GrantsIn a true Learning Community, everyone learns.

$1000 Grant for yourSchool to Support

Student and TeacherLearning

10 NBTA NEWS

School-Based Learning Team GrantApplication Form

School__________________________________________________________________________________________________

School Address___________________________________________________________________________________________

School Phone___________________ Fax____________________________

Please complete the following after carefully reading the information about School-Based LearningTeams that accompanies this form. Feel free to attach additional pages.

What aspect of student learning will be the focus of this Learning Team?

How and why did your team determine the need for this focus?

How will the team monitor the impact of your efforts on your students?

Who are the members of your School-Based Learning Team? Indicate their teaching assignment within the school.

Has your team discussed a schedule for completing the minimum 18 hours of meeting time for your team?

Please add any other comments which you feel are relevant to your application.

Send completed application form to Nancy Roach, Director of Professional Development , NBTA, PO Box 752,Fredericton, NB E3B 5R6

Deadline for applications: November 8, 2002Successful schools will be notified by November 30. A joint NBTA/Departmentof Education Committee will base selectionon factors including the thoughtful development of the application form, distribution of various levels (K-12) andgeographic considerations.

OCTOBER 2002 11

Passion: The Fire That Fuels Your Teaching

PotpourriP.D.

By Nancy RoachDirector of Professional Development

roachn@nbnet.nb.ca

Are you a passionate person?I have written in previous articles

about professionalism and pride, butanother ingredient that successfulteachers demonstrate is passion.Now obviously I am not talkingabout your love life, but rather someof the loves of your life.

You can tell a passionate teacher.Your eyes light up. Your voicesounds vibrant and alive. You exudean energy that has nothing to dowith how much sleep you may havegotten (or not gotten) the nightbefore.

I have heard you…..and some ofyou may recognize yourselves.• A late career teacher whose passionis drama: "Come and let me showyou my students’ projects. They arejust wonderful…look at this one,and this!"• A teacher who attended a summerinstitute on Gaelic Music and Arts: "Ican’t believe how much I learned.This was so fantastic. And we can doso much of it with our students! Itwas so amazing… many of usworked on our projects till 10o’clock each night!"• An early career teacher returningfrom the Historica Conference : "Itwas wonderful, I met people fromall over the country, and Idiscovered that they have the sameproblems as I do. Every teachershould go to something like this. Itjust energizes you!" • A young teacher who runs a dancegroup at her school: "I am taking agroup of my students to perform atUNB as part of my course on giftedstudents. I know they will do a greatjob. I can’t wait!"• A language arts teacher: "Youshould have seen what my kidswrote. They worked so hard andevery one of them deserves to passthis assessment."• A human rights advocate: "It wasamazing to hear the discussion inmy classroom after I had the guest

speaker, a lesbian mother of 4 kids.My students really had their eyesopen about some of theirstereotyped ideas!"• A teacher of auto technology whotook a team of his students to anational competition: "This wastheir first contest and they did great.They were so proud of theiraccomplishments and I was so proudof them!"

I write using exclamation marksbecause that is how these teacherssound when they tell me about theirwork. From the teacher who has afascination with Ocean Liners whoshared his research in a MiddleSchool Activity program, to the longdistance runner who sets up a CrossCountry Club, to the High SchoolPhysics teacher who has introducedhis students to the love of physics,teachers come alive when they talkabout their passions.

Without that passion, the sparkthat grew into the desire to teachwill burn out. I urge each of you torekindle your own flame. Rememberor find, the things that you love andlook for ways to share that love withyour students. You, and they, willbe richer and happier for it.

WEA-NB: 10 years of AdvocacyTen years ago, a group of female

educators formed a professionalnetworking group called Women inEducational Administration. Over thepast decade, women have seen manyadvancements in their role withinthe educational system. To celebratethose accomplishments and the on-going professional developmentopportunities that WEA hasprovided to administrators in theprovince, WEA will hold two specialevents in this school year.

The first is a Fall Workshop,being offered on Saturday, October19.

We are fortunate to have NoreenO’Haire, Director of ProfessionalDevelopment for the CanadianTeachers Federation, facilitate theprogram. See the registration formelsewhere in the NBTA News for

details on registration.The second event is a major

spring PD Conference to be held onApril 10-11, 2003. This will be awonderful event. Principals and vice-principals should mark yourcalendars now and watch for moredetails.

The Real WorldWhether you are studying brain

research, looking at research onauthentic assessment, or readingabout how to reach at-risk students,you will discover that experts inmany fields give support to makinglearning relevant for students. Themore you can connect what is beingdone in the classroom to the ‘realworld’, the more motivated andsuccessful you will find yourstudents. Two articles of interest are"Taking Math into the Real World"from the August issue of MiddleGround and "CommunityClassrooms: Real World Learning"from the PLS newsletter Number 97.

Teaching ReadingTwo great reads about teaching

reading are Teaching With Passion:An Exemplary Teacher Shares Strategiesfor Teaching Reading (there’s thatpassion thing again!) fromProfessionally Speaking Septemberissue and Effective Reading Instructionfrom the PLS newsletter. The latterincludes research on what motivateskids to read.

Real School IssuesThinking about a School Dress

Code? If so, you will appreciate thejourney of one high school in Texas.Learn from their successes and theirmistakes as told in StandardizedDress: Where Angels Fear to Tread,School Business Affairs June 2002.Another issue that faces manyschools, especially in the middlegrades, is dealing with those tightlittle social groups that excludethose deemed ‘not worthy’! Cliquethe Habit from Middle Ground’sAugust issue provides some strategies

12 NBTA NEWS

for this age-old problem.

Finding a CourseMany of you have contacted me

to talk about returning to your ownstudies and upgrading yourqualifications. I applaud you! Ourown NBTA courses are up andrunning and I continue to work withour provincial universities to findways to make more courses availableto you.

I will use this forum to helpprovide you with information as Iget it. Just as I have encouragedeach of you to recommend any goodbooks or articles that others mightbenefit from, I urge you to let meknow about courses that you mayhave discovered so that I can sharethe possibilities with others. Forexample, Western University ismarketing many new on-linecourses. Check their website atwww.edu.uwo.ca/conted

Good luck with your learning andyour teaching! Please contact me if Ican help in any way.

Professional Growth PlansRegistration Form

Name: ___________________________________________

School: ___________________________________________

E-Mail: __________________________________________

Telephone #: ______________________________________

Payment Enclosed: ______ Invoice School: _______Invoice District: ________

Return to: NBCEA, Faculty of Education, UNB, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3Tel: 453-3502 Fax : 458-7157E-mail - tmaclean@unb.ca

Regional WorkshopsSponsored by NBCEA, Faculty of Education, UNB

Professional Growth Plans

Presented by - Mary Lee JudahTeaching Associate, Alberta Teachers Association

Instructor and Ph.D. Candidate, University of AlbertaPublic School Teacher

October 21 - Fredericton - Aggie’s Restaurant, Hwy 102October 22 - Miramichi - District Office

October 23 - Saint John - Millidgeville North SchoolTime: 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Professional Growth Planning is both a requirement and aresponsibility. Knowing where we’re going helps us to get

there and know when we’ve arrived. Enhance yourprofessional growth by participating.

Cost: $75.00/person

• Do you have an interest in teaching overseas or elsewhere inCanada?

• Do you have a sense of adventure?• Are you a flexible person who can adapt to change?• Does the prospect of living and teaching in another community

excite you?

Plan to attend an INFORMATION MEETING sponsored by the NBTAto learn about the exciting possibilities and how to arrange a teacherexchange.

Join Carol Wilkins, Co-ordinator of the Canadian EducationExchange Foundation, and members of the Exchange TeacherOrganization of NB.

Date: Saturday, November 16, 2002Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm Light Lunch will be providedPlace: NBTF Building, 650 Montgomery Street, Fredericton

To register or for more information contact Nancy Roach, DirectorProfessional Development , NBTA at 506-452-1740 orroachn@nbnet.nb.ca

Interested in a TeacherExchange?

(P.D. Potpourri Continued...)

OCTOBER 2002 13

Pre-retirement seminars will be held in the following locations:

The following guidelines should be noted for participation inthese seminars:1. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served

basis.2. A registration fee of $3.00 for each participant must

accompany the application; however, cheques will notbe cashed until after the workshop.

3. All participants must pre-register.4. Travel and accommodation costs are the responsibility of

the participant.5. A nutrition break will be provided free of charge.6. Questions relating to these seminars should be directed

to:Larry JamiesonDirector of Teacher Welfare ServicesNew Brunswick Teachers’ AssociationP.O. Box 752Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5R6 (Tel. 452-1722)

7. Any interested teachers are eligible to attend.8. All workshops begin with registration at 8:30 am and

sessions at 9:00 am. until 1:00 p.m.9. Detach and return the registration form as soon as

possible.

PROGRAM■ Teachers’ Pension Act■ The Canada Pension Plan■ Pension Records (will be available at meeting if possible)■ Pension Calculations■ Old Age Security■ Retirement Allowance■ Pre-retirement vacations■ Deferred Salary Leave Plans■ Financial Planning for Retirement:

RRSPsAnnuitiesRegistered Retirement Income Funds

■ Individual Consultations

PLEASE NOTE: YOU WILL RECEIVECONFIRMATION WITHIN ONE WEEK

OF CONFERENCE.

REGISTRATION FORM - NBTA PRE-RETIREMENT SEMINARSPlease accept my application to attend the NBTA Pre-Retirement Seminar to be held on (check one):

Date of Seminar Deadline for Registration

_____ November 2 - Bathurst, Bathurst High School October 25

_____ November 16 - Moncton, Riverview Middle School November 8

_____ November 30 - Fredericton, Fredericton High November 22

_____ January 11 - Chatham, Dr. Losier Middle School January 3

_____ January 25- Bristol, Carleton North Senior High January 17

_____ February 1 - Saint John, Simonds High January 24

Name of teacher: ___________________________________________________________________ S.I. No. ______________________

Mailing Address: ____________________________________________________________________________Dist. _________________

____________________________________________________________ Name of Spouse (if attending) ________________________

No. of pension years you will have accumulated to June 2003 _______________ Certificate Level: ________________

Are you planning to buy back time? ______________ If “yes”, how much time? ________________________________

Do you have Responsibility Allowance? Yes _______ No ________ If “yes”, contact your payroll officer at your District Office

and have your last 5 years’ salary history faxed to Karen Vautour, 453-9795.

I am enclosing a cheque in the amount of $3.00 / $6.00 (please circle one) to cover the cost of registration; nutrition break,

and materials to be supplied. Please make cheque payable to New Brunswick Teachers’ Association.

Signature: __________________________________________________

• November 2 - Bathurst, Bathurst High School

• November 16 - Moncton, Riverview Middle School

• November 30 - Fredericton, Fredericton High

• January 11 - Chatham, Dr. Losier Middle School

• January 25 - Bristol, Carleton North Senior High

• February 1 - Saint John, Simonds High

2002-2003 Pre-retirement Seminars

✃

NBTA NEWS14

Council Day plans are comingalong nicely. We are always lookingfor presenters. If you would like topresent or know of someone whowould like to make a presentation,please contact Sandra Melanson byemail at laszesan@nbed.nb.ca or faxat 357-6598.

The Curriculum Committee willbe meeting twice before Christmas.We have developed a form that wehope a lot of teachers will take thetime to fill out. There are a lot ofnew programs being taught and wewould like input from teachers allover the province. Please fill out theform and fax it to Lisa Kerr at 446-9437 as soon as possible. There isalso a form in the ElementaryCouncil Handbook that will be inyour mailboxes soon. Your input isneeded and is appreciated.

There is no more money forconference grants until January.Please fill out your the purple form ifyou are going to attend aconference.

In the last issue we highlightedsome of our Executive. At this time, I would like to tell you about the restof our wonderful council.

Sandra Melanson teachesFrench Immersion to a grade twoclass at Summerhill ElementarySchool in District 17. She has beenteaching for six years beginning inBathurst at South BathurstElementary on a team with JanetArseneau and Carolyn Fitzpatrick ina French Immersion grade threeclass. Sandra recommends this type

of teaching very highly. She hasserved on Wellness, CrisisIntervention, and Social Committeesand has been on the ElementaryCouncil for four years.

Her special interests include herfriends, golf, reading, and hangingout at the beach.

Rona Howald has taught fortwenty-nine years in District 6elementary schools. She has beeninvolved with the branch PDcommittee as secretary for one yearand chairperson for three. She haschaired the branch grants committeefor four years and is now thetreasurer. Rona has been on theElementary Council for three years.She was a member-at-large for thefirst year, has been secretary for twoyears and has been registrar for theCouncil Day for the past two years.Rona made it possible for theCouncil to try online registration.Family, school, and personaleducation endeavours keep her verybusy.

Arlene Pineo works at SunburyWest School in Fredericton Junction.She has 17 years of teachingexperience and has taught at manyDistrict 17 schools as a musicteacher. For the past six years, Arlenehas been teaching in an elementaryclassroom. She has served on variousschool committees as well as thegrade 3 - 5 team leader for two years.

When not practising for theLintuhtine Youth Choir or being achurch organist, Arlene can befound with her nose in a book.

Hazel Lane-Coates is ourPresident this year. She teaches atPort Elgin Regional School in District02. Hazel is teaching a 2/3 class thisyear, having previously taught gradefive. She has been teaching forfifteen years. She previously hastaught grades 1-5 Core French andGrades 7 - 8 Phys. Ed and othersubjects.

Her committee experienceincludes three years on theElementary Council doing Publishersand Site, two years on the localNBTA, and one year as local PDchair.

Hazel is a Showcase ProductionsDrama Society Member and BoardMember, Stage Manager, Make-up,costumes. She is an amateurphotographer, basketball coach,loves to travel, enjoys crafts and herfamily. This is Hazel's first year aspresident of the council.

Finally, I wish to let everyoneknow that the web page is still upand running. Please feel free to sendus any school work, interesting websites, field trips, or anything else ofinterest. It will be put up right away.It is your site. You are our guide.Indu Varma has retired from theCouncil and will no longer beworking the web site. Lisa Kerr willcontinue to keep it updated with thehelp of Kim Carter. Their emailaddresses are kerrlisa@nbed.nb.caand cartekia@nbed.nb.ca .We hope that everyone continues tohave a wonderful school year.

—Lisa Kerr

Councils Column

Elementary Council News

Welcome Back!On behalf of the Elementary

Council Executive, I want towelcome each and every one of youback to your classrooms after abeautiful summer. We hope that the2002-2003 school year will be arewarding one for all of you. Weunderstand that September andOctober are busy months and wishyou success as you strive to establish

your classroom routines. It is with pride and trepidation

that I proceed into the year. I amfollowing two great ladies in the roleof President of Elementary Council.Both Indu Varma and NancyBoucher have set high standards andmade a huge impact on our council.We are losing six hard-working,dedicated individuals. Indu Varma,

Gena Skidd, and Jeannine Mabeyhave given thousands of volunteerhours over many years to council.Robin Andersen, Julie Caldwell andPeter Gorham have worked hard forthe past three years and move on toother professional challenges.

We thank them all for theircontribution. They will be sorelymissed.

WelcomeBack!

OCTOBER 2002 15

Let us know about exciting and innovative thingsthat are happening at your school so we can sharethem with other New Brunswick teachers.

Council DayMay 2, 2003Saint John

with Lloyd Mallard and Josh Beutel

Plan To Be There!

Meet Your Council President: Thepresident of this year's Middle LevelCouncil is Heather Palmer. Heather isin her l5th year of teaching and atpresent is teaching Science and SocialStudies to Grade Eight students atDevon Middle School. She is alsoactively involved in her local NBTABranch.

Heather was born in St. John’s,Newfoundland, and even though she

grew up in Saint John, N.B., still considers herself aNewfoundlander at heart. She enjoys family campingwith her husband and two boys, aged 9 and 5, andriding her Yamaha motorcycle.

Heather says her biggest thrill as a teacher comesfrom seeing a spark in a child’s eye.

-Mike Gardner

The NBTA Middle Level Council offers severalservices to its members.

Institutes: If a Middle School in New Brunswick wishesto sponsor an Institute, the MLC offersfinancial assistance to help you inyour efforts. Please contact TanyaWhitney (twhitney@nbnet.nb.ca)

Conference Grants: Is there aconference or a special professionaldevelopment activity you would liketo attend? Assistance is available tohelp defray expenses. The fund isdepleted at this point but more grantmoney will be available for eventsoccurring after January 1, 2003. Pleaseuse the purple form or visit the NBTAwebsite at www.nbta.ca

Curriculum: If you have anycurriculum concerns, issues, orquestions, please forward them to a member of theMiddle Level Council Executive. (See the September 5issue of NBTA News for names, fax numbers, etc). Thesewill be compiled and sent on to the NBTA CurriculumCommittee who will, in turn, share them with officialsat the Department of Education.

The new council members arevery enthusiastic as we planCouncil Day May 2, 2003. SandraMelanson will co-ordinate theprogram with the help of all councilmembers. Nancy Boucher willhandle the registration. Lisa Kerrand Kim Carter are the web sitepeople to contact to contributearticles, teaching plans or photos.Again this year we will besponsoring a curriculum committeeand we would encourage your inputwith these and all activities.

Council day was very successful

despite the rain, limited parking,long lunch lines and various otherproblems. We had about twothousand participants, our largestnumber to date. We have read allyour comments and suggestions andare taking strides to remedy thesituation. We are planning to hostSpring Council Day at Mount AllisonUniversity in Sackville. We haveplaced our order for sunshine and aterrific day.

Again I invite you to contact anyone of us with suggestions andconcerns as we strive to do our best

for you. Please know that we wouldwelcome any help or time you mightbe able to contribute as council daydraws near. Your ElementaryCouncil Handbook will bedistributed this fall with a host ofinformation. Please read it and availyourself of some terrific suggestionsand valuable contacts to help makethe next Century of Learning a hugesuccess.

Hazel Lane-CoatesPresident

NBTA Elementary Council

Middle Level Council News

This year’s president of the MiddleLevel Council is Heather Palmer.

(Elementary Council Continued...)

National Family WeekOctober 7th - 13th, 2002

NBTA NEWS16

High School Council NewsCOUNCIL

HIGH SCHOOL

NBTA

COUNCIL

HIGH SCHOOL

NBTA

Member/Position School Tel Fax E-Mail

Randy Hunter/President Sugarloaf Senior High 789-2125 789-2108 randy.hunter@nbed.nb.ca

Kimberley Douglass/Past Pres. Leo Hayes High 457-6898 444-3031 kimberley.douglass@nbed.nb.ca

Derek Taggart/Vice-Pres. Leo Hayes High 457-6898 444-3031 taggart@nbnet.nb.ca

Jonathan Hunter/Secretary Doaktown Consolidated 365-2011 365-2019 hunterjon@nbed.nb.ca

Mike Gunter/Treasurer Kennebecasis Valley High 847-6361 847-6208 guntemih@nbed.nb.ca

Brenda MacPherson Simonds High School 658-5367 658-4641 macphbre@nbed.nb.caCommunications

Standing CommitteesDorothy Firth/Program Sugarloaf Senior High 789-21125 789-2108 dorothy.firth@nbed.nb.ca

Judy Astle/On-Site Liaison Upper Miramichi Regional 369-2001 369-2023 jastle@nbnet.nb.ca

Judy Comeau/Awards Liaison Harbour View High 658-5359 658-4642 comeajua@nbed.nb.ca

Prof. Dev. (to be announced)

Curric. Dev. (to be announced)

Kimberley Douglass/ Leo Hayes High 457-6898 444-3031 kimberley.douglass@nbed.nb.caNominations

Other Executive MembersJayne Bettle Hampton Middle 832-6020 832-3003 bettlejay@nbed.nb.ca

Malcolm Bowes Doaktown Consolidated 365-2011 365-2019 malcolm.bowes@nbed.nb.ca

Krista Hamilton North&South Esk 836-7000 836-7002 jkh@nbnet.nb.ca

Shane Hoyt Leo Hayes High 457-6898 444-3031 shane.hoyt@nbed.nb.ca

Caroline MacDougall St. Stephen High 466-7312 466-7314 macdouca@nbed.nb.ca

Lynn Steeves Tobique Valley Middle 356-6015 356-6019 steevlyj@nbed.nb.ca

Nancy Vessie Bathurst High 547-2766 547-2923 nancy.vessie@nbed.nb.ca

NBTA High School Council ExecutiveThe first annual meeting of your High School Council is scheduled for September 27-28 in Fredericton. Current

executive members and positions are listed below.

Teacher GrantsDid you know that your NBTA High School Council

provides grants to help fund your professionaldevelopment at workshops and special conferences. Forfurther information re grants available, simply contactour web site for a full explanation and applicationforms.

You can check out the NBTA High School Council website at: http://www.geocities.com/athens/troy/4521/

Vocational Bursary UpdateA message to all children/grandchildren of present or

former vocational/business/home economics teachers thatthis bursary is still available and applications are

welcomed. For further information, contact Mike Gunter(Treasurer) or Judy Comeau (Awards Committee).

Remember to keep the lines of communication open.Brenda MacPherson, Communications ChairSimonds High School macphbre@nbed.nb.ca

Welcome to another school year.I hope this message finds you welland off to a roaring start. It isunbelievable that summer (what wehad of it here in the north) haspassed so quickly and we are intoanother year of new challenges,adventures, new policies,documents, and so on.

The Executive of your HighSchool Council work hard for you inareas of Professional Development,Council Day, Public Relations, etc.It is through your input that we areable to accomplish our goals. Iinvite you to ask questions, giveinput, and last but not least,consider yourself a valuable member.

Each edition of NBTA Newsreserves a section for input from allcouncils. I am certain your schoolhas many valued innovations, and I

invite you to share these with ourmembership by forwarding yourmessage to me and I will put it inthe right hands.

If you have any concerns,questions, or items you would liketo see on the agenda, please feel freeto get this information to me and Iwill do my utmost to get back toyou.

As your president for the 2002 -2003 school year and on behalf ofthe High School Council Executive, Iwish you success in all yourendeavours.

Have a wonderful year and I lookforward to hearing from you.

Randy HunterSugarloaf Senior High School

Campbellton, NBTelephone 506-789-2149

Fax 506-789-2108E-Mail Randy.Hunter@nbed.nb.ca

OCTOBER 2002 17

President's Message• High School Council •

“My greatest strength is to recognize what I don't know and ask a few questions”…Peter Drucker

Don’t Forget!Your executive meets regularly. Here is the following schedule:

September 26-27, 2002 November 15-16, 2002

February 7-8, 2003 April 4-5, 2003

May 1 (with Council Day being May 2, 2003)

In an effort to help studentsunderstand Canada's role in theworld today, the Dominion Instituteis pleased to announce the latestvolume in the series of free MemoryProject educational booklets,"Canadian Forces in GlobalConflict”: Susan Beharriell andDon Ethell's Half-Century Timeline".

This curriculum-based teachingtool with classroom activities,available to educators free-of-charge,follows the careers of a Peacekeeperand an Intelligence officer throughthe last half of the 20th century. Italso includes an interview with

General Romeo Dallaire onpeacekeeping and conflict resolutioninto the new millennium.Download a PDF of "CanadianForces in Global Conflict" atwww.thememoryproject.com/teaching_resources.cfm

This booklet, along with theMemory Project Volume One (GrantMcRae's WWII Timeline) andVolume Two (Len Badowich'sKorean War Timeline), and thedocumentary video "Crew of Seven"(all available free of charge), preparestudents to welcome a veteran intotheir classroom to share his or her

stories. Hundreds of WWII, Korean War,

and Peacekeeping veterans fromacross the country have been trainedin classroom presentation-making,and are looking forward to sharingpersonal stories of Canada's pastwith your students, and answer theirquestions.

To arrange for a local veteran tovisit your students, or to requestmaterials, contact the DominionInstitute at 416-368-9627 (or toll-free at 1-866-701-1867) or by emailat staff@dominion.ca

The Memory Project - Peace and War

NBTA NEWS18

The Wellness Program forTeachers is composed of threeelements:

1. Teacher Counsellors2. District Wellness Facilitators3. School Wellness Representatives

The Wellness Facilitators act as aliaison between the counsellorsand the WellnessRepresentatives in each school.Their role and responsibilitiesinclude:• promoting and setting up

Teacher Wellness Programs inschools

• coordinating training andsupport for WellnessRepresentatives frominterested schools

• meeting twice per yearregionally to share ideas andconcerns

School Representatives organizewellness activities in schools.They meet as a district at leasttwice yearly with the WellnessFacilitators.

PROFESSIONAL COUNSELLING SERVICEFOR TEACHERS

Wellness HighlightsTEACHER COUNSELLING SERVICESAnn Kennedy, Districts 14, 17, 18

1-800-561-1727Betsy Colwell-Burley, Districts 6, 8, 10

1-800-563-3938Thérèse Gallant, Districts 2, 15, 16

1-888-763-5050

Provincial Wellness Facilitators TrainingSpring 2002

Wellness BoothHigh School Council Conference

May 2002

Prize Draw - (l-r) Mike Ketchum (WellnessFacilitator), Rick McTavish (Fredericton High),Betsy Colwell-Burley (Counsellor/Consultant)

OCTOBER 2002 19

If the World Were aVillage tells us who weare, where we live, howfast we are growing,what languages wespeak, what religion wepractise, and more.

This extraordinary picture book,published by Kids Can Press, hasreceived great reviews — arecommended summer reading pickon CBS’s The Early Show, authorinterviews on Canada AM and RadioCanada International, a featurearticle in the August issue of BookLinks, and much more.

This success is partly due to thefact that If the World Were a Village

offers parents and teachers a uniqueway of helping children gain a better

understanding of the world aroundthem and their place in it.

Kids Can Press is sponsoring anessay-writing contest based on thisremarkable book. It is open tochildren between the ages of sevenand fourteen. Submissions will beaccepted until December 20, 2002and must be downloaded from theKids Can Press website. Ten winningessays will be selected with oneadditional grand-prize winner.

For further information, contact;Kellie Cullihall, Kids Can Press, 416-925-5437 ext. 140,kcullihall@midscan.com

Book Inspires Essay-Writing Contest

Two summer conferences, co-sponsored by the NBTA and theteacher organizations of Nova Scotia,PEI, and Newfoundland, weredeemed successful by all whoattended.

In early July, 38 administratorsand teachers from New Brunswickjoined their Atlantic Canadacolleagues for the DevelopingSuccessful Schools Institute at MT.Despite the intense summer heat,Dr. Frank Peters, from the University

of Alberta, engaged the participantsand challenged them to reflect ontheir leadership roles within theirschool communities.

CONTACT (Conference on NewTechnology and ClassroomTeaching) was held in Corner Brook,Newfoundland and saw 100classroom teachers participate inworkshops under the theme"Teaching: A Class Act". Two sessionswere presented by NewBrunswickers: Tanya Whitney and

Stacey Price’s session on AuthenticAssessment and Jill Beaulieu’s on APractical Approach to the Brain wereamong the highlights of theconference.

Both CONTACT and DSS are top-notch professional growthopportunities, with the added bonusof meeting and networking with ourcolleagues from Atlantic Canada.Next summer, both events will beheld in New Brunswick at MountAllison University.

CONTACT and DSS ResoundingSuccesses

Part of the CONTACT “Team-N.B.” A large New Brunswick contingent at DSS.

NBTA NEWS20

SchoolNet NewsNetwork (SNN), ana w a r d - w i n n i n gstudent journalismprogram, invitesyou and your

students to participate in an excitingand thought-provoking learningexperience.

SNN has worked with studentsand teachers throughout Canadasince 1994 in an effort to promotestudent expression and to provide avehicle for students to publish theirwriting and multimedia work. SNNprovides Canadian youth with anopportunity to be heard and a placeto publish their work in an emergingmedia form. Students publisharticles dealing with human rights,teen issues, stereotyping, theirenvironment, their school, theircommunity, their dreams.

Student Ashleigh Viverios ofManitoba says it best: “SNN is anorganization that gives teenagers avoice in a society that sometimes

forgets we're here. It's a place whereyou can be secure in the knowledgethat somewhere out there arestudents who will read your article,and nod their heads in agreement."

The SNN Website (http://www.snn-rdr.ca) provideswriting/reporting tools, story ideas,lesson plans and discussion forumsfor teachers and students. Studentscan use many media forms toexpress their ideas:print,photography, audio and video.SNN also connects young peoplewith professional journalists whoassist them with developing theirwriting, interviewing andinvestigative skills.

The SNN Student Magazine ispublished online every monthduring the school year. Each monthstudents from across Canada submitarticles covering different newsgenres: current events,editorials/opinions, sports, profilesand entertainment. The magazinealso features an Arts & Expressions

section for poems, short stories andphotography by students. As well,students who have views on acertain subject or on somethingthey've read in the Magazine cansubmit their opinions to our ‘OurViews' section.

To celebrate student expressioneach year SNN hosts a StudentJournalism Award where studentssubmit three samples of theirwriting/multimedia work.Submissions are reviewed byprofessional journalists andjournalism teachers. Students canwin up to $500.

If you would like furtherinformation about the StudentMagazine and our studentjournalism program, contactCarmelita Joy-Bolger, Coordinator:email: snn@stemnet.nf.ca, tel. 709-737-2611, 709-737-2179(f)webpage: http://www.snn-rdr.ca

Student Journalism Program

Difference Makes a DifferenceFall Conference for Parents and Educators

Education is for everyone, but everyone has different perspectives, different needs, and different interests.Collaborating and sharing our differences make NB’s education system even stronger.

Join us to discuss current issues.

Sponsored by:NBCEA, Faculty of Education, UNB

November 12, 2002 - 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Wu Conference Centre, UNB, Fredericton

A variety of speakers and sessions.

Cost - $75/Person

Fall Conference Registration Form

Name: __________________________________ School: ______________________________________

E-Mail: _________________________________ Telephone: ______________________

Payment Enclosed: ____ Invoice School: _____ Invoice District: ____

Return to: NBCEA, Faculty of Education, UNB, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3 Telephone - 453-3502 Fax - 458-7157 E-mail - tmaclean@unb.ca

OCTOBER 2002 21

Millar said there are two prioritiesthat her non-profit organizationdeals with. One is their nationally-aired commercials. The secondpriority is the TV&ME program thatis beginning to spread across Canadain partnership with CorusEntertainment Inc.

Issues that are addressed by theorganization are media literacy, self-

esteem, peer pressure, substanceabuse and bullying. Millar updatesthe curriculum and writes lessonplans for new commercials.

Millar’s workshops are availableanywhere in Canada, free of charge,including resource materials, likevideos, CDs, and teacher’s guides,also free of charge.

She said the program has beenendorsed across Canada as a valuableresource. “We’ve got all theapprovals we need; it’s just nowabout getting out and gettingmaterials to educators and parents.

The Canadian Academy ofRecording Arts and Sciences(CARAS), producer of the annualJuno Awards, has received anincrease in support of its MusicEducation Program from thiscountry’s major record companies.

The CARAS Music EducationProgram was created in 1997 fromthe Academy’s share of the proceedsof the sale of the 25th anniversaryJuno Awards commemorative CDBoxset Oh What a Feeling - a vitalCollection of Canadian Music. Theprogram continues with thefinancial support of the five major

record companies in Canada, andencompasses scholarships, cashgrants, and the Band Aid Programwhich provides musical instrumentsto schools.

Band Aid works in cooperationwith the Coalition for MusicEducation in Canada(www.coalitionformusiced.ca) andawards these grants in the form ofmusical instruments to schools whohave music programs that are injeopardy or in need of assistance tosustain their long-termdevelopment. The winning schoolsare able to choose instruments based

on their particular needs, and theinstruments are delivered to theschool by CARAS.

Seven schools across Canadareceived grants in 2002, with BaysideMiddle School in Saint John one ofthe recipients.

For further information or toarrange interviews, please contact:Debbie Rix - Publicist CARAS BandAid Program, Tel. (416) 537-6225,Fax (416) 537-7415,rixkane@sympatico.ca

Canadian Music Industry Turns Up TheVolume In Support Of Music Education

A communityinitiative isgivingCanadianchildren thetools to be wise

about the media and about life.Linda Millar, the director of

eduation for Concerned Children’sAdvertisers in Ottawa, was inFredericton recently giving aworkshop to local educators aboutTV&ME, a program addressingmedia and social issues affectingCanadian children.

Millar said children in Canada arewatching approximately 15 hoursand 18 minutes of television a week.She said parents are reporting theirchildren are multi-tasking withvarious forms of media up to six andone-half hours a day.

In response to this increasedexposure to various mediums,TV&ME works to connect childrenand television responsibility. Millarsaid it’s very important to teachchildren to watch carefully, thinkcritically and navigate mediumssafely.

Concerned Children’s Advertiserswas founded in 1990 by a group ofCanadian companies whoresponsibly market and advertiseproducts and services to families.

Workshop Addressed Children and TV

Millar said community serviceworkers, the department of healthand educators are using theprogram.

Mike Gange, president of theAssociation for Media Literacy inNew Brunswick, was the chieforganizer of the event. He is ateacher of media studies andjournalism at Fredericton HighSchool.

“Our goal as an association is tohelp promote media education,”Gange said. “Kids spend so muchtime watching television andinteracting with whatever mediathey’ve got, whether it’s magazinesor advertising. Our goal is to helpeveryone understand media and useit as an enjoyable resource.”

On September 12 there was anational celebration of TV&ME heldin Ottawa. Federal ministers,government agencies and nationaleducation and parent organizationswere invited.

Those interested can e-mail Millarat ibmillar@magma.ca to book afree workshop on media literacy andhealthy life coping skills or call(416)484-0871 or visit www.cca-kids.cafor more information on herorganization.

“... children inCanada are watching

approximately 15 hoursand 18 minutes oftelevision a week. “

NBTA NEWS

The Duke of Edinburgh's AwardYoung Canadians Challenge

Over the past 40 years thousands of N.B. young people have participated in the Award. This non-competitiveprogram is available to all youngsters aged 14 to 25, regardless of their talents or circumstances.

The Award promotes perseverance, resourcefulness, initiative, self-improvement, and service to others. The programfosters these qualities by requiring participation in four types of activity:

• Community Service • Expeditions• Physical Recreation • Development of Skills

The Award is unique, as young people may select their own activities within each of the above categories. This featuregives the Award universal appeal.

The program began in the UK in 1956 and now thrives in more than 100 countries. Youth organizations such asScouts and Cadets, as well as schools, operate the program to enrich their own programs. Youngsters may also participateas "independents".

The achievement of a Bronze, Silver, or Gold level in the Award provides the young person with:

• Community recognition - the Gold level Award is normally presented by a member of the Royal Family• A strong sense of self-worth and personal satisfaction• Development as a well-rounded individual and citizen

Award achievers have had successful careers in many fields. You may know an achiever. They will be able to tell youabout the unforgettable experiences they have had with the Award. In the words of Greg Losier, a Gold achiever andnow a Captain in the Canadian Forces:

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Programme is unique among the myriad of citizenship initiatives. You do not have to bean athlete or a great student to succeed. You don't need a lot of money to pursue your goals. You don't need to be popular,handsome or "cool". Rather, the Programme assumes that its participants are mature, responsible individuals, all of whomhave something valid and meaningful to contribute to the Programme.

We have engaged selected youth-at-risk in the Award including those with disabilities. In order to promote theprogram in all parts of the province and to all at-risk communities, we need your support. You can help in many ways.Please take the time to complete and return the following coupon:

22

❑ I would like more information❑ I know a young person who should be involved; please send me a registration package❑ I am prepared to help with the program in my child's school❑ I would like to see the program in a youth organization with which my child or I are involved❑ I would like to volunteer with the Award❑ I would like to donate money or a gift-in-kind to the Award

Name and Address: ___________________________________________________________________________________________

Tel. No. and Email Address: ____________________________________________________________________________________

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Office65 Brunswick St. Room 287Fredericton N.B. E3B 1G5

506-453-3662dukeedin@nbnet.nb.cawww.dukeofed.org/nb

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23OCTOBER 2002

CBC goes back to school in the fall to learn moreabout the state of education (grades 1 to 12) in Atlantic

Canada. But before we even start, CBC Radio andTelevision would like to hear from you. Please give usyour thoughts, story ideas, comments and suggestions.

Call us toll free at 1-888-368-1234 or contact usthrough our website: cbc.ca/learningcurves.

Paid Advertisement

Educators Deserve Peace of Mind

We recognize that educators work in a very demanding

and challenging profession. That is why we offer NBTA

Members a Home-Auto Insurance Plan you can trust to be

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Call today for a no-obligation Quotation:

1-800-563-0677Or, visit us online ... www.johnson.ca

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Teach English in ChinaRetired teachers

are welcome to apply!The China Teaching Program of World Exchanges

Inc. once again invites teachers to teach at Chineseuniversities and colleges.

Experience first-hand, one of the world’s oldest andmost diverse civilizations, and more importantly, makelifelong friends with the Chinese people.

Minimum QualificationsTeacher’s Certificate or Degree/ Diploma

Benefits• High Chinese salary/ vacation allowance• Paid accommodation/international airfare/medical

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Subjects to Teach:English, Business, Computers, and WorldHistory/Geography.

Apply in writing enclosing:• Two copies of current resume• Two current passport-sized photos• Qualifications• Two reference letters

To: China Teaching ProgramWorld Exchanges Inc.1 Yonge Street, Suite 1801Toronto, Ontario M5E 1W7

Email: wei@chinateaching.com

Website: www.chinateaching.com

Telephone: (416)369-9992

Start Date: September 2003

Deadline for applications: July 5, 2003 (for 2003academic year). We encourage applicants to apply assoon as possible. We accept applications throughoutthe year.

Education in AtlanticCanada — is it

making the grade?

CBC Radio&

Television

NBTA NEWS

For some of elementary schoolteacher Laura Guilfoyle's classes, theblackboard is replaced with thegreat, outdoors, encouragingstudents to get in touch with theirenvironment.

It's called outdoor education, oroutdoor play, and it's a new teachingstyle that Guilfoyle taught to felloweducators at a workshop at LowerLincoln Elementary School in July2002. Guilfoyle, who's been teachingsince 1991 and begins a new job atHubbard Avenue Elementary Schoolin Oromocto in September, took ayear off from teaching andresearched outdoor education. Nowshe's sharing that knowledge withher colleagues.

Guilfoyle says outdoor play ismore effective with youngerchildren from kindergarten to Grade2, but isn't meant to replacetraditional teaching methods.

"I think it's a way of getting the

point across," Guilfoyle said “Forexample, a class can be taken outonto school grounds, and eachstudent is asked to study an area thatlies within a hula hoop that's beentossed onto a piece of turf. Thestudent can be asked to countspecimens, learn about the soil andpresent a report about it,incorporating math, science andlanguage arts into one lesson.”

Some students learn better withhands-on lessons and can preparereports more easily about thingsthey've experienced as opposed tothings they've read,” she said.“However, the method isn't for allteachers and students. Some don'tcare as much for the outdoors, andsome students, such as those whoexcel in French immersionprograms, are geared towardauditory learning as opposed totactile and visual learning.”

Anne Gautreau, a Belleisle

Elementary School interventionworker who often deals withchildren with behavioural problems,came to the Fredericton area fromHampton for the workshop.

Gautreau said some of herstudents have problems becausethey're always moving and active,which can be a problem withtraditional classroom learning. Thatactive nature works well withoutdoor education. "I wanted to getsome strategies," she said.

Gautreau said the hula hoopexercise is something she would liketo try out. "They were like littlemicro-environments," she said.

Guilfoyle said another advantageto outdoor education is that byinter- acting with their environment,students get a greater sense ofownership and stewardship. “Inother words,” she said, “outdooreducation can foster an appreciationof the importance of nature.”

24

TEACH ENGLISH OVERSEASThe Canadian Education Centre Network offers quality ESL teaching opportunities incountries such as Korea, Colombia, Argentina, the United Arab Emirates and China.

These positions emerge periodically on an ongoing basis.KOREA – NOW HIRING - Nov, 2002 and Jan, 2003 start dates availableColombia – August, 2003 start dates availableU.A.E. – August, 2003 start dates available

Qualifications preferred include a Bachelor’s degree of Education or recognizedteaching qualification, TESL certificate and some experience teaching ESL in anoverseas location.

Minimum requirements are a Bachelor’s degree, TESL certificate and someteaching experience.

Compensation – We provide a competitive salary, furnished accommodations, paidvacation and airfare for one-year. Visas, accommodations, and health insurance arealso arranged prior to departure.

To apply, submit your resume and state your date of availability to:teacher.recruitment@cec.apfnet.org or fax 416-869-1696

The Canadian Education Centre Network is a private, non-profit organization withoffices in Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal and 18 countries in Asia, Latin America, andEurope.

CEC Network65 Queen Street West, Suite 1100

Toronto, Ontario, M5H 2M5Tel: (416) 869-0541 Fax: (416) 869-1696

E-mail: teacher.recruitment@cec.apfnet.org

Paid Advertisement

Local workshop for teachers exploresoutdoor education

NoticeTeachers should take notethat Paulette Moore will

be retiring from herposition with the NBTA as

Director of Finance andAdministration as of

September 30, 2002.The NBTA, on behalf of its

members, would like tothank Paulette for her

years of service.Melinda Cook will be

replacing Paulette in thisposition.

OCTOBER 2002 25

THE MASTEROF SPECIALEDUCATION

by courseworkoffered by

Flinders University of South Australia

It is recognized by the Teacher Qualification Service of

British Columbia.

The degree is available entirely inDISTANCE MODE.

Applications are invited now forcommencement of study in 2003.

Further information is available fromhttp://ehlt-online.flinders.edu.au/bc

or from the program coordinator,Bernice.Burnip@flinders.edu.au

Paid Advertisement

November 25, 2002 - 8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.Wu Conference Centre, UNB, Fredericton

Morning Keynote by Mike DuffyAfternoon Keynote to be Announced

Educational Leadership is needed from the classroomto the boardroom. Leadership should be inclusiveand recognize differences in leadership types and

functions.

Leadership? What works? Why?Who is leading? How? What is leadership?

Demonstrate your leadership by participating!

Sponsored by:NBTA

Department of EducationNBCEA, Faculty of Education, UNB

Cost: $75.00/person

Leadership Forum

? ?

Leadership Forum

To register, please complete the following registrationform:

Name: ___________________________________________

School: __________________________________________

E-Mail: __________________________________________

Telephone: ___________________

Payment Enclosed: ____ Invoice School: _____ Invoice District: _____

Return to:NBCEA, Faculty of Education, UNB, P.O. Box 4400, Fredericton, NB, E3B 5A3Telephone - 453-3502 or FAX - 458-7157E-mail - tmaclean@unb.ca

Paid Advertisement

NBTA NEWS26

ach year, hundreds ofapplications or nominationpapers are prepared by teachersand submitted to committees orpanels charged with the

responsibility of choosing, fromamong all submissions, a limitednumber of successful applicants.

Whether applying for anEducational Leave, or submittingnominations for the NBTACentennial Award, the AliantTelecom Award, or applying for anyother competition, providing properand complete information is criticalto the success of the application.

Educational Leave Forms NowAvailable

The Educational Leave Forms(Form D 2003-2004s) are nowavailable through school districtoffices. The form consists of fourpages, each with four copies. Personsconsidering applying for aneducational leave for the 203-2004school year should get the form assoon as possible to ensure sufficienttime for completion and submissionof forms and related documentationprior to the deadline of November8, 2002. This is a strictlyapplied deadline.

Each question on the form isasked for a specific purpose andtherefore is very important. Thenumber of very deserving applicantsfar exceeds the number ofeducational leaves available, andtherefore the committee relies veryheavily on the responses recordedfor various questions to helpdistinguish among very similar anddeserving applications.

In responding to open-endedquestions, particularly in section V,applicants are encouraged to prepareresponses prior to transfer to the

form. If additional space is required,additional sheets could be attachedand referenced under theappropriate question.

Of particular importance is theresponse to Part V, question 2 -“Detailed Specific Plans”. Part of themandate of the committee is toensure numerous factors arebalanced in the selection process.Geographical consideration, gender,array of disciplines pursued, lengthof study, and relevance toprofessional growth of the applicantand the needs of the system are allfactors which are considered. To thisend, the committee is less likely toconsider vague or poorly-developedplans, and are more likely toconsider applications which exhibita well-conceptualized program orseries of activities, and which clearlydefines the expectations forprofessional growth.

It is also extremely important toindicate any special conditionswhich may have a bearing,conditions such as relation toposition changes, deadlines forcoursework completion, demands ofinternships, or particular availabilityof programs or activities ofimportance to the success of theeducational leave.

Finally, all applicants mustremember that over 60% of all validand deserving applicants are rejectedprimarily due to lack of sufficientleaves to meet demand. In all cases,applicants can be assured that eachmember of the committee iscommitted to making the process asfair and impartial as possible. Thosewho are unsuccessful are stronglyencouraged to re-apply insubsequent years.

Nominations for NBTACentennial Award and AliantTelecom Award for Excellencein Teaching

The NBTA Centennial Award ispresented each year to an individualin recognition of having made asignificant contribution to educationin New Brunswick. It hastraditionally honoured a long andprestigious career of involvement inthe profession.

The Aliant Telecom for Excellencein Teaching is presented to an NBTAmember recognized by peers and thecommunity who exhibits excellencein teaching through ongoingcommitment to students andpedagogical approaches.

Each award has its ownapplication form and must be sentseparately to the NBTA SelectionCommittee as described on the form.

Once again, the quality of thesubmissions can be enhanced greatlyby ensuring a substantial amount ofdocumentation from a variety ofsources is provided. Further, thesponsors of the nomination shouldsynthesize the contents of varioussupporting statements in a singleoverview of the recipient’s activitiesand contributions which wouldmerit consideration.

The deadline for nominations foreach of these awards this year isApril 1, 2003. Branches wishing tonominate persons should startgetting supportive documentationnow to ensure a complete, well-rounded and detailed submission.Every additional detail whichenhances the committees’ ability tochoose one from many excellent anddeserving nominees is important.

The Importance of Detail• Quality of Applications and Nominations Critical •

Every additional detail which enhances the committees’ ability to chooseone from many excellent and deserving nominees is important.

E

27OCTOBER 2002

AnnouncementsN.B. Internment Camp MuseumTours Available

The N.B. Internment CampMuseum officially opened its doorsJune 22, 1997. It houses nearly 600artifacts from the Camp and occupiesover 2,000 square feet.

The N.B. Internment Camp wasone of 26 such camps across Canadaand the only one in the MaritimeProvinces. During Phase I (1940-1941), the first people housed at thecamp were primarily German andAustrian Jews, while Phase II (1941-1945) housed a larger and morediverse group of POW’s — someGerman and Italian merchantmarines and Canadians who mayhave spoken out against the wareffort.

In addition to the many artifactsinside, visitors will see areconstructed portion of a prisoners’hut, as well as a discovery box inwhich children may dig for artifacts.

School tours are free. For moreinformation, contact the MuseumOffice 327-3573, Fax 327-6008 or EdCaissie, Project Coordinator, 450-9666, www.village.minto.nb.ca

Testing and AssessmentConference

Through the eyes of the learner:Choices in Testing and Assessment isan international conference thatexplores both what we know aboutthe way students learn and how thechoices we make about assessmentand testing can either enhance orhinder their learning.

Offered through the ManitobaTeachers’ Society, this conferencewill be held March 20-21, 2003 inWinnipeg.

For full details or to registerquickly and easily online, visit:http://www.twblearn.com/eotlmanitoba/eotl.html;Email: info@twblearn.com

NAWeb 2002 - The Web-BasedLearning Conference

The University of New Brunswickwill again be hosting NAWeb 2002,the 8th annual International Web-

Based Teaching and LearningConference, October 19-22, 2002 onthe Fredericton campus.

NAWeb 2002 will bring togetherleaders from research, industry, K-12, higher education, andgovernment who are active in e-learning. As well as an invitation tobe a delegate, there are also a varietyof sponsorship packages that areavailable. Please seehttp://naweb.unb.ca for all of thedetails.

If you are interested in being adelegate or in sponsoring aconference event or demonstrating aproduct at NAWeb 2002, pleasecontact me, Rik Hall - NAWeb 2002Conference Director, at 506-447-3018 (hall@unb.ca).

Science of BiotechnologyWorkshop

The Biotechnology HumanResource Council is offering a two-day workshop Introduction to theScience of Biotechnology, Halifax, N.S.,November 18-19, 2002. Thisworkshop examines the most recenttechnologies and advancements inbiotechnology and how they arebeing used within differentCanadian industries.

For more detailed informationand to register, visit:http://www.bhrc.ca/Introbio/index.htmlTelephone: 613-235-1402 x-614, Fax 613-233-7541, E-mail: gail@bhrc.ca

Visual Art EducationAssociation

A non-governmental Visual Arteducation association has recentlybeen established to provide a meansof communication and supportamongst art educators working indifferent venues across the province.All teachers from elementary to highschool who are teaching art in anycapacity are encouraged to join. Wehope to provide information andassistance by creating opportunitiesfor educators to discuss ideas andissues and share expertise.

There is no membership fee. To

join, please send your name, mailingaddress, phone number and e-mailaddress to Mary Blatherwick, 326Saunders St., Fredericton, N.B. E3B1N8 or e-mail at mlb@unb.ca orSuzanne Hill at jasuhill@nbnet.nb.ca

Kids Learn About BullyingWebsite (www.talk-helps.com)

Family Service Canada hasdeveloped an interactive site for kidsin grades 2, 3, and 4. This siteintroduces the “players” and theactions that constitute bullying andaggression, and offers concretesuggestions on how to find a betterway.

2002 Edition of E-STATE-STAT, Statistics Canada’s

interactive learning tool, containsnew features that make it even moreuser-friendly and versatile forstudents and teachers. Students canaccess selected articles from StatisticsCanada publications such as theCanada Year Book 2001, CanadianSocial Trends, Health reports,thecontent of Human Activity and theEnvironment 2000, the GraphicalOverview of the Criminal JusticeIndicators, and much more.

For the teacher, E-STAT contains ahost of curriculum-relevant activitiesdeveloped by educators.

For more information, visithttp://estat.statcan.ca or call 1-800-465-1222 or e-stat@statcan.ca

You are cordially invited to attend the 31st Annual GeneralMembership Meeting

of NBTA Credit Union

28 NBTA NEWS

Come and join us for food, prizes and entertainment!

November 13th, 2002Wednesday, 7:30 p.m.

NBTF Building

NBTA Credit Union650 Montgomery St., P.O. Box 752, Fredericton, N.B. E3B 5R6506-452-1724 • 1-800-565-5626 • 506-452-1732 (fax)E-mail: nbtacu@nbnet.nb.ca • Web: http://www.nbtacu.nb.caHours: Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

Meet Your Staff In Person!

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Utilize your “Ownership Rights”.Vote for your Board of Directors and Patronage Rebate.