These two links are the best reason for a blog ever - and theyare well worth the 8 minutes or so it will take you to view them both:
"What do you make? ..he asked the teacher..." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxsOVK4syxU
"Miracle workers" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9vMHSGmGtuo&feature=related
If these don't make you feel good, you are in the wrong profession!
Here's one to introduce your lesson on sentence types... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCNIBV87wV4&feature=related
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
More lay-offs around BC...
Prince Rupert school district sends out layoff notices to teachers, The Canadian Press Tue 26 May 2009. George T. Baker
PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. The Prince Rupert school district has sent out termination notices to dozens of teachers, in anticipation of a smaller enrolment and tighter school budget next year.
School District 52 sent out 80 termination notices on Friday but Dave Stigant, acting superintendent, said he expects that the actual number of layoffs would be less than that.
"We need to reduce our number of teachers but not by anywhere near that number,'' said Stigant. …… As far as why 80 notices were sent out, Stigant said teachers are trained and qualified to do different work, and the district wanted to match staffing levels with the skills needed. …..
Coast Mountain district sends layoff notices to 48 teachers, Terrace Standard, Sun 24 May 2009
On May 14 the Coast Mountain School District sent out 48 layoff notices to teachers throughout the district.
This comes hand in hand with declining student enrollment, and director of human resources for the district Greig Houlden says the layoff notices have been sent out to teachers on the lower end of the seniority list.
In their preliminary budget the district projects a decline of 13 FTE staffing positions compared to the 2008/2009 school year…… But the district is hoping that these layoffs will not follow through with the help of attrition…..
Teachers given layoff notices, Trail Daily Times, Mon 25 May 2009. Colin Payne
Preparations for a student enrollment decline in Kootenay Lake School District has the district handing out layoff notices to some teachers this month. ……
"We'll probably be down about 80 (students), DeBiasio [District director of human resources] said. "Obviously that means there's going to be fewer classrooms. But it's not as significant as it's been in the last bunch of years from that perspective."
While DeBiasio could not give exact numbers for layoffs, he said they won't be significant. "It's not a situation where we're going to have a whole bunch of
teachers out of work," he said. … But he said many of the teachers who get pink slips will likely still have work in the district in the Fall. … "I fully expect many of those people will still end up working next year." …..
WV school board passes $59-million budget, North Shore Outlook, Wed 20 May 2009
Kelly McManus
The West Vancouver school district board of education voted to accept the $59-million draft operating budget for the 2009/2010 school year this week (May 19).
With an initial $1.88-million shortfall and resulting cuts that included 21 full-time staff and the discontinuation of the district's Community Learning program, the budget represented uncharacteristic cutbacks for the district, which has grown staff over the past eight years, according to Superintendent Geoff Jopson. … Those cuts include 4.6 school administration positions, 4.2 teaching jobs and 3.2 administrative assistant roles, among others.
West Van public schools have seen a slight increase in enrolments, from 6, 500 in 2002 to 6,570 in the current school year, Jopson said. …
The board also moved to write a letter to the new education minister next month to discuss Jopson's assertion that West Vancouver school district is the least funded district in B.C. on a per pupil basis. …
PRINCE RUPERT, B.C. The Prince Rupert school district has sent out termination notices to dozens of teachers, in anticipation of a smaller enrolment and tighter school budget next year.
School District 52 sent out 80 termination notices on Friday but Dave Stigant, acting superintendent, said he expects that the actual number of layoffs would be less than that.
"We need to reduce our number of teachers but not by anywhere near that number,'' said Stigant. …… As far as why 80 notices were sent out, Stigant said teachers are trained and qualified to do different work, and the district wanted to match staffing levels with the skills needed. …..
Coast Mountain district sends layoff notices to 48 teachers, Terrace Standard, Sun 24 May 2009
On May 14 the Coast Mountain School District sent out 48 layoff notices to teachers throughout the district.
This comes hand in hand with declining student enrollment, and director of human resources for the district Greig Houlden says the layoff notices have been sent out to teachers on the lower end of the seniority list.
In their preliminary budget the district projects a decline of 13 FTE staffing positions compared to the 2008/2009 school year…… But the district is hoping that these layoffs will not follow through with the help of attrition…..
Teachers given layoff notices, Trail Daily Times, Mon 25 May 2009. Colin Payne
Preparations for a student enrollment decline in Kootenay Lake School District has the district handing out layoff notices to some teachers this month. ……
"We'll probably be down about 80 (students), DeBiasio [District director of human resources] said. "Obviously that means there's going to be fewer classrooms. But it's not as significant as it's been in the last bunch of years from that perspective."
While DeBiasio could not give exact numbers for layoffs, he said they won't be significant. "It's not a situation where we're going to have a whole bunch of
teachers out of work," he said. … But he said many of the teachers who get pink slips will likely still have work in the district in the Fall. … "I fully expect many of those people will still end up working next year." …..
WV school board passes $59-million budget, North Shore Outlook, Wed 20 May 2009
Kelly McManus
The West Vancouver school district board of education voted to accept the $59-million draft operating budget for the 2009/2010 school year this week (May 19).
With an initial $1.88-million shortfall and resulting cuts that included 21 full-time staff and the discontinuation of the district's Community Learning program, the budget represented uncharacteristic cutbacks for the district, which has grown staff over the past eight years, according to Superintendent Geoff Jopson. … Those cuts include 4.6 school administration positions, 4.2 teaching jobs and 3.2 administrative assistant roles, among others.
West Van public schools have seen a slight increase in enrolments, from 6, 500 in 2002 to 6,570 in the current school year, Jopson said. …
The board also moved to write a letter to the new education minister next month to discuss Jopson's assertion that West Vancouver school district is the least funded district in B.C. on a per pupil basis. …
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Summer Conference 2009 (BCTF) - first update
For those who are expected to attend the BCTF summer conference, a letter is coming your way:
Attendance for the 2009 BCTF Summer Leadership Conference:
President, Aboriginal Education contact, Bargaining Chair/Working and Learning Conditions rep, Health and Safety rep, Professional Development rep, Teachers Teaching on Call contact, Social Justice contact, Additional delegate.
LOCATION
The BCTF Summer Leadership Conference 2009 will be held at Hyatt Regency Vancouver Hotel in Vancouver, BC, 655 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC.
PROGRAM OUTLINE
Monday, August 24, 2009
· New presidents
· Social Justice contacts
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
· Aboriginal Education contacts
· Bargaining Chairs/Working and Learning Conditions reps
· Health and Safety reps
· Presidents
· Professional Development Chairs
· Social Justice contacts
· Teachers Teaching on Call contacts
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
· Core program for all delegates
Thursday, August 27, 2009
· Core program for all delegates
W.E. Travel can be reached by phone at 604-253-5585 or toll-free 1-800-663-4703.
A reminder that the BCTF meetings are to be scent-free. Please refrain from wearing perfume, cologne or any scented products.
Summer Conference updates will be posted on the BCTF website at
http://www.bctf.ca/NewsAndEvents.aspx
Confirm with Steve that you are attending – sooner rather than later.
“It’s about teaching and learning”
Attendance for the 2009 BCTF Summer Leadership Conference:
President, Aboriginal Education contact, Bargaining Chair/Working and Learning Conditions rep, Health and Safety rep, Professional Development rep, Teachers Teaching on Call contact, Social Justice contact, Additional delegate.
LOCATION
The BCTF Summer Leadership Conference 2009 will be held at Hyatt Regency Vancouver Hotel in Vancouver, BC, 655 Burrard Street, Vancouver, BC.
PROGRAM OUTLINE
Monday, August 24, 2009
· New presidents
· Social Justice contacts
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
· Aboriginal Education contacts
· Bargaining Chairs/Working and Learning Conditions reps
· Health and Safety reps
· Presidents
· Professional Development Chairs
· Social Justice contacts
· Teachers Teaching on Call contacts
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
· Core program for all delegates
Thursday, August 27, 2009
· Core program for all delegates
W.E. Travel can be reached by phone at 604-253-5585 or toll-free 1-800-663-4703.
A reminder that the BCTF meetings are to be scent-free. Please refrain from wearing perfume, cologne or any scented products.
Summer Conference updates will be posted on the BCTF website at
http://www.bctf.ca/NewsAndEvents.aspx
Confirm with Steve that you are attending – sooner rather than later.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Education cuts today....
From: Delta trustees consider education cuts across the board, South Delta Leader, Wed 29 Apr 2009. Kristine Thiessen (excerpts)
Facing a 4.9 million dollar shortfall, Delta's school district budget recommendations leave no area of the education system unscathed. ... Superintendent Steve Cardwell said the shortfall is the result of a number of factors, including a decline in enrollment by 2,300 students over the past 10 years and a projected decline of more than 200 students during the next five years.
Cardwell also said the global economic downturn has meant less revenue from international student and continuing education programs, as well as a decrease in investment income from reduced interest rates.
....
Proposed cuts to special programming total $853,693 and include closing two primary-level resource rooms for children with speech and language disabiilties and one for intermediate students with learning disabilities.
....
Delta, she [Marcia McCafferty, president of REACH Child and Youth Development Society] said, "is coming dangerously close to crossing the line in meeting its obligations to the students in the public education system."
... trustees must also decide whether or not to close two elementary schools to address low enrollment. ....
The district's alternative suggestions to school closures included a reduction in availability of STRETCH programs for gifted students, learning assistance support, teacher librarian time (already facing cuts under the recommendations), and a further increase in class sizes.
Delta Manor PAC chair Julie Sanders said the district should feel ashamed for making the trustees choose between school closures and special learning programs. Instead, she asked them to make further cuts to administration staffing and eliminate expenses like catering.
"It's time we start acting like a district of under 15,000 students and cut administration positions that aren't necessary." .....
Delta Teachers' Association president Val Windsor and Delta PAC chairperson Donna Burke expressed a desire to see the funding per pupil formula revamped. Windsor called for parents to vote for a change in government on election day.
"Since the provincial government now determines how much money will be put into the education costs, the only way to change the education funding, in my opinion, is to change the government," she said. ....
Under the budget recommendations a total of 53.6 full time equivalent (FTE) staff lose their jobs. .....
From: Rising school costs limiting education to the privileged, Sicamous Eagle Valley News Tue 28 Apr 2009. Opinion
....Education is becoming more expensive for British Columbians and Canadians.
Here in School District #83, we see that Education Minister Shirley Bond has pointed out the school district is not bound to provide transportation to students and, if the cost becomes too high, the school district could consider charging students for the privilege. .... despite the rising costs of fuel, the district's transportation budget has remained the same since 2003.
Bond says the province, in partnership with the ministry's Technical Review Committee, reviews the education funding formula annually. However, this district's superintendent, who is part of the Technical Review Committee, was questioned by the local board about the committee at the last board meeting. He said of 22 recommendations the committee has made, only two have been accepted......
Facing a 4.9 million dollar shortfall, Delta's school district budget recommendations leave no area of the education system unscathed. ... Superintendent Steve Cardwell said the shortfall is the result of a number of factors, including a decline in enrollment by 2,300 students over the past 10 years and a projected decline of more than 200 students during the next five years.
Cardwell also said the global economic downturn has meant less revenue from international student and continuing education programs, as well as a decrease in investment income from reduced interest rates.
....
Proposed cuts to special programming total $853,693 and include closing two primary-level resource rooms for children with speech and language disabiilties and one for intermediate students with learning disabilities.
....
Delta, she [Marcia McCafferty, president of REACH Child and Youth Development Society] said, "is coming dangerously close to crossing the line in meeting its obligations to the students in the public education system."
... trustees must also decide whether or not to close two elementary schools to address low enrollment. ....
The district's alternative suggestions to school closures included a reduction in availability of STRETCH programs for gifted students, learning assistance support, teacher librarian time (already facing cuts under the recommendations), and a further increase in class sizes.
Delta Manor PAC chair Julie Sanders said the district should feel ashamed for making the trustees choose between school closures and special learning programs. Instead, she asked them to make further cuts to administration staffing and eliminate expenses like catering.
"It's time we start acting like a district of under 15,000 students and cut administration positions that aren't necessary." .....
Delta Teachers' Association president Val Windsor and Delta PAC chairperson Donna Burke expressed a desire to see the funding per pupil formula revamped. Windsor called for parents to vote for a change in government on election day.
"Since the provincial government now determines how much money will be put into the education costs, the only way to change the education funding, in my opinion, is to change the government," she said. ....
Under the budget recommendations a total of 53.6 full time equivalent (FTE) staff lose their jobs. .....
From: Rising school costs limiting education to the privileged, Sicamous Eagle Valley News Tue 28 Apr 2009. Opinion
....Education is becoming more expensive for British Columbians and Canadians.
Here in School District #83, we see that Education Minister Shirley Bond has pointed out the school district is not bound to provide transportation to students and, if the cost becomes too high, the school district could consider charging students for the privilege. .... despite the rising costs of fuel, the district's transportation budget has remained the same since 2003.
Bond says the province, in partnership with the ministry's Technical Review Committee, reviews the education funding formula annually. However, this district's superintendent, who is part of the Technical Review Committee, was questioned by the local board about the committee at the last board meeting. He said of 22 recommendations the committee has made, only two have been accepted......
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