CALLING ALL OSCA/ACOSO SUBSCRIBERS 

ELECTIONS OPEN DECEMBER 3RD!

Your voice truly matters ! By voting, you help select strong, experienced and dedicated members for the Board of Directors in the year ahead. To access the Google form for this year’s election, please log in to the Subscribers Lounge on www.osca.ca. Voting will be open from December 3rd at 8:00 AM to December 11th at 6:00 PM. Please note that voters must be current subscribers and have completed Guidance Part 1 for their vote to be counted. Thank you for supporting the important work that OSCA/ACOSO is proud to do!

If you experience difficulty voting from a phone or tablet, please try using a laptop or desktop computer. If you are voting from work, your organization’s firewall may be preventing access, so try voting from home instead. If you still need assistance, please contact the OSCA Desk, and we will be happy to help.
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APPEL À TOUS LES ABONNÉS D'OSCA/ACOSO 

ÉLECTIONS À PARTIR DU 3 DÉCEMBRE !

Votre voix compte vraiment! En votant, vous contribuez à sélectionner des membres solides, expérimentés et dévoués pour le conseil d’administration pour l’année à venir. Pour accéder au formulaire Google de l’élection de cette année, veuillez vous connecter au Subscribers Lounge sur www.osca.ca. Le vote sera ouvert du 3 décembre à 8 h au 11 décembre à 18 h. Veuillez noter que les électeurs doivent être des abonnés actuels et avoir complété la Guidance Part 1 pour que leur vote soit pris en compte. Merci de soutenir le travail important dont OSCA/ACOSO est fier!

Si vous éprouvez des difficultés à voter à partir d’un téléphone ou d’une tablette, veuillez essayer d’utiliser un ordinateur portable ou de bureau. Si vous votez depuis votre lieu de travail, le pare-feu de votre organisation peut empêcher l’accès — essayez donc de voter depuis la maison. Si vous avez encore besoin d’aide, veuillez communiquer avec le bureau de l’OSCA et nous serons heureux de vous aider.

SAVE THE DATE...NEW OSCA WEBINAR! 

Tuesday, December 16th @ 1:00 PM
Cultivating Supportive Relationships with 2SLGBTQIA+ Youth 

Identity and mental health are inextricably linked. By examining practices of allyship, identity-affirming spaces, and navigating school climate and culture, school staff can cultivate supportive spaces and relationships with 2SLGBTQIA+ youth. Through this 60-minute workshop presented by School Mental Health Ontario, participants will explore how to specifically support queer youth through the Guidance-educator role. We will focus on exploring evidence-based protective factors and strengths-based strategies through practical resources and guidance in supporting the mental health and well-being of 2S/LGBTQIA+ youth. Enhance your Guidance-educator toolkit by registering for this workshop today. Register Here!

⭐ Join OSCA/ACOSO’s Winter AQ Courses — Part 1, Part 2, and Specialist — Guidance and Career Education

📅 January 12th – March 6th
Registration Deadline : January 6th

Ready to elevate your impact in student support and career guidance ? Our Additional Qualification (AQ) courses are designed for educators who want to lead with empathie, expertise, and real-world insight.

Why Choose OSCA/ACOSO?

🧠Expertise You Can Trust: We’re leaders in the field of guidance and career education.
🧑🏫 Front-Line Instruction : Learn from an experienced Guidance Teacher-Counsellor actively working in schools.
🤝Authentic Peer Learning : short, live sessions foster meaningful discussion and shared experiences.
Whether you're starting your journey or advancing to the Specialist level, our AQ courses offer the depth, flexibility, and relevance you need.

Spots are limited – secure yours today ! OSCA ACOSO AQ Course Registration

What our students are saying…
“This AQ Part 1 course is my favorite AQ course so far. The live classes with role-playing set this course apart; my co-workers who have done this course did not have an opportunity to do this in their virtual courses. Angela has been an amazing instructor—her kindness, calmness, and clarity are conveyed in her lessons and messages and reminds me of how an experienced guidance teacher/counselor should be like. Thank you for a great course ! I am looking forward to taking part 2 soon.”

“Angela is an excellent teacher. She is very knowledgeable and adapts to the group. It is my second time taking a class with her. I find her content relevant and interesting. She is very respectful of our own knowledge and time, making her Live Classes exactly 1 hour so it is easy to plan around, and the discussions were enriching.” 
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⭐Inscrivez-vous aux cours QA d’hiver offerts par l’OSCA/ACOSO – Partie 1, partie 2 et spécialiste – Orientation et formation au cheminement de carrière   

📅 12 janvier – 6 mars
Date limite pour l’inscription : 6 janvier

Êtes-vous prêts à renforcer votre impact en matière de soutien aux élèves et en orientation de carrière ? Nos cours de qualifications additionnelles (QA) sont conçus pour les éducateurs qui souhaitent diriger avec empathie, expertise et une perspective pratique et réaliste.

Pourquoi choisir l’OSCA/ACOSO ?

🧠Une expertise fiable : Nous sommes leaders dans le domaine de l’orientation et de la formation au cheminement de carrière.
🧑🏫Instruction de première ligne : Apprenez auprès d’un(e) enseignant(e)-conseiller(ère) en orientation chevronné(e) qui travaille activement en milieu scolaire.
🤝Un véritable apprentissage collaboratif : Séances courtes et en direct qui favorisent des discussions enrichissantes et le partage d’expériences.
Peu importe si vous débutez votre parcours ou si vous visez le niveau spécialiste, nos cours QA offrent la profondeur, la flexibilité et la pertinence dont vous avez besoin.

Les places sont limitées – réservez la vôtre dès aujourd’hui ! Inscription cours QA OSCA ACOSO

Ce que nos élèves disent…
« Ce cours QA partie 1 est jusqu’à présent mon cours QA préféré. Les cours en direct avec des jeux de rôle distinguent vraiment cette formation. Mes collègues qui ont suivi ce cours en mode virtuel n’ont pas eu l’occasion de vivre cette même expérience. Angela a été une formatrice exceptionnelle – sa gentillesse, son calme et sa clarté sont évidents dans ses leçons et ses messages. Elle incarne l’enseignant(e)-conseiller(ère) idéal(e). Merci pour ce super cours! J’ai hâte de bientôt suivre la partie 2. » [traduction libre]

« Angela est une excellente enseignante. Elle est très compétente et s’adapte au groupe. C’est la deuxième fois que je suis un cours avec elle. Je trouve son contenu pertinent et intéressant. Elle respecte beaucoup nos connaissances et notre temps, assurant que les cours en direct durent exactement une heure, ce qui facilite la planification, et les discussions étaient enrichissantes. »

Focus on Careers in Mental Health

Located in Toronto, the University of Guelph-Humber is focused on career readiness, blending
both theoretical and practical experience in a university setting. With a student population of
4,500 students get a close-knit, supportive learning environment where interaction with profs
builds career connections.

Two of our seven programs offer students career pathways to support mental health and
become change makers to improve lives.

Social Services & Well-Being Studies
 Grow compassion and a sense of advocacy—expanding your impact from
supporting individuals to influence broader social and political change
 Honours Bachelor of Applied Science
Learn more

Psychology
 Explore how the mind works and how human behaviour shapes the world; combine
science, empathy, and your drive to make a difference, you can create real change
 Honours Bachelor of Applied Science
Learn more

Business Co-op

Our Business Administration degree offers three to four paid work terms. Students who are not
accepted in the co-op stream will have the opportunity to complete up to 520 hours of
placement. Students are guaranteed work experience.

Happy Holidays
On behalf of the University of Guelph-Humber, we wish you all the best over this holiday
season and look forward to the new year!

Grade 10 students thinking about university are invited (along with their supporters) to an information session on admission requirements, financing their education, and advice on how to get started preparing for university. This is a hybrid event, and we encourage you to participate in-person or online. Date: Thursday, February 19, 2026

Location: Hagey Hall (HH), University of Waterloo
Presentation (in-person & livestream option): 6:30 to 8 p.m. ET
Information fair (in-person only):

• Before the presentation: 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. ET
• After the presentation: 8 to 8:30 p.m. ET

 

      For details and to register, visit: uwaterloo.ca/future/grade-10

You are invited to join us on Thursday, January 8, 2026, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. to learn
more about how ONTransfer.ca can be used to help students navigate their postsecondary
decisions.

High school students face big decisions about their future—whether they’re unsure about their
program choice, didn’t get their first pick, or haven’t applied yet. This webinar will show you how
ONTransfer.ca can help guide students through these critical moments.

The session will cover:
 how to use ONTransfer.ca tools and resources
 strategies for helping students explore options and transfer pathways
 answers to common questions about applications, program changes, and next steps
 a live Q&A so you can bring the questions your students have been asking—and get clear,
actionable answers

Learn more about the Thursday, January 8 webinar here.

ONTransfer.ca is managed by the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer (ONCAT). ONCAT
puts learners first by making it easier to navigate and succeed in Ontario’s postsecondary system.
If you are interested in learning more about ONCAT, we invite you to attend the 2026 ONCAT
Conference: Helping Learners Find Their Way.

Learn more about the 2026 ONCAT Conference here.

Apply by February 15 to be included in the first round of admissions.

We are now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 year!
Are any of your students considering taking a gap year after high school? Do they want to develop crucial life skills, gain valuable work experience, explore the world, and make new friends—all while learning more about themselves and their unique interests?

Apply to Discover Year today!

Grade 12 Family Information Evening (hybrid)

Join us online or in person on Tuesday, December 2, at 6:30 p.m. ET for Carleton's Grade 12 Family Information Evening. Learn about admissions, scholarships and bursaries, co-operative education, residence, and the Carleton student experience. Register today! 

EDI at Carleton: Student Stories
Experience equity, diversity, and inclusion at Carleton through the voices that matter most—our students. Hear powerful stories and real experiences shaping a more inclusive campus for all. Join us online December 3 at 6:30 p.m. ET for the CU Live Session—EDI at Carleton: Student Stories.

Discover Carleton's campus

Take a tour of Carleton with a student tour guide during the holiday season. Visit Carleton classrooms, lecture halls, and study spaces. Explore Carleton's student services and residence facilities. Discover all the resources available to Carleton Ravens. Visit our tour website for dates, times, more information, and to register:

Save the date: March Open House

We are excited to welcome future Ravens and their families to Carleton’s campus on Saturday, March 14, 2026, for Carleton's March Open House! Save the date for this exciting event, and stay tuned for more information and registration.

Liam's Mission has developed a growing library of trauma-informed, family-centered workbooks designed to support youth mental health in practical and meaningful ways.

One of their key resources, The Warrior Mind Workbook—A Mental Health Guide for Kids, has already been making a positive impact in schools, hospitals, and communities. This workbook equips children and youth with tools to:

• Build emotional resilience and self-confidence
• Understand and express their feelings in safe, healthy ways
• Develop coping and regulation strategies they can use at home or in school
• Strengthen self-identity and safe communication skills
• Foster stronger connections with trusted adults and support networks

With the increasing focus on mental health in education, this resource can complement your board’s commitment to student well-being. It is flexible enough to be used in classrooms, by support staff, or as part of mental health initiatives and wellness programming.

They are currently on a mission to donate and distribute 5,000 copies of our workbooks to schools, hospitals, and community organizations across Canada. Their hope is to make these resources available to the children and families who need them most.

In addition, founder Deanna Wilson would be more than happy to come in and discuss these workbooks directly with parents, teachers, and staff—whether through presentations, workshops, or training sessions. Building awareness and equipping educators with these tools is just as important as placing the books in children’s hands.

Please direct all event inquiries related to the initiative to:
Deana Wilson
dlwilson349@gmail.com

Free Virtual SayOUI.ca Classroom Presentations

These are free virtual workshops tailored for Core, Extended, and Immersion FSL students in Grades 10-12. These interactive sessions are curriculum-aligned and designed to:

• Introduce students to the SayOUI.ca website, a valuable resource for FSL education and careers.
• Provide engaging opportunities to practice and enhance their French skills.
• Inspire students to explore fulfilling career pathways as French teachers.

Workshop Details:

• Available until April 2026 (Book your SayOui.ca classroom presentation now for the second semester to avoid disappointment) 
• Delivered virtually for your convenience.
• Includes a SayOUI.ca lesson plan for Grades 9-12.   

 In-Class Activity—Impromptu Division of Concours d’art oratoire

Engage your students in Concours d’art oratoire as a year-round in class activity!

Are you looking for an in-class activity that challenges and excites your students in Grades 4 and up? The Impromptu Division of the Concours d’art oratoire is a fantastic way to:

• Support spontaneous oral production skills and practice
• Help prepare FSL students for the DELF certificate
• Encourage critical thinking and the organization of ideas
• Foster creativity and self-expression in French
• Boost linguistic confidence and security through action-oriented learning

CPF Ontario will provide you with the resources you need to enjoy this activity with your students (Grades 4–12). You can choose to participate in the Traditional Division and/or the Impromptu Division, allowing the entire class to participate while encouraging their growth and creativity. We will send you participation certificates for each of your students and medals for the top three winners in your class.

This is also a great opportunity to prepare students in Grades 9–12 for the CPF Ontario Concours d’art oratoire, to be held in person at Glendon Campus, York University, on May 2, 2026. Students can win university scholarships, college bursaries, and cash prizes at the provincial and national levels!

Visit our website to learn more and access resources to support your lesson planning. 

When Eric* joined the YESS program through the YMCA of Cape Breton, he didn’t have a resume, a driver’s license, or reliable transportation. What he did have was determination—and a chance.

If this program had only been offered in a central hub, like so many others, he wouldn’t have been able to attend. But because we brought the program to his community, he could participate fully. That one decision to bring the program to the people instead of the other way around has shaped the success of YESS (Youth Employment Skills Strategy) ever since.

Across many rural areas, youth face an uphill battle: high unemployment, limited transit, and few local job prospects. Meanwhile, employers talk about "work readiness," often without realizing that readiness begins long before a job interview. It starts with access, confidence, and connection.

The greatest joy in my career is gained from matching high school students with just the "right" opportunities. It’s similar to the feeling I had when playing memory "matching" card games as a kid—the satisfaction that comes with picking two identical cards out of rows and rows of possibilities. YES! A match! The positive responses to the connections I provide are what keep me going on long days and propel me to keep reaching for the next new idea to share with unsuspecting students.

As a career practitioner serving six rural high schools in southwestern Alberta, the opportunities I regularly share with students include field trips to explore potential post-secondary institutions, environmental/agricultural youth summits, and a wide range of volunteer, educational, and gap year/personal growth possibilities, as well as helping them navigate the simple yet daunting task of gaining their first part-time or summer job.

We value your insights! 🌟 As a Guidance Teacher-Counsellor, your feedback plays a vital role in shaping meaningful support for students. Please take a few minutes to complete our short OSCA survey and share your experiences, ideas, and suggestions. Your voice helps us grow—thank you for being part of the conversation!