As I finish off my term as OSCA-ACOSO President, I would like to thank the Board of Directors for their work over the past two years, as we continued to support our colleagues in the Guidance and Career Education areas. OSCA has a group of hard-working contract workers who work behind the scenes to support the association in many ways. From daily office items such as answering e-mails, paying invoices, assisting with planning the conference, coordinating the OSCA News, maintaining the website, arranging webinars, and managing the AQ course. Thank you to you all ! At this time I would like to congratulate Lisa Aunger, who will be the 2026 OSCA-ACOSO President. Also, I would like to welcome Cathy Isabella, Joe Idone, and Kelly Roehring as new Directors and Charmaine D’Souza as the VP-Professional Development. I will remain on the board in the role as Past President and continue to support the new board in this manner.

Wishing you all a great 2026!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Lisa Butera-Fracassi
OSCA-ACOSO President
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Alors que mon mandat de président de l'OSCA-ACOSO touche à sa fin, je tiens à remercier le conseil d'administration pour son travail au cours des deux dernières années, pendant lesquelles nous avons continué à soutenir nos collègues dans les domaines de l'orientation et de l'éducation à la carrière. L'OSCA compte un groupe de travailleurs contractuels qui travaillent d'arrache-pied en coulisses pour soutenir l'association de nombreuses façons. Qu'il s'agisse de tâches quotidiennes telles que répondre aux courriels, payer les factures, aider à planifier la conférence, coordonner l'OSCA News, maintenir le site web, organiser des webinaires ou gérer le cours AQ, merci à vous tous ! Je tiens également à féliciter Lisa Aunger, qui sera la présidente de l'OSCA-ACOSO en 2026. Je souhaite également la bienvenue à Cathy Isabella, Joe Idone et Kelly Roehring en tant que nouveaux administrateurs, ainsi qu'à Charmaine D'Souza en tant que vice-présidente chargée du développement professionnel. Je resterai au conseil d'administration en tant qu'ancienne présidente et continuerai à soutenir le nouveau conseil d'administration à ce titre.

Je vous souhaite à tous une excellente année 2026 !

Joyeux Noël et bonne année !
Lisa Butera-Fracassi
Présidente de l'OSCA-ACOSO

We are pleased to announce and congratulate the winners of the most recent OSCA elections. Thank you to all members who participated in the election process and to those who stepped forward to serve. 

Please join us in congratulating our newly elected leaders:

• Lisa Aunger—President
• Charmaine D’Souza—Vice President, Professional Development (VP-PD)
• Kristen Bignell—Board Director
• David Boshra—Board Director
• Cathy Isabella—Board Director
• Joe Idone—Board Director
• Kelly Roehrig – Board Director

We are grateful for your willingness to serve and for the leadership, dedication, and experience you bring to OSCA. We look forward to the positive impact you will make as you work together to support and strengthen our community.

Congratulations to all the winners!

— Ereney Shenouda, Tortian (VP of Governance)
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Nous sommes heureux d’annoncer et de féliciter les gagnants des plus récentes élections de l’OSCA/ACOSO.

Nous remercions tous les membres qui ont participé au processus électoral ainsi que ceux et celles qui ont accepté de se porter candidats pour servir.

Veuillez vous joindre à nous pour féliciter nos nouveaux dirigeants élus :

• Lisa Aunger—Présidente
• Charmaine D’Souza—Vice-présidente, perfectionnement professionnel (VP-PP)
• Kristen Bignell—Administratrice
• David Boshra—Administrateur
• Cathy Isabella—Administratrice
• Joe Idone—Administrateur
• Kelly Roehrig—Administratrice

Nous vous sommes reconnaissants pour votre engagement à servir, ainsi que pour le leadership, le dévouement et l’expérience que vous apportez à l’OSCA/ACOSO. Nous avons hâte de voir l’impact positif que vous aurez en travaillant ensemble pour soutenir et renforcer notre communauté.

Félicitations à tous les gagnants !
— Ereney Shenouda Tortian (VP of Governance).

Survey Questions for 2026 Conference

We value your voice! 

Purpose of This Survey

The purpose of this survey is to gather input from Ontario's Guidance Teacher-Counsellors on the professional learning topics that would be most valuable for next year’s workshops. Your feedback will help us design relevant, engaging, and needs-based sessions that support your work in student pathways, mental health, post-secondary planning, and overall guidance practice. By sharing your priorities and ideas, you play an important role in shaping the professional development opportunities offered in the upcoming year.

______________________________ ______________________________ ________________________

Nous valorisons votre voix!

Objectif de ce sondage

L’objectif de ce sondage est de recueillir les commentaires des enseignants-conseillers en orientation de l’Ontario concernant les sujets d’apprentissage professionnel qui seraient les plus utiles pour les ateliers de l’année prochaine. Vos réponses nous aideront à concevoir des séances pertinentes, stimulantes et adaptées aux besoins, afin de soutenir votre travail en matière de parcours scolaires, de santé mentale, de planification postsecondaire et de services d’orientation en général. En partageant vos priorités et vos idées, vous jouez un rôle essentiel dans la création des possibilités de perfectionnement professionnel offertes au cours de la prochaine année.

Getting Underneath Aggressive Behaviours: 
Helping to Break Cycles of Student Aggression

Start the New Year with some extra tools to support students who may struggle to turn down the volume on aggressive behaviours! As Guidance educators, we have all faced challenges in helping these students.

Many of our students responding in aggression are just asking for help.  However, when they are met with punitive responses, as is often the case in our school systems, their aggression tends to escalate. It IS possible to break cycles of aggression—we just need to know what we are looking for and how to respond.

Kathleen Hilchey has worked with hundreds of students stuck in these cycles over the past 20 years (including 2 of her own!). Join us for this 60-minute session with Kathleen to first break down 3 simple reasons for student aggression.  She will then share tools that Guidance educators can use to support students in the ways that they need. Don’t miss this very informative session. Register Here!

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

📅 January 19th – March 13th
Registration Deadline : January 14th

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   

📅 19 janvier – 13 mars
Date limite pour l’inscription : 14 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. »

We’re excited to share that School-Based Substance Use Prevention, Education, and Intervention: A Multi-Tiered and Developmental Approach for Kindergarten to Grade 12 Schools (PRV STD-16:2025) is now open for public review in both English and French.
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Nous avons le plaisir d’annoncer que la norme Prévention, sensibilisation et intervention en matière de consommation de substances en milieu scolaire : une approche multiniveaux et développementale pour les écoles, de la maternelle à la 12e année (PRV STD-16:2025) fait maintenant l’objet d’un examen public, en français et en anglais.

New for the 2026-2027 academic year, the Computer Science, Mathematics, and Statistics admission category has been separated into distinct categories: “Computer Science” and “Mathematical & Computational Sciences.” If students are interested in Specializing or Majoring in Computer Sciences or our Information Security programs, apply to Computer Science. If students are interested in Minoring in Computer Science or studying in any of our Mathematical Sciences programs, apply to Mathematical & Computational Sciences.

NEW POST—Students who are admitted into the Computer Science admission category and who meet the enrollment requirements for the Program of Study (POSt) will be guaranteed entry into any Computer Science or Information Security programs.

If students are admitted into the Mathematical & Computational Sciences (MCS) admission category, they may only apply for the Computer Science Minor, and entry may not be guaranteed. As an MCS admit, they are not eligible for the Computer Science Specialist or Major programs and any Information Security programs.

For more information on the admission categories, please visit our Computer Science and Mathematical and Computational Sciences pages. You can also reach the University of Toronto Mississauga Student Recruitment and Admissions team at recruitment.utm@utoronto.ca.

Learn more here!

 

Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre (WWFC) is thrilled to host our 2nd Annual High School Career Night, and we invite your grade 12 students and their families to join us for an evening dedicated to exploring the exciting pathways to becoming a Commercial Pilot for Hire in Canada.

Event Details:

When: January 29th, 2026, 3:00pm-7:30pm
Where: Waterloo Wellington Flight Centre, 3-4881 Fountain St. North Breslau N0B 1M0 (across from the Waterloo Wellington Airport).
Who Should Attend: Students in grades 11 and 12, along with their families, who are curious about aviation careers. High school teachers and guidance providers who would like to learn about hands-on education opportunities in the aviation field in the Waterloo Region.

What to Expect:
— Comprehensive information on WWFC’s current pathways to becoming a commercial pilot with a Live information Session at 5:00 pm.
— Networking opportunities with our current student pilots across all three educational streams. University of Waterloo / ATPL Ontario Career College / Self-Paced Modular.
— Meet-and-greet sessions with our expert instructors.
— An immersive experience in our professional aviation training environment.

This event is perfect for students making important decisions about their educational and career futures, especially those considering a dynamic and rewarding career in aviation.

The Event is Free!

Kindly share with your guidance team your school families, and post in your school and on your school website. (poster attached)

We look forward to welcoming your students to this engaging and informative evening at WWFC!

This year’s OSCA conference highlighted a challenge that many guidance counselors already know well: students don’t know what they don’t know. Post-secondary pathways have always been complex, and students often misunderstand prerequisites, overlook key course choices, or wait too long to plan. In the past, guidance departments had the time to walk students through every option in detail. Today, with heavier caseloads, that level of individualized research is difficult to sustain.

Fosterway was built to help.

Our platform gives students instant clarity about their post-secondary options. Using the free Fosterway platform, students can immediately see which programs they qualify for based on their courses and grades. Just as importantly, if they’re not yet eligible, the platform shows them exactly what steps to take to get back on track.

We received a tremendous response at the OSCA conference, reflecting strong interest and adoption across Ontario. Counselors are eager for a tool that supports students while easing workload, and Fosterway delivers on both.

By bringing all pathways into one place, Fosterway helps students discover options they may have otherwise missed and gives guidance teams a scalable way to provide meaningful support. The platform complements your expertise, encourages students to explore their options independently, and enables counselors to focus on high-impact guidance.

We invite OSCA members to see why so many of your peers are signing up and to try Fosterway for free at https://students.fosterway. com/

Let’s build on the momentum from OSCA and give every student a clearer path forward.

OnDeck Marketing is helping high schools across North America modernize their hallways with free, high-visibility digital screens designed to support communication, student engagement, and important guidance messaging.

Our screens let you:

• Share real-time announcements and reminders
• Promote mental health and wellness resources. 
• Highlight post-secondary opportunities, scholarships, and events.
• Celebrate student achievements and school culture
• Reduce poster clutter and create a more modern campus experience

There’s no cost to your school, no maintenance required, and installations take less than 20 minutes. You simply send your messages in, and we handle the rest.

Whether you’re looking to streamline communication or create more impact with the information you already share, our screen network is built to make your job easier and your school communications stronger. 

If you’d like to learn more or see if your school qualifies, you can book a quick call here.

The CPA career path has limitless potential, just like your students. We’re thrilled to unveil our upcoming events that enhance the classroom experience and help students understand the pathways and benefits of the CPA designation.

The Verna J. Kirkness (VJKF) Program invites First Nations, Métis, and Inuit high school students to spend an unforgettable week at a Canadian university, exploring science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) through hands-on learning. Students work alongside professors and researchers in real labs, discovering what it’s like to be part of university life. The experience builds confidence, sparks curiosity, and shows that post-secondary education is within reach.

The VJKF offers week-long research experiences at Canadian universities for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit students. During the program, students:
— Work hands-on with professors, researchers, and their teams.
— Experience campus life, including staying in residence.
— Access Indigenous student centres and campus support services.
— Learn about pathways into university and STEM-related fields.

There is no cost to students or families—all travel, food, and accommodation are covered by the Foundation.

Applications for the 2026 programs are open now and will close on December 19, 2025.

In the world of career development and newcomer support, partnerships are the heartbeat of progress. But let’s be honest—they rarely begin with ease. Whether you’re collaborating across cultures, sectors, or values, the early stages of partnership often come with discomfort. That discomfort isn’t a sign to retreat; it’s an invitation to lean in.

Partnerships are a two-way street. They thrive not when one side leads and the other follows, but when both come to the table with curiosity, humility, and a shared commitment to impact. When I approach a new collaboration, I try to lead with the mindset, "How can we both help each other to reach our goals?" By understanding what matters to my partners, I can better align my work to support their goals while also creating space for them to support mine.

Staying in a homeless shelter was challenging for many reasons. But the main problem that Alicia had to contend with was lack of money. Without an income and dependent on a very modest amount of social assistance, she knew that affording first and last months’ rent would be difficult. She needed to find a job.

For youth in Alicia’s situation, the barriers can feel insurmountable. She had challenges maintaining clean clothing. She faced long queues for shower facilities. Her sleeping situation was difficult in a room with five other women. And safety was an ongoing concern.

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!