Welcome back to school everyone!  The school year has begun and it is by far one of my favourite times of year.  I do miss the long summer days with no schedule and more time to connect with friends and family, but there is something about having a routine that appeals to the balance of my life.   

Here at the OSCA office we are also busy with our start up. Our annual conference will be a month earlier then historically planned, and we are truly counting down the days to a great event!  Our conference will be held on the beautiful University of Toronto Mississauga campus. And what a beautiful site it is! The campus is surrounded by beautiful pathways and old trees. The trees in fall are stunning as the harvest colours start to peak. Have you registered yet? Our registration is open and live – check out the amazing professional development workshops we will be hosting and our incredible line up of keynote speakers.  We invite you to not only join us, but to extend the invitation to those in your schools who will also benefit from these two engaging days we have planned. Visit our website for the full conference guide to learn more and to share with those around you. There is something for everyone at this conference and also a great opportunity to visit one of the universities many of our students may attend one day. If you’re new to our conference, you will have an opportunity to meet, network and engage in conversations with colleagues and professionals in many fields that tie into education. 

As we all embark on this new school year together, remember that we are all part of the same collective story. We are educators who are passionate about the success and wellbeing of our students. Remember too that the work we do is not possible unless we take care of ourselves and those around us. Don’t forget to spend time savouring that morning coffee or spending an extra five minutes reading the morning news. I am wishing you all a great September and can’t wait to see you all in October. 

Unlike applying to college or university which has specific processes, entrance requirements and deadlines, helping students interested in becoming journey persons can be complicated. Likely even more difficult is helping at risk students who have no career goal consider if an apprenticeship is right for them. This session is designed for new Regional Planning Team members, OYAP coordinators, guidance counsellors and experiential education coordinators. You play an important role in matching students to the right programs. We want to support you in the work you do with your students.

The goals of the session:

1.    Increase understanding of the pathways to becoming a journey person

2.    Outline various secondary school options leading to becoming a journey person

3.    Match the right student for the right program at the right time

4.    Share successful strategies for student selection and support

5.    Highlight useful resources

6.    Identify first post-secondary steps for graduates interested in becoming a journey person

7.    Identify additional needs of educators working with students interested/considering the apprenticeship pathway

The workshop will be in three parts:

-          You will be emailed background information for your review prior to the webinar

-          A 1-hour Adobe Connect webinar (September 24, 2019 11:00 – 12:00)

-          A 1-hour follow-up discussion session (September 26, 2019 11:00-12:00)

Please RSVP by September 17, 2019 to Janette Jensen (janette@ontariodirectors.ca) with your name, title, board/area office and email address.  You will then receive information on the Adobe Connect webinar and the background information.

Not able to participate? Resources are available on the  School-College-Work Initiative website http://www.scwi.ca/research.php

NEW Conference Location / NOUVEAU lieu de la conférence

OSCA/ACOSO is excited to announce our new partnership with the University of Toronto Mississauga. This year''s conference will take place on the picturesque grounds of the U of T - Mississauga Campus on Thursday, October 18 and Friday, October 19, 2019.   

Registration is now OPEN!        http://bit.ly/osca2019
 

Conference Subthemes / Sous-thèmes de la conférence

Mental Health and Well-being

Ontario students come to us from diverse backgrounds and with a complex set of experiences and needs. We have seen a rise in the number of students who are dealing with social/emotional issues, and Mental Health promotion is a focus for school boards across the province. Meeting the needs related to Mental Health and Well-Being will be the focus of these workshops designed to assist counsellors in understanding and supporting today''s learner. Share how you have informed, engaged and supported all types of learners in fostering positive Mental Health and Well-Being practices. 

Modern Pathways

The landscape of the workplace is changing rapidly. Future Ready students will need strong leadership and global competencies to be competitive as they meet the expectations of this new environment. Share how you are engaging students in their future pathways with knowledge of labour market information, innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship. 

Conference Registration Information/Informations d''inscription à la conférence

 OSCA/ACOSO encourages delegates to join our association.  You can obtain or renew your subscription at www.osca.ca before registering for the conference to get the discounted conference rate.

Registration is now OPEN! 

http://bit.ly/osca2019

Please Note:  Within a week, you will be sent an invitation to join the SCHED App. Once you join, you will have the opportunity to choose your workshops.

Conference registration is also posted on www.osca.ca Please view for registration updates! 

For real-time updates, follow us on Twitter @OSCA_ACOSO #osca19. 

We are also pleased to be partnered with School Mental Health Ontario

School Mental Health Ontario (SMHO) is a provincial implementation support team designed to help Ontario school boards to promote student mental health and well-being using evidence-based approaches.  This team of school mental health professionals, senior administrators and implementation scientists works alongside the Ministry of Education to provide leadership and guidance, ongoing coaching support, a suite of resources, and a community of practice for all Ontario school boards and remote school authorities. 

Here is a sampling of some of the amazing workshops you can look forward to; for a complete list of workshops, please see your new copy of the OSCA Today magazine. 

• Supporting Mentally Healthy Students Across the Curriculum and Beyond
• Mindfulness in the Guidance Office 
• Supporting a Student Experiencing Mental Health Struggles - How Can an Educator Help? 
• Managing Anxiety 
• All Stressed Up With Nowhere to Go
• Building Resilience in High School Students Through a 4 Year Program
• In the driver's seat of my emotions! And anxiety in rear-view mirror!
• Guidance Toolkit 
• The Connection Between Cognitive Distortions and Anxiety
• Introduction to Mental Health Literacy
• Building a B.R.I.G.H.T Mental Health & Wellbeing Classroom 
• Supporting Students Who Experience Depression
• Eating Disorder
• L'influence de l'identité francophone sur le bien-être psychologique
• Problem Solving With Teens
• Dealing With "That Parent"
• Non-Suicidal Self Injury
• Cannabis Use
• Indigenous Youth and Cultural Responsiveness
• Purposeful Transitions: 3 keys to Positive Education and Career Development
• Revised Career Studies Course 
• What's Your Plan? 
• Mise à jour du Ministère 
• Engaging Youth in Careers in Agriculture
• Online Learning Strategies
• Supporting All Pathways for All Students
• Engaging girls in STEM career options
• Guidance Programming That Supports Education and Career/Life Planning 
• Scholarship Success: Practical Ways to Support Students
• Supporting Education & Career/Life Planning Through STEM Careers Exploration
• How Technology and Creativity Can Build a Multifaceted, Entrepreneurial Career
• Constructing A Skilled Trades Pathway
• Preparing for Ontario's new Careers curriculum
• #Neverstoplearning with TVO
• Labour Market Information to Support Student Career Choices 
• Who Do I Want to Become?
• Votre programme d'orientation à l'instar du cadre conceptuel du PPACV
• Ways to Pay for Post-Secondary
• Working with the Immigrant/ Refugee Child- the importance of knowing the stories of our cross-cultural students
• Promoting Student Voice: A Mental Wellness and Transitions Toolkit for Educators

Attention all OSCA/ACOSO Subscribers! All 2018-2019 subscriptions will be expiring on September 30th! Stay connected to Guidance and Career Education in Ontario by renewing today! Continue to receive the OSCA News delivered to your mailbox once a week, receive the OSCA Today magazine three times a year, receive yearly conference discounts, and your own copy of Ethical Guidelines available through the website subscribers lounge.

In addition, the OSCA Board has been working very hard to partner with organizations that would be able to provide further professional learning to meet the needs from the "2018 Role of the Guidance Teacher Counsellor' survey. These new professional learning opportunities will be announced shortly.

 

In the meanwhile, please plan to attend this year's conference entitled, "Constructing a Bright Future: Avenues for Career and Personal Decision Making," with sub themes: "Mental Health and Well-Being," and "Modern Pathways." This year's conference was planned around the two top professional learning needs as identified in the 2018 survey by OSCA/ACOSO subscribers. The two top needs were 1. training on skills connected to mental health and well-being and 2. learning about jobs of the future and future workplace trends. The Board of Directors is excited about the theme, the keynotes, the workshop topics and the new location. We wish to see all OSCA subscribers at this year's conference, which is earlier this year - October 17th and October 18th at University Toronto Mississauga (UTM). Early discounted rates are available to those that have renewed their subscriptions for 2019-2020.

If you are an individual wishing to renew or start a subscription, please go to: https://www.osca.ca/about-us/membership/how-to-renew-single-or-bulk.html for more information.

If you are a board lead and wish to purchase a board bulk subscriptions, please email the OSCA office at
oscadesk@gmail.com so we can assist you. RENEW today!

The OSCA 2019 Conference is quickly approaching. With the new timing of the conference being in October, your OSCA Board has worked very hard to reserve hotel rooms for your convenience, but now there is a quicker deadline to consider. Although the rate will continue to apply up until the conference, room availability may become limited. For this reason, we suggest you plan on booking your hotel at discounted prices as soon as you can. Although you may not have yet registered for the conference, please book your hotel room early so that you're not disappointed!

The Ontario School Counsellors' Association has a longstanding tradition (over 40 years) of recognizing and awarding those who stand out in the field of Guidance and Career Education. Each year at our annual conference, OSCA recognizes individuals and/or organizations that have made a significant contribution to Guidance and Career Education in Ontario. We can say with confidence that our past award winners have helped thousands of students to find their pathways to successful futures!

OSCA's awards are an excellent way of recognizing your most dedicated peers in the following categories: 

• Curriculum and Resources
• Counsellor Professional Development
• Elementary Guidance
• Peer Helping
• Contribution to Guidance and Career Education

Consider nominating a worthy colleague today!

OSCA/ACOSO is pleased to offer Additional Qualifications Part 1 and Part 2 for Guidance and Career Education this fall. Taught by a current Guidance-Teacher Counsellor in an Ontario school, this course uses an online virtual classroom setting, making the course accessible for all. The course outlines all the necessary practices for delivery of a comprehensive Guidance and Career Education program for your school. There is no textbook with this course, and the fees also include a copy Ethical Guidelines as well as a one-year AQ student subscription to OSCA.
Course dates are September 23rd to December 6th.
Cost: $650.
Please visit OSCA's website to register at www.osca.ca.

OUInfo 2020 includes a refreshed look and new logo, while maintaining the same functionality. It was renamed to better align with the Council of Ontario Universities' new branding and the Ontario university community, and to more closely reflect the content of the website.The new Ontario Universities' Info 2020 is live! Find and compare Ontario university programs, plus research residences, scholarships, campus visits and more.

OUInfo is the only resource that is updated directly by the Ontario universities. Visit: www.ontariouniversitiesinfo.ca and www.ontariouniversitiesinfo.ca/fr

Universities post updates to OUInfo throughout the year ? check back regularly.

Find more information about Extenuating Circumstances on the Guidance website.

All the best in the new school year!

Le nouveau site Web d''Info des universités de l'Ontario 2020 est disponible! Recherchez et comparez les programmes des universités de l'Ontario. Vous y trouverez aussi des renseignements sur les résidences, les bourses d'études, les visites de campus et plus encore.

Info-UO 2020 comprend un tout nouveau look et un nouveau logo, tout en maintenant les mêmes fonctionnalités. Il a été renommé afin de s''aligner plus étroitement à la nouvelle image de marque du Conseil des universités de l'Ontario et à la collectivité des universités de l''Ontario, mais également de mieux refléter le contenu du site Web.

Info-UO est la seule ressource mise à jour directement par les universités de l''Ontario. Rendez-vous au : www.ontariouniversitiesinfo. ca/fr.

 Les universités mettent à jour leurs données tout au long de l''année; nous vous conseillons donc de consulter régulièrement le site Web Info-UO.

 Trouver de plus amples renseignements au sujet des circonstances atténuantes au site Web d'Orientation.

Meilleurs succès en ce début de nouvelle année scolaire!

 

http://www.ontariouniversitiesfair.ca/fr/passeport/
The Ontario Universities' Fair (OUF) is coming up at the end of September. Don't let your students miss it!

The OUF is the only event where you can see all 21 Ontario universities in one place. It's a once-a-year, free event where attendees can talk directly with senior university faculty and representatives.

The OUF takes place September 27-29, 2019, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Admission is free.

OUF Passport registration is now open. Students are strongly encouraged to save time and get their OUF Passport in advance: www.ontariouniversitiesfair. ca/passport

Visit: www.ontariouniversitiesfair.ca
Follow us on Twitter: @OntarioUnis, #OUF2019
Like us on Facebook: OntarioUFair
Follow us on Instagram: @ontariounifair

Ontario Universities' Regional Fairs
After the OUF, Ontario's universities are visiting a school near you!

The Regional Fairs travel across Ontario, offering fair-style events in most Ontario regions. It's a great opportunity for your students to speak directly with university representatives and research their Ontario university options.

Events begin the week of September 30, 2019 and will run until the week of November 4, 2019. View the complete schedule for dates, times and specific locations: www.ontariouniversitiesfair. ca/regional.

Foire des universités de l’Ontario : Du 27 au 29 septembre
La Foire des universités de l’Ontario (FUO) aura lieu à la fin septembre. Assurez-vous que vos élèves y seront!

La FUO est le seul événement où l’on retrouve les 21 universités de l’Ontario en un seul endroit. Elle s’agit d’une activité annuelle gratuite qui permet aux participantes et participants de s’entretenir directement avec des professeures et professeurs et des représentantes et représentants des universités.

La FUO aura lieu du 27 au 29 septembre 2019 au Palais des congrès du Toronto métropolitain. L’entrée est gratuite.

L’inscription à l’événement est maintenant commencée. Nous encourageons vivement les élèves à gagner du temps en s’inscrivant pour leur Passeport FUO à l’avance : www.ontariouniversitiesfair. ca/fr/passeport.

Visitez notre site Web : www.ontariouniversitiesfair. ca/fr/
Suivez-nous sur Twitter : @OntarioUnis, #OUF2019
Rejoignez-nous sur Facebook : OntarioUFair
Suivez-nous sur Instagram : @ontariounifair

Foires régionales des universités de l'Ontario
Après la FUO, les universités de l'Ontario visiteront bientôt une école près de chez vous!

Les Foires régionales se déplacent à la grandeur de la province et propose des activités de type « foire » dans la plupart des régions de l'Ontario. Voilà une occasion unique pour vos élèves de parler en personne à des représentantes et représentants des universités de l'Ontario et d'effectuer des recherches sur leurs options universitaires.

Les activités débuteront la semaine du 30 septembre 2019 et prendront fin la semaine du 4 novembre 2019. Veuillez consulter l'horaire complet des Foires régionales pour connaître les dates, les heures et les lieux spécifiques des événements : www.ontariouniversitiesfair. ca/fr/regionales.

2019 Ontario College Information Fair (OCIF) The largest College Information Fair in Ontario!

Enercare Centre – Exhibition Place, Toronto
Wednesday October 23, 2019 - 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Thursday October 24, 2019 – 9:00 am to 2:00 pm

Send your students to the Fair on us! OCIF offers bus subsidies of up to $250/bus to any school who wishes to send their students to the event. Instead of planning your own College Fair, send your students to the largest College Fair in Ontario! ocif.ca