My name is Mark Abouelsaad, and I am honored to be a member of the OSCA Board of Directors. I have a long experience working with non-profit organizations to promote positive change in the community. I am a passionate educator with special interest in youth development. I am looking forward to using my experience and skills to further the mission of OSCA. I strongly believe in the OSCA’s mission of providing quality services and resources to those in need, and I am excited to be a part of this effort. 

Currently, I am a Guidance Counselor and a biology teacher with the Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. I hold a medical degree and I used to be a surgical resident. I realized that my passion for teaching and mentoring others was greater than my love for surgery which let me to pursue a career in education and teach high school science. 

Throughout my career, I have worked with students from diverse backgrounds and have seen firsthand the positive impact that education and mentorship can have on their lives. As a member of the OSCA Board of Directors, I am excited about the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead, and I am committed to working collaboratively with my fellow board members, staff, and volunteers to make a positive difference in the lives of those we serve. 
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Je m’appelle Mark Abouelsaad et j’ai l’honneur d’être nommé pour siéger au conseil d’administration de l’ACOSO. J’ai une longue expérience de travailler avec des organisations à but non lucratif pour promouvoir des changements positifs dans la communauté. Je suis un éducateur passionné avec un intérêt particulier concernant le développement des jeunes. J’ai hâte d’utiliser mon expérience et mes compétences pour faire avancer la mission de l’ACOSO. Je crois fermement en sa mission de fournir des services et des ressources de qualité à ceux et celles qui en ont besoin, et je suis ravi de contribuer à cet effort. 

À présent, je suis un conseiller en orientation et enseignant de biologie au Conseil scolaire catholique MonAvenir. Je suis titulaire d’un diplôme en médecine et j’étais résident en chirurgie. Je me suis rendu compte que ma passion pour l’enseignement et le mentorat était plus grande que mon amour pour la chirurgie. J’ai alors décidé de poursuivre une carrière dans l’enseignement et je suis devenu enseignant de sciences au secondaire. 

Tout au long de ma carrière, j’ai travaillé avec des étudiants de diverses cultures et j’ai apprécié l’impact positif que l’éducation et le mentorat pouvaient avoir sur la vie des jeunes. En tant que membre du conseil d’administration de l’ACOSO, j’ai hâte d’avoir des opportunités et de surmonter les défis qui nous attendent. Je m’engage à travailler en collaboration avec les membres du conseil d’administration, le personnel et les bénévoles pour faire une différence positive dans la vie de ceux et celles que nous aurons l’occasion de servir.

Now is the time to nominate a deserving colleague for an OSCA award. Perhaps it is that person who has created a great resource that has allowed students to create their own pathway? Maybe you know a guidance counsellor who is the go-to person at your school? Perhaps a deserving community partner that provides excellent support for your school?

You have until September 26, 2024 at 4:00 PM to nominate someone, but why not do it now?
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Chacun et chacune de nous connaît un collègue innovateur, qui accomplit avec enthousiasme son travail auprès des élèves de son école. Pourquoi ne pas reconnaître leur contribution à notre profession en posant leur candidature à l’un des prix de l’ACOSO? Pour poser la candidature de quelqu’un, appuyez sur le lien de la mise en candidature. Toutes les mises en candidature doivent être soumises en ligne d’ici le 26 septembre 2024 à 4h.

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The Elmer Huff Award for Guidance and Career Education Resources

This award is presented in recognition of outstanding contribution to the career development of young people through the creation, development and delivery of high quality guidance and career education resources.

The Student Awards Nominations are here! Please nominate a deserving student today within the five Post Graduate Pathways:

• Apprenticeship,
• College,
• Community Living,
• University,
• Workplace. 
  
  Details can be found on the nomination form. 

The link is live on the OSCA website and you can access the nomination form through it. The nominations will close on May 6, 2024, so nominate a student today!

Save the Date...New Webinar Opportunity!
Where to Turn: A Look at the OSCA/ACOSO Ethical Guidelines
Tuesday, February 20 at 10:00 AM 

Join DPCDSB Guidance Coordinator and past OSCA Director, Martha Biagi, for a dive into the OSCA/ACOSO Ethical Guidelines, and ethical considerations for Ontario's Guidance Teacher-Counsellors. This session will include a look the topics below through the lens of guidance and career education:

• The counsellor-counselee relationship;
• Confidentiality;
• Cyber Ethics and Social Media;
• Mental Health;
• Equity & Diversity;
• Exploration of several real-life scenarios from the guidance office.

This session will explore a number of frequently asked questions that guidance teacher-counsellors have on a regular basis, and will aim to enhance your professional practice. We hope you will join us for this very informative webinar. Register Here!

Did you know there is a new link on the Ontario Colleges website that provides all this information?

Visit: ontariocolleges.ca > applying > skilled trades for lots of great information on the skill trades.

Toronto Metropolitan University
Thursday, February 8, 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Join us for a one-hour virtual session to connect with the TMU community!

Hear updates on our admissions cycle from Scott O'Neill, Director, Admissions and National Recruitment, and have your questions answered.

Learn from Sonny Wong, Career Counsellor in the Faculty of Arts, about what makes an arts degree valuable for future students.

We’re excited to be back in Toronto this spring, and to meet your students. This free event is for students who are considering their post-secondary options in Canada or abroad. Meet in-person with universities and colleges, attend seminars and win some great prizes.

Details: Sunday, March 3

Time: 1:00 PM – 5:00 PM, but arrive at 12:00 PM for the first seminar on scholarships

Location: Metro Toronto Convention Centre, North Building

Get ready to rise and shine! Meet us at the MaRS Discovery District in Toronto on March 26 for coffee and conversation with your colleagues and Western University. The event is designed to help you do what you do best: support your students to succeed.

Young people who are not in education, employment or training make up the NEET population. The age bracket of this group includes people under the age of 30 who struggle to enter or remain in the labour market because of multiple barriers. The International Labour Organization reports that youth have been disproportionally affected by the pandemic and face lingering impacts of supply chain disruptions and rising inflation. According to Statistics Canada, about 11 per cent of Canadians aged 15 to 29 were not in employment, education, or training in 2022. Here are a few resources on contextual data, government programs and organizations that career professionals can use to help young jobseekers succeed.

The Ministry of Education has updated the High School Graduation Requirements webpage to include a footnote about the compulsory Technological Education credit requirement effective September 2024 for students entering Grade 9.

- The magnitude and pace of Canada’s rising unemployment rate are consistent with trends observed during past recessions.
- Unlike prior recessions, though, the increase to-date has come without a surge in layoffs – it’s rather taking more time to absorb newly available workers as the population grows rapidly.
- But it’s students and new graduates rather than new arrivals to Canada that have been driving the increase.
- Roughly half of the 0.8 ppt increase in the unemployment rate since April has come from longer job searches for students and new graduates who weren’t previously in the labour force.

The bottom line: Longer job searches for students and new graduates have been a larger factor behind a higher unemployment rate in Canada to-date than layoffs or new arrivals from abroad. To date, the increase in unemployment has come without a net decline in employment counts. Unfortunately the slowdown is not over yet – we look for unemployment to continue to edge higher over the first half of 2024.

Hello OSCA/ACOSO Members,

I''ve worked for the Toronto Catholic District School Board for almost 20 years now, beginning as a secondary English and French teacher. For the last 15 years I''ve been fortunate to be able to support student learning and wellbeing in a guidance role in two different high schools. As a department head of Guidance and Special Education, I''m privileged to work with a group that puts equity, diversity and inclusion at the forefront. 

Over the years I''ve enjoyed being a part of school and school board communities, writing curriculum projects in the areas of volunteerism and resiliency, being a part of our school''s equity and literacy committees, coaching track and field and cross-country, and leading our school's Mental Health Action Team.  

Beyond my work in guidance, I also have an interest in French education. Growing up studying in a French language school led me, as an adult, to co-found and direct both a French tutoring organization and a not-for-profit aimed to support French learning. I also love reading, running and travelling when I get a chance!

As a long-standing and enthusiastic OSCA member, I''m new to the Board as of September 2023, and am happy to be part of the communications team. I''m thrilled to be involved with an association that I''ve relied on for my own professional education for so many years.
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Bonjour chers membres de l''OSCA/ACOSO,

Il y a maintenant presque 20 ans que je travaille pour le Toronto Catholic District School Board (Conseil scolaire catholique du district de Toronto). J''avais commencé comme enseignante d''anglais et de français au niveau secondaire. Au cours des 15 dernières années, j''ai eu la chance de soutenir l''apprentissage et le bien-être des élèves en tant que conseillère en orientation à deux écoles secondaires. En tant que chef du département d''orientation et de l''enfance en difficulté, j''ai le privilège de travailler avec un groupe qui priorise l''équité, la diversité et l''inclusion.

Au fil des années, j''ai aimé faire partie des communautés scolaires ainsi que celles des conseils scolaires. J''ai développé des projets pour le curriculum qui mettent en valeur le bénévolat et la résilience, fait partie des comités d''équité et de littératie de notre école, entrainé les équipes d''athlétisme et de course de fond et dirigé l''équipe d''action en santé mentale de notre école.

À part mon travail en orientation, je m''intéresse également à l''éducation en langue française. Je suis allée à l''école en français pendant mon enfance et, en tant qu''adulte, j''ai cofondé et dirigé pendant longtemps une organisation de tutorat en français ainsi qu''un organisme à but non lucratif visant à soutenir l''apprentissage du français. J''aime aussi lire, courir et voyager quand j''ai l''occasion !

Membre enthousiaste et de longue date de l''OSCA/ACOSO, je suis nouvelle au conseil d''administration depuis septembre 2023 et je suis heureuse de faire partie de l''équipe des communications. Je me suis fiée à cette association pour ma propre formation professionnelle depuis de nombreuses années et je suis ravie d''en faire partie.