Looking for GO Conference Participants!!

Hi Teacher Candidates! 

The Gifted Outreach (GO) Conference takes place each May. This year's date will be Friday, May 8, 2020.  It is an amazing opportunity for teacher candidates. Not only does it allow you to plan an interactive learning session geared towards Grade 4 to 8 gifted students within Simcoe County, but it allows you to work in collaboration with SCDSB staff to plan the conference itself! This allows you to gain valuable skills, knowledge and training that can be applied when working with gifted students and is a great asset to have on any resume. The GO conference is not only a fun day, but it is a highly enriching process for all involved.

Check out this amazing video highlighting from previous conferences: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5NYBXs8YFYzUXpzSFdOQ2V0RTg/view?usp=sharing

If you have passed your practicum(s), the Math Competency Exam and all your courses, and are interested in working with your peers to create a workshop for this conference, you can sign up by contacting Elizabeth Thomas (sethoma1@lakeheadu.ca) or Denise Calvert (dcalvert@lakeheadu.ca) by Friday, January 10th, 2020.

The GO Conference will require students to participate in information and training prior to the event. Dates and times to follow. 

Participants will receive Co-Curricular Record credit! 

What more could you ask for?! Sign up!  

Teach In Buckinghamshire Partnership

If interested in this exciting opportunity, please register here: https://teachin.ca/register/

Below please find videos from current Teachers and Principals:  

Canadian teachers welcomed in Buckinghamshire

Teach In Buckinghamshire, UK

YR 2 BEd Students - Professional Development Winter Sessions

Attention YR2 BEd Students,

The PD winter 2020 sessions will be done virtually by you working with your peers. 

Please refer to the email sent to you on Tuesday, December 10th, 2019 for additional information.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. Enjoy your holidays!

Caroline and Denise

YR 1 BEd Students - Professional Development Winter Sessions on January 8, 15 and 22, 2020

YR1 Professional Development Winter Sessions

January 8, 2020

     Cohorts A - F via Zoom

     Students were sent the PPLP template and will be sent further information to participate.

January 15, 2020

     Cohorts A, B and C at Geneva Event Centre from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm

     Registration is at 9 am (morning session) and 12:30 pm (afternoon session) 

     Topics - Ontario Teachers' Federation(OTF) presentation and Mental Health Strategy

January 22, 2020

     Cohorts D, E and F at Geneva Event Centre from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm

     Registration is at 9 am (morning session) and 12:30 pm (afternoon session) 

     Topics - Ontario Teachers' Federation(OTF) presentation and Mental Health Strategy

Have a good holiday and see you next year!

YR 2 BEd Students - M.Ed Program Information Session on Tuesday, January 21st, 2020

Interested in pursuing your M.Ed degree after graduation?  Come and learn more about the program Orillia has to offer at an information session to be held in Orillia Council Chambers on: Tues. Jan. 21st from 1:00-2:30pm. This is an opportunity to meet students currently in the program who will speak about their experiences.

Please RSVP to Dr. Mastrangelo at  smastran@lakeheadu.ca by Jan. 14, 2020.

Upcoming Grad Photo Sessions

Graduation photographs in Orillia will take place at the following locations in March:

Heritage Place Commons: March 4th - March 6th, 2020

Orillia Campus - Residence 1st Floor Social Lounge (OR 1009): March 9th - March 11th, 2020

Spaces fill up very quickly so book early!

You must have your photo taken to appear in your Graduating Class Composite.  

You must also sign up online to book your appointment:

To do so follow these 2 easy steps:

1. visit http://www.lassmanstudios.com/dcs_sched/
2. enter lakehead in the school ID to access the schedules (click on 2020)

Find a time that is convenient for you and book it.

Included in the sitting fee are a set of unique poses from which you can view/order online and a digital copy of your class composite. Both traditional grad portraits as well as some fun style shots (if desired) will be taken.  

Gowns, roses, mortarboard, graduating hoods, etc. will be provided on the day of your shoot.

You can also choose from over 25 different backgrounds!  Don't miss this great opportunity for Professional Graduation Portraits!

Thank you,

Lakehead University Bookstore (Orillia)

Apply to Education Profile

Good Afternoon B.Ed Students Hoping To Graduate in June 2020,

Have you heard of www.applytoeducation.com?

This website and the profile you create on it will serve to be an indispensable tool, in your search for Teaching Opportunities in Canada. 215 Canadian School Boards & 299 Private Employers use "apply to education" to post their jobs and receive applications online. Since 1998, ApplyToEducation has helped applicants apply to over 5,500 schools in 49 countries. ApplyToEducation software simplifies how you manage your employment applications throughout your career in Education. One application portfolio in your personal cloud, gives you the ability to easily apply to: Employers Job postings Daily assignments Long-term openings (i.e. maternity leaves) Permanent openings Share your portfolio electronically with employers you’re interested in applying to Apply to education is the best way to send your application portfolio to employers for the following reasons: YOU SAVE TIME APPLYING: You fill out ONE application and use it for every job you apply to You can customize your cover letter for each job you apply to You can update your application portfolio as often as you like Employers always see the latest version of your application portfolio YOU SAVE MONEY SENDING YOUR APPLICATION: Save time and the costs associated with photocopying, mailing, faxing and updating your application throughout your career. applytoeducation is less expensive than paying for multiple transcripts, photocopies, mailing or faxing an application portfolio. Use applytoeducation to e-courier your application portfolio to unlimited jobs with one school board and private employers YOU RECEIVE EMAILS ALERTING YOU TO JOBS YOU ARE INTERESTED IN: Search education jobs and set up a 'Job Alert' so you are emailed when jobs you are interested in are posted. School Board job postings can be viewed at any time free of charge. applytoeducation not only saves you time — it saves you money. We encourage all of you to review the benefits of the creation of a profile on this website.

Festivus for the rest of us

Festivus will be held in the Orillia Simcoe Hall cafeteria (500 University Ave, Orillia, ON).

The four reasons you should ditch that leftover Halloween candy!

The four reasons you should ditch that leftover Halloween candy!



By: Alison Parsons, Wellness Centre Naturopathic Doctor

Refined sugars reduce your immune function. Added sugars (not the naturally occurring sugars in fruit or honey) in foods can hinder the ability of your white blood cells to fight off bacteria and viruses. Eating as little as 1 teaspoon (or 5 grams) of refined sugar can reduce your immune function for a few hours. Not ideal during cold and flu season!


Food colourings/dyes can negatively affect your memory and focus. There are a lot of sugary treats (and other foods) out there that contain food grade dyes. These are marked as “safe for consumption” but aren’t without negative effects on our body such as negatively affecting memory and causing problems with focus, restlessness and symptoms of ADHD. Read ingredient labels and avoid anything that lists artificial colouring or more specifically blue #1 or #2, yellow #6, red  #3 or #40, caramel colour, green #3, FD&C (may be a combination of colours).


Overconsumption of refined sugars can lead to overeating and weight gain. Sugar – also seen on labels as glucose, fructose, sucrose, barley malt, high fructose corn syrup, and dextrose – can increase levels of our hunger-promoting hormone Ghrelin. By increasing Ghrelin our brains continue to tell us we’re hungry even when we’ve already eaten and should feel satiated.


Too much sugar can affect your quality of sleep. Spiking blood sugar levels (from late night candy indulgences) can impair your body’s ability to fall asleep by leaving you feeling “tired but wired”. It can also cause more frequent waking in the night as it increases thirst and frequency of urination. Later into the night as your blood sugar crashes (which it inevitably will if you’ve had lots of sugar and haven’t paired it with any protein to help stabilize your blood sugar) you may experience night sweats, nightmares, chills, clammy skin and/or headaches.   


If you struggle with any of the above symptoms or are having trouble ditching the sugar from your diet (if you haven’t noticed it’s highly addictive!), book in with our campus Naturopathic Doctor. It’s free for all students to access and your appointment can be booked through the Wellness Centre by calling 705-330-4008 ext. 2116 or by stopping by OR 1015.

A Visit With Robert R. Brown - Author of Wealthing Like Rabbits

REMINDER - TimePlan Education Campus Visit - Thursday, October 31st, 2019

TimePlan Education are coming to Lakehead Orillia and are looking for teachers for Scotland, England and Wales!

Where: Heritage Place Hallway

When: October 31st, 2019 from 10am – 2pm

EdTalent Job Fair 2019

YR 2 Students - Orillia Information Sessions: International Teaching Placements 2020

If you were unable to attend the meeting today via Zoom, there will be another opportunity on Wednesday, October 30, 2019 from 2:30-3:30pm.  
Zoom Link - https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/278362943

Please visit the link for additional information regarding international placements - International Teaching Placement Opportunities

Fall Textbook Returns - Get Your Books Before They Go

Year 1 Lesson Planning Drop-in Sessions

Hello Year 1 students,

As you prepare for placement, you can make use of the lesson-planning drop-in sessions which are available on the following dates:

Thursday, October 24th

8:30-12:30 in the boardroom

8:30-3:00 in the Commons

Monday, October 28th

8:30 to 12:30 in the boardroom

8:30-3:00 in the Commons

Thursday October 31st

8:30-3:00 in the boardroom

8:30-3:00 p.m in the Commons

Caroline and Denise

REMINDER - YR 2 Students - Orillia Information Sessions: International Teaching Placements 2020

REMINDER -- Year 2 Students - M.Ed Program Information Session - Thursday October 24th, 2019

Good Afternoon Year 2 (of 2 Year B.Ed Program) Students,

Are you interested in pursuing an M.Ed degree? 

Are you wondering about the admissions process and course offerings at Lakehead?  If yes, this information session is for you. 

Come and join us on Thurs. Oct. 24th from 12:30-2pm (Room 10 Heritage Place) for an information session about the M.Ed program. This is an opportunity to also hear from recent graduates of the program (thesis, portfolio and course routes).

Please RSVP to Dr. Sonia Mastrangelo at smastran@lakeheadu.ca by Tues. Oct. 22nd, 2019.

REMINDER - Step Teachers Campus Visit - Thursday, October 24th, 2019

Loom Beading Workshop - Saturday, October 26, 2019 - CANCELED

The Loom Beading workshop that was scheduled for Saturday, October 26, 2019 has been canceled. 

Please continue to monitor this blog for the rescheduled date.

We apologize for any inconvenience.  

TimePlan Education Campus Visit - Thursday, October 31st, 2019

TimePlan Education are coming to Lakehead Orillia and are looking for teachers for Scotland, England and Wales!

Where: Heritage Place Hallway

When: October 31st, 2019 from 10am – 2pm

Step Teachers Campus Visit - Thursday, October 24th, 2019

REMINDER - Graduate Studies Heritage Place Campus Visit - TODAY

Lakehead University Orillia students: Lakehead Grad Studies will be in the Heritage Place hallway today from 10am - approx. 3pm.  

Stop by their table to discuss exciting programming options!  

REMINDER -- Year 2 Students - M.Ed Program Information Session - Thursday October 24th, 2019

Good Afternoon Year 2 (of 2 Year B.Ed Program) Students,

Are you interested in pursuing an M.Ed degree? 

Are you wondering about the admissions process and course offerings at Lakehead?  If yes, this information session is for you. 

Come and join us on Thurs. Oct. 24th from 12:30-2pm (Room 10 Heritage Place) for an information session about the M.Ed program. This is an opportunity to also hear from recent graduates of the program (thesis, portfolio and course routes).

Please RSVP to Dr. Sonia Mastrangelo at smastran@lakeheadu.ca by Tues. Oct. 22nd, 2019.

#1 School in England Hiring in November

Hello!

Are you a graduating elementary or high school teacher looking to teach internationally? 

Who is coming to hire you??

   1.  A UK Principal from London's top high school with an average of 96% A-C (very academic).  They will be looking for elementary and high schools teachers who are passionate and knowledgeable about their subject area and ready to begin their career in a thriving academic school.  

  2.  A UK Principal who oversees a dynamic group of Elementary schools (one of which is outstanding on inspection) who is looking for elementary teachers who are excited to join a dedicated team of teachers who excel in meeting the needs of a diverse student population.

If you are looking to secure a full time teaching position in England for January or September 2020, we would love to invite you to our event this weekend! 

Not 100% sure this is something that you want?  Come meet the team, meet the Principals and sit in on our information sessions to learn more about your options.

To become involved or get more information, email us back at aurelia@aureliaeducation.com

Event Information

   Toronto: November 1st and 2nd

   Niagara: November 3rd

Who: UK Headteachers (Principals)

What: Full time Teaching Jobs

Locations of schools: London

Who are we??

We are Aurelia Education: a team of Canadian qualified teachers passionate about helping other teachers find full time teaching roles in England.  We have built a strong community of teachers in England so you will have an instant social and professional network of teachers there to support you in your adventure.  Learn more about us, our unique process and our teachers at aureliaeducation.com.  We are here to help you every step of the way!

Why Canadians??

These UK schools value the Canadian Education Teacher training.  They are forward thinking schools that appreciate the different perspective that Canadian teachers bring to their schools.  The passion Canadian teachers have for teaching is also second to none!

How do I get involved??

Secure an interview spot by contacting us at aurellia@aureliaeducation.com.  The first step is to arrange a time to speak to one of our consultants so we can help answer your questions and prepare you for your interview.

Looking for more information?  

Don't hesitate to contact us at aurelia@aureliaeducation.com to speak with us.  We were in your shoes at one point as well and can answer your questions. :)

Not London?  

We have a number of academic environments looking to appoint candidates throughout England.  Every school will offer a different experience so it's helpful for us if you know what you want!!

Looking forward to hearing from you,

The Aurelia Team

Student Appreciation Day Survey

Hi Heritage Place BEd Students!

Please take a couple of minutes and complete the Student Appreciation Day survey - https://forms.gle/4yUuQNqDxKJG3uxj8 
Your feedback is important to us, and highly appreciated.   

Thank you!

REMINDER -- Randstad Education Campus Visit - Tuesday, October 15th, 2019

Randstad Education will be on campus on Tuesday, October 15th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Stop by their table in the HP hallway to learn about the many teaching opportunities they have available.

Graduate Studies Heritage Place Campus Visit - Thursday, October 17, 2019

Lakehead University Orillia students: Lakehead Grad Studies will be in the Heritage Place hallway on Thursday, October 17th from 10am - approx. 3pm.  Stop by their table to discuss exciting programming options.  

Step Teachers Campus Visit - Thursday, October 24th, 2019

YR 2 Students - Orillia Information Sessions: International Teaching Placements 2020

Ministry of Education Purchased Math and Science ExploreLearning Gizmos

~Forwarding a Message from the Ministry of Education~

The Ministry of Education has purchased access to ExploreLearning Gizmos (www.ExploreLearning.com) for all grade 7-12 math, science and special education teachers and teacher candidates to use in their classrooms.  Gizmos are correlated to the Ontario curriculum and can be accessed through school board D2L platforms.

To gain access to their personalized usernames and passwords please have them contact me directly.

Please email me at any time with questions, for support and professional development opportunities.

Ministry Contact Information:

Saarah Broadbent
Senior Implementation Coordinator

Professional DevelopmentExploreLearning
866-882-4141 x 287 (toll-free)

613-930-1414 (direct)
877-829-3039(fax)
saarah.broadbent@explorelearning.com

Experience Math and Science with ExploreLearning GizmosLearn more at http://www.explorelearning.com

ExploreLearning Reflex: Math Fact Fluency – Problem Solved!

Learn more at http://www.reflexmath.com

ExploreLearning Science4Us: It’s never too early to learn science!

Learn more at http://www.science4us.com

Randstad Education Campus Visit - Tuesday, October 15th, 2019

Randstad Education will be on campus on Tuesday, October 15th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Stop by their table in the HP hallway to learn about the many teaching opportunities they have available.

Availability of Math Peer Tutoring Progam

In preparation for the next LU Math Competency Exam on Thursday, March 19th, 2020, Lakehead University's Faculty of Education will be organizing our annual Peer Tutoring program. 

If you were successful in the recent Math Competency Exam and would like to tutor a fellow B.Ed Professional year student, please contact Emily Asselin at enasseli@lakeheadu.ca . Your work will be recognized as a co-curricular activity and will be so noted on your transcript.  

If you are currently paired up and supporting the math learning of a teacher candidate please contact Emily and she will document your participation.

If, on the other hand, you are looking for assistance in developing your Math understanding, this may be the answer for you. If you would like to be paired with a peer tutor, please contact Emily at enasseli@lakeheadu.ca

If you have any questions about this program, please do not hesitate to contact Sharon Malyczewsky at smalycze@lakeheadu.ca or Emily Asselin.

Cancelled - Randstad Education Campus Visit - Tuesday, October 1, 2019

Unfortunately, the visit today has been cancelled.  Please continue to visit the blog for the rescheduled date.  

Year 2 Students - M.Ed Program Information Session - Thursday October 24th, 2019

Good Afternoon Year 2 (of 2 Year B.Ed Program) Students,

Are you interested in pursuing an M.Ed degree? 

Are you wondering about the admissions process and course offerings at Lakehead?  If yes, this information session is for you. 

Come and join us on Thurs. Oct. 24th from 12:30-2pm (Room 10 Heritage Place) for an information session about the M.Ed program. This is an opportunity to also hear from recent graduates of the program (thesis, portfolio and course routes).

Please RSVP to Dr. Sonia Mastrangelo at smastran@lakeheadu.ca by Tues. Oct. 22nd, 2019.

Year 2 Students - Professional Development Session - Wednesday, October, 2nd 2019 (Federation Day)

Greetings,

Hope all is well with you. This is just a reminder about the PD session at the Geneva Centre on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019. 

Sign-in begins from 8:30 a.m. for a prompt start at 9 a.m.- 12:15 p.m. This session includes Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF), Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO), Qualifications Evaluation Council of Ontario (QECO) and the Ontario English Catholic Teachers' Association (OECTA) which are all relevant to you as future teachers. They will be providing very important information.

There are normal classes in the afternoon. See you there.

Student Appreciation Day - Monday, October 7, 2019

Clarification on Timeline for Starting Your OCT Online Application (Year 1)

Good Morning Students in Year 1 of our 2 Year B.Ed Program,

We have received many questions surrounding "how soon is too soon" for starting your Ontario College of Teachers (OCT) online application when you are only 4 weeks into Year 1 of the 2 Year B.Ed studies.  Following this morning's update regarding the provincially required Math Proficiency Test (MPT), we wanted to send out some tips that will assist you in starting the OCT certification application process. 

If you intend on taking advantage of the EQAO field test opportunity offered in January, you will need an OCT application number. We encourage all Year 1 (of 2 Year B.Ed program) students to start this process as soon as you can. If you have already started the online application and have your pending OCT #, you are in great shape.

For those who have not yet started the process, there is a really great YouTube clip that provides you with a step by step guide to how to navigate the online application. The video can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0aoL3K6wfQ

TIPS about the OCT application:

• Please indicate an anticipated completion date of: April 30th, 2021
• You do not have to supply all of your required supporting documents (to make the application complete) right away - you can work on it over a period of time before you graduate
• You do not have to pay your certification fee right away to be provided with a pending OCT # - this too is something you can work on it over a period of time before you graduate 
• Your pending OCT# does not change  

 As EQAO makes new information available, the Faculty of Education will be sure to share it with you.    

YEAR 1 Students - Clarification PD On October 2nd, 2019

Attention Year 1 Students,

Please note that there will be no planned PD held on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019.

Important News - Provincial Math Test

To All Students in the B.Ed Professional Program:

This is an update on what we know about the provincially-mandated teacher math exam—called the Math Proficiency Test (MPT)—that you will be required to complete in order to become a full member of the Ontario College of Teachers (OCT), after completing your degree.  

• The EQAO will prepare and grade the exam. 
• They are currently developing the test format, sample questions, and associated resources for preparing for the exam. 
• The EQAO does plan on having sample modules for the test prepared in early November. 
• These will be available online and provide feedback on your results. 

To access these modules, and the test itself, you will need to have an OCT number. Our strong advice is to start the application process as soon as possible. Please go to https://www.oct.ca/becoming-a-teacher

The EQAO will run a voluntary field-test of the exam in January. At the time of writing, the OCT and EQAO are allowing students in both Year One and Year Two to take the field-test.

We highly recommend you sit this field-test, for three reasons:

• If you are successful on the field-test, this will count as meeting the requirement of the College. (Yes, you read that right: if you write the practice exam, and you are successful, EQAO will recommend you to the College as having successfully written the MPT!)
• If you are unsuccessful, no record is kept of the result.
• The field-test will help you gain insight to the kinds of questions that will be on the exam just by writing the field-test. 
• The EQAO will give you feedback on your performance—so this should help you prepare for the actual MPT.

Other Important Information: 

• There will be no fee to write the field-test in January. 
• At this time we do not expect to have much involvement with the administration of the field-test; it is being run by the EQAO, and we believe it will likely involve a university setting for ease of access and organization. 
• The faculty will not be involved in setting up the exam.
• We expect the first sitting of the exam itself to take place in April, which again will be free. 
• A third sitting of the test is planned for July.

The government of Ontario has made the decision to proceed with this test. Given the government’s decision, the Deans of all Faculties of Education in Ontario have asked that the implementation of the test be delayed until it can be properly developed and organized, and administered in an equitable manner.

To date there has been no indication that the test will be delayed, and we recommend you start the process to get an OCT number, and to prepare to write the field-test in January.

Loom Beading Workshop - Saturday, October 26, 2019

Free Craft Supplies For Teachers

A local group called Grandmothers to Grandmothers organizes an annual fundraiser, and they are giving away all unbought fabric, yarn, crafts, scissors, etc to any local teachers. The event is this Saturday, Sept. 28th from 9am - 12pm at St Paul's Church.

Year 2 Planned PD on Wednesday October 2nd, 2019 & Make Up Class Days in November 2019 - Please Read

Good day Year 2 of 2 Year B.Ed Students,

This is a reminder regarding the planned PD session for all Year 2 students on Wednesday, October 2nd, 2019 at the Geneva Event Center.

The Agenda:

     

     9:00 – 9:45                           OTF (Ontario Teachers Federation) Presenter Lindy Amato
     9:45 – 10:30                         ETFO (Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario) Presenter Corrine Scarfo
     10:30 – 11:15                       QECO (Qualifications Evaluation Council of Ontario) Presenter Olga Aabna
     11:15 – 12:00                       OECTA (Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association) Presenter Lyn Vause

Please Note:

Only those Year 2 students hoping to teach in Catholic School Boards for employment after graduation should stay for the 11:15-12:00 session.

The short PD event means that all Oct 2nd, 2019 afternoon EDUC classes will take place as scheduled that afternoon. (all sections of EDUC 4370)

Which in turn, means no need for the booked Make up Day scheduled on Tuesday, Nov 5th, 2019.

Expectation Regarding Calendared Make Up Day in November 6th, 2019:

It is important to remember that all Year 2 students will still be required to attend classes on Wednesday, Nov 6th, 2019 to make up for the Monday lost due to Thanksgiving. Wednesday, November 6th, 2019 will run on a MONDAY class schedule.

Education Exchange Newsletter - September 2019 Issue

The Faculty of Education is pleased to share the latest issue of the Education Exchange Newsletter.  

Read the September 2019 issue here.