Chair's Video Message

Hello everyone. We've been dealing with many weather-related issues in the past week. In tonight's video I share some of the concerns expressed by many of you. In addition, I can offer the following information:

1)  Details on the status of the campus can be found here:https://www.lakeheadu.ca/about/orillia-campus/weather

2)  Detailed policy on campus closure/class cancellation can be found here:https://www.lakeheadu.ca/faculty-and-staff/policies/general/campus-closure-class-cancellation-policy

3)  Safety tips can be found here:https://www.lakeheadu.ca/about/orillia-campus/weather/winter-safety-tips

I'm asking everyone, instructors and teacher candidates, to develop an emergency plan in case of inclement weather. For some teacher candidates this will mean making childcare, overnight or alternate transportation arrangements, and for others it will mean setting up a digi-buddy who can use Skype or Google Hangout to connect them with the classroom. It is your decision.

The bottom line is that it is up to each individual instructor and student to respond to inclement weather and if an individual has to miss a class, that individual should be prepared to work through the consequences.

Attendance is expected but not graded, and any teacher candidate who is absent for any reason needs to notify the instructor. This will likely mean that the teacher candidate may experience gaps in learning; it is each teacher candidate's responsibility to close the gap. Absences should be reserved for emergency situations. Missed classes due to inclement weather, like all absences, will not be an accepted reason why program requirements are not met.

Here's a link to the video: https://youtu.be/FT_FspN_Fic

Share it with your cohort!

And here's one more message from the organizers of the Gifted Conference, for anyone who has passed the Math Competency Exam and was successful in the first practicum: Are you interested in signing up for the Gifted Outreach Conference? It isn't too late! Contact Liz Breton (elbreton@lakeheadu.ca) or Chloe Verner (ceverner@lakeheadu.ca) to sign up! You will be required to attend 3 sessions (Jan 20, Feb 3 & March 9 all at 5PM) to plan a conference session alongside another teacher candidate partner. You'll meet SCDSB board officials, teachers and gifted students! You also get a great certificate to add to your resume and portfolio! Contact Liz or Chloe ASAP for more information and to register! 

Have a great week everyone!

REMINDER - Frost Week Event: Top 10 Online Tools For Teachers - Thursday January 14, 2016

Don't forget to visit the Heritage Place library today and check out the online educational resources event. The event will be available all day!!

Availability of Math Brush Up Sessions - Before March 17th, 2016 Exam Sitting

Good Day Professional Program B.Ed Students,

The Faculty of Education here at the Orillia campus, has scheduled "brush up" sessions that will take place before the compulsory Math Competency Exam on Thursday March 17th, 2016.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT THESE SESSIONS:

• These sessions are ONLY for students who have been working on their math content knowledge. These sessions are designed to give those students who have been working on their math knowledge a chance to practice problem solving prior to the exam.
• These are not workshops designed to TEACH you math.
• It is not possible for us to teach all the relevant math you will need for the exam in one or two sessions (and you will find these sessions more confusing than helpful).
• However, if you have been working on your math, or feel confident about your math understanding, these sessions will provide you with an opportunity for some extra practice.  

If you have a specific type of math question, please bring it with you.
The workshop facilitator will do their best to address it.

When Are The "Brush Up" Sessions?

DATE: Monday March 7, 2016

TIME: 2:30-4:30pm

ROOM: OH04

DATE: Friday March 11, 2016

TIME: 10:30am - 12:30pm

ROOM: OH04

How Do I Sign Up?

We would ask that any B.Ed student wishing to attend either session, plan to visit the Education Administration Office in Heritage Place, to sign up.

There is limited space in both sessions, so students are encouraged sign up soon.

Information on Student Success Centre Services - Orillia

If you have any questions, please visit www.lakeheadu.ca/ssc-orillia

Availability of Math Mock Exam Dates (February and March 2016)

Good Morning B.Ed Professional Program Students,

For those of you who will be writing our second sitting of the Math Competency Exam on March 17, 2016, we have arranged for several dates to hold math "mock exams", to help you prepare for your next attempt.

The dates for the Math Mock Exams are outlined below.

Consecutive (2 Year Program) Student Mock Exam Writing Dates:

• Monday Feb 8th, 2016 - from 5-7 in OH8 and OH10
• Monday Feb 29, 2016 - from 5-7 in OH8 and OH10

NOTE: Students registered in EDUC 3519 YBO have class on Mondays at these times.  Your instructor will communicate a plan to allow you to take advantage of a practice exam, in class.

Concurrent (1 Year Program) Student Mock Exam Writing Dates:

• Wednesday Feb 10, 2016 - from 5-7 in OH04 and OH7
• Wednesday Mar 2, 2016 - from 5-7 in OH04 and OH7

Should you wish to sign up for any of these dates to write a practice exam, please sign up in The Education Administration Office.

REMINDER: Building Futures - Compulsory Event for all 1 Year B.Ed Students - January 20th, 2016

Good Morning 1 Year B.Ed Students,

This email is a reminder that Lakehead University will be hosting the Ministry of Education's Building Futures event on Wednesday January 20th, 2016.
This event provides you with an excellent opportunity to learn about the ministry's newest initiatives, policies and programs, participate in practical face-to-face workshops, exchange with ministry staff and hear from interactive panel discussions.
All 1 Year B.Ed students are required to attend.

All Professional Year B.Ed classes are cancelled on January 20th, 2016 and will be made up on Monday March 14th, 2016 - which will follow a WEDNESDAY class schedule.

Registration - Day Of The EventA registration table will be set up in the Heritage Place hallway, just outside of the library closest to Council Chambers.
As you may remember, we asked you to register online for the 3 workshops you will attend, back in October 2015 - before heading out to your Fall Placement.

If you registered online, you would have received an email confirmation of your workshop selections.  If you did not receive a confirmation, please email buildingfutures@ontario.ca to request a copy of your confirmation.  It is important that you include your name, Faculty and the date of the event in the email.    
Please arrange to print that confirmation email and bring it with you, on Wednesday January 20th, 2016, when you report to the registration table in Heritage Place between 8:15 and 8:30am.

If you are a handful of students who did not complete their workshop registration online, you are required to make your workshop selections at the Registration Table, between 8:15 and 8:30am.

Lunch Break - Day Of The EventStudents will be given a lunch break between 11:30 and 12:30pm, with workshops resuming immediately following lunch.
It is a good idea to plan to bring a brown bag lunch on the day of the event, to ensure that you are back on campus for the afternoon workshops.

Parking - Day Of The EventAs always, there is absolutely no student parking on campus at Heritage Place.
If you have secured a monthly parking pass from the City of Orillia for one of the designated parking lots, those will be honored as usual.
If you have not, it will be up to you to locate parking in the downtown area, using an available municipal parking lot. (see: http://www.orillia.ca/en/livinginorillia/resources/mapofparkinglots.pdf)

We look forward to seeing all of you there.

A Message From Dr. Ruth Beatty - Family (Math) Games Night

Below, you will find a message from Dr. Ruth Beatty about an upcoming incredible opportunity.

Hello Everyone!

I have very exciting news! This term we will be partnering with the SCDSB to design and run Family (Math) Games Nights in local schools. These will be evening workshops to which parents and their children will come to participate in math games and learn about fun ways to practice math concepts at home.

We are looking for students to volunteer to work in teams to design and run these workshops. We will be partnering with three SCDSB resource teachers, Kit Luce, Lisa Boate, and Paulyne Casselman, who will be working with you to design the evenings. We'll also be working with Dean Maltby, the Principal of Program for the SCDSB. 

At the end of this term, participating students will receive a certificate of recognition and a letter for their portfolio.

We have scheduled two times to meet next Friday January 15th. Please come to whichever meeting is convenient for you. The first will be held from 10:30 - 11:30 and the second from 2:30-3:30 in OH07. During this meeting we will introduce the SCDSB resource teachers, brainstorm activities, and figure out dates and times for the workshops.

If you are interested in taking advantage of this incredible opportunity please sign up at the Education Office.
If you have any questions don't hesitate to email me rbeatty@lakeheadu.ca.