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Allison McCaffrey
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May 2022 Message
Hello Colleagues I think we may confidently say that Spring has finally arrived. I trust your Easter break allowed you time to spend with those you love and to strengthen connections with family and friends. Though we were on break, the Government of Alberta was not, and they continued to push Bill 15 through the Legislature and it is currently at the second reading stage. This legislation is the Ministry’s way to break apart our Association by cleaving off the discipline function. The government continues to use easily disproved mistruths and misrepresentations as a rationale and continues to ignore the facts and the voices of teachers. Our determined advocacy (meeting with MLAs, voicing our displeasure on social media) is critical to stop this reckless bill from moving forward. To find out more, access the facts here www.teachers.ab.ca . Please encourage 5 friends to reach out to their MLA as well. Our battle on the curriculum front is also not finished, and we will continue to stand up for our students who deserve a curriculum that is supported by Alberta teachers, has the diverse voices of all Albertans (Indigenous, francophone, etc)., and has been fully piloted with well-written resources. Sadly, these minimal expectations are not what we have seen provided by this government and they are resistant to listening to teachers when it comes to this curriculum. Lack of resources, lack of professional development, lack of a strong pilot are just some of the areas that have not been supported by the government with the roll out of this draft curriculum. Colleagues, we must advocate for our students, we must advocate for ourselves, and we must advocate for fully funded public Catholic education. Keep voicing your concerns to this government – we cannot be silent now. Please see below some of the highlights from the last CSR as well as the ways you can have your voice heard regarding our profession and our Association. ONE PROFESSION UNITED As mentioned above we must be united to combat the relentless attack by the government on our Association. What can you do? Educate yourself on the issue. ATA Provincial has a thorough compilation of the issue, the background information and talking points about this matter. Go to www.teachers.ab.ca to access these documents. A brief overview can be viewed here . Contact your MLA – Write, call and request a meeting with your MLA and explain your concerns - you don’t have to be perfect, just be persistent. Consider going with a group of teachers from your school so you have collegial support. Feel free to reach out to the Local for support and we are always happy to join you in your visit. This fight is worth your time. ATA is renowned globally for being a leader as a professional organization as we foster a culture of professionalism and collegiality that focuses on what’s best for both students and teachers. Let’s not let this government change what has worked exceedingly well for close to 100 years. Come serve on an ATA Local 55 Committee Standing committee nomination forms are now available until May 24th, for all standing committees for the 2022-2024. Come be a part of the Local and join one of the 12 committees that develop programming to support members. Sign up here: www.atalocal55.ca/committees.html Conference and Workshop Funding Please note that there remains significant funding available to attend conferences, workshops and for tuition funding. Virtual and In-City Conferences/Workshops – $500 + up to 2 sub days In Province Conferences/Workshops – $1200 + up to 2 sub days Out-of-Province and International Conferences/Workshops – $2000 + up to 2 sub days Tuition - $500 for accredited courses Please note: You may apply for funding if you are an active member in good standing with the ATA, within a 5-month window of your conference start date. Please visit www.atalocal55.ca/funding.html for guidelines and applications. New Teacher Induction/Orientation – June 16th, 5:00 pm Are you a new teacher with CSSD within the last two years? We want to welcome and celebrate you at our New Teacher Induction/Orientation. Please register using this link so we can include you at our special evening on June 16th, at 5:00 pm at Blackfoot Inn. https://bit.ly/3LKVEsf Retirement Celebration Are you retiring this year? If so, please register with ATA Local 55, using this link https://bit.ly/39nQ3d0 so that we may celebrate this life event and deliver to you a special celebration package. PD Opportunity – Classroom Management – Beyond the Basics, May 11th, 4:15pm via Zoom There are still some spots available for this session. Sign up here: Sign up here: https://bit.ly/3yc4vPW #RedForEdAB Merchandise We continue to sell our merchandise to make wearing #RedForEdAB on Fridays easier. If you would like to purchase, simply go to https://bit.ly/3lqEsxf to place your order. Join your colleagues in donning your red apparel on Fridays and tagging @atalocal55 on our social media channels for your chance to win one of our weekly coffee cards. It’s so great to see so many of you showing your support for fully funded Catholic Education. CSR Highlights Members asked if they could have a summary of the items discussed at the Council of School Representatives (CSR) meeting. You can access this document for the April 26, 2022 meeting by following this link: www.atalocal55.ca/csr-highlights.html In closing, know that I appreciate the work you do and the kindness you show every day to your students, your colleagues and yourself. Please ensure you take time to enjoy the beautiful weather. Know that we are always available at the Local should you wish to reach out. Peace and blessings, Allison McCaffrey
President Calgary Catholic Teachers’ ATA Local 55 |
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