Edmonton Public Teachers Local No. 37

Economic Policy Committee By-Election - Representative-at-Large - March 10, 2010

If you are a teacher in the bargaining unit who is interested in seeking improvements to the Collective Agreement, please consider standing for election to the Local's 2008-2011 Economic Policy Committee. Deadline for submission of nomination forms is Wednesday, March 10, 2010, 4:30 pm. A nomination form is available here. For more information, contact Deb Davidson, Executive Assistant, at the Local's office (780-455-2164).

The Spring Retirement Seminar will be held on Saturday, March 13, 2010 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. Registration is $15 per person. Return completed registration forms and payment to the Local's office prior to March 5, 2010. 

The Service to Members' Committee is hosting a Resume Writing Workshop on Tuesday, March 16, 2010. The session will begin at 4:30 pm in Room 140 at Barnett House. To pre-register, contact the Local's office by phone (780-455-2164) or email.  

Substitute Teachers' Appreciation Week - March 15-19, 2010

Each year, the ATA designates one week as Substitute Teachers' Appreciation Week.  Locals and schools are encouraged to organize events during this week that recognize the contributions of substitute teachers.

Student Art - April 8, 2010

Each year six pieces of student art are selected to be framed and displayed in the Local office for one year. After one year the framed artwork is returned to the student. The pieces are selected from work submitted to Art Services at the Centre for Education. The deadline is April 8, 2010. More information is available on the poster.

Dance Lessons - April 13, 2010

Get out and join in some free dance lessons. Learn to salsa, meringue and bachata! No partner required. Dance lessons run for six consecutive dates beginning April 13, 2010 from 7:00-8:00 pm in Room 140 at Barnett House. Subsequent lessons are on April 20, April 27, May 4, May 11, and May 18. Pre-register for all six sessions with the Local's office (780-455-2164; email) by March 26, 2010.

Teachers' Time-Out - April 16, 2010

Please join your colleagues at the next Teachers' Time-Out on Friday, April 16, 2010 in the Cafeteria at Barnett House. The festivities begin at 4:00 pm! The next Time-Out is on Friday, June 4, 2010.

Bids for Kids - April 16, 2010

The PSAA 22nd Annual Bids for Kids will be held Friday, April 16, 2010 at the Edmonton Marriott Hotel at River Cree Casino & Resort. More information is available on the website. 

Financial Planning Seminar - April 19, 2010

Leslie Preece of Capital Estate Planning will present an overview of financial planning including basics of saving, budget and tax-free savings accounts. The session will be held in the Barnett House Auditorium from 7:00-8:30 pm on Monday, April 19, 2010. To register complete and return the form.

West Edmonton Mall Waterpark - April 24, 2010

The Social Committee has booked the Waterpark once again on April 24, 2010. Tickets are $5 each (2 & under free). Please return the completed form with payment to the Local's office. 

Education Week - April 25-May 1, 2010

This year the theme for Education Week is Education: The Heart of Our Communities. More information is available here.

The Local has joined forces with the Little Big Run team for this year's Big Run Event. We are encouraging teams of teachers to sign up and enter a team to run or walk on Sunday morning (May 30, 2010). Everyone in your family is welcome to participate. Profits support the work of the "Run, Jump & Throw" program. Check out the Little Big Run website for more details and how to register.  

Retiring Teachers' Banquet - June 11, 2010

The Retiring Teachers' Banquet is on Friday, June 11, 2010 at the Crowne Plaza Chateau Lacombe. Retirees receive two complimentary tickets; additional tickets can be purchased at a cost of $65 each. Please inform the Local's office (780-455-2164 or email) if you are retiring or know of someone on your staff that is retiring this year. We depend on our representatives to provide us with the most accurate information as the Board does not always share this information.

The Annual Charity Golf Tournament will be held Friday, August 27, 2010 at Raven Crest Golf and Country Club. Registration cost before June 1st is $75 per golfer and after June 1st is $90 per golfer. Please return the completed form with payment to the Local's office. 

The ATA Educational Trust is a registered charitable organization, closely affiliated with the Alberta Teachers' Association and supported by annual donations from local teacher associations, retired teachers and other individual groups or persons wishing to improve the teaching practice in Alberta public schools.Each year the Trust offers three categories of awards (1) $500 bursaries, (2) $300 conference grants and (3) $1,000 to $3,000 project grants. In addition, the Trust offers, through the University of Alberta, the Orest and Francina Lazarowich $1,000 Bursary in Technology Education for third-year education students enrolled in the UofA's CTS program. The deadline for bursaries and project grants is May 1, 2010. More information on how to apply and deadlines is available on the ATA's website.

Revised Curriculum Schedule

The dates for the implementation of five areas of curriculum have been revised as of December 1, 2009. The decision to adjust the dates was based on stakeholder feedback during Alberta Education's value review, priority-setting and curriculum redesign project, which is in its early stages. The English and French revised Implementation Schedule for Programs of Study and Related Activities 2009-2010 and the accompanying Quick Reference Provincial Implementation Dates (2008-2009) are now posted on the Alberta Education website. To view the entire article see page 8 of the most recent PD E-News.