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Register for OCSTA’s 85th AGM and Conference

Where: Sheraton Hotel and Conference Centre – 801 Dixon Rd., Toronto

When: April 30 – May 2, 2015

“Inspired by the Past; Focused on the Future”

This year OCSTA will be celebrating 85 years of service to Ontario’s Catholic District School Boards at the Association’s Annual General Meeting and Conference.

The 2015 conference theme – “Inspired by the Past; Focused on the Future” – speaks to the enormous community achievements that set in motion the establishment of Catholic education in Ontario almost 200 years ago, and the ongoing commitment of Catholic trustees to current and future students in publicly funded Catholic schools.

Keynote Speakers:

The Hon. Liz Sandals, Minister of Education (Invited)

OCSTA President, Kathy Burtnik, with Minister of Education, Liz Sandals.

Trends Expert, Max Valiquette: “Millenials, Technology, and the Human Component”

Anne Sado, President, George Brown College – “Innovative Education Partnerships”

Fr. Leonard Altilia, S.J., President, St. Paul’s High School

Other Session Topics include:

• Understanding Education Finance in Ontario
• Trustees’ Panel: A Review of the OCSTA Certificate Course for Catholic Trustees
• Aboriginal Education
• Student Trustee Workshop

Discounted “OCSTA” Hotel rate: $139 per night

Hotel reservations cut-off date: April 10, 2015. After the deadline, this special rate will be provided on a space available basis only.

• Online Hotel Reservation
• Hotel reservation telephone number: 1-866-932-7058

Preliminary Program

• Online Conference Registration

For any questions about the program, please contact Sharon McMillan at OCSTA, ext. 232.

OCSTA 2015 Elections – May 1, 2015

Now is a good time to start thinking about the role you might serve  as part of the leadership team steering the direction of your Association. That opportunity is available as a member of the OCSTA Board of Directors.

The OCSTA Board of Directors is the principal source of policy and political direction and the major decision-making body of the Association. The Board manages the affairs of the Association and consists of the following elected positions:

President
Vice-President
Past President
Regional Directors (Directors in Regions 6, 7, 8 and 12 are not elected by the membership but are instead selected/appointed by their respective boards)

For the 2015 OCSTA AGM, nominations are being accepted for “Regional Directors”.  View list of regions.

• The Role of the OCSTA Regional Director
  The Regional Director knows and understands:
  • the issues currently under discussion at OCSTA;
  • the position of OCSTA on these issues; and
  • the position of boards (within their region) on these issues
• Regional Directors seek input and views on current issues from their respective regions and bring forward these issues, as required, to the Board of Directors
• The Association relies on Regional Directors to know the full range of services that are available from OCSTA for trustees and administrators and to encourage the maximum use of OCSTA services by members.
• Regional Directors have a key role to play in enhancing communication between the Boards they represent and OCSTA by:
  • providing on a regular basis to boards in their regions, a report on OCSTA Board of Directors’ meetings;
  • encouraging boards to respond to OCSTA issues and discussion papers
• The Board of Directors meet 6 times per year (September, December,February, April (twice) and June).
• There are currently 6 standing committees comprised of OCSTA Directors.
• OCSTA Regional Directors are required to sit on at least 2 Standing Committees.

Due to the recent amendments to the OCSTA By-law, there may be changes to the voting process for Regional Directors. A memo detailing these changes was sent to all member Boards on November 7, 2014. An update on the election process will be sent to all boards in the coming days. Should you have any questions in the meantime, or wish to secure a nominations form, please contact Jane Ponte at jponte@ocsta.on.ca, or call the OCSTA office at 416-932-9460.

Catholic Principals Named Among Canada’s Outstanding Principals

Each year the Learning Partnership honours principals from every province and territory for exemplary leadership. Nominated by their peers, the leaders chosen as “outstanding principals” will benefit from an exclusive five day executive leadership training program at one of Canada’s top business schools, the University of Toronto’s Rotman School of Management.

This is the 11th year of this program and OCSTA is pleased to congratulate the following Ontario Catholic school principals achieving this honour:

For more information about this year’s winners of this program, please view the announcement at The Learning Partnership.

Truth and Reconciliation: It Matters to Us

A London area gathering for educators, administrative and support staff, parents and students

This event is designed to help participants identify culturally responsible approaches and resources to increase comfort and skill level in teaching about Canada’s Indigenous people.

When: Tuesday, March 10 – Wednesday, March 11, 2015

Where: Faculty of Education Building, University of Western Ontario, 1137 Western Rd., London, Ontario

For registration information visit:

http://www.learningtoendabuse.ca/it-matters-us-transforming-legacy-residential-schools.