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Send information about upcoming events to Raymond Gariepy (e-mail: raymond.gariepy@ata.ab.ca).
Get your wheels turning: Bike for Wildlife
Sign up your school to participate in the CWF Bike For Wildlife. From August 14–October 29, Angella Goran, Canadian Wildlife Federation’s Athletic Ambassador, will cycle across Canada from Victoria, British Columbia, to Halifax, Nova Scotia. Follow Goran’s cross-Canada ride and how you and your students can protect Canada’s wildlife. Goran will be in Alberta from September 3–9. For information, visit www.cwf-fcf.org/en.
Need help with your professional growth plan?
In Alberta, every teacher employed by a school system must develop and implement an annual plan for professional growth that outlines the PD activities the teacher intends to undertake in that year. The requirements for an annual teacher professional growth plan are outlined in the Teacher Growth, Supervision and Evaluation Policy of Alberta Education. The ATA has developed self-paced online tutorials to help teachers with their plans. Visit the ATA website (www.teachers.ab.ca) and click on For Members and then on Professional Development and Professional Growth Plans. For more information about TPGP, supervision and evaluation, contact Association PD staff at 780-447-9400 (in Edmonton) or 1-800-232-7208 (elsewhere in Alberta).
Sheldon Chumir Foundation seeks input on Section 11.1
The Sheldon Chumir Foundation for Ethics in Leadership is seeking participants for interviews about Section 11.1 of the Alberta Human Rights Act. The section requires schools to give advance notice to parents concerning lessons dealing with “religion, human sexuality and sexual orientation” and allows parents to opt their children out of those lessons without academic penalty. The foundation is looking for objective, demonstrable evidence of any effects of this legislation for Alberta parents, teachers and students. Participation is confidential—names of participants will not be used in any reports or discussions. The information will be compiled by researchers and may be used to write a report and to inform policy recommendations to various levels of government. There is no compensation for participating. For information, contact Josh Nobleman. Telephone: 403-244-6666; e-mail: jnobleman@chumir.ca.
Resource promotes safe and caring discussions
The PRISM Toolkit for Safe and Caring Discussions About Sexual and Gender Minorities helps teachers promote safe and supportive classroom discussions about sexual minorities and gender variance. PRISM is an acronym for “Professionals Respecting and supporting Individual Sexual Minorities.” The PRISM toolkit provides opportunities for teachers to explore sexual orientation and gender variance. For information and access to resources, visit the ATA website (www.teachers.ab.ca) and under For Members, click on Professional Development and then on Diversity, Equity and Human Rights.
Alberta sports history goes online
Visit the online Alberta Sports History Library (ASHL) to learn about the history of sports in Alberta. The history project is ongoing, not all sports played in Alberta are featured at this time. Visit the ASHL website at www.ashfm.ca/absportslibrary. Contributors and writers are welcome—contact ashl@ashfm.ca for information.
