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WEEKLY CHECKMARK
“Dear Teachers, What you do for a living matters. Every Day. Thank you!” M Ferguson
Congratulations to the following
Halifax County Local NSTU Members
for their years of service
in public education at HRSB!
HRSB!
April 20,
20, 2015
Volume 29
The Halifax Regional School Board will be honouring their contributions
and milestone years of service on Thursday April 23rd.
25 Years of Service
Jocelyn Ryan-Wiggin
Kathleen Stone
Karen Robertson-Tran
Mukuna Lunda
Lorna Trethewey
Linda Marie LeBlanc
Patricia Bekkers
Donna Meaney
In this issue
Upcoming Events
2
Drake Univ Update
3
Retirement Dinner
3
Shenoroil Conference
3
NSTU Provincial Comm.
4
Halifax Bike Week
4
Respect: Personal
5
Boundaries Teach People
How To Treat You
Calendar:
Events & Deadlines
6
Student Bursary
Application
7
Karen Parnell
Catherine Pieroway
Kim Matheson
Terry McLeod
Lise Lo
Pat Savage
Wanda Dillman
Sandra Laurie
Susan Hooke
Jennifer Leduc
Huguette Tanguay-O’Neil
Heather Killen
Claire Kidd
Gisella Alecce Harrison
Brenda Aucoin-Carter
Richard Bray
30 Years of Service
Lucille Comeau-Livingstone Mary Jane Walsh
Ray Robertson
Barbara Bowen
Ben Doucette
Karen Pothier
Bernard MacEachern
Chester Boudreau
Wanda Scott
Barbara Coates
Jacynthe Robichaud
Brenda Webber
Laurel MacKenzie
Arlene Hagen
Cheryl Geddes
David Gallant
Richard Hooke
35 Years of Service
Linda Landry
Wendy Blanchard
Beatrice MacDonald
Lawrence Bates
Marilyn MacDonald
Maureen Kennedy
Bonnie Behie
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HALIFAX COUNTY
Most Active Local in NS!
Menu Planning Workshop
Thursday April 23
Local Office 202 Brownlow
Suite A200 – 2nd floor above RBC
Register w [email protected]
E-Wareness Workshop
w Simon Wilkin
Thursday April 23 5:30pm
Dr Tom Parker Building
Register w [email protected]
Nordic Pole Walking Workshop
w Jim King, our local “mayor”
Saturday April 25
Register w [email protected]
Pre-Council Meeting
April 30, 2015
For delegates & alternates to
Annual Council
Dr Tom Parker Building
Substitute Teacher Session
Tuesday May 5, 2015
4:30 pm Dr Tom Parker Building
Register w [email protected]
Annual Council
May 8 – 10, 2015
For delegates & alternates
World Trade & Convention Ctr
Pre-Retirement Session
Thursday May 14, 2015
4:30 pm Dr Tom Parker Building
Register w [email protected]
Contracts / Job Fair Session
Wednesday May 27, 2015
4:30 pm Dr Tom Parker Building
Register w [email protected]
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DRAKE UNIVERSITY COURSES UPDATE
The NSTU has sent a memo asking that all members affected by the DoEECDs
decision to rescind honouring pre-approvals of Drake University courses. The
Minister has responded to the NSTU with insufficient and/or unacceptable
information.
The NSTU has launched its grievance against the DoEECD and requires all members
affected to contact Emily Denty at the NSTU as soon as possible.
“This is a very serious and contractual breech,” said Executive Director Joan Ling at
the Presidents’ Conference April 10. “Members will be out income, pension and
more. We need all information from all the members affected” in order to move
forward with a strong case.
The numbers:
499 Pre-approved
239 responded to the minister
30 had not started yet
8 were finished the program
9 had 1 course left
6 had 2 courses left
RETIREMENT DINNER TICKETS NOW AVAILABLE!
Questions & contact person: “Mr Mayor” of Halifax County
Jim King at [email protected]
Any retiring Halifax County member is eligible for 2 complimentary tickets to our
wonderful dinner. Additional guests are invited at $50.00 per ticket. Please note
that we have sold out in the past, so we are making the following provisions:
• Retirees get first priority prior to May 27th
• Additional guests will be admitted on first paid basis.
The form for retirees – whether attending dinner or not – and guests to the dinner
will be sent along with this Weekly CheckMark as well as on our website.
Dinner & Dance to be held on Friday June 5, 2015
Delta Halifax Hotel – Baronet Ballroom
Guest speaker: Mr Peter Balcom
Room for 200 guests
SHEONOROIL CONFERENCE: SAFE SCHOOLS – ONE PEACE AT A TIME
Based on grant applications to the Sheonoroil Foundation, the group has decided to host a
conference for the most popular topic: Safe Schools.
Registration fee of $250 includes:
Friday Sept 25 - Evening Banquet, Keynote address
Saturday Sept 26 – Breakfast, Workshops, Lunch
Online registration begins in late May at www.nstu.ca
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PROVINCIAL COMMITTEES: HALIFAX COUNTY VOICE NEEDED!
Would you like to serve the NSTU at the Provincial Level?
The NSTU needs input from the widest-possible cross section of its members in order to
make the most effective contribution to education. Members serve on most provincial
standing committees for a maximum of two years,* so we are constantly in search of skilled and interested persons
to make our committee structure operate successfully. Committee membership is open to Active and Active
Reserve Members.
*NSTU Operational Procedures state: Appointment to a committee will be for one defined term of two years. In
extraordinary circumstances, an extension of one year is permissible.
You may download the NSTU Standing/Other Committees application form from the NSTU website or
apply online by going to the following link (you do not require an NSTU webmail account to apply online):
http://nstu.ca/default.asp?mn=1.373.376.395
or nstu.ca> Home > Structure > Provincial Executive > Committees
or Search “Committees”
Thee Nominating Committee will be accepting applications to Committees until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, May 15, 2015.
HALIFAX BIKE WEEK JUNE 5 - 14
Halifax Bike Week is excited to announce another year of school events sponsored by MEC. We are calling on all HRM
schools to get involved to promote bicycle safety and inspire students to ride as part of a healthy and active lifestyle.
How can your school get involved?
1. Register for MEC Bike to School Day on Wednesday June 10th, 2015
• Each student who rides to school will get a chance to win one of twenty, $25 gift certificates from Mountain
Equipment Co-op (MEC).
2. Host a 90 minute Fix-a-Flat Workshop at school (anytime in June).
• Volunteers from the Bike Again project are offering 10 schools an opportunity to host up to 3 consecutive
sessions per school. Each session will teach students the basics of how to fix a flat tire. Suitable for grades 6 to
12, during class time or lunch. Preferred group size 28 students or fewer.
3. Create your own Bike Week school event (grants up to $100 available) For example:
•
•
•
•
Invite a bicycle mechanic to hold a bicycle maintenance clinic.
Organize a ride at lunch time.
Coordinate a field trip to Bike Again or the Dal Bike Centre
Invite a guest speaker (e.g. athlete)
Win a Bicycle Rack! Each school that hosts a bike week event is eligible to win a bicycle rack for the school.
How to register? Complete the registration form and email or fax to Dustin Ellsworth by May 8th, 2015. Schools may
register after this date but funding and programs may not be available.
For further information, please contact: Dustin Ellsworth PTS RMT, Schools Plus - Sports Animator
Phone: 902.229.1414 Fax: 902.464.2282 Email: [email protected]
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RESPECT: PERSONAL BOUNDARIES TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO TREAT YOU
By Marquita Herald
http://www.emotionallyresilientliving.com/personal-boundaries-teach-people-how-to-treat-you
Personal boundaries are like imaginary lines you draw around yourself to maintain balance and protect
your body, mind, emotions, and time from the behavior or demands of others. Your boundaries provide
you with the time and space you need to physically and emotionally take care of yourself, and directly affect your selfconfidence and ability to have healthy relationships.
When you lack strong personal boundaries you risk undermining
your integrity and self-respect as well as the respect of those
around you. Not surprisingly you also tend to attract controlling,
disrespectful, or needy people into your life.
Do any of these sound familiar?
• You say yes even when you really want to say no.
• You feel guilty when you do say no.
• You don’t stand up for yourself when someone mistreats you.
• You allow people to say or do things to you that make you uncomfortable.
• You expect that the people closest to you will somehow just know without you saying anything when they’ve done
something to upset or offend you.
When you say yes to others, make sure you are not saying no to yourself. ~Author Unknown
Creating Personal Boundaries: It Begins with Self Awareness
Pay close attention to situations where you feel depressed, losing energy, experiencing an upset stomach, or wanting to
cry. Take time to clarify your core values, beliefs and outlook on life so you are confident about who you are and how you
want to live. Put your thoughts in writing and create a list of behaviors that you will no longer tolerate in your life.
Accept
Accept That You Have the Authority to Set Personal Boundaries
You not only have the right, but the responsibility for how you allow others to treat you. Your boundaries act as filters
permitting what is acceptable in your life and what is not. Set clear and decisive limits so that others will respect them, and
then be willing to do whatever it takes to enforce them.
Learn to Say No
Many of us are people pleasers and often put ourselves at a disadvantage by trying to accommodate everyone. We want to
be accepted and seen as unselfish. The next time someone asks you for something you really don’t want to do or give, try
saying “Can I get back to you on that?” This gives you a little extra time to come up with the right words to decline the
request and gently introduces the other person to the new you.
Overcome Guilt and Resistance
Be prepared, you’ll have to be ready to make tough choices to change your lifestyle and guilt is the most common obstacle
when it comes to taking care of yourself. There may also be some defensiveness and push-back from those involved –
which of course will add to your guilt.
Trust and Believe in Yourself
No one knows better what you need, want, and value than you. Don’t let anyone else make the decisions for you. Healthy
boundaries make it possible for you to respect your strengths, abilities and individuality as well as those of others.
Be Patient
Be aware that this change will not happen overnight. Disengaging from the emotions and beliefs that led you to accept
weak boundaries requires patience and practice.
The good news is that when you define and implement personal boundaries in your life you will begin to feel more
empowered and self-confident because you are communicating your self-worth to those around you. The more you
practice holding fast to your boundaries, the more love, respect, and support you will find in your life.
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Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
1
Thursday
2
Friday
3
Saturday
4
Sunday
5
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10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
Menu Planning
Workshop
24
25
26
May 2
May 3
Yoga class
Education Week
Award Ceremony
Deadline
Local Conference Appl
E-wareness Session
E d u c a t I o n
27
28
Deadline
Art 60 Conf Grants
In-Service Prom Grant
W e e k
29
Wellness Committee
Meeting
30
Pre-Council Meeting
for Delegates &
Alternates
Yoga class
Deadline
Deferred Salary Leave
May 1
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
1
Outreach Social at
Curly’s Portable
Saturday
2
Sunday
3
4
5
PD Comm Meeting
6
7
8
9
10
HRRC Meeing
Communications Com
Equity & Reps Com
Meetings
11
Exec Meeting
Substitute Teacher
Workshop
12
18
No School
Vicotoria Day
19
25
Deadline
Art 60 Conf Grants
In-Service Prom Grant
26
A n n u a l
13
c o u n c I l
14
Pre-Retirement
Session
15
School-based Inservice
16
17
Local Council
Meeting
20
21
22
23
24
28
29
30
31
John Huntley Interns
at NSTU
John Huntley Interns
at NSTU
Deadline
Student Bursary
Application
27
Wellness Com Meeting
Job Fair & Contract
Info Session
Deadline
Local Conference Appl
is on its way!
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Criteria:
Halifax County Local has bursaries available to the children of currently employed (term, probationary or permanent) Halifax
County Local teachers. These bursaries are only available to students who will graduate from high school in 2015.
Halifax County Local NSTU Bursary Application Form 2015
Student Name:
High School:
__________________________
Student’s Phone Number:
________
Student’s SIN:
_____ __
Student’s Email Address: ______________________________________________________________________
Student’s Complete Mailing Address:
Relationship to Halifax County Teacher:
_______________
__
Teacher’s name: ________________________
Teacher’s prof number: __________________
Teacher’s current Halifax County Local (home) school: _________________________________________
Teacher’s non-employee email:___________________________________________________________
Teacher’s cell phone/contact phone:___________________________
Reason for Bursary:
Please attach maximum 400 word essay explaining:
1) Why you would be an outstanding candidate for the Halifax County bursary?
2) How will the bursary enhance your post-secondary learning experience?
Post Secondary School You Plan to Attend:
_______________
___
*Note: Please complete and send this above application and essay by Wednesday, May 20, 2015 to
1. Canada Post (postmarked by May 20, 2015) to:
Finance Committee Halifax County Local NSTU, A200-202 Brownlow Avenue, Dartmouth, NS B3B 1T5.
Or
2. Email application and essay to [email protected] by May 20, 2015
The successful candidates will be contacted on or before June 15, 2015.
Any questions can be addressed to our treasurer, Turk MacDonald, at [email protected]
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