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Coquitlam Teachers’
Association News
208 - 2502 St. Johns St., Port Moody, B.C. V3H 2B4 Tel: (604) 936-9971 / Fax: (604) 936-7515
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Visit our Website at www.coquitlamteachers.com
December 19, 2014
No.14
Charley King, President
Ken Christensen, First Vice-President
Mike Galliford, Second Vice-President
Happy Holidays, Everyone!!!
President’s Message
Dear Colleagues,
I hope this newsletter finds you well on your way to enjoying your holiday. Take some time to enjoy the beauty
of the season with family and friends. Most of all, take some time for yourself to recharge and reconnect. You’ve
earned this holiday probably more than any other in recent memory. It is an honour to be your president; it is a
priviledge to work with such a talented and dedicated executive and office staff; and your solidarity, your
professionalism, and your sensibility during difficult times never ceases to amaze me. Have a happy holiday!
Charley
Also your CTA Table officers and staff wish you all a happy holiday season.
CTA Representative Assembly
CTA General Meeting
Wednesday, January 7, 2015
Winslow Gallery Room, 4:00 p.m.
Agenda
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Call to Order
President’s Report
Ratification of Committee Appts.
Standardized Benefit Plan
That the CTA Representative Assembly
recommend to the January 21, 2015 CTA General
Meeting that the CTA notify the BCTF that the
CTA will not be joining the Standardized Benefit
Plan at this time.
CTA Motion: BCTF Executive Committee
Candidate Questionnaire
That the CTA conduct a survey of all candidates for
BCTF Executive Committee positions and publish
the results of the survey for Coquitlam teachers.
Wednesday, January 21, 2015
Winslow Gallery Room, 4:00 p.m.
Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. TIMED ITEM: (4:15 p.m.) Election
CTA Delegates to the 2015 BCTF AGM
3. President’s Report
4. Standardized Benefit Plan
That the CTA notify the BCTF that the CTA
will not be joining the Standardized
Benefit Plan at this time.
5.
6.
7.
8.
CTA Policies & Procedures
School Concerns
Prize Draw
Adjournment
6. School Concerns
7. Prize Draw
Adjournment
8.
Cheques Are in the Mail
$105 fund allocation cheques were mailed out to contract teachers at the beginning of the week.
If you have any questions regarding your cheques please log into the updated BCTF “Fund Allocation” web
page on the BCTF member portal www.bctf.ca. Please take a look at the fund distribution explanation and
the Q & A on this page.
If you are a contract teacher and you have not received a cheque by January 6, 2015, please contact the
BCTF offices (604-871-2283, toll free 1-800-663-9163) and ask for the Payment Help Line. This
payment help line will be available after January 6th.
If it turns out that the district has reported your employment history incorrectly, call us and we’ll help you
with that. You will have until January 23, 2015, to contact the CTA Office. We will ask you to provide us
with the details of your employment history from July 1, 2013 -- September 18, 2014. You will need to
have some documentation to support your your employment history. We will then contact the SBO on your
behalf and ensure that your employment information is correct. Where an error was made, the SBO will
provide the right information to the BCTF and the BCTF will mail you a cheque for monies owing.
Please Note: We regret that we are unable to assist members with “Fund Allocation” issues until the new
year and this is because the BCTF will not be open during the holidays and the payment help line will not
be operational until January 6th , 2015.
The CTA Office will closed for winter break from Saturday,
December 20th and will re-open on Monday, January 5, 2015.
TTOC/NEW TEACHER TRAINING
Monday, January 26th, 2015
Location: Hillcrest Middle, 2161 Regan Avenue, Coquitlam
Time:
8:30 a.m. – 2:45 p.m.
This workshop is for TTOCs, new or newer teachers who have been teaching 5 years or less.
Come learn about:

The History of the BCTF

Professional Relationships

Rights and Responsibilities

Professional Learning/Local Training
Registration is on a first-come first-serve basis. Please call the CTA office at 604-936-9971 to register.
DEADLINE: January 19, 2015 – 4:00 p.m.
BCTF AGM: Be a Delegate!
The 99th BCTF Annual General Meeting will take place on March 14-17, 2015 in Victoria. The meeting, takes place
during Spring Break. This year, we will elect delegates to the BCTF AGM at our General Meeting on January 21,
2015. We would like to encourage members to seriously consider coming to the BCTF AGM this year.
What is the BCTF AGM?
It is the yearly convention of the BCTF.
What does it do?
The Meeting sets the membership fee, elects the BCTF leadership including the BCTF President, and charts
leadership priorities for the upcoming year.
Why should I go?
It is important that the views of Coquitlam teachers are well-represented at that meeting. Members who go to the
BCTF AGM gain a better knowledge of the inner workings and democratic processes of the BCTF. Most importantly,
teacher voices are needed so that the BCTF can accurately reflect the wishes and values of the membership.
How do I get elected?
Submission of your Curriculum Vitae click here must be in by Monday, January 12, 2015. Interested teachers will
submit a brief CV, attend the General Meeting on January 21, 2015, and give a brief speech if there is an election.
Do I want to give up my Spring Break?
It’s really not that bad. The meeting takes place on the second week of Spring Break -- Saturday through Tuesday –
which means you can still travel beforehand plus, you can stay at the The Empress for the AGM and enjoy the
salubrious spring time climate in Victoria. The BCTF covers the cost of rooms, child care services, travel and a per
diem for food.
If you are interested or have any further questions please contact Charley King, CTA President.
Opportunities for BCTF
Members: Seeking Nominees
Most of us end up with no more than five or six
people who remember us. Teachers have
thousands of people who remember them for the
rest of their lives. Andy Rooney
Where will you be on February 20th? At Gleneagle
Secondary of course, for the annual CTA PD Day!
We have a great day shaping up. Check out the CTA
webpage
regularly
for
updates.
http://www.coquitlamteachers.com/ Registration for
teachers will open early in January.
Upcoming PD Days
January 26th is a focus day for most elementary and
middle schools. April 17th is a focus day for almost
all schools. Be sure to plan ahead so that you are
ready to make the best use of this valuable time.
Please see your site-based PD Rep or contact me for
any information you may require.
Let’s end the year with a chuckle.
The big chess tournament was taking place at the
Plaza in New York. After the first day's competition,
many of the winners were sitting around in the foyer
of the hotel talking about their matches and bragging
about their wonderful play. After a few drinks they
started getting louder and louder until finally, the desk
clerk couldn't take any more and kicked them out.
When they asked why they had to leave, the clerk
responded, "I'm sorry, but if there's one thing I can't
stand, its chess nuts boasting in an open foyer."
Have a great break everyone!
For
more
information
please
Mike Galliford @ [email protected]
contact
British Columbia Teachers’ Council
The BCTF has just received the BC Teachers’
Council call for nominations and timelines are tight.
The council will be composed of 15 members:
• 3 members nominated by the BCTF;
• 5 persons elected in zones;
• 7 persons appointed by the minister;
• An additional person will be appointed by the
minister as a non-voting member.
Councillors will be appointed for a term of either one,
two, or three years.
The object of the council is to:
• establish standards for the education of
applicants for certificates of qualification.
•
establish standards for the conduct and
competence of applicants for certificates of
qualification and certificate holders.
Councillors will be required to take and sign an oath
of office. Further information can be found in the
Teachers Act at:click here
The BCTF will be selecting three nominees.
Applicants must: be a certificate holder, a BCTF
member, and reside in BC. Applicants must also
provide in writing your consent to be nominated and
willingness to serve on the BCTC.
Deadline: JANUARY 9, 2015 at 4:30 p.m.
For further information please contact Christine
Stewart at [email protected].
TTOCorner
TTOC Meeting
Date: Tuesday, January 13/15
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Place: CTA Office