Good morning, everyone,
It is hard to believe we are at the 2/3 point of the school year and heading down the back stretch. Today is also the one-year anniversary of the assaults that occurred at CP Allen High, and the local would like to say that our thoughts are with those members, staff and students at the school as they return to class this week. The trial also is set to begin today. Both are a reminder to us all of the need to have real safe schools.
Please see the Announcements for the week, especially those regarding the Bursary, Reps event and INSPIRE Awards nominations.
Announcements
Rally
There will be a Rally, on April 10th at 4 pm starting at the Legion in Lower Sackville (45 Sackville Cross Road) and going up to Sackville Drive. The local executive has its first planning session Wednesday (although some preparation has already commenced) to make a successful Rally. I would like to thank the entire executive for their support in this.
This event is being held by the local to bring some public attention to our declining working conditions and the overall lack of support from the government. This will be an opportunity for members who are currently experiencing this lack of support to be a unified voice to tell this government that Education is important too.
There will be more details in the upcoming Check-Ins.
Reps and Equity Committee
Your Reps and Equity Committee would like to invite you to a showing of the Prom on Saturday, April 20th at 7:30pm preformed by Neptune’s Youth Performance Company. We have 60 tickets available, which will be drawn by lottery, once the form, https://forms.gle/xRJfisoCLWDkL2wY6, closes on Thurs. Mar 28/24 @ 6:00pm. We will try our best to meet all requests but cannot guarantee. Please monitor your email in the days following for information pertaining to the event.
Nominations
The Nominations Committee has opened nominations for this year’s INSPIRE Awards. The link to the Google Form is:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScqhyCB1Uj11Y8NFVIZjHPuQeTMFZKlJSFh6nQm6XAf1Y6z5g/viewform
Concept
Many members in our Local are not only inspiring their students and providing incredible public education but also inspiring their colleagues and the ripple effect is immeasurable.
Rationale
The INSPIRE Awards will acknowledge those members fulfilling the mandate of the NSTU in such a way as to have a positive impact on their school and colleagues. These awards will promote spirit, goodwill, connections, and excellence in education. It will also give voice and recognition to our members.
Criteria
The foundation of the awards stems from the NSTU Mission Statement:
“As the unified voice for the advocacy and support of all its members, the NSTU promotes and advances the teaching profession and quality public education.”
The awards would be granted on the basis of teachers who exemplify the mission of our Union through: Educational Leadership, Mentorship, Community, Passion and Excellence in Teaching.
Two types of INSPIRE Awards are given:
- The Preman Edwards Award, given to a Local representative or alternate (2 recipients)
- The Susan Noiles Award, given to a general Local member (3 recipients)
Nominations deadline is Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at 4 pm. Nominations must be made by current NSTU members from Halifax County Local. NOTE: members may make several nominations to one or both INSPIRE Awards.
Jason Jennings
Vice-President: Nominating
Halifax County Local NSTU
Bursary News
Applications for the Halifax County Local Bursary are now open. Here is the link to the Google Form https://forms.gle/yvqGU1KocPuCw2cz9 . This link will also be posted on our social media and local website. Halifax County bursaries are given to the children/stepchildren of Halifax County Local members (not PSAANS members) who are currently (2023-2024) teaching in a term or permanent position. Applicants must be graduating from High School in June 2024. This bursary must be used for enrolment in secondary education in September 2024 and cannot be deferred to another school year. The amount received by each recipient will be dependent on how many applications are received in total. The deadline for application is Friday, May 24th, 2024.
Successful applicants will be notified by email after the deadline. Due to confidentiality, all correspondence will be between the applicant (not a parent) and the Halifax County Local Treasurer only. Applicants are responsible for keeping the confirmation notification that is received once the Google form is completed. Successful applicants will be asked to supply their Confirmation of Enrollment for a September 2024 start by September 27th, 2024 to receive the funds. Failure to submit the required document by the deadline will forfeit the funds to be shared amongst the applicants who completed the requirements.
Provincial Executive
Congratulations to Grant Frost who has been acclaimed as one of our two Halifax County provincial executive members. Grant’s term will commence on August 1st.
PD
The PD committee is currently process the Class for Classroom applications and will be sending out emails this week to applicants.
NSTU Benefits at a Glance
VALUABLE BENEFITS AVAILABLE TO PUBLICS SCHOOL MEMBERS
NSTU Member Assistance Program (MAP)
There are many programs and services that form part of the NSTU Member Assistance Program. Over the next few Check-Ins each will be briefly described.
Your Wellness Partner Program
All active and retired members of the NSTU Group Insurance Plan are eligible to use this service provided through CARE path. The CARE path navigation system is a service provided by the NSTU Group Insurance Trustees. The Your Wellness Partner Program provides counseling / psychotherapy with multiple levels of support and guidance to NSTU members, spouses and dependent children experiencing mild to severe mental health concerns. The premium for this program is paid 100% by the NSTU Group Insurance Trust Fund.
It is in your Provincial/Regional Agreement
Provincial
ARTICLE 69 ASSESSMENT
69.01 When a classroom teacher is required to perform Provincial or Education Entity mandated student assessments that require extended one-on-one student-teacher time, including, but not limited to, Oral Reading Assessments and Observation Surveys, supervision of the remaining students shall be provided by a substitute teacher unless the hiring of a substitute teacher is not operationally required. The obligation to hire a substitute shall be deemed to have been met in the event a substitute is not available after the Education Entity has made every reasonable effort to hire a substitute.
In solidarity,
Shawn Hanifen