communications

Good morning, County! Happy Monday!

Well, this week marked our first attempt ever at a virtual Teacher Placement Process, and at the end of what was a pretty busy few days, it seems like the system worked fairly well. We were able to get folks into positions fairly quickly, and members seemed able to have their questions and concerns answered in a timely manner with the three local Presidents taking shifts. We ran into very few logistical issues, and the placements seemed to move along smoothly. Congratulations to all of you who secured positions, and best of luck to you in your new assignments!

Now, for any of you out there who were not eligible for TPP, there should still be ample opportunity for teachers to secure employment. Please keep an eye on MyHRCE, and ensure your resume is up to date. As well, if you are one of those teachers and you have any questions or concerns don’t be shy about reaching out. You can email me at halifaxcountylocal@nstu.ca, or try me on my cell (902) 499-0933. Read more

Good morning, County. Welcome to Monday.

I want to start by once again acknowledging the massive effort that teachers have just undertaken in order to continue supporting students at home during COVID 19. I know that was extremely difficult for many of you, and I must once again commend your professionalism and your efforts. As we head into the home stretch of what has been the most unusual school year in at least a century, I think it worth taking a moment to recognize that we are part of a historic moment; a moment in which teachers have played a pivotal role. On behalf of the entire executive, thank you again.

The permanent staffing rounds have all but wrapped up for another year, and now we are turning our attention to the Teacher Placement Process. We had a great turn out at the virtual session last week that was hosted by the three local Presidents, with over 100 attendees! Although our first attempt at holding such a session virtually, this was by far the largest turnout we have ever had. This may indeed be a sign of things to come! Read more

Good morning County! Happy June.

Last week, as many of you are well aware, was the first week of returning to schools, and by all accounts things went smoothly for most members. I only heard from a handful of teachers who had concerns, but those were mostly of an individual nature, as opposed to a system wide concern. In general, everyone was following the guidelines and teachers were able to get in and get sorted out with relative ease. Here’s hoping the rest of this process goes as well!

Round two of the postings has now gone live, and there are well over two hundred positions available across HRCE. This is good news, for certain. I would like to remind everyone to ensure that they have their resume completely up to date before applying for positions, and to suggest you have a brief look at the “Teacher Qualification Chart” as well. I did have several questions last week from members who were ranked highly for positions but who did not get a call due to qualifications. The chart can be found on Document Depot. Read more

Good morning County! Happy Monday! 

As we enter into the final two weeks of on-line learning in what has been, without exaggeration, collectively the most unusual and challenging time to be a teacher, I just want to take a moment to thank you all. The professionalism and flexibility demonstrated by the teaching profession during the pandemic has been beyond impressive. Teachers have always been willing to do whatever they could to help students succeed, but that dedication has never been on such wide public display. I want to acknowledge that both as a union leader and as a parent. Thank you.

Last week saw the opening of the staffing rounds, and based on the relatively low number of calls I received, it seemed to go fairly well, despite some on-line glitches and a delayed start. Just as a reminder to you all, teachers who take positions in round one are eligible to take a position in round two should something come up. Read more

Good morning County. Happy Tuesday. I hope you had an opportunity to enjoy the sunshine this past weekend, despite the arrival of the black flies.

The big news of last week of course was the announcement of plans for teachers and students to return to schools to gather up belongings. You should have all received a memo from NSTU central outlining a few basics, and you can expect, if everything goes according to plan, a more detailed explanation over the coming days of how that effort will unfold.

I would once again beg patience from you on this one, and ask that we try not to speculate too widely on how that will be handled. Again, there is a plan in the works, and both the NSTU and PSAANS have been part of the conversation. I understand that this may be a bit unsettling, but I am advising everyone to take a “wait and see” approach. Once the details of the plan have been released, then we will be in a much better position to deal with any individual concerns/ issue that arise. Read more

Good morning County! Happy Monday. I hope that all of you who marked Mother’s Day yesterday had a wonderful one, despite the chilly weather.

In light of Friday’s announcement, I have received a number of e-mails asking about what the expectations will be for teachers post June 5th. Members have been looking for clarification on everything from whether teachers will be asked to do PD to whether they will be asked to return to their school buildings.

The Premier was fairly clear that teachers would not be required to report to their physical classrooms this year, so that, at least, seems unlikely to change. However, as far as expectations post June 5th, that is once again a matter of “wait and see”. Read more

Good Morning County. Happy Monday, and Happy Teacher Appreciation week!

This year is certainly a unique one as far as appreciating teachers is concerned, for sure. Our awesome communications committee is currently putting their heads together to see what can be done during COVID to acknowledge all the amazing work you are doing. Stay tuned. 

Last week saw me spending a fair amount of time answering questions around student assessment and report cards. The biggest challenge I am facing in trying to get answers on these is that this plan is, essentially, the purview of the DoEECD. I am often finding out information at the same time as everyone else. However, now that the new assessment plan has been unveiled, I should be able to help with any individual issues that you may be having. And, as always, regardless of the issue, ask away. I will do what I can to get you answers. Read more

Good morning, County.

Last week was both a time of unprecedented sorrow and unprecedented strength. I know that many of you took time to honor and remember the victims of the horrific events that have scarred our province forever. In the midst of what can only be described as a surreal time, the events that shattered so many lives will undoubtedly haunt us for years to come. Certainly, the emergency alert that came across the airways on Friday evening gave us all a sense that what we view as normal has, once again, changed.

It is important that now, more than ever, in this time of isolation, that we look after ourselves and recognize that we may be struggling. In the midst of all the chaos and mayhem, it is easy to get caught up in the needs of others, and to perhaps lose sight of where we, ourselves, stand. If you find you are suffering, there are a number of ways to get help through the NSTU. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you have any questions about how to access any of these services. Read more

Good morning, County. Happy Tuesday.

I hope that many of you were able to find some time to relax, (as best as is currently possible) over the weekend, and perhaps enjoy some of the sunshine.

We are currently moving into the next week of the learning plan, and I am aware that there have been some struggles, for sure. At this time, there are still a great many unanswered questions about “reasonable” expectations for teachers, and some fairly burning questions about assessment. Read more

Good morning County! Happy Monday!

This week marks a fairly significant transition for a great many teachers. With the continuing closure of schools, teachers have been asked to move to a virtual education/ distance model for offering learning opportunities to their students. And, as may well have been expected, there have been a great many questions. I do want to take a moment to summarize some of what I have been hearing, and perhaps offer a bit of guidance based on those conversations.

To begin with, I want to remind everyone that this is not a competition. I have had a number of e-mails from teachers who are feeling somehow “less-than” based on what they see other teachers doing, particularly when it comes to technology. Much like other new initiatives and trends in education, there are always going to be early adopters. Your best bet here is to do what you can do, and then, if possible, look to expand your arsenal. Don’t try to take everything on at once. This transition has been very rapid, so give yourself a chance, professionally, to breathe. Read more