Announcements

This year the PSTA received 20 applications for the 2022 PSTA Scholarship. Three scholarships of $1,000 were available to all Prairie Spirit students graduating in 2022 who have enrolled in any post-secondary institution and for the first time, the PSTA made the Cindy Clarke Memorial Scholarship of $1,000.00 available to a Prairie Spirit student graduating in 2022, who has enrolled in a post-secondary institution in a Bachelor of Education program. Seven of the twenty applicants were eligible for the Cindy Clarke Memorial Scholarship.

With so many great applications, it was difficult for the committee to decide, but in the end the committee chose Hailey Mayer of Allan Comp, William Buscholl-Pearce of Colonsay and Kayne Schmidt of Aberdeen to each receive a $1000 scholarship to help toward the cost of their post-secondary education.

Kayla Wolfe of Allan Comp is the winner of the newly established Cindy Clarke Memorial Scholarship for a Prairie Spirit graduate entering a Bachelor of Education program.

We wish all of you the best in your future education endeavors!

On behalf of the PSTA PD Committee, I would like to extend the opportunity to all members to put forth proposals expressing their interest to present for our membership at the 2022-2023 General Assembly.  After much discussion and taking into consideration membership voice, the committee has decided to host our general assembly online with the intention of returning to in-person GA in 2023. Please keep this in mind if you are interested in presenting a breakout session, as we will be using Microsoft Teams as the platform (can be flexible if need be).

We are looking for sessions on all topics! Hot topics of the past include: assessment, technology, teacher wellness, workshop model, math, writing, cultural responsiveness, trauma informed education, MPSC, parent engagement.  These are just a few ideas, but we are open to anything! 

We have also had some specific requests for sessions.  If you feel you could lead a session in any of the following, please consider being a presenter! Interest topics include: teaching modified classes, supporting students with learning disabilities, teaching music, PAA related, leadership PD, supporting students with anxiety, outdoor education PD, Science of Reading, Teaching Writing Craft gr 7-12, play-based learning from kindergarten to grade 1, mental health. 

If you are interested in presenting, proposals to present a breakout session can be submitted through the attached form. 

As well we are considering bringing back time for subject/grade alike groups, but our thinking is that the time spent will be a bit more structured than it has been in the past.  As well, we will only provide grade/subject alike sessions with groups who have a designated facilitator. This is where we need your help! 

Our thinking is that the committee will create a “format” for the sessions to follow (similar to what staff experience during PSSD PD days), and a facilitator would keep the groups on track and guide the group through the pre-planned session.  If you are interested in facilitating a grade/subject alike session, please complete the attached form indicating the grade/ subject you would like to facilitate.  

Please submit your proposal to lisa.kuchler@spiritsd.ca. We will be in contact with interested parties by the end of May/ early June to confirm proposal.

General Assembly Presenter Proposal Form

Last month the PSTA PD Committee sent a survey to gather feedback for the 2021 General Assembly. There were nearly 200 respondents and 65% preferred the remote GA over in-person and 83% were in favor of a keynote speaker for the 2022 General Assembly. The PD Committee has begun planning for the 2022 General Assembly and will be asking for member input in the new year.

Through a partnership with First Nations University of Canada and Reconciliation Education, the Royal Bank of Canada is offering free registration to the 4 Seasons of Reconciliation program. This self-paced online program offers 10 modules on truth and reconciliation. Upon completion of the online course, you will be awarded a “Certificate of Completion” issued by First Nations University of Canada. 

Free seats to the online truth and reconciliation course are available now until December 31st .

Register before December 31st at https://reconciliationeducation.ca/rbc  to be automatically added to the program. You will have 6 months to complete the course at your own pace.

The deadline to apply for the 2021-2022 Education Bursary is Saturday, January 8, 2022.

The amount of $45,000.00 plus the 2020-2021 carry-over of $653.48 is available to PSSD teachers and PSTA members for Education Bursaries. The priority areas are Administration, Early Learning, English as an Additional Language, Educational Technology and Design, French Immersion, First Nations & Metis Education, Music Education, Practical and Applied Arts and Special Education/Psychology.

Courses submitted for consideration in the priority areas must be part of an approved program. PSTA members may also apply to have courses outside of these priority areas considered for bursaries.

More information and the application form can be found on the PSTA website.

The PSTA currently has an STF Councillor vacancy. STF Councillors sit on the PSTA Executive and represent teachers within the STF. They also attend annual meetings of Council where they learn about educational issues in Saskatchewan, elect the STF Executive, and discuss and debate resolutions to guide the Federation.

On behalf of the PSTA Nominations/Electoral Committee, I invite any PSTA member interested in joining the PSTA Executive to submit a nomination form for STF Councillor.

Nominations are now open. An election will be held on October 19^th at the Representative Assembly. PSTA members are invited to submit nominations to fill a councillor vacancy on the current PSTA Executive. The term will be from Oct 19, 2021-June 30, 2022.

The deadline to submit a nomination form is October 19, 2021.

Send Nominations to:
Chief Returning Officer, Amy Korver and PSTA President, Scott Woods-Fehr.

The PSTA is stronger because of the history and knowledge experienced members bring to the work of the PSTA Executive and Committees. It is also important to bring fresh voices and perspectives to help the PSTA evolve and grow. While I am excited to see new PSTA teachers join the Executive and Committees, it means we must say goodbye to some as well.

Jeff Joanette joined the PSTA Executive as an STF Councillor in 2012 and has since filled roles on the PSTA including Vice-President in 2015 and numerous working committees like the PSTA Student Scholarship Committee and the PSTA Teacher Wellness Committee. We might be saying good-bye for now, but we hope to see Jeff back again.

Amy Orth has represented PSTA members as an STF Councillor since 2014 and was instrumental in the 2016 PSSD/PSTA Teacher Time and Workload Intensification Survey. Amy is currently on leave and we hope to see her return to the PSTA Executive in the future.

Brenda Epp has been a consistent member of the PSTA LINC teams since 2015 and has represented PSTA members in several rounds of LINC negotiations.

Justin Sauer has been an active school staff liaison for many years and joined the PSTA Executive as a STF Councillor. 2020 was a tough year to join the PSTA Executive where all meetings were held online and we missed out on many of the typical opportunities learn from others and to network with teachers across the province at the STF Fall Council and the Annual Meeting of Council. Justin will be representing his school as a school staff liaison in 2021.

In 2020 we saw both Brandon Debert and Justin Olnhoff join the PSTA’s Professional Development Committee. Because of other commitments, Brandon and justin have stepped down from the PD Committee.