Sea to Sky Teachers’ Association Suite 104-40775 Tantalus Road, Squamish, BC V8B 0N2 Phone 604-892-3056 Fax 604-892-2296

. . . . . Please visit our website at: www.bctf.ca/ssta . . . .

March 5, 2020

April LoweSSTA President

604-892-3056 lp48@bctf.ca

the voice of the SSTA: make yours heard

President’s Report I have been thinking a lot about teacher wellness of late as I have been working my way through “The Well Teacher” written by our very own representative, Wade Repta.

In the Well Teacher, Wade writes; “Teachers as a group tend to put their work and the needs of others ahead of their own, often at the expense of their own well-being. Over time, the teacher can experience high levels of emotional, mental, and physical fatigue, as well as a decreased ability to cope, a decreased ability to function normally, poorer job performance and satisfaction, and a detached and cynical view of their work and work environment.” Teach-ers often care about everyone else in their lives ahead of themselves. So burnout is not only real but maybe inevi-table. So what can we do?

Last year, I had the opportunity to listen to Michelle Obama and she said something that has stuck with me and that I often drag out of the long-term memory bank. She said that when building her calendar, the first thing that she puts in is “Michelle time” and “family time” because if she didn’t put it in there first, the entire calendar, every minute would be taken up with her professional life. Maybe a first step to enhanced wellness.

A second step according to Wade would be to consider our boundaries, to set limits with our work time. Similar to Mi-chelle, he suggests that we often say no to the very things that bring us joy in order to make more time for those things that we feel a sense of obligation over. Go for a bike ride, go for a run or a walk, go for a coffee, watch the Canucks play, whatever it is that will help you recharge. I myself never underestimate the value of a power nap. The point is that unless we schedule these moments the busi-ness of our jobs will take over and we may find ourselves without any fuel left for our students.

Another little tip is to find time for those colleagues that naturally recharge your battery. Those colleagues that have a common understanding of what it is that we as teach-ers face on a daily basis. Stop for lunch and take time to eat in your staffrooms and connect with the lives and the professional thoughts of others in your building. Reconnect with friends and pastimes outside of work. If things start

to become unmanageable, reach out to someone for help. Teachers by the very nature of our careers are often good listeners and are usually keen to help. That is what we do. Teachers feeling burned out often point to a lack of support as a contributing factor. Seek that support wherever you can find it and be there to support a colleague in need.

If you are at a point where none of the above is sufficient then speak with your doctor. As with other health-related conditions, you should always contact your doctor for direc-tion. At this point, it is time to consult with your union rep. The BCTF offers a variety of supports that can be accessed through the Health and Wellness program. Take advantage of these programs as they are here for your use.

While self-care and collegiality isn’t a solution for teacher burnout, while it doesn’t reduce the huge, heavy, com-plicated issues in the field of education, it may help us manage until March break or until June and it may help us realize that we are not in this alone.

Take care and recharge over the break and remember, as the foundational stones in education, teachers need to be well in order to be there for the students that we so care about.

Valleycliffe Elementary RED for BC ED

Professional Development - Gina McCormick, pd48@bctf.ca -

BCTF messaging on Covid-19: Personal precautions

As with other infectious illnesses, one of the most impor-tant and appropriate preventive practices is careful and frequent hand hygiene. Public health authorities recom-mend the following precautionary measures:

• Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.

• Use an alcohol-based sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol if soap and water are not available.

• Avoid touching your face with unwashed hands, as in many cases the transmission of these types of viruses is through the eyes, nose, and mouth.

• Cover your month if you cough, and sneeze into your elbow and then wash your hands.

• Avoid close contact with people who are sick with an infection.

At this stage, public health authorities are not asking citizens to give up normal life, but rather to exercise precaution and recognize symptoms if they occur.

Symptoms

Signs of infection may include runny nose, headache, fever, cough, sore throat, feeling unwell, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. The incubation period of COVID-19 remains unknown with some sources estimating that it could be between 2 and 14 days.

From the BCTF President List-serve regarding International students:

“In conversation with our Health and Safety District person last night they are leaving the screening to Fraser Health. If they are screened to be safe coming to school then they will be allowed back.”

SD #48 general messaging on Coronavirus for staff and families

School Districts take direc-tion related to communi-cable diseases from the local public Medical Health Of-ficers. Their role is to under-take communicable disease risk assessments and provide guidance to districts on any necessary risk management related to day to day opera-tions. School District No.48 also uses the Government of Canada travel advisory sites for guidance related to planned district travel.

What if you get sick?

There are more details than can be provided in this flowchart. Please contact your local union office or the BCTF with questions specific to your situation.

If you are close to your earliest unreduced pension date and have enough sick leave accumulated in your sick bank to provide you with an income until six months prior to your retirement, you may want to investigate withdrawing from the long-term section of the plan. This will save you 1.36% in SIP contributions from your paycheque. Contact your local union office for guidance.

BCTF MEMBERS with a contract participate in the Salary Indemnity Plan (SIP) with contributions of 1.87% from each paycheque. This plan provides both short- and long-term benefits to members who, because of illness or injury, are disabled from working and have exhausted all of their sick leave. If the illness or injury is work-related, a Workers Compensation Board (WCB) claim must be initiated.

From the March 2020 edition of Teacher magazine, a publication of the BC Teachers' Federation.

iStock.com/malerapaso photo

MASTER’S OR DOCTORATE DEGREE CHANGES

1. If you are in category five plus (5+) and hold a master’sor doctorate degree that meets the requirements,apply for an upgrade.

2. If you hold an acceptable master’s or doctoratedegree with less than 30 semester credits and have notyet topped up that degree and received an upgrade,apply for an upgrade.

3. If you are in category five (5) and hold a graduatedegree that contains a teacher education program,you will need to complete an integrated program toqualify for category six (6).

INTEGRATED PROGRAM CHANGES

1. If you are in category five (5) or lower and havecompleted course work that meets the newrequirements of an integrated program but have notyet used that course work for your current categoryplacement, please apply for an upgrade.

SECOND TEACHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND FAMILIARIZATION PROGRAMS

1. If you are in category five (5) or lower and havecompleted a second teacher education programfor which you have not been granted TeacherQualification Service (TQS) category credit, pleaseapply for an upgrade.

2. If you are in category five (5) or lower and havecompleted a familiarization program for which youhave not been granted TQS category credit, pleaseapply for an upgrade.

If you require clarification as to how these changes might affect your upgrading requirements or current category placement, please request a director’s review of your file. Submit your request through the “Contact Us” page at www.tqs.bc.ca. You must provide verification of current employment in the BC public school system (most applicants photocopy a pay stub) in order to receive a director’s review.

To apply for an upgrade complete the Category Upgrade Application Form on the TQS website. Indicate that you are applying for an upgrade based on the policy and regulation changes.

No reviews or upgrades will be processed automatically. You must apply to the TQS in order to receive a review or upgrade.

For full information on these policy changes, please visit TQS at www.tqs.bc.ca.

Teacher Qualification Service policy changes

Are you missing out on salary?

From the March 2020 edition of Teacher magazine, a publication of the BC Teachers' Federation.

Announcements/Info

Upcoming EventsThursday, March 5th

SSTA RA: Exec/ Staff Rep Meeting

March 16th - 29th

Spring Break!

Monday, April 6th 6:00 - 8:00 Whistler SecondaryPension Seminar: Making the Most of Your Pension (mid-career)

TUESDAY, April 7th

3:45 - 5:00 SSTA Office &“Zoomed” SSTA RA: Exec/ Staff Rep Meeting

Friday, April 10th

Good Friday

Monday, April 13th

Easter Monday

Wednesday, April 22nd 3:45 - 5:00 SSTA, MPCS, SHEPD Committee Meeting

Thursday, April 23rd 4:00 - 5:00 SSTA Office &“Zoomed” (Contact your Staff Rep for locations)SSTA Annual General Meeting

Tuesday, May 12th 6:00 - 8:00 Don Ross LibraryPension Seminar: Approaching Retire-ment (late career)

Provincial Specialist Associations (PSA’s)

The BCTF encourages and supports over 30 Provincial Specialist Associations (PSAs). All BCTF members are encouraged to become members of one or more PSAs to share expertise and to gain information and experience.

Each PSA is unique—its strength determined by its members and its executive. PSAs promote communication among members through journals, newsletters, conferences, workshops, websites, email lists, and other activities.

The PSA Council provides advice to the BCTF Executive Committee on matters of concern to PSAs and on working and learning conditions, curriculum, professional development, and educational leadership. Please consider joining a PSA. Professional Development funds can be used for PSA membership.

Visit the PSA website at <bctf.ca/PSAs.aspx>

• AEA AOEC Aboriginal Education Association Anti-Oppression Educators Collective

• ABCDE Association of BC Drama Teachers • APPIPC Association provincial des professeurs d’immersion et

du programme francophone BCAEA BC Alternate Education Association

• BCATA BC Art Teachers’ Association • BCAMT BC Association of Mathematics Teachers • BCATML BC Association of Teachers of Modern Languages • BCBEA BC Business Education Association • BCCLA BC Co-operative Learning Association • BCCASA BC Culinary Arts Specialist Association • BCDEA BC Dance Educators’ Association • BCECTA BC Early Career Teachers’ Association • BCEDL BC Educators for Distributed Learning • BCMTPSA BC Montessori Teachers PSA • BCMEA BC Music Educators’ Association • BCPTA BC Primary Teachers’ Association • BCSCA BC School Counsellors’ Association • BCScTA BC Science Teachers’ Association • BCSSTA BC Social Studies Teachers’ Association • BCTLA BC Teacher-Librarians’ Association PAGE BC Teachers for

Peace and Global Education • ELA BC Teachers of English Language Arts • BCTESOL BC Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages • BCTEA BC Technology Education Association • CUEBC Computer Using Educators of BC • EEPSA Environmental Educators’ Provincial Specialist

Association • LATA Learning Assistance Teachers’ Association • PHEBC Physical Health Education British Columbia • myPITA Middle Years and Provincial Intermediate Teachers’

Association • SAGEBC Specialist Association of Gifted Educators in BC • THESA Teachers of Home Economics Specialist Association • TIEBC Teachers of Inclusive Education, British Columbia

Granny April Lowe (SSTA President) is over the moon excited to announce the arrival of her grandson Walter

William Alexander Green! Congratulations to K-M Lowe (Staw: CJ) and Josh Green who welcomed Walter on Nov. 5 weighing 8lbs 8oz.

Delia Murray and Leyland Briscoe are overjoyed to announce the arrival of their son, Rhett James Giordano Briscoe, born on January 27 2020, weighing 7 pounds 13 ounces! The name Rhett means advice and counsel.

Know Your Contract – Discretionary Leave

ARTICLE G.35 DISCRETIONARY LEAVE[Note: See also Article G.5 Unpaid Discretionary Leave.]

1. Subject to operational requirements, and upon request in writing, with notice of at least five teaching days, ex-cept in an emergency, a teacher shall be granted one discretionary day each school year. Such leave shall be with pay less the “pay rate of a teacher teaching on call.”

Discretionary days shall only be used to meet a personal need or requirement which cannot be met without ab-sence from work. These days are non-cumulative and shall not be taken in conjunction with holidays.

Discretionary leave is only to be used where no other leave provisions apply.

ARTICLE G.5 UNPAID DISCRETIONARY LEAVE[Note: See also Article G.35 Discretionary Leave.]

1. a. An employee shall be entitled to a minimum of three (3) days of unpaid discretionary leave each year.

b. The leave will be subject to the educational requirements of the district and the availability of a replacement. The leave must be approved by the superintendent or designate. The request shall not be unreasonably denied.

2. The leave will be in addition to any paid discretionary leave provided in local provisions.

3. The combination of this provision with any other same provision shall not exceed three (3) days.

SSTA AGM 2020

President – a 1.0 FTE position; tasks include bargaining and grievance administration, budget, communication with members, representing teacher views to the Board of Education, board staff, parents and other education partner groups.

Vice President – supports the president, takes on the responsibilities of the president in his/her absence.

Local Representative – is a voice representing the SSTA at the provincial level; attends the BCTF AGM and 3 BCTF Rep Assemblies to vote on provincial issues.

Professional Development Chair – a 0.2 FTE position; works with the PD Committee to plan and execute the SSTA Pro-D Day every year; administers the SSTA PD fund; attends 2 BCTF Metro West Zone meetings annually.

Bargaining and Grievance Chair – provides support and advice as grievances arise, and during bargaing cycles; attends 2 BCTF Metro West Zone meetings annually.

Secretary-Treasurer – takes minutes during all SSTA meetings; provides advice regarding SSTA budget matters.

Social Justice Chair – works to promote local awareness of and improvements to social justice issues including

poverty, human rights, and environmental sustainability; attends 2 BCTF Metro West Zone meetings annually.

Public Relations / Labour Liaison Chair – promotes SSTA and BCTF views in the public eye through media and election campaigns; works with other local labour groups to promote workers’ rights in the community.

Health and Safety Chair – attends monthly District Health and Safety committee meetings; advocates on behalf of teachers on workplace health and safety issues; attends 2 BCTF Metro West Zone meetings annually.

Aboriginal Education Chair – works to promote local awareness of and improvements to Ab Ed issues such as employment equity and Aboriginal student achievement; attends 2 BCTF Metro West Zone meetings annually.

French Education Chair – works to promote local awareness of issues surrounding French Immersion and FSL teachers and students. Is a liaison between the SSTA executive and all French language teachers. 2 BCTF Metro West Zone meetings annually.

Social Events Chair – works creatively to organize events that promote collegiality between members of the SSTA. This includes our fall social, our spring retirement event and any other impromptu event of a “social” nature.

Our AGM will be April 23 at the SSTA Office and Zoomed to satellite locations. As usual we’ll be called upon to elect our local officers. We are always looking for volunteers to help us do the important work of supporting teachers in Sea to Sky. Please let us know if you are interested in running for any of the following positions: