Variety of decisions face AGM 2008

Delegates to the 89th Annual General Meeting of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society will be deciding on issues ranging from governance of the Disability Benefits Plan to moving the Special Area Group conference day back to October.

Representatives will also debate the proposed 2008-2009 budget which recommends a fee increase of 3.2 per cent, following a trend of keeping fee increases to at or near the percentage increase of teacher’s salaries.

Students put first touches on human rights banner

Reprinted with permission from the Manitoba Human Rights Commission newsletter, Connections

Northern high school students are the first to complete pieces that will be assembled into a province-wide human rights banner to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the United Nation’s Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The students were attending the Commission’s
Northern Youth Conference in the Pas in March.

The “Peace by Piece” project allows students to send a message about human rights. The six  schools that participated in this conference had only one hour to be both creative and thoughtful during the afternoon activity session. Working in school teams they talked, cut and pasted to create their portion of the banner which is estimated to be at least 24 feet by 24 feet when it is assembled.

Role of EAs in classrooms is sometimes unclear

Mark (not his real name) is a difficult child to manage because of his aggressive behaviour, partly because of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.

Alice was assigned to be his educational assistant when he first entered the school in Grade 6. She is with him wherever he goes and it has been suggested by Mark’s parents that Alice be transferred to the high school with Mark when he finishes middle years.

Mark often spends time out of the classroom on a one-to-one basis with Alice working on his school assignments. The relationship has developed to the point that Mark rarely comes to school if Alice has to be away for any reason.  He will not co-operate with his teachers or support staff when Alice is not there.

Three groups join to hail public education

Television commercials praising public schools debuted during education week, April 14 to 18, a joint production of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society, the Manitoba Association of School Trustees and the Manitoba government.

Swan Valley wins annual MTS curling bonspiel

A team from the Swan Valley Teachers’ Association won the recent 40th Manitoba Teachers’ Bonspiel.

The team, one of five from the association, included Kari Goethe, Charlene Goodman, John Dvorak, and Kris Woodward.

Coming in second in the bonspiel was a team from Kelsey with Sheldon Wettig, Noella King, Don McKay, and Melissa Nogier.

Third place went to the MTS team of Kyle McKinstry, Ali Johnston, Adam Grabowski, and Fran Argue.

The Swan Valley Teachers’ Association played host for the event, March 7 and 8, for the second consecutive year. Nine teams participated.