MSLA - Children's Rights are Human Rights

Event is FULL - Currently not accepting registrations

FULL - Keynote - Dr. James L. Turk

While never free from controversy, schools, their curricula, and school library collections are becoming a central focus in our increasingly polarized society. Public attempts to censor what can be taught and what can be read, however well intentioned, undermine the role teachers and our schools play in making possible a democratic society in which human rights are respected. We will explore what’s at risk and what teachers and school authorities can and should do in these difficult times.

Presenter: Dr. James L. Turk, Director, Centre for Free Expression, Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University)

Jim speaks and writes extensively on academic freedom, intellectual freedom, and freedom of expression and their relation to social justice, human rights, civil liberties, and democracy. His most recent book is an edited collection, Academic Freedom in Conflict: The Struggle over Speech Rights in the University.

From 1998 to 2014, Jim was Executive Director of the Canadian Association of University Teachers; previously having taught Canadian studies and labour studies at the University of Toronto. He has also held several senior positions in the Canadian trade union movement.

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 9:15 am - 10:15 am

Participant Max: 130

Suitable for: All Educators

FULL - A - LEGO & Literacy: The Right to Play, The Right to Lead

Join Michelle and Lauren for an interactive workshop that brings play, curiousity, technology, and literacy together. Practical classroom ideas will be shared. Please bring a Ziploc bag of LEGO to use during the workshop.

Presenters: Michelle Carlos and Lauren Friesen, Pembina Trails School Division

Michelle Carlos is the Library Learning Commons Consultant for Pembina Trails. Michelle aims to ‘think like a kid’ in her creative planning. She has taught for over twenty years in a variety of roles including the classroom, Reading Recovery, the library, literacy support, and educational technology.

Lauren Friesen is the Teacher Librarian at Royal School and Ralph Maybank School in Pembina Trails. She has a passion for all kids to see themselves as readers. Lauren loves to integrate technology into literacy and inquiry learning.

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 10:30 am - 11:45 am

Participant Max: 25

Suitable for: Early Years, Middle Years

FULL - B - Caring for our Watersheds - The Right to Learn About our Environment and How to Protect It

Caring for Our Watersheds is an education program that engages students in grades 7-12 in preserving and improving their local watersheds through student-led solutions. This program is curriculum-based and an excellent way to bring project-based learning to the classroom.

Presenter: Amanda Benson, Program Coordinator, Oak Hammock Marsh Interpretive Centre

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 10:30 am - 11:45 am

Participant Max: 25

Suitable for: Middle Years, Senior Years

FULL - C - Cataloguing Diverse Books

In promoting the child’s Right to Rest, Play, Culture and Art, this session will focus on cataloguing kits which may contain craft supplies, games, books or artefacts. Participants will learn to create a MARC record for the kit to provide the maximum amount of information for the borrower and technician. Participants will also be discuss and perform the management of student book reviews in the Destiny library system to promote the child’s Right to having Respect for their Views and Sharing their Thoughts.

Note: This session requires access to the Destiny system and participants are requested to bring laptops.

Presenters: Grace Ballard and Nidhi Srivastava

With sixteen years of experience in various library settings, Grace Ballard has overseen the development and delivery of youth and children’s programs, training of library technicians, implementation of upgrades to divisional library software and resolution of numerous library software issues. Grace has completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at the University of Manitoba, a Master of Business Administration in Information designed for library technicians, Grace Ballard and Nidhi Srivastava draw upon their expertise to discuss and promote equitable access to materials and information.

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 10:30 am - 11:45 am

Participant Max: 25

Suitable for: Early Years, Middle Years, Senior Years

FULL - D - Supporting the Whole Home: Stories of Innovation, Resilience, and Community

Stories of Innovation, resilience, and community from the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre Library.

Throughout the pandemic, a lot of attention focused on the well-being of school-aged children. Mental health, learning deficits, access to technology, and a number of other concerns have been continually addressed to help support students. But what about our adult learners? The students who had to balance their own education while also supporting their children through remote learning sessions and periods of self-isolation. This presentation will shed some light on these experiences by sharing stories from the Library of the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre (WAEC). We will first provide an overview of the programs and resources that were initiated during the pandemic to help our students, while highlighting a few of our graduates who overcame substantial obstacles to achieve success. The presentation will close with a broader discussion of the role that a Library can play within a learning community and our vision for what the WAEC Library could become.

Presenters: Phil Cook, Adult Education, Winnipeg School Division

Phil is the Teacher-Librarian at the Winnipeg Adult Education Centre (WAEC) in the Winnipeg School Division. With experience in early, middle, and senior years classrooms, Phil joined the WAEC in 2020. Along with the main building in Downtown Winnipeg, the WAEC also operates off-site campuses designed to support young mothers and pregnant teens, EAL learners, and Indigenous students. At the heart of this unique and diverse environment is the Library - a dynamic and vibrant learning hub ready to serve the needs of the school community. Phil believes that at the centre of all good teaching are strong relationships, and he strives to make the Library a welcoming, fun, and helpful place.

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 10:30 am - 11:45 am

Participant Max: 25

Suitable for: Adult Education

FULL - E - Manitoba Advocate

This session will provide a general overview of the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth (MACY), including our mission, vision, and values, which are guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (also known as the UNCRC). You will learn how MACY’s mandate has changed and evolved over 25 years with The Advocate for Children and Youth Act (ACYA).

Presenter: Mae Choo-Mah, Manitoba Advocate

Mae Choo-Mah is an Advocacy Officer at the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth. She is proud to work with an amazing team. She is honoured to work with children and youth, ensure their voices are heard and their best interests recognized. Mae is Chinese-Canadian, a Registered Social Worker, and a BSW graduate from University of Manitoba. Mae also is the mother of two wonderful adult children and one adorable Newfie cross.

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 10:30 am - 11:45 am

Participant Max: 25

Suitable for: All Educators

FULL - F - The Centre for Human Rights Research - Speaker's Bureau

The Centre for Human Rights Research at the University of Manitoba has established a Speakers Bureau to assist school teachers interested in educating their Grade 7-12 students about human rights issues, particularly in relation to Aboriginal rights or the Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

In-person and online presentations help teachers fulfil curriculum requirements, including:
• social studies, especially with respect to First Nations
• history
• global issues
• law

Led by student volunteers, come and learn about this amazing resource.

Presenter: Student Volunteers

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 10:30 am - 11:45 am

Participant Max: 25

Suitable for: All Educators

This session is replacing the cancelled CMHR session. Changes can be made onsite the morning of the conference.

FULL - G - Equitable School Libraries: A Conversation

This talk will explore examples of creating equitable opportunities for library access found in NYC and discuss potential implementations within Manitoba schools. Join Lisa and the rest of your MSLA peers after the presentation for a group conversation focused on locally building equity in school libraries.

Presenter: Lisa Bova, Pembina Trails School Division

Lisa Bova is a former Children’s Librarian for the New York Public Library who currently works as a Teacher-Librarian in Pembina Trails School Division. She is a firm believer in creating a zero barrier to access the library learning commons and is passionate about nurturing lifelong curiosity through creating personal connections, encouraging questioning, fostering a love for all literacies, and engaging in play. She is honoured to present at SAGE this year and is excited to meet her fellow teacher-librarians.

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

Suitable for: Early Years, Middle Years, Senior Years

FULL - H - MG Book Village

Over the past five years, the MG Book Village website has become a well-known hub for middle-grade readers and authors. Kathie will talk about how the Village started, adapted in response to feedback from the book community, and evolved into a group of individuals passionate about sharing books from a wide range of perspectives and experiences through guest posts, author interviews, weekly Twitter chats, book clubs, and more. Kathie offers insight into how this online community helps her grow personally and professionally and the positive impact social media can have on expanding your knowledge and perspective.

Presenter: Kathie MacIsaac, Winnipeg Public Library

Kathie MacIsaac is an award-winning literacy advocate passionate about books for middle-grade readers. She is a co-founder of the website MG Book Village, which facilitates connections between members of the middle-grade community, and she is a co-author of the blog Bit About Books. Kathie manages the children's department of the Headingley Municipal Library near Winnipeg, Manitoba, where she lives with her husband and daughter. Her first book, If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It: How 25 inspiring individuals found their dream jobs (co-written with Colleen Nelson), comes out this fall from Pajama Press.

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

Suitable for: Middle Years

FULL - I - Library Learning Commons as a "place for me"

Teacher-Librarians, Library Assistants and Library Technicians in Louis Riel School Division bring a wealth of rich experience and shared expertise in librarianship to our community of K-12 schools. We are curious learners, innovative teachers, resourceful librarians, tech gurus, creative artists, and diverse readers. We embrace a broad definition of what it means to be literate and advocate the Library Learning Commons as a place for all – where everyone is welcome, where everyone is valued, and where everyone is seen.

How does our work in the Library Learning Commons create a culture of equity and inclusion for all children? Learn how LRSD school library personnel uphold “respectful relationships” described in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child by celebrating diversity, equity and inclusion through division-wide priorities and initiatives: DEI storytelling, participatory collection development, selection and evaluation of learning resources, updated subject headings, and policy revision.

Presenter: Kathleen Atkin, Louis Riel School Division

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

Suitable for: Early Years, Middle Years, Senior Years

FULL - J - Treaty Education

Join Amanda Simard, Education Manager at the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba as she presents on Treaty Education and the importance of all Manitoba students understanding the concepts of the Treaties and the Treaty Relationship from a First Nation perspective.

Presenter: Amanda Simard, The Treaty Commission

Amanda is from Manigotogan, MB and is a member of the Hollow Water First Nation. Being the youngest of 12 children, she was taught at a young age that education was important, and she has been working in the educational field for the past 30 years, starting with Frontier School Division, working with Library Service at their division office, and currently, as the Education Manager at the Treaty Relations Commission of Manitoba (TRCM). As the Education Manager at TRCM, Amanda works with a wonderful team of educators to ensure Treaty Education reaches all students in Manitoba by training their teachers to use the resources developed at TRCM, but perhaps more importantly, for their teachers to gain an understanding and concepts of the Treaties in Manitoba, and together they can begin their Treaty Education learning journey with their students.

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

Suitable for: Early Years, Middle Years, Senior Years

FULL - K - Rotary Adventures in Human Rights

The goal and mandate of RAHR is to provide students with the opportunity to explore human rights by exploring themes such as women's rights, gender equity, Indigenous perspectives, genocide, when rights are denied and more! Join our presenter to learn about this exciting new program and its collaboration with the Rotary World Peace Partners and the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

Presenter: Linda Johnstone, Rotary Club

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm

Participant Max: 25

Suitable for: Senior Years

FULL - L - Book Talk Breakouts

Book Talk Breakouts (Early, Middle and Senior Year options)

Location: Shaftesbury High School, 2240 Grant Avenue, Winnipeg, MB

Time: 2:15 pm - 3:00 pm

Suitable for: Early Years, Middle Years, Senior Years