Winter Newsletter2009 School Counsellors Chapter

							      CANADIAN COUNSELLING ASSOCIATION
        SCHOOL COUNSELLORS CHAPTER



                    WINTER 2009 NEWSLETTER

February, 2009

To: Members of the School Counsellors Chapter:

It is hard to believe that already we are in the month of February and CCA 2009 Conference is
just around the corner. We are looking forward to having another productive AGM and
informative sessions for School Counsellors at CCA Conference 2009 in Saskatoon.

At the 9th AGM in Moncton in May, 2008, two executive positions were filled – President and
Vice President. For more information about the 2008-2009 Executive, please refer to the
following link: http://www.ccacc.ca/documents/SCChapterExecutive08-0.doc

Since the beginning of the new school year, the School Counsellors Chapter Executive held
several meetings via teleconference calls (October 1, November 8, December 3, January 7, and
February 11). Please refer to the School Counsellors Chapter website for the minutes of the
Executive meetings, as well as a copy of the President’s Report that was submitted to CCA on
November 5, 2008. The website address is: http://www.ccacc.ca/ChapterSC.html#RP

If you recall, we had an excellent turnout for the session in Moncton, “Exploring Innovations in
School Counselling: A Panel Discussion to Highlight Successful Guidance Programming in
Canadian Schools.” An overview of the session is outlined in this newsletter on pages 5-8.
Thank you to Joanne Williams, Past President, for compiling this information. Another session
is planned for CCA Conference 2009, “Coast to Coast: A Panel on School Counselling Issues
Across Canada.” This session will be held on Friday, May 22, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon.

For those school counsellors who participated in the Conference Board of Canada survey
entitled, “Connecting Students to Tomorrow’s IT Careers,” thank you for your input, as well as

CCA SCHOOL COUNSELLORS CHAPTER NEWSLETTER - WINTER 2009                           Page 1 of 8
raising the profile of School Counsellors in Canada. As a token of appreciation for participating
in the survey, the Conference Board of Canada is providing a free registration for a CCA
member in the School Counsellors Chapter to attend the 2010 NATCON conference which
will be held in Toronto on April 25-28, 2010. Any CCA member of the School Counsellor
Chapter who is interested in submitting their name to a contest for the free NATCON 2010
registration is asked to e-mail their name, CCA membership number, and contact information
(mailing address, e-mail address, and telephone number) to Margie Cain at mtcain@edu.pe.ca
E-Mails must be submitted to Margie by Monday, May 18, 2009. The draw will take place at
CCA Conference 2009 in Saskatoon.

According to the American School Counselors Association (ASCA) website, the week of
February 2-6, 2009, was designated in the United States as National School Counseling Week--
“School Counselors: Making a Difference.” The week was celebrated to focus public attention
on the unique contribution of professional school counselors within the U.S. school systems. As
stated on the ASCA website, National School Counseling Week, sponsored by ASCA, highlights
the tremendous impact school counselors can have in helping students achieve success and plan
for a career. (http://www.schoolcounselor.org)

Members of the CCA School Counsellors Chapter Executive have been discussing the possibility
of initiating a National School Counselling Week in Canada. We would like to know your
thoughts and ideas about this initiative. Please send your comments and/or suggestions to any
member of the Executive. E-mail addresses are listed below:

               Janice Graham-Migel, Chapter President       jgraham@staff.ednet.ns.ca
               Joanne Williams, Chapter Past-President      joanne.williams@nbed.nb.ca
               Margaret Cain, Chapter Vice-President        mtcain@edu.pe.ca
               Karen Mozdzen, Chapter Treasurer             karen.mozdzen@gmail.com
               Yvonne Marr, Chapter Secretary               cymarr@shaw.ca
               June Sanderson, CCA Board Liaison            jjsanderson@edu.pe.ca

We welcome any contributions you may have for the School Counsellors Chapter newsletter, i.e.
information from provincial conferences, articles, resources, upcoming events, etc., and we look
forward to seeing you at “Changing Landscapes” CCA Conference 2009 in Saskatoon.

Sincerely,

Janice Graham-Migel, PhD, CCC
President, School Counsellors Chapter
Canadian Counselling Association




CCA SCHOOL COUNSELLORS CHAPTER NEWSLETTER - WINTER 2009                            Page 2 of 8
                                 2009 CONFERENCE
                         CANADIAN COUNSELLING ASSOCIATION

                               CONFERENCE 2009

                               The Canadian Counselling Association in partnership with
                               Saskatchewan School Counsellor Association

                               Pre-Conference - MAY 19
                               Conference - MAY 20-22, 2009
                               SASKATOON, SK - Delta Bessborough Hotel

The School Counsellors Chapter is sponsoring two events at the CCA 2009 Conference.
Please introduce yourself to the School Counsellors Chapter Executive and network with other
school counsellors from across the country.

EVENT I:      AGM Luncheon (Wednesday, May 20, 12:00 noon - 1:30 p.m.)

EVENT II:     Coast to Coast: A Panel on School Counselling Issues Across Canada
              (Friday, May 22, 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 noon)

******************************************************************************
We know that our membership does not reflect the total number of school counsellors across
Canada. We encourage you to promote membership with local school counselors. Membership
allows counsellors to connect with colleagues across the country and stay abreast of issues
related to school counselling. To date, the School Counsellors Chapter has been experiencing
steady growth:

May 2001 - 84 members
November 2001 - 120 members
May 2002 - 111 members
November 2002 - 134 members
May 2003 - 152 members
November 2003 - 160 members
May 2004 - 168 members
May 2005 - 185 members
March 2006 - 215 members
September 2007 – 221 members
March 2008 – 238 members
February, 2009 – 270 members




CCA SCHOOL COUNSELLORS CHAPTER NEWSLETTER - WINTER 2009                          Page 3 of 8
                   CCA SCHOOL COUNSELLORS CHAPTER
                          TREASURER’S REPORT
                             January 31, 2009

Opening Balance as of August 22, 2008                          $4,856.47

                                         Debits      Credits

September 2, 2008                          $3.75
September 15, 2008                                   $903.21
September 22, 2008-Balance                                     $5,755.93

October 1, 2008                            $3.75
October 22, 2008-Balance                                       $5,752.18

November 1, 2008                           $3.75
November 21, 2008-Balance                                      $5,748.43

December 1, 2008                           $3.75
December 22, 2008-Balance                                      $5,744.68

January 2, 2009                            $3.75
January 22, 2009-Balance                                       $5,740.93


Closing balance as of January 31, 2009                         $5,740.93

Respectfully submitted by Karen Mozdzen, Treasurer




CCA SCHOOL COUNSELLORS CHAPTER NEWSLETTER - WINTER 2009              Page 4 of 8
CCA Conference 2008, Moncton, New Brunswick – Notes from the session
entitled, “Exploring Innovations in School Counselling: A Panel Discussion to
Highlight Successful Guidance Programming in Canadian Schools”

Session sponsored by the School Counsellors Chapter, May 16, 2008.
(Information Compiled by Joanne Williams, Past President, School Counsellors Chapter)


Housekeeping
1. Sheet circulated for attendees to sign up for E-Mail Network
2. Info sharing session rather than panel
        Maximum - 7 minute presentation - 3 minute questions

Lorna Martin - Manitoba
    Per pupil funding for every child K-12 for Guidance and Counselling over past 5 years
      has resulted in very few schools without counsellors.
    Funding based on need – some population pockets may have more students with high
      needs than others– local authority decides on actual funding (approx $82/student)
    Based on Student Services Model – Team decision as to who is in best position to
      provide support for a particular child.

Dept. Ed. Curriculum Document – Manitoba Sourcebook for School Guidance and Counselling
Services: A Comprehensive and Development Approach in Schools
    Outlines standards for services
    Variety of forms/templates to reduce paperwork, ex. child protection
    School counsellors identify needs document
    Confidentiality addressed
    Available online www.edu.gov.mb.ca
    Website also has connections to learning outcomes in other subjects related to
       counselling and health.

Other:
    Re threat assessment: Counsellors work on prevention - whole school approach, ex.
       bullying
    P.D. rural/urban – travel account requests (10) participants or teleconference, website,
       document.




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Janice Graham Migel – Nova Scotia
       Comprehensive Guidance and Counselling Program
    Janice piloted the Comprehensive Guidance and Counselling Program for the Halifax
       Regional School Board in 1996 and has been implementing the Program since that time.
       There were six pilot sites across the province and now the Program is in 30 schools in
       Nova Scotia.
    Ongoing needs assessment and evaluation is important
    Teen Health Center is located in Guidance area - partnered with Capital Health which
       provided a part time coordinator for the Centre.
    In the past, fundraising was done for teen health centre. Now the teen health centre
       coordinator’s position is funded through the district health authority. Also, this year there
       was a $2000 grant for health promotion available to schools.
    There are many partnerships between the school and the community as part of the
       Comprehensive Guidance and Counselling Program. For example, university student
       placements (internships in counselling, nursing, dietetics and nutrition, social work,
       health promotion, child and youth care, etc.).
    One of the health promotion initiatives was “Wellness Wednesday,” which included
       healthy eating and lunchtime dance sessions for students, and staff wellness after-school
       sessions – yoga, pilates, mind-based stress reduction.
       02 Program - Options/Opportunities
    Senior High O2 Program operates over 3 years in the high school as a separate stream.
       Students get to experience what it is like in community college. Students complete co-op
       placements and have a guaranteed seat at the community college when they graduate.
       Interest based - to keep kids in school – some students are at risk. Application to the
       program is completed by students and parents.
    Pilot program based on the framework of O2 for Junior High students is part of the
       Comprehensive Guidance and Counselling Program. Grade 8 & 9 students have an
       opportunity to visit the Nova Scotia Community College and Mount Saint Vincent
       University. Test drives are also arranged and parents provide transportation.

Sandi King – Prince Edward Island
    Bloomfield High School has 1.5 counsellors
    Peer helping course in P.E.I schools (for helping students with academics)
    3-4 peer helpers work in counselling center: mail sorting, putting up posters, displays
      (“Possibility Avenue”), announcements
    May connect with specific students for minimum of ½ hour per week.
    UPEI Interns used at school – nursing on-line sharing – binder/nursing student created
      (teen language around mental health)
    www.pei.ca.org for resources
    MAST (multi-agency service team) at junior high. Meet once a week for ½ day or longer.
      Follow protocol for cooperating.
    Group organized based on student needs; come to school and can share info.


CCA SCHOOL COUNSELLORS CHAPTER NEWSLETTER - WINTER 2009                             Page 6 of 8
Daphne Campbell – Colonel Gray School, Prince Edward Island
ESL students bring cultural diversity into the schools
    Influx of international students over the past 3 years.
    10% Asian students – over 100 students.
    Can result in added stress for teachers

International Baccalaureate coming to the province soon (last one to have this).


Michael LeBlanc – New Brunswick (Fredericton High School).
    ESL – hot topic. Accounts for about 10% of newcomer programming.
    Around 40 new immigrants per semester
    Difficulties can be academic, language related, and/or social

EAL (English as an Additional Language) Program
   5 classes for EAL students at 3 different levels with an EAL tutor.
   District 18 uses a standardized assessment (Woodcock English Initial Language) to
      determine placement. Since students can arrive at any time of the year, it can be a
      challenge to place students in classes.

Other supports
    Ambassador Program – greet new students – 1 week buddy
    Teacher assigned (Home room) buddy
    International Student Group
    Parent info night, new student info session, welcome package

Move to include others – need in-servicing for teachers.
Suggestion: SCC could advocate for EAL program support
    Advice on how to deal with “emotional” gangs.
    Encourage universities to get on board
    Help from top needed – look at curriculum
    Look at ideas from the US (example: mandate that one staff member must be assigned to
      promote awareness of diversity)
    Lorna Martin – do not invent the wheel – models are out there.

Tony Taveras – Manitoba
    Inclusive framework for EAAL students.
    New immigrants basically in two groups: Korea, and Somalia / Sudan.
    Korean students usually have strong parental support, but many in the second group have
      no support and there is a risk of them forming gangs. Also more likely to show PTSD
      type symptoms.
    School has set up a “Welcome Place” where resilient kids act as interpreters. This
      provides a protective cocoon BEFORE they have to do the language assessment

CCA SCHOOL COUNSELLORS CHAPTER NEWSLETTER - WINTER 2009                            Page 7 of 8
Lorraine Engel – Saskatchewan

      New project with sponsorship from Government and industry.
      Web based tool developed in North Carolina “Future paths”
      Currently being piloted in 4 high schools (grades 9-12)
      Career cruising.com - interested employers want to share information with students based
       on their interests. Counsellors act as gatekeepers.

Gary Simpson - Alberta
    Province is concerned about threats on school counsellors – hiring others to do career and
      personal counselling. Cheaper option.
    Services contracted out to psychologists and behaviorists from the district
    No funding for students until half way through the course
    All schools are mandated to provide counselling; no directive on how.
    24 hour/day bully hotline introduced.
    Health board vs. school district funding budget.
    Aboriginal liaison officers - works well.
    Newcomer curriculum
    Teacher association proactive re GLB Youth. State position on web page: “ethical
      responsibility to students.”

Chris Cooper – Newfoundland and Labrador
    Shortage of counsellors and psychologists currently and expected
    Several years ago, brief went to Minister from NLCPA which resulted in a Royal
      Commission.
    Commission looked at the nature of Assessment (ISSP), counsellor accountability (stats.
      based), counsellor student ratios. Recommended 1:333. Revamped to 1:500.
    Now have new comprehensive guidance and counselling program with K-12 services
      secure. Also, 1:333 counsellor student ratio.
    Ethics committee to develop a Code of Ethics for NFLD & Lab. (Cannot just use CCA
      code of ethics.)

Open Mike comments

      Have the forum the first day of the conference rather than the last.
      Vote for topics being predetermined (7)
      Vote for grade level forums (20)
      Still important to keep the provincial sharing format in some way or other.




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