September 2008 Executive Meeting Highlights

  • Ministry of Education representative, Peter Beens, outlined plans for roll out of new curriculum.
  • OCTE PD Committee is working with Communication Committee to keep members informed about roll out.
  • Executive will follow up on concerns about emphasis courses with Ministry of Education.Electronic Membership Form is ready to use and will be available on web site.
  • New Face of OCTE is being launched with new logo and look on web site. Content is updated regularly. Executive decided against an increase in their mileage allowance.

October 2008, Executive Meeting Highlights

  • Call for Presenters at 2009 Conference is being distributed via tech co-ordinators at all school boards.
  • Two Executive members met with Ontario College of Teachers to discuss mutual interests. OCTE is now represented on OCT Certification Qualification Committee.
  • New online membership form is now in use, already netting 15 new members
  • OCTE web site is fully operational with new look and updated information
  • OCTE newsletter will soon be posted on web site.

Highlights of November Meeting

  • Ontario College of Teachers has invited a member of the OCTE Elementary Committee to examine the Primary/Junior Science and Technology 3 part AQ Guidelines.
  • Current OCTE newsletter is in print and distributed free to everyone attending a training session for new curriculum.
  • OCTE Curriculum Committee under leadership of Kurt Kammersgaard plans to produce a short booklet outlining the curriculum changes to send to Guidance departments. A package describing emphasis courses is also planned.

December 2008, Executive Meeting Highlight

  • Conference committee is planning to have elementary and secondary Ministry of education representatives present at the Conference
  • Conference committee is looking into environmentally friendly materials to reduce our conference carbon footprint
  • Curriculum rollout is going well and members are using the OCTE website to source information
  • The Executive is investigating cost-effective strategies to reduce operating costs as the organization becomes more active

January 2009, Executive Meeting Highlights

  •  Landscape Ontario will work with SHSM programs to provide plants as gifts for OCTE conference presenters.  In lieu of the usual gifts to presenters from OCTE, a donation will be made to the Hamilton children’s hospital to purchase appropriate tech related toys for young oncology patients.
  • To combat rising costs of OCTE operation, the Communications Committee will take a lead role in fundraising through newsletter advertising. The Committee will consult with OCTE industry partners, Landscape Ontario and Parcs Ltd. as needed.
  • The Communications Committee is making visits to faculties of education to market OCTE to new teachers.
  • Members of Elementary Committee are doing writing on Primary Junior Science and Technology Additional Qualifications for Ontario College of Teachers.
  • Humber College’s new 4 credit Horticulture/Landscaping Accelerated OYAP program starts Feb 9th. Fanshawe College is also starting a Horticultural Technician program.
  • New College of Trades is being formed by province and priorities seem to be compulsory trade certification and ratios.

 

February 20, 2009 Executive Meeting Highlights

  • February 2009 version of newsletter is now available online. Submissions for spring issue of Vision are due April 1st.

  • OCTE conference planning is nearly complete.

  • Information about the $15 million Student Success Renewal Fund was sent to OCTE members in February so they could apply well ahead of the deadlines.

 

March 27, 2009 Executive Meeting Highlights

  • Elections will be held at the Annual General Meeting on May 23rd to elect a Treasurer, Secretary, Elementary Vice-Chair and Secondary Vice-Chair.
  • Elementary Committee members travelled from as far away as North Bay to the Halton DSB New Street Educaton Centre to work for two days, including a Sunday, on conference workshop planning, developing education resources linked to the Science and Technology exemplars, writing submissions to the OCTE newsletter and reviewing the elementary section of the web site.
  • Conference is filling up quickly. Accommodation options are posted on the web site.
  • Executive continues to consult with the College of Teachers, Landscape Ontario and HOSTA regarding the teaching qualifications for the broad-based Green Industries curriculum.
  • STAO and IETA now promote OCTE on their web sites.

April 17, 2009 Executive Meeting Highlights

  • OCTE piloted an Adobe Connect Session during this meeting – most attendees used the online function (including one member at another location) while they were at the meeting but some technical assistance was needed from Jeff Bowman.
  • Treasurer read letter from accountant that will be read at AGM. Copies of official 2008 financial statement were distributed and reviewed in detail in preparation for AGM. Statement shows a loss but Executive already has plans to reduce costs e.g. meetings and also do fundraising. Organization has incurred expenses due to high level of activity in two curriculum rollouts.
  • TCDSB has requested OCTE participation in their secondary curriculum PD in May. Currently have only one member from this board. The OCTE Chair will attempt to visit them.
  • Conference Committee reported all vendor tables are booked at $250 each including breakfast and lunch, may need to increase fee to reflect comparable conferences charging up to $1000 per table
  • Conference Chair reported Conference bags are ready, Conference program is ready,  Lunch is a buffet and banquet is a sit-down meal ,Name tags are essential and must be worn to all events and meals
  • According to OCTE/UOIT representative, the committee is currently looking at curriculum documents. The Executive Secretary reported that York University Faculty of Education is working on developing a similar kind of program for Technological Studies teacher preparation.
  • Membership Committee Chair reported that registration is almost at maximum  numbers- 388
  • Professional Development Chair gave a preview of what the web page will look like once teaching modules/resources are set up online for users to download/use at low-cost.
  • Elementary Committee Chair reported elementary registration (29 currently) is not as large as hoped. The Elementary Committee has spent a lot of time and energy developing relevant workshops for the conference.
  • Award Nomination numbers are as follows: Dick Hopkins +2, OCTA (Cosmetology) +6, Secondary Excellence +3, Secondary Certificate +4, Leadership +2, Elementary Excellence +1, Elementary Certificates +1

May 23, 2009 AGM Executive Meeting Highlights

  • Marketing to non-members was only goal not accomplished but have presentation that will be used at Windsor U by Dario Rossit, and at U of T, Western and Queens U next school year
  • 249 new members joined OCTE this year, 447 delegates attended OCTE Conference 2009
  • Membership now runs from August 31st to August 31st yearly
  • Conference registration form will be revised for next year
  • Investigating issues with Red Pine Inn re quality of accommodation and finding alternate accommodation in Barrie with possibility of shuttle between hotel and conference
  • Will add question to OCTE survey to help identify PD needs of members
  • Plan to have web site modules for online learning e.g. Smart Ideas training module
  • Elementary Committee provided articles for OCTE Newsletter (half of conference issue including elementary technology education events, classroom-ready activities, and technology education theory)
  • Elementary Committee members participated in Ontario College of Teachers review of Science and Technology AQ coursess (with goal of achieving 3 part Intermediate Science and Technology AQ course)
  • Maintained representatives from the East (including French Language), North, and Far North districts
  • Bring at least one elementary teacher from every Board participating in the 2010 OCTE conference
  • 2008 financial year was very active, productive period for OCTE as several committees needed funding for critical projects. OCTE shows a deficit for 2008 as a result of those activities. Committees request funding at start of school year for approval by Executive
  • Cheryl Lovell is leading a review of the Constitution with Bob’s support. No changes to Constitution this year
  • 13 nominations were received for 10 awards. Would like more nominations to reflect quality of teaching expertise in province. Bios and photos of winners will be posted on web site shortly
  • Distributed Safe Docs CDs to all who attended secondary curriculum roll outs. OSBIE regulations will be addressed in next version of Safe Docs with tools to implement the regulations

 

 

September 18, 2009 Executive Meeting Highlights

 

  • It was announced that a number of Executive and key committee members may have to step down due to other obligations and responsibilities. Executive will review Executive roles, Committee Chairs and members of committees and re-organize responsibilities.
  • The chair visited McMaster Hospital and was informed that there is a new ward, Child and Youth Mental Health Program that is in need of leisure equipment. The chair was provided with a list from program manager John Prieto, for various pieces of electronic equipment. The chair went to Best Buy and they graciously agreed to provide all the electronics on the list for $2300.
  • OCT has asked OCTE to send representatives to two meetings;  Role of Superintendents Sept 25th 2009 ,Schedule F  ‘Think Tank’ Sept 29th. Two Executive members have agreed to attend.
  • The Executive discussed the benefit of the annual Fern Fall Retreat and agreed that it is an advantage to have another one this year. Proposed date discussed is November 15th- 16th, 2009

 

 

October 16, 2009 Executive Meeting Highlights

 

  • Installation of electronic equipment at McMaster was accomplished. Some equipment had to be sent out to McMaster Electrical Maintenance to ensure they meet electrical code
  • OCTE representatives attended two OCT meetings; 
    • Role of Superintendents Sept 25th 2009: Representatives explained that the process was very free and open. People in attendance listed topics about role of supervisor, then led discussion groups on that topic. Feedback from participants was recorded for OCT
    • Schedule F  ‘Think Tank’ Sept 29th : Schedule F will be another technology specialist (for the emphasis area courses) but not take the place for Tech Specialist
  • Conference discussion included:
    • Regular Fee: $235.00 +  $40.00, April 1st deadline for regular price then price goes up $100 and April 23rd will be the absolute registration deadline
    • OCTE will sell golf shirts and ball caps at the conference and online.
    • Executive drafted up a tentative plan for responsibilities of executive members and committee chairs and amalgamated several committees.

 

November 15th, 2009 Fern Retreat Executive Meeting Highlights

 

  • Carson Allard from OCT sent the Chair an update on the Schedule F specialist, some issues around breadth of emphasis areas in some disciplines not being diverse enough to warrant another specialist (i.e. hairstyling and aesthetics).  There is discussion around the specialist being put on the same plateau as the Honours Specialist but not a replacement of it.
  • Re-organization of committees and chairs

Executive

(attached to committee)

Committee

Committee Chair

Chair

Conference

Mike Sherlock

First (secondary)

Kevin Shea

Curriculum,

PD,

Heath & Safety

Chris Tye

Bob Fularski

Wayne Cramp

Second (elementary)

Cheryl Lovell

Elementary,

Awards,

Constitution & Bylaws

 

Reece Morgan

Bob Corney

Third (secondary)

Sergio Borghesi

Communication

Rod Parcher

Fourth (elementary)

Ron Ballentine

Elementary,

Marketing & Promotion

-Membership

-Sponsorship

-Partnership

 

 

 

 

Dario Rossit

 

 

Treasurer

Nil

Rob De Rubeis

Secretary

Nil

Rod Parcher

Past Chair

Nil

Art Niezen

  • OCTE Chair talked about meeting with Paul Anthony at the ministry regarding the Labour Mobility Act and how a teacher can come from another province and teach in their area of specialization in Ontario without taking addition qualification courses.
  • Skills Ontario has approached OCTE to increase our sponsorship from $1500 (Coffee/muffin Shop) to $5000 to contribute to the rental of Big Screen TVs (advertising) and another (Coffee/Muffin Shop) at the Canadian Competition. Executive voted to increase sponsorship

December 15th, 2009 Executive Meeting Highlights

  •  Executive voted and the conference theme will be;
    • OCTE 2010: Resources to Engage Students
  • The conference committee has finalized arrangements to move website hosting, CIRA account, online payment and other website management to one central company, Vaxxine from Burlington.
  • OCTE Conference update: 230 Nottawasaga Inn rooms have been reserved for our use until March 6. 20 Red Pine Inn rooms have been reserved for our use until May 6. Barrie Travelodge will hold 35 rooms for us until April 6.
  • Constitution and Bylaws update: committee reviewed and made further revisions to Constitution. Bylaws were not examined, but will be presented at the next Executive Committee.

 

 

January 15th, 2010 Executive Meeting Highlights

 

  • Conference workshop presenter forms are being received, reviewed and posted to the website daily.
  • OCTE constitution and bylaw review and revisions are on going.
  • OCTE Vice Chair will attend OTF Retreat Feb 19/20, 2010 at Kempenfelt and report back to Executive.
  • OCTE Executive members will attend UOIT presentation on their proposed Technology Teacher program.