June 2, 2023
“The paradox of personal evolution is that at each stage, I retrospectively become aware of the extent to which, in the previous stage, I was not free, not conscious, not enlightened, compared to the level I have now reached.
Knowing this, it would be wise for us to recognize the relative and limited nature of our current consciousness and the resulting perceptions and judgments, and therefore not to give them more credit than they deserve, and constantly strive to transcend them, to attain a higher consciousness and a more accurate perception.
In other words, we should cultivate a healthy form of doubt: not the kind that prevents progress, that undermines and criticizes everything, but the kind that is not satisfied with appearances, that urges us to verify, to go further, to question things, to question ourselves, and our certainties.”
This week’s Words of Wisdom was submitted by Negar. Have a quote you would like to submit for next week’s Staff Update? Click here to share the words of wisdom that inspired you most recently.
Year-End Events: June 23, June 27 and June 28
End-of-Year Staff Party
Friday, June 23, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
A celebration of the completion of a phenomenal school year for all staff, this event will include recognition of staff years of service and departures, and the staff celebration of Rosemary.
Community Retirement Celebration for Rosemary Evans
Tuesday, June 27, Reception at 6 p.m., Presentation at 7 p.m.
End-of-Year Staff Lunch
Wednesday, June 28, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m.
As part of the final PA/PD day in June, staff will gather together one last time this year.
Gallery Walks: June 8 and June 9
Thursday, June 8 and Friday, June 9 are the last days of classes and students who have been working in the Lang Innovation Lab will be showcasing their work throughout both days. Please feel free to come down to the first floor to see what students have been working on!
Thursday, June 8
Period 2: F2 History, Charlotte Speilman and M4 World History, Paul Harkison
Period 3: M3 Computer Science, Cassandra Postma
Period 5: M4 World History, Paul Harkison
Friday, June 9
Period 1: F2 History, Paul Harkison
Period 2: F2 Geography, Rebecca Levere and F2 History, Mita Bhattacharyya
Period 3: M3 Computer Science, Cassandra Postma
Period 4: F2 Geography, Chris Walasek; F2 History, Paul Harkison and M3 Computer Science, Isabella Liu
Teachers Personal PD: June 21 Deadline
To all teachers, please submit your 2022-23 pre-approvals and claims for Personal PD Activity and/or Personal PD Purchases-Memberships by June 21.
ColLAB
We had our sixth and final ColLAB of the year last week.
Topics ranged from pedagogical approaches to equity in the classroom (e.g. via discussion and visualizing thinking), to animal and environmental protection, to AI in education.
Many thanks to everyone who participated in any ColLABs this year, and special thanks to the ColLAB facilitators.
We are grateful to be able to explore ideas with this UTS learning community.
Wanted to join us but couldn’t? No problem! Check out this year’s ColLAB archive.
The Learning Innovation Team
Eureka-UTS Learning Conversation Series with Mag Gardner: June 6
We invite you to join us virtually, as Dr. Mag Gardner, global capacity building facilitator at New Pedagogies for Deeper Learning (NPDL) and former Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board superintendent, share about equitable approaches to fostering deep learning in the classroom and school, i.e. with the NPDL's 6Cs and 4 Elements of deep learning design.
This is part of the Learning Conversation Series that is hosted by the Eureka! Research Institute @ UTS: Perspectives on Fostering Equitable Approaches to Deeper Learning in K-12 Education.
Materials from these conversations are archived here.
All UTS staff are welcome to attend. Please RSVP to the calendar invitation.
We know you may be commuting during this time and if you need to mute your mic and webcam, that's totally fine.
Please note that Eureka! has been supporting a partnership with researchers and educators in Japan (CoREF) and hopefully this partnership will develop into educator exchanges between our two countries.
‒ Kim MacKinnon, Cresencia Fong and Rosemary Evans
Online Leadership PD Opportunity with Harvard Graduate School of Education
“Leadership Entry: Empowering Schools and Communities” is an online course that runs from
August 2 to September 12, 2023.
$635 USD per person, plus required text.
Register by July 24, 2023.
Teachers may use their $500 CAD Personal PD funds for 2023-24 towards the registration fee.
Please use this PD Activity form to request pre-approval.
“Designed for new education leaders and those who want to refresh their leadership, this six-week course focuses on the challenges and opportunities associated with entering as a new leader in a community. You’ll design a structured, intentional entry plan to gain insight into your environment, build trust within your community, and move forward from a positive stance. With that plan, you’ll forge stronger connections with the colleagues, students and families you serve. And you’ll learn how to use those connections to create a lasting impact.”
Postsecondary Updates - S5 Teachers
In consultation with their guidance counsellor, S5 students intending on applying early to U.K./U.S. institutions in the fall were asked to approach two of their current teachers and request if they are willing and able to provide an enthusiastic academic letter of support.
For your reference, teacher (letter) deadlines will be as follows:
October 1 (early U.K.)
October 20 (early U.S.)
December 1 (all other applications)
More information regarding the type of reference that is required ‒ there are significant changes to this year’s application cycle ‒ will be provided to teacher referees in June. If you have any questions, please contact Andrea Stoeckl.
AI for Educators Online Course
The AI for Educators Online Course runs four weeks from June 11 to July 7, and is hosted by Matt Miller from Ditch That Textbook.
The cost of this course is $49 USD.
Research on Teenagers Who Read Manga
Youth aged 13- to 17-years old who read manga (at least once in their life) have an opportunity to participate in a research study that explores the relation between manga reading and socioemotional behaviours, by completing this 15-minute online survey.
Participants will be compensated with a $5 Indigo e-gift card for their time and effort.
This research is conducted by Ms. Si Jia Wu, a PhD candidate, and Dr. Kang Lee, a professor, Applied Psychology and Human Development, at the Kang Lee Development Lab, OISE - University of Toronto.
For more information, please refer to this poster.
Questions may be directed to MangaEngagement@kangleelab.com.
Feel free to share with students and/or youth in your life.
Athletics Calendars
Silver Linings
Have a silver lining you would like to submit for next week’s Staff Update? Click here to share something that brought you joy recently.
