SEATCA 2025 - Southeastern Alberta Teachers' Convention

The story of a former school administrator who made a decision for his mental health to leave the principalship and go back to the classroom, a decision that opened doors he couldn't have every imagined!

We begin with movement with a slow flow to connect our bodies and breathe; After we have connected with our breath we will move into longer deeper holds to help improve flexibility, reduced stress and will leave you feeling rejuvenated.

Social Emotional Resources that I Love Session Overview: In today's educational landscape, fostering students' social and emotional well-being is as crucial as their academic success. Join me for an engaging and informative session where we'll explore some of my favourite Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, books, and videos that can help you create a supportive and nurturing classroom environment. Whether you're new to SEL or looking to expand your existing toolkit, this session will provide valuable resources and practical strategies to enhance your teaching practice. This session is designed for elementary school educators who are passionate about integrating social and emotional learning into their classrooms. Whether you're a classroom teacher, school counselor, administrator, you'll find valuable insights and practical tools to support your students' social-emotional development. Session Format: Interactive Presentation: Engage with the presenter through a presentation that includes real-life examples, multimedia resources, and interactive discussions. Q&A Session: Participate in a question-and-answer segment to address your specific needs and challenges related to SEL implementation. Resource Sharing: Receive a comprehensive list of recommended SEL programs, books, and videos, along with tips for integrating them into your teaching practice. Takeaways: By the end of this session, you'll walk away with: A deeper understanding of the importance of SEL in education. A toolkit of high-quality SEL resources to enrich your classroom. Practical strategies for fostering a positive and supportive learning environment for your students.

Everyone has the notion, or I call it the “gumption” to start a fitness journey. In this sessions, you will explore some of the reasons why physical fitness has been put on the back burner! Let’s design together a fitness plan that fits YOUR wellness needs. As a recently retired Grasslands educator/administrator for 35 years, I started my own fitness business that helps clients to maintain their physical fitness. With this extra time in my hands, I have been re-ignited and I would like to share this passion with you. I would like to help YOU to figure out your physical fitness towards wellness!

APPLE Schools (A Project Promoting healthy Living for Everyone in schools) is an innovative school-focused health promotion initiative. It improves the lives of more than 33,000 students annually in over 100 schools across Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, and Ontario by improving their healthy eating, physical activity, and mental health habits. Join us for an inspiring session that highlights the innovative efforts of two APPLE Schools implementation sites and the dedicated School Health Facilitators driving positive change. Discover real-life examples of how schools successfully integrate Comprehensive School Health initiatives to create healthier, more active learning environments. Learn how to build excitement and generate buy-in among staff and community members, empowering everyone to play a role in fostering a healthy school culture. The Facilitators will share their experiences, insights, and practical strategies for overcoming challenges and facilitating impactful transformations in your own setting. Get ready to be inspired and equipped with the tools to ignite healthy change in your school community!

Are you feeling the burnout and stress of the every day go go go? Take some time and come drum. Here you will have a chance to ground yourself, release anxiety and stress, all while enjoying your time playing fun games and learning new rhythms/skills for your classroom.

Healthy students learn better and achieve better outcomes. The comprehensive school health (CSH) framework is Alberta’s roadmap for school health and wellness. CSH begins with you, right in your classroom! Join us for an engaging discussion on hot topics that directly impact you and your students. Together, let’s demystify CSH and explore strategies that enhance well-being and learning for students and staff in your classroom – leading to meaningful and lasting change.

Social Emotional Resources that I Love Session Overview: In today's educational landscape, fostering students' social and emotional well-being is as crucial as their academic success. Join me for an engaging and informative session where we'll explore some of my favourite Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs, books, and videos that can help you create a supportive and nurturing classroom environment. Whether you're new to SEL or looking to expand your existing toolkit, this session will provide valuable resources and practical strategies to enhance your teaching practice. This session is designed for elementary school educators who are passionate about integrating social and emotional learning into their classrooms. Whether you're a classroom teacher, school counselor, administrator, you'll find valuable insights and practical tools to support your students' social-emotional development. Session Format: Interactive Presentation: Engage with the presenter through a presentation that includes real-life examples, multimedia resources, and interactive discussions. Q&A Session: Participate in a question-and-answer segment to address your specific needs and challenges related to SEL implementation. Resource Sharing: Receive a comprehensive list of recommended SEL programs, books, and videos, along with tips for integrating them into your teaching practice. Takeaways: By the end of this session, you'll walk away with: A deeper understanding of the importance of SEL in education. A toolkit of high-quality SEL resources to enrich your classroom. Practical strategies for fostering a positive and supportive learning environment for your students.

Are you stuck teaching sexual health the same way it was taught to YOU as a student? Times have changed, and there are subtle ways to make your sexual health classes more inclusive and impactful. Get the facts on how to answer questions from students with confidence, and ensure that all students see themselves in your lesson. We’ll review 6 great tips that will take your sexual health classes from subpar to superb!

As educators we are constantly dealing with so many demands that the education system, our supervisors and other stakeholders, as well as our own expectations place upon our shoulders. We are spinning a lot of plates and trying to not let any fall and break, which leads to being in a version of survival-mode more often than thriving and living with a maintainable work-home-personal life balance. This session will share some signs of overwhelm that can contribute to burnout in educators at all levels or positions as well as offer and collaborate on various tools and strategies to help you and the people in your care feel more stable and able to carry on in your role as a caregiver to so many! Participants will leave with a personalized plan to manage their professional responsibilities while maintaining a sustainable and fulfilling lifestyle outside of their careers.

Traditional sex ed has focussed on heterosexual and cisgender people and relationships, but that leaves out a large group of students. Whether you have some out 2SLGBTQI+ students, or none, your sex ed classes can be inclusive, welcoming, safe, caring and respectful places for students of every gender identity and sexual orientation.

Are you ready to transform your school into a haven of mental wellness and inclusivity? Join us for an inspiring and interactive workshop designed to equip educators with the essential tools and strategies to promote mental health and reduce stigma among students. In this session, Andrea Paquette, President and Co-Founder of the Stigma-Free Mental Health Society, will introduce you to the comprehensive Stigma-Free School Program, which encompasses five key components: 1. Student Mental Health Toolkit: Discover a rich repository of resources, including lesson plans, activities, videos, and more, tailored to enhance students' mental health education. 2. Live Personal Story Virtual Presentations: Experience the power of lived experiences through our engaging virtual presentations. 3. Pro-D Offerings: Enhance your professional development with our targeted sessions aimed at equipping educators with the latest strategies and insights on mental health education. 4. Stigma-Free Clubs: Learn how to establish and support student-led clubs dedicated to promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma within the school community. 5. Educator's Peer Support Training: Gain access to peer support training tailored specifically for educators. This training empowers you to support your colleagues and create a network of mental health champions within your school. By attending this workshop, you will gain practical tools and insights to make a lasting impact on your students' mental well-being. Don't miss this opportunity to join a movement towards a stigma-free educational environment. Together, we can create schools where every student feels supported, understood, and empowered.

We begin with movement with a slow flow to connect our bodies and breathe; After we have connected with our breath we will move into longer deeper holds to help improve flexibility, reduced stress and will leave you feeling rejuvenated.

Alberta Health Services health professionals will discuss vaping and nicotine pouch use amongst youth. Participants will learn: • Trends in and prevalence rates of e-cigarette use for school aged youth in Alberta • Best practices for preventing nicotine use • An overview on nicotine pouches • Marketing tactics targeting youth • Grade appropriate prevention education for schools • A summary of available resources for students and teachers to prevent and reduce nicotine use by young people

In this session, participants will gain a comprehensive understanding of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) and its impact on student learning and behaviour. Through evidence-based practices, Kaitlyn from the WRaP 2.0 program will provide foundational knowledge on FASD, explore effective classroom strategies, and discuss methods for navigating transitions for students affected by FASD. Educators will learn practical tools to create inclusive, supportive environments that meet the unique needs of these students, enhancing both engagement and academic success. The session will offer insights relevant to individual educators, small groups, and school-wide practices.

Are you finding yourself grappling with making aspects of your teaching practice perfect? Struggling with burn out, never feeling like you are finished, and living in a constant state of stress? Join us as we take a deep breath, drop our shoulders, and explore ways to re-write perfectionistic tendencies in our classrooms. We will delve into practical strategies for managing perfectionism, fostering a growth mindset, and embracing our "enoughness" in our teaching careers. You will leave with actionable tools to help you cultivate a more flexible, sustainable, and enjoyable teaching career.

Join us as we discuss the great joys and incredible challenges that come along with teaching young children while raising our own. From the practicals of lesson and meal planning to the tough topics of sharing the mental load and the division of domestic labour we will dive head first into setting ourselves up for success in our homes and classrooms. *Although this session is geared for parents and teachers of children under 10 it will have lots of helpful tips and tricks for parents and teachers of all ages.