SEATCA 2025 - Southeastern Alberta Teachers' Convention

This is a "hands on," beginner ASL course geared toward educators with little or no experience in ASL. We will start with the ABC's and take you to asking and answering questions, playing games, numbers, and more. You will have the benefit of two instructors, one Deaf and one Hearing, who together will take you through accurate signing as well as explain clearly the logic behind the signs. You will leave excited to practice and show off your ASL!

This course is geared toward educators with some familiarity with ASL who would like to take it to the next level. After reviewing the basics, we will go deeper into the grammatical and syntactical structure of ASL, directional verbs, locational/spatial organization and narrative organization. Participants will leave this session able to tell a joke or story in ASL.

During this presentation, we dive deeper into what Autism is and share practical strategies that can help you interact with and support autistic individuals. The presentation also covers the strengths and challenges experienced by many autistic people and how to respond to create accommodating environments. Lastly, we unpack what might trigger a meltdown and how to help de-escalate a situation. Autism 201 is a follow up session to Autism 101. By joining this session, you will be able to: • Expand your knowledge of Autism • Dive Deeper into Common Autism characteristics and how you can support • Identify the impact of sensory differences and respond to the sensory needs of autistic individuals • Explore environmental accommodations • Learn about co-existing disabilities • All behaviour is a form of communication • Discuss meltdowns including triggers, relationships recovery and repair as well as de-escalation techniques

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.

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