Articulation
Teachers are advised not to attend the traditional breakfast that takes
place at this time of the year where the secondary school plays host, as
these would be meetings with administration. The same would apply to
elementary school visits that often take place in January. These
meetings can go ahead administrator-to-administrator, both elementary
and secondary, but should not involve teachers, including counsellors.
Canadian
Parents for French Annual Speech Contest
French Immersion and Core French teachers can participate as judges for
the above activity if they wish.
Concerts, Plays and
Other Performances
This update is intended to clarify earlier communication on this
issue. In determining whether or not your performance can go ahead apply
the same lens we would apply to field trips or other activities that may
occur outside of instructional time. It very much depends on whether or
not the event is a curricular event, an extra-curricular event.
If it is a curricular performance it can go ahead
under Phase 1 of our job action if the following criteria are met:
-
The performance is an integral part of the
curricular program that all students are expected to participate in
and is assessed as part of the students’ evaluation. (i.e. Two
separate classes of a large band are combined occasionally to create
a full ensemble for performance and evaluation.)
-
Administration completes all necessary forms apart
from student permission forms.
-
No monies are collected for attendance at the
performance as members are not to participate in fundraising
activities.
-
Teachers accept responsibility for supervision of
students during the event, but may ask parents to assist with
supervision tasks.
If it is an extra-curricular performance
it is considered voluntary and may continue but there are certain
criteria that must be met to fit this definition, and some limits in
our job action apply.
-
The performance is not connected to the curriculum
and students are not assessed for participating.
-
Participation is not limited to your class(es);
rather, it is club-based or open to all students.
-
Administration completes all necessary forms apart
from student permission forms.
-
No monies are collected for attendance at the
performance as members are not to participate in fundraising
activities.
ESL Assessments
Assessments of ESL students (eg LOMERA) should go ahead so that teachers
can do Annual Instructional Plans (AIPs) for ESL students and thereby
ensure that these students receive appropriate service and support. This
is parallel to the advice about IEPs. During Phase 1, teachers
should not be providing additional documentation that districts might
require for ministry audits of ESL or special Education services.
Fundraising
Teachers should in no way engage in fundraising
for their educational programs that supplements what is funded to our
schools. We are not soliciting funds from students, parents or the
community. Teacher participation in charitable fundraising events and
other extra-curricular activities may continue provided all of the
principles of Phase 1 of our Job Action are observed.
International Students and
Marks
Teachers may verbally provide students with their marks and the
students can then self-report to whomever they need to. Forms
that are being provided by outside program reps should not be filled in,
as they could be used to produce a replication of a "report card"
for international students.
Interview Committees
Teachers will continue to apply for postings, be
short listed and attend job interviews. A VSTA staff rep will be
involved to ensure the integrity of the process. No other teachers
will be involved.
Labour Relations Board Decision on BCPSEA Application for Variance
The LRB has dismissed the
application by BCPSEA to compel teachers to do report cards and to fine
the BCTF 15% of teachers' salaries and benefits. For more info,
click on the following links:
Parent Advisory Committees
Schools should continue to elect a
PAC representative to the School Union Team. Teachers will continue to
attend PAC meetings whether the Principal is present or not
as it is an important opportunity to connect with parents and secure
their support. We would also urge the School Union Team to arrange an
opportunity to meet with the parents in order to get our message out.
Report Cards
Staff Alert - November 29, 2011 email
to Staff Reps
|
1. |
There is no formal end to
Term 1, and, as part of our Job Action, we are not submitting
marks to Administration (with the exception of grade 12 marks in
the manner as previously reported). |
| 2. |
We will not be going back
to do struck work after Job Action is completed. |
|
3. |
If you choose to use
BCeSIS for your marks, DO NOT post marks to
Administration through the use of the "save to marks" button or
the "marks completed" button. |
|
4. |
We continue to await a
ruling from the LRB on BCPSEA's request to alter our Job Action
to remove preparing and completing report cards from the list of
struck work. (please see LRB Decision above) |
Grade 12 Reporting -
click here
for School Team Bulletin, Issue 2, November 16, 2011
As part of our current job action teachers are not
doing report cards and that includes interim reports or any other
variation or replication of report cards. We are also not meeting any of
the deadlines related to reporting and parent teacher contact. Here are
some points to bear in mind:
-
We
are asking members to keep parents informed of their child's
progress and to let them know in timely fashion if the student is
having difficulty.
-
Teachers
will choose when and how to connect with parents to discuss their
child's progress.
-
Non-instructional
days, including early dismissals, should not be used to schedule
parent/teacher interviews in a formal structured way.
School-Based Team Meetings
Administrators should be notified of the
time and place of SBT meetings along with the names of students on the
agenda. An administrator may only attend for discussions of:
- Custody issues
- Confidential matters such as
Family and Children's Services issues
- Police issues
- Legitimate safety issues
If not attending, administrators
will provide SBT with any information that will assist the discussion
and any recommendations and minutes of SBT will be provided by the
administrator.
School Newsletters
School newsletters are traditionally sent home in conjunction with
report cards. The request to contribute to the newsletter is a "routine"
communication that we will not be accepting. As well, if it is printed
on school letterhead and contains a message from the Principal, a
contribution under these circumstances would not be consistent with
Phase 1 Job Action.
Teacher-Librarian Ordering
Teacher-Librarians can purchase books and resources for inclusion in
their library collections. Maintenance of the learning resources in
their libraries to directly support instruction is part of their work.
Teacher-Parent
Communication
Communicating with parents/guardians is an important aspect of our work
during Phase 1 of job action. This communication might take the form of
any of the following: informal conversations, a phone call home,
assignments being sent home to parents, comments in a student's agenda
book, an informal note home, or a quick e-mail to parents. Teachers
should continue to make every effort to maintain regular communication
with parents about student's progress.
|
Vancouver
Secondary Teachers' Association
