VSTA - TEST CONNECT
Dear Colleagues,
We have several matters to bring to your attention in this mid-week Connect: the decision to maintain the semester system for next school year, background information regarding the SLO motion coming to our General Meeting on the 24th, and meeting notices for our BIPOC and 2SLGBTQ+ Ad Hoc Committees.
VSTA Response to District’s Decision to Maintain the Semester System for Next Year
By now, you will have been informed that the District has chosen to continue the semester model for 2023-2024. Based on feedback from VSTA members and supporting research, we advocated strongly for a return to a linear-based system. Discussion in sessions of the Secondary Schedule Working Group led to an informal consensus that the ideal model would combine the benefits of both systems. There are models that may achieve this objective and we are hopeful that discussion will continue for planning beyond next year. In the meantime, the Executive Committee will discuss the decision at its meeting this week and receive input and advice from Council on the 26 th.
Click here if you wish to read the “Preferred Secondary Schedule Engagement Summary Report ” published by the District.
Black Excellence Day - January 14
Black Excellence Day – January 14
This is a day to celebrate Black history and learn more about Black stories, art, and people leading up to February Black History Month. This day was chosen to honour civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Black Excellence Day recognizes the significant contributions of Black Canadians that have too often been overlooked and unacknowledged in our history and curriculum, along with the past and present ongoing struggles of Black and racialized Canadians. For more information visit the BCTF page.
This is a day to celebrate Black history and learn more about Black stories, art, and people leading up to February Black History Month. This day was chosen to honour civil rights leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Black Excellence Day recognizes the significant contributions of Black Canadians that have too often been overlooked and unacknowledged in our history and curriculum, along with the past and present ongoing struggles of Black and racialized Canadians. For more information visit the BCTF page.
SLO Motion Supporting information
SLO Motion Supporting information
In our upcoming General Meeting on January 24, we will be discussing one or more motions about the SLO program. Please take some time to review these documents in preparation for that meeting.
• The Argyle report (Mar. 2021) – VSB commissioned report which informed the original decision to end the program
• Letter from BC Human Rights Commissioner (Nov. 2022) – Commissioner Kasari Govender to BC Trustees Association CEO Suzanne Hoffman with recommend ations concerning SLO programs
• Review of all Canadian SLO Programs (May 2021) – commissioned by the British Columbia’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner and authored by Dr. K. Samuels-Wortley, assistant professor with the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Carleton University
• Equity is safer: Human rights considerations for policing reform in British Columbia (Nov. 2021) BCOHRC submission to the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
In our upcoming General Meeting on January 24, we will be discussing one or more motions about the SLO program. Please take some time to review these documents in preparation for that meeting.
• The Argyle report (Mar. 2021) – VSB commissioned report which informed the original decision to end the program
• Letter from BC Human Rights Commissioner (Nov. 2022) – Commissioner Kasari Govender to BC Trustees Association CEO Suzanne Hoffman with recommend ations concerning SLO programs
• Review of all Canadian SLO Programs (May 2021) – commissioned by the British Columbia’s Office of the Human Rights Commissioner and authored by Dr. K. Samuels-Wortley, assistant professor with the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Carleton University
• Equity is safer: Human rights considerations for policing reform in British Columbia (Nov. 2021) BCOHRC submission to the Special Committee on Reforming the Police Act of the Legislative Assembly of British Columbia
BIPOC Ad Hoc
BIPOC Ad Hoc – January 19, 4:15pm – Windermere Secondary, Room 211
The VSTA EC has formed the BIPOC Ad Hoc Committee for the 2022-2023 school year. The intended outcome of this committee is to create a pathway to hear about the needs of BIPOC members and to increase engagement by reducing barriers within the workplace and the union, and in doing so, universally improve conditions for all members.
All VSTA members who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Colour are welcome to attend this BIPOC Ad Hoc Committee meeting. Follow this link for more details.
The VSTA EC has formed the BIPOC Ad Hoc Committee for the 2022-2023 school year. The intended outcome of this committee is to create a pathway to hear about the needs of BIPOC members and to increase engagement by reducing barriers within the workplace and the union, and in doing so, universally improve conditions for all members.
All VSTA members who self-identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or Person of Colour are welcome to attend this BIPOC Ad Hoc Committee meeting. Follow this link for more details.
2SLGBTQ+ Ad Hoc
2SLGBTQ+ Ad Hoc – January 30, 4:15pm – Zoom
The VSTA EC has formed the 2SLGBTQ+ Ad Hoc Committee for the 2022-2023 school year. The intended outcome of this committee is to create a pathway to hear about the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ members and to increase engagement by reducing barriers within the workplace and the union, and in doing so, universally improve conditions for all members. All VSTA members who self-identify as 2SLGBTQ+ are welcome to attend this meeting. Click here for more details. Upcoming 2SLGBTQ+ Ad Hoc meeting dates:
• Monday, January 30th – 4:15pm on Zoom (late arrivals welcome)
• Wednesday, March 1st – 4:15pm at Britannia (late arrivals welcome)
• Thursday, April 6th – exact time and location TBD
• Tuesday, May 9th – exact time and location TBD
• Friday, June 2nd – exact time and location TBD
The VSTA EC has formed the 2SLGBTQ+ Ad Hoc Committee for the 2022-2023 school year. The intended outcome of this committee is to create a pathway to hear about the needs of 2SLGBTQ+ members and to increase engagement by reducing barriers within the workplace and the union, and in doing so, universally improve conditions for all members. All VSTA members who self-identify as 2SLGBTQ+ are welcome to attend this meeting. Click here for more details. Upcoming 2SLGBTQ+ Ad Hoc meeting dates:
• Monday, January 30th – 4:15pm on Zoom (late arrivals welcome)
• Wednesday, March 1st – 4:15pm at Britannia (late arrivals welcome)
• Thursday, April 6th – exact time and location TBD
• Tuesday, May 9th – exact time and location TBD
• Friday, June 2nd – exact time and location TBD
In Solidarity,
Terry, Carmen and Carl