Members are encouraged to wear the sticker, and more importantly get out and vote on Thursday . . . Because Education Matters!

ETFO-AQ Goes International

Imagine pursuing your professional learning in kindergarten while touring an early learning center in Emilia Romagna, Italy . . . or developing a French unit on food for your FSL AQ while enjoying the cafés of Paris . . .

The exciting new ETFO Destination AQ courses provide these opportunities and so much more!

Destination AQ courses provide a vibrant blended learning model with some work done online prior to departing for France, Greece, Italy, or Spain. Once settled in four-star accommodations in the destination of choice, candidates will enjoy a cultural immersion experience and continue their course work. The trip portion of the experience has been carefully planned to ensure that days at the destination are split between tours, free time, and classroom experiences.

The following destination AQs are planned for 2012:

• France: French as a Second Language Parts 1, 2, and Specialist
• Greece: English as a Second Language Parts 1, 2, and Specialist
• Italy: Kindergarten Parts 1, 2, and Specialist
• Spain: Special Education Parts 1, 2, and Specialist

Full details including dates, pricing, and travel itineraries can be found at www.etfo-aq.ca/destination-aqs. The registration deadline for Destination AQs is December 1, 2011 - but don't wait until the last minute as spaces in these special programs are limited.

• Day of Pink is on April 11, 2012. What will YOU be wearing? Day of Pink is the International Day against Bullying, Discrimination and Homophobia in schools and communities. We invite everyone to celebrate diversity by wearing a pink shirt and by organizing activities in their workplaces, organizations, communities, and schools. For more information go to www.dayofpink.org. ETFO is proud to support this event in 2012. More details will follow in future eNewsletters. Questions? Please contact Adam Peer, Equity and Women's Services, apeer@etfo.org or 416-962-3836/1-888-838-3836 ext.2239.
  
  
• The Canadian Education Association is pleased to announce the 2011 Call for Applications for the Ken Spencer Award for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, from publicly funded elementary, middle, and secondary schools in Canada (Grade 6 and above). Seven cash awards ($7,000, $3,000, and 5 x $1,000) will be awarded to schools for innovations focusing on improving student engagement. All recipients will also be featured in Education Canada magazine. If interested, apply online at http://www.cea-ace.ca/awards/spencer-award by November 4.
  
  
• WaterCan's new "Water Wisdom" website for students and teachers provides a one-stop-shop for water education and engagement. This highly interactive website allows students and teachers to easily find and download all of the educational, awareness and fundraising resources that they need to engage in global and domestic water issues. For more information, visit the Water Wisdom Portal at http://www.watercan.com/students/.
  
  

• The Artists in Education Roster and the Aboriginal Artists in Schools Roster at the Ontario Arts Council (OAC) are resources for Ontario teachers who wish to hire professional artists to teach hands-on workshops to their students. Teachers can choose from a variety of projects in dance, literature, media arts, music, theatre and visual arts geared at students from JK to grade 12. Visit the Ontario Arts Council website to see the 2011-1012 Artists in Education Roster List.