Welcome back and Happy New Year to you all! I hope that this holiday season offered you time for rest and to safely enjoy uninterrupted time with those that matter to you the most. January is greeted with thoughtfulness, intention and hope for and about what this coming year will bring to us.
The Local has created a “wellness series” for you all to take part in and use for your benefit. Visit the Local’s website and click on the “Taking Care of our Teachers Series”. Each video offer tips and suggestions for keeping yourself well while working at home and during this time of COVID.
A reminder that Teachers’ Convention (GETCA) is just around the corner and it will be the first online convention. Note that it is both our legal and professional responsibilities to attend convention. Visit the convention’s website to see the speakers list: https://www.getca.com/
As always please stay in touch with the Local and Association. Visit the websites, and be sure that you are “in the know” with the workings of our organizations. You can also find bargaining updates, communication and political engagement activities and how to take part. For instance, the Association has kick started a communication/political engagement initiative whereby they are reaching out to teachers via text message through a platform called Call Hub. If you receive a text message from someone saying that they are a teacher contacting you on behalf of the ATA, please consider engaging with them for a very brief conversation. This is a “real teacher”, like myself (who has signed up to be one of the volunteers for this) and they are working to keep you connected to the Association and their work.
As always, thank you for your work, commitment, integrity and courage throughout all that you do. Wishing you all a peaceful start up to this new year.
With gratitude,
Sandra