Spring 2020

I hope this newsletter finds you healthy and safe. We are in the middle of an unprecedented time. The COVID-19 pandemic launched a new uninvited way of doing things into our lives. I have gone through waves of feeling overwhelmed, hopeful, despair, and a strange excitement to try something new. I suspect that most of you have felt similarly. It has helped to remind myself that this is emergency response learning not homeschooling or online learning. I want to encourage you to find the support and time for yourself that you need. You can find various support resources in this newsletter in the article titled “Finding Support During the Covid-19 Pandemic”. Your local union and the BCTF are there to support you during this challenging time.

My principal reminded us not to let negative energy impact the positive work we are doing. As we embark on this strange time together, we are creating a sense of consistency and normalcy for our students. The care and attention we provide them with lifts them and their families up as they navigate these challenging times.

Watching communities come together to support each other - especially our home economics community - has been a heartwarming and encouraging silver lining for me during this time. I would like to extend a huge thank you to all of the individuals who took the time to share resources with each other. Fantastic resources are being shared on our THESA Facebook group. The THESA.org website has seen an incredible amount of traffic. Thank you again to Joe Tong, Megan Brevner, Carrol Keane, and Denise Nembard who contributed their time and energy to build that invaluable resource up for us. Earlier this spring, the THESA executive decided to make the THESA Facebook group open to all BC teachers. We believe it prudent to share our resources with all home economics teachers as we shift to new normals and home learning. That said, we may decide to return to a restricted THESA members only group in the future.

You may be wondering what we have planned for our October 23, 2020 THESA conference in the light of physical distancing. I have been in discussion with the BCTF and they are encouraging us follow the advice of the provincial health officer. The THESA executive met (on Zoom) recently and we decided that THESA will shift the 2020 conference from an in person event to a virtual conference. We are excited about what we have planned and, although we believe meeting face to face provides invaluable opportunities, we think the virtual conference will be a great solution for us to connect and learn in light of the circumstances. The THESA executive will meet again in June to continue planning the 2020 virtual conference. We will keep you updated as things become clearer. We want to thank the Vernon THESA chapter for all of their hard work and flexibility and we look forward to visiting Vernon for the 2021 THESA conference.

Please let us know if there are other ways THESA can support you, your colleagues, and your students. We appreciate your membership. It allows us to organize resources, coordinate conferences, and have a vital voice in the BCTF. Strong membership levels allow us to make a positive impact in the province. We are stronger together and hope we can make this challenging time a little less stressful. If you are reading this newsletter and have not yet purchased a membership this year, please consider doing so - this can be done on the BCTF website and is reimbursable through Pro-D funds in many districts.

Warm regards,

Melissa Edstrom

THESA President

Joe TongMay 2, 2020

Spring 2020

Disclaimer: External Teaching Resources

THESA is pleased to provide its members with access to various external teaching resources for professional development purposes. However, it is important to note the following:

Third-Party Content: The external teaching resources shared by THESA are created and owned by third parties. The association does not endorse, control, or guarantee the accuracy, relevance, or quality of the content.

Independent Evaluation: Members are encouraged to independently evaluate and verify the suitability of any external teaching resource for their specific needs and educational context before incorporating it into their teaching practices.

No Warranty: THESA makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the fitness for a particular purpose, merchantability, or non-infringement of any external teaching resource shared with members.

Responsibility: The use of external teaching resources is at the discretion and responsibility of individual members. THESA shall not be held liable for any loss, damage, or inconvenience arising from the use of such resources.

Updating and Removal: THESA reserves the right to update, modify, or remove any external teaching resource from its shared materials at any time without prior notice.

External Links: Some resources may include links to external websites. THESA is not responsible for the content, security, or privacy practices of these external sites.

By accessing and using the external teaching resources provided by THESA, members acknowledge and agree to the terms outlined in this disclaimer. Members are advised to exercise their professional judgment and discretion when utilizing external teaching resources.

This disclaimer is subject to change, and members are encouraged to review it periodically for any updates.