What's happening in D3 this month:
January 11th and 12th:  ESSU Collective Bargaining 
January 16th:  CPAC Meeting - 4:30 pm
January 17th:  T/OTBU Executive Meeting - 4:30 pm
January 18th:  ESSU Executive Meeting - 4:30 pm
January 22nd:  Equity/Human Rights Committee Meeting - 4:30 pm
January 23rd:  Status of Women Committee Meeting - 4:45pm
January 28th:  Curling for a Cause - 2:00 pm at Curl Sudbury (Pre-registration required)
February 1st: Classroom Management Workshop 4:30 pm  register here 
February 2nd:  Ponderings & Potations at The Pickled Pig - Val Caron - Let us know you are attending!  register here
February 7th:  District Executive Meeting - 4:30 pm
February 12th:  Focus on Poverty Workshop - 4:30 pm  register here

Welcome back everyone! I hope that you took full advantage of the well-deserved time off and that you are recharged and ready to tackle 2024.
 
Bargaining Units are hitting the ground running this new year with either the start or the resumption of local negotiations. All table teams have been hard at work in preparation and each hope to make progress this month. As with many high-level negotiations, confidentiality is core to the process and no details will be shared with members, unless a tentative agreement is reached prior to the March 28^th deadline for Voluntary Mediated Interest Arbitration.
 
As a New Year’s resolution and in the spirit of unity, let us renew our commitment to supporting one another, advocating for the rights of all education workers, teachers and occasional teachers, and to defend the values of the public education system.

Happy New Year to all members and thank you for your ongoing contributions.
 
Yours in Federation,
Eric Laberge
District President
 

Welcome back!
I hope everyone had a joyous and restful holiday. And now, days are getting longer and spring is just around the corner.
 
There are many events on the schedule to help get us through to the warmer days.
First and foremost:
 
Curling for a Cause

If you have not gathered your team, you will need to do so ASAP. I have some organizing to do before the event that cannot be done at the last minute. I would like to have 12 registered teams. Please send your RSVP to Donna no later than January 12^th. Here’s what you need to know.
Date: Sunday January 28^th, 2024                             
Time: 2:00 pm (till approximately 8 pm)
Location: Sudbury Curling Club, 300 Wessex St.
Cost: $40/person or $160 per team of 4
 
Don’t forget to give your team a name!
 
Classroom Management Workshop

The Ed Services Committee is hosting a Classroom Management Workshop for both new and seasoned teachers. 
Effective classroom management skills are essential in providing a positive and secure environment where students can achieve their potential. Participants will learn practical strategies for creating a positive learning environment and will have opportunities to address some of the behaviours they face.
 Date: February 1^st, 2024
Time: 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm (or thereabouts)
Location: The District Office, 184 Ninth Ave., Lively
Cost: FREE
 
Additional info: You will receive a certificate of completion. Snacks will be available, and seating is limited. Register by January 17^th. Give Donna a call or send an email: osstf@d03.osstf.ca 705-692-3923
 
Ponderings and Potations

Do you want to get together with other OSSTF members for a drink, snacks, good conversation and the chance to win a coveted prize? (FOR FREE!) Of course you do. Please join us.
Date: February 2^nd, 2024 (after your gruelling PD day!)
Time: 4:30 – whenever
Location: The Pickled Pig,  3020 Old Hwy 69 N, Val Caron
Cost: FREE (for the first drink and snacks)
 
Focus on Poverty Workshop

The Equity and Human Rights Committee is hosting this valuable workshop. Poverty is an unfortunate reality and educators confront this situation in their classrooms daily.
This workshop uses statistics, narratives, and group interaction to explore the topic of poverty, to challenge our biases, and to reimagine how we can address poverty in our communities.
Date: February 12^th, 2024
Time: 4:30 – 6:30 (or thereabouts)
Location: The District Office, 184 Ninth Ave., Lively
Cost: FREE
 
Additional info: I will ensure there is a piping hot pot of chili, crusty rolls, beverages and dessert for those that attend. You will receive a certificate of completion. . Seating is limited. Register by February 2^nd. Give Donna a call or send an email: osstf@d03.osstf.ca 705-692-3923
 
Beyond the Blackboard: Writing Workshop
Are you someone who dreams about writing a novel or memoir? Are you waiting until retirement to write that book? Join author and book coach Liisa Kovala for Beyond the Blackboard: Writing Workshop. Take part in a series of writing exercises to unlock your story ideas and learn strategies to incorporate writing into your busy work life. You already have the tools to learn how to write. You don’t have to wait until retirement to follow your writing passions. 

Bio:                                                                      
Liisa Kovala is a retired teacher who worked in two countries, two school boards, and both the elementary and secondary panels. She is the author of Surviving Stutthof: My Father’s Memories Behind the Death Gate (Latitude 46, 2017) and Sisu’s Winter War (Latitude 46, 2022). Liisa recently won first prize in Geist’s Literal Literary Postcard Short Story Contest and her short stories and creative non-fiction pieces appear in many publications and anthologies. As an Author Accelerator Certified Fiction Book Coach, Liisa works with aspiring women writers both in small group and individual sessions. Learn more at www.liisakovalabookcoach.com.
Date: February 20^th, 2024
Time: 4:30 – 6:00
Location: The District Office, 184 Ninth Ave. Lively
Cost: FREE
 
Additional info: Seating is limited, please register by February 13^th. Give Donna a call or an email: 705-692-3923 or osstf@d03.osstf.ca
 
Also upcoming:
Pension Workshops:
OTPP (teachers) – February 26^th
OMERS – February 27^th
Equity Book Club – February 29^th
Ponderings and Potations – March 1^st (Chelmsford)


Katrina Ross,
District Officer.

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Personally, I never make New Year's resolutions - I feel it just sets me up to fail, and I can do that all by myself!  So, instead I do non-resolutions.  I can essentially do anything I want - within the law of course 😉 and guilt-free! 

I did a little googling on the history of New Year celebrations and New Year's Resolutions - here's what I learned...

BABYLONIA
The very first New Year’s resolutions dates happened over 4,000 years ago. The first recorded people to celebrate a new year were the ancient Babylonians. Their new year celebration was a 12-day festival called Akitu, which began at the start of the spring planting season in March.
 
During the celebrations, Babylonians would make resolutions to their gods. But they probably didn’t make any promises to exercise more, save more money, or start a new hobby. The Babylonians usually pledge their loyalty to the king and made promises to pay their debts and returned borrowed items to their rightful owners. They believed that if they kept their resolutions, the gods would treat them favourably that year. But, if they broke their promises, they would get on the bad side of the gods.

ANCIENT ROME
The modern day Gregorian New Year began in ancient Rome in 46 B.C., when Emperor Julius Caesar introduced a new calendar and declared January 1 as the start of the new year. The Romans originally began the new year starting in March (like the Babylonians), but moved it to January to honour the Roman god Janus. He was a two-faced god who could look back to the past year and forward to the new year. At the new year, the Romans would offer sacrifices to Janus and make resolutions for good behaviour.
 

By the 17th century, New Year’s resolutions were so common that folks found humour in the idea of making and breaking their pledges. A Boston newspaper from 1813 featured the first recorded use of the phrase “New Year resolution.” The article states:

“And yet, I believe there are multitudes of people, accustomed to receive injunctions of new year resolutions, who will sin all the month of December, with a serious determination of beginning the new year with new resolutions and new behavior, and with the full belief that they shall thus expiate and wipe away all their former faults.”

Resolutions in the early 1900s were more religious or spiritual, reflecting a desire to develop stronger moral character, a stronger work ethic, and more restraint in the face of earthly pleasures.

Over the years, however, resolutions seem to have migrated from denying physical indulgences to general self-improvement, like losing weight. 

 

Top New Year's Resolutions Statistics (Forbes Health/One Poll)

• 38% of people make New Year's resolutions each year, but only 9% of people stick to them all year long
• 80% of New Year's resolutions are forgotten by February, while 46% of adults still stick to their resolutions after 6 months
• Improving their fitness (39%) and diet (33%) are the most common New Year's resolutions
• Friday is a popular day for goal-setters to drop their resolutions

• 38% of adults will at least make a New Year's resolution.
  While these resolutions often don't pan out, most adults head into them feeling positive (81%). Of that group, 86% of men feel confident they'll stick to their goals, while 79% of women feel confident about it.
   
• Nearly 40% of Gen Z'ers feel pressured to make a resolution.
  This is likely the reason why there are so many failed New Year’s resolutions in the first place. Additionally, men (35%) feel more pressured than women (28%) to make yearly goals. 
   
• 54% of parents make New Year's resolutions
  This is 1.6x more than adults who don't have children. Parents who want to instill this tradition in their children can work on making resolutions together. 
   
• Back in 2007, people were slightly more dedicated to making their resolutions a reality.
  12% stuck with their goal throughout the year. Over half (52%) of people also started off feeling confident they would meet their goal. 
   
• 77% of adults try to keep themselves accountable when it comes to sticking with a resolution.
  Gen Z'ers make another appearance here. This group cites themselves as least likely to hold themselves accountable with their resolutions, implying that they need outside motivation. 
   
• 46% of adults are still sticking with their resolutions after 6 months.
  On the flip side, out of the people who have similar goals yet don't actually make a resolution, only 4 percent are successful by mid-year.