Principal’s Notes

Welcome to all reading the Drumline for the first time! I hope you will continue to read through our newsletter each week and that you will find something that interests you. From advising and skills updates, to our invites to our LEC events, it will keep you up to date on all things Lady Eaton and so much more!

This semester I am taking on something a bit new, well perhaps not new, but something I haven’t done for a long time. Instead of teaching a course this term I am taking one! Of course I am always learning, but this term I am taking a course where I will be the student. My hope is that this course is going to help me to be a better principal and that I will learn more about higher education administration but I haven’t seen the syllabus yet, or what the assignments might look like, and I know I am going to have to figure out how to balance this course with my job and my family and all the other things and that is a bit scary.

I bet some of you can relate to this, perhaps especially those of you starting your Trent journeys this semester. Many of you are new to Trent but not new to post-secondary education, transferring from another university, or from college or starting back after a break from school. I know this can be daunting to be a student again in a new environment. My tip for all of you is that you really don’t need to take it all on yourself. You are not alone and we have many resources here to support you in the College Office and all over campus. Come see us, say hello, and we will help you get connected!

Did you know that all members of our Lady Eaton Community get a college scarf? If you are new at Trent this term, or if you missed your scarf ceremony in September this year or a previous year, I invite you to come by the college office and pick up yours. Your Lady Eaton College scarf is a beauty, whether you hang it on the wall or you wrap it around your neck as you trudge across the bridge, to your annex apartment, or while waiting at the bus stop! I love seeing people out and about with their Lady Eaton Scarves!

Story Time with Steph

Happy New Year, Good Humans of Lady Eaton College!

I hope this newsletter finds you warm and refreshed from the weekend. Mondays can sometimes be hard and today January 15th is sometimes known as Blue Monday. Apparently, the saddest day of the year. I looked this up this morning to find that it was not based on scientific data at all, but actually a ploy to sell more vacations by one company years ago. After that, I thought, "Well then! let's call it a Yellow and Blue Monday for all the sunshine we have shining in our windows at Lady Eaton!" If you are feeling blue today and would like some support there are people happy to support. Please reach out. You are not alone and your light matters.

Coming up at Lady Eaton, we have our Annual Art Auction! This is an opportunity for student artists to earn some money from their art! You will be invited to submit up to 3 pieces of art and we will help spread the word about the auction using an online auction platform this time, too! Previously, we have had many students come in identifying not as an artist but they spoke of their love of photography, playing music, hobbies in painting and drawing etc. and often those leant to our Annual Art Auction being the perfect opportunity to show off some creative passions! We also have our Annual Photo Contest coming up! Today is a mighty chilly day out there, but a beautiful day for snapping some photos of your love for our beautiful campus.  Please stay tuned to our social media (links down at the bottom of this newsletter (I highly recommend our Tiktoks, too, if you haven't seen the antics of Professor Toad PhD, yet and you are looking for a brain break).

Also, Professor Toad PhD, our mascot at LEC, is currently on constant duty for a selfie, should that spark joy in your day! Stop on into the Lady Eaton College Office! We also have stickers, of course!

Academic Advising

At the end of January and early February, Academic Advisors will be hosting a series of Degree Planning Workshops – some general (Humanities, Social Science and Sciences) and some program specific. All of the workshops are posted on our website with links to registration on the Student Experience Portal too: https://www.trentu.ca/advising/planning-your-degree/academic-planning-tools/degree-planning-workshops.

Academic Skills

Welcome to the winter term!  

January is a great month to reflect on a previous learning experience to help strategize about the approach you would like to take to meet your academic goals for this term.  

Consider the following list of questions to help guide your analysis.  

• What went well? Why do you think it went well?  

• What was challenging? Why was it challenging?  

• What academic skills would you like to strengthen?  

• What are you good at? What do you enjoy?  

  
  

If you would like to speak with someone about your study habits, time management plan, reading load, or how to break down an assignment, you are welcome to book an appointment with me. I also encourage you to visit our website to explore How-to-Guides for writing, citing, and learning and to find out more about upcoming programs and events.

Natalie Nelson

Academic Skills Instructor

What’s Coming Up at LEC?

Attention all Student Artists! The LEC Annual Art Auction will be taking place January 30th - February 2nd. Submissions will be accepted in the Lady Eaton College Office January 22nd-26th during regular office hours. Please bring a maximum of 3 pieces with a description and a suggested starting bid. Come showcase your artwork and hopefully make some money!

Bookish Babbles

Happy start of the semester LEC!

Welcome back to campus! I hope you are all feeling well rested after the break and are ready to face the new semester. Before school gets too busy I’m planning on reading as much as I can. To embrace the new semester I’m recommending a book that centers on university life this week.

Recommendation: They Said This Would be Fun by Eternity Martis! Non-Fiction! The highs and lows of university! Canadian author! This biography provides first hand commentary on life at a Canadian university as a woman and student of colour.

Upcoming Events Around Campus

Did you have an outstanding instructor or teaching assistant who shaped your learning or experience at Trent? If so, consider nominating them for a University Wide Teaching Award by 4:00pm on January 31, 2024! Further details about the 2023-2024 University Wide Teaching Awards can be found on the Centre for Teaching and Learning website. The nomination window is open from December 20, 2023- January 31, 2024.

Cheers!: A Beer-Themed Exploration is an immersive exhibit, hosted by the Trent University library, designed to captivate beer enthusiasts, history buffs, and science aficionados alike. 

Central to the exhibit is the National Library of Medicine’s poster exhibition, "From DNA To Beer: Harnessing Nature in Medicine and Industry," which illuminates the vital role of microorganisms in brewing and their broader impact on scientific innovation. (An online component is available here for virtual visitors.) The exhibit also includes an interactive display highlighting investigations into the geography and sustainability of brewing made by Trent’s own faculty and student researchers; a display featuring archival materials, photos, and artifacts about the local brewing heritage and its evolution; and a carefully selected collection of books available to borrow, covering everything from ancient brewing methods to the modern craft beer movement.  

View the exhibit in the Bata Library Atrium from Jan 6 to 27.

Mood Talks: Managing low mood and improving well-being

This is a discussion-based group that will:

1. learn about low mood and depression symptoms;

2. develop skills and strategies to cope; and,

3. provide a safe space to share your experiences and feel support.

   
   

Dates: Wednesdays starting January 24th (4 sessions)

Time: 1:30pm - 2:30pm

Location: Blackburn Hall Suite 135 SAS Group Room

To register: please email counselling@trentu.ca.  Limited space available.

Surfing the Waves of Emotions

Do negative emotions sit with you for a long time?  Is this having a negative impact on your life?  Join us for a 6-week, Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT) informed group, that focuses on learning skills for regulating intense emotions and getting through distressing situations.

Dates: Thursdays starting February 1st (6 sessions)

Time: 1:30pm - 3pm

Location: Morton Reading Room

To register: please email counselling@trentu.ca. Limited space available. 

Nominations for the Symons Campus College Awards are open! Fill out the form linked below to nominate someone you think deserves recognition by midnight on February 25th! https://trentu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_5AcVhcnBYEDfkiO

Careerspace Resources

Careerspace is here to help you get a jump start on your career! With practical hands-on experiences, workshops, online resources, and career counseling, our services are available to students all year round! Careerspace services are available over the phone, or virtually; students can book the following appointments through their Student Experience Portal.

Visit our office on the 3rd floor of the Student Centre, send us an email, call, or book an appointment on trentu.ca/SEP and start preparing for your future. And remember, don’t wait ‘til you graduate, we’re here to help now! Looking to stay up to date with Careerspace? Connect with our socials: @trentucareerspace on Instagram, @tucareerspace on Twitter, and Trent University Careerspace on Facebook. Book your appointment now!

Follow the following links to find some of our helpful resources, including: upcoming workshops, current community research projects, and in-course bursary options!

And that's all for now... Just kidding, you know we can't end without the punchline!