For Members Only:  New download of the Fall Lifeline now available.  Visit the download section of the site and get your hot copy.

For those involved with SAL an important note.

Note that there are two parts to the age section in the SAL regulation, OReg 374/10. SAL is intended as an alternative program for students who are of compulsory school age – 2 (1). We added 2(2) to allow a student to finish off their program – e.g. if they were in SAL already starting in Fall and turned 18 in April, they could continue the last couple of months in SAL, if SAL was working for them. That’s what we talked about at the November 2010 training.

2.  (1) This Part only applies to pupils who are at least 14 years old and are of compulsory school age.  O. Reg. 374/10, s. 2 (1).

(2) A pupil who turns 18 years old while participating in supervised alternative learning may, if he or she wishes, continue participating in supervised alternative learning until the pupil’s plan expires or is terminated.  O. Reg. 374/10, s. 2 (2).

If a student turns 18 sometime between September and December 31, they are not actually of compulsory school age in September of that school year, and shouldn’t be put in SAL for the school year that they don’t even have to be in school.  A reminder that SAL plans expire in June or earlier, so a student’s plan would not, for instance, run from January to the next December.

For a student who no longer qualifies for SAL, other methods of keeping them engaged are appropriate – e.g. part-time attendance, alternative ed programs, etc.

Hope this clarifies things.

Susan

Susan Pekilis, Senior Policy Advisor

Student Success/Learning to 18 Strategic Policy Branch, Min. of Education

900 Bay Street, 4th Floor Mowat Block, Toronto, ON, M7A 1L2

Phone: 416-326-5997  Fax:416-325-2552

AWARDS

Do you work with an Attendance Counselling Superstar?  Do you know someone who deserves to be recognized by our Provincial Association; someone who goes above and beyond the call of duty?  Consider nominating them for an award sponsored through the Ontario Association of Counselling and Attendance Services!

Certification of Appreciation

This award can be given to any member having provided exemplary service and who has demonstrated support of the Association and/or profession.  
This Certificate is decided upon and awarded by the President.

Award of Merit

This award can be given annually in recognition of individuals who have brought distinction to our profession through service to their community or our Association.  Supporting documentation such as a nomination letter and letters of support must be submitted by the deadline for consideration.

Orv Watson Award

This award is given annually in recognition of an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to their profession, to the Association and to the community.

 
Supporting documentation such as a formal letter of nomination and letters of support, including a letter  detailing their community involvement, must be submitted by the deadline for consideration.

If you would like to nominate a colleague or require additional information, please contact Lisa Harlock at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Nominations must be forwarded by January 23, 2012.

Attendance Counsellors' Certification Course

If you or your board are interested in hosting our course please contact Suzanne Smith: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Presentations From The OACAS Annual Conference - June 2011

Members can avail themselves of PowerPoint presentations from a number of presenters at the conference.  Dr. Christopher Kearney (Elective Mutism and School Refusal), Richard Franz (Success and SAL),and also the presentation from Mitch Lesperance(Use of Improv).  You can find them in the Downloads area under Documents For Members.

Keeping Youth in School: An International Perspective

This is an interesting article that deals specifically with the youth with whom we work.  It can be found in the Members Only Download Area.

Regional Rep needed for Western area. To find out which boards are represented for each area, click on Regional Reps at the top of the site and then click on the area of interest. If interested please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it and tell her you are eager to give back and help.

Court Statistics

You may wish to download these statistics indicating the use of court throughout the province.  These statistics are provided by the Provincial Attendance Counsellor for the years 2009 to 2011. They can be found in the Download section of the site under Document For Members.

 Lifeline

As LifelineEditor I must tell you that the Lifeline is only as good as the information that I have sent to me or find to go into the publication. I am now gathering articles and submissions for theFall Lifeline. I try to have this publication ready for distribution before the end of November. Please email me something at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it