< Previousor choice boards and to develop formative assessment questions for students, recogniz- ing the challenges of families in accessing online resources. Teachers contacted each of their stu- dents at least once each week with the purpose of personal connection with the student and family, to acquire feedback of current learning and to gather formative assessment data. Teachers also met at least once each week with their classroom teams to assign tasks, schedule follow up connec- tions with students who needed extra support, and to discuss conversations they had the previ- ous week with families. This final meeting is not represented on the schedule shown in table two (see page 19), as all classroom teams chose their own meeting times. In addition to grade level teams, the ele- mentary and junior high administrative teams established consistent times in their weekly schedule to ensure continuation of the school’s learning plan and seek out support needed through these challenging times. Re-entry plans for the return of students in the 2020-21 school year are anchored by the continued focus on the safety of staff, students, and their families. With this in mind, some students have returned to a blended model with in-class learning two days each week, along with three days of at-home learning, while other families elected for at-home learning supported by teachers. The layering of meetings and teams with specific purposes continues to provide a familiar structure and process for all staff to continue their preparation for student learning in a variety of delivery options. These carefully planned structures and processes have allowed for a responsive and supportive return to school for students and staff. Moving forward, this plan is nimble and fluid, allowing the BCNEA leadership team to be responsive as the conditions of the pandemic evolve. Although these past number of months have brought with them numerous adaptive challenges, it has also provided rich opportunities for teaming, learning and success, reinforcing the value of purposeful structures and processes for a meaningful collaborative response at all levels of the organization. n Kathleen Robertson and Lana Nogue are Learning Associates at Jigsaw Learning. Between them, they share more than 30 years of experience in education and supporting educators. learning prioritized family relationships and personal well-being, which was supported by the insight of counsellors who regularly con- nected with families and students. Following this planning, grade team teach- ers met together to build learning calendars During collaborative grade meetings, ideas were shared and refined as potential student learning activities focused on land-based learn- ing, ensuring the integration of Cree language and cultural content. The emphasis on student Continued from page 19 20 Fall 2020 • The CASS ConnectionY ou often hear people talk in broad terms about change—its value, ubiquity or endlessly cyclical nature. In fact, I’m sure most of us have heard that oh-so-common refrain: “The only constant is change.” I think we can all agree that that notion is generally true, but I also think it misses an important point: for all its constancy, change is rarely easy or comfortable. A lot of times—most, you could argue—it forces us outside our comfort zones, challenging our conceptions in new ways or pushing us to reframe our thinking entirely. Oftentimes, the circumstances around us that have such an influence on the kinds of changes we make are outside of our control, and we don’t always know how we’ll respond until the very moment that we actually do. You might have already seen where I’m going with this, but the past several months have been filled with intense change for Alber- ta’s school community—more, perhaps, than at any other period in our province’s history. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, we’ve all been forced to make substantial adjustments to how we live and work; for Alberta’s school employees, that’s been espe- cially true. From my own experience, I know that navigating this change hasn’t been easy. It’s been a time of uncertainty, presenting unprecedented challenges and anxieties. As leaders in Alberta’s school commu- nity, you’re in a unique position to encour- age and promote the well-being of your staff during this time. We know that people can only give their best when they are at their best. With the wide variety of uncertainty facing the education system right now, we know that going back to school—whether in the classroom or online—is creating some pretty uncomfortable change. How leaders encourage and promote the well-being of staff throughout this transition is essential in ensuring that it’s done effectively, sup- portively and, most of all, safely. A great resource about what that looks like can be found on The Sandbox at TheWell- nessSandbox.ca—simply search “Returning to the Workplace” on the resources page to access a helpful guide for leaders. This guide shares tips and resources that include taking an inventory of existing psychological supports, promoting mental health support, prioritizing tasks and establishing routines and more. Navigating the Waters of Change By Kelli Littlechilds, ASEBP The Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP) is a health and welfare trust governed by 10 Trustees. It offers a wide variety of health benefits and promotes programs that sustain healthy lifestyles and workplaces for more than 64,000 covered members and their dependants in 58 school jurisdictions and 12 associations across the province. ASEBP is pleased to contribute a regular column in The CASS Connection. Continued on page 22 The College of Alberta School Superintendents 21ASSESSMENT TOOLS FOR TEACHERS Alberta Assessment Consortium ..................................20 ATTORNEYS Brownlee LLP ..................................13 McLennan Ross LLP ........................11 BENEFIT PLANS Alberta School Employee Benefit Plan ....................................6 Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association ......................................4 COLLEGES Northern Lakes College .....................8 Portage College ..............................15 CORPORATE TRAINING/ADR WORKSHOPS Stitt Feld Handy Group ...................17 EDUCATION PUBLISHING Solution Tree .................................IBC EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Accent Alberta .................................20 GYMNASTICS Ortona Gymnastics .........................22 K-12 EDUCATION TECHNOLOGY Intellimedia Inc. .............................IFC LEARNING MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS D2L Desire to Learn ......................OBC MUSEUM Alberta Aviation Museum ......................................22 ROOFING ASSOCIATION Alberta Roofing Contractor Association ...................................19 UNIVERSITIES University of Alberta-Professional Learning (Graduate Certificate in School Leadership) .....................8 Another key aspect of navigating these choppy waters of change is making sure that, as leaders, you are getting the support you need. After all, no one can pour from an empty cup! I know one of the great- est gifts I can give my staff is a whole and healthy me, because it allows me to help them shoulder the challenges they are facing. In order to support people’s resilience, we must ensure our own. One way to nurture your resilience is by accessing proactive health programs like our Employee and Family Assistance Program (EFAP). ASEBP covered members can access free, confidential support services through our third-party EFAP service provider, Homewood Health, at homeweb.ca or by phone at 1-800-663-1142 (English) or 1-866-398- 9505 (French). There’s even a Key Person Advice Line available to prin- cipals, managers and other key leaders for immediate consultation, should a workplace situation arise that could benefit from professional input. While the road ahead has many unknowns, I want to remind you that ASEBP is here every step of the way. We know the incredible work that our employer groups and covered members do every day and that, despite the uncertainty, you all will continue to make stu- dents, parents, caregivers and Albertans proud. n Kelli Littlechilds is the CEO of ASEBP and has more than 35 years of experience in the health and benefits industry. As the leader of one of Alberta’s Top 75 Employers for 2020, Kelli is a champion for personal and workplace well-being. Education Marketplace Our Education Marketplace features a collection of advertisers who want to help you learn! Like what you see and want to advertise in The CASS Connection? Contact sales@matrixgroupinc.net. INDEX TO ADVERTISERS Continued from page 21 22 Fall 2020 • The CASS ConnectionNext >