GETCA 2025

Governments and school boards across the globe are banning the use of mobile devices in schools in response to the inherent dangers that social media apps present. While phone bans will improve engagement in class, what happens to your students outside of school? It is imperative that schools still teach students practical skills so that they can better manage their online lives. This session will look at the methods social media companies use to keep all of us online and will offer practicl advice to better manage ones use of phones and social media apps.

Whether you are a new covered member or not, this session can help you learn about the wide range of benefits, programs and services we offer. In this presentation you will discover how to get the most from your coverage, our different tools and platforms, the benefits of spending accounts and more!

Let’s make school a place that supports mental well-being around food. Join Alberta Health Services Dietitians to boost your confidence with new resources and strategies to promote a healthy relationship with food. Make a difference for students with how you talk and teach about nutrition.

"Eat the Fugly Carrot: Unearthing the Truth About Soil Health and Human Health" (Our PG version - We love teaching kids and teens, and believe they hold the power to create a thriving future.) Embark on a journey that cultivates a connection and response to soil, farming and health with "Eat the Fugly Carrot." In this enlightening presentation, we'll delve into re-establishing our essential relationships to nature, food and self. We will discuss the story of food and what it really is and unpack what has happened to our understanding of food. Discover the transformative impact of farming, exploring how practices can vary the yield of nutritious crops but also rejuvenate the health of nature. Learn how small changes in our daily lives can refocus our attention on local and seasonal eating, fostering a more decentralized approach. Explore how the intricate balance of microorganisms in our bodies and the soil influences not just individual health but also the resilience of our ecosystems. Gain insights into the symbiotic relationship between humans and nature and how this understanding can shape a healthier, more interconnected world. Join us as we navigate through these essential topics, empowering you with knowledge and inspiration to contribute to a greener, more resilient tomorrow. "Eat the Fugly Carrot" is your gateway to cultivating a thriving legacy for both you and our grandchildren.

With the ever-increasing demands of standardized testing, test anxiety is becoming more and more prevalent. Students who struggle with test anxiety are unable to effectively and accurately demonstrate their understanding of topics covered, resulting in frustration and disillusionment with school. This session will provide a basic understanding of the psychology behind test anxiety as well as tools and strategies to help mitigate the effects of test anxiety. Whether participants are working with individuals or a whole class, this step-by-step plan can be used to help students reach their potential.

Retirement can no doubt be both exciting and daunting. Between all the paperwork and planning, let us make one of the items on your checklist a little easier! During this presentation, you will learn the ins and outs of your health benefits during retirement. From eligibility requirements to different types of coverage, ASEBP has got you covered—literally.

Financial education at an early age can lead to a positive outlook and equips students with the resources they need to be successful. Do your students have the financial and business skills they need to thrive beyond the classroom? Educators in attendance (appropriate for all grade levels) will be provided access to digital resources that focus on financial education, entrepreneurship and macro/micro-economics. The resources that are student-driven, standards-aligned, have assessments embedded into them, and are FREE. Join us or visit www.everfi.com/k-12 to learn more.

I don't have to tell you that one of the most depleting parts of leading a classroom is managing the conflict, personality differences, and friendship woes. In this session, we'll discuss how to teach even the youngest students how to articulate their feelings and needs, firmly and gently set boundaries, and properly repair friendship rifts. We'll also discuss how you can empower your students to solve more of their own problems, so you don't have to do as much rescuing. Let's save the drama for the theatre department!

Have you ever wondered how to respond to your students' comments about food? Most of us grew up hearing foods described as “healthy” or “unhealthy,” but categorizing foods this way can harm our relationship with food and cause stress about eating. So how do we flip the script on this conversation with students? Join our Registered Dietitians in this interactive session exploring practical examples and strategies of how to have inclusive conversations around all foods with your students. Come and be part of the conversation! Teachers will leave this session with - Ready-to-use classroom materials and teaching tools.  - Strategies to promote inclusive conversations about food and eating in the classroom - Support from Registered Dietitians including tools which reflect best practices in nutrition education for your students

Self-Harm continues to be an issue of great concern in schools at all levels; yet people are still reluctant to discuss this topic in schools. More often than not, supports and training are put into place after several incidents have been identified in a school community. This session aims to take a proactive approach, by providing teachers with a plan to educate the students, teachers AND parents in a school community about the nature of self-harm. Participants will look at myths associated with self-harm, empathetic ways to react to disclosures and barriers to students seeking help. The goal? If people are educated about self-harm, they will be able to encourage more positive methods of coping and respond appropriately when faced with a student engaging in this behaviour.

When good students suddenly “stop caring”, it’s shocking and disheartening for teachers and parents. No matter what anyone does to try to get them back on track, it seems impossible to motivate them to even try (or in some cases, even show up). From the outside, it looks like they got in with a bad crowd and are hijacking their academic career to fit in. Threats and punishments do little to pull them up from their free fall and often yield the opposite result: pushing them toward even riskier behaviour. Believe or not, even the so-called “lazy” kids secretly wish they were doing better in school. The problem is no amount of “shaming” them or their parents is going to get them care about school. So what then? Parenting coach and teen advocate, Aly Pain talks about what’s going on behind the lack of motivation and why traditional intervention methods don’t work. She discusses how the developing teenaged brain influences their ability to cope with stressors and how focusing on emotional support is the key to success. Key Take-Aways: · The Bad Kid/Bad Parent Myth – Aly busts the belief that if you could just get the parents to engage with their student, everything would be fine. The reality is most parents are doing everything they can think of to get their student to perform. · The Most Common Reasons WHY Good Students Go Bad – Aly shares what troubled teens and their parents tell her is behind the lack of motivation (and what teachers and parents can do about it). Spoiler alert: it’s not what you think. · How to Support Students and Engage the Parents – Aly discusses concrete strategies to support struggling students in school and how to engage parents to do the same at home.

Looking for a resource that supports moving beyond the "good food" vs. "bad food" conversation? During this session, teachers will use Teach Nutrition’s comprehensive set of nearly 100 food picture cards and food origin study prints in hands-on activities. Discover how the resource supports exploring how food connects to daily life without using terms like “healthy” and “unhealthy”. Teachers will learn how order free resources and access digital materials from Teach Nutrition. These activities are designed to be developmentally appropriate for Kindergarten to grade 3.

Why is it the “favourite” teachers have the best-behaved classes? Is it the secret candy stash in their desk, their silly mental health breaks, their ability to make a boring subject fun, or something else? Chances are it’s their boundaries. Those teachers have mastered the ability to command the respect of their students and in doing so, their students understand and adhere to the rules of the classroom. That doesn’t mean teachers need to tighten their rein. On the contrary, traditional views about power and authority only lead to more rebellion. The trouble is the concept of boundaries has become twisted to mean greater compliance using more controls. Parenting coach and teen advocate, Aly Pain will share why teachers and parents need to model the respect they want from teens. She discusses the toxic cycle of resentment, retaliation, revenge and resignation that is triggered by teen defiance and how shifting your behaviour is the key to changing theirs.