Meeting with the Minister

Recently we had our first meeting with the new Minister, Jill Dunlop. We took the opportunity to introduce ourselves, explain the work and priorities of the OPC and raise the topical issues that you are dealing with in schools every day. We have requested that these meetings occur on a regular basis going forward, which the Minister was supportive of.

Membership and Group Benefits Applications Due

All newly appointed administrators must submit their OPC membership application within 60 days of their appointment to avoid losing historical protective services coverage for employment-related events before becoming a Member. For appointments starting on September 1, the deadline is October 31. Administrators in boards* participating in the OPC Benefits plan must also submit their Group Benefits Application for Long-term Disability Insurance (LTDI) by October 31. Premiums will be retroactive to their appointment date. Late applications will require proof of good health. For more information, contact membership@principals.ca or opcbenefits@principals.ca.

*Boards participating in the OPC Benefits plan include Algoma, Bluewater, Durham, Grand Erie, Greater Essex, Halton, Hamilton-Wentworth, Lakehead, Lambton Kent, Near North, Niagara, Ottawa-Carlton, Peel, Rainy River, Rainbow, Renfrew, Simcoe, Superior-Greenstone, Toronto, Trillium Lakelands, Upper Canada, Upper Grand, Waterloo Region and York Region (boards where LTD coverage is mandatory are shown in bold font).

New Starling Minds Resource

Starling Minds, accessible to all OPC Members and their families, will offer a new workshop entitled Harmony Within: Integrating Mindfulness, Nutrition and Lifestyle for Enhanced Well-being. It will be offered on Tuesday nights at 7:00 p.m. EDT from October 15 to October 29. The workshops will cover Nutritional Guidance, Lifestyle and Stress Reduction Strategies and Mindfulness Practices. Discover how mindfulness and nutrition intersect to support holistic health, including techniques for listening to body cues and promoting intuitive eating. Learn more and register here.

If you have not yet signed up for the Starling Minds program, giving you access to this workshop and many other resources, you can register at members.starlingminds.com and enter your access code: OPCMEMBER.

Quote to Ponder

“Some people change the world. And some people change the people who change the world.” – Kij Johnson

Media

Queen’s Park Update

The House is in recess until October 21.