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Our Students, Our North, Our Success - February 16, 17, and 18, 2009
President's Welcome |
Conference Partners |
Program |
Exhibitors |
Conference Team |
Conference Principles |
Registration |
Additional Information |
Conference Venues |
Contact Us |
FAQ
President's Welcome
 I am pleased to extend a warm welcome to those who will be attending the 2009 NWT Teachers' Conference. Teachers attending this special event will have the opportunity to renew themselves personally and professionally. We will meet new friends and colleagues, renew old acquaintances, broaden our knowledge base and explore educational trends and resources. Our conference theme 'Our Students, Our North, Our Success' is most suitable for teachers teaching in the NWT. As teachers, we ensure that our students receive a quality education in a stimulating and caring environment. Our students benefit from interacting with qualified professionals. A special thanks to the members of the conference guiding committee for all their hard work and dedication in organizing the first ever NWT Teachers' Conference. Thank you also for your continuing professionalism. I look forward to seeing all teachers from across the NWT here in Yellowknife on February 16-18, 2009. David Reid Conference Partners
'Our Students, Our North, Our Success' will be the first-ever territorial educators' conference held in the Northwest Territories. This event would not be possible without the cooperation, collaboration and support of the Department of Education, Culture and Employment as well as all eight Educational Districts and Councils across the NWT 
Special Sponsors
Session Sponsors
The following organizations, companies and individuals have sponsored sessions for "Our Students, Our North, Our Success" in whole or in part. Without this incredible support, we would not be able to provide such a wide variety of sessions to meet the needs of NWT Educators. Thank you!
ABB Creations Ltd. Program
The Guiding Committee for the 2009 Territorial Conference is pleased to share with members that the line-up of your conference program will include 7 major speakers (keynote and plenary addresses) as well as 90 to 100 regular sessions geared to your professional development needs and interests. Your Three Day Conference at a Glance!
Keynotes
Plenaries The Guiding Committee for the 2009 Territorial Conference is pleased to announce the five major plenary sessions that will follow our main keynote address on the opening day of our conference. These speakers are passionate about their life's work and they are excited to be sharing their experience and knowledge with all educators across the NWT in February of 2009.
Education Panel
Wednesday, February 18, 1 pm - 2 pm
"Our Students, Our North, Our Success: A Dialogue - What are we doing well and where do we go from here?"
Regular Sessions Download information about the regular sessions in PDF format. Back to TopExhibitors
Time for the Exhibits Area (SJF) Any member wishing to spend one quarter day session in the exhibits area may do so by indicating "EX" (for Exhibits) during one of the following six quarter day blocks on your registration form. Monday - early afternoon quarter day block
Back to Top Conference Team
Our Conference Guiding Team
Back to Top Conference Principles
Our Conference will strive to ...
Registration
Back to Top Additional Information
Download additional information in PDF format. Back to TopConference Venues
"Our Students, Our North, Our Success" will be hosted in three fine facilities graciously provided by Yellowknife Catholic Schools and Yellowknife District #1. These three beautiful building have the added advantage of being within sight of each other allowing quick and manageable movement of conference delegates throughout our three days.
Contact Us
Questions about the conference? Contact:
Colleen Eckert, NWTTA PD Coordinator Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to attend this conference?
What is the cost to me?
Why do Yellowknife delegates have to pay?YCS and YK#1 delegates have the option of paying the $75.00 fee out of their own pockets or they can elect to have use their PD funds. This choice will be outlined on the YCS/YK#1 registration form for the conference. This funding goes towards the costs of the conference and for Yellowknife delegates, more particularly, program costs, nutrition break costs and presenter thank you costs. GNWT delegates have a portion of their PD funds going towards the same costs as well.Do I have to attend the conference?It is generally expected that NWTTA members (and EAs from YCS) will attend, as these are three regular paid days during the school year in your jurisdiction. This conference will be a unique opportunity for northern teachers to learn together and much work has gone into the planning and preparation for this unique, first-time event. There will be a few situations, however, where delegates may not be able to attend (perhaps night time childcare issues for those from out of Yellowknife, medical reasons, or other reasons). In these cases, an alternative PD form will need to be completed. This form will be forwarded to your regional or district PD committee so that we can keep track of the number of attending delegates and those not attending (this becomes important in booking flights and sorting out accommodations). Your regional or district PD Committee will approve your alternative PD.What do I do on those days if I am unable to come to the conference?You will need to plan 3 days of alternative PD (form can be found in the conference information on the website). Once this is submitted, it will be forwarded to your regional PD committee for approval.Will there be childcare available?Unfortunately, there will be no Yellowknife childcare arranged through the conference organizers. There are legal and insurance issues that we cannot take responsibility for in setting up temporary childcare spaces and hiring temporary staff.When will I know which sessions I am attending (confirmed in my sessions)?In early to mid January, every delegate (who registered in December) will receive a copy of their confirmed session schedule for the conference. This will enable the conference team to work on any glitches stemming from registration in mid January rather than waiting until February at the conference. Upon arrival in Yellowknife, you will receive a delegate bag and a conference folder that contains a second copy of your schedule. This schedule will also have your session locations listed so you will know which rooms to move to each day.Will I get my first choices for sessions?We will do our best to provide you with your first choices for regular sessions. We cannot guarantee all choices, however, as many confirmed sessions have a limited number of delegate spaces due to equipment, materials or the general nature of the session. On the registration form, you will be asked for your first and second choices for each timeframe. Your sessions will be confirmed in January.How are my travel arrangements being made?Once general registration has been completed we can confirm the travel arrangements for those GNWT delegates coming in from outside of Yellowknife. We cannot confirm the exact travel arrangements at this time as a difference of 5 or 10 delegates from a region may change the size of plane for a possible charter or the number of scheduled flights on a plane that are required. Once registration has been completed, multiple notices will be sent out to all regions so traveling delegates will be well aware of travel plans and times.Do I have to share a hotel room with another delegate?For GNWT members traveling into Yellowknife, accommodations are provided at no personal costs (paid out of GNWT PD funds) based on double occupancy. GNWT members will be allocated hotel accommodations based on the information provided by each delegate on their GNWT registration form for the conference. Only when all members are looked after, and if additional rooms are available, can the offer of any remaining single rooms be made available to GNWT members who would like to request a single room with the member being responsible for 50% of the cost up to the max of $75.00 per night.Can I stay with my friend or relative in Yellowknife?Yes, you may indicate that you have planned your own private accommodation on your GNWT registration form. The GNWT PD fund will reimburse GNWT delegates $50.00 per night where they have chosen the option of private accommodation. This reimbursement will be completed the week after the conference.Can I extend my PD and travel back at a later time on the same GNWT funding?We cannot arrange this for traveling GNWT members. Much of the return air travel is by charter aircraft and alternate return dates would therefore be additional costs that the GNWT PD fund cannot cover. The only exception for a change in return travel is for those teachers that have been designated by the administration of their District Education Council or Districts to attend an Alberta Assessment Consortium special session scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2009. In these cases, DECs and Districts have agreed to cover the additional costs for the extra day and return travel.Can I bring my child?Any transportation costs for children or relatives will not be covered by the NWTTA. We are asking that children not attend the keynotes, plenary sessions, education panel or regular sessions. We ask this out of respect for all delegates attending all sessions and our presenters and facilitators.Can I bring my pet?We are outlining that no delegate from outside of Yellowknife bring their pet(s) with them. The NWTTA will not be responsible for transportation costs of pets and no arrangements have been made for pet friendly hotel rooms. Accommodation for GNWT members is based on double occupancy and having a pet in a hotel room would be an undue hardship for the delegate that one might be sharing a room with for three or four nights.Can members on approved leaves attend the conference? (maternity leave, deferred leave, education leave, leave without pay etc…)Yes. Educators on approved leaves may attend the conference but it must be at their own costs. For those in Yellowknife, this means payment of the $75.00 registration fee. For those from outside of Yellowknife, this means payment of the $75.00 registration fee as well as any and all travel, accommodation and meals costs.Will meals be provided at the conference?No meals will be provided on-site at the conference for regular delegates. Prior to the start of the conference each day there will be coffee, tea and water available. The timeframe for lunch each day has been lengthened in order to facilitate an enjoyable and timely lunch for delegates whether they are heading home for lunch or heading to a restaurant for lunch. All restaurants in Yellowknife will be provided with information about the conference so that they are aware of the extra demand for lunches during the three days of our conference. The only exception to lunches being provided is an on-site lunch for those people presenting or facilitating that day. This is provided so that these presenters/facilitators do not have to go off-site to find lunch and can stay and prepare their sessions during the lunch break. GNWT delegates will receive their per diem cheques upon arrival in Yellowknife. This provides funding for your meals.Can I leave one session midstream to catch another session already in progress?No. Out of respect for all session presenters and facilitators, we asked that delegates attend their sessions for outlined timeframe.How will I travel to my hotel, the conference venues and to and from the airport?The conference organizing team has arranged for timely bus transportation from the airport to your designated hotel return on the day you depart Yellowknife. As well, transportation from hotels to the conference venues will run on a rotational basis for 2 hours in the morning and two hours in the evening to return delegates to hotels. We will arrange enough buses so that there is no more than a 5 - 7 minute wait at your hotel. Any Yellowknife delegate is free to jump on this bus system in the morning or the evening if they can get to a nearby hotel where we have delegates staying (Nova Court, Capital Suites, Explorer, Fraser Towers, Chateau Nova and Yellowknife Inn). For those delegates from outside of Yellowknife who have elected to stay in private accommodations across the city, no daily transportation pick up or drop off will be arranged and no taxi receipts will be reimbursed. Delegates in private accommodations are welcome to pick up the bus system at one of the above listed hotels.How will I get to the airport in my home community to depart for Yellowknife?We ask that delegates work among their traveling group in their own community to arrange transportation to their local airport. Where delegates are driving a great distance to the airport of departure (for example Fort Resolution to Hay River airport), mileage can be claimed and paid out after the conference. The general expectation for driving is that each vehicle will contain 2 delegates.When can I expect a cheque for private or alternate accommodations and/ or mileage?These claims will be processed the week after the conference.Are there any social events taking place in Yellowknife during this time?Yes! We will be providing further information on such events as the conference draws nearer. Thus far...
Music Coffeehouse! (4:30 pm to 7:00 pm) Monday, February 16, 2009
A free shopping bus route for Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Half price movies at the Capital Theatre on Monday, February 16, 2009 Will you pay mileage for those driving?Yes, these claims will be paid out the week after the conference.Will there be educational exhibits, vendors and displays?Yes! We have arranged for a wide range of exhibitors, vendors and displays that delegates will enjoy wandering though - 60 booths to be exact! These booths will be located in École Sir John Franklin School and will be open Monday, February 16 (1:15 to 6 pm) and Tuesday, February 17 (8 am to 6pm). Please check out the exhibits section of our conference information on the NWTTA website to see the listing of booths and their offerings.Is there time set aside to view the educational exhibits, vendors and displays?Yes! Every delegate may choose to spend one quarter day (approx. 1 hr, 15 minutes) visiting the exhibits, vendors and displays area at École Sir John Franklin School. Delegates do not have to register for a quarter day in this area if they do not wish to, it is offered as an option. In order to choose this option, delegates must put "EX" in one of the quarter day blocks on Monday PM or Tuesday AM or PM.How much weight can I take back on my charter or scheduled flight?Maximum weights for charters will be established by the various airline companies. This information will be posted along with travel schedules that will be sent out to schools in each region.Will there be snacks/coffee/water available at the conference?
Daily...
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