SWATCA 2025 - South Western Alberta Teachers' Convention: Full Schedule

Welcome to SWATCA 2024 on SCHED!

Here you will find the list of all the great sessions, speaker information, exhibitors and more! Check back here often for information on draws, prize winners, session updates and more!!

IMPORTANT REMINDER:
Please ensure that you are completing session evaluations - this helps our SWATCA planning team immensely in preparing for future events! You can evaluate all sessions in the session itself at the bottom of the SCHED. Thank you!

Prize Winners
Goosechase:
Kelsey Schwark and Bryce Wirzba
Katie Walker

Host Draw:
Kara Tarnava

Feedback Draw:
Carla Ferrari
Mark Bergheim

10:30am MST

Abstract Art Explosion: Ignite Creativity in Your Classroom!

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST

AH176

A colourful artistic journey in the world of abstract art. Discover the secrets of creating mesmerizing abstract paintings by experimenting with expressive brushstrokes and bold paint application techniques.

SESSION HOST: Leslie Vogel

Speakers

Bogdan Konikowski

Art Instructor, Artiza

Bogdan Konikowski is an artist - educator from Edmonton, Alberta. He received his formal fine arts education in Poland. Since then, Bogdan has painted many exquisite paintings. Among his commissioned works are the life-size portraits of the late Honourable Lois E. Hole.

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST
AH176

Art (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

10:30am MST

Cross Stitching the Classroom: Introduction and Application

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST

TH341

This is a session that provides both instructional and beginning techniques, as well as an opportunity for experienced individuals to create their own projects.

SESSION HOST: Danielle Gareau

Speakers

Tyler Wardrop

Teacher, Grasslands Public Schools

Tyler Wardrop is a Art/Humanities teacher at Duchess School in the Grasslands School Division. He runs the school art program from grades 7-12 and has done so for the last 8 years. He currently teaches courses ranging from kindergarten phys ed to Social 30-1 and recently his Masters... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST
TH341

Art (TQS 3), Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

10:30am MST

Exploring Cross-Curriculuar Projects for Creative Educators

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 1:30pm MST

L1050

Experience cross-curricular art projects for fun and meaningful learning. Customizable for all grade levels. $15 per participant includes 3 projects, presentations, and videos.

SESSION HOST: Tarrell Harris

$15 per participant includes 3 projects, presentations, and videos.

Speakers

Izabella Orzelski

Art Representative, Fine Arts Council

Izabella Orzelski is an accomplished artist, educator, and award-winning portraitist. With an MFA and Ph.D., she combines her passion for art and education to inspire others. Her commissioned works and collaborative projects have been exhibited across Canada. With 20 years of teaching... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 10:30am - 1:30pm MST
L1050

Art (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Language Arts (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Social Studies (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

12:30pm MST

Fantasy Map Making: A Bridge between Art and Literacy

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST

TH341

Come and participate in a basic lesson directed at bridging creativity, imagination and topographical know-how. This project uses materials and resources to draw custom maps in the style of old maps similar to those in Game of Thrones and Lord of The Rings. This lesson can be used for ELA, SS and Art classrooms, and can truly be done by all ages of students. You do not need artistic skills to complete this project, so don’t be afraid to try!

SESSION HOST: Laura Pearce

Speakers

Tyler Wardrop

Teacher, Grasslands Public Schools

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST
TH341

Art (TQS 3), Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

12:30pm MST

Unleashing Van Gogh's Spirit in Landscape Painting

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST

AH176

Master the art of bold texture and expressive brushstrokes using acrylics and a palette knife. Learn the painterly tricks of Van Gogh and share your knowledge with your students.

SESSION HOST: Julaine Guitton

Speakers

Bogdan Konikowski

Art Instructor, Artiza

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST
AH176

Art (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

12:30pm MST

Creativity and the Visual Arts in the K-2 Classroom

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm MST

W857

A hands-on session exploring a variety of mediums and materials through the lens of the new Visual Arts Curriculum for the Province of Alberta. Literacy springboards will also be examined.

SESSION HOST: Lenore Tarcon

Speakers

Jennifer LeGrandeur

Jen LeGrandeur is a practicing artist and an Instructor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Lethbridge. She is passionate about teaching and learning in the visual arts and has been actively involved with the school communities in Lethbridge as an Artist in Residence... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm MST
W857

Art (TQS 3), K-Gr 3

12:30pm MST

Promoting Metacognition and Learning Through Visual Journaling

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm MST

L1170B

Students learn best by utilizing metacognitive strategies. This session will have attendees learn how to make their own hand-stitched journals and apply metacognitive strategies within their learning spaces.

SESSION HOST: Jenni Rolfson

Speakers

Darrin Wilson

Darrin has worked within the CBE since 2008, focusing mostly on teaching English language arts and visual arts to middle school students. He is the Art Representative for the ATA’s Fine Arts Council.

Thursday February 20, 2025 12:30pm - 3:30pm MST
L1170B

Art (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Educational Research (TQS/LQS 2), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | Language Arts (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

10:30am MST

Infusing Your Curricular Outcomes with the New Science Curriculum, Computational Thinking & Scratch

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 1:30pm MST

AH147

Creating cross curricular instructional activities infused with Science and Computational Thinking in Scratch.

SESSION HOST: Tanis Machacek

Speakers

Trevor Iampen

Instructor, Consultant, Developer, University of Alberta, EPS, ATLE, ERLC

Trevor has 20 years of experience as an elementary school teacher, university course developer/ instructor, app/web developer and consultant for a variety of organizations and institutions across North America. P.S. Computational thinking is where it’s at…

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 1:30pm MST
AH147

12:30pm MST

Executive Function Building through Art

Friday February 21, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST

AH175

A session looking at what executive function is and how art can be used to build these with resources given

SESSION HOST: Jenna Goodrich

Speakers

Alex Funk

Alex Funk is a Lethbridge teacher who has done her masters in Teaching, Learning, and Neuroscience. Her research is on executive function and art.

Friday February 21, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST
AH175

Art (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6 | Curriculum & Pedagogy (TQS 3), K-Gr 3, Gr 4-6