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

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

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

2:30pm MST

Banning Book Bans and Challenging Book Challenges: What to do if it Happens to You

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm MST

TH341

Book bans and challenges are rising, threatening the integrity of the profession and well-being of school communities. The best time to prepare was yesterday; the next best time is now.

SESSION HOST: Ashley Gruninger

Speakers

Harold Semenuk

A teacher-librarian with Edmonton Public Schools, Harold is likewise President of ATA’s Alberta School Learning Commons Council, previously serving in central division, and school leadership roles, as well as having taught a range of 7-12 courses. Harold draws on learning principles... Read More →

Thursday February 20, 2025 2:30pm - 4:00pm MST
TH341

10:30am MST

A Brief Intro of Sandplay for Schools

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST

TH341

An introduction to using Sandplay as a counselling intervention in school settings.

SESSION HOST: Kara Tarnava

Speakers

Stephanie McLennan

Steph McLennan has a BA/BEd in Fine Arts Education from the University of Lethbridge and a Masters of Applied Psych. She is now in her 6th year as a Teacher-Counsellor. Steph has completed Sandplay CAST training Modules 1-4 with a cohort in Calgary and continues to get Sandplay supervision... Read More →

Friday February 21, 2025 10:30am - 12:00pm MST
TH341

Health & Wellness (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12 | CALM (TQS 3), K-Gr3, Gr 4-6, Gr 7-9, Gr 10-12

12:30pm MST

Surveying the Disability Landscape: Charting the Path to Inclusion and Beyond

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

TH341

Inclusion. What exactly is it? Where is it? When does it happen? Who experiences it? Why do we need to advocate for it? How does one achieve it as a goal?

This session needs a host! To host, complete the form linked here and include your name and the session title in the form.

Speakers

Michael Carter

Michael Carter is a teacher, disability activist, and musician. As a disabled person, he has been engaged with disability studies for more than a decade. His work is rooted in supporting disabled students in their development of positive disability identities. Michael is an LST at... Read More →

Phil Williams

Friday February 21, 2025 12:30pm - 2:00pm MST
TH341