but we followed our protocols . It was our last face-to-face social event .” To ensure they could keep to the restricted number who could attend , the ESS charged a $ 5 ticket price and had students register to attend . All proceeds from the event were donated to the Big Brothers and Big Sisters Foundation of Regina .
Without face-to-face events , the ESS has found it difficult to connect with students and build an Education student family . Balfour says , “ Because we are online we don ’ t have the same ability to build that connection , a culture of relying on each other for support while we are undergrad students .”
Instead of face-to-face socials , the Social Team , headed up by Danielle Maeder , is offering giveaways and prizes in exchange for tags , follows , and likes on the ESS social media , managed by the VP of Communications Sara Tokarz .
Balfour has realized that remote studies due to COVID-19 has given ESS executives another new role . “ We benefited from a really bad situation . We had a lot of first-year students sign up . New students who joined the ESS are trying to achieve this social , cultural connection with the University that they don ’ t get through remote classes . Some of them have never been on campus . We are trying to help them with that community . Some of the best aspects of the Faculty are the classes we get to attend . I was looking forward to the interactions and being a part of the educational experience in the Faculty of Education . We are here to provide ... almost a peer mentorship . We ' re like big brothers and sisters , cause we are experienced in the program ,” says Balfour .
“ Indigenous Brilliance ” with Justin “ Jah ’ kota ” Holness .
The ESS executive are also working with Dr . Pamela Osmond-Johnson , the associate dean for undergraduate programs , to develop a new pilot program to provide small grants to pre-interns and interns to support practicum-based projects . Balfour says , “ They are the only ones out there facing everything going on with the pandemic . Interns and pre-interns are unable to connect with community resources and bring them into the classroom because schools are locked down . With funding they will have the resources to assist their practicum experience . Students won ' t have to pay out of pocket ."
To apply for funding to provide resources , to make community connections , or to assist in lesson planning , pre-interns and interns can apply to the ESS for a specific amount with a proposal for PD funding .
There are more plans for collaboration with undergraduate Student Services . Balfour says , “ Pam is excited about what we are accomplishing . We will be working with Student Services to host events where they can provide feedback for students , such as town halls and
other opportunities for students to learn to navigate the ' what ’ s next ?' in their programs .”
The ESS is also looking into collaborations with the University of Saskatchewan Education Students ’ Society to broaden and extend their reach to offer PD events to education students across Saskatchewan .
“ The ESS team is amazing this year . They are so thrown out there even during pandemic . They are doing so much with the resources they have ,” says Balfour . " This year has brought more than I expected . I didn ’ t expect 25 team members . These young individuals are so self-driven with their leadership and where they want to take their careers and what they want to accomplish .”
Balfour continues , “ The pandemic has really changed everything . The way we can support students and the University at the same time . We ’ ve had to figure out how to navigate through that . It has been a challenge to make sure we to follow proper protocols and to make sure we are inclusive to team members and student body . Some of the ESS executive have navigated in ways that they couldn ’ t even anticipate . The experience has been phenomenal .”
With new students in mind , the ESS ’ s Professional Development ( PD ) team , headed by Kiah Holness , offered their first virtual event , “ Ed ’ s Declassified School Survival Guide ” where more experienced students offered tips and tricks for when new students finally come to the campus , such as where to buy the best coffee , how to find parking , how to buy textbooks , and how to navigate their own involvement . Other PD events offered virtually were “ Building Resilience for Stress of Teaching ” presented by Dyan Roth and
Finding Phyllis Webstad approved Orange Shirts at Karen Mah ' s Inspring Young Minds store in Regina was just the beginning of the ESS ' s work in the community . Finding out that the store was doing a toy drive to support Gifts of Hope 2020 , an initiative started by a Grade 12 student , Emily Messier , to give the gift of play to children in need during the holiday season , the ESS purchased items from the store to donate to the Toy Drive as well as purchasing gift cards to contribute to a giveaway at a Regina School .
Education News | Page 15