Minutes for HOSTA meeting, October 15, 2010

Introductions from the members attending.

1. James Smith from Niagara Parks School of Horticulture
(jsmith@niagaraparks.ca) Phone # (905) 356-8554
Application to the program by June 30th for a March start the following year. Interviews scheduled by July with a confirmation within 2 weeks to allow for decisions with programs from other institutions.

Tuition is $1000 per year. Room and board are included for the first 2 years. Students in the third year are expected to find there own lodgings. Students should budget $3000 for books and $4000 for study tours over the course of the program.

Six $1000 entrance scholarships are available from Niagara Parks. Other scholarships are available from Ontario Parks and Landscape Ontario. OSAP eligible for students.

2. Teacher Assignment and Qualifications.
See Teacher Assignment in Ontario Schools: A Resource Guide for information concerning the assignment of teachers and relevant qualifications. Points of interest as it concerns this document. A principal has the right to assign teachers under mutual consent with the provision that they are providing the best and safest program to the students. OCT will not be "grandfathering" qualifications to teachers already teaching Green Industries. Rob DeRubeis- suggest reviewing PPM153, reg. 298 as well as Teacher Assignment in Ontario � both documents found on the OCTE website. Wendy � announces the intent of U of T to run AQ courses in Winter/Spring at E.C. Drury in Milton. To cover 9 and 10 curriculum. Concerns or questions to be mailed to Shane Jones shanerjones@hotmail.com

3. Feedback concerning the running of Green Industries programs.
Curriculum has been running successfully. Broad enough to be flexible, caters to all sectors well. Inclusion of animals in curriculum has been a challenge for some.

4. Skills competition.
The 2010 skills competition took place on May. The Landscape/Gardening competition had space for 20 teams. 16 teams competed form various schools. The competition worked well having more individual collections of materials with less movement required through the competition space. Need to have better line of sight for spectators to view the competition. The level of difficulty is likely to be maintained for the 2011 competition. Area of concern included the miss use of materials (walls used as steps, etc�) OTF training this summer may include teacher training of similar skills to help teachers better instruct students. The 2011 competition will take place on May at RIM park in Waterloo and will accommodate 20 teams of 2. Steve from STHIL will provide training for schools competing in the 2011 competition.