The Kelowna Home Economics Teachers Association invites you to the sunny Okanagan for THESA’s (Teachers of Home Economics Specialists Association) 2012 Provincial Conference.  The theme for our conference is Fresh: 21^st Century Approaches to Teaching Home Economics.

Public education is under re-construction in British Columbia.  Academics, government ministries, as well as, some school districts are re-defining what it means to be educated and how we educate students.  Multi-media technology, Kagan structures, understanding-by-design, project-based-learning, attributes of a learner, big ideas, social responsibility are just a few of the approaches being suggested to make learning for students engaging and relevant.  The intent of this conference is to initiate conversations: let us look to the past and review what curriculum and which teaching practices are relevant for today’s students; let us look to the future and determine how home economics teachers can incorporate these new teaching approaches into their curriculum and every day practice.

The Conference Committee has organized some events to highlight the finer gifts Kelowna has to offer.  The Thursday Welcome Reception will be held at Summerhill Pyramid Winery and the Friday Conference Dinner will held at the Harvest Golf Club.  Explore the Kelowna Activity icon for many local suggestions for what to do while visiting Kelowna! As well, we are very excited that Dr. Mary Leah deZwart and Lisa McCullough have agreed to be the conference keynote speakers.  We would like to thank Okanagan Mission Secondary School for being our conference site host.

We are looking forward to you accepting our invitation to THESA Conference 2012.