Hi Everyone! My name is Michael Saretzky and I come from a small town on Vancouver Island. After graduating with my BEd from UVIC, my wife and I moved to Alberta to start our careers in teaching. For the last 13 years I have taught in the same school as my wife, we even did some team teaching at my previous school. I am in my last term of the MET, however it is my first time taking two course simultaneously, I am also taking 524. It is bittersweet, as I have really felt in the know of what is going on with technology in education, and I hope to stay on top of things, but we will see. This is my fourth year in Red Deer, and not only are my wife and I at the same school, but so are our two children, my son is in grade 5 and my daughter is in grade 2. I am currently teaching grade 8 (LA, Social, Science, Health, Religion and Options), although my teaching assignment changed a little four days before school started due to COVID and the number of students who chose at home learning.
In my 15 years of teaching it is crazy to think about how things have changed. Not only has technology changed the way of learning in the last 15 years, but it can be a little overwhelming to think of where it will be fifteen years in the future.
I am looking forward to meeting everyone and learning with you!
I am curious, Michael, what small town on Vancouver Island do you come from? Vancouver Island is my old stomping grounds too.
Hi Erica, I grew up in Gold River. It was definitely a great place to be as a kid, but it really suffered when the mill shutdown.
Theres a few places on the Island with that similarly sad story. I have not visited Gold River yet, but I’d love to one of these days. Do you still have family there or did you all leave after the mill shutdown?
It is a beautiful place. And there is so much history from that area. I actually went to school with someone related to Chief Maquinna, and then when I started teaching social studies in Alberta I was teaching about him and his contact with Captain Cook, which was very cool. If you do go up there I do recommend the Uchuck. It’s an old mine sweeper, that takes you to Nootka Island, but it does trips to other places, such as Kyuquot which is another amazing location. But Gold River is also the location of where Luna the Orca was. I do have some family there still, but all of my immediate family relocated. Of the 30+ cousins and aunts and uncles who were there, there are only five left now.
Thanks Michael. Grabbing a screenshot of this to remember these recommendation for later.
Hi Michael,
It is a pleasure to meet you! Sounds like you have a really wonderful gig over in Alberta!
It is nice to meet you to Adrian! I do have it pretty good.
Hello Micheal,
Congrats on your last semester in the program, that is so exciting. This is my very first course in the program, I cant wait to get up to date on all the recent technology trends like you.
My nephews go to school in red deer, I am sending you all the positive vibes as we progress thru the school year. YOU GOT THIS!!!
Thank you Skye! It is exciting. It will go quite quickly, even if you do it slowly like I did. I was taking two courses per year, but then I started doing three and this year it will be four. I do feel that by the time you get up to date you are already behind. Thank you for the positive vibes. I have actually been quite please with our division and how they have reacted to everything. That is very cool that your nephews go to school in Red Deer, it is a small world.
Thanks for the post, Micheal. This is my first course at MET. What have been the most valuable courses to your learning? I’m trying to plan out my courses and sometimes feel quite overwhelmed by the process. I am currently teaching K-1 French immersion in Squamish and I think only one course at a time is possible with me.