The VIP Teachers' Lounge Curated by Joanne Sallay:
Special Back-to-School Edition | | |
Welcome Back, VIP Teachers!
Who says students are the only ones who get back-to-school butterflies? The start of a new school year brings plenty of excitement, but also the return to early mornings, classroom routines and a whole lot to juggle. With the help of our wonderful partners who value teachers just as much as we do, this issue is designed to bring a little fun and functionality to the season, with exclusive teacher giveaways, special offers, the latest news and more.
Feel free to forward this to fellow teachers! You don’t need to be part of Teachers on Call’s in-home and online tutoring team to take part. You’ll only hear from us a few times a year — always with something special.
Until the next edition,
Joanne Sallay
President and CEO, Teachers on Call
| | Exclusive Giveaways for Teachers on Call | | | | |
Merangue – Keeping the FUN in Back to School
10 Chances to Win this Collection for Your Classroom!
Back-to-school is about more than checking items off a supply list—it’s a chance for students and teachers to show a little personality and have some fun along the way. Merangue brings the FUN to back-to-school by putting a fresh, playful spin on the everyday essentials students and teachers need.
Each prize is valued at $560 and packed with back-to-school essentials and fun finds. Think cat-face sticky notes, pencils, fruit-shaped erasers, keychains, sparkly pens, colourful binder pouches, playful sticker packs and novelty sharpeners—products that turn an ordinary school-supply aisle into something students and teachers actually want to explore.
Whether it’s a fun new pen, a colourful notebook, a quirky accessory or a fresh take on a classroom essential, Merangue keeps the FUN in back-to-school—one school supply at a time.
How to Enter:
Email perks@teachersoncall.ca with the subject line “Merangue” for your chance to win back-to-school essentials.
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Win 1 of 3 Indigo gift cards ($100 Each!)
Indigo plumTeacher loves teachers just as much as we do! To celebrate, we are giving away $100 gift cards to three lucky educators from our VIP Teacher community. Don't forget, your dollars can go even further during the upcoming plumTeacher weekend event with exclusive educator savings and offers.
How to Enter:
Email perks@teachersoncall.ca with the subject line “Indigo” for your chance to win a $100 Indigo gift card.
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Win a Ninja AutoBarista™ Pro
The perfect addition to your school’s staff room or your home to start the day, Ninja AutoBarista™ Pro is the only fully automatic machine that crafts true 9-bar espresso, authentic drip coffee and rapid cold brew drinks like a barista. Grind iQ™ technology auto-dials in the perfect grind size and dose from 50 settings, bean to cup, so every drink is smooth and balanced. Choose from 13 one-touch presets, fine-tune brew strength, temperature, size and froth style to make it yours, then save your favourites for next time. Top it off with hands-free FrothPerfect™ microfoam, dairy or plant-based, just the way you like it. Just press, pour and enjoy.
How to Enter:
Email perks@teachersoncall.ca with the subject line “Ninja” for your chance to win a Ninja AutoBarista™ Pro.
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Win 1 of 5 Mabel’s Teacher Label Gift Packs
The Teacher Label Gift Pack helps teachers keep track of their belongings with ease. Perfect for labeling chargers, water bottles, coffee mugs, classroom supplies, binders, and more. It ensures items stay organized, both inside and outside the classroom.
How to Enter:
Email perks@teachersoncall.ca with the subject line “Mabel's Labels” for your chance to win 1 of 5 Teacher Label Gift Packs.
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Win 1 of 10 Pairs of Tickets to Petrushka & Passions of Spain at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra Saturday Oct 3, 2026 at 7:30 pm
Enter for your chance to win one of 10 pairs of tickets to see the Toronto Symphony Orchestra’s Petrushka & Passions of Spain at Roy Thomson Hall on Oct 3. Experience the passion of flamenco sensation María Toledo, the colourful spectacle of Stravinsky’s Petrushka and more in this vibrant celebration of Spanish music.
How to Enter:
Email perks@teachersoncall.ca with the subject line "TSO" for your chance to win a pair of tickets.
VIP Teacher Offer:
Save 20% at the Toronto Symphony Orchestra with code TOC20.
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Enter to win 4 tickets to the Canadian Premiere of THE KARATE KID - THE MUSICAL, courtesy of Mirvish Productions!
Destiny is in your hands: Wax on - Wax off. Enter for a chance to win 4 tickets to The Karate Kid - The Musical (Tuesday September 29, 2026, at 7:30pm), courtesy of Mirvish Productions. Learn more about the show here.
How to Enter:
Email perks@teachersoncall.ca with the subject line "Karate Kid" for your chance to win 4 tickets.
Plus, Join the Teachers' Night Out program and save on tickets!
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Win a Pair of Tickets to The Tempest at the Stratford Festival
Shakespeare's magical final masterpiece comes to life in The Tempest, a story of shipwrecks, sorcery, forgiveness, and second chances. Through this exclusive Teachers on Call VIP Teacher's Lounge giveaway, one lucky member will win a pair of tickets valid for any performance of The Tempest at the Stratford Festival, subject to availability.
How to Enter:
Email perks@teachersoncall.ca with the subject line "Tempest" for your chance to win a pair of tickets.
VIP Teacher Offer:
Save on tickets to select Stratford Festival Forum events this fall. Using promo code: 120944.
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RULES:
- Open to teachers across Canada.
- To verify your teacher status, please apply to the contest using a professional school email address or simply provide another form of identification, such as a teacher certification ID, in your e-mail text.
- You may enter as many giveaways as you’d like, but only one prize can be won per teacher per newsletter issue.
- Winning teachers’ contact information will be shared with prize partners to facilitate prize delivery.
- Entries close on Thursday, September 24 at 11:59PM ET
- Winners will be contacted by email by the Teachers on Call team
| | VIP Teacher Special Offers: Learning, Athletics,
Entertainment & More | |
Indigo's plumTeacher
Indigo’s plumTeacher Appreciation Weekend is back from September 17 - 20, 2026. Educators can sign up in-store or online to enjoy 20% off in-store purchases at Indigo, Chapters, Coles, or Indigospirit locations across Canada (excluding tech).
Indigo is the happy place of our President, along with countless educators, so consider this your excuse to treat yourself and take a field trip to your nearest store. Here are a few back-to-school finds that recently caught Joanne’s eye.
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STAO 2026 STEAM Driven Conference
Ready to level up your teaching game? Join the Science Teachers’ Association of Ontario (STAO) for an unforgettable conference featuring two incredible keynote speakers: Dr. Donna Strickland, 2018 Nobel Laureate, and Dr. Mahadeo Sukhai.
VIP Teacher Offer: Not a STAO member yet? TOC subscribers can use promo code TOC50 at checkout to save $50.00 on a 1 day or 2 day Non-Member conference registration!
Don't miss out—head to stao.ca now to register and dive into all the fun!
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Ski like a Teacher VIP at Big White Ski Resort
in Kelowna, British Columbia
It may be fall, but ski season is just around the corner! We are excited to invite our VIP Teacher community to experience Teachers on Call's exclusive VIP Package at Big White Ski Resort in beautiful British Columbia.
- Seamless VIP services for your booking
- Save 10% on accommodation
- Bonus savings and free tubing tickets
- Access to exclusive discounts on direct flights
- No blackout dates during peak periods, including major breaks and holidays
VIP Teacher Offer: Take advantage of this special offer to create lasting family memories during the 2026 - 2027 ski season. Please quote special code QA2627. Learn more here.
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A Scholarship Worth Sharing With Your Students
We love introducing VIP Teachers to opportunities worth sharing with students, and this one may be one of Canada’s best-kept scholarship secrets. Established in 2020, the Ronnen Harary Foundation was inspired by Spin Master co-founder Ronnen Harary’s experience with dysgraphia and his belief in seeing learning differences as “learning gifts.”
The Full Potential Scholarship is for Canadian graduating high school students with documented learning disabilities entering post-secondary. The support goes beyond financial assistance, combining tuition funding with virtual tutoring throughout post-secondary.
If you teach or know a student in their final year of high school planning to enter post-secondary in fall 2027, put this one on your radar.
Stay tuned for our next VIP Teacher issue, when we’ll share key dates and how eligible students can apply.
Mining and the Careers Building Canada’s Future
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Season 6 of This Is Mining: The Podcast – Building a Nation looks beyond the mine site to some of the biggest questions facing Canada today: economic security and sovereignty, our changing relationship with the United States, Indigenous ownership, major projects and whether Canada can actually build the northern infrastructure and industries we need.
Hosted by Amber Mac, the season brings together leaders from business, government, national security and Indigenous communities, including Agnico Eagle’s Chair of the Board, Sean Boyd, to explore what Canada’s resources could mean for the next generation.
For educators, it’s a timely way to connect what young people are learning in geography, science, technology, economics and civics with the conversations shaping Canada’s future - and the careers that will help build it.
Listen to This Is Mining: The Podcast wherever you get your podcasts.
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Queen’s Leadership, Entrepreneurship, and Development Conference (QLEAD) for High School Students
QLEAD is a four-day, student-run conference at the Smith School of Business November 12th–15th. Now in its 25th year, QLEAD brings together 150 Grade 11 and 12 students from across Canada for workshops and panels focused on leadership and business.
QLEAD holds a special place at Teachers on Call, as President & CEO Joanne Sallay co-founded it while a student at Queen’s University.
Share with interested students and learn more on the QLEAD website. Applications can be submitted, here.
Costco Connection: Helping Students Build Their Resumes
Our very own Joanne Sallay, President & CEO of Teachers on Call, wrote the Back-to-School section of Costco Connection on career education and development, exploring why it is never too early for young people to start building their resumes and professional presence.
Read the article here for practical ways to help students prepare for future opportunities.
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Share This Newsletter With Your Teacher Friends!
Encourage a fellow teacher to sign up and enjoy the perks! You don’t have to be part of Teachers on Call’s tutoring team to join—educators from across Canada are welcome.
| | Photo credit: Jennifer Allison of JShutter Photography for the lead image, school supplies and career education photos. | | | | |
