We are gathering names for a focus group of new Occasional Teachers in their first five years of teaching. We need to know what the challenges are for new OTs so that we can advocate on your behalf with the Board, the provincial federation, and with your colleagues.
If you would like to be a part of this project, please send an e-mail with your name and phone number to: etfotvot@gmail.com indicating how many years you have been teaching and if you are seeking a permanent teaching position. We will meet February 15th, after school at the ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teachers' Local office at 521 Nottinghill Road, Suite 8 in south London. A light supper will be provided.
On another note, upcoming Professional Development Events include:
I. January Book Clubs - Back by Popular Demand - Our Book Clubs provide an excellent opportunity to enhance your professional knowledge and practices. Peer-led sessions will focus on specific chapters of the selected book, allowing you to consider strategies to try in your classroom, and to reflect on and share experiences with a dozen of your peers. Attend all three of your book club evenings and the Local will give you the book to keep. We will meet from 4:30- 7:30 PM at the ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teachers' Local, 521 Nottinghill Road, Suite 8 in London. The book will be provided at our first meeting. Registration: tvotpd@gmail.com. Confirmation by return e-mail. A light dinner will be provided.
Book Club #1: Learning Together: A Teacher's Guide to Combined Grades
First Meeting - Monday, January 17, 2011
Book Clubs #2 and Book Club #3: The Daily Five are now filled.
II. January 27th, 2011 : An Evening with the Arts from 4:30 - 7:30 PM at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn. Three Occasional Teacher focused workshops to choose from:
1) "Visual Arts" with Polly Stringle, Althouse
2) 2 workshops of "Dance and the new Dance Assessment and Evaluation document".
At this time, registration for Visual Arts is closed but there are some spots left for the Dance session. We are taking names on a waiting list in the event of any cancellations. Once again, registration for this PD event is to be completed via e-mail at tvotpd@gmail.com.
III. Designated paid PD Event at Althouse College. Registration for this event is to be completed via the Employee Portal which we understand will be available on Jan. 17th. We have had several enquiries "where might an OT look to get current, up to date PD information and notification as to what is available?" You can look for this information in several places: Our website: http://www.etfotvots.com/, on Twitter, our Blog and of course our Newsletter - The Supply Line.
Lastly, whenever a mailing is sent out to our members, we undoubtedly receive a dozen or so undeliverable envelopes from Canada Post, mainly due to a change of address. It is of the utmost importance to you that we and the Board have your most current personal information. If you move, it is your responsibility to advise our office and update your personal information record at the Board via the Employee Portal > Personal Information > View / Change My Personal Information. This ensures you get all news that goes out by mail, such as Newsletters, notifications of PD events, tax slips etc... but more importantly that you are abiding by Article 6.05 of our Collective Agreement with the Board. Note that failure to do so can result in Removal from the List per Article 6.09 (e).
ETFO THAMES VALLEY OCCASIONAL TEACHERS' LOCAL
