Opportunities and items of Interest for daily and LTO members

... And Still We Rise - ETFO Annual Leadership Conference for Women -  February 24 and 25, 2021 Virtual Conference

This two-day annual leadership conference is for all women members. Numerous workshops will be offered on the following topics: professional and leadership skills building, social justice and unionism, and self-care and well-being. Registration fee is $50. Daily ETFO Provincial will cover release time for daily Occasional Teachers and LTOs.    

Note: Registration opens Wed., November 25 and closes Dec., 16.

Workshops will be offered on the following topics: 

• Professional and leadership skills building; 

• Social justice and unionism; and 

• Self-care and well-being. 

Priority will be given to those who were to participate in …and still we rise 2020; and to first time attendees. 

Registration fee: $50 Further event details and registration available November 25, 2020 at events.etfo.org/upcoming-events  

__________________________________________________________________

Additional "Brightspace for the Daily OT" Paid PD

TVDSB is offering an additional afterschool virtual workshop for daily OTs on "Brightspace" to be held on Monday, December 14th.

Registration is via the Employee Portal > Conference/Session Registration > Elementary Occasional Teacher PD 2020-2021. Click on "Register" to see the descriptions of this session and to find out more about the online PD opportunities that can be completed anytime before the end of June (including evenings and weekends). Spots fill quickly so act fast! 

Participation counts for all purposes as a half-day of teaching,

_________________________________________________________________

At the End of a LTO Assignment

When leaving a long-term assignment, be sure to leave behind all assessment information that you have gathered during your time with the class. Though the Principal has the option of calling you back for one day to work on reports (for which you will be paid at your grid rate per Article L35.00(iii)), your evaluations and observations are very important to the next Teacher.

Then make sure that you have submitted your QECO rating and proof of any previous teaching experience to Jessica Grison Roeder in Human Resources. (N.B. Information you sent to the Board with your resume to be hired, is not adequate for this purpose) so that you are paid appropriately. Your OT Local is a great resource if you are unsure as to what may be recognized, so please contact us at etfotvot@gmail.com or by phone at 519-641-3936. 

Lastly, ensure that you check your TVARRIS profile to see that the school has released you from your LTO so you can receive calls from the system to replace daily absences. If not, contact you school so that we can make sure there is an Occasional Teacher in the role.

________________________________________

Two New Kindergarten Workshops  offered virtually by ETFO Provincial 

1) Building and Strengthening Relationships in Kindergarten While Distance Learning: an opportunity to share experiences and develop a toolbox of ways to proactively build relationships, communicate and plan as a team in distance learning Registration Link

2) Teaching and Learning in the Distance Learning Kindergarten Environment: how learning through exploration, plan and inquiry works in distance learning. Webinar will explore a balance of pedagogical considerations, practical ideas and suggestions as educators collaboratively share positive experiences and successful practices Registration Link

________________________________________________________________________

Thanks to everyone who has provided feedback to us regarding the new etfotvot.com website.

Elements are under development so we still cannot offer access to the Secure Membership section of the site, however we are assured this will be on line very soon. 

___________________________________________

Update to PPE; Changes for Retirees; Math Webcasts from ETFO Provincial; Making TVARRIS Efficient; Paid PD Opportunities

NEW: Alternative to Face Shields PPE TVDSB is now making goggles available on request at schools to those who would feel more comfortable wearing goggles instead of face shields. Remember that the public health unit recommends that Teachers wear face shields or goggles whenever social distancing cannot be maintained. Kindergarten classes are one example of where such PPE is advised. N.B. Goggles and/or face shields are not a replacement for masks. The wearing of masks remains mandatory! 

____________________________________________

 Changes to Pension Plan Restrictions for Retirees 

The Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan is a partnership between the Government of Ontario and the Ontario Teachers' Federation which is the voice of the Teacher Federations at the table. Under the terms of the partnership, decisions are made jointly. 

Recent deliberations have resulted in a decision that for this current school year, retired Teachers will be able to teach up to the end of the month in which they exceed 95 days rather than 50 days, without affecting their pension.  

For further information from Teachers' Pension go to https://www.otpp.com/members/cms/en/life-career-events/retirement-life/working-after-retirement/reemployment-faq.html?intcmp=re-em_w_dmwk-779

To access the document below visit https://www.otpp.com/members/cms/en/life-career-events/retirement-life/working-after-retirement/reemployment-faq.html?intcmp=re-em_w_dmwk-779

____________________________________________________________________

ETFO Provincial Revised Math 2020 Webcasts  TVOT members may not be aware that Provincial ETFO offers 6 webinars that are available for you at your convenience at https://www.etfo.ca/SupportingMembers/ProfLearning/Pages/MathWebcasts.aspx

Topics include "Demystifying Coding in the Primary Grades", "An Introduction to Coding in the Junior Grades", "Coding Connections in Intermediate Grade Mathematics" and "Exploring Social-Emotional Learning Skills in Mathematics". Most sessions are about an hour in length and the slides are available to download in either PDF or Word formats.

___________________________________________________________________

When to block off in TVARRIS?

In order that Thames Valley Absence Reporting and Replacement System/TVARRIS operates as efficiently as possible, it is important that Occasional Teachers book as "unavailable" even if for only one day. Otherwise TVARRIS wastes time making needless calls which are either turned down or go unanswered and this results in unfilled Teacher absences. Please note that there is no penalty for making yourself "unavailable" so we encourage TVOT members to book off each and every time they chose not to teach. 

____________________________________________________________

Online Paid PD Opportunities

Did you know that there are many online paid PD opportunities now available in the Conference Registration section of the Employee Portal? These options include topics such as Online Literacy, Online Kindergarten and Online Spec Ed. To register, scroll down the list under "Elementary Occasional Teacher PD" and though they are listed with the date of June 29th, they can be completed by OTs on evenings, weekends or anytime at that is convenient. Payment is triggered when Staff Development receives your Reflection Form so be sure to submit one when you are done. Participation in paid PD sessions count as a half-day of work for all puposes.

______________________________________________________________

Note re: TVOT Member Portal - Just a note to members that our transition to the new etfotvot.com website is still in progress so you may have difficulties for a week or so in accessing the Member Portal / Secure area of the site.  __________________________________________________________ 

PD Sessions That Count as Teaching; TVDSB Reflection Forms; Employee and Family Assistance Program; Provincial Leadership Program for Black Members; Balancing Act - Women's Conference;

 PD Sessions That Count as Teaching - Your TVOT Local is pleased to announce that we are sponsoring three new paid PD sessions that count as a half day of teaching for daily OTs or LTOs in assignments of .5 or less. All workshops begins at 4:30 PM and will be offered via Zoom. Registration is now open on the Employee Portal and participation is limited to 30 participants per workshop.           The options are:

1) Art and Mental Health - Thursday, Nov. 26/20: focuses on integration of arts programming and positive student mental health                         

2) Flourish With French - Thursday, Dec. 3.20: Designed to provide tools and confidence for daily OTs so that they are prepared to accept a daily assignment in a FSL classroom. All participants will receive a copy of the companion TVOT "Flourish with French" resource                       

3) Classroom Management for Occasional Teachers - Thursday, Dec. 10/20: Learn practical and effective strategies that will increase your confidence and refine your teaching practice. Participants will receive a copy of Provincial ETFO's "I Am the Teacher" resource

_____________________________________________________________

Accessing TVDSB Reflection Forms Online -

As a TVDSB employee, TVOT members receive both a Microsoft 360 account (#00000@tvdsb.ca) and a Google account (#00000@gototvdsb.ca) with #00000 being your employee number. Because the online Reflection form is a Google form, you need to be first logged into your gototvdsb.ca account before you open the link to the reflection form. This link is found at the top of where you register for paid PD in the Employee Portal > Conference Registrations. 

For further assistance in accessing the online Reflection Form, log into your Microsoft 360 account and go into the Elementary OT webpage in SharePoint at https://tvdsbo365.sharepoint.com/teams/SSD/SitePages/OT-Elementary-PD.aspx

_________________________________________________________________

Employee and Family Assistance Program / EFAP -

As of September, all Occasional Teachers have access to the Board's EFAP supports, including the newly released webinar, "The Second Wave and Your Mental Health".  TVOT members can use of any of the EFAP services confidentially. 

Services include professional counselling for family issues such as separation, divorce and supporting parents; workplace issues; addictions; depression and/or anxiety; anger management; grief counselling; abuse and life coaching. For more information about services provided, log into the Employee Portal and click "View My Employee Assistance Program".

______________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

Email difficulties; Prov. ETFO ICT Workshops; New Website; Treaties Recognition Week; Previous Teaching Experience

NOTICE - mail@etfotvot.com is undergoing maintenance until Friday evening - please use etfotvot@gmail.com ____________________________________

ETFO Provincial I.C.T. Opportunity

Tomorrow is the deadline to apply for ETFO's virtual ICT Learning Institute - Technology Tools for Learning. The session will take place via Zoom on Saturday, December. Workshop selections include: How to Engage your Students using Brightspace, Digital Tools in the French Classroom, Communication with Families through Google Sites, Get Going with Coding etc.

For more information visit -  ICT Learning Institute Flyer

___________________________________________________________________

Announcement - Your TVOT Local is pleased to announce that our new website now live. Please take time to visit us at www.etfotvot.com and let us know what you think.

Provincial ETFO is asking members for feedback about their provincial website www.etfo.ca and the link to participate is https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/CRQPS3S

_____________________________________________________________

Treaties Recognition Week November 2-6, 2020

As members reflect on the fact that we are living live and work on land that has been the subject of treaties between sovereign nations, please know that ETFO has resources that might be of use in your classrooms. For more information go to https://etfofnmi.ca/ and for an introduction to treaties, ETFO has an excellent resource complete with useful hyperlinks at Introduction to Treaties  

_______________________________________________________________

Previous Teaching Experience

Just a reminder to those who are in LTO assignments, that going forward as of September, daily experience as an Occasional Teacher from other Ontario school boards, is now be credited for experience on the grid. Even if you have previously done LTOs with Thames Valley, it might be worthwhile to submit documentation to show you have taught with other Boards since this might move you to a higher salary placement. 

LTOs need to make sure when they sign their LTO contracts, that they are getting credit for previous teaching experience and that they have a QECO rating on file with Human Resources. It will take a moment but members only have until July 31st of the school year in which they held a long-term assignment, to ask for adjustments.  Call your OT Office if you have any questions.