Wednesday, April 26, 2023

TVOT Banquet and Annual Meeting; Earn an Extra Half-day of Salary; Your $60 Resource Rebate; Edvantage Discounts

 Registration is Now Open for TVOT Members 
519-641-3936 or mail@etfotvot.com
$15 gas cards to all who register and attend
Door prizes to include 1 Chromebook and 2 gift cards of $100 each
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See who is running for your TVOT Local Executive
As stipulated in our TVOT Constitution, this year's list of candidates will be posted on the Local website within 24 hours of the deadline to receive nominations (5 PM today, April 26, 2023).
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Leave a Note
It is important for the absent Teacher to know what was accomplished and where to pick up, on their return. Article L18.01(c) of our Collective Agreement states: 
The Occasional Teacher shall endeavour to provide written feedback to the Teacher being replaced at the conclusion of the occasional assignment. Such feedback will generally include comments on the progress of lessons taught, problems encountered and where appropriate, successes achieved and marks for work completed by students within the occasional assignment.
(Pick up your OT Post-it Notepad at the Spring Annual Meeting)
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Don't Leave Money on the Table
TVOT is pleased to host 3 NEW Paid PD Sessions at the Stoneridge Inn, May 3/23 at 4:30 PM (dinner included)
1) Uncovering the New Science Curriculum: Workshop will focus on STEM Skills and Connections (Strand A) through exploration and discovery. 
2) Managing Challenging Behaviours: Participants will explore the importance of mindset, effective interventions and responding quickly while maintaining student engagement.
3) Are you as good as Sully? A Hands-On Way to Teach Angles and Geometry: Use manipulatives such as paper-folding to create protractors, estimate angles and make shapes in the context of pilot "Sully" who saved 155 lives in an emergency landing on the Hudson River.
Register in the TVDSB Employee Portal. 
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TVOT Resource Rebate
TVOT members registered on our website www.etfotvot.com may claim up to $60 per school year for the purchase of professional book(s) or resources related to their elementary professional needs. Applications are available on our Local site. 
The deadline for receipt is no later than May 31st.
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Don’t miss out on discounts from Edvantage, your exclusive savings program! Register for your FREE Edvantage account to access your favourite discounts, get deal alerts, or download your Edvantage member card today: https://bit.ly/3JG7CEM . You will need your provincial ETFO membership number available from memberrecords@etfo.org

 #Edvantage #ExclusiveSavingsProgram






Wednesday, April 19, 2023

More Chances for a Half-Day of Pay; Retention Stipend Payment; $60 Resource Rebate; Occasional Teachers Conference in Toronto (expenses covered); Workshop Opportunities

 

TVOT is pleased to host 3 NEW Paid PD Sessions at the Stoneridge Inn, May 3/23 at 4:30 PM (dinner included)
1) Uncovering the New Science Curriculum: Workshop will focus on STEM Skills and Connections (Strand A) through exploration and discovery. Learn tips for instruction that will excite your students such as coding, robotics, programming and design thinking. 
2) Managing Challenging Behaviours: Participants will explore the importance of mindset, effective interventions and responding quickly while maintaining student engagement. Learn effective yet simple strategies to motivate and empower all students, especially those who challenge.
3) Are you as good as Sully? A Hands-On Way to Teach Angles and Geometry: Use manipulatives such as paper-folding to create protractors, estimate angles and make shapes through the real-life context of pilot "Sully" who saved 155 lives by successfully completing an emergency airplane landing on the Hudson River.
Register in the TVDSB Employee Portal. 
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 - TVDSB Retention Stipends are scheduled to be paid May 5/23.
 - Provincial ETFO has contracted "Strategic Communications / Stratcom" to conduct the 2023 ETFO Annual Member Poll, a random online sampling to assist ETFO in developing programs and advocating for the needs of the membership.
 - Nominations for the TVOT Local Executive are due April 26th by 5 PM
 - TVDSB is holding a free virtual information session, Family Well-Being Workshop: Understanding Self-Harm and Suicide Risk in Children and Youth on Wed., April 26th at 6:30 PM. Click https://sites.google.com/gotvdsb.ca/familiescaregiversworkshops/upcoming-events for more information. 
 - TVOT members have until May 31st to apply for the $60 Resource Rebate provided by the Local for the purchase of professional books or resources related to their elementary teaching needs. Forms are available to those registered as members at www.etfotvot.com


Car theft is a huge industry. Is your vehicle a target?

Did you know Canada’s auto theft industry is a $1 billion business? According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada, a vehicle is stolen every six minutes in Canada. Knowing whether your vehicle has landed on Canada’s top 10 stolen cars can help you assess your risk level and determine preventative measures.

 Read more at www.otip.com/article163.

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Wednesday, April 12, 2023

One week left! TVOT Spring Meeting; EQAO Questionnaire; ETFO Bargaining Conference

 

1) Your OCT fees are due by April 15th - https://www.oct.ca/members/services/annual-membership-fee-information
2) The invitation for TVOT members to shop at the Columbia Sportswear Outlet expires April 16th
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April 12, 2023 is the International Day of Pink - 

Take a stand against bullying and harassment #DayofPink



EQAO training? Not without release time
 
The ETFO provincial Executive continues to advise members not to complete online EQAO voluntary training and webinars unless release time is provided. The full text of the advisory, as well as others regarding EQAO, can be found on the ETFO member website.

School staff involved in EQAO are required to read and adhere to the user guides for the administration of the assessments of Reading, Writing, and Mathematics for the Primary and Junior Divisions, which are shared on the EQAO website.

ETFO member advisories can be found on the ETFO member website. Register with your ETFO ID at members.etfo.ca.


May 15-16, 2023

This program explores bargaining tools, tips and strategies that can be used to make schools just and equitable for both members and students.

Click here to find out more and to register.

Registration closes April 14/23 at 5:00 p.m.

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  • Last Chance to Pay Without Penalty -
  • Your annual OCT membership fee is $200. Annual fees are due on Jan. 1 of each year, and must be paid no later than April 15th. The Board deducts OCT fees from those in LTOs on January first so check your pay stub to see if your fee was paid. The onus is on you, so avoid the $130 penalty and pay your fee at  https://www.oct.ca/members/college-fees

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

TVOT Annual Meeting and Spring Banquet; Important Deadlines; Call for Nominations; Keeping Personal Notes; Happy Holidays

NEW DATE FOR TVOT ANNUAL MEETING

Save the date because this Spring's ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teachers' Annual Meeting and Spring Banquet will now be held on Tuesday, May 16th at the Lamplighter Inn in London. 

Join us after school that day for a beautiful dinner and take part in the business of the Local. Registration will open after the Easter weekend.

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Annual Request for Candidates
The TVOT Constitution states: Members shall be notified of the request for candidates at least thirty (30) days prior to the Local Annual Meeting. (Section 9.2.1)
Members at the TVOT Annual Meeting select their Local Executive each year. Why not join the Executive team and make a difference?
Dinner meetings are held once a month at the TVOT office after school.
Elections will be held May 16th at the Lamplighter Inn for the following positions: 

President: (non election year as this is a two year term) however it is a full-time position; legal spokesperson and representative of Local; Grievance Officer; liaison/ member of all committees; signing officer; attends all Provincial Rep. Councils, ETFO Annual Meeting, other ETFO meetings in Toronto (Section 7.2.1)  Candidates for this position must have a minimum of one year of Local Executive experience (Section 9.1.2)

First Vice-President: assists the President; coordinates preparation of the newsletter; attends committees (Section 7.2.2) Candidates for this position must have a minimum of one year of Local Executive experience (Section 9.1.2)

Second Vice-President: assists the President and First Vice-President and acts as liaison to the P.D. Committee (Section 7.2.3) Candidates for this position must have a minimum of one year of Local Executive experience (Section 9.1.2)

Secretary: records, prepares and circulates accurate minutes of past and present Executive and General Membership Meetings (Section 7.2.4)

Treasurer: maintains financial records; pays expenses of the Local as signing officer; drafts budget and reports to Executive and membership (Section 7.2.5)

Health and Safety Officer: acts as liaison with the Board’s Joint Health and Safety Committee, the Local Executive and general membership; conducts annual audits of schools and participates in all applicable training (Section 7.2.7)

Executive Members at Large (4): great learning opportunity with duties as determined by the Executive (Section 7.1.1 – 7.1.13)

Chief Negotiator: (no election as bargaining is in progress) however this person negotiates the Collective Agreement; maintains the Agreement and reports to membership (Section 7.2.6)

Collective Bargaining Committee (President, Chief Negotiator and 4-5 others): (no election as bargaining is in progress) however this committee surveys membership; prepares preliminary submission; negotiates Collective Agreement (Section 7.3.4)

ETFO Provincial Annual Meeting Alternates (5): pool from which delegate/alternate vacancies will be filled; Toronto Sheraton Centre, August 14-17, 2023 (all costs paid) (Section 10.1 – 10.3)

Candidate Forms will be posted on the Local website: www.etfotvot.com

The deadline for receipt of Candidate Forms is 5 PM April 26, 2023 (Section 9.2.2)

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If your teaching day hasn't gone well -

Teaching is a skill we continue to hone our entire careers and so the Local encourages members to reflect on what went well and what were the challenges, after each assignment. 
When members have faced a difficult situation at school, we suggest they create a personal document of the facts, including names and as many details and dates of conversations with students, Administration, parents etc. as possible. We stress that these are personal notes to be kept at home for reference in the unlikely event that something more comes of it. Remember to contact your TVOT Local for confidential support.
Occasional teaching allows members to see the best and the worst of the classrooms we visit - Both ends of the spectrum help us to become better Teachers.
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DOES HOME INSURANCE COVER MOULD DAMAGE?

Mould is a common enemy of Canadian homeowners. It poses a severe health risk and can significantly damage your home, making it expensive to repair. As a homeowner, understanding how to purify your indoor air and keep your family and visitors healthy is essential.

Read more at www.otip.com/article164.


The Facts About Organ and Tissue Donation:
- Every 3 days, someone in Ontario dies because they did not get a transplant in time
- One donor can save up to 8 lives through organ donation
- One donor can enhance the lives of up to 75 people through the gift of tissue
- Age does not disqualify you from becoming a donor
- Your current or past medical history does not prevent you from registering - those with serious illnesses can still be organ and/or tissue donors
- All major religions support organ and tissue donation
- Organ and tissue donation does not impact funeral arramgements
For more information visit https://beadonor.ca/
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