Registrations and Professional Development

Now that registration for the April 8th, Designated Paid PD event at Althouse College is up and running on-line, spots are filling quickly.  If it is your intention to attend this event as your optional Designated PA Day, it is recommended that you register sooner rather than later to avoid disappointment.  The plenary session in the morning will feature greetings from the Board,  keynote speaker Rob Nickel and a question and answer session regarding cyber-bullying.  Registration is being conducted on-line via the TVDSB Employee Portal.  Once logged in, click on "Registration Access". Scroll down to Option B - April 8th, 2011 and make your selections.  You can click on each selection for more information before signing up.  Registration will be denied to those who used their optional day to attend the January 14th, Barrie Bennett workshop at the Ed Centre.  The remaining designated PA Day is reserved for completion of the mandatory on-line training modules for which you will be paid as a day of work on June 30th. 

All three January Book Clubs have begun and are off to a great start.  Registration is closed for the Local's "Evening with the Arts" on January 27, 2011 at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn. Participants are in for an informative and fun evening. For those who are registered and need to cancel, please advise our office by e-mail at tvotpd@gmail.com.  There are other members on a waiting list who would like to participate and a meal would not go to waste.

On another note, 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.

   

Find the Treasure - Read Your Agreement

Historically, unions came about as workers banded together to achieve a common goal: an improvement in working conditions and salary.  Like-minded members selected leaders and through them, their union bargained with the employer on behalf of all members.  This included the negotiation of wages and benefits, the rules governing hiring, firing and promotion of workers, the process for resolving differences, matters of workplace safety etc.  As they were at the onset of unionism, these  negotiated agreements are binding on all members and on the employer.
Let me highlight here, a few provisions  that you should know. Note that these are found within the first 4 pages of your Collective Agreement - there are 33 pages in total:

• The Board or school/work site Administrator shall notify the member of his or her right to Union representation.  The Union shall be present at any meeting that may result in the discipline of a member. 
• A Short-Term or Long-Term Occasional Teacher hired to replace an absent Teacher, properly subject qualified for such position, will not be replaced by another Occasional Teacher other than mutual agreement of the Occasional Teacher and the Board.
• An Occasional Teacher must be a member in good standing of the Ontario College of Teachers to be eligible for inclusion on the OT List.
• An Occasional Teacher shall notify the Human Resource Services Department in writing, of any changes to name, address and/or phone number ...
• For the purpose of probation only, a half day equals one full day recognizing that the maximum credit shall be one full day.

Remember that the onus is on you to know your Agreement.  Ignorance of the terms is not an excuse backed by arbitration.

CALLING ALL NEW OCCASIONAL TEACHERS!

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).



 






  

www.etfo.ca - A Valuable Resource

Our Provincial ETFO website holds a vast treasure of resources to assist members and prevent professional difficulties as we face a daily work environment characterized by ever-increasing levels of complexity and challenge.  The Advice for Members section helps to prevent situations that could threaten an individual member's career or the status of our profession. ETFO regularly issues Advisories to Members on various issues of concern, giving direction on government and agency initiatives.  PRS Matters Bulletins are written by our own Protective Services staff and are designed to keep members informed on a variety of important legal and professional issues.  Topics include:  Duty to Report (CAS), Dangers of Electronic Communication, Defamatory Websites and Social Networks, Dealing with Conflict, Employment Insurance etc.
The etfo.ca website is an invaluable resource and should be referred to from time to time to keep abreast of up to date and relevant matters.
On a Local note, don't wait too long before registering for the January 27th, PD event "An Evening with the Arts" at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn.  Participants will enjoy dinner and door prizes with workshops focusing on either the Visual Arts- with Polly Stringle from Althouse or Dance and the new Dance Assessment and Evaluation document.  Due to the nature of these workshops, each session must be limited to 35 participants.  Register by e-mail to:  tvotpd@gmail by noon, January 24, 2011.  Confirmation will be sent by return email.
Also, Back by Popular Demand - Three ETFO Occasional Teacher Book Clubs.  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.  Priority will be given to those who have not previously participated in a TVOT Book Club.
Registration: tvotpd@gmail by January 7, 2011 - Confirmation by return e-mail.  A light dinner will be provided.

Christmas Holiday Pay and more Snow Day Information

The incredible amount of snow we've experienced this fall has wreaked havoc with transportation in the London area and especially in the counties.  It has prompted many questions with respect to the rules regarding what takes place when there are bus delays and/or cancellations when the OT has managed to get themselves to the school. What happens if they get to the school and there aren't any students to teach due to bus cancellations and delays?

The rules are:
Bus delays: OTs go to the assignment and will be paid (regardless of whether the school is 100% bussed)
Bus delays that later become cancellations: you are expected to arrive at the assignment and will be paid (regardless of whether it is 100% bussed)
Bus cancellations at a 100% bussed school: the school will be closed, your assignment is cancelled and you will not be paid
Bus cancellation at all other schools: OTs are expected to arrive at the assignment and will be paid

There are several sources to learn about bus cancellations and school closures:  listen to the radio, visit radio websites and of course the TVDSB website. The most accurate information regarding which schools are closed is found on the Board's homepage.  This information is posted daily and updated throughout the day.  It is the source you should refer to first.

Another frequently asked question is in regards to pay over the Christmas Holidays for LTOs.  If you refer to your pocket calendar, you'll notice there are no teaching days listed for the January 14th deposit date. Be assured that as an LTO, you get the same annual pay as a permanent teacher with the same grid placement, however, your pay is divided into the 194 teachings days as per diem salary.  In other words, permanent teachers have to wait 12 months to receive their full salary while as an LTO, you will receive yours 2 weeks after your last teaching day.

N.B. This is our final Wednesday BLOG for the 2010 calendar year.  The BLOG will not be posted over the Christmas Break.
See you on January 5th, 2011 . 
Happy Holidays to everyone!  

Regarding Snow Days.....

LTOs will be paid for the snow days but according to the Collective Agreement: Article 16.05 b)   In the event of inclement weather, Occasional Teachers will receive information on the status of school closures or delays in openings by the normal Board communication process.  Notice of closure due to inclement weather will be deemed to meet the minimum notice requirement of Article 16.05 (a).
The "normal" communication process includes the radio and the TVDSB web page, so in this case those notices were sufficient to meet the provisions of the Agreement.
On another note, having 3 unscheduled days off can be either rewarding with time off for oneself or unnerving with the winter break quickly approaching.  Teachers and students alike must now scramble to make up for lost time.  Do so with ease and thought for the students - we're all in the same boat.

Reap the Benefits of Giving

Our Fall General Meeting on November 24th last, was a very well attended event whereby attendees were able to mingle amongst their peers in the beautiful setting of Sunningdale Golf Club. Over 150 guests attended the meeting, heard speakers who motivated, encouraged and inspired us and enjoyed a delicious dinner. Attendees were asked to bring donations to Merrymount's Family Support and Crisis Centre which has children up to age 12 years of age in it's Overnight Care Program - our members did not disappoint!  Merrymount's Executive Director - Ailene Wittstein, was in attendance and was overwhelmed by the number of donations brought in for Merrymount.  These were delivered to Merrymount the following morning because there were too many to fit in Ms. Wittstein's vehicle.  The staff and children were overcome with excitement.  Here comes the good part folks:  the following day, one of our members was teaching and after the last bell of the day had rung, a little girl came running back into the classroom  looking for the new hat that she had just received from Merrymount- she did not want to leave it behind!  Now doesn't that make you feel great?
We would like to thank those of you who advised our office of any cancellations.  This allowed  members who were on a waiting list to attend.  This consideration not only allows other members to participate, but of equal importance, does not waste your membership dues as the cost of these events is determined by the number of meals we advise the host venue we will require - your consideration in this respect is most appreciated.