Join us after school on March 31st from 4:30 - 7:30 PM at the Lamplighter Inn for an informative workshop and dinner. Choose one of the following workshops being offered:
Workshop #1: LGBTQ Inclusive School Place Starts Here
While many ETFO members strive to make schools safe for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) students, it is equally important to ensure that workplaces are safe for Federation members. This workshop introduces ETFO's new "Inclusive School Place Starts Here" video and accompanying resource guide with professional development learning modules to assist us in challenging homophobia, heterosexism, transphobia and addressing issues of discrimination, harassment and stigmatization. Presenter: Alan Heatherington
Workshop #2: Math as a Vehicle for Social Justice and Equity in the 21st Century
Equity and mathematics? Integrating the values of citizenship and character building into our lessons can be a challenge, even for the seasoned educator! Join us for a night of mathematics and learn how you can use math concepts to develop a dialogue of social justice in your long-term and daily occasional assignments! Presenter: Vera Teschow
Workshop #3: Deconstructing Stereotypes of Aboriginal People
As a school board serving three First Nations communities, it is important for TVDSB Occasional Teachers to have the knowledge needed to confront negative attitudes toward First Nation, Metis and Inuit peoples and to honour their rich histories, languages and cultures. This engaging workshop from ETFO Provincial will explore issues related to Aboriginal people, the influence and impacts of media and the role they can play in deconstructing stereotypes. Presenter: Sheila Maracle
Register at www.etfotvot.com.
New: Opportunities for Paid Professional Development in Partnership with TVDSB
As a result of the recently negotiated Central Agreement, the Board has set aside April 15th as an additional PD Day in Thames Valley.
Your OT Local has negotiated to offer several workshops at the BMO Centre that day and the Board will pay our members who attend a half-day of salary per session for those who participate. (NB. the Math workshop is a full-day session and participants will be paid to attend the full day.) OTs must still reserve .5 of a day for paid online mandatory training, with modules to be posted by the Board after April first.
Registration will be made available on the TVDSB Employee Portal and the courses will be:
- Power 2B Me (intermediate nutrition) with a capacity for 35 participants in the morning
- Power to Explore (junior level cross-curricular health) with capacity for 35 participants in the afternoon who did not attend the morning session of Power 2B Me
- Making Math Happen! Practical Strategies and Activities for Daily OTs with a capacity of 30; this is a full day workshop
- Welcoming Refugee Children and Their Families into our Schools with a maximum capacity of 60; this session will be offered in the morning and for other registrants, in the afternoon
For a full explanation of these sessions, please check the TVDSB Employee Portal. We will also offer more details in next week's Blog.
ETFO THAMES VALLEY OCCASIONAL TEACHERS' LOCAL
Wednesday, March 23, 2016
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Teachers' Pension video series for those planning to retire; PD at OTF; OCT Fees
Video Series for members considering Retirement:
OTF Learning Opportunities:
Aside from the modules selected by TVDSB to be eligible for paid professional development, the Ontario Teachers' Federation offers a wealth of training opportunities, resources and support to members. To find out more please visit -http://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/learning/
Ontario College of Teachers' Fees:
Just a reminder that Occasional Teachers who were in a TVDSB long-term assignment on the first teaching day of January 2016 will note on their pay stub for that period, that the Board deducted $150 to cover OCT fees for this year. All other OTs must pay their fees by April 15, 2016 in order to remain on the OT Roster. online payment can be made by credit card at www.oct.ca and please note that there is an penalty of $130 for late payments.
_________________________________________________________
We look forward to hosting over 100 members at our PD Event at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn this afternoon.
Stay tuned for our next PD Opportunity on March 31, 2016.
__________________________________________________________
Please be advised that your Local ETFO-TVOT office will be closed during March Break.
Should you require immediate URGENT attention, please contact Provincial ETFO at 1-888-838-3836/www.etfo.ca.
Wishing everyone a restful and safe March Break!
OTF Learning Opportunities:
Aside from the modules selected by TVDSB to be eligible for paid professional development, the Ontario Teachers' Federation offers a wealth of training opportunities, resources and support to members. To find out more please visit -http://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/learning/
Ontario College of Teachers' Fees:
Just a reminder that Occasional Teachers who were in a TVDSB long-term assignment on the first teaching day of January 2016 will note on their pay stub for that period, that the Board deducted $150 to cover OCT fees for this year. All other OTs must pay their fees by April 15, 2016 in order to remain on the OT Roster. online payment can be made by credit card at www.oct.ca and please note that there is an penalty of $130 for late payments.
_________________________________________________________
We look forward to hosting over 100 members at our PD Event at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn this afternoon.
Stay tuned for our next PD Opportunity on March 31, 2016.
__________________________________________________________
Please be advised that your Local ETFO-TVOT office will be closed during March Break.
Should you require immediate URGENT attention, please contact Provincial ETFO at 1-888-838-3836/www.etfo.ca.
Wishing everyone a restful and safe March Break!
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Wonderful PD and Comments
Thank you to those members who braved the stormy weather one week ago to attend Creating Caring Classrooms : An Arts and Literacy Approach to Address Bullying, presented by Dr. Larry Swartz at the Stoneridge Inn.
The roaring fireplace and delicious dinner awaiting those in attendance made up for the outside wind, rain & snow squalls. Dr. Larry Swartz, presented an "amazing" workshop confirmed by participant feedback.
We wanted to share the following comments from our office:
Work has indeed picked up these last few weeks and the Board is again beginning to experience unfilled daily jobs. Remember that you can accept a job that has already begun and you will be paid for the full assignment as posted. Just notify the school that you have picked up the call, are on your way and that you will arrive shortly.
Please spread the word that it is to an OTs advantage to teach more than 10 days each school year. As Occasional Teachers, we all contribute to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and every year in which an OT teaches more than 10 days count towards the retirement factor of 85 that you need to retire with an unreduced pension. Just so you know, the 85 factor is determined by adding your age plus the number of pensionable years you have taught. For example someone who is 55 would have had to teach for 30 years to retire at full pension. It might not be an important consideration as you start your career but losing these years of service could have costly ramifications when it comes time to think about your retirement options.
Mandatory online training modules (for a half-day of pay) to be posted after April 1st. This will count as time worked for all purposes including the required 5 full days of elementary teaching needed to remain on the Roster.
______________________________________________________________________________
Space is filling quickly for our upcoming PD Event on March 9th at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road South, in London from 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM.
Register at www.etfotvot.com for ONE workshop only please.
The roaring fireplace and delicious dinner awaiting those in attendance made up for the outside wind, rain & snow squalls. Dr. Larry Swartz, presented an "amazing" workshop confirmed by participant feedback.
We wanted to share the following comments from our office:
Work has indeed picked up these last few weeks and the Board is again beginning to experience unfilled daily jobs. Remember that you can accept a job that has already begun and you will be paid for the full assignment as posted. Just notify the school that you have picked up the call, are on your way and that you will arrive shortly.
Please spread the word that it is to an OTs advantage to teach more than 10 days each school year. As Occasional Teachers, we all contribute to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan and every year in which an OT teaches more than 10 days count towards the retirement factor of 85 that you need to retire with an unreduced pension. Just so you know, the 85 factor is determined by adding your age plus the number of pensionable years you have taught. For example someone who is 55 would have had to teach for 30 years to retire at full pension. It might not be an important consideration as you start your career but losing these years of service could have costly ramifications when it comes time to think about your retirement options.
Mandatory online training modules (for a half-day of pay) to be posted after April 1st. This will count as time worked for all purposes including the required 5 full days of elementary teaching needed to remain on the Roster.
______________________________________________________________________________
Space is filling quickly for our upcoming PD Event on March 9th at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road South, in London from 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM.
Register at www.etfotvot.com for ONE workshop only please.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
March 9th Professional Development Event
Join us Wednesday, March 9, 2016 at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn & Conference Centre, 591 Wellington Road South in London, from 4:30 - 7:30 PM. The following workshops are being offered:
Workshop 1: Applied Interviewing Skills Presenter: Sylvia van Campen
Workshop 2: Applied Classroom Management Presenter: Connie Zoet
Workshop 3: Voice Care Presenter: Lori Holmes
Please go to www.etfotvot.com for more details and to register. Spots are limited.
______________________________________________________________
We look forward to hosting over 70 registrants this afternoon to hear renowned literacy Instructor Dr. Larry Swartz speak on Creating Caring Classrooms: An Arts and Literacy Approach to Address Bullying at the Stoneridge Inn and Conference Centre, 6675 Burtwistle Lane in London from 4:30 - 7:30 PM. Dinner will be provided.
_______________________________________________________________
Two Important Reminders:
1) Applications to the LTO List will close on February 29th. Anyone who is not on the LTO List but wishes to be, must apply via the TVDSB Employee Portal, even those from the OT Roster who are currently in long-term assignments. Those on the LTO List need not re-apply.
2) OTF is offering subsidies of up to $450 for Math and Information Technology AQ courses successfully completed after February 1, 2016. For details, go to AQ!/ABQ Subsidies.
________________________________________________________________
April 15th Paid PD Offerings at BMO Centre (count as time worked for all purposes):
- Full day Math for 30 participants and ETFO Provincial will sponsor lunch;
- Two half-day sessions to provide an awareness of teaching students who have come as refugees - To date, TVDSB has accepted the most refugee students of any school Board in Ontario at 308 and the Peel Board is second with 169 students.
-Possibility of half-day session on Nutrition.
________________________________________________________________
The Local is still collecting names of school where the office will not hand out keys without the OT exchanging their personal keys. Please let us know whenever this happens because HR does not believe in this practice. And please, please make sure to return school keys at the end of the day because the Board uses these instances in their argument against providing keys to all Occasional Teachers.
Workshop 1: Applied Interviewing Skills Presenter: Sylvia van Campen
Workshop 2: Applied Classroom Management Presenter: Connie Zoet
Workshop 3: Voice Care Presenter: Lori Holmes
Please go to www.etfotvot.com for more details and to register. Spots are limited.
______________________________________________________________
We look forward to hosting over 70 registrants this afternoon to hear renowned literacy Instructor Dr. Larry Swartz speak on Creating Caring Classrooms: An Arts and Literacy Approach to Address Bullying at the Stoneridge Inn and Conference Centre, 6675 Burtwistle Lane in London from 4:30 - 7:30 PM. Dinner will be provided.
_______________________________________________________________
Two Important Reminders:
1) Applications to the LTO List will close on February 29th. Anyone who is not on the LTO List but wishes to be, must apply via the TVDSB Employee Portal, even those from the OT Roster who are currently in long-term assignments. Those on the LTO List need not re-apply.
2) OTF is offering subsidies of up to $450 for Math and Information Technology AQ courses successfully completed after February 1, 2016. For details, go to AQ!/ABQ Subsidies.
________________________________________________________________
April 15th Paid PD Offerings at BMO Centre (count as time worked for all purposes):
- Full day Math for 30 participants and ETFO Provincial will sponsor lunch;
- Two half-day sessions to provide an awareness of teaching students who have come as refugees - To date, TVDSB has accepted the most refugee students of any school Board in Ontario at 308 and the Peel Board is second with 169 students.
-Possibility of half-day session on Nutrition.
________________________________________________________________
The Local is still collecting names of school where the office will not hand out keys without the OT exchanging their personal keys. Please let us know whenever this happens because HR does not believe in this practice. And please, please make sure to return school keys at the end of the day because the Board uses these instances in their argument against providing keys to all Occasional Teachers.
Wednesday, February 17, 2016
PD Event on February 24th with Dr. Larry Swartz; Teach more than 10 days; Two Reminders
There are just a handful of spots left before registration closes for our upcoming Professional Development: Creating Caring Classrooms: An Arts and Literacy Approach to Address Bullying next Wednesday, February 24th, from 4:30 - 7:30 PM at the Stoneridge Inn and Conference Centre (6675 Burtwistle Lane, London, ON N6L 1H5).
We are very excited to be able to offer this workshop with Dr. Larry Swartz. Participants will receive his book along with literacy and arts-based activities designed to help students work towards an understanding of building better relationships while examining their own beliefs and attitudes. Dr. Larry Swartz has been an instructor in literacy as well as dramatic arts at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto for 18 years. He has been an educator for 4 decades and is well-known for his use of children's literature to help young people grow as readers, writers and citizens of the world. As a classroom teacher, consultant, author and speaker, Larry has shared his enthusiasm and expertise with teachers, administrators, teacher-librarians and parents throughout Canada, the United States and Asia. He is the author of several teacher resource publications including:
Teach More than 10 days a year:
Did you know that Occasional Teachers contribute to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan? Each year an OT teaches more than 10 days, counts as a pensionable year, a year of service toward your retirement factor. The retirement factor (85) is determined by adding your age plus the number of years of pensionable teaching which means someone who is 55 and has taught 30 years has reached their 85 factor and is eligible for an unreduced Teachers' pension.
It is never to early to consider your pension so as not to miss opportunities. For more information please visit Your Life with Teachers' - Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Two Reminders:
1) Applications to the LTO List will close on February 29th. Anyone who is not on the LTO List but wishes to be, must apply via the TVDSB Employee Portal, even those from the OT Roster who are currently in long-term assignments. Those on the LTO List need not re-apply.
2) OTF is offering subsidies of up to $450 for Math and Information Technology AQ courses successfully completed after February 1, 2016. For details, go to AQ/ABQ Subsidies
We are very excited to be able to offer this workshop with Dr. Larry Swartz. Participants will receive his book along with literacy and arts-based activities designed to help students work towards an understanding of building better relationships while examining their own beliefs and attitudes. Dr. Larry Swartz has been an instructor in literacy as well as dramatic arts at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, University of Toronto for 18 years. He has been an educator for 4 decades and is well-known for his use of children's literature to help young people grow as readers, writers and citizens of the world. As a classroom teacher, consultant, author and speaker, Larry has shared his enthusiasm and expertise with teachers, administrators, teacher-librarians and parents throughout Canada, the United States and Asia. He is the author of several teacher resource publications including:
- Dramathemes (4th edition),
- Caring Classrooms (with Kathleen Gould Lundy),
- This is a Great Book! (with Shelley Stagg Peterson),
- The Bully-Go-Round: Literacy and arts strategies for promoting bully awareness in the classroom.
Teach More than 10 days a year:
Did you know that Occasional Teachers contribute to the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan? Each year an OT teaches more than 10 days, counts as a pensionable year, a year of service toward your retirement factor. The retirement factor (85) is determined by adding your age plus the number of years of pensionable teaching which means someone who is 55 and has taught 30 years has reached their 85 factor and is eligible for an unreduced Teachers' pension.
It is never to early to consider your pension so as not to miss opportunities. For more information please visit Your Life with Teachers' - Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan
Two Reminders:
1) Applications to the LTO List will close on February 29th. Anyone who is not on the LTO List but wishes to be, must apply via the TVDSB Employee Portal, even those from the OT Roster who are currently in long-term assignments. Those on the LTO List need not re-apply.
2) OTF is offering subsidies of up to $450 for Math and Information Technology AQ courses successfully completed after February 1, 2016. For details, go to AQ/ABQ Subsidies
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Math/IT AQ Subsidies are back;
Through the Ontario Teachers' Federation, the Ministry of Education is offering subsidies of up to $450 to Teachers/OTs who complete Math or Information Technology Additional Qualification courses. This applies to courses successfully completed on or after February 1, 2016.
Eligible courses include Math, Primary and Junior: Part 1, Part 2, and/or Specialist; Math - Intermediate, Senior; Math Gr. 7&8; Math - Honours Specialist and any undergraduate course which is a prerequisite to the above AQ courses.
Integration of Information and Computer Technology in Instruction: Part 1, Part 2 and/or Specialist as well as Teaching and Learning through e-Learning, are the eligible for subsidy IT courses. Check out the following link for more information on the programme.
http://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2016/02/FAQs.pdf
______________________________________________________________________
Places are filling quickly for our upcoming Professional Development on February 24th at the Lamplighter, Stoneridge Inn from 4:30 PM - 7:30 PM.
Avoid disappointment and choose from one of the following workshops:
1) Creating Caring Classrooms: An Arts and Literacy Approach to Address Bullying or
2) Achieving Balance at Work and in Life
A light dinner will be served beforehand.
Registration for this event can be found at www.etfotvot.com under Local PD Events.
Avoid disappointment and choose from one of the following workshops:
1) Creating Caring Classrooms: An Arts and Literacy Approach to Address Bullying or
2) Achieving Balance at Work and in Life
A light dinner will be served beforehand.
Registration for this event can be found at www.etfotvot.com under Local PD Events.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
Annual LTO List Applications, PD in Toronto, Building Better Schools
Interest in the LTO List Survey
If you are not already on the TVDSB LTO List but are interested in being interviewed, you have until February 29th to apply. Log into the Employee Portal and click on the new "LTO Elementary" under Personal Information and follow the steps. By logging back into the site, you can verify that you have completed your application.
ETFO Provincial PD Opportunities
Did you know that both Daily and Long-Term Occasional Teachers are eligible to attend ETFO Provincial's conferences and PD sessions? Though these are offered in Toronto, your travel costs (Via Rail business is most convenient), shared-room accommodation, resource, dependent care and meal costs are covered by a small registration fee, usually around $50. If the session takes place on a school day, ETFO Provincial will pay release costs: for a LTO that is the cost of the OT who takes over or for a Daily OT, this means they will pay your daily rate to attend. Check www.etfo.ca on a frequent basis to see what is being offered for your personal self-directed professional development.
Ontario College of Teachers' Survey
ETFO members are reminded not to participate in the current OCT Surveys. The College is not the advocate of the profession - that is legal the role of the federations. OCT is the legal regulatory and disciplinary agency of the profession. For details about these surveys and our position please see http://www.etfo.ca/adviceformembers/octsurveys/pages/default.aspx
If you are not already on the TVDSB LTO List but are interested in being interviewed, you have until February 29th to apply. Log into the Employee Portal and click on the new "LTO Elementary" under Personal Information and follow the steps. By logging back into the site, you can verify that you have completed your application.
ETFO Provincial PD Opportunities
Did you know that both Daily and Long-Term Occasional Teachers are eligible to attend ETFO Provincial's conferences and PD sessions? Though these are offered in Toronto, your travel costs (Via Rail business is most convenient), shared-room accommodation, resource, dependent care and meal costs are covered by a small registration fee, usually around $50. If the session takes place on a school day, ETFO Provincial will pay release costs: for a LTO that is the cost of the OT who takes over or for a Daily OT, this means they will pay your daily rate to attend. Check www.etfo.ca on a frequent basis to see what is being offered for your personal self-directed professional development.
Ontario College of Teachers' Survey
ETFO members are reminded not to participate in the current OCT Surveys. The College is not the advocate of the profession - that is legal the role of the federations. OCT is the legal regulatory and disciplinary agency of the profession. For details about these surveys and our position please see http://www.etfo.ca/adviceformembers/octsurveys/pages/default.aspx
Building Better Schools
We believe that ensuring more one-one-time with our students can make a huge difference to their educational environment and to their learning success. If you are looking for shareable facts to support ETFO's push for better schools, we encourage you help spread the word. Find out how by visiting http://buildingbetterschools.ca/
Registration is filling up quickly for our upcoming PD event on Wednesday, February 24th, 4:30 - 7:30 PM at the Best Western Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre (6675 Burtwistle Lane, London, N6L 1H5). Avoid disappointment as spots are limited. Please choose one workshop to participate in at www.etfotvot.com.
We believe that ensuring more one-one-time with our students can make a huge difference to their educational environment and to their learning success. If you are looking for shareable facts to support ETFO's push for better schools, we encourage you help spread the word. Find out how by visiting http://buildingbetterschools.ca/
Registration is filling up quickly for our upcoming PD event on Wednesday, February 24th, 4:30 - 7:30 PM at the Best Western Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre (6675 Burtwistle Lane, London, N6L 1H5). Avoid disappointment as spots are limited. Please choose one workshop to participate in at www.etfotvot.com.
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