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.

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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.
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  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.
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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.

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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.

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:

• 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.

Dinner is provided and will be served beforehand. Please go to www.etfotvot.com to register.

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

Math/IT AQ Subsidies are back;

OTF Offers $450 Dollars for Math / IT Additional Qualifications
 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

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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.

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

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.
  

Another TVOT PD Opportunity - February 24th, 2016

Join us on Wednesday, February 24th, 2016 from 4:30 - 7:30 PM at the Best Western Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre (6675 Burtwistle Lane, London, Ontario    N6L 1H5) for one of the following workshops:

Workshop 1:  Creating Caring Classrooms:  An Arts and Literacy Approach to Address Bullying

In this interactive workshop, participants are invited to connect, react and respond to stories, information, and literature about issues and important events connected to the complex issue of bullying. Educators will be provided with resources and literacy and arts-based activities designed to help students work towards an understanding of building better relationships while examining their own beliefs and attitudes. Participants will receive a copy of The-Bully-Go-Round by Dr. Larry Swartz.

Presenter:  Dr. Larry Swartz
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.


 Workshop 2:  Achieving Balance at Work and in Life

The Challenge of trying to balance home and work life can often feel like a losing battle.  For many educators, it helps to know that they are not alone.
The primary goal of OTIP's Life Balance workshop is to assist you in re-evaluating your priorities. This workshop guides you through a series of exercises designed to assess how time is spent, determine changes that are needed to achieve and maintain balance, and set action plans to meet your personal goals. The result - a more balanced and meaningful life.

Presenter:  Robin MacDonald of the Ontario Teachers' Insurance Plan (OTIP)
Robin MacDonald is a Business Development Manager and OTIP has presented seminar and workshops to education employees for over 20 years.

Dinner will be served beforehand.

To Register, go to www.etfotvot.com.  Please select ONLY ONE workshop.
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ETFO Advisory Regarding new OCT Surveys

Members of ETFO are advised not to participate in 2 surveys from the Ontario College of Teachers/OCT currently being conducted.

Members' Survey Regarding Coroner's Jury Recommendation on Attestation

The Ontario College of Teachers has sent emails to some members with the subject line "Members' Survey Regarding Coroner's Jury Recommendation on Attestation".  The College is requesting participation in a survey related to the Coroner's Jury recommendation that the OCT consider having its members attest annually that they have reviewed materials issued by the College relating to their duty to report abuse and/or neglect of children and youth to a children's aid society or child & family services agency pursuant to the Child and Family Services Act.
Please be advised that ETFO as well as OTF and the other affiliates have already been consulted by the College on this matter, and all are in agreement that it is not within the College's mandate to have members provide an annual attestation to the College in this regard.  As such, members of ETFO are advised not to participate in this College survey.

Professionally Speaking Reader Survey

The Ontario College of Teachers has circulated an intrusive marketing-type survey that asks personal questions which are well outside the role of the OCT (e.g., vacation habits, household income, number of cars, recreational activities).
Members of ETFO are advised not to participate in this College survey.

Designated Paid PD Days; Mandate Creep of the College of Teachers;

Designated Paid PD Opportunities
As you are aware, Thames Valley is the only Board in Canada where elementary OTs are eligible for 2 full days of paid professional develpoment, which amounts to an additional 2 days of employment since these count for all purposes as time worked (Pension, EI hours, seniority etc.). One half of these days is to be reserved for members to complete mandatory online training with these details to be published in April. Under the terms of our newly ratified Local Agreement, OTs are no longer restricted to using these opportunities on PA Days and now may use days they are not working to complete online modules, self-directed, job shadowing etc. Further information about the new parameters are available in the Employee Portal > Conference / Session Registration > Elementary Occasional Teacher PD 2015 - 2016. We encourage all members to take advantage of these opportunities to enhance their professional development.

Mandate Creep of the Ontario College of Teachers / OCT
OCT is the regulatory / disciplinary body of our profession. The College is not legislated beyond this and it certainly does not represent the interests of Teachers or OTs - this is the job of the federations which include ETFO and the Ontario Teachers' Federation. Because OCT is once again feigning the ability to speak for the profession, all Teacher affiliates are advising members not to participate in the two new OCT surveys: 1) Professionally Speaking Readers' Survey, an intrusive marketing campaign on behalf of its advertisers and 2) Members' Survey Regarding Coroner's Jury Recommendation on Attestation, as OCT attempts to have members annually check off that they have read posted OCT materials.  Further information about these matters can be found on the home page of www.etfo.ca.

We look forward to seeing all registrants at the BMO Centre tomorrow afternoon for our Professional Development Event.  This event has filled up quickly and promises to be another beneficial event for our members.

New PD Day; Inclement Weather; Pay and Seniority for Partial Days; Report Cards and Professional Judgement

Newest PA Day:
TVDSB has just announced that the newly negotiated additional PD Day will take place on April 15, 2016.  LTOs will attend school and the morning will focus on Numeracy while the afternoon will be dedicated to Health and Safety.

Assignments and Inclement Weather:
Winter has finally taken hold of the region and with the onset of inclement weather comes the possibility of bus delays and school closures, though the Board has undertaken to keep sites open even if buses are cancelled this winter.
Please note that your OT Collective Agreement provides:
10.08: A Long-Term Occasional Teacher or Short-Term Occasional Teacher who is delayed by local weather conditions but arrives at school as soon as possible during the regular school hours of that day will not have a salary deduction made. "Local" means within the geographic area between the Occasional Teachers' home address and the school or worksite of said Occasional Teacher.
9.05: A Long-Term Occasional Teacher who is unavoidable absent due to a local act of nature over which no one has control may be granted up to 3 school days leave per school year with deduction of sick leave credit(s). Should the Long-Term Occasional Teacher be working less than a full day in the assignment, school day shall mean that Long-Term Occasional Teachers' work day on the day of the absence. A LTO may apply in writing to HR for an increase in the maximum allowable days under this section.
16.05: (a) The Board shall give a minimum of 2 hours notice of cancellation of any pre-arranged assignment. ... (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 requirements of 16.05 (a)
The Local reminds Occasional Teachers that no job is worth risking your safety so please exercise caution when deciding what course of action to take on such days.

Pay and Seniority for Partial Days:
Many of the Teachers we replace have partial FTE or part-time contracts. Our Collective Agreement provides OTs will not be paid for anything less than a half day but after that the assignment will be pro-rated depending on how many minutes passed 150 (which defines .5 of a day), we teach.  This same fraction is added to your accumulated experience for the OT Roster which is why there are 2 decimal places on the rankings.

Report Cards and Professional Judgement:
ETFO Provincial has issued a Bulletin reminding LTOs and Teachers to use their professional judgement when completing report cards and the negotiated expectations in this process.  This is a provision negotiated at the Central Table and we refer you to the attached document for further details -
http://www.etfo.ca/BargainingandAgreements/Documents/SpecialCBBulletin-Jan11-16.pdf