Win $100 participate in Local Member Survey

     

                                           
   

Deadline is just days away!
Three members who complete the Local survey will win $100 gift cards to use as they please.
Go to this link for your chance to win!
                 



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Central Bargaining Survey

Since our Collective Agreement expires as of August 31, 2019, ETFO Provincial has contracted a research firm called Strategic Communications Inc. (Stratcom) to assist us in determining your bargaining priorities. Here are the ways you may be contacted by Stratcom to participate in the central surveying process starting next week:

• Online Survey Email - On November 5 or shortly after, members will receive an email entitled ETFO All Member 2019 Central Goal Setting Online Survey, with a personalized unique link to participate in an online central bargaining survey. Please watch for that link. The survey will be open until November 21.

• Telephone Survey - From November 7 to 21, a Stratcom interviewer will telephone a randomly selected group of ETFO members to participate in the bargaining survey over the phone. Members who have already completed the online version of the survey will not be able to participate in the phone survey. This will ensure ETFO receives input from as many members as possible.

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Still spots for Oct. 30th PD Event, Membership Survey and....

For Members only  -  Night of Craft, Care and Camaraderie
There are still spots available to attend our Night of Craft, Care and Camaraderie PD Event taking place next Tuesday, October 30th, from 4:30 - 7:30 pm at the BMO Centre, 295 Rectory Street in London.  We'll enjoy a warm meal together before breaking out to our selected workshops. Which are:
1) Self-Care as a Practice....Because You Are Worth It!
2) Crock A Doodle Paint Night!
3) Fused Glass Workshop

Please go to www.etfotvot.com to register but act quickly as we need to provide numbers for our meals by Friday, Oct. 26th.  We ask that you advise us if you cannot attend so that we may cancel your meal.
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Win One of Three $100 Gift Cards! 
Our Collective Agreement is set to expire the end of August. In preparation for this next round, our Collective Bargaining Committee would like to hear from the membership regarding your concerns. As an incentive to complete and submit the survey, the Local will draw for three $100 gift cards from those who participate. If a member wishes to be eligible for these draws, they must include their TVDSB employee number to allow the Local to identify the winners.

Here is the link to the CB Survey -
http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AYAMY7A                       Survey Closes November 15, 2018 
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It's Easy to Be in the Know:
Subscribe to Provincial ETFO's Award-winning E-Newsletter
Get all the latest news from ETFO by subscribing to this newsletter which comes right to your email account. This latest edition lets members know about:

• Three Steps to English Proficiency (STEPs) webcasts which provides Teachers with a tool to track their ELL students at the same time as they do their planning. Visit -http://etfo.ca/SupportingMembers/Resources/Pages/stepwebcasts.aspx

• Three ways for members to support the "15 and Fairness" campaign -                     http://etfo.ca/DrivingLabourAction/ETFO TakesAction/Pages/15andFairness.aspx

• How Teachers can have a say in the government consultations, now underway - https://www.buildingbetterschools.ca/consultations  

Subscribe now at - https://www.buildingbetterschools.ca/consultations

Tips for a Successful Daily Assignment: #1, ETFO 1-day workshop (Nov. 26) and OCT. 30th TVOT PD Event

Why is a positive classroom environment so important for an occasional  teacher to establish?

Students become comfortable with established routines and the familiarity of their own classroom teacher. The absence of their regular teacher can disrupt everything to which the students are accustomed. This is especially evident when the arrival of an occasional teacher is unexpected. Students need to feel welcome and comfortable in their own classroom and to have as much continuity as possible in their everyday activities.

How do I create a positive learning environment and establish a respectful relationship with the class?

Successful occasional teachers have compiled the following tips for creating a positive learning environment:

• Greet students at the door.
• Smile.
• Introduce yourself.
• Tell the students something about yourself.
• Explain why you are there.
• Allow students an opportunity to introduce themselves or each other.
• Allow students to take ownership of their classroom by asking them to explain the established rules and routines.
• Try to adhere to these rules and routines as closely as possible.
• If a temporary rule or routine is required provide the students with a reason for its need; record it on the board as a reminder.
• Treat each student with respect and dignity; it will be returned to you.
• Call each student by name (use name tags or cards).
• Be an active, attentive listener.
• Be fair and consistent.
• Maintain a confident composure.
• Encourage appropriate behaviour by acknowledging it.
• Do an icebreaker activity.

To be continued next week.
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ETFO invites 60 women members to register for a one-day workshop on November 26 that will take members through play-based activities from the First Nations, Metis and Inuit Education Resource: Engaging Learners Through Play while engaging in learning and dialogue about Indigenous worldviews, treaties, residential schools and leadership. Release time, travel, double accommodation (as required), dependent care and meals will be provided to members who are traveling from greater distances outside the GTA. There is a $25 registration fee. The deadline to apply is October 29, 2018 at 5:00 p.m. For more information or to apply, please visit the ETFO Events Management System at https://events.etfo.org/upcoming-events/ .

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Save the date for our upcoming PD Event scheduled for October 30th at the BMO Centre from 4:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.  An email will be sent to all members with accounts on the ETFO-TVOT website advising when registration will be open and a description of the 3 workshops being offered.
To create your account if you haven't already got one, go to: www.etfotvot.com and go to
 "Create and Account".  We remind you to please use your personal email address when creating your account as it is inappropriate to use the Board's email system for Union business nor is it private.

TVDSB Trustee Elections; Advice for Members re: Fall Reporting Processes from ETFO-Provincial; It's in the Mail - Columbia Invitation

Municipal Election Day is Monday, October 22, 2018
Aside from selecting Mayors and Councillors, October 22nd is the day when voters chose those who will represent their interests as school board Trustees.  Trustees are responsible for setting the direction of the school board, allocating funds and implementing provincial policies.

The Thames Valley Union Council, comprised of CUPE 4222, CUPE 7575, ETFO Thames Valley Teachers' Local, ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teachers' Local and the bargaining units of OSSTF District 11, met recently to review those candidates running for Trustees of the Thames Valley District School Board.
As a result of these deliberations, Union Council has agreed to ask our members to consider supporting the following Trustee candidates (two Trustees to be elected per ward):

Wards 1, 11, 12, 14:  Sheri Polhill and Amanda Stratton
Wards 2, 3, 4, 5, 6:  Leroy Osbourne and Corrinne Rahman
Wards 7, 8, 9, 10, 13: Joyce Bennett
Middlesex County: Sean Hunt and Arlene Morell
Oxford County: Bill McKinnon
Elgin County:  Peter Rochus and Bruce Smith

The term of office for a school board Trustee runs from December 1, 2018 until November 14, 2022. N.B. Regardless of your riding, election for Trustees is not by ranked ballot.
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From ETFO Provincial, Members will now be focused on completing the Progress Report for Grades 1 - 8 and the Kindergarten Communication of Learning: Initial Observations. It will be important to remind them of the areas where they may exercise the their professional judgement during the process. Feel free to review the following links:

Grades 1 to 8
http://etfo.ca/SupportingMembers/Professionals/PJdocs/PJM-PRC.pdf

Kindergarten
http://www.etfo.ca/SupportingMembers/Professionsla/PJdocs/PJM-KFC.pdf
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It's in the Mail
This year's pocket calendar is in the mail along with our Fall ETFOTVOT newsletter.   Check out all the important news for members and look for your latest invitation to the Columbia Employee Outlet Store which will welcome our members from October 12 to November 4. 
Finally, please take a few minutes to visit the link and complete our membership survey - we want to know what is important to our members and look forward to your comments and questions.
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But We Missed You ...
Thank you to all who attended our first PD for the 2018-2019 school year at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn yesterday afternoon. Once again, the venue, delicious meal and beneficial workshops offered by wonderful presenters was very well received.
Save the date for our next PD event scheduled to take place on October 30, 2018 from 4:30 - 7:30 PM at the BMO Centre, 295 Rectory Street in London.
Stay tuned for the workshops being offered and notification when registration will open on the ETFO-TVOT website.
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ETFO-TVOT PD Event Oct. 9th and Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource

Registration is open for our first PD Event of the school year, taking place at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road south in London, on October 9th from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm.
The following 3 workshops are available to participate in. Choose one only please. :

1) More than Roadside Assistance; this workshop offers the unique opportunity to hear about the services and supports your Local provides to you.  Learn more about your rights and responsibilities as an elementary Occasional Teacher in Thames Valley. Come with any questions - Terry Card, President TVOT Local will be presenting this timely and relevant workshop. Participants will receive a copy of the Collective Agreement.

2) Flourish with French; this new and exciting workshop will debut a new curriculum resource published by Thames Valley Occasional Teachers' Local designed specifically for Occasional Teachers who are not qualified in FSL but who wish to expand and enhance their teaching opportunities by accepting short-term assignments in FSL. Participants will receive a complimentary copy of the Flourish with French resource. 



3) Your First LTO: From Surviving to Thriving! This popular workshop offers structure and direction in developing an effective program so you can survive challenges and thrive in your school community.

A lovely free dinner is included for ETFO-TVOT members.
Registration at:  www.etfotvot.com under "Member Services"
Don't forget to SAVE your Registration.
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New Online Resource From Provincial ETFO:




On the eve of Mental Illness Awareness Week (Oct 1-7) ETFO is announcing the release of a free, online resource for educators called Everyday Mental Health Classroom Resource. The resource can be accessed at: smh-assist.ca/emhc  .

This resource has been co-developed by School Mental Health ASSIST and ETFO over the past two years.
It has been designed to provide K - 8 educators with evidence-based strategies to help develop the social and emotional learning skills of students in the following areas:

 - Stress Management and Coping Skills;
 - Emotion Identification Skills;
 - Positive Motivation Skills;
 - Relationship Skills;
 - Self Confidence and Identity Skills; and
 - Executive Functioning Skills.

These activities were informed by ETFO members and field tested by ETFO members. In addition ETFO members were involved in a research project to determine the efficacy of the activities.

If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Baldree at nbaldree@etfo.org.
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Strong Public Education, OCT Information, Teachers and Copyright:Fair Dealing Decision Tool

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On a biweekly basis, Human Resources facilitates a transfer of data with Ontario College of Teachers to ensure that we have the most up-to-date qualifications listed for Occasional Teachers. The data exchange includes a teacher's OCT number, date of birth and name.

If there is a mismatch of data, the records do not update. Human Resources finds that the greatest mismatch of data stems from the name field. If you have a different name with OCT than with TVDSB, your qualifications will not update within the process.

If you have a name change and to ensure that your qualifications are reflecting as you apply to assignments through Job Applications, please be sure to update your name so there is a match with OCT and TVDSB. Within Thames Valley, your name can be changed through Personal Information in the Employee Portal.
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The Fair Dealing Decision Tool helps teachers decide whether "fair dealing" permits classroom use of print materials, artistic works, or audiovisual materials without first getting copyright permission. The tool helps teachers determine whether a specific intended classroom use is allowed by the Fair Dealing Guidelines (/fdg/default.aspx).

Teachers! Thinking of using a copyright-protected work? Use this tool to find out if the use is allowed under fair dealing.

Please click on the following link for assistance:  http://www.fairdealingdecisiontool.ca/DecisionTool/

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Salary; Self-Directed Paid PD; TVARRIS calling; Pregnancy Leave; 20th Anniversary

Salary as TVOT
Just a reminder that the first pay of the year is September 28th for days worked from the 2nd to the 15th of the month.  Your pay statement will be available on the Employee Portal and note that it is shown on 2 lines. For a daily OT the first line is $226.37 and the second line adds 4% vacation pay for a daily rate of $235.42. This is pro-rated if the assignment is less than half a day, but there is nothing less than .5.
LTOs need to submit their QECO rating and proof of any previous teaching experience (prior to TVDSB) to Corissa Parker in HR to ensure accurate placement on the salary grid.
Self-Directed Paid PD
Registration to attend the Board's upcoming Paid PD sessions of the year are almost full, however, in the Conference Session Registration of the Employee Portal, there is a choice under Elementary Occasional Teacher PD (2018 - 2019) called Self Directed. This option enables on Occasional Teacher to attend, with permission from the Principal, the day or half day of professional development that is being offered to permanent Teachers at the school.
Please note that LTOs or part-time permanent Teaches who are in assignments of greater than .5 are not eligible to participate in paid PD, since they are already being paid for PD days.
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TVARRIS Calls and Comments
Sometimes the call-out systems calls to cancel an assignment so you are reminded to answer when the system calls because such a call counts as due notice so long as it is sent out with a minimum of 2 hours before the assignment.
Make sure your school selections and timetable are up to date and please block off those days when you are not interested/available to teach.  There is no penalty for "booking off" so long as you meet the 10 days of teaching required to remain on the OT Roster.
And just to be sure you don't forget a previously booked assignment, we advise you regularly review your assignments in TVARRIS.
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Pregnancy Leave
Whether you are in a long-term assignment or a long-term assignment, TVOTs are to request their leave from the Board using the form in the Employee Portal - Electronic Forms "Application for Pregnancy Parental Adoption Leave - ETFOOT".
Remember that our Collective Agreement provides in L36.11 (b) that when you return you are eligible to have your seniority adjusted based on the average number of days worked per year since your date of hire.
To find out more about the Employment Insurance aspect of such leaves you can check out ETFO Provincial's:

http://etfo.ca/supportingmembers/employees/pages/pregnancyparental.aspx

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Want to learn more about the organization 

founded to represent you 20 years ago this year? 

Check out your history: