TVOT elections; new Ministry resources; new ETFO resources

 

Nominations close on May 11, 2022

Just a reminder to TVOT members that  members at the TVOT Spring Annual Banquet and Meeting on May 31, 2022 will select next year's Local Executive.  The Executive meets monthly at a dinner meeting and here is some more information about these elected positions - 

President - two year term, 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 (Local Constitution 7.2.1)  Candidates for President must have a minimum of one year of Local Executive experience (Local Constitution 9.1.2)

First Vice-President - assists the President; coordinates preparation of the newsletter; attends committees (Local Constitution 7.2.2)

Second Vice-President - assists the President and First Vice-President and acts as liaison to the P.D. Committee (Local Constitution 7.2.3)

Secretary – records, prepares and circulates accurate minutes of past and present Executive and General Membership Meetings (Local Constitution 7.2.4)

Treasurer - maintains financial records; pays expenses of the Local as signing officer; drafts budget and reports to Executive and membership (Local Constitution 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 (Local Constitution 7.2.7)

Executive Members at Large (4) - great learning opportunity with duties as determined by the Executive (Local Constitution 7.1.1 – 7.1.13)

Chief Negotiator - negotiates the Collective Agreement; maintains the Agreement and reports to membership (Local Constitution 7.2.6)

Collective Bargaining Committee (President, Chief Negotiator and 4-5 others) - surveys membership; prepares preliminary submission; negotiates Collective Agreement (Local Constitution 7.3.4)

ETFO Provincial Annual Meeting Alternates (5) – pool from which delegate vacancies will be filled; Toronto Westin Harbour Castle, August 15-18, 2022 (all costs paid) (Local Constitution 10.1 - 10.3)

 Elections held May 31, 2022 at the Lamplighter Inn 

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

The deadline for receipt of Candidate Forms is 5 PM May 11, 2022 (Local Constitution 9.2.2)

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Effective Early Reading Instruction: A Teacher's Guide

The Ontario Ministry of Education has released a new resource that: "provides educators wth information on foundational early reading skills, an understanding of how these skills develop in young chldren, and classroom-ready strategies to effectively teach decoding skills. This includes systematic and explicit instruction of phonological and phonemic awareness, phonics, and word-reading skills to support students in becoming fluent readers with strong language and reading comprehension."

Click Effective Early Reading Instruction: A Teacher's Guide to access this guide.

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May is Jewish Heritage Month 

"Addressing Antisemitism and Holocaust Education: An Annotated Bibliography of e-Resources" captures and highlights organizations with materials supporting schools, communities and workspaces on combatting antisemitism and addressing Holocaust education. 

To view this new ETFO resource and other grade-specific classroom resources, click on ETFO antisemitism resources.

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May is Asian Heritge Month

It is important to recognize that Asian Canadian history is part of Canadian history. Asian migrants and Asian Canadians have faced discrimination, exploitation and danger in many of our workplaces. Even today, many Asian communities experience racism and discrimination on individual and institutional levels. 

To download supporting curriculum and classroom resources that focus on Asian heritage, click on ETFO Asian herigate resources.

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National Day of Mourning

April 28th is the traditional day for Canadians to remember those who have lost their lives or been injured at work or who have experienced a tragedy related to their job.

We all have a role to play in ensuring that our workplaces are safe and healthy. We all have a duty to speak up about unsafe working conditions!

OCT Fees; Retirement Workshops; New Kindergarten resource; Mandatory training; Article L18.03

 

OCT Fees Due in ONE Week!

Just a reminder that there is only one week left for Teachers/Occasional Teachers to pay their annual fee of $170 to OCT (Ontario College of Teachers).

Those in a LTO or permanent contract at the beginning of 2022 likely had this fee deducted by TVDSB as verified on your pay stub.

Daily OTs however, must pay the OCT fee themselves and the College must receive this payment no later than April 25, 2022. OTs who do not pay this fee are removed from the OT List and will lose their "Good standing" on the OCT website.  For more information click on OCT Fees .

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I'm moving: 

What should I do about my home insurance policy?

Take a look at the moving and home insurance frequently asked questions inside so that you can look forward to making memories in your new home, confident that you have the coverage you need.

Read more at www.otip.com/article140.

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NEW - Eligible for $60 TVOT Resource Rebate 

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Mandatory On-line Training Modules

A reminder to all Occasional Teachers/LTOs that TVDSB will soon post the annual mandatory training modules which must be completed before June 30, 2022 in order to remain on the List.  

Daily OTs will receive a half-day of pay from their paid PD allowance for completing these. 

LTOs must also submit these though they will have completed many of the modules at staff meetings.  

N.B. Retirees must reserve a half-day of their allotment for this purpose.  

Once the modules are posted, members will be able to access them via the Employee Portal.  Do not forget to click on "Submit" after each module. When you log back into the Portal, check to see that the checkmark is still there so that you are sure your completion has been received.  

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Highlighting Article L18.03

L18.03 (a) Unless hired for a long-term occasional assignment in accordance with the provisions of Article L14, an Occasional Teacher shall not be assigned supervisory duties prior to the commencement of class on the first morning of an assignment or prior to the commencement of the afternoon class on the first day if it is a half-day afternoon assignment.

(b) Where an Occasional Teacher is hired for a vacancy for preparation time coverage, IPRC coverage, etc., that Occasional Teacher shall be assigned no more than one supervisory duty.

(c) If the assignment is for the Occasional Teacher to provide preparation time payback in full day assignment, then that Occasional Teacher shall be provided with a minimum of forty (40) minutes preparation time at the beginning of the assignment.

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Breaking News re OT Prep Payback; Your Local Executive Elections; ETFO position on masks; Day of Pink

 

Compensation 

for Lost Prep Periods

The ETFOTVOT Local is pleased to inform members that we have signed a Letter of Understanding with TVDSB that will provide compensation to daily OTs and LTOs who have lost their prep periods. 

The Letter of Understanding states:

"WHEREAS the Collective Agreement Article L18.02 states “the timetable for an Occasional Teacher shall be the same as the timetable of the Teacher being replaced except as set forth in Articles L18.03 and L18.05”;

And WHEREAS it is understood that this would be inclusive of any preparation time as assigned to the Teacher being replaced; 

And WHEREAS the parties agree that for the 2021- 2022 school year, every effort will continue to be made to provide prep coverage in the course of the short-term and long-term assignments of an Occasional Teacher;

THEREFORE in recognition of the unprecedented staffing demands:

i)   Teachers who are not able to receive their preparation payback period in the course of their assignment will be entitled to monetary compensation in lieu of.

ii)  Eligibility for daily Occasional Teachers will be for missed prep coverage from December 2021 onwards.

iii)  Payment will be processed following the completion of the school year in a lump sum based on a calculation of missed prep minutes calculated into an FTE increment and paid at the daily rate for OT assignments, and the LTO rate as applicable for Teachers in a long-term assignment.    

iv)  Individuals currently holding a LTO assignment as of the signed date of this letter will be entitled to payback for missed prep in their current LTO assignment rectroactively to the date that the current LTO assignment began. 

This agreement has been made without precedent or prejudice."

TVOT members are encouraged therefore, to track instances when they have lost their assigned prep periods. Information on how to submit claims will be posted on your TVDSB Outlook account, within the next few weeks.

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You Have Something to

Contribute!

Considered running for a position on the ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teachers’ Executive?

Members at the TVOT Spring Annual Banquet and Meeting select their Local Executive each year.  

Why not join your Executive team and find out what is going on – you can make a difference!

Dinner meetings for the Executive are held once a month after school at our TVOT Office in London.

ABOUT TVOT ELECTED POSITIONS

President - two year term, 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 (Local Constitution 7.2.1)  Candidates for President must have a minimum of one year of Local Executive experience (Local Constitution 9.1.2)

First Vice-President - assists the President; coordinates preparation of the newsletter; attends committees (Local Constitution 7.2.2)

Second Vice-President - assists the President and First Vice-President and acts as liaison to the P.D. Committee (Local Constitution 7.2.3)

Secretary – records, prepares and circulates accurate minutes of past and present Executive and General Membership Meetings (Local Constitution 7.2.4)

Treasurer - maintains financial records; pays expenses of the Local as signing officer; drafts budget and reports to Executive and membership (Local Constitution 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 (Local Constitution 7.2.7)

Executive Members at Large (4) - great learning opportunity with duties as determined by the Executive (Local Constitution 7.1.1 – 7.1.13)

Chief Negotiator - negotiates the Collective Agreement; maintains the Agreement and reports to membership (Local Constitution 7.2.6)

Collective Bargaining Committee (President, Chief Negotiator and 4-5 others) - surveys membership; prepares preliminary submission; negotiates Collective Agreement (Local Constitution 7.3.4)

ETFO Provincial Annual Meeting Alternates (5) – pool from which delegate vacancies will be filled; Toronto Westin Harbour Castle, August 15-18, 2022 (all costs paid) (Local Constitution 10.1 - 10.3)

 Elections held May 31, 2022 at the Lamplighter Inn 

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

The deadline for receipt of Candidate Forms is 5 PM May 11, 2022 (Local Constitution 9.2.2)

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Spring is in the air – Road trip!

Ontario is a big province with lots to offer—from beautiful nature scenes to bustling city centres. Check out these Ontario road trip ideas that guarantee fun for all ages.

Read more at www.otip.com/article141.

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ETFO Provincial 

All-Member Survey Deadline

Just to remind members that the ETFO Provincial All-Member Survey closes April 14th so you may want to take 5 minutes and participate for your chance to win one of 10 iPad Minis.

For more information contact Member Records at Provincial ETFO.

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Today is the International Day of Pink - 

A reminder to each of us of the ongoing need to stand up to bullying and take action to create a more diverse and inclusive society!

Pay if sick with Covid; The winners are; Spring General Meeting and Banquet

Covid Is Still Here

- Just a reminder that daily OTs, have access to the province's Paid Infectious Disease Emergency Leave /PIDEL if they have had to cancel a job in TVARRIS

- If a daily OT has contracted Covid at school, then they can apply for pay based on the average number of days that they have worked as set out in Covid Protocol 2A Staff Absence Coding, bullet 2.5: 

 2.5. Staff impacted by a school exposure to COVID-19 and required to quarantine/selfisolate will be paid quarantine leave for the duration of the leave. Those in an LTO/LTA will continue to be paid based on their LTO/LTA. Temporary and Occasional employees that are required to quarantine/self-isolate as a direct result of a school exposure will be paid the average hours, they have worked over the previous 4 weeks during the

isolation period.

- LTOs have access to paid Quarantine Leave as set out in the Board's same Covid Protocol, 2A Staff Absence Coding.

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We Have Winners!

The TVOT Local is pleased to announce the five winners randomly drawn from the hundreds who participated in last month's Membership Survey. 

These lucky TVOT members each won $100:

- Erin Damm

- Linda Lewis

- Lisa Phillips

- Sarah Quartel

- Patricia Roberston

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- There is no penalty for booking off on TVARRIS so please make sure to make yourself "Unavailable" even for 1 day so that the system can operate most efficiently.

- Rumour has it that there is a flood of Teacher candidates on temporary certificates, teaching as elementary OTs in TVDSB. The fact is that there are fewer than 30 people in this category. Currently we have more than 1800 members, however we are unable to fill all the Teachers absences each month so there is plenty of work for everyone.

- TVDSB will allow OTs to access their paid PD days to complete OCT's Sexual Abuse Prevention Program / SAPP. Log into the Employee Portal > Conference Session Registrations to see how you can be compensated for this half-day as part of your paid PD alottment. This is retroactive for those who have already done the program. Members in LTOs next September will have an opportunity to complete SAPP on the PD Day at the start of school and daily OTs who still need to do SAPP, will have the first couple of weeks in September to follow the process above and submit a claim for a half-day.

- TVOT members are eligible for a Retention Stipend of up to $450 if they take daily assignments at certain schools/specific days. For more information check out our Wednesday Blog of March 9th!

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Tuesday, May 31st, 4:30pm 

ETFO TVOT Spring General Meeting 

Banquet and Elections

How wonderful it will be to come together again in person and spend time with other Occasional Teacher colleagues! Being an OT is very isolating - we only belong to a school on a temporary basis and we seldom get to compare notes with other OTs so take this opportunity to mingle with your peers.

Registration details will follow but please set aside this date and plan to join us for a lovely dinner (at no cost) with time to socialize before the business of the Local commences. The Lamplighter is a lovely facility and we always enjoy their large meeting spaces and wonderful meals. 

Elections will be held that evening for all positions so you may want to consider being a part of this progressive team.

Meetings are held monthly after school at our office with a dinner provided. 

Have a say in the business of the Local that determines your working conditions - Run for office!

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Will a Speed Camera Ticket make my insurance rate go up?

You arrive home after a long day of work and check your mailbox. Inside, you find a ticket from a speed camera with a photo of your vehicle driving above the posted limit. Let’s address some commonly asked questions about speed camera tickets.

Read more at www.otip.com/article142.

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The Draw is Friday; Workplace Violence Survey; Donations during Ukraine Crisis

On Friday -

Five lucky TVOT members will each win $100 each for completing the Local's Membership Survey which guides us on how best to serve your needs.

Take a few minutes and click TVOT Membership Survey for your chance to win!

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TVDSB's Workplace Violence Survey - 

Register for Edvantage, your Exclusive Savings Program! Stay up to date with exclusive discounts, new contests, partners and more! https://bit.ly/3JzDnMX #OTIPUpdate

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- Your Columbia Sportswear Outlet Store invitation expires on April 10th (see Blog of March 9th)

- TVDSB will allow daily OTs and those in LTOs of .5 or less, to use a half-day of the paid PD entitlement, to complete OCT's Sexual Abuse Prevention Programme (Blog of March 23rd)

- Every TVOT member can apply for the Local's "$60 Resource Rebate" to purchase items relevant to their elementary assignments, such as: books for classroom or AQ support, Teachers Pay Teachers resources; manipulatives etc. Application forms are available to those registered on the ETFOTVOT website and the deadline to apply is May 31, 2022.

- If you have been a TVOT member for one year, you can apply for our $400 Professional Learning Development Fund (PLDF) for AQ courses or other professional conferences. Applications must be received in advance of the course to ensure that funds are still available and the forms are available to those registered on the ETFOTVOT website

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ETFO provincial, locals donate $100,000 to Canadian Red Cross- Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal

March 11, 2002

TORONTO, ON - The Elementary Teachers' Federation of Ontario (ETFO) donated $100,000 to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal. This amount represents provincial and local donations. The ETFO Executive appreciates the support and generosity of its locals in response to humanitarian needs generated by the crisis in Ukraine..."Money raised through the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal will be used to respond to humanitarian needs generated by almost eight years of conflict, as well as preparedness and response efforts due to heightened tensions in Ukraine. The support could include preparedness, immediate and ongoing efforts, long-term recovery, resiliency, and other critical humanitarian activities as needs arise, both in the Ukraine and surrounding countries, including supporting populations displaced."

 

 

8 Days until the Draw; Payment to complete OCT Sex Abuse training; Did you Know?

$100 Gift Cards for 5 Members of TVOT

These are great odds!  

Your ETFO TVOT Local is holding a random draw from those members who complete our Membership Survey.

Five lucky members will each win a $100 gift card so please take a few moments to participate. 

The survey closes at the end of the month  with the winners to be announced on Monday, April 4/22.

Help us to serve your needs. 

Click on TVOT Membership Survey or access the survey with this QR code.

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OCT and the Sexual Abuse Prevention Program (SAPP)

OCT has been clear that they want all Teachers/Occasional Teachers to complete OCT's Sexual Abuse Prevention Program/SAPP. To that end, TVDSB will accept completion of SAPP as eligible for a half-day of the four half-days of paid PD OTs can access each school year. (Reminder that retirees must reserve one half-day in June for completion of the mandatory online modules that will be posted in a month or so.)  

To request payment, log into the Employee Portal >  Conference Session Registration > Elementary Occasional Teacher PD 2021-2022 and register for the OCT Abuse Prevention Program. Once you have finished, submit the online reflection form to Staff Development along with a screen shot of the accreditation noted on your OCT. This will confirm your successful completion. Members who have already completed SAPP and have not used all of their paid PD, can follow the same steps and will be eligible for the half-day of pay. Those who still have not competed SAPP by next school year can use a half-day from the 2022 -2023 allotment and the Board will accept their completion for the first few weeks of September. NB: Those who are in LTOs next September can complete the program on the first PD  Day at their schools. 

ETFO Provincial assures the Local that government officials have reiterated that completion is not mandatory for those who were certified before January 2022 however the OCT website will reflect that this training is "incomplete" for members who chose not to participate.

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Does my car insurance policy cover rental cars?

You’ve got the keys to your new rental car and are excited to put it in gear to officially mark the start of your vacation. But before you drive off into the sunset, ensure you have the coverage you need. We’ll walk you through each insurance option to help you find the coverage that’s right for you and your next trip.

Read more at https://otip.com/article137.

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1) OTs who accept a prep payback assignment shall be assigned no more than 1 supervisory duty AND shall have a 40 minute prep period at the beginning of the assignment to prepare. (NB: only for full day assignments) L18.03 of Collective Agreement

2) TVOT members only need to teach 10 full days to remain on the TVDSB elementary OT List however, Teachers' Pension Plan requires more than 10 days of teaching for it to count towards your pension retirement factor.  Nobody wants to have to stay an additional year at the end of their career for the sake of one day they could have put in at the start.

3) By law, Teachers/OTs must be present at least 15 minutes before the commencement of classes in the morning, and at least 5 minutes before the commencement of classes in the afternoon.

4) If there is an absent EA or ECE at the school, an Occasional Teacher may be asked to step in however we will only act as an additional Teacher in the classroom.

5) The TVOT Local is in discussion with the Board regarding compensation for OTs being asked to give up their prep periods because there is nobody to available to provide coverage so please continue to track each occurrence and we will notify members when we come to an agreement.

6) The "Quarantine" code is still available for LTOs who fail the Covid screening or who are experiencing Covid symptoms or who test positive for the virus.

7) Neither permanent Teachers or LTOs are paid for statutory holidays as we are exempt from that part of the Employment Standards Act. Our rights have been achieved from negotiated agreements Employment Standards Act - Professionals  NB> LTOs receive 4% vacation pay and are paid the same as a permanent Teacher with similar previous teaching experience and QECO Rating so be sure to submit these to HR no later than the end of July. 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, check our recent blogs to find out about::

• The $450 daily Occasional Teacher retention stipend
• Columbia Sportswear Outlet Store invitation
• TVDSB's $650 Math AQ subsidy
• The TVOT $60 Resource Rebate
• The TVOT $400 Professional Learning Development Fund 
• Y@home
• TVDSB's Employee Assistance Program

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BIG NEWS - $450 Bonus Pay! Columbia Outlet Invitation; Win $100; New LTOs with benefits; New Paid PD

BONUS PAY of up to $450! 

Your TVOT Local is pleased to announce that we have signed a Letter of Understanding with TVDSB that will provide daily Occasional Teachers with a stipend of up to $450 for daily OTs who meet the following teaching requirements before June 30/22:

CONDITION	BONUS PAYABLE
Thirty-five (35) daily occasional assignments or more from March 21st , 2022 to June 30th, 2022 with a minimum of two (2) days worked in each month.	$250 less statutory deductions
Twelve (12) daily occasional assignments or more on a Friday or a Monday from March 21st, 2022 to June 30th, 2022. **  Thursday April 14th, Tuesday April 19th, Tuesday May 24th and Thursday June 3rd will be considered for this condition	$100 less statutory deductions
Twelve (12) daily occasional assignments or more worked at a rural school location (please see the attached schedule for identified rural school locations).	$100 less statutory deductions

It is noted that in order for the above conditions to be met, the assignment must be actively worked. Participation in paid PD is not considered a day worked for the purposes of this letter of understanding.

Should a daily occasional teacher meet more than one condition as outlined above, they would be eligible to receive both bonuses for a combined total of no more than $450 less statutory deductions.

For this purpose, these are the schools in a rural location:

A. J. Baker PS                          Adelaide - W.G. MacDonald PS

Aldborough PS                         Annandale Public School

Blenheim District PS                Caradoc North PS

Caradoc PS                              Centennial Central PS

Davenport PS                           Delaware Central PS

Dunwich-Dutton PS                   East Williams Memorial PS

Ekcoe Central PS                      Emily Stowe PS

Hickson Central PS                   Innerkip Central PS

Kettle Creek PS                         Mary Wright PS

McGillivray Central PS               McGregor PS

Mosa Central PS                        New Sarum PS

Northdale Central PS                 Oxbow PS

Parkhill-West Williams PS          Parkview PS

Plattsville & District PS               Port Burwell PS

Port Stanley PS                          River Heights PS

South Dorchester PS                  South Ridge PS 

Southwold PS                             Sparta PS            

Springfield PS                             Straffordville PS 

Summers' Corners PS                Tavistock PS                        

Thamesford PS                          Valleyview Central PS         

West Elgin Sr PS                        West Nissouri PS                 

Westfield PS                               Westminster Central PS      

Wilberforce PS                            Zorra Highland Park PS

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Win $100 

Five Lucky Participants will each win $100 for taking a couple of minutes to complete the TVOT Membership Survey.  Members have until the end of March to participate and winners will be drawn randomly so help us address your needs and click on TVOT Survey . The odds are good that it could be  your lucky day!

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Unfortunately - Not All Members Are Registered 

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Now Hiring -  Additonal TVDSB Itinerant LTO Positions, with Benefits

TVDSB is hiring 17 additional Itinerant LTOs to help alleviate the fail to fill crisis being experienced in the elementary panel. Those who are successful will qualify for access to benefits as these assignments meet the criteria of being longer than 90 calendar days in length.

To find out more about the benefit plan click on ETFO Employee Life and Health Trust/ELHT Benefits

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Before, during, and after: driving through a Canadian blizzard

There’s no denying that Canadian winters are beautiful. But when you have to get in your car and hit the road, that picturesque snow globe we call home can start to look a little less sparkly. Take some practical precautions before, during, and after each winter drive or road trip to make sure you (and your vehicle) arrive safe and sound.

Read more at https://otip.com/article139.

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Additional Paid PD Sessions

Check out the TVDSB Employee Portal under "Conference/Session Registrations" for 2 new paid PD options now available:  

1) Developing Foundational Numeracy in the Primary Division: Monday, March 28/22

2) Developing Foundational Numeracy in the Junior Division: Tuesday, March 29/22

Along with the sessions listed that can be completed anytime before June 30th, these 2 new sessions count towards the 4 half-days of paid PD that are open to daily OTs and those in LTOs of .5 or less. (Remember to reserve 1 half-day for the mandatory training that will be posted this spring.

                        You can Earn While You Learn!

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Take a Deep Breath - 

You Deserve It!

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Please note that your TVOT Local Office 

and the Wednesday Blog will be 

enjoying the holidays next week too.

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