About Smaller Class Sizes; Two Important Meetings; More Red 4 Ed Shirts - All Sizes; Deadline to Submit Nominations; $75 Resource Rebate

 

It's All About  -

The impact has been extensively studied:

- A 2021 Canadian review of international research concluded: "In general, research suggests that students in classes in the early grades benefit greatly from enrollment in classes with fewer than 20 students... Teachers in smaller classes report greater engagement with learning activities and better relations with students and parents, as well as spending less time on administrative and disciplinary processes."

- A 2018 California study (the largest in U.S. history since the late 1990's) found that smaller class sizes in public schools reduced private school attendance... which in turn, benefited the quality and funding of public education.

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Two important upcoming meetings for TVOT members. Register now at 519-641-3936 or mail@etfotvot.com. 

 TVOT Spring Annual Meeting and Elections Banquet 

Lamplighter Inn on May 21/26 

$15 gas money and free buffet dinner to registrants who attend!

Win one of three $100 gift cards!

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ETFO Provincial All-Member Meeting

 Hellenic Centre on May 19/26

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Thursday, April 30/26 at is the last day to submit a candidate form for the upcoming 2026 TVOT Local Executive.  Candidate Forms are posted on the Local website: www.etfotvot.com

The deadline for receipt of Candidate Forms is 5 PM April 30, 2026.

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$75 Resource Rebate Deadline - TVOT members have until May 31st to submit their $75 Resource Rebate claims.  Resource Rebate forms are available to all members who have registered on our Local website www.etfotvot.com.

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More Free Red for Ed T-Shirts

The response has been terrific from both the Teacher and Occasional Teachers' Locals. If you want to wear a "Red for Education" on Mondays alongside the permanent Teachers of Thames Valley, please let us know because we have just received our second shipment and all sizes are currently available. 

The T-shirts are 100% cotton and unisex. 

If you are interested in receiving a shirt, please contact us at mail@etfotvot.com and indicate your preference as sizes range from S - 4XL.

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ETFO Resources to support Asian Heritage Month - https://www.etfo.ca/socialjusticeunion/anti-asian-racism/may-asian-and-south-asian-heritage-month

ETFO Resources to Support Jewish Heritage Month - https://www.etfo.ca/news-publications/publications/jewish-heritage-month-poster and https://www.etfo.ca/calendar/jewish-heritage-month 

Two Important Meetings and Registration; Province Red 4 Ed Day of Action; Police Record Checks; Checklist for Student Safety Plans;

 

Two Important Meetings -  

Register now at mail@etfotvot.com or 519-641-3936

1) ETFO Provincial's All-Member Meeting on May 19, 2026 

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2) Your TVOT Local Spring Annual Meeting on May 21, 2026

It's the Province Wide Day of Action - 

Wear your Red 4 Ed t-shirt on Wednesday, April 29th

To support central bargaining, ETFO Provincial is organizing a province-wide Day of Action. This event is a joint effort with the four other education unions in Ontario: AEFO, OECTA, vOSBCU-CUPE, and OSSTF.

Mark your calendar for Wednesday, April 29, and get ready to take action!

By coming together, as educators and education workers across Ontario, we are signalling that we are united and serious about protecting the future of public education in the 2026 central bargaining.

Here is how you can support the plan in three simple steps:

1. Wear Red for Ed: On April 29, please wear red clothing. To learn why education unions wear red, read the Red for Ed background. (Log in to members.etfo.ca and visit

https://members.etfo.ca/etfo/stewards/stewards-resources/tools)

NOTE: Elementary and secondary educators will wear red, and CUPE education workers will wear purple.

2. Button Up! Show your support for our bargaining campaign by wearing the ETFO smaller classes BIG DIFFERENCE button or sticker. Your steward has one for every member. Ask your steward about the plan and the group photo for the Day of Action.

NOTE: For the biggest impact, please wait until the Day of Action to display your button or sticker. After April 29, keep wearing it when you are out in the community. Buttons are great conversation starters!

3. Help spread the word widely and amplify the action. If you are at a school on the Day of Action, join the group photo. Photos can include ETFO members and/or members from CUPE, OECTA, and OSSTF. Share this action with your network by posting on social media with the photo or your own message. Be sure to include the hashtags #OntEdUnited and #BigDifference.

To help you share on social media, ETFO Provincial has made four images with messages. These images, sized for Facebook/Instagram and X, are available on member.etfo.ca. Once logged in, go to https://members.etfo.ca/etfo/stewards/stewards-resources/social-media and look for “Day of Action Poster.”

 

With your support and participation, this Day of Action will send a strong, visible

message to the government that we are mobilizing for central bargaining!

There is still time to get your t-shirt. Call the TVOT Office at 519-641-3936 or email us at mail@etfotvot.com

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Provincial ETFO is asking members to participate in a province-wide campaign calling for greater investment in our public schools. Since 2018, the Ford government has cut $6.35 billion from public education, resulting in a dramatic reduction of student supports, increased violence, larger class sizes and heavier workloads. Postcards will be available next week from ETFO Stewards and ETFO Local Offices.

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Provincial ETFO invites parents and the community to help support Ontario students by distributing this postcard which asks for a personal commitment.  Leave a personal message explaining why an increase in funding for public education is vital. Together we can make a difference! Postcards will be available next week from ETFO Stewards and ETFO Local Offices.

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About Student Safety Plans - 

 

Navigating life’s unexpected changes: is your financial safety net ready?

Life has a way of throwing curveballs when we least expect them. Whether it’s the uncertainty of a new bargaining cycle, an unexpected medical leave, or the personal impact of a divorce or job loss, these moments are stressful enough on their own. They shouldn’t have to break the bank, too.

The best time to build a safety net is before you need it. Here are 2 ways to start today:

· Register for our next “Ready for Anything” webinar on April 28^th from 4:30 pm – 5:45 pm. Learn actionable tips to help you prepare financially and personally for events like strike action, disability, or other major life changes: https://bit.ly/4bXOJug

·  Book a complimentary consultation with an Educators financial advisor to get personalized advice and a plan tailored to your goals: https://bit.ly/4c35aGH

 

P.S. Want a chance to win one of ten $50 gift cards? Take a couple minutes to complete our Spring Survey: https://bit.ly/4bUYc5c. Your input will help us tailor our products and services to better support you in reaching your financial goals.

 

Brought to you by Educators Financial Group. Bringing peace of mind to members of the education community and their families for over 50 years. Book your complimentary consultation today: https://bit.ly/4c35aGH.

Register now for April 24 full day Paid PD at the Lamplighter; OCT Fees due Today! Retirees and Mandatory Training; ETFO All-Member Meeting Registration; About Elected Positions on TVOT Executive;

 

April 24th Paid PD at the Lamplighter: You Got This! Classroom Management for the Daily Occasional Teacher (Repeat) -  If you didn't get in the first time, here is our very popular full-day workshop addressing the daily challenges OTs face when managing students, time, curriculum and resources. Learn strategies to motivate and engage students at all levels. To register and find out more, log into the TVDSB Employee Portal.  Lunch is included and participation counts for all purposes as a day of teaching.

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Teachers including all TVOT members must pay their annual $200 OCT (Ontario College of Teachers) fee today in order to be in good standing and remain eligible to teach in Ontario. This is a mandatory condition of employment with no grace period as fees are actually due in January.  Fees can be paid online  at https://sc.oct.ca/eservices/home/amf.aspx

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Retirees and Mandatory Training - Retired Teachers can no longer back date their mandatory training as this does not meet the restrictions of the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP). This means those retirees who will have used their 50 days before June but want to remain on the OTE list in September, will have to complete the mandatory online training during the summer months, after the deadline and without payment. ________________ 

Registration for ETFO's Spring AQ Courses has been extended until Monday, April 20th at 1 PM to allow additional time for members to consider their needs and secure a spot. Remember that your TVOT Local offers a subsidy through our Professional Learning Development Fund (PLDF) to cover the registration costs of AQ courses offered by ETFO to those members who have been with us for a full year and who are registered at www.etfotvot.com .  

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WANT TO LEARN ABOUT TVOT ELECTED POSITIONS? 

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

It is the members at the TVOT Spring Annual Meeting who select their Local Executive.  

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

Meetings are held one afternoon a month at our TVOT Office (release time provided).

 

Elections to be held May 21, 2026 at the Lamplighter Inn for the following 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 two (2) years Local Executive experience Local Constitution 9.1.2

First Vice-President – two-year term; assists the President; coordinates preparation of the newsletter; attends committees Local Constitution 7.2.2 Candidates for President must have a minimum of two (2) year of Local Executive experience Local Constitution 9.1.2

Second Vice-President – two-year term; assists the President and First Vice-President and acts as liaison to the P.D. Committee Local Constitution 7.2.3 Candidates for President must have a minimum of two (2) year of Local Executive experience Local Constitution 9.1.2

Secretary – two-year term; records, prepares and circulates accurate minutes of past and present Executive and General Membership Meetings Local Constitution 7.2.4

Treasurer – two-year term;  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 – two-year term; 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

ETFO Provincial Annual Meeting Alternates (5) – pool from which delegate vacancies will be filled; Toronto Westin Harbour Castle, August 17-20, 2026 (all costs paid) Local Constitution 10.1 – 10.3

 

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

The deadline for receipt of Candidate Forms is 5 PM April 30, 2026 Local Constitution 9.2.2

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Red 4 Ed Shirt delivery to St. Thomas; Correction to last week's Blog; ETFO AQ Courses; OCT Fees due by next week; Mandatory Training Modules

 

TVOT members living in St. Thomas, can pick up a Red for Ed t-shirt on Thursday, April 9th between 3:45 - 5:00 PM at the CASO Railway Station, 750 Talbot Street in St. Thomas. We are working on our second order as more than 1,000 Red 4 Ed t-shirts have been distributed to the Thames Valley membership by our Local and by the permanent Teachers' Local. Wear yours on Mondays at school, and definitely on the April 29th Day of Action. For those members not in St. Thomas, please order one at our OT Office: mail@etfotvot.com or 519-641-3936 and let us know your size (S - 4X). 

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We made a mistake.

For those members who are considering running for Local President or Vice President positions, the TVOT Constitution clearly states that "For the position of President, First Vice President, and Second Vice President, candidates must have a minimum of two (2) years of Local Executive experience." Article IX - Elections, 9.1.2

Elections will be held at the TVOT Spring Annual Meeting on May 21, 2026 at the Lamplighter Inn.

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If you have been a TVOT member for 12 months, you can apply for the Local's Professional Learning Development Fund (PLDF) and have your ETFO AQ course paid for by the Local. Course registration closed April 14/26. Here is the link to the courses being offered this spring https://etfo-aq.ca/catalogue/ 

PLDF Applications can be found in the Member's section of the TVOT website www.etfotvot.com

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OCT annual fees must be paid by April 15th in order to remain on the OT List. The penalty for late payment is $130 in addition to the $200 OCT fee. The onus to pay is on the Occasional Teacher so here is OCT's link https://www.oct.ca/members/college-fees

Only those in a long-term assignment in January will have their fees deducted from their pay, and this will is recorded on the LTO's TVDSB paystub.

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The Mandatory Training Modules for elementary Occasional Teachers, will be posted on April 13th in the TVDSB Employee Portal under "Employee Training".  Once there, scroll down to "2025 - 2026 OTE Required Training" and complete the following modules by 4 PM on June 26th for a half-day of salary to be paid on July 12/26.  The location code "HR 1" in your TVARRIS calendar verifies that you will be paid, so do not edit that entry.

If these modules are not completed by the deadline, then they must be completed without payment in order to be remain on the OTE List for September, 2026.

Below are the mandatory modules for this school year -

TVOT Elections for Local Executive; How to Find the TVDSB Reflection Survey for paid PD; Mandatory OCT Fees due April 15th; OTF Webinars

It's an Election Year for the TVOT Executive!

Have you considered running for a position on the ETFO Thames Valley Occasional Teachers’ Executive? Members select their Local Executive each year at our TVOT Spring Annual Meeting. 

Why not join your Executive team? Find out what is going on and make a difference!

Meetings are typically held one afternoon a month at our TVOT Office with release time paid. (LTOs are released from their assignments to attend.)

Nomination Forms will be posted on our website next week. 

Elections will be held May 21, 2026 for the following TVOT Executive positions:

Looking for the TVDSB Reflection Survey? Here is the link - https://stafflearninghub.tvdsb.ca/d2l/home

Once you click on the link, log into your TVDSB Outlook account. Select "Elementary / Dual Occasional Teacher 25-26". Click on "Surveys" at the top. OTs can participate in 3 half-day paid PD sessions and must reserve a half-day for mandatory online OTE training which will be posted soon.

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OCT annual fees must be paid by April 15th in order to remain on the OT List. The penalty for late payment is $130 in addition to the $200 OCT fee. The onus to pay is on the Occasional Teacher so here is OCT's link https://www.oct.ca/members/college-fees

Only those in a long-term assignment in January will have their fees deducted from their pay, and this will is recorded on the LTO's TVDSB paystub.

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Upcoming OTF Webinars - Click here for free effective professional learning -  https://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/learning/otf-connects/webinars/

• The World with AI - Explorations through Drama - April 16/26 from 5:00 - 6:30 PM
• Diving Deeper with Google's AI Tools - April 21/26 from 4:30 - 5:45 PM
• STEM on the Land: Exploring Metis Harvesting in Grades 4-8 - April 28/26 from 4:30 - 6:00 PM

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Reminder that TVOT members have until April 12th to use their Columbia Sports Outlet store shopping invitation.  Check out last week's Wednesday Blog for invitation details.

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How technology can reduce distracted driving on our roads

Think about the last time you were in your vehicle. Did you swing by a drive-thru and eat your breakfast behind the wheel? When your phone rang, were you tempted to pick it up? How often did you reach over to change the music or adjust the temperature? Multitasking has made its way into nearly everything we do, including driving. However, multitasking behind the wheel, also known as distracted driving, can quickly turn a safe trip into a fender bender. Let’s explore some technology and tools that can help you keep your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.

Read more at www.otip.com/article203. #OTIPUpdate 

You inspire us to serve you better, at work, on the road and at home.

You dedicate your life to helping others, and we dedicate ours to protecting you with complete insurance solutions built for the education community. Get a quote or call 1-888-892-4935 and mention this offer to receive a $20 gift card!

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