Still Time to Win $100! Free Red for Ed T-Shirts; Proposed Amendments to TVOT Constitution; Rescheduled Paid PD Event

 

Only 5 minutes for a chance to win $100!

 Five lucky members who complete the TVOT Membership Survey will win a $100 gift card so take a few minutes before noon on February 17th to let us know how to best serve you. Here is the survey -  http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AYAWNEC 

Good Luck!

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They are FREE! 

Let us know if you are interested in a "Red 4 Ed"  t-shirt as you will be seeing more permanent Teachers wearing these on Mondays at school. Contact us with your size (S - 6X) at mail@etfotvot.com as the Local is ready to submit an order.

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Paid PD - Registration is open in the TVDSB Employee Portal for a few remaining spots at the paid PD event and dinner being hosted after school by the Local on February 19/26 at the BMO Centre. Details about each session can be found on the registration page of the Portal.

1) Using Abstract Art Expression to Include All Learners: An Indigenous Perspective

2) Exploring Elements of Design through Ceramic Painting

When - Thursday, February 19, 2026 (4:30 - 7:30 PM)

Where - BMO Centre, 295 Rectory Street, London (parking on site)

A buffet dinner is provided. Please direct any dietary concerns to mail@etfotvot.com

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Our TVOT Constitution requires that the Executive publish proposed amendments to the Local Constitution, at least 14 days in advance of the general meeting at which the amendments will be considered. 

Attached are the amendments (in highlights) to be be presented to members who attend our General Meeting and Dinner at the Lamplighter Inn, March 4/26 from 4:30 - 7:00 PM. 

To register, email us at mail@etfotvot.com or call 519-641-3936. 

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March Membership Meeting; Membership Survey; Red 4 Ed T-shirts; Fifth Disease; ETFO Scholarships and Bursaries

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The date is set - March 4, 2026 from 4:30pm to 7:00pm.

Join us for a March Membership Meeting and dinner at the Lamplighter Inn in London.

To register, email us at mail@etfotvot.com or call the office at 519-641-3936.

There will be door prizes and those who register and attend will receive $15 gas money. We also hope to have the Red 4 Ed t-shirts ready for distribution at the meeting.

Next week's Blog will contain the proposed constitutional amendments and menu.

We look forward to meeting you!

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You Can Win! 

Five lucky members who complete our Local's Membership Survey will each win a $100 gift card.  

The survey closes February 17/26 at noon so 

click here to participate - http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AYAWNEC

We value your input and participation!

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Free Red for Ed T-Shirts

The response has been great from both the Teacher and Occasional Teachers' Locals. If you are interested in wearing a "Red for Education" on Mondays alongside the permanent Teachers of Thames Valley, please let us know so that we can order accordingly.

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 - 6XL. 

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Are you Immune to Fifth Disease?

The TVOT Local urges members who may become pregnant to check in advance to see if they have immunity to Fifth Disease as women in the first half of their pregnancy are most vulnerable to complications if they become infected.

Schools with outbreaks should post notices at the school and on TVARRIS but the disease is contagious well before symptoms become apparent. In TVDSB, employee absences due to an outbreak of Fifth Disease are deducted from your sick leave entitlement. 

For more information about the TVDSB policy related to Fifth Disease go to http://www.tvdsb.ca/files/filesystem/FifthDiseaseIP.pdf

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ETFO Provincial's Scholarship and Bursary Programme offers financial assistance to members and non-members entering faculties of education; members studying at the graduate level and members upgrading their qualifications at publicly funded universities/institutions in Ontario. This includes bursaries for members of designated groups, including Black and Indigenous educators and bursaries for children of ETFO members.

The application deadline is April 30th. For more information and application details, click on https://www.etfo.ca/about-us/awards-scholarships/etfo-scholarships-and-bursaries

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The International Day of Pink is Wednesday, April 8/26 and this year's theme is "Solidarity in Every Shade".

ETFO Provincial is offering pink T-shirts to commemorate this day. The deadline to order is February 27/27 and here is the link https://shop.etfo.ca/collections/clothing

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For 50 years, Educators Financial Group has been offering financial planning and a wide selection of investing and lending products and services exclusively to education members and their families. It is this strong history that has enabled them to become the education community’s financial specialist — empowering educators to achieve their financial goals.

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Win $100 with the TVOT Survey; Red 4 Ed shirt? Additional Membership Meeting March 4/26; Smaller Class Size Petition;

 

You Could Win!

Your 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 minutes to help us better meet your needs. 

The survey closes February 17/26 at noon. Winners will be announced and contacted later that same day. 

Click on this link to participate - http://www.surveyshare.com/s/AYAWNEC

System only accepts one survey per member.

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Free T Shirt  - Are You Interested?

Your TVOT Local is considering purchasing these T-shirts with our logo added, for members who would like to wear "Red for Education" on Mondays alongside the permanent Teachers of Thames Valley.

These unisex shirts are 100% cotton with compacted yarn to minimize shrinkage. If you are interested in receiving a shirt, please contact us at mail@etfotvot.com and indicate your preference as sizes range from S - 6XL. We will notify members if there is enough interest to proceed with the order.

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NOTICE: 
Additional Membership Meeting and Dinner on Wednesday, March 4/26

After a detailed review of our Local's Constitution, the TVOT Executive has decided to hold an after school membership meeting on March 4, 2026 to present these amendments to the membership. 

We invite TVOT members to enjoy a lovely dinner, meet other Occasional Teachers and bring forward their concerns.

The meeting will begin at 4:30 PM at the Lamplighter Inn in London. Look for further details and notice of the amendments in our Wednesday Blog next week.

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ETFO Provincial has begun their petition campaign for smaller class sizes. ETFO Teacher stewards will have copies available at school for OTs to add their signature (Queens Park does not accept electronic petitions) so don't miss this chance to affect the change we need in our schools. 

Did you know that Clara Brenton PS has lost $3,052.56 per student in funding since 2018. That's more than a $2 million dollars no longer available to support students at Clara Brenton. To see how funding cuts have hurt the schools in TVDSB click on https://www.buildingbetterschools.ca/education_cuts_tracker

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Resource Rebates; More Paid PD; Smaller Classes BIG DIFFERENCE Petition; ETFO Women's Day T-shirts; ETFO Awards Program- Deadline; ETFO Conferences and Webinar

 

Resource Rebates - Remember that TVOT members may submit a claim for up to $75 to be used to purchase professional book(s) or resources related to their elementary professional needs. Members may submit one claim/school year using the form which is available to members who register on our Local  website www.etfotvot.com .

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More Paid PD - Were you aware that TVOT members can participate in paid PD anytime, and from anywhere? Check out what TVDSB is offering for online professional development at https://stafflearninghub.tvdsb.ca/d2l/home/13821 and follow the directions so that you are paid on completion of the module. Further information is available in the Staff Development section of the Staff Hub.

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Please sign the Petition! TVOT members are being encouraged to seek out the ETFO Petitions that Stewards are collecting at their schools. This is part of ETFO's bargaining campaign for reduced class sizes, and completed petitions will be submitted to Queen's Park by Provincial ETFO, in support of the next round of negotiations. Click here for more information - https://etfocb.ca/

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Provincial ETFO's tee-shirts celebrating  International Women's Day are now on sale. To purchase  one click on https://shop.etfo.ca/collections/clothing

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Deadline is Approaching!

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Join an Webinar hosted by the Ontario Teachers' Federation. Find out more at https://www.otffeo.on.ca/en/learning/otf-connects/webinars/

OTF Connects webinars Les webinaires de FEO

January/Janvier 2026

Elementary Money Math Made Simple (en anglais seulement) Date: January 22, 2026 Time: 4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. REGISTER NOW Explore the world of money through some practical approaches that align with the financial literary strand in Mathematics. Join the Bank of Canada Museum for this informative presentation and learn all about saving and spending, budgeting and investing and calculating and converting change. You’ll be provided with multiple entry points into financial literacy and money for Grades K-6, including interactive lesson plans, activities, and even an escape room! Meet your Presenter Heather Montgomery is a long-time museum educator who has a passion for inquiry-learning and making economics fun. She designed the Bank of Canada Museum’s successful on-site school programs and has worked on many lesson plans including learning about bank notes, money and math, and inflation.

Next up !

It Starts with Words…Commemorating the Holocaust (en anglais seulement) Date: January 27, 2026 Time: 4:30 p.m.–5:30 p.m. REGISTER NOW January 27, International Holocaust Remembrance Day, commemorates the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp. In this webinar you will be guided through Liberation75’s new 3-module classroom-ready student program, Surviving the Holocaust, By Chance Alone: Max Eisen’s Story. Designed to support Holocaust curriculum in Ontario classrooms, this program can be integrated into a variety of grades and subject areas. Participants will be introduced to both student and teacher resources that are included in the program. Meet your Presenter Melissa Mikel recently earned her Doctoral Degree in Holocaust and Genocide Studies from Gratz College. She began her career as an elementary school teacher in rural Ontario, before serving as Director of Education with the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies in Toronto for sixteen years. In this capacity, Dr. Mikel created and implemented extensive programming on topics of the Holocaust, antisemitism, and racism for thousands of students, educators, law enforcement personnel, and other professionals from diverse sectors across Canada. She is currently the director of scholarships for the 30 Birds Foundation and works as a consultant with the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre and Liberation75. ____________________________ 2026 OTIP Teaching Awards— Nominations now open! There are three categories of awards: elementary teacher, secondary teacher and beginning teacher (in the first five years of teaching). A teacher may be nominated by anyone—professional colleagues, students, parents, or the general public. Winners will receive a personal award of $1,000 and a Certificate of Recognition. The Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan (OTIP) and the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF) are proud co-sponsors of the OTIP Teaching Awards. For many years, these awards have recognized the excellence of our teachers in publicly funded education.   The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2026. To nominate or for further information, visit teachingawards.ca.