2011 ETFO's Eleventh Annual Leadership Conference for Women

...and Still We Rise 2011 Conference
2011 ETFO's Eleventh Annual Leadership Conference for Women scheduled for February 9 (evening), 10 and 11, 2011 at the Fairmont Royal York Hotel in Toronto promises, once again, to be informative, exciting and beneficial to all in attendance.  Conference topics include: Keynote Speakers, Leadership Presentations, Elective Workshops, Artisan Displays, and  plenty of Networking Opportunities.
For members, the ETFO Provincial Office will cover the costs of travel, shared accomodation, meals, release time and dependent care. 
Further Conference Information and Registration Package can be found at:
http://www.etfo.ca/CalAttach/ASWR2011.pdf (PDF)
hhtp://www.etfo.ca/CalAttach/ASWR2011.doc (Word)
To register, print out the Conference Information and Registration Package for reference (links above), then submit this secure online form:
https://etfo.net/ASWR
You can also mail or fax the forms in the Conference INformation and registration Package.
Registration Deadline:  Friday, November 26, 2010
If you have additional questions, please contact Kalpana Makan at kmakan@etfo.org
Telephone:  416-962-3836, ext. 2245
Toll free:  1-888-838-3836

To all those members who will be attending our Fall General Meeting and Banquet at Sunningdale Golf Club this evening, please remember to bring in your Donations to Merrymount's Family Support and Crisis Centre as we will be making a presentation to Merrymount's Executive Director.      

Attitude: It's Everything

An individual's attitude can affect the overall morale of the whole staff and the tone of the workplace.
Research indicates that those with positive attitudes have lower stress levels, occasional sickness and live longer.  As well as improving the environment for colleagues, an optimistic teacher helps students understand the importance of attitude in realizing one's dreams and potential.  Negativity causes conflict and tension in the workplace.

Dealing with Negative Comments

The first step towards resolution is to identify these behaviours; the second is to talk about them and work together to create a healthy and pleasant work environment.

- Assume the best in others.  Look for the positive side of a situation.  Try to find common ground to build     a positive outcome.
- Actions speak louder than words.  Don't just think or talk about a problem, do something about it.
- Simplify your life.  Get rid of unhealthy relationships and maintain contact with positive people.
- Set reasonable tasks, goals, and expectations for yourself.  Celebrate your accomplishments.
- Allow yourself to make mistakes.
- Laugh often with others and at yourself.
- Don't hesitate to forgive, forget, and move ahead.
- Celebrate the successes of others as much as your own.
- Avoid listening to or participating in negative talk about a colleague.
- Share the work fairly in the school among the staff.
- Be kind to each other.  Empathize when necessary.

Conclusion

We cannot make other people act in certain ways, but we can make choices regarding our attitude to a situation.  A positive attitude can make each day better, and keep us in good health for our entire lives.
The above was published by ETFO, from After the Chalkdust Settles.

And in this spirit, we invite you to join us at our Fall General Meeting and Banquet, next Wednesday, November 24th, 2010 at Sunningdale Golf and Country Club as we celebrate this years Award Recipients Mr. Keith Tapp, as Honourary Life Member and Ms. Lynn McClean from ETFO Provincial for Outstanding Service to our Local. 
  

FALL SMART BOARD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EVENT- In Demand

The Smart Board PD Event held at W. Sherwood Fox proved to be both beneficial and enjoyable to those in attendance.  Over 200 members registered and participated in either a Basic, Intermediate or Advanced session and your feedback is telling us that you would like more of these types of workshops.  To those members who were unable to attend because registration filled up so quickly, we are hoping to offer a similar workshop at our designated paid PD event at Althouse College on April 8. 2011.   Continue to check our blog, website and newsletters for further information.
Our next exciting event will be our Fall General Membership Meeting and Banquet which will be held at Sunningdale Golf Club on November 24, 2010, from 4:30 - 7:30 pm.  Please register at tvotpd@gmail.com by noon November 17, 2010 and please indicate your choice of a vegetarian or turkey dinner.  There is no charge for members but 24 hours notice is required to cancel your spot or you will be charged for the cost of the meal.
This year, we are honouring Mr. Keith Tapp as an Honourary Life Member for his oustanding service to the Local.  We will also be honouring Ms. Lynn McClean from ETFO Provincial for her outstanding service to the Local.
Hope to see you there.

        

Nov 4th SMART Board PD Event in BIG Demand!

Member response to the SMART Board workshop PD event has been tremendous- over 200 registrants will be participating!  We are thrilled to be able to offer our members the kind of Professional Development you feel would be most beneficial to your careers.
For those members who were not able to get into one of the workshops this time, we are hoping to offer a similar one at our designated paid PD event at Althouse College on April 8th, 2011.  Keep looking for information in our Newsletter, Blog, and Website. 
If for any reason any member who has received confirmation cannot attend the Smart Board workshop tomorrow, we would ask that you please advise our office as soon as possible so we could fill the spot with someone else.       
If you would like a say in what your Local is doing and how you are being represented, be sure to attend the Fall General Meeting at Sunningdale Golf Club on November 24th, 2010.