Last Chances

As May draws to a close let us remind you:

• Space is limited but there is room left for anyone interested in attending and being a part of the Annual Spring General Meeting at the Lamplighter Inn. You can register by either emailing tvotpd@gmail.com or calling 519-641-3936. Receive a hard copy of your Collective Agreement, enjoy a lovely dinner with your peers and elect your Executive.  This is your forum to discuss the issues and meet those who will represent you.
• There is still time to submit your application for a $25 dollar book rebate.  Check the latest newsletter or your Local website for an application form and submit before May 31st.
• Remember that your bargaining team is counting on you to identify your priorities so that we can address these in our preliminary submission.  Take a few moments to participate in the bargaining survey posted on our website http://www.etfotvots.com/.  The survey is available until May 31st to allow you another opportunity to influence your working conditions.

Category A1 Rating

All Occasional Teachers must be evaluated by QECO to obtain a salary placement beyond Category A1, the daily rate.  A QECO evaluation may result in one of four category placements:  Category A1 through Category A4, depending on individual academic criteria, as determined by Program 5.  Those in a long-term assignment have until July 31st to provide the Board with a Qualifications Rating Statement and any supporting documents for retroactive adjustment.  After receiving a QECO evaluation, it is the Occasional Teacher's responsibility to submit the new QECO rating to Sandi Douglas in Human Resource Services at the Board for the appropriate salary category placement.  Visit http://www.qeco.on.ca/ for further details.  N.B. a copy of your pay statement from the Employee Portal is sufficient proof of employment.

On another note, it's time to think about your future and completing the Bargaining Survey.  Your current Collective Agreement expires August 31, 2012.  The deadline might seem far off, but to those of us who negotiate on your behalf, it is time to begin work on your preliminary submission.  One way we identify local bargaining goals is to solicit input from the general membership by means of a survey.  We have posted the link to our Collective Bargaining Survey on our website: http://www.etfotvots.com/ for the month of May.  Please help to determine your workingconditions by taking a few minutes to participate in this assessment of your needs.  If you have any questions or wish to discuss an issue before you respond, please contact your Chief Negotiator, Terry Card at 519-641-3936/etfotvot@gmail.com.

TVARRIS Focus Group:  Human Resources Services Manager, John Cuddie is interested in meeting with a focus group of 15 elementary Occasional Teachers to discuss TVARRIS.  If you are willing to participate in an after school meeting to be held mid-June, please email us at tvotpd@gmail.com.  We will forward the names of those interested to HRS by May 31, 2011.  There are currently 12 names on the panel with room for 3 more.

Lastly, don't miss our Annual General Meeting and Elections scheduled for Thursday, May 26, 2011 from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m. at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road South, London, Ontario.  Dinner Buffet at 5:00 p.m. R.S.V.P required for meal to tvotpd@gmail.com/519-641-3936.  All who attend will receive a copy of the ETFO Occasional Teacher Collective Agreement and a chance to win one of our many door prizes.   

YOUR BILL OF RIGHTS

As a fully qualified teacher and member of the ETFO Thames Valley OT Local, it is my right as:


A Professional:

• to have my professional judgement respected,
• to have the authority of teachers respected, 
• to determine my own professional development needs,
• to freely determine how, when and under what conditions I volunteer my time,
• to expect to be consulted and have my opinion given full consideration;

A Union Member:

• to have my Collective Agreement respected and followed,
• to be provided with due process and have the right to union representation,
• to participate in my Federation without fear of reprisal;

An Employee:

• to work in an inclusive environment that is a respectful workplace free from any form of discrimination or harassment,
• to work in a healthy and safe workplace that promotes my professional and personal well being,
• to be supervised in a fair and consistent manner that respects me as a professional and a person.

On another note:

REMINDER

To remain an elementary Occasional Teacher with TVDSB you must annually:

• Work at least five full days per school year as a TVDSB elementary Occasional Teacher
• Pay your Ontario College of Teachers' fees by April 15th (fee deducted for those in LTO on January first)
• Complete your Offence Declaration online
• Complete all online training modules and WHMIS review
• Submit your online Statement of Internet to Remain on the List by April 30
• Inform the Board of any changes of name, address, and/or telephone number

Look for your May 2011 copy of The Supply Line for important information and news.  Available either online at http://www.etfotvots.com/ or coming soon by post.

Annual General Meeting and Elections:

     when:   Thursday, May 26, 2011 from 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.

     where:  Best Western Lamplighter Inn 

                 

591 Wellington Road South, London, Ontario

                 Dinner Buffet at 5:00 p.m.

                 R.S.V.P. required for meal

           tvotpd@gmail.com/519-641-3936

  All who attend will receive a copy of the ETFO Occasional Teacher Collective Agreement and a chance to win one of our many door prizes.              

Professional Development Planning for Spring and Summer 2011

We all know that professional development is key to our career advancement as well as personally empowering in any profession and as teachers, are so fortunate to have a plethora of professional development courses to choose from. 

To move across the grid:

• ETFO AQ/PQP Calendar 2011 - 2012 - It has been less than a year since ETFO launched ETFO-AQ with its mission to deliver top quality teacher professional learning at the reasonable price of $650 per course.  Over the past year, 4000 teachers signed up to take an AQ or PQP course through ETFO.  The feedback from our candidates  has been phenomenal.  Candidates praise the ETFO-AQ instructors for their skill at creating learning environments that are supportive, informative and innovative.  They like that the course material is practical, current and relevant.  The most significant factor in candidates deciding to take a course from ETFO is the praise they have heard from other teachers; this word of mouth has been critical to our success.  ETFO is currently developing many new AQs which will be offered next year, including:  Kindergarten - Part 2 & Specialist; Adapting Curriculum for Second-Language Learners; Inclusive Classroom - Specialist; Junior Education - Specialist; Language Arts, Grade 7 and 8; Science and Technology - Part 2 & Specialist; Social Studies - Primary and Junior - Part 2 & Specialist; and Use and knowledge of Assistive Technology.  

For your own Professional Development:

• Summer Academy 2011 Advance Notice - These dynamic three-day professional learning courses will be provided in a partnership between locals and the provincial office throughout July and August.  The Summer Academy 2011 course catalogue will be available on the ETFO website mid-May.  A detailed Summer Academy 2011 flyer will be sent out in the May Stewards' mailing.  For more information, please contact Ruth Dawson, extension 2278, rdawson@etfo.org, or Joanne Myers, extension 2279, jmyers@etfo.org, or Jane Bennett, extension 2277, jbennett@etfo.org at the provincial office.

Remember: AQs get you the Interview - PD gets you the Job!

An as an F.Y.I:

• Call for Workshop Presenters - Presenters on the Road offers quality workshops in partnerships with ETFO locals across the province.  All workshops are developed by members for members.  This program includes a variety of workshops to address subject areas, issues critical to teachers and their work, both as classroom teachers and other specific assignments such as special education, teacher librarians, and occasional teachers. ETFO members are encouraged to submit workshops that they have presented for consideration.  Workshops may be suitable for teachers in one division such as kindergarten, primary, junior, or intermediate, or for a cross-divisional audience.  Application deadline is May 6, 2011 at 5:00 pm.  For more information, please contact Jason Johnston, extension 2246, ljohnston@etfo.org, at the provincial office.

Our next exciting event will be our Spring General Meeting and Banquet which will be held at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn on May 26, 2011 from 4:30 - 7:30 pm.  Please register at tvotpd@gmail.com by noon, May 19, 2011.  Dinner will be provided at no charge to members.  Please remember to contact our office should you have to cancel your spot so that another member can take your place and you will not be charged for the meal.  These General Meetings are of great importance to you as a member as we are nominating and electing members for next year's Executive and it gives you the opportunity to become more involved and learn what we are here for.

Look out for our next edition of The Supply Line going out to you within the next few days.

Don't forget to complete the Mandatory on-line training modules which are all set-up and available via the Employee Portal. There are over 20 modules to complete in total. The amount of time required for the modules will be less than a day's time,  but you will get paid for a full day!  Payment for this PD will be on June 30th, the 1 day you must reserve if you are a retired teacher.