Tell the Minister you stand with ETFO; ETFO rejects kickbacks;

Please take Action:
Today is the first day of elementary Teachers withdrawing from extra-curricular activities and ETFO Provincial feels it may be close to a central table deal, but we need the government to step up to get the deal done.
Email Liz Sandals, the Minister of Education and urge her to ensure that OPSBA and the government bargain in good faith to achieve a Collective Agreement that respects the needs of elementary Teachers and their students.
Tell the Minister you stand with ETFO

Union Kickbacks for Bargaining:
Unlike some of the other unions in the education sector, members need to be aware that the press has not made it clear that ETFO turned down the money for bargaining expenses offered by the government in previous rounds, stating this money would be better spent on our students' learning conditions and our Teachers' working conditions.  President Hammond has affirmed ETFO will reject these funds if offered by the government again at the conclusion of bargaining.

Columbia Employee Store Invitation
Have you been to the Columbia Employee Store yet?  You have 12 days left to use your invitation as it expires on November 8^th(valid until end of day).  Your Invitation can be found on Page 5 of The Supply Line - October 2015.  The Supply Line can also be found at www.etfotvot.com.  Don't forget to bring the additional required documents for access to the store.

The Fall General Meeting and Banquet is scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at The Best Western Lamplighter Inn from 4:30 - 7:30 PM.  Registration is open at www.etfotvot.com.  


     

And still we wait; Our First PD event of 2015-2016 and Fall General Meeting

ETFO Representative Council Protest  

Central Table Negotiations 
Mid-October 2015 and ETFO Teachers and Occasional Teachers are still working under Collective Agreements that expired in August 2014. As you know last Wednesday, while Local Presidents and the Provincial Executive met in Toronto at Representative Council, the Ontario Public School Board's Association used the media to "update" the public on the status of our central negotiations. This at a time when President Hammond felt progress was being made at the table. In response, 200 ETFO leaders marched to the offices of OPSBA in protest, providing President Hammond a broader forum in which to condemn this flagrant violation of our bargaining ground rules. As I write this Blog, there have been no further negotiations though ETFO remains at the ready.

Local Negotiations
Your Local Collective Bargaining team of Susan Ansara - ETFO Provincial Staff Officer, Terry Card - Local Chief Negotiator, Vivek Nath, Sharon Pinylo and Nancy Springer has been bargaining with the TVDSB concurrent with central negotiations.
To date, we have met with the Board on five occasions and have another meeting set for Friday of this week. Talks have been collegial as always and though there is much work still to be done, we remain confident that we can make some improvement to the working conditions of our members.

Our first PD event is scheduled for October 27th from 4:30 - 7:30 PM at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road in London.  Registration closes tomorrow at noon.  Go to www.etfotvot.com to register. There are still spots available in workshops: 1 (Planning Junior mathematics with Assessment in Mind and 2 ( Voice Care - Understanding and Caring for your Teaching Voice.  Don't miss this opportunity to mingle with your OT colleagues, enjoy a lovely dinner and participate in beneficial professional development.

Registration is also open for our Fall General Meeting scheduled for Wednesday, December 2, 2015, also at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road in London, from 4:30 - 7:30 PM.

 

TVOT PD Fall Event, TVOT Fall General Meeting, Columbia Employee Store Invitation and the Federal Election

Join us on Tuesday, October 27th from 4:30 - 7:30 PM at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road in London for a lovely dinner then an evening workshop of your choice of one of these topics:

1. Planning Junior Mathematics with Assessment in Mind
Want to learn more about hands-on learning and using assessment to guide your planning for the junior mathematics?  During this evening workshop, we will focus on assessment in the Number Sense and Numeration strand.  Participants will engage in teacher-made, student-tested activities that teach and assess mathematics using a problem solving approach.
Presenter:  Sheila Smith-Jones

2. Voice Care - Understanding and Caring for your Teaching Voice
Today's teachers meet a variety of vocal challenges on a daily basis-from length of total talking time and the variety of situations in which they speak to the many ways they use their voices in the instruction, management and motivation of their students.  At the end of the workshop, the participant will: 1) understand the basic anatomy of voice; 2) understand how we create sound; 3) identify habits that inhibit the voice; 4) identify healthy voice use strategies; 5) identify ways to incorporate healthy voice habits into daily classroom use and 5) understand the basic warm-up tools required to produce an easy teaching voice.
Presenter: Lori Holmes

3. Ten Amazing Pastel Projects for J/I Students!
Almost every classroom has a bin of bits and pieces of oil pastels...so let's use them!  This workshop will give you curriculum-based art projects that will make use of pastels in unique and creative ways. This "make-and-take" will give you the opportunity to explore, experiment, and create finished works of art.  Materials, handouts and explicit instructions will be provided to guide you in completing a number of exemplars suitable for the J/I classroom. And it is fun!
Presenter:  Polly Stringle

                      Register at www.etfotvot.com by noon Thursday, October 22, 2015
                                                    Please select only one session
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Keep the date open for our Fall General Meeting on Wednesday, December 2, 2015, Best Western Lamplighter Inn, 4:30 - 7:30 PM.  Enjoy a free fabulous dinner and door prizes.
Help us to support the children of Merrymount Children's Centre by bringing along new items for children up to 13 years of age from Merrymount's Wish List:  Pajamas, socks, sweatshirts, new books, art and craft supplies, movie passes, toys for birthdays, toothbrushes etc...
Merrymount is an accredited children's centre providing residential/respite accommodation and day to day support.  Our donations are much appreciated and much needed.

                                        Registration is open at www.etfotvot.com
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Check out the Fall and Winter products now available at the Columbia Employee Store. Our invitation started on Saturday, October 10th, 2015 and ends November 8th, 2015.  Details and invitation included in your October 2015 Newsletter: The Supply Line and can also be found on our website at www.etfotvot.com.
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Lastly, don't miss your right to vote in the upcoming Federal Election on October 19th, 2015.
Polls show this is a very tight three-way race and every vote counts.
 

Here's where we stand...

Bargaining Update:

It is definitely stressful for everyone in public education these days as Work to Rule by ETFO, CUPE and OSSTF begins to take a toll on everyone, including our daily Occasional Teachers who are finding fewer Teacher absences to fill than in a typical fall. If we are successful, this pressure will keep the parties at the table and prompt them to find a fair and reasonable settlement that addresses elementary Teacher and Occasional Teacher issues. 

For an enlightened perspective I recommend you read the article "Why Elementary Teachers Continue to Fight", by Sachin Maharaj which was published in the Toronto Star on Monday, Oct 05 2015. 

Here is the link http://www.thestar.com/opinion/commentary/2015/10/05/why-elementary-teachers-continue-to-fight.html

LTOs and Progress Reports for Grades 1 - 8:
As many of you have noted, in Phase 3 of ETFO's Work-to-Rule, Teachers and Long-term Occasional Teachers are not preparing comments, completing or packaging the Progress Report. We will provide the school administrator with a hard copy class list with the ratings for the Learning Skills and Work Habits section and the required Subject Area section completed for each child. Teachers of alternative programs will provided one brief comment per area. ETFO Teachers and LTOs are not conducting parent interviews related to the Progress Reports unless the Teacher / LTO has identified a concern about a child’s progress. Along with the ETFO Thames Valley Teacher Local, your OT Local is directing that Progress Reports for students are to be submitted by the Workplace Steward to the Principal at the end of the instructional day on Friday, October 30, 2015.  Please note that Provincial ETFO has developed a template that may be of assistance. You can download this template from our website www.etfotvot.com in Member Services.

Upcoming PD Opportunities sponsored by your OT Local:

Join us at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn, 591 Wellington Road in London on Tuesday, October 27th from 4:30 - 7:30 PM for a lovely dinner followed by an evening workshop on your choice of one of these topics: 

1. Planning Junior Mathematics with Assessment in Mind:

Want to learn more about hands-on learning and using assessment to guide your planning for the junior mathematics? During this evening workshop, we will focus on assessment in the Number Sense and Numeration strand. Participants will engage in teacher-made, student tested activities that teach and assess mathematics using a problem solving approach. Presenter: Sheila Smith-Jones 

2. Voice Care - Understanding and Caring for your Teaching Voice:

Today’s teachers meet a variety of vocal challenges on a daily basis- from length of total talking time and the variety of situations in which they speak to the many ways they use their voices in the instruction, management and motivation of their students. At the end of the workshop, the participant will: 1) understand the basic anatomy of voice; 2) understand how we create sound 3) identify habits that inhibit the voice; 4) identify healthy voice use strategies; 5) identify ways to incorporate healthy voice habits into daily classroom use and 5) understand the basic warm-up tools required to produce an easy teaching voice. Presenter: Lori Holmes 

3. Ten Amazing Pastel Projects for J/I Students! 

Almost every classroom has a bin of bits and pieces of oil pastels... so let`s use them! This workshop will give you curriculum-based art projects that will make use of pastels in unique and creative ways. This "make-and-take" will give you the opportunity to explore, experiment, and create finished works of art. Materials, handouts and explicit instructions will be provided to guide you in completing a number of exemplars suitable for the J/I classroom. And it is fun! Presenter: Polly Stringle 

Spots go quickly so please register for only one session at www.etfotvot.com by noon of Thursday, October 22nd. We look forward to seeing you there. 

Don't forget to ensure your residential information is current with the Board, your Local, ETFO Provincial, Ontario College of Teachers etc.  It is a condition of Employment with the Board and can be grounds to be taken off the list!
Don't hesitate to contact your Local with any questions.
ETFO - TVOT Local 519-641-3936

Please note that the Columbia Employee Store will be closed on Monday, October 12^th to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday.  Enjoy your time with family and friends and don’t forget to count your blessings!