Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Return of the TVOT Book Clubs; Paid mandatory online training; OTF Subsidies for AQs; Last weekend for Columbia store invitation;

TVOT Book Club - Lost at School by Ross Green
Join your peers at our Local OT Office at 521 Nottinghill Road, Suite 8 in London, for two evenings to discuss Ross Green's Lost at School.  Explore how to assist students with behavioural challenges using a novel approach that goes beyond traditional incentives and consequences. Learn to identify triggers and how to implement realistic strategies that will have a lasting positive effect on struggling students.  Our first book club will take place at the end of April with registration opening on our website next week and members can use their annual $50 Local Book Rebate to assist with the purchase of Lost at School.
_____________________________________________
Mandatory Online Training
TVOT members are reminded that they are expected to reserve one-half day of their 2 days of paid professional development, for completion of the Board's mandatory online training modules. LTOs will have completed many of these during the course of their long-term assignments, and must verify this in the Portal and complete any modules that are outstanding.
The required modules must be completed by the last day of the school year in June but they will not be posted in the Employee Portal until April 1st.   Once you have logged into the Portal you will access the training just under the heading on the right hand, "Staff Development and Training".  The block for elementary Occasional Teachers will be clearly labelled and is regarded as .5 of a day of work for all purposes.  Further details will be sent out on First Class by the Board but do not hesitate to contact the Local should you have any questions.
______________________________________________

OTF Subsidies
The Ontario Teachers' Federation still has funding available for completion of certain AQ courses. Subsidies are still available for AQs in Kindergarten, Mathematics, and Integration of Information and Computer Technology (IICT). Go to www.oct.ca for further information or contact Tim Cunningham at ETFO Provincial at 1-888-838-3836.
_______________________________________________

Columbia Employee Store Invitation
Just a reminder that this will be the final weekend that you can use your employee invitation to shop at the Columbia Sportswear Employee Store at 1425 Max Brose Drive in London.  To download the invitation and for further details log in to www.etfotvot.com your ETFO Occasional Teachers' website.

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

H&S Risk Assessment Survey; Columbia Store Invitation; Remembering Vimy Ridge; Upcoming Paid PD Event on March 23rd

Health and Safety Risk Assessment Survey
Just a reminder that Occasional Teachers have until the end of this week to let the Board know about their safety concerns by participating in the TVDSB Annual Risk Assessment Survey.  The process takes about 10 minutes and the link is: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/9FQ7ZRY. The survey is confidential with information summarized to identify concerns and direct policy development and implementation.
_____________________________________________________

Columbia Store Invitation
For any TVOT member interested in shopping for sportswear at the Columbia Employee Store, your initiation awaits you on the Local's website and is in effect from March 13th to April 2nd. Details are available after you log into Member Services.
____________________________________________________

Remembering Vimy Ridge
Teachers who are considering activities to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Canada's heroic participation in the Battle of Vimy Ridge, are encouraged to visit veterans.gc.ca where there is a wealth of information and free resources. More than 3600 Canadians lost their lives to achieve victory at Vimy Ridge and another 7000 were wounded.  Call 1-866-522-2122 to learn more about this effort and/or for information about the contribution of the many indigenous soldiers who fought bravely during both world wars.
_______________________________________________

We look forward to seeing over 100 members at tomorrow afternoon's paid PD Event at the Stoneridge Inn and Conference Centre from 4:30 pm - 7:30 pm.
There are still several spots available for workshops #2 Additive to Multiplicative Thinking and
#3 What Does Math Look Like in Kindergarten?
Registration is available via the Local website etfotvot.com

Once again, we share the following information:

"Due to an alarming number of "no-shows" at previous events, the Executive has passed the following motion:  All members will be responsible for the cost of the meal should that member not give notice of the inability to attend an event prior to the start of the event".

Please contact the office by telephone or email if you cannot attend a workshop/dinner you had registered for. Another member may be able to take your spot in the PD workshop and the meal that was paid for would not be wasted!
___________________________________________________

We wish to thank the participants and presenters of yesterday's PD Event at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn.  Another beneficial and well-attended Professional Development for almost 100 members!
___________________________________________________

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

New OTF website, another Paid PD Opportunity and Columbia Sportswear Employee Invitation

The Ontario Teachers' Federation (OTF) has developed the "Teachers' Gateway to Special Education" website at www.teachspeced.ca.  The Special Education Gateway is a collection of resources and strategies for elementary and secondary teachers of special education students and also provides searchable web-based resources.

_________________________________________

We are very pleased to announce another paid PD opportunity for our members.  The workshops being offered are the same as those offered for our last paid PD event on February 21st at the Stoneridge Inn & Conference Centre namely:

1) Number Talks
2) Additive to Multiplicative
3) What Does Math Look Like in Kindergarten?

This opportunity filled up very quickly last month and we are very happy to be able to offer it to those members who were unable to participate.  Accordingly then, priority will be granted to those members who did not participate last month.
This does not preclude those who would like to register and participate in one of the other math courses, those members will be placed on a 'wait list' and if spaces are available, you will be notified and you will not be paid for attending.
Dinner will be included for all ETFO -TVOT members.

Please go to www.etfotvot.com to register and avoid disappointment.

On another note, we generally have wait lists and dinner for these events run anywhere from $35 - $40 per person.  It has become a problem when registrants don't show up to events.  Please think about this, and advise the office accordingly by telephone call or email should you need to cancel your registration. Your consideration is appreciated by your fellow-members.

___________________________________________

Lastly, we have received a Columbia Sportswear Company Invitation to shop from March 13 - April 2, 2017.  You can find your invitation on the ETFO-TVOT website under Member Services.
___________________________________________



Wednesday, March 1, 2017

ETFO Tentative Extension Agreement; Book Rebate PLDF subsidies; Provincial ETFO PD opportunities; Teacher Supply Tax Credit

ETFO Tentative Extension Agreement
Members are reminded that the ETFO Provincial telephone town hall is tonight at 7:30 PM. Voting on the tentative extension agreement has already opened and will close Friday, March 3rd at 11:59 PM. Members will need to provide their ETFO ID number (on the red apple card and on Voice magazine address label) in order to participate in the vote. Details on the agreement and the process can be found at www.etfocb.ca. Your Local Executive has had significant discussions regarding the proposed extension agreement and we are pleased to discuss this matter or any of your other concerns. The office phone number is 519-641-3936.
__________________________________________________

We have received numerous calls and emails asking questions about the Book Rebate and Professional Learning Development Fund subsidies offered by your Local. In a nutshell, the Book Rebate program offers up to $50/year per member.  Members may only purchase books or resources that are related to elementary professional practice. The Form along with the original receipt of purchase must be received at the ETFO-TVOT office- 521 Nottinghill Road, Unit #8, in London, N6K 4L4 by May 31st, 2017

The Professional Learning Development Fund (PLDF) offers members a chance to personalize their professional development.  Funding for this program is $300 per year/member for courses or workshops, whether in-person, on-line or by correspondence. All course funding must be pre-approved and the funding cannot be applied retroactively.  All courses must be related to the elementary education profession and to be eligible, applicants must have been on the TVDSB elementary OT Roster for a minimum of twelve months. Approvals are first-come-first serve until the funding limit is reached.

Application forms for both the Book Rebate and the PLDF are found in the Member Services area under "Useful Forms/Documents" link on the ETFO-TVOT website  : www.etfotvot.com.
_____________________________________________

Did you know that ETFO Occasional Teachers are eligible to participate in any of the conferences offered by ETFO Provincial? Check out www.etfo.ca for upcoming conferences such as the FNMI Education Symposium being held April first, the Technology for Teachers Conference being held April 7-8th and the Kindergarten Conference being held April 28-29th.  Travel expenses, shared accommodation expenses and the cost of meals and resources are covered by ETFO Provincial for a small registration fee.  We encourage members to take advantage of these opportunities made possible through their ETFO fees.
___________________________________________

This will be the First Year that Teachers and Occasional Teachers will be eligible to claim the School Supply Tax Credit.  Unlike other Boards where there is a person designated to oversee these claims, in TVDSB this is an electronic process.  If you would like further information on allowable expenses etc. please visit the question and answer page at 
http://www.cra-arc.gc.ca/gnc/bdgt/2016/qa03/eng.html