Wednesday, February 24, 2021

Pink Shirt Day; Local Elections: TVDSB Revised Calendar; Absences due to Covid-19


Wednesday, February 24, 2021 is Pink Shirt Day!

In 2007, several Nova Scotian teenagers organized a high-school protest by wearing pink to show support for a Grade 9 boy who was bullied for wearing a pink shirt. They distributed pink shirts to all the boys in their school. The bullying stopped and these students showed that a small act can make a difference. 

Practice kindness and wear a pink shirt today to show that you will not tolerate bullying.

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TVOT Local Annual Meeting and Elections - May 19/21 

This after-school event will again be held virtually so be sure to mark Wednesday, May 19, 2021 on your calendar.

Elections will be held for all positions other than for President as this 2 year term will not expire until June, 2022.

Stay tuned for more details in April and consider if you would be interested in being part of the body that oversees your working conditions.

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Revised TVDSB Calendar

As you know, the Ministry of Education has postponed the March Break holiday to the week of April 12th. Click here for the new 2020 - 2021 Elementary Calendar, should you wish to print a copy Revised TVDSB elementary calendar

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Deadline for ETFO Strike Pay Corrections

Just a reminder that ETFO Provincial has set a deadline of March 21st for members who were involved in picketing last school year, to submit any outstanding strike pay issues. 

Please contact the Local at etfotvot@gmail.com with the subject line - Strike Pay so that we can handle your concerns most efficiently.
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Covid-19 Absence for Daily LTOs
TVDSB Staff and Family COVID Screening 
Under the latest guidelines, all asymptomatic household contacts of symptomatic individuals are required to quarantine until the symptomatic household member either receives a negative COVID-19 test result, or receives an alternative diagnosis by a health care professional 
If the symptomatic individual tests positive, or is not tested and does not receive an alternative diagnosis from a health care professional, the symptomatic individual must isolate (including from household members) for 10 days from symptom onset, and all household contacts must isolate until 14 days from their last contact with the symptomatic individual. 
TVDSB Absence Coding
LTOs will be coded Quarantine Leave for the duration of the absence until a negative test result is received or an alternative diagnosis is provided and the staff member can return to work. NOTE: If a staff member or a member of their household does not get tested, or receive  an alternate diagnosis, the staff member will be coded COVID Personal Sick Absence (pulls from eligible sick pay) for the duration of the absence and will not be eligible for Quarantine Leave. 
Staff impacted by a school exposure to COVID-19 and required to quarantine/self-isolate will be paid quarantine leave for the duration of the leave. Those in an LTO will continue to be paid based on your LTO assignment.
Covid-19 Absence for Daily OTs
Daily Occasional Teachers that are required to quarantine/self-isolate as a direct result of a school exposure will be paid the average hours they have worked over the previous 4 weeks during the isolation period. Notify Human Resources in these circumstances.
Please Note: It is now a requirement for individuals who travel and all household members to isolate for 14 days upon return to Canada. If a staff member or family member travels outside of Canada (not identified as an essential worker) and therefore impacts the staff member’s ability to attend work, that absence will be COVID Travel Related Absence and is unpaid for the duration of the required isolation period regardless of the reason for travel. NOTE: The Ontario School Screener identifies essential worker criteria for those living in your household. Follow the school screener direction on essential workers to determine your requirement to isolate.
Staff working in Full Remote Learning (FRL) or working from home may not be required to be absent from work in the same manner as a school or office based staff member. Specific circumstances should be discussed with your Supervisor as to whether an absence is required.
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Our Blog Archives



  • New Office Expense Tax credits (see Blog of January 6/21 and January 27/21)
  • TVDSB Staff Check In Survey closes Friday so click on Survey to provide feedback
  • Don't forget to set up an account with the Local for access to our Professional Learning Development Fund ($350) and our Book Rebate ($50) (see Blog January 13/21)
  • Federal Financial Supports (see Blog of January 20/21)
  • Interest in TVDSB LTO List applications closes Friday (see Blog of January 27/21)
  • Columbia Sportswear Outlet invitation expires March 14/21 (see Blog February 17/21)
  • Benefits for LTOs (see Blog of December 9, 2020)
  • Resources for online Teachers/Learners (see Blog of January 6, 2021)
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Wednesday, February 17, 2021

No French Required; Columbia Sportswear Outlet Event; Two Days of Extra Pay; LTO List Canvass; Covid FAQs; National Film Board; Register on Local Website;

No French Required

Did you know that Occasional Teachers can take daily assignments in areas for which they hold no qualifications? This means any TVOT member can accept a daily FSL assignment, Music assignment or a TVARRIS call for an Intermediate grade even though they have P/J qualifications. Absent Teachers in these areas often leave lesson plans that any Teacher would be quite comfortable with so don't be afraid to accept these calls and help ensure that there is a Teacher working in each classroom in Thames Valley.

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Columbia Sportswear Event

The Columbia Sportswear Outlet has re-opened and TVOT members are invited to shop with employee discounts of between 40 - 50% from February 16th t0 March 14th.

Go to the Member Portal at www.etfotvot.com to access your invitation and hope you find the shopping worthwhile.

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Two Days of Extra Pay

Don't forget that daily Occasional Teachers in TVDSB can earn an extra 2 days of pay. TVOT daily members receive a half-day of pay for completing the mandatory online training modules that will be posted in April. As well, by participating in paid Professional Development opportunities that are posted in the TVDSB Employee Portal > Staff Development and Training > Conference/Session Registration > Elementary Occasional Teacher PD 2020-2021, Occasional Teachers can earn the remaining 3 half-days which for all purposes (seniority, EI, Teachers' Pension, number of days to remain on the Roster etc.) count as time worked for the Board. 

Many of the options posted there are online modules that can be completed on evenings and weekends. Teachers are life-long learners and these sessions will assist you as you hone your practice so don't leave this money on the table - earn while you learn!

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LTO List Canvass 
 
February is the month when Occasional Teachers have the chance to indicate that they are interested in a LTO position.
Interviews are no longer necessary, so be sure to check off your interest in the Employee Portal before it closes at the end of the month.
Look for "LTO Elementary" with the "NEW" button in the TVDSB Employee Portal.

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ETFO Provincial Covid-19 FAQ Update
Provincial ETFO has just released update edition #23 which tackles issues such as teaching students with mask exemptions, the rescheduling of March Break and asymptomatic testing in schools. 

We urge all members to make sure they have subscribes to ETFO e-newsletters at www.etfo.ca so as to stay informed during this pandemic.

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National Film Board for Teachers

You may not be aware but he National Film Board is an excellent resource of educational video content for Teachers to use in their classrooms. Films and playlists are updated on a weekly basis so check NFB Resources for Teachers on a regular basis for mini-lessons, interactive web experiences and much more.

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Register With Us 

The surest way for members to stay informed and have access to our $50 Book Rebate and $350 Professional Learning Development Fund/PLDF is to open an account with your Local at www.etfotvot.com 
This is the data base we use to send members blast emails with emergent news but we cannot reach you if  you don't provide us with a personal email address.
Please take this action at your earliest convenience.

Wednesday, February 10, 2021

ETFO Arts Conference; Leave March Break Alone; Black History Month; Celebrating 10 Years of Kindergarten; Moose Hide Campaign Day

 ETFO Arts Conference

This one day virtual conference is for all ETFO members and will feature keynote speaker, Andrew Mercer, a pioneer online music Teacher from Newfoundland and Labrador.

The workshop is to be held on Saturday, April 17th and will culminate with the opportunity to participate in a virtual choir. Registration deadline is February 16, 2021 at 5 PM and spaces are limited so to register, click ETFO Arts Conference Registration.

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Leave March Break Alone
Yesterday, ETFO Provincial President Sam Hammond sent a letter to Education Minister Stephen Lecce urging the Minister to reassure Ontario families and Teachers that March Break will not be postponed or cancelled. Here is that letter ETFO Letter Re Need for March Break

The government must prioritize the mental health of students, their families and Teachers.  Add your voice to the argument by signing this petition and sharing the link on your social networks Leave March Break Alone

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It's Black History Month

This striking poster by artist Leone McComas uses themes of space and geography to think critically about their future. 

To download this ETFO Black History poster, as well as ETFO Black History posters from previous years, visit ETFO Black History Resources  Here you will find links to the Black History in Canada Education Guide and other related resources and links of interest.

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Full Day Kindergarten - 10 Years Later!

Dr. Gordon Cleveland from the University of Toronto has assessed the impact of full day kindergarten. His report is titled "Ontario Kindergarten Program: A Success Story. How We All Benefit From Quality Public Full Day Kindergarten" . You can access his findings at A Success Story

ETFO has also released this video ETFO Celebrates 10 Years of Kindergarten in recognition of this important milestone.

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10th Moose Hide Campaign Day

 Stand Together for Moose Hide Campaign Day

Join the Ontario Teachers' Federation online tomorrow, February 11 and stand together with indigenous people in this grassroots movement committed to ending violence against women and children. Registration and details can be found at Moose Hide Campaign 2021

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Wednesday, February 3, 2021

OCT Temporary Certificates; Payment for Paid PD; Interest in a LTO; Demand Safe Schools; ETFO Town Hall

 OCT Issues New "Temporary Certificates"

You have likely heard in the media that the Ontario College of Teachers has decided to provide Teacher candidates who have already successfully completed a portion of their practicum, and who are on track to graduate before December 31, 2021, temporary certification that will allow them to take occasional teaching assignments. Each day of teaching for these candidates will equal a day of practicum for purposes of meeting their 80 day requirement. Those hired with these new certificates become dues-paying members of the Local and must abide by the terms of the Collective Agreement.

Those on "temporary certificates" are to be use in emergency situations only.

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Finished Your Paid PD Session on January 22nd? 

Don't forget that in order to be paid for your participation, you must submit a Reflection Form to TVDSB. It is your TVDSB Reflection form that triggers payment.

Accessing TVDSB Reflection Forms Online -

As a TVDSB employee, TVOT members receive both a Microsoft 360 account (#00000@tvdsb.ca) and a Google account (#00000@gototvdsb.ca) with #00000 being your employee number. Because the online Reflection form is a Google form, you need to be first logged into your gototvdsb.ca account before you open the link to the reflection form. This link is found at the top of where you register for paid PD in the Employee Portal > Conference Registrations. 

For further assistance in accessing the online Reflection Form, log into your Microsoft 360 account and go into the Elementary OT webpage in SharePoint at https://tvdsbo365.sharepoint.com/teams/SSD/SitePages/OT-Elementary-PD.aspx

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 NEW: Interest in a LTO Canvass

Don't forget that February is the month to indicate your interest in a LTO position in the Employee Portal under "Personal Information". No interviews are necessary so you are eligible so long as  you have been an OT with TVDSB for 10 months and you have taught 20 days during the 10 month period within 5 years. 

Those already on the LTO List do not need to update here, however part-time permanent Teachers will need to indicate their interest in a LTO. 

TVOT members are encouraged to take a screen-shot for their own records once they have completed the update.

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ETFO Demands Safe Schools 

Schools need proper health and safety measures in place so that our students and the staff who work in public education, are more protected from Covid 19. 

Add you voice to those of your ETFO peers - Cal on Ford's Conservatives at HERE

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Save the date - ETFO TOWN HALL      

On Monday, February 8, 2021 at 6:30 PM, Provincial ETFO will be holding another Telephone Town Hall for members to receive updates and discuss their front-line concerns. These are regional meetings and they will be 1 hour in length. To ensure that you receive notification, please ensure that the Provincial ETFO Office has your accurate contact information on file. You can do this at ETFO Member Information

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