National Day; LTO Contracts; Deadlines! Columbia Invitation

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LTO Contracts 

At this time of year, HR is very busy processing all the contracts for members who are in long-term assignments. This means that LTOs may not receive their grid salary in time for this next pay, however be assured that LTOs will receive the appropriate salary paid retroactively to the first day of their assignments, on the following pay if they have signed a LTO contract.

To be paid on grid, TVOT members in long-term assignments must complete a LTO Contract so contact your school secretary if you have not yet received one. Those in posted LTO assignments can submit their contract on the first day, while those who are in assignments that evolve into LTOs, can ask for theirs on the 10th day.

Be sure to submit a QECO rating to HR and proof of any previous post-certification teaching experience so that you are paid appropriately. 

For further information please contact your ETFOTVOT Office .

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Vaccination Attestations are Overdue!

A reminder to those few TVOT members who have not yet submitted their attestation that you are urged to log into the Employee Portal and make your submission as soon as possible in order to teach in TVDSB and to avoid being reported to the Ontario College of Teachers.

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Paid Mandatory Training is Due Tomorrow!

TVOT members are reminded that they must complete the 14 online modules listed in the Employee Portal under "Employee Training" by Thursday, September 30th. For this, members will be paid for a half-day (additional to the 3 half-days available for paid PD and the half-day that is set aside for mandatory training that is due by the end of June).

Members can check to see that their completed modules have been recorded by logging back into the Employee Portal - if the check marks are still in place, then the completed modules have successfully been received. 

Awareness Training 2021 - 2022 September Mandatory Training Links coming soon! This is the mandatory training that is required for the 2021 - 2022 school year. The training includes COVID Awareness 2021 - 2022, September - December Safety Spotlight, and IPOC training requirements.
COVID Awareness 2021 - 2022
Employee Incident Reporting and Investigation Form - Entering an Incident
October - Fire Code Training - Staff
November - Head Injury Prevention
December - Slips, Trips and Falls
Violence Awareness Video 1 - Legislation
Violence Awareness Video 2 - General Awareness
Employee Health and Safety Handbook
IPOC Roles and Responsibilities Updated Video
Anaphylaxis
Asthma
Diabetes Type 1
Epilepsy
Concussion Training

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Our PD Committee has some openings!

Are you interested in professional learning? Would you like to contribute your opinion to help guide TVOT's PD offerings? Then we encourage you to join our Local's PD Committee. We meet several times a year and assist with the direction and planning of upcoming professional learning. We are seeking new participants with a variety of teaching experience. Meetings are held after school and when we meet in person, a dinner is provided and mileage is covered so if you are interested, pleaase contact your PD Chair, Vivek Nath . We look forward to meeting you!

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Welcome back to school. You've got this!

OTIP has your back with insurance coverage, helpful tips and exclusive offers designed just for you! 

You may be most familiar with OTIP (Ontario Teachers Insurance Plan), as the provider of your group health and dental benefits. Did you know that we also offer personal insurance coverage? As members of the Ontario education community, you are eligible for exclusive rates on home and auto insurance. Plus, we offer the added convenience of an in-house claims services. If you are retiring soon, OTIP offers three retiree health, dental and travel insurance plans to choose from.  

As members of the Ontario education community, you also have access to exclusive contests, promotions and specials offers, including Edvantage - your exclusive savings program. Get access to discounts on household brands, travel, financial services and more! 

Read on and learn more about what OTIP has to offer you at https://www.otipinsurance.com/article123. 

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Less Than Two Weeks Remaining to shop at Columbia Sportswear Outlet!

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Today is Rowan's Law Day

Covid Attestations: Math Proficiency Test for recent grads; Indigenous Women's Mentorship; Benefits for LTOs; Earn While you Learn

Covid-19 Vaccination Attestations -

Just a reminder that the deadline for all TVDSB staff to complete their mandatory vaccine attestation was September 10th. 

Those members who have not done this, will not be allowed to work for the Board.

The choices provided are:

- I am fully vaccinated (in which case you attach your vaccine receipt)

- I am in progress to obtain full vaccination

- I am not vaccinated due to medical reason (documentation will be required)

- I am not vaccinated and will participate in the education and testing program as outlined by the Ministry

- I am choosing to not attest and will participate in the education and testing program as outlined by the Ministry.

The Ontario Human Rights Commission has just released a policy statement regarding vaccine mandates which can be found at OHRC Policy Statement Sept. 22, 2021

Be advised that Regulation 364/20 of the Re-Opening Act, 2020 (A Flexible Response to Covid-19 Act), recently amended by Regulation 577/21, requires all school Boards to comply with directions, advice and guidance from the Medical Officer of Health.

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IMPORTANT for Teachers who Graduated on or after March 31, 2020

As of January 1, 2022, all new Teachers will be required to pass a Math Proficiency Test/MPT in order to be certified with the Ontario College of Teachers/OCT.

The Ontario Teachers Federation is offering Math Office Hours to support beginning Teachers and Teacher candidates with this test. You can check out archived sessions at Math Office Hours

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New: Indigenous Women's Mentorship Program

Provincial ETFO is hosting a one year, multi-session program for 20 Indigenous women mentees to work alongside mentors towards goals of leadership in ETFO and reconciliation through the lens of Etuaptmumk, two-eyed seeing.

Registration is now open for both mentors and mentees with a deadline of October first so for more information please contact Sabrina Sawyer .

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Provincial ETFO has just released Covid-19 FAQ#1 -

Topics include - 

• - ventilation in classrooms?
• - concerns about PPD?
• - work refusals?
• - concerns about rapid antigen testing?

Make sure to register to receive the ETFO Provincial Newsletters

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Access to Benefits for LTOs -

LTOs in full year, full-time long-term assignments have access to benefits for the duration of their assignments. Those in assignments without posted end dates will have an opportunity to enroll in the program after they have taught 90 calendar days.

I both situations, information about enrolling is sent to those eligible LTOs via their TVDSB Outlook account. For details and a useful FAQ page about coverage etc., go to ETFO ELHT Benefits .

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Did You Know that You Can Earn While You Learn?

Are you aware that in TVDSB, Occasional Teachers have access to 4 half-days of paid PD. This means you can earn teaching credit, EI credit etc. while participating in PD at a time convenient to you.  NB. 1) This is in addition to the Mandatory 14 modules that are due September 30th for a half-day's pay. 2) LTOs in assignments greater than .5 are not eligible. 3) Retirees must reserve a day in June as completion of the mandatory modules that are posted in the Spring, is paid at the end of June as teaching time .

Paid PD options are found in the Employee Portal > Conference/Session > Registrations > Elementary Occasional Teacher PD. Click on "Register" to find out what is on offer. Currently the only online options are "Kindergarten: Inquiring Minds" and "Comprehensive Literacy - Reading." There are also 2 in-person sessions being offered in schools on this Friday's PD. NB: These 2 Sept. 24th sessions require prior permission from school Principals.

These sessions will be expanded on greatly as the year progresses so don't leave this money on the table.

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14 Modules due September 30th; Open an Account with ETFO Provincial; Copyrights; Opportunities for registered Members

 H&S Training due September 30th for a half day's pay -

Just a reminder to TVOT members that you must complete all of the following online modules, available in the Employee Portal under "Employee Training" . You can check to see that your completed modules have been recorded by logging back into the Employee Portal. If the check marks are still in place, then they have been successfully received.

Awareness Training 2021 - 2022 September Mandatory Training Links coming soon! This is the mandatory training that is required for the 2021 - 2022 school year. The training includes COVID Awareness 2021 - 2022, September - December Safety Spotlight, and IPOC training requirements.
COVID Awareness 2021 - 2022
Employee Incident Reporting and Investigation Form - Entering an Incident
October - Fire Code Training - Staff
November - Head Injury Prevention
December - Slips, Trips and Falls
Violence Awareness Video 1 - Legislation
Violence Awareness Video 2 - General Awareness
Employee Health and Safety Handbook
IPOC Roles and Responsibilities Updated Video
Anaphylaxis
Asthma
Diabetes Type 1
Epilepsy
Concussion Training

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Your ETFO Provincial Account 

TVOT members are encouraged to ensure that their membership information is accurate with ETFO Provincial. You can do this at ETFO Member Records .

While you are there, take time to explore their new website where there is always lots of pertinent information and opportunities for ETFO Teachers, Occasional Teachers and other education workers.

ETFO Webcasts - 

Four new webcasts have been added to the Provincial website  which may be of interest to members:

• Virtual Learning 101 for Occasional Teachers
• Mindfulness
• Community Building - Early Years/Primary
• Community Building - Junior/Intermediate 

As with the other webcasts there, lesson plans are included.

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Teachers need to consider if the materials they are planning to use are allowed without copyright infringement. The works of others cannot be used without permission unless the federal Copyright Act allows such usage. Be sure to check at Fair Deal Decison Dealing Tool first to ensure you are not in violation.

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Resource Rebate and Professional Learning Development Fund/PLDF - 

Again this school year, TVOT members who have registered on the TVOT Website will have access to applications forms for our $50 Resource Rebate (formerly Book Rebate) for any resource which is related to your professional practice.

As well, if you have been a member of the TVOT Local for at least twelve months, then you are eligible for the Professional Learning Development Fund/PLDF subsidy of $350 for any course which is applicable to your professional practice. Applications must be submitted prior to the course so as to ensure that funding in the budget line is still available. 

Check out our website for further details.

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Columbia Outlet Store Invitation; Paid Mandatory Covid Awareness Training; Covid Attestation; LOA from the List; Paid Sick Leave due to Covid-19

 

Welcome Back to our WEDNESDAY BLOG - Hopefully members enjoyed a wonderful summer and everyone is relaxed and recharged with the energy needed to start this new school year - it promises to be another challenging one as Covid persists. 

So that members do not miss any of this important information, please be aware -

- MANDTORY 1/2 day SAFETY TRAINING - Covid Awareness 2021-2022: All TVDSB staff must complete this mandatory training. Occasional Teachers will receive payment for a half-day and must document completion by Thursday, September 30th.    Log into the Employee Portal and click on "Employee Training". and the September Mandatory Training is half-way down the page. Be sure to click "Submit" once you have finished. Log back into the area and if the checkmarks are still there, then it has been recorded as completed.

- COVID ATTESTATION - Government Regulations require that all members (all educational staff) must complete a Covid Attestation by Friday, September 10th at 4 PM. This is available in the Employee Portal in the blue left hand border under "Covid 19 Applications". (Same place where staff records their screening.)  TVOT members need to be aware that Provincial ETFO has reviewed the government's policy with legal counsel to determine whether it violates our rights or school boards' obligations to comply with privacy legislation, human rights legislation, Charter obligations etc. or our Collective Agreements.  The review concluded that school boards can require this disclosure but must ensure that the information is protected from unauthorized disclosure and in only used for the purpose for which it has been collected. In TVDSB, this and all medical information is kept confidential and accessible only to the Abilities and Wellness department. This is the same department that safeguards all staff medical information and notes.

- UNPAID LEAVES - Elementary Occasional Teachers may request up to 2 years unpaid leave of absence from the OT List as provided by our Collective Agreement. No reason need be provided. The form is available in the Employee Portal in the LaserFiche section of the left border. The application requires the name of your supervisor, Elisha Greenham.  This leave can be requested no later than Thursday, December 30th to be effective for the entire school year. Otherwise members are required to teach at least ten (10) full days in order to remain on the OT List. 

Pocket Calendars and Autumn Newsletter - These will be mailed at month's end to all TVOT members who have kept their contact information with TVDSB up to date (a condition of your employment).  We know members would like to have these resources for September, but we are delayed as we must await this information from the Board. 

Columbia Outlet Store Autumn Invitation

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COVID-19 Putting Workers First Act, 2021 - paid leave extended to Dec. 31, 2021

Daily Occasional Teachers may have access the three paid days of leave under Bill 248:

A qualified employee would be entitled to a paid leave of absence (not to exceed $200 per day) under Bill 284 because of one or more of the following reasons:

 

·         the employee is under individual medical investigation, supervision or treatment for COVID-19, including being vaccinated or recovering from vaccination;

·         the employee is acting in accordance with a section 22 or section 35 order under the Health Protection and Promotion Act that relates to COVID-19 (e.g., their workplace is shut down by a Public Health Unit and they are directed to self-isolate, etc.);

·         the employee is in quarantine or isolation as a result of information or direction from a Public Health Unit official, a qualified medical practitioner, Telehealth Ontario, the Government of Ontario, the Government of Canada, a municipal council or board of health;

·         the employee is given a direction by their employer in response to a concern that the employee may expose others in the workplace to COVID-19; and

·         the employee is providing care for a family member (i.e., dependent) who is under medical investigation, is receiving treatment or is under quarantine/isolation due to COVID-19.

Dependents include: 

·         employee’s spouse;

·         parent, step-parent, foster parent of the employee or employee’s spouse;

·         child, step-child, foster child of the employee or employee’s spouse;

·         child under legal guardianship of the employee or employee’s spouse;

·         brother, step-brother, sister or step-sister of the employee;

·         grandparent, step-grandparent, grandchild or step-grandchild of the employee or employee’s spouse;

·         brother-in-law, step-brother-in-law, sister-in-law or step-sister-in-law of the employee;

·         son-in-law or daughter-in-law of the employee or employee’s spouse;

·         uncle or aunt of the employee or employee’s spouse;

·         nephew or niece of the employee or employee’s spouse;

·         spouse of the employee’s grandchild, uncle, aunt, nephew or niece;

·         a person who considers the employee to be like a family member; and/or

·         any individual prescribed as a family member.

Application for payment under this program is made to the Employer.

Longer Term Absences due to Covid-19 

The Government of Canada currently offers the Canada Recovery Sickness Benefit (CSRB). 

Information regarding the CSRB can be accessed here: CRSB